The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-20
A NOTED TAVERN.
Versailles (Ky.) correspondent of the
ST. Louis Globe-Democrat.1

Versailles (Ky.) correspondent of the
st. Louis Globe-Democrat.l
Nothing is more interesting to the
student of history than to trace the OBJ
scure causes which have led to great
events. Comparatively few people are
now living who know that the mother
of Henry Clay once kept tavern in
Versailles, and fewer still have ever had
1t occur to them that had not this been
the case Clay would most probably not
have come to Kentcky a all.
The Watkins family arrived in Yer
Sa1lleS about the close of the eighteenth
century, bringing with them quite a re-
tinue of slaves. may say right here
that there is little foundation for the
popular idea that Henry ClayS boyhood
was spent in the atmosphere of poverty
obScurity and absolute want. The moth
er of the Mill Boy of the Slashes," Eliz-
abeth Hudson, was a member of
wealthy Virginia family, and in wedding
the Rev John Clay (after whose death
she married Henry WatkinS) she mar
ried into a family of equal prominence
with her own. The ClayS and Hudsons
probably lived in the rather gorgeous
style of the Virginia gentry, and if the
Rev John Clay was poor it was no
doubt due to the devastation wrought
by the Revolutionary war. It is extreme
~ unlikely that his poverty could have
been SO great as the story books would
have us believe
Henry Clay did not accompany his
mother and stepfather to Kentucky but
remained in Richmond, Va, as deputy
IN the cIerkS office, and engaged in pros
ecuting his legal studies. The Watkins
es shortly took charge of the only host
1ery in Versailles, and Watkins Tav-
ern' became famous in the surrounding
country. They had a two story stone
house built at the corner of Main street
and Court Square by Henry Metcalfe at
that time StonemaSOn and afterWard
governor of Kentucky. Such places were
# hAn -
rendezvous for the discussion of the
news of the day, at a time when news
Travelled only by stage coach. The Mar
shalls the Crittendens, the Blackburns,
the Gays, the WatkinSeS and other
prominent men no doubt planned cam
paigns at Watkins Tavern and here
Gen. Lafayette was entertained in 1926.
Mrs. Clay-Watkins was very attract
i've, While. not beauty, she was comeiy,
with dark hair and eyes and rosy cheeks.
Her manners were very engaging, and she
1st She had well rounded and shapely
ng99r sd and possessed great vigor of mind
Clay, evidently realized fully his wife's
charms, for in making his will he more
beloved wife should intermarry between
this and then" And. sure enough, at SO,
plished gentleman of %, for whom She
Mrs. Watkins was full of spirit. as a
story told by one of her grandsons, T.
D. WdLk1nS, OF Lexington, proves. He
says that the day after the burial of the
Rev. John Clay the British Colonel Tarle-
ton made a raid into Virginia, and his
men devastated her place. Mrs. Clay
reprimanded Tarleton so severely that he
emptied a sack of coin on a table and
told her to take that for her losses. AS
soon as Tarleton left Mrs Clay scraped
the money off into her apron and threw it
should not be polluted with Rr-Ssh gold"
She seems to have been a nozzle woman.
much reverenced by those who knew her
well. and with striking individuality and
an imperious will.
up their tavern in Versailles and settled
upon a farm which they owned three
miles south of town. Here Mrs. Watkins
died in 1929. at the age of 80 years. Her
body was buried in a country graveyard
close by, and rested there until 1851. when
it was removed to Lexington by her
Henry. The Henry Watkins farm
which is still a point of great interest. is
the home of Robert Mcconnell. The
last vestige of the Watkins residence has
given place to more modern improve
mentS.