The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-09-30
A NOTED TAVERN.
II Was One Kept by the Mother of
Henry Clay.
Versailles q<y) Correspondence Of the

Versailles l<y) Correspondence OF the
ST. Louis Globe-D Democrat
Nothing is more interesting 20 the stu
dent Of history than to trace the obscure
causes which have led to great events.
Comparatively few people are now living
who know that the mother Of Henry Clay
once "ccpt tavern" In Versailles, and few
er still have ever had it occur to them
that. had this not been the case, Clay
would most probably not have come 20
Kentucky at all.
The Watkins family arrived in YER
sailles about the close OF the eighteenth
century. bringing with them quite a re-
tinue of slaves. I may saw right here
that there Us little foundation for the pop
ular idea that Henry Clay's boyhood was
spent I'm the atmosphere OF poverty, OBJ
security and absolute want. The mother
Of the "Mill Boy Of the Slashes," Eliza
beth Hudson. was a member Of a wealthy
Virginia family. and in wedding the Rev.
John Clay (after whose death she mar
rled Henry Watkins. she married into a
family Of equal prominence with her own.
The Clays and Huds0ns probably livedsn
the rather gorgeous style of the Virginia
gentry. and If the Rev. John Clay was
poor IL was no doubt due TO the devasta-
ton wrought by the Revolutionary war.
It is extreemly unlikely that his poverty
could nave been so great as the story
books would have US believe.
Henry Clay did not accompany his
mother and stepfather 10 Kentucky, but
remained IN Richmond, Va, as deputy tn
the clerks office, and engaged In prose-
cutting his legal studies. The Watkinses
shortly took charge OF the only hosiery
I'm Versailles. and watkins Tavern be-
came famous I'm the surrounding country.
They had a two-st0ry stone house built az
the corner OF Main street and Court
square by Henry Metcalfe. at that time a
stonemasOn, ana aftcrward Governor on
Kentucky. Such places were a sort or
political headquarters and a rendezvous
for the discussion OF the news OF the day,
at a time when news Travelled only by
stage-coach. The Marshalls. the Crit
tendens. the Blackburns, the Clays, the
Watkinses and other prominent men no
/ doubt planned campaigns az watkins
Tavern" and here General Lafayette was
entertained I'm 1896.
Mrs. Clay-Watkins was very attractive.
While not a beauty. she was comely. with
dark hair and eyes and rosy cheeks. Her
manners were very engaging. and she was
n most entertaining Onyersationalist
She had a w~eil-rounded and shapeiy hs-
ure. and possessed great vigor OF mind
and body. Her FIRST husband, Rev. John
clay. evidently realized fully his wifss
charms. for, In making his Will, he more
than once gives directions in case my
beloved wife should intermarry betwiNt
this and then" And sure enough. az
thlrty-three. the mother OF nine children.
! she married Henry watkins. ian elegant
and accomplished gentleman OF twenty
three. for whom she Afterwards bore
seven children.
Mrs watkins was full OF spirit. as .
story told by one Of her grandsons. T.. y.
Watkins. OF Lexington. proves. He Says
that the day after the burial OF Rev. John
CLAY. tho British colonel. Tarleton. made
a raid into Virginia. and his men devss-
tated her place. Mrs. Clay repri handed
Tarleton so severely that he emptied 4
sack of coin on a table and told her 20
take that for her losses. AS soon as
TarletOn left Mrs. Clay scraped the
money of into her apron and threw Il in
70 the fire. saying that her hand should
nOf be polluted with British gold." She
seems 10 have been a noble woman, much
reverenced by those who knew her well.
and with striking individuality and an I'm
perious will.
About the year 1915 the Watklnses gave
up their tavern in Versailles and settled
unOn a farm. which they owned. three
miles south Of town. Here Mrs. watkins
died in 1920. at the axe Of eighty years.
Her remains were buried In a country
graveyard close by. and rested there I'M
an 1851. when they were removed to Lex
iugton by her son. Henry. The Henry
watkins farm" which IS still a point OF
great interest. IS now the home OF Mr..
Robert Mcconnell. The last yestige OF
the watkins residence has given place TO
more modern improvements