The Stronghold: A Story of Historic Northern Neck of Virginia and Its PeopleHaynie, Miriam
History
The Stronghold: A Story of Historic Northern Neck of Virginia and Its People
Haynie, Miriam
Northern Neck (Va.)
Among the clothes that Mrs. Mottrom may have packed, there might have
been "a sea-green scarf edged with gold lace," a scarlet coat with
silver buttons, a camlet coat with sleeves ending in lace ruffles, a
pair of red slippers, a Turkey-worked waistcoat, a whole suit of
olive-color plush, silk stockings, a beaver hat, neckcloths of finest
holland and muslin, shoes with shining silver buckles, delicately
scented handkerchiefs of silk and lace, and a gold belt for her
husband's sword.
The Mottrom household was probably on the bank of the Coan to wave
good-byes when the anchor was weighed and the sails of the shallop were
hoisted.
Out of the Coan sailed the shallop, and into the Potomac. Out of the
Potomac into the Chesapeake. Then it was straight sailing down the Bay,
past the mouths of the Rappahannock and York, and finally, into the
James. It usually took four average sailing days to travel from the
Northern Neck to Jamestown.
As the boat neared Jamestown Island John Mottrom could doubtless see the
orange-tiled roofs and tall red chimneys of the "citie," which had long
ago burst from its palisades and was now stretched for half a mile along
the river front, as well as backward into the swamps and meadows.
He could no doubt see the tower of the new brick church, and east of it
the State House, which looked so "London-like" with its three steep
gable ends facing the river.
Captain John Smith had written that the water here was deep "so neare
the shoare that they moored to the trees in six fathom water," but the
Mottrom boat may have tied up at Friggett Landing in the rear of the
Island. There were probably other vessels already tied up there, and
others still arriving for the Assembly.
Mottrom may have seen a barge coming down from the upper James, loaded
with gaily dressed men and women--a Burgess or Councillor and his family
and retinue, perhaps.
Once ashore John Mottrom probably took a walk to stretch his legs and
see what changes had taken place since he had last visited "James
Citie." He may have passed the new church, which was still unfinished,
and strolled along some of the narrow lanes. Outside the town there were
some "cart paths," and over some of the swamps there were bridges. Back
of the Island lay the forested Indian district of the "Passbyhaes."
"New Towne" was the most thickly settled part of "James Citie." Most of
the houses were a story-and-a-half of "framed timber" with
steeply-pointed roofs of tile, and a few of slate. Each had its garden
and was enclosed with palings. The road along the river bank was edged
with mulberry trees.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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