Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-02-19
For the SPECrATOR.
The Bells, CANDLES, Loves, &c.

Mr.. EDIToR:-A lady, native of Lib
erty, in Bedford county, months ago, ad-
dressed letter to limb Of the law in
your town, who bore the name she did be-
fore her marriage. She was anxious to
learn something of her ancestors, natives,
as she said, of Augusta. He showed it to
a brother. They puzzled over IL few mo-
ments, when the brother said to him:
"There's but one man in the county who
can answer her enquiries; give it to him. -
Well, sir, had it occurred to you that in the
limits of county you some times will find
a half dozen families of the same name
that can not trace relationship? There
are half dozen of the first of the three
above in this county. We had a letter
from the same lady while ago. We had
not replied for the want of information.
The mail has this moment brought me a
communication from friend, which, we
think gives clue to her quest, and be-
sides has something Of historic interest.
We will prepare it at once, in the hope your
paper of next week will contain it.
There are many, who, at this day, do not
know that the Gamble family, connected
with the Cabells, William Writ, and the
CANDLES, of Florida, emanated from Au-
gusta, near Spring hill, and came into the
county as soon, if not before, the founder"
it you know who he is. My friend writes
me: 81 find among my grandfather's old
papers memorandum referring to the
siege of Derry in 1889. Samuel Glass
and Mary his wife, nee Gamble, from Ban
bridge, county of Down, Ireland, settled
in Frederick county, Va, in the year 1736. !"
Now, my dear sir, what a God-send
would these few words have been to our
venerable and esteemed friend, the late
Rev. VIM. H. Foote, D. D. Take his
sketches Of Virginia, second series, and
turn to page "a, and read: ''This limestone
pyramid tells you it was reared in memory
Of Samuel Glass and Mary Gamble, his
wife, who came in their old age from Ban
bridge, county Down, ireland, and were
among the early settlers, taking their abode
on the Opequon in 1876. His wife often
spoke of her two fair brothers that per-
ished in the siege of Derry Mr.. Glass
lived like patriarch with his descendants.
Devout in spirit, and of good report in re-
ligion, in tho absence of a regular pastor,
he visited the sick, to counsel and instruct
and pray. His grandchildren used to re-
late, in their old age, by way of contrast,
circumstances showing the strict observance
of the Sabbath by families. Public wor-
ship was attended when practicable, read
ing the Bible, committing and reciting the
catechism, and reading books Of p;ety and
devotion, filled up all the hours. Mr.. Glass,
in the midst of wild lands to be purchased
at low rate, thought 1900 acres enough
for himself and children. Around him
here lie his children and many Of his grand
children. Just at his right lies his son in
law James Vance, the father Of numerous
descendants. both in Virginia and the wide
region west of the Alleghanies. There is
his grandson, Joseph Glass, Presbyterian
preacher of strong frame and powerful
mind, going down to his grave in the very
strength of his life in 1921; and at his side
was laid in 1881 his wife, the flower of an
other Scotch Irish family; and just by lies
| their eldest daughter, the wife of a Plesby-
terrain preacher, who says on her tomb
stone, 1T is easy for a Christian to die;
and near by lies the second daughter, left,
| by the death of her parents, the head oil
the family, herself in declining health.
Among her papers were found few lines
written soon after her mothers DEATH"
Mr.. Editor, we will copy them for you
They are too long for this article. But
think of what the few words in my friend
letter, from near Spring-hill, has brought
up. This is not all. will connect you
and yours with the above in this. Joseph
Glass, the only son of the Rev. James
Glass above mentioned, was pupil of the
Rev. DR.. Hendren and an inmate in his
family At the same time, Albert Gallatiu
Mauzy. father of the young man, Steward
of the Western Lunatic Asylum, was a stu.
dent, and from Romney, Hampshire county,
now West Virginia, John and Andrew
Woodrow, sons of John Mcdowell, raised
where Mrs. Gay lives, were also students.
John Mcdowell, the oldest of the two
brothers, and the Rev. VIM. H. Foote, D.
D., married sisters of your brothers school
fellow. But to come back to my letter.
MY friend thinks the CANDLES came in here
about the time Samuel Glass and Mary
Gamble settled near Winchester He finds
a deed from Robert Poague, dated in 1746,
for 306 acres, consideration els, to Robert
Gamble. 1t calls for Alex. Blair's lines.
James Gamble, great-grandfather of VIM
H. Gamble. died April 21st, 1881, in his
fifty-second year, and Agnes, his wife,
November 9th, 1887, in her fiftyninth year,
She was Bell, sister of Joseph Bell Of
South River, and, I incline to the belief
Holmes Bell is descendant. Sarah Gam.
BILE died in 1871 in her 25th year. Eliza
beth Moffett, who was Gamble, in 1890
aged %. Esther Bell, nee Gamble. was
the first of the three wives of John Bell
the Oldest son Of James Bell of the Long
Glade, of whom Capt. David Thomas, and
Francis we're the others. John built the
stone house, (the Jacob Shreckhise,) and
was in the Revolutionary war; This wife
died in January. 1910 Col. Robert Gam
BILE, brother. of John, Gather of VIM, DR.
| fafh n
VIM. H.. } died in Richmond, by fall from
his horse, April 18th, 1910, aged So years
He was the father of Mrs. Judge Cabell
Agnes Davis died in 1915. She was the
mother Of VIM. CANDLES second wife
John Gam le as above, died January 14th
/ 1881, IA years old. It is marked on hi.
tombstone that he was Revolutionary
soldier, although among his papers there is
no account of the part he took in it, yet, ir
what seems to be ''diary of the war;
Robert CANDLES name frequently occurs
doubt not, Mr.. Editor, the above vii
be read with deep interest, and in many 9
mansion near and remote, for the reason
there are so many of the descendants ii
whose veins flow the blood of those
have treated Of-they certainly have nj
cause to blush for.
There was a Love family, intimately con
nected with Joseph Bel of South River
am anxious to trace up. Who eau aio
me? OLD MORTALITY.
THE TARIFF QUEsTIoN.-This phrase i.
producing some excitement in the countr,
and among different Democrats. There is
this difference between Republicans ani
| Democrats One is for u tariff to raise rev