University of Virginia Library

EVERETT.

John Everett was the first of the name to appear in the
county. At one time he lived on the waters of Moore's Creek,
on the place adjoining the old Lewis place, the present Birdwood.
This place he purchased from John Spencer in 1781,
and in 1788 sold it, and removed to a farm near the Cross
Roads, which he bought from Joseph Claybrook. His second
home was what is still known in the neighborhood as
the old Methodist Parsonage. Here he laid out a town about
the beginning of the century, called Traveller's Grove, but
it never advanced beyond the sale of three or four lots.
When the prospects of the town had lost their roseate hue,
the Colonel, as he was known, changed the name to Pleasant
Grove, and under this designation conducted a tavern
for some years. He was somewhat of a sporting character,
raised fine horses, and had a training track on his place.
He was twice married, first to Sarah, daughter of Tarleton
Woodson, and secondly to Sarah, daughter of Samuel Dedman.
In 1807 he disposed of his property, and removed to
Cabell County.

Dr. Charles Everett was established in Charlottesville as
one of its physicians as early as 1804, when he purchased from
Tucker M. Woodson the part of Lot Fifty-Nine fronting on
High Street. Two years later he bought from Reuben Burnley
the two lots opposite, Seventy-Three and Seventy-Four,
where he had his office and stable; this property he sold to Dr.
Charles Brown in 1814. It is probable however that before
the last date he had removed to Belmont near Keswick, which
he made his subsequent residence during life; having bought

from John Rogers six hundred and thirty-six acres in 1811. It
was not till 1821 he became the owner of the place adjoining
on the south, which has since been known by the name
of Everettsville; this tract of four hundred acres he purchased
from Mr. Jefferson, whose father had obtained a patent for it
in 1756. The Doctor, besides being actively engaged in the
practice of his profession, devoted much attention to the public
affairs of the county, and to politics. He was appointed
a magistrate in 1807, and represented the county for several
terms in the House of Delegates. He never married, and
died in 1848, by his will emancipating his servants, and
devising his estate to his nephew, Dr. Charles D. Everett.
Not long before the war a person named Thom, from Mercer
County, Pennsylvania, presented to the Circuit Court a certificate
of his appointment as Guardian of some of the Doctor's
old servants, and applied for the legacies he had left for
their benefit.