In the first half of this book, Reverend Slaughter discusses the history of St. Mark's, with special emphasis on the founding role of Governor Alexander Spotswood, the organization of the parish, biographies of various rectors, the history of Germanna, the life of his ancestor Captain Philip Slaughter, and other highlights drawn from the parish vestry book. The balance of the volume is devoted to genealogies of the following pioneer families of St. Mark's: Barbour, Broadus, Brown, Carter, Cave, Clayton, Coleman, Conway, Field, Fry, Garnett, Glassell, Green, Hill, Lightfoot, Madison, Pendleton, Slaughter, Stevenson, Strother, Taylor, Thompson, Williams, Winston-Henry, and Woodville.