Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-30
HISTORIC HOMES.
oLlmPses OF ANCIENT MANSIONS IN
WEsTMoRELANo COUNTY.
Attractions and Antiquities of
the Nomini River.
written for the Dispatch. !

Potomac there is none of moro varied or
attractive natural features than Nomini
river, which for distance of eight or ten
miles intersects the lower half Of West
mOreland county. At the mouth OF 1t and
dividing II into two narrow, rapid cur
rents lies low. sandy island. called from
its scattered, and stunted trees Cedar
Island. while in close proximity are nu-
merous reefs and oyster.bars which long
rendered the channel peculiarly tortuous,
swift. aud intricate. Until an ap-
preparation by Congress come TWEEN
ty years ago led 10 the opening
up Of doep, straight channel no steam
boat could enter the stream. Even a
very high tide became imprisoned, and
much to the entertainment of the jewellers
or the shore, sported up and down the
narrow strosn for several months before
finding their way back 10 deep water. Now
the Baltimore and Washington steamers
make regular trips TO four or five lucrative
landing places on the stream. and the
noise Of the paddles and note OF the steam
whistle are daily heard along the shores.
Near the mouth of Nomini and the beau
tiful bay into which it empties broad, open
fields recede from its low banks on either
side. bounded in the distance by wood
lands or ranges Of high hills; but farther
up the stream the hills rise abruptly from
the water. and with thick and varied
growths of timber interpreted with clus-
tiers of IVY or holly and indented here and
there by coves and inlets. and cleft ever
and anon by deep valleys with steep, pre-
cipitous sides. they present highly pic
turesque and pleasing Wow.
WILD DUCKS.
Within the memory of many denizens
OF this region yet living. the comparatively
shallow aud calm waters OF this stream
were frequented by immense numbers and
numerous varieties OF wild ducks. and l
can myself recall many R still winter
morning when the startled hocks, beating
the frosty air with their wings, sounded
like the roar OF distant thunder. Now, II
is SAID, IN the best seasons the comInonest
varieties of ducks here may be counted
by tens where formerly they were
seen by thousands, and of the can
vas-back and other better sorts only
stray visitor or two may sometimes be
deserted during whole winter. The
experience of fishermen on this creek,
as II is locally called, would through
many years have we'll justified the
name of Fishing" or Herring
creek" which find IN certain early legal
documents applied to one of its principal
head branches. There is many cove,
eddy. and shore on the stream that have
become famous IN the region adjacent az
excellent tishing-grounds. 1t Is now com
mon TO meet some luckless selne-hauler or
angler who declares that the steam GOATS
are driving the Ash all away: but II Is as
surIng. on the contrary, to note that IN
shallow waters here the wading crane still
plies her wOnted art, and the tsh-hawk IN
summer, above her nest IN some lonely,
loatless tree here and there maintains
"her ancient, solitary reign
oNoMANIENTE.
As noted on early maps Of the colong.
the savage tribe originally lnhabiting
these shores was called tournaments, of |
which Nomini may be a contracted form, |
n Cone IN Northumberland seems 10 be |
OF Chickacone. According 10 the MARIA I
tive of Captain John Smiths captivity /
among the Indians in the winter of 1907 y. !
he was escorted to the camp on this stream /
from the TObagOes, on the RappnhannOck |
Tin Essex or Lower Caroline, and here be |
reached the northern limit of his enforced |
jOurneyings among the savages. He be- |
came thus, in all probability, the first |
white man who trod these shores and |
looked down from the wooded banks on |
the beautiful stream below.
In the summer following Captain Smith |
iC his memorable voyage OF discovery IN |
an open boat, manned by twelve or thlr- /
teen bold companions and lmpeled With !
oars ard a patched sail, having entered /
the Potomac. was conducted hitler by |
two Indian guides or pilots and viewed /
lut stream from the sue OF lUt water, rs /
he had before done from the side of the /
land. One OF this adventurous party thus /
des cribes their experience at the time /
We could see no inhabitants for thirty |
miles sail. Then we were conducted by |
two sayagcs up a little baNed creek !
towards OnOmaulent, where all the I
woods we're laid with ambassadors TO the /
humber of 300 or 400 sayGgoS, but so /
strangely painted, grimed, and disguised, !
shouting, yelling, and crying, as we rather |
supposed them SO many devils"
~ QUEST or CORN.
Ii was hither also that Captain Samuel !
Argal came in the good ship Discovery. |
IN the spring of 1913. in quest of corn
for the almost furnishing settlement |
at Jamestown. and while negotiating with
Japa7aws, King of the Powtowmacks, for !
the ladIng of his vessel, he learned of the
presence IN the Indian village near by of
Pocabontas. King Powhatan's daughter.
employed thither" according TO an early
account. as shopkeeper to fair, TO ex-
change some OF her fathers com
modities for theirs" The English
captain at once conceived the idea OF
making her a prisoner and taking her TO
Jamestown to be held as a hostage. Ralph
Hamor's treatise, said to he the most re-
liable and authentic work on the early his
tory OF Virginia" and Captain Argals Off
ciai report furnish detailed accounts OF the
low artifce by which the young princess
was decoyed into the vessel and made
prisoner. AS consequent upon this
treacherous affair, her removal to James
town. subsequent baptism, and marriage
10 John Role. and final death In England
became interesting and romantic incidents
in our early colonial history.
The tide of English Immigration on the
Potomac, after receiving temporary
check from Indian ravages and massacres.
began about 1850 to occupy the lands in
~ r IL. A..
earliest settlements made on the Nomlnl, |
beginning at the mouth and extending up
both sides of the stream, were those of
William Hardridge, Richard Bushrod
William Boothe. Henry Ashton, William |
Pearce, John Vaughan, John Rozier. Lewis |
Burwell, Thomas Yeowell. George Reade, |
Francis Clay. and Thomas Hawkins, me- |
morals of nearly all of whom remain in |
some bay bend, arm, point or plantation |
which bear their names. or IN the moss |
covered inscriptions Of some time-worn |
and neglected tomb still to be found.
LOCK HABDoR.
The sailor in entering the Nomini |
through its present straight artificial |
channel, which runs between the fine old |
estates of Federal Farm and Bushfeld, |
once the property of the Lees and Washing |
tons, sees ahead of him mile or so dis |
tant. near the first steamboat landing, the |
old dwelling called Lock Har Dor. standing |
ruin OF much that once made il attractive |
aud pleasing to the eye. am ignorant of |
the early history of this old seat but here |
lived during the early part of the century
in opulent ease James Jett. ESQ.,. an old |
time representative of Westmoreland in the |
Legislature, and from this home went his |
sons. DR.. William n. lett, long O promi- |
nent physician in King George, and the |
Hon. j. Bailey. Jett, late County Judge of |
Stafford. and at present q resident of the |
tar West. Hence went also one Of their |
sisters, as the wife of DR.. Ferdinand Fair |
fax, TO find home and q grave in Tennes- |
see. and her daughters-one at Corsicans. |
Tex. and the other in Westmorelapd- |
serve yet further to illustrate q tendency |
so common IN Virginia families to become |
remotely separated and to shed their in |
diy'dual influences along widely divergent |
lines.
From this retired home. where he lived |
at the time, the Rev. George r. Bagby, ID. |
D., (now of Farmville) was called at the |
beginning OF the war to chaplaincy in |
the army, and among the memories OF the |
place that come TO him through the lapse |
OF the years since then is doubtless that of |
successful shot made by him from the |
cover OF the bushes in the early twilight of |
winter morning at flock Of unsuspect- |
~ a go ma -. q