Beth Mitchell
I am pleased to offer a short biography of Beth Mitchell with a list of her major works. A Beth Mitchell map was the early inspiration for my fascination with Ravensworth. Her works are the basis for much of the … Continue reading →
Tag Archives: map
Mary Elizabeth “Beth” Mitchell (1930-2009)
Beth Mitchell was born Mary Elizabeth Anderson on March 31, 1930, the daughter of William L. and Ina Redman Anderson. She married Myles B. Mitchell with whom there were three children: Janet Mitchell Linda Mitchell, married Joseph Lalande Nancy Mitchell, … Continue reading →
Making the Book
Much of the past year has been devoted to reshaping the information presented in this website and creating new images and maps, all in suitable form for the printed page. I hope it will find a place in public libraries … Continue reading →
Town of Providence
Home to the Fairfax County courthouse, Providence was known as Fairfax Court House throughout much of the 19th century and particularly during the Civil War. Providence evolved to become today’s City of Fairfax and is its Old Town center. Historic … Continue reading →
December 2015 Updates
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 →
Early Diverse Oak Hill Neighborhood
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 →
Parcel 1.1.4.3.6
Chain of Ownership and Division Meade Battaile inherited this parcel following the death of his mother, Ann Fitzhugh Battaile in 1880. It is one of six lots in the division of Parcel 1.1.4.3 among Meade and five siblings. Between 1882 … Continue reading →
Map Interpreted: Jefferson Visit
President Thomas Jefferson’s visit to Ravensworth on April 1-2, 1804 was arranged in three letters between President Jefferson and Nicholas Fitzhugh. Fitzhugh’s letter enclosed a map outlining a route leading into and part way through Ravensworth. An interpretation of that … Continue reading →
Tenants and Rents 1764 – Parcel 1.1
Henry Fitzhugh (Colonel) recorded in his ledger for 1764 the following list of 43 tenants and rents. “1764 Ravensworth Rents The above is a list of my Tennants without any (?)”1 Although he labeled this a list of his tenants, … Continue reading →
Payne’s Mill / Rock Hill (Parcel 1.1.5.1)
In May 1758 William Payne, Sr. leased from Henry Fitzhugh (Colonel) “six acres more or less” on Accotink Run for a mill. The 99-year lease required “the yearly rent of one peppercorn on every feast of the Nativity of our … Continue reading →