John Archer Worsham, native of Richmond, VA, operated "faro" gambling parlors in Richmond and New York City, where in either location, he likely met Collis Potter Huntington. He was intimately intertwined in the saga surrounding the relationship of C. P. Huntington to Catherine Arabella Duval Yarrington and the true paternity of her son, Archer Milton Huntington. Likely (not conclusively) the illegitimate child of C. P. Huntington, Archer was nonetheless presented by his mother as the son of John Worsham, or "John De Wersion" as he is further masked in the 1870 New York US Federal Census, also appearing as "John A. Worsham" in the Richmond US Federal Census in the same year. Both Worsham and Huntington were married to others at the time of Archer Milton Huntington's birth (of course, no birth certificate) likely in Texas where her brother lived – far away from both New York and Richmond society. If neither the real father nor actually married to Arabella, John nonetheless influenced the naming of his would-be son. "Archer" Milton Huntington's given-name is obviously a Worsham family name, further contributing to the appearance of a bond, "Milton" being a Yarrington family name (her paternal grandfather's middle name).
Never legally married to Worsham, Arabella is linked here because she was so insistent on the sham connection prior to her eventual marriage to C. P. Huntington in 1884. The ruse continues to this day, a testament to its success and her power still - especially over the arts organizations which gain from perpetuating the saga if not the misconception: the newly-reinstalled interiors of her 54th Street townhouse (eventually sold to J. D. Rockefeller, and which once stood in what is now the garden of the Museum of Modern Art, NYC) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Virginia Museum of Fine Arts are referred to as from the "Arabella Yarrington Worsham / John D. Rockefeller Home".
The Worsham-Hill burial plot is shared between John Archer Worsham and his son-in-law, George W. Hill.
Bef. 1850: married Annette ___?___
14 September 1861: "The proprietors and all the faro dealers of the Richmond gaming houses have been enrolled [in the army]. Some of the principle houses have been closed, in consequence of this new order and the scarcity of faro players. The brothers Worsham, who had a branch of their gaming house in Broadway, New York, having more faith in Tiger fighting than in fighting Yankees, have each, together with their dealers, hired substitutes at an expense of $1,200. Geo. Patton, of New York, another well-known gambler, has left his fashionable establishment in Main street, and is captain of a company raised in Richmond." Source: Weekly Oregonian (Portland, OR), p. 4
29 May 1862 – 01 Mar 1864: Confederate Army, Companies D, E; Virginia 1st Infantry Regiment
Abt. 1868: reputedly married to Arabella Duval Yarrington (later and twice, Huntington) but no marriage record or certificate has ever been found in either Virginia or New York to substantiate the claim, nor birth certificate for that of her son, Archer Milton Huntington (cited in the 1870 US Federal Census, NY, NY, as John De Wersion, 3 mos, son of John and Bell De Wersion; 1880 US Federal Census, NY, NY, as Arthur M. Worsham, age 10, son of Belle D. Worsham of Alabama, a widow)
12 June 1870: cited in the US Federal Census, NY, NY, as John De Wersion, age 45, "Stock Holder in Banking Estab.", with Bell De Wersion, age 19 and son, John De Wersion, age 3 months. All living with her mother, C. J. Yarrington, age 45.
21 December 1871: "About eleven o'clock last night the police under the directions of the Mayor, made a sudden and wholly unexpected raid upon all the faro banks, keno and other games in the city. They were all taken by surprise, and were found full of citizens playing at the various games. Among them several persons of the highest respectability and holding responsible positions in the State. The only arrests made, however, were those of the "Dealers" Proprietors and "Cappers". The players generally effected their retreat through back doors, over roofs into dark alleys and escaped. The houses entered were Washam's [sic], the largest in the city. . . . . " Source: New York Herald, New York, NY
27 May 1878: burial as per cemetery records
20 July 1884: "Collis P. Huntington, the millionaire, conveyed to Mrs. Belle D. Worsham his dwelling at the southeast corner of Park avenue and adjoining and two houses and lots around the corner of Thirty Eighth street. The deed was recorded on July 7th (1884) and acknowledged ... Friday last, the day before Mr. Huntington was married to Mrs. Worsham at her residence on Fifty-fourth street. . . . Rumor had it that Mr. Huntington purchased the house many years ago and presented it as a testimonial of friendly regard to Mr. Worsham."
Never legally married to Worsham, Arabella is linked here because she was so insistent on the sham connection prior to her eventual marriage to C. P. Huntington in 1884. The ruse continues to this day, a testament to its success and her power still - especially over the arts organizations which gain from perpetuating the saga if not the misconception: the newly-reinstalled interiors of her 54th Street townhouse (eventually sold to J. D. Rockefeller, and which once stood in what is now the garden of the Museum of Modern Art, NYC) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Virginia Museum of Fine Arts are referred to as from the "Arabella Yarrington Worsham / John D. Rockefeller Home".
The Worsham-Hill burial plot is shared between John Archer Worsham and his son-in-law, George W. Hill.
Bef. 1850: married Annette ___?___
14 September 1861: "The proprietors and all the faro dealers of the Richmond gaming houses have been enrolled [in the army]. Some of the principle houses have been closed, in consequence of this new order and the scarcity of faro players. The brothers Worsham, who had a branch of their gaming house in Broadway, New York, having more faith in Tiger fighting than in fighting Yankees, have each, together with their dealers, hired substitutes at an expense of $1,200. Geo. Patton, of New York, another well-known gambler, has left his fashionable establishment in Main street, and is captain of a company raised in Richmond." Source: Weekly Oregonian (Portland, OR), p. 4
29 May 1862 – 01 Mar 1864: Confederate Army, Companies D, E; Virginia 1st Infantry Regiment
Abt. 1868: reputedly married to Arabella Duval Yarrington (later and twice, Huntington) but no marriage record or certificate has ever been found in either Virginia or New York to substantiate the claim, nor birth certificate for that of her son, Archer Milton Huntington (cited in the 1870 US Federal Census, NY, NY, as John De Wersion, 3 mos, son of John and Bell De Wersion; 1880 US Federal Census, NY, NY, as Arthur M. Worsham, age 10, son of Belle D. Worsham of Alabama, a widow)
12 June 1870: cited in the US Federal Census, NY, NY, as John De Wersion, age 45, "Stock Holder in Banking Estab.", with Bell De Wersion, age 19 and son, John De Wersion, age 3 months. All living with her mother, C. J. Yarrington, age 45.
21 December 1871: "About eleven o'clock last night the police under the directions of the Mayor, made a sudden and wholly unexpected raid upon all the faro banks, keno and other games in the city. They were all taken by surprise, and were found full of citizens playing at the various games. Among them several persons of the highest respectability and holding responsible positions in the State. The only arrests made, however, were those of the "Dealers" Proprietors and "Cappers". The players generally effected their retreat through back doors, over roofs into dark alleys and escaped. The houses entered were Washam's [sic], the largest in the city. . . . . " Source: New York Herald, New York, NY
27 May 1878: burial as per cemetery records
20 July 1884: "Collis P. Huntington, the millionaire, conveyed to Mrs. Belle D. Worsham his dwelling at the southeast corner of Park avenue and adjoining and two houses and lots around the corner of Thirty Eighth street. The deed was recorded on July 7th (1884) and acknowledged ... Friday last, the day before Mr. Huntington was married to Mrs. Worsham at her residence on Fifty-fourth street. . . . Rumor had it that Mr. Huntington purchased the house many years ago and presented it as a testimonial of friendly regard to Mr. Worsham."
John Archer Worsham, native of Richmond, VA, operated "faro" gambling parlors in Richmond and New York City, where in either location, he likely met Collis Potter Huntington. He was intimately intertwined in the saga surrounding the relationship of C. P. Huntington to Catherine Arabella Duval Yarrington and the true paternity of her son, Archer Milton Huntington. Likely (not conclusively) the illegitimate child of C. P. Huntington, Archer was nonetheless presented by his mother as the son of John Worsham, or "John De Wersion" as he is further masked in the 1870 New York US Federal Census, also appearing as "John A. Worsham" in the Richmond US Federal Census in the same year. Both Worsham and Huntington were married to others at the time of Archer Milton Huntington's birth (of course, no birth certificate) likely in Texas where her brother lived – far away from both New York and Richmond society. If neither the real father nor actually married to Arabella, John nonetheless influenced the naming of his would-be son. "Archer" Milton Huntington's given-name is obviously a Worsham family name, further contributing to the appearance of a bond, "Milton" being a Yarrington family name (her paternal grandfather's middle name).
Never legally married to Worsham, Arabella is linked here because she was so insistent on the sham connection prior to her eventual marriage to C. P. Huntington in 1884. The ruse continues to this day, a testament to its success and her power still - especially over the arts organizations which gain from perpetuating the saga if not the misconception: the newly-reinstalled interiors of her 54th Street townhouse (eventually sold to J. D. Rockefeller, and which once stood in what is now the garden of the Museum of Modern Art, NYC) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Virginia Museum of Fine Arts are referred to as from the "Arabella Yarrington Worsham / John D. Rockefeller Home".
The Worsham-Hill burial plot is shared between John Archer Worsham and his son-in-law, George W. Hill.
Bef. 1850: married Annette ___?___
14 September 1861: "The proprietors and all the faro dealers of the Richmond gaming houses have been enrolled [in the army]. Some of the principle houses have been closed, in consequence of this new order and the scarcity of faro players. The brothers Worsham, who had a branch of their gaming house in Broadway, New York, having more faith in Tiger fighting than in fighting Yankees, have each, together with their dealers, hired substitutes at an expense of $1,200. Geo. Patton, of New York, another well-known gambler, has left his fashionable establishment in Main street, and is captain of a company raised in Richmond." Source: Weekly Oregonian (Portland, OR), p. 4
29 May 1862 – 01 Mar 1864: Confederate Army, Companies D, E; Virginia 1st Infantry Regiment
Abt. 1868: reputedly married to Arabella Duval Yarrington (later and twice, Huntington) but no marriage record or certificate has ever been found in either Virginia or New York to substantiate the claim, nor birth certificate for that of her son, Archer Milton Huntington (cited in the 1870 US Federal Census, NY, NY, as John De Wersion, 3 mos, son of John and Bell De Wersion; 1880 US Federal Census, NY, NY, as Arthur M. Worsham, age 10, son of Belle D. Worsham of Alabama, a widow)
12 June 1870: cited in the US Federal Census, NY, NY, as John De Wersion, age 45, "Stock Holder in Banking Estab.", with Bell De Wersion, age 19 and son, John De Wersion, age 3 months. All living with her mother, C. J. Yarrington, age 45.
21 December 1871: "About eleven o'clock last night the police under the directions of the Mayor, made a sudden and wholly unexpected raid upon all the faro banks, keno and other games in the city. They were all taken by surprise, and were found full of citizens playing at the various games. Among them several persons of the highest respectability and holding responsible positions in the State. The only arrests made, however, were those of the "Dealers" Proprietors and "Cappers". The players generally effected their retreat through back doors, over roofs into dark alleys and escaped. The houses entered were Washam's [sic], the largest in the city. . . . . " Source: New York Herald, New York, NY
27 May 1878: burial as per cemetery records
20 July 1884: "Collis P. Huntington, the millionaire, conveyed to Mrs. Belle D. Worsham his dwelling at the southeast corner of Park avenue and adjoining and two houses and lots around the corner of Thirty Eighth street. The deed was recorded on July 7th (1884) and acknowledged ... Friday last, the day before Mr. Huntington was married to Mrs. Worsham at her residence on Fifty-fourth street. . . . Rumor had it that Mr. Huntington purchased the house many years ago and presented it as a testimonial of friendly regard to Mr. Worsham."
Never legally married to Worsham, Arabella is linked here because she was so insistent on the sham connection prior to her eventual marriage to C. P. Huntington in 1884. The ruse continues to this day, a testament to its success and her power still - especially over the arts organizations which gain from perpetuating the saga if not the misconception: the newly-reinstalled interiors of her 54th Street townhouse (eventually sold to J. D. Rockefeller, and which once stood in what is now the garden of the Museum of Modern Art, NYC) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Virginia Museum of Fine Arts are referred to as from the "Arabella Yarrington Worsham / John D. Rockefeller Home".
The Worsham-Hill burial plot is shared between John Archer Worsham and his son-in-law, George W. Hill.
Bef. 1850: married Annette ___?___
14 September 1861: "The proprietors and all the faro dealers of the Richmond gaming houses have been enrolled [in the army]. Some of the principle houses have been closed, in consequence of this new order and the scarcity of faro players. The brothers Worsham, who had a branch of their gaming house in Broadway, New York, having more faith in Tiger fighting than in fighting Yankees, have each, together with their dealers, hired substitutes at an expense of $1,200. Geo. Patton, of New York, another well-known gambler, has left his fashionable establishment in Main street, and is captain of a company raised in Richmond." Source: Weekly Oregonian (Portland, OR), p. 4
29 May 1862 – 01 Mar 1864: Confederate Army, Companies D, E; Virginia 1st Infantry Regiment
Abt. 1868: reputedly married to Arabella Duval Yarrington (later and twice, Huntington) but no marriage record or certificate has ever been found in either Virginia or New York to substantiate the claim, nor birth certificate for that of her son, Archer Milton Huntington (cited in the 1870 US Federal Census, NY, NY, as John De Wersion, 3 mos, son of John and Bell De Wersion; 1880 US Federal Census, NY, NY, as Arthur M. Worsham, age 10, son of Belle D. Worsham of Alabama, a widow)
12 June 1870: cited in the US Federal Census, NY, NY, as John De Wersion, age 45, "Stock Holder in Banking Estab.", with Bell De Wersion, age 19 and son, John De Wersion, age 3 months. All living with her mother, C. J. Yarrington, age 45.
21 December 1871: "About eleven o'clock last night the police under the directions of the Mayor, made a sudden and wholly unexpected raid upon all the faro banks, keno and other games in the city. They were all taken by surprise, and were found full of citizens playing at the various games. Among them several persons of the highest respectability and holding responsible positions in the State. The only arrests made, however, were those of the "Dealers" Proprietors and "Cappers". The players generally effected their retreat through back doors, over roofs into dark alleys and escaped. The houses entered were Washam's [sic], the largest in the city. . . . . " Source: New York Herald, New York, NY
27 May 1878: burial as per cemetery records
20 July 1884: "Collis P. Huntington, the millionaire, conveyed to Mrs. Belle D. Worsham his dwelling at the southeast corner of Park avenue and adjoining and two houses and lots around the corner of Thirty Eighth street. The deed was recorded on July 7th (1884) and acknowledged ... Friday last, the day before Mr. Huntington was married to Mrs. Worsham at her residence on Fifty-fourth street. . . . Rumor had it that Mr. Huntington purchased the house many years ago and presented it as a testimonial of friendly regard to Mr. Worsham."
Inscription
obelisk and base:
J. A. WORSHAM
BORN 1821
DIED MAY 27, 1878
AGED 57 YEARS
WORSHAM
plot entry stone:
J.A.WORSHAM & G.W.HILL
Gravesite Details
transcription date of death conflicts by one day with "Virginia Deaths and Burial Index"
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