University of Virginia Library

RIVES.

In the latter part of the last century, Robert Rives, who
married Margaret, daughter of Colonel William Cabell, transacted
an extensive business at Warminster, Nelson County.
In the enterprising spirit which inspired his undertakings, he

established a branch house in Milton, soon after the founding
of that town, under the firm of Brown, Rives & Co. The
partners were James Brown, of Richmond, Robert Rives, and
Robert Burton. He also became the owner of large and valuable
tracts of land in Albemarle. For the Boiling Spring
plantation, which he bought from John Patterson, of Baltimore,
in 1818, he gave sixty thousand dollars, the largest
sum perhaps ever paid for any farm in this region. His sons,
William C., George, Henry, Robert and Alexander, all resided
in Albemarle.

William C. in 1819 married Judith, daughter of Francis
Walker, who inherited Castle Hill as her portion of her father's
estate. About the same time he became a member of
the Albemarle bar. His career in public is a matter of history.
He did service in the Legislature, in the United States
Senate, and as Minister to France. He was regarded as one
of the most finished orators of his day. After his retirement
he was occupied in writing a history of the Life and Times of
James Madison. He died in 1868. George married Mary
Eliza, daughter of Robert Carter. His home was at Sherwood,
on the north side of the Hardware, below Carter's Bridge.
He married a second time Maria, daughter of Professor George
Tucker, and died in 1874. Henry received from his father a
plantation on Green Mountain in 1827. Robert married Elizabeth
Pennill, and resided at the old Nicholas place near
Warren. He died in 1867. Alexander was admitted to the
bar in 1829, and made his home for many years at Carleton,
which he purchased in 1833 from the trustees of Charles L.
Bankhead. He was a member of both houses of the Legislature,
and of Congress, and soon after the war was appointed
Judge of the United States Court for the western District of
Virginia. He was twice married, first to Isabel Wydown,
and secondly to Sarah Watson, of Louisa, and died in 1885.

Paulina, a daughter of Robert Rives, was the wife of Richard
Pollard, who lived in the southern part of the county.
Their children were Margaret, the wife of James P. Henderson,
Virginia, Rosalie, James R., Lucy, Richard, Edward
A., and Henry Rives. Edward and Henry were both journalists.

Besides his editorial labors on the Richmond Examiner,
Edward published a number of works, and died in
Lynchburg in 1772. On account of an article which appeared
in the Southern Opinion, of which he was one of the editors,
Henry was shot by James Grant in Richmond in November
1868, and his remains were brought for interment in the
family burying ground in Albemarle.