The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-26
LEAVES FROM THE PAST.
ANOTHER VIRGINIA ANTIQUARIAN
HEARD FROM.
something More About the Mysterious Old
stone house-The DEVILS woodward
Some Interesting Points About Old Bliss
land Parish-Ancicnt Epitaphs.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:


In last Sundays issue Of the Dispatch
your Williamsburg correspondent "W."
writes Of visit recently made by him TO
the Old Stone House in James City county,
and gives an interesting description OF this
mysterious relic Of colonial days" His
picture OF the ruin and It's wild surround
ings has not been overdrawn. This writer
has spent many hours on the wild, weird
spot-not, however, In searching for Black
boards buried treasure, but in endeavor-
ing 20 recall the traditions connected there
with. and in specializing upon the origin
and history OF the Old stone House.
Before the war the "Deyirs Wood
Yard" surrounding the building. was n
primeval forest, so dense and dark in its
deep gorges that il was a favorite hiding
place for runaway slaves. Local tradition
made IL the scene Of many mysterious oc-
currences, and deeds OF blood are said to
have been enacted in its UNEMPLOYED re-
cesses.
The superstitious avoided the place
where il was said the ghosts OF Blackbeard's
murdered victims walked in the dim day
light and held high carnival when the
shadows changed to gloom.
I'm 1865 the north and east walls OF the
Stone House were in a good state OF pre-
servation, and the chimney at the end next
TO York river showed but little dilapida-
ton. Many names, dates, and initials were
carved in the stones, but most OF the dates
were comparatively modern. one, how
ever, over the fireplace, thus 81, Mon,
l775," left little room for doubt that II was
carved by James Monroe, afterwards Presi-
dent OF the United States, when he was q
student; at William and Mary College. The
name was probably written out In full, but
the stone containing the last three letters
had been displaced.
Your correspondent "W." revives the
tradition that the house was built by the
famous, or rather Infamous, pirate Black
beard. This, however, is nothing more
than tradition without a particle OF his
torical authority TO support it. This theory
OF construction robs the ruin OF much OF
its credit for antiquity. Blackboard gray
aged the seas" about the years 1117'-lS,
and the Stone House probably antedates
this period by fully one hundred years.
In Howe's History OF virginia there is a
cut representing the house, and it also con-
tains several pages descriptive of the ruin.
The author quotes from AN article written
by c. G.. Charles Campbell, ESQ, in which
that writer adduces proof wellnigh conclu-
.iye that this ''fort" was built by Captain
John Smith as early as 160S-'9. II his
theory OF its origin is correct. then the
stone house is the only remaining material
monument OF the labor and enterprise Of
the "Father OF Virginia." and it is the
ruin of the oldest house built by English
hands in America. Howe. in lS4j, errone-
ouslv locates the ruin in New Kent county.
As stated by "W.." il is on the lower side
of Ware creek, and consequently in James
City county. Ii was in New Kent until the
year 1866, when the eastern boundary Of that
county was changed from Scimino creek TO
Ware creek. And just here it will be OBJ
served that "W," gives to this latter creek
the spelling adopted In our recent statutes.
The proper spelling i not Weir, hut Ware.
The creek was named for Robert Ware,
who patented large tracts OF land on both
sides of the stream in the early days OF the
colony. and this spelling is uniformly EN-
ployed in Henning.
There are many other objects OF interest
to the antiquarian in this section OF the
state. New Kent, although not one OF the
original shlres, is one OF the oldest counties
i'm the Old Dominion. Ii was formed in
l6j4, and extended from Scimino creek.
some distance below Williamsburg, 10 the
heads of the Pamunkey and Mattaponl
rivers, aud thence down on the north side
TO PoropOtank creek, embracing within
these bounds the lands included in its pre-
sent limits. the counties OF Hanover, King
William, King and Queen, and a portion
Of James City and Caroline. The county
was divided into three parishes. Bishop
Meade saws "On the north of the York
and Pamunkey rivers there was parish
called st. Johns, and on the south one
called st. Peters. About the year 1854 OF
1855 parish east Of st. Peters. on Pa
munkey and York rivers, was formed by
the name OF Blissland, which continued to
have a minister until after the Revolutions
ary war;"
He further says, page 3SS:
"Uf BlisSand parish few words will
suffice for the little we have TO say OF this
No vestry-book remains TO tell its history
l. What has become Of its churches>
am unable TO say. Perhaps | may YET
learn"
In the appendix inserted on the last page
OF volume two OF the second edition OF bis
work he continues:
"Since the first edition OF this book
have received fragment OF the vestry'
book of this (Blissland) parish ''f. The
services OF its ministers are supposed tC
have been divided between Warren church
so called from the swamp OF that name
about ten miles below New Kent Court
house, which has entirely disappeared, and
| Hickory Neck church, in james City coun
ty, which is still standing"
II will be perceived that Bishop Meade
gives the year 1854 or 1855 as the date oil
the formation of Blissland parish, anC
states that it was formed from st. Peter.
parish. Blissland parish certainly existed
before the dates here given, as the follow
ing extracts will show, and 1t is probable
| that st. Peters was formed from 1t.
In the 1st volume Calender OF Virginia
State Papers, page IL, copy OF the follow
| ing document may be found:
"At a Gen'l Court held al James City
April Doth, 1679-present, &c, .
the Parish of BIssland petltioning vt, by
unanimous consent Of We whole parish
division by sufficient men by them chosen
is made of We sd, p.'ish, and praying thai
We Division be confirmed, and ttowre OF Y,
vestry appearing and affirming that ye hi
vision was made by consent OF We parish
this court therefore confirmed the sd Di'
vision.
"ver. cop. teste: W. p. EDWARDS, c'Pk
Gen'l CT"
That Blissland was the mother parish OF
the county is more than probable, and this
view is strengthened by the fact that the
first settlements were made in the lower
end. or that portion Of the county nearest
to flames City" Jamcstown) and VIII
Iiamsburg.
While on recent visit to lower New
Kent the writer determined to ascertain
II possible, the exact location OF the church
alluded to by Bishop Meade, Accompanied
by Mr.. A. z. Richardson, who Is probably
better acquainted with the country thar
any other inhabitant, search was first mad,