The Little Night-Cap
A Story of the French Huguenots

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England to settle in the colony of Virginia. Abraham Micheaux, with his wife and 6 children embarked for America, and landed in Stafford County, Virginia, on the banks of the Potomac River, in a new and strange country, thousands of miles away from the sunny land they had forsaken for their precious faith. But the God of the patriach Abraham, country and kindred, was with these exiles, and blessed them in their western home.

In a few years, the Micheaux family moved from Stafford to a settlement of Huguenots on James River, called Manikin Town, where they lived in peace and prosperity. Abraham Micheaux and the "Little Night-Cap" reared 12 children, five sons and seven daughters, from whom many of the most pious and patriotic citizens of Virginia are descended.

They intermarried with the Woodsons, Mortons, Venables, Watkins, Flournoys, Carringtons and others, and their descen- dants, many of the faithful Presbyterians are now scattered throughout the South and West. Elizabeth, the tenth, and Agnes, the eleventh child of the Little Night-Cap, married Sanborne and Richard Woodson. The latter had a daughter named Agnes who married a Virginia pioneer, Joseph Morton, who moved to Charlotte County and settled near Roanoke Bridge. He was, in his sympathies, an Episcopalian, but the Huguenot Church was very dear to his wife, the granddaughter of the Little Night-Cap, and she, too became a devoted Presbyterian.

The history of his connection with the Presbyterian Church is deeply interesting, as related by Dr. Archibald Alexander, who was once pastor of the Briery Church, of which Mr. Morton was an elder for over 20 years. John Morton, a connection of Joseph, who probably lived in Prince Edward County had married a granddaughter of Susannah Micheaux. Elizabeth, a daughter of Sanborne Woodson and his wife. A son of John Morton, also named John, was attached to the ministry of Reverend Samuel Davies, one of the first Presbyterian ministers that preached in Virginia, and who was highly distinguished for his eloquence and piety.

This son, Captain John Morton, once induced Mr. Davies to go with him on a visit to his relatives, the Mortons of Roanoke Bridge. Mr. Davies desired to preach at their house. Mr. Morton, who was a rigid churchman, was reluctant to consent, but after consulting with his wife, he yielded; a messenger was sent around to the neighbors, and a congregation assembled

Dr. Alexander states that "Mr. Davies made such an impression on both that when he departed they accompanied him to Cumberland (more than 30 miles) to the administration of the sacrament. His wife had become deeply impressed from the first evening, and was very anxious about partaking of the Lord's Supper. But she was afraid her husband would not agree to it. She, however, broke the matter to him on Sunday morning, though surprised, he told her to do as she thought proper." In the intermission, after the sermon, he called out Dr. Davies, and told him he wanted to join in communion with teh church. Mr. Davies, after a little conversation, gave him a token of admission, and the husband wife went to the Lord's table.

From this pair sprang a large Presbyterian population, spread far and wide through Prince Edward and Charlotte counties. Not long after, he and a number of others united in building a house of worship at Briery (Prince Edward County). And in a short time, they obtained the labors of Reverend Robert Henry. When there was no sermon, Mr. Morton regularly attended, read a discourse and catechized the children. So consistent was his character, and so beneficial his influence that he was a blessing to the whole community in which he lived.

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