The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-08
Mary Gray and Bcssy Bell Main
tain Landmarks That At
tract Attention Of Ali.
NAMES NOT A MYSTERY
Not Derived From an Indian
Massacre, But a Pretty Ro-
nance in the Old Country.
fsnec,,i,o rhe r,nes.p lsnatch>

nent among our Augusta county. H'"o -
Bessy Bell and Mary Gray. So far az
we know there is nothing remarkable IN
the structure or product OF these two hi.ls.
The soil continues TO produce anhuaf
crops Of huckleberries. ch!nquep.ns anu
chestnuts as It did In days OF yore, These
two mountains are situated Just SOUTH
east OF this city border on the Suburbs
OF the town. The Western State Lunauc
Asylum, is at the western base OF Bessy
Bell and the Institution for the Deaf
and the Blind is on neighboring knol
In full view.
A very few people IN Staunton really
know that Besy Bell and Mary Gray
were 90 named It has been currently
reported that Bessy Bell and Mary Gray
were two young girls who were murdered
by Indians on these mountains many
years ago. while chnquepin hunting,
There Is. however no foundation to this
story.
BEssY BELL AND MARY GRAY.
Bessy Bell and Mary Gray were named
by Col. John Lewis one Of the earlier
settlers of Augusta county and were
probably named after two hills IN County
Tyrone Ireland. The names are OF Scotch
Irish origin. According to tradition, Mary
Gray's father was laird OF Lenocn ana
Bessy Bells OF Kinvaid. An intimate
friendship existed between the two young
ladies, and while Bessy Bell was on
visit to Mary Gray in the year 1913. the
plague broke out In the ncighborhood
TO escape this they built a bower nes:
Lenoch House. in which they lived Tor
some time. The plague ragged with much
fury, they catching It from young man
who was in love with both OF them. ana
who had brought them food. They dled
in this bower and were buried near the
house Of Lenoch. near the River Aimoad.
who is seven miles northwest OF Pertn.
About the year. 1871. a now proprietor
took possession OF Lenoch. This pro-
prietor was shown heap OF stone which
were covered with thorns and breis.
as that OF the burial place OF Bessy Bel!
and Mary Gray. Later on he removed
all the rubbish. made the grave up double.
and planted shrubs and flowers around
It, and built wall around the spot He
fixed a large stone i in this place bearing
the names OF "Bessy Bell" and Mary
Cray" Later on these names were car
ried from Scotland to Ireland and applied
to two mountains In the County OF ~
rome, near the town Of Omagh; and by
the Scotch.Ir!sh settlers were brought TO
the Valley OF Virginia. Tho old irish
name for Bessy Bell as "sliahh-truin.
which. when translated, means tho
ASSOCIATIONS.
TO show our ancestors cherished the
| association OF their former life in the
old country, another hill Bath county.
Va, on ths -Cowpa tthe Indian mans
of which river was Wallawha toola). near
Windy Coce Church. was called Bsasy
Bell.
It must be confessed that Bessy Bell
and Mary Gray cannot boast Of the cedars
~ fl,ot .a\u 1fH
the excellency OF Carmel. Even the pros.
pect from the higher peak does not fully
| compensate for the toll OF climbing the
rugged ascent. Bessy Bell is no Pisgan.
but OF her 1t may be said emphatlcally'
..Tis distance lends enchantment to the
| And robes the mountain In its azure
hue"
1 OF Rcssy Bell, never see how beautiful
she appears at sunrise. but all OF them
who love the picturesque must have Oh
i served and feasted upon the entrancsaS
beauty sometimes i, resented after
shower OF rain. by the rays OF setting
sun lingering Of u summer evening upon
her leafy summit. And then when the
"Bessy Bell puts her nightcap On" We
see her In another. phase. scarcely less
attractive. Ben Navis and snowden are
doubtless goodly mountains, but what ore
they to Bessy Bell and Mary Gray! No
staunton boy. coming home from his
wanderings. ever falls TO look vut to'
the old familiar hills, and TO ha!l them
at first sight with a feeling akin TO rap1'
COL. JOHN LEWIS.
Col. John Lewis. who very likely named
these two mountains. was naive O
Donegal county, Providence OF Ulster
ireland. and Of Scotch-lrish descent. Es
came to America after bloody ARRAY
with an oppressive landlord IN ireland
AS the story runs. an lrlsh lana!ore
owned the land that was leased to Lewis
and undertook TO eject Lewis IN q lawlesl
. manner. With band at retainers n
repaired to the place. and upon the re
fusai by the tenant to vacate, hred mt
: the house, Killing an invalid brother an
woundIng Lewis wife. Lewis rnsha'
from the house and dispersed his assetl
i ants, but not until after their leader an
! his steward had been killed. After n q on
counter with the irish landlord, Levi
took refuge In an old hOuse on tue parA
; of the Boyne, and embarked on the mrs
ship for America, His VILE later III
followed him to America, Lewis crees
which runs through Staunton. was name
after John Lewis and his grave Whlc
Is now In a d!lap!dated coma tlon' - uea
Stanton on prominent Knoll ana O
the farm formerly owned by him. Ate
furnishing FIVE sons to the American Rev
elutlon. he died on February lst' l7S3' ass
81 years
The following Is a ballad that was con,
posed by an edrnirsr OF the Two glrs
,aboys referred to:
20. Bessy Bell and Mary Cray
They were twa bonnie lasses--
They bsggit bower on yon ourn-oFa'
And theekit over wi rashes
They theeklt It over WI rAshes greer
They happlt 1t round wi heather;
But the pest cam frae tnH burrows
tom.
And slew them bath thestther..,
They thought to lie IN MethyeA h1Fa'
Beside their gentle kin;
But they maun lie In Dronach Aausn'
And baak torment tho sin,
o Bessy Bell and Mary Cray
They were twa bonnie lassss-
They b!gget bower on yon rp-pra'