Stranica 270 [270]
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the Townsend Burdens, the William R. Travers and Mrs. Ogden
Doremus came from the same line.
Christopher Todd, great-grandson of the emigrant, dying with¬
out issue, left Toddsbury to his nephew, Philip Tabb, son of Lucy
Todd and Edward Tabb of Amelia County, Virginia. Philip [Tabb
married his first cousin, Mary Mason Wythe-Booth, daughter of
Elizabeth Todd by her first husband, Nathaniel Wythe of Williams¬
burg, and widow of George Booth of Belleville. In this manner,
although Toddsbury passed from the name of Todd, it was owned
by two direct heirs of the emigrant.
Mary Mason Wythe-Booth-Tabb was a personage in her day,
as was her husband, Philip Tabb. Their home was the centre of
the county’s hospitality, and Mrs. Tabb was a model for wives,
mothers and housekeepers. While Philip Tabb followed the
hounds, bet on horse races and played cards, as did all of the
gentlemen of his day, his wife became more and more devout;
she joined the Methodists and the large church in that neighbor¬
hood was built by her. The story goes that after providing a
bountiful supper for her husband and his guests, she would retire
to the "chamber" and pray for their souls, while they cast the
dice, swore brave oaths and drank merrily till late into the night.
The old house is of true Colonial architecture and has never
been remodeled. ‘The interior is like a jewel-box, so beautiful are
the carvings and panelings. [he dining-room, with recessed win¬
dows looking out to North River on two sides, is a spot to sit and
dream in, and all sorts of visions come unbidden to the visitor.
Near the entrance gate is one of the above-ground icehouses
peculiar to the tidewater country; it is conical in shape and stands
on a high mound overgrown with vines. At the back of the house
is an old dairy with overhanging eaves, still in use. On the east
of the lawn, which is nearly surrounded on three sides by water,
is one of the most ancient family burying-grounds in Virginia.
Here rest the ashes of seven generations of Todds and Tabbs,
handsome stones and inscriptions preserving the records from the
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