A Mansion in the New Republic:

A Mansion in the New Republic:. John Howe Peyton and Montgomery Hall. , "He possessed gigantic power without effort..." Staunton lawyer Daniel Sheffey, A Lawyer Arrives in Staunton, When 30-year-old Princeton educated lawyer John Howe Peyton (1778-1847) from Stafford Co., Va., moved to Staunton, he launched a story that continues to resonate at this site today. In 1810 Peyton bought a large wheat farm west of Staunton, less than half of which is now Montgomery Hall Park. Peyton's wife died in 1820 leaving him with one child. In 1821 he married Ann Montgomery Lewis (1803-1850), joining two of Virginia's more prominent families. Peyton came from Tidewater plantation gentry, and his new wife was the direct descendant of John Lewis, among the most important Augusta County settlers. The Peytons had 10 children together., Montgomery Hall is Built, Peyton's new marriage prompted him to oversee the building of an expansive residence named Montgomery Hall after his wife's middle name. The construction and the brick making, probably done nearby, was accomplished from 1822-1824 using labor from Peyton's growing number of slaves., A Towering Presence, Peyton's business acumen allowed him to prosper in his agricultural pursuits. His sharp legal mind and the location of Virginia's western superior courts in Staunton gave him entrance into the New Republic's highest political and legal circles. Peyton was considered among the most brilliant lawyers west of the Blue Ridge at a time when the state included present-day West Virginia., Visitors to Montgomery Hall included U.S. Presidents and Founding Fathers. Family recollections tell of spirited political discussions about the direction of the new nation that often included not only Peyton, but also his well-educated wife., Running a Plantation, Peyton's many private and civic business activities took him away from Montgomery Hall for long stretches of time, leaving the farm and household operations in the hands of his wife and their many slaves. It is important to never forget the toll of slavery and the lives of the slaves whose labor made possible the lifestyle and agricultural pursuits of the Peytons and 11 children., (Captions):, Sketch of Montgomery Hall in the 20th century. (Joe Nutt), A close-up of a Valley of Virginia wheat harvest from the 19th century reveals that all of the workers are African American. ("Bellevue, The Lewis Homestead, Salem, Va." by German artist Edward Beyer), John Howe Peyton (Augusta County Courthouse), This memorial marker stands at the site of the graves of John Howe and Ann Montgomery Lewis Peyton in Staunton's Trinity Episcopal Church cemetery.