Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-03
THE TAYLOE HOME.
MOUNT AIRY, IN RICHMOND COUNTY,
AND ITS HISTO'
The Family and It's Various
The Old Bowl PrinccIy Hospitality.
Present Condition of the Estate.
written for the Dlspatch)

(written for the Dispatch)
Mount Airy. which has been from time
immemorial the residence OF the Tayioe
family, is situated in Richmond county.
mile or so from Warsaw, in the angle
formed by the road leading 70 Tappahan-
mock Ferry and that which bears of
towards Rappahannock creek. Tho at
tractlve and spacious mansion fronts on
the latter road, and stands amidst ample
grounds. neatly set in grass and finely
shaded. Ii occupies a commanding emil
nence. 10 which the breezes have free
access from every quarter and which
well justlfies the name by which the place
has been. long and favorably known.
Near the house the highlands fall alb
ruptly into a low and widely-extended
plain. which offers from the rear Of the
mansion a varied and lovely landscape,
bounded by the silver line of the Kappa
hammock and the pine-clad hills OF Essex
Much Of the plain. meadow, and forest
over which the eye sweeps in this view
to the south is comprehended in the area
which has for centuries formed part Of
the Mount Airy estate.
search among the patents In the
land-rogistry Office has failed TO indicate
20 me the precise date at which this
estate came into the possession OF It's
earliest owner OF the name of Tayloe
II Is not improbable that it was acquired
about 1860 by William Tayloe Tor Taylor,
the progentor Of the family in Virginia,
who settled in Lancaster county. and
whose wife was Ann, the fourth daugh-
.er Of Henry Corbin. Of Buckingham
House" IN Middlesex.
THE FIRST COLONEL JOHN TAYI.OE.
son Of this worthy couple. Colonel
John Tayloe. figured prominently in the
snairs Of Old Rappahannoox county. and
subsequently in those Of Richmond
county after its forme ton, in 1890. He
was a vestryman Of Lunenburg parish,
and was led. along with the rector. 10
esDouse the patriotic cause in which
Nathaniel Bacon died With the rector,
too. he was forced, after Governor Berke-
ley's restoration, to appear before the
County Court, with a rope halter around
his neck, and on Bonded knees acknow-
edge his treasons and rebelllons, and beg
his life" His plea happily prevailed, for
We find him afterwards serving in the
Kings Council, marrying youthful
widow. the daughter or William Faunt-
leroy, and granddaughter of Colonel
Samuel Griffin, OF Northumberland. and
living In opuIence at the "Old House"
which was probably the primitive resi-
dence on the Mount Airy plantation.
Colonel Griffin dying in l7J2, bequeathed
10 Colonel Tayl0e his ridine-horse.
'Silyer." He was already by bequests
and his own sasecious management the
owner of numerous rich plantations I'm
Virginia. as well as one of 1900 acres on
The Potomac, In Maryland known as
"Nanjemoy." Through his wife 0he
relict OF Major Stephen Lyde) he became
proprietor OF The fine estate called
"GwyEnneld." lie died in 1747, leaving
an only son, who here the paternal name
and two daughters, the elder Of whom
was named for her mother, Elizabeth.
and the younger for her grandmother,
Ann.
THE SECOND COL. JOHN TAYLOE.
The aforementioned son. John Tayloe.
was born May IS 1921, and at the age of
- he married Rebecca, the eldest da,igh-
ter Of George Platter. OF ST. Mary's coun-
~, Nd. About ten years later O750
be erected on these patrimonal grounds
substantial and elegant residence. 10
which he gave the name Of Mt. Airy. on
various substantial accounts the home
which he here founded became one OF
the most popular and elegant abodes
and places Of soc.as resort i'm Virginia
Its proprietor was a TncUiccr O. the
Council and prominent in the political and
industrial affairs Of the Colony at its
most opulent and fashionable era. lie
owned richly furnished residence I'm the
Colonial capital, at Williamsburg. where
a portion OF each year was spent, als his
children consisted Of two sons and eight
interesting and attractive daughters. on
whose smiles much of Virginia chivalry
waited. as well as suitors from other
Colonies. The eldest OF these became the
bride OF Governor Inward Lloyd, Of
Maryland. The second daughter went to
reside at "MenOkin." having married the
Hon. T. L. Lee. The third became Mrs.
Ralph Normlcy. OF MiddleseX. The fourth
married Thomas Lomax, of Caroline. The
NTH was won by her cousin. Mann Page,
OF Spotnylvania. The sixth msrried
Colonel Landon Carter, OF Sabine
HAIL. The seventh followed Robert
Beverly as bride TO his home,
in Essex; and the eighth. having
married Colonel w. Augustine Washing
ton became the mistress OF "Blenheim."
in Westmoreland. Thus Mt. Airy became
closely associated with many of the best
known and most influential Virginia
homes,
colonel Tayloe. the open-hearted host
here prior to the Revolution. dispensed
81 generous and elaborate entertainment
TO the tnfonGi VINO VISITED MS nome. n
park, well stocked with deer. and
band of trained musicians chosen from
among his servants were among the
sources OF enjoyment provided by his
lavish hand He was a Jealous patron
az the turf. and the fame Of his fine
racers. Yorick. jolly Rogers. Jenny Came
ron. and others. has outrun that Of the
oh estate, on whose fields their swift
fcct sped short time before the open
ing Of hostIlities with the Mother Coun-
trv Lord Dunmore, The Colonial Gov
trnor. made a visit Co Colonel Tayloe
aaI was entertained In most cordial and
s.ceant style. This hospitality he soon
afterwards ill-roquted by entering the
yapnahannock with an armed fleet, bent on
suoiiation and pillage. "The Old Bowl at
NJ. Airy" COMMUNICATED in an ode pub
i.saed half century later in the Southern
literary Messenger. was at this era at
SO heirht OF its popularity II the rustic
,nn7e does not mislead us. the old bowl
was IN high favor with both saint and
SINNER" Tor he says:
.nat-flons from thee parsons quaffed
TO keep devotion up;
Thcy Of the rosy. jocund face
Paid homage TO the cup.
"The churchman sought thy aid 10 pray,
The huntsman for the chase;
None titled the land unbiessed by thee,
Nor thought 20 win the race.
~ all the wit thou hast inspired
Were uttered in a breath,
1. -.