Before Belle-Hampton: A Brief History of Hoge and Howe Family

Hoge Family Crest by Robert H. Hoge

To understand the life stories of those who lived at Belle-Hampton and neighboring Sunnyside, we need to begin with a brief history of their ancesters. Prominent names such as De Jarnette, Shannon, Cecil and Trollinger are all buried in the Sunnyside cemetery, however, the main families we will be discussing at length are Hoge and Howe who's descendants are intertwined. Both the Hoge's and the Howe's were the progenitors of their family in the New River Valley. Joseph Howe was engaged in blazing the Catawba trail in 1750 and moved to Sunnyside shortly after along with James Hoge. But their families came across the pond much earlier.

William Hoge was the first in America in 1682. William grew up from Scottish nobility, which instilled in him the importance of the strength in his good name. However, even with a strong name and suitable means, William ended up in jail. It was not for a crime, but for his beliefs and strong religious convictions. He was a strict Covenanter, a person who pledged to uphold Presbyterianism. His strong principles lived up to the family coat of arms “worthy ambition”, but it tested his strength and bravery.

During this period, England was acquiring land in not only America, but also taking it from the Scottish. The Stuart's also wanted everyone to believe in the King's Book. William would not conform to the ruler's decree. He had his possessions taken away and striped of his nobility. William now sat rotting in jail left to change his beliefs or die.

Life in jail required determination and character. Did William believe his good name would give him strength as their motto said, “Dat Gloira Vires”? He could have conformed to the King's belief, which would have set him free, but he chose to hold true to his convictions even if it meant enduring the excruciating conditions of prison. His brothers also subject to persecution for their beliefs. The family character withstood conforming to the belief of ruling Stuart dynasty although they endured personal condemnation.

Fortunately, William could be free from jail if they were to leave the country. The story says that Sir James's brother who conformed to the King's Book, pulled some strings to get him freed. The ship, Caledonia, which means Scotland, was going to America. Although William and Sir James's family boarded a crowded run down ship full of Scottish prisoners going to a foreign land, their options were limited. Either start a new life in America or stay in jail. They took the challenge.

The Caledonia was not a festive cruise line, but a rat infested, poorly built boat with rotting wood. The ship was crowded with passengers who were prisoners from war or religious prosecution, indentured servants and gypsies. The voyage took months with waves battering the ship as it tossed around in the rough waters of the ocean. They had little food, supplies or medical services. It is not surprising that disease struck the passengers and half of them died on the ship from pestilence or malnutrition. The ship sprung a leak, but eventually ran ashore into Perth Amboy, NJ. Once on dry land, their adventure in America began.

Unfortunately, the beginning looked grim. He arrived penniless in a strange land. A fellow passenger, Barbara Hume, lost her parents on the ship from an epidemic leaving her at a young age of 12 alone in a new world. William who was ten years older became her protector. William made sure Barbara reached her mother's family, the Johnson's in New York. He delivered her and her property to her uncle while he returned to Perth Amboy to work for a Scottish company and make himself a home. Since travel was expensive and difficult at the time, even though New York was only 28 miles away for William, their contact must have been limited. But somehow, an attachment had sprung up between them. After 6 years, William returned to marry Barbara about 1688. After the birth of their first son, John, they moved to Pennsylvania.

William Hoge was attracted to the new colony of Pennsylvania, which gave him religious freedom and opportunity in a growing colony. William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania, created a government with a goal of religious tolerances. He started the “holy experiment” which allowed for religious freedom. He hoped his advertisements would attract people so he could “seed the nation”. William Hoge purchased 1,000 acres of land in Chester County, Pennsylvania for 5 shillings with an additional “quick rents” to William Penn for 15 years. Pennsylvania was a booming area for settlers because of the waterways and stagecoach trails. Philadelphia was the third largest city in America and was rich in culture. As the colony was developing, Hoge sold pieces of his land to the new settlers.

At age 75, William still did not reach his full potential and decided to move his wife and 9 children to a the Virginia countryside. After 20 years of selling his property in Pennsylvania, William became not only debt free, but able to buy more land, which would lead to another adventure. William decided to move to the remote wilderness in the Shenandoah Valley. He left his oldest son, John, who bought land and laid out the town of Hogetown, PA near Harrisburg.

England was promoting Virginia's beauty and vast land availability to settlers. They wanted westward expansion and to dispel the savage Indians who were massacring the new inhabitants. Prior to the expansion, only trappers, traders and explorers made it to the Shenandoah Valley. Through a land grant, 16 families were able to make Virginia their home (Glass, Vance, Hoge, Allen, Reed, Colville, White, Marquis, Beckett, Chambers, McAuley and McMachen). William received a patent from the colony of Virginia for 411 acres in 1735. He secured the land in Winchester, VA near a main traveling route.

Location, location, location is typically important in real estate. The land that William secured was along a well-traveled route where he then opened an ordinary. Although an ordinary is a tavern, it is also an essential part of the community. It is a place for food and drink plus a place to stay. Along the stagecoach route, travelers would stop and have lunch, which was typically included in their fare. Sandwiches became the first fast foods that people could take along with them on the stagecoach.

However, the ordinary served as more than just a place to eat. It was used for socialization where they would talk about issues of the day as well has legislative issues. Ordinaries sometimes had more business conducted in them than the official meeting houses. They also served as a post office, recruitment office and deployment of militia. It was common to have an ordinary close to a church, which is why it is not surprising William sold (or donated) some of his land for the first meetinghouse which was the first church in the area.

Opequon Presbyterian Church started meeting in 1732 during the Great Awakening, a period of religious revival. They may have held their meeting in Hoge's ordinary. In 1736, they built a meeting house on William's land and with his materials. William's grandson, Rev. John Hoge was the first class from Nassau Hall, Princeton. John was the first minister of the church. The story is that George Washington would often attend the church and then dine with Nancy Hoge Wilson. Unfortunately, the original church were destroyed several times, but has been rebuilt. Therefore, we cannot officially say that George Washington prayed there.

Although raised in nobility and in good circumstances, William Hoge survived being stripped of his possessions, imprisoned, the voyage to America, relocated to unchartered territories, but seemed to make the best of his situation. Not knowing his hopes and dream, but coming from a good name and sound values, he created a legacy in America. From him sprung a branch of the family, scattered from New York to California, men of substance and character; bankers, lawyers, judges, members of Congress, with now and then a minister of the Gospel; leaders in church and state. Buried at the Opequon Church cemetery, William and Barbara leave the ancestral dynasty of the Hoge name “Dat Gloria Vires”, a good name gives strength.

Joseph Samuel Howe came to America approximately 55 years after William Hoge. In 1737 he left his home in Nottinghamshire, England shortly after his father died. He was the oldest son of Sir Emanuel Scrope Howe, 2º Viscount Howe, 4º Baronet of Compton. His grandmother, Sophia von Kielmansegg, Countess of Darlington was the half sister to King George the I. Rumor had it that she was one of his mistresses, which his mother dismissed with certainty. Although speculation that the King's children were all from Sophia was still a question. Countess Sophia was certainly, a close confident of the king while she lived in the palace before her own marriage. Her oldest daughter, Charlotte was Howe's mother. Being raised in nobility with connections to the crown, his reason for leaving the first time is unclear, he was only 17. Shortly after Howe returned to England, it was alleged that he ran away from home to follow his younger brother, Brigadier General George Augustus Howe, 3º Viscount Howe who was serving in the French-Indian War in America. Unfortunately, his brother died in the battle of Ticonderoga in 1758.

Another one of Howe's brother, Sir William Howe, 5º Viscount Howe, was formally appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in America in 1776 after he lead a successful battle at Bunker Hill. Stating that "he was ordered, and could not refuse," Howe sailed for Boston with Major Generals Henry Clinton and John Burgoyne. Howe was soon joined by another brother, George, who had orders to act as a peace commissioner. On September 11, 1776, the Howe's met with John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Edward Rutledge on Staten Island. While the American representatives mandated recognition of their independence, the Howe's were only permitted to offer pardons to those rebels who submitted to British authority.

General William Howe later defeated George Washington at Long Island and New York thus capturing New York City making it his headquarters. In 1777, after various successful battles against the colonists, William Howe asked to be relieved of his position which was brought to the House of Commons for review of his conduct, but proved to be inconclusive. Why did he step down from his duty in the Revolution? It is curious since at that point in time, his brother Joseph Howe was working with George Washington building forts for the French-Indian War then later serving as a “Road Viewer” in the Revolutionary War for the colonists. But George and William Howe continued with their duty and loyalty for England although it was said they opposed war with the colonies.

Samuel Joseph Howe coming from privileged life in England, forged unknowingly into the wilderness of America. Coming from a home of refinement and wealth with strong convictions and connections to the crown, it seems curious he would have taken on such a risky adventure. Although it was thought that he wasn't given a title in exchange for land in the new world. But he had sympathy for the American colonists, maybe it was perceived intolerable back at home with his family. His first trip at 17 might have opened his eyes to the opportunities in the new world and may have jumped on the offer of land in exchange for the privileges of nobility.