ORDER FROM:
GoldenWest Marketing
5812 Temple City Blvd., PMB705
Temple City, California 91780-2112
626-294-9535 800-445-8925
OLD CHURCHES, MINISTERS, AND FAMILIES OF
VIRGINIA
In Two
Volumes
By Bishop William Meade, (Philadelphia, 1900)
To pay with your credit card - click on the "Buy Now" button
Order item B743
FORMAT: ELECTRONIC (CD-ROM)
The two volumes' full text of 1007 pages has been scanned and converted to PDF format which is searchable using the Reader program's "FIND" feature, and there is NO index. Priced at $24.95 plus $3.99 shipping & handling charge.
This book is a reprint of the original first published in 1857. There are some markings on a few pages which do not obscure nor detract from the text.
The amount of information in this book cannot be overstated. It is filled with genealogically important data about the earliest individuals inhabiting the colony of Virginia. Much of the data contained herein was taken from courthouse records that were later destroyed during the Civil War period, 1861-1865.
The preface of the book, written in 1857, is presented below to explain what is included:
"IN the fall of 1854, the author, being solicited to furnish some personal reminiscences of the Episcopal Church in Virginia, promised two articles to one of our quarterly Reviews, which have most unexpectedly grown into two octavo volumes. He was led into this enlargement by the further solicitation of friends that he would extend his inquiries into former times; and by the discovery that there were materials, not yet lost to history, of which good use might be made. Besides the recovery of many old vestry books, or fragments thereof, supposed to have been lost, he has, either by his own researches or those of friends, found interesting materials for his work in a number of the old records of the State, which may yet be seen, though often in a mutilated and mouldering condition, in the Clerk's Offices of various counties. One of these extends back to the year 1632,(1) and refers to acts of a still earlier date, while some approach within a few years of the same. Other documents, of general interest to all, and of special interest to Virginians and their descendants wherever found, have been furnished from old family records and papers, never before used, and which must otherwise soon have perished. The author has also wandered, and not a little, nor in vain, amidst old churches or their ruins and the graveyards around them, and the old family seats. The accounts of these, and the inscriptions taken from them, form an interesting contribution to Virginia history. For nothing will the descendants of the old families of the State be more thankful than for the lists of vestrymen, magistrates, and others, which have been gathered from the earliest records, and by means of which the very localities of their ancestors may be traced. Nor has inquiry been limited to the records of our own State and country. The archives of Parliament, and of Lambeth and Fulham Palaces, have, through the kindness and labours of others, furnished many important, deeply interesting, and hitherto unpublished documents, belonging to the history of the State and Church of Virginia. I shall not here mention the names of those numerous friends in Virginia and elsewhere who have kindly rendered me service in the preparation of this work, as they are referred to in one or more of those places where their contributions are introduced.
"The previous publication, in a weekly paper, of far the larger part of what is contained in these volumes has not only obtained very valuable contributions, but secured the correction of some errors into which the author could not but fall in such a work, so that it is believed no material mistakes now remain. While portions of the book may have less interest for the general reader, being occupied with things belonging especially to the history of Virginia, yet it is hoped that even those may be found worthy of perusal, while far the larger part relates to what should be the subject of inquiry to all who wish to be informed on the ecclesiastical history of our country.
"The table of contents will greatly facilitate a reference to the numerous topics which have been introduced.
"It was the intention of the writer to have presented, in this preface, a general view of the most important subjects treated of, and to have stated the chief results to which his own mind had come in the investigation of the same, by way of improvement and application; but time and opportunity are wanting, and the reader must be left to judge and decide for himself after examination.
"The work, which has cost much labour and research, and in the execution of which it has been endeavoured, and not without prayer, to deal fairly with all, is now commended to the blessing of Heaven and the candour of the public.
WILLIAM MEADE, D.D.,
Bishop of the P. E. C. of Va.
May 16, 1857."
(1) In the county of Northampton.
Return to GoldenWest Marketing homepage