CHAPTER XI.

Prince Frederick's Parish.

THIS Parish was taken off from Prince George, Winyaw, by Act of Assembly, April 9, 1734; and March 29, 1735. Its bounds were directed to "begin at the South-Westmost part of the plantation, of John du Bosc, on Santee River, from thence on a line to the head of John Green's Creek, and down the said Creek to Black River, thence over Black River to the plantation of John Bogg, and from the said plantation of John Bogg, to be included in the town Parish, in a due north line to Peedee River, and that part of the said Parish wherein the Parish Church now is, shall and hereby is declared to be a distinct Parish by itself" by the name of Prince Frederick.

By this division of Prince George's Parish, its Church fell within the limits of Prince Frederick's. This Parish was afterwards divided by an Act, May 21, 1757, to form the Parish of St. Mark's.

The Church is commodious and well constructed. It is built of brick, 40 feet long by 30 wide. A comfortable Parsonage-House was erected on Lands given to the Parish by Mr. Hughes and Mr. Hasell.

The Rev. Thomas Morritt was the first Minister of this Parish; but his conduct not being satisfactory to the people, he soon resigned. He was succeeded by the Rev. John Fordyce, A. M. who arrived in 1736, as

a Missionary from the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. Mr. Fordyce, on the 16th Feb. 1737, exhibited his Letters of Orders to the Bishop's Commissary. He was Ordained Deacon, Feb. 22, 1729, by Dr. Gibson, Bishop of London; and Priest, March 22, following, by Dr. Smalbroke, Bishop of St. David's. He informed the Society, Oct. 24, 1743, that, the Parishioners, for 18 or 20 miles around his Church, were regular in their attendance on public worship; that he had returned from a fatiguing journey to the distant settlements in this Parish, on Peedee River, about 140 miles from Prince Frederick-town; that he had preached at four different places, and had baptised 29 children of his own Parish, beside 19 who were brought to him from the adjacent parts of NorthCarolina.

Mr. Fordyce died in 1751; and in 1753, the Society appointed as his Successor, the Rev. Michael Smith, A. M. He was a graduate of Trinity College, Dub. and had been a Curate five years, in Hertforshire. In a letter to the Society, dated Jan. 4, 1754, Mr. Smith stated, that the new Glebe was in great forwardness, and that his hearers increased in number every Sunday. Mr. Smith left the Province in 1756. The Parish being without an Incumbent, it was agreed, at an Annual Meeting of the Clergy at Charles-Town, April 5, 1758, that the Rev. Mr. Fayerweather, Rector of Prince George, should officiate in this Parish, six times in the year.

In 1762, the Rev. George Skeene was settled in this Parish, where he continued until his death in 1766. He was Ordained by the Bishop of Peterborough, Deacon, Nov. 15, and Priest, Nov. 22, 1761.

The Assembly passed an Act, May 23, 1767, for building a Chapel of Ease at Murray's Old Field, about 30 miles from the Parish Church. Samuel Clegg, Theodore Gourdin, Samuel Newman, William Michaw and John Perrot, were appointed Commis

sioners. The Rector or Minister of the Parish, was required to perform Divine Service in this Chapel every sixth Sunday, except it fell on Easter Day, Whitsunday, or Christmas Day, in which case he was directed to officiate the next Sunday, and so on as prescribed.

He

The Rev. Mr. Vilette arrived in the Province in 1772, and was afterwards settled in this Parish. returned to England.

The Communion Plate consists of a Tankard and Chalice, on which is engraved Prince Frederick.

There are no Journals or Registers of this Parish

extant.

Since the Revolution, the Rev. Hugh Fraser was settled in this Parish. He was elected in 1793, and resigned in 1810. There is no Incumbent at present. [1819.]

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CHAPTER XII.

All-Saints, Waccamaw.

THIS Parish was taken off from Prince George's, Winyaw, by Act of Assembly passed May 23, 1767. It was to consist of "all the lands which lie between the Sea and Waccamaw River, as far as the boundary line of North-Carolina." William Allston, Joseph Allston, Charles Lewis, William Pawley, Josiah Allston, William Allston, jun. and John Clarke, were appointed Commissioners for building a Church, Chapel of Ease, and Parsonage-House, at such places as they should approve, within the Parish. They were authorized to receive subscriptions, and to purchase a Glebe. The Rector or Minister to be elected, and to receive the same salary as Ministers of other Country Parishes.

Since the Revolution, the Rev. John O'Donnell officiated here for some time. The Rev. Hugh Fraser was elected Rector in 1812, and resigned in 1817. The Church was consecrated by Bishop Dehon, in Nov. 1816. The Rev. Henry Gibbes is the present Incumbent. [1819.] He was Ordained Deacon, by Bishop Bowen, of So. Ca. Dec. 20, 1818.

An elegant Bible and Prayer Book have lately been presented to the Church, by Mrs. M. A. Allston.

During the summer months, the inhabitants remove to the sea shore. In 1819, there were in this Parish, 736 white inhabitants. There are neither Journals nor Register extant in this Parish.

CHAPTER XIII.

St. Mark's Parish.

THIS Parish was taken off from Prince Frederick's, by an act passed May 21, 1757. Its bounds were defined to be, "by continuing the North-Westernmost line of Williamsburgh township to Peedee and Santee Rivers; and all the lands situate to the Northward of the said line." Richard Richardson, Joseph Cantey, Matthew Neilson, Isaac Brunson, James M'Girt, William Cantey and John Cantey, were appointed Commissioners for receiving subscriptions, building the Church and Parsonage-House, and selling the Pews, &c. The Rector or Minister was to be elected, and to receive the same salary as Ministers in other Country Parishes. The Church was built of wood, upon a Glebe, given to the Parish, by the father of the former Governor, James B. Richardson, Esq.

The Rev. Charles Woodmason, was Ordained in England, by Testimonials from this Parish; and on his return to Carolina, was elected its first Rector, in 1766. He continued in this Cure until 1770, when he left the Province. He was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Walker, who left the Province in 1773. The Rev. Mr. Davis was then elected, and died the next year.

The Church was burnt by the British during the Revolutionary War. A new edifice has just been