Clifton Forge Built OnEstate

Clifton Forge Built On Estate

Covington Virginian November 13, 1972

From the Collection of Sylvia Steele Echols

The Williamson Manse that stood on lots A and B, Jackson Street, Clifton Forge was the oldest building in Alleghany County, the Alleghany Tribune a paper published in Covington, said on February 4, 1881.

This story recorded for the WPA Historical Inventory in 1936, under the sponsorship of the Virginia Conservation Commission, was written by Mrs. W. M. Smith, now deceased.  She was a descendent of Andrew Williamson, one of the last owners of the Williamson property which became the site of much of the city of Clifton Forge.

“The original owner must have been Robert Gallaspy, to whom the land was granted,  George III, in 1772.  A copy of the grants show the site as being part of the tract,” Mrs. Smith said.

“The estate of the first owner of the land passed into the possession of various ones as the years passed . . . . Robert Gallaspy willed to Alexander Gallaspy in 1789, who deeded it to Alexander Wilson in 1805.  Alexander Wilson deeded it to James Breckenridge in 1810, who held it until 1825 when he deeded it to Henry Smith.

“In 1851 Henry Smith willed it to the Clifton Forge Company.  The site was deeded to C.L. Carter in 1906 and to Mastin B. Irvine in 1933.

“The oldest part of the building, that stood on what is now lots A. and B, Jackson Street, was of the pioneer type of log houses, one and one-half stories, with chimneys on outside, and wide fireplaces were the customary heaters.

“A frame two story structure was added to the original Gallaspy dwelling.  The addition was not planked up and down, but it was a well-built house, good weather boarding, well plastered throughout.  All interior woodwork was hard white oak.  The rooms were the average size, halls rather large, with stairway.

“The Gallaspy land grant was, for a short time later known as the VanStavern lands, evidently a man by that name was owner, in fact his name is given in a brief sketch of the site of Clifton Forge, written some years ago, though the date of deed in not available.

LEGEND

“There is an interesting legend that has come down to the present day, that may have occurred, and it is plausible that it did. Mr. Morton in his Annals of Bath County give it thus:  “Katherine VanStavern taught the children of the several families in the locality of what is now Clifton Forge.  Her friend, William Gorman, was a graduate of William and Mary College.  Upon one occasion, when he was in the neighborhood, Indians came to the schoolroom door, and seeing them, young Gorman fired upon them, killing one.

“The others fled.  True to the usual ending of romance, Katherine and William became engaged.  Before they were married, however, Katherine was seized by five lurking Indians, who took her bound, to the camp of the red men on Jackson River.  East of the oldest building to where the town of Iron Gate is now.

“It so happened that William Gorman was hunting in the nearby forest, and saw the performance, and quickly collected a party, came to the camp while the Indians were asleep.  After killing several of Katherine’s captors, she was rescued.

According to record in the Clerk’s Office at Covington, Henry Smith was the last purchaser of the land that was originally a grant from the King of England.

“Henry Smith came to America from Fifeshire, Scotland, in 1811.  After he became the owner of the farm and other land holdings, he lived in the oldest building in Alleghany County.  The home was on the south-eastern portion of his six hundred acre farm, facing the public road that lay between it and the Jackson River.

“The view from the front porch of the home was picturesque.  The beautifully clear, broad waters of the river were enhanced by the large sycamore, elms and other native trees that grew along the banks.

The ever beautiful blue bells of Scotland that grew in profusion on either side of the public road to the water’s edge, added color to the scene. In the yard grew the rare catalpa, and other shade trees.

“The portion of the Smith farm, where stood the famous old building, was a small sized farm, having on it the necessary barn, stables, corn crib, orchard, garden and fields.

“Henry Smith and his wife, Janet, reside on that part of his farm until 1844, or shortly thereafter.  In October of that year Andrew Williamson and his wife, Jean, and young children arrived at Norfolk, from New York, after a several week’s voyage from Dunshalt, Fifeshire, Scotland.

“During the time that Henry Smith lived in the original Gallaspy home, he was Magistrate in 1831, Justice in 1833, and a member of the first board of school commissioners of Alleghany County in 1843.

Upon the arrival of his brother-in-law, Andrew Williamson, Henry Smith and his wife, Janet, removed from the old building to his newly erected home on the western side of Smith Creek.

“The house was a large two-story frame structure, with attic and cellar.  His homestead embraced all the farm, with large orchard, fields, meadows and lots.

“Andrew Williamson and family lived in the home that was known as the oldest building, later it became familiar in this part of Virginia as the “Williamson Manse.”  The name was given because in years following the arrival of the Williamson family, religious services were held in the home at intervals of regular services at Oakland Church and the church at Covington.

“David Williamson was a young son of Andrew and Jean Williamson, and grew to manhood I the house that once stood on what is now Jackson Street, Clifton Forge.

“Upon the death of Henry Smith, in 1851, David Williamson became the owner of the entire estate of Henry Smith.  He continued in the home of his parents through the years of youth into manhood.  From the “oldest building” he supervised the entire farm, and the equipment a trustee of Oakland Presbyterian Church, a Justice, and was present at the first War Session of the County Court, on April 27, 1861.  The entire court was present, of which he was one.

“In due time, after residing in Alleghany County, Henry Smith Andrew and David Williamson, became naturalized citizens.  Their naturalization papers are in the possession of David Williamson’s daughter.  Several of his children were born in the Williamson “Manse” here he and his wife, Sarah Elizabeth, resided until after a few years they removed into the Henry Smith home on the western side of Smith Creek.  The wife of David Williamson was the daughter of the Reverend William Haunersley and his wife, Malinda Hays.

Upon the death of David Williamson, in 1873, the site where stood the oldest building in Alleghany County, the original land grant and other land holdings acquired by purchase became the property of his heirs.

“Prior to his death land was sold to the Virginia Central Railroad, that became the nucleus of the Village of Williamson, named for the owner of the land and his father, and the present City of Clifton Forge.  People in this locality referred to Mr. Williamson, Senior as the “grand old Scotchman.”

“Andrew Williamson was a designer, and his business caused him to cross the ocean many times to the British Isles, particularly to his native Scotland.  He died at the age of 91.  “The Village Williamson developed into a town in the course of a few years, and lots were sold at public sales by the owners, the Williamson heirs, until the year 1890, when the country was in the grip of “booms” when they sold the remaining Henry Smith land holdings to the Clifton Forge Company.