Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-12-27
OLD "BARNESFIELD.'
HISTORIC HOME or THE HooEs ON
The BANKS OF THE POTOMAC.
"Reminiscences Of Two Rsvoiutions-Pre-
iific Country and Choice Fare-Drs
barnes Hoos's Persecution
twr,,,su for rho Dispatch.l

the banks of the Potomac river. u time
houored Barncsfeld," the historic home
of the Hooes since 1715. As Q sacred relic
of other and better days; Us the scene OF
many interesting and important events
both in war and in peace, Barnesfieid "
and its record Of noble deeds and noble
people deserves especial mention. It's ad-
mirable location, picturesque landscapes,
and fertile fields render it one OF the most
attractive places on the Potomac river.
The residence occupies spot srgntiy ere
waited above the general surface. giving
commanding view OF large area Oh May ~
land and many prominent points as far
down the Potomac as the naked eye can
reach, including two popular watering
places" Cedar Point" Md, aud Colo
NAL Beach, Va.
ERECTED IN Ills.
The first dwelling.house at Barnesfieldi
was magnificent brick mansion, erected
by Rice Hooe IN 1715-a model OF comfort,
convenience, and Workmanship. En-,
cravings of this house and its beautiful
surroundings hang on the walls and grace
the homes OF goodly number OF the
Hooes and their kinfolks to-day, together
with a rich poem on " Barnesbeld," VIII
ten by Mrs. Judith Alexander many years
ago. From Rice Hooe this valuable estate
descended to John Hooe thence to Ge:
rard Hooe, who married Mary Barnes, OF
Richmond county, Va. These left three
cbildren-Abram Barnes. Elizabeth, and
Sarah. The two last-named married
Thomas Mason aud George Mason, OF
"Gunston Hall, Fairfax county, Va. the
sous of George Mason, of Biil-of-RIghts
fame. The other. DR.. Abram Barnes
Hooe, married Lucy Grymes, of King
George county, Va.
In ls4I DR.. Abram Barnes Hooe came IN
possession of Barnested. and owned IL
during the remaining years OF his Ire.
Here he retired from the practice OF medl-
cine and became q scientific ana practlcai
agriculturis,, at the same time deVoting
considerable time and means to agrIcuitu,
raj literature, to which he was an able and
| accomplished contributor.
HooE's FERRY.
Very soon after the close of the Revolu;
tionary war public ferry was established
at Barnesheld- Potomac being only
two and half miles vide at this point
making "Hooe's Ferry" as it was known
extensively. the connecting link on the
great line of travel from Maine to Georgia:
Here the " Great men" of the day crossed
the Potomac, and often tarrled to ENJOY
the hospitality for which old Barnesheld
was proverbial. Since A. ID. 100 Barnes
field has afforded unsurpassed fishing, trap
ping, and hunting facilities. In olden times,
as now. the choicest fish. water fowls, and
all manner OF wild game was never, at any
season of the year, absent from the Bil
| of Faren of the table of this old Virginia
homestead: and now the fishery at this
points one of the best on the Potomac, and
the broad fields abound with partridges.
hares, wild turkeys, pheasants, &c, 10
such an extent that gentlemen or lei
sure" and gunners from many OF the large
cities and northern States are attracted mere
every season TO participate IN hshing ana
| field sports.
DIP. ADRIAN BARNES BOOB.
Barnesfield" contains about one thou
| sand acres of table-land. with a river-tront
| of nearly two miles, where the wild waves
| of old Potomac break upon wide, sloplng
beach bedecked with sparkling pebbles
and millions OF tiny shells. The name of
DR.. Abram Barnes Hooe will ever be IN
separately connected with Barnesfeld"
and its historic events. His pious life.
exemplary character, his loyalty to his
country, ss well as his answering 1deiity
| TO the cause of the Southern Confederacy
| during the late unpleasantness.n won for
| him not only good name, but the adml-
ration of ali good people. Bat terrible
penalty was inflicted for his loyalty to the
south. and this penalty was foreshadowed
| on the 14th day of June. 1861, when crew
| of men from the steamer Resolute landed
at Bsrnesfeld and inaugurated their
course of destruction by loosing DR.. Hooe's
| boats from their moorings and carrying
them midway the Potomac, where they
| were wrecked and sunk.
THE TORCH APPLIED.
And on the 25th day Of June, 1861, the
enemy landed in full force, applied the
| fatal torch, and Barnesfield Mansion was
| no more. The burning of the house on
| that memorable day was preceded by a
vigorous cannonading from gun boats
WING IN the river. which forced all the lady
| members OF the family and the servants to
| fee in wagons as fast as possible. Dr.
Hooe, however. fingered in his stable
| ward. fearlessly watching results and en-
| deayoring to maintain his rights until q
| she'll from cannon burst at his feet,
| causing a fragment Of shattered stone
| from the pavement to infilct wound upon
his face. Then he mounted his horse and
rode deliberately away towards the woods
in the rear Of the house.
ATRAIroR SERVANT.
One of the hitherto trusted servants re-
NAMED when all but no had fled" and
assisted the Federals in ransacklng the
house, in carrying of many valuable tro-
| Plies. and finally played the part OF an &C.
complete in burning the residence. From
| this time on DIR. Hooe was hunted like
| partridge in the mountain" until at 3
O'Clock on the night OF May 10, 1862, when
| he was taken from his bed at Windsor"
King George county, and carried by the
Federals to McDowelPs headquarters. at
Chatham" opposite Fredericksburg. on
| the Rappahannock. There he was held
under guard III q stable-yard until the 18th
| of MAY. when he was taken to Aqua Creek.
where charges of rebellion" aiding.
abetting." &C., were preferred against him.
From here he was taken to Washington
and locked up with squad OF deserters IN
| the guard-house" for some time, and
thence sent TO the " old Capitol" and kept
a close prisoner one month.
DIED IN BALTIMORE.
DR.. Hooe died in Baltimore, Nd. on the
9Th day of November. 1867. aged sixty-two
years, leaving two daughters. the eldest Of
whom married Isaac toote Hooe. Is now
resident, together with her husband and
FIVE children. of King George county; the
Youngest married descendant OF Bette
Washington Lewis, sister of George Wash
;ngtou. She died several years ago and
was inferred IN the family battle-ground
at Barnesfeld.
J. WILKES BOOTH.
The reputation of Barnesfeld and the
loyalty of its people had many times reach
ed the ears of j. Wilkes Booth, and in
1865 when he crossed the Potomac river
en- route 20 the Rappahannock from the
deed for which his life paid the penalty
he landed at Barnesfeld, seeking medical
aid at the hands of DR.. Hooe, of whom he
had so often heard, but finding heap of
ashes aud a vast scene of desolation and
ruin instead of Barnesfeld mansion, he
returned to his boat, rowed down the Po-
tomac to the mouth of Machadoc creek,
Thence up to the mouth of Gambo creek,
thence up Gambo as far as there was
navigable water; then. leaving their boat.
Wilkes Booth and his weary and worn
companion crossed the country on foot.
REMAINING FEATURES.
At beautiful but battle-scarred Barnes
field" only few features remain TO re-
mind US of the sacred old place as it was
prior TO the days that tried mems souls.
These are the old weepIng-willows at the
base of the sloping yard; the venerable
stable, perforated with bullets; the tall
monument which stands in memory Of
Rice Hoole and the moss-covered pave
ments running in various directions over