Sarah Dandridge (Sallie) Cooke

  Noted events in her life were:

• source. IGI AFN: 1J5X-F1X & Jerri Garofalo who notes:
I am a volunteer at the Chesterfield Co. Historical Museum (VA) and did a resent exhibit including Sarah Dandridge Cooke Duval for the Civil War Sesquicentennial. WHile she and her family were from New Kent Co, they came to Chester Village as refugees during 1864 just prior to their New Kent house being burnt down. If you are interested I have information I can share with you on Sarah (Sallie as she was often called) which I have collected from the Virginia Historical Society in RIchmond and a book called "Women of the Civil War South" by Marilyn Mayer Culpepper. The book tells the same story as her papers and is easier to read, but the papers are in her own handwriting and do shed additional light on things. Sarah kept a diary in her early adult years, there is a letter to her aunt, and about 30 legal sized pages of "Recollections of 1864" which appears to be something she planned to publish. Along with these, I learned last night there are some other works either by her or to her which I look forward to getting copies of from the VAHS. Lastly, much to my amazement, is a picture of Sarah (again at the VAHS). They told me it was a "picture" and in poor quality. I went yesterday by appt to see it, and was shocked. It was not the tin-type I expected but a beautiful painting of her with a brass plate under it with her full name "Sarah Daindridge Cooke Duval." It is not in perfect condition but I did not feel it was in poor condition either. She is very beautiful and has an air of elegance about her.
Sarah's maiden name is Cooke, an old colonial family one of the original families that settled on the James River (the first colonial colony even before Plymouth Mass.) The colonials did not want to settle in Jamestown as the water was bad and there had been problems there. So they went up the James river a little farther, and that is where today we have Charles City County, Henrico, and Chesterfield.

Sarah's middle name is Dandridge, another old and very wealthy family in this region. In fact, the famous Gen George Washington, who became our first US President married Martha Dandridge Curtis. Curtis had been her first husband, she was a Dandridge by birth. So you see, Sarah proudly wore her middle name and came from a wealth family, very southern in it's makeup. While I don't know anything at this time about her parents and siblings, I have learned a little about her young adult years through her diary.

Sarah lived a life of a Southern Lady, what we might call "leisurely, today. In her Diary which spans between July 18, 1847 to June 1 1852, (it is not kept consistently) she refers to her life mostly of visitors, suitors, poems, favorite hymns, and the Harvie, Meade, and Steger families. There is the sadness she goes through with the death of her invalid mother. Her father later telling of his deep love for his wife who he misses so much and now feels there is little left living for. During this time she is living in Charles City Co., at Kennons. It is not an easy read, being she used varied shades of ink which my eyes have a hard time with these day. Then her brother dies while away at school. Finally she meets and marries her husband, but little is written of this, more like an after thought. I assume she was to enthralled in the courtship to have time to write.
There is not as much that I have learnt of her husband, Robert Randolph Duval. His father was a physican and I have read somewhere that it is believed Robert was a pharmacist. I have found nothing to prove this. The Duvals were religious people, for Sarah comments often about her faith, her desire to pray always and properly, and to do good. After their marriage they lived in Roslyn, New Kent Co., which is between Richmond VA, and Williamsburg. They owned a nice house there, and in a letter that Sarah writes to her aunt in June 1, 1858 she speaks of the financial hardships that they are experiencing. I would suspect that it is during the early years of her marriage that her portrait is painted. While the Duvals may have had some money, it does not appear that they are in the same status that Sarah had enjoyed prior to her marriage. She tells of the constant comings and goings of company, family, friends, etc. So much so that her friends joke that she runs a boarding house. She explains to hear aunt, that it is understandable that they should flock to her house, as it is in such a beautiful, peaceful setting, not to be found elsewhere. Robert Duval has built (or rather was building at the time of the letter,) a chapel on part of their property and they have hired a minister who lived with them. But in order to give her visitors the luxuries and things they are accustomed to, and due to the fact that they don't have a lot of servants (slaves,) Sarah has to do much of the work herself. She is by this time exhausted, and their funds have been severely drained. They are looking to sell their heavenly home and move to a smaller farm house, which they do.

The next records we find on the Duvals, is her "Recollections of 1864." Her family is not in good health, Sarah speaks of the children being ill. Research has proven that her husband had served in the first year of the war (1861). The recollections open with Sarah going to Richmond for what reason she does not explain, maybe just for a break and to visit family and friends. While attending church an alarm went out, as they learned the "Yankees were coming." While the minister continued with his sermon, military men got up and left the service, some never to be seen again. As soon as the benediction was said, Sarah says "we hurried to the street to learn what was happening. They learned that the enemy in heavy force had advanced from the "Whitehouse" in Washington DC. It appears from what she says, that the troops were arriving through the area in which she lived. Sarah hurries home to her family.

The children she claims happened (on that same Sunday) to look out the window and see the Union troops coming, and went downstairs to tell their father who was reading his newspaper. At this point in time (early Feb of 1864,) General Grant had told his Union troops to scorage the land and virtually to wipe it clean. The one way to end the war was to destroy the south. Sarah arrived home late that day. She must have either taken the train or raced like the wind as it is at least 20 miles on good paved roads... she had dirt roads that were potholes and terrible to cover. But she was certainly eager to get home to find out if her family was sage. Within the next few days the Duvals learn that the Yankees truly are bringing about destruction under the orders of Gen. Benjamin Butler. And they determine they must leave and find safe harbor.

Now I must interject here, while I know you love CW history I am not sure what you know about the things happening in the greater Richmond area at this time. The war was so vast and big things were happening in 1864 through out the nation, but mostly in the south. General Butler was not a well liked man. He had been in New Orleans and the women there had confronted many of the Union officers in a disgraceful manner (name calling, spitting on them, etc.) To this Butler gave the order that if any Southerner woman should stand in their way or cause a problem, they were to be treated like prostitutes. While the women now feared Butlers troops, there was also great concern for the men as well. All men were taken as prisoners. This often included teenagers old men, even injured or disabled men. Sarah had ever reason to be worried about their safety. They hastily pack what valuables they can transport and take some of their house servants and travel west, past Richmond, over the James River and into Chesterfield Co. to a house they rented (shared) in the village of Chester mid way between the Confederate Capital, Richmond and the Train hub of Petersburg. They thought they were going to santuary. There were estimated at least 20,000 refugees in the south at this time... I would not be surprised if it were more. Also, Sarah writes that the troops that were roaming their area were black. This may indeed be true based on some historical evidence. There had been a some black troops working on the digging of the Dutch Gap. The James River loops about and the Union had decided to dig a wide ditch to allow the passage of boats and ships and saving a number of miles. These same soldiers were sent on to Henrico Co where they fought at Chafin's Farm in a battle and I recently learned they received the medal of honor. This means they would have been in the region of New Kent as well.

The Duvals took the train and during this trip they worried at every bend that they would find the rails torn up and disabled. The rail cars were crowded with Confederate troops being transfered, sick and wounded being sent to the hospital, and many other refugees like themselves. At one point the Duval's belongings were "unceremoniously dumped out and gone through... maybe checking for spies and that they may be sneaking goods in. The weather was terrible and Sarah reports it was a blizzard as they traveled. As I had mentioned, the Duval children had been suffering from some illness and Sarah had hoped that the fresh air of Chester would bring relief. Sadly the new house and area did not help. Likely being sick already and traveling in the harsh weather caused their illness to be prolonged. Certainly the stress did not help either.

Sarah becomes good friends with Mrs "I" as she calls her, the lady they rent from who lives in an apartment on the first floor. Mrs I might have been older and often looked out for the Duvals. At one point Sarah said she was there for her when ever the need arose, standing between Sarah and danger.

It was General learning what was happening in other neighborhoods, the Duvals took little time to time to pack up what valuables and to the area of Williamsburg but my focus was on bringing a woman into the picture. Most Civil War exhibits are based on the North and South armies, but I in my own genealogical research and history, war is never so cut and dry as that. In this case there were the slaves and there were also Civilians. The Duvals went one step further, they also became Refugees.

Maybe I can get Sarah's writings scanned and emailed off to you so you can read or I should say, try to read yourself. It was amazing to me after months of researching this wonderful woman, to sit yesterday and hold her papers, see her handwriing, and witness the character that comes through such writings. A beautiful penmanship and eye for detail, Sarah is recorded as "being a writer and author." I think she wrote poems.... you might try to do some research on that. She was also related to several well known families here in the area. Dandridge, her middle name was Martha Washington (wife of Pres. George Washington). That Dandridge family lived not far away so I would not be surprised if she were related to this famous first lady. Cooke is also a very old and famous famous from this area as well.

Sarah explains that their peace in Chester was short lived. They arrived in Feb. but by May Chesterfield was no longer safe. One day while nursing her daughter Sarah looked out the bedroom window and saw a large number of Union troops walking right by her house on their way to the Railroad station. From her back yard, Sarah said she could see the station. From the front of her house, which was on a rise above the road below, she could look out at a Hotel and Church. As Sarah and Mrs I watched the soldiers in the station area mingling around and tearing up the rails, the heard the sound of the Engine from RIchmond coming and the plumb of smoke from the trains smokestake rising above the treeline. In VA the trees are very thick and our land is rolling hills. You can not generally look out at the horizon due to the trees (tall oaks, maples, and other varieties.) WIth only a few words spoken the two women ran about 50 feet across the yard to the tracks to flag down the approaching engine. They were able to warn the Engineer and he reversed the train and went back towards Richmond and warn the Confederate troops of the dangers ahead. She goes on to say that she and Mrs I could not figure out how the enemy had not seen them or the train for they were within plain view. The next day the local paper told of "two brave women" who had risked their lives to alert the authorities of the dangers Federals in Chester.
I want to back track just a bit as Sarah shares about their arrival in Chester, that they had scarely arrived when the terrible campaign of the Spring of '64 began. The battle of "the Wilderness early in May, then the battle of Spotsylvania Court House on the 12th, and the desperate defense by our Calvary at Gillon Tavern where Gen. J.E.B Stuart scarificed his life and saved Richmond. Those were our dark days when men's hearts began to fail them, when they saw their grand leaders fall one by one-. We were in Chester and the invalids of the family were not getting better." She remarks that certainly the stress of the war did not make things better. Her husband's health is also steadily grown worse (though she does not explain what is wrong) and he can scarcely keep up.

In early May of 1864, on the 9th, as I had written last night, Sarah watches the Union Army march into her town of Chester. Then the situation with the train, which they send back towards Richmond to alert the Confederacy. There were few men among us, only those unable to do service. The inhabitants of the town were terrified and tried to find places to hid e . "There was a large culvert (a kind of tunnel) under the double track of the Rail Road through which ran a steam now only shallow- The women had carried boards under this and made a temporary flooring on which they placed their beds, boxes, etc and packed themselves and children leaving their deserted dwellings to the source of this enemy. We alone remained in our house, our sick people could not be moved so we did not give it a thought."

That same morning, we heard firing very near and familiar musketry told u s our few men were engaged. Volumes of smoke and flame rose from the woods not a mile off. During all this, a poor soldier dying of consumption (TB) was brought from his humble house near the scene of the battle, carried on a soiled gray blanket by a man and woman holding the corners making a sling by which to transport him, and laid him in our hall. Just as I attempted to see to his needs, my attention was called away to my daughter, who I suppose from terror had turned deadly pale and grew faint. I carried her in my arms to a sofa in the adjoining room. Once I left her to go get something from the kitchen (which was an outside room separate from the house,) and I ran across the yard, a ball whirred past me between the house and the kitchen tearing up the earth and was found a few paces off. " The child took a chill and with no physicians left in Village and we used such restoratives as we could summon from on hand or nature. Another child that morning had been kept in bed with a heavy cough and fever. These with my husband scarcely able to sit up, so occupied me that I had little tie to think of the Yankees outside. But the burning woods and high winds, along with the steady musketry so close, made it a day of horrors. The worst being the men on both sides being trapped in the woods. Towards evening, the firing ceased and our wounded men were brought into the Village where they were temporarily cared for by the field surgeons. Little H's child was followed only by a slight fever and in the late afternoon, I had made pitchers and buskets of very strong tea, and leaving my nurse (servant) in charge went with my Richmond friend, Mrs. I down to the Hotel where the poor wounded and scorched soldiers were taken. They had made so successful a stand against odds, and now lay exhausted on the floor with no absolutely no restoratives. The enemy had fallen back but our men were apprehensive of a night attack and anxious to get off to Richmond, not until dark however, did any railcars arrive. But during the night the poor sufferers were carried to Richmond and there carefully provided for.

I trust my trembling hand to writ of the event of the next few days. The enemy received a decisive defeat at "Winfree's Farm" this short but horrible fight was made doubly horrible by the fires in the woods , many a poor wounded soldier of both sides fell victim to the flames. For two whole days -this being the 10th and 11th, they battled. During this time, one of my own children so long a sufferer was taken away from us; from the pain and turmoil of this life after a congestive chill - the elder of the two had grown so rapidly ill with pneumonia that I had little time for the indulgence of greif or though of our alarming situation.

I will not dwell on this harrowing scene - It was on t he 12th of May, I was sitting by the side of our eldest child, who, as yet ignorant of our loss semed sinking into a calm natural sleep when my quick ear caught the sound of Calvalry, and arising from my chair saw a number of mounted men riding past with flags flying just a few paces from the little grave only a few hours old in our garden. Thousands of men were now hurrying on their errand of blood!

As I stood watching the calvary ride past I had ample time to reflect on the scenes of the past days and thanked God for the fortitude He had given me and for the bodily strength which seemed born of the excitement, forI had passed, though I had never been blessed with great physical strength. "


Sarah now tells of how the soldiers sees one of her reliable and faithful servant men being taken away with their only horse (which they had brought so they could haul wood, go get supplies etc.) And as they were taken away, I saw it all, as William looked back at the house as if pleading for help. She further remarks about how in those days it seemed she was in constant prayer with God. Then her attention is turned to her window where she sees Mrs I talking to some Union soldiers and then another very scruffy soldier at her own window asking for the key to her meat house. She said i t was not her house she had nothing. The man pursues his mission but she stands her claim. When he asks whos e house is it, she points to Mrs I, and seeing the officers speaking with her, sulks away. Here Sarah claims how Mrs I had a good deal of meat and she had a good supply of flour and similar things. However with in the next hours it is all gone, so I sense the military took it away.

There are still many more pages to this story. I will attempt to keep writing you bits at a time. Please excuse my errors as I try to do this quickly.
When the Duval's went to Chester in 1864 they had 5 children. Genealogy sites support that 2 of the Duval children died that May and I wonder if the other sick child she speaks of is next to die. When the war ends and the return to their burnt home in New Kent to rebuild their lives, the eventually have 3 more children.
Please note that due to it being so hard to read the writing, and I fear I got a page mixed up for a bit, the story is a in one part was improperly transcribed by me. I attempt to correct in this mailing. If I am wrong and did not put the part of the story in, which I explain below, let me knowand I will sent it too. (It has to do with Sarah and Mrs I seeing the approaching train and flagging it down and sending it back to warn the Confederate troops.) I am doing my best however to share all this with you.


The last writing there was the fighting around them and the illness of the family, and the sad loss of their child. I believe this was little Robert Randolph DuVal Jr. aged 2. He would be followed by daughter Willie Randolph, who also dies in May of 1864 according to some family genealogy work. I do know later int he story that she leaves the area wit only 3 children where she arrived with 5. So something happens to claim the second child. Maybe I will find it soon.Sarah is discreet in all her writings about using first names often only calling people by an initial, or pet name, just so you know.
...........
Distressed over the war and skirmishes going on around them, Chester Village is between Bermuda Hundred, where Gen Butler and his troops were encamped and Petersburg where both troops were entrenched was bringing a great deal of concern over their safety. Not far away is also Cold Harbor and previous battles like Seven Pines.

The Union troops that had left, soon returned to Chester, again 10,000 strong. It appears this is the 12 of May, as that is the last date I see in Sarah's writing. From that date, it does not appear a night has lapsed. Sarah tells that late in the afternoon, the same day when Union officers and rough soldier showed up at her house. "The news was soon brought to us that the raiding party was soon going to cut the Danville R&R (the railroads have various names,) as was commanded by "Kantz". It appears that the story I explained about the Engine making it's way to Chester, which the women turned back, actually happens at thsi time and not the previous time the Union arrived. (SORRY) All is is the same but that, just insert that section here.

She comments on how she and Mrs I were astonished at how they were not seen by the Yankees at the hotel across the street and in the village area. "Our front yard extended to the Road, and so much above the level of the town and road, that when waving the Engine back, we were with in view of the Hotel not more than 100 yards away. And down and around a slight bend were the whole of the Northern troops that had been sent in. They were stricken with blindness surly, and we ran back terrified into the house, expecting any second a volley after the retreating Engine, or that they would approach our house, for surely we could hardly escape their wrath. I can only state facts, as I saw them, and do with undaunting fidelity."

"The remaining two days of that miserable week brought with them no more stirring events. Of one, our other servant William, the second to have been borne off by the Yankees, retuned to us and was soon followed by the first servant taken away. When Daniel came to the house and went to cross over the fence, he found a bag on the ground, likely one of the calvary, finding his loot too heavy to continue to carry, had thrown it aside. Just there it lay was the beginning of our property fence, which connected to that of the town park. In the bag which he brought me was a large bacon of meat. (They called smoked pork, bacon then.) "this seemed to me as surly sent by the ravens to Elijah with his 'cake' of bread and meat. Some who read this recollection may have faith as I have, others will smile with incredibilty. I can only say the simple facts occured, just as I state them."

"The next two days of Friday and Saturday passed quickly, my little invalids seemed to be convelessig nicely. When Sunday came the sun went out with something of cheer in it. My poor husband had regained some of his strength, though so lame he could scarcely walk as to require a crutch, but that evening unlike his previous custom, he managed to get down the stairs and into the dining room for tea. The village by this time was very full of the Northern troops and while on the hill we were somewhat removed from them, I felt great anxiety since the rumors of of many arrest s of boy s and old men, lest some straggler should see him (Mr Duval) . Therefore I had closed tight the shutters, the slats as close as possible. We had just finished supper when a horseman galloped fearlessly around the house and before I could get to the front door, he was there. I held the front door firmly in place entreating my husband to go to his room, but he was in so crippled a condition that only with the help of the servants and children and it was still some time it seemed, many minutes, tho probably only seconds - before he could be gotten up stairs. The stiff limb was hard to manage. W h en I saw he was at last safe, all of which took less time than for me to tell it, I had to surrender my post to Mrs. I, the kind friend who was ever at my side when I wanted or needed her. My breath was gone and I was so alarmed fo r my husband. I staggered after him up the steps. In a moment Mrs I called to me from the foot of the stairs, that I would want to "Come quickly, Mrs D, he is a Confederate." I regained my strenth and sprng down the setps going up to him in the darkness, unconcious that I was feeling for the cloth of his coat, as if by the very touch I could discern the dear grey"


This So Carolinian Confederate soldier had lost his way to his troops in Petersburg, they later learn he was a courier of Gen. Beauregard (who had just taken command or Drury's Bluff a few miles off.) and needed to rush a message to him. He needed to learn from them how to skirt in safety the Union troops and get to Petersburg. WIth the assistance of Mr Duval he is able to learn what he needs, while the servants keep telling Mrs Duval that she is crazy to let that man in, he is likely a Union spy and nothing else. Before he races off, the Duvals give him half a loaf of bread and he tells Mr Duval "chin up - you will have good news before tomorrow night." He paid Sarah a "graceful compliment -which was wroth of a South-Carolinian, which I believe was from his heart. And then he galloped away as fearlessly as he had come on his way to General PIckett then entrenched around Petersburg. Pickett was ordered to advance and cut of the retreat of Gen Butler while he (Gen Beauregard) attacked him from the front. (this story of the lost courier and directed by someone in Chester appeared in the Richmond Examiner newpaper a day or two later. How he information was picked up or learned we never learned."

"The next morning we were aroused by firing very near and soon saw the Union troops in the Village were in a great deal of excitement. The Hotel immediately in front of our home and on the other side of the Rail Road was being used as a hospital (by the Union). Soon we saw flatcar after flat car and one coal car, with board laid on top, on which the poor wounded men were laid. They boar them on stretchers from the cars, to the church, then tenderly, carefully lifting them off. We could plainly see the stretchers were saturated with blood, our hearts ached to see such suff e ring, for no women could be unmoved by such a scene. I watched it all from the bedside of my little daughter. As I sat there, I saw a man born up the hill by two of his stalwart soldiers on a stretcher. When they reached the house of our neighbor, a good woman whose husband w a s in our army, this dying boy asked then to stop under the shade of a tree and to get him a glass of water. My neighbor came out with a glass and gently raised his head and put it to his lips . One of the men advised him not to drink as it; 'The d... secish would as soon poison you as not.' But this poor boy had only to look into the tearful eyes of my neighbor to be reassured and without hesitancy partook of the life giving draught. She rested his head gently down and they were about to bear him off when he as firing of guns was heard, when he entreated her; 'would you kiss me for my mother?' I need not say she pressed her lips to his cold forehead and his impatient carriers bore him off and away. But the Angels of Death was hovering over him and tho he faintly breathed when she gave him a last look, it could not have been many moments before he was out of sight and hearing of all earthy scenes. Certainly many stories such as this were experienced all across the warring land. This is a true incident, and from my seat at the window I could not hear the dialog but my neighbor shared those words with me later. Sadly she never learned his name."

"As I returned to my convalescent, she said to me, if she could only have some soup or even a cup of tea and toast, she would be so glad. -- Alas! This entreaty was useless and my eyes filled up when I remembered that every bit of food except for my precious little 'H's' pet chicken, had been taken from us several days before. And my last tea and white sugar had been carried to the soldier after the fight at Winfree's Farm. (This farm house still stands.) She must have nourishment and the terrible experience of the proceeding days had strange to say made me forgetful of this. I went from her room, praying as I went that something might be provided. I was going to have the poor chicken killed but where was the tea and sugar?"

"Just as I reached the back door a mulatto road up on a very spirited horse unmanageable horse, both evidently under a great deal of excitement. The horse rearing the man cursing, he carried a heavy basket with great difficulty, and seemingly anxious to get rid of it. He handed it to us and said it was General Gilmore's (Union) and then he dashed away retreating to the the line of departing Yankees in the direction of the Village. I raised the napkin that had been hastily thrown over the contents and there before my eyses was a bow of lump sugar and a canister of coffee and a canister of tea, some ham bacon and broke bread, all telling of an interupted breakfast. I seized the tea and sugar and with a thankful heart told the servants to keep the rest until it should be called for. I had just given my servant Lucy some of the tea to draw for my little invalide, when one of our best old negro men, faitful old George came up to me from the kitchen and said 'Missus, dim Yankees give e dis, for butchern Mr Winfree's calf for em and I broug h t it to you.' It was beautifully prepared and the deal old darkie did not know he was heaven sent."

"Some may cavit at this but our Heavenly Father saw 'what things I had need of' and I stopped not to marvel at the almost miracle, but from the depth of my heart returned Him thanks and accepted from George a part of the gift for the child's sake. A few hours later I had the comfort of seeing her enjoy the savory soup made of it; and when she asked where it had come from I told her the Good Father had provided it; as He did everything we needed and always would when we fully trusted in him. I was now nearly mid-day and al the house wild with excitement it being evident, f rom t h e firing a tumult in the air, that the enem y was being driven as the sounds came nearer ad nearer." "Soon we watched as a large number of Union troops were marched past our house on thier way to Libby Prison in RIchmond. Thus ended the weeks occupancy of the Village by the enemy and we were left in temporary quiet. ... That is until about the middle of June. On the 3rd of that month the second bloody battle of ' Cold Harbor ' had been fought when Lee and Grant remained for days there after confronting each other."

"In Chester we could hear nothing from the front, and about the 12th I went to Richmond to see how matters stood. During the day there, we heard that Gen Grant had crossed the James RIver to the South at City Point and that Gen Lee's army was 'in motion'. These movements our friends persuaded us threatened us with a repeat of what had happened to us the previous month. We yielded to their kind solicitation and decided to go for a short stay among them (in Richmond) hoping the danger would soon be past. "

"Returning home that evening we made preparation to l e ave the next morning at 7 o'clock. That night an unusual number of trains seemed to pass early in the morning we learned they had all gone except one locomotive and a few flats. When I first looked out my window the scene lay be fore me soon explained itself. The people in the Village on either side of the Rail Road, were seen running hither and thither, carrying baskets, satchels, etc. It was told us that the enemy was very near so being all ready after taking a hurried breakfast - we joined the motley crew on the flats, in the burning sun of the hot day of June with nothing to shield us from it's rays. The servants had provided for our comfort: chairs and cushions and as the train moved off my old nurse handed a plate of fried bacon and plain corn bread 'for the children'; he own breakfast no doubt; which she had no heart to eat. "


Jerri continues:
I did some internet research last night and found a genealogical book written in 1930 on the DuVal and allied families. It gave me a good insite to some other things and supported much of what I had concluded on their back ground. Sarah comes from a family that was connected to many very well to do line here in VA. It also covered her husband's family. Robert's father is listed as being a physician and then a druggist who had a very big and well known pharmacy in Richmond. He had several children (2 boys and a girl I believe) that followed in the pharmacist business, Robert being one of them. So now we can understand when Sarah is talking about a lack of "restoratives," the tenderness she feels, as she knows there are medications that should be able to help but there are none.

I was also able to find where their old property was in New Kent, as they called their house "Orapax" and today there is a location called Orapax farm. It claimed the old house is no longer there, but you can still see the area. If you look it up on Google Maps, put in Dispatch Rd, New Kent Co., VA, USA

The DuVal book also mentions about the church that Robert built and later donated to the area. While they had hired a minister for a time, he may have been with them only a short while. The book states that Robert would then preaches sermons at that church himself for his family and friends. This again supports Sarah's feelings towards religion. Evidently the DuVal did this sort of thing (build and donate churches) several times in VA. The church is St James Episcopal church. Sarah and Robert were married in the famous St Paul's church in Richmond, a popular place during the Civil War, where Robert E Lee and his wife had seats held for them.

The DuVal children became an interesting lot.

The DuVal's infant son who died before 1852 was named St John. He is recognized by some other family trees, but I know nothing more about his birth or death date, etc.

Maria Pendleton DuVal, born in 1852 never married. In 1930 she was living in Ransom, W. VA, where she ran a girls school called Hilda's Hall. In the 1930 Census she is listed as Principle and age 80, though math says she would have been 78. She died at age 92

Willie Randolph is named after one of the DuVal family. She was born in 1857 and died in May of 1864

Florence Beverly DuVal, was born and died after 1930. She lived in Lexington and it was at her house that Sarah passed away in 1887.

Katherine Estern Cooke married in 1893 to Cartier H Harrison a civil engineer who died in 1917. In 1930 Katherine is living in University of Va, "Oakhurst." Many of the DuVals attended University of VA which is located in Charlottesville, and was founded by Thomas Jefferson.

Robert Randlph DuVal Jr., born 1862 died in May 1864

Sarah Esten DuVal born 1867 married but was widowed but have not found to whom yet. She lived in CHarlottesville and ran a boarding house.

Philip St John DuVal born 1868 and married (rest taken from DuVal book) 1897 to Louise Payne. No Children. Mr Duval is a very modest man about anything concerning himself, but he is a philanthropist, pure and simple. Camp Oropax, of the YMCA, is on his home grounds and named for his home place. The land was given by Mr. DuVal. It is in King William County, about 15 miles below Richmond. St John Duval is also very found of children, but has none of his own. His dream is to complete a home for orphan boys on his plantation where they may find a home and mothering care and educaiton. He is now looking for the right woman to mother them. The building, now under construction is beautifully located near his home, and in its setting will be az lovely as the unselfish spirit which made its erection possible.

1930: He lived in Quinton VA as per The DuVal Family of VA by Bessie Grabowskii page 10


Edmund Pendleton Randolph DuVal born 1871 and married Kate Cole of Dallas TX.

There were very few of spring from this large family it seems.


Last we left, Sarah and her family had boarded a train to go into Richmond. .....

We had gone but three miles when the engine was stopped and we were told they had orders to go no further!

Filled with consternation we used every degree of expostulation in vain. Being unable to endure the heat of the sun, we all took refuge in the woods, tho' it was a pine forest and not breath of air was stirring. we were scarcely off the cars when two of my children were taken very sick, one of them with a chill and I had no means of providing for the comfort of either. The people were very kind doing all they could to alleviate the suffering and discomfort of the little ones, but the day dragged wearily enough. We were left in ignorance of how long we were to be detained here, when guns were heard in the direction of Chester (from which we had just come)and way-farers came by telling us that fighting was going on just below there. As can be imagined our alarm was great as every moment the musketry became louder and we could not tell whither friend or foe was nearest us. The cars meanwhile had gone on somewhat further and we had no means of escape. Towards evening the blessed news came that the enemy was driven back and the train cars would soon return and take us home again. We hailed the dirty flats with delight and resuming our places, were in a short time received with every demonstration of joy by the whole population.

The aspect of things was quiet different from that of the morning. Pickett's Division after a skirmished with the enemy had arrived and all hands were busy putting up tents and some of the soldiers getting ready for their evening meal. On every side soldiers met out view as far as we could see and after the wretchedly uncomfortable day we went to sleep with a feeling of security we had not had for many nights.


The Trip to RIchmond however was not abandoned as the sick ones must have medical attendance being told that we could go up early in the morning on the "ambulance train" we again made out preparations talking our seats in time in one of the many coaches. We were detained for hours however waiting for the poor soldiers, who in the Hotel which was again used as a temporary hospital, were having their wounds dressed and some of them suffering the amputation of their limbs.

I will pass over the succeeding months of July and August as protected by Picketts division we felt secure from invasion only hearing from afar the echoes and among them the fearful mine explosion at Petersburg (what they call the Crater as seen in the movie Cold Mountain) which though meant for our disruption wrought ten fold more havoc among the perpetrators of the fearful deed.

Repeated domestic sorrow (she has lost the two children this summer and through the genealogy research I have noted other deaths within the family as well as her brothers and brothers in law and nephew are all engaged in the war. ...) and at last my own self breakdown of health, compelled me to take the advice of my physician and try to reach the mountains. Just at that time Winchester and the surrounding counties were we believe in the hands of the Confederates (Winchester changed hands between the two forces over 70 times during the war) and it was throught we could undertake the journey in safety. By this time my husband's health was sufficiently restored for him to return to his duties in one of the home Departments and he could get leave of absence only long enough to accompany me and our "THREE" remaining children to Staunton where he put us on the stage for Winchester, paying $75 a seat for each of us, the distance being about 94 miles. Our Kin (relatives) having been written to some before to meet us there.

The journey would have been a very agreeable one since the valley turnpike over which we traveled lies through a country of unsurpassed grandure of scenery, but for the suffering condition of my youngest child, who lay in my arms all day parched with fever and my own sad reflections and forbodyings for the idea had been whispered that the road might not be free from the enemy. Our fears were soon realized when we heard firing in the direction of Winchester. As we neared Winchester I suffered the greatest anxiety. The enemy was certainly near, would my friends meet us? Where should I stop? What should I do with my sick children? My faithful old nurse had been necessarily been left behind. And I sick and prostrated, felt forlorn indeed. (She was likely expecting at this point since she has another baby the next year.)

As we entered into the city our own soldiers were marching rapidly down the streets, the confusion and excitement among the inhabitants was very great. The stage made its way to the door of the principle hotel and looking out I saw only MEN MEN MEN. The side walks were crowded with soldiers the porches, windows, every where I looked, not a flutter of a woman's garments appears to encourage me and relieve my timidity.

At last an officer who was near, courteously came forward and took my little girl in his arms while I with the two larger children followed. Soon the proprietor came and led the way to the Reception room. We learned that Gen Anderson was there with his staff also Gen Fitz Lee and all hands were busy as these Officers must have dinner immediately. So no one came to take me to a chamber and at last I ventured to learn of what had happened to the carriage I had expected to meet us and what was the prospect for dinner.

Dinner I was told was nearly ready and shortly thereafter the landlord came to escort me down to a table. The repast was quite an impressive one on me - it was no doubt the best the times afforded, but a sorry affair. I did not count the soldiers who sat down, but together with ourselves there must have been at least twenty. There was one moderately large roast of beef, a dish of green peas (boiled in the pod, served all together - peas, pods, stems and all.) a dish of corn and some bread, this was all and in passing let me add that the charges per day were $40 a piece.

When I inquired if my Kin's carriage had arrived, I was told that it was highly doubtful that she had horses, carriage, or even her house left as 28 large mills and residences were reported to have been burned in the Upper Valley and that the Federalists had possession of the two principal roads out of WInchester, which was discouraging to me. During the afternoon I received a visit from another relation then living in Winchester who kindly invited me to his house and advised me to remain there quietly until it should be safe for me to continue on the 15 miles of my journey. This friend offered to bring me the first intelligence to this effect and meanwhile tried to secure for me a conveyance which he eventually did for $125. Shortly after this Gen. Fitz-Lee's courier arrived with the news that the enemy had fallen back from the turnpike (my route.) The next mourning my friends wished us well as we departed on our travels.

The carriage was ancient as was the horse and driver. I was told as we traveled that the transport company had all its newer carriages, coaches, and horses stolen by the Federalists the week before and all means of hired transport was very difficult to secure and that our travel was not guaranteed safe. He kept wanting to turn back but I insisted that if it was bad, his employer would have alerted him.

As we traveled we could see where soldiers had camped just a short few hours time earlier; their camp fires still smoking, and everywhere the scene was bleak with entreatments, fallen timber and loss of nature's beauty. The knowledge that the enemy could be so close by was unnerving and made me very nervous and increased my feelings of unsaftey considerably.

At last we neared the spur of the mountain on which the house should be standing, but which but I could see nothing but treees and I could not endure the suspense whihc led me to have the driver stop at the house of an old friend near where we passed. What great joy to learn that my kinsfolk had been spared. Soon we drove up to the familiar old gate and then to my great delight beheld the peaceful and unusual sight of two gentlemen on the piazza smoking and reading their papers, feet up on the rails, so engrossed in conversation they did not hear my approach. And joy beyond words the two gentlemen were two officers nearest and dearest to me, enjoying a few days furlough. Then the greeting that no words can describe. These moments come rarely in the life of any. (the end)
.....

The Cooke family owned a plantation home Amber's Hill outside of Winchester where some of the the Cooke Family lived until 1830. This may have been the site where Sarah gone outside of Winchester, since the house was kept in the family. However a number of her relatives lived in the area. Another plantation owned by Sarah's parents was Glengary in Martinsburg. It is said that her father who was a well know lawyer had continued money problems. Many web sites claim that John Rogers and Maria Pendleton Cooke had 13 children, but I can only find 6. The brother of John Roger's Cooke was Philip St George Cooke a very famous US Soldier who succeeded to the Confederacy along with his son (named for his brother) John Rogers Cooke. Philip had spent many years in the home of his much older brother John Roger Cooke (which explains why he named his son after him..) There is much history written about them. The young John Roger Cooke( nephew to Sarah's father) was the brother-in-law to JEB Stuart. The families of Cookes and Duvals have many relations to other CW heroes. Sarah's brother John Esten Cooke was another famous person in the family. He served in the war and also was a well known author and poet. Likely Sarah shared her bother's love of writing. He wrote many things both before and after the war. He was educated I believe at Univ of Va in Charlottesville, and became a lawyer like his father but best loved reading and writing. (The Virginia Comedians, or the Old Days in the Old Dominion, Leather Stocking and Silk or Hunger John Myers, Henry St John, Gentleman, Life of Stonewall Jackson, Surrey of Eagle's Nest, The Heir of Graymount, Doctor Vandyke, Her Majesty the Queene, Pretty Mrs Gaston and other Stories, My Lady Pokahontas, The Gold Bug, Hilt to Hilt, are all his among his writings.

Sarah stayed in Winchester until the war ended. After which time the Duval's return to New Kent County where they tried to rebuild their home and their lives. In 1870 they have 2 new children born to their family. In 1880 Sarah is a widow with her 6 children the youngest Edmond born since last census. Sarah died in 1887 at her daughter Florence Beverly Cooke's home in Lexington, VA Florence never married but some of her siblings lived with her in Lexington not far from Washington and Lee College (where Robert E Lee taught until his death) and Florence ran a boarding house to support herself. Likely renting out rooms to teachers and or students.

• connection. Jerri Garofalo is researching
Sarah Dandridge Cooke (1828) who married Robert Du Val (1817)
His father was Philip Du Val (1789) who married Mary Randolf (1794)
Her father was Richard Randolf (1757)
His father was Richard Randolf (1725) & he also had Brett Randolf (1766)
He had Robert Randolf (1793) who married Anne Beverley (1801c)
Her father was Carter Beverley (1777) & he also had Rebecca Beverley (1803) whose husband was John Meade (1792)
They had Charlotte Meade (1833) who married Julian Ruffin (1821)
They had Elizabeth Ruffin (1859) who married Roland Broaddus (1856)
They had Louise Broadduss (1894) who married Harry Miller (1893)
His father was Joseph Miller (1850)
His father was Jacob Miller (1812) & he also had Emeline Miller (1856) who married Thomas Bacon (1836)
They had Richard Bacon (1889) who married Florence Catron (1892)
Whose father was Johnson Catron (1869)
Whose father was Peter Catron (1839) & who also had James Catron (1861)
He had Albert Catron (1885) who married Laura Funk (1885)
Her father was Lewis Funk (1850) 7 he also had Carl Funk (1883) who married Lura Harrigan (1888)
Whose father was Aaron Harrigan (1860) who also had James Harrigan (1897) who married Rhetta Cornett (c1899)
Whose father was Wiley Cornett (1877)
Whose father was Rufus Cornett (1856) who also had Marvin Cornett (1886) who married Zollie Livesay (1894)
Whose father was Ellis Livesay (1871) who also had Mintie Livesay (1892) who married Herbert Harrington (1884)
They had Edmund Harrington (1914) who married Ora Stone (1906)
Her father was Walter Stone (1882)
His father was William Stone (1830) & he also had Sarah Stone (1856) who married George Vaught (1845)
Whose father was John Vaught (1819) & who also had Matilda Vaught (1837) who married Michael Delp (1836) who also married Comfort Comber (1841)
Her father was John Comber (1814) & he also had Nancy Comber (1847) who married William Shuler (1846)
Her father was Abraham Shuler (1827) & he also had Ludema Shuler (1843) who married George Cornett (1837)
Whose father was Lloyd Cornett (1810)
Whose father was David II Cornett (1788) who also had Juliann Cornett (1826) who married Hiram Lumpkin (1824)
Her father was George Lumpkin (1800) who married Abagail Cleghorn (1803c)
Her mother was Abagail Scott (c1782)
Her father was John Scott (1725) who also had James Scott (1750) who married Jane Cleghorn (1762)
Her father was William snr Cleghorn (c1725) who also had William jnr Cleghorn (1757)
Who had William Cleghorn (1798) who married Nancy Storey (1804)
Whose father was Edward Storey (1772) who also had William Storey (1800)
Who had Georgia Storey (1830) who married Orman Nimmons (1827)
They had Anna Nimmons (1858) who married John Powell (1857)
They had Lutie Powell (1889) who married John Burckhardt (1893)
Whose father was John Burckhardt (1859) who married Katherine Bunker (1872)
Whose father was Frank Bunker (1842)
Whose father was Alfred Bunker (1813)
Whose father was Rememberance Bunker (c1785)
Whose father was Zechariah Bunker (1732) who also had Abigail Bunker (1785) who married Stephen Brock
They had Stephen Brock (1808)
He had John Brock (1834)
He had Charles Brock (1869) who married Caroline Doust (1869)
Her father was Ozem Doust (1825)
His father was John Doust (1790)
His father was John Doust (1762)
His father was Ozem Doust (1737) & he also had Hannah Doust (1777) who married John McCrullis (1773)
They had Sally McCrullis (1798) who married Benjamin Ayer (1795)
They had Addison Ayer (1839) who married Sarah Barnard (1841)
Whose mother was Lucinda Flanders (1810)
Whose father was Benjamin Flanders (1784) who also had Moody Flanders (1813) who married Louisa Bailey (1812)
Whose father was Benjamin Bailey (1789)
Whose father was Dudley Bailey (1754)
Whose father was John Bailey (1721) who married Elizabeth Corliss (1719)
Whose father was Jonathan Corliss (1695) who married Elizabeth Moore (1700)
Whose father was Benoni Moore (1669) & who also had Mehitable Moore (1702) who married Ebenezer Merrick (1703)
They had Thomas Merrick (1738) who married Deborah Lawrence (1750)
Her mother was Eunice Parkhurst (1717)
Her father was Timothy Parkhurst (1689)
His father was Joseph jnr Parkhurst (1661)
His father was Joseph Parkhurst (1629) & he also had Mary Parkhurst (1657) who married Joseph Bodgett (1689)
They had Abigail Blodgett (1723) who married Samuel Greeley (1721)
They had Hannah Greeley (1747) who married Ashby Morgan (1749)
They had Mary Morgan (1785) who married Thomas Lovett (1793)
They had Catherine Lovett (1823) who married George Wilkins (1822)
They had Lucy Wilkins (1858) who married Carl Marcusen (1847)
They had Lucy Marcusen (1883) who married Ammon Tuttle (1878)
They had Helen Tuttle (1910) who married William Jex (1910)
His father was John Jex (1867) & he also had Horace Jex (1896) who married Jenny Lewis (1903) whose father was David Lewis (1880) & whose mother was Martha Beagley (1880)
Her father was John Beagley (1844) & her mother was Elizabeth Edgehill (1849)
Her father was Thomas Edgehill (1816) & he also had Sarah Edgehill (1845) who married Herbert Horsley (1845)
They had Sarah Horsley (1870) who married Daniel Rowley (1865)
They had Lillis Rowley (1901) who married William Larkins (1898)
His father was William Larkins (1856)
His father was William Larkin (1830)
His father was James Larkins (1803)
His father was William Larkins (1782)
His father was George Larkins (1756)
His father was George Larkins (1729) & he also had Charles Larkins (1756)
He had George Larkins (1789)
He had George Larkinson @ Malster (1817)
He had Frederick Larkinson (1865)
He had Winthrop Larkinson (1889)
He had Dulcie Larkinson (1926) who married Colin Davies (1925)
They had me - Robyn Bray (nee Davies) (1950)

Sarah married Robert Randolph Du Val Snr, son of Philip jnr Du Val and Mary Beverley Randolph, on 6 Jun 1849 in St Pauls, Richmond, Virginia USA. (Robert Randolph Du Val Snr was born in 1817 and died on 25 May 1875.)