Cornelius James 'Cap' George

Notes:

An Extraordinary Homeplace ? REVISITED
Memories Longing to Resurface

This example of early Colonial Architecture in the Pittsville Community of Pittsylvania County, Virginia was the home for three generations of the George Family. The Cabin was built by Cornelius McCaney George, and after his death his son Ashford and his family lived there. Ashford lived there with his daughter, Zorada and her husband Sam Stevens and at his death the farm was left to Zorada.

This cabin is not only remarkable for its hand-hewn, square-notch log construction, but also for the rare cross-jointing that allow two rooms in one structure. Most cabins with two rooms will have an interior partition separation and not a true inter-notched wall. Because this dwelling is taller than most log structures, the ceiling joists notches an also be seen. The George homeplace, as a result, has taller ceilings in the upstairs bedrooms than most cabins of the era.

The dwelling sits on a fieldstone foundation and has a gable roof with a half-log cornice, another rare feature. A fieldstone chimney stands at each gable end and small four-pane windows on each side of the chimneys open into the upstairs rooms. The cabin has a front entrance, opening into one on the first-floor rooms, while the back of the dwelling has two entrances, one for each room. Windows, one on the back and one on either side of the front entrance, were once six-over-six pane, double sash windows. Inside is another uncommon feature. Narrow chamfered planks appear to cover the chinking which would make the cabin much warmer during the winter. The walls are whitewashed. A narrow, closed winder stair is located to the back of one of the rooms, near the back door - a feature much admired as it conveniently allowed family members to enter the back door and go to their chambers or bedrooms upstairs without tracking through the downstairs area. Mantels, with pilasters on the sides, have a heavy chamfered and slightly curved panel on the frieze compatible with the dwelling's 1819 construction.

To the left of the remarkable cabin is the family cemetery, Three generations of the George family buried there are: Cornelius McHaney George & his wife Ann Dove, Ashford George & his wife Sarah Elizabeth McClanahan, Francis Lafayette George & his wife Deleware "Della" Augusta Yeatts.

Complied & submitted by Ginger George Gentry. G-G-G grand-daughter of Cornelius & Anne George.



Article from the Chatham Star-Tribune:

A Houston, Texas, man is trying to reach relatives to help save the Old George homeplace, later called the Old Stephan's Place, on Old Pittsville Road west of Gretna.

According to Hunter George, Cornelius McHaney George built the cabin in 1817 for his new bride, Ann Dove, after returning from Detroit, Michigan. The War of 1812 was on and George was commissioned a captain and ordered to lead a troop of Virginia volunteers from that area to Detroit to help fight off the British Army attempting to burn the city. Four generations of Georges lived in the homeplace, which is now on private property. "We want to move it by the family cemetery nearby and do some restoring work," said George. George grew up in Lynchburg, but since high school has lived in Texas as a member of the U. S. Air Force. "I grew up listening to my father and grandfather tell stories about living there," he said. "I didn't know that it was still standing until just recently and realized it's historical importance. George has family in Virginia and North Carolina. George Family Homestead · This 200 year old log house needs to be moved and restored. The family is looking for $25,000 to $35,000 to have it moved. This is the beginning and we are hoping that this goal will be met very soon. There will be assorted means to raise money, in the end a Reunion to celebrate the gathering of the George Family!

Here is a partial list of people who were associated with the Old George Place having married into the Family: Ann Dove, Rosa McClannahan, Susan Roark, Amanda Blankinship, John Green, Sarah Hamrick, Sally Hatchat, Richard Turner, Alexander Duncan, William Lackey, Thomas Simpson, Willian S. Ramsey, Sherwood Yeatts, Martha Hopkins Meyers, Elizabeth S. Jefferson, Sara Willis, Sara E. McClannahan, Burwell Short, John W. Jennings, Paula E. Goad, Delaware A. (?), Nannie K. Pickeral, Samual J. Stephens, Matthew Lyles, and William H. Tuck. There are probably more that I don't know about.

Should you be related to one of the people, please contact me. You have a right to be a part of the plan to save the Historic old 220 year old Family Treasure and know more about your family history.






Following is the explanation from Hunter George about his painting of the ....St Nicholas Church of England is in the little town of Tillingham in Southminister, Essex, England. Humphrey Cole, was the Vicker in the early 1600's. One of the Vickers daughters, Jane, had met John George from the nearby village of Writtle and they wanted her father to marry them in the church. Soon after they were married, they made the long voyage to America and landed in Virginia in 1635. John had three children, Isaac, Rebecca and Sara. When Jane died John married Anne Gibson.
At Humphreys death in 1624 the congregation collected money and comissioned a stained glass window be installed in the church in his honor. He is buried under the pulpit floor.

Karen Wood

IS this the George home near Gretna? I was there maybe 10 years ago with my cousin, Earleen George (Craddock) now deceased. Her father Early Cripin George was born in that cabin, s/o Francis Lafayette GEorge and Della Yeatts, He was the son of Ashford George & Sarahh McClanahan, who in turn was the son of Cornelius M George and Ceily Dove. Ceily was the sister of my GGGGrandmother Jane Dove m. Booker Keesee. Thier daughter, Sarah/Sally Keesee m Thomas Colbert. Their son. Auville Thomas Colbert was my Great Grandpa m. Mollie Scruggs. Their daughter, my Aunt Bessie m. Early Crispin George. To make it more complicated I have a George 6th greatgrandmother Edna m James Pemberton DeJarnette. They lived in Halifax Co but on land that became Pittsylvania Co up in the closest to the Levels area. I've found the son's cemetery (George Dejarnette) but not the father's nor Edna's grave. Behind the George Cabin, if it is the one I think there is are George/Barbour graves.

Cornelius married Louella Clark Jefferson 1891. Louella (daughter of William Franklin Jefferson and Adaline A. Grubb) was born 4 Feb 1873, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; died 10 Jan 1950, Danville, Virginia; was buried , Leemont Cemetery Danville, Virginia. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Daughter of Cornelius James George and Louella Clark Jefferson.Wife of Russell Edward Drewry and mother of Gene Edward Drewry and Russell Lynne Drewry. (findagrave)