Colonial Buckingham: Tillotson Parish
It is notable that the Buckingham County’s only parish carried neither a saint’s name nor a place name, which was typical in Virginia. The parish was named for Rev. John Tillotson (1630-1694), who served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1691-1694. A posthumous, 18th-century collection of his work,” The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: Containing Fifty Four Sermons and Discourses, On Several Occasions,” became very popular in Virginia, spreading Tillotson’s influence. Known for his pragmatic, non-dogmatic, tolerant approach to theology and preaching, Tillotson was a sort of New World ideal.
In the autumn of 1767, six years after Buckingham County was created, Churchwardens John Ferne (a.k.a. Fearn) and Joseph Cabell were granted land on which to build a church. Royal Governor Francis Fauquier signed the land grant. It read in part, “We have given granted and confirmed and by these presents for us our Heirs & Successors Do give grant and confirm unto John Ferne and Joseph Cabell Churchwardens of Tillotson Parish in the County of Buckingham and to their successors for building thereon a Chapel. . . one acre and an half.”
Coming next: Buckingham County’s first Anglican churches
slate river ramblings . . . . 
About the burials of John M. Harris and his wife, Evelina Ann (Moseley)…. Marked graves are not known for either of them. Evelina died in 1841 and the best guess is that she was buried on the Harris’ Sharps Creek farm. John M. Harris was brought home to Buckingham to died. His son, Norborne, was in charge of the burial in 1874, I doubt it was in a church yard. Norborne’s farm is a possibility.
Where was this 1 1/2 acre parcel? Does the church still exist?
Hold your breath and watch for tomorrow’s post!
Will do! I did not know that GGGrandparents John Harris and Eveline attended Trinity in Buckingham! Thanks for this. Now – if I knew where they were buried…or do you know? Any idea where Robert Markham Bolling went to church? Patt
Where in Buckingham Co. was this?
That will be revealed in tomorrow’s post!