The Virginia magazine of history and biography (Volume 21) online

tance in choice stem'd Tob'os & the more readily when I call to mind



NOTES AND QUERIES. 93

what our good secretary has inform 'd me that mine & my Father's
par'r Friend Mr. Haswell was yr. uncle & whose Memory I shall always
revere, I am Sir most respectfully

Yr. much oblig'd & Hble serv't

J. B.



From Col Baylor

Virginia Aug't ye 28 1761
Mr. John Backhouse

Sir,

My last was by Captain Twentyman in which
I made a very small add'n to my Invoice & then wrote you that I should
shortly take a view of my mountain crop from whence I am just returned
highly delighted with the pleasing prospect of an ex-ty fine crop so much
indeed that it has enbolden'd me provided Quincey gets home safe and
there should be a peace this Fall to try once more for an Ex'y fine
Horse to cross the Breed of Shock [and ?] Sober John which I can sell to
advantage & have for that purpose selected a few out of the Horse Race
list one of which I should choose — provided he is at least 15h high — a
good Bay strong & beautiful «fe high spirited (Here follows a list of
horses) 4th Mr. Keeps Genesis * ♦ * * He has a fowl sinew & as such
perhaps might be had under 200 — I should be fond of him. ******
With your appr'l I would stretch to the tune cf £400. for an extraordi-
nary one *****

Should you think fitt to grant me this further indulgence it shall
be everlastingly imprinted in my memory & as we are likely to have a
great crop permit me to advise you to have the Malborough here early
in March & let me entreat you whether it brings a horse or not to have
her as early as possible

I am y'rs

J. B.



P. S.

I have wrote
to Mr. T Hales

From Col Baylor,

Mr. John Norton,



Virginia Aug. 14 1765



Dear Sir,



By Capt. Hooper I rec'd yrs & am much
obliged to you for the trouble you have taken ab'ot Hemp- & Peach
Brandy but mention nothing of the Duty & neat Price of the latter of
which I shall this year make about 7 or 8 hu'd Galls & in 3 years expect
to d'ble it. Excuse me from answering Jths of your long letter relating
to Trade interest & c. You well know the great aversion I allways had
not only to that but also to writing of any sort.



94 VIRGINIA HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.

Capt. Hooper will deliver you with this four hh'ds of steme'd
Tob'o & observing the great & frequent congregation of weavers ab't
Westminister should be very of one were I not so deeply in yr debt

* * * I shall leave it to your choice * * *

* * * * which he wrote me he would doe in a few weeks after you left
poor Virg'a The downfall of which seems to me at no great distance un-
less Manufactories & Hemp added to the greatest Frugality & Industry
can save us.

We all join very sincerely in giving you & y'rs. joy of your safe
arrival in London & you & my Dear Sister all imaginable joy of yr. fine
Boy which with oilr Loves to you all

Dr Sir y'rs.

J. B.



From John Baylor to his Father Col. Baylor

London

Feb'y 16 1770
Hon'd Sir,

It is with infinite pleasure I acquaint you that I am in hopes
to succeed in my present intentions, it being the advice of my Friends
when I am settled & which I hope will be in a short Time will give you
[illegible] information on that Head.

Mr. Morse has been kind eneough to promise that he would de-
liver this letter safe to you as it wou'd be a kind of introduction to him
in our Fami.y which he seems to be fond of, and doubt not but he will
comply with his promise.

By Capt. Fox I have wrote you a long Letter which I hope will
be agreeable in every respect, it chiefly concerned the future Plan of
my Education and doubt not but you will take it into proper considera-
tion.

The taxes will be repealed except that of the Tea.

I have nothing more to say at present worth relating.

My Duty to my Mother, Uncle & Avint Burwell. Love to my
Brothers & sisters.

I remain dear Father

Your most Dutiful Son
pr favor of Mr. Morse John Baylor

From Edmtmd Pendleton to Col. Baylor

Feb. 4, 1772.
Dr. Sir,

As I thought you had a good stock of wine, I supposed th^t
article had slipt into yr letter by mistake & exam' the messenger he
s'd you had bottled wine & desired if I could not send any wine both
juggs might be filled with Rimi — From hence I concluded you wanted
some common wine for ordinary use to save yr good & as I have none



NOTES AND QUERIES. 95

but a little in bottles, I send both juggs in Rum of a little that is left of
my old Rum. I have spared you the small jugg for your own use, the
other is not bad, but not quite so mellow.

If the boy is mistaken about the wine and you are out I will share
my small parcel with you rather than you shall suffer. I should have
set off for the Assembly to day if the weather had been tolerable and shall
go as soon as I think I can travel with a degree of safety.

The General business of the country and not any particular oc-
casion calls us to-gether & I suppose the General Court will terminate
our sitting, but I propose if well to visit my family about the 1st of
March.

I wish you sincerely a better state of health & amDr. Sr. yr affect-
hble-Servt

Edm'd Pendleton.

(Below see copy of an old letter which I got some years ago from Aunt
Jane Clayton's in Chesterfield Co, near Richmond Va. and it is from
this sourse I have succeeded in renewing the acquaintance of some of our
English relatives by letter after a lapse of nearly eighty or a hundred
years. I have heard that there was a letter grom Miss Susan Frere
written from Gibraltar to some one of the New-Market family about
1830 but that so far as was remembered no one answered it.

A. G. Baylor)

(To be Continued)



96 VIRGINIA HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.



GENEALOGY



THE BRENT FAMILY
Compiled by W. B. Chilton, Washington, D. C.
(Continued.)
Transcript from Record of Trinity Parish, Charles County, Maryland.

Robert Brent and Mary Wharton was (sic) united in the holy
Estate of Matrimony, May 6, 1729.

Mary Brent, Daughter of Robert Brent and Mary his wife was
bom September the 1st, 1731.

Robert Brent, Son of the aforesaid Robert and Mary Brent was
bom May the 6th, 1734.

Jane Brent, Daughter of the aforesaid Robert and Mary Brent
was born January 2d, 1736.

George Brent, Son of the aforesaid Robert and Mary Brent was
bom May the 3d, 1737.

Susanna Brent, Daughter of the aforesaid Robert and Mary Brent
was born January the 2d, 1739.

Elizabeth Brent, Daughter of the afores'd Robert and Mary
Brent was born March the 4th, 1740.

Nicholas Brent, Son of the aforesa'd Robert and Mary Brent was
born November the 1st, 1741.

Francis Brent, Son of the afores'd Robert and Mary Brent was
born July the 7th, 1745.

Deaths :

George Brent, Departed this life Deer. 16th, 1754.
Francis Brent, Departed this life Dec. 17th, 1745.
Susanna Brent, Departed this life, March 4, 1739.
Elizabeth Brent, Departed this life Oct'r 17th, 1740.
Nicholas Brent, Departed this life Aug. 1, 1744. ( )

Gen. Joseph Lancaster Brent.

Son of Wm. Leigh Brent and Maria Fenwick. B. Charles County,
Maryland Nov. 30, 1826, Educated at Georgetown College where he
he studied law. practised in Louisiana, and thence removed to
Los Angeles, Cal. and practised there. Served two terms in the
California legislature; he returned to Baltimore at the J breaking
out of the war and entered the Confederate Army as Major. Rendered
gallant service and was promoted first to Colonel, then Brigadeer Gen-
eral. At the close of the war he returned to the practise of the law in




KDHKKT .lAMKS HHKNT



GENEALOGY. 97

Baltimore in partnership with his brother Hon. Robert James Brent.
In 1870 he married Rosella, yovmgest daughter of Hon. Dtincan Farrar
Kenner, and his wife Nanie Bringier, dau. of Michael Douradon Brin-
gier, and shortly afterwards removed to Louisiana and assumed the
management of large estates in which his wife was interested — Served
two terms in the Louisiana legislature and was President of the State
Agricultural Society.

After his return to Maryland, about 1887, he was made deputy gov
emor general from Maryland of the Society of Colonial wars and Presi-
dent of the Maryland Sons of the American Revolution — Died at Balti-
more Nov. 27, 1905 leaving his widow and two children, Dtmcan Kenner
Brent, a lawyer in Baltimore and Miss Nanine Brent..

He was noted for his modesty, his gentleness, his purity of char-
acter and his devotion to duty.

Vivian Brent.

Vivian Brent youngest son of William Leigh and Maria Fenwick
Brent was bom at Pamonkey the old Fenwick estate in Charles County,
Maryland on the 22d of March 1831. When young he went to Lousiana
with his parents, and later was sent to Georgetown College for his ed-
ucation. In 1849 he entered the law office of his distinguished brother
Robert James Brent in Baltimore. He practised law in Baltimore and
in Charles Cotmty, Maryland. Was editor of the Southern Maryland
Independent and took a prominent part in politics, being a member of
the Constitutional Convention called soon after the war. In 1882 Mr.
Brent was appointed by President Cleveland as Assistant Attorney in
the Interior Department and thereafter made his home in Washington.
In 1888 he was offered but declined an appointment as Territorial Judge
of Utah, on which occasion he received a flattering testimonial from
Mr. Justice Lamar.

Mr. Brent married in 1857 Josephine, daughter of Col. William D.
Merrick, U. S. Senator from Maryland. Their children died in infancy.
Perhaps to this fact can be traced the devotion that existed between
Judge Brent and his niece Josephine Brent Merrick, the constant com-
panion of his later years.

He died at Hammond Court, his home in Georgetown, D. C,
June 28, 1906.

(to be continued.)



T HE BEVERLEY FAMILY
(continued.)

Since the publication of the account of Robert Beverley, of "Bland-
field" (XX, 332) several copies of old letters sent to the Historical So



98 VIRGINIA HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.

ciety a number of years ago have been examined. These Copies were
sent by Mr. R. M. Fowler, of London, England, who had inherited them
from R. McKenzie Beverley, of Yorkshire, the last male descendant of
William Beverley (son of Robert, of "Blandfield") who settled in Eng-
land. These letters show that Robert Beverley of "Blandfield," was
educated at Wakefield School, Yorkshire and, probably, at Trinity
College, Cambridge. The following letter is addressed to Beilby Por-
teus. Bishop of Chester & London, whose parents were Virginians.
The Nelson referred to was Thomas Nelson, signer of the Declaration
of Independence. McKenzie was probably Robert McKenzie, formerly
of Virginia, and a Captain in Washington's regiment in the French and
Indian War, who became an officer in the English army and was wounded
at Bunker Hill. A Virginian writing shortly after battle seems to be
pleased by the fact that "Bob McKenzie" had been hit — no doubt be-
cause he thought he was on the wrong side.

Robt Beverley named two sons after his friends McKenzie and
Bradshaw.

My lord

Through the channel of our common friend Mackenzie I have
frequently had the pleasure of hearing of your welfare, & of the civilities
you have shewn my son. I have at the request of my friend Mr. Brad-
shaw of Daug in Lancashire, formerly of Trinity sent my second son to
his care & patronage — He is situated by the recommendation of Dr.
Can under a Mr. Andrews at Highgate much to his satisfaction — Both
my sons will, I hope, make more of the opportunities thrown in their
way, than their father did — As we grow old, we discover our youthful
follies, but not being able to remedy them, nothing is left us but to lament
we did not think otherwise, & to beg our chilren to observe greater cir-
cumspection in the days of their youth —

Yr former pupil Nelson is well; he continues to be the same gen-
erous, benevolent man as when you knew him, & is as well as myself,
the father of a very large family.

Having proceeded thus far, I must take the liberty of introduc-
ing a subject of another nature, in w'h I wish to interest you in behalf
of a gentleman, whose honor, probity, politeness & understanding hath
rendered him for a length of years one of my most valuable friends —
this gentlemans name is Power, a native of this Country, but ed-
ucated with me for some years at Wakefield in Yorkshire — After his re.
turn to Virginia, he applied himself to the law, &, before the war practised
at the bar with very considerable applause & success — The stoppage
of the courts of justice & the continuance of the war at once cut off his
resources, & he was thereby induced to accept of an agency in the pur-
chase & adjustment of two estates in London & Devonshire — Since the
peace took place our legislature hath thouglit proper to make a discrim-
ination between those citizens who left us during the progress of the war.



GENEALOGY. 99

& those, who remained here — This is necessarily an impediment to Mr.
Power's return, &. deprives him at once of those opportunities, w'h his
abilities & connexions here induced him to calculate upon. I must there-
fore request you, if it lies in your way, to assist in procuring some civil
appointment for him — He will himself explain the particulars, & in so
doing, you will serve a worthy man, & confer a lasting obligation
on, My dear Lord,

Your Lordships most obed't
Robert Beverley
Blandfield Virginia 25 Nov. 1784.

This letter is addressed as follows

Right rev'd Beilby Porteus Bishop of Chester —

There is a memorandum on the back in M'r R. M. Beverley's wiiting.
N. B. This letter proves that R. Beverley
father of W. Beverley was educated at
Wakefield. Yorkshire.

The other letters are to his son William.

A copy of a letter from Robert Beverley to William Beverley —
The first sheet is, lost.

in no degree, be compared to the base servility which history records
in the days of the worst Roman Emperors, but are perfectly consonant to
the primitive spirit of Belgic republicanism & equality. As to the gen-
eral bent of our politics, I flatter myself they will continue to tend to
peace, arts, manufactures & commerce, from the cultivation of which
only we can expect to flourish —

Reports say that G. B. is again entering on war — surely they are
a strange people who must eternally under the idea of a balance of power
& the protection of commerce, be interfering in the politics of every
nation on earth — I profess not to be an adept in politics, but if the Brit-
ish nation should spend as much money in making peace between Russia
& Turkey, as she did on the Nootka Soimd business, Mr Pitts name will
not stand very high in the page of futurity —

In my last I informed you that my boot legs are not yet come to hand —
The encyclopedia has at length gotten Mr Mitchell's trunk as far as
Rosegill; in a month, I may expect to get them — I must request you will
procure the saddles mentioned in my last as soon as you can, & least my
former order should miscarry, I now repeat it, viz.

a saddle of the best & plainest sort for myself — the top skirt short, &
the lower one long, sufficiently so, to obviate every inconvenience arising
from the sweat of the horse in the hot weather — the padding to be thick
& within one inch of the lowest part of the skirt — polished steel stirrups
& neat plain bridle with steel bits — a good portmanteau saddle & pillion



100 VIRGINIA HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.

for Harry, with skirts & padding similar to mine — spare paddings &
girths to each saddle — with wollen saddle cloths — Let them be sent by
the first opportunity to this river, or Norfolk, with duplicate bills of
lading — if by the way of Norfolk, to the care of Mr John Cranberry,
Mr Andersons correspondent there. These saddles to be made precisely
as yours were only that the underskirt & paddings must be somewhat
longer —

In one of my former letters I requested you would take in a paper,
w'h contains the most foreign & domestic news — the parliamentary
debates engross so much of some of them, as not to suit my purpose, as
I do not find myself much interested in them —

Present my most affectionate wishes to Mackenzie & Robinson,
to the last of whom I will write by Flynn, & assure yourself
that I am, dear William,

Very sincerely yours

Robert Beverley
Blandfield 15th June 1791

This letter is addressed as follows
Mr William Beverley

London
No. 2.
Hare Court Dover

Temple Ship L're

Per Boyd /
Capt. Boyd\

Copy of a letter from Robert Beverley to William Beverley
There is no envelope or endorsenent.

My dear William

My last letter of June was written in answer to yours of jan. 1st
relative to the provision I have promised you, & I flatter myself, upon
the receipt of it, both you & your wife will be more at ease, for I can
with truth assure you, that it is my wish you should be so — Our friend
Bradshaw, in mentioning the frequent miscarriages, laments you not hav-
ing a child live bom, as all your wife's fortune would go from you — this
was a circumstance, w'h I was not apprized of before, nor indeed have
I ever been able to guess at the size or situation of that fortune — some-
times I have been led to believe, from reports, that it was such as would
enable you to enjoy every convenience & comfort. Be that as it may,
I should hope your wife will make every provision for you, which she can
have in her power.

We have had infinitely the wettest summer ever known, & all the
wheat, below the falls of every river, is so much injured both in quantity
& quality, as to curtail more than half our hopes — In Culpeper, where
it was put into the ground in proper time, it will be better than usual,



GENEALOGY. 101

but unfortunately my best overseer, from the circumstance of his hav-
ing a good crop of tob'o, was too late, consequently his wheat yields
nothing — the wet weather too is unfavourable to tob'o, but has given
us the best crops of com ever known. I am just returned from Cul-
peper, where I am pleased to find your brother Robert is devoted to
the improvement of his property, is become quite economi'^al, & seems
quite as much pleased with retirement as I am — his establishment is
small, but, with frugality, will give him all the decencies of life; & when
a young man has determined to create a family, they are as much as
anybody here has a title to expect —

I have sent a cask containing eight very fine hams, w'h are as
many as the captain would undertake to deliver, because both M'r
Wormeley & M'r Grymes have some on board, & therefore it would not
be practicable to land a greater quantity: & I have often heard you say
they were not worth the duty — if you be of another opinion at this time,
you will say so, & you shall be better supplied — Your mother sends you
some sweetmeats, & I could make you a present of peach brandy, would
the captains undertake to land it, or you should think it worth the duty —
our excises have run the price here up to two dollars p'r gallon in the
stores —

Sometime ago I sent an old shoe to the care of M'r Backhouse,
which, he said, he should forward to M'r Anderson, & I then requested
you would send me a few pairs according to the instructions contained
in the shoe — those you sent last were too wide — I also requested a coat
& four summer waistcoats, which, as they are not yet made I beg may
be lined with linen — you know I wish for everything cheap & plain —
I now send to the care of Messrs Anderson & Co. an old boot; it is an
inch loo long in the leg, & greatly too large in the ancle — the calf &
foot are right— I shall thank you for one very thin pair of calfskin boots
for the summer, & another, not thick, for the winter — they are both to
be double vamped, with turn down tops, not sewed, a loop behind for
a garter — the leather to be perfectly soft & neatly made — two sets of
spur leathers, which are not to be stuffed. M'r Anderson will pay you—

Our politics have undergone no revolution since my last, unless,
perhaps, the violent or factious party may not have increased. Should
M'r Jay's embassy be successful I shall hope that our government may
acquire a little stability— The government of G. B. seems to have or,
possibly, to take more energy, than I once thought it possessed — Riot
& insurrection seem to bow their heads; Priestleys excursion hither, &
the frequent remittances to Botany Bay may compose the minds of the
people, although I am of opinion that the absurdity of M'r Pitts politics
in continual armaments, & his interference in the politics of the continent
must give great & just cause for national complaint — So stupid am I,
that I have never yet been able to penetrate into the greatness of his
father, or himself — there have been more of vanity ostentation & a
thirst of power than national benefits —



102 VIRGINIA HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.

As to any occurences, w'h may have fallen in the circle of your
acquaintance, I leive them to your sisters, & other correspondents, who
will detail them more exactly than I can.

Present my love to your wife, & assure yourself that I am most
sincerely yours

(signed) Robert Beverley

Blandfield 22' Aug. 1794.

Will you enquire of M'r John Page why his brother has not sent my
annual pipe of red port — it is a disappointment for madeira is now so
dutied as to suit wjery few purses in this country —

That my may fit me as well as possible, I have taken a measure
according to taylors directions, w'h will be found in the leg of the old boot,
by comparing them both with orders, perhaps they may be made to fit
me. I likewise beg that you will send me a saddle of the best materials;
the underskirt to be longer than usual & the padding to extend with
half an inch of the lowest part of the skirt — & this padding to be very
thick — I am thus particular, because you must remember how very much
we are incommoded with sweat in the summer. Plain steel stirrups &
buckles, no crupper — a bridle with two bitts; no heavy or unnecessary
work, & the reins not broad.

I wish to have everything made of the best & plainest materials —
two flannel saddle cloths. You will recollect that our horses, generally,
are not so wide upon the withers as in England — six yards of spare girting.

I should be glad of my boots by the first opportunity, as I am
much in need of them —

(to be continued.)



POINDEXTER FAMILY.
(Continued.)
Sketches of Louisa in Olden Times.
Number 7.

As already stated Thomas Poindexter left seven Sons viz.. John,
James, Robert, Thomas, Richard, Gabriel and George Poindexter.
His oldest son, John, was born in this county and brought up in the
clerk's office under the instruction of John Nelson who was appointed
clerk of the court in 1766, succeeding James Littlepage and held the
office during the remainder of his life.

I shall have something more to say of Nelson hereafter. John
Poindexter entered the clerk's office in 1773 and served under Nelson
until 1790, when the latter dying, Poindexter was elected in his place by
the Justices composing the County Court.

During his service in the clerk's office other young men were
with him learning the business of clerks, among them (though much



GENEALOGY. 103

older) was Mr. John Timberlake, the first clerk of Fluvanna (1777,)
who held the office between thirty and forty years, and was then suc-
ceeded by one of his sons. I shall say nothing as to the Timbei lakes
as their connection with the county so far as the subject of these sketches
is concerned terminated with Mr. John Timberlake 's connection in the
clerk's office imder John Nelson. John Poindexter held the office of
clerk of the County Court of Louisa down to the 28th day of September
1820 on which day he died. He also held the office of clerk of the Cir-
cuit Court of Law from the formation of that court till his death. For
this period of thirty years no man acted a more prominent and con-
spicuous part in all matters relating to the county than John Poindexter.

The idea prevailed then as it does now that the clerks of the
courts knew everything in relation to legal proceedings, and hence he
seems to have prepared wills, deeds etc., to a very great extent, show-
ing the confidence the people had in him, and as far as the records show