Westover was built by Colonel William
Byrd, who has been described as a " Vir-
ginian of Virginians, and the perfect flower of
his day." It is recorded that his plantation
was a veritable principality, and he lived on
it in lordly style. The old place is steeped in
legends, traditions, and memories of his
daughter Evelyn, who was a famous beauty
and made a great stir in London, where she
was presented at the Court of George I. It
is said that a fan she used on this occasion is
still preserved at Brandon, also some of her
gowns, and several magnificent portraits of
her, painted by Sir Peter Lely and Sir God-
frey Kneller. It is recorded that while in
London courtiers and cavaliers combined to
pay her court, and an attachment sprang up
between her and a Roman Catholic nobleman.
But her father, a staunch adherent to the
Church of England, refused his consent to
their marriage, and they parted forever, the
beautiful Evelyn finally dying of a broken
heart on November 13, 1737. She was buried
34
Westover 35
in the little churchyard on almost the same
spot where she had bidden her lover farewell.
Her grave is marked with a marble slab on
which is a lengthy inscription characteristic of
the time in which she lived. Through the
kindness of Mrs. Maria Byrd Freeland Lewis
of " Buena Vista," wife of Colonel John Red-
mon Coxe Lewis, a recipe belonging to her
great-aunt, Miss Nancy Byrd of Westover, is
given. Miss Nancy Byrd was the grand-
daughter of Colonel William Byrd of West-
over, and a niece of Evelyn Byrd of Westover.
PICKLED OYSTERS^
( Westover)
Take from a gallon of oysters all the liquor
except enough to keep them from burning.
Put on with a little spoonful of mace (the
blades) and a little spoonful of white pepper
(whole). The powdered does not look as
well. Let them stew until they begin to
plump. Then take them off. Let them get
cold. Add vinegar to your taste.✪ Pickled Oysters If there
should not be enough liquor add some before
putting in the vinegar.
Miss Nancy Byrd,
Westover.
THE ROCKS
Two centuries ago The Rocks was built
by Lord and Lady Wormsley of England, and
they were buried on the estate. The Lewis
family have lived here for generations, and
their old Colonial recipes are famous.
Through the kindness of Miss Anne Payne
Lewis of The Rocks, some of these old Lewis
recipes are given.
Miss Lewis is of distinguished ancestry.
She is the great-great-granddaughter of
Colonel George Muse, the man who taught
General Washington military tactics, so tradi-
tion says. His son, Battaile Muse, attended to
General Washington's business in the coun-
ties of Berkeley, Fauquier, and Loudoun, Gen-
eral Washington having given to him a power
of attorney to act as his agent. He also at-
tended to the business of Lord Fairfax and
occasionally to that of General Daniel Mor-
gan of Revolutionary fame.
The Lewis family of The Rocks have in
36
The Rocks 37
Page 7 · 1 recipe record on this page
Presented as published in 1907. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Westover was built by Colonel William Byrd, who has been described as a " Virginian of Virginians, and the perfect flower of his day." It is recorded that his plantation was a veritable principality, and he lived on it in lordly style. The old place is steeped in legends, traditions, and memories of his daughter Evelyn, who was a famous beauty and made a great stir in London, where she was presented at the Court of George I. It is said that a fan she used on this occasion is still preserved at Brandon, also some of her gowns, and several magnificent portraits of her, painted by Sir Peter Lely and Sir Godfrey Kneller. It is recorded that while in London courtiers and cavaliers combined to pay her court, and an attachment sprang up between her and a Roman Catholic nobleman. But her father, a staunch adherent to the Church of England, refused his consent to their marriage, and they parted forever, the beautiful Evelyn finally dying of a broken heart on November 13, 1737. She was buried
Westover 35
in the little churchyard on almost the same spot where she had bidden her lover farewell. Her grave is marked with a marble slab on which is a lengthy inscription characteristic of the time in which she lived. Through the kindness of Mrs. Maria Byrd Freeland Lewis of " Buena Vista," wife of Colonel John Redmon Coxe Lewis, a recipe belonging to her great-aunt, Miss Nancy Byrd of Westover, is given. Miss Nancy Byrd was the granddaughter of Colonel William Byrd of Westover, and a niece of Evelyn Byrd of Westover.
PICKLED OYSTERS
( Westover) Take from a gallon of oysters all the liquor except enough to keep them from burning. Put on with a little spoonful of mace (the blades) and a little spoonful of white pepper (whole). The powdered does not look as well. Let them stew until they begin to plump. Then take them off. Let them get cold. Add vinegar to your taste. If there should not be enough liquor add some before putting in the vinegar.
Miss Nancy Byrd,
Westover.
THE ROCKS
Two centuries ago The Rocks was built by Lord and Lady Wormsley of England, and they were buried on the estate. The Lewis family have lived here for generations, and their old Colonial recipes are famous. Through the kindness of Miss Anne Payne Lewis of The Rocks, some of these old Lewis recipes are given.
Miss Lewis is of distinguished ancestry. She is the great-great-granddaughter of Colonel George Muse, the man who taught General Washington military tactics, so tradition says. His son, Battaile Muse, attended to General Washington's business in the counties of Berkeley, Fauquier, and Loudoun, General Washington having given to him a power of attorney to act as his agent. He also attended to the business of Lord Fairfax and occasionally to that of General Daniel Morgan of Revolutionary fame.
The Lewis family of The Rocks have in
The Rocks 37
Records on this page
Pickled Oysters