Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-01-14

lie was born
on u u s. . aof Virginia, AMI was
owned by Bepj. Hall. whom Uncle sid fire
qusntiy spoke OF as shipbuiider and as living
near the Old Hunger's church.. During the
Revolutionary way. when sidney way xoott
or years old, he was sent 10 Richmond and
! sold; and soon after tis he wac again sold in
| 5tauuton. He was bought by Pstrick Craw
| ford. who then owned the Iaigs and fine estate
on Middle River, now owned by Col. John
| Il Crawford.a great-grandson OF Patrick Craw
ford. Here he began life of activity and OF
exceptional fatthfuness. When Sidney Was
a4'pro4 aching manhood, John q son OF Patrick
Crawford, and afterwards known rs Major
John Crawford, removed fiom bis fathers
home and was established upon the farm
| recently owned by the late Df E. q. Moorman.
rne lsithfui young servant accompanied the
| son TO his new home and was owned by him
till the death of Msjor Crawford in S46 Before
Major Cfawford's death, because OF advancing
years and uncommon iaithfulness. sidney be-
came privilege person." He was not re
quired to work with constancy, but was per
mitted to go and come, when and VIII re he
desired. In the division OF the estate which
| soon followed, he was left out OF the calculation
| entirely, because it was the wish OF his old
master that he should be liberated. and while
he desired him to live in the family, he per-
'nitteo Tie ola servant 10 choose NE honis Will
any one oi the ehlioren ne oesTeu. ois "Aie'
10 Wnom ne was much devoted' ana was al
remarkable as her husband for her fidelity, was
then owned by and lived with Major VIM. Bell
| on the estate lately owned by the late W. j.
Davis Bell anu son Oh MAJOR iii~l neii'
because OF lts nearness 10 the nome OF MS wle'
sidney cast In his lot with the ismliy OF Col.
SranKl1n McCue, whose VIE was oausntsi
OF Major John CRAWFORD. WIN MIS- McCue he
remained for many years, long sftsr ne De
came very innrm and was cared icf as tenoeriy
ana constantly as though ne mad bsen mem
Der of the family, rather than an old servant.
About elSntyear ago ne was removed 10 Inc
home OF Mrs. Mary Moorm an, a younger sister
OF mrs. Nc ues. Here small mouse was puilt
for his use excius.-ely, IN the YARD, and boy
nired to wait upon him. ana every attepAvn
given him. To the day of nfs0eatb he was
visited and cared for daily by ons of the fami-
ly, and in times OF sickness WIS nursed as
child. During his last days, hr nearly two
weeks, man was hired to wait upon him day
and night, and was constantly by him till the
last.
During his days of servitude he was never
rem1ss in his duties. He was never corrected
or reprimauded for Incidence. disobedit zee or
any other shortcoming. because OF this. he
was virtually free from 1880 or 1910.
Sidney possessed ~ remarkable memory,
which continued wonderfully clear to his
death. He had distinct recoilectiOns CT the
building and builders OF almost every house
Tor miles around the old Homestead. For some
years he has been consulted as an oracle by
descendants % many OF those who Ilrmersy
lived In the community OF and worshiped at
the ''Old Stone Church." and in eve Instance
he seemed to have very clear retaeni brance
of them and their families. He was always
much pleased by stch visitors ana their in
quir1es.
His sight was very good notwithstanding his
age, and at his death there was not decay { d
tooth in his head, and in more Than hum
dred years ne iost out thfee teeth
1t IS unfortunate that MIS- exact aga cannot
be determined BY those VINO h6Ye known
him Longest aud most intimately. bis sgo was
thought TO ps at ieast ilV years He always
maintained tbat ne was porn III March; so That
IL Is thousnt tna' next March ~o~d almost
certainly nave competed ms llitn ear, When
Major John crawford died. SO years ago, Sidney
was thought 10 be ABOUT 70 years old, He
always maintained that ne was STOW n man
when the present prlcK residence was built on
tne estate Vi tno iate Nialor dohh Crawford.
whlcn was undoubtedly IN the year i!95-for
ne carried orlch ana mortar lor us eonstruc-
'ioh' ME. Manly moouo' 'ho WY" OF the