terior to show that it was ever a place of
worship. That it was built when this country was a colony there can be
no question. There is a burying ground at the place, on which can be
seen tomb stones of very ancient date, and if I mistake not, the first
rector of the church or some of his family was buried in it. A tablet,
noting the fact, could be seen set in the building. Bishop Meade, in
his history of the Episcopal Churches in Virginia, mentions Benn's
Church as being one of, if not the oldest, church in the State. It has
been snatched from further decay by some benevolent ladies and will
soon again become a place of worship. Let the names of these ladies
form the future history of that sacred old church, and let future
generations know that it was at one time from decay reduced to bare
walls, and that by the humane efforts of some ladies it has been
reclaimed and once more presents the appearance of a house of worship,
standing as a monument to its former renown and greatness. There are
several Episcopal churches in this county that should not be allowed
to go to decay. They stand as landmarks in Virginia; built long before
the recollection of any one now living. I know of several places in
this county that I have been told were Glebe property, and at one time
were, and had erected on them, Episcopal churches. In many places
these churches have gone down, the land escheated and are now occupied
by churches of other denominations. And it may have been so, as they
are just such places as old Episcopal churches now stand, on elevated
sites near running streams. I could state some very interesting facts
connected with many places in this county which might appear very
meritorious, nevertheless they are true, and form a part of the
history of the county.

I will now mention Mount Pleasant, the home of the Meades, of
Virginia. This was at one time a very beautiful estate, on the west
bank of what is now known as Smith's Creek, and is the southern branch
of the Nansemond river. Long before the revolution this place was
settled, and at the time very large vessels could navigate the creek
as far as Mount Pleasant, it then being a wide and deep river, and I
have been told that a direct foreign trade was carried on with that
place. A grave yard can be seen at Mount Pleasant which is very
singular, and has some curiously inscribed tomb stones in it of
persons who died there many years ago. By the ruthless hand of time
many of