Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1876-10-25
A Yirginian Relic.

AT Timberneck Bay, IN York River, in
the County Of Gloucester, Va. stands the
oldest relic on Virginian soil, known rs
- Powhatan's Chimney 1t is associated
with the most interesting incidents Of ear
! " American history. In December 1CQS
after John Smith had consented to act as
president of this infant colony. and had al
so. hy invitation. attended Powhatan' S
coronation, he received a polite invitation
from Powhalan to send men to build him
Il house. As Smith was not in condition
70 decline, he sent Il party as requested
with necessary directions. They We're d.
rccted by the chief to build 1T Wcrowoco-
moro, now called :" Timbcrncck." where
the house was duly constructed. AS the
company sent out by Smith were part
Dutchmen, that may account for the Dutch
chimney, which resembles the chimney of
one of those Dutch houses described by
Irving in his " Legend Of Sleepy Hollow. .
His chimney is built ofStone found on the
banks of the river, and doubtless easily
obtainable. 1t is eighteen and half feet
high, ten and half wide at the base, and
has Il double flue. The fire place is eight
feet wide. The chimney stands upon an
cminence and is conspicuous from every
part Of the bay, and is Il monumental evil
dcncc Of considerable import. Some doubt
its authority, or identity with the chimney
built by order Of Capt. Smith, but there
seems good reason tosbelicve in its ant;q-
uity. 1t is massive and has through all
the mutations of time had the traditional
name of "Powhatan's chimncv.' There
Is no other such chimney in all that region
or any ruins Of such. At short distance
from the chimney which is still in Sc. do
inc duty for !; modern farm house, is Il
fine spring formerly shaded by 4 large
oak, which some years since WAS blown
down. Doubtless by the rivulet that flows
in Il r;tvinc from tn IS spring. Pocahontas
sportcd in her youth. 1t was here when
Smith was about to meet his fllc III the
hands of the Indians, that she saved him.
1t was here that Pow hatan was crowned.
and .crc that supplies were so often OBJ
tanned, and here that Smith saw that lonr
line of st'tlps, hung up between the trees,
from the enemies of this famous war chief
Powhatan; but the tlr, century is RAPIDLY
passing since these events John Smith,
after the wonderful vicl>>itu,!es in hi, life.
rc>ls in st. Srpuchrc'> Church in London.
where L tablet was erected to his memory
with the following Inscription:
To the living memory of Capt. John smith,
some tine Governor of Viz. liza and Admiral OF
Ne" En=lard, who dcpalcI this life the Pistol
Junc, 1851,
.frcorfianus. rinccre 81 rirere.
licIc c7 one corq e'c' that bath conquered hing
>uhdued Ii: &c te rItorle-, and done things
Whlch 10 the world iupo>>ib lc wouN seem,
But that the Truth l. held in more esteem
shall !cpolt his former service done
II honor Of hl- God ard Chrl-tent!,m:
low that he d1 divide fl ON pagans three
lhel heads and Ives types of his chIvalrv
For which great Nervirc III that climate DONE
Brave >Isl-mundus (king of lIun.ar.on)
DIl give III q rs coat OF arm, To wear
speaI.
or shall tell OF his adventures, since
Done IN Virginia, that Ian &c content.
Hoo that he sub'iucd hinSs unto hl> woke
And made those heather tirc a. wind doth smoke;
And made TIN, land, beng OF 50 large a station
\ habItIlIon TO our CHI i,tlln nation.
Where God l. gIorIied, their wants supplleG
W Inch iot necees aI ie-, might have died:
I,Ut what awaits ms Il he. I.-
Int FRED IN earth, prey to worms and flee
o may his soul in sweet Elyeium sleep,
Until the keeper, that all souls doth keep
Return to Jul 1mcnt, and that after tncc,
th angels he may have his IocUmprnsc"
This tablet has now been DESTROYED by
tire, and all that remains to the memory
of Capt Smith is Il fiat stone engraved
with his coat of arms, upon which the /
three commemorative Turks heads" are
visible II