folder 731: "The Stories of Beaver Creek"

jane e. covington

UNC., Chapel Hill Southern Historical Collection

Re: Hairston Stories Beaver Creek Henry Co., VA.

Attention: Brian Giemza O=(919) 962-4341, cell=(919) 418-0761

to: Bryan Gienza executive director of Southern Historical Collection, Chapel Hill, NC.

from: Jane E. Covington,

date: November 2016

re: the book, The Hairstons, an American family in Black and White by Henry Wiencek

In the transcribed letters from Peter Hairston, Coolemee Plantation to Bill Moore, who at one time was employed by Carter Bank at Beaver Creek, Peter refers to the book entiteld, Henry County, a Proud Look Back by Henry Wiencek, he disputes many of Wiencek's stories/facts. Hairston comments "unfortunately this is a notably inaccurate book."

I have looked for and cannot find my copy of a book by the same author, Henry Wiencek, The Hairstons, an American Family in Black and White. However, I do remember that the chapter on the Hairstons of Beaver Creek was full of errors. Errors, documenting the family tree, errors describing the home, and errors regarding family legend. Our family noted these errors to Wiencek on occasion in Richmond. He promised necessary corrections in the second edition.

This letter is written just to illuminate the fact that living Hairston descendants of George Hairston and his son, Marshall, (Covingtons, Irbys, Thompsons) do not agree with the published facts and stories of Wiencek. By no means should his work be used for documentation regarding either the family or the plantation.

The Cooleemee Plantation 415 Peter Hairston Road Advance, NC 27006

October 10, 2000

Dear Bill,

The visit with you on Saturday was a great pleasure. To Let you know that I did follow up on our talk, I have gone Back and revied all the available references to Old George's land holdings. As usual, Wienceck cannot be relied on for a fact. He says that our George had 238,000 acres. His authority is given as "Martinsville and Henry County, A Proud Look Back." Unfortunately this is a notably inaccurate book. It apparently took its statement from Cousin Lizzie Nick,s Hairstons and Penns and their Relations. It happens that the reference there is one of the few places in whch she gives her authority, she says that the acreage was 232,275 acres. However, this incredible figure she says was beelonging to George Hairston,Jr. He was a grandson of our George. So much for the conflicting information with that which I have from other sources.

Now about the story that it was possible to walk from Danville to Martinsville on Hairston. I estimate the distance to be 20 miles as the crow flies. If the walkway was a mile wide all the way it would take from 12,000 to 14,000 acres to provide an unbroken way. There are 640 acres to a square mile. Since George, Sam Henry, Ailcy, Sam, Ruth, Peter and Robert all owned land somewhere

near this part of the world, thee total is large but by no means impossible.

It is a red flag in writing to dispute a published authority of a fact. Hence, I fear I belabored the point of our George's holdings. I didn't and still don't believe the figure of over Two hundred thousand acres. I am also leery of the statement that he gave $500,000 worth of land and slaves To each of his children as they married.

Since, there is really no basis for the wild figures, much of The reasons why they are not correct can easily be left out.

I am of two minds about the family history before Robert. Perhaps I have ridden my own hobby too hard there. If these are eliminated or reduced, I think the Chapter on George will be improved.

I look forward to seeing you more often (on pleasure not medically) when St. Lukes gets a new rector.

Love to you and your family and all good wishes,

Peter

The Stories of Beaver Creek

Not long ago, there hung on the walls of Beaver Creek three swords. They were the weapons used by family members in the American Revolution, the War of 1812 and the War Between the States. The oldest of the three had belonged to George Hairston who had marched with Abraham Penn to fight with General Nathaniel Greene in the Battle of Guilford Court House, the battle, though won by the British under Cornwallis, cost them so dearly that they were compelled to retreat out of North Carolina and eventually to York Town. George had led a company of neighbors from there to the surrender in Virginia which all but ended the Revolution. His sword found use again in the War of 1812, when George, by now a lieutenant-colonel, took command of the troops at Norfolk.