USA > Virginia > Historical collections of Virginia : containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c. relating to its history and antiquities ; together with geographical and statistical descriptions ; to which is appended, an historical and descriptive sketch of the District of Columbia. > Part 25
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The multitudes of both sexes that formerly attended these occasions of fostal mirth were astonishing. The adjoining islands were literally emptied of their simple and frolic-loving inhabitants, and the peninsula liself contributed to swell the crowd. For fifty miles above and below the point of meeting, all the beauty and fashion of a certain order of the female population, who had funds or favorites to command a passage. were sure to be there. All who loved wild adventure, whose hearts danced at the prospect of a distant water excursion, and a scene of no ordinary revel, where the ocean rolled his billows almost to their feet ; all who had a new gown to show, or a pretty face to exhibit, who could dance well or sing ; belles that sighed for beaux, or beaux that wanted
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sweethearts ; all who loved to kiss or be kissed, to caress or be caressed ; all, in short whose hearts delighted in romance without knowing its name, hurried away to this anxiously-expected scene of extravagant jollity, on the narrow thread of beach that the ocean seemed every moment to usurp. The imagination can scarcely conceive the ex - travagant enthusiasm with which this exciting sport was anticipated and enjoyed. It was a frantic carnival, without its debauchery. The young of both sexes bad their imaginations inflamed by the poctical narratives of their mothers and maiden aunts, who in their more juvenile days were wont to grace those sylvan fetes of the mad flight of wild horses careering away along a narrow, naked, level sand-beach, at the top of their speed, with manes and tails waving in the wind, before a company of mounted men upon the fleetest steeds, shouting and hallooing in the wildest notes of triumph, and forcing the animals into the angular pen of pine logs prepared to enclose then And then the deafening poals of loud hazzas from the thousand half-frenzied spectators, crowding into a solid mass around the enclosure, to behold the beautiful wild horse in all his native vigor, subdued by man, panting in the tolls, and furious with beat, rage, and fright; or hear the clamorous triumphs of the adventurous riders, each of whom had performed more than one miracle of equestrian skill on that day of glorious daring ; and the loss discordant neighing of colts that had lost their mothers, and mothers that had lost their colts, in the melee of the sweeping drive, with the maddened snorts and whinnying of the whole gang-all, all together formed a scene of unrivalled noise, ap- · roar, and excitement, which few can imagine who had not witnessed it, and none can adequately describe.
But the play of spirits ended not here. The booths were soon filled, and loads of sub- stantial provision were opened, and fish and water-fowl, secured for the occasion, were fried and barbecued by hundreds, for appetites whatted to marcellana koonness hy analy rising, a scanty breakfast, exercise, and sea air. The runlets of water, and the jugs of more exhilarating liquor, were lightened of their burdens. Then softer joys succeeded ; and music and dance, and love and courtship, held their undisputed empire until deep in the night, when all sought shelter and repose on board of their boats. moored by the shore, or among their island friends, who gladly entertained them with characteristic hospitality. Many a winter's evening tale did the incidents of those merry-making or- casions supply, and many a peaceful young bosom, of retired rural beauty, was assailed with other emotions than the rough sports of an Assateague horse-penning inspired ; and from one anniversary of this half-savage festivity to another, all was talk of the joy and transports of the past, and anticipations of the future.
ALBEMARLE.
ALBEMARLE Was formed, in 1744, from Goochland. Its length, from sw. to NE., is 35 miles, and its mean width 20 miles. The northern part is drained by the Rivanna and its branches ; the southern by the Hardware and its branches. The surface is gener- ally hilly or mountainous, the scenery picturesque, and much of the soil highly productive in corn and tobacco. Pop. 1830, 22,618 ; 1840, whites 10,512. slaves 13,809; total 22,924.
Scottsville is on the N. bank of the James River canal, 20 miles from Charlottesville. and 79 from Richmond. It is the largest and most flourishing village on the canal, between Richmond and Lynchburg, and does a heavy business; it contains 1 Presbyte- rian, I Methodist, and I Reformed Baptist church, and about 160 how.es.
Charlottesville, the county seat, is 191 miles from Washington City, and 85 northwesterly from Richmond. It is beautifully situated in a fertile and well-watered valley, on the right bank of the Ri. vanna River. It contains many mercantile and mechanical estab
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UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, AT CHARLOTTESVILLE.
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Jishinents, and has greatly improved within the last few years. The religious societies are Episcopal, Presbyterian, Baptist, and Methodist. The population is not far from 2000: much of the society of the town and county is highly refined. Albemarle has given birth to several eminent men : among whom may be men- tioned Jefferson, the late Gov. Gilmer, Dr. Gilmer, author of " Sketches and Essays of Public Characters," Meriwether Lewis, and others.
The UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA is one mile west of Charlottesville, and although of a deservedly high reputation, it is an institution of recent origin. The legislature of the state, at the session of 1817-18, adopted measures for establishing the university, which, however, did not go into operation until 1825. The institution was erected and endowed by the state ; and it owes its origin and peculiar organization to Mr. Jefferson. It has a line collection of buildings, consisting of four parallel ranges about 600 feet in length, and 200 feet apart, suited to the accommodation of 9 pro- fessorships, and upwards of 200 students; which, together with the real estate, cost over $200,000. It possesses valuable libraries, amounting to 16,000 vols., and is amply provided with philosophi- cal and chemical apparatus, together with a fine cabinet of min- erals and fossils, and an anatomical and miscellaneous museum. The observatory, a short distance from the university, is furnished with the requisite astronomical instruments. " The plan of the uni- versity differs materially from that of other institutions in the Union. The students are not divided into four classes, with a course of studies embracing four years ; but the different branches are styled schools, and the student is at liberty to attend which ho pleases, and graduate in each when prepared. In order to attain the title of " Master of Arts of the University of Virginia," the student must graduate in the several schools of mathematics, ancient languages, moral philosophy, natural philosophy, chemistry, and in some two of the modern languages. The chairman of the faculty is annually chosen from the faculty, by the board of visit- ors. This board is appointed by the governor and council every four years, and chooses its own rector. This institution is, in every respect, organized and justly regarded as an university of the first class, The number of students, including the law and medical departments, is not far from 200."
The British and German prisoners taken at Saratoga, in the revolution, and known as the "Convention troops," were sent to Charlottesville in the beginning of the year 1779. On their first arrival a momentary embarrassment was felt for the want of he- cessary accommodations. A British officer by the name of Anby- ry, whose travels have been published, was among the prisoners. On this point he says :
But on our arrival at Charlottesville, ao pen can describe the scene of misery and confusion that en- sued ; the officers of the first and second brigades were in the town, and our arrival added to their dis -. tress ; this famous place we had heard so much of, consisted only of a court-house, one tavern, and
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about a dozen houses; all of which were crowded with officers, -- those of our brigade, therefore, wera obliged to ride about the country, and entreat the inhabitants to take us in. As to the men, the situation was truly horrible, after the hard shifts they had experienced in their march from the Potomack ; they were, instead of comfortable barracks, conducted into a wood, where a few log huts were just begun to be built, the most part not covered over, and all of them full of snow: these the men were obliged to clear ont, and cover over to secure themselves from the inclemency of the weather, as quick as they could, and in the course of two or three days, rendered them a habitable, but by no means a comfortable retirement. What added greatly to the distressos of the men, was the want of provisions, as none bad as yet arrived for the troops, and for six days they subsisted on the meal of indian corn made into cakes. The person who had the management of every thing, inforined us that we were not expected u !! spring. Never was a country so destitte of every comfort; provisions were not to be purchased for ten days : the officers subsisted upon salt pork and indian corn made into cakes ; not a drop of any kind of spirit, what little there had been, was already consumed by the first and second brigades ; many officers, to comfort themselves, put red pepper into water, to drink by way of cordial.
Upon a representation of our situation, by Brigadier-General Hamilton, to Colonel Bland, who com- thanded the American troops, he promised to render the situation of the mon as comfortable as possible, and with all expedition. As to the officers, upon signing a parole, they might go to Richmond, and other adjacent towns, to procure themselves quarters; accordingly, a parole was signed, which allowed a cir- cuit of near one hundred miles. And after the officers had drawn lots, as three were to remain in the barracks with the men, or at Charlottesville, the principal part of them set off for Richmond, many of ' them are at plantations, twenty or thirty miles from the barracks. I am quartered with Major Master and four other officers of our regiment, at this plantation, about twenty miles from the barracks; the owner has given up his house, and gone to reside at his overseer's, and for the use of his house, we pay him two guineas a week. On the arrival of the troops at Charlottesville, the officers, what with vexa- tion, and to keep out the cold, drink rather freely of an abominable liquor, called peach brandy, which, if drunk to excess, the fumes raise an absolute delirium, and in their cups, several were guilty of deed: that would adunit of no apology ; the inhabitants must have actually thought us mad, for in the course of three or four days, there were no less than six or seven duels fought.
The Baroness de Riedesel was also with the convention troops. This gifted and herole lady, also says, in her memoirs :
At first they suffered many privations; they were billeted in block-houses without windows or doors, and but poorly defended from the cold. But they went diligently to work to construct better dwellings, and in a short time the place assumed the appearance of a neat little town. In the rear of each house they had trim gardens, and enclosed places for poultry. Afterwards, when the old provisions were con- sumed, they received fresh meat, and flour to mike bread ; and as this latter was of wheat. they could even make cakes and pies. They wanted nothing but money, of which the English sent but little ; and as it was difficult to purchase any thing on credit, the soldiers were in many perplexities on that ac- count.
Mr. Jefferson, who then resided in the vicinity, did his utmost to render the situation of the troops and officers as pleasant as possi- ble. To the latter, he offered the hospitalities of his mansion, threw open his library for their inspection, and contributed, by neighborly intercourse and attention, to render them happy. His efforts in their behalf called forth the strongest expressions of gratitude and esteem. These troops remained here until October, 1780, when the state being invaded by Leslie, the public safety de- manded the removal of the British portion of them to Fort Fred- erick, in Maryland. The Germans, however, continued longer.
In May, 1781, when Cornwallis invaded Virginia, the legisla- ture adjourned from Richmond to Charlottesville, as a place of greater safety. In June, the celebrated partisan officer. Tarleton, was detached to Charlottesville. with 180 cavalry of his legion, and 70 mounted infantry, with directions to surprise the General Assembly, seize the person of Jefferson, then the governor, and to do other mischief. He was then to join Simcoe, who had been detached to the Point of Fork, in Fluvanna county. The subjoin- od details of this event. are from Tucker's Life of Jefferson :
A gentleman who was in the neighborhood of the British army, and who suspected Tarleton's object, was able, by means of a fleet horse, and a nearer road, to give two hours notice of his approach .* As it was, all the members of the Assembly, except
* Another incident contributed to defeat Colonel Tarleton's purpose. The following
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seven, effected their escape, and reassembled on the 7th of June, at Staunton, about forty miles west of Charlottesville. Tarleton, hearing that there were many gentlemen of the lower country then at the houses of Dr. Walker, and Mr. John Walker, which lay wear his route, for a moment lost sight of his principal object. and resolved to make them prisoners. He accordingly divided his force, and sent a part to Mr. John Walk- er's, while he himself stopped at the house of Dr. Walker. Several gentlemen were here made captives.
When Tarleton approached within ten miles of Charlottesville, he detached a party of horse, nader captain APLcod, to Monticello, to seize Mr. Jefferson. But he had, about surmise, received the intelligence of Tarleton's approach. Several members of the Paris. lature, including the speakers of both houses, were then his guests, and they hastered to Charlottesville, to adjourn the legislature. Mrs. Jefferson and her three children harried off in a carriage to Colonel Edward Carter's, about six miles to the south. Mr. Jefferson followed afterwards on horseback, and had not left his house ten minutes be- fore the British entered it. His property, books, and papers, were all respected, with the exception of the waste which was committed in his cellars, by a few of the men, with- out the knowledge of the commanding officer. Tarleton entered Charlottesville on the 4th of Jane. four devs after Mr. Jefferson's term of office expired. He. on the next day, rejoined Lord Cornwallis, who had established his head-quarters at Els Hill, a planta- tion near the Point of Fork, belonging to Mr. Jefferson. Here every sort of wanton mischief was perpetrated. Besides making a free use of the cattle, and carrying off all the horses fit for service, as was to be expected, the throats of the young horses were cut, the growing crops of corn and tobacco were destroyed ; those of the preceding year, together with the barus which contained them, and all the fences on the plantation wore burnt. Other plantations shared a similar fate, though not to the same extent. Thirty thousand slaves were taken from Virginia by the British in these invasions, of whom twenty-seven thousand were computed to have died of the small-pox, or camp fever. The whole amount of property carried off, and destroyed, during the six months prece- ding Cornwallis's surrender, has been estimated at ₺3,000,000 sterling ..
Monticello,* the seat of Thomas Jefferson, is three miles south- east of Charlottesville. The annexed glowing description, is from Wirt's Eulogy upon Adams and Jefferson :
The Mansion House, at Monticello, was built and furnished in the days of his prosperity. In its di- mensions, its architecture, its arrangements and ornaments. it is such a one as became the character and fortune of the man. It stands upon an elliptic plain, formed by cutting down the apes of a mountain . and. to the west, stretching away to the north and the south, it commrinds a view of the Blue Ridge for a hundred and fifty miles, and brings under the eye one of the boldest and most beautiful horizons in the world ; while on the east, it presents an extent of prospect bounded only by the spherical form of the earth, in which nature seems to sleep in eternal repose, as if to form one of her finest contrasts with the rude and rolling eriadeur of the west. In the wide prospect, and scattered to the north and south, are several detached macuraing, which contribute to animate and diversity this enchanting landscape ; and Bluing them, to the south. Willis's mountain, which is so interestingly depicted in his Notes. From that summit, the philosopher was wont to enjoy that spectacle, among the sublimest of Nature's operations, the looming of the oiscint monatoins ; and to watch the motions of the planets, and the greater revolu- tion of the celestial sphere. From this summit, too, the patriot could look down with uninterrupted vis- ion, upon the wide expanse of the world around, for which he considered himself born ; and upward to the open and vaulted heavens, which he seemed to approach, as if to keep him continuedly in mind of his high responsibility. . It is indeed a prospect in which you see and frel, at once, that nothing mean 02 little could live. It is a scene fit to nourish those great and high-souled principles which formed the ele- ments of his character, and was a most noble and appropriate pot for such a sentinel, over the rights and liberties of men.
Approaching the house on the east, the visiter instinctively paused to cast around one thrilling glance at this magnificent panorama : and then passed to the vestibufe, where, if he had not been previously
facts are stated on the authority of a gentleman who received them from Dr. Walker himself: On Tarleton's arrival at his house, he had ordered breakfast to be prepared for the colony! and the officers ; but the operations of the cook appearing to be whosu- ally tardy, and his guest manifesting great impatience, he went to the kitchen himself to inquire the cause of the delay ; and was there told by the cook that he was then engaged It preparing the third breakfast, the two first having been taken from him by some of Colonel Tarleton's men ; on which the doctor told his guest, that if he wished for break- fast, he must place a guard of soldiers to protect the cook, which was accordingly done. The time that was thus lost, it appeared, on comparing notes afterwards, saved the del. egaies font capture.
* Monticello, in Italian, signifies " Little Mountain."
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informed, he would immediately perceive that he was entering the house of no common man, In the spacious and lofty hall which opens before him, he marks ne tawdry and ummeaning ornaments : but bc- fore, on the right, on the left, all around, the eye is strock and gratified by objects of science and tasto, so classed and arranged, as to produce their finest effect. On one side, specimens of sculpture set out in such order as to exhibit, at a coup d'œil, the historical progress of the part. from the air- rad; Domuts of the aborigines of our country, up to that exquisite and finished bust of the great patriot himself, from the master hand of Carracci. On the other side the visiter spes displayed a vast collection of specimens of the Indian art, their paintings, weapons, ornaments, and manufactures; on another an array of the fossil productions of our country, mineral and animal; the polished remains of those colossal monsters that once trod our forests, and are no more; and a variegated display of the branching honors of those " monarchs of the waste," that still people the wilds of the American continent.
Monticello, the seat of Thomas Jefferson.
From this hall he was ushered into & noble saloon. from which the glorious landscape of the west again bursts upon his view ; and which, within, is hung thick around with the finest productions of the pencil-historical paintings of the most striking subjects, from all countries, and all ages; the portraits of distinguished men and patriots, both of Europe and America, and medallions, and engravings in end- less profusion.
While the visiter was yet lost in the contemplation of these treasures of the arts and sciences, he w ... startled by the approach of a strong and sprightly step, and turning with instinctive reverence to the doot of entrance, he was met by the tall, and animated, and stately figure of the patriot himself-his counte nance beaming with intelligence and benignity, and his ontstretched hand, with its strong and cordial pressure, confirming the courteous welcome of his lips. And then came the charm of manner and con- versation that passes all description -- so cheerful-so unassuming -- so free, and easy, and frank, and kind, and gay, -- that even the young and overawed, and embarrassed visiter forgets his fears, and felt himself by the side of an old and familiar friend.
The subjoined memoir of the author of the Declaration of American Independence is abridged principally from the American PortraitGallery.
THOMAS JEFFERSON was born Theeftersom Fac-sí.nile of Thomas Jefferson's Signature. at Shadwell, in this county, April 2d, 1743. His ancestors were among the early settlers of Virginia, and his father, Peter Jefferson, was an in- Anential public man, who, at his death, left his son an am- ple fortune. Jefferson passed through his collegiate course at William and Mary, with distinction, and became a student of law under the celebrated George Wythe. When of age, he was admitted to the bar, and was soon elected a representive from Albemarle to the legislature. From youth his mind was imbued with the most liberal political sentiments. On one of his seals, about this time, was engraved the motto, " Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God." These feelings strengthened with the position of public affairs.
In 1772 he married Miss Wayles, an amiable and accomplished lady, She died in about ten years, leaving two infant daughters. In 1773, Jefferson devised and arranged
STARRSON
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the first organized system of colonial resistance, which was the formation of committees of correspondence in the different provinces. Its adoption was strikingly beneficial. As the crisis of public affairs approached, not content with his constant labors as a member of the legislature, he wrote and published " A Summary View of the Rights of British America."
For this publication Lord Dunmore threatened to prosecute him on & charge of high treason, and dissolved the legislature who had sustemed the same doctrines. When the conciliatory propositions of the British ministry were sent out in the following year, the committee of the legislature presented a reply from the pen of Jefferson, which has ever been considered a state paper of the highest order. In June, 1775, he took his seat as a delegate to the General Congress. In the succeeding sum- mer, Jefferson was chairman of the committee, and drew up the Declaration of Inde- pendence, which, after a few alterations, was adopted by Congress, July 4th, 1776. In the autami of this year, he was appointed one of the commissioners to the court of France ; but ill-health, and considerations of a public nature, prevented his acceptance. He shortly after resigned his seat in Congress, and being elected to the first legislature under the new constitution of Virginia, he introduced, and, with the aid of able coadju- tors, carried through important laws, founded on just and great principles of the social compact. The first of these was a bill preventing the importation of slaves; this he followed up by destroying entails and abolishing the rights of primogeniture, the over- throw of the church establishment, which had been introduced in imitation of that of England. Besides these, he reduced to a system the various irregular enactments of the colonial government and mother country. It was a most severe labor. It consisted of 126 bills, comprising and remodelling the whole statutory law ; and though not all enacted as he contemplated, they have formed the admirable basis of the jurisprudence of virginia.
In June, 1779, he was elected governor of Virginia, and re-elected the next year. It was a season of imminent peril ; the state was invaded by Tarleton and Arnold, and he himself made the object of particular pursuit. At the expiration of his term, the legislature passed a unanimous resolution expressive of their high opinion of his ability and integrity. In June, 1783, he was again elected to Congress, and there prepared the beautiful address, made by Congress to Washington, on taking leave of public life. He was, also, the chairman of a committee appointed to form a plan for temporary govern- ment in the vast and then unsettled western territory. Ile introduced a clause for- bidding the existence of slavery in it after the year 1800. In the summer of 1784, he Was sent as a minister plenipotentiary to France. He remained in Europe until Nov., 1789, during which time he visited England, and, in concert with Mr. Adams, ineffec- tually endeavored to effect a commercial treaty with Britain. While in France, he was engaged in many diplomatic negotiations of considerable importance to his country. Among men of letters, and high political distinction, he was received with marked kind- ness, and he graced the most brilliant social circles of Paris. When he returned to the United States, he occupied the office of secretary of state under Washington, instead of resuming, as he had intended, the post of minister to France. Of the great mass of the constitution, which had been formed during his absence, he approved, though there were points in it, in which he thought there was no adequate security for political rights. In its practical interpretations, he adopted the more popular view ; and he became the head of the party which sustained it. While in the department of state, be laid down the great, and ever since approved, maximns relative to our foreign intercourse. Among other negotiations, he became especially engaged in one with the ministers from the Franch republic, which seriously involved the political rights of the United States as a neutral nation, and led to the adoption of that policy of preserving peace, commerce, and friendship with all nations, but entering into entangling alliances with none. His report on an uniform system of currency, weights, and measures, was one of those measures of domestic policy appropriate to his office, and is said to have abounded with the most enlightened views. He also presented to Congress a valuable memoir on the subject of the cod and whale fisheries. His last act as secretary of state, was a report on the nature and extent of the privileges and restrictions of the commercial intercourse of the United States with other countries, and on the best means of counteracting them, It attracted much attention, and was a document of great ability. It was the founda- tion of a series of resolutions proposed by Mr. Madison, sanctioning the views it eu- brared, and it became, in fact, the ostensible subject on which the federal and republican parties distinctly arraved themselves against each other.
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