Enon Hall


A DESCRIPTION OF ENON HALL BY VIRGINIA McCOMB IN 1949

Mrs. McComb was the compiler of "Hathaway and Lawson Families of Virginia"

"Little has come down to us as to our first American ancestor William Hathaway except that he did inherit a share in English property, also he later 'returned money to England.' The deed to William's plantation is from William Downing, 1666 in Lancaster County in the Northern Neck -- in early times called the 'Chickacoon Country' near the mouth of the Rappahannock -- called 'Enon.' It is about 2 miles from White Stone, Virginia. Whether the plantation was named by Downing or William I seems not clear, nor whether 'Enon Hall' was built by William or was on the purchased land, most probably built by William I.

"This plantation was later enlarged by adjoining land purchased from the Lawsons. This whole property has gone down from father to son, with many changes and additions to the original house, from 1666 to 1936, when for the first time, it was sold to strangers. Enon Hall was originally a frame colonial type small house with a portico, middle entrance into a wide hall with 'breezeway' door at the back and a good stairway, with spindles -- dark oak railing. On either side were two large rooms below and two above. (Note: - The way this is worded is misleading. There are actually two rooms up and two rooms down, one room on each side of the center hall. - WHC) In early days the dining room was in the main house, and kitchen in a separate building as most southern houses were.

"When the compiler of these records saw the ancestral Enon Hall, April, 1949, the house was being "restored" by the new owner (Mr. Hooper) and from her point of view the old place was rapidly being destroyed of its original charm, faced with asbestos shingles, dormers shorn off, etc., etc. Inside, the fine old hall was intact, the heavy hand-hewn beams solid as ever in the original part -- fine wide board oak floors, some still wood pegged, others hand made iron nails. The parlor to the left was intact, good plain wood-work trimmings and doors (white) and a very nice large fireplace with white mantel and several carved rather conventional designed panels, centre and at the corners. The same huge fireplace in all 4 rooms.

"It was sad to see the mutilation made by the owner. But even yet, direct descendants hope to buy the old place and restore it as it was in the early days.

"The approach from the road was a straight lane up to the front door with woods and underbrush on either side and some fine old trees about the house. Back of the house in the middle of a field was a fine brick wall around the Ancestral Graveyard where generations of Hathaways are buried. The later graves were marked by stones -- the earlier by boxwood. The black "mammy" of the Hathaway family, Priscilla Fauntleroy -- 'a loyal and devoted friend' -- was buried in the family graveyard along with her 'white folks' and her epitaph could have been 'well done, good and faithful servant -- enter into the joy of they Lord.'

"A later generation buried his faithful dog 'Max' here with the inscription on his tombstone -- 'The more I see of men, the better I love my dog.' All that descendants now own of Enon Hall is that little graveyard, by Virginia law not transferable with the sale of the plantation, to be preserved perpetually.

"Pictures of about 1935 show beautiful fields of wheat and lovely views of creeks which run through the estate, all tidal waters. The name of the creek is Antipoison (some older records have it 'Antipyson.') The legend is that the name came from the Indian word and that the mud on its bank was a cure for snake bite."

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