Margaret CABELL

   Other names for Margaret were Mrs. Margaret RIVES and Mrs. Robert RIVES.

   User ID: P00051735.

  General Notes:

Margaret Jordan Cabell was born late in 1769 or early in 1770. She was educated entirely by private tutors in her father's family, -- Mr. Fontaine, Rev. Mr. Buchan, Mr. James Morrison, and others. She was taught music by Mr. Wall, and dancing by Mr. Jeter. There were other teachers, whose names are not known to me. Margaret, or "Peggy," as her father called her, completed her education early in 1789.

She went with her brother William and his wife to Judge Paul Carrington's in Charlotte, in August 1784. After her sister, Paulina Read, moved to "Retirement," she paid frequent visits there. Early in February 1789, she attended a Society meeting at Hampden Sidney College, and from there she went to Maj. Read's in Charlotte. On these visits she met with Mr. Robert Rives, who was then in business with Blow & Barksdale at Charlotte Court House, and, although she had many admirers, she finally determined to join her fate with his. For a time in 1789, she was engaged to the Rev. Samuel Houston (1758-­1839), who had been prominent in the history of the "State of Franklin," and who was afterwards prominent in the history of Washington College, and of the Presby­terian Church in Virginia. She was evidently much attach­ed to him, and the fact that Mr. Rives finally won the vic­tory was largely owing to his "resolute energy of will and purpose which enabled him always to reach the goal he aimed at." As an illustration of this, the late Andrew White, Esq., who was in business with Mr. Rives from 1804 to 1845, told his son, Dr. John F. White (who wrote it to me), that "when Mr. Rives was addressing Miss Cabell, he once rode from Richmond to 'Union Hill' to dinner on the same day -- doubtlessly dinner was late at a fashionable home, but not so late as is the custom now, and Richmond was 105 miles away. The horse was put into the stable and taken out dead." Mr. Rives, kept fine horses, and during life was a very rapid rider. He frequently left his home at Warminster in the morning; rode to Char­lottesville, about 40 miles away; attended the court; trans­acted his personal business interests there, and returned home that night. He imported Gouty (foaled 1796), by Sir Peter Teazle, a famous horse of this section. The following entries are from Col. William Cabell's diary: "Jan'Y 25th, 1790. My daughter Peggy was married to Mr. Robert Rives by the Rev. Mr. Isaac Darnielle at Union Hill." "May 27th. Paid Robert Rives £242. -- the bal. due Alex. Donald for money sent me to purchase tobacco -- pr. Mr. Donald's order. For which I have Mr. Rives receipt and Mr. Donald's letter to warrant the payment." "August 20th. Mr., Rives and wife visit Charlotte County." "Octr 23rd. My daughter Rives delivered of a son about 5 o'clock in the evening." "Octr 28th. Doctor George Gilmer left this place after being here six days with my daughter Rives, who is in a most distressing situation." This was the celebrated Dr. George Gilmer, of Pen Park, Albemarle, the father of the first Mrs. William Wirt. The life of his patient "was al­most despaired of;" but he came again and again, giving her the closest attention, and she finally recovered. The child was the first male born in the present "Union Hill" mansion, who left descendants. He was named for his uncle, Landon Cabell, whose disappearance was then a source of great distress to the family. "Jan'y 19th, 1791. Mr. Robert Rives and his wife went home [to Warminster] after living with me about twelve months." But, as usual in those days, Mrs. Rives came to "Union Hill" for several years to be under the care of her mother at trying, and, in her case, dangerous times. And in her father's diary we find the following entries:

"Jan'y 9th, 1792. My daughter Peggy Rives delivered of a daughter about ten o'clock at night. [Margaret J. Rives.]"

"May 4th, 1793. In the morning my daughter Peggy Rives delivered of a son." This was William Cabell Rives. The rest of her children were born at "Warminster" and at "Oak Ridge."

In 1790, Mr. Rives had built the central portion of what is now known as "the Edgewood House," adjoining the then village of Warminster, and this was his home from January 1791, to January 1803. It was afterwards sold to the late Hon. Joseph C. Cabell, Sr.

In 1798, his wife inherited from her father a portion of the Oak Ridge estate; he afterwards purchased the remain­der from the other heirs, and in 1801-1802, built thereon the present "Oak Ridge" mansion, which was the residence of his wife and himself from January 1803, as long as they lived. This fine estate was originally the property of John Harmer and Walter King and was "escheated" and sold during the Revolution.

"March 23rd, 1780. Purchased of David Shepherd, Es­cheator, 2380 acres of land in Amherst County on both sides of Rucker's Run, being part of a larger tract lately the property of John Harmer, Esq., a British subject; and 1070 acres adjoining, on the south branches of Rucker's Run, being part of a large tract, lately the property of Walter King, Esquire, a British subject. Purchased agree­able to two Acts of Assembly passed in the year 1779. The one entitled an Act concerning Escheats and Forfeitures from British subjects; the other, an Act concerning Escheators. For which land I paid the sum of £27,140." Of this amount £12,957 was paid "by orders on John Hawkins for corn, beeves., muttons, etc., sold Alexander Gordon and the said Hawkins for the Barracks in Albe­marle, where the Convention [Saratoga] prisoners were;" £1070 by a loan office certificate and the remainder "by Cash." [John Harmer was of Bristol, Eng. He came to Virginia, possibly with Dr. Cabell, in 1741, or soon after, resided here for some years, and then returned to England. He gave much of his property in Virginia to George Har­mer, as Walter King did to Walter King Cole, and a cer­tain restitution was made to them by acts of Assembly in May and October 1780.]

The following obituary notice appeared in "The Rich­mond Enquirer" of August 30, 1815:

"Departed this life in the 45th year of her age on Satur­day morning the 19th inst. [August 1815] Mrs. Margaret Rives, daughter of the late Col. William Cabell and con­sort of Mr. Robert Rives of the County of Nelson.

"The endowments of the deceased were of superior order. Her mind was masculine and sentimental, her heart generous, benevolent and kind. Charity, too, had its place in her bosom. Although surrounded by wealth, although abounding in affluence, self-enjoyment was the least of her considerations. How to be useful to her family, how to render services to the indigent, were the first wishes of her soul. She was the most affectionate of mothers, the most devoted of wives, and among the best of friends to the poor. The superiority of her intellect did not desert her in her afflicting and incurable disease. She evinced in her last moments a resolution and fortitude seldom witnessed in her sex. She was resigned to the will of God and recon­ciled to the mandate of death."

Margaret Jordan Cabell and Robert Rives had issue:

68. i. Landon C. 69. ii. Margaret J. 70. iii. William C. 71. iv. Lucy S. 72. v. Paulina C. 73. vi. Robert. 74. vii. Henry. viii. James B., b. February 5, 1801; d. July 23, 1816. 75. ix. George. x . Elizabeth, b. December 20, 1803; d. September 15, 1804. 76. xi. Alexander Rives.

Margaret married Robert RIVES. (Robert RIVES was born on 11 Mar 1764 in Sussex County, VA.)