The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-20

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In the NnppnhannocI< vallcy-snntcs
In q lato issue we asked for some
facts about Santee. and return CRATE
full thanks to tho mistress OF that
beautiful homo for the Invaluable data
sho has given us.
II all the homes OF which wo have
written could have this personal touch,
what contribution we would be max
| Ing to Virginia We ask all who have
to como and help US; to follow the
example OF the mistress OF Santee and
draw real picture OF their old homes
Santce, tho beautiful homo OF the
Cord ons. In Caroline county, Is on the
south bank OF the 1,appahannock Riv-
or, and very near to Bcllevedere and
Moss Neck. the old places OF which we
have recently written. Tho property
has been In the family for over zoo
years. coming through. the Battailes
and Fitzhughs to tho Gordons.
The original tract Of about 5000
acres. was known as "Ilintshiro," and
the residence was on the river front.
Tho first dato which is preserved IS d
deed conveying moro land to John
Battailc from Samuel Prossor, In 17a2.
This John Battailo married Sarah Ia
liaferro. and their tomb at Flintstlre
Is dated 1873 Their only child. Sarah.
married Henry t3) Fitzhugh, OF Bed.
ford. King George county, IN 174s. (He
was grandson Of Colonel VIM. Fitz-
hugh. OF Bedfordshire. England. who
came TO this country with Lord Fair
fax. and married Sarah Tucker in
1910 This union was blessed with
fourteen sons and daughters. viz:
Henry (4). married Elizabeth Buckncr
stith; John (D Battaile. unmarricd;t
VIM. CD married, first. Elizabeth Ded-
man, second, Ann DigEes; Geo. (l,
married Sarah Digges: Nicholas (4),
married Sally Ashton, niece Of General
Washington; Battnile (4). married
Elizabeth Taliaferro; Richard az. mar
ried Nancy Meade: Cooke az. married
Elizabeth Fitzhugh: Giles (4), unmar-
ried; Islliafcrro (4). unm arried: Sarah
Cd, married Colonel Theodorick Bland;
Mary ca, married Colonel Jno. Stuart:
Susanna %. married Townsend Dade.
The parents OF this largo family
were fond of travelling about In their
coach and four. to the springs In sum-
mer and to visit their children who had
married and scattered throughout vir-
GINA, at other seasons. In visiting
their son, Nicholas, who lived in Fair
fay, they always spent tho night at
Mt. Vernon, being intimate with the
Washfngtons. On one occasion old
Reuben. tho driver, who never left his
coach. day or night, was suddenly dis
turbed about daybreak by a great fuss
at the stables.
He ran down to find the general"
having one Of his young servants
chnstised.
John az Battaile Fftzhugh inher-
tied Flintshire. and died an old bach
elor. leaving the property to his
brother, Battaile az, who married
Elizabeth Taliaferro, of Rose HILL,
Orange county. In 1904. The homes
on the river were not thought healthy
in those days. and on one occasion Mr..
Fitzhugh and his brother Giles rode
through the beautiful old forest on
the fslopinE hills to seek q. location for
n summer house. They were most
happy In their selection, and this was
the beginning OF Santee. for upon the
hills summer house was erected. So
pleased were they with the hills that
Flintshire was soon forsaken, and a
rooms. two large halls and beautiful
winding staircase. was built, with the
summer house In the rear. Here con-
tinued the old-time hospitality, the
favored guests being tho Bishops OF
tho Episcopal Church. on their way to
Port Royal.
The only child Of Battaile (4) and
Elizabeth Tallaferro Fltzhugh was
Patsy (6) Julia Dedman. She married
Samuel Gordon. of Kenmore, in 1926.
1t Is said that when he asked Mr..
tfrk, 4,
daughter then in her teens that he
was very thoughtful for quite a while.
and then said: Mr.. Gordon, you may
have my child. but you cannot take
her from Santee," Thus came the first
Gordon to this property Hc had been
! educated In England and was n school
mate and friend of tho afterwards
celebrated Gladstone.
Samuel Gordon sprang from the good
old Gordons. OF Scotland. The earliest
OF the mama that we know was Rich
| Gordon, in Merse. prior to 11S0. Other
Gordons that figure In history are
Bertram OF Gordon, Whose arrow t
Chalons. In 1899. wounded Richard
OF England. Adam was gent ny Alex
ander III. with Louis Of France. to
Palestine, where he was killed. His
son, sir Adam, the first Of Hnntly. IS
tho ancestor OF al the Gordons OF
Scotland. and was killed at Halidon
Hill.
| a paper n@&sshhtt-1Se filled with the VAL
orous deeds OF these old Gordons, but
space forhids. The Gordon coat OF
arms Ia a shield, divided in four parts:
ltl1 Three wild boars's heads, (2) three
lions heads. ts) crescents, (4) stars.
THE whole Is supported nv two lions.
ISThe word Bvhand rAngl o Saxon, to
abide and endured Is across the top Of
the whole coat. while the motto, "Ani-
mo non Astntia tbv wisdom, not by
craft. is underneath, Sir James 81 :,
!, Gordon of Lochinyar. IN h4o; marrled
margaret crichton. or KIlpatric who
was descended from, Lord Kenmuir
Their son., John (2),5was OF Isochlnvar
and Kenmore, the last named place
l4evidently coming from his maternal
ancestor. We can't find tn o name O (
lhis wife. but from old papers. No thinks
she must have sbeen n pouglass,g
Ills son Samuel <ol married Alafza