Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-27


Revolution, and would not accept OF
higher position. though his prominence ond
wealth could have easily gained IL. IL Is
said that he imported direct from AREA
two slaves. named Philis and rom, ana
when they arrived he had to pay - 70
have Phillis's tooth sharpencd so that
she could eat raw meat. Some or me
descendants OF these two negroes are sun
living In the county Old Mr. Hughes
lived for many years. anu was buried
under some OF the Buildings of the town
which he owned. As one Of the relics or
the past these ladies' show a most curious
pair of spOOu-mouis. such as were used
by the carly settlers FOR making their
pewter spoons. These were brought from
England by Mr. Hughes. and arc marked
1t3. Miss Bankers father. Archer Bar
kRr. owned q large tract Of land adjoining
BOYD lie built uuOn il the little log
house which his daughters now occupy
ana was one OF the escort TO Lafayette
from Boyd's To Charlottesville. and sa-
lutcd him as he passed his door.
By far the greatest event of the place
was this last visit Of Lafayette accounts
of which are still rotated by the old IN
habitants About one and "a half miles
from Boyd's, on the Three-Notched road,
is hill overlooking the Mecnunk creek,
I'm FIuyanna county. which is pointed ont
spring which is also called Lafayette
Spring" Tradition has il. which history
also justiheG. that Lafayette here camped
with his army In 1871 while trying 10 in
terccpt CORVALLIS. who was pushing Tor
Charlottesville LAFAYETTE was on the
South Anna river when he heard that
CORVALLIS was marching TO destroy the
military stores which had been sent 10
Albemarle. but during that night he dis
covered and opened q read across the
country which was much nearer. but had
long been unused. and thus by a forced
march reached this point on the Mechunk
creek, gaining a days march on Corn
wallis. who was az Columbia coming up
the river road. but when De heard that
"the boy as CORVALLIS called him. WAS
waiting for hun near BOyd's with the re-
Increment Of Cidrke's Rihcmen. he at
once Iotreatfd towards Richmond. This
brilliant coup de guerre ie mOdeBtiy told
hv Lafayette himself. and is found in
N4lcs's Life Of Lafayette printed in
49,. When iu 1924 Lafayette aglil visited
the county. coming mp The river road from
Columbia, In Fluvaun3. TO BOyds. ON
reaching that point and while resting
th.re, he remembered the clear cool
spring al which he had camped nearly
fifty years before and sent messenger
for jug of the water that ne might
taste it once mOrei Lafayette Hin"
farm was FIRST oW.cd boy "a Mr.. Al!cgree
through whom the story Is derived. in 1870
70 was SOLD 10 Che late Captain ". w.
Wood. who once kept tavern there The
-HNNHNHh Ni 80. hbVN Nii'l 1T ritINS, l.t
been made still more famous by Amcle
Riyes as the location u part Of her scene
In The Quick or the Dead" but which
she places nearer ts source amid the
classic hills Of Gotham. some six miles
TO the east. where the MUSES. are still
wont 10 emit their illusions
II was 20 BOyd's Tavern where "a dele
CATION or the citizens Of the county met
Lafayette on this occasion and escorted
him 10 Charlottesville jefferson sending
D. a.
up the little mountain" whore he pa
thetic meeting OF the two great patriots
occurred.
Much has been written OF this triumphal
Visit OF Lafayette through the United
states and his appearance on that occa-
sion, but ] viii venture TO give a hereto
Tore unpublished description OF him as
told by one who saw him. and upon whose
youthful head he laid his hand when he
visited Boston
The General was not handsome. but he
had fine. p0rtly figure. near feet high.
and wore lightly the three-score years ana
ten ne had nearly completed. showing no
iniirmity save n slight lamCness incurred
In our defence AT tho battle OF the Brandy
wine. His face was turrowed. showing
traces of suffering and imprisonment. hut
he Wore a red wig. which set low on his
forehead and concealed his wrinkles.
Without this wig he could hardly have
borne the burning sun through which he
rode with his hat off through the con-
tinued triumphal reception"
Near Boyd's "a also 10 be seen Jcfler-
sons lime quarriea where. IL Is said he
burnt the lime for building Monticello and
the University OF Virginia. Adjoining this
Is the old residence. Limestone" OF the
late DR. B,ankcnburg. a very scientific
and learned German. whom Jefferson es-
teemed very much Two miles 10 the east
Of Boyds the visitor can also see the
birthplace OF Governor Thomas Walker
GilmoT. who lost his life on the Princeton
IN 1874; Or. John Gilmer. Professor Francis
Walker Gilmer. and many others OF that
noted family. IL was once called "Gn-
merton" being the o'd Gilmer Homestead,
which was built during the last century.
1t still stands In all IT'S originality. and
is one Of the very few houses OF that
period now left.
Thus we find surrounding Boyd's
Tavern. as well as the sDOt Itself. iocaii-
ties which viii always be viewed with in
terest as being scenes OF great events ca
acted by great men, such as Virginia is
proud u perpetuate. Il. 6. NJ.
June 10. 1880