The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-09
Thought-Pay
mas pricc. Gentleman,


about 1907, Thomas Price. ESQ.,
When / first began TO collect material
for a county history, TO be called THE
\. e and c. but not the .'E. O." game,
the history Of The land which was first
settled as Augusta, then Botetourt, then
Craig j made some Interesting discover
les that have lain under dust-cloGged
memories for u hundred years. One Of
these was that the county records and
many family records were destroyed
when Aycrill made his famous raid
through this town in 1865. Only one or
der book, which the clerk had taken
home for night work, was saved of the
county records of the last-named county.
it was then only twelve years Old, nav
ing been formed in 1851
Another pleasing discovery was that the
most interesting papers concerning the
first owners of this land were never re-
corded at all. A few Of these We're kept
by the people. as the habit was from an
cicnt days. These are the land papers;
the old Revolutionary commissions; the
articles in writing which one finds in
The backs of old books-some nero homes
dating back to 1885, and calling the land
on which they are found Orange coun-
*, in the Province of Virginia One old
book printed in 1855. gives a whole fam
ily's record UP to 174S.
There ylre many good Revolutionary
tales in embryo, and / find it fascinating
work unravclling them. The old Puritan
stock founded on honesty and virtue, has
never degenerated here. and IL you care
fully investigate you will find this true
in every instance
THE NATIVES.
or course, there are some reopie VINO
would be considered peasantrE any place.
Some have been in the limits of this
county for n hundred years; and thew. as
whole countless race, taken conformity,
have not paid a dollars tax on property
In "a hundred years!
But there is another kind here, and
they have ALWAYS been the Taxpayers and
the property owners ian they will come
forward and meet any enterprise with
the orenhandedness OF the millionaire
They are patterned after the old Virginia
aristocracy-hosritabl at their homes,
truthful in their speeches. honest in their
dealings virtuous in their affections
and pious in their worship. If they be-
como poor, they are never false and pre-
tentious; and some of these people who
live in this county arc descendants of
some OF the most worthy mon in Vir-
Einia's history.
Many of them do not know 1t, perhaps
do not care: but / am going to explain
these matters from published records in
my history, and there will be such names
as John Champ. of Revolutionary fame;
Col. Samuel Abbott. also of Revolution
sentci by worthy and prominent citizens
OF this county.
But these names have all appeared in
this county since the Revoluton-some,
md most Of them, after the war OF 1872.
as the county up to that time was 6iVadcd
into few farms and much waste land.
owned by a large English syndicate, none
of whom ever lived here.
Now. in this article it is my purpose to
spank only of one ante-Revoiution set
tier and some Of his contemporaries.
This was John TAYLOR, gentleman. who
owned in 1869 all the beautiful valley
where Newcastle now stands. His nome
was the first brick house ever built here,
and stood on the creek above the slght
Of Newcastle. the stream TOW known by
his name-John's Creek. Even the site
Of his homo has been lost in a plowed
field for these many. many years.
A SILK MERCHANT.
There is a tradition in the family that
he was a silk merchant of Norfolk and
his property destroyed before the battle
of Great Bridge, and he came here to
live on his claim after that. about no.
we have no evidence that he lived here
before. and as he was my great-great-
grandfather. 7 have used every means TO
learn OF his life. The old sheepskin land
grant dates 1863. Thomas Price, Gentle,
man. married his youngest daughter,
Elizabeth.
~
learn one Of the first marriages in this
part of the county. The wedding gown.
n narrow one, made in Empire style, OF
pale blue silk, somewhat TIA bbyed, was
kept intact until the crazy quilt craze at
tackled her descendants. Then it was d.
vided up, and i got my piece of it when
was n girl. Likewise the beautifully
chased llnee-bucliles, which figured at this
wedding were kept until a Few years ago;
and some giddy girl. perhaps. wished to
fauat real silver garter buckles. and gave
rude tinker.
have seen five old shecpsl<ns. aggre-
eating the surveys of thousands of acres
OF land. All five OF them bearing the
name of Thomas Price"
However only two or three Of them
named him as assignee of the land
conveyed, the others referring to his
land as boundaries to the land mentions
ed. Thus / nave found that his was the
first land sold and occupied III the dis
trict where il lay.
He bought hisfirst survey from one Isaac
T2aIIence That was in 1872. The parcil-
lneut is executed by Beverly Randolph,
when lac was Lieutcnant-Governor. AT
that time John TAYLOR, so far as 1 can
,earn lived in Norfolk. He was a young
er SON of the cid family in County
Ncath ireland. and his life had some
thrilling episodes in 1t.
Mr. Zadock Nutter, of this county, told
me the fan,ili as a WEALTHY ami p'on.i-
nor, ono, al uron ~lstarch find the
head Of the family about The time John
.J'aSior came to America to have bee,
Sir Thomas Taylor. lie always intended
10 return.
SWALLOWED HIS SLAVE.
Very little can be learned Of his fam
Ii,- in This county. but the bad is always
remembered when the good is forgotten.
] rave had no trouble in lcaraing of the
black sheep tipping son. who took g,
negro boy to q distilery, said
slave being given to him for 81
body servant by his adoo,ing father.
and said slave being deposited for a
barrel of rum, It is further deposed
that the spigot was never dry until
Caesar had passed the Rnbicund. and
been swallowed by-llis master.
John TaSlors sons went to Kentucky;
but the only daughter he had besides
Elizabeth was ono who married with a
distinguished virginian of that day, and
xyboSp family WAS nI,lai;y wClI rCs1.cCted