Stranica 438 [438]
OCR
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 December 8, 1796, William Champ Carter and his aS wife, Martha, sold to William Short, of Philadelphia, 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 Higginbotham. 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 executrix, 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 [271] Pe ÜL.
