Chain of Ownership and Division

Richard Fitzhugh inherited this parcel following the death of his father, Henry Fitzhugh (Colonel), in 1783. It is Lot 4 of seven lots created by deed A2:186 in the division of parcel 1.1 (Ravensworth North) among Richard and four brothers.

By about 1790, Richard had established his residence here – the still existing Oak Hill. He lived on and managed the land as a working plantation with slave labor. The 1799 county tax rolls recorded 20 enslaved people in his household. The 1820 federal census counted 50, equally divided between male and female.

Division of Parcel 1.1.4

Richard Fitzhugh kept his inheritance intact except for 120 acres (parcel 1.1.4.1) that he sold to Charles Noland in 1816. This may be part of or near the tract Richard’s father leased to a Charles Noland more than 30 years earlier.

When Richard died in 1821, the remaining land passed to his widow Susannah Fitzhugh for her life and later distribution to Richard’s heirs upon her death. In 1857, after Susannah died, the land was further divided by the Fairfax County court among Richard’s and Susannah’s four living children, the estate of a fifth child and a grandson.

• Parcel 1.1.4.2 (352 acres) – Maria M. Fitzhugh
• Parcel 1.1.4.3 (345 acres, including Oak Hill) – David Fitzhugh
• Parcel 1.1.4.4 (368 acres) – Ann F. (Fitzhugh) Battaile
• Parcel 1.1.4.5 (399 acres) – grandson William Marbury Fitzhugh
• Parcel 1.1.4.6 (501 acres) – Harriet (Fitzhugh) and Berkley Ward
• Parcel 1.1.4.7 (497 acres) – H.A. White, Ex will of Caroline B. (Fitzhugh) White

Parcel 1.1.4.3: Enlarged and Further Divided

David Fitzhugh died in 1868. His will bequeathed parcel 1.1.4.3, including Oak Hill, to his sister Ann F. Battaile and her heirs. Maria Fitzhugh, who died circa 1862/3, left half of parcel 1.1.4.2 to Ann and her heirs. In a long-running court case, Ann Fitzhugh Battaile v. Admr Of Maria Fitzhugh Etc, the court acted after Ann had died in 1880.¹ In Deed Z4:397, the court granted half of parcel 1.1.4.2 to Ann’s² heirs and half to the heirs of William Marbury Fitzhugh and Maria Ward.

Thus, Ann Battaile’s six children were to receive equal value shares of parcel 1.1.4.3, now enlarged by merger with parcels 1.1.4.2 (half) and 1.1.4.4 (less 11 acres sold in 1871 (parcel 1.1.4.4.2) to Vance Trumble. The Fairfax County Circuit Court partitioned the combined tracts in June 1880 in Deed Z4:402.

• Parcel 1.1.4.3.1 (83 acres), including Oak Hill) – Ann Battaile
• Parcel 1.1.4.3.2 (180 acres) – Benjamin Battaile
• Parcel 1.1.4.3.3 (172 acres) – Theodore Battaile
• Parcel 1.1.4.3.4 (171 acres) – Susan Battaile
• Parcel 1.1.4.3.5 (152 acres) – Eliza (Lizzie) Battaile
• Parcel 1.1.4.3.6 (148 acres) – Meade Battaile

Division of 1.1.4.5

William Marbury Fitzhugh died in 1878 without a will. No division of his land among the heirs occurred until ordered by the Fairfax County Court in 1900. Matthew McKowen petitioned the Court to enable payment of its June 1893 judgement against Samuel Fitzhugh for $138.76 by dividing the land to sell his one-eighth interest. The Court divided the property as follows:

• Parcel 1.1.4.5.1 (57.77 acres): to Bettie M. Hutchinson
• Parcel 1.1.4.5.2 (60.8 acres): to William M. Fitzhugh
• Parcel 1.1.4.5.3 (56.34 acres): to Samuel M. Fitzhugh
• Parcel 1.1.4.5.4 (205.27 acres, including the dwelling house – Cool Spring): to Harry M. Fitzhugh, Mary A. (Dollie) Fitzhugh, Ellen L. Carter, Sallie E. Slade and Laura M. Fitzhugh³

The entire family must have been financially strapped. During the trial it was also found that taxes on the property were unpaid for 10 of the 13 years from 1885 to 1897. In 1905 the five owners of Parcel 1.1.4.5.4 further divided the property to sell 105 acres (Parcel 1.1.4.5.4.1), including the house, to Lyman E. Sweet.⁴ In an October 4, 1920 deed the remaining 100 acres (Parcel 1.1.4.5.4.2) was sold to the P. H. Glatfelter Company in another Court supervised sale.⁵

Parcel 1.1.4 Chain of Ownership Documents

Doc.	Date	Grantor	Grantee	Parcel	Transaction
A2:186	7/11/1797	Court	Nicholas, Richard, Mordecai, Battaile & Giles Fitzhugh	1.1.1 - 1.1.7	Survey (1792) and plat for divison of parcel 1.1 into seven parcels bequeathed to these five youngest sons of Henry Fitzhugh (Colonel) (died 1783)
N2:274	c. 1814	Richard Fitzhugh	Charles Noland	1.1.4.1	Sale approximately 120 acres. Deed book lost; see deed O2:153 (1814) between Richard Ratcliffe and several Noland and Askins family members.
	1821	Richard Fitzhugh	Susannah (Meade) Fitzhugh	1.1.4	Life estate for land remaining after sale of parcel 1.1.4.1
Z4:141	1857	Court	Maria M. Fitzhugh, David Fitzhugh, Ann F. Battaile, William M. Fitzhugh, Harriet and Berkley Ward, H.A. White, Ex will of Caroline B. White	1.1.4.2 - 1.1.4.7	Division of parcel 1.1.4 among Richard and Susannah's six heirs
	1865	David Fitzhugh	Maria M. Fitzhugh, Ann F. Battaile & heirs	1.1.4.3	Life estate to Maria; then to Ann and her heirs
N4:457	1871	Ann F. Battaile & children	Vance Trumble	1.1.4.4.1	Sale 11 acres bordering Braddock Road
Z4:397	12/9/1880	Court	Named heirs of the late Ann F. Battaile & William M. Fitzhugh & Maria Ward	1.1.4.2.1 & 1.1.4.2.2	Decision in Ann Fitzhugh Battaile v. Admr Of Maria Fitzhugh Etc; partitioned parcel 1.1.4.2 into two equal value parts: 168 acres to Ann Battaile's heirs (parcel 1.1.4.2.1), 176 acres to heirs of Wm M. Fitzhugh and Maria Ward (parcel 1.1.4.2.2)
Z4:402	7/3/1880	Court	Ann, Benjamin, Theodore, Susan, Eliza & Meade Battaile	1.1.4.3.1 - 1.1.4.3.6	Division of parcel 1.1.4.3 (enlarged by addition of parcels 1.1.4.4 (remainder) & 1.1.4.2.1) among Ann F. Battaile's six heirs (children).
case CFF144N, 1904-029	1900	Court	Bettie, William, Samuel, Harry, Laura & Mary Fitzhugh; Ellen Carter; Sallie Slade	1.1.4.5.1 - 1.1.4.5.4	Division of Parcel 1.1.4.5 among William M. Fitzhugh's heirs
S6:404	10/17/1905	Harry, Mary & Laura Fitzhugh; Ellen & Richard Carter; Sallie & Cook Slade	Lyman Sweet	Parcel 1.1.4.5.4.1	Sale 105 acres and house for $2000
S8:333	10/4/1920	Court	P. H. Glatfelter Company	Parcel 1.1.4.5.4.2	Sale 100 acres for $2813

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