Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-10-22
Guarded Sacrcdly and Secret
" Because of Fear 1t
Would BE Copied.
IT IS SOLD AT AUCTION
Was Painted by Lawrence
Sully. Elder Brother of
Thomas. in l705.
~, Gilbrrtn -. NhittIr.

The death Of John Symc Fleming.
which occurred Ia Jc,vrSy:llv Va
on Friday. October -. thu Inter
mint being in Hollywood the fot.
lowing Wednesday. recalls an inr"r-
esting piece or history connected
with him. known only 90 q limited
number q tn" reading pu1ltv.
Thos" familiar with The Life 81
Hatr.'l Henry viii remember hut
his mother tnre Sarah Wtu>;nut. Was.
when she married Colonel john.
Henry. tn" widow OF Jonu SWINE.
with ON" Son named for has fa'h.,
John Sy'n". the 'irS' ~ his name In
Nirrinla, WAS dc~rcnd-d FROM i tall
"utct English family. and Was Il
sr"at uncle ~ Lord Brouphaw. and
his SON. John Sym" H. acquired
considerable local promgncucc ada
ING I" other distinctions that of he
ms u member. along Win his illus
trious hale brother. of tho Virginia
Convention OF May i. l77G
~ was twice married. his first
VIE being Mildred M,rtwrarh"r. o,
the wcll-kuowu Virginia family Of
that name and his Second sarah
Hoops daushter ~ Adam ana Eliza
beth Hoops ut Philadelphia. Tho
"uly child uC THIS marriage. which
occurred In March, 1855 was
daughtor, Elizabeth. named for her
rramdmo'hrr This daughter mar
rt.l. In 1856, George Frcderick
aud on" Of eleven children, being
named FOR his grnuGCath,r. John
Synr Fleming
Give. nni. Life r"r,rni,.
Patrick Henry was warmly at
tached to Sarah tlioops) Symc. the
wife OF his halr-brothyr. aud gave
to her his only lifr portrait a price
less historic relic. which sh" gave. in
turn, to her grandson. John Symc
Fleming named for hrg husband
and. ~ his death. In 1855. II de-
seconded 10 his SON. John Symc Elem
nE whose death has teen :" recent
~ recorded This gentleman had no
children diving quietly In Richmond.
with his Wife. In modest ..,,mo ON
Floyd AveuU" near Harrison street.
fic was the professor 10 mathematics
iu the Virginia Mechanics Institute.
ami was spoken OF as a mathematical
genius
n, had refused fabulous on,rs for
tn" IIcury miniature and. becoming
uhs.ss'd with the tear ot its being
copied. guarded il sa,rcdly and So
cr.tlN. only = few of his tried friends
having ever been permitted to see 1t.
Tho current impression concerning
this miniatur" was that IL was
painted 10y "a French artist after the
lcvOlut iuuarS VA. Will" Henry
was arGuine the british debt cases
before the United states Court i'm
Richmond whil" that in REGARD O"
the OIL rhiu'iur ui the great man,
which is most Widely associated with
min is that IL Was copied from the
m,nlatUr, Ivy Thomas Sully
Engraved A. Fr"nti>ric"~.
Tn SuIlv IortrAIi VAS painted Tor
tn, purpoS" ui being engraved rs "a
ftontispieD. 10 william Wits Life
az Patrick Ienry.' published in lsl5.
and while Writ Mas ATTORNEY Gen
era! O: Nir. mia. hy pr. scented tt To-
Fatrick's l"unrcs, son. John Henry.
Of Red hii From him i, dcsenio,i
20 ms son. William Wir, Houry. and
rom him 10 Li> daughter. the lat.
Mr. Matthew Har.. !larrj*oa
For q nnnh"r - t.uts 'Sir> narri
son allowed 1t - hauE i'm ,Ac STAT.
Library it, RICHMOND where il Vas