Ruins of Old Church at Old Arlington Gate; Vol. 21, No. 1 Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES 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. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Ruins of Old Church at Old Arlington Gate Thomas B. Robertson William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 21, No. 1 (Jul., 1912), pp. 67-70. RUINS OF OLD CHURCH AT OLD ARLINGTON GATE. (Communicated by Thomas B. Robertson, Eastville, Va.) A great deal of local historical interest centers around Old Arlington and the old church which stood near the gateway to that place. The Custis grave- yard on the latter place has received a considerable amount of attention, but this old church site and graveyard have been long neglected and almost for- gotten. Briars and brambles infest the place and the fish hawk appropriates the stately sycamores which still keep sentinel there. It was at this old church one day in an early year of Page 68. the settlement that one Henry Charlton called the Rev. Wm. Cotton, the minister, a "black rotten rascal" and said that if he had him outside of the church he would kick him, the said Rev. Cotton, over the palysados. For which offence he sat in the stocks for three Sundays following in the presence of the whole congregation. It has been stated that the first structure used for a church was built on Old Plantation creek on the North side, now on Hollywood farm and there are evidences of old buildings there. But to be more convenient to the people of the lower part of the settlement about the time of the organization of the County the church at Arlington gate was erected and it was standing in 1657 as will be noted from the deed below. The graveyard was the burial place of all the people of the lower part of the County and there are a great many graves there, but only a few of them are marked. In 1826 the old church had gotten in such bad condition that the members at the time did not feel equal to repairing it and the bricks were sold at auction and the money used to help in the building of Christ Church, East- ville. The spot is now deserted and has not people use a portion of it in a few instances. The foundations of the old structure can still be easily traced and quantities of broken bricks are scattered around. It is a pity something could not be done to preserve these two historic spots before it is all too late. Below is a copy of part of deed to the property surrounding the old church site and reserving the one acre church lot. ___________ DEED TO LOT OF OLD CHURCH AT ARLINGTON. From William Willett to William Baker. To all Christian people to whom this present writinge or deed of sale shall come, I, William Willett, of the County of Northampton in Virginia, Gent. the only Son and heire of John Willett late of the said County, Gent. deceased, and Elizabeth his wife, the daughter of Capt. Edw. Douglas, late of the County aforesaid, dec'd, the sister and heire of her brother Edward Douglas, Son of the said dec'd Capt. Edward Douglas of the place aforesaid dec'd, send greeting in our Lord God Everlasting, Page 69. know you that I the said William Willett for and in consideration of the sum of 20,000 pounds of good tobacco and caskes to me in hand paid by William Baker of the County of Northampton aforesaid planter, the Recept whereof I doo surely acknowledge, and thereof and of every part and parcel thereof doo hereby Acquit exonerate and discharge the said William Baker, his heirs Exc. Admr. & Assigns and every of them forever by these prsents Have given, granted Aleined, Bargained, sold enfeoffed, confirmed and livery and seizen and possession de- livered And by these prsts Doo fully freely cleerely and absolutely give, grant Alein, Bargain, Sell Enfeoffed confirm liverey & seizen and possession deliver Unto the said William Baker. All that prt of my tract or divident of Woodland ground containing six hundred Acres of Land (bee the same more or less) According to and within the following bounds, Expressed (viz) Scituate lyinge and being in the county of Northampton, aforesaid and is marked and bounded about partly on the West by Old Plantation Creeke including the church or chappell rock thereon and from An Oak att the spring by the said church or chappell. Alonge the horse or foote way or path goinge by some of the planta- tions of and towards Capt. Nathl Littleton's By a line of trees newly marked on the Eastward side of the said Path to the northermost line of the said Littleton's land and Running from the said old Plantation Creeke along the Northerne Brannch of the said church or chappell Neck towards the head the said Brannch till it meets with the Westermost line of Six Hundred Acres of land which I hold by Pattent as hereafter mencioned And soo Running along the said line of marked tres to the northermost corner tree of Jerom Griffiths senr., his Land on Pemino Brannch or Creeke for its Northermost Bounds and running along the said Jerom Griffith's Senr. his Westermost line to its Eastern bounds till it meets with the northermost line of the said Capt. Littleton's land. Finally alonge and bounding on the said Capt. Littleton's Northern bounds to the aforesaid path and now marked line of trees as above mentioned for its Southern bounds. Which said pr bargained land and premises containing Six hundred Acres (more or less) according to the bounds aforesaid is part of and contained in two Patents comprised in one pattent (with other lands) of three thousand seven hundred Acres granted by Francis Moryson Esqr Gov. etc. to Edward Douglas, son & heire &c., to Capt. Edward Douglas in Northampton Co. etc. * * * Six hundred acres other part thereof formerly granted to Capt. Edward Douglas aforesaid dec'd April 26th, 1657 on the south side of the Old Plantation Creeke bounded westerly upon a Brannch of the said Creek and the Pattent land of Wm. Burdett southerly on the land of Mr. Edwd. Littleton Northerly on a former divident of the said Douglas and Easterly on the lands of the Seaboard side, etc. which said last Page 70. mencioned Six Hundred Acres of land parcel of the probargained at afore granted premises was since granted to me the said Willis Willett by Patent of Excy. Edmund Anders Knt. Governr &c. bearing date this 28th day of Octbr, 1697 (relacon being thereunto had) mo: at large and planely it doth and may appear. (Excepting out of the said probargained premises One Acre of land whereon the aforesaid church or chappell now stands to Remaine for that use at longe as the parish are minded to continue to same). To have and to hold the said Six hundred Acres of land & c. & together with all and singular, Houses Edifices, Buildings, Orchard Gardens, fences, which now are or shall hereafter be built Erect, or Sitt upon the pro- bargained premises or any part or parcel thereof timber, timber trees, wood, underwoods, waters, water courses pasture movres, marshes, meadows, im- munities, provileges of Patents &c. &c. And in the Testimony and confirmacon hereof I the said Wm. Willett have hereunto sett my hand & Seale the thirtieth day of May anno Regix X Anno Dom. 1698. WILLIAM WILLETT.