Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-04
II able 10 afford for their supper,


1866. and the further sum of 10000
promised to give him. bu, the un-
certainty OF my present affairs pre-
vents my fixing on a time of payment.
The above sums arc all 10 he in money
or lands and other effects at the option
OF my said son, John Walker am. sir,
Your humble servant.
THOMAS WALKER.
Colonel Bernard Moore. Esq
tChclsea) in King William:
May IS. 1854.
Dear Sir.-four son, MIR. John Walk
err. applied to me for leave TO make
addresses to my daughter Elizabeth.
/ gave him leave, and told him AT the
same time that my affairs were in such
la state that It was not in my power
to pay him all the money this year tina,
i intended TO give my daughter pr
ridcd he succeeded, but. would give him
50of more as soon after as could raise
or get the money. which sums you may
depend | will most punctually pay 10
him. / am. sir,
Your humble servant.
BERNARD MOORE.
To Mr.. Thomas Walker.
castle HID. Albcmarlc County, Va:
Two mOnarchs in land pleading pow
erty tn each other, and in Virginia's
plcnitude frs. before the American
Revolution.
I II was up TO young John to give to
, Miss Elizabeth that to which she had
been accustomed. Elizabeth lived at
Chelsea, splendid in its space and his
tory as Castle Hill. Young John. eldest
son of the house. no doubt had made
several journeys 10 Chelsea. over the
road to Richmond--busy with motor
cars nOw-thence TO Chelsea. as one
now goes 10 West Point but few
miles distant.
II is interesting 10 link these great
I -,
tell what fortune life brought TO John
Walker. eldest son of Castle Hill, let
us find out something of the home of
Elizabeth Moore.
Chelsea stands in King william
County, upon the Mattaponi. Outside
Of the State in which IL stands, Chelsea
is scarcely known. yet in it's stately,
sombre beauty il is still witness of
the pomp and powe. OF the Virginia
artist ocracy.
In the early seventeenth century
Austin Moore came from England to
Virginia, and took up a principality
on the Mattaponi River, which wriggles
like q huge blue snake between the
counties of King William and King and
Queen This principality Austin Moore
called Chelsea.
He was onc of the first colonsts to
find out that a II" is the best shape
: for Southern country house, and Chel-
sea. with its broad front and long tail
was always considered one of the most
comfortable homes in Virginia. 1t had
the priceless blessing Of ample sun
shine and good ventilation.
The great puzzle of colonial archi-
lecture is the absence OF porches. Chel-
sea in the time of the Moores had only
one porch; subsequent owners added
another on the side.
Through the small porch. at the
front, one enters the royal hall at
Chelsea with large doors opening right
and left. and 4 door just opposite the
front door The door to the right leads
to one of the most spacious drawing
rooms in .America-forty feet square,
with TWO large windows each side, with
the historic window seats. and large
window in each recess" of the wide
chimney piece The walls of this SPLEEN
did room were lined in the old days
with life sized portraits OF the English
and American branches of the family.
The door, opposite the front door. at
the beginning Of the tail OF the IT.
led 10 spacious apartment called the
saloon. II was delightful sitting
room. with two windows each side and
doors also on each side, giving TO the
green sweep Of lawn. a small side pas
sage led from this saloon to the dining
room and a smaller room affectionately
called The study" Each room OF this
old mansion had a sweep of air straight
AT the tip of the tail OF the t. had
doors opening TO the windows OF the
passage just referred TO.
The large room, on the left of the
entrance hall and opposite the draw
ing room, was the state chamber. the
peculiar p rivilege of the master and
mistress OF Chelsea. Above were the
nurseries and the guest chambers each
with a closet or dressing room.
Cedar trees were features of the i'm
mense lawn or park These gave a
soberer mien 70 the forest trees which
is. still the old fashioned garden. and
, back OF the garden the graveyard
where the Moores sleep their last sleep.
Cape myrtles and other indomitao!e
shrubs adorn the wastes OF TINS colo
NAL garden. laid of in vegetable
SQUARES. with flower borders on all
four sides.
Hoes and a plenty of black and will
Ing hands made these old gardens
veritable poems-they are tattered re
QUEENS now 10 a dead Civilizations
Chelsea formerly, was proud with
thousands of acres; now much OF its
glory OF wood and field has been Topped
off. for Virgirians did not give up the
home" without a struggle. and fenced
of the final relinquishment by selling
edges OF the estate, until finally the
stranger awaited himself of the owners
necessity, and bought the mansion with
the acres that have been retained.
II takes a hundred years TO make
lawn as we'll as gentleman, but the
lawn lasts longer perhaps in the face
fadversity. Certain it is that the
hand of time seems but TO increase the
velvet softness of the Chelsea lawn:
and the old trees defy the winds that
rage from the windings of the Malta
poni. II touches the river with its YER
dure or crowns the red bluffs against
which the river beats.
The little steamboats, that crawl up
and down the tortuous river touch
daily at the Chelsea Wharf, and the
family can see the smoke hours ana
hours before. as the steamer Zig2aSs
around and around the marshes
where the sora live or better, die.
Like a somher psalmist Chelsea Will
ever he a witness to the end of an
era. the romance of PICTURESQUE past