Where the Clarks stayed in Christiansburg is not recorded in the 1809 journal but the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Project identified structures in and near Christiansburg, Montgomery Co, VA licensed as “Houses of Entertainment”, “Ordinary” or “Taverns”, all in the category of “public houses”, during the late 1700s and first half of the 1800s. Three structures in the report are extant and within or near the present-day center of Christiansburg. The excellent WPA Report provides pictures, drawings, cost of services and a list of furnishings that travelers could expect in the early 1800s. (1) The Montague House, originally known as the Morrison Red House, East Main Street is a possible candidate for the place the Clarks stayed. (2)(3) 21st (November) ground covered with snow and continued snowing, set out after breakfast and proceeded on in the snow, met Col. Hancock, (4) George (Jr.), James Preston, (5) Capt. Payton (6) on the turnpike much fog Col. H and George returned and we stayed all night at Botts, at Fotheringay (7) 12 ms. The custom of traveling to meet an approaching guest or traveling with departing guest is a tradition of highest respect for friends and family. The custom occurred at least three times during Clarks 1809 journey to Washington D.C. and when the Lewis and Clark Expedition departed from the Falls of the Ohio in 1803, Jonathan Clark traveled with the keel boat down river for a few miles. We can be sure there was an emotional reunion when Col. Hancock met his daughter, new grandchild Meriwether Lewis Clark, and son-in-law, William Clark. Their overnight stop at Fotheringay and stay with “Botts” is a small mystery. Col Hancock had purchased the Fotheringay property in 1796, from Col. Joseph Kent. (8) Exactly when the Fotheringay house was constructed is uncertain but as we will see in Clark’s entry of the 22 November, the Hancock family was living in Fincastle at Santallaine. The Original Santallaine house burned in January 1812. “1812 Jan. 11, Col. George Hancock to George Hancock (Jr.), Hancock’s house burned last Thursday, most of the furniture was saves, due to the help of the people of Fincastle. The family is now living in the old house. As soon as possible they will move to Fotheringay” (The original two-page letter is in Joyes Collection at the Filson Historical Society.) (9) The original Fotheringay house was unbalanced. (10) In the late 1950s, the south facade was added to balance the house. (11)(12) (The VA DHR Report, note #9 below, is an excellent description of the architecture of the house.) The mystery remains, did the Clark party stay in the Fotheringay house or a tavern on the George Hancock property. There is a tavern recorded in the Montgomery Co. VA Court Order Book 12, 1801, 169, “On the motion of John Bond a license is granted him to keep an [Ordinary] at Col. George Hancock’s house on [Roan oak] he having entered in to bond with security as the law directs.” (13) Furthering the mystery, William Clark clearly wrote “Botts” while the license to keep an ordinary is to “Bond.” The Fotheringay home became the residence of Col. Hancock and his family and the final resting place of some family members. The story of Lewis and Clark and their related families is filled with interesting facts and in some instances even strange. The story of the crypt at Fotheringay is described by Francis Hunter in a clear and factional manner. (14) Readers and travelers are cautioned: Fotheringay is a private home and property. We urge respect for private property and the ownership of this historic home and property. George Hancock’s tomb at Fotheringay – Credit: Francis Hunter Blog Fotheringay – www.dhr.virginia.gov/historic-registers/060-0005
Sources
(1) https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/bitstream/handle/10919/31781/Ch4.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y (2) https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/historic-registers/154-0001/ (3) https://civilwar.vt.edu/montague-house/ (4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hancock_(Virginia_polit ian) (5) https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/smithfieldreview/v23/wedin.pdf page 66 & 67
(6) Uncertain person, not listed in Heitman, Historical Register and Register of United States Army.
(7) https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/historic-registers/060-0005/
(8) Montgomery Co. VA, Circuit Court Clerk, Deed Book “B”, page 262, September 1796.
(9) https://scholarworks.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4395&context=etd , page 95 (10) http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/va/va0700/va0763/photos/163861pv.jpg (11) https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/VLR_to_transfer/PDFNoms/060-0005_Fotheringay_1969_Final_Nomination.pdf (12) https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/historic-registers/060-0005/ (13) https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/bitstream/handle/10919/31781/Ch4.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y page 31, 3rd entry. (14) https://franceshunter.wordpress.com/2010/05/10/buried-sitting-up-and-a-fed-to-boot/