ITALIANS AND FRENCH.
In early times a number of persons came to the county
from Italy and France. They were induced to this step by
the influence of Mr. Jefferson, who in his comprehensive
views of things sought to promote in this country the cultivation
of the vine. Foremost among them was Dr. Philip
Mazzei. He settled here in 1774, and to be a neighbor of
Mr. Jefferson fixed his residence at Colle. He was warmly
interested in the American cause during the Revolution, and
to promote its interests went back to Europe in 1779. He
visited this country again in 1785, presumably to dispose of
his property, but soon returned permanently to his former
home, where he died in 1816.
About the same time came the family of Gianniny, descendants
of which are still living in the county. In 1784 Anthony
Gianniny bought land on Buck Island Creek. In 1792 he
petitioned for liberty to build a mill on that stream. One of
the same name, no doubt a son, became a Baptist minister,
and was licensed to celebrate the rites of matrimony in 1807.
A Nicholas Gianniny was one of his sureties.
Peter Plumard de Rieux bought a hundred and fifty acres
south of Milton, which in 1790 he sold to Anthony Mullins,
and which afterwards became a part of Mr. Monroe's estate.
He then purchased a house and one hundred and thirty acres
on the west side of Charlottesville, which in 1795 he conveyed
to Colonel Thomas Bell to pay his debts. His daughter
Sarah was bound in 1801 to Mrs. Samuel Taliaferro. Claude
de La Cour died in the county in 1789. His will written in
French is on record. In 1809 Charles Elvy Bezet was the
owner of a parcel of ground west of Charlottesville, extending
from the Staunton to the Barracks Road. There appear
also the names of De Prado, Colecassieu, La Porte and
Modena. In 1820 Francis Modena, who was a carriage
maker by trade, became the owner of Lot Forty on Main
Street, which he and his wife Mary subsequently sold to
Dabney Minor.
In later times D'Alphonse came to the county as Instructor
in Gymnastics at the University. He purchased the tract of
land which is still known to the older citizens as D'Alphonse's
Garden. It lies in the southwest angle of the intersection
of the Whitehall Road and the Southern Railroad. During
his residence he was popular among the students. When the
war broke out, he went North and joined the Federal army.
He came back to Charlottesville with Sheridan as a Captain
of cavalry. When hostilities were past he returned, proposing
to occupy his old place at the University; but the countenances
of students and people were turned on him so coldly,
that he shook off the dust of his feet, and quit Virginia in
disgust.
Another distinguished foreigner was connected with Albemarle.
Thaddeus Kosciusko, the illustrious Pole, who performed
so gallant a part in the war of the Revolution, made
his will while in this country. On returning to Europe, he
left it with Mr. Jefferson, whom he had appointed his executor.
When Mr. Jefferson heard of his death in 1817, he had
it recorded in the office of the Albemarle Circuit Court, where
the original document remained on file until May, 1875. At
that time, in response to a resolution of the General Assembly,
the Court ordered it to be transmitted to the Secretary
of the Commonwealth, to be deposited for preservation in
the State Library.
