Photo by Darlene Farmer, 2010
Did these chimneys at Shepherds Tavern survive the 1852 earthquake?
On November 2, 1852, an earthquake damaged chimneys at Buckingham Courthouse. The quake was felt strongly in Fredericksburg and Richmond. Years later, the magnitude was estimated at 4.3 on the Richter scale.
On November 6, 1852, the Alexandria Gazette reported:
The shock of the earthquake, which was felt in Richmond, on Tuesday evening, was, also very sensibly felt in Scottsville, Albemarle County. Every house in the village was shaken by the oscillation; the boats lying in the canal were tossed to and fro, and the waters gave evidence of being much trouble – at least, so says the Scottsville Republican.
Photo by Joanne Yeck
Mary Bondurant Warren is one of many Buckingham County researchers to transcribe and publish original documents concerning the county. Her book, Buckingham County, Virginia Church and Marriage Records 1764-1822, is a compilation of surviving colonial records for Tillotson Parish. It includes fragments of Vestry books, indentures, and tax lists. She also transcribed fragmentary minutes and marriage records written by Rev. René Chastain, the first pastor of Buckingham Baptist Church.
The original pages of his “A Memorandom of Marriages,” and church membership list, which begins in 1786, are housed at the Kentucky Historical Society. These pages contain many familiar Buckingham surnames such as Adcock, Agee, Ayres, Bagby, Bondurant, Garrott, Ford, Hill, Maxey, etc.
Slaves are mentioned, sometimes connected to their owner’s name, e.g. Jas. Garrott’s Jack.
Enticing excommunications are included.
“Patte Adcock – Excum Superf[l]uoss Dress and neglecting to Hear ye Church.”
“G. Webb’s Jack & Doll – Dismist & Moses – Excom for adultery”
“Lucy Baber was Excomunicated (sic) for vain & foolish conversation & neglecting to hear the Church.”
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Buckingham County, Virginia Church and Marriage Records 1764-1822 is available online at New Papyrus Publishing Company.
Photo by David Spears
The September issue of the Buckingham Beacon features my newest article about one of my favorite subjects, Randolph Jefferson and his plantation, Snowden.
Pick up a copy or, if you live outside of Buckingham County, click here to to download a PDF:
Buckingham Baptist Church, Photo by Joanne Yeck
According to the website Chastaine Central:
Rene Chastain was born June 30 (or 28), 1741 in Virginia, a third generation American colonist. His father was Rene Chastain, Sr., one of three sons of Pierre Chastain, the immigrant, who survived to adulthood in the colonies. It is from these three brothers that most of us Chastains, Chasteens, Chesteens, Chastines, and perhaps Shasteens descend. Rene’s mother was Judith Martin Gevedon, daughter of John and Margaret Martin, and widow of Thomas Gevedon before marrying Rene Chastain, Sr. in 1732.
When Rene, Jr. was quite young, he accompanied his parents as they moved deeper into the Virginia wilderness into what would become Buckingham County. In that situation, Rene had no formal schooling, but as one writer notes: “Though his education was much neglected, his morals were of the most unimpeachable character.”
Ultimately, Rev. Rene Chastain (a.k.a. Rane Chastain) became the first pastor of Buckingham Baptist Church, serving there for fifty-three years.
Click here for more about Reverend and the Chastain family.
Click here for more about Buckingham Baptist Church.
Coming next: Buckingham County, Virginia Church and Marriage Records 1764-1822
The Historic Village at Lee Wayside, Photo by Joanne Yeck
Historic Buckingham is celebrating its 40th anniversary!
So much good work has been done to preserve the county’s history. So much more to do!
If you aren’t already a member, join and get involved!
Click here to learn more: Historic Buckingham, Inc.
Shady Grove, Courtesy Library of Virginia
Virginia Memory, the online digital collection of the Library of Virginia, is a treasure trove for anyone interested in primary resources concerning Virginia history.
The selection of WPA Historic Houses Drawings created as part of the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Art Project in Virginia includes a pen and ink drawing of “Shady Grove” in Buckingham County. It was drawn by Dorothea Ann Farrington in 1937.
Does a Slate River Ramblings reader know more about the house, Shady Grove? Know more about the artist?
Please comment.
Courtesy Gordon G. Ragland, Jr., Maxey/Patteson Family Collection
Over the years, sisters Annie and Lulie Patteson took in a number of foster children. In an article for The Daily Progress, Miss Lulie remembered one boy in particular.
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A warm glow comes into my heart when I think of Clarence. He was one of twins from a family of four boys whom we kept one summer and fall. They were all good boys, but little Clarence was especially affectionate towards his “Aunt Lulie.” When they were returned to the Lynchburg Presbyterian Orphanage, Clarence once begged me to come there and spend the night.
All four boys were delighted to see me and we had quite a pleasant time. The next morning I had to catch an early train before breakfast. Clarence insisted he did not want breakfast so he could walk me to the streetcar. He was persuaded to drink a glass of milk and eat a sandwich on the way.
Clarence grew up to be a fine man and often sent me money and presents on my birthday.
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For much more about Lulie Patteson’s life and writings see “Miss Lulie Patteson: Early Buckingham Historian” in “At a Place Called Buckingham.”
The long-awaited fourth volume of Buckingham Burials is now available! Carl and Lynne Henshaw, Mike Duncan, and Larry Davis all contributed to the book.
You can purchase copies in Buckingham County at Housewright Museum, The Historic Village at Lee Wayside, and at Nancy’s Gift Shop. Price: $25.00.
You can also purchase a copy by sending a check for $29.00, the price of the book plus postage, to:
Historic Buckingham, PO Box 152, Buckingham, VA 23931
Well Water School, c. 1948
Front Row: Cleveland Flowers, Wallace Flowers, Clayton Davidson, Richard Jones, Jr., Shelby Jean Jones, Mary Rush, Gordon Rush
Second Row: Mary Flowers, Josephine Maxey, Riley Patteson, Billy Maxey
Back Row: Annie Floyd Patteson (teacher), Delois Maguire, Dorothy Jones, Rudd Patteson
Thanks to Sandy Ottinger and her mother, Marie Grinstead Shifflett, for submitting the photo and the identifications.
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This photo of Well Water School features Miss Annie Patteson and her students. In 1940, Annie Patteson, age fifty-five, was living with her sister, Lulie, at the Patteson home place. The census taker indicated that she worked as a teacher and had completed a 4th year of high school/college.
Was she trained at a teacher’s college or did she take summer classes offered for women at the University of Virginia?
That year, the census taker described Lulie Patteson as a “field worker, wage or salary worker in Government work.” Her avocation was writing historical articles about Buckingham County. She, too, once taught school at Well Water.
Over the years, the Patteson sisters took in foster children. In 1940, ten-year-old Remona (sic) Maguire and eight-year-old Delois Maguire (pictured above) were living with them. Twenty-year-old Woodrow Oliver worked for them as a “hired man,” Ten years earlier, four Oliver children were staying with the Patteson sisters: Robert, Elizabeth, Woodrow, and Louise.
Soldiers’ Home, Richmond, Virginia
Some Virginia veterans found companionship and were cared for in their old age at the Soldiers’ Home in Richmond. Others remained with their families.
On Thursday, June 1, 1905, Richmond’s The Times-Dispatch ran the following personal advertisement:
WANTED – PARTIALLY BLIND LITERARY man, old, feeble, lives in country; he wants settled gentleman or lady to read and write for him; must be able to write from dictation and spell well and write legible hand; employer is poor, but comfortably situated. Write, stating compensation expected, which must be moderate; less half time occupied; family small; Episcopalians; neighborhood P.O. Buckingham county, Va. Quiet good; references exchanged. Captain DAVID ROSCOE, R.F.D. Axtell.
Hopefully, Capt. Roscoe found someone close to home who met his requirements.
Does a Slate River Ramblings reader recognize Capt. David Roscoe?
slate river ramblings . . . . 