RICHARD HUGH [D.D.] BAGBY 5, (JOHN CHRISTOPHER 4, RICHARD 3, JOHN 2, JAMES 1) was born June 16, 1820 at "Bunker Hill" in King and Queen County, Virginia and died October 29, 1870. He married ANN ELIZABETH MOTLEY, the daughter of ANDREW B. MOTLEY and ELIZABETH KIDD on November 21, 1834 in King & Queen County. She was born October 16, 1819 in Virginia and died January 14, 1894 in King and Queen County, Virginia.

Notes for RICHARD HUGH [D.D.] BAGBY:

Dr. Richard Hugh Bagby

Richard Hugh Bagby, D.D., born June 16, 1820; married Motley; died October 29th, 1870. A son of John, 1791-1878. Educated at Richmond and Columbian Colleges; taught a session or two and studied law, but answering a higher call, was ordained at Mattaponi in 1842, and became pastor at Bruington Baptist Church, which he served twenty-seven years; in 1869 was made field secretary of the Baptist State Mission Board, in which office he died. His body reposes under a monument at Bruington.

He was for a time president of the General Association, and always an active participant in that and other kindred bodies. His preaching was practical, evangelical, pungent, and wonderfully forceful, acceptable, and effective, and he was in great demand wherever know. One who knew him well, himself a cultured and able man, says: "Dr. Bagby was one of the foremost men Virginia has given to the world." One of the most prominent and able citizens of Richmond says: "He was one of the two greastest men I ever met."

Dr. Bagby's sayings on his deathbed were embalmed in the Religious Herald, having been published more than once. He left two brothers, both having the Doctor of Divinity from their Alma Mater, Columbian College, one at one time President of the Baptist General Association of Kentucky. Rev. H.A. Bagby, D.D., now of South Carolina, is his nephew, as also is A. Paul Bagby, Ph. D., of Kentucky.

In 1840 John Bagby of "Bunker Hill" deeded 263 acres of land to his son, Richard Hugh, who was to become one of the most beloved Baptist ministers in the state of Virginia. Five years later he and his wife Ann Motley, his step-sister, decided to desert the old dwelling on the property and build the house he named "Milton" for his favorite poet.

It has a simple dignity both inside and out, beautifully located near streams of water that continually beckon fishermen. The entire house was built of hand hewn timber. Besides the twelve children born here, "ministers, missionaries and Yankees found "Milton" their resting place." Less than a mile north east of Stevensville, it remains standing on secondary road #631, a tottering sentinel that some day may fade away.

MILTON

This was the home of Rev. Richard Hugh Bagby and Ann Motley, his wife. He was for many years the pastor of Bruington Baptist Church (from 1843-1870), and in October 1870, he died in Richmond and was buried at Bruington. The Rev. Dr. Andrew Broaddus, by request, preached the funeral sermon.

During the Civil War, this pious gentleman captured six Federal soldiers who belonged to Dalghren’s raiders, and the prisoners spent the night in the parlor at Milton and in the morning, the good man asked the blessing at breakfast with his pistol cocked in his hand, taking no chances with his six uniformed guests who sat at his table with the family.

In 1869, an honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Columbian College, which he had attended and was graduated from in 1839. He was moderator of the Baptist General Association of Virginia.

Source: Old New Kent County [Virginia]: Some Account of the Planters, Volume 1, page 420

 

Ministry & Death

The year which witnessed the formation of these two churches was that also in which Richard Hugh Bagby, who had been ordained at the call of Mattapony, entered upon his labors as the successor of Elder Richard Claybrook in the pastoral care of Bruington. Early in his ministry the substantial brick meetinghouse of this church was erected, and here, under his consecrated and earnest labors, remarkable no less for his power to win souls to Christ than for his skill to train them for service after they were won, the church attained a degree of efficiency, influence, and prominence second to none other in the rural parts of Virginia.

Elder Bagby's labors on this field extended through twenty-eight years, and terminated only a few months before his death, which occurred October 29, 1870. His life, which had been eminently marked by holy zeal and consecration, rendered his dying hour almost seraphic. Among his last thoughts he reverted to the scene of his long labors, and said: "I would llike to be buried at Bruington." Again he said: "Oh, in a few hours what indescribable brightness and glory shall I behold — never, never to leave it any more." A little later he exclaimed: "Give me one more draught of that cool water before I begin to taste the cool and pearly water of life, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb in the New Jerusalem... Tell the brethren that I never realized as I do now the glories of the heavenly world... I am happier, ten thousand times happier, than I ever was before in my life. My trust is in God."

Summoning his fastfailing strength, he said to his dear companion, "Kiss me, my wife, kiss me"; and then his spirit gently departed to be with Christ and to behold the pearly fountain which he had already seen in beatific vision.

Source: King and Queen County, Virginia, by Rev. Alfred Bagby, page 96-97

 

Grave Marker

His own dying request that his tombstone should bear this simple inscription forbids that anything else should be written here, except, that this church erects this tablet over his grave, as a memorial of it's gratitude to God, for the rich blessing of his life and labors enjoyed by it through so many years and in token of it's enduring affection for him.

Grave Marker Reads:

Pastor of Bruington

Burial: Bruington Baptist Church Cemetery, Stevensville, Virginia, King and Queen County.
Education: Doctor of Divinity.
Note: His wife was his step-sister — Source: John Bagby of Bunker Hill.
Children not necessarily in order of birth.
Birth, Death dates and Inscription taken from grave marker by Sherri Schaefer Bagby.

More About REV. RICHARD HUGH BAGBY:
Site Owner Note: The article was posted on the King and Queen County Rootsweb Board by Walter M. Ryland. He was a former member of the Bagby Rootsweb List, the former Administrator of the Ryland Rootsweb List and former friend. He passed from this life March 03, 2003 and he will long be remembered my many.

 

More About ANN ELIZABETH MOTLEY: Name Source: "John Bagby of Bunker Hill"

 

Children of RICHARD BAGBY and ANN MOTLEY are:

1. JOHN [M.D.] BAGBY, b. October 4, 1842, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. February 2, 1905, Lake Village, Chicot County, Arkansas.
2. ANDREW HUGH BAGBY, b. About 1843, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. January 5, 1843, King & Queen County, Virginia. More About ANDREW HUGH BAGBY: Died in Infancy.
3. MARIETTA BAGBY, b. About 1845, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. Unknown. Note: Found in the 1850 Census Record. Note: Very similar to child (11), but consistent with family naming 2 & 4 both Andrew. May have died young. Inconsistent with the description of the home they built and the narrator saying (12) children were born.
4. ANDREW FULLER BAGBY, b. About 1847, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. About 1847, King & Queen County, Virginia. More About ANDREW BAGBY: Died in infancy as did his older brother Andrew Bagby.
5. BETTIE HUGH BAGBY, b. About 1850, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. Unknown, King & Queen County, Virginia.
6. EMMELINE COURTNEY "EMMA" BAGBY, b. March 19, 1851, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. June 13, 1925, Lake Village, Chicot County, Arkansas.
7. RUTH R. BAGBY, b. About 1853, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. About 1937, Clarksville, Tennessee.
8. LAURA A. BAGBY, b. About 1854, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. Unknown.
9. HANNAH C. BAGBY, b. About 1857, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. Unknown.
10. LUTHER RICE [REV] BAGBY, b. July 7, 1859, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. August 27, 1934, King & Queen County, Virginia; m. MABLE JOHNSON. More About LUTHER RICE [REV] BAGBY: Religion: Baptist. (No Children).
11. MARIA ETTA BAGBY, b. August 1860, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. After 1900, King & Queen County, Virginia. Note: She does not show in 1870 census record for this family, but she is shown in 1900 census record in household as sister, Virginia Ann Bagby and William Fleet Bagby.
12. VIRGINIA ANN BAGBY, b. August 1861, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. After 1880.
13. RICHARD HUGH BAGBY, JR., b. June 15, 1866, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. September 18, 1942, Essex County, Virginia.

 

HANNAH ELIZABETH BAGBY 5, (JOHN CHRISTOPHER 4, RICHARD 3, JOHN 2, JAMES 1) was born December 27, 1822 in at "Bunker Hill" in King and Queen County, Virginia and died July 23, 1883 in King & Queen County, Virginia. She married JONATHON N. "JOHN" GRESHAM About 1841. He was born About 1820 in Virginia and died About 1884 in King & Queen County, Virginia.

Notes for HANNAH ELIZABETH BAGBY:
Hannah Elizabeth took her middle name from her mother, no doubt, but she always was called by her first. When John N. Gresham came to Stevensville to clerk in her father's quaint little store and post office (pulled down in 1973), he met young Hannah and it was love at first sight. They were married when she was 19 and he was 21, but with her father's investments in grain, land, and a store, she had very little to worry about, as in 1841 he was realizing large profits.

By 1852 the young couple decided to buy a place called "Locust Cottage" so name by a former owner, Mrs. Southgate, when she conducted her famous Academy for Young Ladies there. It was situated less than a mile below Stevensville on the road to Mattaponi Baptist Church.

Source: "John Bagby of Bunker Hill"

More About HANNAH ELIZABETH BAGBY:
Note 1: Name taken from Bagby Family Bible.
Note 2: Religion: Baptist

More About JONATHON N. "JOHN" GRESHAM:
Note 1: Name taken from Bagby Family Bible.
Note 2: I believe this is the brother-in-law of Major John Robert Bagby, C.S.A., below, who is described as a business partner.

The 1880 King & Queen County Census Record lists Landon N. Davis, age 50, Teacher.

Children of HANNAH BAGBY and JONATHON GRESHAM are:

1. MARY ELIZABETH "MOLLY" "BET" GRESHAM, b. November 21, 1841, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. February 9, 1846, King & Queen County, Virginia. More About MARY ELIZABETH "MOLLY" "BET" GRESHAM: Name from book "John Bagby of Bunker Hill" — birth and death dates from Bagby Family Bible.
2. SAMUEL "STRAUGHAN" GRESHAM, b. January 27, 1843, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. October 26, 1850, King & Queen County, Virginia. More About SAMUEL STRAUGHAN GRESHAM: Name from book "John Bagby of Bunker Hill" — birth and death dates from Bagby Family Bible.
3. JESSIE GRESHAM, b. April 27, 1846, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. September 7, 1929, Richmond, Virginia.
4. MARTHA ELIZABETH "MATTIE" GRESHAM, b. March 9, 1849; d. April 13, 1917; m. ROBERT NELSON POLLARD; b. June 8, 1847; d. August 23, 1926. More About MARTHA ELIZABETH "MATTIE" GRESHAM: Burial: Mattaponi Baptist Church Cemetery. Grave Marker Inscription Reads: "Faithful unto death — a crown of life". Notes for ROBERT NELSON POLLARD: Burial: Mattaponi Baptist Church Cemetery, King and Queen County, Virginia. Grave Marker Inscription Reads: "To know him was to love him"
5. JOHN N. GRESHAM, JR., b. About 1852, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. Unknown. Note: Birth year taken from 1860 Census Record.
6. FREDERICK CECIL GRESHAM, b. February 22, 1854, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. November 1856, King & Queen County, Virginia. More About FREDERICK CECIL GRESHAM: Full name from book "John Bagby of Bunker Hill" — birth and death dates from Bagby family Bible.
7. ORA GRESHAM, b. About 1856, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. About 1930, Caroline County, Virginia.
8. SUSAN "SUSIE" GRESHAM, b. About 1862, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. Unknown; m. P.O. GOODRICH; b. Unknown; d. Unknown. More About SUSIE GRESHAM: No children. Note: Birth year taken from 1880 Census Record.
9. ADA GRESHAM, b. About 1864, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. Unknown. More About ADA GRESHAM: Never married. Note: Birth year taken from 1880 Census Record.

 

JOHN ROBERT BAGBY 5, (JOHN CHRISTOPHER 4, RICHARD 3, JOHN 2, JAMES 1) was born November 13, 1826 at "Bunker Hill" in King & Queen County, Virginia and died March 26, 1890. He married ELIZABETH "BETTY" POLLARD FLEET, the daughter of ALEXANDER FLEET and BETSY POLLARD HOOMES on February 11, 1854. She was born May 04, 1833 and died October 16, 1896.

 

 

 

Notes for JOHN ROBERT BAGBY:

John R. Bagby of Stevensville, King and Queen County, Virginia, was appointed Major of the 4th Virginia Artillery in November, 1862. The 4th Virginia Artillery later became the 34th Virginia Infantry. Bagby was imprisoned sometime after April 1864.

Letters were written by John R. Bagby to his wife Betty P. Bagby in Stevensville, King and Queen County, Virginia, while John R. Bagby was in service with the Confederate Army. The correspondence related to camp life and family events. The first letter dates January 19, 1862, the last letter April 21, 1864. The letters are written from camps at Chaffin's Farm, Hanover Court House, Coyner's Springs, and in Charles City County, with a number of letter from Camps near Wilmington, North Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina.

Source: Virginia State Library, reference Accession No.: Miscellaneous Reel 259, Record Ser.: 28675.

Major John R. Bagby — Captain of King and Queen Artillery

Major John Robert Bagby was born November 13th, 1826, near Stevensville Post Office, King and Queen County, Virginia. His father was John Bagby, of Scotch descent, and a soldier in the War of 1812. He was a graduate of the Columbian College at Washington, D.C., taking a high stand in his class. For many years he very successfully conducted a mercantile business at his native place. He was for several terms elected magistrate in his county, and was made colonel of militia previous to the Civil War.

At the breaking-out of the war he raised a volunteer company known as the King and queen Artillery, and afterwards as Company K, Thirty-fourth Virginia Infantry, which company he commanded until 1862, when he was made major of the above-mentioned regiment. He was conspicuous in the battle of Seven Pines, having his horse killed under him, and in several fights was known to kill one of his foes with his own pistol or gun. He was wounded around Petersburg in the spring of 1865; from which he did not recover for many months.

Major Bagby died March 26th, 1890, highly, esteemed by all who knew him. In fact, no man ever lived in his county more loved and honored than he was, as was evidenced at the unveiling of his portrait, which now adorns the walls of the Courthouse of his native county.

Source: King and Queen County Virginia by: Rev. Alfred Bagby, pages 152-153

His courage as a soldier, his loyalty to "the lost cause" – his entire career as a Major in the C.S.A. earned John Robert Bagby the respect and admiration of the county. Upon his return to private life, he became active again in the mercantile business, associated with his brother-in-law, John N. Gresham. The store, still in operation is located where #14 and #633 meet at Stevensville. Robert, as he was called, married Betty Pollard Fleet, daughter of Colonel Alexander Fleet. Six children were born to them but only one had descendants. The Bagby home across the road from the store was recently sold to James Browne Fleet, a distant relative.

Source: John Bagby of Bunker Hill, page 100

Note: It appears the brother-in-law described here was the husband of Hannah Elizabeth Bagby [Gresham].

 

 

Description of home, as follows, per research papers of Pleasant H. "Plez" Bagby

The house located at Stevensville, Virginia on the corner lot, bordered on the north by route #14 and on the west by route #631, was a part of Chelsea, the plantation owned by Captain Robert Courtney of the War of 1812.

In 1853, after the death of Captain Courtney, his two sons, William and Franklin Courtney, deeded 11-1/2 acres, a perfect rectangle, to their nephew, John Robert Bagby, and to John Gresham, whose wife was a sister of said John Robert Bagby. The two men were then doing business as Bagby and Gresham. The deed to the aforesaid lot is now in the possession of the present owner.

There was then a house standing on the lot, and when said John Robert Bagby, afterwards Major C.S.A., was married in 1854, he built an addition to the original house. No one living knows how old the east end of the house is, though it was evidently old when the addition was made. A recent visitor who knows something about old houses says that the indications are that is is 17th century. Just beyond the southern boundary of the above mention lot there was another house, which was probably similar to this. It consisted of a basement dining room, pantry and entry; a room and hall on the first floor; two rooms and a hall on the second floor. It is thought that these were overseers' homes.

The present house has not been altered except by the addition of two bathrooms since 1854. It consists of a basement, dining room, pantry, kitchen and passageway; the second floor has the "parlor", "chamber", and hall; the second floor has three bedrooms and a hall.

When the above name Major Bagby died in 1890, he left the place to his widow for her life and upon her death in 1895 it became the property of his three daughters and a younger son. None of them wanted to live there and an older son, William F. Bagby, moved into the house. It was deeded to him by his brother and sisters in 1908 in exchange for other porperty held by him. He lived there until his death in 1956. By his will it was devised to his unmarried daughter, Olive Bagby, the present owner and resident.

The outstanding feature of the property is the dependencies, which have remained unchanged except for repairs. They consist of the outside kitchen and servant's room; the meat house and dairy; a third building with a loft has been used as an extra bedroom, a school house, a dinig room when the one in the house was being repaired, a sewing room, and as a garage.

 

Site Owner Note: The above description is outdated as follows: Olive Bagby passed away and the home was sold. In looking at the photo above, the front door enters onto what is actually the second level of the home, but the main level. The kitchen and family room are downstairs and the bedrooms are upstairs, which is actually the third level. The home has been beautifully restored.

 

Grave Marker Reads:

True to his convictions, he performed his duty to his country, his family, and his God. I have fought a good fight, finished my course, I have kept the faith.
Note 1: Burial: Bruington Baptist Church Cemetery, King and Queen County, Virginia.
Note 2: The parents of his wife are the research of Pleasant H. "Plez" Bagby, about 1958. The research is an old copy and I have transcribed it as best as I can. It appears to read as follows:

Information given W.H.B. — about 1958

 

Captain William Fleet

Lived at "Rural Felicity" near Truhart about two miles down the county from King and Queen Court House. His children were born there. About 1812 he purchased and moved to Goshen a few miles up the county above Bruington. His son Alexander Fleet (we have his portrait) was twice married.

Portrait, (1) Betsy Pollard Hoomes, Daughter: Betty Pollard Fleet who married Major John Robert Bagby, C.S.A., (2) Martha Hill Butler

Children:
1. Christopher Fleet
2. Alexander Fleet
3. Sarah Browne Fleet [B____]

Children of Alexander Fleet and Unknown:
1. Ella Fleet [Dillard]
2. Hill Fleet — married Lee. Her sister Anne married Ste__s who built Tide's Inn.
3. Martha Fleet
4. Paula? Fleet

Note 3: Degree: Columbian College, Washington, D.C. — with high standing — source: King & Queen County, Virginia by: Rev. Alfred Bagby.
Note 4: Military service: Major of the 4th Virginia Artillery in November, 1862. The 4th Virginia Artillery later became the 34th Virginia Infantry. Bagby was imprisoned sometime after April 1864.
Note 5: Religion: Baptist

 

More About ELIZABETH "BETTY" POLLARD FLEET:

Note 1: Burial: Bruington Baptist Church Cemetery, King and Queen County, Virginia.
Note 2: Birth & Death dates taken from Grave Marker.

 

Children of JOHN BAGBY and ELIZABETH FLEET are:

1. BESSIE FLEET BAGBY, b. March 19, 1858, Stevensville, King & Queen County, Virginia d. January 8, 1942, Belton, Anderson County, South Carolina; m. (1) ALFRED ELIJAH [REV] DICKINSON, the son of RALPH DICKINSON and FRANCES A.S. QUISENBERRY about 1899. He was b. December 3, 1830, Orange County, Virginia; d. November 20, 1906, Richmond, Virginia. Note: No Children. She m. (2) JOEL TOWERS RICE, the son of IBZAN RICE and BARBARA BREAZEALE about 1909. He was b. May 22, 1849, Anderson County, South Carolina; d. June 25, 1940, Anderson, Anderson County, South Carolina. More About BESSIE FLEET BAGBY: Religion: Baptist.
2. MARIA ELLEN "NELLIE" BAGBY, b. Unknown; d. Unknown. More About MARIA ELLEN "NELLIE" BAGBY: Unmarried.
3. WILLIAM FLEET BAGBY, b. January 1861, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. March 28, 1956, King & Queen County, Virginia.
4. MATTIE BAGBY, b. Unknown; d. Unknown. More About MATTIE BAGBY: Died in infancy.
5. MARY CAMPBELL BAGBY, b. September 10, 1865, Stevensville, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. April 21, 1949, Stevensville, King & Queen County, Virginia; m. WILLIAM TODD HAYNES, the son of THOMAS HAYNES and SARAH BROWNE FLEET. He was b. January 29, 1840, Stevensville, King & Queen County, Virginia; d. May 9, 1919, Walkerton, King & Queen County, Virginia. Note: No Children.
6. JOHN ROBERT [M.D.] BAGBY, JR., b. November 23, 1868, Stevensville, King & Queen County, Virginia d. March 21, 1957 Pulaski, Pulaski County, Virginia; m. PERLE STEARNES, the daughter of PATRICK LEWIS STEARNES and BENTLEY KING. She was born August 17, 1875, Montgomery County, Virginia; d. November 23, 1951, Pulaski, Pulaski County, Virginia. NOTE: No Children.

 

 

 

 

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