Historic Fredericksburg Part 17

_Where the Great Men of Pre-Revolution Days Gathered, and Freedom Was Discussed_]

Among those who came to Fredericksburg and were at some time guests at the famous old inn, besides those named were Brigadier General Stephen Moylan, another Irishman who served as Was.h.i.+ngton's aide, as commissary general and as commander of troops at Yorktown; Brigadier-General Irvine, Irish too, and here at Weedon's insistence; Count Beaumarchais, author of the "Barber of Seville" and general in the American army; the Marquis de Lafayette, the Viscounts d'Nouvalles, Count d'Estang, Baron Viominel, and many others.

[Sidenote: _Beautiful Colonial Belles_]

But who were the ladies then? History does not say, but the dancing master, Mr. Christian, who taught the "gentle young ladies" through the "neighborhood," and has left sketches of their personal manner and dress, has described for us a host of them, many of them misses of 15 and 16, who now would be called girls but were quite young ladies then.

Miss Lucy Lightfoot Lee was "tall and stately" (at 16), Mr. Christian says, "wearing a bright chintz gown with a blue stamp, elegantly made, a blue silk quilt, and stays, now said to be the fas.h.i.+on in London but to my mind a great nuisance." While Miss Hale danced in "a white Holland gown, quilt very fine, a lawn ap.r.o.n, her hair crimped up in two rolls at each side and a tuft of ribbon for a cap."

It is easy to surmise that the charming Gregory girls, now married, were there, and that little Maria Mortimer, who on the night following the Peace Ball, at 15 years of age, was hostess for all the great gentlemen, was also a guest, as well as Miss Betsy Lee, Martha Custis, and Posey Custis, Molly Posey, Anne Mason, Alice Lee, and Mary Ambler (later to become the wife of Chief Justice Marshall), Sally Patton, "lately come from England to teach," the two Turberville girls, Priscilla Carter, Jenny Was.h.i.+ngton and the Lewis girls, the Taylor girls, and the Fitzhughs, of Boscobel and Chatham.

[Sidenote: _Names of Great Virginians_]

The old tavern is well-preserved and is taken care of by the a.s.sociation for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. Not much change has been made in it since the days of its glory, when at its hospitable hearth young James Monroe argued for the emanc.i.p.ation of slaves, George Mason spoke his views on the rights of man, Weedon talked forever "sedition"

with Mercer, who hated England since he had felt defeat at the disaster of Colloden and crept from Scotland a hunted man, Jefferson discussed his broad principles, and the Randolphs, Blands, Byrds, Harrisons, Moncures, Taliaferros, Fitzhughs, Lewises of Marmion, Carters of Cleve, Raleigh Travers (of Sir Walter's family) of Stafford, Peter Daniel of "Crows Nest," Thomas Fitzhugh, Selden of Salvington, Brent of Bellevue, Ludwell Lee of "Berry Hill," Richard Henry Lee of "Wakefield," and other famous men gathered, in those crowded days before the Revolution.

_Lafayette Comes Back_

_After Forty Years of Failure, He Hears the Echo of His Youthful Triumph._

Forty years after his return to France at the end of the American Revolution, General Lafayette came back to visit the nation he had helped to create. Cities of the United States heaped honor and hospitality upon him. The people greeted him in villages and taverns as he traveled, and it is not strange that he returned to France "astonished" at the vigor of the young republic.

He himself had seen France taste freedom, turn to the Terror, accept Bonaparte's dictators.h.i.+p and fight the world--and he had taken his part in it all, even to five years spent in a prison cell. Now he beheld on the throne again the scions of the same monarch who had tried in vain to prevent his aiding America in her fight for freedom, and, his t.i.tle and estates gone, he must have felt France's failure to realize such ideals of government as he and Was.h.i.+ngton knew, as keenly as he appreciated the "astonis.h.i.+ng" march of democracy on this continent.

Entertained first in the North, Lafayette hurried South to see Jefferson at Monticello for a day. From the Charlottesville estate he traveled to Orange Courthouse, and thence, over the road his army had cut through "The Wilderness" and which even to this day is known as "The Marquis Road," he came to Wilderness Tavern, where he was met by an escort from Fredericksburg.

Fredericksburg was awaiting him, and Lafayette was glad of the opportunity to spend the greater part of a week in the "home town" of George Was.h.i.+ngton, to visit Was.h.i.+ngton's relatives, and to meet those of the Revolutionary general still living in the place. He had been to Fredericksburg before in 1774, an honored guest at "The Peace Ball." He had said that he felt more at home in Fredericksburg than anywhere in America.

General Was.h.i.+ngton, Mrs. Was.h.i.+ngton, General Mercer, General Weedon--a dozen of his closer friends whom he had left behind forty years ago--were dead, but among the Fredericksburg people there were still numbers who knew him, some who had entertained him, and many who had fought with him.

[Sidenote: _Peculiar Items of Expense_]

That Fredericksburg did her best and that good cheer was not lacking when the general arrived, is recorded in the old courthouse of that city in the official bill of expenses for the entertainment of the distinguished guest. On these yellow papers written in the careful hand of that day, are bills for ribbons and laces and c.o.c.ked hats, sperm candles and cakes, oranges (at $1.20 a dozen), c.o.c.kades, cloaks and "everything" that might a.s.sist in making the November days of the Marquis' stay glide right merrily.

Before the general arrived there was preliminary work, and this is recorded in a number of bills, among them that of Sally Stokes who had one for "cleaning and schowering the town hall, and whitening the steps and cleaning the walls, etc.--I charge for myself and 2 other women--$2.25."

Her charge was probably a little high as the work was for the city. "Benj.

Day" got the draying contract and profiteered in the following rate:

"Dr. me for myself and team and dray for 4 days hauling for the Entertainment Commit. $6.00." Also among the bills for labor is one:

"To John Scott, Dr. to hire of my man Billy, the painter, for 6 days to paint the market house, $4.50," while "Mary Lucas," a "freewoman," got $1.25 for "sawing 2 1-2 cords of wood."

[Sidenote: _George Cary's Great Thirst_]

General Lafayette was met at Orange by a committee and under its escort he journeyed south, (along that forest road which his army cut when with "Mad Anthony Wayne" he followed Tarleton into the unsettled parts of Virginia and the Carolinas,) to the Wilderness and to Fredericksburg. It is possible that some message had to be sent from or to his escort, in fact it is evident, for George Cary has left record of it, and in presenting his bill he has left as well his individuality and his photograph behind him. If one remembers that brandy was $1.00 a gallon, he needs little more of George Cary's history than this.

"To George Cary for services rendered as messenger, to the Wilderness, including self and horse, $7.00."

"and drink, $1.75"

"Deduct 50c. advanced him by the Mayor, $8.25."

Near Fredericksburg, and almost at the spot where during the Revolution the camp of Hessian prisoners was kept, General Lafayette was met by a military escort commanded by Colonel John Stannard. When the cavalcade reached the city it pa.s.sed through rows of grown-ups and children and (surely previously rehea.r.s.ed for many days!), the latter sang in French, "The Ma.r.s.eillaise," and, stepping from his coach, Lafayette marched between the rows of children, singing the anthem of the French revolution.

Only one break was made during the stay of the Marquis in Fredericksburg, if deductions from these old accounts are correct. The town cannon must have "busted." And why it did, and the legitimate enthusiasm which led to such a contretemps, due probably to the exuberance of one who had followed the general in the great war for liberation forty years before, is gathered from these bills:

"To John Phillips, for tending to the gun, $2. Old junk, 37c. Old junk, 27c. Old junk, 23c. 4 kegs of powder, $24., two quarts whisky, 50c."

"To John Phillips, fireing the cannon, $4."

"To Thomas Wright, for 21 panes gla.s.s broken by the cannon last Sat.u.r.day night and on the 19th of November, 10c. a pane and 810 each--$2.10."

When General Lafayette left Fredericksburg he went by stage to Potomac Creek, by boat to Was.h.i.+ngton, by stage to Baltimore, and thence he sailed back to France. With him went Messrs. Mercer and Lewis, both sons of men who had been Generals in the war for Liberty.

_Old Court Records_

_Staid Doc.u.ments, Writ by Hands That Are Still, Are History For Us._

For simple beauty of line there is probably no Court House in Virginia that equals that at Fredericksburg. While to the casual eye its grace is obvious, to artists' and architects' it makes the stronger appeal, and it is from those familiar with the lines of new and old world buildings that the Court House receive highest praise. Inside, in a modern vault, are many interesting records of the past. The Court House was completed in 1852, at a cost of about $14,000, William M. Boggeth of Baltimore being the contractor, and J. B. Benwick, Jr., of Baltimore, the architect, and its completion marked the end of a thirty years factional fight in the City, which was divided over the issue of building or not building a court house. The decision to build was made by the Council in spite of a pet.i.tion against such action, signed by one hundred and seventy-two voters.

[Sidenote: _Building a New Courthouse_]

The second Court House, a small brick building, stood back from the street, on a part of the ground the present structure occupies, and had taken the place of the first plank Court House. But, as early as 1820, the second structure was complained of by the Court, which went so far as to "order" the Council to provide funds for a new structure, to which the Council paid no attention. On June 14, 1849, the Court, composed of Mayor Semple and Justices William H. White and Peter Goolrick, issued an order and appointed a committee, as follows: "Thomas B. Barton, John L. Marye, Robert B. Semple, Wm. C. Beale and John J. Chew, to examine and report to this Court some plan for the enlargement and repairs or rebuilding of the Court House of this Corporation."

But in spite of some excitement following this unusual step of the Court, the Council continued its way undisturbed. The Court, however, called before it "the Justices for this Corporation" and at the next session eight Justices--R. B. Semple, Robert d.i.c.key, Beverly R. Welford, William C. Beale, William H. White, Peter Goolrick, William Warren and William Slaughter answered the summons. The report of the committee appointed at the previous session of the Court was made and the Court finally took this action:

"That, in obedience to the act of the General a.s.sembly, which requires that Courts for the Corporations' within this Commonwealth should cause to be erected one good, convenient court house, and it being necessary to build a court house for this corporation," etc., the Court "appoints a commission, consisting of Mayor Semple, Beverly R. Welford, William H.

White, Thomas B. Barton and John L. Marye to contract for a court house."

But, despite this, and because of the divided sentiment of the people and the inaction of the Council, the Court did not build a court house, and at a later meeting voted four to four on a motion to rescind their previous order. After various moves and counter moves, the issue was carried into a regular election held in March, 1851, and a Council in favor of a new Court House was chosen. The erection of the present structure in 1852 ended a thirty years disagreement, which built up bitter factions in the town and left animosities, which did not subside until the Civil War came on. For many years, until the new Fire House was built, the old hand-drawn fire apparatus was housed in the south wing of the building.

The bell which is now in the tower of the Court House, formerly hung in the second court house, and sounded the call to public meetings, as it does today, and the alarms of fire and war. It was presented to the town by Silas Wood in 1828, and has his name and that date on it, as well as the name of the maker, "Revere, Boston."

[Sidenote: _How Debtors Were Treated_]

From the earliest times, debtors who could not pay their bills were imprisoned in the jail in Court House square or, more properly, slept in the jail and were imprisoned in the square; for they were allowed the freedom of the whole square and the adjacent streets, but were not allowed to enter any store or building on the opposite sides of the streets. Many men of prominence, it is said, spent short periods in this "Debtors'

Prison," awaiting the time when their release could be secured under the "Poor Debtors' Law," which gave them freedom when by a schedule of their property they proved they had no means to meet their obligations. In 1840, the Court extended the bounds of the "Debtors' Prison" to include four blocks in the center of the city, and the "footways adjoining them"; but to go beyond these bounds was contempt of Court.

No existing records establish what Courts held session in Fredericksburg prior to the Revolution, and it is probable that successors of Mayor Lawrence Smith were empowered as Governors and Judges until 1727, after which time the Trustees of the town may have chosen magistrates, or the colonial Governors may have done this.