Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-24
, a III ~
Genealogical Notes,
Queries and Answers
n""res" all communications tn
Genealogical Editor, The .t.,,,.
Dispatch.
rrc.twould and the >,<,,,,,,,.


one of the most interesting f,niIios
Q! virginia is the Skipwith family The
"'" MOI come over from England very
carly. put "hcn they came their so.
V'"i position ana worldly goods In,
tnediatcly made them lcadiur. ci;izr.,.
En- route to Virginia ,hov s,omn.j
~ me West Indies and when th.y
| started 10 Virginia IL is said M,
,hcN brought with them enough slaves
10 work the great tracts OF land winch
they took up in Virginia
IN M"ckienhurE County they patented
vast acreage and these slaves buil, m.
magnificent manor house. "Prestwould' -
from St"h" uuarricd on the nlac, Fran,
about ihc middle OF the cii.ht.cuth CON.
Jury until three wears nco "pr,st-
would VAS occupied by the Skiuviihe
an" "i,h"HEh the great plantation had
~, nov" since In" emancipation OF
! III" slaves. the house was intact
Ihrec years ago the owner sold bis
ancestral estate just as il stood. ana
II was our privilege to go through Tho
oid nous" and see the relics Of skin
with grandeur.
AZ we drove to the place. our at,en-
ZION was called ~ the old road over
which the family coach used 10 roll
II was wide and walled and. althourh
! entirely gone out OF use il scnsod still
the dignity and Importance of thosn
who built IT, Old ccdars led an To tho
with porches) stood lik. a seniin., on
very high hill.
AS one approaches the house ono is
struck by an immense oak tree Tho
tradition OF this tree is that IL anti
dates the Skipwiths and was from, limo
imhemorial guide-p to the Indians
III their migrations. prcstworId bors.
as we nave said. was sold with All the
furniture. books and pictures that :,
contained about three years aro tn
interior plan OF the house ~ rather
unusual. There are four porches and
some uncertainty is causcd in The mind
OF the stranger as to which l.. ~
porto" Of formal entrance. Hr.,II,
there are two beautiful! entrances. iaci,
ana front They are called the rivor
ana the land porChcS because ,n, f,cr.
the distant river and tho other IN,
road. Through large portico tho
mouse IS entered II has two i'm.
'hense halls. Tn" land hall. through
| which We went in. is twcnty-oirh, fec,
! wfde and is papcrcd with th;,i faeci,
mating old Landscape papcr So r.r,
AT this day. This haiI Is SIN b.an,;.
! fully furnished and the wan-rnnc,
| represents generous Ceres pnurinp
/ TIC fruits If earth from ampl" cornn-
/ copias. There are desks tnut vc,,i,
make the mouth Of u collector w,t,r
comfortable couclics. quaint cupho.rds
/ tables and wide window seats to III.
large windows ON the right of iii,
/ BAN is the dining room. pap.rcd win
f.hsls hunting scenes, hounds an,
I huntSmen in red coats as BIRTH, a.
ever ana scarcely at al! broken Til,
/ furniture is mahoGauS and the old AZ.
! IAN SWINGS over the table with tn,
, .irEr cord ready for the small ne,
| Sros hand that used to giving il
ca the left arc the chamber and IN.
} hntScrH' stu well and completely fur.
d : EVNs col. III
T! tic hall alrcady described. one uassc.
4 Z" TIC river hail, much more spiendi,
'h" iN'@"r and naGniticcutly furnish
ca. IN" walls arc papcrcd with Euc,
SCENES castles lords and lad;c,
liking IN" riding. lakes. brl!mu
f"w"rs and stately trees Thc,. mr.,
mirrors aud tables. inaiI boxes 81
pI'uN tables sofas and bookcases. on
Hc l'' - the great drawing loom. til,
g"p"r venetian ,c"rcr!es. tn. furni,ur,