Writing Table

Name/Title

Writing Table

Entry/Object ID

09.1

Description

Writing table of walnut and southern yellow pine. Small brass plate affixed to table surface reads in decorative script "Office table of Patrick Henry." The joining pieces are visible on either side of the table surface. The shadow of a circular ring stain is visible in the upper right corner of the table surface. In the front of the table is a simple, square drawer with a wooden knob pull. The legs are square and straight with no feet.

Collection

Patrick & Dorothea Henry Collection

Made/Created

Date made

1770 - 1780

Time Period

18th Century

Place

* Untyped Place

Virginia

Dimensions

Height

27-1/2 in

Width

30 in

Depth

19-1/4 in

Material

Yellow Pine, Walnut

Provenance

Notes

This writing table has a family provenance which names Patrick Henry as the original owner. The date of the table together with this family history makes it very probable that this is an original Henry piece. According to the Gammon family history, Patrick Henry passed this table on to John and Elvira Henry at Red Hill. From John and Elvira it went to their daughter Margaret Ann Henry who married William Alexander Miller. Their daughter Rosa Cabell Miller inherited the table and had it with her after her marriage to Landon Haynes Gammon Senior. Landon Haynes Gammon Jr. and his wife Katherine Conn Gammon had possession of the table after this. When Katherine Conn Gammon died the table was appraised in 1995 by William C. Byrd Appraisals along with other items in her estate. Having no children, the table went to their niece Ann (Nancy) Gammon. Ann Gammon died unmarried with no children in 2009. Her estate went to her sisters Jane Gammon Shore and Rose Gammon Garrett. In January 2009 Mrs. Shore and Mrs. Garrett contacted the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation about possibly donating the table. Since the estate was still unsettled, the table was accepted by the Foundation in January 2009 as a loan. In January 2022, Curator Cody Youngblood contacted Jane Shore to renew the loan. Ms. Shore expressed her desire to transfer the table in full. In October 2022, the table was accepted as a gift by Ms. Shore.