The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-16
AN HISTORIC HALL.
THE ANCIENT HOME OF THE
LEES IN wESTMoRELAND.
An Interesting Pile Which is Said
To BE Upward Of One Hundred
and Seventy-hve Years Old.
Philadelphia Public Ledger.

Philadelphia Public Ledger.
Major Robert Washington, of Lower
Westmoreland County. Va., a great
Erest-nepEew OF Gen. George Washington.
and who won his military title while in
the service of the Confederate Govern
ment, was in Washington few days
since. In the course of more or less
interesting conversation on matters con-
nected with the historic section in which
he lives. he remarked that to the pres
ent generation 1t was really a question
of doubt to the exact spot where the
remains of Richard Henry Lee, one OF
the celebrated orators of the revolution
airy period. and signer OF the Declare
tion Of independence, were located. Major
Washington said that IL was generally
believed until recently. that Lee died ana
was buried on his estate, q few miles
South of Stratford Hall. the ancient home
Of the Lees in Lower Westmoreland, but
a recent search had demonstrated that
IL the remains had been really inferred
on the estate there was no evidence OF
the fact. There was tradition among
old families of Westmoreiand he said,
that Lee died at the home OF his daugh-
ter. near Wyocimo, on the Potomac,
while on visit to the latter. Whether
this was true or not. Major Washington
said would be developed later on, as an
effort would be made to settle the matter
and make such restoration Of the grave
as might be deemed necessary If the re-
mains were found to be at the point in
Dictated.
.'Stratford Hail." said Major Washing
ton. lis still easily the most interesting
pile of brick in the United States. 1t is
upward of 175 years old. and all of the
brick used in its construction was brought
over as ballast. The house stands on a
slight elevation of land, about a mile
from the Potomac. as it empties into the
Chesapeake bay, and in a spot so iso-
lated from any travelled road that a
stranger would be puzzled to find it.
The color of the brick used In the con-
struction of the historic mansion Is OF
gray or ashen hue. which. on dark
night. as 1t looms up in the distance
makes a weird impression on those who
witness the scene for the first time. The
mansion was erected by the then Colo.
NAL Governor, Richard Lee; at a cost
of nearly $200. 900. the English Govern
ment contributing about $4,000 of the
amount named. 1t Is constructed in the
form Of a letter II. contains about sixty
living rooms and Is two stories, with an
rotunda. which was formerly used by
the Colonial Governor as a reception
room. and the house and outbuildings
cover about four acres or ground. In
roasted whole. The vault in which repose
the bones of all of the early Lees was,
when I saw II short time since. in 4
sadly dila pidated condition. The bricl
upward Of two feet of water in the vault.
The estate comprises at present about
$500 acres and is the property Of DR..
Charles Stuart who inherited II from his
aunt, a Miss McCarty. who was a daugh-
ter of the McCarty who fought the IA
nous duel with Mason of Virginia early
In the last century. The mansion is SC
vast that only portion OF 1t Is furnished
and habited. In this house. and II
rooms still pointed out We're born ths
Lees Of the Revolution. with the excep-
ton of Light Horse Harry, who was
born at Dumfries. Stafford County, and
Gen. Robert e. Lee.
II reside on a part Of the orisina
Washington estate. and about two miles
from the spot on Pope's Creek where
Gen. George Washington first saw the
was born was destroyed by fire about
the close of the Revolutionary War
Much of the debris has been carried away
by relic hunters. NV brother-in-law. DR.
Wilson, owns this portion of the origt
nal estate and resides a few rods from
where Washington was born. 1t was or
Brydge's Creek. about half mile dist
ant. which stream is an affluent Of tn
Potomac. as is Pope's Creek. that tn
frst Washington's settled when they
came to Virginia Near the house II
which they lived are buried the first tw
and a part OF the third generations OF
Washingtons. including the father OF
General Washington. The burial vault
has been destroyed on account of the
vandalism of visitors. mostly from thu
Northern States. 1t is worthy of remark
in this connection that within a radius
of eight miles of the spot IN which
, live, three presidents were born. viz.
Washington Monroe and Madison The
latter was born at Port Conway, while
his mother was on visit to her parents
at that point"