Pleasant Grove, Courtesy Historic Buckingham.
In 1936, Elizabeth McCraw surveyed Pleasant Grove for the Virginia Historical Inventory. Originally owned by the Clay family, the plantation was known as Rose Hill. Later, the Smith family change the name to Pleasant Grove. Located less than a mile west of Shepherd in Buckingham County, the dwelling house dates to about 1824. Mrs. McCraw wrote:
The approach to this house is pleasing, the house being on an elevation from the highway, and the private drive leading to the front porch. There is a one story porch across the entire front of the house, (this is a modern porch which replaced a small semi-colonial porch) having wide steps and built high off the ground. There’s a very large brick chimney at each end of the house, and cornice of decorative brick around the gable ends. There are nine windows across the front with upper and lower sashes of different sizes. Double doors with transom admit one to the hall. From the hall an elaborate two flight stairway leads to the second floor. The stairway is hand carved, with walnut handrail and newels. The wainscoting in the hall has a solid carved border and shows the original paint, in a mottled effect. The interior of the house is very attractive, having recently been freshly painted in the original pastel shades. The wainscoted walls with deep paneled cased windows are different in each room. The woodwork in each room is painted a different color. The parlor is rose, the front hall green, and one room yellow, on the first floor. One of the rooms on the second floor is green and the other cream. There is a beautiful hand carved mantel in each room. The wide six panel doors and large iron locks with small brass knobs are noticeable. Everything is in splendid condition.
The house at Pleasant Grove is a notable exception in Depression-era Buckingham County. “Splendid condition” was an expression rarely used in the WPA surveys. Clearly, Mrs. McCraw was delighted with the beautiful state of the house.
Coming next: Buckingham Notables: The Clay Family
End Board, Davidson’s Orchard. Courtesy Bill Davidson.
According to Rosa G. Williams’ survey of Cherry Hill, written in 1937 for the Virginia Historical Inventory, several generations of the Davidson family owned Cherry Hill in Buckingham County.
Their orchards, not limited to cherries, were enjoyed beyond the limits of the county. Peaches and apples were popular additions.
For more about the orchards, please visit the Slate River Ramblings posts listed below.
If you have personal memories of visiting or working at the orchards, please comment.
World War II: German POWs Pick Buckingham Peaches
Remembering Summers in Buckingham County
Cherry Hill. Courtesy Historic Buckingham.
In 1937, Rosa G. Williams surveyed Cherry Hill for the Virginia Historical Inventory. Located twelve miles west of Nuckols in Buckingham County, the first owners of the property were the Berryman family, though, it was the Lackland family who established Cherry Hill. After the Civil War, it was acquired by the Davidson family who owned it into the twentieth century. Mrs. Williams wrote:
“Cherry Hill” was once part of Aspen Level, the Berryman Estate. A Mr. Lackland purchased the place in 1797, and built the Cherry Hill house in 1798.
The original house consisted of six rooms, two basement rooms, two rooms on the second floor and two half story rooms on the third floor. The house has been remodeled, the half story rooms have been raised, new windows were put in and a second story porch was added. Very few changes were made to the interior excepting to the third floor. The basement stands just as it was originally with dirt floors, rock walls and box like sills. The first story flooring is the basement ceiling, it being laid on the sills. The chimneys are huge and are of rock. There is an old fire place in the basement. There are no original outbuildings. Several of the original oak and locust trees are still standing.
Unsurprisingly, the farm was named for the numerous cherry trees that grew on the place.
Coming next: Davidson’s Orchard at Cherry Hill
Buckingham County’s Welshman were brimming with pride when they sent the following correspondence to Y Drych (The Mirror), a Welsh-American newspaper published in Utica, New York.
Printed on November 8, 1894:
We are all feeling proud that it was the slate of Virginia that won the first prize at the World’s Fair; and no doubt that the brothers J.R. and E.R. Williams and their comp. feel more so than the workers. Slowness of trade has shown to an extent, but there is no cause to complain; everyone here is as though they have plenty to eat, and every family in quite good health. – Welshman.
Diolch — Iwan Hughes — for the translation!
Click here for more about J. R. Williams and The Williams Brothers.
Click here to learn more about about the Welsh-American newspaper, Y Drych (The Mirror).
The following news, sent from Arvonia, Buckingham County, Virginia on November 4, 1894, to the Welsh-American newspaper, Y Drych (The Mirror), printed on November 8th:
October was an exceptional month, as many as four weddings took place here; namely 10 Oct., Willie Lloyd, son of John Lloyd, with Miss Mary Jones, daughter of Gwilym Jones; 17, W.W. Hughes with Miss Maude Edwards; also A.J. Pierce with Miss Sallie Chambers; 23, W.W. Griffith and Miss Maggie S. Jones. The ceremonies were officiated by the Rev. W.H. Wilson at the Presbyterians’ chapel, which had been done up beautifully with a variety of white and green flowers. They all went on honeymoon to Richmond; by now they’ve come back, and are starting to show everyone what they can do in their houses.
Miss Sallie W. Chambers, daughter of George and Sallie (Chambers) Chambers was born in Buckingham in about 1867. Her new husband, Americus John Pierce was born in Buckingham on November 19, 1860. His parents were Elizabeth and William Pierce. The young couple were married on October 17, 1894.
If you know more about the other brides and grooms, please comment.
~
Many thanks to Iwan Hughes for the translation!
Click here to learn more about the Welsh-American newspaper, Y Drych (The Mirror).
Those of us familiar with the history of Buckingham County, Virginia are aware of the important contribution made by the Welsh immigrants who owned and worked in the slate quarries and lived at Arvonia.
Far from isolated once they lived in central Virginia, Welsh families shared news about their lives in Buckingham County in Y Drych (The Mirror), a widely-read Welsh American newspaper published in Utica, New York.
The challenge, of course, is that the researcher must be able to read Welsh. Fortunately for readers of Slate River Ramblings, a generous and historically-minded Welshman voluntarily translated some entries sent from Buckingham County. Here is an example, with more to come.
This appeared in Y Drych on November 8, 1894:
ARVONIA, VA., Nov 1 – The Rev. Lot Lake of Nashville, Tennessee paid a visit to this place, and he preached to us in Welsh and English. He is very acceptable here, as he possesses the necessary ability to attract people after him. I believe we should be more united when a Welshman preaches amongst us. Mr Lake can make himself very at home with us. On the morning of the second Sabbath he preached in Welsh; and in the evening he turned to say a little in English, and it was evidenced by us all that he spoke the truth with vigour. During the week he preached every other night in the Hall where the Congregationalists gather. On the morning of the third Sabbath he preached at the chapel of the Presbyterians, and the afternoon and evening in the Hall. He received many to the Congregational fold; therefore you can see that his labours were not in vain.
Cofion cynnes to Iwan Hughes for this translation!
Click here for a description of Y Crych (The Mirror) at familysearch.org.
Also visit the archive at Welsh Newspapers Online.
This digitized archive of the newspaper contains about 45,000 pages which include biographical information, readers’ letters, and the Welsh point of view on a wide variety of subjects.
There is much more about Arvonia and the slate quarries in the archives at Slate River Ramblings. Try searching the keywords Arvonia and slate. Enjoy the results!
Courtesy Historic Buckingham
Extreme weather is nothing new. In Buckingham County, heavy rains not only adversely affected farmers but also halted work in the famous slate quarries. On August 23, 1928, Charlottesville’s Daily Progress reported this from New Canton, Buckingham County:
THUNDERSTORM HURTS BUCKINGHAM CROPS
New Canton, Va., Aug. 19. — A terrific and long continued thunderstorm visited this section at 6 o’clock yesterday afternoon, bringing 3 inches of precipitation—an amount unequaled in a thunderstorm in several years. All upper and sloping lands were badly washed, including fields of growing crops, and low lands were completely inundated. There was little wind, but much lightning, though so far as can be ascertained no buildings were struck.
Today beginning at 10 o’clock, it has been raining steadily, and indications are that it will continue through the night. Farmers are afraid that tobacco will be drowned on the hill and corn on the river bottoms ruined. Growers in the well-known Davidson section of Buckingham are beginning to cut tobacco, which is magnificent as to quality, and quantity. Indications are that by September 10 the entire crop in this portion of central Virginia will be ripe or harvested.
On account of the heavy rains work has been temporarily suspended in the Arvonia slate quarries, and the force building the iron bridge across James River at Bremo is idle. All section forces are kept on the rush, looking after the tracks of the James River Division, the Virginia Air Line and the Buckingham branch, all of which tracks have been badly washed them places.
Broadsides are wonderful time capsules of Virginia history, though, few survive. Even more ephemeral than newspapers, broadsides were handed out in crowds or tacked up by courthouse doors prior to an estate or land auction. They announced a wide variety of events of public interest, such as the limited availability of a stud horse in the county or an upcoming performance by Buckingham-born humorist George W. Bagby.
Online, at Virginia Memory, the Library of Virginia has made available over 1,200 images in the “Broadside Collection.”
The collection makes for fun browsing on a rainy afternoon!
In early 1850, Elisha Robertson of Buckingham County advertised in the Richmond Enquirer for a runaway slave named Davy. Scars and an unusual smile were his distinguishing features.
TWENTY DOLLARS REWARD.
RANAWAY from the subscriber on the 14th day of November last, a man named DAVY. He is of a brown color, with a small scar on his forehead, and a scar on one of his anckles (sic), and about 5 feet, 8 or 9 inches high. He is plain spoken and shows his gums when he laughs with wide upper teeth. I will give the above reward if taken out of the county and secured in jail so that I get him again; or $15 if taken in the county. Davy is probably about Lynchburg, on some of the mountain boats. I understand he was seen in Lynchburg some few weeks ago.
ELISHA ROBERTSON.
Near Diana Mills, Buckingham county, Va.
Jan 29.
Runaway slave advertisements offer a unique window into the life of American slaves. For more examples, search runaway at Slate River Ramblings. In addition to Runaway Slave advertisements, enjoy the unusual post: “Runaway Wife.”
Elisha Z. Robertson headstone. Photo by Jeremy Winfrey.
In addition to posting a photo of Elisha Z. Robertson’s headstone at Find-A-Grave, Slate River Ramblings reader Jeremy Winfrey has surveyed the Robertson family cemetery.
Elisha Z. Robertson (1830–1910) was the son of Elisha Robertson (1794–1871) and Mary Maxey Robertson (1795–1876). His wife was Virginia (Bagby) Robertson (1837–1903).
The post at Find-A-Grave includes several hotlinks for other headstones in the Robertson family cemetery at Ransons, Buckingham County. The family included:
Siblings of Elisha Z. Robertson:
Elizabeth M Robertson (1823–1897)
Martha May Robertson (1824–1864)
George Edward Robertson (1826–1890)
Robert Nathan Robertson (1828–1878)
Amy Esther Robertson (1832–1895)
Mary Ellen Robertson (1837–1854)
Judith Catherine (Robertson) Winfrey (1838–1915)
Click here to see Elisha Z. Robertson’s headstone at Find-A-Grave.
Click here for more about the Robertson Family Cemetery.
Click here to view the Headstone Application for Elisha Z. Robertson.
Thanks to Jeremy for this and other posts at Find-A-Grave.
slate river ramblings . . . . 