Evening Star Newspaper, July 5, 1931, Page 59

m» SUNDAY STAR, WAQHIN(‘TON D. C.. JUIY 3 1937 msed for the burial of colored persons who are permitted to attend the church. Not long since a new section was added to the cemetery, and on September 38, 1930, this part was consecrated by Rev. James E. Free- man, the Bishop of Washington, and here may be seen the beautifully marked lots of R. Lee Manning, Carnelius Dyer, Douglas Thomas and O. O. Carr. £ NE of the principal things to a town the size of Accokeek is its post office, and this one is typical of the place. Until recently a real old resident reccived and handed out the mail. He was William Leonard Lederer, who died May 29 last, but who had held the office since February, 1884, when he was appointed by Postmaster General Walter Q. Gresham. Mr. Lederer was born at Accokeek May 8, 1861, his parents being John Leanard Lederer, born in Wurttemberg, Germany, and his mother Sarah Anne Boswell, a native of Prince Georges County, Md. The late postmaster was educated at Accokeeck and at the old Spencerian Busi- ness College of Washington, that graduated so many useful men and women. Later he engaged in conducting a general merchandise store at Accokeek meanwhile, and for 30 years served as treasurer of St. John's Parish and of Christ Church, close to which he now rests. He was a bachelor, and his near relatives include two nieces—Mrs. William H. Dyer of Accokeek and Miss Birdie Benton Lederer of this city. Another gentleman who has been living in this vicinity for a long while is George H. Bryan, who was born January 28, 1849, and was confirmed im the old Accokeek Church, where his father. born 1818, was a vestryman, and where his mother, who before her marriage was Miss Sarah Ann Dement, attended service. Mr. Bryan married twice. His first wife was Willelmina H. Brown, and after her death he married Miss Jessie C. Stewart. We who cherish fond attachments for the things we knew in childhood can appreciate the following sentiments expressed by Henry Williams, one of Accokeek’s early residents; “In regard to that dear old ¢hurch, where I have spent many happy moments undér the shade of those spreading oaks at convocations and picnics in this grove, there is a feeling of fove and attachment comes over me that is almost indescribable after having been asso- clated with the church for so many years, and for which I cherish the fondest recollections. Now, in regard to Accokeek and surroundings, I think it has quite a bright future before it— good roads, good schools and a dear old church.” N the sketch of Mr. Williams which was for- warded to the writer by Mrs. Bealle there are some bits of history relating to the District of Columbia which might well be recorded here. He says: “At the age of 15 my father entered Wash- Ington and JeiTerson College, Pennsylvania, and there remained nine years. He had as his classmates United States Senator Ephraim K. Wiison and Dr. Nelson, afterward dean of St. John's Coilege, Annapolis, Md. After gradua- tion he received an appointment to teach the classics at the Buckingham Academy. at Berlin, where he remained three years. He also re- ceived an appointment to teach the Greek and Latin departments and mathematics at Char- lotte Hall, St. Marys County, but declined the offer. He then came to Washington and bought of the Greenleaf estate T0 acres of land in the District of Columbia, where he erected a school- house and had a fine attendance of both young ladies and gentlemon, teaching Latin and Eng- lish and mathematics. Here he remained for 10 years, when he moved to Accokeek, and later he received another appointment to re- turn to his birthplace and take charge of the Buckingham Academy, at Berlin, where he remained several years; then coming to Wash- ington to reclaim his home, near Trinity Church; then moved back again to Accokeek and remained on his farm until death. He was buried in Accokeek Church yard. “My mother, who was Miss Elizabeth Rich- ardson Boon of Alexandria, Va., lived with her uncle, Thomas Swann, who ran the large plaster mills in that town for years. At the age of 14 she entered the academy in Alexandria, Va, and stayed until she graduated. Her grand- father, Thomas R. Richardson, enlisted in the Navy: then located in Richmond, Va. He was promoted to second lieutenant, and was with Commodore Perry at the naval engagement on Lake Erie between the British and American forces. Willlam Stark Jett was appointed as his guardian, as he spent money too freely which he received for his services in the Navy— $5,000 gold and 5,000 acres of land, to be located in Virginia. My mother received only pay for 1,500 acres, but some of the papers were lost and destroyed in some way, and she lost the remainder. She met my father while visiting some friends in Port Tobacco Valley, Charles County, Md., where soon after they were mar- ried. My mother died at her home and was buried at Accokeek Church yard.” The writer did not locate the elder Williams’ school, but he did flnd the name of Hillary S. Williams recorded as®a teacher here in 1866, and his address as 336 First street east (old num- bering). One of the things that attracted the writer's attention at Christ Church was the unusually large oak trees in the grounds, which had all the appearances of being of the original growth. There were quite a number, and they added 'much to the beauty of the spot, which lies off of the beaten track and might not be located by the interested traveler were it not for the sign erected by the Three A's at the point where the road which leads to the church intersects the State road, and which runs perhaps as far west as the river. N the way back to Washington, on the same main road and about 12 miles from the city, the writer espied another old church, and. of ceurse, he stopped and started an inves- tigation, and he soon found that it was none other than St. John's Church, the mother church of all of the Episcopal churches of Northwestern Maryland as far as the Penn- wylvania border. The identical church itself'is View of the Chancel in Christ Church, Accokeek, Md. nat much older than Christ Church, a few miles to the south, but the parish, the site and _the earlier churches run back considerably further. We who live in Washington look upon St. Paul’s Church, Rock Creek, as a venerable building, —whatever little of the old bullding which may still be standing. But Rock C:esk Church, even when it was but a chapel of ease, did not come into existence until 1719, or 26 years after King George's Parish was provided for and 24 years after the first frame church at Broad Creek was begun. A manuseript sketch of this church, written in 1928, which the writer located at the Cathe- Rev. M. Boyer Stewart, former rector, Christ Church, Accokeek, Md. dral library with the assistance of Mrs. Worms- ley, the assistant librarian, says: “The first church of wood was begun on May 22, 1695. The second church, also of wood, was completed in 1713, at which time the first pews were selected and sold as appears from the minutes of a vestry meeting held on September 12,-1713. “The third church, of brick, the present edifice, was begun early in 1722 and finished on March 20, 1723; consequently is now over 205 years old. “The minutes of Piscataway Parish (the original name) of the meeting of the vestry held January 26, 1722, is of interest. *“‘This day the Vestry has finished ye agree- ment with John Lane and tooke his Bond for ye Building of ye Church and Porch with Brick, etc., for which he the said Lane is to have Sixteen Thousand Pounds of Tobacco. They have also agreed with Mr. John Bradford, car- penter, to Support the roofs of Piscataway Church . and porch to compleat all window frames, doors, Door cases, window shutters, Pulpitt Pews and Gallery According as they can or should be by workemen Skilled in that Occupation or as the Vestry Shall Direct for which the said Vestry is to allow the Said Bradford fourteen thousand pounds Tobacco, viz.—five thousand to be payed by the first of June, five thousand more by ye first of June, 1724, & four thousand the year following. The Glass and Sashes to be ready with nales, Hinges, Glue etc.’ 11N 1894 the territory of King George’s Parish embraced all of what is now Washington. “Old St. John's is the mother church of all the churches in the District of Columbia and nearby Maryland. “Two of the ancient pews have been retained, bearing sllver plates om their doors. “‘In Memory of Gen’l. George Washington Restored by His Great-Great-Great-Grandnephew, George W. Magruder, 1895." “It is related that Gen. Washington frequently attended services in the church, coming over the Potomac with his family in a light-oared barge. Aftier the service, it is said, he might be seen conversing with the pastor or discussing the maiter of crops with the farmers. “The original double doors on the south side have their o:iginal hinges. “An opening a foot square in the front of the gallery was to admit of the money-bag on the end of a long pole, being put through it to receive the offerings of the colored people who had the gallery all to themselves. “An unusual outdoor feature is the campanile, eonsisting of four poles, about 40 feet high, with a canopy, under which reposes a bell of re- markable clearness and sweetness of tone. ‘This musical instrument’ was set up (as a gift from Calvary Church, New York) under the rector- ship of Rev. George C. Groves, now rector of Christ Church, Brooklyn, N. Y.” ‘The first rector of old Piscataway Parish was Rev. George Tubman, who began his work August 4, 1696, being at the same time the rector of the parishes of Port Tobacco, William and Mary and Manjemy. He died in 1701. Some of the early vest'ymen 'of this parish included John Addisonr, Esq.; William Hutchin- son, William Hatton, William Tannehill, John Emmett and James Stoddart. The first meeting, we are told, was held at the house of John Addison, when it was decided to buy 78 acres, a part of Lisle Hall, at Broad Creek. The parish of All Saints, with its parish church at Frederick, Md., was not established until 1742, IP we had any way to find out just who all the early Marylanders are who are buried in St. John's, Broad Creek, it would indeed prove interesting reading. The writer copied just a few of the older inscriptions, the most ancient being the one that tells us— “Here lies the body of James Jones who departed this life Sept. 16, 1760, in the 51 year of his age.” Another tells us that Sarah Bryan, wife of William Bryan of Thomas, died April 23, 1838, in the 49th year of her age. Jeiry Anderson, who is the caretaker of the property, told the writer that the story was current that these William Leonard Lederer (died May 29, 1931), postmaster @&t Accokeek, 1884 1931. s Bryans were in some way connected with the family of William Jennings Bryan, but this may or may not be so. Another Jonmes—Col. Elisha—who departed his life December 3, 1813, aged 49 years, could have been a Revolutionaty soldier, but there is nothing to indicate it, except that the dates somewhat fit in. Jacob Duckett's memory is perpetuated wlth 8 stone, the inscription on which reads: “Dedicated to the memory of Jacob Duckett who died June 4, 1816, aged 66 yrs.” Elsewhere in the cemetery are stones erected to several members of the Duckett family be- side Jacob; to the Lyles and the Weightman families, and some are beyond deciphering. Mr. Anderson kindly showed the writer through the venerable structure, and pointed out the organ, which, he said, was formerly at Rock Creek Church; also the altar, which was formerly the late Bishop Harding's desk, and other interesting things in and about the church, including some of the timbers saved from the original frame church, which are stored in the gallery. He partlicularly asked the writer to say that the church was not open after 5 o'clock in the afterfroon, as visitors were in the habit of coming there at a later hour. PEAKING of the erection of the chapel of ease which fo.merly stood where Rock Creek Church now stands, Miss Helen W. Ridgely says: “On September 17, 1719, the rector of Piscatae« way Parish called a meeting of the inhabitants of Prince Georges County to consider ways and means for the erection of a chapel in the loca- tion where his nine years of ministry had drawn together a congregation sufficiently large to need a meeting place of its own. It was in response to his appeal that John Bradford, a vestryman of the parent church of St. John's, contributed 1,000 pounds of tobacco, the staple of that period, and 100 acres of land. The latter constitutes what is known today as the glebe of Rock Creek Parish. About one-half of this land has been laid off into a cemetery, composing perhaps the largest churchyard in existence, the usual number of acres allowed to a church being one, known simply as ‘God's acre.’ Here the walls of the present church have stood since the beginning of the Revolu- tion, the completion of the structure having been interrupted at that time. In the first quarter of the next century it was roofed in and became a place of worship, and later still it took the form in which it now appears. “All of the old parish records that have been rescued from oblivion or probable destruction are now kept at the diocesan library in Balti- more, and to make their ultimate preservation doubly sure the Maryland Historical Society has procured coples of them. From these records and from other sources, principally the re- searches of Rev. James A. Buck, a late rector, who served here for 40 years, an outline of the church’s history may be gathered.” EGARDING John Bradford, who donated the land for Rock Creek Church, Miss Ridgely tells us: “As early as 1704 we find him owning a por- tion of Twiver, a tract of 440 acres in Matta- pony Hundred,” and also a tract of 300 acres called Essex Lodge, west side of Patuxent, 150 of which he had purchased from the Widow Bagby. In 1714 and in 1715 he takes up land with others in Mount Calvert Hundred. These tracts were called, respectively, Good Luck, But- terwick and Haddock Hills, The latter con- sisted of 500 acres, 100 of which were in pos- session of John Deakins, whose surname is one of those associated later with the history of Georgetown. The ownership of Butterwick was confirmed to John Bradford by patent on May 11, 1715, and that of Bradford's Rest or June 3 of the same year. and here he is designated by the name of ‘captain.’ Ere this time he had become one of the leading men of Prince Georges County. appearing on St. John's Church records as vestryman in 1712, where the baptism of his sor, William, is recorded in 1713. He is next alluded to as Maj. John Bradford, and finally as Col. John Bradford, late of Prince Georges County, deceased, June 23, 1726. His wife, Joyce, and his son, John, are named as executors in his will, and Henry Darnall and Daniel Carroll of the same county went on their bond to the amount of $8,000. “Piscataway Parish, to which Rock Creek owed its origin, was one of the first four laid out in Charles County in 1692. By the creation of Prince Georges County in 1695 it fell within the boundaries of the new county, extending from the Mattawoman Creek, an estuary of the Potomac, to the Pennsylvania border. Al the parishes, therefore, since erected in the north- western section of Maryland are direct descend- ants of the Piscataway Parish, and St. John's, the quaint old brick church which stands on Broad Creek, within easy access of Washington, is its most venerable monument.” Some day the writer hopes to visit anether old Maryland church and include in his story what he believes to be some original and un- published records which he has lately come in possession of. It is a pamphlet of early births, confirmations, marriages and deaths performed- by a connection of the Washington family, and which will be especially interesting to the people of the southern part of the State and the de- scendants of the earlier settlers from there- about who reside in the District of Columbia. Blight Destroys Beans. IF some one can find a remedy for the bac- terial blight that attacks beans or can de- velop a bean which is not affected by the blight he will earn the well deserved praise of the Department of Agriculture, for the bacterial blight alone destroys up to a quarter of a miilion bushels of beans every year. . This tr>mendous loss means, in-many instances, the destruction of 75 per cent of the beans in a given area, and the entire wiping out of a crop is not infrequent enough to be termed unusual. So far, four varieities of the refugee bean seem to be the best able to withstand the blight,