Continuing our discussion of the Hebron Church account in 1733, one person gave the Minister a piece of linen which was valued at just pence less than one pound. This was almost the wage of a carpenter for eight days. Seems expensive though we do not know the size of the linen. A purchase of 10 quire of paper for the use of the church was made for 12 shillings and 6 pence. My dictionary gives two definitions. Using the older definition, one quire was a sheet folded twice to generate eight writing surfaces. Thus, one surface cost about two pence. Or our carpenter friend could have purchased 15 writing surfaces, about eight pieces of paper, for his day's wages. One didn't want to make any mistakes.
For unexplained reasons, Michael Willhite was paid one shilling as was John Raussen. A deed for the minister's land cost ten shillings. Michael Cook sold a table for the Minister's house for two shilling and six pence.
The contributions of a few individuals in the neighborhood were specifically noted. They seem not to have been members themselves but may have been married to a member or just wanted to support a church in the neighborhood. John Willers gave two and six, i.e., two shillings and six pence, a day's wages. John Hoffman gave five shillings, two days' wages. His wife was a Lutheran though their children seem to have been raised in the Reformed religion. Richard Bordine also gave two and six (some believe he had married a Tanner girl).
Someone made a contribution of 55 pounds of tobacco which was legal tender in Virginia. Fleishman bought money scales (for four and six) for use by Smith. This would have been useful in evaluating gold and silver coins, probably from Mexico. Michael Claur made a "present" valued at 18 and one and a half.
On the 24th of September in 1734 the books were examined by Michael Cook, Michael Glore, Michael Smith, Andrew Kercher, Hans Zeuche and John Caspar Stöver, Minister. Probably the books were balanced at this time because Stöver and two members of the congregation were going to Europe on a fund raising trip. If so, then Stöver actively ministered to the congregation for about a year and a half.
Disbursements during 1734 included Andrew Kercher, Michael Claire, George Utz visiting Fredericksburg for settling accounts and visiting the Court. Their expenses were 12 and nine. Throughout the period, there were purchases of wine for communion services. Blanchenbuchler was repaid for sending a letter on Church business in the amount of 3 and 4. That is, his cost in sending a letter was more than a day's wages. A major expenditure throughout this period was the payment to William Carpenter for the land purchased of him. The total was twenty pounds for the farm. The next largest expense was to have planks sawed for the minister's house. This cost six pounds and five shillings. Taxes (quitrents) had to be paid on the minister's house of four and eleven.
At the raising of the minister's house, Michael Clore was paid for two quarts of brandy in the amount of two and six. Apparently wine was more expensive than brandy but the item following the note on the brandy purchase says, "By paid for the same for the use of the same", for seven and six. (Maybe two quarts were not enough and they had to purchase six quarts more?)
Interestingly, the accounts were kept on an accrual basis, not a cash basis. To get the books to balance, it was necessary to note that Christopher Uhl and Frederick Cappeller had not paid their subscription.
The account was translated into English by James Porteus and upon motion of John Carpenter, administrator of Andrew Kercher, dec'd, was recorded at the Orange County Court on the 24th day of August 1738.
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.