The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-02-19

~ hioSSAAS lhbSlSo ~ AiOuLI
Vernon and Monticello. This
interest lies largely in the fact that it
was the home of Martha Jefferson
Randolph (the daughter of Thomas
Jefferson) and her husband, Governor
Thomas Mann Randolph, one of Vir-
ginia's ahlest governors, writes Alma
Turner Phelps in Town and Country.
The original grant was patented from
the crown of England by William Ran
dolph early in 100 and contained 1000
acres. Edgehill crowns a hilltop and
nestles in a grove Of magnificent old
trees that stretch out on either side
of the porch like great arms and frame
a wonderful view over the Piedmont
valley, looking across to Carter's
mountain, upon the summit of which
stands Monticello Otalian for little
m%ountain), the home of Thomas Jeffer-
son, which can be plainly seen on a
clear day.
"Punch Bowl Tract"
Adjoining this tract of land Peter
Jefferson, the father of Thomas Jeffer-
son, obtained a patent for a thousand
acres and named it Shadwell for the
parish in England where his wife was
born. Not having a good building site
for his house and wishing to be near
his friend and neighbor, William Ran
dolph gave him 400 acres of his estate,
Edgehill. The purchase price as named
in the deed was Henry Weather
bourne's largest punch bowl of arrack
punch" For that reason this particu-
= lar place is still known as the punch
q bowl tract" 8 .
, William ~Randolph's son, Thomas
Mann. settled at Edgehill in 1857 and
oon after he married Martha Jeffer-
on. Thomas Jefferson speaks Of his
son-in-law in an old letter as "a man
of science, sense and virtue, in whom
| have nothing more to wish" and feel
ing as he did, he wished to have his
daughter and son live near his home.
An extract from an old letter, written
by Jefferson in 1871, says: 81 hope
Randolph's idea Of settling near Mon
ticello will gain strength and no other
settlement in the meantime be decided
upon. / wish some ~expedient be de-
vised for settling him at Edgehill."
Thomas Jefferson is said to have
planned Edgehill and it vas built by
the same workmen as the buildings Of
the University of Virginia.
The estate obtained it's name from a
field near the village Of Edgehill, in
Warwickshire, England, where the
Cavaliers under Charles I. first crossed
swords with the Roundheads. The
Randolphs come to this country from
Warwickshire in 1861, soon after this
event. 1t is said that the view from
the present Edgehill much resembles
that Of its English namesake. The JEFF
Persons and the Randolphs we're very
neighborly, Jefferson spending much
OF his time at the Randolph home.
Old Tulip Trees.
There is a quaint old cottage imme-
diately back of Edgehill. 1t is said
that it stood originally on the site
OF the present mansion and had been
removed back. Between the two
houses there are several huge, mis-.
shapen old tulip trees, towering over.
head and leaning In a threatening
manner This is the explanation: The
cottage was moved ove the trees
when they were mere twigs. Mrs
Randolph loved trees and was a we'll
known horticultural. The old-fash
toned garden still remains. where PEG
MES, English violets end lilies of the
valley bloom l~uxuriantly. The old for
NAL garden is at the side of the house
as is also the vegetable garden, which
is bordered by Towering shrubs. Or
every side are evidences of out-of-dool
life which characterizes the southern
AsS7e. 49,"
Edgehill is well arranged; a larg'
drawing room and library on n sid,
of the hall. which runs the entir,
length. of the hossss: on the other sid
the morning room and dining room
The morning room is particularly al
itractive. for In this room Is the ez
-.;x~ Vs~Ig-u $1,000 -,arhlA vonrfol