The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-24
" The Old Stone House How IL
Locked ThtrtY.SeYen Years Ago.

DR.. &. III. PERKINS, oil Ashland, writes 10
us that while looking over some old manu-
scripts he found the following description
Of the old stone house written by himself
thrty-seyen yeais ago, when the relic was
in much better state Of preservation
"TnE OLD STONE House. THAT strange
old ruin. known by the above name, is SIT
uated in the county OF New Kent about
twelve miles above Williamsburg. IL
stands on a high and narrow ridge or point
OF land, almost surrounded by Ware creek
and fanked by deep and precipitate RI
vines. There are succession OF these
ridges or points on this creek, but the one
or which this building stands Is The high
est. and in many places 1t is so narrow az
scarcely TO admit three carriages abreast
its sides are clothed with an underground
OF ivy, upon which hangs profusion OF
short green moss. Under this growth tht
ground is green on the northern exposure
with liver-wort. Immediately around Inc
ruin the trees, from their size and appear
ance. indicate considerable age.
The walls are built OF soft sandstone,
cemcnted with clay and lime. In some
nlaces they are nearly on q level with the
| NrnutUs iii OtitlNs thtft Va iphitNNh ~
| high. The chimney, situated on the south
west end. is now about twenty feet high,
the fireplace, and indeed whole flue. being
circular instead OF the usual form. Placing
your back TO the fireplace. you have In front
a low opening or doorway sufficiently
large TO admit man in STOPPING posture,
and on each side OF it two wedge-shaped
openings about eighteen inches above
ground. probably Intended for the purpose
Of ventilation. {. Campbell, think, sup
poses they were made for portfolios. Some
distance above this doorway, near the right
corner Of the building. is window. The
length of the house is from the fireplace to
the doorway in front OF il, and does not
exceed twenty-four feet; It's breadth Is
about eighteen. Keeping your back still
to the fireplace, you have on your
right a large opening extending nearly
down TO the surface Of the ground. and
comprising one third of the entire length
of the wall; between this opening and the
right corner Is another window; on the
lett there is another opening similar to the
one on the right, except that 1t extends
entirely down to the ground. The two
large openings have been called by Camp
bell saIly-pCrts. The basement wall, which
rests upon the surface OF the ground, is
twenty-six inches thick; little higher UP
about twenty. The opening in front OF
the fireplace is not in the centre OF the
building, and this. with the fact OF the
wall not extending down into the ground,
rs usual, led me TO suppose 1t was bullt
hastily and carelessly. Considerable Curl
osity has been excited rs to the pur-
pose OF this structure; indeed il is prob
able that alone which invests 1t with
interest. There is one tradition in the
neiphborhood that it was built by the cele-
brated pirate Blackboard, and that he bu-
ried considerable quantity OF money UNI
der a myrtle-tree in front OF the door.
Another, that it was erected by the snug
glers somewhere about 1T6S, during the tax
on tea, as a place OF deposit for that and
other prohibited articles. 1t is wild and
picturesque as well as secluded place, and
suits well the imagination as haunt for
these gentry. Besides the difficulty and
intricacv of the approach on the land side.
IFS contiguity to creek navigable by small
crafts. and its nearness to Williamsburg.
the then capital of Virginia, make it more
than probable that it was used, if not con-
strucled, at that time for that purpose.
Traditions, it is said, concerning this old
ruin. describing il as nearly in the same
condition as at present, have been handed
down from period long prior to the times
above mentioned, and some have coniec-
tlIrcd that it was built by Captain John
Smith as a place OF retreat in the event OF
the colonists being driven from Jamestown.
Ii seems reasonable TO suppose that Smith
would have selected place near to water
nayigable to large vessels. and not have
penetrated into the country where he
would be cut of from all communications
with the British ships, TO attempt to hide
himself from the Indians. for il is evident
that the location was chosen more for con-
cealment than strength; and the size, too,
Of the house initiates against the notion
that it was built for that purpose.
had considerable difficulty in procuring
guide, several gentlemen to whom | APP
piled declaring that they had seen the
stone house in hunting, but could not now
find il. At last we met with one whose
habits (beng constantly engaged in hunt
inc and fishing made him acquainted with
every foot of country around him, and
who kindly undertook TO conduct us. His
appearance was remarkable, and he suited
well as a guide to such wild and secluded
spot. HIS dress, his gun thrown careiessly
across his shoulder, his keen black eve
kept constantly upon the ground, except
when raised to take rapid and furtive
glance around him, and his long and easy
strides reminded me strongly OF "Leathcr
Stockings" or "Bil Johnson" and |
could not help thinking what an admirable
trapper had been spoit in him by civilized
| life. a. ii. PERKINS.
Kingston, March, 1913.
|