Paxton And Egglestetton
Doing family research is a lot of fun. Ancestry can turn up so many hidden gems and interesting stories throughout the years. These two historic houses belonged to my ancestors on my maternal Great Grandfather's side of the family. His name was John Gifford Skelton III. These two homes are located relatively in the same region, although in different counties. Both west of Richmond. Most of the people on this branch of the family settled just west of Richmond, Virginia, and came to Richmond just after the War Between the States.
This first dwelling shown here is Paxton. I have covered Paxton before, but these earlier photos show how the farmhouse looked before it was painted white. Paxton was built by my great great great great Grandfather Ennion Skelton- a New Jersey born physician who migrated South to Virginia in 1800, to join his friends and relatives. He wanted a large farmhouse in Powhatan County, and he began work on Paxton in 1819 and it was completed a year later in 1820. His son, Dr. John Gifford Skelton, was a prominent physician in Powhatan County. During the War Between the States, he dispersed aid to wounded soldiers and made the rounds as a country doctor. He grew tobacco and wheat on the plantation , and also ran several mills near the village of Genito. He later ventured to Richmond in 1866 and helped to establish the Medical college of Virginia. He died there later-and was preceded in death by his second wife Marianne O. Meade , also of Powhatan County, Virginia, (whom has connections to Egglestetton which I will discuss later).
This is a short write up also on Dr John Gifford Skelton (via website)
"Dr.John G. Skelton was educated in private schools and at the University of Virginia. He graduated from the medical school at the University of Pennsylvania in April 1838 and returned to Paxton, where he established a general practice. He married Charlotte F. Randolph about 13 October 1841; she died three years later. By 1860 Skelton was one of the most prosperous men in Powhatan County, due to his medical practice, his share in the Genito Mill, and his farming operations at Paxton. Besides raising livestock consisting of horses, mules, milch cattle, oxen, other cattle, and swine, Skelton produced corn, wheat, oats, tobacco, hay, peas, beans, Irish and sweet potatoes, honey, butter, and even a gallon of wine at Paxton. He was a large slaveholder, with forty-seven slaves including twenty-two males and twenty-five females."
Paxton
This first dwelling shown here is Paxton. I have covered Paxton before, but these earlier photos show how the farmhouse looked before it was painted white. Paxton was built by my great great great great Grandfather Ennion Skelton- a New Jersey born physician who migrated South to Virginia in 1800, to join his friends and relatives. He wanted a large farmhouse in Powhatan County, and he began work on Paxton in 1819 and it was completed a year later in 1820. His son, Dr. John Gifford Skelton, was a prominent physician in Powhatan County. During the War Between the States, he dispersed aid to wounded soldiers and made the rounds as a country doctor. He grew tobacco and wheat on the plantation , and also ran several mills near the village of Genito. He later ventured to Richmond in 1866 and helped to establish the Medical college of Virginia. He died there later-and was preceded in death by his second wife Marianne O. Meade , also of Powhatan County, Virginia, (whom has connections to Egglestetton which I will discuss later).
This is a short write up also on Dr John Gifford Skelton (via website)
"Dr.John G. Skelton was educated in private schools and at the University of Virginia. He graduated from the medical school at the University of Pennsylvania in April 1838 and returned to Paxton, where he established a general practice. He married Charlotte F. Randolph about 13 October 1841; she died three years later. By 1860 Skelton was one of the most prosperous men in Powhatan County, due to his medical practice, his share in the Genito Mill, and his farming operations at Paxton. Besides raising livestock consisting of horses, mules, milch cattle, oxen, other cattle, and swine, Skelton produced corn, wheat, oats, tobacco, hay, peas, beans, Irish and sweet potatoes, honey, butter, and even a gallon of wine at Paxton. He was a large slaveholder, with forty-seven slaves including twenty-two males and twenty-five females."
Paxton
Egglestetton was built by my great great great great great grandfather Joseph Eggleston. It sits today in Amelia County, Virginia near the small village of Chula. The design of the house was a unique feature predominant in Colonial Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. It has a center hallway with an extended wing on each side making an L formation. This type of architecture can also be seen at Tuckahoe Plantation and other sites in Colonial Williamsburg. The Meades and the Egglestons were cousins and there were a lot of intermarriages between them. Marianne O. Meade - Dr Skelton's wife, is descended of this branch of the family. Both Paxton and Egglesetton today are privately owned, and much work has been done in restoration to the houses. I have not been able to ever see the inside of the houses, and very little information about the current owners. The properties have changed hands several times throughout the years. It would be my dream to one day purchase one of these fine houses and restore them to the way my ancestors had envisioned. But that seems highly unlikely. I am glad that good care is being taken and they still stand today. Many historic plantation houses have either been destroyed by fire, or demolished in place for suburban development and more modern type housing arrangements.
Comments
Post a Comment