On the Banks of the Rappahannock: A Captivating Story of Romance and Mystery in Colonial Virginia

A captivating story of romance and mystery in colonial Virginia

JOHN HARDING PEACH

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© 2011 by John Harding Peach. All rights reserved.

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First published by AuthorHouse 07/30/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4634-1933-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-1931-8 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011909568

Printed in the United States of America

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Dedication

I hereby dedicate this book to four special friends who have helped make this book a reality.

T. Clayton Moore of California—for his persistence during the past thirty years to research his Virginia roots. His obsession for this history became an unshakeable reality to me.

Lola Maxine Peach of Virginia—for her aggressive dedication as she repeatedly visited libraries and historical societies throughout Virginia and communicated her results to me.

Jon Block of Ontario, Canada—for sharing his thorough research and meticulous documentation of his sources on these characters in the Northern Neck of Virginia.

Thomas William Peach of Texas—for his masterful creation of the cover design for this book and his willingness to contribute his services for the advancement of this project.

Author’s Page

After nine published books on genealogy, John has written this composition as a historical novel. This resident of Knoxville, Tennessee received his Master’s Degree from Liberty University and has spent his lifetime as a pastor, a counselor and a genealogist. He has three daughters and four grandchildren.

Books can be ordered directly by writing to:

John H. Peach, 221 Geronimo Rd., Knoxville, TN 37934

Or contact him at Peachroot@aol.com

Preface

Whenever I read a book, I want to get right to the meat. Forget the appetizer! Therefore, I am giving you, the reader, a quick overview so you can get right to the heart of this book.

Do not read this historical novel unless you are open-minded enough to evaluate the following possibilities.

» Thomas Jeffersonwas challenged to a duel when he was discovered being in bed with another man’s wife.

» Nancy Hanks, Abraham Lincoln’s mother, may have been fathered illegitimately by a main character in this book.

» George Washingtonmay not have fathered our country if his mother didn’t detest the British Navy.

» Daniel Boone did not discover Kentucky, but rather another significant person in this book.

I am a genealogist and have written nine published books on genealogy. This is my first attempt at a historical novel. Therefore, while I want to write to keep the reader’s interest in the intriguing experiences of the story, I must represent true historical personalities in all their stark reality.

All the characters in this novel, with the exception of the slaves, are portrayed with their actual names, their defined family relationships, and their best-determined dates. These all are validated by over 100 sources to which I refer at the end of this book. As a passionate genealogist, I will not knowingly misrepresent any names, dates and relationships.

This historical novel will travel through the colonial days of the south beginning in 1699 and culminating in 1783 with the struggles of the Revolution. Three U. S. Presidents have ties to the historical characters in this book—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln. Mary Ball, mother of the 1st president, is one of the main personalities highlighted. Nancy Hanks, mother of the 16th president, was probably the illegitimate daughter of one of this book’s characters.

Thomas Jefferson and his family play a vital role in this winsome narrative. The main characters of this book will be lesser known but just as significant. These will be the Peacheys, the Glascocks, the Griffins, the Bertrands, the Balls, the McCartys, the Carters, and the Tayloes—all popular names in the eighteenth century on the Northern Neckof Virginia.

Others featured are the Walkers and the Gilmers, especially Dr. Thomas Walker, who first discovered Kentuckyfor the white man. His close ties to President Thomas Jeffersonhelped promote the formation of the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the United States. Rev. St. John Shropshire and his descendants are highlighted with their ties to the Peach family of South Carolina.

This historical novel starts in 1699 during the early development of the Northern Neckof Virginia on the banks of the Rappahannock. With this as its beginning, the book takes its readers back to the immigrant ancestors of its main characters and then carries them forward to future generations.

Many of the personalities in this book will be portrayed as they helped fight for the independence of the United States from England and formulate the new nation.

I hope you will enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed doing the research and the writing of it. I have come to know these characters like they are part of my family, and what a precious experience this has been.

John Harding Peach                     Knoxville, Tennessee

Contents

Abraham Lincoln’s Grandfather

Epping Forest

St. Mary’s Whitechapel

North Farnham Parish

Glascock’s Silver Sword

William and MaryCollege

Katherine McCarty

Thomas Glascock’s Murder

Winifred Griffin

Washington-Ball Marriage

Birth of George Washington

Griffin and Bertrand Legacy

Peachey-Flood Wedding

Dr. Thomas Walker

Glascock-Peachey Wedding

Changing of the Guard

Horse Racing and Mt. Airy

George Washington‘s First Battles

Washington’s First Command

Richmond CountyRevisited

Preparation for the Patriots

Countdown to the Revolution

The Revolutionary War

Victory on the Horizon

Patriots of the Revolution

Glascock Relocations

The Griffins in the Revolution

Peach/Peachey Men at War

Abraham Lincoln’s Grandfather

Introduction to the Book

William H. Herndon was Abraham Lincoln’s law partner in Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln revealed a secret about his mother to Herndon one day and requested that it remain confidential during his lifetime. His partner kept the secret until twenty-two years after the 16th President was murdered at Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C. On Aug. 20, 1887, in Greencastle, Indiana, Herndon felt it was time for the world to know the truth about Lincoln’s parentage. He claimed Abe Lincoln told him ten years before he became President,

Billy, I’ll tell you something, but keep it a secret while I live. My mother was a bastard, was the daughter of a nobleman so called of Virginia. My mother’s mother was poor and credulous, etc., and she was shamefully taken advantage of by the man. My mother inherited his qualities and I hers. All that I am or ever hope to be I get from my mother, God bless her.

For over one hundred years, historians have been wrestling with this outlandish revelation. Could what William Herndon claimed have any validity? If so, then why was ol’ Abe’s mother born illegitimately? According to many reliable historians, the 16th President’s grandfather was a planter in colonial Virginia of the gentry class. He lived in the Northern Neck during the eighteenth century.

This means that more than likely one of the characters in this historical novel was the nobleman so called of Virginia who got Lucy Hanks pregnant and thus became Abraham Lincoln’s grandfather.

Lincoln’s grandmother was reported to be Lucy Hanks, daughter of Joseph Hanks and Ann Nancy Lee. It so happens that Joseph Hanks was the overseer for the plantation at Milden Hall in the eighteenth century. This is the featured location in this book. If Herndon’s declaration was correct, then Lucy gave birth to Abraham Lincoln’s mother out of wedlock. His mother was Nancy Hanks, who was born in Richmond Co., Virginia, on Feb. 5, 1784.

Who was the culprit who got Lucy Hanks pregnant? Was it a consensual relationship or just pure rape? Could it have been Col. William Peachey, owner of Milden Hall, Joseph Hanks’ employer? Perhaps it was one of the Glascock gentry or one of the Griffins, Lees, Carters or Balls.

After over a hundred years of speculation and dozens of theories suggested, the only way the truth will be known is if the DNA tests become more aggressive researching the genetic chromosomes of Nancy Hanks, mother of Lincoln.

After Nancy was born, Lucy moved with her parents to Kentucky in 1784. Why did this happen? Was it the shame of her pregnancy and birth that banned her from the scene? Was it the well-bred Virginia planter who gave them property in Kentucky and paid their passage in order to remove their embarrassment to him and his family? Even DNA tests will never reveal this truth.

Although Lucy Hanks moved to Kentucky, she didn’t mend her ways. Once again, she got pregnant and gave birth to Sarah Hanks by a second unknown father. Now with two illegitimate daughters, the grand jury of Mercer Co., Kentucky, charged her with fornication.

Fortunately, there was an honorable gentleman who came to her rescue. The only way she had to dismiss the charges against her was to get married. Henry Sparrow was her hero. In fact he was a patriot who served in the Revolution—a war hero as well. He obtained a marriage license in 1790, and the following year he exchanged wedding vows with Lucy Hanks in front of a Baptist preacher. With this author being a life-long Baptist minister himself, he is pleased to know it took a Baptist to bail them out.

Following their marriage, the Sparrows padded their nest with eight baby Sparrows, two of whom became preachers. More than likely, they were Baptists! What better way to pay tribute to the preacher who would lower himself to perform the ceremony for a woman charged with fornication?

This map is used by permission of Jon Block, in which he identified 14 landmarks involving those in this book. John H. Peach added six more selected by using a pen. The Northern Neck is the historical setting of this narrative, and one will find it necessary to refer to this map

throughout the book.

Indian Banks

1699

On the banks of the Rappahannock River just before the dawning of a new day, George Glascocklocated his favorite setting for his morning meditation. Being a disciplined man in his mid-twenties, he had developed an entrenched routine of early rising. His special time each day was begun by searching for the first sighting of the morning rays of sunlight. If early enough, he could still hear the bellowing sounds of the bull frogs and the melodious shrill singing of the whip-poor-wills.

George inhaled the ocean salt breeze and the fragrant smell of the pine trees. He sat planted on the water’s edge of Indian Banks, the 600-acre Glascock plantation. His mind raced back to the origins of this historic piece of property. When Captain John Smithfirst discovered this Northern Neckpeninsula in the summer of 1608, he found on this location a village of the Moraughtacund tribe of Indians. This was all part of Chief Powhatan‘s vast empire of native-Americans. He was told that Powhatan’s daughter, Pocahontas, travelled this land.

When George and his father, Thomas, were felling pine and hardwood trees and preparing the fields of Indian Banksfor tobacco and corn, they would stop their labors whenever they would discover one of the Indian arrowheads or pieces of pottery. As they plowed the ground, they feared they might uncover a grave of one of these previous occupants. George imagined the native-Americans celebrating with their feasts and their dances on this spot where he sat. Although this excited him, sadness quickly followed. He was bothered that the white men’s coming to America meant the redskins had to be displaced. If only they could live in peace together, his depression would be removed.

Then he remembered when those from England started coming to this neck of the world. Papa was quick to share with him how it all happened. After the first boats arrived in Jamestown in 1607, the floodgates were opened across the pond. John Carterwas the first of the Northern Neckto arrive from England, as early as 1634. He was followed in 1638 by Col. Richard Lee. They originally settled in the Jamestown area before they moved to the Northern Neck of Virginia in the 1650s. On this vast peninsula bordered by the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers and the Chesapeake Bay, came the English gentry to capture the vast rich plantations where tobacco would be king.

Thomas Griffincame from Wales to marry his wife, Sarah, in 1644 and bear his son, Leroy, as early as 1646 in Northumberland County, the oldest of the Northern Neck. Receiving several large land grants, the Griffins finally settled on the north side of the Rappahannock River.

Leroy Griffinmet his maker four years ago. But the Griffin name and influence didn’t die with him. Instead, it became one of the most significant in the annals of America, attached to high-ranking officers and political figures that helped formed Colonial Virginia. Leroy Griffin’s children and grandchildren became close friends and neighbors of the Glascocks.

As his mind wandered into the world of the Griffins, for a moment George lost his focus. George’s purpose during these autumn daybreaks was to spend a designated period intensely observing the living creatures around him and to get direction from the Creator who designed them. When all the nocturnal critters ceased their rhythmic music, then his daytime friends came to life. He loved to hear the high-pitched gurgling sounds of the turkeys and the mellow cooing of the doves. Whether it was the irritating guttural cawing of the ravens or the soft harmonious warble of the jaybirds, George loved them all.

Other neighbors of Indian Bankswere that of the Balls of Epping Forest, just down the road from George. Papa told him that Col. William Ballled the charge, coming from England as early as 1653 and eventually building his plantation mansion called Millenbeck.This was east of here on the mouth of the Corotoman River, where it intersected the mighty Rappahannock. In 1680 Ball was the colonel over all the militia in Lancaster County, where he lived. One of his sons, Col. Joseph Ball, inherited from his father the property of Epping Forest, where he built his majestic manor house.

As George pondered his present thoughts about the Balls, there was no way he could ever imagine the future. If he had only known that Mary Ball, the mother of President George Washington, would be born to this family in Epping Forest, this neighborhood might be more significant to the Glascocks.

Suddenly, George heard the distinctive honking of geese as they flew in their well-designed formation overhead. While he thought about getting his gun, he knew this was not the time for killing. This was his quiet time of the day. No need to disturb the silence with gunshots.

His attention was now drawn to the continuous chirping of the ospreys as he admired the various pitches of their music. He also learned that where the ospreys were, there were the eagles. Instinctively, eagles knew it was easier to swipe a tasty perch from one of these fish hawks than it was to swoop down into the Rappahannock to get their own. The ospreys were quicker catching fish, but they were no match for the larger king of the air when it came to keeping them.

One of the most distinguished families coming to the Northern Neck, according to Papa, was that of the Lees. After Col. Richard Leecame to the Jamestown area in 1636, he eventually settled in the Northern Neck until his death in 1664 at his Dividing Creekestate in Northumberland County. After his passing, his sons carried the family banner by vastly multiplying the Lees’ fortune and power. From this family would come two signers of the Declaration of Independenceand Robert E. Lee, that famous general over all the Confederate Army. Little did George know how this little stretch of land bordered by two rivers would pave the way to his country’s independence and nation building.

The best part of the morning always came when George spied the majestic bird with its distinctive white head and brownish-black figure leaving the nest. He watched as this magnificent creature lifted its enormous wings in flight and zeroed in on the breakfast of the smaller osprey. George was fascinated as the eagles soared over the river with such amazing ease and remarkable speed. This gave him the inspiration for the day, as he loved to think of himself as mounting up with wings as eagles. His mother quoted that verse from Isaiah to him often when he was a child. Whenever he saw the eagles, he thought of his dear mom and the purpose for his life.

As he reflected on that idea, he realized his immediate goal. He wanted to get married to the love of his life, one Millicent Downman. However, before father would let him marry, George must help him finish building a home for his bride and future family. The mansion they called Indian Bankstook years to build because it was constructed to last forever. Pa insisted that the base of the walls should be over two-feet thick, and the entire home encased in red brick. However, after the exterior was completed, the Glascocks decided to add a green glaze to the brick, making it unique from other homes in the area. They worked tirelessly getting the hand-hewn white oak all fastened and nailed into place. Separate buildings for the kitchen, the ice house and the well also had been assembled.

His only other help was a few of his Pa’s indentured servants. If only he had some brothers among his siblings. He loved his sisters dearly. But he could do without all their straw-bossing.

Why did you do it this way? Jean would badger. You will have the devil to pay.

Why don’t you make the windows smaller? suggested Beth.

Why did you paint it that color? It’s hideous! would be Ma’s suggestions.

Then there was the most caustic day of all. This was when his oldest sister, Jean, first discovered the two doors the men built at the top of the stairs. They decided to make them only four feet high.

Who in the world would live in a house with doors made for little elves? shouted Jean in aggravation. Did Pa think we were Irish and had leprechauns running a dippin’ an’ a dodgin’?

George tried in vain to calm her down and to help her understand their logical reasoning. Since the rooms would only be used for powdering wigs, why should they need large doors? The girls surely could bend over or crawl into the room to complete this arduous task. Jean thought it was the most preposterous thing she had ever seen and made sure the men never forgot it. She also kept all her sisters stirred up about it, with even Ma chiming her discontent whenever she had to enter one of the wig rooms.

Now George’s sweetheart, Millie, was another story. She got so excited about everything in the house. Flitting about from one window seat to the other, she was full of all kinds of flattery.

Oh, George, I love those big windows. I counted eighteen panes in each one.

You’re right, honey, George responded, I only wish that Jean liked them as well as you.

When she looked up and saw the black chandeliers for the first time, she was ecstatic.

George, those make the rooms so majestic, and I am sure they really lighten them up at night. Whether it was the five-sided dining room or the curved chimney in the parlor, she was thrilled with them all. Millie was so easy to please.

1699 is the date they cut into the brick under one of the windows beside the front door facing the Rappahannock River. This was the historic year when the state capital of Virginia was moved to the College of William and Maryin Williamsburg. After a wild fire roared through Jamestown the year before, the students of the college voted to invite the state assembly to meet in their facilities. Also in 1699 word spread that the despised pirate, Captain Kidd, had entered Chesapeake Bay, seeking to raid any ship that came his way. Whether it was true or not, just the fear of the buccaneer shut down the shipping business for a season.

Also, in 1699 the Glascocks helped celebrate with grandeur the long-awaited birth of little Samuel, grandson of Samuel Peachey, who also lived on the banks of the Rappahannock just upstream from them. Peachey had strong ties to the Glascocks because he was established with them as members of the landed gentry. Both were immigrants from England who had accumulated large land holdings farmed in tobacco and corn. Peachey himself owned a massive plantation he called Milden Hall, named after the place of his birth—Mildenhall, Suffolk. They both were building exquisite manor homes to accommodate their families both now and in the future. Rumors had it that these two close friends were in a secret competition with each other to see who would be the first to finish their homes. Who actually won no one knew because each bragged that he was the winner.

As the planters and traders of colonial Virginia, both the Glascocks and the Peacheys were expected to help govern and secure their territory. This included serving as sheriffs, judges and officers of the militia. However, their first priorities were to their families and their expansive plantations. With no tobacco crop, there was little or no income.

All of a sudden, a majestic bald eagle took flight right before George’s eyes. He was rather shocked because he forgot where he was and what he was doing there, being so busy thinking about building his house and about his neighbors. Forget the ospreys for now. George was ready for the main attraction, and was he in for a surprise! On this special morning, his precious bird of prey swooped down into the river and with his outstretched talons snatched a prized hefty rock fish. This was more theatrical than stealing the fish from the osprey. He only wished it would happen more often.

From a distance, he faintly heard Pa calling him to get to work. George hastily stood up, stretched his legs and arms, preparing himself for a long day’s labor. When he got to the building project, he found his father installing a serpentine brick decoration over the front door. I’ve never seen anything like that before.

You probably won’t ever see one like that again, said Pa. It is one of a kind.

You’re really making this home a cut above all the rest, George said, only to be met by one of Pa’s smiles as he shrugged his shoulders.

Then Pa showed him the HL hinges they would put on the doors. He claimed they were used to keep the witches and ghosts away from the home. H.L., he said stood for Holy Lord. This was one of the ways they were to help keep their estate sacred for their Creator.

While the men were busy installing the final hardware on the doors, the ladies had arrived with the morning tea, cracklin’ bread and a mess of fish. The kitchen was a separate building outside the house, which was already finished and fully equipped. Therefore, as they delivered breakfast, it was piping hot. George’s older sister, Jean, led the way as usual. She was the person in charge and wanted everyone to know it. Her sisters, Beth and Winnie, waddled behind like ducklings trying to keep up with their mother fowl. They all exchanged their normal greetings with each other.

Aren’t you finished with this house, yet? ranted Jean. You guys are as slow as a mollified mule.

The men just kept busy with their work, knowing it would do no good for them to come back at her.

Well, as long as you work, we have to keep feedin’ you… You better come and rest a bit.

Three of George’s sisters were missing from the scene. Since his sisters, Anne and Mary, were children, they were busy picking wild flowers and playing outside. At nineteen, Fran was living somewhere in the clouds, having been bitten by the love bug. Her beau was Charlie Barber, and he was all she could talk about. This made her annoying for George to be around, especially since his mind was focused on his own sweetheart, Millie. Fran was only excited about the house getting finished because it held up her wedding. Pa made it plain to her she couldn’t wed until George was hitched. However, instead of helping, she was off somewhere on the banks of the Rappahannock doing some dreaming of her own.

Millie showed up after the meal was over. Pa knew this meant he wouldn’t get much more work out of George. Sure enough, as soon as she bounded up the steps on the front porch, George dropped his tools and ran to give her a strong embrace, lifting her off her feet and planting a passionate kiss on her rosy lips. Pa and Tom could easily tell Millie enjoyed this as much, if not more, than George. She was not only excited to see him, but she was equally overjoyed about the progress on her new home.

Millie’s brilliant blue eyes were on fire, probably accented by the bright blue dress she was wearing. Although she had long flowing silky smooth brown hair, she had it wrapped today in a white scarf. The white collar on her gown made a perfect match for her. George had never seen her more beautiful! Although she wasn’t quite sixteen, she was every bit a full-grown woman to George. Being eight years older than her at twenty four, he had waited for many years for Millie to reach this maturity.

George was quick to show Millie the new additions of the serpentine brick ornament and the HL hinges on the doors. But she had more important things on her mind.

My mother almost has my wedding gown finished, said Millie, quickly changing the subject.

"I’ve been trying to get our invitations ready. I think we should invite Col. Joseph Balland his family from Epping Forest."

I agree, George replied rather matter-of-factly. He left these decisions