New Book: Matoaca

                                                                                                                                                                     Vol. X, No. 6, June/July 1997

Dr. James N. Birkitt, recently retired pastor of Matoaca Baptist Church, has written a history of Matoaca village and the church which was released 30 June. The full length book is titled:

               MATOACA...

                     The Indian Princess, Pocahontas

                     The Early Plantations of the 1700s

                     The Virginia Village

                     The Baptist Church

Beginning with the 1598 birth of Pocahontas, the book progresses through four area Indian villages and the visit of colonists upriver five days before the founding of Jamestown. Plantations of the 1700s receive a prominent place in the book.

The early history of the Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists is traced with special emphasis on the revival/persecution era of the latter part of the 1700s. The 1858 Matoaca Baptist Church traces its roots to the imprisoned preachers seven generations earlier.

Thoroughly documented, the book traces the history of the 1834-1930 mills in Ettick and Matoaca and of other places of employment such as Titmus Optical Company, Brown and Williamson, and Seward Luggage. Approximately one hundred pictures spotlight events of the near and distant past.

The lives of Confederate soldiers like Ben Perdue and others are a prominent part of the author’s effort. Legendary Jim Seay, the last of the Batteaumen of the Appomattox River, is dealt with as are the grandparents of first lady Nancy Reagan’s grandparents who hailed from Matoaca.

The lives of the Baptist ministers, beginning with Belfield Wells, founding pastor in 1858, are traced, as well as the history of Matoaca Baptist Church’s mother church, Gill Grove, and grandmother church, Second Branch.

The author, Dr. James N. Birkitt, has written several other books on biblical subjects and area historical topics. He has served in Baptist pastorates 46 years and was founder of Central Virginia’s first two Christian radio stations. He retired from Matoaca, which he had served three times, last November.

The book is available through the church or from Christian Enterprises, Inc., 10204 Attems Way, Glen Allen, VA 23060; 804-672-8043.