On July 17th Ernest and I started east for a two weeks trip. We were going to see Washington, D.C. and to try to find more of the Merediths. We seemed to be in the right place at the right time several times.
We ate lunch with our daughter Mariam and Charles in Crawfordsville, IN and then drove to just outside Cambridge, OH. Monday morning we visited with George Meredith's, tried to see Georgia an Francis Meredith, but they were not home.
George Meredith lives on his father's farm, L.D. Meredith, son of George Washington Meredith, son of George Meredith, and son of Thomas Meredith. He had purchased his father's farm. He has also purchased the share of the George Meredith farm at Antrim that his Grandfather, George Washington Meredith inherited from his father. We asked about the will that George Meredith giving the land to his sons Thomas and George Meredith. He said he had to get a Court Deed, because George Washington Meredith lost it because of debts. So if old George Meredith did will his property to his descendants in case it was sold, we won't get any inheritance from the sale of this land. Perhaps it would amount to about $50 anyway. We found out that land was selling for $50 or more in that area.
On the farm were George Meredith now lives the cabin which his family was raised now stands. It is about 20' x 30'. There were eleven children in the family. He said if they all took a breath at the same time, the walls just bulged out. He had quite a wit.
Tuesday we left Interstate 70 and took the Old National Trail thru the Cumberland Narrows. We stopped at Mt. Washington Tavern. It is being restored and next year will be furnished in the same manner that it was during George Washington's day. Just back of the tavern is Fort Necessity where the first Battle of the French and Indian War was fought. This was the first major event in the career of George Washington.
Just a short distance to the east is General Braddock's grave and monument. He was the British Commander that fought the French. There is a portion of the Braddock Road that was cut through the Cumberland Mountains that has been restored. It was a miracle how they cut the road 12' wide through those mountains.
On Wednesday we drove to Gettysburg and took a tour of the Battlefield on a bus. Shortly after we started we came upon Meredith Avenue. Then moments later we saw a plaque with the following inscription:
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
First Corpe - First Division - First Brigade
Brigade General Solomon Meredith
Col. William W. Robison
19 Indiana 24th Michigan
2nd 6th and 7th Wisconsin Infantry
July 1st - Arrived 10:00 am went into position and charged Brig. Gen. Archers Brigade in Reynolds Woods, forced confederate lines across Willoughby Run capturing Brig. Gen. Archer and many prisoners. The 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan and the 2nd and 7th Wisconsin retired and formed line in Reynolds Woods, the 6th Wisconsin having gone to support of 2nd Brigade against Brigade Gen. Davis Brigade. Major Gen. ????? at 4pm being outflanked and hard pressed the Brig. retired under heavy fire of Infantry and artillery to Seminary Ridge and thence to Cemetery Ridge and to the North slope of Culp's Hill and entrenched.
July 2nd replused without a loss a sharp attack at night about sunset the 6th Wisconsin went to support of the 3rd Brigade, Second Division, 12th Corp and assisted in the morning without loss.
Casualty - Killed 33 officers
158 men - wounded 54 officers
666 men captured or missing
13 officers 249 men
Total 1,133
Meredith Avenue wound around through that part of the Battle Field.
Wednesday evening we stayed outside of Washington in Silver Spring. Thursday morning we took a tour of the city. First stop was Smithsonian Institution and the dresses of the Inaugural Ball. The highlight of the morning was the changing of the guard at Arlington Cemetery and a visit to President Kennedy's grave. Canvas covered the wood walks to the grave so there was a muffled sound.
The rest of the day was spent in viewing public buildings. Then with an hour boat ride down the Potomac to Mt. Vernon and an hour tour of the grounds. It was the end of a perfect but grueling day.
On Friday we visited the Capitol Building, went to the Senators Cafeteria for lunch. When inquiring how to get there a lady asked us to eat lunch with her in that portion of the cafeteria reserved for the Senators and personnel. Ernest had the famous Senatorial Bean Soup.
We stood in line for 1-1/2 hours to get into the Senate gallery. We were allowed only 15 or 20 minutes and told to move on. As we were going out I asked a guide if there was anyway we could get to stay longer, there were plenty of empty seats. He said to get a pass from our senator and then we could get into the family galleries. Senator Douglass was on the floor. So after passing many guards we finally got our permit. We were very proud of both of our Senators that day. Douglass was on the floor about 90%of the time and Dirksen about 75% of the time. They were debating the one man, one vote measure.
We left Washington Saturday morning and started for Pleasant Mountain, PA., home of Samuel Meredith, first Treasurer of the United States. We found his grave and monument at the intersection of Routes 670 and 371 in Pleasant Mountain, PA. The small park was triangular. A bronze plaque stated:
Samuel Meredith
This memorial is in tribute to the financier patriot of the Revolutionary War who was first Treasurer of the United States 1789-1801. George Clymer and Meredith were large land owners in this area. Meredith died at his estate Belmont in 1817
The monument was about 24 feet tall, base about 8 feet square and the figure 5'8".
On the North side was Samuel Meredith, with crossed keys right below, next below First Treas. of U.S. appointed by Washington Sept. 11, 1781 to 1801. On another side was Continental Congress, and the battles he seemed to be in: Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, and Germantown. On a third side was Gen. Samuel Meredith, 1741-11817, his wife Margaret Cadwalder, 1752-1820. On the fourth side was Erected by the State of Pennsylvania 1904. We were able to get pictures of the land that Samuel Meredith owned. Very hilly, just why he and Washington passed thru Lancaster Co. and came to such a wilderness as it must have been at that time Ernest couldn't understand.
The Breman sister of Mount Pleasant have a picture of Belmont but we could not wait to try to take a picture of it. So if any one should go back there again I would love to try to get a picture of it. These sisters are grand daughters of the man that caused the monument to be built.
Next we drove to Clarion County Court House to get the exact location of the land that Thomas Meredith (Rev. War) owned. I have a copy of this Deed if any one should want it, but is quite lengthy so I'll not copy it now. We drove to Limestone PA. We asked a lady working a garden and she directed us to the grand daughter of the man that bought the farm from Thomas Meredith or his heirs. She went with us to the farm now owned by a descendant of John Sloan, the buyer.
Of course, there was only a low place where the house had stood. She said her grandmother said there were 2 babies buried on the farm. We could not find his grave in any of the old cemeteries. But we did find Sarah Meredith Rea's grave. I had gotten the exact location from her great grand daughter, Mrs. Robert M. Sherwin, Clairtin, VA (near Pittsburgh,) Rehoboth Church Cemetery, Greenville, PA. We knew Thomas Jr. ad Owen, the twins, were buried near there but could not find them.
We seemed to be at dead end so we gave up and started on our trip. We went to Niagara Falls, Old Fort Niagara, where the only French Castle is located in U.S., the dungeon, wood bin to make the bread in, about as big as a small bath tub, a moat with a draw bridge. Any one that loves history could spend more than a day there, but we only had a few hours.
We came back near Pittsburg and called Mrs. Sherwin but her mother and husband were both passed away and she was having to nurse.
Ernest went with me because I wanted him to, but as we were coming home he said he thoroughly enjoyed it and felt like he could tackle any problems that could face him when he got home.
No comments:
Post a Comment