The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-03-10

PLEASANT HILL-SKETCH OF THE HONE
sTEAD.-Mention has already been made in
the Dispatch of the destruction by fire of the
old homestead of the Henry family, "PIea-
SAINT HILL" situated in the county of King
and Queen about six miles from West Point,
on the York river.
pheasant Hill" was once owned by Cen
enl George Washington, and came into the
possession Of the Henry family by purchase
from him. The first owner of the valuable
property was Judge James Henry, Of" "Fleet's
Bay" Northumberland county, on the Rap
pahannock river. From that time until 1858
it remained in the possession of Mr.. James
Ii. Henry; afterwards it was owned by Mr..
James ii. Henry, Jr., an cmploye ut present
in the Second Auditors office. In 1853 it
was sold to MIR. J. William Taylor, of King
William county, and in 1859 he sold it to Mr..
Il. W. Spencer, Of King and Queen, who
died about the breaking out Of the war, aud
his son K. IL. Spencer hired the property.
Not one of these old mansions, or even the
lands, are owned by the posterity of the orr
glnal owners. This gentleman held it until
after the war, when it was sold to Mr.. Par
ker, of Maryland, who owned it at the time
Of the fire, which occurred about O'Clock,
and while the family were at breakfast.
The house itself was one around which
clustered many historic memories and aSso-
cations, and was built of English brick, in
the old English style, and was Of peculiar
beauty. 1t was siXty-four feet by forty-four,
double, two-story mansion, with a spacious
hall fourteen feet wide, running through.
The rooms were fourteen feet pitch, and the
hearths ard mantleS were made of English
marble. The yard contains two acres, and
on either side of the mansion stood two large
brick houses containing four rooms each.
The inclosure is high brick wall, sur.
mounted with pillars, urnS, jars, and large,
round stone balls. The garden, containing
two acres, is also incIosed with Il brick wall
six feet high and two bricks thick
The house was built by Austin Moore,
who resided at Chelsea, in Hing William
county, on the opposite side Of the Matta-
poni river, and was presented by him to his
daughter Lucy Moore, who married Speaker
Robinson, of the House Of Burgesscs, at VIII
liamsburg. The grave Of Speaker Robin
son is marked only by IL rude fence and
stones. On the south side Of the house is Il
family buryins- ground iuclosed by brick
wall, containig 2 the tombs which mark the
graves of the Henry family, who occupied
the place during the past and present
century.
The place deserved the name of Pleasant
IIiil-or Mount Pleasant, rs il was once
cllled--tor the ascent WAS so gradual that it
was not until the visitor reached the spacious
mansion that he could perceive how much
he was elevated above the surrounding coun-
try. The view Oil the north side was not
very extensive, being obstructed by the
forests; but looking to the south the adj
miring spectator first beheld the beautiful
garden and fragrant flowers, if in the spring
time, and beyond it, as far rs the eye could
reach. he gazed upon the beautiful waters of
the mcandering Mattaponi and broad York
lis they glided silently and gracefully to the
sea. Indeed, the view is said to have been
SO fine that on the OCCASION of !, large fire in
Richmond the light could be plainly seen.
Pleasant Hill was the last English residence
on that side of the river except Clifton,
which was once destroyed, but since has
been rebuilt. ..
AS long rs the property remained in the
possession of Mr.. J. Fl. Henry, now in Rich
mond, the original English groundwork and
enclosures were carefully preserved, though
at considerable cost. After he left it, ruin and
decay commenced, and when burned would
scarcely htUc been recognized by any men,
ber Of the Henry family.