Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia., Part 48

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

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The same year he gave a mortgage on a tract of land, and included several negroes. The young Captain borrowed the sum to pay an old debt on the farm. From this date he prospered. Old records show that Capt. Morgan was ac- cumulating property ; securing possession of valu- able tracts of land. One of these he desired to improve, and establish a home for his family. He had then married his only wife. This. was Abigail Bailey. (The name has been written Agazail in several transactions.) This tract con- tained 255 acres; and upon this he built the famous Saratoga Stone Mansion, during the time when he was enjoying his leave of absence from his command. He had been requested to re-

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cruit the regiments referred to. This virtually made him commandant of the Military District. He found the condition of the prisoners, confined in stockades near Winchester, deplorable; and adopted a plan to separate them, and provide for their employment. He made several large de- tails, and set them to work repairing roads in the vicinity of Winchester. One detail of 84 men he took under his own supervision, and undertook the work of quarrying stone for his own house. The men found it a healthful exercise; and no word of complaint came from them. But one of the officers of the Virginia Regiments, preferred charges against him for unjust and unauthorized treatment of the "Dutch prisoners." Morgan was requested to make his report to the War Office. The examination .of this report and his straight- forward statement together with affidavits made by some of the prisoners, exonerated Morgan; and he was allowed to control all the prisoners in his district. This met the approval of Joseph Holmes, the Deputy-Commissioner General of Prisoners. (See archives of War Dept., Class A, Convention Prisoners.) His house was com- pleted about 1782. His settlements with workmen in 1783, reviewed by the court, give itemized accounts of work done, for which they obtained judgment against the General. It is thought he spent about ten years at Saratoga, where his children were born. He was in Winchester in 1796, and is found about that time in the house on Ambler Hill, which in after years became the property of Rev. A. H. H. Boyd, D.D., now known as the home of the late Judge Joseph H. Sherrard. It was there he spent the remainder of his life; died there in 1802; and by his will it will be seen he left a large estate. This was executed 17th March, 1801, and witnessed by John Walton, Jacob Harmer, and Obed Waite. To this he added a codicil, 17th March, 1802, witnessed by Obed Waite, Hamilton Cooper, and John Kingan. His will is recorded in the Old District Court, and now on file in the County Clerk's Office of Frederick County. We may add a few of its provisions, to show briefly the ex- tent of his estate and names of his family. He declares, "his faculties of mind are good"; but being weak in body, expresses "an abiding faith in the atonement of my Blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." The first devise states he had executed two trust deeds on the same day, for "the place called Saratoga, containing 255 acres, also 407 acres adjoining the lands of Thomas Bryarly, the heirs of John Bell, deceased, Richard K. Meade, which was purchased of N. Ashby; also 311 acres adjoining Saratoga, purchased of Nathaniel Burwell, Esq., late of Isle of Wight County, deceased, also 100 acres, purchased of N. Burwell, Esq., of Frederick County, adjoining

Saratoga, all of which is in Frederick County, Virginia, also all the stock, slaves, household stuff, and furniture of the said place called Saratoga, and in the mansion house thereon, to hold in trust for my daughter Betsy Heard, wife of James Heard." This additional provision appears: "I now give, devise, to my said daughter Betsy Heard all my land in the State of Kentucky, whether granted for military services, or other- wise * * * * computed to be about ten thousand acres, to her absolutely. * * * * Five thousand acres in Tennessee, on Crow Creek, purchased of Major Armstead for five thousand dollars." A codicil changes this; and provides for his daughter during her life, and at her death, the several large tracts so devised, to pass absolutely to his grandchildren Matilda Heard, Nancy Mor- gan Heard, Daniel Morgan Heard, and Morgan Augustus Heard. This daughter seems to have touched the old General's sensibilities by the free use of his name. We may properly say here, that the son-in-law, Major James Heard, became a man of national prominence; and his children are freely mentioned in Kentucky history.

A liberal devise is made to his "Beloved wife Abigail, a farm of 278 acres and appurtenances absolutely." "And all the rest, residue and Re- mainder of my estate, real personal or mixed, I give, devise * * * * unto my wife Abigail, for and during the term of her natural life, and after her decease to my well beloved daughter Nancy Nevill, wife of Presley Nevill."

He also makes this "All my military lands in the Northwestern Territory I give, devise * * * to Presley Nevill, my son-in-law. to be disposed of at his discretion, to him, etc., forever."

The Morgan house in Winchester was erected by Genl. Morgan and has attached to it some traditions that may attract attention, one being that Hessian prisoners were employed in its con- struction. This has been proven untrue; since the erection of the edifice was about nine years after the prisoners had been released. It is barely possible that some of the prisoners who preferred to remain in Frederick County, were employed by Morgan, as there were men of this class who were skilled workmen. The original building embraced what is known as the Western half of the present structure. Alex. Tidball purchased the old place after the widow's death, from Nancy Nevill and others. The widow died at the home of her daughter near Pittsburg. Tidball made some additions ; and Dr. Boyd, when he first oc- cupied the property, completed the change. During Dr. Boyd's tenure, Morgan's two old military chests were stored in the old attic, and left in the house by the Boyd family when they vacated for Judge Sherrard. One of the chests later on was turned over to relic-hunters; and it is said that

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it became the property of one of his descendants, the wife of Admiral Robeley D. Evans. Genl. Morgan was buried in the old Presbyterian Churchyard. Over his grave was placed a large marble slab bearing this inscription :

"Major General Daniel Morgan departed this life on July 6th, 1802, In the 67th Year of his age Patriotism and Valor were the prominent Features of his Character ; And the honorable services rendered to his Country during the Revolutionary war Crowned him with Glory, and will remain in the hearts of his Countrymen A Perpetual Monument to his Memory."

Dr. Foote in his visit to this old Churchyard, while collecting incidents for Foote's Sketches of Virginia, gives this pathetic expression to his emotion, as he stood by this tomb: "Here, then, beneath this slab, the man whose voice could make soldiers tremble with his hoarse shoutings, lies as quiet as that infant there. What a man! A day laborer in this Valley some eighty years ago, a volunteer against the Indians, and marked by his commander as an officer for his enterprise and courage. A wagoner and an abused Colonial Militia-man in the service of his King. An officer of the Riflemen at the storming of Quebec with Montgomery, and at the battle of Saratoga, A major General in the Continental Army, * * * Around him here are the ashes of talent, learning and refinement, a congregation of youth and age."

Rev. W'm. Hill, D.D., Pastor of the old church, officiated at the funeral service, conducted in the old stone church.

During the Civil War, many depredations were made by Union soldiers. The Morgan slab suf- fered from such acts; pieces of which were broken off and carried away as relics. It was during the Summer of 1865, that an effort was made by some New Jersey visitors to even remove the slab and remains of the old hero to New Jersey. This was forestalled by the prompt and resolute action of Col. Wm. R. Denny and several other citizens of Winchester. They removed the old broken slab to a safe place; disinterred the re- mains in the night, and buried them in Mt. Hebron, in the lot the Cemetery Company had in the original plan reserved for Genl. Morgan's tomb. The spot has become historic now; the old slab was brought from its hiding and placed 'over the new grave, and there it remains, the

only monument to this truly great man. Many efforts have been made to erect an imposing shaft on this large plot, to preserve and perpetu- ate a memory of his noble deeds. A grateful Nation may some day atone for this neglect.

In the Old General Court held by Judges Rich- ard Parker and James Henry, at Winchester, Sept. 29, 1797, we find a record of the last public service rendered by Genl. Morgan: He was ap- pointed foreman of the grand jury, which re- turned several indictments, one being against his friend, Samuel Washington, for assault.

Gabriel Peter Muhlenberger, Minister, General in War 1776.

The author has many enquiries from persons interested in the life and character of such men as Genl. Muhlenberg; and answering same, will briefly touch upon matter taken from reliable sources.

Pennsylvania Archives of History, substantiates much that has been said of this man, who flashed as a meteor in the Shenandoah Valley, and ap- parently disappeared.

The Sketch of the Lutheran Church in this work, gives what the writer deemed sufficient at the time; but enquiries show the contrary. Ga- briel Peter Muhlenberg was ordained a Minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1768; served several years with churches in New Jersey; married Anna Barbara Meyer, 6th Nov. 1770, in New Jersey. New fields were opening in Vir- ginia that offered him inducements. In order to serve as pastor in Virginia, he must be or- dained by a Bishop. The Swedish branch of the Lutheran, or Reformed Church required this. This branch had always retained bishops; and their discipline required their pastors must be ordained and consecrated by a bishop-and to re- ceive the benefit of the tithes in Virginia, he must be ordained by an English Bishop; so he resigned his charge in New Jersey, and, quoting from his journal: "We sailed March 2, 1772"; and states that he and two other Americans were ordained at the same time, 23rd April, 1772, at Kings Chapel, St. James, by the Bishop of Lon- don, Mr. Braidfoot and Mr. White being the two others. On his return to America, 1772, he took charge of the Woodstock Church, as shown in the Church Sketches. On the 21st March, 1776, Col. Muhlenberg marched his 8th Regiment to Suffolk, Va. Subsequent to this, he and his Regiment served in the Carolinas. After this, he returned to the Valley and other places in Virginia, to recruit for the Virginia Regiments. April Ist, 1777, we find him at the head of a Brigade formed from the regiments he had organized. They were the Ist, 5th, 9th, and 13th regiments. They were marched to New Jersey. The German Regiment,

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8th, was assigned to a German Colonel. Genl. Muhlenberg was engaged in the campaigns of the North. At the close of the War, he proceeded to the falls of the Ohio, (Louisville), and located his land warrant for 13,000 acres of land. He stood for election for the Third Congress of the

United States; was accorded a seat in that body 1793; and served several terms; was elected U. S. Senator from Pennsylvania in 1801; resigned to accept the appointment of Collector of Port at Philadelphia, which he held until his death at his home near that city, Oct. Ist, 1804.

CHAPTER L

Colonial Homesteads and Those of the Nineteenth Century

The writer in his study of old historic events of the County, always derived pleasure in any information that could designate the location of some of the homesteads of the old settlers, and date of erection; and for this reason, he will take some space to reproduce not only these, but also such as he discovered by close investigation. It may prove interesting to readers 'ere this Twentieth Century closes.

Kercheval, in his history of the Valley, mentions quite a number of fine houses he had seen, but fails to mention any belonging to the Colonial period, and only one prior to the year 1800. This seems very strange; for it is well established that several good stone houses were built between 1750 and 1770, and the owners were well known to the Valley historian. As already shown in sketches of the Hite family, Joist Hite and his son John were building stone houses in 1747; and in 1753 the splendid stone house now owned by the family of Harry Hack, was built.

The old Cartmell stone house was built in 1771, known as Homespun, now the property of Dr. Henkel. The date can be seen in the South gable. About 1810 Martin Cartmell added to the original a stone structure, which he called the Ball-room addition. The first floor was called the drawing room, while the second floor was the ball-room. This building grew unsafe, owing to faulty foundation, as affirmed by the owner, while others hinted that its dedication had somewhat to do with its fate. After standing about forty years, it was thrown down, leaving the original building, which from present appearances, may be seen in good condition a hundred years since.

Greenwood

On the Opecquon, from the head spring down to the stone buildings erected by Hite, can be seen several remnants of original Colonial houses. The Grenwood homestead, now owned by the Steck family, where Samuel Glass, the emigrant, settled in 1736, where he erected a large log building for his residence. To this was added a wing by his descendants; and still later, about the year 1800, the log structure was covered with wide plank nailed on with nails made by negro slaves of the family. Later still, in the 19th Century (1850) the old planks were removed and

more modern style adopted to cover the old log- house. It was during this change, the writer saw the huge logs of the original building, and learned much concerning its history from two old negro women then supposed to be over 100 years of age, slaves of the original owner. The old logs contained many markings of the workmen, indi- cating the date of erection, and time table of car- penters, etc. The whole structure perfectly sound. To this, the present owners have added many improved conditions, but in no other way have disturbed the old emigrant's building. Green- wood was the home of Mr. James Carr Baker and his family. Here he reared his four chil- dren. The writer, by his alliance with this family, became part of the old homestead. Memories too tender to mention in this volume, cluster there still. His two children were born under the old roof-tree!

Belleville, now the property of John Cochran, and for many years owned respectively by L. G. Miller, Stacy J. Tavenner and Wm. R. Camp- bell, was the home of Mr. Becket, a son-in-law of emigrant Glass. His first house was the log cabin which served for his home until 1774, when the present stone house was in process of build- ing, not finished, however, until after the Revo- lutionary War.

Cherry Meade, lower down the stream, now the property of John G. Miller, was founded by David Glass, son of the emigrant. The house was a large log building. The original structure re- mains, with some additions made by subsequent owners. The old logs are no longer in view. Thomas Kramer succeeded Mr. Beckett and held it until 1840, when R. Madison Campbell made it his home until about 1873. Some of the tenderest memories of the writer are indissolubly linked with Cherry Meade while it was the hospitable home of Mr. Campbell.

Long Meadows, now the property of Robert J. Glass, was settled by Robert Glass, son of the emigrant. The family name has always retained ownership of this magnificent homestead. At one time the estate embraced 920 acres of the most fertile land on the Opecquon. Several large tracts were sold off subsequent to the Civil War, thus reducing Long Meadows to its present boun-

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daries. The stone house now seen is on the original site built prior to 1800; adjoining it on the West is the old stone building used by the neighborhood as a Fort during Indian forays. Around this old building a stockade was erected in 1755. Major Glass was commissioned by the County Court to summon Minute Men to assist in fortifying against Indians. The General As- sembly voted him an allowance for supplies fur- nished his little garrison.

Colvin's Fort, lower down the stream, was erected by the settlers-a stone building-and re- mains in fair condition to this day. This now is the farm owned by the Jones Brothers. Joseph Colvin, who first settled near the site of this fort, removed his family to a place on upper Cedar Creek and there built a small fort. This has caused some confusion. Colvin became a prom- inent citizen of that section, as stated in previous chapters.

Several old stone houses built along the East- ern base of the North Mountain during the Colo- nial period, are yet in good condition. The one occupied for many years by the widow Richard and her family, near Mountain Falls, P. O., was supposed to have been erected by Isaac Zane. One other to the Southwest, on Cedar Creek, known during the 19th Century as the Col. Frye homestead, is doubtless still standing, but none of the citizens of that section can identify it. The building was pointed out to the writer many years ago, who at this date recognizes the build- ing as that occupied by Mr. - Fauver.

Hayfield, once known as the John White Fort, now occupied by Lee M. Orndorff, is near the post-office of that name, where will be seen an old brick house. This was built by Major Robert White prior to 1780-the preceise date not ob- tainable. This was where Dr. White, son-in- law of Wm. Hogue, first settled in 1739. This property remained in the possession of his des- cendants until about 1850, when it was purchased by Robert Brown, father of our popular stock- dealer Albert Brown, Esq. Later on it became the property of J. Howard Cather, son of James Cather, Esq.

Falling away to the Eastward, we enter the territory famous for colonial homesteads, but as that section is now embraced in Warren, Clarke and Jefferson Counties, only brief mention will be given.

The most notable was Greenway Court, the home of Lord Fairfax, and for many years has been the home of the Kennerly family, the res- idence buildings seen there at this writing, were not the Greenway Court residence used by Lord Fairfax. The Rev. Kennerly about 1830 erected the brick mansion so prominently seen at Green-

way Court at this time. His lordship seemed disposed to adopt simple methods for his Ameri- can home. There is little to be seen now that was used as his residence. For many years, the Greenway Court office building was well pre- served. Originally it was a long one-story stone building standing on a sloping hill-side, as de- scribed by Washington Irving: "One story in height, with dormer windows with two wooden belfries, chimneys studded with swallow and martin coops, and a roof sloping down, in the old Virginia fashion, into low, projecting eaves that formed a verandah the whole length of the house. It was probably the house originally oc- cupied by his steward or land-agent, but now devoted to hospitable purposes and the recep- tion of guests. As to his lordship, it was one of his many eccentricities that he never slept in the main edifice, but lodged apart in a wooden house not much above twelve feet square." This building made of logs hewn square and fitted closely upon each other, with corners mortised into square logs as corner posts, produced a cabin that endured all encroachments of changing sea- sons, as well as the relic hunter. The old lime- stone building became dilapidated long before the log-cabin showed any signs of decay. Portions of the historic building still remain. Capt. Jos. M. K. Kennerly's father erected the comfortable residence long before the Civil War, and as near the site of the old Colonial buildings as possible. Greenway Court was occupied by Thomas Bryan Martin nephew of Lord Fairfax prior and sub- sequent to the Revolutionary War. The old Co- lonial building referred to, was a wooden build- ing in three sections, as described by Mr. Wil- liam C. Kennerly, son of Rev. Thomas Kennerly who erected the brick house in 1833. Mr. K. says that "the first section was built by Lord Fairfax when he came to reside at the Court, was a room 20 feet square and used as a banquet- ing hall" and that Col. Thomas Bryan Martin his nephew added 20 feet more, and that 20 feet was added to this by Mr. Kennerly's grand- father, making a long one-story building; and in this house Lord Fairfax died, and he, William C. Kennerly was born. Mr. K. also says : "There were lodging offices for the guests of my Lord scattered about in the yard." He also says: "When I was a boy, there was an old wooden building used by my father as a black- smith shop. This was the arsenal and powder magazine used by Lord Fairfax when he was County Lieutenant."

Carter Hall, the home of the Burwell family during the Colonial period and throughout the 19th Century, had no equal in the class of Co- lonial homesteads. Located near Millwood, in

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a natural forest, the magnificent palatial man- sion has always attracted attention, and has be- come famous for its architecture and princely equipment. All the environments suggest to the visitor beauty and grandeur, harmonized by a master genius with lavish expenditure. The splendid homestead was designed and erected by Nathaniel Burwell, who came from the renowned Carter's Grove near Williamsburg, and spent his long life on this estate, where his descend- ants have ever maintained the reputation of the family for hospitality. About 1904 a Mr. Rich- ardson of St. Louis purchased the homestead; he never occupied it however. At this writing it is going back to the Burwell family, Mr. Town- send having purchased this remnant of his an- cestry for $60,000. About 500 acres of the old grant goes with the purchase.

Saratoga the home of Powell Page, Esq., has its Colonial history. The writer will briefly mention this renowned place, lest he weary the reader with repetition of an oft-repeated story: This Morgan building, as it was once called, was erected by Genl. Daniel Morgan; and, as often stated, the work was done by prisoners during the time he was commandant of the prison camp. He first built a stockade containing four acres, and there "exercised" the prisoners daily, so his report says. Conveying the stone material for building this house, among the prisoners, were many stonemasons and good workmen. The General reports that "His own health was im- proved and the condition of the camp was free from epidemic diseases." The General's health had given way from hard service, and he was assigned to the command of the Convention prison.

The brief notice given the two prominent Co- lonial establishments in that section of the Old County, distinguished as three counties, is only intended to call the reader's attention, to what he must behold to fully appreciate. We find dotted here and there in the beautiful country lying between the Opecquon and the Shenan- doah River, many magnificent places full of his- toric interest. A few may be seen with well- preserved Colonial styles, but the conspicuous homesteads are those that were built subsequent to the Revolutionary War.

The Page, Burwell, Randolph and Nelson fami- lies have occupied well known places-Saratoga, Pagebrook, Whitehall, Fairfield, New Market; Clifton, home of the Allen family; Shenstone and Sherwood, were built in latter part of the 18th Century.

Willow Brook. There are several old home- steads in Warren County, which must remain

unnoticed here. Before leaving this section, there is an old Virginia homestead the writer has long known, deserving special mention. And many readers of this volume of reminiscences will doubtless associate some incidents of their lives with Willow Brook, the home of the Cook family for about one hundred years. The writer knew Willow Brook as the home of Mr. Samuel Cook, son of William, who laid the foundation for this celebrated old Virginia home in 1810. As the name indicates, the weeping willow trees in their majestic grandeur lined the banks of the brook leading from the famous Springs of pure water that unceasingly gush from the limestone ledges. The old mansion is of the type adopted immediately after the Revolutionary War by the gentry of the country. Substantial, unique in architecture, occupying well-chosen site, with landscape so varied, the Blue Ridge so impres- sive, just to the East, with its great oaks and rock-ribbed pinnacles-presented the appearance of a long line of sentinels; while the sighing ce- dars were in the intervening plain stretching out from the homestead toward the Shenandoah. While this old estate presented so much for ad- miration, while wandering along the shady brook, the hospitable old Virginian was ever ready to give hearty welcome and good cheer to those who crossed the threshold of Willow Brook, and none left its spacious precincts without comfort. Mr. Cook and his family were well qualified for all that was needed to impress their guests that they had been in the presence and companionship of a Virginia family of the old-school type. From his birth in 1818 to his death in 1893, Mr. Cook knew no other home than Willow Brook. His only child, Mary Evelyn, survived him until with- in the last few years. All gone-but the old homestead still governed by one of the old fam- ily name, Judge Giles Cook of Front Royal being its present owner.

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Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia., Part 48

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