The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-05-31
SATURDAY
Homes Of Virginia Sisaers.


Recently the State Regent. b. \. r. of
Georgia. made a request OF the state Re
gent OF Virginia t. prepare paper ON the
homes oi Virginia signers of the Declsra-
ton OF Independence Mrs Hugh Nelson
Page the Virginia State Regent. ther,,-
fore asked Mrs. Ample G. Harper. Mont
pelier Chapter. OF Orange. TO prepare the
paper. 1t was read before the conference
at its final meeting, aud is practically as
follows;
"Oi The Virginia siguers OF the Declara-
ton of Independence there were seven:
George Wy Richard Henry Lee. Thorn
a. Jefferson, Thomas Nelson. Jr. Be.Ja-
min Harrison. Francis Lishtfoot lee ami
Carter BraNton.
In regard To the homes OF these men.
Virginia is more fortunate then many
other States. as a. number Of them are
still standing. and well preserved and
kept by their present owners. who are in
some instances members of the original
family.
George Wythe lived at one time in
Richmond. his residence being on the cor
ner OF Fifth and Grace streets. Although
the original house was pulled down to
make way for the present building. a
large tulip poplar tree still graces the
spot and overlooks the newer building a.
it did it's predecessor. In a family letter.
belonging "a n friend oi miae, this home
is mentioned. and attention is called to
one of its chief attractious-its drc view
Of Manchester
Another house in which George Wythe
lived still stands in Williamsburg on the
Palace Green by the Old Church Ii i a
fine large square house of brick. well
cared for 10y the family Of Harrisons who
now live in il.
AT the time of the signing OF the Dec
laration, Richard Henry Lee lived at
Chantilly. which he built on part of the
place. Stratiord, Nestmoreland county.
This was originally called the Hollis
Farm. Chantilly House il not now stand
ing. Stratiord House is about three miles
below Stratiord on the Potomac river.
1t is a large, digniGed residence. built in
the shape of the letter II. and contains
eighteen rooms The middle part Of the
house is large hail. used az a library
and sitting room. and connects the two
wings. Ia one of the bed rooms were
born Richard Henry Lee. all his brothers.
and. tradition says Robert Edward lee.
In the kitchen Of the building may vet
be seen the huge fireplace / > feet wide. &
feet high and ieetdeep. in which a whole
OK could be roasted. In the yard is a
large old fashioned shell. which was fred
at the house 10y the British army, and
which Is now used for the peaceful service
Of a tying place for horses
Later in his life Richard Henry lee
paid rental for this place to General
Henry Lee, and mentioned in his will that
he held the estate only on "A lease.
"Of Jeiierson's home Monticello,
enough to say it is the pride and delight
of lovers Of the beautiful. not only in
Virginia but throughout America.
Thomas Nelson. IT.. lived in a fine
house in Yorktown. stiu owned by the
-'N-'''h itAtuilt Rut lutlutuA IN tonutc-
tion with this place Is historical At the
time of Cornwallis's surrender. the Brit
ish commander was in this house. As
the soldiers hesitated to fire upon it,
General Nelson himself ordered the guns
TO be turned upon IT, The house. how
ever, is now standing and in fine condi-
ton.
Benjamin Harrison lived at Berkley
on the James river. near Westover.
While am not positive the house is vet
standing, it should be, for the walls OF
the first floor were a yard thick.
Francis Lightfoot Lee lived in Lou
doun county where he and his brother
PHILIPS are said to have founded Lees
burg. On marrying, Lee moved 10 Rich.
mond and built house, calling it Wen
ohm. There ne died in the winter of
1917
Garter Braxton. the last OF the signers.
lived atCherokoko, King William county.
about twenty miles from Richmond. on
Johnson grant ofland. The house was
burned and later rebuilt by Braxton's
grandson. Unless il has been very re-
Gently sold, it is still in the Braxton
family"