"Burwell Leavell married twice, the first time when he was 19 yearsold . He eloped on horseback with Mary Purviss and they were marriedin Fre dericksburg on Christmas Day, 1794.
.....Mary Purviss lived at "Rosemont," the plantation adjoining"Clover dale." Her father was Captain James Purviss who served in theRevolutio nary War with John Leavell, Burwell's father.
.....Again tradition informs us that Capt. Purviss had not approvedBur well Leavell's attention to his daughter, and that when hediscovered t he elopement, he rushed to his wife announcing, "Mary haseloped with t hat d--- Frenchman."
.....Capt. And Mrs. Purviss were buried at "Rosemont" in unmarkedgrave s in the garden. The Captain must have forgiven Mary, however,as when h e died he left her the plantation and "Rosemont," which homehas contin ued in the Leavell family thru the years and is now ownedand occupied b y Elwood Gayle.
.....Mrs. Mary Purviss Leavell had four children and died when thefour th child was born. This child was also Mary Purviss Leavell, wholater m arried Capt. John Alsop. At the time of their marriage theAlsop family b uilt for them the handsome brick mansion, which wascalled "La Vue." It i s still owned and occupied by descendants ofMary Purviss Leavell and C apt. John Alsop. It is delightfullysituated and beautifully kept up."
