[ [31] The Reverend Thomas Davis, Rector of Christ Church, Alexandria, preached the funeral sermon at Mount Vernon. The Reverend James Muir, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Alexandria, and Dr. Addison, an Episcopal clergyman from Maryland, also attended the service. Charles W. Stetson, Washington and His Neighbors (Richmond, Va.: Garrett & Massie, Inc., 1956), p. 298, quoting Tobias Lear.
[ [32] Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, Minutes of the General Assembly, 1798, p. 141. The preceding year, Maffitt was listed simply as "licentiate."
[ [33] Ibid., Minutes, 1800, p. 192. This year, and in succeeding years, Maffitt is listed as "without charge." He did, however, carry out various pastoral duties. In 1802, at the ordination of James Inglis in the Presbyterian Meeting House, Maffitt "concluded the services, after having exhorted the newly ordained pastor and the people of his charge, in a short but impressive address," according to the Alexandria Gazette of April 30, 1802.
In May, 1808, Maffitt was a commissioner to the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church at its meeting in Baltimore, along with Reverend James Inglis. He was late in arriving and "took his seat the 4th day of the sessions." The minutes of May 23 (p. 399) report that
The Reverend William Maffitt, of the Presbytery of Baltimore, appeared in the Assembly and stated that he had neglected to bring his commission. Two commissioners from the same Presbytery certified that Mr. Maffitt had been appointed by the Presbytery as commissioner to this Assembly. On motion: Resolved, that Mr. Maffitt be received as a member. And he accordingly took his seat.
[ [34] Letter to the author from Ruth B. Lee, librarian of the Historical Foundation of the Presbyterian and Reformed Church, Montreat, N.C., dated March 29, 1977:
As you will see the first reference to Mr. Maffitt is as a licentiate in Baltimore Presbytery. His only pastorate seems to have been in Bladensburg (later Hyattsville), and after this he is listed as being without charge. This means that he was not an active pastor in a church. He seems to have remained in Baltimore Presbytery, though of course he may have served outside the Presbytery at some time and still remained a member of that Presbytery.
I question whether he was actually ordained by Newcastle Presbytery, since the ordination usually took place when a man was installed as the pastor of a church. The licentiate is the candidate for the ministry who is licensed to preach but is not yet ordained.
[ [35] Alexandria Gazette, January 30, 1800.