Buckingham County Houses: Travelers Rest, Part IV
Travelers Rest, 2015. Photo by Vanessa Crews.
Slate River Ramblings follower Vanessa Crews shared this photo and some information about Travelers Rest. Thanks Vanessa!
“Following the Civil War, on 5 May 1876, James A. Crews purchased 25 acres, part of the tract of land lying in James River in Buckingham County known as ‘Travelers Rest.’ It was previously conveyed to John Horsley by Mary C. Horsley. Crews was a carpenter. This was his only land transaction, certainly a milestone in his life. The Civil War forced some large landowners, like Horsley, to break up the great estates and sell small parcels to individuals for whom property ownership had previously been only a dream.
“I visited Travelers Rest in September 2015. This stately home still displays signs of past grandeur. Ancient trees shelter the house. Autumn crocus and lilies bloomed in the overgrown lawn. I’m still searching for the exact location of the Crews home. There was no one at Travelers Rest that September Day. Perhaps one of your readers can offer a lead to the property location.”
slate river ramblings . . . . 
Dear Faye and Vanessa,
I’d love to know what you learn from each other about the Horsley-owned Travelers Rest. Please send me an email rather than continuing the conversation here. Thanks.
Soon, I’ll be posting about other properties in Buckingham County named Travelers Rest.
Stay tuned!
Joanne
Hi Suanne, a friend from school? Please write me at vcrews@mac.com. I look forward to hearing from you. Vanessa
nobody in my family remembers anything about a family named Crews and we are very doubtful this is accurate. I have one relative who is 91 years old and grew up just over the hill. I believe this may be some incorrect info
Faye,
Vanessa also shared the entry below from Buckingham County Deed Book 2, p. 502.
Thanks, as always, for following the blog!
Joanne
This deed made this 1st day of May 1876 between John Horsley of the one part and James A. Crews of the other part, that the said James a. Crews has paid in full the purchase money for a parcel of land containing twenty-five acres heretofore sale to the said Crews by the said John Horsley which said parcel of twenty five acres of land is a part of the tract of land lying in James River in Buckingham County Known as “Travellers Rest” which was conveyed to john Horsley by Mary c. Horsley by deed bearing date the_______ day of June 1857; and the said parcel of 25 acres of land purchased as aforesaid by said Crews of said John Horsley is bounded on the South by the land sold to Solomon Mills by said John Horsley;on the East by the lands of Mrs. Nicholas Mills; on the North by the lands of John J. Langere and on the West by the lands of said Horsley; Now therefore the said Horsley having received the purchase money in full of said Crews for the said 25 acres of land, the said John Horsley doth hereby grant and convey with general warranty to the said James A. Crews the aforesaid twenty five acres of land.
Witness the following signature and seal the day and deed above written.
John Horsley
Buckingham County Court Clerks’ Office, May 5, 1876. This deed was this day produced in my office and acknowledged by John Horsley, a party thereto and admitted to record.
Teste P.A. Ferbes, C.B.C.
Hi Faye, I hope you saw the deed Joanne posted. James A. Crews and his wife Eveline had eight children. Two sons, Joel Peter Crews and George Washington Crews, are buried at nearby Woodland Church. Joel has a lovely headstone and George’s grave is probably one of the illegible slate stones by Joel’s. You and my husband, Jesse Crews, are probably cousins. His grandmother was Minnie Shumaker of Buckingham County. I hope you’ll get in touch with me as I would love to know more about the area around Woodland Church and Traveler’s Rest. My email is vcrews@mac.com. Many thanks to Joanne for sharing the story of my visit to Buckingham County. Vanessa
Vanessa,
Thank you for sharing your work! We all learn more about Buckingham County history.
Joanne
Hi Joanne I would like to talk to Vanessa as I have quite a few things to talk to her about and this is a slow way to respond to her. Could you share my phone # with her? It is 434-395-8931 and if she could share her area code with me, I can be on the lookout for it as I don’t usually answer an unknown area code.
I would so like to talk to her and if you can facilitate that, I would be so grateful.
Faye
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Faye, thanks for your phone number. I will call you tomorrow from a 925 area code. I live in California so the call will be in the afternoon Virginia time.
Vanessa
It’s a small world! I know Vanessa from school. This is so neat that our paths cross again and again in the ancestry search. The house looks to be in great shape.
Suzanne,
Thanks for your comment. It is a small world!
Joanne