Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia., Part 44

Author: Cartmell, T. K. (Thomas Kemp), 1838-1920
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: [Winchester, Va.] : [Printed by the Eddy Press Corp.]
Number of Pages: 607

USA > Virginia > Frederick County > Frederick County > Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia. > Part 44

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Returning to the vein of seniority in the fam- ily, Jonathan Fairfax who died in Maryland in 1787, left five sons and four daughters. Of these five sons, who have already been named, Henry, alone, survived the maturity of manhood. Henry Fairfax embarked in business with a foreign shipping house in Baltimore, and, profiting by his experience, he went to the then prosperous Port of entry Dumfries, Virginia, and became one of the leading shipping merchants of his time. His

vessels contributed aid to the Government in the war of 1812, and he himself held the rank of Captain in the 36th Virginia Regiment during that War. Apart from his Dumfries concerns, Henry Fairfax was interested in a banking house in Baltimore and, at his death in 1847, he left a fortune. He was married three times; firstly, to Sarah Triplett, daughter of William Carter of Dumfries; secondly, to Sophia, daughter of Jesse Scott of Dumfries; and thirdly, to Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Lindsay, of The Mount, in Fairfax County. From the first marriage there issued five daughters, and a son, Henry. Henry Fairfax, the second, married Jane Parks Price, grand-daughter of Colonel Stephen Rex Price, of the British Army under Cornwallis in the Re- volutionary War. Dr. Edwin Fairfax, now living in Missouri, is his oldest son. From the senior Henry Fairfax's marriage with Elizabeth Lind- say there issued two children, Martha Lindsay, who married Bowling Robertson of Petersburg, Virginia; and a son, John Walter. John Walter Fairfax, in the ante-bellum period, was a leading social figure in northern Virginia. He owned, among other valuable properties, "Oak Hill," the former country seat of President Monroe, at Aldie, which was his family home. He married Mary, daughter of Col. Hamilton Rogers, from which marriage there issued four sons and a daughter. Hon. Henry Fairfax, the oldest son, and present owner of the Monroe estate, married Eugenia Tennant of Richmond, Va. Hamilton Rogers Fairfax married Eleanor Van Rensselaer of New York; John Walter Fairfax, the second of New York, is unmarried; Lindsay Fairfax married Grace Bradford of Lennox, Mass., and Mary Elizabeth married Col. Charles G. Ayres of the U. S. Army.

In 1861, John Walter Fairfax espoused the cause of the Confederacy, as did every Fairfax of Virginia-with but one single exception. A single allusion to the record of Col. Fairfax in the Civil War, will serve as an index to the quality of his manhood, he became the ranking officer on the staff of Gen. Longstreet; and by his knightly gallantry-his dashing defiance of danger and contempt for fear-he came to be characterized by the troops in the field of battle, as "Longstreet's Fighting Aide." Col. Fairfax died in March 1908, at the former home of his father, on the Potomac-Leesylvania.

At the end of his four score life, it was written of him, and justly, that few men of his time had sustained so distinctly as had he, the traditional standard of the old school Virginia gentlemen.

Fairfax Peerage.

The claim established No. 17, 1908. The London Daily Telegraph, dated Nov. 18,

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NOTABILITIES OF OLD FREDERICK COUNTY

1908, contained several columns, giving in full the proceedings in determining the question of title to the Barony of Cameron. The Committee for Privileges of the House of Lords, by whom all peerage claims are determined, met Nov. 17, 1908, and arrived at a conclusion, admitting the claim of Albert Kirby Fairfax to the title, honour and dignity of Lord Fairfax of Cameron, in the Peerage of Scotland.

The Committee was composed of the Lord Chancellor, Lord Ashbourne, Lord Robertson, and Lord Collins; the Earl of Onslow presiding as chairman of the Committee. The case was fully heard; the Attorney General being present, was questioned by the Committee concerning the proof produced. The Earl of Onslow propounded

the question, "Have you anything to say, Mister Attorney?"

The Attorney-General, "I have no observations to offer; the only points which occurred to me for criticism have been cleared up."

The Lord Advocate, "The point on which there was any doubt in my mind was with regard to the decease of Charles Snowden Fairfax, the tenth Lord Fairfax, without issue. That point seems to be completely cleared up."

The Lord Chancellor, "I move that your Lord- ships resolve that the petition has made out his claim to the title, dignity, and honour of Lord Fairfax of Cameron."

"The motion was put and agreed to, and the proceedings terminated."

CHAPTER XLVII

George Washington, Surveyor, Citizen, Soldier, Legislator and President

George Washington, the young surveyor for Lord Fairfax, and his two brothers, Samuel and Charles Washington, may be very properly class- ed with the early settlers of Frederick County. George acquired title to certain large tracts of land from Lord Fairfax. Some are designated the Bullskin surveys. One contained 550 acres, several other tracts were purchased from lessees of Fairfax. While Lawrence purchased several tracts in 1747, he was not a resident of the coun- ty. Samuel and Charles settled on this land, and continued as residents of the Valley. Samuel lived on a tract near the site of Charlestown, Jefferson County. Charles owned the site, and laid out the town, and the village took his name (see notes on Towns). Their homesteads were established prior to 1750, and maintain individual- ity to this day. Harewood, a large stone struc- ture, still standing in good repair, was built in 1749-50 by Col. Samuel Washington. Large fam- ilies were reared on these historic plantations. Many of the name became prominent both in the civil and military life of the Shenandoah Valley. The last male member of the family, Captain Bushrod C. Washington, removed the remnant of his family to the State of Washington during the preparation of these notes. Col. Samuel was a member of the old Justices' Court in 1771, and a Vestry man of Norborne Parish.

Augustine Washington owned large tracts in Frederick County in the vicinity of Old Hope- well Meeting House. Part of this land became the property of George Fayette Washington, born 1790, died 1867. His son, Maj. Burwell B. Wash- ington (known as Bird), born 1830, died 1868, married Miss Buchannan. She and their only child, Miss Birdie B. Washington, are all that are left in the Valley bearing the name, the old Homestead "Waverly" is owned by them, though they reside in Washington, D. C. Augustine Washington executed a deed for several tracts. His signature was attested by George Washington and others. The family seal was used; the ori- ginals are in the Old Clerk's office at this writing, bearing date June 19, 1752.

This fact became known to the State Department at Washington; and it is regarded as the oldest impression of the Washington Seal found on re-

cord. The Government secured a lithographic copy of the original Deed and the Seal, and also one of the interior of the old Clerk's Office, a copy of which appears in this volume.

George Washington executed several deeds for tracts of land; the originals are on file in this Office; he also purchased several tracts during the time he made the surveys for Fairfax. One was from George Johnston, a member of the Winchester Bar. The Agreement for this pur- chase shows that it was executed in Winchester, and in the law office of Mr. Johnston. This office was used by Washington while in the town, when plotting his surveys. This office was located on the corner of Braddock Road and Cork Street; and tradition fixes the old stone and log building at that corner as "Washington's Headquarters." Whether this meant his Military or Surveyors Office is not known. Lieutenant Washington spent some time at a Tavern near this corner, while in command of the "Out Post." Whether it was the one located on Braddock Street, near the site of the M. E. Church, where he had a stockade on the opposite side for his soldiers, is not known. This lot was then owned by Edward Cartmell, who produced a certificate from the young Commander, for his allowance for rent. The Commissioners approved the claim, which was paid by Act of the House of Burgesses, 1758. This lot being directly North of the John- ston Office, it is fair to assume the Lieutenant had his office with his friend George Johnston. Several traditions point to Philip Dalby's Tavern on Main Street, near Cork, as the place where Washington was quartered. This must be taken with due allowance, for Dalby was not a tavern- keeper at that time; and minutes of Court, show that Washington filed complaint before the Court, charging the tavern-keepers on Loudoun Street with unlawful sale of rum to his Soldiers, and moved the Court to rescind the license of Jno. Linndsey and Philip Bush, Jun. This the Court denied. It seems doubtful that his Soldiers would frequent the tavern where he was quarter- ed, and on this ground we may assume he was quartered at Heth's Tavern on Braddock Street, near his soldiers' barracks. (This street or road was then often designated as Second Street) and had his Office on the Corner above. George

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Washington's Headquarters, Winchester

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JOIST HITE, THE PIONEER

packer is the present owner of a tract of land that Hite sold when he left Pennsylvania; and the title is traceable to Hite. When Joist Hite arrived in Virginia-a trackless territory lying West of the Blue Ridge, it was within the juris- diction of old Spottsylvania County; and as Hite and his families were required to settle on the grants he had purchased from John and Isaac VanMeter, who had obtained them from the Colonial Government 17th of June, 1730, Hite's purchase was dated the 5th of August, 1731, and again on October 31st, 1731, Joist Hite and Rob- ert Mckay obtained an order of the Governor and Council at Williamsburg, to have surveyed to them 100,000 acres on the West side of the Great Mountain, on conditions of settling one hundred families thereon within two years. During that year, Hite removed to and settled on that land. He afterwards obtained an extension of time for compliance to December 25th, 1734-

On 12th of June, 1734, an order of Council was made stating that Hite had made due proof of compliance with the terms of the grant to the Van Meters, and had settled on the land the re- gular number of families, and directed patents to issue to him or his assigns, upon the surveys re- turned to the Secretary. By the conditions to the two Van Meters, there should be forty families seated to get the 40,000 acres. Hite had settled 54 families on this land "by Christmas 1735." Records in the Register of Lands office fully prove the foregoing statement. This matter of settlement is fully set out in the celebrated suit of Hite et als. vs. Fairfax et als., in report of the cases heard in the Courts held to determine titles to and in the Northern Neck. (See 4 Call 42). There the student, if he so desires, will find the high authority of the Court of Appeals settles the question of Hite's arrival and settlement on his grants in 1731. The author will state here that the Hite family tradition is that it was in the Spring of 1732.

Hite and his settlers soon found the Court at Spottsylvania too remote to afford such control as the new settlements required; and he is found at the front to secure the erection of a new County. In 1734 Orange County was taken from the old county and a Court organized, He was appointed by the Governor as one of the justices forming the Court, but he never qualified. Again we find him pressing for a Court to be located in his increasing settlements West of the Blue Ridge. In 1738 Orange was divided into three counties-Frederick and Au- gusta to be formed in the territory West of the Great Mountains. This period finds the Hite family locating in places that generally served as homesteads for many years. Mention has al- ready been made in other pages of this work, of

some members of this noted family; but the writer complying with the request referred to, will give at this point a more extended notice of the Jost Hite family.

Briefly stated, the family on their arrival in Virginia, consisted of the elder Hite and his wife, Anna Maria, (she died in 1738), daughter Mary and her husband George Bowman, Eliza- beth and her husband, Paul Froman, Magdalena and her husband, Jacob Chrisman, John Jacob, Isaac, Abraham and Joseph. Hite was a busy man from the time his grants were ordered until they were confirmed. He had numerous surveys made and reported to council, and se- cured the Minor Grants from the Council by direction from the Crown, and thus was enabled to seat his own family favorably.

George Bowman, Paul Froman and Jacob Chrisman, his sons-in-law, were allowed to make their own selection; and grants or deeds were given them for the large tracts so selected for their homesteads. These homesteads and their families will be more fully treated in the suc- ceeding pages of this work. John, the eldest son, married Sara Eltinge of Frederickton, Md., in 1737. She was a daughter of Cornelius Eltinge and Rebecca Van Meter. They lived near Kings- ton, New York, but later on owned land on the Monocacy in Maryland. The reader will notice in the former pages, that the old pioneer John Van Meter on his explorations, spent some time on his own land on the "Monocacy." John Hite became very prominent in the early settlements; held many offices of trust; was honored and esteemed by his own County, trusted with distin- guished positions by the Colonial Government ; and rewarded by the British Crown. His chil- dren were, Anna Maria Hite, born Dec. 25th, 1738; Rebecca married Chas. Smith; Margaret married Isaac Brown; Elizabeth married, first, Maj. Hughes, second, Rev. E. Phelps-John born June 25th, 1751.

Col. John Hite who, as he was known by this title, will be mentioned as Colonel in this sketch, settled with his father on the Opecquon six miles South of Winchester, where the Great Road crossed that stream. The father erected a stone house on the West side of the road, also a small mill, and built a stone fort on the East side near the first residence erected by his son. The families occupied separate homes, but held the land, mill and forge in common. Many neighboring settlers found refuge in the stone fort. In 1747, John had litigation with workmen for failure to com- plete his barn. In 1753, he built the fine stone residence near the old fort, and occupied it as his residence with his family during the Colonial period in true colonial style. He was a large slave-holder. His father owned slaves who were

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CARTMELL'S HISTORY

artisans; and together they made the Spring Dale settlement hum with the development of this rich section. The tract of land containing about 2,000 acres, embraced a picturesque landscape, and has always been noted for the fertility of the soil. Many productive farms were sliced off in after years; and new owners erected new homes. The original tract was reduced in size, but the substantial and original stone buildings, 150 years old, are in good condition. The old stone house occupied by Douglas Lockwood's family was the one used by Joist Hite as his residence imme- diately after his second marriage in 1741. His first wife, the mother of all his children, died in 1738 at "Long Meadows," the home of his son Isaac. Elsewhere will be given a copy of the marriage contract between Hite and his second wife. Near this house was a stone mill erected, the only one in that section for many years.

The present Springdale Mill, or Bartonsville Mill, was erected on the site of the old mill, with forge and small fort; which stood near where the present Turnpike bridge spans the Opecquon. The Col .. John Hite residence is now owned and occupied by the family of Mr. Harry Hack, de- ceased. Mention will be made later on of others who occupied this celebrated homestead.

Col. John Hite appears in evidence as a man of prominence during his entire life. Old Court records show that he was appointed surveyor of roads in 1747; was a Justice in 1748; Assembly- man in 1752, 1772-1780; was on a Court Martial in 1755 as Captain; was Major in 1756; Lieute- nant Colonel 1757; and Colonel in 1760, and Pre- sident of the Court Martial. This Court Martial inquired into delinquencies of the soldiers of the French and Indian War, and reported their find- ings to the Court. He was Trustee for the town of Winchester in 1758; was one of the New Court in 1776, and was made County Lieutenant in place of Lord Fairfax. The family records give brief mention of visits from "surveyor Washington" in 1784; and later "from Col. Wash- ington." He died in 1792; his daughter's second husband, Mr. Phelps, was a Methodist minister of the old style, and preached at Stephensburg. John Hite jr., only son of Col. Jno., married Susana Smith, and rebuilt the mill near his father's in 1788. He afterwards moved to Rock- ingham County, and had for a second wife Corne- lia Reagan. His family record shows that he had 20 children. It is not known what became of the twenty children, beyond a knowledge of their migration to other States. Several remained in the Valley. Only a small number reached the age of maturity. Jacob, a son of John Hite, Jr., married Sally Scales of North Carolina, daughter of Maj. Nat. Scales. A daughter by this marriage, Mary Scales Hite, married John Laidley of

Scotch descent. His father, Thomas Laidley, came from Scotland in 1774; he served as a sol- dier in the Revolutionary War. After the War, he settled on the Monongalia River. He was in the Virginia Convention in 1788. His son John was a lawyer; he served in the War of 1812; practised law in Cabell County, Va., and was in the Virginia Convention of 1829-30. John Laid- ley's son, Hon. W. S. Laidley, is an eminent law- yer in Charleston, West Virginia, and in active practice at the age of seventy.

Jacob Hite, second son of Joist Hite, chose for his homestead a large tract of land in the north- ern part of Frederick County, where he erected substantial buildings for his own family-and also numerous buildings for several other families who joined him-and also "quarters" for his slaves. It was not long before his settlement ac- quired the name of Hite's town; but later on, when Berkeley County was formed, and the County seat to be chosen, Hite felt secure in his claim that his village was the most central and offered to dedicate land for a Court House and Public buildings. Martinsburg was then a village and entered the contest. The rivals for the prize were led by two men of pronounced ability, Gen. Adam Stephen for Martinsburg, and Jacob Hite, for his village (Now Leetown). Stephen and his followers secured the selection of Martins- burg. Hite always claimed that fraud had been practiced, and proved his case, but too late to serve his purpose. He then sought relief before the House of Burgesses, and endeavored to have another County carved out of the Eastern part of Berkeley and a slice from Frederick, but when he found this formation would leave his village in Berkeley County, the project was abandoned. Jacob was very prominent in the early settlement. He is found with his father, the elder Hite, be- fore the Governor and Council, seeking cause of delay in confirming the Minor Grants to the families who were erecting their homesteads on the original grant. Then he is found before the Courts of Orange, assisting his father to secure the services of the County Surveyor to "lay out roads," in the Southern part of what was after- wards Frederick County. The family records and tradition show that he visited Ireland in the interest of the infant Colony, that his father was planting in the Sherando Valley, and was suc- cessful, returning with quite a number of Scotch- Irish families who soon became helpful in the development of the country. On this return voyage he made the acquaintance of Catherine O'Bannon whom he married. She only lived a few years, leaving three sons who became dis- tinguished men in their day, Capt. John, and Col. Thomas Hite, and Jacob O'Bannon Hite. Jacob's second wife was Mrs. Frances Madison Beale.

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JOIST HITE, THE PIONEER

Her father was Ambrose Madison, descendant of the emigrant who settled in Gloucester County, 1653. It was through this line that we find James Madison Sr., son of Ambrose Madison and Frances Taylor, who married Nellie Conway 1749. Their son James became President of the United States. By the O'Bannon marriage Jacob had two daughters, viz. Mary Hite married Rev. Nathaniel Manner and had for a second husband Rev. Busby, and Elizabeth, her sister, married Col. Lawrence Beale. The children by Jacob's second marriage were a son and daughter, George and Eleanor.

The marriages of Jacob's children is given briefly: John married Sarah - and had three daughters, Mary married Edward Grant, Catherine married Thodoric Lee, Sarah married Alex. P. Buchanan, Second, Thomas Hite, born 1750, married Frances Beale in 1772. He lived in the house built near Lee town and called it New Hopewell; was a member of the House of Burgesses. His two children were, (Ist), Fran- ces M. Hite, married Carver Willis in 1798. (and), James Hite, born 1776, lived at the old homestead during his entire life and died there in 1855, married three times, first wife Juliett Baker 1798, children by this marriage, Frances Conway, married Dr. Wm. Waters, Juliett Wood, married Dr. Thomas Briscoe, Thos., born 1805, died 1883; Mary Ann, married Jacob Grove in 1806. He married his second wife in 1813, their children were Eleanor Briscoe, married Isaac S. Bowman, Elizabeth S., married Dr. W. D. Hale, Charles J., married Rebecca Bowman. James, the fifth child, known as Col. James Hite, mar- ried Lydia Peterson, only one child by this mar- riage, named Peter Yost Hite, born in 1832. Here we have the pronunciation of the elder Hite's name as the family regarded it in that day.

George Hite, son of Jacob by second marriage with Frances M. Beale, grandson of Joist Hite, married Debora Rutherford. He served as Cap- tain of Volunteers in the Revolutionary War, and in 1801-1817 was County Clerk of Jefferson County, Va., their children being Robt. C. Hite, married Courtney A. Briscoe, and was Clerk of Jefferson County; Frances Madison, married James L. Ranson, Susan Rutherford, married John R. Flag; Mary E., married Richard B. Beckwith; Margaret entered a convent. Jacob O'Bannon Hite, mentioned as the third son of Ja- cob, was killed by Indians in South Carolina. The mention of this incident very properly intro- duces the very dramatic incidents in the life and death of Jacob, the father of the last named son. After his unsuccessful effort to secure the loca- tion of the County seat of Berkeley County on his land, he became dissatisfied with his sur- roundings and sold the larger portion of his land

in Berkeley County, and prepared to move his family to South Carolina. Before leaving, how- ever, he made ample provision for such of his family as desired to remain in Virginia. His son Thomas and his Daughter, Mrs. Willis, and his son George, as the family tradition gives it, endeavored to dissuade their father from this re- moval, he would not yield. Thomas and Mrs. Willis were given large tracts of well improved land not far away from their old homestead, and George was placed at William and Mary College; and then in 1786 he started on his southern jour- ney with his wife and younger children and his slaves, and a few neighboring families migrated with him. Kercheval says, "He had not been long settled in his new home in S. C. before the Indians murdered him and several of his family in the most shocking manner"-then adds-"be- fore the bloody massacre took place, an Indian squaw who was much attached to Mrs. Hite, called on her and warned her of the intended massacre, and urged her to remove with her little children to a place of safety. Mrs. Hite imme- diately communicated this intelligence to her hus- band who disbelieved the information, observ- ing "the indians were too much attached to him to do him any injury." The next morning, how- ever, when too late to escape, a party of Indians armed and painted in their usual war dress, called on Hite and told him they had determined to kill him. It was in vain that he pleaded his friendship for them, and the many services he had rendered their nation. Their fell purpose was fixed, and nothing could appease them but his blood and that of his innocent and unoffend- ing wife and children, they barbarously murdered Hite, his wife, and several of their children. After this terrible massacre they took two of his daughters, not quite grown, and all his slaves as prisoners, and carried off much plunder and booty." When we recall that Jacob Hite with his father spent the greater part of their lives with several Indian tribes, and were on friendly terms and understood Indian habits, customs and Indian treachery, it is strange that he allowed his de- lusion to overcome his caution and thus be sacri- ficed. Kercheval in his narrative concerning this massacre states that he obtained his information from Jacob's son, Col. James Hite, and then adds, "Mr. Hite kept a large retail store, and dealt largely with the Creek and Cherokee tribes. It is said a man by the name of Parrish who went to Carolina with Hite and to whom Hite had been very friendly, growing jealous of Hite's popularity with the Indians, instigated the savages to commit the murder, and then adds that about the year 1784 or 1785, he saw the late Capt. George Hite (Who had been an officer in the Revolution- ary Army), who had just returned from an un-

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Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia., Part 44

Author: Cartmell, T. K. (Thomas Kemp), 1838-1920 Publication date: 1909 Publisher: [Winchester, Va.] : [Printed by the Eddy Press Corp.] Number of Pages: 607

Author: Cartmell, T. K. (Thomas Kemp), 1838-1920
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: [Winchester, Va.] : [Printed by the Eddy Press Corp.]
Number of Pages: 607