9 November 1779, Cumberland County, VA
Updated November 25, 2022
To the honourable, the speaker and gentlemen of the house of Delegates. The petition of sundry inhabitants of the parish of Littleton in the County of Cumberland.
Humbly showeth
that the Rev. Mr. Christopher MacRae has for about seven years past been minister of the said parish during which time his conduct and behavior as a minister has given general satisfaction to the members of the church of England that tho he has not taken the oath of fidelity as required by law. We have good reason to believe he has I may instances showed himself a friend to the cause of liberty and that the reason of his not taking the said oath is owing to a scruple of conscience that your petitioners are just informed, a petition is set forth and to be presented to your house by the dissenters from the established church for the removal of the said Mr. MacRae from the glebe, your petitioners therefore humbly pray that as Rev. Mr. MacRae has hitherto behaved and conducted himself in a manner becoming his station, he may be permitted to remain on the glebe of the said parish and to continue the duties of his office during good behavior.
Your petitioners further show that they look on it as a hardship the imposition of a triple tax on these who have not taken the said oath tho scruple of conscience and have always manifested a friendship to the Common Wealth. Your petitioners therefore further pray that a triple tax money not be imposed on such upon their giving personal or other security for their good behaviour.
James Coleman
Joseph Calland
Robt Anderson Jr.
Permenus Coleman
Hezekiah Colquet
Edmond Clemmons
Thomas Moore
Walter Kibble
Francis James
John Mountague
Moses Hubard
Samuel Melton
Benjamin Burton
John Richardson
Charles Parker
William Coleman
John Seay Jr.
Gilbard North
Thomas North
Andrew Edwards
Richard Alderson Jr
William Davenport
Edward Robertson
Wm Hill
Jn Merryman
Hezekiah Bradley
Anthony Murrey
William Hammonton
John Slaughter
Geo Baskerville
Thomas Carr
Joseph Moore
Robert Glover
Christopher Baltimore
John Harris
Bennoni Boatright
Henry Suggett
William Boatright
William Baker
Bartley Cuningham
Winfield Copeley
William Miles
Nathaniell Carrington
John Furlong
Richard Eubank
William Hobson
Caleb Hobson
Wm Hudson
John Goode
John Hix
Tucher Baughn
Issac Beacham
Charles Ballou
Benjamin Martin
Simon Hughes
James Holloway
John Bradley
John Robinson
William Winfree
Daniell Weatherford
William Thropp
David Lindsay
Henry Martin
Thomas Ninrey
Thomas Hobson
David Winiford
----- -----
Robt Johns
Jesse Thomas
William Palmore
David Linch
Josiah Carter
Thomas Boling
John Johnson
John Cannifax
Jesse Boling
[Drury] Hudgens
John Murrey
Samuel Glover
William Burton
William Harris
Joseph Taylor
Nathaniel Mannin
Francis Flippin
Wm Sanderson Jr.
Ben Wilson
David Coupland
Maurice Langhorne
Wm Russell
Thomas Nash
Simon Gentry
Field Robinson
----- Woodson
Benajan Thomson
John Stewart
Thomas T. Swann
Nathan Glen
Humphrey Keeble
William Coalman
John Chalton
Edward Robinson
Lawson -----
Jeffrey Robertson
Charles Wright
John Criddle
Hezekiah Carter
Drury Woodson
Saml Taylor
Saml Apperson
John Apperson
Joseph Price
Saml Robinson
James Robinson
Abraham Daniell
Robert Furlong
Thomas Smith
Valintine Cuningham
William Palmore
Fleming Palmore
James GILLIAM
Phinehas Glover Jr.
John Newton
William Newton
Tucker Woodson
William -----
William -----
Obadiah Johnson
John Sanderson
Armistead Brown
John McCargo
Thomas Montague
Daniel Jones
John Sandridge
Hezekiah Davidson
Philemon Davidson
Ben Wilson
Geo Keeling
Thomas Trotter
John Langhorne
John Minter Sr.
John Minter Jr.
William Brwn [sic]
James Brown
Wright Bond
Clement Brown
John Turner
-----Turner
Saml Brown
Thomas Sugg Hill
John Robinson
William Bond
John Burton
Martin Richardson
Samuel Osling
Johm Armistead
Nicholas Faulkner
William Faulkner
James Austin
Joseph Palmore
John Creasy Sr.
John Creasy Jr.
Benjamin Johnson
Isham Carter
Shadrack Carter
Littleberry Scruggs
Sources
- Library of Congress: American Memory: Early Virginia Religious Petitions. Cumberland County, 3 Nov 1779.