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Colonial Activist Fought for Freedom to Worship

Reverend Francis Makemie was the first dissenting minister in Virginia to obtain a certificate under the English Toleration Act of 1689.

The Francis Makemie Society dig and the artifacts removed should prove the date of the structure and add potency to the belief that it is indeed Makemie’s residence.

Since 2013, Makemie Park near Temperanceville, Virginia has been the site of archeological digs on the former site of Reverend Francis Makemie’s 17th century residence. Following the same archeological procedures used at Jamestown and Saint Mary’s, the Francis Makemie Society marked out a 90’ by 40’ area with string and large nails over what many believe is the foundation of Makemie’s house. Today the entire area is under scrutiny to learn more about both the foundations and a trove of early colonial artifacts.

According to Fitz Godwin, the Vice Chairman of the Society, the dig has already unearthed colonial period thin “aqua” window glass, hand forged nails, pottery shards, glazed earthenware, glazed tiles, clay pipes, metal buttons and buckles, a black powder gun trigger and assembly and early colonial key and lock parts. The foundation and basement with a root cellar are soon to be completely revealed. The hope of the dig is that the artifacts removed will help prove the date of the structure and add potency to the belief that it is indeed Mackmie’s residence. All society artifacts are now protected and exhibited in the basement of Ker Place in Onancock, Virginia.

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Reverend Francis Makemie is considered to be the founding father of American Presbyterianism. Though he didn’t labor alone, it was due largely to his vision and ministry that the first presbytery was founded in America in 1706. The mission of the Francis Makemie Society is to promote the life of Makemie by educating the public about his contributions in the development of Presbyterianism during the Colonial Period in America and of his influence upon the organization of the Presbyterian Church in America.

Makemie Park is maintained by the Francis Makemie Society who also erected a bronze cast of the statue of Makemie by Alexander Stirling Calder in the park which marks the spot where Makemie is believed to be buried. The park contains a memorial brick pyramid built in 1908 which provides information commemorating this ancient family cemetery where it is believed the remains of Makemie; his wife, Naomi; his daughters, Elizabeth and Madame Anne Holden; his father-in-law, William Anderson; and also John Milligan reside. The bricks which enclose this tablet were gathered from the ruins of the table tombs, the cemetery wall and the Makemie home once placed upon these grounds.

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Makemie was born in County Donegal, Ireland. He belonged to the population of Northern Ireland transplanted by Scottish colonization. During his boyhood, he experienced the years of turbulent political struggle between Presbyterian leaders and Anglican bishops. The bishops’ victory resulted in the Scots-Irish exodus to America at the beginning of the 18th century. Makemie’s missionary zeal and lifelong battle for religious freedom can be understood in the light of this earlier history. Barred from the Irish University because he was Presbyterian, Makemie took a degree from the University of Glasgow. He was ordained in 1682 by the Presbytery of Laggan to perform missionary work and came to the American Colonies in 1683 at the bequest of Colonel William Stevens of Rehoboth, Maryland.

He went first to Barbados and soon thereafter came to Maryland and then Virginia. He settled in Accomack County in 1687, where he resided until his death in 1708. A man of great devotion and courage, he not only labored diligently in the neighborhood of his home, but also spent much time in preaching tours, extending them into the Carolinas and as far north as New York. It was in the New York colony that he experienced his greatest difficulty, which gave him his high place in the history of religious freedom.

Because New England, particularly Massachusetts, was forbidden territory for Presbyterians, Makemie mostly preached in Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia, combining his missionary work with business (shipping and trade), as there was no provision for financial support for a missionary at that time. At some time before 1698, he had become the settled pastor at Rehoboth, Maryland, one of a number of churches he had organized. Makemie is credited with establishing six Presbyterian Churches in Maryland.

Makemie was the first dissenting minister in Virginia to obtain a certificate under the English Toleration Act of 1689, wherewith William and Mary signalized their accession to the throne. Passage of the Toleration Act by the English Parliament gave new rights to religious dissenters, allowing them to register their meeting houses and license their ministers to preach.

The Virginia legislature was most grudgingly compelled to recognize the Toleration Act. Its first certificate, granted to Makemie, was not issued until 1699. Together with this certificate Makemie obtained licenses for two houses in Accomack as places of dissenting worship, to which still another was added by 1704. On October 6, 1699 Makemie held the first officially sanctioned Presbyterian service at his home in Makemie Park.

In 1705 Makemie visited England and interested the Presbyterian Union of London in supporting missionary work in America. Two other missionaries returned with him to take charge of several churches in Maryland. In 1706, Makemie collaborated to bring Presbyterian ministers and elders into a voluntary association to establish the Presbytery of Philadelphia. This was the official birth of American Presbyterianism and became the first Presbytery in America, with power to license its own preachers. Makemie was elected the first moderator of the Presbytery. Makemie’s effort was a significant act of churchmanship, making American Presbyterianism independent of external control.

In January 1707, Makemie and a fellow missionary, visiting New York, preached in a private house and were discovered, arrested, and brought before Colonial Governor and defender of the Anglican faith, Lord Cornbury (aka Edward Hyde) for preaching a “pernicious doctrine” without a New York license. Makemie protested that no existing law justified this arrest. His refusal to promise that he would not preach again resulted in a six-week jail term. Defended at his trial by three of the ablest lawyers of the colony, he was acquitted, although required to pay complete charges for the prosecution as well as for his defense.

Makemie was an incredibly sturdy and fearless man of God, and the successful defense and landmark case in favor of religious freedom in 1707 caused the New York legislature to enact laws to prevent such prosecution again in the future. The recall of Lord Cornbury was an immediate result. The historic consequences gradually evolved into a victory for freedom of worship not limited to New York.

This case became widely known throughout the colonies. His written sermon in New York was dusted off and republished during the events leading up to the Declaration of Independence from England 70 years later.

Makemie died in 1708. His importance after the Revolutionary War went unrecognized for over one hundred years until Dr. Littleton P. Bowen and other Presbyterians began the campaign to promote awareness of Makemie’s achievements. The promotion culminated in the purchase on May 30, 1907 of “Pocomoke Plantation,” Makemie’s home, and the dedication of his statue on May 14, 1908. The President of the Presbyterian Historical Society in 1906, Dr. Henry C. McCook, led the effort.

The Francis Makemie Society will celebrate the 315th anniversary of Reverend Francis Makemie receiving a license to hold the first Presbyterian Service in Virginia. The celebration will be hosted by the Eastern Shore of Virginia’s Historical Society at Ker Place in Onancock on Friday, April 25, 2014 at 6:30 PM. The event is open to the general public.

The next multi-day archeological dig dates are scheduled for March 20-22, 2014. Each day the dig will take place from 9 AM through 3:30 PM.

If you are interested in obtaining more information regarding the anniversary celebration or want to participate in archeological digs, please contact Fitz Godwin, Chairman of the Archeology Committee and Vice Chairman of the Francis Makemie Society, at flgodwin_law1@verizon.net.

This article was written in collaboration with Fitz Godwin. Godwin practices Law in Arlington, Virginia and can be found most weekends on the Virginia eastern shore. Fitz has often referred to the Society’s work at Makemie Park as a labor of love.

Update***

The archeological dig and the artifacts removed from this historic site along with documents and drawings discovered through research have determined this location to be Francis Makemie's residence and his burial place. The Francis Makemie Society continues the process of restoring Makemie's burial place on Holden's Creek. The park has been added to the number of attractive historic places on the Eastern Shore as well as continues to give recognition to the life and work of the Rev. Francis Makemie. The completed restoration will enable the Park again to be used by families, churches and other local groups for appropriate recreational activities, as was done in former years.

If you are interested in publishing a faith article, contact Mark Gunderman at gunderman2001@aol.com.

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