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Jesse Mustain House
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I knew it as soon as we pulled in the drive and parked. Though we'd sworn to each other " no more projects," this would be our new home in Virginia. My husband Gary fell in love at first sight. As we wandered through the house it called to me, too. A couple of months later it was ours and we made the move from Missouri to Virginia. We would later discover that I am a 3rd cousin 6 times removed of the original owners, Thomas and Jesse Mustain, and that Gary was a 2nd cousin 5 times removed of a later owner, William Harvey, who lived in this house during the Civil War years.
Known as the Jesse Mustain House, it is a southside Virginia plantation manor home on land which was part of an original land grant from King George II.
Some Mustain family researchers and local history buffs
believe that this house was built by Jesse's father, Thomas Mustain. In her book Tracks Along the Staunton, Diane Popek states:
"Around 1750 Thomas Mustain, on the original grant by King George II of England,
built a rock-wall house, a landmark of Pittsylvania County." We believe that this rock-wall house built in 1750 was the first floor of our
home.
John Kern, then Regional Director of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, agreed.
He praised the flow of the original house as an example of authentic Colonial Virginia hospitality. John was sure that the house originally faced south and the very old Colonial road running east to Hickey's Road and west to Gretna. He provided essential information and advice as we began working to restore this gem of a house.
Jesse's father, Thomas Mustain, went on to built a larger home (timber frame with an English
basement that is on his original land grant and on what is now Telegraph Road) and his son, Jesse, added the other two floors in the 1770's when he came of age,
married, and began his family.
The first floor of the colonial
portion of this house was constructed circa 1750/1756 and is built of fieldstone,
most of it probably gathered from nearby Stinking River. These walls are
18" thick and are a double row of stone. Remnants of the handhewn, pegged
construction remain, including the original 1750 summer beam. The second
and third floors are timber frame, built circa 1770's. The south two story
wing was constructed circa 1900.
A few of the Colonial-era features
include original hogshair and mud plaster in excellent condition, heart pine
flooring, heart pine wainscot with center board a full 24", some original doors
and hardware, 9 over 9 and 6 over 6 windows with original blown glass panes, 4
fireplaces, heart pine hand carved mantles, and third floor rooms have private
staircases. The original flooring in the rock wall portion of the house, as well, as outdoors on the south side, were huge slabs of field stone, probably carried in from the "meadows" area of Pittsylvania County.
In what was the original primary social room (current second floor) is what remains of the original stairway down to the kitchen. The door is original to the house with a hand carved latch with drawstring, HL hinges and is complete with an old "cat hole." Inside what is now a closet, in the very back, is a small secret compartment where valuables were hidden from the tax enumerators.
Outdoors the property always bordered Stinking River and there's also a small creek.
The pastor of the local church was a descendant of one of the owners and shared what he could remember, including the location of the stables and slave dwellings. The oldest dependency probably dates to the early 1800's and is approximately 12' x 12'. It's believed it was a slave dwelling.
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Oldest dependency - Jesse Mustain House
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Thomas Mustain was listed among the local tithables of 1750.
At a Court held for Halifax County, May 1752, it was ordered that Thomas
Mustain, Joseph Ironmonger, George Whiffon and Daniel Smith do appraise the
estate of Isaac Cloud, deceased. His
land grant was signed by Royal Governor Dinwiddie and drawn up on the
29th day of November 1756. This was an original crown Grant made by King
George II in the thirtieth year of his reign for 400 acres for the tidy sum of
forty shillings. In 1767 Thomas appears on the list of tithables
taken by John Donelson in Pittsylvania County's first tax list. In 1769
the vestry of Camden Parish planned to build a church "near Thomas Mustain's." Thomas Mustain was born about 1725 in VA and died 1791 in
Pittsylvania County, VA. He married Mary Haley
about 1748. He and Mary had the following children:
- Ann / Anna Mustain 1740-1816 KY. Married #1 William Buckner #2 Jeremiah Buckner on 9 Sep 1782
- Jesse Mustain Sr - born about 1749 Pittsylvania County, VA and died 1794. Married 1. Jenny Morton/Goode 1756-1792. Married 2. Mary "Polly" Brewis/Bruce 1750-1795, d/o Robert Brewis/Bruce, on 11 June 1793 in Pittsylvania County, VA.
- Mildred "Milly" Mustain 1750-1838 Married Jesse Keesee
- Avery Solomon Mustain 1756-1833 Married Mary "Polly" Shelton 17 Mar 1780
- Winifred "Winney" Mustain 1757-1820 Married Zachariah Lewis
- Tabitha Mustain 1758-1820 Married James Bruce 13 Feb 1782
- Rebecca Mustain 1760 - 1790
- Molley Mustain 1765 Married John Paterson 30 June 1794
- Sally Mustain 1769 Married Price Skinner 30 June 1794
- Seludey Mustain 1772-1812 Married Claiborn Shelton 16 May 1785.
- Mary Ann Mustain 1774 Married Jeremiah Barker
Jesse Mustain had the following
children:
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Thomas - born abt 1778; died 29 Oct 1814 Charles County, VA; married Martha Irby on November 19,
1801
- Priscilla - born January 6, 1778; died 24 Jun 1850 TN; married William Shelton
in December 1798
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Jesse - born 6 Sep 1782; died 1 Mar 1869 McDonough County, IL; married Tabitha Hicks
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John - born 6 Sep 1782; married Elizabeth Legrand
Glenn on January 11, 1829; died March 1, 1869 in Blandinsville, IL
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Susanna - born abt1785; died 1845 Boone County, MO; married Walker Goodwin
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James W - born abt1787; died 18 Jun 1850 Barren County, KY; married Sarah Shelton
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Winifred - born abt 1789; died 1829; never married and served as Overseer of the Poor of
Camden Parish
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Tabitha - born abt 1790; died abt 1850 Caldwell County, KY; married Meredith Jennings on Dec 14, 1807
In 1777, Thomas Mustain and both of his sons, Jesse and Avery
Mustain, are listed as having taken the Oath of Allegiance while serving in
Captain Crispin Shelton's Company in the defense of Virginia during the
revolution.
Pittsylvania Country courts records mention Jesse more than
once. On September 21, 1779 he was recorded as being severely in debt to
the Commonwealth of Virginia. In October of 1782 a case was dismissed in
which he was accused of misconduct.
Prior to 1782 Jesse had already set up housekeeping with his
(already large family) separate from his father. Jesse is listed on the
1782 Heads of Households with 8 white souls. His father, Thomas, is listed
with 7 white souls. The first census of the United States taken in 1785
lists Jesse Mustain with 9 white souls, 1 dwelling, and 3 other buildings.
Thomas is listed with 4 white souls, 1 dwelling, and 4 other buildings.
Jesse's younger brother, Avery, is listed with 4 white souls, no dwelling and no
other buildings. Avery built his home in 1788 (date is on north cornice
of house) on Whitethorn Creek.)
On November 6, 1791, Thomas Mustain, "being weak in body," wrote
his will:
- To my beloved wife Mary Mustain, a sufficient maintenance
suitable to her circumstance, as long as she remains a widow;
* To my son Jesse, 200 acres to be taken off the upper end of
the tract that I now live on: Beginning at the upper N corner and running down
the N line onto the S line, making his complement;
The balance of the tract of land I live on to be sold to the
highest bidder giving 18 months credit;
* To daughters, Rebecca and Molly, twenty shillings each;
* To daughters Mary Ann and Sally, ten pounds each;
* To son Avery Mustain and daughters Anna Buckner, Milly Keesee,
Tabetha Bruce, Winney Lewis, and Saludy Shelton one equal part of the money from
the sale of the land;
* To Thomas Mustain, son of Jesse Mustain and his wife Jenny, who has
promised to live with me and my wife during our lives for which I give and
bequeath unto the said Thomas Mustain a tract of land on both sides of Mayes
Creek, 170 acres, and 1/3 of my moveable property;
* The balance of my moveable property to be divided among my last
six named children.
*I appoint son, Jesse Mustain, and Joel Shelton executors.
Signed by Thomas Mustain (with his X). Witnessed by
Frances Irby, Nathaniel Farris, and Griffith Dickinson. Vincent Shelton
and Charles Lewis, Jr. gave security for the executors. This will was
entered into court on November 21, 1791.
It was not long after this that Jesse died. Family
lore says he fell from his horse and broke his neck on the way home from a tavern. On June 1, 1795, Polly
Mustain, widow of Jesse, mortgaged her dower of 66 2/3 acres to Samuel and David
Pannill for thirty pounds. On August 21, 1797, Jesse's son Thomas was made legal
guardian to Jesse's minor children.
In 1797, the whole plantation,
including Polly's dower, was sold to Benjamin Gosney and passed out of the
Mustain family for the purchase price of 114 pounds and 11 shillings.
Benjamin Gosney was born 21 Feb 1766 in Culpeper County, VA and died 1840 in Pittsylvania County, VA. He was the son of William Gosney 1755-1799 and Elizabeth Hawkins 1756-1799. Benjamin married Elizabeth Haden 1769-1831.
Based on later years census data it is likely Benjamin Gosney also owned slaves on this property.
1820 Census Pittsylvania County, VA - Benjamin Gosney
12 Slaves:
1 M under 14
3 M 14-25
1 M 26-44
1 M 45+
2 F under 14
2 F 24-35
1840 Census Pittsylvania County, VA - Benjamin Gosney
12 Slaves:
2 M under 10
2 M 10-23
4 M 24-35
1 F under 10
1 F 10-23
2 F 24-35
In 1817, Gosney sold the plantation to Richard Whitehead for
$2,840.
When Whitehead bought roughly the other half of the Mustain tract
in 1811, he had, in effect, the land to which Thomas Mustain was given patent by
George II. Around 1836, Richard Whitehead made structural changes to the
house: moving the south and north doors (front and back) on the 2nd floor,
as well as adding a wall to make a center hallway corresponding to the new
placement of doors. Richard and his wife, Pency, were buried together near
the house, but in 1934 they were removed to Chatham, VA.
Richard Whitehead, the son of John Whitehead and Sarah Burcher,
was born in 1 May 1773 in Amherst County, VA and died 4 December 1843 in Chatham, Pittsylvania County, VA. He came to Pittsylvania County about
1817 from Amherst, VA. Richard married Pency Camden, daughter of William
Camden. Their children:
- Melinda T Whitehead 1796-1865 Married William H Markham
- Nancy Camden Whitehead 1798-1901 Married William Tankersley
- Marbell C Whitehead 1800-1845 Married #1 Dolly C Stone #2 Judith Perkins
- Rhoda Ann Whitehead 1801-1883 Married Drury Scruggs
- James O Whitehead 1804-1850 Married Rhoda Murphey
- Richard Whitehead Jr 1807-1851 Married Elizabeth Brown
- Mary "Polly" Whitehead 1808-1888 Married Terry Glenn
- Lucy Whitehead 1810-1861 Married John Henry Whitehead
- Pency Whitehead 1811-1870 Married Jeffrey M Palmer
- Eliza Jane Whitehead 1813-1860 Married William A Tucker
- Andrew Jackson Whitehead 1815-1861 Married Drucilla H Wade
1810 Census Amherst County, VA
6 Slaves
1820 Census Pittsylvania County, VA
13 Slaves - 1 Blind:
6 M under 14
1 M 14-25
2 M 26-44
2 F 14-25
1 F 26-44
1 F 45+
1830 Census Pittsylvania County, VA
20 Slaves - 1 Blind:
7 M under 10
3 M 10-23
1 M 24-35
1 M 36-54
4 F under 10
3 F 24-35
1 F 55-99
1840 Census Pittsylvania County, VA
22 Slaves - 1 Blind
5 M under 10
2 M 10-23
2 M 36-54
8 F under 10
1 F 10-23
2 F 24-35
1 F 36-54
1 F 55-99
1850 Slave Schedule Pittsylvania County VA - Richard Whitehead
9 Slaves (sex, age, birth year, race/color):
M 38 b1812 B
M 26 b1824 B
M 22 b1828 B
F 21 b1829 B
F 17 b1833 B
F 17 b1833 B
M 5 b1845 B
M 2 b1848 B
F 8 b1842 B
Andrew J Whitehead - continued to live here after his father Richard's death:
4 Slaves:
1 55 M B
1 42 F B
1 23 M B
1 20 M B
1860 Slave Schedule Pittsylvania County VA - Andrew J Whitehead
18 Slaves (sex, age, birth year):
F 45 b1815
M 25 b1835
F 24 b1836
M 24 b1836
M 23 b1837
F 20 b1840
F 18 b1842
M 17 b1843
F 16 b1844
F 13 b1847
M 12 b1848
M 12 b1848
F 9 b1851
F 6 b1854
M 6 b1854
M 3 b1857
M 3 b1857
M 0 b1860
Between 1860 and 1863 all of this property was sold to William
Harvey who was born 13 Feb 1801 Campbell County, VA and died 9 Apr 1889. He married #1 Catherine B Johnson 1802-1844 on 6 Oct 1820 and #2 Nancy Sims b1801 after 1844 and #3 W Fostiman East .
1830 Census Campbell County, VA
19 Slaves:
2 M under 10
1 M 10-23
1 M 24-35
1 M 36-54
2 M 55-99
5 F under 10
4 F 10-23
1 f 24-35
2 F 35-54
1840 Census Southern District Campbell County, VA
9 Slaves:
1 M under 10
2 M 10-23
2 M 24-35
1 F under 10
1 F 10-23
2 F 36-54
1860 Slave Schedule Pittsylvania County Northern Dist - William P Harvey pg 45
17 Slaves (sex, age, birth year):
F 75 b1785
M 45 b1815
F 34 b1826
F 30 b1830
M 29 b1831
M 28 b1832
F 20 b1840
M 13 b1847
F 12 b1848
F 9 b1851
M 7 b1853
M 6 b1854
F 5 b1855
F 4 b1856
M 2 b1858
M 0
M 0
Sometime after the Civil War and before 1876 the house sold to Allison Berger who was born 7 Nov 1847 at Toshes, Pitts Co VA. Allison married Susan Pullen born 1859 in Pullens, Pitts Co VA. They had 9 children. He was the son of George Tyree Berger who married Nilla Luck Dickerson abt 1845 near the Berger Store at Clifton.
1860 slave schedule N Dist Pitt Co VA - George T Berger
14 Enslaved People (sex, age):
M 55
M 35
M 35
F 23
F 22
F 21
M 11
F 10
F 8
M 7
M 3
M 3
M 1/12
M 21
Next this property then sold to J C Rowland about 1904. John Carrington "Tack" Rowland was born 29 Jan 1887 at Chalk Level and died 1 April 1956, both in Gretna, Virginia. He was the son of James Monroe Rowland 1858-1941 and Nora Jones 1858-1900. He married Lottie Shelton 1892-1981.
In the 1860 Slave Schedule James Rowland is listed with 10 slaves:
M 10 b1840
M 12 b1848
M 9 b1851
M 5 b1855
F 42 b1818
F 40 b1820
F 21 b1839
F 13 b1847
F 4 b1856
F 2 b1858
Tack and Lottie made some changes to the property. It was during their ownership that the two story wing was built on the south side of the house (formerly the front.) He added the two story wing to the south. At some time they poured cement over the flagstone floor in the rock walled first story so that Lottie could have linoleum flooring.
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Looking across Tucker Rd to the Slave Cemetery
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Tack also plowed over the slave cemetery.
One of his sons shared that information and showed us where the slave cemetery was located. West of the house and (now) on the other side of Tucker Road. Once a part of this property, it was cut off and sold long ago. When we lived there that parcel of land was wooded and when we explored we never saw a trace of the cemetery. Based on the enslaved mentioned in census data, there are a number of souls buried there.
This property then sold to James Gibson, then to Donna Schoen Carter in 1989, then to Gary and me in 1997 and then in 2005 to the current owners.
