Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-29
CRADLE OF A FAMOUS FAMILY.
The Celebrated Harrison NOME
steads Down I'm Old virginia


The first homes OF the celebrated Harri-
son family Of virginia were Berkeley and
Brandon, on opposite sides Of the James
liver. Few places have record equal 70
that OF Berkeley. 1t has been the pirth-
place of a Governor of Virginia ana
slgner of the Declaration Of lndepen-
denee; Of a Revolutionary general, ana Oh
a President of the United States. The
estate il mentioned in Colonial annals as
long ago as 1922. when II was the scene
OF a terrible Indian massacre. IL was
then owned by a prominent settler'
George Thorpe, who was killed curing
the uprising by an Indian whom he had
befriended Berkeley soon afterwards
passed into the hands OF Benjamin Har-
rison. His descendants lived there until
within the last twenty-five years, during
which time. we are told. the place never
lacked an inmate of the name of BenJa-
min Harrison.
Berkeley is an unpretending building TO
have been the home Of so many great
men. The house is of brick. two stories
and o half high, with quaint slipping
roof, and dormer windows. modern
porch has been added to two sides of the
structure in recent years. To one room
in Berkeley pertains especial interest.
When the hero of Tippecanoe, General
William Henry Harrison, was elected TO
the presidency he left his Ohio home and
came TO his birthplace, Berkeley, TO write
his inaugural address lin his mothers
room"
During the civil war Berkeley was
known in the North as Harrsons Land
ing Ii was occupied by General Nc
Clellan after his change of base" July.
1862 and was the place to which he re-
Tod nd af he
battle of Malvern Hill, the last Of the
seven days battles.
The Harrison family has furnished two
Presidents TO the United States, and
many of its members have been men OF
prominence. The first, Benjamin Harn-
son. Of Berkeley, died az the early age
Of 81, but even In that short time he
had become Speaker of the House of
Burgesses and a man of such distin-
guished talents and political reputation
that the Colony of Virginia erected a
monument TO his memory.
His brother, Henry Harrison lived on
the Brandon estate, on the south shore
OF the James. 1t is renowned as one OF
the most beautiful specimens of early
Colonial architecture in the State, and
IS much visited by tourists and sight
seers. who often stay at the little viii
lage Of Ciaremont. near by, for the pur-
pose OF making a pilgrimage to the cele-
brated old mansion. Ancient records
say that the place was named after an
estate In England by its first owner,
Captain John Martin, who arrived in Vir-
gina in 1907.
At later date, the tract of land
passed into the possession Of an English
grocer, John Sadler by name. who shared
his interest in the place with
another grocer, Richard Quincy. This
worthy pair did not lack distinguished
relations, however. and it is interesting
TO note that Quiney's brother, Thomas
Quincy, of Stratford-upon-Avon married
Shakespeare's daughter, Judith, while
Badlers granddaughter became the wife
OF John Harvard, founder of Harvard
College. From the descendants of the
two grocers the property-part of which
then bore the suggestive title of 'Mer-
chants Hope"--came into the hands of
the Harrisons in the year 1870.
A house was built upon it soon after
wards. and the place has been occupied
by the Harrison family from generation
To generation ever since. 1t is one of
tho few Colonial estates In Virginia
one might say in this country--still own
I'd and occupied by the original family.
Brandon House is almost hidden from
view by the trees and mass of verdure
which surround IL. In the rear is a grove
of oaks, covering many acres. Entering
the house. one finds oneself in large
hall, crossed In the middle by stately
arch. This hall runs the entire length OF
tho house, and opens on the right into a
lofty drawing-room and on the left into
d dining-room, where old mahogany side
boards are laden with silver two centu-
ties old, bearing the crests of the Harri-
sons and various families into which they
have intcrmarried. Beyond these rooms
on either side are the long wings Of the
house, containing numerous bedrooms.
These rooms have in them old Tester
bedsteads and quantities of fascinating
spindle-legged furniture that would raise
nm antiquarian to the seventh heaven OF
delight.
Upstairs. extending over a greater part
Of the house, Is an immense apartment
which was formerly used as q billiard
room, and was the favOrite resort of the
guests Of the house. The hospitality dis
pensed at Brandon was proverbial. Most
OF the Presidents from Washington 10
Lincoln were entertained there, and also
many foreigners OF note. During his
childhood President William 4lenry Har-
rison spent much time with his cousins
at Brandon, and always crossed the river
20 fltHQ Ills CdkliNa1 otAa t'4HAtts" NAtNA -
The lower rooms in Brandon are nlled
with relics Of the past. and In the draw
isg-rOom cabinets are treasured many
articles OF rare interest--here my lady s
fan. which she Carried when presented al
court, or a Bit OF lace With a history, and
there a iewcled shoe-brckle worn by
some man whose name IS now familiar
20 every school child.
The walls of these rooms as wei as OF
the hall are thickly hung with paintings.
The collection Of portraits Is famous II
contains magnificent paintings by Sis
Godfrey Kneller. Sir Peter Lely. sir
Thomas Lawrence. and other celebrated
artists, most OF which were collected IN
England by william Byrd while serving
as Colonial agent The list Of portrait,
is large one and includes the Duke OF
Argyle, tho Earl OF Orrery. and LORD
Hallfax. Sir Robert Walpoie. Miss
Bl6ant, celebrated by Pope: Lady Betty
ciaypole, cromweifs daughter, clad N
satin bali gown. With a fair young race
quite unlike The grim countenanee OF nei
father: Admiral Wager. Of the English
navy. and many othera.
One which deserves especial mention Il
~"ienaid portrait w Knelisr Of coione