Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-13
A VANISHED MANSION
ANCIENT SEAT OF THE PREsLfs
AND THORNTONs.
LINKED WITH MEMORIES PAST.
Once the Home OF the Rich and
Prosperous, Who Held High TO-
sitions I'm the County-Burned by
British.
British.

The public road in Northumberland
county, leading from Coan wharf in the
direction Of HulPs creek, turns abruptly
to the right half a mile beyond Crow
TIERS store, and enters upon a ridge
parallel with the Potomac shore, and Is
adorned on either hand by long row
Of graceful young cedars. The road at
this point intersects an ancient estate OF
$500 acres Of forest and river-bottom
land, which is now divided into numerous
smaller farms with separate owners. A
lane leading across an open field into
which a Slated gate by the roadside
opens conducts 10 a tenement distant
several hundred yards which is still
known by the name Of the ancient home
stead
NORTHUMBERLAND HOUSE.
A grassy sod, smooth and firm as II
trodden by the feet Of bygone genera
tions, numerous storm-battered trees,
and the rulnous foundations OF a build
ing, mark the spot where, In the early
half Of the century a spacious and ele-
CANT mansion stood. A venerable and
decaying barn is seen to the right near
by, and farther in the opposite direction
near a towering poplar, Is tho negro
graveyard. Near the ruin stands small
framed building, whose dusky tenants
kindle their morning fires, so forth to
their daily tasks, or whistle their idle
airs. needless alike of the future pros
perity and the departed glories of this
ancient home.
The mansion whose ruins are TO be
seen here probably dates from about the
close of the war of 1Sl2-'14, during which
| the elegant home, which had long adorn-
! ed the estate, was burned. The road
| which led to the earlier mansion was
some distance above the present site OF
J the Northumberland House, and after
! descending the wooded hills Ii passed Tor
/ q mile or more across a beautiful plain
| I'm the direction of a short inlet of the
| Potomac called Gods creek, and SO
! named for Colonel st. Leger Cod, who
! located here for few years at the first
) settling of the country, and then removed
| to Maryland Two fnely-shaded lanes
| are said to have afforded access to this
| early home, and one Of them, with its
| long rows Of venerable cedars, is Still
recalled by a few Of the Oldest residents
| of the vicinity.
|
| almost within gunshot Of the above
| named creek, and within easy hearing OF
! the waves breaking on the Potomac
| beach. Fragments Of broken bricks
! scattered among the burrows, are well
/ nigh the only signs remaining to aid ne
| in locating the site of the lOng-vanisheC
mansion. A graveyard containing the
! fallen supports and fractured pieces Of
| some early tombs. with numerous latel
| slabs intact, is to be seen within few
| rods Of the old home. 1t occupies Z
! rounded knoll on the margin Of the creek
Mneath a cluster Of trees, near tn
oNAtre Of which stands a sycamore o
| S,en Srable mien and gigantic size, who's
arnrN. is reared above all surrounding
! otiactAas If Offering a landmark 10 tn
passing s>Nlors' and extending its might
Pp,.,,,s over .the graves, as If TO tmplor
a." a. ii'9 80, of>Seaven, or avert its wrath
.. ,hoso Who ,sleep beneath 1t.
Srbe bins whicS,2ne descends in reach
az ,,i - enot nv fhe present roadwa,
lie. tie somewhat abruptly from the PLAIN
and extend for miles ina ridge OF lores'
broken at intervals by deS2 IaVihes an an
bolIows Of thicket and brhllDie' Iiel
formerly was found the choicest e Jun
for hunting. and along these bins III
reeounding horn was often heafN' an
The startled deer fell victim I'd IN
marksman's aim, or was chased by III
hounds 10 its death. An ex-Sherlh -
the county. who was Yotary or IN
chase i'm his early manhood, recalls
,,intrv morning when six deer brok
cover at once before the dogs IN III
sedge under these hills. They, scattering
sought TO escape on the ice, some
| Coan some on Gods creek, and on
boldly adventurous. on the wide, froze
surface OF the Potomac. Their frant
efforts at the approach OF the dogs mac
tbem slip but the more, and In shol
ttna they were all slain and theiF bodi'
dragged ashore.
these woodland hills are nearly Ops
site 10 Point Lookout, and possess a p;
thetlc interest as the outline or DIX
ON which SO many thousands OF imprisol
ga Confederates were won't to fix the
ryistfrl gazes. Alasl for many thousaT
Of them who died in that prison cam
This stretch of the Southland, dimly see
IN the distance, was the last on while
their eyes were permitted to rest.
| COLONEL WILLIAM PRESLY.
Among the early settlers in Northun
berland. about the year 1910, Colonel WI
nam presly here established his HON
re was accompanied at his first comm
or soon afterwards followed, by his wi
and two sons, and number OF servant
nv virtue of whose head-rights he s
cured q body OF land, extending fro