The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-12-30
A VALUABLE PORTRAIT.
An OIL Painting of tho Late Isaac Coles
Discovered In RonnOlo.


Discovered In Roanoke.
The TIMES on tho morning of Dccom-
Dor 20 published tho following editorial
paragraph:
"Clarcnce w. Bowen, secretary, e51
broadway, Now York, desires informa-
ton regarding portraits of William
Grayson, John Walker, Thoodoriok
Bland, Isaac Coles and Alexander
White, members of Congress from Vir-
ginia hundred years ago. Those por-
traits are particularly desired TO insert
with portraits of the remainder OF the
Virginia delegation in the memorial
volume on the centennial of Washing
tons Inauguration. Any clue, however
slight, is especially desired"
The evening mail brought the follow
ing letter:
To TiIE EDITOR OF TIE TIMES: IIav-
ing seen in your issue of to-day rcquest
in relation TO portraits of Virginia Nom
bers OF Congress L hundred years ago,
desire to say that my wife, Mrs. Mary
Coles McClelland, has small-sizcG nor
trait painting set in circular gold
case of her grandfather. tho Hon. Isaac
Coles. member of Congress from Virginia
IL hundred years ago.
Very respectfully,
X. MCCLELLAND.
Roanoke. Va, Dec. 26. 1890
Mr.. McClclland is member of the
real estate firm of McClelland, Woods Sc
Co. Times reporter called upon Mr.
and Mrs. McClclland at their residence
$40 Salem avenue =. W., yesterday, and
was shown the portrait in question. 1t
is an oval miniature about two by one
and half inches in size set in gold and
was originally worn as pendant, but
has now Il brooch pin fastening. Tho
portrait Is cXquisitely painted in oil,
seemingly upon enamel, and the colors
arc wonderfully preserved considering
that the portrait is nearly 100 years old.
1t represents II gentleman about 60
years OF ags, with pronounced features
and benign countcnancc. His eyes
arc blue-gray; his hair, worn full, is
powdered. An elegant pale blue coat
with high collar and cloth bound hut
tons is worn over d blue and buiT-harrcd
w3istcoat. much ruiliud shirt and
lace chokcr completes the visible cos
tune. 1t is presumablc that knee
bre"chcs, silk stockings and shoes with
silver buckles complete the attire.
Mrs. McClclland, who bears strong
family resemblance to the portrait OF
her grandfather, kindly furnished somo
interesting facts concerning him.
This portrait" said She, was given
mo when l was small girl by my
mother, Isaac Coles daughter. IL was
painted when he was about 60 wears Of
age, and some fifteen years after he was
in Congress. llo lived in Pittsylvania,
about twelve miles from Chatham.
ElbridGe Gerry and he married two
sisters, Mary and Catherine Thompson,
of New York, who were considered very
beautiful women. Thomas jefferson
was ut one time sutton for Catherine
Thompson's hand, but she rejected him
and married Isaac Coles. Miss Lizzio
Darlington, of Richmond, has my grand
mothers portrait.
"My sister, Mrs. John W. Clay, Of
Marysvillc, Campbell county, Is said to
resemble Isaac Coles even more Than |.
She has also lot of correspondence
which passed between our f;thers
father, Phillip Payne, of Campbell
county, Patrick Henry and Thomas
Jefferson"
In the course Of conversation it oame
out that Patrick Henry and Mrs. Nc
Clelland's patcrnal grandfather had
also married sisters, the cambridge
girls, and that several OF Patrick Hon
rvs descendants are living in Roanoke.