Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-30

summers since by the draw-oridge now in
use
COLONIAL CHURCH.
On o grassy plat where grow few &C.
dars, on the lower side of the stream and
close beside the bank. is the site of the old
Nomipi Episcopal church of colonial days.
which also fell prey to British vandalism
In the war Of 1919. The succeed building
which has long occupied the former site
has had among the olergymen who have
stately miuistered within its walls Wash.
ington Nelson. W. n. Ward. and Edward
Mcclure previous 30 1850, and since then
William Mcclure. T. G.. Dashiell date Of
ST. Marks church. Richmond, and the
Reys. Rodifer. Wharton. Lloyd, Brooke,
and Castleman.
Among the unmarked and neglected
graves near this edifce mention but one,
and that not because OF any social, ances-
trail. or historic dignity that belonged In
life TO its humble tenant. 1t IS only the
grave Of the wife Of the dusky ferryman;
whose cot stood beside the church-yard
and who long, by day and by night. an
swered the call of the public as they came
wishing 10 be boated across the stream.
She died after brief illness of smallpox,
and in the popular dread OF the disease
there was none TO minister TO her IN
her last hours but her husband. and
there were no hands but bis 10 arrange ner
form and com pose her limbs in death. He
alone was the sexton to dig her grave and
the pail bearer to convey her body 20 lts
burial, and alone IN the night and IN his
grief he laid her away in the earth and
reared the mound above her.
LIBERTY HALL.
On the side Of the road opposite the
church. and extending for some distance
up the shore, Is the plantation called LII
herty Hall. owned q, present by Mr.. Bruce
Massey, under whose energetic and pro
rressiye management, with its diversified
crops of grain, larger fruits. berries, &c,
IL is becoming one of the most attractive
and remuneratiye farmsin the county Inc
building here. if it be not the sarue. marks
the site of the one that became the home
of Colonel John A. Washington during
the Revolution, when. as the brother or the
commander-in-chief OF the American ar
MES. his residence near the Potomac was
made target for the guns OF the British
vessels and its name witnesses TO the
hbertv-loying spirit Of this patriotic oiti-
zen. In a letter dated here April 10, 1I76,
Colonel Washington wrote:
My house, standing IN polnt-blank
capnon-shot of the shipping l thought IL
advisable to move NV family and most
valuable effects. We are now living IN the
house where Mr.. Ballendne formerly kept
store. Just below Nomini Ferry-baptized
Liberty Hall"
GREEN HILL.
Two miles higher up the creek. beyond
the homes of Messrs. Thomas n. and John
Murphy (bOtL of recent origin, Is Green
Hill, situated on n commanding and airy
emInence. from which the ground falls for
several hundred yards IN partly-wooded
slope TO the water IN the rear. Win thls
AA.m Ill 70 mi
names of Christopher and GlasscOck, both
of which have figured IN the local military
annals of Westmoreand. No descendants
of these names survive, and few graves
IN the garden here, and some shrubs and
trees planted by their hands, remain az
the last memorials of their occupancy of
the place.
During most of the present half century
Mr. Samuel X. Jackson has made this his
home and has here reared q large family,
more than one son of whom has gone TO
assume business relations in other States,
while be. cheered with the presence of
other children, fingers near the graves Of
loved ones whom he has lost. and often re-
verts to the coed old times when he did
business in the store at the corner and the
intelligent leisure-,oving yeomanry of the
came thther on the semi
weekly mail-days TO discuss the political
situation. the crops. the blOOded colts,
along with the incidents OF the latest fish
fry or fOx-chase.
HICKORY HILL.
Higher up tho creek, near where the
salt tide mlngles with its fresh water
sources, and separated from Green Hill by
rugged. wooded hills and deep inter
veninR valley Is the old seat widely known
as Hickory Hill. which was occupied about
I. /. IL.
The old site is near the brow of the hill
overlooking an extended undulatlng area
of tree tops and open. bare hills beyond.
with the marshy-fringed stream winding
its way at the foot of them. Tho man
sion here, described bv late chronicler as
- a low brick building, more inviting for
its internal comfort and conveniences than
any imposing aspect II presented 10 the
eve" was consumed by fire long wears ago.
and can but imperfectly recall the pile Of
ruins aud the flagstones from an English
quarry that covered the walks near where
it stood. 10 this home during its occu-
pancy bv Captain George Turberville.
Sheriff Of Westmoreland in 1920, we're led
as hIs successive wives Frances, Letice, and
Martha, the daughters respectively Of
Henry Ashton. OF "Boothes" William
Fitzhugh. of Bedford" and Richard Lee,
of London. Eng. The tombs that per-
petuate their names and give the brief re-
cord Of their lives NAV yet be seen not far
from the stream on which they lived. Tho
proprietor of this place in the succeeding
generation was John Iurberville. son TO the
above-named Captain George and of his
children reared here. were George Lee
who, at the opening of hostili-
ties in 1775. left Winchester College. Eng
land, to become major in the Continental
line in the Revolution. His sister Letitia
Catesby Jones. and was mother to
Commodore T. ap Catesby Jones, United
States navy, and Roger Jones. major-gene-
raj. United States army. Through her only
Gordon-she was grand
mother to Mrs Julianna HAYES. the wide
Unknown and venerable president of the
Woman's Missionary Society of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
Through his father. General Roger Jones,
she sustained like relationship TO Lieu
tenant Catesby ap Roger Jones. who COM
manded the Merrimao on the second day
of the memorable naval battle os March
8 and 8. 1862, IN Hampton Roads.
About the year 1900 Major Robert Beale.
a Revolutionary soldier. became proprietor
here and so continued until his death
forty-four years later, and there were born
and reared to him during this occupancy
a numerous family. the only survivor of
which at present is General II. l.. 7. Beale.
In modest cottage built in the vicinity
of the old site by the Rev. Joseph ii.
Davis. late a veteran member of the Vir-
ginia Conference, he found a home during
the last years of his life and now rests here
beside his wife in the graveyard of her
ancestors. Professor j. w. @. Davis. de-
scendant of the early proprietor OF the
place, now owns and occupies 1t.
NoMINY HALL.
On the farther side of the stream oppo-
site this place, in an elevated plateau be-
tween the head-waters of the Nomini, is
Nominy Hall. long the seat of branch of
the Carter family in colonial and later
years. A patent covering this large
appears to have been granted 20
Thomas Hawkins February &c. 1853. for
2, 500 acres. side of a southeast branch Of
Nomini, formerly known by the name
Of Herring Creek" 1t passed early
into the possession of Robert Car
ter, of Corrotoman, Lancaster, who,
as resident of Virginia, owned
more land within its borders than any
other of her citizens. and who on this and
other grounds was popularity styled king
Carter" The estate passed TO the one Of
his numerous sons called by bib own name,
Robert, and FOR him O paatial mansion
was built here in 1732-an immense square
edifice of brick, with roof sloping from
the centre to the four sides. and having
within high-pitched rooms with vain
scoted walls and a great hall after the
custom of the better class OF old colonial
homes, and beneath all subterranean
chambers. passages, wine-celiars, and
vaults. after the fashion OF ali ancient feu-
al I'D 90 h., ...tr