MRS. CHARLES JOSEPH NOURSE
(Annie Carroll Simpson)
Died January 24th, 1935
(from the Fauquier Democrat, Feb. 21, 1935)


Annie Carroll Simpson was born at 'Ellerslie' Isle of Wight County, Virginia on September 17, 1858, in the high day of the gayety, hospitality and plenty of the Old South.

Her mother was Anne Constance Wrenn, and her father was James Wallace Simpson, then owner of four James River plantation, "Siths Castle," "Ellerslie," "Lornes Creek," and "Hog Island."  He was born and spent his youth at "Bacon's Castle," Surrey County, Virginia, then owned by his mother.  He was killed in 1860 while trying to train his fox hunting horse "White Stockings" to drill in the leading of a volunteer Company of Virginia Cavalry.

During the Civil War James River plantations became untenable habitations for women and children and "little Annie Simpson" with her young mother, her little sister, five other children (cousins) and a colored driver, refugeed in a covered wagon to North Carolina, a section less a battlefield, to "Carollton", the plantation of her great-uncle Thomas Carroll, who during the war gave home and refuge to many of the women and children of his less fortunate relatives.  At the close of the war she, still a little girl, returned to "Ellerslie" with her mother, where they, with only "Mammy Nellie" lived the first difficult days of a new order.  Her mother died at "Ellerslie" July 7, 1868.    At ten years old she had already lived so much, and everything of the heritage of love, happiness and material possessions to which she had been born was wiped away, but in these childhood days of bitter loss and personal tragedy, she had already the qualities of smiling loveliness and gallant courage that she has carried with her to the end of the "tale that is told."

Then followed her growing up years, living in the homes of relatives, and of these she loved "Shoal Bay" most dearly.  With its deep green box and radiant crepe myrtles, and the view of the broad James River, it gave her memories of peace and beauty that she carried with her all her days.  It was there too, that she saw and loved the great comets of her youth.

When the Shoal Bay house was destroyed by fire she was faced with the necessity of self-support, and was governess to the grand-children of Bishop Boone, with relatives in North Carolina, and in 1883 came to Casanova, Virginia, as governess in the family of Dr. Robert I. Hicks at "Popular Spring."  Out of the two years that she spent at "Poplar Spring" there grew some of the closest friendships of her life.  Her pupils there were the young Hickes, Carters and Randolphs who gave her admiration and love and to them she was known to the end of the way as "Miss Annie."

In Smithfield, Virginia on August 12, 1885 Annie Carroll Simpson married Charles Joseph Nourse and came to live at "Weston", Casanova, Virginia.  Mr. Nourse was the son of Rebecca Morris of Philadelphia, and Major Charles Joseph Nourse, Adjt. Gen. U. S. Army, early vestryman of St. John's Church, Washington, and builder of "The Highlands."  Mr. Nourse was born in Washington and spent his childhood at "Bolon" in Pennsylvania, the home of his grandfather, Anthony Morris.  He was a graduate of Princeton University and spent many active years in New York where he was also a vestryman of Trinity Church.  After coming to live permanently at his home, "Weston" in Virginia, his strength and experience of life, gave for many years, leadership and help to his community.  He was also Senior Warden, Lay Reader and vestryman of Grace church.

At the death of her husband in 1906 Mrs. Nourse was again faced with the problem of making a support not only for herself, but also for her four children.  While carrying on the business of farming at "Weston" she then organized the Weston Home School, of which she was Principal, with boarding and day pupils from this and other localities, for the purpose also of educating her own three younger children and preparing them for college entrance.  Mary Pemberton Nourse entered Vassar in 1910 and graduated there with perhaps the greatest honors ever given, and then began the study of medicine at The University of Pennsylvania.  The Mary Pemberton Nourse Fellowship at Vassar is a memorial to her brilliant mind, radiant personality and the greatness of her spirit.  Walter Burton Nourse entered William and Mary College and graduated at Cornell in 1916.  In September 1917 he was a volunteer in the National Army.  In 1918 he was commissioned at the French Artillery School at Sawmur, and served through the Meuse-Argonne and St. Mehiel offensives with the 81st Division.

In 1915 Mrs. Nourse organized a branch of Belgian Relief and under her leadership the women of Casanova made many little black aprons and other garments for the children of devastated areas.

In 1917 she organized at Casanova the first Red Cross branch in northern Virginia, this branch becoming later subsidiary to the later organized Warrenton Chapter, and of this branch Mrs. Nourse was chairman until 1925.

IN 1918 and '19 she was Receiving Hostess at the Y. M. C. A. Hostess House at Camp Lee, Virginia.

In 1922 Mrs. Nourse organized at Weston a summer camp for girls, which made much happiness for many children during the summers of 1922-23-24.

And through all those busy years she was constantly giving loving service to those of the community in which she lived, teaching Sunday School, taking part in various church activities, giving of hospitality and giving of herself, friendship and help and comfort to any whose need she knew.

In 1924 Mrs. Nourse was desperately ill.  In the time of this illness she laid by the care and responsibility, the fret and hurry of ordinary life, but tho the possibility of physical activity was gone and never returned, she did not lose her intense interest in life, her deep love of youth, and the quality of sympathetic understanding.  She continued to hold old friendship and make new contacts.

One of her greatest and most lasting interests in later years was the Casanova Hunt.  Her long inheritance of the love of fox hunting, and early memories of the sound of horns at dawn, in the dearly loved James River country of her youth, gave her a love of these beautiful things that brought her much keen happiness.  To the end of her days the tales of the hunter, home from the hill, gave her pleasure, and always she loved the running music of the hounds.

The officers and men of Co. "A" 20th Engineers, camped in the vicinity of Casanova in 1926 brought her much of interest, and gave her love, that with some of them seemed almost worship.  This was true also of many Seminary Students who would sit by her bed talking of the things of here and hereafter.  These men and boys, out of their youth and strength, seemed somehow more deeply than others to know and realize her weakness and her courage.

Many others there were who came and sat by her bed, some perhaps great, who gave her an almost reverent love and tenderness.  Musicians came and played for her, and a Cremona told its story of the wistfulness of life, and there was "Taps" played by the Bugler who gave it its most beautiful words.

Of all the "many physicians" who gave her all they had of science and skill there was hardly one who failed to feel her loveliness and the triumph of her spirit over all that "may happen o the body."

During the last two years, with increasing illness and limitations her contacts narrowed until perhaps at last in her great weakness, it was only her children and a few very near and dear, who knew that she herself and her spirit were as always the same, with undaunted courage, and smiling tender hearted love.

Long ago someone wrote of the "ever widening circle of those who love Weston," and in a recent letter there is this - "My heart is full of the spirit which fills Weston.  That spirit has always seemed to me so beautiful and so peaceful, and the source was Mrs. Nourse.  It was so strong and sincere even tho it was so gentle and quiet that it will live on.  I can feel a pulse beating on and I can only think of Weston with the same beautiful spirit still filling it, and making it a place of happiness and true living."

Mrs. Nourse died at the closing of the day, a little before six o'clock on Thursday, January 24th, 1935.  She was buried at Grace Church, Casanova, Virginia on the morning of Saturday, January 26th.  "How beautiful it was at Grace Church, the earth, white with snow, chaste and hushed, the peace and beauty of the little church, so loved so long, the high challenge of the service to great living; it all seemed just as she would have had it.  It was as if Mrs. Nourse directed our steps again to that high pathway toward which she has always guided."