Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-04-07

Inc QOtS are QlSGlncGly maze IN the SCOne,
and the letters fill up the regular lines
across the face of the stone. The head
stone is towards the West, and just third
of mile South of the junction of the old
Scottsville pike and Shen. V. R. R. Three
graves are East and one West, all in a row.
We first heard the date was 1872; it is 1888.
Tradition is silent as to their history.
The foregoing may be regarded as an in
PRODUCTION to some interesting scraps OF
Waynesboro's early history. Several of the
facts we mention we obtain from the coun-
ty records, and some from the Oldest white
resident OF the town, John B. Taylor, born
about the beginning of this century, and
one or two others from Isaac Mcclure, born
on Xmas day, 1899 I send you, with this,
diagram which have made, that will en-
able you to appreciate my description OF
the village; only wish your readers could
have the benefit of it.
There were three individuals who were
mainly concerned in laying off the town of
aynesboro'-Charles and William Tees,
sometimes spelled Teas, they being regard
ed as one individual, and who operated as
far back as 1854, earlier than Samuel Es-
till and James Flack, whose deeds are dated
from 1890 to 1900. All the town, from the
River to where Messrs. Austin and White
scarver's houses are, was, up to about 1895,
called Teesville; the upper part of the town
was called Waynesboro', the most promi-
nent house in which, in the beginning of
this century, was Maj. - Wilson's tav-
ern.
Samuel Estill laid off the upper end of the
town, and James Flack that part embra-
cling the old Presby terian Church, grave
yard, &C., he having donated to the cOngre-
cation the ground for their Church.
That part of the town is included in this
language, in Book 80, page "a, in 1885,
Samuel Estill and Jean, his wife, of
Madison CO., KY, through Geo. Williams,
their attorney, convey to James Flack 4
certain lots in the town of Waynesboro'-
Nos. 39, 43, 49, and S3-each containing
5000 feet" and in same book, page 1853,
'James Flack and Mary, his wife convey
to Jacob Gle, of Albemarle. lot No. 16, in
that part Of the town laid off by said Flack :"
In 179S, Book 30, page 112, Jane Allen,
relict of Robert Allen. Jr., conveyed to
James Flack two tracts of land, one so
acres, adjoining Tees, and witnessed by
Claudius Buster. Here, as we have reason
to believe, is the Robert Allen, Jr., son of
the Robert Allen whose tombstone we have
described, and who perhaps filled three Of
the five graves we have mentioned Same
book, page 1875. Samuel Estill and Jean,
his wife, convey to James Flack 20! acres,
part of large tract known as Teas's, ad-
joining an alley, which adjoins the lots of a
town lately laid off by said Samuel Estill"
This deed is dated 1898. In 1885, B. 25,
page 165, Montague Allen, of Pr. Edward,
sells to Robert Allen, Sen, 4S0 acres on
South River, and, as we believe, was pres
emily the John Guthrie, now the Gallaher
land, on which was the race-course, as eel
ebrated at the day we speak of as any ever
kept up in Virginia. In 1919, when the re-
cruiting officers were enIisting men for that
war, they were always more or less success
full at the races here, and but for making
this too long, could give you several inter
esting incidents.
AS the name of Frederick Imboden was
for years mixed up with the early history
of Waynesboro', land if not the builder,
was the first owner of the mill, and his
brother-in-law, Jacob Bowman, was also
the owner of small mill, and of, no doubt,
the first tilt-hammer in Augusta. just be-
low the present mill, and known to many
as the Grouse milI, we will here say word
of him. The Imbodens came from Dau-
phin CO., Pa, and were called "Impotent"
in the earliest mention. John Sweigart
lmboden, of Dauphin, was among the first
names mentioned, though Frederick was
the first. 'Jane Impotent sold to Frederick
1mboden in 1909, 229 acres of the John
Guthrie tract.''-B. 80, p 174. 1t is re-
membered that Frederick Imboden became
great speculator in everything-aegroes,
lands, horses, cattle, &c. He had bought
much of the land, and, as we believe, the
mill-site of Saml Estll. In '1SOS, B SO, D
1856, he sold to Joseph and James Bell 259
acres on South River, as trustees for James
and Jane Estill, of Madison co., Ky" They
sold the mill portion to Jacob Mohler. IA
ther of JAG. and Abraham, of Weyer's Cave.
He paid about half the purchase-money and
had to surrender the property to Jas. Bell
lie turned it over to his son, the late John
D., who, as will be well remembered sold
to Hugh l.. Gallagher, Sen, for Confeder-
ate money, and he to Smith & Patterson,
the latter it's present owner
John b. Taylor remembers when the en-
tire hill, from point below the Presbyte-
Ran and Methodist Churches, was densely
covered with chinquepin bushes up to and
including the site of Rev. Whitescarver's
and Mrs. Hangers houses
In B. so, page 40, in 1902, Abram Ever
sole sold to one VIM. Short a lot of land.
and the same on which the Widow Glenn
lately lived. John B. Taylor was a smart
sized urchin when VIM. Snort, one night,
at tolerably late hour, raised the cry of
murder on the street. Persons rushing in
to his house, found his wife lying on the
bed, with her throat cut and razor lying
by her side On the pillow. He had been at
his son-in-law's, one McDade, a short time
before. His two sons were at dance at
the house lately known as the Waynesboro'
Hotel, and one Of them was dancing in his
mothers shoes. Suspicion turned strong
ly against Short for the murder of his wife,
and an examination was had before Clau-
dius Buster, then prominent magistrate,
and who. with the late Gen. Robert Porter
field, are the only instances, as tradition
has it, who, because of being senior magis-
trates, twice reached the Sheriffal5y. He is
first remembered as a young man at the
Mountain Top with John Morrison, and
having married the widow of Hugh Paul,
who, after years spent On the South bank
Of the Susquehannah, where Wrightsville
now stands, the sole occupant of the place,
a ferryman, often carried Gen. Washington
70 and fro on his way from Philadelphia to
Mount Vernon, whilst President of the
United States. His son Joseph will be re-
membered by many of your readers. wlo.
as little fellow, was a pet of Gen. Wash