The first advertisement - from the Virginia Gazette in 1769, reads: "The subscriber intends selling to the highest bidder, on Friday the 8th of December, if fair, otherwise the next fair day, His plantation in the upper end of Hanover, containing 600 acres of good land, whereon is a convenient dwelling house, and out-houses; also a very find double geared grist-mill, extremely well situated for customs, and well calculated for manufacturing wheat, having a boulting cloth which goes by water, and a house for packing away the flour contiguous to the mill; she is always well supplied with water, having a strong stone dam across the Southanna river, is 30 miles from Richmond and 35 miles from Hanover Town. At the same time and place will be sold, twenty very likely Virginia born Negroes, consisting of men, women and children, an English stallion, several blooded mares and colts, all the stock of cattle and hogs, the crop of corn and fodder and plantation utensils. Credit will be given upon all sums exceeding twenty-five shillings, till April 1771. Any person inclinable to purchase the land and mills may make the time of payment agreeable to himself. Bond and security will be demanded of the purchasers. A Donald"
On Friday in the university book store I had bought some maps - my father's son after all and I need to stop relying on that sat nav thing. So I worked out where was 35 miles from Hanover Town and 30 miles from Richmond on the South Anna river and came up right bang next door to Scotchtown.
And here is Scotchtown- the home of none other than Patrick Henry. Patrick is famous for two things - firstly for writing the speech on 23 March 1775 which "lighted the torch of liberty" and contained the lines:
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
What he is also very known for is writing a letter of introduction for an agreeable gentlemen to George Washington 10 years later - again using the word liberty:
Dear Sir,
The Bearer hereof Mr Alexander Donald wishes to have the Honor of presenting himself to you, & has entreated me to sollicit for him permission to do so. I take the Liberty therefore to introduce him to you, not doubting but you will fine him agreable. With the highest Esteem & Regard I am Dear Sir, you most obedient Servant
P. Henry
The letter was kept, not I have to admit because of Alexander's importance, but because General Washington as he was then had written some notes on the back of it, which you can see showing through.
Anyway, I think we can safely say that Alexander definitely would have been in this house as he was a neighbour and obviously knew Patrick. So this was the first time in the US that I had been in a house visited by a Donald.
Here's the road he would have walked up -
As you can tell, rather a nicer day than I have been used to of late. The inside of the house was fantastic - many period features and original beams etc so I got all romantic about if those beams could talk. Unfortunately you are going to have to take my word on the beauty of it all as I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside. Actually worth taking a virtual tour to get an idea.
The little door on the right hand side of the house goes down into the cellars. Patrick's first wife, after her sixth child got very bad post-natal - postpartum in US - depression and then had to be removed from her family and kept in the cellars. Patrick rode from this house to give his "give me liberty" speech whilst she was very ill. She died just afterwards 1775 and is buried somewhere on the estate but they don't know where and in 1778 Patrick remarried. He only went on to have another 11 children.
Now, whilst I am not trying to take Donald responsibility for every aspect of 18th century American history - the fact is nobody is quite sure why Scotchtown is called Scotchtown. I lead you to draw your own conclusions about the people living nearby.
Here's the South Anna River just next to this plantation - perhaps near where Alexander's dam was. Not sure what I imagine a plantation to look like in Virginia - but the area here is much more wooded than I thought it would be.
Had a very good lunch in Ashland - at the recommendations of the guide at Scotchtown. Sat outside in the Iron Horse which was to the side of the rail track. My goal is never to eat at a chain whilst here - and so far so good on the quality of food I have had, only time I came unstuck was on the way back from Richmond on Thursday night when I stopped in Goochland. I asked for the house special - and without wishing to get too Jamie Oliver - was given something called Hush Puppies, which are mini corn dogs apparently. I was then given honey butter to dip them into. Honey butter tastes like someone has put a honey covered knife in the butter by mistake, as I suppose you would imagine it would. A taste I hope not to acquire.
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