To Lonnie Fink: The Rev. Alexander Balmain was born in Scotland in 1740, and was educated at St. Andrews University. He was brought to this country to be a tutor in the home of the famous Richard Henry Lee in Westmoreland County, VA. Balmain later returned to London where he studied for ordination in the established church. He came to Augusta County (VA) in 1771 where he served as assistant rector of the parish. In 1782, he became rector of Frederick Parish, where he served until his death in 1821. His Journal for that period of time is at Christ Episcopal Church in Winchester, but researchers are directed to a xeroxed copy which is maintained by the Handley Regional Library, Archives Division, in Winchester. In 1786, the Rev. Balmain married Lucy Taylor, a cousin of James Madison. Among the many marriage ceremonies performed by the Rev. Balmain was that of James Madison to Dolly Payne Todd, on Sept. 15, 1794. This marriage is recorded in the Frederick County Marriage Book I. Unlike some of the German clergy who travelled to minister in various places in the Shenandoah Valley, Rev. Balmain's ministerial duties were discharged within Frederick Parish. He was the officially appointed rector of the parish. Wilmer L. Kerns At 07:39 PM 9/28/97 -0600, you wrote: >Hello everyone, > Read with interest the thread concerning the Minister Rev Christain STREIT. > >Have several marriages in Fred Co,VA with numerous apparently unconnected >families, who were married by Alexander BALMAIN and Lewis CHASTAIN. Can >anyone supply me with the info on these fellows. > >Religious affliations? Churches? > >Did they travel to any churches outside the Fred Co,VA area? I am looking at >the pre 1800 time frame 1780-1795. >Boy, it would be nice to see the same kind of discussion on these as we did >Rev. Christain STREIT. > > >Thanks a lot. > >Lonnie Fink > >Lonnie fink >InGenWeb Coordinator Floyd/Dubois Co,IN >KyGenWeb Coordinator Shelby/Pulaski Co,KY >http://www.dmrtc.net/~lonfink/wifeme.html >lonfink@dmrtc.net > >