The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-08-20

Marble Tablet Presented TO the
County BY the RennOldS
Family.
MOST INTERESTING OCCASION
Speech of Rev. Paul Rennolds-
Crosses Of Honor Presented Other
Pleasing Addresses.

Monday WAS an eventful day in the
history OF Wright LatAne lamp OF Con
federate Veterans of Essex county. II
was dag when the camp met to honor
the memory of its dead eX-COmmBnder
Capt. Albert Rennolds, who served with
gallantry a. Captain OF the Doth Va
Regiment during the war from 1861 to
1868, and siuce that time, up 20 less than
a year ago. beloved and honored as a
citizen by the people Of his county On
the walls of the cOurt-hOufe at Tappa-
hammock hang over hundred portraits
and tablets 20 the dead sons OF Essex.
They are memorials 10 men distinguished
i'm affairs of county, State and nation in
the past. Some OF them occupied posi-
tiOns and have left names that will live
~ long rs the nation a. legislators,
jurists aud warriors. Ii is ia gallery that
the people of the county are proud OF
The conception OF the idea OF collecting
this gallery originated with Judge /. K
b Wright He had willing hands 20 a.
sist him. The members of his camp and
the fair women OF EsseX went to work
and today they have reward OF which
they are Justly proud
10 this collection the Rennolis family
added handsome marble tablet Mon
day.
II bore these Inscriptions:
In MemOriRm.
John RennOlds. Emigrant, lI40, .
Stbreshley Rennolds, Captain in RayOIu
- f.f l.
Sheriff Old Court.
VIM. y. Rennolds, Captain Virginia
Militia.
Albert R.nnolds. Captain 10 Texas ReyO
luton, on staff of Gen Houston.
Henry : Rennolds, NJ. d., Surgeon L. S
Navy.
Robert b. RennOlds, NJ. D., Noted Sur
geon and Physician.
Albert Bennolds. C S. A., Captain Co. F
jjth Va. Regt., Surveyor end
Educator.
This Tablet is Erected by the Circuit
Court of Essex County Through the
Generosity Of Friends.
The Rennolds family had hOnOred rep
rppentatives to make the presentation.
KeY. Paul Rennolds, chaplain l. S Navy,
was-the chief actor. lie II a son Of the
late Dr Henry s. Rennolds. The other
members were Alderman Robert b. Rem
nolds. OF the city Of Richmond, and his
son, Otway RennOlds
The courthouse had been decorated by
the fair women a Essex, and Confeder.
ate fagH and beautiful flowers showed
from eYefy vantage point, When Judge
Wright called the meeting TO order the
building waI filled and over a hundred
gray haired veterans mingled with pret-
Is girls and staid matrons, nearly all
wives, widows or descendants oi those
who wore the gray"
He made a short speech fitting 20 the
occasion. Rev, III. H. Barber, OF Fred
next delivered the invocation.
The tablet was then unveiled, A large
choir led by Capt A. F. Bagby sang
America, in which the audiance joined.
Judge Wright introduced Rev, Paul Rem.
nolds, who spoke as follows:
REV. PAUL REYNOLDS ADDRESS.
think the first words utter on this,
70 ue. mOmentous occasion should be
words Of thanks. We thank you honor
able gentlemen Of the bench, we thank
the noble people OF this great county
whom you represent for the great honor
YOU bestOW upon us by allowing us to
place the names OF our ancestors side by
side with the names OF men who have
been the pride Of their state, the glory OF
their country. With Joy we can Say that
the favor is not altogether inappropri-
ate, for to him whose name is second on
the tablet is due the possession of all the
records you have In this courthouse up
TO the war Of 1912 When the American
troops retreated before the English from
20 Pigeon Hill, 1t was
found that all the papers, records and
other documents had been left behind.
sthreshley RennOlds volunteered to re.
turn for them. On his faithful stPed,
"Cricket," be rode to TAppAhannOek,
obtained the papers, put them on his
horse. and in the face Of the fire of the
enemy made his way back to the bmeri.
can camp. | hesitate 20 continue, for
fain would have Others sing the praises
of nv ancestors, and yet feel that the
occasion demnndB that | give q short
history OF each whose name is written
ON that tablet In order to show cause
for their presence there.
About the year 1740 John and Robert
RennOlds, gentlemen of England ,emigrst-
ed to this country and settled In Lonisa
county. About ten years later John
RennOlds came to Essex, and here ne
courtsd and won the widow Lafon, the
daughter of Mr.. SthreshIey, and took up
his residence at Rockland, the old Sthresh-
lev plantation. TO them were born two
sons, one OF whom was Sthreshley Rem
nolds. sthreshley Rennolds early In life
became prominent in the affairs OF Essex
county. When our revolution broke out,
although mere boy, he hastened to
answer the patriots call. lie fought
in all the campaigns in Virginia, was
soon raised to the rank OF captain, and
at the seige of Yorktown was on the
staff of the valiant Lafayette. After the
happy termination OF the revolution he
returned to Rockland, and Essex county
appoiuted him gentleman justice and
sheriff Of the court. The military spirit
WAS still In him and he became captain
of the Virginia Militia. When the war
of 1912 broke out he again hastened to
the call of his country, and was soon
promoted for gallantry. After the war
he was made one OF the presidential
electors Ct Virginia, which place he filed
until his death in 1922.
William Dsngerfield Rennolds was the
second son of Sthreshly Rennolds. He
Inherited the military spirit OF his father,
and at the age OF twenty-thfee we find
him Captain OF the Virginia Militia, then
as today, one Of the best military organ
izations OF the country. Dying at the
age Of twenty. seven, he had no chance to
display the military genius that was in
him.
Albert RennOlds was the third son o
S hreshley Rennolds. Albert migrate!