Death of Major A. H. Drewry

The Owner of Westover, a Historic Estate in Virginia

Richmond, VA, July 6 - Major A. H. Drewry, the owner of Westover, one of the historic farms on the lower James River, died this evening at St. Luke's Hospital. He had been in poor health for some time.

Major Drewry's estate originally belonged to Sir William Paulet, an Englishman, by whom it was transferred to two brothers named Bland. Afterward it was acquired by Col. William Byrd, the son of the colonist who laid out the city of Richmond. The house, which is a beautiful model of Colonial style, was built by Col. William Byrd the second in 1737. During the Revolution the traitor Arnold had his headquarters there on his route to Richmond with his British troops. Cornwallis's raiding cavalry stabled their horses in the rooms of the mansion. During the civil war Gen. Pope and other Union officers occupied the dwelling.

Major Drewry, who was about seventy-five years old, purchased Westover about thirty-two years ago. During the civil war Major Drewry was stationed part of the time at Drewry's Bluff, which controlled the river at this point. Its batteries prevented the Northern gunboats from approaching too near the capital of the Confederacy.

Source: NY Times, Friday, Jul 7, 1899

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