Thanks to everyone who stopped by the September 21st Oak Hill open house event to say hello and talk about my book, Oak Hill and the Ravensworth plantation, including at least two Fitzhugh descendants. The day also marked an end … Continue reading →
“Cousin Anna” to Robert E. Lee and widowed in 1830, Anna Maria Fitzhugh was matron of Ravensworth for 44 years and its protector during the Civil War. Samuel Smothermon was transported to the Virginia colony to serve seven years as … Continue reading →
Role in Ravensworth – owner Parcel 1.2 Anna Maria Sarah Goldsborough1 was born on November 15, 1796 in Dorchester County, Maryland, one of two children born to Charles W. and Elizabeth Goldsborough of Maryland.2 Her father was a longtime Member … Continue reading →
The north section of Ravensworth (north of Braddock Road) continued to divide sooner and faster than the south section. In 1797, Battaile Fitzhugh sold all of his land (parcels 1.1.1 and 1.1.7) to the same investors, who sought profits by … Continue reading →
Role in Ravensworth: tenant and leaseholder in Parcel 1.1, leaseholder in
Continue reading →Fairfax County Court records list 33 deeds from William Fitzhugh (of Chatham) to leaseholders in Parcel 1.2 between 1767 and 1804.1 In addition to the leaseholders, 18 others are named in boundary descriptions that specify shared corners and lines with … Continue reading →
The following selected passages are from lease G1:188 of 4/10/1767 between William Fitzhugh (of Chatham) and William Williams. The language, terms and conditions are typical, almost a fill-in-the-blanks boilerplate for Fitzhugh’s leases. (Long paragraphs are divided into shorter segments for … Continue reading →
Existing pages recently updated with new information: William Marbury Fitzhugh – details of his return from Kentucky and a federal job Orange and Alexandria Railroad – added Ravensworth Station, a private depot serving the Ravensworth plantation (from research prompted by … Continue reading →
Meade Battaile’s sales of his inherited Oak Hill land (Parcel 1.1.4.3.6) created a diverse community that continued at least into the 1920s. African American buyers included three former Oak Hill slaves. John H. Newman Oscar Newman Richard P. Newman Caucasian … Continue reading →
Role in Ravensworth: Owner Parcel 1.1.4.3.6.7 Richard P. Newman was born about 1841 in Fairfax County into slavery. He was listed on the 1856 Estate Inventory of Richard Fitzhugh. He was listed as Richard, value $600. Richard married Fannie Brown … Continue reading →