"Chestnut Lawn"
So named for a grove of some of the largest chestnut trees in America, formerly located in these fields and around the house. They were killed by the blight of 1910 - 1930.
This land was originally patented with adjoining lands, by one Allen in the middle 17th century. The frame home, which he built on the center field, was destroyed by fire. Captain James Payne, of the War of 1812, bouth the land after his marriage in 1815 to Mary Isham Randolph Keith, daughter of Captain Thomas Keith of the Revolutionary War, and granddaughter of "Parson" James Keith and Mary Isham Randolph of "Tuckahoe." Captain Payne then built the present house. It was finished in 1832 and is so dated on one of the large stones near the top of the house by Hannibal, the head slave in charge of a group of artisan slaves trained in building, who belonged to the Skinker family. The work must have taken several years. The signature reads "Han 1832" as he was unable to spell his full name. These same slaves also built the stone church at Goldvein near here, which was finished in 1833. The barn structure is also original but the barn has been resheathed. The slaves cabins and the separate house kitchen were burned during the war between the states, but the main house was spared as the elderly Captain Payne made it known to the Federal cavalry officer that he was a Mason. The officer fortunately happened to be one also.
The house walls are of local granite. They are 3' 4" thick at the base, tapering to 2' 8" at the top. Mantles and floors are of hearty pine and black walnut cut and carved here.
Marker is on Sumerduck Road (County Route 651), on the right when traveling north.
Courtesy hmdb.org
