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DAVID MEADE

At the age of eight years. From a painting by Thomas Hudson, the instructor of Sir

Joshua Reynolds. Painted in 1752.

CHAUMIERE PAPERS,

Containing Matters of Interest

TOTHB

DESCENDANTS OF DAVID MEADE

OP

NANSEMOND COUNTY, VA.,
Who died in the year 1757,

It is to be noted that these pages are not intended for* and never will be exposed to, public

inspection, and are intended only for the amusement, and, peradventure,

the edification of the House of Meade.**

EDITED BY

HENRY J. PEET

Chicago:

HORACE O*D0NO3HUE f BRIEF AND ABSTRACT PRINTER, 96-97 WASHINGTON ST-

1883.

FAMILY HISTORY

BY DAVID MKADI..

Andrew Meade, my paternal grandfather, was an
Irish Catholic, born in the Countv of Kerrv. Tradition
savs he left his native country, and went first to London,
and from thence came to New York, about the latter end
of the 17th century. He resided some years in New
York, and there married Mary Latham, of Quaker parent-
age, and some time after he removed to Virginia, and
settled permanently at the head of navigation on the
Nansemond River.

It has never been ascertained that he ever formally
renounced the Catholic faith, though he was manv years
a representative of his county in the House of Burgesses,
judge of the court, and senior colonel of the militia,* exe-
cuting these offices with advantage to his adopted country
and credit to himself, particularly the two former, for
which he was eminently qualified by education, which
was scholastic and supposed to have been received either
in France or Flanders. He is said to have been a large
man, of great corporeal strength and rather hard featured,
but of fine form. In the year 1745, he deceased, leaving
a character without a stain, having had the glorious
epithet connected with his name, long before he died, of
"The Honest."

* From his holding these offices, we may certainly conclude that he had
renounced it, since test-oaths were required of such officers, and he was reputed
to be an honest man. In this I am further confirmed by the fact that the
name of Colonel Andrew Meade stands first on the list of vestrymen in the
year 1743, when the list I have commences. — [Bis/top Meade in 4t The Old
Churches and Families of Virginia^ " /. 392.

Anything further than is above related relative to
the origin of my grandfather is chiefly conjecture. When
I was in England, I was much noticed by the Irish, and
very particularly by Lady Forbes and her son, the Hon.
Mr. Forbes, who, after the death of his grandfather and
father, became Earl of Grenard. Counsellor Murphy, an
Irish Catholic, a cousin of my father, who had chambers
in the Temple, but, being a Catholic, could not appear at
the bar, was unremitting in his attentions to me. I do
not know from what source I received the information,
but I understood that his brother was in the French
service, and was high in command, under Count Lalley,
in the East Indies during the war of 1758, and that his
uncle and patron was Colonel Meade, of the Irish brigade,
and a man of much interest at the Court of Versailles.
The Clan William coat of arms is the same as ours. The
honors of that house originated in the reign of George IL ,
and, I believe, not very early in it.

The many circumstances above noted, relative to
Andrew Meade, of America, being taken into considera-
tion, it is not an improbable hypothesis, that being
unfriendly to William the Third s succession to the throne
of England, he was forced out of his native country, not
unhappily for him, as it appears, as his fortune in America
was benign, nor has it been unfortunate for his progeny.

He left a son, David, and a daughter, Priscilla,
who married Wilson Curie, of Hampton. David Meade,
the son, inherited the paternal estate, and about the year
1729 or 1730, married Susannah Everard, the elder of
the two daughters of Sir Richard Everard, Bart., of
Broomfield Hall, Much Waltham Parish, in the County
of Essex, England, and Susannah Kidder, his wife, eldest
daughter of Dr. Richard Kidder, Bishop of Bath and
Wells.

My grandfather, Sir Richard Everard, when a young
man, was a captain in Queen Anne's army, and it is

probable was with Sir George Rooke, admiral of the
British fleet, when he took Gibraltar, as he remained in
garrison eighteen months, being so long against his
inclinations stayed there by his sense of honor altogether,
he having but recently married a young wife, and he
resigned his commission immediately on his return to
England. He was for a few years proprietary governor
of North Carolina, which position he resigned about the
year 1730, soon after all the proprietors, except Lord
Granville, sold out to the crown, not being in any credit
at court ; for although he had served Queen Anne as
captain in her army, he was probably no friend to
Hanoverian succession. I have heard my mother say
that he, as well as several others of the Essex Baronets,
found it convenient to make himself as little conspicuous
as possible during the rebellion of 171 5, at the beginning
of George the First's reign.

The Lords Proprietors were all particular friends of
Sir Richard, and it has been understood in the family
that his patrimony had been much reduced by adven-
turing in the South Sea bubble, and he accepted from the
proprietors the government of North Carolina to repair
his estate. At his death, he left his dame all the estate
of every kind which he possessed, in event of her sur-
viving their eldest son, as is recorded in her will, to be
found among my papers. Her will appears to have been
written before the death of her eldest son, Richard,
who, by the death of his father, inherited the title of
Baronet. Hugh, the younger son, survived his brother,
and succeeded to the honors of the family, but not the
estate, as he was disinherited, for what cause is unknown
to the family at this day. He was killed in a naval
engagement. His name is still continued on the list of
English Baronets. By his death, an ancient family
became extinct in the male line, and in my person is con-

tinued in the female, I being the eldest son of the eldest
daughter of Sir Richard Everard.

" Dame Susan Everard," as she is styled in the
Testament, left her estate, in the event of her eldest son's
dying without heirs (which proved to be the case), to her
two daughters, Susannah Meade and Ann Everard, a
spinster, but who unadvisedly married Lathbury, who
held some office in the Tower, and who dissipated her
estate. By the will, all her jewels and the furniture of a
house in London were left to my mother. The furniture
of Broomfield Hall is not mentioned. The real property
left to the two children consisted of Broomfield Hall, in
the Parish of Much Waltham and County of Essex, a
farm, called the Walnut Tree Farm, in the same county,
also a copyhold farm in Hardfordshire, also the freehold
of Heathfield, in Sussex, with a handsome mansion on it,
which is said to be the precise spot on which the battle of
Hastings was fought, between the Saxon King Harold and
William the Norman, and from which place Lord Heathfield
takes his title. It was afterwards sold by my mother and
her sister. Also Tower-head farm, in Somersetshire, near
the city of Wells, which was devised solely to my mother,
Susannah Meade, and was sold by my father. On this
farm was built by her grandfather, Dr. Richard Kidder,
Bishop of Bath and Wells, a mansion with a chapel, for
his wife's accommodation, in tbe event of her surviving
him, which did not happen, for they were both killed in
bed together in the Episcopal Palace of Wells, by the fall
of a stack of chimneys, on the night of the great storm of
the year J 703.

Langleys, in Essex, once a royal residence, after-
wards became the seat of the Everards, and was sold by
my maternal grandfather.

My father, David Meade, some time before his mar-
riage, made an acquaintance with the family of Sir Richard
Everard, who resided at Edenton, the then seat of gov-

eminent of North Carolina, where an attachment, perfectly
romantic, was mutually formed between my father and the
eldest daughter of Sir Richard.

A century ago, Hampton Roads was the receptacle
of nearly all the ships which loaded within the waters of
Chesapeake Bay, and the chief part of the trade from
North Carolina with England was through Hampton
Roads. Having relinquished his government, Sir Richard
Everard and his lady and two daughters became the
guests of my grandfather Meade, he living convenient to
Hampton Roads, where the ship lay in which they had
taken their passage to England. From some cause or
other, the ship was delayed longer than was expected,
which delay proved favorable to my father's views, who
had but little expectation of obtaining the parent's con-
sent to his marriage with their daughter in Virginia, and
he was preparing to accompany the family to England,
when the earnest entreaties of his father, who was dis-
tressed at the thought of being so long and so widely
separated from his only son, prevailed upon the parents
of my mother to consent to an immediate marriage.
They, with the most entire confidence in his honor and
affection, put their daughter under the protection of her
enraptured lover. No pair ever enjoyed more happiness
in the hymeneal state than they did. They were both of
them very young when they came together, and with very
little experience in mankind, brought up under the eyes
of fond and virtuous parents.

My father was of handsome person and fine stature.
He lived a monotonous and tranquil life. The purity of
his heart corresponded with the symmetry of his person.
He was the most affectionate of husbands, the tenderest
of parents, and the best of masters, and an ingenuous and
sincere friend. Brought up in his father's house, with
such a pattern, he "could not but be just, generous and
hospitable. If it were thought to detract anything from

8

his merits, it would not be here recorded that he had
never studied human nature. Ever disposed to believe
men to be what they should be, if he detected an indi-
vidual deviating from strict probity, he considered him a
monster. Venial faults excited in him astonishment, and
crime horror. In fine, he was a truly virtuous man, but
no philosopher. He deceased in the year 1757, being
then in his 47th year.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DAVID MEADE;

DAVID MEADE, the grandson of Andrew and eldest
son of David, was born July 29th, old style 1744. In
infancy he was so infirm and sickly that his fond parents,
thinking that a change of climate might improve his
health and prolong his life, determined to send him to
England, with a view at the same time to his education.
Soon after he had passed his seventh year he embarked
in Hampton Roads, under the protection of Mr. John
Watson, a particular friend of his father, on board a new
schooner, Capt. Bowman. The other cabin passengers
were the Rev. Miles Seldon, as he became after receiving
holy orders, and Don Ronello, the captain of a galleon
from La Vera Cruz stranded upon the coast of North
Carolina, his secretary, and one officer of the ship. The
passage was favorable until the last night the passengers
remained on board, when, at twelve o'clock, the night
being very dark and wind blowing fresh, the schooner
struck upon the Goodwin sands in the channel, and
continued to strike with such increased violence that it
was expected by all on board that she would every minute
go to pieces. In this dreadful situation -all hands,
including the passengers, were on deck, some way or
other employed, except the was-to-be clergyman and his
terrified messmate, who remained on their knees in the
cabin from twelve at night until eight in the morning,
when they and the rest of the passengers were taken on
shore at Deal by boats from that place. The Spanish
captain was impressed with the belief that Heaven had
conceded the preservation of the sinners on board to
the prayers of the seaiien, not allowing any credit to
those of the parson.

IO

Mr. Watson passed with his young companion to
Canterbury, where they visited the Cathedral ; thence to
London, arriving at night ; but how great was the young
stranger's disappointment, when, on looking out of the
window, or door, next morning, he saw nothing but high
houses built of materials which were not new to him, and
black streets paved with round stones, instead of houses
of gold and streets paved with diamonds, for his imagina-
tion had been thus early highly excited by fairy tales,
such as the Arabian Nights. He was seized with a violent
fever, which cost his parents no uneasiness (they knew
nothing of it until he was well), but a good deal of
money. Three physicians attended him many weeks,
and part of the time twice a day. When he had attained
to convalescence he was sent to a boarding school, more
for the benefit of country air than for tuition. From
thence he was removed to Harrow and had the good for-
tune to be placed under the care of the Rev. Dr.
Thackeray, Archdeacon of Surrey and Chaplain to the
Prince of Wales, head master of Harrow school. He was
received by the venerable, worthy Doctor and his pious,
charitable, and in every respect exemplary lady into their
family as their adopted son, and for five years became
bound to them by ties much stronger than those of
nature, insomuch that the most affecting event of his
whole life was his separation from them. At Harrow he
made many a school acquaintance, which, if he had culti-
vated as long as he remained in England, with a view to
the advancement of his fortune, would not have disap-
pointed his expectations, in all probability; but, although
a boy, and a subject at that time, and surely without any
presentiment of the future destiny that was in reserve for
him and his brethren in America, viz. : that of being ele-
vated from the humble station of subject to the eminent
distinction of citizen, he neither felt nor acknowledged
any superiority in those schoolfellows and playmates who,

1 1

themselves, were decorated with honorary titles, or whose
fathers were titled men. He associated upon equal terms
with any Lord, Duke, or Sir Harry. It may, however,
be proper to mention the names of one schoolfellow
(several years over the age), and one other to whom he
was under greater obligations than to any others, for their
uniform kindness up to the time he left the Kingdom.
The Hon. George Forbes, late Earl of Grenard, father to
the present Earl, was, perhaps, the most steady, warm
friend he had in England, with the exception of Dr.
Thackeray and his wife, who were father and mother to
him. At the house of Lady Forbes he always spent a
time, and from my Lady received all the attention and
tenderness of a near relative. James West, his bedfellow
at Harrow, was the other friend to be noticed. He
was the son of the member of Parliament for St.
Albans, nephew to Lady Grantly, Attorney-General
Norton, and brother to Lady Archer, well known for
fifty years in very gay, elevated life. Titles were familiar
at Harrow, but no more will be mentioned. It must not
be forgotten that the professed scholar and great linguist.
Sir William Jones, was at Harrow school at the time
he was, and if Dr. Parr was his friend, the son of Mr.
Parr, the apothecary of Harrow, he was likewise at school
at the same time, and well remembered by him. The
succession of masters at a school so prominent as that of
Harrow-on-the-Hill is no doubt registered in the records
of that institution, but it probably does not set forth the
causes of the removal of such as were superseded.

The case of Doctor Cox, the head master immediately
before Doctor Thackeray, was singular and somewhat
tragic. Of the proprietors of Pennsylvania, John and
Richard Penn, who were the last proprietary governors of
that province (now State) were at Harrow school, and it
is probable boarded (with many other boys) at the head
master's. John, as it was said, contracted a fondness for a

12

daughter of Doctor Cox, and married her clandestinely.
It was suspected by the family of Penn and his connec-
tions, that the Doctor had connived at the elopement; but
whether he did or not/the unfortunate Doctor Cox and
his guiltless daughter became the sad victims of their
resentment. The Doctor was disgracefully discharged
from the honorable station of head master of Harrow
school. She soon after died of a broken heart, and her
father, deprived of his living and his reputation, did not
long survive her. It is well known in America that John
Penn afterwards married the daughter of Mr. Allen, of
Philadelphia. The pecuniary advantage of Mr. Penn's
marriage with Miss Allen was probably much greater than
the first which he contracted with Miss Cox: demonstrably
not more honorable, but perhaps less so. The above nar-
rative will be found upon inquiry not to be apocryphal.
The humble subject of this brief biography was present at
an arrow shooting at which his friend West won the prize
or arrow, at which time his honored, good, and venerable
pastor, Doctor Thackeray, having relinquished his seat of
head master on account of his age and the many sacerdotal
duties which he had to perform, took his farewell of Harrow,
leaving the succession to Doctor Sumner, well known at
Eaton, but afterwards better known as head master of
Harrow, having for many years filled the highest seat in
that seminary. He acquired for it so high a reputation
that the number of boys at it was augmented from less
than two hundred to more than five hundred. Eaton alone
cpuld boast of a greater number. After a residence of
about five years with Doctor Thackeray, he was, without
the knowledge or even indirect sanction of his parents,
violently removed from Harrow to a private school at
Dalfton, in Hackney parish, kept by Mr. James Graham,
whose son became a barrister of considerable eminence.
His brother, Richard Kidder Meade, not long before arrived
at London from Virginia, and was sent with him to Gra-

13

ham's school. During a continuance at Dalfton of two
years or more he made no progress in classical learning or
indeed in any other. Here it may not be amiss to note
that the progress which boys make at public or private
boarding schools in learning the dead languages depends
less upon the qualification of the masters to teach, than
upon the capacities of the boys for learning. From Dalf-
ton school he was removed to Fuller's academy in London,
where, dropping the dead languages altogether, after having
been at Latin and Greek seven years, he entered upon a
new and very different course of learning, viz: Writing,
ciphering, mathematics, geography, French, grammar,
drawing, perspective, music, etc., etc. , of which, at the end
of three years, he did not take away to impoverish the
academy. He had a very small smattering of everything
he had attempted to learn, but less of the languages both
dead and foreign than of the sciences and the elegant arts.
Thus, but ordinarily qualified for the humble walks of pri-
vate life, and wifhout natural talents or acquired knowledge
to move with any credit to himself in public, he left Eng-
land in the year 1761, and arrived in his native Virginia
some time in June of that year, having had a passage of
about two months on board a ship of a hundred hogshead
burden, commanded by Captain Hooper, bound to New
York, and consigned to Mr. Norton of that town. A
considerable fleet of merchantmen, of which Hooper made
one, came into Chesapeake Bay at the same time under con-
voy of the , 40 guns, Capt. Norton, and the Pos-
tillion, 20 guns, Capt. Jarvis, probably now Lord St. Vin-
cents — sloops of war. The forests and black population
of his native land, after an absence of ten years, were
novel, but not by any means pleasing to him, and nothing
was less familiar to him than the persons of the individ-
uals of his family. He found two sisters — Mary, married to
George Walker ; and Anne, married to Richard Randolph
— from whom are now derived a numerous progeny. The

14

writer left behind him at Dalfton school two brothers,
Richard Kidder, who afterward became aid-de-camp to
General Washington, and Everard, who was aid-de-camp
to General Lincoln, and was afterward raised to the rank
of General, and found two at his paternal mansion born
since he left Virginia. The persons of his sisters were as
little known to him as those of his brothers whom he had
never seen. But although he had forgotten all persons
and things about his birthplace, he recognized a scene
and the persons of the actors in it, to which he had been
familiar from having been a spectator of *it for perhaps
nearly every day of his life previous to his going to Eng-
land; it was two old negro men upon a pit in the act of
sawing; precisely as when he left them employed, so he
found them without any apparent change in their persons.
The four following years he passed with the recurrence of
little incident, rather monotonous, there being little in the
county of Nansemond, where his mother's residence was, to
attract a youth brought up to no occupation, accustomed
to good company, and inheriting a good patrimony. He
found society up James River much more congenial to his
age, temper, and habits, than any his native county could
afford him. Williamsburg was the metropolis of the
colony, and was the resort, before the Revolutionary war,
of all the gentry and merchants in the colony, also of the
planters, for the purpose of drawing bills of exchange upon
London, Bristol, Liverpool, etc.

The general court held its session in April and
October. The amusements were balls, sometimes theat-
ricals and races, spring and fall. In conformity with an
engagement entered into some time previous, with his very
intimate and much valued friends Ryland and John Ran-
dolph, the former a fine classical scholar, master of the
French and Italian languages, an eloquent speaker and
most accomplished gentleman, and the latter, his brother,
who was the father of the much celebrated member of

15

Congress of the same name, a worthy man of good
natural parts, not so much cultivated as those of his
brother Ryland, and totally without application. In con-
formity with the before mentioned agreement, the writer
left home with the above named gentlemen on a tour
northward. At Hampton he hired a vessel to transport
him to the head of Chesapeake Bay, and embarked at Mill
Creek, July 26th, 1765, and the next day in the evening
arrived at Corotoman, upon the Rappahannock, the seat of
Mr. Carter. There Ryland Randolph joined him; John
Randolph had preceded them to Philadelphia, where he
was inoculated for the small-pox. Calling at Annapolis
they proceeded by way of New Castle to Philadelphia,
there being joined by John Randolph, thence by way of
Amboy to New York. They were there politely received
and very handsomely entertained by General Gage, then
commander-in-chief. They were introduced by letters from
Colonel Byrd, of Westover, and Colonel Fitzhugh, of
Maryland. During the year 1766, it is well known, all
British America was violently agitated by an attempt of
Government to impress the stamp duty upon the Colonies.
Deputies were appointed by the different legislatures to
meet at New York for the purpose of remonstrating against
it. Very few attended that year at New York, but a pretty
full representation of the Colonies and provinces assembled
in Congress the next year in Maryland.

Of the company, which was very numerous at General
Gage's table, were three deputies from Massachusetts,
viz., General Ruggles, Col. Partridge, and the distin-
guished champion of his country's rights at that time, Mr.
Otis, who was the father, in all probability, of the modern
Otis, distinguished not for his opposition to, but partiality
for Britain, and his hospitality to the virtuous and popular
chief, and all others, who assisted in the administration of the
Government of the United States. Mr. Otis, of the year
'65, appeared to be a modest, sensible man, who was no

i6

stranger to good company, of middle stature, inclining to
be fat, and little (if any) over the middle age. Brigadier
Ruggles was, to appearances, not less than seventy years
of age, very tall, very taciturn, and of aspect neither
engaging nor patrician. Col. Partridge was a pert little
man, with the coat of a gentleman, he was a complete
clown in his manners, and manifested the most entire
ignorance of the usages which prevail in polished societies.
In those days industry and enterprise were characteristic
attributes of New Englandmen, hospitality and good
breeding, of all above vulgar, of the Southern colonies and
provinces ; and in those days New York was a populous
city, and the population more refined than it was in any
other city, borough or town in North America, except
Charleston, in South Carolina. There were not more
than three or four close carriages in New York ; that of the
venerable Chief Justice Horsmanden, a very old coach, was
in their service during the few days they were in the city.
Neither were there any elegant steamboats in those days,
and they very cheerfully took passage in an Albany sloop
for that place, which, although affording but humble ac-
commodations, was the best to be had. During a short
stay at Albany they became acquainted with a Mr. Prevost,
lieutenant in the army, and son or nephew to the first general
of that name. How near he was related to the redoubtable
Sir George, the hero of Plattsburg, was not worth the
while enquiring, and now not easily ascertained. From
Albany they advanced to Lake George, by way of Fort-
Edward ; from Lake George down the lake to Ticonderoga,
on the contracted part of Champlain ; thence to Crown
Point ; thence down the lake to St. John's ; thence by land
1 8 miles, all a swamp forest, inhabited by no other living
thing but mosquitoes of the highest magnitude, to La
Prairie, on the hither bank of the St. Lawrence river, in
sitrht of and nine miles from Montreal, the site of which
is a great natural curiosity and very beautiful. It may

17

be thought worthy of notice, that in the year 1765, as you
advanced up the North or Hudson river, above Albany,
and near the bank of the river, where the only or most
public road ran, the settlements became less frequent by
pretty regular gradations until you got to Stillwater, 18
miles above Albany. At Stillw r ater there were very fine
saw-mills f perhaps belonging to the Schuyler family, and,
except the attendants on the mills, no other inhabitants
but an old woman and a female servant or companion, who
occupied a log house of two rooms, where she entertained
travelers. From thence to Saratoga — about 14 miles — few,
if any, settlements; from Saratoga to Fort Edward, about 25
miles — at intervals of miles were settlements (so recently
made that the dry leaves were still standing on the dead-
ened timber) altogether upon the bottoms of the river.
Fort Edward was built upon a very beautiful bottom of
considerable extent upon the Hudson, well set with green
sward of great height, and fit for the scythe. Upon an
eminence on the other side of the river, nearly opposite
the fort, stood a block house, mounting eight cannon.
Fort Edward was a square of regular sides, with four bas-
tions built of timber and earth. From thence to Fort
George, on the south end of Lake George, were 14
miles of country without a settlement; from the south end
ofthelaketo the landing place on the north being 36
miles. On neither side was there any human residence,
except on the west, about six miles from the landing, an
individual lived in a small hut, his only companion a cat.
From the landing* place, where at a small block house a
disbanded provincial officer, attended with an ox-cart to
hire for conveyance, to Ticonderoga — only three weeks
crossing. In this short distance was no kind of settle-
ment, or the appearance of any ever having been, except
the ruins of a saw-mill, which had been erected at the
expense of the Crown for the public use.

i8

Arriving at Ticonderoga some time early in the day,
they were there politely received and hospitably enter-
tained by the commander of the fort, a captain* There
they found Sir Adam Gordon, Captain McDonald, of
his regiment, Mr. Ralph Izard, of South Carolina, father
to the present chief general of the United States, and Mr.
John Allen, of Philadelphia, who were on their return from
a tour to the Falls of Niagara and lower Canada, as far as
Quebec. Lord Adam was so obliging as to make them a
present of his tent, which, although very old and full of
holes, was the only one the company had, and proved
extremely convenient to those w r ho had the succession to
it. The next morning (Aug. 23) they embarked in a sail
boat with Captain Brown, who commanded at Crown
Point, and arrived at about ten in the forenoon. The fort
at Crown Point is a pentagon (irregular), with a bastion at
each angle, built very handsomely of hewn timber, and
cost the Crown 150,000 pounds. It was built by order of
Gen. Amherst, and by military men judged a waste of
money. The same was thought of the expenditure of
25,000 pounds by that general upon a single bastion of
stone at the south end of Lake Geoge. as a part of a fort,
which, when completed, was to have been square, with
four bastions. On the morning of the 25th they embarked
in a sail boat, heavy laden with their baggage (of which
they very unadvisedly started with too much), for St.
John's, and encamped, the wind changing to adverse in
the afternoon, at a point .on the west side of the lake,
opposite to four islands called the tl Four Brothers," nearly
where the lake begins to expand above, being only of the
width of a small river forty miles below Crown Point. The
next morning early they continued their journey as far as
Isle Noir, where they were obliged to stop and continue
that night, one of the party being taken with an ague,
which was the second he had had on the lake. Here they
found shelter in an old cottage inhabited by a German fam-

19

ily , and it was the only settlement from Crown Point thither,
with the exception of one which was said to have been
made that summer, or perhaps the preceding, by a gentle-
man from Ireland, with several laborers, at the depth of a
bay, commencing at a point opposite the '* Four Brothers,"
from which point to that northward which forms the bay
is about two miles, and is probably the bay near which
Plattsburg is situated, and the same which will be memor-
able in the annals of the United States, and immortalize
the name of McDonough, who, with his gallant associates,
captured a whole British fleet in it.

On the 27th landed at St. Johns before midday,
hired horses and proceeded without delay to La Prairie,
where they arrived at night, a distance of eighteen miles.
La Prairie, on the south bank of the St. Lawrence, is higher
up the river than Montreal, and the passage from the
former to the latter is nine miles in an oblique direction.
The river is nearly all the way full of rocks, visible and
invisible, which cause such considerable rapids that it
requires skillful boatmen to conduct passengers safely
across. After three days spent at Montreal, which they
found under the command of Capt. Stabo in the absence
of the chief commander of the military, who, with many
other officers, had gone down to Quebec to receive two
regiments, one recently arrived from Ireland and another
that was to embark for England. Capt. Stabo, who had
the temporary command at Montreal, was known by
name and character to the travelers, and their connections
were perfectly known to the Captain, who had resided
some years in Virginia as a merchant or factor for some
Scotch mercantile house. In his deportment towards
them he omitted nothing that was becoming in him or
that could be expected by them. It is painful here to
note that some years afterward, in a fit of delirium, this
gentleman put a period to his existence.

20

On the 31st they took passage in a sloop for Quebec
— the 1st and 2d of September dropping down the river ,
and the 3d, early in the morning, they landed at Quebec.
On the next morning they waited on General Murray,
Governor of Canada. The General's residence was about
a mile from the wall of the city, upon the Heights of
Abraham, and upon the very spot where, the winter after
the conquest of Quebec (having command of the troops
left for the defense of the city) he defeated Count Levis.
The mansion was unfinished and of timber. It com-
manded a view of the city east, the plains and distances
not very limited south, west and north to the little river
Charles, two hundred feet deep, and in a valley just be-
neath and a most charming view. They went to the Mont-
morency, a lovely stream two hundred feet higher, nine
miles over an open country, the whole of it well set in
green sward, unmixed with any other grass, almost as
high as wheat near harvest time, and, like wheat, waving
in the wind. General Murray, the Governor, was a gen-
tleman of the most easy, affable manners, of engaging
conversation, of education suitable to his noble birth, and
with more than ordinary fluency of speech. He more-
over manifested by the general tenor of his practice all
the hospitality of an Irishman or Southern American of
the United States in so remarkable a degree that it may be
questioned whether any other person of elevated public
station equaled him in the British Colonies in that par-
ticular, except Sir William Johnson, whose way of life at
his residence on the Mohawk, above Albany, is far-famed,
although in one respect subject to some animadversion
and censure. Gen. Murray, the generous and spirited
civil ruler of Canada, was justly very popular with the
new French subjects, and little less so with the British
merchants of Quebec, of whom a large proportion were
his countrymen of Scotland: the effect of a cause which,
to his honor, rendered him obnoxious to the military ; in

21

the estimate of which is included only the officers, by
whom the native French Canadians had been greatly
oppressed, and would have continued to be, but for the
humane and generous interference of the Governor, who
offered them all the protection which his high civil
authority qualified him to give. The object of the trav-
elers being to see as much of the city and its vicinity as
their short visit would admit of, they found it incon-
venient to accept of General Murray's very polite and
hospitable invitation to make his habitation their lodging
house ; but they could not decline the acceptance of
another memorial of his polite attention to them, viz. :
every morning during their short continuance at Quebec,
at the same hour, immediately after breakfast, a servant
with saddle horses handsomely caparisoned, which they
made use of to ride about the neighboring country: Nor
was that all. They were accompanied in their excursions
by a young Mr. Murray, a kinsman of the General and
of his household ; sometimes likewise by his father; (Mr.
Murray, the son, was married to a young Frenchwoman),
and every day after they returned from their morning ride
and had dressed for dinner, the General's post chaise
attended at their lodgings to carry them to the house
where they were engaged to dine. At Quebec they one
day participated in a good dinner given by General Bur-
ton, commander of the military in Canada, to the officers
of two regiments, one just arrived from Ireland, the
other about to embark for England, to which they, as
strangers, were invited. The company was very numer-
ous. A very obvious difference appeared between the
manners of the officers just landed and those about to
embark. Of the former were some very polite gentlemen ;
of the latter scarcely any.

On the 7th, in the morning, they departed from
Quebec in their calashes — an open carriage drawn by one
horse, driven by a Canadian who sits before. The dis-

22

tance from thence by land is 180 miles — nearly the same
by water — and it is divided into three stages, at each of
which the traveler gets fresh horses. The road is all
the distance near the river bank, and the country is
mostly open ; the habitations little, if any, more than
two hundred yards apart, the tenures being seigniories
held from the Crown and grants by the seigniors to inferior
land holders. Within a few miles' distance were
churches near the bank of the St. Lawrence and
many more crosses ; passed the Three Rivers where there
was a town at the confluence of them with the St. Law-
rence, which town, although of inconsiderable popula-
tion, was, perhaps, the third in the province and con-
tained one or two religious houses, etc. The district is
sandy, producing very indifferent grass, differing widely
in that particular from the rest of Canada, which is as
fine a grass country as it is possible any other part of the
world can be. In the district of Three Rivers no hay
was made; and, although the story has the effect of fable,
yet the truth of it is not to be controverted that the
inhabitants there fed their cattle upon a fish called ** torn
cod," which were taken out of holes made in the ice with
a scooping net and heaped up in stacks. Late in the
evening of the 10th they arrived at Montreal. The site
of the city is very fine, being between the foot of a small
mountain and the river — so narrow is the space as to have
been then nearly filled up by buildings. Should the city
become hereafter extensive it must embrace two small
mountains — the one mentioned and* its twin sister —
the mountain to the north of it and touching at its base.
From the summit of the northernmost of these moun-
tains the spectator has a bird's-eye view of the town,
river and country in its vicinity, and a prospect the
most extensive, variegated and magnificent that can
be imagined, watered by the copious St. Lawrence,
which divides here into three broad streams; which

23

form the Isle of Montreal south, and of Jesus north, and
these several channels are studded with innumerable
islands of various sizes. To the south east the plain and
prospect is bounded by mountains about twenty-five miles
distant. To the north or north west, forty miles up the
river, an avenue formed by mountains on each side, closes
at a point as far as the eye can reach and down the river
the same but unbounded at the extremity. Montreal was
surrounded by a stone wall — perhaps not so high or so
well built as that of Quebec at the upper town adjoining
the plains or heights of Abraham. Neither had a ditch or
was intended as a defense against artillery. Captain Claus,
of the Royal Americans, son-in-law of Sir William John-
son, and deputy superintendent of Indian affairs, invited
them to a congress of Indian chiefs from several nations
upon the lakes (the town then being full of Indians).
The Intendant introduced the travelers to each of them
individually as brethren of the long knife, who had
come from the south almost a thousand miles to visit
Canada — with whom they shook hands. Some of the
chiefs were standing, but more sitting upon the carpet on
the floor. The Intendant, after the ceremony of introduc-
ing the long knives or Virginians, opened the congress
with a speech or talk, to which several of the chiefs re-
plied, some sitting, some standing. The Indian orators
generally looked to the floor whilst speaking, seldom (if
ever) raising their eyes. The sitting orators looked
between their knees at the carpet. Among the chiefs was
a white man of fair complexion, with light hair, not grey,
although perhaps over sixty years of age. He had been
taken when very young from a Dutch family near Albany;
brave in war and wise in counsel, he was much respected
and honored amongst the nations. He spoke standing,
longer and with more animation than the other orators.
Altogether it was a very poor specimen of Indian elo-
quence. But if, after reading Logan's speech in Mr.

24

Jeffersons notes and the account of his manner, the trav-
elers were disappointed in their expectations of seeing
and hearing something at this Montreal congress corre-
spondent with the manner in which Logan delivered his
speech, they at least had reason to admire the politeness
of those savages as it was interpreted to them by Captain
Claus. Each orator without a single exception opened
his talk with a compliment to the traveling long knives, in
terms which would have done credit to the most refined
people, in which nothing was said superfluous, and nothing
omitted in what was said.

They left Montreal on the 15th September, and by
way of St. John's and Lake Motte Island, where they were
stayed wind bound two nights and a day, during which
time the old tent presented them by Lord Adam Gordon
was put to good use. Left the isle early the following
morning and arrived the following night at Crown Point.
At this time (1765), the only mode of crossing the lakes
was in public batteaux rowed by four soldiers and steered
by a corporal. This, a matter of a grace which was
obtained by means of orders from the commander-in-chief
at New York, and was, as well may be supposed, not less
expensive than hand boats would have been, could such
have been had, but all here was then wilderness, from
Crown Point to Ticonderoga, where they remarked the
famous French lines which were in the seven years war so
gallantly defended by the Marquis Montcalm, with 4,000
men against the British General Abercrombie with 17,000.
The events of that disastrous day were detailed to the
travelers by officers who served in that assailing army.
It is a well known historical fact that the brave and
accomplished Lord Howe, a colonel, fell dead the day
before the attack of the French lines, and soon after the
army had landed at the north end of Lake George, from
a shot fired by some concealed enemy, as he was rapidly
advancing through the woods at the head of his division.

25

A night of horrors succeeded to the next day's defeat.
We have much in British story of glorious naval victories,
and but little of disgraceful defeats of British armies by
land. Arrogant boasters! Take a retrospective view of
the many defeats of your armies in America! But very
particularly that of the lines of Ticonderoga. Advert to
the genuine history of your defeat, your great loss and
your humiliation there. In Europe the infamous conven-
tion of seven, when and where vour Duke of Cumber-
land, the senior prince of the blood, and son to your mon-
arch of that day, surrendered an army of 40,000 men to a
French general. Look on the results of your many
attempts at invasion of France during that war. Also the
events of your last French war, and that you are waging
now with America, are so recent as to be in the recollec-
tion of everybody. Britains, the fresh waves of Erie and
Champlain, and the salt billows of the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans will be, as long as they remain lakes and oceans,
monuments of the courage, skill and glory of the Ameri-
can navy, and of the insolence, humiliation, and disgrace
of the vain sustainers of the British flag. Will not every
true American heart palpitate with emotions of patriotic
exultation whenever the transactions of Chippeway, Fort
Erie, and Plattsburg recur to their minds, and must not
the honest, ingenuous, and modest Englishman (for such
and many such there are,) blush at the dereliction of
every feeling of humanity and sentiment of national honor
in the British Government and in very many individuals
the infamous tools of that government, on a retrospection
of the enormities committed under the sanction of three
peers of high rank in the British army ; at the River
Raisin, at Hampton and many other places, and the un-
geperous and dishonorable and dastardly violation of
natural rights, at Valparaiso in Chili, besides many pre-
vious instances of the infraction of the law of nations ?
Britains! Powerful domineering nation, feared, not Icrtred

26

(perhaps hated) by neighboring states, particularly com-
mercial states! Infant America, has already shorn your
laurels — may she in her more mature age bend you to a
standing among nations below mediocrity.

From Ticonderoga they continued to retrace the same
route they came, to the landing place at the north end of
Lake George, and up the lake 36 miles to the south end,
Fort George, formerly Fort William Henry, memorable
for its siege early in the war by the Marquis Montcalm,
Governor of Canada, about which time the war carried on
in America, under the auspices of Britain, was unsuccess-
ful and disastrous ; and at this place it was the year after
that Provincial powers retrieved the sinking reputation* of
British troops, and gave a turn to the fortunes of the war
by the defeat of the Baron Dieskau, whose army was
routed and himself slain by American militia, under the
command of that brave, intrepid officer, Sir Wm. Johnson.
Lodging one night at a settlers house near the fort, when
on their way forward, they were disturbed by a noise in a
shed, from which their apartment was separated by a par-
tition of thin boards; but with the ceasing of the noise,
being fatigued with their journey of the preceding day,
they soon composed themselves to sleep. The next morn-
ing, upon looking out of the door, they saw a very large
but poor wolf which the settler had killed on the shed,
when they heard the noise at their heads. The wolf was
in pursuit of poultry, and had got his fore paws into a
barrel after a cock, which had retreated to the bottom of
it. Near the road from the lake to Fort Edward, on the
Hudson, is a pond of standing water, then called the
14 Bloody Pond," where it was said St. Luke de Cour, a
Canadian officer, commanding a party of Indians in the
French service, massacred a number of adverse troops,
who were escorting wagons to the lake. On this day's
ride they saw upon the roadside, between the forts George
and Edward, a moose deer, which trotted and galloped

27

along a ridge of woods which ran parallel with the road
three miles in the course they traveled. It moved along
as heavily as an ox. They arrived at Albany the 23d, at
night, where they spent only one whole day and part of
another, and then proceeded down the river, as they had
come up, in an Albany sloop, to New York. Spent five
or six days there — four or five in Philadelphia. On their
way down Chesapeake Bay, called at Col. Wm. Fitzhugh's
at Rousby Hall, eight miles up the Potomac, and on the
20th October arrived at Corotoman, the residence of their
friend Mr. Carter, afterwards of Shirley, on James River.
Here the trio separated. Mr. Ryland Randolph and his
brother John proceeded home by land, and the subject of
this biographical sketch down the bay, and arrived at his
mother's, in Nansemond County, very late at night, Oct.
22, 1765. The two or three succeeding years were passed
in the same unvaried routine that the four preceding years
had been. The chief source of enjoyment he derived from
the society of his friends up James River, was principally
that of Curies, the seat of Mr. Richard Randolph, who
married the eldest of his three sisters. His friends Ryland
and John Randolph were inmates there, and several very
agreeable females were the members of the household; but
although he had a heart not destitute of susceptibility of
the tender passion which nature and sentiment dispose the
sexes to feel for each other, and the neighborhood of
Curies, including that seat, abounded with as much beauty,
fashion and rank as any part of Virginia (if not more),
there was wanting something in them individually that was
essential to excite such sentiments in him as to secure his
exclusive affections. Although he was not so vain as to be-
lieve he could have had his choice, at the same time he did
not affect so much humility as to think that his pretensions
were not in every quarter good. Before he left England,
though then very young, he had been betrayed by example
and opportunity into very blamable excesses in one or two

28

instances, but the consequences tainted neither mind nor
body — to the former, on the contrary, they proved salu-
tary. He had naturally a warm and romantic disposition.
He was a great builder of castles in the air; but conscious
as he was, that he had neither face, figure nor accomplish -
lishments to qualify him for an epitome of a romance,
here he prudently determined to fall in love and marry
somewhat after the fashion of the people. Nevertheless he
was fastidious in the choice of his object. With all the in-
sight of folly and fault with which his character was loaded,
it could not be denied that he led as regular a life as any
young man; that his manners were tolerably mild, that
he deported himself towards rich and poor uniformly with
civility, towards the latter particularly in such a manner as
to induce them to believe that he felt no kind of superi-
ority over them. That he was chaste and sober, and an
avowed enemy of gaming, and free from all great vices
which disturb the order and peace of society, and stamp
the seal of Satan upon the perpetrator. Facts may have
been inadvertently but not deliberately stated in this
record, which, perhaps, may not stand the test of rigid
criticism, but as the foregoing history, so what follows
shall be written in the spirit of truth. Candor is there-
fore constrained to confess that the subject of it is not
entitled to the credit of positive virtues which he had no
claim to. He was content with very little that was his due
— the extreme humble merit of negative virtues. With that
small stock he however passed within the narrow sphere
of his action as a young man of good morals, and many
gentlemen, the most distinguished for wealth, talents and
worth, were not backward in admitting him to their most
intimate acquaintance, and in some instances to favor him
with their friendship ; and one of the most amiable of this
or any other country manifested so much partiality for
him — not so evident to him as to others who were their
common friends, as to induce an opinion that he (then in

SARAH WATERS,

Afterwards wife of David Meade.

29

so declining a state of health that he deceased in May,
1767) wished to commit to his protection his daughter, an
only child.

The njotives to his union in hymeneal bonds to that
daughter were purer altogether disinterested and honor-
able. On the 1 2th of May, 1768, he married Sarah
Waters, the daughter of Mr. William Waters of the city
of Williamsburg, very soon after which event, on the
death of the old Lieutenant-Governor Farquier and the
arrival in Virginia of the new Governor-in-Chief, Lord
Baron Botetourt (who succeeded Lord Amherst, then
Sir Jeffrey, the first Chief Governor, who had for a long
time resided at the seat of his government), feeling a little
vouthful ambition to become a member of the most
splendid general assembly (as it was justly expected to
be) that ever convened in the British Colonies and
Provinces, he offered himself as a candidate for the rep-
resentation of Nansemond county in that approaching
assembly, and was elected first Burgess. The Assembly
met in May, 1769. He had been for some time previous
afflicted with a tertian fever and ague, which had not left
him, and he went up to the seat of government with an
additional top pressure to that of fever and ague. It was
of a different nature, but not less heavy upon the mind of
a young man upon the eve of making his debut as an
actor upon the first theater of America. The disease
was painful to his body, never having before spoken in
any public assembly and being charged with the presenta-
tion of several persons from his county/ Under such
uncomfortable circumstances he was not displeased at
being commanded by the high authority of the repre-
sentative of Majesty to divest himself of his honorable
representative character and return to an humble station
in private life. The Virginia Assembly was dissolved by
His Excellency the Governor, and the young representa-
tive of Nansemond County was completely cured of his

3°

ambition. Lord Botetourt opened his first and only-
Assembly by the delivery of a pretty long speech in the
Council Chamber, to which the house was convoked by
message from His Excellency. The Governor's deport-
ment was dignified and his delivery solemn. It was said
by those who had heard and seen George III. speak and
act on the throne of England, that His Lordship on the
throne of Virginia was true to his prototype. He spoke
very slow, with long pauses. His costume was of the
ordinary fashion of the day f but handsome and rich ; the
coat of a light red color, of gold thread tissue. From
the palace in Williamsburg to the capitol was about three-
quarters of a mile. When His Lordship went down to
meet the Assembly it was in much greater state than any
Governor of Virginia had ever before displayed. The
chariot he rode in was a superbly finished one, presented
to him by William, Duke of Cumberland, uncle to George
the Third, and was intended for his state carriage, the
Virginia arms being substituted for the royal English.
During the ten days' sitting of this Assembly the time of
the house was chiefly taken up in debate upon the
important subject of the disagreement between the
mother country and the colonies, and terminated in a
number of spirited resolves, which the official duty of the
Governor required him to express his disapprobation of.
This he did in very angry terms ; and, being informed of
what was passing in the house, he then exercised his most
extreme authority, hastened down to the capitol and from
the Council Chamber sent a message down by the clerk
of the Council to demand the attendance of the mem-
bers. The house not having completed the passage of
the resolutions, the clerk who appeared in the lobby of
the Assembly was for some time refused admittance, but
he did not wait very long before doors were opened
to him and his message delivered. The members, without
delay obeyed the summons and repaired to the Couucil

3i

Chamber, where they were received by His Excellency
and his Council. He was dressed in a suit of plain scar-
let. The speaker advanced toward him, the members
following. At the usual distance from the person of the
representative of Majesty the speaker stopped. A sol-
emn pause of a minute or two ensued, when the Governor,
with an assumed stern countenance and with considerable
power, addressed the speaker and members of the house
in the following brief speech :

" GENTLEMEN — I have heard of your resolves and I
augur their ill effects. You have made it my duty to dis-
solve you, and you are accordingly dissolved."

Notwithstanding this act of official duty was so prop-
erly performed by this representative of majesty, it may
be questioned whether it was altogether consonant with
the judgment and feelings of His Lordship, and, indeed,
it may be pronounced that it was not, unless he was a
most consummate dissembler, which it would be unjust to
his memory to believe ; as the subject of this sketch heard
some time after the dissolution of the Assembly, at Mr.
Tristreo Nicholas* in Williamsburg, in the presence of
several gentlemen, the Governor declare that he should
write to Lord Hillsborough (who was then seventy years
old), who was then in the American Department of State,
and assure him that unless the obnoxious acts of Parlia-
ment were repealed, he should desire to be recalled from
his government. Lord Botetourt had rendered himself
extremely popular in Virginia by his affable deportment
towards all those, without distinction of standing in life,
with whom he had any communication, either officially or
casually, and died in 1 771, very much and very generally
lamented.

The Legislature, at its first convocation by his suc-
cessor, after his decease, unanimously voted as a testimony
of respect to his memory, a marble pedestrian statue, to
be erected in the capitol, which vote was carried hand-

somely into effect, and an admirable specimen of statuary
produced by the first artist of London, preserving a very
striking likeness of His Lordship. It was some years
afterward, in a very mutilated condition, removed to the
College of William and Mary by the late very worthy
and respectable Bishop Madison, President of that
ancient university, and now stands in the center of the
walk in front of the building, as much a monument of the
barbarousness which prevailed, or at least that there was
very little disposition to discountenance, and no authority
to reprove or curb, as a monument and likeness of a
deceased former magistrate who had merited the good
will and affection of a prosperous colony. The Earl of
Dunmore succeeded to the government of Virginia at the
death of Lord Botetourt.

Oblivion would be the mildest fate his memory could
find in American annals, but American annals will not, it
is probable, be so favorable to it. The administration of
the Virginia government closes when the Revolutionary
war commences, but not his flagitious existence. Good
histories of that war are extant, particularly those by
Gordon and Marshal, likewise of particular campaigns,
of which are Tarleton's, Lee s and Audburg's. Towards
the last of the year 1774, which was the eve of the com-
mencement of the Revolutionary war in America, having
previously purchased a seat upon the Powhatan, or, as it
has been illy named modernly, James River, he took his
departure from Nansemond county. The reversion of
the patrimonial seat, with about 2,000 acres of land on
the west side of the creek, which was the south side of
Nansemond River, and all the rest of the tract on the east
side of the town of Suffolk (about the same number of
acres), on which were grist and saw mills, he sold to
his brother Andrew, and removed with his household,
consisting of his mother, his wife and one son — David.
Here it may be well to state what might more properly

33

have been done sooner, that of his four brothers, namely,
Richard Kidder, Andrew, John and Everard — Everard,
the third from himself, married Mary Thornton before
he had completed his eighteenth year, Richard Kidder
married Elizabeth Randolph, and Andrew, at about
20, married Susanna Stith. John died at 17 years
of age, about the year 177 1. Maycox, in Prince
George county, the estate which he purchased on
James River, consisted of 600 acres of very poor land; a
few acres only on the banks were good and some more
improvable. The site of the house was not inferior to
the best on that river, where many are good. The man-
sion and grounds about it will be found much too favor-
ably described in an annual quarto publication of the
plantations of the Boston Historical Society, communi-
cated by the Rev. John Spooner. * Maycox, which is on
the opposite side of the river to VVestover and south of
it, is memorable in tliL h early settlements of Virginia.
There are very strong indications of an Indian village
having in times long prior to the first landing of Europe-
ans on the northern continent, been there, or otherwise
that it was the resort of great numbers of them at certain
seasons for the benefit of mussels, the shells of which are
found in masses two feet deep upon the surface, the top

*The following is the description above referred to: "Horticulture is
not generally in vogue, though there are some gardens that do not yield to the
best in the United States, In connection with this may be mentioned the
pleasure grounds of David Meade, Esq., of Maycox, in this county. These
grounds contain about 12 acres, laid out on the bank of fames River in a
most beantiful and enchanting manner. Forest and fruit trees are here
arranged as if nature and art had conspired together to strike the eye most
agreeably. Beautiful vistas, which open as many pleasing views of the river ;
the land thrown into many artificial hollows or gentle swellings with the pleas-
ing verdure of the turf, and the complete order in which the whole is preserved,
altogether tend to form it one of the most delightful rural seats that is to be
met with in the United States, and do honor to the taste and skill of the pro-
prietor who is the architect. w — Frjm Mass. Hist. Society Collections^ VoL j.

34

of it converted into soil. It was also the theater of much
bloodshed at the time of a general massacre of the white
inhabitants by the natives, when Captain Maycox, or
Maycock, the original patentee from whom the place took
its name, lost his life amongst the number who perished
by the tomahawk. Westover, opposite, on the north
bank, was the well-known seat of two in succession of the
name of Byrd, who were in their day the most distin-
guished and wealthiest men in North America. The first
Colonel William Byrd was born in Virginia and held a
very considerable estate, that part which included the
ground which Richmond occupies and all below to Gilles
Creek and above to Westham, a distance of more than
eight miles upon the river, and from the lower line of the
Falls plantation tract on the opposite side of the river to
Richmond, a distance up it of twenty-five miles, including
what was then called Rocky Ridge, now Manchester,
derived by some kind of title from a Captain Stag, as
appears from family records. Westover was a royal
grant. One hundred and fifty thousand acres on Dan
River were given him by government for running the
dividing line between Virginia and North Carolina in
1727, associated with several others of the Virginia Gov-
ernor's council as commissioners and others in that char-
acter of North Carolina, running from the sea to the east
side of the Blue Ridge of mountains.

It appears by Colonel Byrd's journal of the line, that
all the commissioners deserted him, the greater part,
including the Carolinians, before they crossed the Roan-
oke River or soon after. At Lower Lauratown, upon
the Dan, he took up a great many thousand acres, and
below, several miles above and several below the conflu-
ence of the Stanton and the Dan, several thousand more,
besides the above mentioned tracts. It was said he had
others. The elder Colonel Byrd was educated in England,
where, with a very fine person and a mind richly endowed

35

by nature, his literary acquirements were so great, that
for wealth, talents, rank and influence there was not at
that time in the British Colonies an individual to rival
him. As much above all others was his interest at the
British Court. He had made early and intimate acquaint-
ance of several English noblemen, distinguished by their
worth, talents, prowess and influence, of whom there are
at this time portraits in the dining room at Westover by
Kneller (some, if not all,) of the great Captain, John,
Duke of Argyle, the Earl of Halifax, the Earl of Oxford,
Lord Orrery, Sir Charles Wager, the Admiral, and the
Chancellor, Lord Egmont, which were probably pre-
sented to him as tokens of their friendship. With some
of them and other men of high rank he corresponded
from the time of his return to Virginia to the time
of his death, which was, as appears from the inscription
on his monument (erected over his grave in the center of
the kitchen garden at Westover), in the year 1750, then
70 years of age. In the library was a large trunk of
manuscripts, of which were his .correspondence with his
English friends, and miscellaneous writings, chiefly in
prose. He had married two wives, the first pretty early
in life, the last at 50 years of age. By the first wife, who
was the daughter of General Parks, Governor of the
Leward Islands (the Governor was murdered by the gen-
tlemen of Antiqua on account of his amours), he had
two daughters; by his second wife, a lady of Essex in
England, with whom he received a considerable fortune,
he had a son (the late Colonel Byrd of Westover) and
three daughters. William Byrd, the only son of the
great man of that name, was at his first setting out in life
distinguished by his good origin, ample fortune, elegant
manners and handsome person. Before he had reached
his majority he went to England, where, it appears, he
engaged in all the gayeties, prodigalities and dissipations
to which young men of rank and fortune were addicted.

36

An inordinate love of the sea was thought to be his most
predominant passion. This, it would seem, was constitu-
tional and hereditary in him, for his father, with more
prudence (probably) and certainly with more erudition,
had manifested the like strong propensity. Among the
vices to which the younger Colonel Byrd was exposed, and
in which he engaged, was the terrible vice of gambling, a
vice to which young men of fashion and opulence in all
countries and in all ages have been prone. This vice
being so repugnant to reason and good sense and to the
precepts of religion and sound ethics, is yet unaccountably
engaged in by many a young man of talents and fortune
(if he has fortune) night after night at a gaming table
with professed gamesters and desperate, moneyless adven-
turers. The least evil which he can have to expect,
except the loss of time (which, under certain circum-
stances, may chance to be one of great magnitude) will
be to give expensive clothing and dieting to a parcel of
unprincipled libertines who have no other means of sub-
sistence but what they draw, often unfairly, from the
purses of inconsiderate, honorable young men of fortune
who are seduced by the example of their fellows to a
pursuit which is reproved by their own cool judgment as
dangerous to their own tranquillity and utterly con-
demned by their consciences as immoral. Every youth
should reflect on the inevitable consequences of the prac-
tice of this vice — namely, poverty, want, misery and
often suicide.

But to return to the subject from this not unapt
digression. Gaming, as followed in the higher circles of
society, Mr. Byrd gave into as a fashionable amusement
merely — avarice being then, and ever after, a passion alien
to his breast. Much more than was true, it is probable,
was said of the excess to which he carried that fatal
propensity whilst in London. The habit thus acquired
followed him to the last period of his life. A story was

37

current in Virginia for fifty years, and may yet be so, that
at one of the most noted gaming tables at the west end of the
town he lost ten thousand pounds at a single sitting to the
Duke of Cumberland. It may or may not have been so ;
neither the verity or falsity of it was ever proved by any kind
of evidence. It must, however, be admitted by all who can be
at all qualified to form an opinion upon the premises, that it
is highly probable he lost a very large sum of money one
night in company with the Duke (who, it was well known,
gamed much), nor is it unlikely that a great part was to him.
It appears that Mr. Byrd, while in England, dressed and
gamed much, to which may be added another heavy item
of expenditure, which altogether had generated a debt,
which probably did not of itself alone lay the foundation
for his subsequent insolvency, but, it is not unlikely, con-
tributed some little towards it. Soon after he returned to
Virginia, it may be presumed, he was advanced to the
woolsack there, that is, he became a member of the
Governor's council, with nearly, if not quite, all the powers
and privileges of a peer in England, being of the upper
house of the legislature, and member of the executive
government, and one of the judges of the Supreme Court
of Judicature, from which there was no appeal but to the
King in Council. He early married his first wife, a
daughter of Secretary Carter, by whom he had one
daughter and four sons. Mr. Byrd continued with the
army, first under the command of Lord Lowden, and
afterwards under that of Sir Jeffrey Amherst, during
which time, it has been said, he supported a table as
costly as that of the commander-in-chief, and it is fairly to
be presumed that it was in that way he involved his fortune
more than any other. The colony of Virginia raised two
regiments for the service in 1/55. Mr. Byrd was appointed
to the command of one of them, and the then Major Wash-
ington to the other, probably as the senior officer. Colonel
Washington, long before the close of the war, marrying

3 8

Mrs. Custis, a rich widow, resigned his command, and
Col. Byrd had the command of both regiments, in which
position he appears to have continued to the end of the
war. About the year 1760 he married a second wife in
Philadelphia, Mary Willing, of the well-known family of
that name, long established in the city, by whom he had
five daughters and three sons, with whom, as well as with
those of his first marriage (except Captain Byrd, of the
British army, the eldest of the latter who died in France
early in life), and both the parents, the subject of this
sketch maintained a uniform, very intimate and grateful
intercourse from the early commencement of it until it was
interrupted by the decease of the two senior members and
a considerable part of the junior individuals of that family.
At the breaking out of the American Revolutionary war
Col. Byrd adhered so long to the old government as to
render himself unpopular in Virginia. The violent acts of
Lord Dunmore at length excited his indignation, and if
his country could have been prevailed upon to put as much
confidence in him as to have given him as high a military
command as his rank, his honor and his high claims to
preferment entitled him, he no doubt w r ould have rein-
stated himself in the forfeited good opinion of it, and if
the field of his operations had been sufficiently extensive
he would have promoted its triumphs. Col. Byrd was in
some respects the superior of General Washington, and in
none his inferior. Let no man presume to appreciate dis-
tinguished characters, or dare .to detract from their merit,
unless they have been personally acquainted with them,
have witnessed their conduct in private life, and in all life's
relations have communed much with them. Compe-
tency to judge of the essential qualifications that go to
make up the hero or great man should also be considered.
Many an ordinary man has been elevated to a high position
through popular favor, while many a truly great man has
been permitted to remain in obscurity through personal

39

1 modesty on his part, and ignorance on the part of the
people. The friends of Col. Byrd in the convention of
Virginia proposed him for the command of the State line,
with rank of Major-General, but he had forfeited the con-
fidence of the people and their representatives. He was
rejected, and on the first day of January, 1777, resigned
to his successors all his claims to temporal enjoyments and
temporal honors, leaving behind him a widow who pos-
sessed a mind of powers superior to the generality of her
sex, and a most generous, benevolent and charitable heart.
Mrs. Byrd, surviving three of her daughters, deceased in
March, 1814, aged about 74 or 75 years. There were
three sons and five of the most amiable daughters in
the world. Before the death of Col. Byrd, R. K. Meade
was deprived of his wife, who died in December, 1775,
nor was she survived much more than a year by her
brother, John Randolph, the father of the member of Con-
gress of the same name, who distinguished himself by his
eloquence and great talents, but much more by his steady
adherence to the Republican party or administrators of the
Government, and afterwards by a most intemperate oppo-
sition to the same.

R. K. Meade, after the death of his wife, and having
no children, being actuated by the most virtuous motives
that ever actuated the mind of man, engaged first as a
volunteer in the service of his country and raised a com-
pany, or rather was placed at the head of a company
bv its unanimous vote. As soon as the convention
of Virginia ordered the raising of two regiments, he was
appointed captain in the Second Regiment under Colonel
Woodford, and in a very short time raised his company in
the winter of 1776-7. The Second Regiment was ordered
to join the army, then on the Delaware, in Jersey, under
the command of the commander-in-chief. Before it left
Virginia, he received his appointment of aide-de-camp to
General Washington, and thereon without delay he re-

40

paired to headquarters. In his station of aide he performed
all the active duties of it better, perhaps, than any other
of the General's family. He was a handsome man, of
athletic form and constitution — from his early years was
fond of manly and hardy sports; was a good horseman,
and was the best mounted aid-de-camp in the army. At
the battle of Monmouth he escaped being made prisoner
by the fleetness of the horse he rode, as he related it him-
self. Being sent with orders to Major General Lee, when
either going or returning, he fell in with a general officer
and his suite, and was so near to them as to be in gunshot.
He was sensible of the danger he was in, but confiding in
the powers of his horse, he soon found himself out of their
reach ; but having a swamp to cross, his horse got so im-
mersed in it as not to be able to extricate himself from
captivity ; he found himself under the necessity of dis-
mounting, and abandoning the horse, which, relieved from
so great a load, with great exertion plunged out and
fortunately recovered, was instantly remounted. Aud-
bury, a British officer of the Saratoga Convention troops,
in a history of some campaigns of that war, printed in two
volumes octavo, narrated the above adventure to this
effect: That the General and suite which R. K. Meade
was so near being taken by, was no less a person than Sir
Harry Clinton, the British commander-in-chief and his
suite ; that an officer in it desired the General to permit him
to shoot at the American, which, to Sir Harry's immortal
credit, was generously, nobly and gloriously refused. The
events of the Revolutionary War of North America are
well recorded by different historians. From these histo-
ries, it does not appear that the aide-de-camp, Captain
Meade, was in any way distinguished from his associate
aides. It will not be to his discredit to have it remembered
that he was particularly intimate with and had a friendship
for General Alexander Hamilton, who, as a member of
General Washington's military family, in the quality of

41

aid-de-camp, entering the service when he was scarcely
out of his majority, continued in that station until just
before the seige of Little York, in Virginia. He there
performed not only the humble duties of his office of aide-
de-camp, but the more important one of counselor. His
fame, however, was founded more, and no doubt properly,
upon the share he had in the administration of the civil
government of the United States after its independence
was acknowledged by the peace of Paris. More credit
was due to him probably for the share he had in the
conduct of the war than was known to the American
public or the world in general. It has been said that
Hamilton had withdrawn from the General's family before
the capture of Earl Cornwallis, at York. It was presumed,
upon some authority not to be despised, that he joined
the French and American armies before the seige of that
place not in the best of humor with the General. He
nevertheless was there appointed to some honorable com-
mand, and it is a well-known historical fact that he was at
the head of the American party which stormed and car-
ried one of the British redoubts, while a French party,
with more difficulty and some loss, carried another. If
any inference was at this time drawn from the circumstance
of Hamilton's going to York without any commission and
rather a malcontent, and his appointment to a position of
importance in any manner unfavorable to the General, it
was, no doubt by the very few disaffected, who were not
disposed to join the grateful multitude in its enthusiastic
admiration and almost adoration of General Washington,
who became most unaccountably popular, with little of
that affability, address, or art which is generally considered
essential to make one a popular hero. He was brave
and prudent and active of body, but without one great
essential in an accomplished commander, namely, decision ;
nor was he recommended by much experience. He was an
honest statesman, though as a chief magistrate, deficient

42

in personal suavity and address. He had sound judgment,
and was scarcely rivaled by any one in his conduct of
private affairs. Without ambition, and probably actuated
by a sincere desire to promote the public weal, his powers
of mind were no doubt ever at their utmost stretch to
attain his end. He seems to have been ordained by
Heaven to achieve great things in arms without great
military talents, v/ithout great native genius, without
classical learning, and with but little knowledge of the
sciences. He sustained the State he had freed, by his
civil administration. Without impertinently and mali-
ciously prying into every recess to detect some venial
frailty incident to human nature, as the slanderous adver-
saries of Mr. Jefferson have, to their shame, done, it may
be said of General Washington, that his life and manners
were correct and his morals irreproachable, to- judge
ordinarily from his general deportment. He was dis-
tinguished among the gentry of Virginia for punctuality
in all his pecuniary engagements ; was of acknowledged
probity and honor, to which may be added that he was
pre-eminently discreet in the management of his private
affairs, at all seasons, not only in times of calm, but when
his own as well as the public interests were in jeopardy.
Of a saturnine temperament, he was reserved and austere,
and better endowed by nature and habit for an Eastern
monarch, than a republican general.

He was as exempt from great vices and minor
merit as a majority of the frail descendants of our first
parents; but, at the same time, it must be admitted
that he was a man of sterling virtues. It may be ob-
jected, perhaps, that the person who guides the registry
pen of this family record, writtfs under the influence of
prejudice, or some base passion, a suspicion to which all
those who dare to attempt to stem any popular torrent of
error and credulity will be subjected ; but it is to be noted
that these pages are not intended and never will be ex-

43

posed to public inspection, and are intended only for the
amusement and, peradventure, the edification of the house
of Meade (which had no pretension to celebrity, but so far
from it has been sunk into obscurity), but more particularly
the progeny of the subject of this brief biography. The
writer indignantly disclaims any affinity to the spirit of
detraction, but he dares to record what he believes upon
sufficient grounds to be the truth, although it should, by
gaining credit within a very limited circle, and there, in
opinion, tarnish the romantic lustre with which a name has
been varnished by popular belief. He can have no
motive whatever for detracting from the good qualities
and accomplishments which have been attributed to Gen-
eral Washington. He surely has not in the foregoing
pages betrayed any disposition to conceal them. He
could not possibly envy his high fame, for he was conscious
that his own powers of mind and very humble acquire-
ments were of so mean a grade as to render emulation
folly in the extreme. He was moreover personally ac-
quainted with him at least a dozen years before the
breaking out of the Revolutionary War, and not less so
with the greater part of the worthies who representing
Virginia associated with him in the first and subsequent
sessions of Congress, of which number were the venerable
Col. Richard Bland, Mr. P. Randolph, then Attorney Gen-
eral, and first President of Congress, Mr. Wythe, and Mr.
Jefferson; with these, although much the junior, except of
the last, and many others of distinction, he had lived many
years in a reciprocation of fellowship and equality, except
in years, talents, and in some cases, of fortune, and in
some, of virtue. He is so much of a republican and phi-
losopher, as to claim no political or physical superiority,
or to acknowledge his inferiority on account of power or
pageantry. He detests envy and detraction, but loves
truth, rte rejects the policy of encouraging false estimates
of character and events, by giving them coloring and var-

44

nish, not, perhaps, out of nature, but contrary to fact, and
altogether inapplicable to the subject. Such a course is
useless, improper, and calculated to generate doubt, and
absolutely to destroy the confidence which we ought to
have in the verity of history and biography, which is
necessary to render it greatly useful to posterity, by
mending their manners and morals, and rendering man-
kind happier through the experience of past times. Yet
it was thought necessary during the progress of the
Revolutionary War, to the success of it, as indeed there
was some reason for believing it was, that men should
appear to have embraced the popular and romantic senti-
ment that Heaven had given Washington as a precious,
inestimable boon to America, a man endowed with all the
attributes of the hero, preordaining him for the savior of
his country. Surely no true patriot would, during the
continuance of the war, whatever might have been his real
creed, have been so imprudent as publicly to have con-
troverted the popular sentiment then, but since the great
object of the war has been fully attained, and the whole
generation by which it was achieved nearly passed away,
very few individuals who were agents in the stupendous
undertaking now surviving, the obligation has long ceased
to restrain a full expression of sentiment upon the charac-
ter of the chief of those agents. It is, perhaps, a duty
we owe to posterity, to contribute our mite toward eluci-
dating facts which have occurred in our own time, and the
observed traits in the characters of famous contemporaries ;
private memoirs are generally more faithful records than
history and biographies sanctioned by printing presses
and public approbation. But, returning to R. K. Meade,
a subject much more interesting to the writer. The his-
tory of R. K. Meade's participation in the Revolutionary
War involves an historical fact, which is probably not
to be found in any of the histories of that war, and ex-
hibits the character of Sir H. Clinton in colors variant

45

from those in which he was painted by H. Lee, in his
memoirs, and in which he was generally viewed by the
public. During the suspension of Major Andre's fate, in
the interval between his capture and execution, frequent
letters were exchanged between the two commanders in-
chief, upon the subject of that accomplished officer's case.
At this time the American army was occupying
different encampments in Jersey, not remote from the
city of New York, where were the chief British forces
under the commander-in-chief. The American General,
watching with more than ordinary solicitude the move-
ments at New York, as an expedition was apprehended
from thence up the North River against West Point, and
it was of the highest importance that General Washington
should receive correct information of the destination of
the armament then preparing in New York, also the
moment it should sail. In this state of things at the
American camp, the unfortunate Andre then had his trial
and condemnation as a spy, and R. K. Meade was sent
with a flag and letter directed to Sir Henry Clinton, com-
mander-in-chief of the British army in New York. A blunt,
ingenuous, honest-hearted lieutenant of the navy was sent
to receive the flag and letter. The lieutenant, upon receiv-
ing theletterand looking at the superscription, pronounced
without hesitation or reflection that it was not directed
properly, for General Ralston, not Clinton, commanded in
New York, by which he disclosed a secret which General
Washington considered of the utmost importance to him.
General Washington moved with the army, or a consid-
erable detachment, first up the North River, immediately
after the return of this flag with the intelligence. But,
returning to the conference of the British lieutenant of
the navy and R. K. Meade. The honest lieutenant,
with much appearance of feeling, several times repeated
his inquiries of R. K. Meade, whether he thought they
would hang Major Andre. " And will they ? M says he,

46

repeating the question for the second or third time, "hang
that d — d fine fellow Andre ? " and being reluctantly
answered in the affirmative, after a pause and a sigh :
" Well, then," says he, "if you do hang Andre, the world
will know what a d — d blockhead Sir Harry Clinton is. "

R. K. Meade left the army before the peace of Paris
in 1783, and settled permanently in Frederick County,
State of Virginia, where he spent an agricultural and
very retired life, beloved by all who were acquainted with
him, esteemed and respected by his neighbors and every
one that had ever heard of his worth. The gout had
been long his principal complaint, but had been confined
to his extremities; at length it assaulted his vitals, and on

the - - day of 1781, his decease deprived his family

of the best husband, parent and master that was ever
born in this world. Three sons and four daughters were
the fruit of his second marriage with the widow of Wm.
Randolph. Her maiden name was Mary Grymes, the
daughter of Benjamin Grymes. His first wife was Eliza-
beth Randolph, daughter of the first Richard Randolph
of Curies, in Henrico County, and aunt to John Randolph,
who has much distinguished himself in public life.

This may be a proper place here in the family record
to notice the other brothers of David Meade, the primary
subject of it. Everard Meade, the third son of his father,
as well as the two older, spent a considerable part of his
minority at school in England, and returned to Virginia
about the year 1764. When not quite eighteen years of
age he clandestinely formed an hymeneal connection with
Mary Thornton, about his own age, the daughter of a
gentleman who was a member of a numerous and very
respectable family, by which wife he had two sons and a
daughter, who died before him. He afterwards married
the widow of Benjamin Ward, by whom he had two sons,
and deceased. His widow is yet living, January 7, 1820.
Andrew, the fourth brother, died, leaving a widow, a most

47

estimable woman, the daughter of Buckner Stith, of
Brownswick, with two sons and three daughters. John,
the fifth son, deceased a minor, being about seventeen years
old, 1772.

David Meade, the subject of this record, having
resided at Maycox, in Prince George County, for twenty-
two years, removed in the summer of 1796 to the now
State of Kentucky, having landed with a numerous family
from boats at Limestown. now Maysville, on the morn-
ing of the 4th of July, and permanently settled on a
small tract of land previously purchased by his eldest
son, David, at the head spring of Jessamine Creek, a
lateral branch of the Kentucky River, then Fayette (now
Jessamine) County, being a portion of the former taken
from it in 1797. The name of Jessamine was derived
from that of an unfortunate girl, the daughter of a Scotch-
man, a staymaker in the then capital of Virginia, who
became a patentee of a tract of land lying at the head of
a lateral branch of the Kentucky, having on it a copious
spring, which, from his daughter's name, he called Jessa-
mine Spring, which gave name to the creek from which
the county was named. Such was the origin of the name
of the fertile county of Jessamine : the unfortune Jessie
(or Jessamine) Douglas, whom remorse and a laudable
sense of shame for having yielded to the importunities of
her lover, prompted to commit suicide.

At the precise period of recording this, he, David
Meade, has resided in tranquil retirement thirty years,
with a numerous household, at his seat of Chaumiere des
Prairies^ where his days have been engaged in the whole-
some and agreeable, and, he trusts, innocent occupation
of the improvement of his grounds after the mode of hor-
ticulture, calculated more to please the eye, than to result
in the acquirement of what the world generally deems the
more substantial goods of life.

RICHARD KIDDER MEADE.

The following recollections of Richard Kidder Meade
are taken from Bishop Meade's " Old Churches and Fam-
ilies of Virginia/' page 294 :

" I shall be excused for adding in this place some
other particulars concerning my father. He married, at
the age of nineteen, Miss Jane Randolph, of Curls, sister of
Richard Randolph, who married his sister, and aunt of
John Randolph, of Roanoke, who always called him Uncle
Kidder. His wife was S'*me years older than himself,
which called from the elder Judge Tucker some humorous
poetry, entitled Happy Dick, in which he condoles with
the younger ladies on James River upon their disappoint-
ment. This wife lived but a few years, having several
children during the time, and leaving none behind.
During his first marriage he lived at Coggin's Point, in
Prince George, the present possession and residence of
Edmund Ruffin, and which he sold during the war,
though, by means of the depreciation of money, he
realized but little from it. In Prince George he was a
vestryman, but resigned because the vestry would not
discharge an unworthy clergyman. He entered early into
the Revolutionary war, being one of twenty-four persons
— among whom were James Monroe, George Wythe,
Benjamin Harrison, Colonel Bland, etc. — who, in June,
1775, seized upon the arms arid ammunition in Dunmore's
house, in Williamsburg, carrying the powder to the maga-
zine, and dividing the arms among themselves for safe-
keeping and the service of the country. In December of
that year he was found at the battle of Great Bridge, near
Norfolk — the first battle fought in Virginia. He had
raised a company, and was then serving as captain under
General Woodford. [See the account which he gives in
the Bland papers.] He was soon taken into the family of

49

General Washington as his aid, and was the most active in
reconnoitring, being a good rider and having a fine ani-
mal — the black mare so well known to the British as well
as American armies. [See Campbell's History of Vir-
ginia.] He used to say that Hamilton did all the head-
work for the General, and he the riding, reconnoitring,
and carrying orders o.n the field. He was with Washing-
ton in all the great battles of the Revolution. To. him
was committed the superintendence of the execution of
Major Andre, of. which he always spoke with much
feeling, saying that he could not forbear tears at seeing
the execution of so uncommon and interesting a man,
though he entirely approved the order. At the close of
the war he married the widow of Mr. William Randolph,
of Chattsworth, near Richmond, the brother of Governor
Beverly Randolph, of Cumberland, and Colonel Robert
Randolph, of Fauquier. She is mentioned in Campbell's
History as among the. female contributors to the expenses
of the war in a time of great need. Her contribution
was eight hundred dollars. Perhaps this circumstance
may have first attracted my father's attention to her.
When Washington was taking leave of some of his aids,
a circumstance occurred which showed his estimate of
their different characters. To Hamilton he said, * You
must go to the bar, which you can reach in six months ; '
to Laurens,. something as appropriate ; to Colonel Meade,
whom he then called by his familiar name, ' Friend Dick,
you must go to a plantation in Virginia ; you will make a
good farmer and an honest foreman of the grand jury of
the county where you live.'. And so it proved; for he
became a most attentive, successful, and, at first, hard-
working farmer, and was, while health permitted, always
the foreman of the grand jury of the old District Court
of Frederick County. He rejoiced as a citizen in those
blessings which his military services had helped to obtain,
and often said that there was no debt he so gladly dis-

5o

charged as the taxes levied for the maintenance of our
free and happy government. He never allowed a tax-
gatherer to come to his house in search of what was due,
but always anticipated this by paying it beforehand at
some appointed place. The same was true of ail his
debts.

" As infirmities of body increased, the foundation of
which were laid in his exposure during the war, and he
could no longer fell trees and maul rails with the very few
servants saved from the wreck of his estate, he still labored
in other ways. A box of tools, imported from England,
stood in the corner of the old log dining-room, and a
saddlers bench during the winter's season was on one
side. All the helves, rakes, cradles, gates, and plantation
gear were made by his own hands ; and so expert was he
in the latter manufacture as to produce a compliment from
an old friend, that 4 a good saddler was spoiled in the
attempt to make a gentleman of him.' Nevertheless, he
did not entirely discard books and politics, but sometimes
wrote an article for the press on some subject which
deeply involved our country's interests. Nor did Wash-
ington disdain to consult with him as to the choice of
officers, when, in the near prospect of war with France,
he was called on once more to head the armies of our
country. The year before the death of Washington, my
father paid him a visit at Mount Vernon. They had not
met since the close of the war. The general was on his
farm. They met in one of the fields, near a pair of
draw-bars. Each, recognizing the other, dismounted and
shook hands over them, the General insisting that he
would pull down his own bars, and my father that he
would be his aid still.

*' My father survived but a few years. Several inter-
esting obituaries, in prose and verse, appeared at his
death. From them I take the following extracts. The

5i

first is from the pen of Mr. Robert Page, of Janeville,
Frederick County :

His virtues, though of that dignified kind which
enforce respect, were yet so tempered by gentleness and
condescension that they never failed to conciliate affec-
tion. In public life his conduct was such as to secure the
esteem and friendship of those accurate discerners of
merit, Washington and Hamilton. This speaks suffi-
ciently his eulogium. His benevolence was ardent, active
and disinterested ; and one of his greatest pleasures con-
sisted in promoting the happiness and welfare of all
around him. The death of his friend, General Hamilton,
made an impression of melancholy on his mind, which, it
is believed, was not obliterated until the hour of his
death.'

" The following is from the Rev. Mr. Wiley :

" 4 The heart that beat for public weal,

Where justice held her steady way,
Where glowed the flame of patriot zeal,

Is noW a lump of inert clay.
But memory often shall rejoice,

With pensive pleasure, to retrace
His form, the accents of his voice,

And every valued mental grace.
His social gayety, whose flow

Could pleasure ever new impart ;
His candor, which could never bow

To veil in dark disguise the heart ;
His goodness, active, ardent, great,

And prompt the sufferer's wants to aid ;
These, whilst the pulse of life shall beat,

Will never from remembrance fade.'

52

The last is from Mrs. Mary Page, of PagebVook,
Frederick County :

u * Though wars have ceased, the hero claims renown ;
With choicest myrtle let his tomb be crown'd ;
And ye, sweet nine, your plaintive tribute pay,
And o'er his virtues shed a milder ray.
In scenes domestic man is truly known ;
In scenes domestic Meade forever shone.
His soul, unconscious of one narrow thought,
Of self regardless, did the thing he ought.
Where'er his form benignant bent its way,
Grim care soon vanish'd and each heart was gay.
At mercy's call he ever foremost press'd ;
For meek-eyed pity sway'd his manly breast.
Hasten, fair nymphs of Frederick's peaceful plains;
Attend, fond youths, to breathe your mournful strains;
Votaries of Hymen, follow to deplore
That Meade, your pride and father, is no more.
But why, blest shade, should friends lament thy doom ?
Joys celestial hover o'er thy tomb ;
TJiy Mary, purer than the snowdrop white,
Shall guide thine offspring to the realms of .light.' **

CHttUMIERE.

Description of Chaumiere, from a letter recently
written by Dr. Craik, late rector of Christ's Church,
Louisville, Ky. :

" Although I only visited Chaumiere twice during my
sojourn in Lexington, yet my recollections of the place,
and of Col. Meade and his wife, are still fresh. To see
such a place at that time — 1825 — was a pleasure which
could not be given by anything of the like sort in America.
Every one who went to Lexington, or to any part of the
Blue-grass country visited Chaumiere as a matter of course,
to enjoy the wondrous beauty which the taste and genius
of one man had created. The result was that for a time
every day at Chaumiere was like a levee. This made it
necessary to appoint two days in the week for the recep-
tion of visitors. My first visit was paid in company with
Dr. Holley, the brilliant and admired president of Transyl-
vania, and his family, who were frequent visitors. With
such an introduction I was, of course, cordially welcomed.
Col. and Mrs. Meade were then quite aged, but they had
lost nothing of the refined courtesy of their day, a day
when in the class to which they belonged culture was of
the highest. One of my surprises was to hear Mrs. Meade
playing on the piano with a vivacity and perfection of
execution which we look for only in younger adepts. I
learned from President Holley that Col. Meade had spent
a considerable portion of a large fortune in a similar style
of improvement and living on the James River in Vir-
ginia. He told me that he had selected his present resi-
dence on account of the natural beauties of the country.
And he pointed with enthusiasm to several groups of the
sugar maple, with the lovely grass beneath them, as the
most attractive features of his place.

54

The grounds were enclosed in a low stone wall,
which no one within could ever see, unless he pertina-
ciously penetrated through the hiding beauties to the wall
itself. Lakes with boats, streams crossed by bridges,
meandering walks leading in every direction but to the
external border, made a scene of delightful enchantment
to the people of that day. How it would compare now
with Central Park in New York, or with modern creations,
it is impossible to say. There was then nothing like it in
this country, and our impressions must be taken as those
of a first and fresh surprise and admiration."

From the memoirs of Dr. Holley :

" I went with a party of ladies and gentlemen nine
miles in the country to the seat of Col. Meade, where we
dined and passed the day. This gentleman, who is near
70, is a Virginian of the old school. He has been a good
deal in England in his youth, and brought home with him
English notions of a country seat, though he is a great
republican in politics. He and his wife dress in the cos-
tume of the olden time. He has the square coat and
great cuffs, the vest of the court, short breeches and white
stockings, at all times: Mrs. Meade has the long waist,
the white apron, the stays, the ruffles about the elbows,
and the cap of half a century ago. She is very mild and
ladylike, and though between 60 and 70, plays upon the
piano-forte with the facility and cheerfulness of a young
lady. Her husband resembles "Col. Pickering in the face
and shape of the head. He is entirely a man of leisure,
never having followed any business, and never using his
fortune but in adorning his place and entertaining his
friends and strangers. No word is ever sent him that
company is coming. To do so offends him. But servants
are always in waiting. Twenty of us went out one day,
without warning, and were entertained luxuriously on the
viands of the country. Our drink consisted of beer, toddy

55

and water. Wine being imported and expensive, he
never gives. His house consists of a cluster of rustic
cottages, in front of which spreads a beautiful sloping
lawn, as smooth as velvet. From this diverge, in various
directions, and forming vistas terminated by picturesque
objects, groves and walks extending over some acres.
Seats, Chinese temples, verdant banks and alcoves are in-
terspersed at convenient distances. The lake, over which
presides a Grecian temple, that you may imagine to be
the temple of the water nymphs, has in it a small island,
which communicates with the shore by a white bridge*of
one arch. The whole is surrounded by a low, rustic
fence of stone, and almost hidden by honeysuckle and
rose, now in full flower, and which we gathered in abund-
ance to adorn the ladies. Everything is laid out for
walking and pleasure. His farm he rents, and does noth-
ing for profit. The whole is in rustic taste. You enter
from the road, through a gate between rude and massive
columns, a field without pretention, wind a considerable
distance through a noble park to an inner gate, the capi-
tals to whose pillars are unique, being formed of the roots
of trees, carved by nature. There the rich scene of cul-
tivation, of verdure and flower-capped hedges, bursts
upon you. There is no establishment like this in our
country. Instead of a description I might have given
you its name, " Chaumiere du Prairie."

From a letter by Mrs. Susan C. Williams, of Fort

Wayne, Ind. :

" The house was what might be called a villa — cover-
ing a good deal of ground, built in an irregular style of
various materials — wood, stone, brick, and one mud room,
which, by the way, was quite a pretty, tasteful spare bed-
room. The part composed of brick was a large octagon
drawing-room, the only really handsome room of the es-
tablishment. The dining hall was a large square room,

wainscoted with black walnut, with very deep window-
seats, where we children used to hide ourselves behind
the heavy curtains. There were one large, square hall,
and numerous passage ways, lobbies, areas, etc. The
grounds were quite extensive and very beautiful. At
that early period there was not, perhaps, in this country
so highly and tastefully improved a country seat. It
was the admiration of all who visited it. Distinguished
strangers visiting Lexington were always taken there.
Grandpa was very fond of company and exceedingly hos-
pitable. These grounds, to me in my youthful days, were
a perfect paradise, never having seen anything to compare
with them. And even now, though there are very many
expensively improved country seats, probably surpassing
this in many respects, yet, so far as my experience goes,
none more natural and tasteful, if so much so. The ex-
tensive lawn in front of the house terminated with what
we called a ' sink-hole/ around which we delighted in
running, and finally getting to the bottom — but which the
late Dr. Holley, of Transylvania University, more poetic,
was pleased to call a * dimple on the cheek of nature.*
And then the walks — the serpentine, one mile around —
the haw-haw, a wide, straight walk with an echo, both of
these with white benches at intervals, and in a secluded
nook a most beautiful, tasteful Chinese pavilion. The
bird-cage walk was one cut through a dense plum thicket
excluding the sun; it led to a dell where was a large
spring of the best water, and near by the mouth of the
cave which had some little notoriety. At this point was
the terminus of the lake, at which, after a hard rain, there
was quite a water-fall, which grandpa much delighted in.
On the lake was a small boat, 'Sidney,' which some one
of us, as the * Lady of the Lake/ used to row from one
side to the other, stopping at a miniature island for duck
eggs. From the shore to the island there was a pretty
little bridge, and on the border of the lake at a distant

SARAH WATERS-MEADE.

57

point, was the 4 Temple of the Naiads/ which was also
utilized as a seed repository. I should have mentioned
before, that beyond the lawn there was a large piece of
ground which grandpa always said ought to have been a
sheet of water to make his grounds perfect. This was
sown in clover, that it might, as he thought, somewhat
resemble water in the distance. In one of our summer
sojourns at Chaumiere, when my sister Julia (Mrs. Ball)
was about 3 years of age, soon after our arrival, the nurse
took her out on the lawn, when she shrank back and cried
out, ' Oh, river! river!' greatly to our grandfather's de-
light. He said it was the greatest compliment his grounds
had ever had. Having a competency, and being pos-
sessed with a. love of nature and the beautiful, he shunned
a busy, bustling life. I must not omit to say that both
he and grandma were all that their slaves could desire
in them as master and mistress. All that were capable
of taking care of themselves were manumitted at his
death."

From Wotton's Baronetage of England.

Everard, of Much Walt ham, Essex, created Baronet

January jp, 1628.

Of this ancient family was

1. Ralph Everard, who lived in the reign of Henry IIL

2. and Edward I., and had issue Walter Everard, who

3. lived temp. Edward II. and III. He left William
Everard of Marshbury, in Essex, his son and heir t
who lived there temp. Richard II. and Henry IV. and
left two sons of the name of John.

4. John Everard, sen., of Newark in Good-Estre and
Marshbury in the said county, had issue Thomas
Everard of Waltham Magna, who married the daugh-
ter and co-heir of John Cornish, of Langley's in
Much Waltham aforesaid, and had issue six sons and
three daughters. He lived in the reign of Henry
VII.

5. Richard Everard , fourth son, married first Elizabeth,
daughter of Richard Stephens, Gent., and had issue
Richard and three daughters. His second wife was
Agnes Upcher, relict of Thomas Wood, and had only
one daughter. He died Dec. 29, 1561.

6. Richard, his only son and heir, married Mary,
daughter of Thos. Wood, of Raine Parva (who,
surviving him, became the wife of John Goodday of
Braintre, Gent.), and died in his father's lifetime,

7. leaving issue another Richard Everard of Langley's
successor to his grandfather. He married Clementia,
daughter of John Wiseman, of Great Canfield, Esq.,
and had issue four sons, Antony, Matthexv, Hugh and
John, of Great Baddow, and a daughter Mary, wife
of John* Wiseman, Esq., of Lysted. They lived

59

together in wedlock fifty-three years. She died
Sept., 1611, and he July 25, 1617. They both lie
buried in Waltham Church.

8. Antony, the eldest son, succeeded his father. He
received the honor of Knighthood July 23, 1603,
before the coronation of King James I. He had two
wives — first, Anne, daughter of Sir Thomas Ber-
nardiston, Knt., of Kelton-in-SufFolk, by whom he
had Antony \ Richard and Elizabeth* and also Anne,
who survived him and became his heiress, and who
was married to Sir William Maynard, Knt. and Bart,
of Great Easton in Essex, afterwards Lord Maynard,
Sir Anthony married, secondly, Anne, daughter of
Sir Anthony Felton, of Playford-in-Suffdlk, Knt. of
the Bath, by whom he had no issue. He died 1614,-
and was buried at Waltham.

9. Hugh Evcrard, Esq., third son of Richard, was
High Sheriff of Essex, 1626. He married Mary,
daughter of Thomas Brand, alias Bond, of Great
Hormead in Hartfordshire, Gent., and had issue
Richard, his only son and heir. He and his wife
both died 1637, and are buried in Waltham Church.

10. Richard Everard, his only son and heir, was

advanced to the dignity of a Baronet by King
Charles I. He married Joan, daughter of Sir
Francis Barrington of Hatfield, Broad Oak, Bart.,
and had issue four sons, Richard, Barrington and
Robert, that died issueless ; also, Hugh, Fellow of
Emanuel College, Cambridge, and three daughters,
whereof Winifred, the youngest, was married to Sir
Wm. Lucky n, Bart., of Little Waltham Hall, and
Joan and Frances, one of whom was married to John
Cutts, Esq., of Arkden. Sir Richard's second wife
was Frances, daughter of Sir Robert Lee, of Billefly,
in Warwickshire, relict of Sir Gervase Eiways (or
Elwes) of Woodford-in-Essex, Knt., or (or both)

6o

mother of Sir Gervase Elways of Stoke-in-Suffolk.
By her he had no children.

11. Sir Richard, his eldest son, Knt. and Bart., suc-
ceeded him and was Sheriff for Essex to Charles I.,
1644. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Hen-
ry Gibbs, of Faulkland in Scotland, Knight of the
Bed Chamber to King James I., and had issue two
sons, Richard^ who died unmarried, and Sir Hugh %
also one daughter, Jane, who died young. His sec-
ond wife was Jane, daughter of Sir John (or William)
Finnet, Master of the Ceremonies to King James L
and King Charies I., but had no issue by her. He
died in August, 1694, aged 70.

12. Sir Hugh Everard, Bart. , the second son, was
bred to arms, and in his younger days signalized
himself in Flanders (his eldest brother being then
alive). He married Mary, daughter of John Brown,
M. D., of Salisbury, by whom he had issue Richard f
Hugh (drowned in the great storm of 1703, being
Lieutenant of the Restoration), and Morton, who
was killed on board the Hampshire, commanded by
the Lord Maynard ; also, two daughters, Elizabeth,
married to Henry Osburne (or Oburne), A. M.,
Vicar of Great Waltham, Rector of West Hanning-
field, and afterwards Vicar of Thaxted,and Frances,
the youngest, who died unmarried. Sir Hugh died
in January, 1705-6, aged fifty-one, and lies buried at
Waltham. He was for some time Receiver General
for the county, but left his estate much encumbered
with debts, so that Sir Richard, his successor, was
obliged to sell it and bought himself a small estate at
Broomfield.

13. Sir Richard, his oldest son, succeeded him in
dignity and estate, and married Susanna, daughter
and co-heiress of Richard Kidder, D. D., Lord
Bishop of Bath and Wells (who was killed at his pal-

6i

ace, at Wells, by the before -mentioned storm of Nov. ,
1703, by the fall of a chimney.) By her he left issue
two sons, Sir Richard^ who succeeded him, and
Hugh (who went to Georgia), and two daughters.
Susanna married in Virginia* to David Meade, a con-
siderable merchant and planter there, and Anne,
married to George Lathbury, Gent. About the year
1 724, Sir Richard left England, having been appointed
Governor of North Carolina, under the Lords Pro-
prietors. But, being displeased when the Crown
purchased that Province, he returned to London, and
died in Red Lion street, Holbourn, Feb. 17, 1732—3,
and his Lady, who survived him, died Sept. 12, 1739.

14. Sir Richard Everard, Bart., eldest son and suc-
cessor, died unmarried, March 7, 1 741-2, and was
succeeded by his brother.

15. Sir Hugh Everard, the present Baronet, who now
enjoys the title and estate, and who went to Georgia.

ARMS.
Argent ; a Fess wavy, between Estoiles, Gules.

CREST.

On a wreath, a bust of a man in profile, habited in a
long cap, cheeky, or Crest, on a torse, argent or gules, a
man s head, couped at the shoulders, argent, and cuppe,
bendy, wavy, of six, argent and sable.

These arms were quartered in several parts of the old
house at Langleys, with Bernardiston, Maynard, Barring-
ton, Cornish, etc.

Present seat, Broomfield Green.

THE MANOR OF LANGLEYS

Was purchased of the Everard family, by Samuel
Tufnell, Esq. , who pulled down a great part of the old house,
and erected a handsome and spacious new one, and made
an extensive park around it. This house has been con-
siderably improved by later proprietors of the same
family.

FROM WRIGHTS ESSEX.

Much - Walt ham Church .
In the window on the north side of .he church is a
very costly monument to the memory of Sir Antony Eve-
rard, Knt., and his lady. It is within an arch of various
kinds of marble, about fourteen feet high, and six and a
half wide. The effigies of these dignified personages
recline in two tombs, of which Sir Everard's is about two
feet higher than that of his Lady, Behind these figures,
skulls and emblems of mortality appear, above which is
an elegant Latin inscription, of which the following is a
translation :

44 Sacred to the memory of Lady Ann Eyerard,
44 daughter of Thos. Bernardiston, Knt., descended from
*' the ancient family of the Bernardistons, of Keddington,
" in the County of Suffolk (who formerly bore the most
" ancient surname of Newmarche, or New Market), and of
** the Lady Elizabeth Hanchett, his wife. Six weeks after
" her lying-in, she was snatched away by a severe fever;
44 and died, a truly good foster-mother, the 19th of Decem-
" ber, in the year of our salvation, 1609. She left behind
44 her only one daughter, Anne."

The following is on the left hand side of. the monu-
ment :

44 Here resteth, in assured hope to rise in Christ, the
4 body of Sir Anthony' Everard, Knt., who departed this
44 life in the yeere of our Lord, 1614, 3 yeeres after that
44 he had erected this monument of his deerly beloved
44 wyfe. He left behind him one only daughter and heire,
" since married unto Sir VVm. Maynard, of this County,
44 Knt. and Baronet."

On a tablet, on the opposite side, is inscribed :

14 Here lyes ther carkases, subject to corrupsion, until
" ther blessed sowles shall once (etor.ne, .and with them

63

" rise to glorye. Yf, answering ther vertues, a tombe had
" bene prepared, the had bene enshrined in gold, or stone
more precious. M

Several infantine figures appear in different postures.
Two are embracing each other, with the names of
" Anonymous and Richard/' written above their heads.
Against the wall of the south aisle, the following is in-
scribed on a stone of gray marble :

"THIS MONUMENT

Covers not the ashes, but perpetuates the memory

Of Hugh Everard, second son

To Sir Hugh Everard of Langleys, Bart.

A son, though not born to the estate and honor

of the family,
Yet early inherited the virtue and bravery of it.

The glories of whose infancy
Raised our just hopes to expect wonders from his

manhood ;

For, not being thirteen years of age, he left Felstead

School, Sept. 24, 1700,

and on the 29th he went under Capt. Whitaker

to convey King William from Holland.

Though then a tempest rose, which destroyed

many in his sight,

Yet the undaunted youth still had glory in view.

The invitation of that and the greatness of his soul

Lessened all the threatenings of danger.
August 15, 1702, after several voyages and hard-
ships endured
By land and sea,
A descent being made into Spain,
His choice and request put his courage upon action,
Being the third that landed, and the Spanish horse
Coming upon them,
The commander fell by his hand,

64

And the sword of the man before grazed the

side of the young stripling.

But now, reader,

Turn thy triumphal songs into mournful

dirges.

For the fatal 27th of November, 1703, comes big with

tempest and ruin,
(Such as former ages never knew and future will

scarce credit),

When our brave young man

(Having changed his ship in order for new achievements)

And crew were swallowed up by the insatiable

Godwin.
Thus fell the age's wonder
After he had established a reputation
That shall never die. "

Beneath is a representation of the ship's being cast
away on the Godwin sands.

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t°~~*u 76

FROM NOBLE'S MEMOIRS.

The following is an extract from the second volume
of a work entitled " Memoirs of Several Persons and
Families, who, by Females, are Allied to, or Descended
from the Protectorate House of Cromwell ; Chiefly Col-
lected from Original Papers, etc., etc. By Mark Noble,
F. S. A., Rector of Baddesley-Clinton and Vicar of Pack-
wood, both in Warwickshire. " Printed at Birmingham
in 1784.

The history of the Everards y descended from Joan
Barrington, daughter of Sir Thomas Harrington Bart.,
and granddaughter of Sir Heury Cromwell \ Kt. , grand-
father of the Protector, Oliver Cromwell :

The EVERARDS are of a very ancient descent, tracing
their pedigree so high as the reign of King Henry III.,
and have allied themselves to many of the best families.
In their shield of arms they bear those of the Barnardis-
tons, Maynards, Barringtons, Cornishes, etc., from having
married heiresses of those names.

Sir Richard, first Baronet. Sir Richard Everard was
created a baronet by Charles L, January 29, 1628. This
did not prevent his joining in the great family combina-
tion, under Hampden, the patriot, against His Majesty,
He married twice: first, Joan, the daughter of Sir Thomas
Barrington, Bart.; second, Frances, daughter of Sir
Robert Lee of Billessy, in the County of Warwick, relict
of Sir Gervase Elwes, of Woodford, in Essex, Kt., and
mother of Sir Gervase Elwes, of Stoke, in Suffolk. By
the former he had four sorts and three daughters.

1st. Sir Richard Everard, Bart.

2d. Barrington Everard, Esq., who died a bachelor.

3d. Robert Everard, Esq., who never married.

4th. Hugh Everard, a clergyman, fellow of Eman-
uel College, Cambridge.

5th and 6th. Unknown.

66

7th. Winifred Everard, married to Sir Wm. Luckyn,

Bart., by whom she left Ann, an only daughter, and sole

heir.

>

Sir Richard, second Baronet. Sir Richard Everard,
Bart., inherited the estate of Great Waltham, in Essex.
He was a considerable person in the reign of King
Charles I., and was one of those whom the Parliament
appointed a committee-man for his county, for which he
was Sheriff in 1644; in the Protector Olivers Parliament,
held in 1654 and 1656, he was one of the representatives
of the County of Essex ; he lived during all the commotions
that shook the kingdom, from the breaking out of the
civil war to the revolution, he dying August 29, 1694,
in the seventieth year of his age.

He twice married: first, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir
Harry Gibbs, of Faulkland, in Scotland, Knight of the
Bedchamber to King James I., and after her death, Jane,
daughter of Sir John Finnet, Master of Ceremonies to the
Kings James I. and Charles I. She lived till October 8,
1729, being then about ninety years of age; by this lady
he had no children, by the former three.

1st. Jane Everard, who died young.

2d. Sir Richard Everard. who resided at Borham,
Essex, and was knighted by Charles II. He died before
his father, unmarried, which occasioned the title of baro-
net to descend to his only brother.

Sir Hugh, third Baronet. Sir Hugh Everard, Bart,
who, as a younger brother, was brought up to arms, and
signalized himself in Flanders ; he was Receiver-General
of the Land Tax and Justice of the Peace for the County
of Essex; and dying in January, 1706, aged fifty-one,
was buried at Waltham. His lady was Mary, daughter
of John Brown, M.D., of Salisbury, by whom he had five
children.

1st. Sir Richard Everard, who succeeded his father in
the title of baronet.

67

2d. Hugh Everard, lieutenant of the ship Restora-
tion, which was unhappily lost in the memorable storm of
1703.

3d. Morton Everard, who died in the service of his
country on board the Hampshire, commanded by Lord
Maynard.

4th. Elizabeth, married to Rev. Hugh Osborne,
M.A., Vicar of Great Waltham, Rector of Hemmingfieid,
and also Vicar of Thaxted, all in Essex.

5th. Frances, died unmarried.

Sir Richard, fourth Baronet. Sir Richard Everard,
Bart., was obliged to sell the family estate of Langley;
with the remains of a scattered fortune, he purchased
Broomfield. He was Governor of North Carolina under
the Lords Proprietors, but being displaced when the
Crown purchased the province, he returned to his native
country, and died in Red Lion street, Holborn. Febru-
ary 17, 1733, Sir Richard married Susannah, one of the
daughters and co-heirs of Dr. Richard Kidder, Lord
Bishop of Bath and Wells, who, with his lady, was killed
in bed by the falling of a stack of chimneys, blown down
in the storm in 1703. By this lady, who died September
*2, "739* be had two sons and two daughters.

1st. Susannah, who married Mr. David Meade, an
eminent planter and merchant in Virginia.

2d. Ann, married to George Lathbury, Gent.

Sir Richard, fifth Baronet. 3d. Sir Richard Ever-
ard, Bart., who succeeded to the title of Baronet, but
never choosing to marry, left, by his death, in March,
1742, the title and estate to devolve upon the present
Baronet.

Sir Hugh, sixth Baronet. 4th. Sir Hugh Everard,
Bart, who went to Carolina, in North America, but is
now, I believe, in this country He is much to be pitied,
as he is left with a title and scarce any fortune to support
it.

Note. — It appears from what is said by David Meade in the u Family
History, w that Sir Hugh was disinherited for some cause unknown to the
family, and the estate was left to Susannah Meade and her sister.

LETTER FROM JUDGE BELT.

The following amusing letter was written by Jtidge
Levin Belt, from Chaumiere, to Mr. Wm. Creighton, at
Chillicothe, Ohio, in compliance with a confidential re-
quest that he would ascertain if Miss Bettie Meade was
" fancy free :"

Chaumiere, 14 August, 1804.

Dear Creighton :

It is with the heartfelt pleasure of friendly sympathy
I at length comply with your request and my promise of
writing to you. Judging from the experience of my own
feelings, you will be looking out for this letter some time
before it reaches you. In justice to myself I must assure
you the delay was not occasioned on my part; for I had
returned from the circuit ten days before the General was
ready to march his forces. But not to torment you too long
with vexatious suspense, I will pass over in compassion
to the well recollected anxiety on such occasions, the many
incidents of our journey. Shall I take time, in this place,
to say a word or two of the gardens, the groves, the
copse, the seats, the serpentine walks, wilderness and
pleasure grounds, or shall I conclude in this way? It is
true that their beauties are violently assaulted by that
enemy to all vegetable nature, the drought and burning
sun, yet much may be said of them. This delay you will
say is too provoking, too cold, crabbed and old bachelor-
like to be borne with. But surely you will give me time
to go into the house and look about a little and rest my-
self, before I say anything of its inhabitants. Well, now
that I have been in for a week, there are so many things
of consequence for you to know that crowd upon me at
once, that I am at a loss whether to begin with the superb
dinners, the furniture, the ladies and gentlemen, or a white

6 9

pigeon, that immediately and very deservedly claims uni-
versal attention. But as I am sure you must be waxing
warm by this time, and begin to think I am trifling rather
too far for a Judge, I will promise not to say much about
this pretty, sweet, favorite of nature's bounty, although,
in truth, I think it almost a phenomenon of its kind, and
that one might take many a weary step and cast many an
anxious look without finding its equal. As to a mate for
the little innocent, it must be in vain in my opinion to
search for a suitable match in this State. Report says
that many a well plumed sir, who could boast much of
many favors, as well from nature as from fortune,

Has coo'd and woo'd and coo'd again,
Yet all their suing proved in vain.

As my sentences begin to jingle, I think it high time
to write more like the friend. It will require no argu-
ment to induce your belief that I have tried every source
of enquiry which prudence and decorum would permit,
and however far it may fall short of certainty, yet I am
ready to pronounce my opinion accompanied with my
reasons if necessary, upon the existing circumstances of
the case, you did me the honor to submit to my judg-
ment. It would be as tedious as it would be unnecessary
to go into the minutiae of the ways and means, the arts
and rascalities which you know must be made use of on
such occasions. Be assured I did not leave the citadel
itself unmolested ; but here as delicacy confined me to
certain limits, the prudence and good sense with which
my attack was opposed, leave me nothing but conjecture
and little nameless symptoms which, corroborated by
other circumstances, established in my mind the two fol-
lowing points, to wit:

First — That there is no matrimonial engagement, and
that every claim now laid in or suit now brought, will like
those gone before be all nonsuited.

70

Secondly — That there is no determination against
wedlock, and that, I have seen nothing on this side the
mountains, and very rarely on the other so intrinsically
valuable, and so truly worthy the suing for. As I know
your management of suits, and have confidence in your
judgment, I take the liberty in this, my decree of order-
ing you to bring that action which admits of the least
ambiguity and delay. I would state the case fully in my
declaration, and give all the circumstances in evidence,
I would demur to every plea, and at the earliest
moment sue out a writ of attachment and take posses-
sion. But verbnm sat sapientibus — Hem! — Lawyer
Brush —

The widow R. is very shortly to be Mrs. B. , not with
an elt to it, but with a rown. I shall therefore be lawful
prize, and I begin to suspect I shall remain so to the end
of the chapter, for any lady who will bid highest for my
commission. I shall go to the Springs on my return to
Ohio, which, I believe, will be in a few days. It would
be needless to say how swiftly and pleasantly my time
passes in this truly agreeable family, all of whom, I am
happy to tell you, are well. I shall ever remember their
genuine hospitality and friendly politeness with the ut-
most pleasure. I hope you have found your relations and
friends well, and that you enjoy much health and pleasure.

Your sincere friend,

Levin Belt.

Note. — It is hardly necessary after this to say that Judge Belt was Mr.
Creighton's '* best man w at the marriage ceremony, which was performed
shortly after at Chaumiere.

7i

The following letter, from Col. R. K. Meade, was
written the day after the execution of Major Andre :

Tappan, Oct. 13, 1780.
I wrote to you, my good friend, I know not the pre-
cise time, but in the course of last month, on a subject
that keeps me anxious. I have been absent for some days
with the General — on an interview between him and the
General and Admiral of the French army and navy. On
my return I expected to have been gratified with a line
from you in return. I have, however, been here five or
six days, and cannot find a single line from you. You
know I have patience, and I shall exhibit it on this occa-
sion, as I know you were well employed, and I am con-
fident there was nothing offensive in my letter, and that
there is still time for your advice. I am prompted now
to give you this line, not because I conceive you will not
give it an answer, but in consequence of recent infernal
conduct that has lately taken place, which you must have
been warned of before now. This circumstance, though I
have ever looked upon Arnold as an avaricious, unprin-
cipled fellow, has added fresh proofs, from the pain I have
felt on the occasion, to convince me that I have no more
business in public life than I have to cut the throat of you,
my friend. As I expect to see you not at a very distant
period, and you will have been informed of the black
affair, tho* not of all the particulars of it, I shall reserve
them until then. I will only add that poor Andre, the
British Adjt. General, was executed yesterday; nor did it
happen, my dear sir (though I would not have saved him
for the world), without the loss of a tear on my part.
You may think this declaration strange, as he was an
enemy, until I tell you that he was a rare character.
From the time of his capture to his last moment his con-
duct was such as did honor to the human race. I mean
by these words, to express all that can be said favorable

72

of man. The compassion of every man of feeling and
sentiment was excited for him beyond your conception.
This affair I know will furnish us t when we meet, with
matter for some hours' conversation, and I will, on my
way to Virginia, allot as much time as possible to this,
and other purposes. Both you and the good woman are
entitled to all the respect and friendship that I can bestow.
Remember me, sincerely, to her, and be sure, my dear
friend, that I am

Yours,

R. K. Meade.

.;H^

sS

SUSANNA EVERAKD- MEADE.

APPENDIX.

It was the intention of the editor to append to this
collection of family papers a complete catalogue of all the
descendants of David Meade and Sarah Waters, showing
whose children and grand-childrten they were, and giving
their places of residence. But owing to the delay of
some in sending him the necessary information, and the
failure of others to do so, he has been compelled to
abandon his intention.

Such a book as this would be very incomplete, how-
ever, if it did not contain some mention of the descendants
of the house of Meade. The editor has, therefore, called
upon the representatives of the several branches of the
family to furnish the facts necessary for a short sketch of
the lives of the different members.

The poverty of the following sketch is owing to the
scantiness of the materials furnished.

The two most interesting and amiable male charac-
ters in the history of the Meade family in America, are
Richard Kidder Meade and his son, the Right Reverend
William Meade, late Bishop of Virginia.

The following with reference to them, is taken from
the American Cyclopedia :

Meade, I. Richard Kidder, an American Revolu-
tionary soldier, born in Nansemond County, Virginia,
about 1750, died in Frederick (now Clarke) County, in
the early part of the nineteenth century. He was edu-
cated at Harrow School, in England, and soon after his
return to Virginia embarked in the Revolutionary contest.
In December, 1775, he commanded a company at the
battle of Great Bridge, near Norfolk, the first fought in
the State, and soon after he was appointed by Washing-

74

ton, one of his confidential aides, in which capacity, with
the rank of colonel, he rendered signal service throughout
the war. He was with the commander-in-chief in all his
great battles, and superintended the execution of Major
Andre. The latter part of his life was passed in Frederick
County, occupied with agricultural pursuits.

II. William, an American bishop, son of the pre-
ceding, born in Frederick County, Virginia, November
II, 1789, died at his residence, near Millwood, Clarke
County, March 14, 1862. He graduated at Princeton
College in 1808, and three years later was ordained to the
ministry of the Protestant Episcopal Church. In 1813-14
he was active in procuring the election of Dr. Moore, of
New York, as bishop of Virginia, and contributed mate-
rially to the establishment of a diocesan theological
seminary at Alexandria, and various educational and
missionary societies. In 1829 he was unanimously elected
assistant bishop of Virginia, and in August of that year
was consecrated in Philadelphia. He thenceforth assumed
the chief care of the diocese, and in 1841, upon the death
of Bishop Moore, became bishop. Ill health soon com-
pelled him to ask for an assistant, who was provided in
1842, in the person of Dr. John Johns, of Baltimore. He
was for several years the acknowledged head of the evan-
gelical branch of the Episcopal Church in the United States.
His publications comprise, " Family Prayer," (Alexandria,
1834,) " Lectures on the Pastoral Office," " Lectures to
Students," (New York, 1849,) and " Old Churches, Min-
isters and Familes in Virginia," (2 vols., Philadelphia,
1856). His life has been written by Bishop Johns (Balti-
more, 1868).

The following letter, received from the venerable
Rev. Richard Kidder Meade, a son of Bishop Meade, is
all that the editor has been able to obtain relative to the
descendants of Colonel Richard Kidder Meade.

75

Charlottesville, February 15, 1883.
Dear Cousin — Yours of the 13th inst. is just received.
Although not yet recovered from my late attack, I will
endeavor to answer your call for information in regard to
the descendants of my grandfather, Colonel R. K. Meade.
I am afraid I cannot furnish much, if anything, worthy of
publication in your book. Whilst the children of Colonel
Meade, both sons and daughters, were all persons of more
than ordinary intelligence and moral worth, yet with the
exception of my father, they all led quiet and incon-
spicuous lives. Their lives, therefore, will supply little
material worthy of public record. The names of my
grandfather's children you will find in the memoirs of my
father, on page 10, in a note. You will also find the
dates of their births and deaths,, and also the times of the
marriages of those who were married. Only one of my
aunts married — Anne Randolph Meade, who married
Mathew Page,of Annefield, Frederick (now Clarke) county,
Virginia, by whom she had only two children — Sarah and
Mary — the first of whom married Dr. C. W. Andrews,
whose fame is in all the churches, and of whom you have
no doubt often heard. My aunts, Susannah and Lucy,
as you will see, died young. My Aunt Mary lived
to a great old age, and died only a few years
since. My uncles, Richard Kidder and David, were
both farmers and occupied farms adjoining each other,
and also adjoining that of my father, near the White
Post, in Frederick County, where they died. They
were both men of superior intelligence and sterling
moral character, and were highly esteemed ; but their
careers had nothing very striking, that I know of. They
both left manv children, and their descendents are to be
found almost entirely in Virginia, under various names,
largely that of Meade. As to my father, you doubtless
know all about him. He was, as the memorandum shows,
twice married; first to Mary Nelson, by whom he had

76

three sons, Philip Nelson, Richard Kidder and Francis
Burwell ; but no daughter. Second, to Thomasia Nelson,
who died without issue. These ladies were first cousins,
and both of them grand-daughters of Gen. Thomas Nelson,
of the Revolution. It may be worth while to mention,
that of the descendants of these three sons, there are four
now in the ministry and one in preparation for it f to wit:
My two sons, Wm. H. Meade and F. A. Meade, two of
my brother Philip's sons, Philip Nelson and Everard (all
in Virginia except Philip Nelson, who is in Maryland,)
and a son of my brother, F. B. , who is now at the Episco-
pal Theological Seminary of Virginia, studying for orders.
I am afraid this rude and rapid sketch will not come up to
your wants and wishes. Wherein I have failed, let me
know, and I will supply deficiencies if I can. As to the
descendents of Andrew and Everard Meade, I cannot
help you.

I beg pardon for having forgo tton to reply to your
inquiries concerning the pictures. I know of none except
two, left to me in my father's will, of David Meade and
Susannah, our great grand-parents. They are copies, I
think, by one of the Sullys, which my father had taken
many years ago, from what original, I do not know.
They are large (about 3x4), well taken, and represent
persons of more than ordinary vigor of character. The
old gentleman looks very amiable, yet as if, when he once
put his foot down, it would stand. The old lady does not
look quite so amiable, but makes a very creditable show-
ing. By the by, they are by no means old.

Yours, etc., R. K. Meade.

The editor has been unable to obtain any information
relative to the descendants of Andrew and Everard Meade,
except that the family of the latter is represented by his
grandson, Mr. Everard Meade, of Richmond. Va., a son

77

of the late Ben Lincoln Meade, and who is spoken of by
our cousin* Jessamine Woodson, as l4 a favorite cousin."
A letter addressed to him some time since still remains
unanswered. From the same source the editor received
information of Mrs. Piatt, the wife of the Rev. Dr. Piatt,
an Episcopal clergyman of Rochester, N. Y., a grand-
daughter of Andrew Meade, described as a beautiful and
charming woman. A letter to her also remains unan-
swered.

The following are the children of David Meade and
Sarah Waters :

1st. David, who died a bachelor.

2nd. Andrew, who died at college in Virginia.

3rd. Sallie, born at Maycox, Prince George county,
Virginia, in June, 1775. She was married at Chau-
miere, to Charles Willing Byrd, and died in Ohio, Feb-
ruary 21, 1815. J"dge Charles W. Byrd was born at
Westover, Charles City county, Virginia, in July, 1770,
was educated in Philadelphia, and studied law under
the distinguished lawyer, Gouverneur Morris, and was
sent by him to Kentucky to attend to an important land
suit, and after acquitting himself ably in the matter he
was appointed by President Jefferson judge of the United
States District Court, comprising the States of Ohio,
Kentucky and Tennessee. He was celebrated for his
ability as a judge, his purity of character and elegance
of manners. He died in August, 1828, in Ohio, while
upon the bench. They had three sons and two daughters.

4th. Richard Everard, the third son. Helived in Old-
ham county, Kentucky, and died, at a very advanced age,
in 1861. He was a man of strict integrity and blameless
life, simple in his habits, a good citizen and intensely loyal
to his government. He was passionately fond of music
and poetry. He married Mary Walker, rather late in life.
They had three sons and four daughters.

78

5th. William, who died a bachelor.

6th. Hugh Kidder, who married Miss Judith Shel-
ton. He was a captain in the war of 1812, and, from
exposure, returned home partially demented. Prior
thereto he had been his father's business manager. His
father, in a letter to Mr. Creighton, written in 1827, says:
" I have been disappointed in the expectation of an effi-
cient agent in my agricultural concerns by the unhappy
malady of my son, Hugh Kidder, which continues in
character and degree unchanged."

7th. Susan, who was born at Maycox in 1780. She
married General Nathaniel Massie, one of the pioneers of
Ohio. He was a most excellent and upright man and of
indomitable energy in his profession of surveyor of public
lands. He was a loving and affectionate husband and
father, was honored and respected by his cotemporaries,
and died at an early age, greatly lamented, his wife and
five children surviving him. His remains were removed
from their first resting place to the beautiful cemetery at
Chiliicothe, where a fine monument was erected over his
grave by his son Henry and the good citizens of Chilii-
cothe.

8th. Ann R. ( who was born at Maycox in 1782. She
married Samuel H. Woodson, of Jessamine county, Ky.
He was an eminent lawyer, was twice elected to Congress
from the Ashland district, serving in that body from 1820
to 1822, inclusive. He died just after the expiration of
his last term in Congress, and his wife survived him until
about the year 1847. They had, six sons and two
daughters.

9th. Eliza, who was born at Maycox in 1784. She
married Wm. Creighton, a native of Berkley county, Va.,
who graduated fiom Dickinson College, Pa., at the age
of eighteen years, and shortly after removed to Chilii-
cothe, O., where he began the practice of law. He was,
at a very early age, elected the first Secretary of State of

79

Ohio. He was a successful and eminent lawyer, and for
many years represented his district in Congress. He
died at his home in Chillicothe, in October, 1851, at the
age of seventy-three years. His wife died the following
year at Terre Haute, Indiana. They had six daughters
and three sons.

SECOND GENERATION

The children of Sallie Meade and Chas. Willing Byrd
were: 1st, Powell; 2d, William; 3d, Richard Kidder,
all of whom died in early manhood, unmarried ; 4th, Mary
Willing, who was born in May, 1798. She married Pat-
rick H. Randolph, and died in May, 1849, leaving four
daughters.

5th. Evelyn, who was born at Chaumiere, in 1807.
She married her cousin, Tucker Woodson, in November,
1832, at Chillicothe, Ohio. She lived near her birthplace,
and died in 1880, leaving two daughters and one son.
She was a person of extraordinary force of character, and
unswerving principles, while her heart overflowed with
love for all the human race.

The children of Richard Everard Meade and Mary
Walker were :

1st. Nancy, who married a Mr. Taylor, and is now
living in Oldham County, Kentucky, on a part of the
paternal estate. She has no children.

2d. Mary, who married Mr. Humphrey Gwynn, of
Tallahassee, Florida. She has had six children, namely :
Anna, Bettie, Martha, Mary, Richard and Walker.

3d. David, who married Sarah Ann Chennoworth.
He is a Methodist minister, and lives near Powhaton,
Arkansas. He has had ten children, namely : Albert,
Courtenay, Frances, Helen, Prentis, Reginald, Richard,

8o

Louisa, Walker and Wythe. He lost his wife, his son
Wythe, and his daughter Francis, by yellow fever, in
Memphis, a few years since. Wythe, his son, was a
physician, and was one of those who nobly sacrificed
their lives in the care of the sick during the scourge.
A medal was awarded to his family.

4th. Helen, married to Walter Gwynn, of Talla-
hassee, who was for many years Secretary of State of
Florida. She had three daughters, namely: Helen, Fannie
and Philoclea.

5th. Everard, unmarried, and now living in Oldham
County, Kentucky.

6th. Prentis, a physician, living at Carrollton, Ken-
tucky, and having a large and lucrative practice. He
married Miss Jennie Wilson, with whom the editor has
had a very pleasant correspondence. No children.

7th. Fannie, who married Col. Fisher, of Tallahassee,
Florida, a man of wealth and prominence in that State.

The following are the children of Susan Meade and
Nathaniel Massie :

1st. Elizabeth W. Thompson, who married Wm. S.
Thompson, a wealthy merchant of Louisville, Kentucky.
Their married life was spent at Sycamore, one of the most
beautiful of the surrounding country seats of Louisville,
Kentucky. They had five daughters and one son.

2d. Nathaniel, who married Miss Alice Collins, of
Chillicothe. He is still hale and hearty, at the age of
seventy-nine. They had six daughters and four sons.

3d. Richard, a teacher. He met his death nursing
cholera patients, some years ago. He was a man of ready
wit, as well as earnest piety.

4th. Henry, a lawyer. He was twice married ; first
to Miss Sallie Smith, of Hillsborough, Ohio, and second
to Miss Susan Thompson, of Kentucky, by whom he had
one son. He was a man of large means*

8i

5th. Ann, who married William Y. Strong, a mer-
chant of Chillicothe, Ohio. She was remarkable for her
piety and high sense of honor.

The following are the children of Ann R. Meade and
Samuel H. Woodson:

1st. Tucker. He was born in 1804, and died in
1874, having nearly attained his seventieth year. He
was a man of the strictest integrity, of fine judgment and
of varied culture, a remarkable memory, of ready wit,
and with a ready sympathy with all classes, and rare
magnetic power, which rendered him a most genial com-
panion.

2d. David Meade. He was born May 18, 1806,
in Jessamine County, Kentucky. He received his educa-
tion at Transvlvania Universitv, where he also afterwards
pursued his law studies. After leaving the university, he
entered his father's law office as a student. In 1 83 1 , shortly
after attaining his majority, he was elected by the Whigs
to the State Legislature. Within a few days after taking
his seat in the Legislature — the youngest man in that
body — he cast one of the votes which sent Henry Clay to
the Unites States Senate.

In the same year he married Miss Lucy McDowell, a
daughter of Major McDowell, of Fayette County, Ken-
tucky. In 1834 he removed to Carrollton, Illinois, where
he entered upon the practice of the law. In August, 1 836,
his wife died, leaving one son. In 1838 he was again mar-
ried to Miss Julia Kennett, a daughter of Dixon H. Ken-
nett, formerly of Kentucky, whom he survived about one
year. By his last marriage, he had a daughter and two
sons. In 1839 he was elected to the office of State's At-
torney. In 1840 he was elected to a seat in the Legisla-
ture. In 1846 he ran for Congress against Stephen A.
Douglas, but was defeated. In 1847 the people of Green

82

County, without distinction of party, elected him to a seat
in the Constitutional Convention, in which he took a promi-
nent part, showing wisdom and ability.

In 1848 he was elected judge of the first judicial
circuit of Illinois, a position which he continued to hold
for eighteen successive years, without opposition, and with
great satisfaction to the bar and to the people. In 1868
he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.
In 1869 he was again elected to the Legislature. On his
retirement from the bench in 1867, he resumed the prac-
tice of the law in connection with Henry C. Withers, his
son-in-law, and continued in active practice at the head
of his profession until his death — August 27, 1877, aged
71 years.

His professional career was marked by high integrity
of purpose and fidelity to his clients. He did not trouble
himself with mere technicalities, and despised all the tricks
and catches of the law. As judge, he had the confidence
of the bar. There was a deference paid to his decisions
highly honorable, and an attachment to himself personally
not often found to exist in the same degree between the
bench and the bar. Few men have had more devoted
friends than he, none have excelled him in unselfish devo-
tion and unswerving fidelity to the worthy recipients of his
confidence.

3d. George, who died while at Centre College.

4th. Samuel H., Jr. He received his education at
Center College, Danville, Kentucky, where he graduated
with high honors about the year 1837. Studied law at
Transylvania University. In 1838 he married Miss Mar-
garet J. Ashby, a daughter of Dr. M. Q. Ashby, of
Madison County, Kentucky, practiced his profession in
Nicholasville a short time, and removed to Independence,
Jackson County, Missouri, in the spring of 1840. Was
elected to the constitutional convention of the State in
1845. Was elected to the Legislature of his State in 1852,

83

and was twice elected to Congress, in 1856 and in 1858,
and at the time of his death was a judge of the Circuit
Court at Kansas City, and held court the day he died.
He died in 1881 of heart disease, in the sixty-seventh year
of his age.

5th. Robert E. He was a lawyer; commenced
the practice at Nicholasville. Removed to Bloomington,
Illinois, where, for ten years, he was at the head of his
profession. Removed to Kansas City, Missouri, and died
in 1872. He was twice married ; first to Miss Barnett,
by whom he had one son, Dr. J. B. Woodson, who died
in 1883 at Kansas City* and second to Miss Carter, by
whom he had four children, three of whom are residents
of Kansas City.

6th. Kidder, who is now nearly seventy years old.
He has always resided on his farm, near Frankfort, Ken*
tucky, and has raised more children and grand-children
than all of his brothers and sisters. He is a man of
marked characteristics, intense in his feelings, and most
unselfish in his devotion to his friends, fearless in his
defense of right, and a good hater.

7th. Sally, the eldest daughter. She married Alex-
ander Waddle, of Clarke County, Ohio, and died in 1835,
leaving one son.

8th. Betsey, who has been twice married; first to
Cary Lee, of Chillicothe, Ohio, by whom she had one
daughter, Cara • Woodson, who married Webster
Withers, of Kansas City, Missouri ; second, to John
Calvin McCoy, by whom she has had three children.
They are now living at Chouteau, Kansas.

The following are the children of Eliza Meade and
William Creighton :

1st. Sarah, who, in 1834, married the Rev. Edward
W. Peet, who was then pastor of the Episcopal church at
Chillicothe. Hers was an exalted Christian character.

84

She was a devoted and affectionate wife and mother. She
was remarkable for her prudence and forethought. Her
husband delighted in saying that, though she had filled
the arduous and exacting position of a pastor's wife for
nearly half a century, she had never had an enemy nor
had he ever heard of an unkind word having been spoken
of her. She died in 1881, in her seventy-sixth year. Her
husband was a well-known clergyman of the Episcopal
Church. He graduated from Yale in 1823, and from the
Episcopal Theological Seminary at New York in 1825.
He received the degree of D.D. in 1858. At the Rich-
mond convention in 1860, he was defeated by Bishop
Talbot, by one vote, for the pioneer bishopric of the
Northwest. He was a most genial gentleman. He died
in 1882, in his 79th year.

2d. Susan, who married Jesse L. Williams, a civil
engineer, who for a period of over fifty years has been
connected with the rise and progress of public works in
the states of Ohio and Indiana. He served in the corps
of engineers who located and constructed thecanals of Ohio.
He was afterwards, in 1832, appointed chief engineer
in the location and construction of the Wabash and Erie
Canal. In 1854 he was appointed chief engineer of the
Ft. Wayne and Chicago Railroad, which position he held
up to the time of its consolidation with the Ohio and
Pennsylvania, and Ohio and Indiana Railroads, in 1856.
Ever since that time he has been a director of the Pitts-
burgh, Ft. Wayne and Chicago Railroad. In January,
1864, he was appointed by President Lincoln a Govern-
ment director of the Union Pacific Railroad, and was
reappointed each succeeding year until the work was
completed in 1869, receiving commissions from three suc-
cessive presidents. A very interesting sketch of Mr*
Williams' life can be found in Stuart's " Civil and Military
Engineers of America."

85

Active and useful as has been the life of Mr. Williams
in the public service, it does not equal that of his
wife in good works. Words cannot express the love and
veneration in which she is held by all her relations.
Untiring in her charities, gentle and affectionate in her
manners, and only rigid in her adherence to the right.

Mr. and Mrs. Williams have been, for over half a
century, active members of the Presbyterian church.
They have had four sons.

3rd. William H. f who was twice married; first, to
Miss Ellen Woodbridge, of Chillicothe, Ohio; second, to
Miss Jane Telfair, of Clinton county, Ohio. While at
college at Athens, Ohio, he was taken with a hemorrhage,
which necessitated his abandonment of his studies. He
purchased a farm in Madison county, where he lived in
great comfort for many years. He was a just and amiable
gentleman, a devoted husband and father, and died, very
much and very generally lamented, in 1870, leaving a
widow and six children.

4th. Bettie Meade, who died at 16 years of age.

5th. Julia Sterrett, who married Mr. William C.
Ball, an eminent civil engineer, who was very active in
the development of public works in Indiana and Illinois,
occupying high positions, to which were attached large
responsibilities. He received his education at Alexandria,
Virginia, and in 1833 emigrated to the West, and was
given a responsible position in connection with the loca-
ting parties on the railroads and canals of Indiana, which
State was just then embarking upon her extensive system
of internal improvement. For the succeeding twenty-five
years he was in the service of the State of Indiana until
the Wabash and Erie Canal was completed. Among the
railroad enterprises under his charge were the Terre Haute
and Vincennes, Terre Haute and Alton, and the Rich-
mond and Logansport railroads, of which latter he was
appointed receiver. In its tribute to his memory at the

86

time of his death, the Terre Haute Journal had the fol-
lowing : " We have never known a more truly honorable
and honest man. His high sense of honor in all the
transactions of life was the admiration of all who knew
him. He lived as only just men live, and died regretted
by all who knew him." He died in 1873 or 1874. Mrs.
Ball was a very charming person, a good talker, and very-
social in her tastes, and an efficient member of the Epis-
copal church. She died in 1874. They had eight chil-
dren, seven of whom survive them.

6th. David Meade, who received his education at
Kenyon College, Ohio. He was twice married ; first to
Miss Belle Grover, of Chillicothe, an excellent woman, by
whom he had one child, a daughter. He afterwards mar-
ried Miss Martha Hughes, of Kentucky. He is now liv-
ing on a farm near Maysville, Kentucky. By his present
wife he has two children.

7th. Lucy Evelyn, who died at 6 years of age.

THIRD GENERATION.

BYRDS.

The children of Mary Willing Byrd and Patrick Ran-
dolph were:

1st. Mary Susan, who married Robert Barnhart.
She has deceased, leaving three sons, namely: Cary Lee,
Charles and William Randolph; and two daughters, name*
ly: Emma and Mary Oliver, all living in St. Louis.

2d. Sarah, who married George Paxson. They are
living at Columbus City, Iowa. They have one son,
Otway.

3d. Evelyn Byrd, who married B. F. Oxley, now
living at Danville, Ky. She died, leaving one son, Jeffer-
son, living in Cincinnati, and two daughters, namely:

87

Jennie Willing and Mary Louise, both living with their
father in Danville.

4th. Jane S., unmarried and living in Jessamine
County, Kentucky.

The children of Evelyn Byrd and Tucker Woodson
are :

1st. Anna Meade, who married Doctor Robert P.
Letcher. She is now a widow, and has two children,
namely : Marguerite R. and Robert Evelyn.

2nd. Jessamine Byrd.

These ladies have always lived at their birth-place,
Nicholasville, Kentucky.

If this sketch were merely for the enlightenment of
those now living, it would be unnecessary to say any-
thing about these ladies. We all know them, and they
know us all. Doubly linked to us through their excellent
parents, full of loyalty to the family and its traditions,
they are family treasures in whom we all have an interest.
Without their assistance this book could not have been
compiled. They have lightened the task, both by their
assistance and their encouragement.

3rd. W.u, C. A letter received before this sketch
was contemplated, and not intended for publication, thus
speaks of him : " His life was short, if measured by
years, full and complete if counted by deeds. I have
never known a character so full of strong and beautiful
traits, and so free from faults. In him were combined
all the best qualities of both the Byrds and Woodsons. "

4th. William C, now living at Nicholasville, Ken-
tucky, unmarried.

MASSIES.
The children of Nathaniel Massie and Alice Collins
are :

1st. John Collins.

88

2d. Mary Creighton, who married Edward McKtt-
terick, of Burlington, Iowa. She died some years since,
leaving seven children, namely : William, Alice Massie,
John, Nathaniel Massie, Maria. Mary and Belinda.

3d. Belinda Collins. She married Mr. DeBruin, of
Hillsborough, Ohio. They have seven children, namely:
Alice M., Nathaniel Massie, Hyman Israel, Mary Massie,
Marcus, Edward and John Collins.

4th. Susan Meade, who married Wm. Lewis. They
have four children, namely: Anna Gall, Mary, William and
Alice.

5th. Nathaniel, Jr. He has two children ; Martin
Marshall and Alice.

6th. Sarah B. Some years after the death of her
sister Mary she married Edward McKitterick. She has
three children : Edward/ Learner Massie and Thomas.

7th. Learner Collins.

9th. Henry.

10th. Allice Byrd, who married a Mr. Higgins. She
has had two children : Clarence and Nathaniel Massie.

The children of Elizabeth W. Massie and Wm. L.
Thompson are :

1st. Susan Meade, who married first Joseph Crocket
Price, of Nicholasville, Kentucky, by whom she had one
son, Wm. L. T. Price, now practicing law in Louisville,
Kentucky. Mr. Price died two years after his marriage ;
second, to Dr. J. P. Letcher.* She died in i860.

2d. Elizabeth Houisson. She married Reginald
Heber Thompson, who was a colonel in the Confederate
army, and is now practicing law in Louisville, Kentucky.

3d. Helen Massie. She married Dr. Chas. H.
Fulton. She has one daughter, Elizabeth Massie.

4th. Virginia A., who married W. G. Phelps, a
lawyer of prominence in Mississippi. They are now living
at Greenville, Mississippi.

8 9

5th. John, unmarried, and living in Louisville, Ken-
tucky.

6th. Annette. She married John Charles Carson,
who was in the Confederate army. They have four chil-
dren, namely: James, Henry Massie, Sallie and Charles
Scott. They are living at Natchez, Mississippi.

Henry Massie and Susan Thompson had but one
child, David Meade. He graduated from Princeton in
1880, and has since resided in Chillicothe, Ohio.

The following are the children of Ann Massie and
Wm, Y. Strong :

ist. William Everard, born August ii, 1836, at
Chillicothe, Ohio. When quite a young man, he went to
New York and entered the banking house of Mr. Frank
Work. By his industry and business capacity he has
risen from the humble position of a clerk to that of a
partner in one of the most successful houses in this coun-
try, that of Work & Strong. He is by far the wealthiest
of all the decendants of David Meade, In 1872 he mar-
ried Miss Alice Corbyn Smith, of Alexandria, Virginia.
They have three children, namely: Francis Lee, Anne
Massie and Alice Everard.

2d. Joseph, born June 25th, 1839, at Chillicothe,
Ohio. In 1866 he went to Terre Haute, where he em-
barked in the business of a wholesale grocer, and has con-
tinued in that business up to the present time. He
has been very successful. In 1866 he married Miss
Mary Bourne Blake, of Terre Haute. They have seven
children, namely : Anna Massie, Richard Blake, Henri-
etta Delins, Wm. Bond, Franceska Groverman, Susan
Meade and Elizabeth Ann Blake.

90

3d. Nathaniel Massie, born August 9, 1841 ; died
April 16, 1865.

4th. Henry Massie, born September 14, 1842 ; died
April 28, 1859.

WOODSONS.

The children of Tucker Woodson and Evelyn Byrd
have already been mentioned.

The children of David Meade Woodson are :

1st. John McDowell, the son of Lucy McDowell.
He was born June 5th, 1834, in Jessamine County, Ky.
He graduated from Centre College in 1853, read law under
the direction of his father, and was admitted to practice
in 1857. He settled in Carlinville, Illinois, in 1862, where
he continued in the practice of his profession until 1869,
when he removed to St. Louis, Missouri, where he now
resides. After his removal to St. Louis, he held the posi-
tion of managing attorney for the St. Louis, Kansas City
& Northern Railroad Co. ; he has had a successful prac-
tice and is now independent, devoting most of his time to
his private business. He has been twice married; first, to
Miss Virginia C. Davis, by whom he has one son, Addi-
son Davis; second, to Miss Mary Ann Henderson, by
whom he has two daughters, Julia Meade and Alma.

2d. Fannie, the eldest child of Julia Kennett. She
married Mr. Henry C. Withers, a leading attorney of
Carrollton, Illinois, having a large and lucrative practice.

They have had two children; first, Meade Woodson,
who died in 1880, at the age of 16 years; and second,
William Kennett, now 16 years old.

3d. Samuel H., who died at 6 years of age.

4th. Kennett, a youth of bright intellect, genial
temperament and great promise, who died while attend-
ing Union College, in his 19th year.

9»

The following are the children of Samuel H. Wood-
son and Margaret J. Ashby :

1st. William H., a graduate of Centre College,
Kentucky. He is a lawyer at Liberty, Clay county, Mis-
souri. He was a colonel in the Confederate army at the
age of twenty-one. Was the Democratic candidate for
the State Senate in 1872; was twice elected prosecuting
attorney, and at his last election received the largest vote
ever polled for any one for any office in his county. In
1882 he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination
for Congress, and only defeated by a few votes. He
married Cora A. Winston, of Platte county, Missouri, in
1864. They have seven children, namely: Winston,
Samuel H., Elizabeth, Joseph, Logan, Keran, and
William.

2d. Meade, a graduate of Centre College, Kentucky,
and of the law school of Washington and Lee University,
in Virginia. He commenced the practice of his profession
at Kansas City, Missouri, where he met with success, but
abandoned the law to engage in banking, and was for a
number of years cashier of the Commercial National Bank
in that city. He married Miss Pitzer. He died in 1882,
of consumption, leaving a widow and four children,
namely : Ashby, Virginia, Samuel H. and Meade.

3d. Margaret, who married Charles Parker. They
have one son, Pascal.

4th. Nellie, who married B. E. Reese.

5th. Sallie Waddle, who married A. F. Sawyer.
They have two sons, Locke and Samuel H.

6th. Samuel H., a lawyer, who graduated with high
honors from the Albany Law School in 1882. He and all
of the daughters reside in Independence, Missouri.

The following are the children of Robert Everard
Woodson :

92

1st. J. Barnett, son of his first wife, Miss Barnett,
who died in Kansas City in 1883.

2d. Robert E. f a wholesale grocer.

3d. Edward, a physician.

4th. Nannie, who married Cary Lee Barnhart, of
St. Louis. Missouri. They have two children: Robert E.
and Cara Lee.

5th. Fannie, unmarried.

Robert E. , Edward and Fannie reside at Kansas City.

The children of Kidder Woodson are:

1st. Louisa F. , who married Marshall Woods, of
Frankfort, Ky. They have nine children, namely: Elean-
or Peace, Emily Hickman, George M., Adela, Woodson,
William, John, Henry Harper and Samuel.

2d. George N., a farmer living near Frankfort, who
married Mrs. Phillips. They have three children, namely:
William, Fannie and Mary Willis.

3d. James Pickett, a farmer living near Frankfort,
who married Miss Rachel Maupin. They have six chil-
dren, namely: Annie Todd, Richard Kidder, Maggie
Meade, Maupin, Pickett and Jessie Byrd.

4th. David Meade, a civil engineer living in Frank-
fort. He married Miss Nannie Adams. They have two
children, Aliene and Ellen Thomas.

5th. Emily Virginia, who married John M. Coleman,
of Frankfort. They have five children, namely: Carter
Woodson, Annie Mills, Emily Hickman, Mary Lula and
Evelyn Byrd.

6th. Lee Calvin, a civil engineer living at Strong
City, Kansas, and in the employ of Mr. J. M. Meade, resi-
dent engineer of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Rail-
road at Topeka, a grandson of Bishop Meade.

93

Sallie Woodson and Alexander Waddle had but one
son, Samuel H., now living at Bloomington, Illinois. He
married Miss Lizzie Stevenson. They have one daughter,
Lucy.

The following are the children of Betsey Woodson :

1st. Cara Lee, the only child of Cary Lee, who mar-
ried Webster Withers, and is living at Kansas City, Mo.
They have three children, namely : Webster, Prudence
and Allen.

2d. Evelyn Byrd, who married James Holloway.
They are living at Wyandotte, Kansas. They have two
daughters, Bessie and Kate. 3d. John, living in Kansas
City, in business with his brother-in-law, Webster Withers.

4th. Woodson, and 5th, Mattie Mason, living with
their parents at Chouteau, Kansas.*

CREIGHTONS.

The children of Sarah Creighton and Edward W.
Peet are.

1st. William Creighton, who went to New York
in 1853, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. He
has been very successful in business, and is now at the
head of the wholesale house of W. C. Peet &Co.,of
New Yorte In 1877, he married Mrs. Libbie Morgan, of
Saratoga Springs, New York.

*Thc following is an extract from a letter from Jessamine Woodson: •• Uncle John
McCoy* my aunt Betsey Woodson's husband, is a well-known character in his section, being
one of the old settlers of Jackson County, Mo., and one of the founders of Kansas City.
He has probably bought and sold more land than any other man in the West He is noted in
all that region for his hospitality , his public spirit, his unfailing good humor and the force and
beauty of his style as a writer and speaker My aunt is one of the very best and hand-
somest and most actively useful of all the descendants of David Meade, second to none in
fervent piety and good works. She has been fortunate always in having a wide field in
which to labor, a large family of children and grandchildren, nephews and nieces, cousins,
visitors from everywhere, strangers within her gates. Preachers, teachers and travelers, all
find an abiding place with her, and the sick and poor and the needy, far and near, find in
her a true and pf&cient friend. She always has time and money for church work, and is
altogether the most unselfish and self-depreciating person I ever knew."

94

2d. Fredrick Tomlinson, who died in infancy-

3d. Charles Bostwick, who went to New York in
1859, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He was for a
short time in the Union army at the beginning of the war.
He is now a member of the firm of Rogers, Peet & Co.,
of New York. In 1868, he married Miss Helen Mowry,
a daughter 6f Mr. A. L. Mowry, then of Cincinnati.
He has lost his wife and all of his three very interesting
children. 4th. Joseph Doddridge, who went to New
Orleans in 1859, and entered his uncle's house of Peet,
Simms & Co., afterward Peet, Yale & Bowling. He was
for a short time in the Southern army. In 1 871 he married
Miss Zelia Krumbhaar, of Terre Haute, Indiana. They
have two sons, William Creighton and Joseph Doddridge,
Jr. He is now at the head of the very successful house
of J. D. Peet & Co., of New Orleans.

5th. Edward Wright, who died in 1864, in the
Union army. He was a superior young man, and a very
devoted son.

6th. George Jones, who graduated at Kenyon Col-
lege in 1865, and Columbia Law School in 1868, since
which time he has been engaged in the practice of law in
New York City. He is unmarried.

7th. Henry Johns, who graduated from Kenyon
College in 1870, and from Harvard Law Schdol in 1872,
after which he went to Chicago, where he was admitted
to the bar in 1873, since which time he has been engaged
in the practice of law in Chicago. In December, 1878,
he married Katharine Breckenridge Waller, a native of
Kentucky, and a daughter of Mr. James B. Waller, of
Chicago. They have one child, Lucy Waller.

The children of Susan Creighton and Jesse L. Will-
iams are :

1st. William Creighton, who died in infancy.

95

2nd. Edward Peet. He was born at Indianapolis
in 1838. He graduated from Miami University in 1859.
Studied law, and began the practice in Chicago. He was
a captain in an Indiana regiment during the war. In
1863, he married Miss Abbie Townley, of Elizabeth, New
Jersey. Sortly after his marriage he abandoned the law,
and entered the firm of Meyer, Brother & Co , wholesale
druggists — Fort Wayne and St. Louis. He was very
successful in business, and in 1880 he retired with a
competence, retaining his interest in the St. Louis house.
They have lost both their children. They are extensive
and intelligent travelers, and have visited nearly every
State and Territory in the Union.

3rd. Meade Creighton. He was born at Indianap-
olis, in 1840. Graduated at Miami University in 1861; at
the Princeton Theological Seminary in 1864. He received
the degree of D. D. in 1882. In 1867 he married Elizabeth
B. Riddle, a daughter of Rev. Dr. Riddle, then of Wash-
ington and Jefferson College, Pennsylvania. They have
five children, namely : David Riddle, Jesse Lynch, Meade
Tyrrell, Susan Creighton, and Burton.

4th, Henry Martyn. He was in his senior year at
Princeton when the war began, and leaving college, joined
the army with the rank of First Lieutenant of Artil-
lery in the Eleventh Indiana battery ; was seriously
wounded at Chickamauga and compelled to retire from the
army. In 1867 he married Miss Mary Hamilton, of Fort
Wayne. He is now living in Fort Wayne. They have two
sons, namely: Allen Hamilton and Creighton Hamilton.

The children of William Creighton andJaneTelfairare:

1st. Maggie Telfair, who graduated at the Highland
Female Institute at Hillsborough, Ohio, in 1868, and has
since become a teacher in that seminary.

2d. Bettie, who graduated from the same seminary
several years later. She is now living at home with her
mother at Bloomington, Clinton County, Ohio.

96

3d. William St, Clair, who received his education
at Kenyon College, and is now practicing law in Clinton.
County, Ohio.

4th. Telfair, who received his education at Miami
University, and is now practicing law at Sabina, Ohio,

5th. Edward Peet, who is living in Colorado.

6th. Jane Boyes, who graduated at the Highland
Female Institute in 1882, and is now living with her
mother. All of these ladies are great favorites with their
cousins. They are women of superior character and
culture.

The children of Julia Creighton and William C. Ball
are: 1st. John Creighton. He received his education at
Kenyon College. He was a lieutenant in an Indiana
regiment during the war. Some years ago he went to
Salt Lake, and afterward removed tc San Francisco,
where he has since been engaged in banking.

2d. William Creighton. He graduated from Am-
herst College in 1868, and located in St. Louis, where he
was admitted to the bar. In 1871, he returned to Terre
Haute, and purchased the Terre Haute Gazette, of which
he and his brother (5th) Spencer F. are still the editors
and proprietors, and which, by their interprise and
ability, they have made one of the leading Democratic
journals of Indiana.

3d. Susan W. ; and, 4th, Sarah, two estimable and
cultured laidies who are living at the paternal home with
their brothers.

6th. Joseph, who is assisting his brothers in the
management of the Gazette.

7th. Julia, the youngest, and living at home.

The children of David Meade Creighton are :

1st. Anna Belle, the daughter of his first wife.
Belle Grover. She married Mr. Higgins, of Columbus,
Ohio. She is a highly cultivated musician.

97

2d. Edward Williams. 3d. Bettie Meade ; children
of Martha Hughes ; both minors.

Tradition says that David Meade, of Chaumiere, died
at the age of 94 and his wife at the age of 87 This,
however, is evidently incorrect. David Meade, as he
says himself, was born in 1744. He died in October,
1830. He was therefore but 86 years old when he died,
and his wife was some years his junior, and died a year
before him, probably at about 80 years of age.

The foregoing pages suggest several interesting
studies, which may be pursued with their aid :

The mother of David Meade, of Chaumiere, was
named Susannah. Her aunt was named Ann, his wife
Sarah, and his brother Richard's wife Elizabeth. Those
who will take the trouble to read the names of his
descendants will be surprised to see how often these
names and their derivatives appear.

The names Edward, Kidder, Richard, David and
Meade are also great favorites with the family.

One beautiful name, that of Hugh, must have been
abandoned, because of the ill-luck which seems to have
attended those who bore it. The first Sir Hugh
embarrassed the paternal estate, so that it had to be sold.
The second Hugh was lost upon the Goodwin sands. The
third Hugh was disinherited, and killed in a naval
engagement, and the fourth — Hugh Kidder Meade —
became demented.

The real property left by the will of " Dame Susan-
nah Everard " is mentioned on page 6. By turning to
the extract from Wotton's Baronetage of England, be-
ginning on page 58, it is interesting to trace the sources
from which this property came into the family.

9 8

Langleys came by the daughter and co-heir of John
Cornish;. Heathfield by Joan Harrington, of Hatfield.
The farm in Hardfordshire, by " Mary Bond/' alias
" Brand," of Great Hormead, in Hartfordshire (Herford-
shire), Tower-head farm, by Susannah Kidder, and
Broomfield Hall was a purchase by Sir Richard Everard.
The walnut-tree farm in Essex is the only property that is
not clearly traceable to any source.

Sir Walter Scott, in his novel of Woodstock, shows
some knowledge of the Everard family of Cromwell's
time. He represents the elder Everard as being a round-
head, and his son as being at first in sympathy with the
banished king, and afterwards as being one of his sup-
porters. From the extract from Noble's Memoirs, on pages
65 and 66, it appears that Sir Richard Everard, second
Baronet, was one of the Representatives of the county of
Essex, in the Protector Oliver's Parliament, and that
his son was knighted by Charles II., and consequently must
have been one of his adherents. It can not be made to
appear, however, that the lovely Alice Lee is one of our
ancestors.

The adherence of the elder Everard to Cromwell may
be in a measure accounted for by the fact that the latter
was his mother's first cousin.

Those who are disposed to criticise David Meade's
composition need to be reminded that the foregoing speci-
mens of it were written when he was nearly eighty years
of age, and also that they were not written for publica-
tion, but were in the form of letters to his children, and
probably were never revised or rewritten. The manu-
script of the autobiography was a half century old when
it was first copied by our cousin, Elizabeth Thompson,
who had to use a magnifying glass in deciphering it.

99

No one unfamiliar with David Meade's handwriting can
appreciate the magnitude of her undertaking. No doubt
his hieroglyphics have been mistranslated in many in-
stances, but the wonder is that the work has been so well
done under the circumstances. — [Ed.

ERRATA.
On the second line of page 41, for " majority " read
minority. On page 46, Richard Kidder Meade is said to
have died in 178 1. This is evidently incorrect, as his
son says, on page 50, that he survived Washington.

The words " Hardforshire," on page 6, and " Hart-
fordshire," on page 59, should no doubt be Herefordshire.

THE DESCENDANTS OF ANDREW MEADE.

The following short sketch of the descendants of
Andrew Meade, has been received from Mrs. Indie M.
Piatt :

Andrew Meade and Susannah his wife, left two sons
and three daughters. The latter have representatives
among the Fields, Fitzhughs and Stiths of Virginia. The
sons, David and Richard Kidder, lived on large estates in
Brunswick County; their lives were quiet and unostenta-
tious, but their friends ever found cheer at their hospitable
board, and strangers never found themselves unwelcome
guests. David married a Miss Stith, his cousin, of King
George* As the eldest son, he inherited the homestead,
" Octagon Hall," with the family portraits of David Meade
and Susannah Everard, his wife, Andrew Meade and his
wife, Susannah Stith. Among many other gifts, this lady
was remarkable for her artistic hand-work, specimens of
which are still preserved in the family as precious heir-
looms. David died leaving two sons, Robert and Oliver,
both of whom married and reared interesting families.
Richard Kidder married Miss Mary Thweatt, of Prince
George County. They had twenty children, twelve of whom
grew to womanhood and manhood. Of eight daughters,
only two are living, Mrs. Amelia Goodwyn, of Greensville,
Va. , and Mrs. Harriet Randolph, of New Orleans. Mrs.
Maria Grammer left three sons and one daughter. Mrs.
Marietta Friend left one son. Mrs. Ann Haskins, one
son and daughter, Mrs. Matilda Wilkins, and Mrs. Susan
Haskins died leaving no children, and Indiana died young
and unmarried. The four sons were John, Richard Kid-
der, Theophilus and David. John, after trying a sailor's
life and seeing much of the world, returned home, married
Miss Turnbull and lived a quiet farmer's life, leaving at
his death his widow, three sons and one daughter.

Theophilus and Richard Kidder married two lovely
sisters, daughters of Robert Haskins, Esq., of Brunswick,

102

a farmer rich in lands and negroes, and in his peerless
daughters. Theophilus was a skillful and beloved physi-
cian, but died in the prime of life, leaving his beautiful
widow (still living) with one son and daughter. Richard
Kidder practiced law successfully in Petersburg, Va., and
early entered public life. He served in the State Legislature,
afterwards several years in United States Congress, and
the last four years of his life filled the position of United
States Minister at the Court of Brazil. Dom Pedro, the
Emperor, on his visit to. the United States, met with one
of Mr. Meade's daughters, to whom he spoke of her
father as " the elegant gentleman, with flowing white
beard," and inquired with much interest about the young
son, Lieut. R K. Meade, whose position in Fort Sumter
at the breaking out of the war was a source of great grief
to Mr. Meade. Amid the distractions of civil war, Mr.
Meade returned, November, 1861 , to his home and family,
and died the following April, 1862, leaving his widow and
seven children. Extract from Petersburg Journal : " He
was a gentleman of the most elevated character, and his
loss will be deeply deplored by all who know how to
value exalted intellect and unspotted moral worth."
Within three months his two sons, R. K. Meade and
Hugh Everard, lost their lives in the Confederate service.

Major R. K. Meade graduated at West Point with
great distinction in 1857, and became 1st Lieutenant in
the Engineer corps of the United States. In the troubles
beginning in January, 1861, he was ordered to Fort Sum-
ter ; faithful to his State, he awaited Virginia's secession to
resign his commission in the United States army, which
he did after the surrender of Fort Sumter. At his death
he was on General R. E. Lee's staff, whose letter of con-
dolence to the mother and sisters testifies to his being " a
most accomplished, brave and skillful officer," as well as
meriting the tender affection of his noble commander.

to3

Hugh Everard was destined for the law, and was
pursuing his studies at the University of Virginia when
the war began. Possessed of bright intellect and high
moral qualities, he gave promise of a life of honor and
usefulness.

These two sons, and two beautiful and gifted daugh-
ters, Mrs. Susan M. Boiling and Mary M. Meade, are
deceased. One son, unmarried, David Bernard Meade,
and three married daughters, Mrs. Indie M\ Piatt,
of Rochester, New York ; Mrs. Julia M. Nichols, Mrs.
Marion M. Osborne, Petersburg, Virginia, with their five
children, and one grandson of Mrs; Piatt, are the only
living descendants of this line.

David Meade, the youngest of the four brothers,
after graduating at the Medical College of Philadelphia,
pursued his studies in Paris for several years. He mar-
ried Miss Weeks, of Louisana, died young, and has no
living children.

DESCENDANTS OF GENERAL EVERARD MEADE.

The following sketch of the descendants of General
Everard Meade has been received from Everard B, Meade,
of Richmond, Va. :

General Everard Meade, third son of David and Su-
sannah Everard Meade, was born October i, 1748, in the
county of Nansemond and State of Virginia. He first
married Mary Thornton, daughter of John and Sarah
Thornton, of North Carolina, -and had issue David, Sally
and Richard Everard. He married the second time Mary
Ward, relict of Benjamin Ward, and had issue Seth, Hod-
ijah, Mary, Susanna, Benjamin Lincoln and Charles
Jannet. Benjamin Lincoln Meade married Jane Eliza
Hardaway; had issue Marianne Old, Joseph Archer, Maria
Ward, Martha Francis, Richard Hardaway, Jane Eliza,
Charlotte Randolph, Everard Benjamin and Hodijah. AH

104

of the afore-mentioned persons are now deceased except
the last three. Marianne Old Meade married Dr. John
G. Skelton, and had issue Charlotte Randolph, Ennion
Wood, Eliza Meade, KateGiflfbrd, John Gifford, William
Old, Benjamin Meade, Marianne Everard*, Annie Archer
and Julian Finney. Charlotte Randolph Meade married
General James H. Lane, C. S. A., and had issue Eliza
Hardaway, Mary, Kate and Evie. Hodijah Meade mar-
ried Mary Rutherford Hardaway, and had issue Benjamin,
Sally and Eliza. Everard Benjamin Meade married Lucy
Walker Gilmer, and had issue Mary Gilmer, Everard Ben-
jamin, Jennie Hardaway, Lucy Skelton and Harmer Gil-
mer. Richard Hardaway Meade married Jane Catharine
Fontane, and had issue, viz.: Edmonia, Eliza, Richard
Hardaway, Louise, Kate and Marianne. Hodijah Meade,
son of General Everard and Mary Ward Meade, mar-
ried Jane Rutherford, and had issue, viz.: William E.,
who married Mary Steger; Peyton, deceased; John, de-
ceased; Benjamin E., who married Hattie Read; M. Ed-
monia, who married Colonel E. J. Harvie, C. S. A.; and
Hodijah Bayliss, who married Mary Opie. William E.
and Mary Meade had issue, viz.: Peyton, Jane, Bettie B.,
Sarah, Lottie, John, William and Thomas. M. Edmonia
and E.J. Harvie had issue, viz.: Edmonia, Pattie, Jane
and Sarah. Benjamin E. and Hattie Meade had issue
only one child, Cabell.

BISHOP KIDDER.

Mrs. Piatt has furnished the following memorial of
Bishop Kidder, but she does not say from what source it
was obtained :

To the memory of Richard Kidder (whose eldest
daughter married Sir Richard Everard).

To whom the county of Sussex gave birth, Cambridge
a learned education, and the church a lasting fame; he for
a long time struggled with hard fate ; but his constant

virtue carried him through all, and still raised him, as he
deserved, from the lowest orders of the ministry to emi-
nent dignities — first to the Deanery of Peterburgh and
then to the Bishopric of Bath ; the whole Christian world
triumphed at his promotion to this high station, who had
so stoutly maintained their cause against the Jews, threat-
ening the ruin of our faith.

But he who had thus defeated them now found ene-
mies amongst Christians. Love and compassion for his
excellent predecessor, who had been deprived of his honor
and dignity, drew a causeless odium upon him and raised
him enemies, undeservedly, that long had vexed his meek
spirit and diverted his application to the public good. At
length a way was found (happy expedient) by which a due
respect was still preserved for Keem; and Kidder was con-
firmed in his dignity; and so, all party disputes being laid
aside, Keem and Kidder should receive the mutual con-
gratulation — one for fidelity to his prince, and the other to
his country. Here, in a learned retirement, he spent
many years, beloved and respected by men of all conditions,
till November 26, 1703. The ruins of a chimney, in a
rapid storm, fell upon him and his most faithful consort.
A death-abating sorrow in these two persons, allied by
the dearest bonds of affection, well stricken in years and
ripe for heaven, should fall together thus, by the same
stroke, a death which gave no lingering sense of dying, no
sad reflection for a disconsolate relict.

He died aged seventy. Her just age was not known.

Ann, the younger of two surviving daughters (a lady
of exemplary modesty, piety and sincerity), ordered this
marble monument to be erected, and, by her last will and
testament, directed her own body to be here interred.
She died in celibacy, in the thirty-eighth year of her age,
in 1728.