Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-05-14
BETSEY BELLE AND MARY GRAY.

AN INTERESTING HISTORY OF THEIR
CHRIsTENING-A STORY OF TRUE LOVE
|. A DopBLE-BARRELED RoMANCE-oLD
s. AUGUSTA FAMILIES,
&C., &C., &C.
Hardly a summer visitor, out of the bum
dreds who come to Augusta, doesn't in
quire the history Of the two lonely noun
tains under which this bright little city
nestles, and there is hardly q dozen of our
readers, city OF country, who can give the
correct answer to the inquiry. While the
housekeepers of the country are brighten
ing up their houses for the, reception of
the influx of city people from abroad, we
have hunted up the true and interesting
history of the christening, which is TO-
mantle enough to suit the most eager
taste, and which may be repeated with
implicit confidence in it's accuracy. To
the pen ofMrs Harriet Maury, cousin of
Commodore Maury, and an aunt of Maj
B. T. Bagby of this city, we are indebted
for the interesting sketch which follows,
which we may introduce by saying that it
comes from the hand of lady over 70
years, but is written with all the clearness
and descriptive power Of youth:
THE EXILEs.
In 1745 Charles Stuart, the legal heir to
the throne of Scotland (he being the great
grandson of James ~ was invited to come
and take possession of his heritage. and
was promised that he should have an army
strong enough to support his claim to the
crown. There lived two gentlemen of
wealth and station near each other, both
widowers, and each had a beautiful and
accomplished daughter, who were init
mate friends, and each engaged to be mar
rled to their equals. The names of the |
gentlemen were Belle and Gray. The |
fathers and lovers volunteered and Joined |
the forces Of Prince Charles, or the Pre-
tender, Gas he was termed by the King of |
England and the Scotch adherents Of the |
British monarchy At the fatal battle Of |
Culloden the forces of Charles were de-
feated, and the fathers fell. The lovers.
with the rest Of the army who were not
taken prisoners, escaped to Ireland, where
they remained in partial concealment for
about two years-probably longer. The
estates of all who were taken in rebellion
and all who fell in the support of the Stu
arts were confiscated to the crown of En-
gland, consequently the orphans,
BETSEY BELLE AND MARY GRAY.
were left in utter restitution. Their
leighbors and former friends were afraid
20 show them any favor, lest they should
'e suspected Of favoring the Stuart cause,
ind suffer by it, so they held themselves
LOOT, and the noble girls scorned to beg ~
heller OF those who q short time before
lad locked up to them; SO they drove |
takes in The ground, and cut rushes and s
1orked them Into mating and covered I
aelT smelling OF bower, and made a COM S
ortable' home, and took in work and sup +
orted themselves in plenty FOR nearly two c
ears, or about the time that those of the a
rmy OF Cplloden emigrated to the Valley, f
eyond the Blue Ridge, as Scotch Irish, p
OLD AUGUSTA FAMILIES. a
The army was composed of the very 8
over of Scotland. Nearly the whole e
'rce OF Charles Stuart were people of the II
ghest rank. Of those names most dis z
ngnlshed We're stuarts, Leveres, Gamer d
Is, Crawfords, Bellies, Blairs, Morays
low corrupted to Mowry), Aenstuethers
low Strothers, "Porte Crayon'' is their n
5scendant) McDowels, MeCowans, Craigs,
reighs, Tapscots, Thomsons Smiths, +,
ochranes, and an host of others whom l u
I'VE not time to mention, though I muse Il
1t forget the breckenridge, as old John 9,
I'd I were great friends "a years since; q
so the Grahsams OF Graemes, and sStapu, z
pss &c. R
THE DEATH OF THE GIRLS. t,
After the loyers OF Retsey and Mary had R