The Buckingham Outlaws: Part II
The dwelling house at Seven Islands. Photo by Joanne Yeck
Attack on Seven Islands
Apparently, Buckingham County officials were waiting for a clear-cut, open crime to arrest The Zimmerman-Thomas Gang. It came in July of 1908 when the men raided the smokehouse at Seven Islands, long the home of the Nicholas family. The Times-Dispatch reported on August 2, 1908:
On Monday night the four men and one Bob Gregory, who claims to have entered the gang in order to report on them, went to the home of Mrs. Willie Ambler at the noted Seven Islands mansion, it is alleged, and broke into the smokehouse and stole a large number of old country hams and middlings. Gregory reported the theft and warrants were issued. A strong posse went from here to the headquarters of the gang, between the James and the Slate Rivers, and captured them. The leader was lying upon the bed with a double-barreled shotgun at his head and in his pockets were two revolvers. He was surprised and disarmed. Most of the meat was found in his room. The other three men were similarly caught.
This is the only time “Bob” Gregory will be mentioned in connection with the apprehension of the outlaws. Later reports will vary as to whose smokehouse was raided. Mrs. Ambler’s garden, however, had been struck before and her home, Seven Islands, lay dangerously close to the thieves’ den.
Click here for more about life at Seven Islands.
Coming Next: The Back Story
Need to catch up? Click here: The Buckingham Outlaws: Part I
slate river ramblings . . . . 
Is this one of the homes you can clearly see on Rt 652? It looks so familiar to me. I think I stopped a took a pic of this house one time.
Yes, I’m pretty sure it faces Rt 652 and Slate River.
Here’s the headstone in the Scottsville Cemetery of my great-uncle, Charlie Thomas. Don’t know what happened to his brother William. I was a teenager when i met him, Charlie. They were my grandmother, Virginia Thomas Newton ‘s brother’s. Happy Connecting. Sent from my Sprint Samsung Galaxy S® 5
Danny, Many thanks for your comment. Much more about Charlie and William Thomas to come. The Newton’s will also play a part in the story. Joanne