Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Mackie, Josias

MACKIE, Josias, clergyman, b. in County Donegal, Ireland; d. in Virginia in November, 1716. He was one of the earliest Presbyterian ministers that came to this country. The year of his arrival here is unknown, but the earliest notice that refers to him bears the date 22 June, 1692. His first charge appears to have been on Elizabeth river, Va., where he probably became the successor of Francis Mackemie, the first regular Presbyterian clergyman that came to the colonies. He was licensed to preach in 1692, and selected three different places for public worship, many miles apart, on Elizabeth river; these were in the Eastern branch, in Tanner's creek precinct, and in the Western branch, to which was added, in 1696, the Southern branch. Here, with the care of a farm and store, he found time to preach, but of his labors no record has been preserved.