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Mary was the daughter of Rev James Wallace and Anne Shepard who was the relict of Mr. Gutherick and Thomas Wythe.[1]
Mary married William Westwood. Note: Mary Wallace is often confued with Mary Tabb. (Note: Watch yob and dod.) Mary Wallace was the first wife.
Romance of the Beautiful Elisabeth Westwood [3] This is told in William and Mary Quarterly Vol. XIII., No. 3, by Miss Emily Macrae, of Orangefield, Stafford County, in her account of the Wallace family. Mr. Tyler says in William and Mary, Vol. IX., No. 2:
"Rev. James Wallace was born in Errol, Perthshire, Scotland, 1667, and died in Elisabeth City County, Va., at his home, Erroll, on Back River, Nov. 3rd, 1712. His tombstone bearing his coat of arms, is still to be seen there. He served for twenty-one years as minister of Elisabeth City, and practiced physic also. He married Anne widow of Thomas Wythe — grandfather of George Wythe, July nth, 1695. Issue:
Note this was a child of another family (still reasearching): '"Elisabeth Westwood Wallace, widow of James Wallace, married second, Hon. Thomson Mason, of Stafford Co., and appears to have had two sons, 1. Westwood Thomson Mason and 2. William Temple Tompson Mason. He (Thomson Mason) had by previous marriage
Miss Emily Macrae says : "James Wallace** fled from Scotland in the rebellion of '45. He was born at Erroll in Scotland; his birth attested by three lairds. He settled on Back River, in Elizabeth City Co. He brought with him an immense table service of plate, on which was engraved the Wallace Arms, he being a collateral descendant of Sir William Wallace. The dinner set of silver consisted of two tureens and ladles, a full set of covered dishes, pickle and butter dishes, knives and forks and every appurtenance that belongs to a dinner and breakfast set of table silver, all the most massive silver. He, James Wallace married Elizabeth Westwood of Hampton Va (my great-grandmother). She was remarkable for her great beauty, accomplishments, strength of intellect and piety. Their children were eleven — six of whom attained the age of maturity — Robert, James, Euphon, Mary, Martha, Eliza. Mary died single, all were beautiful, though she was probably the most lovely. Euphon married Bailey Washington (my grandfather). Martha married Mr. James; Eliza married John Macrae, of Orangefield, Prince William Co., Va. Robert by the laws of primogeniture, inherited the princely fortune of his father. He married Miss Mallory near Hampton, Va., and left one son who died Unmarried leaving his property to his mother's relations. The family seat of the Wallaces on Back River was called 'Erroll' after the seat of the Wallaces in Scotland. Elizabeth Westwood's mother was a Miss Howard, of the house of Norfolk, England. She was a near relative of one of the Colonial Governors of Virginia of that name, Francis Howard, Baron of Effingham, born in England 1630, died there 1694; son of Sir Charles Howard, Governor )f Virginia 1684 to i588." (Appleton's Cyclopedia Am. Biog., Vol. , page 207.)
"I will hereafter narrate a romantic incident which caused Elizabeth Westwood,* who was the Widow Wallace, to move to Chappawansic, Prince William Co., Va. Elizabeth Westwood's mother or grandmother was a first cousin of Anne Boleyn. One of Elizabeth Westwood's sisters, Louisa, married Col. Robert Armistead of Louisa Co., Va. Their daughter, Polly Armistead, was a celebrated belle and beauty. She married Stevens Thomson Mason of 'Raspberry Plains,' Loudoun Co., Va.
Footnote: * Elizabeth Westwood, daughter of William' W and Anne Stith, his wife (who married first James Wallace), "was remarkable for her beauty, accomplishments, strength of intellect and piety." She had eleven children, six of whom attained maturity — two sons and four daughters — • v/ho were noted for their beauty. One, Euphon Wallace, married first, Baily Washington, brother of Colonel William Washington of the Revolution ; married second, Daniel Carroll Brent of Winsor Forest, Stafford County, Va.
"One of Elizabeth Westwood's sisters married Mr. King, of Norfolk. After his death she married Dr. McClurg, of Hampton. Dr. McClurg's son married Miss Seldon of Buck Roe near Hampton, Va. Their only daughter married Mr. Wickham, of Richmond, a distinguished lawyer. " Elizabeth Westwood had two brothers, Worlick and William.
"Now comes the romance. When Elizabeth Westwood was about sixteen years of age she made a visit to her cousins, the daughters of Governor Digges, one of the Colonial Governors who was living at Denby. near Williamsburg, V'a. Whilst there, there was a great deal of talk of an Assembly ball which was to come off at Williamsburg, and as Elizabeth W. did not leave home with the expectation of attending the Assembly, she was not prepared, having her party costumes in Hampton, where she lived. Her cousins, the Digges family, insisted on her remaining to attend the Assembly, saying they would lend her a dress. Yielding to their importunities she decided to remain and wear her own simple white dress. Soon after the guests assembled at the ball Air. Thomson Mason was introduced. He had just returned from England, where he had been educated. His eyes rested on the beautiful Elizabeth Westwood, and he had neither eyes nor ears for any other being in the room. She was equally pleased with him. Miss Digges was a cousin of Mr. Mason, and it appears she was bent on captivating him herself. Consequently she told Mr. Mason that Elizabeth was engaged to be married and she told Elizabeth that Thomson Mason was trifling with her. Consequently when he called to see her the day after the ball, she declined to make her appearance. Thus were two young beings separated to meet in maturer years. About six months after this date Elizabeth Westwood married the wealthy James Wallace of 'Erroll,' and several years after, Thomson Mason married. He lived at Chappawamsic near Dumfries. He frequently attended court at Williamsburg and was often asked by James Wallace to visit him, which he as often promised to do. On one occasion, Mr. Wallace said to Mr. Mason, 'My oft repeated invitations have been so frequently slighted, with a promise of fulfilment, that I will not extend them again.' Mr. Mason then told Mr. Wallace that he had entertained peculiar sentiments of regard to his wife, when she was young, and he would prefer not seeing her again.
"Years swept on. Mrs. Wallace became a widow ; Mr. Mason a widower. Mrs. Wallace was noted for her benevolence. Two Revolutionary soldiers from Stafford Co., who were wounded were cared for by the widow Wallace, she dressing the wound?. When they recovered sufficiently to leave Hampton they returned to their home, which was near Mr. Mason. They mentioned the circumstance to him, remarking- on the beauty of the widow Wallace. She had been a widow several years, but there was at that period very little communication between the upper and lower counties of the State and this was the first intimation Mr. Mason had of the fact. The next day he ordered his coach and four and went from Chappawansic to 'ErrolF a distance of several hundred miles. He was received graciously by the widow, but had to make several visits before she would consent to be betrothed.
"After his marriage with Elizabeth Westwood he had two sons, Temple Westwood, and William. Temple Westwood married Miss Noland ; no issue. William married Miss Anne Cariroll of Baltimore, an heiress. They had sixteen children. They lived at Temple Hall near Leesburg. Their oldest daughter married Dr. McGill of Winchester. When Mr. Thomson Mason was in England, he sojourned with Sir William Temple, his first cousin. He called his son after him. Dean Swift was a great deal in the family of Sir William Temple at the time Thomson Mason was there, and he had many humorous anecdotes and incidents to narrate in connection with the Dean. William Wirt says of Mr. Mason that he was the most distinguished lawyer that Virginia had produced up to this time. He was a brothtr of the statesman, George Mason of 'Gunston Hall.'
"Miss Digges on her death bed sent to her cousins Thomson Mason and Elizabeth Westwood to beg forgiveness for the false parts she had played.
"The first James Wallace's daughter, who married Mr. Selden of Buck Roe, fell heir to most of his elegant plate."
Mary Tabb, who married William Westwood, was the daughter of Thomas Tabb and Elisabeth Moss, widow of Henry Howard, who died in 171 1. Issue, besides Mary, John Tabb married Mary Sclater, Thomas married Mary Armistead, Henry, Diana T. married John Robinson, Rachel T., ]\Iartha T. married Tho.--. Kirby (second wife), Edward Tabb.
"Briarfield," the home of the Westwoods for generations, was four miles from Hampton.
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