Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-05-27
THE IESIIEs

The farm OF William Leslie, five miles be-
low the city of Staunton, on Lewis creek, vas
decided to his grand father in l740 This is one
of the oldest titles, retained in the same fami-
ly, In the county. The deed OF William Bcyer-
y to James Leslie is dated on the 2Sth dag of
February, l740, and it has never changed hands,
except by the death and will OF the former
owners, ,aud has never been re-snryeyed. James
Leslie came TO this country from Ireland prob
ably in 1886, aad settled on this farm in l74O.
AT his death be left the farm to Samuel Leslie,
one Of his sons. This Samuel Leslie was a
soldier OF the Revolution aud was often en-
ployed 10 the execution OF important and dam
geroUs duties that required man of great eau
ton and prudence and courage. On one
occasion he was sent as a scout across the Blue
Ridge to find out where Tarleton was at the
time that he ran the Legislature of Virginia
from Richmond to the Valley of Virginia.
In this scout, be was the first white man, as is
believed, that had crossed the mountain at what
| Is now known as Jarman's or Harners gap,-
He was 10 she battle of Guildford Court house,
where, though the British gained the victory,
the Americans having to retreat, they we're so
badly whipped that they could not follow up
| the advantage. 1t was at this battle that old
| Captain Baskinz, of this County, was so badly
| cut up that 1T vas thought he must soon die.-
| lie was left on the field of battle, but after
I ~.
Tbe surgeon examined him and remarked
to his otcsr that it was of little use to do any
thing tor MIN as he must die. The old Cap-
tain, full of that fire and pluck which charac-
terized the men of his day, replied, in his bro
ken Scotch Irish, You liar, dog-n,e heart is
aohOte he survived his wounds and the war.
and lived to good old age; saw the expert
ment tired OF people governing themselves,
| by equal rights and justice; died at his home
in this county. and was gathered TO his fathers.
Samuel Leslie was also at Point Pleasant, when
but seventeen years and six months old, as
volunteer In that great Indian battle, which
broke the spirit of those warlike sayages, and
taught them the lesson of the superiority
OF the white man. And having lived to good
old age, with large family grown up around
his hearthstone, he died, leaving the said farm
70 MS youngest son William, the present owner.
| The house 10 which VIM. Leslie lives was built
in 1776, amid the serious Indian troubles of
that period. The workmen were several times
run Dy the raids OF these wild men of the for
est. We are promised additional facts in re-
gard to both the Leslie and Baskin families and
will give them hereafter.
1u next issue we will give an account of the
organization of the county, or Parish Of Au-
gusta, It's first officers, and some idea Of the
life then, with racy picture of old times and
people In 1907, furnished by ''Seventy-six."
from whom we hope to hear more fully here
after Family sketches will be continued here
after, and We want sketch of each village and
its first settlers. Our people should not neglect
this opportunity OF recording every anecdote,
incident, and heroic deed in short, every recol-
lection of the ''olden time," for the benefit of
posterity. The ''old folks at home are rapid
ly travelling the way of all flesh and what thew
know is Invaluable, and, if lost, can never be re-
placed. To those who have aided US we are
thankful and their efforts in a noble cause
should stimulate others to aid US to make this
record OF old Augusta S heroic past, worthy of
her and her people. 1t will be published in
pamphlet form, at price to put it in the reach
Of every family, and we ask correction wherev-
er an error is seen.