Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-04-23
QUEST FOR DOCUMENTS
! REVEALS VITAL DATA
Virgnans Contribute Materially to Drafting and For
mulating of Notable title Deed to
Liberty.

The Harrison estate, Brandon"
stands today on the James River
as one of the meccas of Virginia, and
80 elegant are the grounds Of this
famous manor. that Ii was here the
Prince of Wales (King Edward Wild
was entertained at q fox hunt in
style betting 4 descendant OF the
Cavaliers.
Mrs. William Lyme, mother Of this
writer, who is now II years old, re-
members this occasion In the wealth
of her reminiscenses when she was
girl with Miss Harriet Lane and
President buchanan. at Old Point
Comfort. The Harrisons In Virginia
are too well known to need reference.
Judge Harrison, OF Winchester. has
long represented his district in Con-
Eress. Miss Susie Harrison, as the
custodian of manuscripts in the
White House of tho Confederacy,
has done great historical work for
the entire South. She Is sister
of Mrs. William Tompkins and Mrs
Picot, of Richmond. Mrs. Hoge and
Mrs. Rucker also belong to this ia
nous family.
Though the Harrisons were aris-
tocratic, as were the Ices, this did
not interfere with business and pa
triotic accomplishment. Though
LlBhttoot Ice s was not the brilliant
mind that Richard Henry's was. yet
his stolid matcrialistic mind claimed
and insisted not only OH liberty. but
;hc free navigation OF the Missis-
sippi. and that America should enjoy
fishing rights on Newfoundlands
coast. He was also the great friend
Of Washington. often visiting him q [
Mount Vernon. and accompanying
him behind the hounds through the
fertile fields OF Fairfax.
Lees Play Prominent Parts.
1t was, however, Richard Henry
who declared that the colonies ought
and should be free" in the memora BILE
Congress. and ii was still another
Leo, Light Horse Harry" who de-
livered WashinGtor's funeral euloSy
In which he said: First in war. first
in pence. and first in the hearts OF
his countrymen.' This Light Horse
Harry" was the father OF General
Robert T.. Lee. and grandfather OF
General Fitzhugh\ Lee. The descend
ants of Richard Henry Lee, In Vir-
Ginla arc numerous. among them be-
ing Judge Henry Lee Chichester, Of
fredericksburg, and the late Judge
Richard Cassius Lee Moncure, for
thirty-five years president Of the SUI
preme Court of Virginia, who was IL
nephew Of the signer, named for him
and his son. Cassius, who died while
n student at Princeton.
Governor Thomas Nelson was one
Of the signcrs OF the Declaration. His
historic home on the York River
quartcrcd General CORVALLIS. Nell
son sacrificed his pos scsslons to the
cause Of liberty, telling DcGrasse and
Rochambeau not to hesitate to fire
on his mansion it the cXigencies OF
the war nccessItated--and they did
This old home stands today as n land
mark OF the Revolutionary War. ..
Distinguished Source.
The beautiful and gifted Sally
Nelson Robins. whose pen has added
to both the romance and history OF
Virginia. traces her talents to this
distinguished source. She Is rec
ognizcd authority on the history of
Virginia. He WAS the great grand
father of Thomas Nelson Page. an
other distinguished diplomat and
writer.
This writer has heard. but does not
state 1t as fact. that Jefferson gave
the desk on which he drafted the
rough copy of the Declaration In his
bedroom TO the family OF Vice
President Coolidge That Archibald
Cary Coolidge. OF Harvard. and RAN
ooiph Coolidge. OF Boston, are among
his direct descendants is established
gencalogy.
With the passing OF Carroll, Of
Carrollton, in 1892. at the advanced
age of 90. tho last of the signers of
the Declaration OF independence
answered the last roll call, having
hequcathcd 10 America in the Dec
iaration her title deed to liberty'