When I examined the interior of the vault I found no chain nor other supports which could have been used for this purpose. The theory as to Colonel Hancock's burial in a sitting position is further substantiated by the fact that the tomb contains three other bodies, all laid to rest in the usual way. Patrick Lockhart, who was the former Mrs. When I entered the vault I found the bones of all three of these bodies intact in their niches in the walls of the tomb. If Colonel Hancock had not been buried in an unusual way, why didn't his bones occupy a niche in the wall like the others?
While many will, no doubt, cling to the ancient legend that the sage of "Fotheringay" was interred in a standing position, the deductions of Miss Edmundson's have all the earmarks of logic.
The front of the vault is composed of 76 marble blocks, placed in an orderly arrangement. The base of the tomb measures 17 feet. Sitting upon the pyramided pinnacle, one notices an unusually shaped block that appears ready to fall off with the slightest disturbance. The fact is, Time has left many indications of its ravages on the brave little edifice. The front wall, which seals the entrance, and built 48 years ago, is now the most substantial part of the mausoleum.
On three different occasions the tomb has been sealed, according to Miss Edmundson. The first after Colonel Hancock and his children and mother-in-law were buried; again just after the War Between the States during which it was badly damaged by vandals, and finally, in , by Miss Edmondson.
Judging from the entrance, inside the vault must be about eight feet high and about 30 feet deep. The roof is of stone. During the years since the tomb was excavated from the mountainside, nature has bequeathed it a covering of earth from which has sprung pine, dogwood and cedar trees.
A carpet of pine needles and dogwood leaves on the ground softens the step of the approaching visitor. Nature has decreed this hallowed spot quietness. In the heavy underbrush of the mountainside one may hear the hymeneal of a wren intermingled with the lullaby of the branches of the trees as they sway in the arms of a southerly breeze. The sun's afternoon rays upon the stone wall gives it a glistening whiteness, causing the mausoleum to become visible for miles away.
How different is the landscape one views today when standing on the threshold of the tomb compared to the one the Lord of Fotheringay must have known when he reigned over "Happy Valley. Railways and highways have superseded the inadequate trails of the Indian and buffalo. In an old manuscript we find this account of the vault on the mountainside, crediting the more logical theory of Miss Edmundson that Colonel Hancock was placed in the vault in a sitting position: "High on the hillside overlooking Happy Valley where flow the headwaters of Roanoke River, in a white mausoleum he had himself caused to be excavated from solid rock, the earthly remains of Colonel George Hancock and his daughter, Julia, were laid and to his day the darkies of the region say with trembling, 'De Cunnel he set up dah in a stone chair so's he cud look down de valley and see his slaves at work.
Surely, no longer can "De Cunnel see his slaves at work," but if his soul should ever visit the neighborhood it would doubtless be startled at the changes the landscape has taken on during the past century. Family Bible Corrects Biographer's Errors. Unfortunately most recorders of Virginia history have erred in their biographical sketches of Colonel Hancock.
In this book he devotes several chapters to Colonel George Hancock, his ancestry and descendants. From "the family Bible," Colonel Johnston quotes these records: "From that time , when William Hancock came to Virginia down to the Revolution we have no authentic annals of the family, except the brief record of the family Bible. Summed up, it brings us to Colonel George Hancock of Fotheringay, thus: 'Augustin's son, William, born , left son George 1st , born He left one son, Robert, born ; died Robert had seven children, five of whom died without issue.
The fifth child, George 2nd born ; married Mary Jones and had three sons and a daughter. He died during the Revolutionary War. One of his sons, Augustin, born , died in the army, unmarried.
His eldest son, a cripple, also died unmarried. The following is a record taken from the family Bible: "In ye year , William Hancock in search of Forrest for his building of ships, embarked for ye Plantations, being one of ye company of owners thereof, leaving his familie in England; on ye 22d of March, , he, with others, was massacreed by ye salvages at Thorpe's House, Berkeley Hundred, 50 miles from Charles City.
William died in , leaving two sons, George and Jubal. The records prove conclusively that practically all of the foregoing statements as to Colonel George Hancock ancestry are incorrect. The records show that the father of Colonel George Hancock was George, his grandfather was Robert, born , and not It is further stated by Colonel Johnston that "at the opening of the Revolutionary War, though a very young man, George Hancock entered the service as a Colonel in the Virginia line.
An interesting note in Colonel Hancock's military career is his attachment to Count Pulaski's staff, and, it was he who received the body of the illustrious Pole in his arms when he fell from his horse at the siege of Savannah. Fotheringay Named for English Castle. John died in youth.
Fotheringay, the home of Colonel Hancock, took its name from that of a castle in England, where the imprisonment, trial and execution of Mary, queen of Scots, took place. Though more than a century has passed since Colonel Hancock was in charge of the estate, it is interesting to note the almost perfect state of preservation the house is in. Its interior is beautiful. Spacious rooms, high ceilings, picturesque windows and a large fireplace are indelible marks of a golden age in home construction.
Hand-carved wood work, one of the lost arts of modern home building, is to be found in this old home. An interesting bit of Virginia romantic lore in this old house is the stains, just above the sofa, on the original wallpaper, of the pomaded coiffures of lovely ladies. Much more of historic lore is to be found in and around this famous home. Garden clubs of Virginia find it a never-ending source of interest for pilgrimages. Compiled by J. The following facts relating to one of the founders of the Hancock family in Virginia were assembled as a result of a brief three days visit to the Virginia State Library and Chesterfield Court House.
They do not aim in any way at completeness but are offered in the belief that no effort has been made previously toward fixing the common derivation of many thousands of Hancocks, settled throughout Virginia and the South. The compiler was interested chiefly in establishing the derivation of the Bedford county branch of the family. From the amount of material which was brought to light, there should be little difficulty for those deriving descent from the earliest known representative of one of the Hancock families in Virginia, Simon, to establish that fact.
For the first and second generations the chief sources of material are: C. McIntosh, Brief Abstracts of Lower Norfolk County Wilk, and for the generations which follow, the early Henrico county records now to be found in Virginia State Library, together with the county records of Princess Ann, Chesterfield and Bedford on file in the respective court houses. Statements have recently appeared in print that the Hancocks of Virginia arc descended from Richard, Edward and Mathew Hancock who were transported to the Colony and settled respectively in Charles City county, ; York county, ; and Lower Norfolk county.
Hotten records a John Hancock, aged 17 who embarked Oct. But with none of these five has his compilation anything to do. According to a record contained in an old family Bible of the Hancocks, an excerpt from which is given by Prof. William Preston Johnston in The Johnston's of Salisbury Page , the earliest known emigrant to Virginia by the name of Hancock was a William Hancock, one of the incorporators of the Second Virginia Company in and who was a subscriber to the amount of L The account quoted from the family Bible is as follows: "In ye year William Hancock in search for Forrest for his building of ships, embarked for ye plantations, being one of ye company owners thereof, leaving his familye in England; on ye 22nd of March, he, with others, was massacred by ye salvages at Thorpe's House, Berkeley Hundred, fifty miles from Charles City.
Robert, William, Sarah and Ruth. William, horn , died , leaving sons George. Robert left children, Robert, born ; he was ancestor of Col. William Hancock of Bedford county, Virginia; Edward, born , died young. It was originally called either mushball, kittenball or indoor baseball, but by the s it had acquired the name of softball.
Talking about the all-time official stats, Brazilian legend Pele is the greatest soccer player of all time. However, several fans of modern football also believe that both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the current greatest soccer players.
Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel. Ben Davis February 9, When was George Hancock softball born and died? What did George Hancock do? How long did George Hancock live? Why is George Hancock famous? What was the sport called before it was called softball?
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