He was born at "The Forrest" plantation near Mattoax in Amelia County, VA. He was the son of Thomas Tabb, a highly respected planter.
John studied under the direction of private tutors and family friends until he was 14, when an "affection of the eyes" curtailed his studies. He continued to acquire proficiency in music and poetry.
At age 17, Tabb served as a captains' clerk on board several "blockade runners" which brought needed supplies to the Confederacy through Union blockades. He was captured on 14 June 1864 off Beaufort, N.C. aboard the "Siren" and held for about six months.
He then joined the 59th Regiment as a private and served under his brother, Col. William Tabb.
He was a tall thin soldier who left no doubt of his physical as well as moral courage.
He went to live in Baltimore after the War. It was there he met Sidney Lanier, poet. It was there also that he chose the Catholic Church. During the summer he would visit Richmond and attend St. Peters Church.
It was from there his high requiem mass was held when he passed away.
After being exchanged in 1865 he enlisted in the 59th Virginia Infantry Regiment.
A friend of the Tabb family, Major B.F. Ficklin, provided financial support for young John to study music and literature.
Tabb began teaching in Episcoplal schools, but was later converted to Catholicism in 1872. Ordained a priest in 1884. Father Tabb continued penning the verses he was inspired to write during his years as an English teacher.
He was buried at his own request, among Confederate comrades in Richmonds' Hollywood Cemetery.
Amelia county residents take pride in an historical marker located on Route 609 near the site of "The Forrest", the birthplace of Father Tabb - a man who brought fame to Amelia and contributed to Virginias' literary traditions.
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Virginia (Amelia County), Amelia Court House — Historical Marker:
John Banister Tabb
Patriot Father John Bannister Tabb was born in Amelia County in 1845 at "The Forest", the Tabb family plantation. A member of one of wealthiest families in Virginia, he was carefully schooled by private tutors until the age of 14, when his eyesight became to poor to read.
In spite of his poor eyesight, shortly after the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Confederate Navy and served aboard the blockade runner Robert E. Lee.
Tabb was captured in 1864.
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Info below from Mémoriaux Atlantique:
In 1878, Fr. Tabb (as he was commonly known) began teaching Greek and English at St Charles College in Ellicott City, MD.
He was widely published in popular and prestigious magazines of the day, including Harper's Monthly, The Atlantic Monthly, and The Cosmopolitan.
His books of poetry include Poems (1894), Lyrics (1897), Later Lyrics (1902), and posthumously, Later Poems (1910). He also wrote one prose work, Bone Rules (1897), an English grammar; only one of his sermons has survived, a sermon on the Assumption (August 15, 1894).
Plagued by eye problems his whole life, he lost his sight completely about a year before he died in the college rooms that he had continued to occupy after his retirement.
He was born at "The Forrest" plantation near Mattoax in Amelia County, VA. He was the son of Thomas Tabb, a highly respected planter.
John studied under the direction of private tutors and family friends until he was 14, when an "affection of the eyes" curtailed his studies. He continued to acquire proficiency in music and poetry.
At age 17, Tabb served as a captains' clerk on board several "blockade runners" which brought needed supplies to the Confederacy through Union blockades. He was captured on 14 June 1864 off Beaufort, N.C. aboard the "Siren" and held for about six months.
He then joined the 59th Regiment as a private and served under his brother, Col. William Tabb.
He was a tall thin soldier who left no doubt of his physical as well as moral courage.
He went to live in Baltimore after the War. It was there he met Sidney Lanier, poet. It was there also that he chose the Catholic Church. During the summer he would visit Richmond and attend St. Peters Church.
It was from there his high requiem mass was held when he passed away.
After being exchanged in 1865 he enlisted in the 59th Virginia Infantry Regiment.
A friend of the Tabb family, Major B.F. Ficklin, provided financial support for young John to study music and literature.
Tabb began teaching in Episcoplal schools, but was later converted to Catholicism in 1872. Ordained a priest in 1884. Father Tabb continued penning the verses he was inspired to write during his years as an English teacher.
He was buried at his own request, among Confederate comrades in Richmonds' Hollywood Cemetery.
Amelia county residents take pride in an historical marker located on Route 609 near the site of "The Forrest", the birthplace of Father Tabb - a man who brought fame to Amelia and contributed to Virginias' literary traditions.
===
Virginia (Amelia County), Amelia Court House — Historical Marker:
John Banister Tabb
Patriot Father John Bannister Tabb was born in Amelia County in 1845 at "The Forest", the Tabb family plantation. A member of one of wealthiest families in Virginia, he was carefully schooled by private tutors until the age of 14, when his eyesight became to poor to read.
In spite of his poor eyesight, shortly after the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Confederate Navy and served aboard the blockade runner Robert E. Lee.
Tabb was captured in 1864.
===
Info below from Mémoriaux Atlantique:
In 1878, Fr. Tabb (as he was commonly known) began teaching Greek and English at St Charles College in Ellicott City, MD.
He was widely published in popular and prestigious magazines of the day, including Harper's Monthly, The Atlantic Monthly, and The Cosmopolitan.
His books of poetry include Poems (1894), Lyrics (1897), Later Lyrics (1902), and posthumously, Later Poems (1910). He also wrote one prose work, Bone Rules (1897), an English grammar; only one of his sermons has survived, a sermon on the Assumption (August 15, 1894).
Plagued by eye problems his whole life, he lost his sight completely about a year before he died in the college rooms that he had continued to occupy after his retirement.
Biografie von: deegraver
