- 1804 -

On May 4, 1804, a meeting of the Presbyterian Society of Leesburg was held.  The society consisted of 38 members.  Peter Carr having formerly acted as ruling Elder of the Catoctin Congregation was admitted to act as such in the Society.  Obadiah Clifford and John McCormick were recommended and appointed to the office of Ruling Elders in the Society.

On May 5, 1804, Obadiah Clifford and John McCormick having declared their willingness to act as Ruling Elders were ordained agreeably to the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America by Dr. James Hall of North Carolina.

On May 6, 1804, the first meeting of the Church was held.  At this time, the Sacrament of the Lords Supper was administered in the Presbyterian Church to 27 members and they were admitted as members in full communion.  Ten other individuals were admitted to the occasional communion (2 were named as Methodists).  Two infant children were baptized.  At this first meeting, agreeable to a resolution of the Synod of Virginia, a collection was made for the support of Missionaries within its bounds.  The amount collected was forty shillings and was deposited in the hands of John McCormick.

The remainder of this year minutes of the session indicate that five other infant children were baptized and seven members were admitted to full communion.

Minutes indicate that 5 members were admitted to full communion and 2 others were admitted to occasional communion.  Also a meeting of the Session was held and John McCormick was appointed the first Clerk and charged with the records.

- 1807 -

Congregational meeting was held and two ruling Elders were chosen.  Ebenezer Potter who had been acting as ruling Elder in Shepherdstown Congregation had moved to Leesburg and was chosen to act as such in this Congregation.  Robert Wade being elected and having declared his willingness to serve as ruling elder was ordained agreeably to the rules of the Presbyterian Church in America.  John Mines became the pastor.

- 1808 -

In May, the Session had a call meeting.  This is the first mention of the Congregation's minister.  The Reverend John Mines, Pastor, was present.  The Session directed the Reverend John Mines to cite Obadiah Clifford, ruling Elder, to appear before them to answer to a charge of neglect of public worship and official duty on the last communion day.  On June 3rd, a letter was sent asking Mr. Clifford to attend a meeting with the Session to have a free conversation on the subject.  On July 1st, such a meeting took place and all apparent obstacles to former harmony were perfectly removed and a hearty and cordial reconciliation took place.

- 1811 -

On May 8th, the Session met and made the following resolution:

That in conformity to our book of discipline and the special direction of Presbytery, the Session will proceed immediately to ascertain and register all persons related to this Church by baptism, who are not in full communion, that a proper care and guardianship may be exercised over them.

Two other persons were chosen to serve as ruling Elders, James Scott and Martin Kitzmiller.

Session recommended deliberation concerning the request to admit a certain individual into communion her conversation was reported to be not altogether decorous nor adorned with that modesty that becomes a person making a Christian profession.  The individual in question did at that time make a solemn resolution that with divine assistance she would abstain from all conversation inconsistent with the purity of the Gospel and she was admitted into communion.

In another matter a non-communicant individual complained to the Session that a member of this Church used offensive and unChristian language towards her.  The Session appointed a committee to meet with the parties: a meeting was held on June 4.  The individual admitted the conversation and declared genuine sorrow and desire of reconciliation.  The parties then gave each other the right hand of fellowship and prayed for Grace to continue in Charity and Friendship.  This report was submitted to the Session.

The last reported Session meeting in this year was held October 8, a representative was appointed to represent this congregation in Presbytery at their meeting the following week.

- 1812 -

On May 16th, the Session met.  They resolved that in the future, applicants for admission to the Lord's Supper be examined as to their religious exercises and knowledge in presence of the Session.  Persons were then examined and admitted to the ordinance of baptism and the Lord's Supper.

- 1814 -

At the call of the Moderator, the Session met on November 8th.  The Session, having information that an Elder had become intemperate, upon inquiry found that he was charged with intoxication at different times.  Various occasions were cited, and the Elder was to be furnished a copy of the charges and asked to appear.  On November 19th, he did appear before the Session and confessed to the charges, the Session unanimously resolved that he be suspended from the sacrament of the Church till he would give satisfactory evidence of the sincerity of his repentance.

- 1817 -

The minutes at this point list the members now in communion of the Presbyterian Church as Leesburg, April 12, 1817.  There were 61 people listed; 21 men and 40 women.  Records indicate that there were at this time a Waterford Branch of this congregation.  At a meeting held on November 15th, the Session discussed the request for an additional part of the pastoral labors of Mr. mines.  It was recommended that Waterford should have a larger portion of his labors provided they increase his salary in a ratio proportionate.

- 1819 -

The Session considered the recommendation of the Winchester Presbytery regarding the formation of Missionary Associations.  On January 18th, they resolved to form such an association in Leesburg congregation and appointed a committee to draft a form and solicit subscribers.  In February, a meeting of the Subscribers to the Missionary Association was held, a constitution was adopted and officers chosen.

At a meeting o the Session  in August a member was cited to show why he has neglected attendance at public worship and the ordinances for the last 12 months.

- 1822 -

The work of Mr. Mines came to an end.  In addition to the work in his pastorate, Mr. Mines was a commissioner to the General Assembly from Lexington, Presbytery in 1805.

- 1823 -

Notes of a meeting on April 15 contain the first mention of Dr. Chapman, pastor.  The Rev. Robert H. Chapman was pastor for 1 year.  He is mentioned several times in the minutes of the General Assembly as an indefatigable worker in the home mission field, sometimes going on a circuit of 700 miles, preaching the Gospel wherever he could gather a congregation.  Chapman was a commissioner to the General Assembly in Philadelphia in 1820 and is mentioned as Moderator of the Winchester Presbytery in 1826.

- 1825 -

September notes of a meeting reflect the election of Edward Dorsey and Alexander Lawrence to the office of ruling Elders.  The first mention of Deacons is in the minutes of this meeting when it is stated that C.P.W. Balch, John Hamerly, and Stover were elected to the office of Deacons.  All were solemnly set apart to their offices agreeably to the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church.  Notes of the meeting on October 17th list Rev. Septimus Tuston, Minister.  He was unanimously chosen Moderator; he was described by one church historian as "a promising your man" but who explained further that "during his ministration (on account of some internal dissensions) the church lost several of its most valuable members and did not recover from the evil effects for several years."  At this time, the local newspaper in Leesburg carried regular ads: "Samuel Tustin - Coach Maker" - there is only speculation that Septimus was Samuel's son.

- 1826 -

The pulpit again was empty and there was apparently no regular minister.

- 1827 -

Minutes mention Rev. Wm. Williamson on March 4th as acting Moderator.  June 20th, the minutes list Rev. John Jones who also acted as Moderator until Oct. 15th when the Session concluded that it was not convenient to obtain a Minister of the Gospel to preside as Moderator.

At this time, the total members reported were 52.