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

84 DESCENDANTS OF PETER MONTAGUE.
She inherited a portion of the dower of her mother, and also prop-
erty in servants from her sister Jane, at her (Jane's) death. The
vestry book of Christ Church records the marriage of Catherine
Montague, Nov. 3, 1777, to Charles Howerton. No trace has been
found of any Howertons descended from Montague, and it has not
been found possible to identify this marriage, or to say that this was
the Catherine who m. Mr. Howerton.
44.
Col. James Montague,* son of William [16], b. Feb. 18, bapt.
March 8, 1741, in Christ Church, Middlesex Co., Va.
He became a distinguished member of the early church in Virginia
and was a man of position, influence and wealth. The land he pur-
chased of Mrs. Henry Washington [the widow of his late brother
John] was a tract of 700 acres. He also held large property in
Richmond Co. He was the owner of a mill, at least records show,
that on "Oct. 4, 1763, James Montague petitioned for a mill." This
was soon after he was 21. His name is mentioned in colonial
histories of Va. [See Semple's Hist. Va. Baptists.] He was a dele-
gate to the Episcopal Convention held in Williamsburg, Va., May 6,
1776. He was a member of the House of Burgesses 1774 from
Middlesex. He was also a Magistrate of the Colony of Va. and is
historically reported as enforcing the rigid acts of Parliament, for
crushing out the Baptists and non-conformists of Va.
He ;;/., June 20, 1760, [his marriage bond bears that date] Mary
Eliza Chinn, dau. of Joseph Chinn of Lancaster Co. Joseph Chinn
* James Montague was a member of the District Committee of Essex and Middlesex for
choice of officers for a company of Regulars, Feb. 20, 1776. [Cal. Papers, Vol. 8, p. 91.] A
warrant for £4. was issued, May 8, 1776, to James Montague for services rendered in Va.]
militia [p. 173].
" A warrant was issued to James Montague, June 22, 1776, for ;£i 7-2-9 in
payment of a guard of militia at Urbanna and for guarding prisoners to Willaimsburg." [p.
215, vol. 8.] Letter of John Waller to "Dear Bro. in the Lord." "Urbanna [Middlesex
prison, Aug. 12, 1771." "At a meeting at Bro. McCains, held last Saturday, while bro.
William Webber was addressing the congregation, from James ii, 18, there came running
toward him in a most furious manner Capt. James Montague, a magistrate of the Co. followed
by the parson of the parish and several others who seemed greatly exasperated, the magistrate
and another took hold of Bro. Webber and dragging him from the stage, delivered him
with bro. W afford, Robert Ware, Richard Falkner, James Greenwood and myself into custody
and commanded that we should be brought before him for trial. They were examined
and searched. Wafford was severely scourged and Henry Street received one lash."— [Lives
of Va. Baptists by J. B. Taylor.] The Church of England was the only legalized form of
worship in Va. at that time, and great opposition was manifested toward the Baptists. Many
of the early settlers of North Carolina were persons who had emigrated there from Va. on
account of the persecutions of the old mother church [compiler].