Hello, Spelunkers: There are two Montebello plantations in Orange County, VA. This Montebello was founded by Benjamin Cave JUNIOR who was supposedly the first burial in the graveyard near the house. Benjamin JUNIOR was a son of Benjamin SENIOR and Hannah Bledsoe. Although the marker at the gate says "1728", this site is probably NOT the site of Benjamin SENIOR's land grant of 1728 "at the forks of the Rapid Ann". Montebello, as of 1981, was still in the hands of Benjamin Junior's descendants who had the original land grant papers for Benjamin Senior's land grant. As far as I know, the original land grant site "at the forks of the Rapid Ann" has not been located. If it has, I would certainly like to know. Regards, Ed Troutman, Fort Worth, TX (twice from Benj SR and Hannah Bledsoe). PS: For those you who are tall ship fans, scan on Panama and follow the thread to the description of the Clipper Ship "Panama". One of Benjamin's descendants left the care of Montebello to a brother and went off to become a Captain of the "Panama". He took his wife with him on sailing trips and each of their three daughters was born in a different foreign country (one in China). The "Panama was the fastest clipper between New York and San Francisco. About 110 days around the Horn. ------------------ Reply Separator -------------------- Originally From: "Jane H" <janewayne@earthlink.net> Subject: [CAVE] Orange Co., VA Date: 03/16/2002 09:04pm http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/VAGuide/tour03.html on US 15 is a junction with County 633.... Left here to County 632, 0.4 m.; R. 0.2 m. to MONTEBELLO (L), a dignified mansion of dark red brick behind the great Tuscan columns of a white, two-story portico. The beauty of the old house, which overlooks rolling country, is enhanced by masses of box- wood, magnolia, and other evergreens, and by a formal garden. In 1750 Benjamin Cave built the house that has had numerous additions and alterations. (Hope I'm reading this correctly) ======================================= "Orange County, Be it remembered..." With those very important sounding words as the first entry in the records, Orange County, Virginia began. At the first meeting of the Orange County Court, held January 21, 1734 (Old Style), there was much business to be taken care to organize the new county. Much of that is contained in the continuation of that first entry below. We thought it appropriate that the first entry of Orange County Courthouse Notes on our new web site should look back to the very beginnings of the County's rich history. That first entry continues below. http://www.kclark.net/ochs/ocnotes1.html Mentions Benjamin Cave. ======================================= http://www.starbase21.com/kybiog/woodford/cave.r.txt. Bio on Richard Cave, preacher, son of Capt. Benjamin Cave Orange Co., VA ======================================= www.ls.net/~newriver/va/oran1.htm A HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, VIRGINIA >From its Formation in 1734 ( O. S.) to the end of Reconstruction in 1870 ; compiled mainly from Original Records CAVEs mentioned ======================================= ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237