The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-17

day. and tho young leaves on the ban,-
boo made tho red bluffs OF the Wero-
comoco very green and cheerful. Tho
little bay was full OF little boats, and
shafts OF evening light shot across In
many colorcd spears. Our little boat
landed ut the foot OF tho blum on
which stood tho chimney. Thero was
n rock on tho beach. and we were told
That Is tho rock on which John
smiths head was laid when Pocahontas
saved him.. Mind you. our venerable
klnsman and guide said. That IA the
rock not that IL probably the rock"
aud we took his words az truth VIC
climbed tho hill sweet with cloyersand
hcheld tho abnormal chimney. and
again we were told. This Is Powhn-
tan's chimney. Hero Pocahontac dselt.
Wonder is the spring from which she
drank. There Is the wood from which
she ran with her maidens. decked with
flowers apd stays honls!' This posi-
two declaration left an unfadine pic
tnrc on our minds. We saw the res
cue on the banks Of Werocomoco.
We heard the " eird cadences of tho
savage song; we saw tho pale victim,
the litho form OF the Indian maiden
dying to save tho New Worlds hero.
We saw the rescue there--not at Pur-
ton. not At Shelly. and there we see
the York River, this IS the best-the
very cream of her tradition. The
monuments on the York now arc a
few names and few houses. AS one
sweeps down tho river an ancient
landmark in he forth OF some grim
pics which once supported Cappa-
hoosic Wahcf comes into view. This
name proves Indian possession long,
long ago. 1t Is no longer used as
n m In
below. Is n suggestive name. too, for
1t Is the original Now Bottle. the home
or Robert Portus, father of Beilby
Portucs Bishop OF Chester, and later
OF London.
# Is below Clay Bank that the nrss
recorded grant on York River was
situated. This grant was given by
the King in 1919 to Stephen Glfl. 1t
consisted of $500 acres, north side OF
York River. near Roosevelt Creek, and
may be founed in York land books
Mr. Gil most probably never lived on
It. as no represented York county IN
the House Of Burgesscs in 1862. Per.
haps the York records might also re-
veal tho names of his wife and cht,-
drcn. but otherwise they are not avail
able.
Away over in northumberland we
find a Thomas Gill, whose will was
probated In 1901 Ho had William,
Thomas, Dinah. susannah. Robinson
and Frances Waddington. Thomas
Gill probably. TIL. son diod In 1889.
The mention of Roosevelt Creek in
the 1912 grant is interesting. Rose
woll is tho historic nnme of tho old
Page castle on the ork, now owned
by Mrs. Fielding LOWS Taylor. The
origin of the name Is unknown. bu.
evidently 1t was the namc OF locality
long before tho Pages owned It. The
name has long been used. as a bap-
tismal name by the Pages.
Matthew Page. tho first OF the name
TO live at Roosevelt, was not born until
1869. His wife was Mary Mann, OF
Very probably Roosevelt was a part
of her inheritance and the original
grant to her father, but this is nero
gucsswork. However. the point is that
Roosevelt appears to have been n name
before the Pages lived there.
1t Is Il wonderful old place. Probably
no house In Virginia had such lordly
dimensions. Now 1t Is shorn of i'm
mcnso wings and underground pass
ageways, and many other accessories,
but 1t is big enough. Tho hall, with
its high fireplace and great stairway,
wide enough for eight abreast, Is his
toric. The rooms arc immense; tho
view fine, and they say that Thomas
Jefferson wrinklcd has broad brow and
rumplcd hts red hair as no wrestlod
with tho Declaration OF Independence
at this very Roosevelt. It Is a time
worn castle. always too big for conf
fort. and requiring more money than
tho various owners had to keep IL UP,
but 1t is a relic of princcly living.
Matthew Page had son, Mann, who
was left n nero boy with a great for
tune. Ho commenced the present
Roosevelt house In 1875 and was Ave
years a-bulldlng. lie built three
stories and q basement, and left tho
house somewhat unfinished at his
death. His widow finished 1t, and his
son. Mann (s), inherited 1t The keep
Ing of such an establishment was
drain upon him, but h, left 1t to his
oldest son, Governor John Page, who
died In 1908. Rosewoll r :mained in
tho family until 1898, when 1t was
sold for $4,000 to Thomas B. Booth
lie. 1t is Eald Ind God forgive him II
Inc did), whitewashed rhc mahogany
wainscoted walls, and took the lead
from the roof and sod 1t. Tho roof
was fiat and held n fish pond. Why.
when tho York River was so near2
MIR. Booth sold $4,000 worth OF tim
Der from tho estate and then sold the
"nolo plantatlon 10 NlC- 'iaOD Catlott
for $4,000. Mr.. Catlett again had no
tasto for ancient splendor. He tore
down the wainscoting altogether, sold
the cedar trees and disposed of the
bricks around the graveyard. in which
to-day stand tho princely Pnge tomb
stones, broken and fallen to the
ground VIII no con or daughter of
the house arise and restore them?
In 1855 Josiah L. Deans bought
Roosevelt and his daughter Is Mrs.
FRlding Lewis Taylor, tho mis-
tress of the place. If one wants 4
comprehensive and wonderful recital
OF the Roosevelt mansion and it's first
masters, tho Pages, and It's subsequent
owners. Mrs, Taylor Is the authority
from which to obtain it, From the
roof at Roswell the eve reaches to
the Nelson House at York, and five
Of GoHernor PAGES children married