Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-04
THE HISTORIC JAMES.
The New Daily Line Of Boats and
Its Suggestions.
HIGHWAY FOR TOURISTS.

Changes of ownership--Curie's Neck aud
Jamestown Isiand--A Reminds
cence of Cisremont.
The proposition of Mr.. Edward f. Bar
new and others to put new and daily
steamboat line on James river and make
that historic stream a great highway for
tourists suggests that since the wara num-
Der of the most historic points along its
banks have changed ownership. Two OF
tho most recent changes are the purchase
Of Curtis (or Curles) Neck from Mr.. Willie
Allen by Mr.. Charles II. SEMI, of New
York. and the requirement OF jamestown
Island BY MIR. Barney.
Curies-as it is spelled in the old re-
cords-has been landmark, in the literal
and IN other senses Of the word. almost
since the first settlement OF Virginia. IL
appears IN descriptions OF the metes and
! bounds OF O number OF grants. and is asso-
ciated with some of the best-known family
names Of the Colonial and Revolutionary
periods
TIE ORIGIN OF THE HAMK.
The origin of the name is involved 10 a
u.
sumption is not unreasonable, that II was
derived from man named Curle, vino
owned land iu the neck. Another a.
sumption is that IL was named for the curl
the river makes around the land. those
who incline 20 the former explanation u
NAV be said that the first mention made OF
O Curle in association with the COLONY Is
IN Hotten's List of Emigrants, where
under date of 1857 one Thomas Curle. CON-
mander Of the barque HOpewell, IS inci-
| dentally referred to. The first grant
recorded in the land Office 10 "a
Curle is dated after 1900. But
| Curles was known long before these
dates. The initial reference 10 1t 10 the
Henrico book. According TO this record
| $50 acres - at Curles. at -Four Mile Creek"
were granted to Elizabeth Ballhash IN 1896
| As tor the assumption that .he curl OF the
river is responsible for the name, that NAV
| be taken for what 1t is worth. A careful
| examination Of John Smiths virginia
(Arbat) fails to show an allusiOn to Curles,
| though it might exist there. and have been
! overlooked in such volume OF matter
Smith does. however, mention Turkey
| Isle" and other local points familiar at the
present time.
MANY FAMILIES.
The property in Curles was divided up
and held, PRIOR TO its requirement by VII
liam Allen the first, by various families.
Among those mentioned ~ the deeds
bearing upon it are the Peasants, the
Nosbys, the TrUeharts, the Randolphs,
/ the Vaughans the HAIRLESS, the Heaths,
The Roans. the Harrisons, and others.
! John Peasants was one OF the earliest
| nossessors. The will of Robert Plea
SAINTS. Of Curles. shows the early feel
Ing in Virginia against slavery. Inns feel
ing cropped out from time to time after,
| wards. and that il did not take practical
arfn
| grounds, to the rise. course, and ylruience
| of the Abolition party at the North. The
| testator SAYS:
"From a full conviction that slavery Is
an evil of great magnitude, and no less
| repugnant to the Divine command OF doinE
| unto others as we would they shoulu 90
| unto us than il is inconsistent with the
nTosneritv of nv country, did confirm
| freedom TO all the negroes that by law /
| had property IN by deed Of emancipa-
| ton bearing date OF the first OF the
eiobtb month. 1882. but rs it
is still necessary that those who are
ancient and incapable Of getting
| living should be supported, now, desire
| and direct IT to be done; and that the
young ones may have learning suihcient 70
| enable them to transact the common
affairs of life, Cor that purpose l nave
| built a scbool-house on my land, called
| Grayellv Hills Tract. containing. bv est-
nation $50 acres the use and profits
! thereof / give for that purpose"
BAcoN's PROPERTY.
| The RandOlphs also figure prominently
| in connection with Curles. In 100 two
| tracts Of land in Curles, one called Long
| field and the other called The Slashes'
| late in the seizure of Nathanlei bacon;
| Jr.. ESQ" which escheated to bis sacred
| Majestic from the said Bacon 10y dtdndtr
! Of said Bacon for high treason were
| granted to William Randolph; Bacon was
| then regarded as q traitor and rebel, but
| the fact is that he was patriot. Inc
| property conveyed 70 Nr. Semi EN-
| braces about $3.50 acres, more or
! less. and the consideration was S65,-
| GOO IL was acquired by William
| Allen the first by purchase from several
parties and bequeathed SO that II could
| not be alienated by the father of the pres
| emit William Allen. The Allen estate as
whole was in truth the domain Of prince
in respect Of both extent and beauty.
THE ALLEN WILL.
| The conditions under which the property
| was held for a number of years are e1-
blamed in the following extracts from the
will of william Allen, which was proDated
III the Surry County Court, January -,
ii give. devise, and bequeath to William
| Griffin Organ, son OF Richard Grimm
| Organ and my niece Martha, his wife. all
INV lands and plantations in Curls' Neck,
| in Henrico, and all of my slaves now at
and upon the same, and all the slaves
hereinaboye directed TO be trahslerreu
| thereto. and all the other personal estate
now at and upon the same. Also'
ali my lands in .Surry county and all my
lands in James City, and all Saves ana
| other Dersonal estate 20 the sald
| William Griffin Organ for and during ms
natural life upon condition that no take
the name Of William Allen.
| And In case the said William Grimm organ
shall have a son or sons at his death then
| devise and bequeath unto the eldest son
| which he may have at his death and TO MS
heirs. executors. and administrators for-
ever the property mentioned, upon
condition that he also take the name OF
| William Allen" =, W
Tue sale was effected through Mr., n. W.
Rowe. Mr.. Senf Is connected with the
| Hayemeyer & Elder Sugar-Reiinlng Com
many. He is gentleman OF large means
and liberal ideas. and has made most Ia
| yorable IMPRESSION upon all here who nave
met him. HIS plans regarding his pur-
| chase are not known. When asked 10y one
of the residents of Curles what ne pro
posed 10 do with the land he remarked;
"Raise irish potatoes" Whether he was
in earnest or not the native could not tell.
MR.. BARSRY's PURCHASE.
Jamestown, no child 10 years old need be
told. is the site of the first effective settle
ment Of English on this continent. About
il clusters a wealth of history, legend, and
lore. Mr. Barney. who owns other large
interests on James river, and IS the lead
inc spirit in the new boat line, intends, 1t
is understood, to build at Jamestown a
modern hotel for the accommodation OF
the tourists who patrOnize his boats. II Is
also his intention 10 reclaim the swamp,
lands, build wharves, lay OF park and
make other improvements. For some time
the Society for the Preservation OF Virginia
ANTIQUITIES has been endeavorlng to gam
possession of the graveyard and old tower
at Jamestown, and at its last session the
Legislature passed an act granting the
society all the States interest IN the
property. The legal adviser OF the organ
ization is now engaged IN perfecting the
title. When this shall have been done the
society proposes 70 take steps TO preserve
the ruins.
REASONABLE ANTICIPATION.
II seems a reasonable anticipation that
if proper steps are taken James rlVer can
be made the Mecca of excursionists during
| A.