The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-04
mrs. PEYTON DIES AT
THE AGE OF NINETY-F0UR
One Of the Most Prominent and
Remarkable Women of
Her Day.
Especial to The Times-Dlspatch.,

Especial to The Times Dlspatch)
THE PLAINS, VA, June 3.-The entirc
community of this section have met q
loss in the death OF Mrs. Nannette Lee
Peyton. at her horne, "Yelverton," May
Hst, in the ninety-fourth year of her
age. This lady was one OF the most
remarkable women Of her day. Her age
in itself was unusual, but to have lived
her long life and preserved her strength
and activity, her usefulness and won
,derful faculties of mind to the end OF
her days., and to have lived a life of
such high purpose and SO full of love to
4 God and man as to leave Il record from
childhood UP, OF as near perfection as Is
ever attained. Is unusual, indeed.
She came Of long line OF iuustrious
ancestry. Her father was the eminent
lawyer, General Walter Jones. of Wash
ington, D. c.. and she was the grand
daughter OF DR.. Walter Jones, of Hay
Field. Lancaster county. the talented
physician OF the Northern Neck. who was
also the statesman who was several
times sent to Congress from that dis
trict.
Her mother was Ann Lucinda Lee, the
daughter of Charles Lee, Attorney-Gen-i
8eral under Washington and the first
Adams. The wife Of Charles Lee was
his cousin. Nancy. the daughter Of Rich
ard Henry Lee, the Revolutionary patri-
&
great deeds, made the famous motion IN
Congress- on June 10, 1776:
..That these United Colonies are, and
OF right ought to be free and inde-
pendent States"
He was appointed to write the Declar-
alton of independence. but was called
home the same day Uune 10TH by AS1ess
in his family in Virginia, and that great
honor so richly deserved by Richard
Henry Lee devolved on Thoma 8 Jefferson.
Mr.. Lee, however. (being chairman of the
committee appointed for thn piirpose) fur
nished the commission and Instructions
to General Washington when he was In
vested with the command Of the army.
Mrs. Peyton was born in Washington In
1872 and in her childhood and early
youth was constantly In the society Of
such men as Webster. Clay, Calhoun.
Francis Scott Key. William Writ and
others, her fathers friends and associ-
atcs In law, who frequented his home.
'.These were giants In those days.
In 1893 she married. DR.. Robert Eden
4 Peyton, of Gordon's Dale, Fanquier coun-
f ty, Va This old colonial place, still the
most beautiful home In that section, had
been created n perfect paradise by gem
eratlons Of her husbands family, and
here Mrs Peyton lived almost tho whole
or her married life, making tho old home
each day more sacred and sweet With
her presence.
AtDr. r. f. Peyton was the nephew OF
Judge John Scott. of lakewood, and Mr..
r. e. Scott was his first cousin. DR..
Peyton's successful and extensive prac-
tice of medicine did not prevent or ex-
clude other duties; he was the devoted
Christian the warm and cordial host, the
must sought friend Of all. Gordon's Dale
was the center of hospitality, and it's
mistress, by her gracious sweetness and
una ffected loneliness, won the admiration
of all classes. So widespread was the
knowledge Of the loving kindness and
charity Of her husband and herself that
their home became the gathering place
for. the poor and the distressed who
were certain Of receiving all#they asked,
| There were many instances where the
very poor and homeless abode with them
| for months and even years. n room In an
clubhouse being often used for that pur-
pose. It was Mrs. Peyton's happiness
and JOY to minister to others.
| Some years after the war DR.. PeytonE
| sold Gordons Dale to General Benja-
min Huger and built Yelverton He died
| soon after, and his widow has since re-
| sided at ''Yelverton. New years new
graces did create" and in her latter
days Instead Of being weakened by the
weight Of years the strength and beau
ty OF her character was intensified, AMI
to the end she was the chief happiness
Of her family and the blessing OF all
around her. igs
Mrs. Peyton leaves 500, Mr., Robert
Eden Peyton, and three daughters. two
grandsons and five granddaughter
She was buried ut "Gordon's Dade, !"
beside her husband. "Gordon's Dale" is
now the property OF Mr. A. Walton
Fleming, of Washington. D. c.