POSTMASTER AT QUINTON CHARGED WITH EMBEZZLING

J. H. Johnson, postmaster at Quinton, New Kent county, was arrested by federal agents today, charged with embezzlement of government funds, the authorities alleging that they have found a shortage of his accounts. He was given a hearing before United States Commissioner Melvin Flegenheimer, but waived examination, and was sent on to the October term of the grand jury. Bond was fixed at $2,500.

 Johnson was arrested at Quinton Deputy Marshal Grant on a warrent sworn out by Inspector B. B. Webb of this city. Inspector Webb stated today that he knew nothing of alleged shortage in the accounts of office until he made an examination last Monday.

 The accused postmaster was placed in his position by Miss Myrtle Anderson Bailey, of Quinton, wife W. R. Bailey. Mr Webb said that appointment is a temporary one, that the selection of a permanent a successor to Mr. Johnson will probably be held in the next few weeks.

-News Leader, 21 April 1923

                    QUINTON POSTMASTER ENTERS GUILTY PLEA 

J. H. Johnson, former postmaster at, Quinton, New Kent county, who was arrested some months ago on a charge of embezzling government, funds to the amount of $2,335.27, pled guilty today In the United States district court. Sentence will be pronounced this afternoon by Judge D. Lawrence Groner.

-News Leader, 14 December 1923

     SENTENCED TO 7 MONTHS. 

J. H. Johnson, formerly postmaster, at Quinton, New Kent County, who pled guilty in United States district court yesterday to charges of embezzling government funds to the amount of $2,385 was sentenced to seven months in the city Jail by Judge D. Lawrence Groner. Johnson has already begun serving his term. 

-News Leader, 15 December 1923

Dr. George Thomas Potts 1835 - 1934

 

Dr. Potts, 98, Former Dinwiddian, Dies 

Dr. George Potts, 98 years old and well known in Dinwiddie country, where he lived for many years, died Monday at his home in Providence Forge.

 Dr. Potts was a native of England and was educated there as a veterinary surgeon. He came to this country in 1867 and traveled about lecturing on horses. In 1880 he settled in Dinwiddie county and spent the rest of his life in Virginia. His first wife died a number of years ago and he later married Miss Leonora Scammell of Petersburg, who survives him as do four sons, George of Meadowville Farm, Herbert of Petersburg, E. C. of Richmond and Craighill Potts of Hopewell and two daughter, Miss Pierce of Providence Forge and Miss Christian of Raleigh, N. C.

 One of Dr. Potts’ chief interests was in the Masonic lodge. He became a member of Astrea Lodge No. 85, at Sussex C. H., in 1881 and has missed only one meeting of the Grand Lodge since that time and that was last year on account of illness. He was also a member of Petersburg Lodge No. 15 and had served as Master. 

-Southside Virginia News,  19 July 1934

“I Have Given the Best Part of My Life to Masonry” - 1923

 

Dr. George Potts in 1923

        DR. GEORGE POTTS, KNOWN AS “FATHER OF MASONIC HOME” - HAS BEN MASON FIFTY-FIVE YEARS

Dr. George Potts Says Masonry Greatest Institution Except Church

 

  "I have given the best part of my life to Masonry, and I consider the Masonic order the greatest institution in the world with the exception of the church," says Dr. George Potts, of Providence Forge, Va., who is here attending his fiftieth consecutive grand annual communication of the Grand Lodge of Virginia.

 Dr. Potts is known as “the father of the Masonic Home of Virginia,” having offered the resolution in 1890 to have a committee appointed to draft a charter for the home. He has made an address before the Grand Lodge every year for the past thirty-three, and is the best-known member of the order in the state.

 When asked his age, Dr. Potts would say only that he is "seventy-five plus," this secret never paving been revealed even to his family, he said. He is a veterinary surgeon, and is the oldest of his profession in the state. He was born in England, and came to this country in 1867. He states that he has not a single relative in this country. 

-News Leader, 15 February 1923

"I Feel Confident I Can Give Satisfaction to All" - 1912

 

newspaper advertisement from July 11, 1912

 George Thomas Potts was born 1836 in England, in the county of Kent to be exact. He immigrated in 1867 to the United States living first in the Southside. He married Lenora Scammel in  Petersburg in 1886. In the 1890s he bought the large Meadowville farm in the Bermuda area of Chesterfield near Dutch Gap where he became known as a great entertainer of hunters and outdoorsmen.

In January of 1912, after selling Meadowville the previous year, he bought Providence Hall in Providence Forge and opened a veterinary practice on the upper Peninsula. 

Providence Hall was the historic colonial house in "downtown" Providence Forge  . . . until it was taken apart and moved to Colonial Williamsburg to make way for the new enlarged Rt. 60 in the late 1940s.

Providence Hall in the 1930s

An Action at Forge Bridge - With Stuart's Cavalry

The "Gallant" Pelham- 23 at the time of the action below

This reconnoiter of New Kent would have taken place at the beginning of July 1862 some two weeks after Stuarts famous ride around the Union lines.

 

 Leaving the Cold Harbor field that morning, our regiment marched in advance of General Ewell's troops towards Dispatch Station, and on the way found two field pieces of Tidball's Battery, which had been abandoned on their retreat. Soon we separated from the infantry, they inclining towards James River and we directing our course to the White House, on the Pamunkey. Some skirmishing occurred as we approached the latter place. Captain Pelham did some cannonading. Very soon the smoke of burning buildings and army supplies gave signs that the Federal troops there were abandoning the place. We approached cautiously for a time (a gunboat still remaining to guard the place), and then took eager possession. We found our colonel's (W. H. F. Lee's) house was a bed of red hot embers. A number of adjacent houses were still hot and smoking from the torches that had been applied.

The mass of commissary, quarter-master, medical, and sutler's supplies not yet burned was enormous. Army wagons had been backed over the river bank until they formed an island, the wagon tongues in great numbers protruding out of the water. Muskets and carbines had been cast into the river until one could stand on them dry shod above the current, so large was the pile.

A hospital of new white tents occupied a large part of one of the fields of the plantation, arranged in orderly rows, and furnished with cots, and every necessary facility and utensil for the care and comfort of the wounded of a great battle. As I moved among them, the thought could not be suppressed of how sadly the thousands of McClellan's bleeding men on the Chickahominy needed the hospital, and how utterly useless it had proved to them.

Having observed some locomotives and cars standing on the tracks, I examined them to see if the cars were there which had run the gauntlet of our fire at Tunstall's Station two weeks previously, during the raid made by Stuart. They were soon found, and the bullet marks on them bore witness to the severity of the fire through which they had passed.

Our physical wants were abundantly supplied here, and the next day we moved back towards the Chickahominy, and halted on the wooded hills above Forge Bridge. A body of Federal infantry and a section of artillery held positions near this bridge. The hill beyond was elevated and unobstructed by timber. Some delay and reconnoitering resulted from seeing the enemy here. Suddenly, as we were watching from our sheltered position, Pelham dashed forward, with two guns, down the incline and across the plain, and taking position near the river, opened on the guns on the hilltop. He had already received their fire. The duel became rapid and exciting. It was quickly apparent that Pelham's guns were aimed with fatal effects. At each discharge of them a man, or a horse, was seen to fall or flee.  

In a few minutes after the firing began, the Federal guns were in full retreat. As they dashed along the road in the distance, we saw the branches of the cedars falling about them, cut down by Pelham's parting shots.  

As illustrative of the exaggeration and unreliability which often marked reports of engagements sent in from the field, that of Lieutenant Val. H. Stone, commanding the Federal guns on this occasion at Forge Bridge, is a striking example. He reported: "June 30, 11 A.M., the rebels appeared on the opposite side. At 1 P.M. they opened fire with eight guns. I was under fire the greater portion of the time until 6 P.M. For two hours of the time, I had their guns completely silenced. . . . My riding horse was killed with a shell. No men killed in my command. One of the cavalry killed. Considerable loss on the enemy's side.''  

It is quite likely that other participants in this affair on the Union side gave a different version of it, since the officer, Major Robert M. West, to whom the above quoted report was addressed, indorsed on it: "This young officer, with new horses and men that had never been tried, performed exceedingly well, considering." To those of us on the opposite side it seemed that the only performance in which he acted "exceedingly well" was the rapidity of his flight.  

No attempt was made by us that evening to cross the abandoned bridge, but about dark I was sent along with our squadron to ascertain the position of the enemy in the direction of New Kent Courthouse. It fell to my lot to ride with another man in advance, and it was an exciting ride, not knowing at what moment a watchful enemy might salute us with a volley. We had come within one or two hundred yards of the court house, when, discerning an object in a ditch by the road side, my comrade said in a low tone: "It's a cow," whereupon the Yankee picket spurred his horse from the ditch, and too much startled to fire a shot, disappeared at a gallop in the darkness. We turned back to report the circumstance, when the officer commanding us, having heard a bustle, as of troops mounting, in the direction of the enemy faced about, and hastened back at a trot.  

My position became then in the rear, and before going far, from carelessness in sitting properly in my saddle it turned on the horse's back precipitating me to the ground. The column moved on rapidly, no one in the line being conscious of the accident. I was left alone in the road with my saddle loosely strapped to the horse's belly instead of his back.  

Hearing that the enemy was in pursuit, and might dash up on me in a moment, I led my impatinet(sic) and restless horse (neighing lustily for the others of the command) down into the woods and fastened him to a limb, and then proceeded to adjust the saddle while he pawed and pranced. I succeeded in saddling and mounting him with intense satisfaction, and on getting back into the road, gave him the rein. He followed the track of the other horses and before long caught up with them.  

It was daybreak when we reached our regiment, and by the time our horses could eat we were in motion for Bottom's Bridge, twelve miles higher up the river. From some over sanguine source we were informed that we were marching to witness the surrender of McClellan's army — information which, however groundless, made us forgetful of fatigue and the last night's sleeplessness.  

On reaching the above-named bridge with slight delay, our column was turned about and somewhat impatiently and wearily we marched back to the point we had left in the morning. We were not halted here, but passed over the Forge Bridge, and on the hill beyond saw a dead horse, and under the cedars farther on two freshly made graves — silent witnesses of Pelham's death- dealing shots seen by us the day previous. Our march was towards Malvern Hill, near which place we halted for the night. Having ridden fifty miles or more, I tied my horse to a fence and gave him his frugal meal, and then threw myself down, sleepy and almost exhausted, in a shallow ditch by the fence side, and was soon in the deepest unconsciousness. The rain fell during the night in a heavy downpour, but I knew it not. When I awoke next morning, water stood around me, and as I raised my body up out of it, I could hear the noise of suction such as a log makes when lifted up out of soft mud. 

- A Lieutenant of Cavalry in Lee's Army by G. W. Beale

George William Beale (1842-1921) of the Northern Neck was the son of Congressman Richard L. T. Beale. Later in life a Baptist minister he was the father of Richard Lee Beale who was Commonwealth's Attorney for Caroline County early in the 20th Century

The Pelham referenced is the famous, "Gallant Pelham,"(picture above) boy officer of the artillery of the Army of Northern Virginia. Pelham was killed in action in 1863 at the age of 24.

The Lee Will Dispute and White House - 1926

 Some background on the ownership history of the White House estate.

SUIT OVER LEE WILL IS DECIDED

Litigation Split One of First Families in Virginia and Involved Famous Estates.  

 The contest over the will of Gen. W. H. Fitshugh (“Rooney”) of which split one of the first families in Virginia and involved some the most famous estates in the Old Dominion, has been decided to favor of the “outsider," as she was termed, a Mrs. Mary Middleton Lee, the widow of Colonel Robert E. Lee Jr., of the historic Middleton family, of South Carolina- now living in Washington, has won her suit against her brother-in-law, Dr. Geo. Bolling Lee, of New York City, and Newport, R.I., whereby she gets a life interest in half of the Lee estate, valued at $1,500,000 and including business property in the heart of Richmond, leased to Thalhimer Bros., Inc., at $40,000 a year for 50 years.

 The decision Was announced May 18th by Judge Samuel Brent, of the circuit court of Fairfax, county, at Alexandria. Dr. Lee will carry the case to the Virginia Court of Appeals.  

 The suit was over the interpretation of a peculiar clause in the Will of General W. H. F. Lee, son of the Confederate general and father of Colonel Robert E. Lee, Jr., and Dr. George Bolling Lee. The Broad Street property in Richmond, inherited from this first wife, Miss Wickham, the Lee ancestral estate, “Ravensworth,” in Fairfax county; the "White House” estate, where George Washington married Mary Custis and all other property were willed by the general to his second wife, Mary Tabb Lee, for use during her life, at her death to be divided between, her two sons, George Bolling and “Bob” Lee, provided they or their children were alive at her death.

 “But,” continued the will, “should either of my sons die without making a will concerning this property, the same shall descend to the survivor.”

 This is the clause that caused the controversy. General “Bob” Lee died in 1922, two years before his mother, but leaving a will giving his widow a life interest in his half of the estate, it reverting to his brother at her death. Dr. George Bolling Lee, who brought suit against his sister-n-law shortly after his mother’s death in 1924, claimed that “Bob” could not get title to his half of the estate until he outlived his ‘mother, but, as he died first, he had nothing to leave his widow.

 Mrs. Lee contended that, by a proper interpretation of the disputed clause in the will off her father-in-law, her husband gained title to his interest by the act of making a will. Citations from many famous Virginia will cases were brought into court in defense of this position.

 Mary Middleton Lee was never well received by the family into which she married; at the time of her marriage to Col. Robert E. Lee, Jr. his mother, Mary Talbot Lee, announced that she would never let an “outsider” preside over a Lee estate, and forbade the young people the use of “Ravensworth.” In the two years of her widowhood before the death of Mary Tabb Lee, she signed deeds and papers jointly with her mother-in-law and brother-in-law. This fact was relied upon during the trial as an acknowledgement of the Lees that she had a right to the property.

 Immediately after the death of his mother, however, Dr. George Bolling Lee brought suit against his brother’s widow, claiming that she was an intruder and without equity in the estate. He secured injunctions keeping her from securing a share in the $40,000 Richmond lease or from entering “Ravensworth” or other parts 6f the estate.

 The decision of Judge Brent, which will be appealed, gives Mrs. Lee half of the entire W. H. F. Lee estate, a partition to be made later. This property cannot be sold, but can be leased or used in any way by her until her death, when, under the terms of her husband’s will, it all goes to George Bolling Lee.

-Virginia Star(Culpeper),  3 June 1926

Settlement of Litigation Over Estate of General W. H. F. Lee.

 R. M. Lynn, Virginia correspondent at Washington, wrote Thursday: Settlement of the litigation over ;the estate of the late General W. H. F. “Rooney” Lee outside of court has been effected, it was learned today, and deeds necessary to carry out the terms of the agreement have been prepared. A formal decree is in the hands of Judge Samuel G. Brent, of the circuit court of Fairfax county, embodying the settlement. This is expected to be entered at any time.

 Mrs. Mary M. Lee, widow of Colonel Robert E. Lee, Jr., conveys her interest in the home place, “Ravensworth,” Fairfax county; in the other historic place, “White House,” New Kent county; and in the family heirlooms. Dr. Bolling Lee in consideration of these conveyances, paid over to Mrs. Lee, his brother’s widow, the sum of $30,000.

 Mrs. Lee retains her interest in the valuable real' estate in Richmond, known as the Thalhimer property, situated at Sixth and Broad streets.

 The Lee heirlooms and the Lee country estates in Fairfax and New Kent are now the exclusive properties of Dr. Bolling Lee, “Ravensworth” has been in the family since the original grant to William Fitzhugh by Lord Culpeper in 1688. The estate known as “White House” in New Kent was owned by the widow Custis who married George Washington, and it was here that the wedding supper took place in celebration of that marriage.

 Litigation commenced in 1924, upon the death of Mrs. Mary Tabb Lee, widow of General Rooney Lee, who died in 1891.

 The mansion at “Ravensworth,” built a century and a half ago, burned at night several months ago, together with some of the furniture and furnishings. Insurance of $40,000 on house and contents covered the losses in part. Mrs. Mary M. Lee lives at her home at 1733 Riggs place, Washington, which her husband left her. She has the “Mount Vernon” silver and the “Lee” silver so long as she lives, and at her death it becomes the property of Dr. Bolling Lee, under the terms of her husband’s will.

-Rockbridge County News,  4 November 1926

General W. H. F. “Rooney” Lee inherited the White House property in 1858 at the death of his grand-father George Washington Parke Custis. After the war Rooney Lee live and farmed at the White House until inheriting Ravensworth in 1873. 

Interestingly the mansion at Ravensworth burned  a few months before this article. Chestnut Grove in New Kent, the birthplace of Martha Washington, the great-grandmother of Rooney Lee,  burned to the ground the day before the above article was published.

Dr. Bolling Lee stayed involved New Kent cultural affairs throughout his life including presiding over the dedication of the Confederate Monument on the old New Kent Courthouse lawn.

Chestnut Grove - 1926

 

                           HISTORIC MANSION PREY OF FLAMES

                      "Chestnut Grove" Was Birthplace of Martha Washington

                                          (Special to The Times-Dispatch)

WEST POINT, VA., Nov. 5- "Chestnut Grove," the birthplace of Martha Custis Washington, burned to the ground on Wednesday night. This beautiful old home was possible the oldest in this section of the country and was beautifully situated in a terraced garden on the banks of the Pamunkey River in New Kent County.

 The estate is owned by Miss Ione Smith of Newport News, great-granddaughter of Colonel R. P. Cook, who purchased the home in the early part of the nineteenth century and lived there until his death. The late O. M. Chandler, who died last August, and family lived there until a few years before his death. Mrs. Chandler was Colonel Cook's grandmother*.

 Chestnut Grove was for years a center of hospitality in New Kent County and is a great loss not only to the family, but to the community at large. The furnishings of the home, mostly antique furniture of rare design, were also destroyed with the house.

 The origin of the fire is undetermined.

-Richmond Times-Dispatch, November 6, 1926

*No, granddaughter. And also Colonel Cook was married to a Chandler, Sarah.

Ione Smith was only 15 at this time.

The picture below, by Eva Harnsberger, is part of the WPA Federal Art Project files at the Library of Virginia. The drawing was in the 1930s however, after the destruction of the house.