Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-26
DEATH OF DR.. GREGG.
FOUND DEAD IN HIS BED HERE

MS household furniture and farming
utensils and expected to spend his re-
naming days here. DR.. Gregg de-
sended from the Scotch Coyenanters, was
educated at Andova Academy and at
Dartmouth College, his father refusing
to send him to Harvard on account Of
its Unitarian procliyities. His father
opened the first Sabbath school in
Boston, and it is supposed the Doctor
was born in that city. He came to
Virginia about fifty years ago and set
tied in King William county, taught
school in Judge Brockenbrough's fam-
ly, and afterwards began the practice
OF medicine. Wishing to see the West,
with view to locating there, he went
on foot from Virginia to Chicago; liked
the country, but for family reasons
concluded to return to Virginia. He
was remarkable for his economical
habits, early began to save money, and
induced all his servants to keep bank
account, he sometimes supplementing
their small sums by advancing wages
for this purpose. lie had no patience
with sloth and idleness. He thought
the rich should work as well as the
poor.
DR.. Gregg always expressed great
sympathy with female orphanage, and
many years ago determined to give the
bulk Of his estate to the female Pro-
testant asylum Of this city, and seemed
greatly worried when his plans were
defeated.
Some six or eight years ago he be-
came acquainted with DR.. Parker, Of
this city by receiving a boy from the
asylum under DR.. Parker's charge.
The correspondence was at intervals
continued and reports Of the charities
Of Richmond were sent to him. Four
years ago, on application of DR..
Parker, he purchased the home known
as the Magdalen ASylu and presented
it TO the Board Of Directors. In his
will he leaves this institution Sl0, 900.
About two years ago, when asked to
help 10 establish an Old Ladies Home
for the Methodist and Presbyterians he
cheerlully gave 10000 Of bonds for
this purpose, and during the past
spring, when asked to buy a play
ground for the boys at the Orphan
Asylum. he gave his check for 81 600.
Being offended with the managers of
the Female Humane Association in de-
clniDg the offer of two lots adjoin-
ing The property Of the asylum,
he determined last June to attach
a codicil to his will changing his
residiary legatees from this asylum
to the st. Josephs', and a few weeks
$50 placed a girl ten years old
there, for whom provision is made
in his will in recognition of its claims
upon him. This is the child Of Lucy
Hall, his hOusekeeper, who had nothing
to do with his family troubles, and has
been in his service only ten years. The
breaking up of the family occurred ten
or twelve years before. Lucy Hall is
only twenty-six years old. st. Joseph's
Asylum will get about 100000, and
perhaps more.
The estate consists of bonds, money,
houses and lots in Richmond, and some
land in the West. His farm he sold
last winter for 100000.
DR.. Parker has been in the habit,
when DR.. Gregg is in the city. of call
ing on him almost daily. Monday
night, about half-past 8 o'clock, he
called at his room and found him in
bed. lie usually retired about
O'Clock. lie complained very much
about loss Of sleep, and requested DR..
Parker to get him lodgings in some
quiet family, expressing regret at having
given the proprietor Of the st.
Charles trouble. After a cheerful
conversation of half an hour, DR.. Par
ker, feeling his pulse and saying it was
90 and strong, he left the room. promis-
,ing to call early next day and drive him
out. He had not been out Of his room
for three days. lie said nothing about
the note he had written DR.. Parker in
the afternoon of the day, supposing it
was it that brought him to the hotel.
The following note-the last he ever
wrote-came by post yesterday morn
ing:
AUGUST 9th.
Dear DOctOr,-I am poorly and weak.
and shall certainly 60 crazy if | stay in
this ceaseless street-racket all day, and
guests laundering down this long gpassage
off and on all night. Last night | did
not sleep wink during the whole night.
| regret the change, all other things
being all right. Good and kind host,
almost to a fault.
Hastily and very truly.
= d. II. GREGG.
Being notified at G:30 A. NJ. yesterday
Of his death, DR.. Parker, with friend,
went at once to the hotel, found him
lying across the bed, and secured his
papers and deposited them in the Mer-
chants National Bank; also wrote to
Judge Gregory, of King William, who
is executor.
The Doctor was in his eighty-fourth |
year. lie left but one child, daugh- |
ter, advanced in life, now in Colorado. |
A dispatch Ssas sent at once to her.
They have been voluntarily separated |
twenty years. lie leaves her 5000 an
nually. DIR. Parker, who had seen the
will months ago, urged him to increase
this annuity, but he declined, saying it
was enough for frugal woman. The
will directs that the body, under the
direction of the executor, be sent to
Boston and buried by the side Of his
mother. Handsome portraits Of his
mother and father were sent by the
Doctor to the Home for Ladies on Sew
enth street last summer.
There were three children by his
marriage, but two died in early life.
His wife died in 1880; aged about
eighty.
When the Doctors only daughter
was in her twenty-sixth year a'great
and sad difficulty occurred between the
Doctor and his wife, which cast its
deep, dark shadow upon three hearts |
and once happy home.
Death OF sister GeDevieye.
Yesterday morning at half-past 10 |
o'clock Sister Mary Geneyieye Eggars,