I33817: J. T. ALVIS (ABT 1870

Notes

Birth: 1695-- Middlesex Co, Christ Chur Par, VA
Birth: 1701-- Northumberland, VA

Notes

Deed Rec Bk 20 p. 31, 18 Sep 1733 shows a deed from William & Hannah Gatewood to Col. William Dangerfield, covering one acre formerly owned by James Fullerton, Jr., dec'd, brother to Hannah Fullerton.

Hannah left a will dtd 2 Mar 1771 Essex Co. VA pr 20 May 1771. to Children: Caleb, Anthony, Amy & Lucy Gatewood, all personal est. to be divided equally. Son James to keep Anthony's part of est & pay him as he shall see occasion in clothes, etc. Exec: James & Amy Gatewood. Wit: Richard Allen & Rachel Evans.

Notes

James Garnett II was born to his parents in Culpeper County on February 4, 1792. He was quite young when he moved with them to Boone Co., KY, in about 1796. He reportedly entered a seminary school in Boone County in 1811, graduating and being ordained a minister there on October 13, 1816. He apparently immediately returned to Culpeper Co., where he joined his grandfather at the Crooked Run Baptist Church.

On December 17, 1816, he married Elizabeth Garnett, daughter of Reuben Garnett, and his 1st cousin once removed. They established their home at the "Spring Hill" plantation, an apparent gift of Elizabeth's father. It was located about 10 miles south of Culpeper, VA, on Highway 15. It was originally conveyed to Pierce Perry and his wife from Philip Slaughter in a deed dated April 20, 1813 (Deed Book FF, pg. 472), and later conveyed to Elizabeth's father Reuben Garnett on December 18, 1816 (Deed Book II, pg. 192). The house was described as not a mansion but a "roomy old plantation home," and was apparently built before 1813. The plantation took it's name from a spring at the foot of a little hill an which the house stands.

In 1728, James succeeded his grandfather, James Garnett Sr., as pastor of the Crooked Run Church, where he served until 1874. He also served as pastor for the Cedar Run and Gourdvine Baptist Churches, as well as ran the 985 acre "Spring Hill" plantation. The accounts below from the histories of the Cedar Run and Crooked Run churches, give a fairly detail picture of his life, and convey the high esteem in which he was held and remembered.

From "Early Churches of Culpeper Co., VA: Colonial and Ante-Bellum Congregations" edited by Thomas and Green, published by the Culpeper Historical Society, 1987.
Chapter XII; History of Cedar Run Baptist Church, 1822-1986 by The Reverand Arthur Dicken Thomas, Jr.:

Elder Garnett served the Baptists at the Cedar Run from about 1817 until 1874. James Garnett II, the grandson of Elder James Garnett I, pastor of the Crooked Run Baptist Church, was born in Culpeper County on February 4, 1792. His parents removed to Boone Co., KY. At age 19 he was awakened to a sense of his "lost condition, as a guilty sinner." He found no peace until he surrendered himself entirely to Christ in a profession of faith in 1811. Afterward, Elder Thomas Henderson baptized him and welcomed him into the Bulletsburg Baptist Church in Boone County.

Shortly after his conversion, Garnett became impressed with his obligations to preach the gospel. He had received education in the ordinary schools of his area. After his entrance into the work of ministry, he studied for a short time at Transylvania University in KY. On October 13, 1816, Garnett was ordained to the ministry by the Bulletsburg Church.

He returned to Virginia the same year to assist his aging and sick grandfather at the Crooked Run Church. He married on December 17, 1816, his cousin, Elizabeth Garnett, the daughter of Reuben and Mary Garnett of "Quiet Shade" in Culpeper County. James Garnett II found time to run a 260-acre farm in the vicinity of the Crooked Run Baptist Church. In an early will dated 25 September 1860, found in family papers, but not probated, one discovers that he owned 33 slaves. He also served as pastor of the Crooked Run, Gourdvine, and Bethal Baptist Churches while pastor of the Cedar Run Church.

The Reverend J.W. McCowen described the preaching of James Garnett:

"As a preacher he was plain and wholly devoid of effort at oratory or fine speaking. His favorite themes were those most closely connected with the cross.... Although, as I have said, his sermons were devoid of oratorical effort or display, yet they were not without that earnestness and feeling which often lifted them into true oratory and gave them power among the people."

From "Early Churches of Culpeper Co., VA: Colonial and Ante-Bellum Congregations" edited by Thomas and Green, published by the Culpeper Historical Society, 1987.
Chapter III; "History of Crooked Run Baptist Church, 1772-1986" by William Spotswood Burwell and Elizabeth Valentine Garnett:

(See the notes of James Garnett, Sr., grandfather to James Garnett, II, for the first part of the article and story about the Crooked Run Church. James II succeeded his grandfather as the pastor of the church. James Sr. was pastor for 54 years from 1774 to 1828, and James II was pastor for 46 years from 1828 to 1874. This is a hundred years total, spanning before the American Revolution until after the Civil War.)

"Elder James Garnett I died in the 86th year of his life on April 16, 1830. His Funeral was conducted by his grandson, Elder James Garnett II (1792-1875), who succeeded him as pastor of the Crooked Run Church (1828-1874). He also served as pastor of the Cedar Run (1817-1874), the Gourdvine (1822-1862), and the Bethal Baptist (1823-1874) churches. Praise and appreciation for his ministry has been preserved in "Tribute to Elder James Garnett II, 1874" recorded in the Crooked Run Church minutes (1880-1947) and the Virginia Baptist Historical Society in Richmond.

In 1816 James Garnett II married his second cousin, Elizabeth, the daughter of Reuben Garnett of "Quiet Shade." They moved into their home, "Spring Hill," a gift from her parents, who lived on the adjoining plantation.

The very name "Spring Hill," located one-half mile east of Route 15, was synonymous with hospitality, even after the Civil War. One guest and his bride arrived on their honeymoon and stayed until after the birth of their second child.

There was a rather extensive library at "Spring Hill," including many religious books. Some of the later were given to the Rev. Stuart Grizzard, about 1970 by granddaughters of the Rev. James Garnett, II, when they prepared to leave "Spring Hill" after 155 years of Garnett tenure.

One of the unusual features of the house, which contained ten rooms with nine and one-half ceilings, is the original Franklin stove which is set into the chimney.

Some lists exist, but there is no telling the complete extent of supplies that were requisitioned from "Spring Hill" by the Union and Confederate Armies during the Civil War.

There is no evidence that the house or its furnishings were disturbed. The fine old early Virginia pieces are still in existence, and tell of substantial and elegant living of this Baptist "farmer-preacher" during the antebellum times.

Franklin Edmund Garnett, who inherited "Spring Hill" from his father, and his two daughters, Elsie Garnett Tinsley and Leigh Garnett Taliaferro, carried on the religious convictions and examples set forth by Elder James Garnett II. All three were active members of Crooked Run Church.

The well known television evangelist, The Rev. Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson, who broadcast daily over the Christian Broadcasting Network, and his brother, A. Willis Robertson, Jr., sons of the late United States Senator A. Willis Robertson, spent several of their youthful summers at "Spring Hill," then the home of Robert Tinsley and his wife Elsie Garnett Tinsley. To gain entrance to the breakfast table, Pat Robertson had to recite a Bible verse or two. Morning prayers followed this recitation. Pat Robertson was the great-great-great-grandson of Captain Isaac Willis and the great-great-grandson of Larkin Willis, Sr., both active members of Crooked Run Baptist Church. However, during his summer visits Pat Robertson attended the Culpeper Baptist Church rather than Crooked Run. ....

During the Civil War .... no regular business meetings and very few services of any kind were held during the years 1861-1865. The church building itself witnessed the movements of troops. The armies under General T.J. "Stonewall" Jackson passed by Crooked Run Church on August 8, 1862. Jed Hotchkiss, a topographer with General Jackson recorded on that date:

"We (the Confederates) captured a camp near Crooked Run Church and took some prisoners, then routed quite a body of them at Locust Dale.... Our cavalry sleeps at the Yankee cavalry camps (most) of the (staff) slept in the yard at Mr. Garnett's, near Crooked Run Church. The grass in the yard was very long and nice and nearly every one of us, except the General, slept on it. Our scouts captured Yankees in every direction, caught one with a horse load of chickens which he had stolen. A warm day, dusty. Mr. Garnett told us much about the atrocity of Pope's army and the suffering of the people from the enforcement of his order "to subsist his army on the country." Many fine places were nearly destroyed by the enemy."

Following the battle of Cedar Mountain, Jed Hotchkiss went back to Crooked Run Church the same day, August 9, 1862, and "found Gen. A.R. Lawton there, who is in the rear today guarding it..." Hotchkiss also mentioned on August 17, 1862, going with General J.E.B. Stuart to the top of Clark's Mountain where he "saw the enemy marching from Crooked Run Church."

The Rev. James Garnett II resigned the pastoral care of the church effective January 1, 1869. He was asked to continue as pastor, but he declined. He agreed to serve as supply for a reasonable length of time. He resigned as supply in 1874, but he conducted some services in 1875, the year of his death. In 1870 he presented the church with a communion service. The same engraving may be found on each of the five pieces "C. R. CH., By The Pastor J.G." The hallmark under the pieces is "Meridan B. Company, No. 12." The service is still owned by the church. A memorial to Mr. Garnett's life was preserved in the church minutes. In the family cemetery at "Quiet Shade" (home of Elizabeth's father, Reuben Garnett), one may find the tombstones of Elder James Garnett (Feb. 4, 1794- July 12, 1875) and his wife Elizabeth Garnett (April 7, 1790- September 6, 1863)."

From Will Book X, page 137, Culpeper County. The Will of James Garnett mentions son Franklin E. Garnett, daughter Tabitha A. Garnett, and sons Absolem G. Garnett, Joel Garnett, and Milton Garnett. Son Franklin E. Garnett was named executor. Dated September 21, 1866.

Notes

A Sarah Ann Graves Strickler kept a diary during Civil War, maybe dau of Mary Jane?

Notes

Samuel Harris b 1724 in Hanover Co.VA settled 1748 in Pittsylvania co. VA and was a Col Rev War & prominent man in in the County. d. there in 1799.

Samuel Harris Early Leader In Pittsylvania Star-Tribune Bicenttenial Issue: "Samuel Harris, born in Hanover County, 1724, came to this section when he was 24. He obtained land on Sandy River in 1748 in the southwest portion of the county and close to Strawberry Creek where still stand the two story house in which he and Lucy Camp lived their useful lives.

Harris became a man of means and family presitige. He was well educated, and an acquaintance and associate of celebrated personages of colonial days. He was a friend of George Washington. He served as deputy sheriff, justice of the peace, as surveyor of roads, as post rider with the mail, as church warden, and as a member of the vestry of Antrim Parish in the Established Episcopal Church, was a representative to the House of Burgesses and Colonel in the Revolutionary War.

He became a Baptist convert in May of 1758, and under his leadership the Baptish flourished in Pittsylvania. Records show that he organized at least 26 Baptish churches in Virginia, among which are County Line in 1771 and Old Banister in 1773. While he went about preaching, although his excellent reputation somewhat softened the blow of persecution, he was accused of being a vagabond in Culpepper, and ordered not to preach anymore or go to jail. In Orange he was set upon by a state-church inspired mob of ruffians.

During the American Revolution, Harris operated a wagon train, hauling produce from Peytonsburg to Petersburg bringing back salt and other necessities for his neighbors.

When Washington was inaugerated as the first President of the United States, according to tradition, Samuel Harris rode horseback from his home at Callanads to New York City.

The Samuel Harris Home is located on Route 816 near Callands. Here Colonel Harris lived from 1748 to 1799. His grave is marked by a stone, giving a brief resume of his activities."

Notes

1 Col. James MCDOWELL b: 1760 + Mary Paxton LYLE
Children:
2 Samuel MCDOWELL b: ABT. 1781 + Polly CHRISMAN
2 Isabella MCDOWELL b: ABT. 1782 d: 1838 + Rev. John Poage CAMPBELL b: 1767 d: 14 NOV 1814
2 Sallie MCDOWELL b: ABT. 1784 + Oliver KEENE
2 Juliet MCDOWELL b: ABT. 1785 + Doctor DORSEY
2 Hettie MCDOWELL b: ABT. 1786 + John ANDREWS
2 Capt. John Lyle MCDOWELL b: ABT. 1788 d: 1878 + Nancy Vance SCOTT

Notes

m. 30 Dec 1768 New Garden, Guilford Co. NC to Mary ELMORE.

My Southern Family

J. T. ALVIS

ABT 1870 - ____

ID Number: I33817

Sources

Walter BAYNE

ABT 1686 - ____

ID Number: I72513

Sources

Jack CREWS

ABT 1900 - 28 Nov 1987

ID Number: I172

Sources

Courtney Joseph DANIELS

Mark Eugene DEAVER

William DUDLEY

ABT 1720 - ____

ID Number: I3748

Notes

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Elizabeth FLEET

1701 - ____

ID Number: I85117

Notes

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Hannah FULLERTON

ABT 1712 - 1771

ID Number: I24534

Notes

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Rev. James GARNETT II

4 Feb 1792 - 12 Jul 1875

ID Number: I74883

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Mary Jane GRAVES

ABT 1824 - ____

ID Number: I37138

Notes

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Col. Samuel HARRIS

1724 - 1799

ID Number: I41054

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Col. James MCDOWELL

1760 - ____

ID Number: I101390

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Joel SANDERS

5 Mar 1745 - 7 Mar 1814

ID Number: I87487

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