St. Peter's and Blisland Parishes Virginia Boundary Dispute
Involving John Roper, Vestryman and Church Warden

Excerpts from The Vestry Book of Saint Peter's, New Kent County, Va. from 1682-1758:

• Vestry held in St. Peter's Church for St. Peter's parish, New Kent Co., ye 1686 Ann. Dom. Regis, Jan 2nd: It is ordered that Mr. Gideon Macon & Mr. God. Smith & Mr. Jno. Roper do go down to parish of Blissland & to discover of gentlemen of vestry about dividing line of ye two according a formal agreement, and that they are hereby fully empowered to employ a Surveyor to run a dividing line in full confirmation of ye same.
• At a vestry held at St. Peter's Church for St. Peter's parish this 31st day of March 1688: It is ordered by this present vestry of Mr. Jno. Roper & Mr. Will. Bassett, Chruch wardens, of this parish, do employ a Surveyor to run a dividing line between the parish of St. Peter's & ye parish of Blissland upon ye 30th of May next, according to an agreement of two * * * vestry of Blissland parish in ye year 1688 for ye dividing of ye same & y't ye Church wardens of this parish do give ye Church wardens of Blissland ye twenty days' notice of ye same & ye Mr. Rich'd Littlepage, Capt. Joseph Forster, Mr. Geo. Polegreen, Mr. Henry Benskin, or any two of those be requested to be there on ye same day to take their evidence as shall then be brought before them, ye place of meeting being at the beginning of ye dividing line, called Capt. Bassett's Landing * * * next by, 10 of ye clock of ye on ye s'd 30th day of May.
• At a Concil held at James City, Octo ye 18th, 1689. Pres't Nath. Bacon, Esq., Pres't Council: Mr. Will. Phillips & Mr. Jno. Roper having been summoned Evidences in ye difference between Blissland pa'sh & St. Peter's p'sh in New Kent County & attending in James City each of them three days, it is ordered y't they be paid for ye same by ye s'd Parishes in two days coming to James City, date returning home according to Law with costs.
• At a Vestry held at ye Chuch of St. Peter's parish, in ye behalf of ye s'd parish, this 3rd day of Decem., 1689: It is ordered y't sometime between this & Easter Mr. Macon, Mr. * * * , Mr. Roper & Mr. Bassett do appoint a meeting of ye Gentle'n of Blissland parish vestry & to Levvy a Charge according to ye order of ye * * * & Counsel & to run ye dividing line accordingly.
• St. Peter's Parish, at a vestry held at the uper Church the 19th March, 1698-9: Mr. Nicholas Meriwether was this day chosen vestryman in the place & stead of Mr. John Roper, late dec't and the oathes injoyed by act of Parlament duly administered unto him by Mr. James Moss and did likewise promise and sware as a vestryman of this parish that he would be Conformable in all things Relating to the Church of England as it is now Established.

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