Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-07-31
BERKELEY-ITS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS.

from the rAFahaAh kepobLCan.
The lates. accounts we have of hcCIelans army re-
pres, mt il being concentrated after It's bloody and
desperate retreat Ut Berkeley Of the old estates OIL
james River Here he is said have been reinforced
aud to be recognizing his broken bands and preparing
for final stand. To rect understanding OF the
newspaper accounts Of the war, knowledge OF the 10
ciles is necessary, tbas ycu will readily excuse
account of Berkeley, always well known spot
Virginia, but st now OF prominent interest 10 the whole
ecu try II shall contain historical incidents
they will not be embarrassing in Connection with this
time honored seat OF Virginia hospitality aud refine
ment
Berkeley, or as il then written and pronounced
Buksi,H was a familiar name two centuries ago in Vir
gnil. 4. possibly lied from Sir William Berke-
ley Governor o. Virginia 10 toe latter part of the
teeuh century, but know of no evidence of the fact
Ii is lot age, nor public landing, but private
JImes in Charles City county, few miles below and in
siglt OF City Point lI is less than twenty five miles from
Richmond py the wagon road Westover nearest neigh
Dor, ber about that distance from the Capital. TIE
bank is high with god landing TOO sDient Just
now for the transfer vi troops from ship TO shore. A
couple Of hundred yards FRI tie river and fronting It.
amid gcoys OF Lombarjy poplars, sands the foe old
mansion Of brick, not 80 old perhaps, its neighbora
tue homesteads oi riley and WesoVer but still Of very
respectable age for this country. picture OF the
building may be in Howe's Historical Collections
OF virginia 1t Is old enough have been the birth.
place. in l77S OF William Henry HarrsoO President Of
tie United States OF hts father Bet ,miu Harrison Dr.
signer of the Declaration Of Independence and OF Lis
grandfather Bel min Harrison, sr, Sp aker OF the
Houle OF Burgcsses who died there in ITO In this
mansion was married Psyton Randolph, first President
Of the Continental Congress- 10 Ii zbeth HARRISON saer
OF the sisner and while lookiog upon its lawn du
ring thunder storm, Be- amin Harrison, St, With two
Of his daughters, was struck dead by the fash Of
lightning.
Bat even these dates do not go back to the beginning
kalaN Wa. Ennss ad ala hu,
dred and forty years ago. for 10 March 1872 urred
the great by aud here on this
very estate then called Briekity wss murdered, with
ten other coonists, Mr.. George Thorpe kinsman Of
SIR Thomas Dale, aud the agent o! the college lands Al
that time university ana preparatory school we're
erecting in Virginia. The lands had been granted by
the crown, the money had been subscribed large Gifts Of
books hal been ms1e even the president had be- n
named aud agents residing there to lay the foul
dstions oi what would have been the odes. college IN
b iisn America. Toe university was to have been 10.
cLed at HenTcopols the then Iurishing settlement at
IA rars Island or Dich Gap, twenty miles below BIC
ID while ickley to be the seat o. the prepsra
toy scmin-ry, Under the name Of "The East Inda
School" But th3 bloody swept away all h.le
of doir more aud three qlirteIs Of century ga d
before the walls OF WLlslu and Mary ~ 6ll ike
long desire OF Vrginsns for a college of their own.
Berkeley has for at leas century aud talf belong
ed TO the Harrison family il h,Dg ole Of the ie.
james river estates that have Lot belonged TO maLy
families since thoir u 81 settlement Generous livl
and proiuse hospitality, and since the revolution. the
abolition OF primogsrilur rights, have KEEP. the noble
old manors Of lower VirgiuiE changing hands every
generation two but Berkeley, and Upper and Lover
Brandon, further down the river have for successive
generators been owned BY the Harrison Berkeley Ia
now owned bv Dr. Starke, Who il mistake not, married
Harrison. Tais is mis;Ake. D.. 8 married a Nus
0;gain The common ancestor OF this widely extended
amly Was the Hon. Be- min Harrison, who lived and
Is bulisl at Cabin Point, in Surry county.
There are many localities in Charles City county OF
interest, but cannot dwell upon them nos. Shirley
ami Wes:over each worth better description tlsn
can give them. cannot fortear mentioning, hose'-
ever tbs curious coincidence. that five mil belos
rk6ey s the birth place Of 10 Tyler Vice President
uader General Harrison, and bis ssor 10 ttfce
So much for b rkeley. |. Ia too valued place and
too full Of SIuthern ool ction and association to be
tho hesdqu rlers Of Mcclellan tie Camp Of his Yam
kss nres Let hope that il they dtsscrste the
spo they viii spars the stately old manson house. out
Of resp,o. the memory tf the Congressional pa riot,
Of whom the s.ory sots that shsn PsyIon Randolph re-