Individual Details

The Rev. Devereux Jarratt was one of the best-known of VA Clergy and long served Bath Parish in Dinwiddie Co VA. In his early 60's he wrote a series of letters to his friend Rev. John Coleman that compile a short narrative of his life. In the first of these he states he was the youngest child of Robert and Sarah Jarratt and that his grandfather has sons Robert and Devereux and a daughter who was married to Walter Clopton of New Kent. His parents both died while he was still a boy and he spent time with his older brothers Robert & Joseph. At age 19, he had an opportunity to move to Albemarle as a schoolmaster in the employ of Jacob Moon. who was an overseer for Col. Richard Cocke of Surry Co.

He is often confused with his uncle of the same name and seen with a wife Elizabeth, but that is an error - his uncle's wife was Elizabeth.

Jarratt, Devereux, born in New Kent county, Virginia, January 6, 1733, son of Robert Jarratt, a carpenter, and Sarah Bradley, his wife. His grandfather had a great admiration for Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, hence the name Devereux. He began preparation for the Presbyterian ministry, but in 1762 determined to take orders in the Protestant Episcopal church, sold his patrimony, and went to England, where he was ordained. He returned to Virginia the next year, and took charge of the Bath parish, in Dinwiddie county, there introducing a system which was regarded as uncanonical and brought him much reproach. He denounced gaming and cock fighting, and he was regarded as a Methodist. His first sermon was delivered in the old Saponey church and he soon attracted large audiences by his warm and impassioned addresses. He published three volumes of sermons (1793-97), and a series of letters to a friend, entitled "Thoughts on Some Important Subjects in Divinity" (1791). He died January 29, 1801.
Source: Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Vol. II, pp. 301-302.

Found on FindAGrave, Memorial #48089949
Devereux Jarratt, was the 3rd Rector of Bath Parish and of Sapony Episcopal Church where he took the charge in August 1763 until his death, due to a tumor near his ear, in 1801. Jarratt was born in Virginia, with both parents dying before he was 14, and raised by his brother until he became a school teacher at an early age. He became a Presbyterian in his 20's but later joined the Church of England where he was ordained Deacon in London, England, in December 1862.
Although he was largely self-educated he stood out above those ordained at the same time that had attended Oxford and Cambridge. "There were several others ordained at the same time, all Englishmen, except myself. Some had studied at Oxford and Cambridge." The pre-ordination announcement was that all examinations were "well done, especially yours from Virginia."
After fighting a bought of small pox he returned to Virginia where he assumed his first charge at Bath Parish and Sapphony Episcopal Church in August 1763.
Fr. Jarratt was an ardant supporter of the American Revolution and a renowned proponent of the Methodist movement although he cooled toward them in later years after it became evident they would not remain in the Anglican fold.
Jarratt was one of the few Anglican clerics affected by the great Awakening at which time he recounted, "I stood alone, not knowing of one Anglican clergyman in Virginia like-minded with myself."
When Fr. Jarratt died in 1801, his funeral was conducted by Bishop Francis Asbury, the pioneering Methodist figure in the Americas. In 1869 his remains *"were transfered from their burial place at Diamond Hill in Amelia County to Sappony Church where he and his wife lie buried beneath the building." (*National Register of Historic Places)

Buried Sapony Cemetery, Dinwiddie Co, VA

Birth	6 Jan 1733	New Kent County, Virginia
Death	29 Jan 1801
Marriage		Martha Claiborne

Spouse

Martha Claiborne (1744 - 1826)

Father	Robert Jarratt (1698 - 1740)
Mother	Sarah Bradley ( - 1735)
Sibling	Mary Jarratt (1721 - 1721)
Sibling	David Jarratt (1723 - )
Sibling	Robert Jarratt (1725 - )
Sibling	Susannah Jarratt (1726 - )
Sibling	Joseph Jarratt ( - )