Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-09
HISTORIC VA. HOUSES
GRAPHIC SKETCHES or OLD HOME
srEAps ON THE LOWER POT OMAC.
"Reminiscences of Former Famous Fami-
lies Of westmoreiand and Norths
umberIapd Counties.
IWriftnn for the Dlspatch. ]

written for the Dlspatch.l
The tourist of antiquarian tastes finds
less perhaps to reward his search along the
shores OF the Potomac below Nomini
creek than is to be seen among the homes
and ruins above. yet from the mouth OF
this stream to the Chesapeake there are
not a few old seats that have held deeply
interesting relation to the social life OF the
region surrounding and on the annals OF
which their names are indelibly stamped.
KING KoPsIco.
The steamer leaving Nomlni Bay for the
lower Potomac in few minutes rounds n
noint called. as is also the adjacent plar,.a-
ton. King Kopsico. The fine estate here
has for many years been the property OF
the BERNARD family, OF the vicinity OF
fredericksburg, and has been valued
rather for agricultural purposes than as a
place of residence, and has never been
adorned with q spacious or imposing man
sion. But here. prior to 1861, dwelt tor
YEARS Major Albert q. Dade, who became
widely known during the war az the eff
ficient oommissariat of General W. IL. /.
Lees cavalry division. During the
wears of his occupancy of King Kop-
sico he was genial and whole
souled widower. and IN his loneliness
ne often sought diversion and solace
in the entertainment Of his, gentleman
friends beneath his plain and unpreten,
tious roof. And long Will the memory and
traditions Of the fishing and hunting par
ties that met here of their sumptuous re-
nasts and of superior t,Ttie-SOuD In particu-
lar. abide in the minds Of many people Of
the vicinity IN connection with the name
of this courteous and open-hearted gentle
man of the good old virginian style.
CABIN POINT.
Next. as you descend the river, Is the
nlantation called CABIN Point. at present
fhe property of Robert j. Washington,
State senator from Westmoreland. The
old building here fell into dlsuse and de-
cav during the late war, and the modest
structure now to be seen, built soon there
after. became for brief period the resi-
dence of DIR. John Il. Newton. the present
popular rector of Monumental church.
Richmond. Being isolated az 10 situation,
the estate never became prominent among
the homes of the vicinity, but from times
immemorial it was an amost.ideal resort
for huntsmen, as Its green wneat-heid5
and land-locked ponds and creek made It
at certain seasons specially attractive to
various kinds Of wild fowl.
THE GLRBE.
Adjoining Cabin Point and extending
along the shore OF Lower Machodoc cree
| i the Glebe. long the residence OF the rec
| tors of Cople parish during the colonial
| establishment. Here lived the Roses.
| Smiths, and Elliotts IN substantial and
| comfortable brick mansion. in fine keeping
| with the homes Of the wealthy parlshlon-
| ers Of the community. And here. during
| the incumbency of his father as rector OF
| Nomini and YeOcOmicO churches, was born
| DIR. John Augustine Smith. who married
| Ietice. daughter of esquire Lee. of
| Lee Hall" and became president Of Will
| liam and Mary College In 1915 and sub
| seOueptly removed TO New York, having
| accepted a prOfessorship in the Unlyer-
sty of that State. Here also through the
greater part of the present century lived
the worthy family of Chandler, many OF
whose surviving and scattered members
| in Maryland, Virginia. Alabama, and Texas
revert to the green sod and the water
cleaning through the fine old shade trees
aud recite the traditions ana happy memo
ries of the old home.
The place is now owned and occupied BY
an immigrant from the land of William
Tell, who must find his lowland surround
Ings, depressed as they are almost TO the
level Of the tide. IN striking contrast with
the towering ranges and peaks OF his ma
tive province.
COLES POINT.
On the opposite side of Machodic creek
is Coles Point, which perpetuates the
name of one of the earliest settlers 10
" estnoreland-Rich COle-who OBJ
tanned patent tor Il $50 acres of land at
the mouth Of Matchoactoke river. former
~ granted William Governor, 18th Febru-
arv. 1850" The early dwelling at this
place disappeared many wears ago and a
smaller one, located farther inland, was
seen by the present writer a smoking ruin
IN 1862. caused by the torch Of q maraud-
log party from q Federal .gunboat. Here
at one time was the residence OF the estl-
mable Bowie family, son of whom still
| lives in the vicinity. and another-Captain
Walter BowIe-in the city Of Richmond.
Here, in an elevated spot near the bank
and within sound of the splash OF tho
waves, reposes the dust OF number OF
the name who have long since died.
WILTON
In close proximity to this place is Will
| ton. removed some distance from the river
and prettily located near the margin OF
| Jackson's creek. This was for many years
| the residence of the late DR.. Wat II. Tyler,
who with his large and interesting family
particularly his four beautiful daughters
made II a typical home OF Easily lrginla
| hospitality and charm. BY the fate OF
war this estate. like many others on the
| Potomac, changed hands, aud Mr.. James
| ID. Arrest, native of the vicinity, but who
| al ;ne time of It's sale was retiring from
| n successful mercantile career IN Philadel-
mia. became it's purchaser. He greatly
improved and beautIhed tho mansion
and premises and until recently was
able to spare neither care nor cost IN
| maintaining the hospitablo character OF
| the home, and many of the pres3nt gene
ration in the region around, as well as AT
distant points Will bear through life
pleasing recollections of days Of open
house" kent here, with the friendliest of
| welcomes TO the freside and the most
lavish cheer at the table. The estlmable
woman who was so long the light of thu.
home in recent years was borne few
weeks since TO her burial IN IeocOmlcC
| church-yard. and now the stricken hus-
| band in lifo's evening seeks refuge else
| where and a spell of silence and gloom
settles for season on the once happy and
| festive halls of Wilton.
| PECEAIoNR.
Mex. 10 this place, mile or two below
| Ragged Point, Is the site of Peckatoue
| which was TOR nearly two centuries un-
| rivalled among the opulent homes and
| fashionable resorts OF the Northern Neck
1 the nome SURPRISINGLY Vi lub ADtL
| rurbervllles, Taliaferros. Browns. and
| Murphys. The spacious and attractive
| mansion of English bricks, whose cham
bers and halls had echoed with the notes
of the beauty and chivalry. the gayety and
| mirth OF SO many generations, was con.
sumed by fire few years since. and now
only few massive out-buildIngs of ancient
| STYLE and the extensive grounds and trea
| remain TO remind one of the once popular
and elegant seat. The action of the wave:
when driven by easterly storms ia washing
away the banks here and gradually en-
| croaching upon the grounds. Already
have many of the noble old trees been un
dermiued and the rustic seats on the bank
| where lovers were wont 10 sit and the pro
liability Is that ere long even the site Of
| the historic mansion will be efaced by th'
| pItiless tide.
| HOAINY HALL.
In the curve of the river below Bonum',
| creek. and near to Peckatone, with bu
| little in its present appearance 20 indicate
| that it had ever been a prominent ahod,
of culture and elegance. ls Hominy Hail
where about the middle of the last cen
| turv lived Colonel James Steptoe. who's
eldest daughter by his first mar
| g =.