The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-06-29

| here with our ancestors; was, IN faNct one
strong motive for the introducpoh ol
negro slavery. and TO very colsluei :
able extent is the unwritten social law at
this day.
Rail splitters. tenants Of log cabins
shoemakers, canal boat drivers. map ped
dlers. wood cutters. fur traders ana pIoW
| boys are strong on the huStilPs' pu. IA
| society ever forgives them at all II Is De-
cause the statute OF limitations has mace
the crime of manual labor stale. and
there is a certainty that the offense VIII
not be repeated.
Peter Jefferson lived on the very Dor
ders of civilization. He had gone west
and patented 1909 acres Of land in the
wilderness on the Rivanna at time
when the Indian trails were Still warm
in the woods and when the adjoining
county was thronged With saVages. IN
addition to his 900 acres Of land, he
secured 400 acres from the adjoining tract
OF his friend. William Randolph-a gilt
which was i0vially disguised as sale.
whose consideration was Henry Wealth
ersbourne's biggest bowl of arrack
punch" Upon this smaller tract he built
a strong. comfortable dwelling which had
four rooms on the first floor and several
more in the attic.
Having cleared away parts Of the for
est and turned wilderness into plowed
fields he went back to the old settlements
for his bride.
This was Jane Randolph. the daughter
OF Isham Randolph, of Dungeuess. who
was adjutant general of Virginia
There were no prouder people in Viz
! ginia than these Randolphs. and they
were educated refined and hospitable.
! They owned innumerable acres Of land.
fine houses hordes Of slaves ana traced
their lineage back to the earls of Murray
! In Scotland.
Dungeness was one Of the stateliest
homes ON the James: and 1t is said
that 4 hundred slaves served in and about
the mansion
From this grand home Peter jefferson
| married. Jane Randolph, in 1873. and took
her to his wilderness cottage, which he
named shadwen, in honor of the London
parish in which she was born
Peter jefferson. Ii man of powerful ply
| sique ana strong mind, seems to speedily
have become the representative man OF
| his part Of the state. He q justice
| at the time when the jurisdiction OF the
! office enabled the court to practically con
troll many OF the civil affairs Of the coun-
| ~. lie was q colonel at the time when
the position made him The military chief
! OF his county.
! The colonial authorities appointed him
| one of the commissioners To run the
! boundary line between Virginia and North
| Carolina, and he assisted in the making
Of The second map Of the colony-the first
| having been that made by John Smith.
lie also represented his county in the
/ house OF burgesses.
/ 4 rugged. masterful figure. character
| whose strength and integrity no one
! doubted. Peter Jefferson was trusted by
the whites and followed when war was
TO be waged gainst the Indians and the
| red men sought his advice and pro
| lection when they needed ieniency or jus
tice from the whites.
To administer a dead mans large es-
! cate honestly ana well is a test OF virtue
| and skill whose severity numbers many a
victim. Peter Jefferson was tried by even
! the fire Of this ordeal and came forth
pure gold. He broke up his own home.
moved his family to Tuckahoe ana for
seven years managed me estate Of Colo
mel William Randolph. his early friend
! ana bene1actor who had named him t,l-
ecutor of his proIerty and guardian OF
| his son. For these labolious services Mr.
jefferson made no charge beyond The sup
/ port OF himself ANA family while execut-
ing the trust
Not much given to books was this hardy
pioneer. for his education .h.,l ha..n slie,b,
ana his life OF toll and stt,,.,ol. had l.tr
him few opportInitIes for sfl,d,.. I'M, NJ.
carried several standard works with him
/ into the wilderness ana of his shakes.
/ peare Addison Pope and Swift he was
an apprecaNve reader. "Doddridoe,s
! Sermons" was a book which he ratad ~
| "mor- precious than gold. the hest Ias,-
! cy can leave NV children p. for I~
! Jefferson was . stanch Church Of Eng
land man, served in The vestIy aud had
/ MS cH~dleA baptized IN the faith.
/ ms earnest, honest, active, progressi} c
i"a't MAS cut OH IN MS prlme-dElng Of
| adc4eh Illness August II, 1851, IN his
nijleth year
/ me 1hches Jefferson VI whose life aud
! Times We write was the third child at
S6aaWei and was born April 3. l7i3, o. :
! lie was the first SON and his proud
/ tather began to train him from infancy
| Tor q career OF usefulness. The boy was
/ taught at nome as We'll as at school, was
! mace 10 take regular physical exercise in
the open 'sri he learned to manage =
river lie was encouraged TO hunt with
dog and gun, to dance at country balls
ana 10 enter into the plays and games OF
| the Young
/ Peter Jefferson not only had implicit
faith in Doddridge's sermons. but lie had
d 10 Y "a etF