Bagby.org

Notes for ALFRED PAUL [REV] [D.D.] BAGBY:
Pastor of Mattaponi Baptist Church, 1855-1890.
Founder of Baptist Church at West Point, Virginia.
Author of: "History of King and Queen County, Virginia".
Famous for drawing the Bagby Family Tree which may be found in the Virginia State Library.
Education: Graduate of Columbian College, Washington D.C. [Now George Washington University] in 1847, Attended Princeton Theological Seminary, 1850-1851.
Degree: Doctor of Divinity.
Burial: Mattaponi Baptist Church Cemetery.
Religion: Baptist

Source: "History of King and Queen County Virginia" by: Rev. Alfred P. Bagby, D.D., except for the marriage date which is from the Bagby Family Bible.

Mattaponi Baptist Church Location of the Mattaponi Baptist Church Cemetery where Dr. Alfred Paul Bagby, D.D. is buried. Located in King and Queen County, just a short distance from his homeplace, Bunker Hill and Bruington Baptist Church. Photo taken in 2000. (non-digital)

Note: The following preface to King and Queen County Virginia by Alfred P. Bagby is the perfect description of the feeling that any serious researcher undergoes. He managed to capture in word, what many have thought. I have also entered this preface along with my own writings in the Preface on this web site.

Preface

The author has long since ceased to look for perfection in any production that is merely human, - much less can he make such claim for himself. The most anyone can claim is to approximate his own ideals. Our attempt has been to tell the truth, the whole attainable truth, and nothing but the truth; but we are mindful that the truth is not always the easiest thing to find, nor, when found, is it very easy to state it in a manner at once clear and attractive.

We are not conscious of any sinister thought, certainly not of any commercial thought, in the preparation of this volume. It has cost no little of time, expense, and labor, but it has been a labor love. Himself a native of King and Queen, it has been his aim to set forth what he has seen and known of the nobility of the men and women it has sent forth as a legacy to the world. Omissions often and mistakes many will be observed, unavoidable from the inception, and for reasons but too obvious. Three times have the county records been swept away by fire, once during the Civil War. This is so disastrous that consecutive and detailed history of courts, transfers of real estate, and even county officers, is impossible. Hence much of our story is scrappy and fragmentary I imagine that a parallel can hardly be found in the State.

The county is among the smaller ones, with no great fertility of soil; moreover, we are an isolated people with no great facilities for trading. The most that we can boast is in the character of our men and women, their culture, refinement, virtue, and devotion to religious ideals.

It has been my desire and ambition to do ample justifice to every section of our county. I could have no motive possible to my discernment to do otherwise. As my own life has been in the middle section, things there have come more readily to my mind.

From my boyhood the Baptists have been predominant here. Every effort has been made to override all partiality to them. If some find their family names left out, it is surely not by design. Good men are not always responsive to appeals for family history and genealogy. An author is quite helpless in such matters. Even an honest man cannot write a history without data, nor ought he. The larger space given to the Clarks, the Civil War, etc., is not unfair, for they naturally and reasonably deserve a larger place in the public eye.

Anent the Colonial church, - the Church of England, - every possible effort has been made to get a representation worthy and satisfactory for our volume, but in vain. The author is greatly indebted to Hon. H.R. Pollard, Col. A.F. Fleet, Judges J.G. Dew, T.R.B. Wright, Charles T. Bagby, Esq., B.H. Walker, M.D., John Pollard, D.D., and notable also to W.H. Whitsitt, LL.D., for words of cheer and valued aid in various directions. A. Bagby.

Source: "John Bagby of Bunker Hill"

Three of the "Bunker Hill" sons became Baptist ministers. All held pastorates in Virginia, although the youngest spent twenty-four years in Kentucky.

Alfred took his academic studies at Columbian College as did the others, and then went to Princeton Seminary to prepare for his life's work. Richard Hugh was already pastor of Bruington Baptist Church when Alfred was called to be pastor of Mattaponi Baptist Church in 1856. He served this church for 35 years, living in it's parsonage near Cumnor. Here were born six sons and two daughters to him and his wife, Sarah Jane Pollard of "Bel Air".

"The Grand Old Man"

By: Fred Anderson

"Alfred Bagby, called of God followed in line the Elders Todd At Mattaponi.

For five and 30 years he wrought
As pastor, pure in speech and thought;
Living the gospel which he taught
At Mattaponi."

Last week this column stressed the old-time Virginia Baptist family of the Bagbys of King and Queen as models of family values for today's generation. The Bagby clan was large and had many worthy sons and daughters. Alfred Bagby, though retiring in many ways, was among the most prominent of the clan.

He was one of the grand old men in the history of Virginia Baptists. He was one of those constant, faithful and pure souls who was always there. Only illness kept him away from the meetings of the Dover, Rappahannock or General associations. He once called the General Association the greatest deliberative body on the face of the planet !

Seldom if ever did he miss a Sunday at his beloved Mattaponi Baptist Church where he was pastor for 35 years, 1855-90. In the pulpit Bagby not only would preach but also line-out the hymns, pitching the tune and singing all the parts !

William T. Hundley, the poet who wrote the lines which open this column, grew up in the old church and wrote a classic history of Mattaponi in which he told about his pastor's unique musical gifts: "He had a good, clear voice and could come as near singing all the parts in one and the same stanza, as possible for such a thing to be done."

"I've heard him start off, on the first line of a stanza, with the soprano; on the second line he would swing out on the tenor; in the third line he would touch lightly the alto; and on the fourth line he would take a fling at the bass. He did it well !"

The photograph which accompanies this column was taken in 1873 at the 50th anniversary of the General Association. Bagby was 45. He would live to attend the Centennial in 1923 and it was on that occasion that the preacher who loved to sing gave an impromptu concert on the sidewalk in front of old Second Baptist Church on Franklin Street in downtown Richmond.

At annual meetings, then and now, little groups of friends often cluster for conversation; and all of a sudden, four of the old friends from Mattaponi happened to be together on the sidewalk. One group suggested that the old Mattaponi male quartet should sing once more. The sang "Come Humble Sinner in Whose Breast a Thousand Thoughts Resolve."

One of the quartet members later recalled the scene: "And there on the sidewalk at the front of the steps leading up into the church, we four old fellows from Mattaponi sang with quavering notes one of the old-time melodies we had learned at the old home church in the unforgotten days.

The people on the sidewalk gathered about us. Strong men looked, listened and brushed tears from their eyes."

Alfred Bagby was 95 when he was singing with the other men on the sidewalk. It must have been a scene which tingled the spines. Despite all the decades of clean living and pure thinking, of gospel preaching and gospel singing, of fathering a large and influential family, of following sound principles and displaying good values, Alfred Bagby knew what the Christian must always know: That he was a sinner saved by grace !

And on the sidewalk he could sing with those redeemed:

Come, humble sinner, in whose breast
A thousand thoughts revolve;
Come, with your guilt and fear oppressed,
And make this last resolve:

I'll go to Jesus, though my sin
Has like a moutain rose;
His kingdom now I'll enter in,
Whatever may oppose.

Humbly I'll bow at His command,
And there my guilt confess;
I'll own I am a wretch undone,
Without His sovereign grace.

Surely He will accept my plea,
For He has bid me come;
Forthwith I'll rise, and to Him flee,
For yet, He says, there's room.

Source: Religious Herald, Richmond, Virginia, March 16, 2,000



More About REV. ALFRED PAUL [REV] [D.D.] BAGBY:
Burial: Mattaponi Baptist Church Cemetery
Degree: Doctor of Divinity
Individual Note: Marriage date taken from Bagby Family Bible
Religion: Baptist


Rev. Alfred P. Bagby, D.D., book entitled, "King and Queen County Virginia" is dedicated as follows:

More About Sarah Jane Pollard [Bagby], wife of Dr. Alfred Paul Bagby, D.D.   Sarah Jane Pollard [Bagby]   "The womanhood of the Old South reached its flower about the time of the war between the States, and it is probable that, when character, native grace and attractive qualities, culture of heart and mind, high ideals the kindness of heart that is more than coronets and the simple faith that is more than Norman blood, are considered, the subject of this brief sketch can be rightfully considered one of its most perfect examples." "She was fortunate to be born in a home of moderate means, but of intelligence, character, and true piety. Her education was only such as was afforded by the rural community in which her lot was cast, but as a scholar she was ambitious and diligent, being loved by her teachers and exceedingly popular among her schoolmates. There was that in her face and bearing which promptly attracted and held the pleased attention." "Within the cares of a home and family of her own came, she loved to devote such portions of her time as could be spared to the continued cultivation of her literary instinct and she became the author of a number of poems, universally recognized for their merit. Perhaps the best know of these has reference to Commodore Maury, who remains were carried [pursuant to his expressed wish] through Goshen Pass to their resting place at Lexington:" When laurels are blooming, When the waters so wild Are chafing and fretting Like yon willful child, As they dash o'er the lone rock, So well worn and gray, - Where the laurels are blooming, Oh, bear me that way. "She was devoted to her church as well as to her children, whom she tenderly and laboriously endeavored to rear "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." "In a marvelous degree she was gifted with that instinct which appears to be peculiar to her sex, and on several occasions events coming subsequently to her knowledge were foreshadowed in her dreams." "Her full spirit, like that river of which Cyrus broke the strength, spent itself in channels that knew no great name on earth, but the result of her being was incalculably diffused upon those around her; for the growing good of the world is partly dependent upon un historic acts; and that things are not so bad with you and me as they might have been is half owing to that number who faithfully lived hidden lives and rest in unvisited tombs." HOW A CHRISTIAN WOMAN CAN DIE "You would like, I know, to hear something of the last hours of dear sister. She lingered much longer than we thought she would, and Saturday sister and I both thought she was dying. Sunday morning early they thought her a little better. Sister spent the morning, indeed all of the day, with her. I went over early in the afternoon and spent the night. About 4 o'clock she thought she was dying and sent for uncle. While he stood by her bed she said, 'Come Lord Jesus, come quickly.' Aunt Bettie came later and thought she was not dying, but by ten o'clock it was evident that she could not live long, Uncle knelt by her bed and asked, 'Sallie, my darling, do you know me?' She said, "Yes." "Do you know your brother John?' "Yes." "I had a letter from him and he sent his best love to you.' She said, "Give my love to him.' Then in the midst of some incoherent talk, for her mind wandered a little at times, she suddenly said very clearly and distinctly, 'Oh, my mother!' Later in the night she said, 'Mother, mother, oh, mother!" and "my little boy!' Also, "I have but one trouble." She called me frequently and asked for ice, showing that her mind was clear and that she knew I was with her." "She spoke seldom of her hopes in regard to the future, but at different times during her illness she expressed herself as follows: 'If my Heavenly Father would but take me home, how glad I should be to to.' 'I am not afraid to die' Once she repeated these lines: "Give joy or grief, give ease or pain, Take life or friends away, But let me find them all again In that Eternal Day." And she tried to sing, "Jesus can make a dying bed," etc. "Her funeral was largely attended. Mr. Scott preached from Psalm cxvi. 15. All of her boys were present and cousin Jim. Mr. Moncure and cousin Johnny made very appropriate remarks. The boys are all deeply distressed, and uncle very sad. I was over there yesterday helping Alice, Miss Oteria, and sister to put things in order and make everything comfortable for him; for he intends to keep house. He was sadder than I had seen him and I suppose will feel his loss more and more. I hope to be able to persuade George to come here. Alice wants to take him with her but he says it is 'too far.' His cry of distress when he first heard of his mother's death was truly affecting, but he bears his grief well." "Can't you come down to see uncle and us sometime with Speaker? Bob is well, - is out or would send messages. Best love for you all." "Sister died at 12:40 Sunday night." More About SARAH JANE POLLARD: Source: King and Queen County Virginia by: Dr. Alfred P. Bagby, D.D., pages 319-321. The following is the dedication of his book 'King & Queen County Virginia' - To the gentle woman who for thirty-four years sat by my side, shared my joys and my sorrows, and nurtured my children; who for all these years has been an inspiration in mind and heart and life ~ SARAH JANE (POLLARD) BAGBY ~ this book is affectionately dedicated by the author. Burial: Mattaponi Baptist Church Cemetery Fact 1: Grave Marker Inscription Reads: "A tribute of Love, of husband, and sons, to wife, and mother." Fact 2: She played the organ at Mattaponi Baptist Church - source was Frances Elizabeth Bagby [Collinson]. [Note: Frances had the privilege of visiting Mattaponi Baptist Church and sitting at the same organ and playing it. Dr. and Mrs. Alfred P. Bagby, D.D. were her Great Grandparents and I had the wonderful privilege of visiting with her on the phone several time - Sherri Schäefer Bagby]. Fact 3: Of "Bel Air" - photo is of the homeplace of Sarah Jane Pollard [Bagby], named "Bel Air". Father of Sarah Jane Pollard [Bagby], wife of Dr. Rev. Alfred Paul Bagby, D.D. The book "King and Queen County Virginia", by Alfred Paul Bagby, records the following about John Christopher Bagby, a.k.a., John Bagby of Bunker Hill, father of Dr. Rev. Alfred Paul Bagby and Colonel John Pollard, the father-in-law of Dr. Rev. Alfred Paul Bagby . In 1839, together with Colonel John Pollard of "Bel Air", John Bagby founded the Stevensville Academy to benefit boys, their own as well as neighbors, and it continued to maintain a high standard for more than 25 years. The daughters of these two households were tutored at home or went to Mrs. Southgate's School for Young Ladies at Little Plymouth..   Children of ALFRED BAGBY and SARAH POLLARD are: 1. THOMAS POLLARD BAGBY, b. April 06, 1854, King and Queen County, Virginia; d. December 08, 1889, West Point, Virginia. 2. ANN HAZELTINE BAGBY, b. April 03, 1857, King and Queen County, Virginia; d. about 1866, King and Queen County, Virginia. More About ANN HAZELTINE BAGBY: Burial: Mattaponi Baptist Church Cemetery. Grave marker inscription reads, "To the memory of Annie and Juliet, only daughters of Rev. A. and S.J. Bagby, aged respectively 9 and 13 years. "Of such is the kingdom of heaven". 3. CHARLES TODD BAGBY, b. March 13, 1860, King and Queen County, Virginia; d. Unknown, King and Queen County, Virginia. 4. JOSEPH B. BAGBY, b. about 1861; d. Unknown. More About JOSEPH B. BAGBY: This child is not listed in the book "John Bagby of Bunker Hill". 5. MARY "JULIET" BAGBY, b. about 1863, King and Queen County, Virginia; d. 1877, King and Queen County, Virginia. More About MARY "JULIET" BAGBY: Burial: Mattaponi Baptist Church Cemetery. Grave marker inscription reads, "To the memory of Annie and Juliet, only daughters of Rev. A. and S.J. Bagby, aged respectively 9 and 13 years. "Of such is the kingdom of heaven". 6. ALFRED BAGBY, JR., b. September 18, 1866, King and Queen County, Virginia; d. Unknown. 7. JOHN BAGBY, b. April 01, 1870, King and Queen County, Virginia; d. February 04, 1934, King and Queen County, Virginia. 8. RICHARD HUGH BAGBY, b. about 1873, King and Queen County, Virginia; d. Unknown. 9. GEORGE POINDEXTER BAGBY, b. August 19, 1879, King and Queen County, Virginia; d. about 1935, King and Queen County, Virginia.   [next page]