Philip Ludwell III and Frances Ludwell

Philip Ludwell III (1716-1767)

and

Frances Ludwell (born Grymes) (1717-1753)

Early life of Philip Ludwell III

On 28 December, 1716, Philip Ludwell III was born at Green Spring, Carter's Creek, near Williamsburg (at that time, the capital of the Colony of Virginia in North America). In those days, Virginia was part of the British Empire. Philip was, in effect, a third-generation Virginian.

His grandfather, Philip Ludwell I (1637/1638–ca.1716), was the first governor of the Province of Carolina (1691-1694). As such, he was the plenipotentiary of the King of England and the British Empire in that region.

His father, Philip Ludwell II, was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, as well as the rector of the College of William and Mary.

Philip's mother was Hannah Harrison, of Indian Fields, Surry, Virginia.

In 1727, Philip inherited Green Spring Plantation, James City County, Virginia, from his father, Philip Ludwell II.

Philip Ludwell III was orphaned in that his father, Philip Ludwell II, reposed when he was 11 years old, and his mother, Hannah Ludwell, reposed when he was 15 years old.

Impression of the Green Spring Plantation

Painting of a tobacco plantation

Photo of maturing tobacco

Early life of Frances Grymes

On 19 November, 1717, Frances Grymes was born to Charles Grymes and Frances Jennings in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia. She had 2 sisters, Lucy, and Rosannah.

Charles Grymes was sheriff of the Richmond County, Virginia (in the "Northern Neck"). At that time, this region was a lucrative area for producing tobacco and other products.

Map detail of the Northern Neck (peninsula)

In the 1720s, Mr. Grymes was a member of the House of Burgesses, and of the Royal Governing Council (the highest legislative, administrative, and judicial governmental body in the colony).

Frances Jennings Grymes was the daughter of the Cambridge University-educated Edmund Jennings, who served as Virginia’s attorney general, secretary of state, president of the Council of State, and as acting governor from 1706 to 1710.

The Grymes plantation at Morattico was named after the primary town of the indigenous Moraughtacund tribe.

Besides this, her family had English and eastern Canadian family connexions, and these connexions in the Eastern Canadian colonies seem to have continued. In those days, all the English-speaking colonies in North America had close ties both to London, England, and to each other. Moreover, her grandfather was Edmund Jennings, Governor of the Virginia Colony (1706-1710).

Marriage, 1737

Philip Ludwell III married Frances Grymes on 29 July, 1737, in Surry county, Virginia Colony.

The Ludwell Family Bible relates the following about the 1737 marriage of Philip Ludwell III and Frances Grymes :

 The daughter of Charles Grymes, of North Farnham Parish in the County of Richmond, in 
 Virginia, Esquire, and Frances his wife, daughter of the Hon’ble Edmund Jenings of Rippon, in 
 Yorkshire, in England, Esquire, who was born at Morattico, in the aforesaid County and Parish on 
 ye 19th day of November, An. Dom. 1717.  The marriage took place at Morattico aforesaid A.D. 
 1737.  

The Lord gave Philip and Frances 3 daughters : Hannah Philippa, born in 1737, Frances, born in 1750, and Lucy, born in 1751.

Mrs. Frances Ludwell, with 2 daughters, Hannah Philippa, and Frances

Another acquisition

In about 1750, Philip and Frances Ludwell inherited another Northern Neck property, "Menokin", from the Charles Grymes estate.

This property was later the home of their nephew Francis Lightfoot Lee, a signer of the Declaration of Independence of the USA.

Philip's business activity

Philip's business interests led to frequent travel between Virginia and England.

Entering the Orthodox Christian Church, 1738

In 1738, just over a year after his marriage, while he was in England, Philip Ludwell was received into the Orthodox Church by the Hieromonk Bartholomew (Cassano) in the Russian Orthodox Church in London.

Hieromonk Bartholomew (Cassano)

Father Bartholomew had gone there in 1712 as a layman, with his uncle, Archimandrite Gennadius, in the entourage of Metropolitan Arsenius of Thebes (Egypt) from the Patriarchate of Alexandria, as part of a project to print Scriptural and liturgical texts in Arabic for Palestinian Christians, and to procure other help for the Orthodox Christian Church in that region. It was the business activities of the "Levant Company" in the eastern Mediterranean regions that opened opportunities between the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge (SPCK) in London, and the Patriarchate of Alexandria. Although the metropolitan returned, the embassy of the Russian Empire requested the return of Archimandrite Gennadius and his nephew Bartholomew in order to establish a mission in London within the Moscow Patriarchate. They both returned in 1716.

The first Rector of the Embassy Church of the Dormition, Archimandrite Gennadius, reposed in the Lord in the beginning of 1737. Father Bartholomew (Cassano), who by then was widowed, and tonsured a monk, became Rector. According to Prince Antioch Kantemir, a well-known poet and the first Russian envoy to London after a twelve-year break, Father Bartholomew ‘spoke and wrote English like a born Englishman’.

Priestmonk Bartholomew celebrated mostly in Greek, but also English. The church inventory for 1749 lists English translations of the two Liturgies, Priest’s Service Book, Catechism, and a box of sermons in English and Greek. The small congregation included Russian diplomats and their families, a few Greek and Russian merchants (between 1681 and 1838 London Greeks did not have a church of their own), Russian commoners living in England, and a dozen English families who were received into Orthodoxy.

The reception, 1739

The reception of Philip Ludwell III into the Orthodox Christian Church occurred at the Russian Imperial Embassy in London on 31 December, 1738 (11 January, 1739 – at that time, all dates were still reckoned on the Old Calendar.) To allow for this reception, a special dispensation had been granted by the Church’s Most Holy Synod in Russia.

The Orthodox Church in London

The Russian Imperial Embassy had its own Temple in London (at that time the only Orthodox Christian place of worship there), and its congregation was, in fact, populated largely by Greeks from Alexandria in the Ottoman Empire (now Egypt), and further by local convert families. There, the Orthodox Christian parish suffered regularly from the hostility of Protestants. It may be kept in mind that this occurred less than 80 years after the 1660 restoration of the monarchy (following the 11 years of the "Commonwealth"/Protectorate period), and that Protestants were harsh (sometimes violent) towards any other expression of Christianity.

Special dispensations for life in North America

Philip was also given exceptional permission to continue to attend Anglican Church services in Virginia, it being recognised that “apart from the Province of Pennsylvania, all religions but Protestantism are banned”. Besides the fact that the Most Holy Synod of the Church of Russia had authorised his reception into the Orthodox Church, it had also blessed his taking the Holy Gifts back to Virginia (as a layman). Moreover, the Synod approved his translation into English of the “Orthodox Confession”, which had been written 100 years earlier by (Saint) Peter Mogila, Metropolitan of Kiev.

Orthodox Confession

After his return to Virginia, Philip Ludwell began translating the 3 most-used Orthodox Divine Liturgy services and other popular services into English. The Holy Synod soon blessed the printing and distribution of his work. The blessing encouraged him, and he began to distribute his English translation of the Orthodox Divine Liturgies to whomever was interested in reading the passages.

Born of an impressive political heritage in Virginia, Philip was involved in the government of the colony. He served in the House of Burgesses, the first popularly-elected deliberative body in the entire "New World" (so called), beginning in the 1740s. By 1752, he had been made part of the Royal Governor’s Virginia Council in 1752.

In government, he used his influence to advocate against the further importation of slaves from Africa, and he also led a committee that sought to find a cure for cancer. He also helped to organise the resettlement of French-speaking Acadian refugees from Nova Scotia (Canada), (1755-1778) who had been expelled from their homeland by order of the Governor of Nova Scotia, Charles Lawrence.

Expulsion of Acadians from Nova Scotia

Philip's conversion to the Orthodox Christian Faith was not a matter of public knowledge. That he was a person of high responsibility in the British Empire would bring an accusation of treason were it to be known (this was so since the 1688 Protestant revolution in the United Kingdom). It was at that time forbidden (on penalty of death) that a non-Protestant exercise such authority.

Furthermore, there is evidence that the Ludwell family in England were not supporters of the Protestant revolution, they were aware of the Fathers, and that they were involved in correspondence with the Orthodox. It is suggested that Philip's interest in the Orthodox Christian Faith was sparked by reading patristic writings.

It is known that Philip Ludwell had an active correspondence with Benjamin Franklin. In this context, he gave financial support towards the efforts of Benjamin Franklin and others for the establishment of the first school for African-American children in Williamsburg.

In 1753, as a colonel, he commissioned George Washington into the British/colonial army. He was a cousin of George Washington’s wife Martha Dandridge Curtis, a Ludwell cousin.

In 1753, Philip's daughter Lucy, was married to Henry Lee II of Leesylvania, Virginia. George Washington had been an earlier suitor, but Mr. Lee was preferred by her.

Philip was related to Robert E Lee and to both President William Henry Harrison and President Benjamin Harrison.

Bereavement, 1753

In 1753, Philip's wife Frances fell asleep in the Lord at home at Green Spring, Virginia.

After her repose, her body was transported to London, England, where it was interred.

Continuing life and work

In 1755, Philip built a town-house in Williamsburg, Virginia, which still stands as a private residence within Colonial Williamsburg, known as the Ludwell Paradise House. This title comes from the fact that Philip Ludwell’s daughter, Lucy, inherited the house, and the fact that her husband was John Paradise (whom she had married on 18 May, 1769). The Paradise family were already Orthodox Christians, as was John Paradise.

Ludwell-Paradise House, Williamsburg

On 14 April, 1762, Philip brought his 3 daughters to be chrismated, and he also stood as their sponsor. It is known that, at about this time, there were also some Greek Orthodox Christians living in the New England colonial regions. It is of some further significance that the Imperial Russian Ambassador to London at that time was later the main supporter of the first mission to North America in co-operation with the antecedent of Russian-American Company, from 1793-1794.

The London parish register documents that Philip Ludwell participated in the sacraments of confession and Holy Communion in that Temple on 12 occasions between 16 August, 1760 and his repose in 1767.

During 1766, while he was residing in London, Colonel Ludwell’s health began to fail him. On 28 September, 1766, Philip Ludwell received Holy Communion in his house there.

On 5 March, 1767, the ailing Philip received the Mysteries (sacraments) of Confession and Holy Communion, and also the Sacrament of Holy Unction at his home.

Repose, 1767

On 25 March, 1767, Colonel Philip Ludwell III reposed in the Lord in London, England.

His funeral was served at the Russian Church in London on Monday, 30 March, 1767, and he was interred in the crypt of the Church of Saint Mary-le-Bow, in Cheapside, London.

His life is remembered in an annual panikhida service in the Eastern American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.

Reflections

Colonel Philip Ludwell III was a Virginian who lived in colonial America in the mid-18th century.

He is the first known Eastern Orthodox Christian in North America. He was received into the Orthodox Christian Church in London, England.

His conversion represented one of the earliest examples of the presence of Orthodox Christians in what is now the United States of America.

A hand-written prayer found in his papers reflects his familiarity with the Psalter, and with the Orthodox liturgical services :

 “The Eucharistical Prayer for the Steadfastness in the Faith”
 
 This God is my God forever & ever, he shall be my guide until Death,
 Every day will I give thanks unto thee & praise thy Name 
 for ever and ever.
 O Let me have understanding in the way of Godliness. 
 For thereby is thy Servant taught & in keeping of thee there is great Reward.

References

Chapman, Nicholas, “Orthodoxy in Colonial Virginia”, 11 November, 2009.

……, “London’s Orthodox Church in 1727”

……, “The Righteous Shall Be in Everlasting Remembrance : Further Reflections on Colonel Philip Ludwell III” 22 March, 2013

……, “An Unexpected Discovery Concerning Philip Ludwell III” 25 June, 2013

Orthodoxwiki biography

Wikipedia biography

Additional information :

Chapman, Nicholas, “Philip Ludwell III” (Selection of various articles)

Chapman, Nicholas, ed., “The Divine and Holy Liturgy of St Gregory the Dialogist” by Saint Gregory of Nyssa with translation by Philip Ludwell III

……, (with Ryan Hunter) “Colonel Philip Ludwell III : The Forerunner of Orthodoxy in North America”

Namee, Matthew, “Orthodoxy in Colonial Virginia”

Sarni, Michael, “The Russian Church in London – From Peter the Great to the Present Day”

Tsapina, Olga, “The Strange Case of Philip Ludwell, III : Anglican Enlightenment and Eastern Orthodoxy in Colonial Virginia” (Work in progress)

Russian Orthodox Embassy Church 1700s, London, England

Orthodox Church of Russia

Church of Russia web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Russia

Patriarchal Exarchate in Western Europe (Moscow Patriarchate)

List of Heads of the Russian Orthodox Church, 988-to the Present

List of Representatives, Ambassadors to the Russian Orthodox Church, London, England

An Annual Panihida for Colonel Philip Ludwell III, 24 February, 2012

The Orthodox Repose of Philip Ludwell III

In Memoriam : The Repose of Colonel Philip Ludwell III in London, 1767

Repose of Frances Grymes Ludwell

“Geni” genealogical information about Philip Ludwell III

“Wikitree” genealogical information about Philip Ludwell III

“Geni” genealogical information about Frances Grymes Ludwell

“Wikitree” genealogical information about Frances Grymes Ludwell

“Lee of Virginia, 1642-1892 : biographical and genealogical sketches of the descendants of Colonel Richard Lee”

“Philip Ludwell : Early Colonial Settlers of Maryland and Virginia’s Northern Neck Countries”. (correct genealogical family details of family and daughters)

The Ludwell Blog

Philip Ludwell III and Early American Orthodox Christianity

Who was Philip Ludwell III ? : The First Known American Convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity

The Life and times of Philip Ludwell III

The Ludwell Image Gallery

Philip Ludwell, Governor of Carolina Province 1692-1693

Letter to George Washington from Philip Ludwell, 8 August 1755

“Green Spring Colonial National Historic Park”

“Ludwell-Paradise House”

“Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library with references to the Ludwell Mansion (NB) Historical Report”

Ancient Faith Radio Podcast : “Orthodoxy in Colonial Virginia” (16 December,2009)

Annual Panikhida is served for Philip Ludwell III (14-27 March, 2012)

An Unexpected Discovery concerning Philip Ludwell III (25 June, 2013) [Nicholas Chapman with Philip Ludwell’s personal copy of his book “The Orthodox Confession” with Photo]

Washington, DC : ‘Historic Presanctified Liturgy using Ludwell Translation of 1761 performed at Saint John the Baptist Cathedral’ in “Eastern American Diocese, Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia” (20 March, 2015).

Philip Ludwell – The First English-Language Translator of Orthodox Divine Services (8 April, 2016 )

The Life and Times of Philip Ludwell III (1 November, 2019)

The First American to Become an Orthodox Christian (6 January, 2024)

Video : "Philip Ludwell III (1716-1767), The Forerunner of Orthodoxy in North America" with narrator Nicholas Chapman