Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-08-21

OLD VIRGINIA FAMILIES.



To proceed " it'll our review OF the gentlemen named
in the article, next come to reference in 1852 to
"Colones Tayloe Bird aud Thornton" The first was
STYLED "The Honorable Col. John Tayloe" of Mount
Airy in the county OF Richmond, in Virginia. gen.
tleman who owned extensive landed possessions along
the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers, and was a
member of the council, under the Crown with Lord
Dunmore and ofthe first Republ lean Council during the
admin israton OF the patriotic and eloquent Patrick
Henry. He died in 1897. Oils son the late Col John
Tayloe, so well known to The readers of your paper
inherited his landed pos essions and at the instance OF
his hereditary friend, General Washington built his own
house in the city OF Washington where he died about
twenty years ago. The last Colonel Tayoe married
the daughter of the second Governor Oge, the son Of
the first, as above inenioned.)
Col. William Bird, OF Wes'o1er, on James River,
had associated with the nobility OF the highest rank in
England and had in himself every claim be regarded
as nobeman of his own and He had rare endow-
meuts end accomplishments 1t has been said OF him,
that, when quite youth, at Brook's or kindred es-
Enlistment, London, he the turn OF card,
from the Duke OF Bolton, E0000 sterling, with which
he deayed the expenses OF Intensive in Europe,
engaging in games OF chance until many years at
lie premier pas que conte.' Birds lottery will be long
remembered He owned the site OF the city OF Rich
mond, and presented 10 the State its public grounds
there His was said to be the best private library in
the country, through which it was dfused after his
death. There ssll to he seen at MISSIONER, Mount
Airy Though the main building has been partially
burnt Shirley Strafford and others OF these Baronia
Halls Of Golden times, with their broad acres the re-
mains of the lordy magnihcence OF other days. AT
Westover its former hospitality is still enjoyed. as
most generously dispensed by Mr.. Seden, the grand
son of Hon. Mile Selden, member OF the council of
Virginia fifty years ago at At, time when ne was
distinguished leader upon the l nri
Hill Carter ESD as IS wen hapwn, most wor1my
II. Tayloe, ESQ., at Mount Airy. The present year.
about 40 900 bushels Of wheat are said TO have been
produced on The Shirley o tate No, tar ar. from is
Iamented President, the late Gen. H., was born, which
is still occupied by OF the family; also the Upper
and Lower Brandon; La the former is to be seen The
ia the Worm)ey family is preserved portrait of
the late "Raph Wormey, Of RosehilI, on the Kappa
hammock, near urbanna He is represented in his
est honors of the University. He and his connexcn
Grymes, to the distinguished barriser of that
name, at New Orleans, were the pride OF the head
master, at Eaton. Inheritng a large estate, Mr.:
Wormey became gentleman OF high standing and
influence in the Colony, sonnlaw to the lrst Colonel
Tayoe las mentioned abovel and member OF the
Council with him under Lord Dunmore. But, unhap-
py his bias was in favor OF the Crown, its separa-
iion from the Colony. Strattord now stands in the
midst OF desolation, in Westmoreland County, mon
ument of the maguificence of president Lee" by
whom it was built while he was at the head of the
Council, during the absence of the Governor.
Most of these gentlemen had been educa led in Eng
land as were lew at later period, such as Fran
els Corbu, ESD of the Reeds, another gentleman of
arstocratic birt-whose cultivation OF mind and man
ners, with graces that would have charmed Chester
field, inherited by his son otthe same name would
any Court of Europe
Some derision has been cast upon the "F F. vs.
those said to belong TO "the first families OF Virgin
la, but it is very certain that those named who
were the basis these preentions were gentlemen OF
no ordinary merit, as also the Randolphs, the
Nelson's the Pages the Burwels, &C., &c oithe days
of our Revolution.
do not exactly know which Col. Thornton it
we find named in the article under review. Ii of
Northumberland House, he was the father OF the Presl
dent, Lieut.. Gen. Sir Edward Wade Thornton, II. h.
M. A. The family espou5ed the royal cause in l776.
and went to England. Sir Edward distinguish hn
self in Flanders, (where he lost armA under tie
Duke OF Y ork: and was afterwards equerry 10 The
Duke Of Cumberland, the present King of Hanover.
Capt Bird Willis Of Fredericksburg has been 100 re-
Gently among us-a repre- enla'lve OF the warm hearted
fun loving and the true old Viz. ina gentemen-to re-
quire more than passing notice. HIS beautiful
daughter, the present Madame Nu at, was married 10
a nephew OF the Emperor Napoleon, Gel. Achjlle Ma
rat, son OF King Joachim
Ia running our eye along James river little below
City Pont it falls upon Clearmont, the residence Of Mr.
Allen who succeeded 10 the estate, some SIX more
plantations, containing together about 10000 acres, 't
The late Col. Allen, one OF tIe last gentlemen OF oIu-
ence in Virginia whose horses graced the Turt lis
celebrated mares Vanity and Reality SISTERS were
trained by tho late Mr. W r. Johnson, OF such IurI
celebrity as 10 need no turtber mention 10y me.