All books using the keywords: Ellen DeWitt

A short biography of Abraham Piersey, an early colonist in Jamestown and one of the wealthiest landowners of the Virginia Colony. Also included is a brief sketch of Piersey's father-in-law, Clement Draper, an alchemist.

At the home of great aunt, Helen Kendall Cooke, a portrait hangs on a bedroom wall. It is large and has a presence that fills the room. My aunt laughed when she introduced me to the portrait telling me that she would hang a towel over it when her grandchild stayed in the house because he was frightened by it. “This, she said, is your great, great, great grandfather, Stephen Davies.” I should admit that I did have a moment when I sympathized with her grandson. There is no unkindness in the portrait’s face; it must be the seriousness of purpose in his eyes. There was a story in that face, of that I was certain, a story that gave it reason to hang in a home after more than ...