Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-23
ROUGH BRIDAL TRIP
JEFFERsoN,s JOURNEY FROM "THE
FORREST TO MoNTICELLo.
OLD MANSION RECALLS STORY
Charles City Plantation whercon the
Framer Of the Declaration of In
dependence Wed the Fair widow,
Mrs. Martha Shelton.
OLD MANSION RECALLS STORY


! How often does the traveller, while pur-
suing his journey through Tidewater Va,
come across an old and dilapidated plan
tation, whose present appearance of desc
laton is in pitiful contrast to its former
| days of prosperity. No more fitting ex-
ample could be cited than in the bare and
desolate farm, THE Forrest in Charles
| City county The buildings with the ex-
ception of the weather--beaten dwelling
house, are tumbling to decay, while the
once. fertile and carefully titled fields are
| overgrown with briars, broom-straw, and
scrub pines. The whole surroundings sug-
| gest ruined fortunes and abandoned
! hopes" solemn stiffness broods over
| the old farm, broken only by the shriil
cry of a hawk or the signing of the pines.
| and one looks in vain for any reminder
! of the days when The Forrest was the
home of the distinguished lawyer and
wealthy planter, John Mayles, Esq,
| whose lovely and accomplished daughter,
Mrs. Martha Shelton. became the wife of
Thomas Jefferson. This young and fasc-
mating widow had ;'any admirers, but it
was to Mr.. Jefferson that she was to
surrender her hand and heart and on
! January LIST, 1772, they were married a
The Forrest Great were the festivi-
ties at The Forrest" at the bridal cere-
mony. It is to. be supposed that the Rev.
Mr.. Davis the officiating clergyman, tied
the knot effectually, but the Rev. Mr.. W.
Curtis, who was present, no doubt shar-
ed an equal fee, both of these gentlemen
being of the established church
THEIR BRIDAL TRIP.
The bride and groom soon set out for
Monticello, and they were to meet some
not exactly amusing adventures on the
way.
II
Mrs. Randolph. furnished by one of her
granddaughter. says: They left the
Forrest after a fall OF snow, light, thin,
but increasing in depth as they proceed
ed up the country. They were obliged to
quit the carriage eventually and proceed
on horseback. Having stopped for
short time at Blenheim, the seat of Colo.
mel Carriers, whereon only an overseer
resided, they left it al sunset to pursue
!! their way through a mountain track
rather than a road. in which the snow lay
from eighteen inches to two feet deep,
having eight miles to go before reaching
Monticello. They arrived late at night,
the fires all out, and the servants re-
tired to their own houses for the night.
The horrible .dreariness of such house
at the end Of such a journey, I have
often heard them both relate"
THE MARRIAGE BOND.
The following is a copy of Mr.. Jeffer-
| sons marriage license bond, drawn up
by him, in his own handwriting, men
toned by Mr.. Losing in Field Book of
! the Revolution, and discovered by him
at Charles City Courthouse among bun
die of old papers: ''Know all men, that
we, Thomas Jefferson and Frances Epps,
are held and firmly bound to our SOW
ereign Lord, the King. his heirs and sue
cessors, in the sum Of fifty pounds cur
| rent money of Virginia, to the payment
o. which well and truly to be made we
bind ourselves Jointly and severally, our
joint and several heirs and administra.
tors; in witness whereof we have hereto
set our hands and seals this twenty
third day of December, in the year of
our Lord, one thousand seven hundred
and seventy-one. The condition of the
above obligation. that if there be no law
full cause to obstruct marriage intended
to be had and soemnized between the
above Thomas Jefferson and Martha
Shelton, of the county Of Charles City,
this obligation is to be null and void,
otherwise to remain IN full force.
THOMAS JEFFERSON,
'.FRANCIS EPPES.''
The writer adds in a note at the bot
tom Of the page: las curiosity to the
generations to most Of whom instruments
of this kind intended to prevent the SOL
scribed it,
JOHN NAPLES, ESQ.
John Mayles, Esq, owner of the For.
rest was born In Lancaster. England, was
married three times, his last wife being
Mrs. Martha Eppes. widow Of Llewellen
Eppes OF Bermuda Hundreds. Mr.. May
les was lawyer Of extensive practice and
reputa alton. and said by Mr. Jefferson to
be introe-rBed to the la tier more by great
industry, punctuality and practical readi-.
ness than by eminAHa1 10 IN, practice
Of his profession
Mr.. Jefferson pronous>s 6. - to be %
most agreeable companioA ful! of good
humor and plea santry. and welcomed In
every society;
| AS stated before, he married three times,
and had o. daught ter by each marriage