Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-21
B0TET0URTS GRAVE.
HOW THE NOBLE LORDS LAST REST
lNG-PLACE WAS DESIGNATED.
And How the Silver Cofiin-Plate Has Been
Recovered by the State
Authorities.

4 few days ago Governor Lee received
the following letter from Rev. James II.
Taylor. of Rome. n. Y:
RoMB, \. Y, June l2, 1889.
Dear Sir,-I saw yesterday in the hands
OF q jewellcr here a solid silver plate which
he had Just bought as old silver. The plate
is about eight inches long by four wide,
and bears the inscription:
NoRBoKNE:
BARON De BOrETOURr. ETC,
% years OF ago
Died, lO0.
This you will probably recognize rs in
dicating a Governor of Virginia from lIC5
10 100.
There is probably some historical society
in your State that would like to rescue
this plate from the old silver crucible. 1t
has the look of q cofiin-plate. How the
one who sold it came into possession of 1t
is not known. The jeweller will hold 1t for
little time.
If the matter interests YOU. YOU can adj
dress yours truly, JAMES II. TAYLOR,
Pastor Of First Presbyterian Church.
STATE LIBRARY WANTS IT.
The Governor turned the letter over to
Nr. Charles Poindextcr. State Librarian,
who Immediately wrote MIR. TAYLOR thank
ing him for mis- courtesy and expressing
desire to procure the relic for the state
Library.
BOUGHT FOR S2.5O.
Rev. Mr.. Taylor replied 10 Mr.. Poindex-
ter's letter on the 10Th, IN which he says:
1T is as ! suspected, relic OF vandalism.
But the plate has now passed from the pos
session of the original owner. VINO cannot
probably be identified. The ieweller who
bought d for about $3.50 Is Frcnchmau
who recently came TO this country and so
holds no sectional relations IN our coun-
try
Mr.. TAYLOR passed Mr.. Poindcyter'S letter
over TO ir. +. F. Bevillard the ieweler in
question. and yesterday Mr.. PoindeXter re-
cciyed the following letter:
A FREE GIrT.
Rom. y. T.. June 49, 1889.
Charles Poinderier. R,chmoo,d, "a:
Dear Sill hRe your letter written to
Rev. i. IL. Taylor, whom ] requested 90
write 20 the Governor OF Virginia IN re-
| gard 10 the de Botetourt plate. | have
shown it toseyeral co73,ot SEARS who consider
itayaluable relic, but think II belongs to
| the State of Virginia. Allow me 10 have
| the pleasure Of presenting 1t TO the State
! OF Virginia. As several parsons here wish
| 10 SEQ II | shall take the liberty 10 keep 1t
| p few days longer, when ] viii forward u TO
Won by express. | remain your~sre pect-
| fully, J.. 7. BEWLLAEO.
Mr.. Poindexter Yesterday afternoon re-
Piled 10 Alr. Beyiliards letter. accepting
| the Gift on behalf of the State and thank
| ing the donor for the same.
THE HISTORY.
The Rome Epening Spnt,nr' of the 18th
contains "a cut of the plate and gives the
| following history Of the same:
For some time past there has been on
| exhibition at l.. p. Bevillsrds jeWeiry
store. on west Domnick street, an interest
| ing relic Of old colonial times. Ii j. COT
| hn-plate of solid silver in the shape Of q
shield ten inches long and five inches
wide aud weighing -four ounces.
"Mr Beyillard bought the plate for old
| silver of Ldward Lea of New London. who
! got 10 from Mrs. Brown. of Verona. whose
! husband was q soldier in the Union army,
| bat Is now dead. A. 10 how Private Brown
came into possession of the memorial hi,
widow has no knowledge. but 1t Is remem-
| bered that during the war q great many
| bnildn-s in the South were pllaged by
| soldier. and the presumption, natural
| one Is that II wA- taken a. that time with
other property from William and Mary
| College, of Williamsburg. Va. IN the chapel
| Of which rested the remains Of Baron de
Botetourt who was . Colonial Governor
| of Virginia"
L6RD BoTEroURT
1
Norlorne Berkeley Baron de Botetourt.
son 81 J0hn Syrps Berkeley WAS born in
| l7ls. lie received the appointment of
! Governor for the colony of Virginia sue
ceeding Sir Jeffrey Amherst In July, l76S,
] though he did not arrive M the colony un-
| IA. some time in October following. He
died Oh October l5 l77O. and the body was
deposited in one of the vaults beneath the
chapel of William and Mary College. and =
| beautiful marble statue of him was erected
at the expense Of the colony NJ l11i in
front Of the old Capitol. II was removed
10 the front Of William and Mary College
| IN 1871.
The grave Is supposed 10 have been desc
Grated by the Federal soldier, during their
occupancy Of Williamsburg. when they
burned William and Mary College and per
petrated other acts Of vandalism al
most too atrocious 10 be believed by this
| generation Of people.