THE OLD VIRGINIA GENTLEMAN.
Many of you have no doubt heard or read the famous lecture of Dr.
Bagley, entitled "Bacon and Greens," and chuckled over his vivid
description of "The Old Virginia Gentleman." You may be interested in
knowing that a portrait of the Hon. James Steptoe, of Federal Hill,
Bedford County, Virginia, painted by Harvey Mitchell in 1826, was the
inspiration of this interesting lecture.
This "Old Virginia Gentleman" was a worthy representative of the
House of Steptoe, whose forefathers played an important part in the
history of the "Old World." The progenitor of this interesting family
was Anthony Steptoe, the third son of Sir Philip Steptoe, of England.
Anthony and his wife, Lucy, came to the Colony in 1676, and located in
Lancaster County, Virginia, and they were the great grandparents of
Hon. James Steptoe.
"The Old Virginia Gentleman" was one of four brothers, George, James,
Thomas, and William; they had four half sisters, Elizabeth and Ann
Steptoe; Mary and Anne Aylett; and two step-sisters, Elizabeth and Ann
Aylett; thus the families of Steptoe and Aylett are often confounded.
Col. James Steptoe, M. D., of "Homany Hall," Westmoreland County,
Virginia, was born in the year of 1710, and died in 1778. He was a
distinguished physician, and held many positions of honor and trust
in affairs of Church and State. He married firstly Hannah Ashton, and
secondly Elizabeth Aylett, the widow of Col. William Aylett and a
daughter of Col. George Eskridge. The descendants of Colonel Steptoe
and Colonel Aylett are often confounded.
Col. Aylett married first Ann Ashton, a sister of Colonel Steptoe's
first wife, and had two daughters, Elizabeth and Ann. Elizabeth Aylett
married William Booth, and Ann married William Augustin Washington (a
half-brother of our beloved Gen. George Washington). Colonel Aylett
married secondly Elizabeth Eskridge, and had two daughters, Mary and
Anne; Mary married Thomas Ludwell Lee, of "Bell Vieu;" and Anne married
Richard Henry Lee, of "Chantielly."
Col. James Steptoe had two daughters by his first marriage, Elizabeth
and Ann; Elizabeth married first Philip Ludwell Lee, of "Stratford,"
and secondly Philip Richard Fendall; and Ann married first Willoughby
Allerton, and secondly Col. Samuel Washington, a younger brother of
Gen. George Washington. Of the four sons of Col. James Steptoe, George
and Thomas never married; William married Elizabeth Robinson, and
they resided at the old Robinson homestead, "Herwich." The Hon. James
Steptoe, the original "The Old Virginia Gentleman," was born in the
year of 1750, at "Homany Hall," Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was
educated at William and Mary College, and while there was a fellow
student of Thomas Jefferson. They formed a close friendship, which
continued throughout life. It was through the influence of Jefferson
that James Steptoe was appointed to an office under Secretary Nelson,
after which he was transferred in 1772, at the early age of 22, to the
clerkship of the District Court at New London, in Bedford Co., Va. This
position he held until his death in 1826, having served fifty-four
years. He married Frances Calloway, a daughter of Col. James Calloway,
of Bedford County.
The Hon. James Steptoe built the mansion house known as "Federal Hill,"
and it was here that he spent his useful life surrounded by his family,
and noted for his sincerity and hospitality. This mansion was situated
three miles from "Poplar Forest," the abode of his friend, Thomas
Jefferson, who loved to seek seclusion there during his intervals of
rest from public service.
Upon one occasion when Gen. Andrew Jackson, on his way to Washington
just after the battle of New Orleans, had stopped to dine with his
friend, James Steptoe, he met Thomas Jefferson just at the gateway. The
two great men dismounted from their horses and exchanged salutations
with each other and with their host, who awaited them within upon the
lawn. Mr. Jefferson, with his courtly manner, waving his hand, stood
back for "Old Hickory" to pass before him; but that gallant soldier,
bowing low, said: "Surely, Mr. Jefferson does not think that I would go
before an ex-President of the United States." To which Mr. Jefferson
graciously replied: "It would ill become me to take precedence of the
hero of New Orleans." Thus these two distinguished men stood bowing
and scraping to each other in the roadway in true "Gaston and Alfonse
style," while Mr. Steptoe waited for them with, I am sure, amused
impatience; until at length General Jackson threw his arms about Mr.
Jefferson and gently lifted him quite over the threshold, and then the
General's aide and the other gentry coming up, we may be sure they
had a jolly good time--a "feast of reason and a flow of soul," not
forgetting Mrs. Steptoe's bountiful dinner served on the famous Steptoe
silver, a veritable feast of "wines on the leas," which to read about
makes us long more than ever for a return of those good old times.
But once a shadow fell upon the friendship of Mr. Jefferson and Mr.
Steptoe, as clouds will fall upon human friendships. James Steptoe
had another valued friend, Major Gibbon, a gallant officer of the
Revolutionary army, who had led the forlorn hope at the battle of
Stony Point. This old hero had been given the appointment of collector
of customs at Richmond, but had been removed by Jefferson because it
had been represented to him that Major Gibbon was on familiar terms
with Aaron Burr, who was then on trial at Richmond for acts charged
against him as treasonable. Soon after the removal of Major Gibbon
Mr. Jefferson was on one of his visits at Poplar Forest, but his old
friend, James Steptoe, who was usually the first to welcome him, the
illustrious visitor, to his summer home, neither went in person nor
sent a message of salutation to his life-long friend. Days lengthened
into weeks, and still he made no sign, and at length Mr. Jefferson, on
a bright summer morning, rode over to Mr. Steptoe's and dismounted
from his horse at the gate, and on entering the yard found Mr. Steptoe
walking to and fro on his porch, apparently unconscious of his guest's
arrival.
Mr. Jefferson advanced with outstretched hand and cordial smile, but
Mr. Steptoe gazed cold and stern upon his visitor, returning no look or
word of kindness for the offered greeting of the President, who thus
addressed him: "Why, James Steptoe, how is this? I have been for weeks
within a stone's throw of you, and though you have usually been the
first to welcome me home, your face is now turned from me, and you give
me no welcome to your house." To this Mr. Steptoe coolly replied: "Mr.
Jefferson, I have been disappointed in you, sir, you are not the man I
took you to be. You know as well as I do that Maj. James Gibbon was a
brave, a meritorious officer in the Revolutionary army, that he served
under Aaron Burr, who was also a gallant soldier, and his officers
were greatly attached to him. Now when Colonel Burr has been brought
to Richmond for trial, committed to prison and every indignity heaped
upon him, and just because Major Gibbon has supplied his old commander
with some necessaries and comforts, you, from hatred of Burr, have
wreaked your vengeance on Gibbon and deprived a faithful old soldier
of an office which was his only means of support." "Why, Steptoe, is
that all?" said Jefferson, "I assure you the matter had not been so
presented to me before. But the same hand that removed Major Gibbon can
replace him, and justice shall be done him at once." "Then you are,
indeed, my friend, and welcome as ever to my home and heart," cried
James Steptoe.
James Steptoe's land and silver are gone, his bones have turned to
dust; and ere long his name may be forgotten, but let us now honor the
man who would refuse the proffered hand of the President of the United
States, when that hand was stained by an unworthy act. Would there were
more men of such mettle in our day!
James Steptoe was not only noted for his hospitality and justness, but
also for his charity. Driving along in his coach and four, he passed
the house of a certain widow, Mrs. Chaffee. Upon noticing a crowd
gathered around, he sent his coachman, Ben, to inquire the cause.
Hearing that the poor woman was being sold out for debt he descended
from his carriage, stopped the auction, paid the mortgage, and added
one more noble act of charity to his record.
James Steptoe was beloved by everyone, and especially so by his slaves,
whom he had taught different trades that they might support themselves
after his death when, by his will, they were all set free. A handsome
monument in the old family burying ground in Bedford County, bears this
inscription, "James Steptoe, born 1750, died 1826, for fifty-four years
the Clerk of Bedford County."
The office of clerk of the Court of Bedford County has been held by the
Steptoe family in its lineal and collateral branches for more than a
hundred years.
The character of James Steptoe may be described in a few words,
integrity, independence, and the strictest form of republican
simplicity. Though descended, as has been shown, from a long line of
the better class of English gentry, he never alluded to it himself;
in fact, it was not known in his family until after his death, when
they learned it through his correspondence. He was a man who held very
decided opinions on all subjects, and would at times express them as
to men and public affairs in very strong language, being strong in
his friendships and equally strong in his dislikes. As a clerk, he
was everything that could be desired, polite and obliging, as all Old
Virginia Gentlemen are; careful and attentive in the business of his
office and in court, and ever ready at all times to give information
and advice to those who needed it.
The Hon. James Steptoe and his wife, Frances Calloway, were the parents
of five sons and four daughters, as follows: Major James, who succeeded
his father as Clerk of Bedford, and who married Catherine Mitchell; Dr.
William, of Lynchburg, who married first Nancy Brown, and second Mary
Dillon; George, of Bedford County, who married Maria Thomas; Robert, of
Bedford County, who married Elizabeth Leftwich; Thomas, who inherited
the old home, married Louise C. Yancy; Elizabeth Prentise, who married
Hon. Charles Johnston, of Richmond, Va.; Frances, who married Henry
S. Langhorne, of Lynchburg, Va.; Sallie, who married William Massie,
of Nelson County, Virginia; Lucy, who married Robert Penn, of Bedford
County, Virginia. James Steptoe's descendants are scattered throughout
the United States, and are among our most distinguished citizens. He
has also descendants in England.
The old portrait by Harvey Mitchell is now owned by the Rt. Rev. James
Steptoe Johnston, Bishop of Western Texas; and a fine copy of the same
is owned by Mrs. William Waldorf Astor, of Cliveden-on-the-Thames,
England,--EDNA JONES COLLIER, _in American Monthly_.
WHEN WASHINGTON WAS WED.
Who does not wish that he might have been there,
When Martha Custis came down the stair
In silk brocade and with powdered hair,
On that long ago Saturday clear and fine,
A. D. Seventeen fifty-nine?
Out from St. Peter's belfry old,
Twelve strokes sounded distinct and bold,
So in history the tale is told,
When Dr. Mossen, preacher of zest,
Long since gone to his last long rest,
There in the Custis drawing room,
New world house, with an old world bloom,
Spake out the words that made them one,
Martha Custis and Washington.
Trembling a little and pale withal,
She faced her lover so straight and tall,
Oh, happiest lady beneath the sun!
Given as bride to George Washington.
Brave was the groom and fair the bride,
Standing expectant side by side,
But how little they knew or guessed
What the future for them possessed;
How the joys of a wedded life
Would be mingled with horrors of blood and strife;
How in triumph together they'd stand,
Covered with plaudits loud and grand,
Yes--covered with glory together they'd won,
Martha Custis and Washington.
Where is the gown in which she was wed?
Brocade, woven with silver thread?
Where are the pearls that graced her head?
Where are her high-heeled silken shoon
That stepped in time to the wedding tune?
Where are her ruffles of fine point lace?
Gone--all gone with their old world grace.
But the world remembers them every one,
And blesses the lady of Washington.
It is difficult to give the proper credit for the above poem. Mrs.
Walter J. Sears, New York City Chapter, found a few beautiful lines,
author unknown, added some lines herself, and then sent the whole to
"Will Carlton," who revised and added to them. Mrs. Sears recited the
poem at the celebration of Washington's wedding day by the New York
City Chapter, D. A. R., in January, 1909.
RHODE ISLAND IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
The American colonies, though subjects of Great Britain, stoutly
resisted the payment of revenues of customs; not because they doubted
the justice, but they did object to the intolerant manner of demanding
the revenues. Rhode Island, the smallest of the thirteen colonies, was
destined to take an important part in this resistance which brought
about the American Revolution.
The English parliament, in 1733, passed the famous "Sugar Act" which
laid a heavy tax upon West India products imported into the northern
colonies. Rhode Island protested, declaring that only in this way could
she be paid for her exports to the West Indies and thus be able to
purchase from England. The other colonies also objected and Richard
Partridge, the appointed agent to look after the interests of the
Rhode Island colony, conducted this affair for all the colonies. In
his letter he declared that the act deprived the colonists of their
rights as Englishmen, in laying taxes upon them without their consent
or representation. Thus, thirty-seven years before the Declaration of
Independence, the war-cry of the Revolution was first sounded and by
the Quaker agent of Rhode Island.
In 1764 a new "Sugar Act" was passed. Parliament hoped that a
reduction from six pence to three pence would conciliate the colonies.
Neither the "Sugar Act" nor the proposed "Stamp Act" was accepted.
The colonists still contended such an act and its acceptance to be
inconsistent with the rights of British subjects. A special session of
the Rhode Island assembly was convened. A committee of correspondence
was appointed to confer with the other colonies and the agent was
directed "to do anything in his power, either alone or joining with
the agents of other governors to procure a repeal of this act and to
prevent the passage of any act that should impose taxes inconsistent
with the rights of British subjects." Thus did Rhode Island expressly
deny the right of Parliament to pass such an act and also declare her
intention to preserve her privileges inviolate. She also invited the
other colonies to devise a plan of union for the maintenance of the
liberties of all.
The following year the "Stamp Act" was passed and disturbances
followed. The assembly convened and through a committee prepared six
resolutions more concise and emphatic than any passed by the other
colonies, in which they declared the plantation absolved from all
allegiance to the King unless these "obnoxious taxes" were repealed.
Bold measures! But they show the spirit of the colony. Johnston,
the stamp-collector for Rhode Island, resigned, declaring he would
not execute his office against "the will of our Sovereign Lord, the
People." In Newport three prominent men who had spoken in defence
of the action of Parliament were hung in effigy in front of the
court house. At evening the effigies were taken down and burned. The
revenue officers, fearing for their lives, took refuge on a British
man-of-war lying in the harbor and refused to return until the royal
governor would guarantee their safety. The assembly appointed two men
to represent Rhode Island in the convention about to assemble in New
York. This convention, after a session of nearly three weeks, adopted
a declaration of the rights and grievances of the colonies. The Rhode
Island delegates reported the assembly and a day of public thanksgiving
was appointed for a blessing upon the endeavors of this colony to
preserve its valuable privileges. The day before the "Stamp Act" was to
take effect all the royal governors took the oath to sustain it, except
Samuel Ward, governor of Rhode Island, who stoutly refused.
The fatal day dawned. Not a stamp was to be seen. Commerce was crushed.
Justice was delayed. Not a statute could be enforced. The leading
merchants of America agreed to support home manufacturers and to this
end pledged themselves to eat no more lamb or mutton.
The following year, January, 1766, the papers of remonstrance had
reached England; and Parliament turned its attention to American
affairs. The struggle was long and stormy; but the "Stamp Act" was
repealed, with the saving clause that "Parliament had full right to
bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever."
Meanwhile, patriotic societies were being formed in all the colonies
under the name of "Sons of Liberty." Rhode Island has the peculiar
honor of organizing a similar society: "Daughters of Liberty." By
invitation eighteen young ladies assembled at the house of Dr. Ephriam
Bowen, in Providence, and spent the day in spinning. They agreed to
purchase no goods of British manufacture until the "Stamp Act" should
be repealed and cheerfully agreed to dispense with tea. This society
rapidly increased and became popular throughout Rhode Island.
England kept her faith but a little while and then proposed to raise
a revenue by imposing duties on glass, lead, paint and paper, and a
tax of three pence a pound on tea. This aroused fresh indignation
throughout the colonies. In Virginia the house of burgesses passed a
series of resolutions that in them was vested the sole right of taxing
the colony. Copies were sent to every colonial assembly. The Rhode
Island assembly cordially approved.
The next month the British armed sloop _Liberty_, cruising in
Narraganset Bay in search of contraband traders, needlessly annoyed
all the coasting vessels that came in her way. Two Connecticut vessels
suspected of smuggling were taken into Newport. A quarrel ensued
between the captain of one of the vessels and the captain of the
_Liberty_. The yankee captain was badly treated and his boat fired
upon. The same evening the British captain went ashore, was captured
by Newport citizens and compelled to summon all his crew ashore except
the first officer. The people then boarded the _Liberty_, sent the
officer on shore, then cast the cable and grounded the _Liberty_ at the
Point. There they cut away the masts, scuttled the vessel, carried the
boats to the upper end of the town and burned them. This occurred July,
1769, and was "the _first overt act of violence_ offered to the British
authorities in America."
But armed vessels continued their molestations. The Rhode Island colony
was not asleep but awaiting a favorable opportunity which came at last
and the capture of the _Gaspee_ was planned and accomplished. Rewards
were offered for the apprehension of the perpetrators of this deed,
but without effect. Some of Rhode Island's most honored citizens were
engaged in the affair and some of the younger participants are said to
have boasted of the deed before the smoke from the burning vessel had
ceased to darken the sky. The capture of the _Gaspee_ in June, 1772,
was the first bold blow, in all the colonies for freedom. There was
shed the first blood in the war for Independence. The Revolution had
begun.
Then followed resolutions from Virginia that all the towns should unite
for mutual protection. Rhode Island went a step farther and proposed a
continental congress, and thus has the distinguished honor of making
the first explicit movement for a general congress, and a few weeks
later she was the first to appoint delegates to this congress.
The "Boston Port Bill" followed, and Massachusetts records tell of the
money and supplies sent from Rhode Island to Boston's suffering people.
England ordered that no more arms were to be sent to America. Rhode
Island began at once to manufacture fire arms. Sixty heavy cannon were
cast, and home-made muskets were furnished to the chartered military
companies. When the day arrived upon which Congress had decreed that
the use of tea should be suspended, three hundred pounds of tea were
burned in Market Square, Providence, while the "Sons of Liberty" went
through the town with a pot of black paint and a paint-brush and
painted out the word "Tea" on every sign-board. This was February 1,
1775. The fight at Lexington followed on the 19th of April. Two weeks
after this battle the Rhode Island assembly suspended Gov. Walton,
the last colonial governor of Rhode Island. He repeatedly asked to be
restored and was as often refused. At the end of six months he was
deposed. This was a bold act, but men who could attack and capture a
man-of-war were not afraid to depose from office one single man who was
resolved to destroy them.
The British war-ship _Rose_ was a constant menace to the vessels in
Rhode Island waters. Altercations ensued. Captain Abraham Whipple, who
headed the expedition to burn the _Gaspee_, discharged the first gun
at any part of the British navy in the American Revolution. Two armed
vessels were ordered for the protection of Rhode Island waters; and
this was the beginning of the American navy.
Passing over much of interest we come to the last important act of
Rhode Island colonial assembly: an act to abjure allegiance to the
British crown. It was a declaration of independence and it was made on
May 4, 1776, just two months before the Declaration of Independence,
signed at Philadelphia. This act closed the colonial period and
established Rhode Island as an independent state. The records of the
assembly had always closed with "God save the King!" This was changed
to "God save the United Colonies!" The smallest of the colonies had
defied the empire of Great Britain and declared herself an independent
state!
Dark days followed. The British army occupied Newport. By command of
congress, Rhode Island had sent her two battalions to New York, thus
rendering herself defenseless. The militia was organized to protect the
sea-coast. I may not linger to tell of the capture of Gen. Prescott; of
the unsuccessful attempt to dislodge the British, nor of the battle of
Rhode Island, in which Col. Christopher Greene with his famous regiment
of blacks distinguished himself, and which Lafayette afterwards
declared was the best-planned battle of the war. For three years the
English army held this fair island and left it a scene of desolation.
Newport never recovered. Her commerce was destroyed. Her ships never
returned.
Meanwhile momentous events were occurring at the seat of war.
Philadelphia was threatened and the continental congress had been
moved to Baltimore. Washington, with less than twenty-three hundred
men, recrossed the Delaware at night. The men he placed in two
divisions, one under General Greene, the other under Gen. Sullivan, and
successfully attacked the Hessians at Trenton capturing nine hundred
prisoners (Dec. 26th, 1776).
Washington recrossed the Delaware into Pennsylvania with his prisoners
and spoils that very night. On January 1st, 1777, with 5,000 men he
again crossed the Delaware and took post at Trenton. The next day
Cornwallis appeared before Washington's position with a much larger
forces. Only a creek separated the two armies. The Rhode Island brigade
distinguished itself at the successful holding of the bridge and
received the thanks of Washington. That night Washington withdrew,
leaving his camp fires burning. Next morning, January 3rd, 1777,
Cornwallis was amazed to find Washington gone and still more astounded,
as he heard in the direction of Princeton the guns of the Americans,
who won that day another decisive victory.