Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

The restored house on Palace Street, formerly known as the "Carter-Saunders House," but now called the "Robert Carter House," was purchased in about 1801 by Robert Saunders of Williamsburg from Robert Carter of Nomini Hall, Westmoreland County.¹

According to a family account, Robert Saunders was a son of John Saunders, a contractor of Williamsburg, and was born November 9, 1761. The account states that he attended the Grammar School of William and Mary College in 1776, served in the Revolutionary War, studied and practiced law, and was a member of the Senate of Virginia in 1779.² Robert Saunders was a vestryman of Bruton Parish Church; and a member of the Board of Directors of the Public Hospital [opened in Williamsburg 1773 for lunatics and persons of unsound mind] from 1794 until 1801, and possibly thereafter.³

In 1793 Robert Saunders was "Attorney for James City -2- County," and "Deputy Attorney for the Commonwealth of Virginia." In 1800 he was one of three commissioners appointed for Williamsburg "for Supervising,the Presidential Election." In March, 1813, he wrote the Governor (James Barbour.) from Norfolk refusing a commission as a Judge of the General Court of Virginia. He wrote: "Having never been in pursuit of office and not desirous to hold any, I cannot reconcile it to myself to stand one moment in the way of some Gentleman better qualified for such a high and responsible station."⁴

Robert Saunders married, on November 6, 1799, Mariana Barbara Hunter (born December 15, 1780), daughter of John and Susanna (Jones) Hunter; they had issue, 5 Robert [Jr.], and Mary Hunter Saunders, who died age 16 years.⁵ Mrs. Marianna Hunter Saunders died in Williamsburg on December 4, 1809. Robert Saunders died May 16, 1835, age 73 years 6 mos.⁶

By will dated March 20, 1834, probated May 25, 1835, Robert Saunders bequeathed some furniture in his house to friends John Goodall and Dr. Thomas G. Peachy of Williamsburg; and left "All the rest of my Property ... to my dear Son, Robert." A clause in his will urged his son Robert to build a strong brick wall around the spot in the southwest part of the garden where his "best loved friends" were buried, and where he too "wished to be entombed."⁷ The property had been transferred to Robert Saunders, -3- Jr. by 1836.

Born January 25, 1805, Robert Saunders, Jr. attended the College of William and Mary, and married, on June 17, 1828, Lucy Burwell Page, youngest daughter of Governor John Page of "Rosewell", Gloucester County, and his second wife, Margaret Lowther. They had issue: Mariana Barbara, who married the Rev. George T. Wilmer; Margaret; Lelia (died unmarried); Robert Page ("now [c. 1905] of Baltimore,") and Lucy Page (died unmarried.)⁸

Robert Saunders, Jr. became Professor of Mathematics at William and Mary College in 1833,⁹ and remained in that position until 1847 when he was appointed President of the College. He served as President for only a brief time (1847-1848). In 1848 the college was closed for a time, because, according to subsequent minutes of the Board of Visitors:

"...dissensions among the friends of the College involving the Board of Visitors, the Faculty and the citizens of Williamsburg, springing from the administration of College affairs had reached such a pitch, and the College Buildings were in such need of repair" that it was "deemed advisable -4- to suspend Exercises excepting those of the Law Class for one year..."¹⁰

Like a number of Williamsburg citizens, the family left Williamsburg about the time of the Battle of Williamsburg (May 5, 1862); when Confederate forces withdrew towards Richmond and McClellan's forces took Williamsburg. The Saunders house was plundered and left in shambles by soldiers; and officers gathered up valuable books, manuscripts and documents. (including a "thick packet of letters" from Thomas Jefferson to Page), files "of precious colonial newspapers," [many of them said to have belonged to the Page family and brought to Williamsburg by Mrs. Lucy Page Saunders] and took them to "Headquarters"; where they "made an equitable division of letters and autographs," including those of George and Martha Washington, Arthur Lee, Peyton Randolph, etc. The writer here quoted was the Federal Provost Marshal stationed in Williamsburg. He criticised Robert Saunders for abandoning "the Mansion upon McClellan's advance without leaving a servant in charge to protect its treasures against possible pillage"; noting that others also left, "taking almost none of their valuable goods and chattles" and adding "even if they had been given ample time there was no mode of conveyance... Whole families were compelled to flee on horse-back." What good a servant might have done against troops who left in the house only the "remains of shattered marble busts, fragments of ornamented book cases, window glass and plaster mixed with the mud from heavy boots of cavalrymen who seemed to have -5- played football with everything of value in the place" the Provost Marshal did not explain.¹³

When the Saunders family returned to Williamsburg after the war, Robert Saunders wrote his daughter,Lelia that he would "merely have such repairs done to the houses as are absolutely necessary..." By his will Mrs. Lucy Burwell Page Saunders was left all of his property except his house and lot in Williamsburg where "his aunt Saunders, widow of Uncle John, lived and died." He devised this property to his cousins, Mary and John Saunders.¹⁴ He died September 11, 1868.

Circa 1932 [?] a reading room was equipped in the Library of the College of William and Mary "by William Lawrence Saunders, Sc. D., and Miss Jennie Morton Saunders - in Memory of Robert Saunders - 1805-1868," where a tablet was placed in his honor. ¹⁵

THE SAUNDERS CEMETERY

The first reference we have to this cemetery is from the will of Robert Saunders, Sr. (dated 1834), which mentions the spot in the southwest part of the garden where his "best loved friends" were buried and where he too "wished to be entombed." He requested that his son Robert build a strong brick wall around the spot. This may have been done after Robert Saunders, Jr. obtained the property in 1836; if so we have found -6- no record of it.¹⁶ It is probable that the "best loved friends," of Robert, Sr. were his mother-in-law, Mrs. Susanna Jones Hunter, who "died 1804 at house of Robert Saunders, Williamsburg," and his wife, "Marianna B. Saunders" who "died ½ past 8 o'clock in the morning, December 4th, 1809"; and possibly their daughter, "Mary Hunter Saunders," who "died age 16 years."¹⁷ It is certain that Robert Saunders, Sr. was buried there, a stone was subsequently placed to mark his grave, by a nephew, whose mother "Lucy S. Saunders" (died March 15, 1849) was also buried with a stone. She was probably the "aunt _____ Saunders, widow of Uncle John" who lived and died in one of his houses, and was mentioned in the will of Robert Saunders, Jr. ¹⁸

It Also seems certain that Robert Saunders, Jr. was buried there. The account of Williamsburg at the time of the Civil War (see note 16) stated that the Saunders House, "with its numerous out houses, such as kitchen, servants' quarters, etc … presented then [ca. 1861-62) much the same appearance as it does today [1930]…" adding:

"… Bob Saunders, once president of the College of William and Mary, and professor of Mathematics … was for many years mayor of this city…was widely known and highly esteemed . …He died not long after the War and was buried in the garden of his home under a big weeping willow tree where now can be -7- seen the tombstone that marks his final resting place . … Mr. Saunders owned the entire square at the northwest corner of which was a 'burying ground' for the colored ."¹⁹

In 1953, some years after Colonial Williamsburg had acquired the property and excavated for foundations, etc., permission was granted by "Lawrence Saunders, Et Al," to remove the remains of four persons whose graves were found in the burial ground, two marked by tombstones, the other two unmarked. Further excavations revealed no other remains. The remains were removed to the northwest corner of Bruton Parish Churchyard, the existing stones replaced over the proper graves, and two plain stones set to mark the unknown graves. Inscriptions on the two existing stones read: -8-

MY UNCLE^*
ROBERT SAUNDERS
DIED
MAY 16, A.D. 1835.
AGED 78 YEARS

MY MOTHER^*
LUCY S. SAUNDERS
DIED MARCH 15, A.D. 1849
AT AN ADVANCED AGE.

A marker was placed near the graves, which reads:

"The remains of Robert Saunders and Lucy S. Saunders and those two unknown persons from the Saunders Burial Plot were reinterred here. November 27, 1953."²²

This morning the trial in the above styled suit was conducted by Judge Sheild and he entered a decree authorizing Colonial Williamsburg, Incorporated to remove the graves in the Carter-Saunders Graveyard to Bruton Parish Churchyard. After removal has taken place, we will file a report with the Court and this matter will then be concluded.

SAUNDERS FAMILY

[...]country, and as they now find that they cannot make up the publick money in the treasury to pay him, they have no other way to keep themselves clear, than to levy it on the people. The bill they prepared was to levy 2 pr. poll before Xmass & 3 pr. poll, before next midsummer, out of which they tack'd a clause to the bill to pay the attorney their agent £2,500 which bill when carried up to the Councill was rejected upon the first reading, & by every serious thinking man thought very just & wisely done: So that the assembly is again broke up without doing any thing for the service of the country, after expending a great deal of the publick money to no purpose. We are now in a very sad situation in this country. Our publick credit is so sunk that none are to be found who will lend out money for the country service even at 6 pr Cent, indeed it is but very few who have it in their power to do it, as the gold & silver which was current in the country a few years ago is now chiefly vanished, which looks like a just punishment upon us for our extravagancy, pride & prodigality: to all which you are no stranger. We are now at the mercy of the French & Indians, who are daily making inroads among the back inhabitants & it is much to be feared ere long they will visit us who live on this side of the great mountains, unless they are drove off by unexpected assistance. Your old acquaintance James Skelton is dead as also Robert Miller of Wmsbbg. My wife joins with me in wishing you health & happiness, &
I ever remain Dr. Hugh
Y. M. 0. H. St.

P.S. Since writing the above I have received Richard Chamberlayne's bill of Exchge: on Robt. Cary Esq & Co for £30 & Richard Farell's bill of Exch: on his brother Joseph Farrel of Bristol for £125 both which are inclosed & are to be applied towards the payment of the cargo now wrote for Per Capt. Robert Patterson in the Sally & Patty.

SAUNDERS FAMILY.

I JOHN SAUNDERS lived in York Co., Virginia, and his will was proved Feb. 24, 1700. It disposes of a large estate in money, slaves, and land. Issue named in will: 2 Christtabel, wife of Samuel Waddow; 3 John; 4 Edward; 5 Robert; 6 George; 7 Hargrave; 8 Peter; 9 Sarah; 10 Susannah. There is a deed recorded in Yorktown from John and Edward Saunders, in 1707, disposing of land to William Barber, "inherited from their mother Mary Risle, daughter of John Risle," but 146 reserving "the burial place of their mother and father forty feet square." It is probable that the other children were by a second wife, a daughter of Peter Hargrave.

3 J0HN² SAUNDERS (John,¹ ) married - Hyde, daughter of Robert Hyde (Note I) ; removed to Goochland County, where his will, dated October 2, 1736, is recorded. He had issue: II Mary, who married Daniel Johnson, and had issue: John and Daniel, Jr., 12 John Hyde.

12 JOHN HYDE³ SAUNDERS (John,² John¹ ) lived in Cumberland County, and probably married - Fleming. In a deed recorded in York Co. from John Hyde Saunders to Samuel Hyde, for land in Goochland County, patented 1690, the former is described "as son and heir of John Saunders who was son and heir to John Saunders." His will dated Feb. 2, 1768, was proved March 29, 1768, and makes his friends William Fleming, Archibald Buchanan and son John Hyde Saunders executors. He names issue: 13 Samuel Hyde; 14 Robert (Hyde) ; 15 Chancellor; 16 Jesse; 17 John Hyde; 18 Peter to whom he gave 195 acres in the county of Pittsylvania; 19 Rebecca; 20 Patty; 21 Mariana. In "Early Settlers of Alabama" by Mrs. Elizabeth Saunders Blair Stubbs, the parents of these children are represented as Samuel and Phyllis (Dudley) Saunders, while another tradition makes Jesse Saunders the father. But there can be no doubt that the text is correct.

14 Robert HYDE⁴ SAUNDERS (John Hyde,³ John,² John¹ ), was ensign in the State line in 1777 and first lieutenant in 1778. (For reputed descendants see "Early Settlers in Alabama" p. 461.)

16 JESSE HYDE⁴ SAUNDERS (John Hyde,³, John,² John¹ ), resided in King William Parish, Cumberland Co., and married Mary, daughter of Anthony Lavillion, a French Huguenot. (See deed in Cumberland, dated 22 Oct. 1764.) For issue, See "Early Settlers in Alabama," p. 462.

17 JOHN HYDE⁴ (John Hyde³ , John,² John¹ ) was a student at William and Mary in 1762, from which he was dismissed for insubordination, went to Europe, was ordained as a minister, and returned in 1772. He was minister of St. James 147 Parish Southam, Cumberland County; and in 1775 he was a member of the county committee, espousing the American side in the Revolution. (For descendants see "Early Settlers in Alabama" p. 461)

18 PETER SAUNDERS, (born Sept. 20, 1748, died August 4, 1813.) lived in Pittsylvania County, where in 1775 he was one of the County Committee of Safety. He married Oct. 31, 1767, Mary Sparrell, ward of Governor Giles. Issue: 22 Judith, (b 1768); 26 Fleming (b. 1778); 27 Robert (b. 1781); 28 Samuel (b. 1783); 29 Polly.

26 (Judge) FLEMING⁵ SAUNDERS (Peter,⁴ John Hyde,³ John,² John¹ ), of Franklin County, married May 14, 1814, Alice, daughter of William and Mary (Scott) Watts, of Flat Creek, Campbell County, and had issue: 30 Mary; 31 Sarah; 32 William; 33 Edward (all died young) 34 Peter, (b 1823), member of the Legislature, married Betty Dabney, (parents of Judge E. W. Saunders, of Franklin Co.); 34 Ann Maria, (b. Oct. 19, 1825), married Col. Thomas L. Preston, and is living in Charlottesville; 36 Robert Chancellor, b. May 26, 1827, of Campbell Co.; 37 Capt. Fleming (b. 1829, living in 1905); 38 Louisa Morris, b. 1833, m. Richard T. Davis.

5 ROBERT² SAUNDERS, (John¹ ), lived in Williamsburg, and probably married Miss Spratley, for in his will dated April 28, 1728, John Spratley, of Surry refers to "his granddaughter Mary Saunders, daughter of Mr. Robert Saunders, of Williamsburg." He had issue: 39 John Saunders.

40 ROBERT⁴ SAUNDERS, (John³ , Robert² , John¹ ), was born Nov. 9, 1761, attended the grammar school of the College in 1776, was in the American army, practiced law, and was a member of the State Senate in 1799. He married Nov. 6, 1799. Mariana Barbara Hunter, daughter of John Hunter (Note 2) and Susannah Jones, and had issue: 42 Robert ^{lived in Carter House} ; 43 Mary Hunter Saunders, died aged 16 years.

^{41. John Saunders, father of Robert, Sr. was apparently husband of Lucy S. Saunders, whose tombstone survived in Carter-Saunders graveyard & was moved to Bruton Pa[rish] Church}

42 ROBERT⁵ SAUNDERS (Robert,⁴ John,² Robert,² John¹ ), was born January 25, 1805, and graduated A. B. at William and Mary College in 1823. He married June 17, 1828, Lucy, youngest daughter of Governor John Page, of Rosewell. He was elected professor of Mathematics in 1833, and became President in 1840. ¹⁸⁴⁷ Issue: 44 Mariana Barbara, who married Rev. George T. Wilmer; 45 Margaret, 46 Lelia, died unmarried; 47 Robert Page now of Baltimore; 48 Lucy Page, died unmarried. Robert Saunders, the father, died in 1869.

43 JOHN⁵ SAUNDERS (Robert,⁴ John,³ Robert,² John¹ ), married Lucy Galt, removed to Norfolk, where he was an officer of the customs. Issue: 48 Mary, d. s. p., 50 (Rev.) William Turner, b. in Norfolk, 1817 an Episcopal clergyman, for twenty years rector at Appalachicola.

50 REV. WILLIAM TURNER⁶ SAUNDERS (John,⁵ Robert,⁴ John,³ Robert,² John¹ ) married and had issue: 51 Robert; 52 William Lawrence, civil engineer in New York; 53 Jennie; 54 Walter B. Saunders, of Philadelphia (deceased in 1905).

NOTES

¹ HYDE FAMILY. Robert Hyde was a lawyer in York County, and married Jane, daughter of Capt. John Underhill, formerly of the city of Worcester, England, and then of Fellgate's Creek, York Co., Va. In 1718, the court of York County adjudged "the will of Robert Hyde decd'd, father of Samuel Hyde, null and void, because the testator was non compos mentis at the time of making his will." He had issue a son Samuel and probably a daughter who married John Saunders as above. Samuel Hyde died in 1739, and left, by one wife two daughters, Anne and Rebecca, which last married Robert Sheild, and by another wife (Sarah) he had John, Mary and Judith. John Hyde married before 1761 Lucy, daughter of Charles Hansford, and his will was proved August 15, 1774, and his six youngest children were Elizabeth, Mary, Lucy, Charles, Robert and Rebecca. Of these Capt. Robert Hyde died in Richmond Dec. 11, 1835, in his 73rd year. Dr. John Hansford Hyde, of Lexington, was educated at Washington College and died April 1, 1851. Mary, daughter of Col. Charles Hansford Hyde and Thomas J. Wertenbaker, all of Richmond, were married in 1842. There is a tradition in the Saunders family that Robert Hyde, the emigrant, was a near relative of Edward Hyde, Lord Clarendon, (Lord High Chancellor of England). This tradition is confirmed by the name of one of the sons 149 of John Hyde Saunders (died 1768) Chancellor. Robert Peake, of London, in his will proved in 1697, after giving a legacy to George Lyddall, of New Kent Co. Virginia, "his cousin and sometime servant" left a legacy also "to Robert Hyde, son of Dr. James Hyde, of Oxford and Margaret his wife." Was this Robert Hyde the same as the emigrant to Virginia of the same name? New England Historical and Genealogical Register, vol. 37, p. 379.

² Hunter. In the clerk's office of Elizabeth City Co. the following facts may be found recorded:

• Mary Ann Hunter made oath & obtained administration on the will of William Hunter, merchant, Nov. 21, 1739.
• John Holt was appointed guardian to Mary and Rosea Hunter, orphans of William Hunter dec'd July 18, 1744.
• John Holt & Elizabeth, his wife, and Mary and Rosea Hunter, infants under 21, by the said John their guardian, plts., vs. William Hunter. Dated Dec. 20, 1744.
• Will of Mary Ann Hunter, proved in Elizabeth City Co. March 16, 1742. Names daughters Mabel, Elizabeth, Mary and Roasanna. Executors Mr. John Brodie and William Westwood. Among the witnesses Martha Brodie.

From the above abstracts and the notes on the Hunter family, Vol. VII., 13-16, 154-156. the following statement is approximately correct.

William¹ Hunter was a merchant, who died in Elizabeth City Co. in 1739, and had issue: 1 William, 2 Mabel, 3 Elizabeth, married John Holt, 4 Mary, married Rev. Joseph Davenport, 5 Rosanna, who married (I.) Joseph Royle, (II.) John Dixon, and 6 John, born April 28, 1733, married May 11, 1759, Elizabeth Meredith, of Hampton.

William Hunter, the first named son, who was the editor of the Virginia Gazette, was probably only half-brother to the other children. John Hunter, it seems, was born April 28, 1733, and died April 18, 1795, aged 62 almost. He married Elizabeth Meredith, of Hampton and resided in Norfolk. He was a school teacher.

Col. John Hunter, of "Little England," whom I have taken to be a brother of William Hunter, the printer, was perhaps brother of his father the first William Hunter.

Joseph Royle, who succeeded William HUnter as the editor of the Virginia Gazette, died in 1766, leaving two sons William Royle and Hunter Royle. About 1850, some inquiry developed as to their history, and the following is the copy of a paper written about that time:

I have to acknowledge your letter of the 28th inst. Since its reception I have made inquiry on the subject under consideration of both my mother & Dr. Griffin, but could obtain from them nothing satisfactory. Dr. Williamson, a relative of mine, who is concerned by marriage with the Dixon family, has seen most of the old persons in Williamsburg 150 & the neighboring country, amongst whom I may mention Capt. Anderson, Mrs. Bingham, Mrs. L. S. Saunders (since deceased) Capt. Bryan (the nephew of Mrs. Hunter Royal). As individuals likely to give you some information, I would refer you to Littleton Waller Tazewell of Norfolk, John Diddup, Thomas Diddup, Jones Allen, & Mrs. Elizabeth Welch of Richmond. From their antiquarian perusals I would also suggest Mr. Charles Campbell & Mr. Richard Randolph.

"I regret to say that the items of information which I have been able to collect are few and apparently unimportant, but I mention them, however, small, as possibly calculated to serve as clues to facts of a more useful character. Mrs. Nancy Garrett, the mother of Dr. Garrett of this place, told Dr. Williamson, that when she went to school to Mrs. Hunter Royal, that she recollects her once saying that Mr. Hunter Royal had just gone to Baltimore on account of his brother William's death there, & that he died leaving no property whatever. Mrs. Dr. Williamson has a pin cushion, which was sent to Mrs. Royal from England; and on it marked in pins were the initials of all her children by both marriages, with the date of the births. We have an old female servant, who lived for many years with Hunter Royal; she recollects the time when William Royal brought his wife to Virginia & says she never heard of his having any children; according to her statement the wife died first."

TABB FAMILY

(Continued from page 57.)

218 MARY E.⁷ TABB (John,⁶ George,⁵ William,⁴ John,³ Thomas,² Humphrey¹ ), married J. R. Janney, issue: (I) Jno. Tabb Janney; married Mary Wilkinson Tabb, (2) Arabella McPherson; died. (3) Aguila Janney; married Mary Hamilton. (4) W. H. Janney: (5) Mary Evalina Janney, married Edward Lupton.

224 R. ELLIOTT WHITE TABB⁷ married Lucy Snodgrass. Issue: nine children. Some are dead. Others are living in Louisville, Ky.

225 ARABELLA ELLEN⁷ TABB (John,⁶ George,⁵ William,⁴ John,³ Thomas,² Humphrey¹ ) married William T. Snodgrass. Issue: (1) Nannie Bell Snodgrass, married William S. Henshaw, Issue: William Thornton Henshaw, M. D. married

[...]been composed by Henley himself as a text 'for the purpose of giving to the public the information contained in the notes." Henley replied that his book was merely a translation from an unpublished French manuscript. Beckford, in the preface to the French version of 1815, mentions that the appearance of the English translation before his original was not his intention, and mysteriously attributes it to circumstances peu intéressantes pour le public. Henley was a frequent contributor to the Monthly Magazine. He also occasionally wrote short poems for private circulation among his friends. In 1805 he was appointed principal of the newly established East India College at Hertford. He resigned this post in January, 1815, and died on 29 Dec. of the same year. He married, in 1780, a daughter of Thomas Figgins, Esq., of Chippenham, Wiltshire.

In addition to the above-mentioned and three separately-printed sermons preached at Williamsburg, Henley wrote: 1. "A Candid Refutation of the Heresy imputed by R. C. Nicholas to the Revd. Samuel Henley," Williamsburg, 1774. 2. "Dissertation on the Controverted Passages of St. Peter and St. Jude Concerning the Angels that Sinned," London, 1778. 3. "Observations on the Subject of the Fourth Eclogue, the Allegory in the Third Georgic, and the Primary Design of the Æneid of Virgil, with Incidental Remarks on some Coins of the Jews," London, 1788. 4. "Essay Towards a New Edition of the Elegies of Tibullus, with Translation and Notes," 1792. 5. "Ad Anglos . . . Ode Gratulatoria," 1793. 6. "Explanation of the Inscription on a Brick from the Site of Ancient Babylon, in 'Archaeologia," 1803, xiv. 205.

[Nichols's Lit. Anecd. viii. 15, 16, and references passim in index; Nichols's Lit. Illustr. iii. 759-'65; Gent. Mag., Vol. LXXXVI. pt. i., p. 182; Watt's Bibl. Brit.; Brit. Mus. Cat.; Brit. Mus. Addit. MS. 19197, £202.]

FAMILY OF JOHN HUNTER, OF HAMPTON.¹

JOHN HUNTER was born April 28th, 1733 [old style], departed this life 18th April, 1795 at 6 o'clock P. M., aged 62 years almost; was marry⁴ May 11th 1759 [to] Elizabeth Meredith [who] was born Feby. 6th, 1735.

W&MQ 1st ser. Vol. VII. [Hunter family Bible entries, cont'd.]

John Hunter, son of John and Elizabeth Hunter, was born Jany., 1766 (died 20 June, 1796, at the house of W. J. Hunter, in Norfolk).

Jany. 22, 1761, Eliz. Hunter departed this life.

Susanna Jones was born Octor 12th, 1750, O.S.; was marry⁴ to John Hunter Augst 4th, 1758, N. S., and died 1804 at house of Robert Saunders, Williamsburg.

William Jones Hunter, son of John and Susannah Hunter, was born March 26th, 1770, at 20 minutes passed 8 o'clock P.M., was lost at sea in 1799.

1772, Jan'y. 30, a boy still born a 2 o'clock A. M.

1773, March 25th, a girl still born a 9 o'clock P. M.

Thomas Hunter, born Novr 9th, 1777, a 11 o'clock, A. M., was lost at sea off Cape Clearin, Sat. 28th Dec., 1795, from the ship Industry, Capt. E. (looks like Eli) Vickery, bound for Liverpool. The dreadful intelligence reached his unhappy mother and family 7th April, 1796.

Marianna Barbara Hunter¹ born Dec. 15th, 1780, at 45 minutes past 12 o'clock, P. M.

W. I. Hunter married 28 Feby., 1793, to Mary Barron, who was born 16 June, 1773.

Robert Barron Hunter, their son, born Dec. 11th, 1793, and died in April, 1814, Etat 20 yrs, 3 mo.

John Bloodgood Hunter, d^e , born Feb. 3rd, 1796, died in 1799.

Thomas Hunter died Decr 28, 1798, died an infant.

William Hunter, their son, 28th Jany, 1803, sunrise, 10th Nov., 1803.

Robert Saunders, born Jany. 25th, 1805.

Mary Hunter Saunders ² was born 26th November, 1805.

Marianna B. Saunders died ½ past 8 o'clock in the morning, December the 4th, 1809.

Robert Saunders³ was born 9th Novr, 1761, and his birth is registered in a family Bible in possession of Mrs Eliz. O'Neil of Norfolk. Died 16th May, 1835, 73 yrs, 6 mos.

Enclosed please find Xerox and duplicate copies ^{please keep}of record material in our files which I hope will supplement your current file on the graveyard above.

Architecture informs me that for $3.00 we may have duplicated for you two small plats which show the Saunders Graveyard and excavated foundations for the Carter-Saunders Stable and the location in Bruton Parish Churchyard of the reinterment sites.^{Enclosed [for] Research. [We] have du[plicate] cost of [other -] $1.50}

One of the plats notes that the head stone inscriptions read as follows:

MY UNCLE
ROBERT SAUNDERS
DIED
MAY 16, A.D. 1835
AGED 78 YEARS

MY MOTHER
LUCY S. SAUNDERS
DIED
MARCH 15, A.D. 1849
AT AN ADVANCED AGE

Notes in our files also mention that there ^though there was no visible evidence of other graves in the Graveyard, "we have been told by descendants of Robert Saunders, Sr., that old family records indicate other burials with the last one being Robert Saunders, Jr., who died 1869."

If I can be of any further help, please let me know. Hopefully one of these days I'll have the good fortune of meeting you.

SAUNDERS FAMILY

July 27, 1973: For Bruton Parish Churchyard information:
July 9, 1973
The remains of Robert Saunders, Sr. , and Lucy S. Saunders (see inscriptions on stones in memo below), and of two other persons were moved from the family graveyard back of the Robert Carter House, to the northwest corner of Bruton Parish churchyard, Nov. 27, 1953 [See notes on Saunders Family & burying ground by M. Goodwin 7/25/73]

REPORT
VIRGINIA:
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF WILLIAMSBURG AND COUNTY OF JAMES CITY

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG, INCORPORATED
Vs.
LAURENCE SAUNDERS, ET. AL.
REPORT PURSUANT TO DECREE

Pursuant to the decree given in the above styled suit, report is made that the work of removing the bodies from the Saunders family burying ground has been completed.

In excavations made by a force of Colonial Williamsburg, Incorporated, workers in the Saunders burial ground, the remains of Robert Saunders, Sr., and Lucy S. Saunders were found near the tombstones marking their graves. A short distance away, remains of two other persons were found. Further excavations revealed no other remains.

Under the supervision of Douglas Whitacre, licensed mortician, the remains of the four persons were carefully placed in individual coffins and buried in the northwest corner of Bruton Parish Churchyard.

The existing stones were re-set over the proper graves, and two plain stones will be set over the unknown graves. A stone marker will be placed in the plot with the following inscription:

The remains of Robert Saunders and Lucy S. Saunders and those of two unknown person from the Saunders Burial Plot were reinterred here.
November 27, 1953.

The remains having been moved to their final resting place in the manner decreed by the Court, Colonial Williamsburg, Incorporated, holds itself dismissed.

This is to confirm the action of the Vestry of Bruton Parish Church with regard to the removal of the remains of President and Mrs. Robert Saunders. The minutes of a meeting of the Vestry held July 3, 1953 read as follows:

"Carter-Saunders Cemetery - Mr. Kendrew, representing Colonial Williamsburg, reported that permission had been given by the direct heirs of President and Mrs. Robert Saunders of the College of William and Mary for the removal of their remains from the Carter-Saunders Cemetery to the Churchyard. He said that Mr. Saunders did not wish these remains moved to the College Cemetery or to the Wren Chapel area. The Rector proposed to move the remains, with headstones and footstones, to the northwest corner of Bruton Churchyard. Dr. Stryker moved, and Dr. Moss seconded, that the Vestry approve this move, with the exact location and other details to be entrusted to the Rector and the Senior Warden, with the proviso that the heirs secure any necessary legal approval and that the Church be saved harmless from any action which might arise from this removal. This was unanimously approved."

I hope that this will be adequate for your purpose. If further confirmation is necessary, please let me know.

You left yesterday with my Xerox of the Saunders Family notes from the William and Mary Quarterly, instead of your copy on which I had written a few lines concerning "Lucy S. Saunders," in whom you seemed especially interested.

Briefly, it would seem that "Lucy S. Saunders" must have been the sister-in-law of Robert Saunders , Sr., who had only one brother, John Saunders . The Palace Street property (the entire square) passed to Robert, Sr .'s son Robert, Jr . According to the will of Robert, Jr., his "Aunt --- Saunders" had lived and died in one of his houses; he devised the property to his "cousins" May and John Saunders. John, apparently the son of John and Lucy S. Saunders (who died in 1849 "at an advanced age"), placed the stones at the graves of his "Uncle" and his "Mother." [See typewritten notes on William Saunders, Sr., and Jr., and the Saunders burying ground, page 5 and note 14; page 6, and note 18; and also Saunders Family notes in the Quarterly, page 147.)

As none of the Saunders family names you sent me in your recent letter appear in this Saunders Family account in the Quarterly, it is probable that your family did not descend from John Saunders of York County. Nor do I find your names (M. Garnett Saunders, Robert Dandridge Saunders) listed in Swem's Virginia Historical Index--an index to a number of Virginia historical and genealogical publication.

I regret that you did not have time to go further into the matter while you were here, as Swem's Index would help you 2 with some of your other names: John Jameson Gartnett who married Lucy Lyne Carter, for example. However, you can find this Index, and the publications to which it refers, in your state and university libraries, if you wish to go into it.

Enclosed please find Xerox and duplicate copies ^{please keep}of record material in our files which I hope will supplement your current file on the graveyard above.

Architecture informs me that for $3.00 we may have duplicated for you two small plats which show the Saunders Graveyard and excavated foundations for the Carter-Saunders Stable and the location in Bruton Parish Churchyard of the reinterment sites.^{Enclosed [for] Research. [We] have du[plicate] cost of [other -] $1.50}

One of the plats notes that the head stone inscriptions read as follows:

MY UNCLE
ROBERT SAUNDERS
DIED
MAY 16, A.D. 1835
AGED 78 YEARS

MY MOTHER
LUCY S. SAUNDERS
DIED
MARCH 15, A.D. 1849
AT AN ADVANCED AGE

Notes in our files also mention that there ^though there was no visible evidence of other graves in the Graveyard, "we have been told by descendants of Robert Saunders, Sr., that old family records indicate other burials with the last one being Robert Saunders, Jr., who died 1869."

If I can be of any further help, please let me know. Hopefully one of these days I'll have the good fortune of meeting you.

GENEALOGY OF THE PAGE FAMILY IN VIRGINIA
ALSO A CONDENSED ACCOUNT OF THE
NELSON, WALKER, PENDLETON AND RANDOLPH FAMILIES

WITH REFERENCES TO THE
BLAND, BURWELL, BYRD, CARTER, CARY, DUKE, GILMER, HARRISON, RIVES, THORNTON, WELLFORD, WASHINGTON
AND OTHER DISTINGUISHED FAMILIES IN VIRGINIA

BY
RICHARD CHANNING MOORE PAGE, M.D.,
Life Member of the American Historical Association; of the New York Historical Society; and Member of the Virginia Historical Society, etc.

SECOND EDITION

NEW YORK:
PRESS OF THE PUBLISHERS' PRINTING CO.,
120 & 122 East 14th Street.
1893.

[...]siderable Importations made this Winter on public Account & by private Adventures, added to some late Regulations of Congress & the different States, we may expect to see our Troops well clothed & armed & in a more respectable & comfortable Situation than they have ever been. The enemy have left Virginia almost in a State of Peace ever since Dunmore was driven away; till this Winter, when they began to be troublesome on the [faded] some of our Rivers--their Frigates seem to [faded]teries, but I hope before this Summer is out [faded].

I take this Opportunity, Sir, of informing you that you were elected [faded] corresponding Member of our Society for promoting useful Knowledge at one of our last Meetings--which have been for some Time past discontinued, the critical Situation of our Country engrossing the Attention of all the Members--However we have made some Progress in our Business having received some valuable Astronomical Observations, Meteorological Journals and other Papers, Models of Machines &c, & are collecting Materials for compleating the natural History of Virginia. Not only the Arts & Sciences, but Manufactures & Agriculture are objects of our Attention. By the next Opportunity I will send you some Extracts from some of our Papers. The Society will think themselves happy to receive any thing you may think proper to communicate. I have engrossed so much of your Time, & intruded so much on you, that I must beg your Pardon, concloude after desiring you to present my Compls & best Wishes to your Brother, his Lady & Family--I am dear Sir your
affectionate hble Servant
John Page
of Rosewell

Gov. John Page married twice. He married, first, about 1765, Frances (called Fannie), daughter of Col. Robin Burwell, of Isle-of-Wight County, Va., and Sallie Nelson, his wife. The latter was the only child of Thomas Nelson (Scotch Tom), of Yorktown, York Co., Va., and the widow Fannie Tucker (whose maiden name was Houston), of Bermuda Islands, his second wife. Col. Robin Burwell was the brother of Betty Burwell, who was the wife of President Nelson.

Frances Burwell, first wife of Gov. John Page, died in 1784, aged 37, and was buried at Rosewell, although no tombstone appears to have been erected to her memory. Three of their children died infants. Their names are unknown. The remaining nine were as follows:

• 1.Mann Page, eldest, born at Rosewell, 1766: removed to Shelly, Gloucester Co., Va., and married 5th June, 1788, Elizabeth, eldest daughter and sixth child of Gov. Thomas Nelson, of Yorktown, York Co., Va.
• 79
• 2.John Page (No. 1), born about 1768; died infant.
• 3.Robert Page, born about 1770; died unmarried, at Yorktown, Va., aged about 25 years.
• 4.Sally Burwell Page, born about 1771; married, about 1790, William, eldest son and child of Gov. Thomas Nelson, of Yorktown, Va.
• 5.John Page (No. 2), born about 1773; drowned in CArter's Creek, in 1784 aged about 11 years.
• 6.Alice Grymes Page, born at Rosewell about 1775; married, first, 1793, Dr. Augustine Smith, of Yorktown, Va., by whom she had as follows:
  • (1)Robert Nelson Smith, first of Louisville, Ky., and then of Lexington, Mo.; died 1877, aged about 82 years. He married, 1815, Mary Fry, of Albemarle Co., Va. and had issue. F. Coleman Smith, of Butler, Bates Co., Mo., is one of the sons.
  • (2)John Page Smith; died in 1859 in Louisville, Ky. He married twice, and had several daughters and two sons, one of whom was killed in the late war.
  • (3)Augustine Smith; removed to Alabama, and died in Mobile, leaving three sons and two daughters. One of the sons, Rev. Dudley D. Smith, now resides in Philadelphia; married twice.
  • (4)Lucy Calthrope Smith; married, 1835, Ralph Diggs, of Louisa Co., Va. He removed to Alabama and died in 1836. The widow now lives in Shepherdstown, Jefferson Co., W. Va., with the widow of her late nephew, Dudley Diggs Pendleton.
  • (5)William Smith; removed to Alabama.
  • (6)Frances Burwell Smith.
  Alice Page (the widow Smith) married, secondly, in 1812, Col. Dudley Diggs. of Louisa Co., Va., and had Elizabeth Diggs, who married, in 1840, Hugh N. Pendleton, and was his second wife. (See Pendleton.)
• 7.Frances Page, born at Rosewell about 1777; married, first, in 1795, Thomas Nelson, Jr., second son of Gov. Thomas Nelson, of Yorktown, Va. Their daughter, Thomasia, married, 1821, Bishop William Meade, of Virginia, and was his second wife.
• 8.Francis Page, born at Rosewell about 1781, removed to Rug Swamp, Hanover Co., Va., and married, in 1806, Susan, fourth daughter and tenth child of Gov. Thomas Nelson, of Yorktown, Va.
• 9.Judith Carter Page, born at Rosewell about 1788; married, about 1803, Robert, ninth child and youngest son of Gov. Thomas Nelson, of Yorktown, Va. Being Chancellor of William and Mary College, he was called Chancellor Nelson.

Thus there were twelve children of Gov. John Page and Frances Burwell, his first wife, three of whom died infants, names unknown. 80 Of the remaining nine, five married sons and daughters of Gov. Thomas Nelson, of Yorktown, Va.

Gov. John Page married, secondly, 1780, in New York City, Margaret, daughter of William Lowther, of Scotland. She was visited by General Lafayette, 20th October, 1824, at Williamsburg, Va., while he was on his way from Yorktown to Richmond, during his last visit to America. Although Governor Page was now dead, his name appeared among those of other patriots of the Revolution, on the obelisk that was temporarily erected at the main entrance to the Capitol Square at Richmond, Va., during the celebration of General Lafayette's visit.

There were eight children by the second marriage, as follows:

• 1.Margaret Lowther Page, born at Rosewell about 1790; married, first, about 1810, John H. Blair, of Elmington, Hanover Co., Va., and had:
  • (1)Archie Blair; died in Kentucky; leaving a widow and daughter.
  • (2)Margaret McLean Blair; unmarried.
  • (3)Mary Anne Beverly Blair; married a son of Richard Anderson, of Richmond, Va., by his first wife.
  • (4)Fanny Adams Blair; married another son of Richard Anderson, of Richmond, Va., by his first wife.
  Margaret Lowther Page (the widow Blair) married, secondly, the above mentioned Richard Anderson, of Richmond, Va., and was his second wife. He was the father of her two sons-in-law. By the second marriage, she had:
  • (1)Richard Lowther Anderson: died infant.
  • (2)Margaret Anderson: brought up by her aunt, Mrs. John Minor Botts.
• 2.William Lowther Page; died infant.
• 3.Mary Mann Page; ditto.
• 4.Gregory Page; a very talented youth; was drowned while a student at William and Mary College.
• 5.John Page; died unmarried in 1838. He was a very cultivated and polished gentleman, who had travelled a great deal.
• 6.John Williams Page; died infant.
• 7.Barbara Page, born at Rosewell about 1795; died, unmarried, at Williamsburg, Va., about 1864, aged 60 years.
• 8.Lucy Burwell Page, youngest of the twenty children of Gov. John Page was born at Rosewell, in1807. She married, 1828, Hon. Robert Saunders, of Williamsburg, James City Co., Va. He died about 1870 ¹⁸⁶⁵. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Saunders removed to the Louise Home, established in Washington, D. C. by the liberality of Hon. W. W. Corcoran, of that city. The children of Hon. Robert Saunders and Lucy, his wife, were Barbara, Lelia, Robert (died infant), Robert, Lucy (died infant), John (ditto), Page, and Mary Anna, who married Rev. George T. Williams ^Wilmer of Virginia, and had issue.

We now return to the children of Mann page, the second, of Rosewell, Gloucester Co., Va., and Anne Corbin Tayloe, his second wife.

V. MANN PAGE, of Mansfield, Spottsylvania Co., Va., better known as Mann Page, Jr., eldest son and child of Mann Page, of Rosewell, Gloucester Co., Va., and Anne Corbin Tayloe, his second wife, was born at the last-named place about 1749, and removed to the first-named place. He was a member of the Continental Congress from Virginia, in 1777, along with Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Nelson, Jr., and George Wythe.

He married, 18th April, 1776, Mary Tayloe, fifth child and daughter of John Tayloe, of Spottsylvania County, Va., and Rebecca Plater, his wife.

John Tayloe died 18th April, 1779. He married, 11th July, 1747, Rebecca, daughter of Hon. George Plater, of Maryland. The children of Mann Page and Mary Tayloe, his wife, were as follows:

• 1.Maria Page, born about 1777; married Lewis Burwell.
• 2.Lucy Gwynn Page, born about 1779; married Josiah Tidball.
• 3.Mann Page, born about 1781; married, but name of wife is unknown. Their son, Mann Page, married, 1827, at Willis' Grove, Orange Co., Va., Miss Mary Champe Willis, daughter of William C. Willis, and resided at Orange Court House. She subsequently died, leaving only one surviving child. Mann Page subsequently studied medicine and removed to Mississippi. Nothing more is known.

V. ROBERT PAGE, second son and child of Mann Page, of Rosewell, Gloucester Co., Va., and Anne Corbin Tayloe, his second wife, was born at Rosewell, about 1751, and removed to Hanovertown, Hanover Co., Va.

He married, about 1776, Elizabeth Carter, daughter of Charles Carter, of Fredericksburg, Va. Their children were:

• 1.Elizabeth Page (called Betty), born about 1777; married, about 1797, Philip Burwell, of Chapel Hill, Frederick Co., Va., son of Col. Nathaniel Burwell, of Carter Hall, Clarke Co., Va., and Susan Grymes, his first wife. No issue known.
• 2.Charles Page, born about 1778; married, in September, 1799, Sally Cary, [...]