Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-02-22
DESCENDANT or AN INDIAN MAIDEN.
Picturesque Figure in Richmond Who
Traces Her Ancestry Away Back
Into Another Century.

Probably one of the most unique
characters living in the capital city of
Virginia is Sarah Hope, little, old
woman with dark complexion and with
the language of the most aristocratic
lady of the State direct descendant
of John Caesar Bosher Hope, a native
of Calcutta, who came to Virginia
more than a century ago. and an In
dian maiden, whose beauty is said to
have been renowned in her day.
throughout the forest fringed settle
ment of Virginia. The story goes that
John Hope was nobleman in his land,
but came to America as an exile. He
arrived in Richmond and began life
a new as a barber, and, from his trade,
as the only one in the town at that
time, he was soon known by all the
gentlemen of the land who frequented
his place, which had bowlingalley at
taehed. 1t was known as the place of
s'John Caesar Bosher Hope" How or
why the Caesar was added is not
known, but in that line of names he
inserted his mark, on the last page of
his last will and testament, by which
he left to his surviving Indian wife
all his worldly goods at his death,
which occurred November II, 1907.
He had accumulated considerable
property, and, soon after his arrival
here, purchased from Col. Byrd, who
then owned much of the land which
Richmond now covers, the small strip
of land, then shady little grove, but
now the closely-built block between
Broad and Grace Streets, where to this
day his great-great- grand daughter.
Sarah Hope, lives. Her humble little
home is hardly visible from the street,
and has, no doubt, been passed many
times by residents of Richmond who
have yet to notice it. The house is
crowded Immediately against the rear
of the large brick building occupied
by Robert & Co., furniture dealers, on
Fourth and Broad Streets. The orr
| ginal property has been sold off from
| time to time until there is now left on
ly about fifteen feet front on Fourth
Street, running back about sixty feet.
In this confined quarter Sarah Hope
will live and die. Many efforts have
been made by various parties to pur.
chase the little strip of real estate, but
all have been in vain, as, in its owners
opinion, it is to be held by her as a
sacred trust so long as she may live.
Sarah is well-known among all the
old families of Richmond, and at many
of the homes on Franklin Street she
is almost daily caller, welcomed
with pleasure. The English shespeaks
is, indeed, chaste, her voice is sweet
and soft, and can but agreeably i'm
press one.
Sarah, and her mother before her
have known and been known by al
the succeeding German sets" which
have danced in Richmond, and have
known all the famous beauties and
bells in Virginia society for nearly g
century. For years Sarah Hope hai
been familiar figure in the dressing
rooms adjoining the ball room floors
and, as she boasts, has seen more
beautiful women than any old woman
in the land.
She refers with genuine pleasure tt
the days when Miss So and So, naming
many ladies, well-known in society
whose places has been taken in the
waltz by their debutanto daughters
and gallant sons.-Richmond Times.