USA > Virginia > Some prominent Virginia families, Volume II > Part 64
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Sneers, is of very little consequence, and the argument about the Fire is too abstruce for my comprehension; and as to what is said of Holt's depend- ancy, his honor puts it entirely out of dispute, His Honor and Mr. Holt being the only Person that to my knowledge had ever Charged me, and in the same Phrase almost; with selling Liquors illegally. The ones expression being on "Common Fame" the other "Reports and Beliefs," and I having defyed both to produce a single instance of the Fact; was, I confess, what chiefly induced me to fancy they had previously talked of the matter. But upon this head, I had, it seems recommended to his honors consideration the words of our Saviour upon the Woman taken in Adultery, when I assure him, that tho' it was not in his power to Convict me of dealing unlawfully with slaves. Yet it was in my power to convict him of doing so. That I myself (who had never been Five times in his Store in my life.) had seen a Negro ehange a Pistole and lay out Sixteen Shillings of it in his store in the veriest baubles in the world, where in too he was encouraged and allured by the store-keeper. His honour's argu- ments being extreme niee and judicious, I will transcribe. "As to dealing with servants and slaves, the Legislature were obliged to forbid everything of the sort, as it was not possible to preserve a distinction between sueh traffick (if they allowed any) as might be innocent; and that which would be injurious to them and their Master's service. Yet doubtless a principal cause of the prohibition was to prevent their being. supplycd with Spirituous Liquors which deprives them of their small share of reason and make them untractable and unfit for their servitude; and if they (the Legislature) could have enforced such a distinction I presume they would not have been so Cruel as to prohibit their furnishing them- selves with such necessaries or trifles as they may incline to buy with the produce of that small portion of labour those unhappy creatures are allowed to devote to their own purposes. But (adds his Honor) "I agree with you that the whole is illegal, and therefore not defensible as I do etc, I think (says his Honor, in a paragraph preceding this last) "That the only part of my conduct towards you that can furnish a pretence of suspecting me of ill will or resentment against you, is my Letter in which I touched upon the Practice of selling Liquors to Servants and Slaves, and the reason of my doing it was not so much to Convince you that you were not an inoffensive man to Society; as in hopes to give a check to that unprofitable and disagreeable correspondence you had opened with me etc. As this last wears the face of openess and Truth, I allow it some sort of merit, but surely it would have been more genteel and less severe to have forbid a disagreeable correspondence with the utmost austerity and ill nature, without assigning any reason, rather than to seek for an excuse in ungrounded scandal and defamation (too much the mode of this country) to the ruin of a person's Character, when perhaps it is the only support or comfort he has in the world. There is a sincerity which I don't wholly dislike in his honours regarding recommendations as a modern custom only of Shifting from Friend, as it in a great measure ac- counts for his behaviour towards one, and for aught I know there may be
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too much Truth in the observation. Yet I am sure there are some excep- tions, and whereas He demands what I expected he should say or do to Bolling, Holt, Palmer, Wetherburn, and others who have injured me, I can only repeat what has already been hinted to him. That had any of these people known or believed me to have been in the least degree of favor with his honor, or at all under his protection, not a single soul of them would ever have dared to have wronged or insulted me.
Favour, Countenance, and Protection in what was Legal, Just and right, (only) being all I ever craved, hoped or expected. By this (my good Friend) and much more which you will clearly perceive might have been justly urged had I been at all ambitious of a dispute or Controversy with this great man: you will be satisfied I indulged no such appetite (sup- posing I had any such) for quitting all the advantages that Truth and his weak cavils afforded me; I kept my mind almost entirely on the last Paragraph of his Letter, which was this "Yet if you think of any thing, in which I can really serve you." You may freely apply, and laying aside any Resentment; you at least may have raised in my breast; I will endeavor to show you how far a gloomy and suspicious temper of mind may lead a man astray, in forming his Judgment of anothers conduct towards him. I am etc.
Instead I say, of imitating by controverting of Facts some few expected relating to the judgment or opinion he had formed on my conduct or character, founded on conjecture or suspicion only: but this with all the delicacy and caution, in my Power: My endeavors were Chiefly employed in using such arguments as might tend to Mitigate or extinguish the Resentment, he seemed, himself so generously inclined to subdue: inti- mating, at last my determination of proceeding to Brittain early in the approaching summer (if my circumstances, or ability would allow me to do so.) This I sent to him the close of March, or very early in April; and in a letter dated York, April 7, 1755. He returned me a kind and very friendly answer; assuring me of his desire of doing any thing in his power to change the face of our affairs, inviting me for that End to some Conversation with him in Williamsburg, that week on the subject, pro- posing in the mean time, to my consideration, my taking a trip to Phila- delphia this Spring; it being (as he said) more than probable by the help of a letter which he should give me to a leading man there, I should get into some agreeable Business. That of 8 or 10 Pistoles were wanting to defray the charge, they were at my command. Yet after all (he adds) if that hope should fail, and I should still desire to embark for England, I will endeavor to make your voyage as easy and of as little expense to you as I can. Tho many perhaps at my time of Life would have made some difficulty in undertaking such a Journey, I entertained the proposal with the utmost alacrity and satisfaction, and the affair was soon settled and concluded on between us. Tho' I declined taking any money of Mr. Nelson, in order to arm against the worst that might happen, I accepted of a draught of Twelve Pistoles on Mr. Allin, the Person I was recommended to; not purposing to produce it unless I was distressed.
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Mr. Nelson's letter which he gave me open, was in the Kindest and warmest terms that can be conceived; saying also much more in my behalf, than I could either have desired or hoped for. Mr. Walthoe who neither aimed to retard or encourage this Business; when he found it resolved on, resolved within himself it should not fail for want of his aid, so he furnishel me with money, obliging me to take a Doubloon more, after I had received what I had declared fully sufficient; which indeed enabled me to purchase the Horse I was to Ride, that otherwise I should only have hired. My wife, as I was informed (for we never con- versed since the falling out with Mr. Nelson) had no good opinion of the adventure, but compared it with that of our coming to Virginia; so I set out without taking any leave of her, or in Truth, of any one of my Family ; not as they were unacquainted with the supply I had of Mr. Walthoe, I believe they imagined it was utterly out of my power to have procured. My Horse etc, ete, being overnight prepared at Mr. Lyons, I set out on my Journey on Monday Morning May 12th, 1755, about 4 o'clock, just as Day was breaking. As I lay in a separate Building, detached from the rest of our Habitation and alone; It was easy for me to remove without disturbing any Part of my Family. On Monday May the 12th, 1755 at Day Break, about half an hour after Four in the morning, I left Williams- burg to proceed by God's permission to Philadelphia. My Horse tho' of a tolerable size, extremely poor and weak, having in appearance been greatly abused, About Eight o'clock; by a slow Pace, I arrived at Chiswell's Ordinary. Two Planters in the Room, I went into were at Cards (all Fours) but on my arrival, retired into an inner Room. A letter directed to John Palmer Esqr, at Williamsburg lay upon a Table, which several Persons who were going thither viewed, but neither of them took the tron- ble of conveying it as directed; a common neglect, it seems, unless it happens to be an acquaintance, or the Person has a mind to see the Inside of the Letter, a Practice often Complained on. I breakfasted on Tea, and gave my Horse some oats, there being no corn, Hay or other Fodder to be had. Sct out a little after Nine, past Ashleys, something after Ten, where was a number of Planters at Nine Pins; and came to Claibornes about Twelve. Was an hour in passing here; by making a long slant up the River, upon the account of large marshes. This River is called Pamunkey, being the South branch of York River. After feeding my IIorse, I set out again about Two: past Mills Ordinary at Three, where were likewise a great Number of People at Nine Pins, and arrived at "Trapier's Ferry" at half an hour after Three; I had ordered my Horse in to the Boat with the View of Passing over, but being informed there was no Publick House on the other Side, I took up my Residence for the night here. This River called Mattapony is the North Branch of York River at this place, a mile over. This House is kept by one Mrs. Trapier (a 'widow) and her Son a youth of about (Sixteen) neat and obliging People. For Eating accord- ing to my general custom, I would have taken anything that was ready in the House, declining to accept some green Peas, which the good Woman offered me, as I presumed them to be, yet, a rarity; but she taking me
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into the Garden in order to convince me of her having plenty of such as even wanted gathering, I consented to her motion, and she provided me with an excellent supper. My Horse and Self were extremely well taken care of; and agreeable to her promise, I was put over the River by Four next morning. He records his Ist. Days travel the 12th of May, as 36 miles-his Living 6 Shillings and 7 pence and Ferrys 2 shillings. 13th -Got over the water this morning soon after Five; and to Mann's between Eight and Nine, tho' at first setting out, I lost my way, and came to the House of one Mr. George Brooke, within view of Mr. George Braxtons. Mr. Brooke behaved very cautiously, pressed me to alight, and breakfast with him, from both which, I excused himself; but accepted a small Dram. He took great pains in describing the different turnings I should meet with, in putting me into my right Road; but perceiving the many crossings and turnings too much for my memory, he stepped into the House, and in two minutes, returned, with the true ways I was to take, so well delineated upon Paper, the distances of remarkable Places, in my ways from each other; forked Roads especially laid down with a discon- tinnance of that which I should avoid; that before Eight a clock, I found myself at Mann's, without going a step out of my way to ask a single question. I fed my horse with Hominy Corn, which is Indian corn. pounded in a mortar to take off the the husks in order to be boiled in Water for making a kind of food resembling Wheat when prepared for making Turmity. The People of the House, plain honest countenances, baked me what they called an English Hoe Cake, or a Cake made of Wheat Flour. with some good Butter, and as I was provided with Tea and Sugar, with which and Coffee, they hapened to be unfurnished, I made an excellent repast. I left Mann's soon after nine, and got to R-a little after Twelve. This Ordinary belongs, it seems, to one Major R -- n a Person of influence in these Parts who obtains a Lysence at the County Court whereof he is himself a Member, and puts into it some Lazy Person or other, at a Salary, or so much per. cent, as is likely to pint off the greatest quantities of Liquors for him. This is a common practice in the Country, by which means, tho' the Proprietor (by the Courtesy) avoids the Reproach of being deemed an Ordinary keeper, and the scandal of what is then transacted; yet he reaps the greatest share of the Profits. The present Deputy of this Mansion, is a bold young Fellow Named D- -. The House has a mean look, standing naked upon a common, without any inclosure (not so much as a Garden) about it. Fodder and Oats [ enquired for in Vain; but as he said he had Indian Corn, I was obliged to put up on account of my poor Horse who travelled now very faintly, and I was fearful of getting him no further this Day, My Host whom I by no means liked, had another very impudent Fellow along with him; who on coming in presented me with a part of Glass of Cyder, the relique of a bottle they had been drinking, assuring me it was right English. I declined the favour by telling them, I drank no Cyder; but desired some- what to eat; and my Land Lord demanding what I would have; I named a Chicken, Eggs, Milk, or such things which I presumed few Houses in
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the Country could well do without, but nothing of this could be had; my only choice was a piece of a broiled rusty Bacon and an Indian Hoe Cake. I desired the Hoe Cake might be got directly, without the Bacon, and in the mean time called for a Bottle of English Beer: a Bottle of which and a large Glass being brought, I drank to my Host, who filling for himself and his Companion left a little only in the bottom of the Bottle, (tho' enough for me) which however I proposed to reserve till the Hoe Cake came. Just at this Instant; a young man well behaved Gen- tleman (whose misfortune it was to have been in these Fellows Company before) alighted, and came in, him they helped off with a bottle of Cyder in the same manner they had done me with my Beer, a deal of low, font obscenity, they used to this young man, who seemed mortified and mueh ashamed of his acquaintance (the Common consequence of being ever familiar with such wretches.). As the Gentleman found he was going Nine Miles of my Road, he courteously offered me his Company; and upon my signifying my dread that my Horse would not keep up with his. or indeed go any further that Day, He assured me he would go my pace, adding by way of encouragement; he had often known Horses, seemingly tired, go on briskly upon joining Company. This was doing me a great favor, for I really thought my staying here not safe. So, the Hoe Cake now appearing, I drank up my Beer, paid my reekoning, and set out with the Gentleman, determining to try the utmost my Horse could do, rather than tarry in this place. This absurd Pride, so frequent here for a Justice of Peace or other person of rank, putting a loose Lazy fellow into his Ordinary, with the view of avoiding the reproach of his being himself the Keeper, which in Fact he is; cannot be sufficiently exploded and continued. For in my humble sense of the matter, the disorders and irregularities committed at such houses, are often time the Consequence of very needy circumstances in the Deputy of which the real Landlord takes a base advantage. But the Landlord himself, be he as skulking as he will, betrays herein his real principles, and in the Eye of common sense is accountable for every thing that is done.
As my Companion eonjeetured, my Horse went better than he had done any time on my journey; and tho' it was near Two when we set out, I was at Southerns Ferry, on the South side of Rappahannock River soon after Four. I was so pleased with the Country and good nature of this young man, that in our travelling together, I inquired his name: He said it was Hill a half Brother to a young man now with Mr. Hornsby in Williamsburg, whose name is Fry; his mother as I have been since informed, marrying with the late Col. Fry, the author of a very large Map of this part of the Continent.
In coming from Mills's Ordinary, by Trapins, to Southern Ferry; I foreeive, by common compertation, confirmed also by my wateh, there is 18 or 20 miles saved, by avoiding the Road, by Todds as laid down in the Almanacks; tho' the whole distance does not exceed Forty Miles. I was resolved in my own mind to have rested this night at Southerns, but on my approach to the House, it was no more than a mere Hut, full of
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rude, mean people, and tho' some of their countenances were not quite so unpromissing as those I left at Roans, they were attended with this ad- ditional diseouragement to me, that they were every one, as well as the Land lord, inflamed with Liquor and exceeding turbulent and noisy; So taking a feed of Corn with me into the Boat, which my Horse eat in his passage, I crossed the River Rappahannocks not so much as knowing or inquiring who was the real Proprietor of this last disorderly place of entertainment. In going over the River about Two miles wide, I could sec Leids Town on the other side Two or Three miles up the River, the Place I now intended to rest this night in; but thro' vile direction of the Negroes who put me over the water and would not go up the Bank to set me in the right path; I was very like to have lain in the woods or marshes all the night; and must have done so, but for Two Negroes whom I luckily met with, going home from their work, who put me into a path leading to the Road that way to Leids when I did not arrive till Seven o clock; and as near as I ean guess, after 7 or 8 miles Riding I put up at one Mr. T-ts, esteemed the best Ordinary in Town, and indeed the House and Furniture, has as elegant an appearance, as any 1 have seen in the country. Mr. Finnays or Withbernes in Williamsburg not excepted. The chairs Tables &c of the Room I was conducted into was all of Mahogany, and so stuft with fine large glaized Copper Plate Prints: That I almost fancied myself in Jeffriess' or some other elegant Print Shop. I had the happiness, at my first Coming in of my Landlords Company: who understanding I came from the Metropolis (and the assembly now sitting) gaped after news; he either was or affected to be troubled with the gout, for he came limping in upon a stick; When I had answered all his interrogatories, and he had picked what intelligence out of me he was able, and I calling at First for half a Pint of wine only, he vanished and I could see him no more; tho' I sent twice, (at supper and afterwards ) to request the favor of his Company, in hopes naming in my turn, some useful directions, in the ensuing Days January. His excuse was, first indisposition, and afterwards that he was gone to Bed; tho' the Boy who lighted me to mine, assured me he was then sitting with his House keeper, and that not one Person had been in the House since niy arrival. By what I could hear and pereceive myself of this Landlord who bears the name of honest Mr. T --; he like most of his Trade, propor- tions his regard, to their extravagance, in which respect, I was doubtless, too contemptible for his notice. The Ilost: he could tell me nothing of Rout I was to take, so that I was now quite destitute of intelligence. This House stands pleasantly upon the North side of the River, and a tolerable garden, seemed to be in as decent order, as most I have seen in America. The method of Single men having House keepers, is esteemed here very reputable and genteel. In the morning while my Breakfast and Horse were getting ready, I sought after some instructions for journey ; and as it happened, I found a Person up that kepped a store, who gave me such another draught of the road to Foes Ferry on Potomack River, as Mr. Brooke has favoured me with: Tho' 1 have been since informed,
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my truc Route was from Southerns on this Rappahanocke River to Lovels Ferry on Potomack River, It being not only a better Road, but I should have said, at least Ten or Twelve miles, in the Riding of Thirty, the only objection being, That at Foes the River is not more than five miles wide; but at Lovels to Cedar Point (in Maryland) it is Eight or Ten, Conse- quently in windy weather, the passage more difficult, and unsafe: but at this time of the year, no great danger was to be apprehended. The Gen- tleman's name who delineated the Road for me to Hoes Ferry is Thompson.
Col. Fendals-Maryland. May 14th, 3d Days ride 24 miles, food four shillings and Ferry 71/2d. Wednesday-It was after six this morning before I left Leeds Town, and I did not reach Hoes' till Two o'clock. This was a Dreary Day's Journey, tho but 24 miles, and I found my poor Beast quite tired; The way between Little Ferry and Hocs was very Hilly and uneven. Hoes Ferry is so called from the Person who keeps it. One Major Hoe. He asked me at first for a Pass and seemed scrupulous of putting me over for want of one, but on catichising me a little and giving him an account of the principal in and about Williamsburg, he took my four shillings and called his man to get ready the Boat. We were almost two hours in the passage. I landed in Maryland about four in the afternoon, and my horse already observed being greatly fatigued, I led him in my hand to one Col. F-s of whom, there being no Public House in many miles, I craved a Nights intertaiment. We had a deal of chat, among others, we mentioned as a grievance the power and influences the Roman Catholicks possess in this Colony; from whence I concluded he is not one himself. He ordered some cold meat and small beer to be set before me, of which I fed heartily, having tasted nothing since I left Leeds Town: but he did not invite mc to sup with his Family about 3 hours after, who retired into another room, when I observed several Dishes were privately ushered in; par- ticularly a fine Basin of Strawberries, some of which with a little milk, I should have been very well pleased with; however I went to Bed. This closed my 4th Days ride being 30 miles-cost of food 10.01. Ferry 1.1/2d. In the morning Thursday May 15th agreeable to his Promise: I found the Col. up endeavoring to draw me such a sketch of the Road as Mr. Brooks and Mr. Thompson had donc, but it was a task he was not equal to; Geography I perceived was not his talent, He recommended me to put a piece a of Bread and Cheese in my Pocket, but when I craved corn for my Horse. he hesitated saying Corn began to grow Scant; however he bid the Boy give me Two or Three Ears, who gave mne Four. I set out a little after five oclock, but had not traveled two miles before I lost my way thro' the wrong direction of an old Post and hand on which Annapolis was wrote, that led me into a watery unfrequented Path. came at length to a very poor Cot in the midst of a small Field of Indian Corn, out of which came a miserable poor, sick woman, with two young children almost naked, but they could give me no directions the woman having never heard of such places as I enquired for. She bid the coldest of the children (a little girl) let me out of the Field the way which she
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said would lead me to a Path; So I gave the Child Col. Fendal's Bread and Cheese, and bent my course as near as I could guess to the North East and had not traveled thus above a mile, before I perceived a Road before me go up a pretty high Hill, to which I made, and was pleased to find it lay in the course which I aimed to have. So I jogged on pretty briskly for three hours, without seeing one mortal, White or Black, till meeting with a poor man, he, to my Comfort informed me I was within 4 miles of Bryan Town, and in my right Road, observing about two Inmdred yards on my left hand, a tolerable Honse for this country, I asked the poor man what Person was the owner of it; he told me his name, but advised me not to go out of my way, for tho' he was a man of Substance, he was a very unhospitable Person. So I kept on to Bryan Town which is within more nor less than one poor Public House, the names of which I must change now from Ordinarys to Taverns. Here I found a good many people. Some drinking, others playing at Billiards, there being a very poor Table of that sort here. Two young Fellows came to me one after the other to inquire what I would please to drink; but departed instantly upon my declaring for Tea. I had then a youngish light woman attended me whom I took for the Land Lady; but she soon let me know she was only the House keeper, or servant to one of the men I had seen, and that he also was no more than a servant to the other who did not live in the Tavern, tho' he came every Day to watch the taking of the money. The Girl informed me too her native Country was Ireland. She provided me some good cake and butter, and with my own Tea, very well. I left this place ( Bryan Town) about twelve, and about Three got to Patuxent Ferry, the River here about a mile broad, where I crossed Lawn Marlbro. I came this road at the request of my Friend Mr. Andrew Whyte who engaged me to call upon his Uncle [Mr. John Waxdrop] who lived here. Some part of this days ride tho' lonesome, was pretty good traveling, but in some places between Bryan Town and lawn Marlbro' I should think it difficult for wheel carriages to get along. Mr. Wardrop was not at home, As the Negro winch some what churlishly informed me, but just as she had directed me to a Tavern in the Town, I. happening to tell her I had a letter from Mr. Whyte to her Master, she desired me to leave my Horse, which she said would be well cared for, and when I had reported myself at the Tavern, She invited me also to come back again and take a Lodging. The Fellow who took my Horse, discovered, at my alighting, that one side of his Belly was sadly galled with the girth, so I gladly embraced the Winches offer of awaiting Mr. Wardrop's coming home till tomorrow. His House is pleasantly situated on the East N East side of the River, with a good garden, and a large fine Common or Plain, behind it, adjoining to a useful Marsh. Some Woods at a distance afforded an agreeable view from whence morning and Evening I was entertained with the agreeable tho' mournful voice, of what they call the Turtle Dove, and I should incline to think the same that is mentioned in Scripture; for hardly anything can be imagined more ten- derly mournful. The Tavern as it is here styled, had but indifferent
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