Charlotte County Sketches
H.D. Club News
The State
Federated Program of Work Art in Daily Living was selected by the Charlotte
County Federation for 1964. This being the 200th anniversary of the
founding of the county, they are appropriately selected for particular emphasis
the phase, "An Appreciation of Our Heritage".
Mrs. B.E.
Bailey, county Chairman, has prepared a series of articles, one of which is
presented in the club each month. Mrs. Bailey has compiled information
from many sources in preparing these articles and she wishes to acknowledge use
of same.
It is hoped
that the Gazette readers will enjoy these articles as much as the home
demonstration club members for whom they were originally prepared.
The Charlotte Gazette,
Drakes Branch, VA., Thursday, April 23, 1964
SKETCH NO. 1
HISTORY OF CHARLOTTE
COUNTY
By Annie Lou D.
Bailey, Program of Work Chairman, Charlotte County H.D. Clubs
This
being the 200th anniversary of Charlotte County, we feel it would be fitting
for our Home Demonstration Clubs to review some of the facts about our county.
Charlotte County was set off from Lunenburg in 1764. The House of
Burgesses named the new county after the young Queen of George III, the
Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg.
The
white population was composed of English, with a trace of French Hugenots and
an admixture (a mixture) of Scotch-Irish. The established religion of the
colony was English Protestant Episcopal and Charlotte County was embraced in
Cornwall Parish. However, the Scotch-Irish and Huguenots introduced
Presbyterian and Cub Creek church was one of the earliest preaching places of
the great Smauel (Samuel) Davis. Afterwards the Baptist and Methodist
gained strong foothold.
Charlotte
County, has always been foremost in the cause of liberty. Her delegates,
Paul Carrington and Thomas Read, were among those who voted for the resolutions
against the Stamp Act, which brought on the Revolution.
The
county was as brave in defense of American rights as it was quick in
recognizing them. The Charlotte militia under General Robert Lawson of
Prince Edward served under Lafayette in the campaign ending in the surrender of
the army of Cornwallis at Yorktown.
In
the War of 1812, the county was no less prompt to do her part than in the
Revolution. When a British fleet entered Chesapeake Bay in May 1813, and
the attack upon Craney Island was made, an artillery company from Charlotte,
under Capt. John D. Richardson, carried off the laurels of the day in repelling
the enemy, who soon left the bay.
Nor
did the War Between the States find any decline in the valor of the county.
She furnished her full quota of troops, including infantry, cavalry and
artillery.
Throught
(through out) all the campaigns and hard fought battles and in the last sad
drama at Appomattox her sons bore an honorable part. The first and last guns of
the war were fired by them.
Nor
does the glory and valor of the sons of Charlotte County end with the wars
already mentioned, for World Wars I and II and the Kirean (Korean) War could
add many illustrious names and deeds of valor.
SKETCH NO.
2
HISTORY OF
CHARLOTTE COUNTY
By Annie Lou D.
Bailey, Program of Work Chairman, Charlotte County H.D. Clubs
CHARLOTTE
COUNTY SCHOOLS
The
public schools in Charlotte County began with the provision of the Constitution
in 1870. At that time the best element of the white people were opposed to them
and this opposition for a time crippled their efficiency.
As
said Mr. Charles C. Paris, District Superintendent of Schools in 1907, "I
venture to say that the day is not far distant when this grand and historic old
county, after telling you of her Henry, her Randolph, her Carrington, and other
noble sons, will turn from them, and pointing with peculiar pride to her
schools, will say 'but these are my jewels'."
"Old
Field" schools were maintained in the various communities. These
buildings were most often one room log houses with a window on either side,
home-made double seats, a long recitation bench at the front, and iron stove
set in a box of sand, a rocking chair for the teacher and a water shelf with a
bucket and a common dipper. And as for toilet facilities, there were
none.
The
schools ran for five months out of the year and the teacher received possibly
$20.00 per month, $5.00 of which she paid for board in some home in the
community.
Private
schools played an important part in the education of the youth of Charlotte
County. Among the privates (private) schools, I shall name three which
made an outstanding contribution. The first I shall name is Bon Air.
Bon Air was a boarding school for girls. The Rev. Mr.
Gibbs was pastor of the Methodist Church in Smithville (Charlotte C.H. was
called Smithville at that time) and president of the school. Music, art
languages and regular subjects were taught and graduates were well prepared for
teaching.
Long
after Bon Air was closed, Miss Mollie Gibbs taught music in one room of the
public school, then located in the house now the home of Miss Bessie
Daniel.
Dr.
C.H. Gibbs, son of the president of Bon Air, was the much beloved "Country
Doctor" who lived at Bon Air until it was burned about 1914. He then moved
into the village of Charlotte Court House.
The
second school, I shall mention was Moldavia. Mr. David
Comfort started a boarding school two miles from the county seat and
called it Moldavia.
Mr.
Comfort was a scholar well versed in classices (classics), especially Latin.
A daughter taught Greek and Hebrew, another daughter, Mrs. Sarah
Comfort Watkins, music. Art was also taught. Some pupils from
Richmond came to Moldavia, which ranked with the best schools. Some boys were
admitted as day pupils and they walked from Smithville. Students were
well prepared for college and for life.
When
Moldavia closed some of the faculty moved to Smithville. Four generations
of the Comfort family have taught in Smithville, later called Charlotte C.H.
These are Mr. and Mrs. David Comfort, Mrs. Sarah
Comfort Watkins, Mrs. Loulie Watkins Ramsey, Miss Nannie
Ramsey and Mr. Burdett Ramsey.
Mrs.
Bessie Marshall Hutcheson taught at Moldavia for many years. The
county has a debt to Moldavia for her walls many of our most outstanding men
and women got their foundation for college and their life's work.
Moldavia
still stands and is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. W.P. Ingram.
The
third school I shall mention briefly is Virginia Home School, which is located
at Keysville. Many of us remember Mrs. Spencer, a much beloved music
teacher in Charlotte Court House. Miss Minnie Gilmore came to Keysville
to teach French and music and through the Spencer girls, who also taught there,
met and married Mr. William Spencer.
The
following figures will give some idea of the growth of the public schools in
Charlotte County.
School
population: 1870-71, 4,719 -- 1905-06, 5,121 -- 1930, 5,811 --1962-63.
School
enrollment White 1870-71, 1,550 -- 1905-06, 3,280 -- 1930, 3,122 -- 1962-63,
1,769; -- Negro 1870-71, (W&N); -- 1905-06 (W&N) -- 1930,
(W&N) -- 1962-63, 1,697
No.
of schools -- White 1870-71, 36 Negro, (W&N) -- 1905-06 White 58; Negro 28
-- 1930; White 22, Negro, 28 -- 1962-63 White, 6; Negro, 4.
Amount
of Expenditures 1870-71 $5,589.51 -- 1905-06, $12,156.50 1930, $93,000.00 --
1962-63, $949,617.35.
Value
of school property: 1870-71, 2,275.00 -- 1905-06, 22,850.00 1930, 250,000.00
1962-63, 2,893,963.93.
The
old field schools gradually passed out of existence and more modern schools
were built. In 1907 there were two high schools in the county, one at
Charlotte Court House, the other at Keysville. It was said of Keysville,
"Keysville has a large up-to-date high school, where, in addition to the
primary branches, the languages and music are taught. Five competent
teachers conduct this school."
Of
Charlotte C.H., "It has a large high school, very successfully conducted
by a principal and two assistants."
Schools
continued to improve and by 1930 there were four 4 year high schools and one 3
year high school. Also a new training school had been developed at
Charlotte C.H. for the Negro children, offering high school work and work in
the vocational agriculture.
By
1937 the need for one centrally located high school in the county was felt and
Randolph-Henry was born. Since that time several elementary schools have
combined and the schools that once were, Bethel, Aspen, Madisonville and Phenix
consolidated and now they enjoy an up-to-date school building located in
Phenix.
The
Negroes enjoy three modern elementary schools and the up-to-date Central High
school. Today 43 school buses, which go into every section of the county
transport the children to the various schools. Let us hope that our youth
and their parents appreciate the comforts of school in 1963-64 and remember
sometimes the real hardships their grandparents endured when walking was the
most used means of transportation and if the distance was to board away from
home in order to receive a high school education.
SKETCH 3
HISTORY
OF CHARLOTTE COUNTY
By Annie
Lou D. Bailey, Program of Work Chairman, Charlotte County H.D. Clubs
During the French and
Indian War, after the defeat of General Braddock at Fort
Duquesne in 1755, there was fear that the Indians, incited by the French might
decend (descend) on the settlers in the then frontier counties, bent upon
massacre and pillage.
Gov.
Dinwiddie, for protection against
the enemy, established a line of forts in Augusta, Halifax, Bedford and other
parts of the state. Colonel Clement Read assisted the governor and by his
recommendation, the area which is now Charlotte C.H. was chosen as a magazine,
or storage depot, where they would be reasonably safe and yet closer than far
away Williamsburg. The place of this magazine was probably where the
Courthouse green is now, hence the first name Charlotte C.H. bore was "The
Magazine:". To this point wagons loaded with powder and rifles from
Williamsburg and other wagons to roll west with supplies for the forts were
seen.
The second name Charlotte
C.H. bore was Dalstonburg. In February 1759 in the 32nd year of George
II, the House of Burgesses enacted a statue which encouraged the
enhabitants (inhabitants) to settle together as they could more easily protect
themselves against any enemy. One hundred acres belonging to John
Pleasant and Clement Read where the magazine was
erected "be laid off in lots and streets for a town, the town to be called
and known by the name Dalstonburg."
Clement
Read, Thomas Bouldin, Paul Carrington, Thomas Bedford, William and David Caldwell and Clement
Read, Jr. were named trustees of the town with authority to make rules and
regulations and settle disputes concerning boundaries of lots, etc. One note of
interest, it was unlawful to erect a wooden chimney. It is not known when
the name Dalstonburg was changed to Maryville in honor of Madam Read.
Mary Read was the wife of Clement Read,
the elder, whom she married in 1730. She came with her husband to
Charlotte in 1733 and after the death of her husband she took charge of his
estate and managed it with great ability.
In 1817 a map of the town
was made and the years from then until about 1835 was probably the boom period.
Many new residences and business houses were built in 1835, the
population of Marysville was 475. The town boasted of; 5 mercantile
stores; 2 well kept taverns; 3 boot and shoe factories; 4 wagon maker shops
employing 8 to 10; 1 carriage maker, 2 tailor shops, one tanner; 3 saddlers; 3
blacksmiths; one cabinet maker; general house carpenters and bricklayers.
In 1852, the Maryville
Plank Road Co. was chartered. Its purpose was to construct a plank road
from Charlotte C.H. to the Southern railway. A toll station, which is still
called the Toll House, about 1 mile from Drakes Branch was at the intersection
of a plank road with the Keysville and Overby's Store Road. The freight
house at Charlotte C.H. was located between the residence of Mrs.
Perdieu and the late H. Grey Harvey house
and it stood until recent years.
The plank road was
considered a great improvement when new and the young men of the village often
raced their trotting horses on it. The road lasted less than 10 years and
the idea was proven impracticable.
In 1874 the name Marysville
was changed to Smithville in honor of the Smith family, which was prominently
connected with the history of the town. William Smith was one
of the original purchasers of lots in 1817. He built Smith's Tavern and
ran it for 30 years. His son and a grandson were clerks of the court for
a long period. The three Smith men and other members of their family are
buried in the private cemetery back of the residence known as Paradise. Mrs.
Mattie Rice Williams was niece of one of the Smith's and was reared by
her uncle. She will be remembered by many as the wife of one of our most
beloved residents and public servants, the late Mr. Walter G. Williams.
The name Smithville was
changed to Charlotte C.H. in 1901. Charlotte C.H. Va., and Washington
C.H. Ohio are the only two county seats in the U.S. permitted to use the word
"Courthouse" as part of their official name. It has been said
that regardless of what the village has been called it has always been the
"Cote House" to the people of the county.
There have been three
courthouse buildings. The first, a frame building was built by Clement and Mary
Read in 1765. It was burned in 1784. The second building,
also a frame building was built in 1785. This building stood until 1823
and then was sold at auction and moved to Smith's Tavern lot and used as a
stable until fairly recent years. The Caledonia Hotel built on the Smith's
Tavern lot was the scene of much excitement in the early 1900's on "Cote
Day" when Mr. Boss Payne and several of his sons would
ride into town with their string of horses and there meet other horse traders.
March court was especially active in the horse trading as the farmers
would buy or swap horses to make a crop for the current year. The
Caledonia Hotel was torn down and the store of Mr. Joe Canada and
the home of Mr. A.B. Williams stand on a part of the old
Smith's Tavern lot.
The present courthouse
building was erected in 1823. A committee composed of Clement
Carrington, Isaac Read, Wm. W. Watkins, Joseph Wyatt, Henry A. Watkins, John
Morton, Jr. and Henry Carrington, sent some of its members to
Monticello to consult with Thomas Jefferson about plans for
the building.
Charlotte C.H. likes to
boast of the fact that George Washington had his breakfast in
1791 in what was then known as the Old Tavern, now the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Carol McKinney.
William
Smith erected his tavern in
1820, which stood until destroyed by fire in 1899 when the Caledonia Hotel was
built by Mrs. Isabella Donald, grandmother of Mr. A.B.
Williams.
The Brick Tavern, across
the street from Smith's Tavern was built about the same time as Smith's Tavern
and was run by Wyatt Cardwell until about the time of the
Civil War. The Brick Tavern was remodeled about 50 years ago and has
since been used as a residence. It is now the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Laughlin.
It has been said that for
many years after the Civil War that the taverns in Charlotte C.H. dispensed
liquor by the dipperful from a barrel.
Among the earliest
buildings at Charlotte C.H. are the three brick buildings on main street.
The building recently known as Tucker's Store was built about 1823, the
same time as the Courthouse and the architecture with the large pillars in
front resemble. It is possible the committee which visited Thomas
Jefferson was influential in plans for this building. It was
with a great deal of regret to the writer when these beautiful pillars were
torn down in the name of progress.
History Of Charlotte County
By Annie Lou D.
Bailey, Program of Work Chairman, Charlotte County H.D. Clubs
For
the month of August instead of a historical sketch, we may sit back and try to
keep cool and see how well we can do on the "Memory Test for the Not So
Young".
Do
you remember?
When
you used to walk two miles to school? Now the children can't walk two
blocks.
When
you ate three big meals a day? Now it is toast for breakfast, lunch for
dinner, soup and sandwiches for supper. No wonder so many require
vitamins!
When
baby sitters were called mothers? When everyone kept the Sabbath day
holy?
When
someone rode 5 miles to get the doctor and he came after a day or so and gave
you a does (dose) of calomel and then
you really got sick?
The
garden path with the Sears, Roebuck catalog at the end of it?
The
old surrey "with the fringe on the top" and how the whole family rode
to church every Sunday. And how the wheat fields shimmered in the heat
and you thought you would never get home?
When
if a woman showed her neck and ankles she was called "fast"?
When
you used to sing "Down by the Old Mill Stream", "In the Shade of
the Old Apple Tree", and "When You and I Were Young Maggie"?
When
there was only one fire in the house in the winter and how cold the sheets were
when you had to go "up-stairs" to bed?
When
at Christmas you got a stripped (striped) stick of cand, (candy), an apple and
an orange?
When
no one had to get up at two o'clock in the morning to warm the baby's bottle as
the mother took the baby and the bottle (?) to bed with her?
When
women pinned their hat's on with pins a quarter of a yard long? They were
really dangerous -- the pins, I mean, not the women.
When
people were married until "death did them part"?
When
you first got the old Ford up to 20 miles per hour and you didn't have to
change gears all the way from Drakes Branch?
When
right was right and wrong was wrong? When a good switch helped to
straighten out that bad boy -- no juvenile delinquents then?
When
you had to pick up chips and get in the night's wood?
When
the cat fell in the well and the water had to be brought from the spring over
the hill until Uncle Watt Guy could come with his windlass and tubs and draw
off the water?
How
you used to use four and sugar out of a barrel? And how good the hot
biscuits tasted cooked in the old wood stove?
When
turnip salad was cooked with hog jowl and served with corn pone?
When
wheat threshing and barn raisings were big events down on the farm? How
exciting it was to chase the little rabbits in the wheat field and how good
they were when fried -- no worry about rabbit fever then?
When
you used to go barefooted and stepped on a nail, how your mother poured
turpentine on your foot and that was the end of it? Tetanus shots were
unheard of!
Before
germs were heard of, when the whole family drank from a "dipper" in
the old fashioned water bucket that stood on a shelf?
When
a gentleman asked permission to smoke in a lady's presence.
The
ice pond, the old ice house and the freezer of homemade ice cream?
If
this brings nostalgia, ask yourself if you really want to go back to the wash
board, the kerosene lamps, etc. in the Horse and Buggy Days.
Sketch
No. 4
By --
Annie Lou D. Bailey, Program of Work Chairman, Charlotte County Home
Demonstration Clubs
RELIGION
IN CHARLOTTE CO.
The Episcopal Church was
the Established Church of Virginia from the landing of the colonist at
Jamestown ??????. For more than a hundred years it was the only church in
the Colony. One of the first acts of the legislature swa (was) to provide
for the church. In 1623 it provided that on every plantation or
settlement there shall be a house or room set aptrt (apart) for the services of
the church. If a person did not attend Sunday Service he was fined.
Laws were enacted forbidding any religious service except those of the
Church (Episcopal).
Between 1733 and 1743
Charlotte County, then spoken of as the
"back parts" of Virginia was being opend (opened) to settlers.
At this time a number of Scotch Presbyterians who had come from Ulster
County, Ireland to Pennsylvania moved to Virginia. They were led by John Cardwell who
secured from the Governor of Virginia the privilege of worshiping God according
to the principles of their education.
About 1733 Clement
Read of Williamsburg settled in Charlotte County. He took ????
large quantities of land and built a house named "Bushy ???".
As fast as the county became settled, it was laid off in ????.
Charlotte County as we know it, was Cornwall Parish and four churches
were built; 1st Roanoke 1748; 2nd Ash Camp 1750 (Later Baptist) 3rd Sandy Creek
1755 (Later Baptist); 4th Rough Creek 1769 (Later Presbyterian).
The Sandy Creek Church
which was between Randolph and Wylliesburg is no longer in existence, but it
seems that the Baptist, as in the case of Ash Camp, used this church which was
called the Sandy Creek Church of the Establishment, which was called the Sandy
Creek Church of the Establishment, which was one of the 1st four churches
built. (Typed as is, part of it was repeated.)
"The Great
Awakening" of 1787-1790 had its beginning in the Baptist Church of
Charlotte County with preaching of the Rev. John Williams. It
extended quickly to the Presbyterian and Methodists and a Methodist historian
says of it: "Such a time for the awakening of ????? was never seen before among the
Methodists of America. The ????? was most powerful in the ????? counties of Virginia. It ????? out about midsummer
and continued through the year. The whole county between the Roanoke and
the James River, and from the mountains to the sea was swept by the flame of
the revival".
There was growing rebellion
against the Established Church and the taxes imposed to support it. After
the Declaration of Independence, when the General Assembly met in Williamsburg
in 1776, there was a flood of petitions for relief from the Established Church.
Charlotte County's John Williams for the "Baptist
Ten Thousand", and Caleb Wallace, for the Hanover Presbyterian
and not forgetting Patrick Henry (a loyal Episcopalian) did
much for the cause of religious freedom.
The Episcopal Church, from
being all powerful, became unpopular and in Charlotte County almost became
????? withing 10 years after the revolution.
After the separation of
Church and State, the ????? arose as to what should be done with the churches
since no tax money nor public funds could be used for their support. In
1802, an act was passed allowing these houses to be sold and the proceeds go to
support the poor. It was at this time that the Baptist came into
possession of Ash Camp. The first Ash Camp was situated about two miles
west of Keysville. The present location was obtained in 1857 and one
section of the presetn (present) building was erected.
The daughter churches of
Ash Camp are Mt. Tirzah at Charlotte C.H., Spring Creek at Darlington Heights,
Mr. Nebo and Eureka.
One of the outstanding
events of the old church was the organization by Abner W. Clopton of
a Temperance Society, the first in the South and the second in the nation.
Of its four churches, as
before mentioned, Ash Camp was taken over by the Baptist, Rough Creek by the
Republican Methodist, and Roanoke and Sandy Creek were abandoned and fell down.
Cub Creek, the Mother
Presbyterian Church of this part of Virginia, was organized in 1735. The
original building built in 1735 was added to in 1852. This building stood
until recent years, when it was burned. The old cemetery is very
interesting to visit as it gives a history of the church and her members on the
tombstones.
Many distinguished
preachers have graced the pulpit of old Cub Creek, among whom were: Dr.
Archibald Alexander, Dr. John H. Rice, Rev. Samuel Davis and
the Rev. Clement Read.
The daughter churches of
Cub Creek are: The Village Church, Charlotte C.H., Bethesda, Herman and
Roanoke. The Village Church is the oldest of the three churches in
Charlotte Court House. It was organized in 1825. The land was
probably given by the Read family as a "Meeting House for the Presbyterians".
The old Brick Church was destroyed by fire and the present building
present erected between 1830 and 1835. The cemetery back of the church
lot, is not a part of the church lot, but was as a "burying ground
for the Village forever".
The next old church in
Charlotte C.H. is Mt. Tirzah Baptist. The lot was conveyed in 1836 by Wyatt
Cardwell to James Morrison, Archibald Davidson and
others, but this deed states than an older church had stood on the same lot and
had been burned.
The Methodist Church lot in
Charlotte C.H. was conveyed in 1841 by William Smith and Josiah
Dabbs to Lewis Skidmore, Robert Bouldin, Elisha
Hundley and others in trust, "that they shall build or cause to
be built there on a House or Place of Worship for the use of the members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church in the U.S.A.
Grace Episcopal Church
formerly stood just back of the present site of Dunnavant's Garage. The
lot was giving by Henry Carrington in 1858 and the church was
built soon afterward. In 1879, it was moved to Drakes Branch and is still
in use there. All of the early churches were built with a balcony where
the negro slaves might worship.
The Charlotte Gazette,
Drakes Branch, VA., Thursday, April 30, 1964
SKETCH NO. 5
History of
Charlotte County, Va. Patrick Henry And Red Hill
By -- Annie Lou
D. Bailey, Program of Work Chairman, Charlotte County H.D. Clubs.
The
people of Charlotte County have been noted for their intelligence and cultural
refinement, and some of the most distinguished men of the state have resided
within her borders.
PATRICK
HENRY
Many
of her sons have emigrated to other counties and states and have added luster
to their fame in many departments. One of the most famous names among the
great of Charlotte County is that of Patrick Henry, who spent his last
days in the county and who lies buried at his last home, "Red Hill".
Patrick
Henry was born May 29, 1736 in Hanover County, Virginia. He attended
public schools for only a short time, but received a good education from his
father, who, himself, was well educated.
Henry tried
the business world, as a store keeper, for a time but he was a poor business
man and was soon hopelessly in debt.
After
this experience he studied law and was licensed to practice in 1760. In
law he found his real vocation for within three years he had won fame as an
orator in a noted lawsuit called the "Parson's Case".
In
1764, Henry was elected to the House of Burgesses and won fame in his
speech against the Stamp Act. Tradition credits him with these words:
"Caesar had his Brutus, Charles the 1st his Cromwell and George the 3rd
may profit by their example. If this be treason make the most of it --
Give me liberty or give me death".
Henry served
as a delegate to the 1st and 2nd Continental Congress and for a time was
Commander-in-Chief of Virginia's military forces. He was chosen in 1776 as a
member of the committee to draw up the first Constitution of the Commonwealth
of Virginia.
Henry was
the first governor of Virginia and served five terms. He was elected for
the sixth term, but declined to serve. His tenure as governor is marked
by many courageous stands which led to a better government in Virginia.
In
1788 Patrick Henry returned to private life. His years in
public service had left him badly in debt, but his fame a (as) a lawyer gained
him many clients and he was able to buy his beloved Red Hill in 1794, and there
he made his home until his death in 1799.
Henry refused
many requests to return to public life. He was offered a seat in the
United States Senate; posts as Minister to France and Spain; position as Chief
Justice of the U.S.; Secretary of State in Washington's Cabinet; and for the
6th time was elected governor of Virginia, but he refused all these positions.
He was finally persuaded by George Washington to become a candidate for
representative in the Virginia State Legislature and at Charlotte C.H. Va.
he (He) made his last great speech in the debate with John
Randolph of Roanoke, who was also a candidate for the same position.
Henry won the election but died before he took office. His
will is carefully preserved in the Clerk's Office of Charlotte County.
RED
HILL
Patrick
Henry died in June 1799, at his home at Red Hill and there he's buried in the
boxwood bordered family burying ground. An oblong marble slab covers
Henry's grave, with inscription of his name, the dates of his birth and death,
and these words: "His fame his best epitaph", Under an adjoining slab
lies the remains of his wife, Dorathea Dandridge.
Near
Henry's grave, a site chosen on his own, stands the smoke tree given him
by George Washington.
The
Staunton and Falling rivers make their junction near the house, "Red
Hill", and on a clear day the Peaks of Otter may be seen to the west.
Henry, no doubt, chose the site for his last home, partly because of the
beautiful scenery.
Several
additions have been made to the Red Hill Henry knew, but in 1919 the
entire house was destroyed by fire. Only the two offices, the one used
by Patrick Henry, the other built and used by his youngest son, stood on
the grounds when the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation purchased the estate
from the Henry family.
The
two offices were moved together and made into a dwelling, which is occupied
by Mrs. Mabel Oliver Bellwood, curator of the restoration. Mrs.
Bellwood, in her own rights, is a most interesting person and she has many
interesting objects in her home furnishings and decorations.
Red
Hill is fortunate that soon after it was burned a young architect from
Lynchburg, Stanhope S. Johnson, measured the foundation and marked the
location of the buildings which stood at Red Hill in Henry's final
days. He is the architect of the re-construction of the original Henry
house which was completed and dedicated in 1957.
The
boxwood borders, the horny Osage tree, and the Jasmine, all of
which Henry loved and enjoyed, remain for visitors to enjoy and draw
visions of the past.
Apart
from the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation, a wonderful use is being made of
the plantation. A home for underprivileged boys, known as "Red Hill
Boys' Plantation". At present 15 boys are being cared for in two
cottages. But a long time view will show a number more of cottages and
boys. This plantation idea seems a worthy tribute to Patrick
Henry as he had a great ideal for American youth. He was the father
of 17 children and many of his descendants have contributed nobly to the good
of mankind and our country.
SKETCH NO. 6
HISTORY OF
CHARLOTTE COUNTY
By Annie Lou D.
Bailey, Program of Work Chairman, Charlotte County H.D. Clubs
John
Randolph of Roanoke was one of the most colorful personalities of his day
or even for all time. He was born in Prince George County, Virginia a
descendant of Pocahontas and John Rolfe.
Randolph was
champion of lost causes. He stood for the rights of states against
federal encroachment. He owned about 200 slaves, but hated the slave
trader and never sold any of his slaves even though the task was great to
support them. His will disclosed the fact that he had purchased land in
Ohio for the settlement of these who had been slaves, but were now free through
his will. In Ohio, the people of an abolitionist state, met them with
violence and drove them from the farms the southern champion had purchased for them.
There
is a story about a small frame house which is adjacent to Ville Vue, known
as Randolph's Cottage. It is said John Randolph, who wore
high leather boots and carried a riding crop, always took his well bred dogs
wherever he went, even into his bedroom.
The
result was no tavern would furnish him a room. On one occasion
when Randolph was in Charlotte Court House, Colonel Marshall,
the then owner of Ville Vue, noting the predicament he was in, invited him to
spend the night at Ville Vue.
The
next morning, Mrs. Marshall graciously asked Randolph how
he had slept.
"Not
well at all", was his sharp reply.
"But
why?" Mrs. Marshall asked.
"Babies
crying. Too many babies crying." "Besides my dogs don't
like crying babies." From then on, Randolph always occupied the
little frame house next door.
Randolph
denounced every president from John Adams to Andrew Jackson.
For, he declared, "they were the precursors of a government which is
not fit to govern me."
As
he died in 1833, he saw the fabric of an ancient order dissolving about him --
personal liberty, local rights, and the old ways of society which simple men
love have had no bolder defender than John Randolph of Roanoke.
The
original house which was occupied by John Randolph was destroyed by fire in
1878. However, the original office of John Randolph still
stands.
Randolph died
in Philadelphia in 1833 and his body was brought to Roanoke for burial.
Later his remains were removed to Richmond and interred in Hollywood
Cemetery.
SKETCH
NO. 7
History
Of Charlotte County
By Annie Lou D. Bailey, Program of Work Chairman,
Charlotte County H.D. Clubs
THE
BRUCES OF STAUNTON HILL
The name Bruce has long
been an honored name in Charlotte County. James Bruce owned
land in Halifax, Charlotte and Mecklenburg. He was a very successful
business man and was considered one of the three wealthiest men in the U.S.
Charles
Bruce received from his
father, James, land on the Staunton River and built the house known as Staunton
Hill. The task of erecting Staunton Hill was given the architect John
E. Johnson, not to cost over $25,000.00 but as Johnson was given a rather
free rein for the first time the cost amounted to more than $75,000.00 plus a
vast amount of slave labor.
After 1860 Charles met
with financial reverses but was able to live at Staunton Hill in material
comfort. He was a member of the Virginia State Senate.
William
Cable Bruce, son
of Charles, was born at Staunton Hill in 1860. He enjoyed
life at Staunton Hill but became a lawyer in Baltimore. William Cabell
Bruce said of his family, "Bruces are fond of reading and are
natural scribblers".
The following is a quote
from one of his books, "I am glad to add that during my boyhood, no game
of cards, as far as I know, was ever played in the Staunton Hill house.
There is, in my opinion, no more insidious thief of time, that could be
devoted to higher and better things, such as agreeable conversations, or
reading, than card playing, when carried to excess, to say nothing of its
tendency when played even for moderate pecuniary stakes, to kindle unnatural
lust for excitement and lucre in the human breast".
David
K.E. Bruce, son
of William Cabell Bruce, now owns Staunton Hill and enjoys rare
visits there.
Charlotte County is greatly
indebted to David K.E. Bruce for so much. It is hard to
say just what he has done for our county for the beautiful public buildings,
which we enjoy would not have been possible without his generosity.
Charlotte county should be, and I'm sure is, especially grateful for the
wonderful library which has meant and will mean so much to so many.
David
Bruce has served his
county, state and nation in many capacities. He served as a member of the
House of Delegates of Virginia, Ambassador to France and to England.
Charles
Bruce built Staunton Hill
chosing the style called Gothic Revival, or even more aptly, Hudson River
Tudor. With towers and battlements, Gothic arches, stained glass windows
and marble portico, it faces the circular lawn beyond which the land drops to
the Staunton River.
Neither money nor effort
were spared to make Staunton Hill as imposing as possible, according to the
standards of the day.
The brick walls were
stuccoed, and across the front was raised a marble porch with fluted pillars and
granite steps. The marable (marble) was quarried in Italy, cut to
specification in Philadelphia transported by boat to Albemarle Sound in North
Carolina, and thence by bateaux up the Roanoke and Staunton rivers to the
landing at the foot of the plantation grounds.
In the old days visitors
arrived by water and were driven up the road from the landing, through handsome
iron gates and a grove of oak trees.
The interior emphasizes the
same baronial air as the exterior. A double stairway sweeps upward, the
double drawing rooms and the library have marble fireplaces and elaborate
plaster work on the ceilings and cornices, with long gilt frame mirrors made to
fit specified places.
Staunton Hill should not be
thought merely as a show place. From the time it was built in 1848 until
after the War Between the Sates, the Staunton Hill Planatation (Plantation),
with more than 5,000 acres of land and 500 slaves, was a highly productive
enterprise. Besides furnishing supplies for the family and slaves the
farm yielded in addition to wheat, oats, hay and livestock, between 4 and 5,000
barrels of corn and grew over 1,000,000 hills of tobacco. Even after the
war and with hired labor it has continued in agricultural activity.
In the early days of Staunton
Hill the plantation was divided into three tracts, each a complete and separate
organization with its own overseer. Slaves tended the fields, the
stables, hen house, smoke houses and other agricultural projects. They
wove the coarse cloth for their garments. Carpenters, stone masons,
blacksmiths and superintendents of the granary were necessary. In and
around the house was another army. Three cooks were necessary, one to
prepare breakfast, one dinner and one to make desserts. Other servants
were needed to wait on the table, cut wood for the many fireplaces, clean the
kerosene lamps and candlesticks. A hydraulic ram carried water to the
kitchen, but the drinking water was brought from the spring by hand or rather
by head; and water for bathing was heated in brick caldrons and carried up to
the various dressing rooms. Although the mansion did have two marble
tubs.
Many of the cabins and
other buildings no longer used; but they are kept painted and in repair.
When Charles Bruce died
in 1896, the property passed to his widow and after her death to his son, William
Cabell Price (Bruce) of Baltimore. Later it became, temporarily, a
hunting and shooting week end club, composed of James Bruce, David
K.E. Bruce, and some of their friends.
It has now reverted to the
private ownership of David K.E. Bruce.
No one can prophesy how
long the towers and battlements and marble portico of Staunton Hill will remain
as a testimonial to an age that has passed.
SKETCH NO. 8
History of
Charlotte County
By Annie Lou D. Bailey, Program of Work Chairman,
Charlotte County H.D. Clubs
Colonel
Thomas Read, with Paul Carrington, the two representatives to the House of
Burgesses, were appointed to protect the county against the passage of the
Stamp Act. However, a few days after they took their seats in the House
of Burgesses the news of the actual passage of the Stamp Act was received.
The
passage of the Stamp Act brought on bitter conflict in the House of Burgesses.
The continent was so aroused that it was impossible to execute the Act.
The
two delegates from Charlotte were among those who voted for the resolution
against the Act, which brought on the Revolution.
Colonel
Read was county lieutenant during the Revolutionary War; marched with the
County Levy to Petersburg and again to oppose Cornwallis on the Dan.
He
was a member of the Conventions of 1774-75 and 1776 and in the Convention of
1788 opposed the adoption of the Federal Constitution.
Colonel
Read was the first, and for fifty-two years clerk of the county. His
office was a small brick building in the yard of his home
"Ingleside".
A
few years ago a replica of this first clerk's office was erected in the village
of Charlotte Court House by the APVA, and it is used as a museum.
Colonel
Read's home, "Ingleside" was built in 1810. It is now in a bad
state of repair, but for many years it was one of the grand old homes in
Virginia.
Descendants
of Colonel Read still reside in Charlotte. At the present time
two old homes of the county are owned by his descendants. "Do
Well" has been beautifully restored and is now owned
by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Charlton. Mrs. Stanley Anderson, a
sister of Mr. Charlton, now owns Greenfield, the ancestral home of her
grandfather, Mr. Abram Read.
Paul
Carrington held many public positions in Charlotte and adjoining counties.
He was a member of the 1st General Court in 1778 and in 1779 he was
elected judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals, which position he held until
1807, when he resigned at the age of seventy-five years. His letter of
resignation to Governor Wm. H. Cabel beings thus: "I have served my
country for forty two years without intermission -- I think it (is) time for me
to retire from public business to the exalted station of private citizen".
He died in 1818 and is buried at "Mulberry Hill".
"Mulberry
Hill" was built entirely with timbers grown upon the place and it still
presents much the same appearance as when first built. It is now owned
by Mr. and Mrs. F.X. Barksdale. Mrs. Barksdale is a
direct descendant of Paul Carrington.
SKETCH NO. 9
History of
Charlotte County
By Annie Lou D.
Bailey, Program of Work Chairman, Charlotte County H.D. Clubs
Among
others who contributed much to Charlotte County in her early days were:
Colonel
Joel Watkins of Revolutionary fame
and his son, Captain Henry A. Watkins. A small house which was the home
of Col. Watkins has been completely destroyed, but the large brick
house, "Woodfork" was built in 1829 and was the home of Captain
Henry A. Watkins. The old cemetery back of the house holds the remains of
many of the Watkins family, but Woodfork has passed through many hands since
the Watkins family lived there. It is now the home
of Mr. and Mrs. H.B. Gompers.
John
Randolph wrote the following obituary of Colonel Joel Watkins:
"On
Sunday, the 2nd of January 1820, departed this life, at an advanced age,
beloved, honored and lamented by all who knew him, Col. Joel Watkins,
of the County of Charlotte and State of Virginia.
Without
shining abilities, or the advantage of education, by plain and straight forward
industry, under the guidance of old fashioned honesty and practical good sense,
he accumulated an ample fortune, in which it is firmly be lieved (believed) by
all who knew him there was not one dirty shilling.
The
fruits of his labors he distributed with liberality seldom equalled, (equaled)
never surpassed nor was he liberal of his money only. His time, his
trouble, were never withheld-where they could be employed.
If
as we are assured, the peace makers are blessed, who shall feel stronger
assurances of bliss than must have smoothed this old man's passage to the
unknown world."
Edgehill,
which was the home of Colonel Clement Carrington of Revolutionary
fame, and Hugh Blair Grigsby, the historian was another home built in the
latter part of the 18th century, but which has been destroyed by fire.
Colonel
Clement Carrington, was one of the largest land owners in the state, served in
the Legislature, was many years Presiding Justice of the county and held many
positions of public trust. He died in 1847 and Edgehill became the
property of his son-in-law, Hugh Blair Grigsby, who was a member of the
Convention, 1829-1830, the 3rd Chancellor of William and Mary College,
president and a lifelong supporter of the Virginia Historical Society and a
historian of national reputation
The
Morton family beginning with Colonel Joseph Morton was one of the
early pioneers of this section. He was surveyor by profession, was a
member of the House of Burgesses and a member of the County Court of Charlotte
for many years. His son, Colonel William Morton, was a distinguished
Revolutionary officer, and at the battle of Guilford "slew the gallant
Colonel Webster, the pride of the Army of Cornwallis."
Descendants
of Colonel Joel Watkins and also of Colonel Joseph
Morton still reside in Charlotte County and are contributing to the
welfare of the county in many capacities.