History and genealogy of Peter Montague, of Nansemond and ...

BRANCH OF HIS SON PETER. IOI
75-
Rev. Philip Montague,* son of Col. Philip [24], b. June 19,
776. He was one of the most distinguished ministers of the gospel
f the Baptist church that Virginia has produced. Of fervent, ardent
liety, of persuasive and convincing eloquence, he was loved, honored
nd revered through the entire state and through Maryland. He
esided on the farm called " Fountain Run " in Essex, near the
hurch of which he was pastor, and where he d, March 9, 1857
tombstone]. He m, Elizabeth Williams,t dau of Howard Williams,
ler mother was Elizabeth Montague [49] or [96] ;
it has been found
mpossible to say which one of them. Attention is called to the old
litter written by him, given below, copied by the compiler from the
original letter and here preserved in memory of him.
* The following very interesting letter was sent to the compiler, after this work was in
ress, by Mrs. Buskirk [3307] wife of Judge Edward C. Buskirk of Indianapolis. The letter
as written by Rev. Philip Montague of Va., to Elder William Montague [No. 3182 in this
r
ork] of Ky. Mrs. Buskirk is the grand dau. of Elder William Montague. The letter was
>und among the papers of her father after his death and has been preserved by Mrs. Buskirk
s a precious relic of her father and grandfather.
{Copy from the Original Letter."]
iddressed to Elder William Montague,
Sand Run Baptist Church, North Bend Association, Kentucky.
Fountain Run, Essex Co., Va., July 21, 1830.
'ery Dear Brother and I expect Cousin:
I received the minutes of your Association some time last summer by Bro. A.
,e\\is and was gratified, not only to find my relations were following the dear Redeemer, but.
tood pretty high in the Church of which you are a member, as also in the Association. This
lay be a little pride in me, and very likely is. It is enough, my dear brother, if we are the
hildren of God, that will entitle us to a seat at His right hand, where there are pleasures
orever more. I concluded on the reception of the minutes, to write you immediately. But
/hile thy servant was busy here and there, it went out of my head and probably should not
lave thought of it again, but accidently coming across the minutes 1 determined to sit down
mmediately and scribble off something to you. My father was named Philip, after whom I
t'as named. He had ten children, viz.: Charlotte, Thomas, Frances, Catherine, Penelope,
'hilip who died when an infant, myself, William Latane, Elizabeth and Martha. Thomas,.
pilip, and Elizabeth are dead, all the rest are alive and, am happy to inform you, are all
baptists. My father and mother were Episcopalians, and when I can first remember, were
nuch opposed to the Baptists, and unwilling for their children to attend Baptist meetings.
Consequently I do not remember to have heard a baptist preach until I was pretty much
Town. My convictions at the first were but moderate, and by leaving my friends and living
,mong young, wild persons I seemed to have forgotten it. And strange to state never
eturned untii I became a married man and 28 years old. Oh how good God was to bear so
ong with me. But when He attacked me the second time, it was very powerful. I became
vretched and miserably alarmed for two or three months. I ate no pleasant bread and
iially came near despair, when reading the Bible my mind became somewhat composed and
lost the weight of guilt which seemed to have bound me down so long. Yet I could not
jelieve in the dear Redeemer. And I was kept in a state of suspense for near two months
onger, in which time I had full confidence in the Christian religion, but I could not believe for
nyself. But God was good, He who had begun the good work did carry it on, unto the day
>f Jesus Christ. One evening a little after dark I went to prayer as usual, and while thus.