St. Mary's Whitechapel Episcopal Church

Memorial Tablet Unveiled Sunday to First Rector, Rappahannock Record - July 5, 1959

A tablet was presented and unveiled at St. Mary's White Chapel Sunday July 5th by Mrs. Roger Donaldson on behalf of the descendants:  Mrs. Calvin Forester, Port Arthur, Texas; Mrs. Eva D. Clark, San Augustine, Texas; James Anderson Doggett, Greensboro, NC; Anna W. Doggett, Princeton, WV; Mrs. E.C. Hope, York, SC; Denzil Doggett, Indianapolis, IN; Mrs. Hamilton Kellen, Silver Spring, MD and Mrs. Roger I. Donaldson, Morattico in memory of the first permanent rector of St. Mary's White Chapel, Rev. Benjamin Doggett.

He was the son of William Doggett of Ipswich, England where he was born in 1636.  Rev. Mr. Dogget was educated at Cambridge University in England where he received his bachelor of arts degree in 1656/9 and his master of arts degree in 1662.  After being schoolmaster in Stoke, England, he came to colonial Virginia before 1670.

In 1670 he was presented to the governor of Virginia for induction as rector of Trinity Parish.  He became rector of St. Mary's White Chapel and rector of Christ Church Parishes and served until his death in 1682.  His devotion for St. Mary's White Chapel summed up in these few words, "bequeath my soul and body to God that gave it, my body to be buried before ye pulpit in St. Mary's White Chapel."

The authority for previous history on the memorial tablet to be unveiled was by Dr. G. MacLauren Brydon, court records and "colonial Churches in Virginia" by Dr. Goodwin.