The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-17
4 Places of Interest
Around Fl an1pto11I

1lditor Of The Times Dispatch:
Sir,--lSecoughton. now Hampton, hns
many places OF historical events that
VIII Interest visitors who Will come
hero, during tho Jamestown Terccn-
tennlnl. N Il
Tho residence OF Mr.. John 81 Lake,
gat@ thehwharf. was the old time tavern
lSopt by the Cary family. 1t was built
IN sl780, and tho walls stood the fro
In 1861, when tho town was burned,
and the woodwork. Which had been
burncd, was rebuilt about ono year
later. It was here that tho great ship
builder George llohe, met Mrs. Mere
dith, and afterwards married her. He
was employed by the Clyde Company
ana persuaded his firm to establish
q ship-yard hero. lie also established
the Marine Hospital on Locust Street
near the Old Eagle Tavern. Tho Hicks
family had ship-yard at Pec-Dee
and were building three vessels when
the British captured tho town, in 1914.
III Vessels We're burned on tho ways.
Alton, the home Of Mr.. Segar Whit
Ing. was called Tho C,lebe, and owned
by BENJAMIN Syms, who established
tho stapublic school in America.
Ivy Home, tho residence OF Mr.. ID. H..
Cock, was whore Colonel Woodford,
with his srinemen,i defeated Captain
Squlres, Of the English fleet, in June,
~ 76.$ h Just below Ivy Home. at tho
mouth Of the river, Is BlaclSbeard's5
< lsland----so called because when that
celebrated pirate was Killed his head
was put on "a pole at the entrance OF
the harbor MS u warning to others
Above Ivy Home is the residence OF
Captain Frank Darling, ~ now. called
: sc dar Point. 1t was here that the
American army was encamped In 1914,
commanded by Major Crutchfleld.
From this, point Lieutenant Parker,
with his twelve pound Howitzers re-
forced them to land at Simpsons, and
take the Americans in flank. Across
the river from Blacl1bcard's Island Is
the National Soldiers Home, once
called Fort Fields. 1t was here that
Lieutenant Holtcraft. of the English
army, built two forts-Charles and
5Fdenry--to protect the settlement from
tho Dutch and Spanish in 1612
The Home, with its trees, lawn.
library, theatre and hospital buildings,
will be u place of interest to visitors
this year Across from tho Home Is
the beautiful National Cemetery, with
Its 5000 Union and Southern dead. Old
St,tsJohn's Church will take up some
Of the time Of visitors.
3 There is not much doubt but that
our early settlers We're located on tho
east side Of Hampton River so as. to
keep the river between; themselves. anu
Indians. When the town on the west
sido was laid off 1t was in a bow-and-
arrow shape SO the settlers could have
three roads to retreat from In case Of
an attack by tho Indians.
Our early settlers were required to
plant seven mulberry trees each year,
so that the leaves would furnish food
for the silkworm. Some OF these trees
are still standing. but tho mosttof
them were cut down during the Civil
War. The famous old landmark,
Three Pines" have Disappeared
tho stumps arc left. One could look
from them up the James or Elizabeth
River, or down to the Capes and up
Chesapeake Bay.
It was at these Three Pines" tho
British landed in 1914, and took the
Americans in flank and captured the
town. It was here that the pirate
crew Of Captain Teddy landed in 1882
to escape arrest. They were captured
and hanged in Richmond. The old
captain cut his throat after his crew
deserted him. He was. buried on Old
Point Beach.
GEO. r. WOOD.