Residents Petition to VA House of Delegates, 1785 - Buckingham Co. VA [Transcriber Notes: This transcription of a petition dated October 29, 1785, to the Virginia House of Delegates is taken from digital images posted by the Library of Congress, in association with the Virginia State Library Archives, at the website http://memory.loc.gov. The petitioners listed [almost 500 signatures in all] were all against the State of Virginia levying an assessment on the people to support the ministry. I have avoided taking undue liberties "guessing" at the contents of the petition, but my own poor eyes are no doubt subject to error. I hope that the wealth of names here presented will assist the genealogist and historian in their endeavors.] *************************************************************************************************************** To the Honourable the Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Delegates: This Petition of the Inhabitants of the County of Buckingham, Humbly Sheweth That Whereas it hath Pleased your Honourable Assm. To Publish a Bill obliging the Inhabitants of this Common Wealth to pay the Teachers of the Christian Religion and have inquired their Opinions Concerning it , These Petitioners therefore do most ___lly declare against it, Believing it to be Contrary to the Spirit of the Gospel, and the Bill of Rights. Certain it is that the Blessed Author of the Christian Religion not only maintained and Supported his Gospel in the World for Several Hundred Years without the aid of Civil Power, but against all the powers of the Earth, the Essential [?] Purity of its Precepts and the Honourable Behavior of its Ministers with the divine Blessing made its way through all opposition. Nor was it the Better [?] for the Church when Constantine the Great first established Christianity by Human Laws, true there was Rest from Persecution [but then?] soon was the Church overrun with error, Superstition and Immorality. ___ unlike more Ministers then, to what they [were?] before, both in Orthodoxy of Principle and purity of Life ~~ But if said Religion is taking its flight [?], and that Deism, with its harmfull [?] Influence is Spreading its self over the states, if as it must be going [?] to other Courses [?], not the Want of Religious Establishment , Let your laws punish the Vices and Immoralities of the Times, and let them not be wanting such men placed in Power and Authority who by their example shall commend Religion, and by their faithfullness scourge the Growing Vice of the [illegible] Ministers Manifest to the World that they are inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost to take [?] upon them that Office [?], that they seek the Good of Mankind and not Worldly Interest. Let their Doctrines be Scriptural and their Lives upright, Then shall Religion (if departed) Speedily Return and Deism, with its dreaded Consequences be removed ~ But what valuable Purpose would such assessment Answer [?]: Would it Introduce any more usefull and Faithful man into the ministry? Surely not Than whom divine Jesus hath Called to that Work, will return it their Highest Honour to do his Pleasure [?], on the Contrary, it might Call in many Hirelings whose chief motive and design would be [Their own Interests?]. That Religious Establishment and Government is Linked Together, and that the Latter cannot exist without the former, is Something New, Witness, Pensylvania, wherein no such establishment hath taken place, Their Government stands firm, and which of the Neighbouring States, has better Members of Brighter Morals and more Upright Character. The Bill of Rights, which says that all men by Nature are born equally free, so no person in this common Wealth, shall enjoy excessive [?] Privileges, except for Services rendered [?] the state, shall not those then, who are not Professors of the Christian Religion, who move [?] in this state at the passing of this Bill, and others who have been invited [?] ____ by the Benefit it held out, when they shall be obliged to support the Christian Religion, think that such obligation is a departure from the True Spirit and meaning of it. Finally, as such tax [?] is against the Spirit of the Gospel, as Christ for Several hundred Years not only without the aid of Civil Power, but against all the powers of the earth, supported and defended it, as religious Establishment has never been a means [?] of Prospering the Gospel, as no more faithfull men would be called by it into the Ministry, and would not revive decayed Religion nor stop the Growth of Deism, nor serve the Purpose of Government, and against the Bill of Rights, your Petitioners trust that the wisdom and Uprightness of your Honourable House will leave them entirely free in Matters of religion and the manner of Supporting its Teachers. [Signatures, p. 1] Richard Merritt [?] S__ Wall___ Stith Bar____ [illegible] James Hill M. Nelson [?] Mathew Cox Wm ______ Wm Blakey fran Seseperd_ John Usher [?] Clayborn Howton [?] Wm Burton James Burnet Jesse Jones James Cox [?] Tho [?] Henson William _____ Harden Woodroof Boling Howard Wm Baber Richard Wilson James Mackneel John Gibson Robert Thomas Iohannes ____ Wm Kakes henry turpin John Maxey John Pervy henri Kakes Wm Walker [?] James Maxey Abraham ____ Henri Kees Benjamin ______ Edward Maxey Re James ____ John Austin David Patteson Hardin Perkins John __ry Saml Winf___ Wm Perkins William Cunningham Edmd Glover Robert Smith John Right Jun Peter Roy Saml Glover James Smith W Jones David Oglesby Jacob Harrison Richd Hoply Robert Jones William Tomblin John _____ Danniel hix Thos Cobbs Edward Maxey John Brown [?] Moses Spenser ____ Manes Joseph Robbertson Wm Brown Wm Flowers Gregory M ______ George Carter ????? Gilliam James Hudnall William Strong John Woodford [?] Abraham Jones James Shackleford Josh C___ Robert Jones Charles Di___ Arthur Moseley Jacob Patteson Isac Smith Thos Moseley Wm Pirkens John Taylor William Hensley Chas Maxey Robe__ Moseley Thomas Levy [?] Charles Moseley Thomas Bondurant Jes [?] Clarke John Bransford [?] CMay James Bransford George Jones Robt huddleston Edward Patteson John Goss[?] Wm Wismire Isham Brown George Cresac [?] John Garrot John Perkins John thomas William Radford Samuel Slater Richd Oliver M Francis ___ Benning Henri Kakes Francis Spenser [?] [illegible] James Rundles [?] William Gilson Thos Sanders George Blak__ [illegible] Thomas Patteson Chas Anderson John Moseley Charles Patteson Senr Thos Vawter Wm Spencer Arthur Winston Isham Hamilton Joseph Spencer [illegible] Mi__ Gipson Isaac Bryant Aramis Forsey Stephen Anderson John Ford David Symes John Mitchell Ann Predeth [?] Job _______ James Benj____ John Stephens Thos Rig___ Joel Ford Ralf flowers [?] Jn Dunean Joseph Ford Moved right Jesse Dunean Jonas Jones Ned Dunean George Carter Geo Dunean Anthony Di___ [Signatures, page two] [illegible] Edward Herndon And___ Cha____ James Ford [junior?] Jesse Boatwright Charles Sall [?] John ______ Alexander Tinker [?] Rane Chastain Francis Harrip Adam Cousins Edward Scruggs [?] Damiah Markham [?] David McCormack William Kidd [?] Gibson Howe Robert Bagby John Toney Benjamin Goss [?] Cary Snoddy Edmond Toney Peter Ford John _____ Nicholas Morris George Baber John ______ William Palmer Joseph Fuqua Davey Scruggs John Harris Wm Fuqua James ______ John Qualls Noah _______ James [?] Wood Steven [?] Salle [illegible] John _______ Tho___ Mays [?] James _______ Charles Is_____ [illegible] Jacob Sellers [?] Thos H______ [illegible] James [?] Fox Daniel Person [?] [illegible] James Taylor Charles Person Junr Robert Easley John Ayres Thos. Blakey M___s Hamilton John Welch Jacob White [?] Thomas Bla______ John Harris Jesse Sam_____ Robert Huddlestone James How Peter Davis William Haynes Samson Maxey henry white Ca__ Hul___ Joseph Harris Wm __ Allen John Walker John Sett__ Stephen Guerrant Isaac Garrott James Ford Sen John Moseley Nathaniel Benton [?] Boaz Ford William Wilkerson John Bondurant Stephen Chastain Thomas Baber Jesse [?] Bondurant Rane Chastain John Salle Jos. Bondurant Da___ Bondurant George Salle Charles Cottner [?] _____ Salle Wm. White William Baber Peter Worley Rane Chastain Jun Robert Bi___n Milton Burford Martain Chastain [?] Randolph Jefferson Joseph Carter Matt___ ___tton Wil__ Sen Josias Chambers Nathan Ayres Edmund Ayres James Watkins Matthews Ayres Thomas Thomas [?] Jorge Rice Wm Amonet Thomas Har___ Robert Bolling Watkins Orson Martin Gary Galway [?] John B___ William _______ Turner Martin John Witcher [?] Joseph Perkins [?] [illegible] [signatures, p. 3] John Burton William Beasley ___ Stephen Ferry [?] James Aiken [?] Jun James Flowers Austin Noell Ben Radford Wm ____ Charles Patteson Thos Pasley [?] Charles Jones John Jones Thom [?] Stith [?] Jones Alexander Stinson Jun Edward [?] Bondurant Norvell [?] Robertson Robt Hughes John Land Wm Webb Sawney Stinson Sen William Webb Archer Beard James [?] Skid [?] Stith Barksdale William Tol___ Cary [?] Stinson Anthony Mullins George Stinson William Meanly Hardiman Baird Josiah Bagby _______ Wilborn Wm. Nelson Richard _______ John Fearn [?] Thomas G______ L___h Arons John Pendleton Samuel Fearn Charles Wil___ Isham ____y [illegible] John Bagby [illegible] David M____nak [illegible] Nathan Neighbours John Taylor John Cannon Edward Doss John Reveley [lined through] Wm Howard [lined through] William Adcock John Loyd Saml [?] Lodw___ John Akers James Page Wm Akers Thos Hall James Roughton Thomas Hall Jr John Akers Jun Edward Hall Ben. Burnett Charles Goss [?] Elerson Harvey John Cham____ Nath. Garnett John Nelson William Gilliam Abram. Nelson Elijah Nelson Richd. Ridgeway [signatures, p. 4] Fredrick Miller James Sanders Wm. Diuguid David Patteson Charles Sain Nathanel Jeffers James Doss David Woodall James Pendleton Isaiah Johns Edwin [?] Patterson Joseph Curd Samuel Coleman Thomas Bond Son of ? John Doss John Kouton [?] George B. Drum William Baley [sic] Jacob Smith James Palmer John Neighbours F. Walthall James Thomas Edward Dunkin Richd Garrain [?] Baker LeGrand Jesse Doss David Low John Stovall Robert Sanders James Hensley [?] Adoph [?] Walker Robert Coleman James Blackburn ??? Patteson Saml. Sanders [illegible] John Hooper [?] [illegible] Thomas Wooldridge Benjamin Bayley [?] Tho. Jefrey [?] Richd Phelps Stephen Walker Robert Patteson William Woodall John Gothard Turner Wootten John Harriss Benjamin Pendleton Thomas Neighbours Garrott Gilliam [?] [signatures, p.5] John Godfrey George Huddleston Colonel Lip___g Thomas Christian Chastain Lesieur [?] John Nelson Francois Chaudoin Sen John Baskerville Mark [?] Mitchel Senr Charles Wheeler William Miles [lined through] James Wh__er [lined through] John Adcock Andrew [?] Jefferson John Adcock Sen. John Francis William Newton [?] John Hinson John Vess Jas [?] Jefferys [?] Robt. Wilburn Arch. [?] Christian Patrick Obrian Cha__ Wheler [?] Fran. Chaudoin Wm Freeman Jesse [?] Garland Thom Miles ??? Rison [?] Archer Christian Samuel Allen John Godfrey Joseph Evans Patrick Obrien Jr. ??? Obrien ??? Lesieur ??? Wittig [?] ??? Murphy [illegible] John Allen John Wilson Joseph Amo___ Archibald Hatcher James Brisford [?] Tho Jr [?] Murphey Joseph [?] Murphey Joseph Cartier [?] ??? Witt [?] Tho [?] Moore John Positer [?] Wm Obrian ??? Meglapin [?] __pher Thenault [?] Lewis Christian Abraham Nelson Josiah D Rickett [?] William Childers [?] [signatures. P. 6] [illegible] Daniel Dav__ [?] John Bagby David [?] Berryman Richard Anderson Thos Webb John Shoemaker Anderson Berryman William Hall James Falwell William Meanly [?] William Lansford [?] James Wilkinson [?] John Guerrant Holloway [?] Hudgins Moses Kidd [illegible] Wm. Toney [?] Nathl. Anderson John Matthews [?] John ??? William Salle ??? Howell [?] Saml Kidd William ??? Jos Phelps Henry Bagbey Johnson Storey [?] Peter Guerrant Jr Isaac Parmer William [?] Davis [signatures, p. 7] James Thomas Jesse Talley James Boatwright Robert Glavine [?] Christopher Baltimore [?] Drury Woodson William Harris William Woodson Jos [?] Thomas Jr Chs. Woodson James Dingless [?] Charles Matthews WmMatthews Willm Austin [?] Langh [?] T. Walton Submitted by Victor Oglesby **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ****************************************************************