Page 438 [438]
MORVEN
—-aIMONG the records of Albemarle County, in the
| courthouse at Charlottesville, is that of a deed
‘| drawn up and signed by Thomas Jefferson in his
BI own handwriting. This paper states that on De¬
cember 8, 1796, William Champ Carter and his
aS wife, Martha, sold to William Short, of Philadel¬
phia, a certain parcel of land known as Indian Camp, lying on the
southeast side of the Southwest Mountains. This land was sold
for one thousand five hundred and sixty-seven pounds and nine
shillings.
In the deed witnessed by Mr. Jefferson it is interesting to note
that there is mention made of the rentals of the tenants going to
the buyer of the property.
Again, in February, 1813, William Short, who was an aide on
the staff of General Washington, sold the property to David Hig¬
ginbotham. The name of Morven was probably given to the place
when the present brick house was built by Mr. Higginbotham,
about 1320. Plans for the latter are said to have been drawn by
Thomas Jefferson, who also ordered for it from Paris the mantel
of Carrara marble which adorns the drawing-room. Near this house
there still may be seen at Morven an old and very attractive
cottage, which was probably the only dwelling on the place in 1796.
After the death of David Higginbotham, his widow, as execu¬
trix, in 1853, sold the place to Daniel Smith. At this time, all
the property pertaining to the estate was disposed of as the heirs
were scattered. The servants were sold from the old cottage steps,
bringing something over eighty thousand dollars. An old darkey,
Uncle Lee Jones by name, who still survives, tells with pride that
he brought one thousand eight hundred dollars. He stayed with
the Smith family during the devastating years that followed the
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Pe ÜL.