“The two manuscripts volumes hereinafter reproduced in print embody the earliest consecutive records of St. Peter’s Parish, New Kent and James City Counties, Virginia, known to be in existent. The first, and older, of the two volumes was known to Bishop Meade and was used by him in the preparation of this Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia. The second, and later, volume the Bishop does not mention in his book, and it is most probably that he was unaware of its existence…The present volume, containing much original matter not to be found in the two earlier volumes, is provided with an exhaustive index and with some notes, which together should make the records more easily and more profitable used by historical and genealogy students.” –C. G. Chamberlayne