Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-03-14
a VALUABLE RELIC
From the Old Stone Church Manse Found
in Charleston.

From the Old Stone Church Manse Found
in Charleston.
The following interesting sketch OF
an old sideboard once the property of
Thomas Jefferson, and as the older
members OF Augusta church will rec
ollect, was for so years or more a part
of the furniture at their manse, is
taken from the Charleston Post of
March Sth:
| MIR. Jefferson died on the 4th of July,
1876. Soon after this his estate was
sold and the family that purchased the
homestead also bought much if not all
OF Inc personal property belonging to
IT, The sldeboard was part of the
furniture of Mr.. Jefferson at bis death
and thus fell into the hands of the
purchasers of the home. How long it
remained at Monticello after this is not
known. 1t was, however, taken by a
member of the family which purchased
1t to Staunton. at that time the
busy and beautiful little city was, of
course, only village or small country
town. The Rev. William Brown was
just beginning bis ministry at the Old
Augusta church, near the famous Will
low Spout Spring, on the Winchester
ana Staunton turnpike, eight miles
north of StauntOn. Mr.. Brown, as he |
then was, afterwards became one of |
the most influential and highly honored |
OF the ministers making up that most
important factor in the Southern Gen
eral Assembly, the Synod of Virginia,
Indeed, be was recognized leader in
the notable debates of that body in the
days OF Dabney, Hoge, B. NJ. Smith,
Peck, Armstrong and others of we'll
known reputation. DR.. Brown moved
to Richmond, Va, in 1851 and became
editor of the Central Presbyterian. and
for many years before his death he was
permanent clerk of the General Assem-.
oily OF the Southern PRESBYTERIAN
church. The present manse of the Old
stone church was built for DR.. Brown
and his bride, and when he undertook
10 furnish it he purchased in StauntonI
Inc old sideboard from those who took
t from Monticello, these parties NOV
ng at that time to Arkansas. These
acts OF purchase and removal the
owner of the sideboard re-
'elved from DR.. Brown years ago. and
afterwards certificate of the indenti-l
y OF the piece of furniture was given
u his request by DR.. Brown. now de-
eased.
when be removed to Richmond in
SOL, DIR. Brown left the sideboard in
he manse, which was next occupied
y Rev. F. I'll. Bowman, who died in
lemphis, Tenn, during an epidemic
I yellow fever, being pastor of the
lrst Presbyterian church of that citvl
{ The time. Rev. l. w. K. Handy.D. I
J., father of the late Moses P. Handy.
Philadelphia, and author of a book
allied United States Bonds,n giving ,
q account of his prison life during the ,
wi war, was the next occupant of the
ID manse. 1t was during this paste. q
ate the old sideboard was moved ont o
the house and placed on the back g
orch opposite the kitchen door. and a
as used as meat block or fruit stand
nile the receptacles on either side n
ere convenient places for pots and g
times afforded excellent facilities =
n Matching young chickens.
After the death of DR.. Handy the .
ev: Alexander Sprunt, now pastor oil
lie First Presbyterian church in this y
ey, was cnlled to this church. The
'ngregatlon thoroughly repaired and 4.
palnted the old manse before the
'ung minister and bis bride entered
elr first home. While this cleansing
'ocess was in operation, some one
ggested that the woodpile was the
st place for the old sideboard, and
destruction was imminent. The
lnlster's wife hearing some ultima.
IN of its honOred history, interposed
d rescued it. Shortly after this q (
blnet maker in the community was
ut for to give an estimate of the cost
repairing it. This man discouraged
idea very warmly, insisting that it
IS not worth the expense. When :
essed for some amount of approx
tie cost, he replied it might be as
lch as five dollars He was given
Job at once and FOB it somethingI
re than this sum was paid for it on
return to the manse. About this ~
lie DR.. Brown heard of the regard ~
the old piece of furniture manifest. D
by Its new custOdians, and he re- L
qulshed his title of ownership and IT
de present of it to it's latest friends. Ii
zee that time the sidebOard has been 1
The family of its present owners in vi
nth Carolina and South Carolina,
was loaned by DR.. Sprunt to the pI
mans department. of the Exposition
exhibit in their collection. The
torlc piece is labelled in the exhibit
rely An Old Sideboard.' with moth. "
to show its ownership by the au-
" OF the Declaration of Indepen- =
ice and the President who added
great domain of Louisiana to the
tied States,