Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-12-13
ITs COURT OF APPEALS.

ITS COURT OF APPEALS.
It was in that interview, my friend, the
Doctor, and myself talked over some d
the Incidents referred to IN this COM
munication. Because Of my references
to them in my letters, / received his
reply, Of which this is q copy, and from
the fact Of its not finding me ut home,
been overlooked. T hope he will appfe-
ciate the circumstances and not censure
me for the delay: s.'s
PARKERsBTRa, w. VA, |
| March 10th, 1879.
Col. j. II McChe: N
Ny Dear Eir.-I received yours Of the
18th inst q few days ago. and now
|chserfully comply with your request,
I will now give you all the information
have on the subjects referred to. Re-
ferring to my ancestors, will state that
when Gen. Lee was camped on the
Rapidan, visited DIR. Samuel B. Nor
risDn, of General Early's staff Whilst
there was introduced to . 7s's10
GEN. HARRY HAYS, OF NEW ORLEANS;
lot the timeT Ttennpofariiy commanding
EaFlYss Division. After . conversation
for time on general subjects, it turned
upon Rockbridge county. when DIR. M.
remarked that II wasa remarkable CO.
Incidence that three of the descendants
of the first settlers of Hays and Walk
er's creeks and their tributaries should
have met under such circumstances
lGen. Harry Hays grandfather settled at
the junction of Hays and Walkers
creek and give it Its name. DR.. Nor,
rison's ancestors, the Walkers, settled
about the same place, but his grand
father, W a4gta 7z9 ilss7 siii
es{ REV. SAMUEL BROWN,
purchased and spent his days on the
Hays creek farm. afterwards owned by
bis son in law, the Rev James Morri-
son, the father of DIR Morrison. My
great as.grandfather, John Mofett, was
the fret settler on Q branch Of Hayss
creek, which afterwards took his name
This farm is located near New Provi-
dence church, and Is now owned by y
member of the Witisrow family. The
stream runs entirely through the farm,
and at its lower end unites with Ken
nedy's creek aud forms Hays creek.
This information obtained from John
Wlthrow, ySr., Gather of Wm., Of
Brownsburg. who spent his latter days
on the same farm. This Is all I know
of my great-grandparents must re =
gret 1 did not intefr0gate the old gentle
man more fully, as he might have given
me some valuable information; but at
that time being quite young and hav.
ing been taught to venerate and respect
the aged, and being naturally fnquisi-
tive aud ImpetuOus, for which had re-
ceived several checks. was in all pr0ba-
bility why I did not learn more at that
time.
Isuppose my grandfather was born
and raised on this farm. As to the
Mount Pleasant affair, I have heard my
mother speak of party of gentleman
calling at my grandfather's for break
fast quite early one morning, and en-.
Iquire for cave near by, In which
THEY MIGHT CONCEAL THEMSELVES
from Tarleton's troops. who had driven
them from Charlottesville. and was still
pursuing them, and that they were
absence of my grandfather, my grand
mother entertained them. It seems
that one of the party had on but one
boot, which she observed.
| Break fast was soon announced, and
whilst discharging the duty of hostess,
and y most enthusiastic Wing, she re
marked there was one member of that
body she knew would not run. The
Iquestion was asked by some one of the
i party, "Who is he?" Her reply was,
i PATRICK HENRY "
At that moment the gentleman with
} one boot colored considerably, when
presently the party left for Nj. Pleas
ant Very 5000 after their departure, q
servant rode up with the lost hoct, and
lenquired for Mr.. Henry, stating that
he had left Sytaunton in such haste that
he had forgotten. one boot. She then
ascertaiued who it was the boot fit.
What her notions and feelings then
were I know not, but I suppose Pat
rick'e were about that time,
"GIvE ME LIBERTY, BUT NOT DEATH" T"
4 Whether Gov. Jefferson was MEM
} Der of the party or not / do not remem-
ber to have heard If not mistaken,
think the credit of this affair was given
to Margaret Lynn Lewis, the mother
of Gen. Andrew aud Col. Charles Lew
is, but / give it to you as told me by my
mother. My grandmother was FREE
} quently compelled to leave her house in
the night with child under each arm,
(my father being one of them.) and
conceal herself among the weeds and
behind the rocks to prevent capture by
the Indians. She more than once Nok
refuge with her family
IN THE FORT AT AUGUSTA CHURCH,
eight or ten miles distant and across
that rugged country, DR. Specie called
"the hill country Of Judea." Whilst
There, her milk maid Phoebe (the moth.
er of Uncle Anthony, y0u remember,
would 60 back to the farm to milk the
COWS. churn the butter, and return tC
the fort the same night Her mode ol
procedure was somewhat peculiar She
would strip to the buff. except breech.
, cloth, having first creased or oiled her
; self from head to foot, In order, as sh(
said, Ito keep the Ingens from holding
her if they caught her" Then mount.
ed on fleet BLACK stallion, 'Pompey'
l would dash off to the farm, anG
. ter performing her perilous feat
would return ladened with her precious
! freight She couldn't bear the idea O
letting Miss Sally and the children
, suffer for milk and butter, or the
: POOR COWS HAVE THEIR BAGS sPOILEI
for want of attention.
:. My grandfather served as an officer IL
J the battles of Point Pleasant, Guilford
Il Kings Mountain, &c. His brothe
William was killed at Point Pleasant
. His widow, then living near the Hol
o ston, In one of the southwest counties
]. afterwards cold out and removed to D.
o Kalb county, Indiana, where she ac
0 cumulated large quantity of fine LAM
for her children and left them indepen
r dent Some years ago obtained from
her son William, who is living in tba
. county. this Information. He is quit
9 wealthy This brings to mind an anus
:, ing incident, related by my mother
which occurred whilst she and fathe
were removing to Kentucky. Thei
y route was not far from the home Of tn
d widows son Moffett, her maiden nam
g Gardner. My father. who had bee,
e her school mate, as also q relative b.
Q marriage, concluded to spend tn
: might with them, and reached thei
= home some three hours before the su
e disappeared. AS soon as she discovere