REV. JAMES MCCHORD HOUSE
N.
Limestone, Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
(Now "Llangollen")
Built 1814
Source: Old Houses of Lexington, C. Frank Dunn, typescript, n.d., copy located in the Kentucky Room, Lexington (Kentucky) Public Library.
Reverend James McChord, first pastor of the Market Street (Second Presbyterian) Church, built this house in 1814--the year before the Church was organized. Deeds and mortgages of adjoining property invariable mentioned "the Brick house built by the Reverend James McChord." One deed so closely followed the contour of the house that it placed the back door 23 1/2 feet from the north end of the building. (A deed of Samuel Long to an adjoining rope-walk September 14, 1814, mentions "Rev. James McChord' lot" here).
Joseph Cabell Breckinridge, who lived in "Thorn Hill" on the corner and had his law office almost in Reverend McChord's front yard, seems to have loaned the pastor the site for the house. Mr. Breckinridge was one of the founders and a member of the building committee of the new church. As Reverend McChord died May 26, 1820, after a brief, but brilliant career that carried his sermons to England, his dwelling here merely reverted to Mr. Breckinridge, whose brother, Rev. John Breckinridge, was chosen pastor of the McChord church in 1823.
Admirers of the scholarly preacher, after his death, changed the name from "Market Street" to "McChord Church," buried his remains beneath the pulpit and placed a marble tablet to him in the wall of the church. This was rather ironical, as Reverend McChord had resigned a year before his death due to criticism from members who wanted "entertainment" rather than serious sermons, and his early death was attributed to the shock to his sensitive nature.
Mr. Breckinridge on January 6, 1815, mortgaged his entire property to John W. Hunt for $8,590, to be paid off in annual installments April 1, 1815, to April 1, 1822, inclusive.
On April 15, 1818, in a deed citing the mortgage to "the lot of ground where "Breckinridge then and now resides," Mr. Hunt issued a quit claim to Mr. Breckinridge and his wife on the McChord house. It released "that part of the lot beginning at a post corner to John W. Hunt's rope-walk lot on Mulberry St., thence with said street north-east 64' 4" to the west corner of Joseph C. Breckinridge's office, thence South-east 56' 4" to the east corner of the Brick house built by the Reverend James McChord, thence South-west 23'6" to a stake near the back door of said McChord's house," etc. (1818 Directory: "Jos. C. Breckinridge, Atty. at Law, Mulberry St." He advertised in the Gazette at this time that he had removed his office here).
After Mr. Breckinridge's death, Mr. Hunt bought the remainder of the property, and deeded it all as a wedding present June 16, 1824, to his son, Charlton Hunt. (Charlton Hunt married Miss Rebecca Warfield, daughter of Dr. Elisha Warfield, April 13, 1824). The deed said, " being the same property purchased recently by John W. Hunt of Mary C. Breckinridge, executrix and sole devisee of J. Cabell Breckinridge, dec'd."
Charlton Hunt, who became Lexington's first mayor, died in 1836 (in "Thorn Hill") and his widow was given his house in lieu of her dower. Adjoining deeds thereafter for some time mentioned "Mrs. Hunt's garden" in the rear. (1838 Directory: "Mrs. Hunt, right side N. Mulberry St., bet. 4th & 5th").
Mrs. Hunt removed to "The Meadows," the famous estate of her father, Dr. Elisha Warfield, and sold the "dower house" to Frank Fitch, who conveyed it in August, 1865, to T. Armant.
Before the death of her father, John W. Hunt, in 1849, and about the time of her going to "The Meadows," Mr. Hunt gave her his "rope-walk" site (next south) and a rear frontage on 5th St., including the "brick house formerly occupied by Mrs. Dunlop." Mrs. Rebekah T. Hunt, as she signed her will, died late in 1867, and devised the latter property to her daughter, Mrs. Katherine Grosh Reid.
T. Arment was mysteriously killed almost in front of his house here, resulting in the slaying of Benjamin Warfield later.
Mrs. Adele Elizabeth Lavergne Armant sold the "dower house" to Patrick H. Reordan in 1866, and he conveyed it to Sarah H. Bowden in 1880.
The Second Presbyterian Church this year (1940) is celebrating its 125th birthday, so we will conclude with the remainder of our sketch on McChord:
Reverend McChord's remains were buried beneath a slab in the Market Street Presbyterian Church, which burned May 22, 1917.
The remains were boxed and held until arrangements could be made for reinterment.
Finally a committee went to the Cemetery to discuss the matter with former Superintendent Nichols. He said there was a monument already erected to Mr. McChord and he would show it to them. He took them over to the graves of Col. James Morrison and Farmer Dewees (who married Col. Morrison's niece) and the committee was amazed to find a handsome cenotaph between the two above-named, with an inscription stating that Farmer Dewees had erected the memorial "to his teacher, Rev. James McChord." (McChord had been a tutor at Transylvania University).
The committee then arranged to bury the famous pastor's remains beside the cenotaph.
The following obituary was published by the Lexington Reporter on Wednesday, May 31, 1820:
DIED. In this County, at 11 o'clock on Monday last, the REV. JAMES MCCHORD, formerly pastor of the Market Street Presbyterian Church in this town, and more recently Principal of the Academy in Paris, Kentucky. Death of late has made melancholy inroads among the pious and useful men of our neighborhood. One after another is rapidly passing away, and leaving a gloomy void behind--Mr. Mcchord was an eminent minister of the gospel, a man of talents, industry and zeal.--He was endeared to a large circle of admiring friends, and had labored with intense assiduity for the promotion of the interests of the church to which he belonged. With a mind of no ordinary character, he united a heart imbued with the most enthusiastic zeal, and glowing with the most ardent piety. His manner of preaching was impressive, often eloquent." His sermons were solemn, calculated to interest, animate and instruct. He wrote with uncommon energy and force, and his attainments were considerable, not only as a divine, but as a scholar. Such a man could not fail to be useful; by his numerous friends therefore his loss will be more painfully and durably felt. W. Monitor.
Reverend McChord died at the home of his father-in-law, David Logan, near Lexington on the Leestown Road, a young man. His great benefactor, Joseph Cabell Breckinridge, was residing in the McChord house at time of the pastor's death. He also died as a young man, September 1, 1823, at Frankfort, while acting as Secretary of State under Governor Adair. The following notice of his funeral was published in the Kentucky Reporter September 8, 1823:
The remains of the late JOSEPH CABELL BRECKINRIDGE were interred at the family residence in this county on Tuesday last. By the death of this gentleman, the State of Kentucky has lost one of its worthiest citizens and ablest statesmen. A deep sensation of grief is universally felt. He had for many years occupied a considerable space in the public eye and always enjoyed the respect, esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens. He was less remarkable for brilliant talents than sound and correct judgment, purity of principle and virtuous patriotism. His private character was irreproachable.
Transcribed by Pam Brinegar, June 2000