Notes
This medicine chest belonged to Patrick Henry's son, John Henry (1796–1868), and his wife, Elvira McClelland (1808–1875), at Red Hill.
The chest is English and reflects the tastes of the early 19th century. The joinery style of creating cushioned joints along the case sides (rather than the square dovetail joints), the scalloped astragal surrounds of the handle and escutcheons, and the imposition of a completed box form on a component base (rather than placing feet on a chest or making an integral base) all reflect design choices of the first half of the 19th century.
The chest contains bottles (01.31.2-14) made and filled in Richmond, Virginia, which is not unusual. It was common for chests to be imported and purchased as inventory by the retailing druggists who would affix their labels. The Richmond labels add credibility to the Henry family provenance.
This chest and its contents belonged initially to John and Elvira McClelland Henry during their years at Red Hill. The chest was passed down in the family to John and Elvira's daughter, Margaret Ann Henry Miller (1827–1881), and then to her daughter, Elvira Henry Miller (1850–1955). It was then given to Rose Miller Gammon Garrett (1946–) through her father, William Miller Gammon Sr. (1900–1970). William Gammon Sr. was a nephew of Elvira Miller. His daughter, Rose Garrett, is a third great-great-granddaughter of Patrick Henry.
On September 4, 2001, Rose Gammon Garrett donated the medicine chest and its contents (01.31.2-25) to the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation.