Walter Dulaney Addison
Encyclopedia
Walter Dulaney Addison was an Episcopal
clergyman who served as Chaplain of the United States Senate
(1810–1811).
on January 1, 1769, the son of Thomas Covington Addison and Rebecca Dulaney Addison. Their home was Oxon Hill Manor
, overlooking the Potomac River
opposite Alexandria, Virginia
, where the family lived in great state, driving a coach and four with liveried outriders. Along with Mount Vernon
, Belvoir (Crownsville, Maryland)
and Carlisle House, it was one of the great mansions of the Colonial era. The Addison Plantation, as it is sometimes called, was a large agricultural plantation. Acquired by John Addison in 1687, the site was the estate of successive generations of the Addison family.
At the age of fifteen, Addison and two of his brothers were sent to England
to be educated there under the care of his uncle, Dr. John Boucher. He returned to Maryland
in 1789. He studied for the ministry under the direction of Thomas John Claggett
and was made deacon in the parish of Saint Peter's Church, Talbot, on May 26, 1793. Addison was the first rector to be ordained by Bishop Claggett after he became Bishop of Maryland (1793).
, 1793–95.
While there, he established a school at his home, Oxon Hill. In 1799 he became assistant rector and in 1805 he became rector of St. Matthew's Church (Seat Pleasant, Maryland)
also known as Addison Chapel, which had been founded by his ancestor, Col. John Addison. The current Addison Chapel building was erected between 1809 and 1816, under Walter Dulaney Addison's rectorship.
Addison became the first rector of St. John's Church in Georgetown
, in 1801.
He officiated at the funeral of George Washington
. In 1810, Addison sold most of the original Oxon Hill property to Zachariah Berry. Addison was appointed as U.S. Senate Chaplain on December 12, 1810.
He was an incorporator of the Georgetown Lancaster School Society and vice-president of the Bible Society of the District of Columbia.
and Mary Young, on June 5, 1792 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland
. Their children include: Lloyd Dulaney Addison. In 1792, Walter Dulaney Addison and his bride leased Battersea House for a year. Elizabeth Addison gave Battersea its new name, Harmony Hall, which it retains to this day.
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
clergyman who served as Chaplain of the United States Senate
Chaplain of the United States Senate
The Chaplain of the United States Senate opens each session of the United States Senate with a prayer, and provides and coordinates religious programs and pastoral care support for Senators, their staffs, and their families. The Chaplain is appointed by a majority vote of the members of the Senate...
(1810–1811).
Early years
Walter Dulaney Addison was born at Annapolis, MarylandAnnapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
on January 1, 1769, the son of Thomas Covington Addison and Rebecca Dulaney Addison. Their home was Oxon Hill Manor
Oxon Hill Manor
-External links:*, including photo in 1995, at Maryland Historical Trust website* *: 28 photos and 14 data pages, at Historic American Building Survey*: 6 photos and 1 data page, at Historic American Building Survey...
, overlooking the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
opposite Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, where the family lived in great state, driving a coach and four with liveried outriders. Along with Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon
The name Mount Vernon is a dedication to the English Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon. It was first applied to Mount Vernon, the Virginia estate of George Washington, the first President of the United States...
, Belvoir (Crownsville, Maryland)
Belvoir (Crownsville, Maryland)
Belvoir is a historic home at Crownsville, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. It is a two-story, T-shaped building, constructed of brick, stone, and wood. The home is a product of building evolution spanning the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries...
and Carlisle House, it was one of the great mansions of the Colonial era. The Addison Plantation, as it is sometimes called, was a large agricultural plantation. Acquired by John Addison in 1687, the site was the estate of successive generations of the Addison family.
At the age of fifteen, Addison and two of his brothers were sent to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to be educated there under the care of his uncle, Dr. John Boucher. He returned to Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
in 1789. He studied for the ministry under the direction of Thomas John Claggett
Thomas John Claggett
Thomas John Claggett was the first bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America to be consecrated on American soil and the first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.-Early family life:...
and was made deacon in the parish of Saint Peter's Church, Talbot, on May 26, 1793. Addison was the first rector to be ordained by Bishop Claggett after he became Bishop of Maryland (1793).
Ministry
Walter Dulaney Addison was Rector of Queen Anne Parish, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (Bowie, Maryland)Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (Bowie, Maryland)
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Bowie, Maryland was established in 1836 when it became independent of Queen Anne Parish.-History:On December 17, 1717, Reverend Jacob Henderson was appointed as rector of Queen Anne Parish. That same year, he acquired numerous parcels of property through his...
, 1793–95.
While there, he established a school at his home, Oxon Hill. In 1799 he became assistant rector and in 1805 he became rector of St. Matthew's Church (Seat Pleasant, Maryland)
St. Matthew's Church (Seat Pleasant, Maryland)
St. Matthew's Church, also known as Addison Chapel, is a historic Episcopal church located at Seat Pleasant, Prince George's County, Maryland. Although the current chapel was built about 1809, its simple Anglican styling reflects the Colonial-era, Church of England-influenced designs, of which few...
also known as Addison Chapel, which had been founded by his ancestor, Col. John Addison. The current Addison Chapel building was erected between 1809 and 1816, under Walter Dulaney Addison's rectorship.
Addison became the first rector of St. John's Church in Georgetown
Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Georgetown is a neighborhood located in northwest Washington, D.C., situated along the Potomac River. Founded in 1751, the port of Georgetown predated the establishment of the federal district and the City of Washington by 40 years...
, in 1801.
He officiated at the funeral of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. In 1810, Addison sold most of the original Oxon Hill property to Zachariah Berry. Addison was appointed as U.S. Senate Chaplain on December 12, 1810.
He was an incorporator of the Georgetown Lancaster School Society and vice-president of the Bible Society of the District of Columbia.
Personal life
Walter Dulaney Addison married Elizabeth Dulaney Hesselius, the daughter of well-known portrait painter John HesseliusJohn Hesselius
John Hesselius was a portraitist who worked mostly in Virginia and Maryland. He was the son of the Swedish-born portraitist Gustavus Hesselius.-Background:...
and Mary Young, on June 5, 1792 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Anne Arundel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is named for Anne Arundell , a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, England and the wife of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. Its county seat is Annapolis, which is also the capital of the state...
. Their children include: Lloyd Dulaney Addison. In 1792, Walter Dulaney Addison and his bride leased Battersea House for a year. Elizabeth Addison gave Battersea its new name, Harmony Hall, which it retains to this day.