Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-10-14
Last Survivor of House Mountain
Tragedy Passes Away
Gasetfe Co,resboNdeNee

/
Tragedy Passes Away
Gazette Co,vesboNdeHee f~
CoLLIERsrowN, Oct. II, 100
The cold hand of death ha
again been laid on our com munit,
and two of our aged friends ant
neighbors have been summoned T.
the grave.
Mrs. Rachel Reynolds departed
this life October 8. 1908, at tn
home of her daughter, Mrs.. Johl
M. Knick. Mrs. Reynolds was il
her 18th year and the widow o.
Mr.. James Reynolds who dice
many years ego. Her nader
name was Pettigrew and she wal
the only surviving member Of the
Pettigrew family that was suppos'
ed to have been murdered on the
House Mountain on the eventful
night of December II, 1846. when
mother and five children were
found grouped in death crouched
around the smoking embers OF
their burnt home. Rachel was abb
sent from home at the time visit
ing.
Mrs. Reynolds was a woman of
many fine qualities, and died In
the fear of the Lord. Her only
two daughters, Mrs. J. M. Knick
and Mrs. Samuel Knick, survive
her. Rev. w. w. Wood of the
Baptist church preached the fun
eral at Collierstown where she was
laid to rest.
An account of the tragedy, as
published in The LEXINGTON GA
zETTE OF December 81, 1848, is as
follows:
1.-THE feeling of this community
was never more severely shocked
than when, few days since, 1t
was announced that mother and
five children were found within a
few feet Of the ashes of their
home, cold and stiff in death. The
name of the family was Petticrew.
They removed to the county about
two years since, from Campbell.
They were once in easy and pros
porous circumstances, but mis-
fortune had stripped them of their
all and they sought and found an
humble home in the mountains of
Rockbridge. No one could be with
them long without discovering that
they had seen better days, and
they soon gained for themselves
the respect and sympathy of all
the virtuous and good who made
their acquaintance.
"Mr; John Pettlcrew, the hus-
band and father of this unfortu-
nate family, was absent soTe miles
from home, pursuing his weekly
toll, and ewing to the deep fall of
snow which occurred on Wednes.
day night, did not, as was his
custom, seek his home on Saturday
night, but deferred it until Sab
bath morning. When within q
few hundred yards of the fatal
spot, as the writer is informed. he
picked up on the snow half burnt
sheet of paper, which he immedi-
ately recognized as belonging to
himself. Fears were at once ex
cited, and with trembling heart
he FASTENED on to see -whether thu
tale this half-burnt sheet had told
him were true. He soon cav Il e
,himney. ont the house was gone.
A few steps more brought him in
sight of the lifeless remains of his
wife and children. They were ~
ng near each other and from ten
10 fifteen feet from the ashes of
heir dwelling. What must have
1een the feelings of the husband
md father with such a scene be-
ore him
cit is generally believed that the
burning occurred on Wednesday /
light, the night of the big storm.
The house was seen on Wednes-
lay, and no traces discoverable in |
he snow to tell that it happened |
lfter the storm. The house was
ituated between the two House |
Mountains, and within three or
our hundred yards of another, but
lot within sight. Mr.. Petticrew
vas himself the first to discover
his awful calamity and his sad
1.-THE dead bodies were removed
o the house of Mr.. William Will
on where an inquest was held by
he coroner, Mr.. Samuel R. Moore,
N Monday, The verdict in the
ase of Mary Ann-the wife and
in substance, that
he came to her death by violence
-uhathar aocidohtal mr. inAictad
y the hand of some person un-
.nown, is not ascertained. A
Tound was discovered on the side
f her forehead and extending be-
ird the ear, as if inflicted by q
low from a stick. Marks OF vio-
snce were discovered also on her
hroat, knees and legs"
Mr.. Hugh Taylor Robson of
l,>h,. l;oI IN MnoIov n.fnko.