The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-18

Several grants arc now taken by
those whose names are faded from
either the book OF remembrance or
recorded fact. Perhaps they are writ
ten upon a. page which time cannot
Grace. OF John Livingston. who took
up grant in 1853, we gave all that
could be found In former plper.
All that is left of John SpInks Is
his queer epltanh on. n battered tomb
In Gloucester. Here Is the cpitaph:
Here lies the body OF Iohn Spinks.
He died from taking too many drinks:
Let the stranger, pa use whenever he
or the very sad fate OF John Spinks."
Thomas Conko took tp hand In i7i3
He was son Of that distinguished
old Mordecai--that historic fox
hnnter-who promised to marry m
imported maid. but when the ship. was
in sight MordecaI was fast In tho
chase, and he sent a friend racing to
Jamestown, with the request to the
ships captain to "batten the matches
till theNred fox wns caught" THIS
hunstman and planter, by name
Mordccai Cooke, must have had per-
sonal power, for the hatchos were
hattened (trndition saith and the red
fox caught before the maids were led
forth for their romantic auction.
Mordecais choice tradition FUR
ther afflrms) was red haired Icwcss
loan Constable. her namc-and for
her staunch MordccaI gave twice the
weight of tobacco which the other
maids received
The red haired girl proved a good
wife and mother and Mr.. Thomas was
her sou. Perhaps lie Inherited his
mothers courage, for courage she
must have had to sail the sea for
lover. and that beauty which some-
times goes with a head of gold. This
mingled with his fathers masterrul
behavior and physical strength.
should have made ot Thomas, a first,
class citizen. and we think II did
This distinct Mordccni whose per-
sonality time cannot blur, was n flrm
friend or Sir william 3erkelcy. and
his land grant TAX eli up In 1860 III
clided tho present interesting old
house standing near Ware Church and
known as Churchhill perhaps the only
place held III the family for u period
Of $50 years. III is quaint struc-
tnrc, standing amidst smiling folds
and towering trees. and hallowcd by
romance and ghosts. 4 place Of
memorial dinners. Of fascinating balls,
Of high living nnd high Thinking. and
for tho last hfty ycnrs and moro. Il
bachelors lnll. For many years Ii was
LHeiu tDy- Spr. w iIlaM Ia liaf erro,
prince OF elegance and fine breeding.
known on TWO continents. His way
with the women was irrcsistible Int
one alone had his heart and her OK
1uislte miniature ne kent guarded hyi
lock and key, only 10 meet tho pro-
fame gaze Of any other hut himself
when his hand WAS rowerlass'
The older VlrgInlans of his sacred
circle can guess whose beautiful face
WAS repeated In the miniature.
Churchhil Is now owned by another
bachelor. ncfl,cw TO Tie other Chess
terticldian gentleman The present
owner is James Lyons. Taliaferro. Esq.
son Of thesiatc General \. lillian Booth
Taliaferro and Sally Lyons. his wife.
K Churchhil has been II place OF hos
pliality and case during his owner
ship.
This is the way Tic ullo rims:
Mordecai Cooke first owned Il; cXuctly
TO whom he left II Is not known, butt
worked around to his daughter,
Frances, who married Gabriel Throck-
morton IN 1890. This Frances (o) 4
Cooke Throckmorton Ind son. 2o-
bert az, who married Sarah Smith. OF
Shooters Hin. IN MiddlcscN, aud no
bert go had a son, We rner - .Throck-