Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-20
VIRGINIA,s FIRST FAMILIES.
A Glance at the Mode of Life Among
the Oldest Residents.
Eron TIE PhiInaezphin Times.

fD''
Virginia's ''first families" can be found
all over the State, but nowhere in such
purity and antiquity as in Stafford county,
until recently the home of GOV. Lee. The
county is not very large and by no means
prosperous, but stands first as the expo
nent Of all that IS conveyed by the Elk
preston ''F. +. v" Nearly every family
here can trace its origin by lneal
descent to the first English settlers,
while not few can speak OF their great
great-grandfathers and grandmothers as
lord and lady sO-and-sO. The county is
named after the famous Earl of Stafford.
and not a few of it's people are descended
from the family of that n0bleman. Be
fore the war THESE people lived in the
style of nobility, if without its name, and
now that the course of events has reduced
their means they preserve English GUS
toms in all except the splendOr which
only wealth can afford.
In the first place, each family has its
little domain, and, however small, 1t has
an imposing English name, just as ii it
were an earldOm. Somerset, Rlchland,
Aberdeen, LeunOX and Wayside are
few of the names of small farm houses
Nesting in the Stafford pines and sur
rounded by thousands of acres OF partially
cultivated lands. These houses are all
frame, generally two stories high, and
the poorest OF them is surrounded
by a lawn, through which runs
one or more carriage drives. One
would expect to see castles when
coming in view OF the beautiful lawns and
the centuried oaks, and would feel dtsau-
pointed at the little white houses at the
end OF the drives, but there is a sort of
rustic harmony in the picture after all.
Seated in the verandas at evening and
looking out on the Oak-canOpied sWards
you would forget the absence OF the cas-
tie, and, if you were an Englishman,
fancy yourself amid the lime trees on one
OF the grand ola estates across the water
The former home OF GOV. Lee is called
Richland, II is like all the estates in the
cOunty-a tw0-stOry frame house, a large
lawn and several hundred acres of any
thing but rich land. Here the Governors
ancestors have lived for hundreds OF
years. OF course the Lees can trace their
descent to titled Euglishmen; at least all
books Of heraldry make it out so. Alta
distance OF a few miles is Somerset, the
home OF the Moncure family. The pres
ent Mrs. Moncure Is a daughter OF the
famous Lady SpOtswOOd, whose por-
trait hangs in the capitol at Rich
mond. This family has lived in Stafford
county for nearly 200 years. All its de-
ceased members are buried in the grave
yard at Aqua church, and tablet near
the pulpit contains the rather royal in
scrlpuon: "Sacred to the Memory OF the
Race of Moncure." There are about $50
members Of the family in the county.
The women, taken all in all, are the most
beautiful the writer has ever Sc n within
the same area. They seem to nave in
herited in a remarkable degree the
Queenly beauty OF Lady Spol swood, and
some OF them bear close resemblance to
her portraits.
The Waller family, little further up
at Wayside, is related to the Lees and
trace their origin to the same source. The
first Of the SCOTS came to Stafford from
England to take charge Of Aqua church.
He was one of the unfortunate class
known as indictments younger sons. and
was assigned, rs is usually the case, to
the ministry. One OF his descendants is
Congressman w. l.. Scott, VINO passed
his boy mood on the Stafford hills. Mr..
Scott has not forgotten his old home amid
his Pennsylvania millions. A few months
ago he sent $1,000 to the pastor Of Aqua
church for the purpose OF repairing the
old building. and is now contemplating a
trip to the home OF the distinguished an
cest0rs.
Tue names Of all the families who have
lived in the county since aute-revolut on
airy days would MI a half column. and
although they cannot all claim titled pro-
cenitors they are the very first Of the "F.
r. VS."