Over 40 years between 1814 and 1853, William Gooding, Jr. and his sons, Peter Gooding and William H. Gooding, acquired nearly 2100 of Ravensworth’s 24,112 acres (about 8.6%).1 The Gooding Family holdings were contiguous. They stretched in an unbroken line … Continue reading →
William Gooding, Jr. claimed he had never “…seen a railroad, though living within sound of the whistle ten years.”1 Yet a railroad right of way ran through his property near his house and tavern on Little River Turnpike. That railroad … Continue reading →
The Orange and Alexandria Railroad was one of the earlier American railroads. The first section was completed between 1850 and 1854 connecting Alexandria through Orange to Gordonsville, Virginia. Building the line required right of way through several miles of Ravensworth … Continue reading →
The 1792 survey plat in deed A2:186, which divided Parcel 1.1, shows the locations of nine Parcel 1.1 leaseholders. There are 10 house-like symbols, nine with name labels, and a circle marked “Mill.” The left side of the drawing is … Continue reading →
Below are transcriptions of three letters between President Thomas Jefferson and Nicholas Fitzhugh that arranged Jefferson’s April 1-2, 1804 visit to Ravensworth. The second letter encloses a map outlining a route leading into and part way through Ravensworth. Indecipherable words … Continue reading →
President Thomas Jefferson wrote to Nicholas Fitzhugh for information about a route to travel from Washington, DC to his home at Monticello, passing through Ravensworth and avoiding the public roads wherever possible. The letter dated Sunday, March 25, 1804 said … Continue reading →
After 1783, several Fitzhugh family members settled on their inherited Ravensworth property and either built or occupied existing houses for their residences. Only Oak Hill remains. Cool Spring – William Marbury Fitzhugh Fountainbleau – Mordecai Fitzhugh Giles Fitzhugh’s house Oak … Continue reading →
By 1800, several roads passed near or through Ravensworth. Tobacco Rolling Roads The earliest began as tobacco rolling roads – paths for rolling hogsheads of tobacco from inland plantations like Ravensworth to ships and, starting in 1732, to official warehouses … Continue reading →
William Fitzhugh (the Immigrant) in his lifetime amassed 54,000 acres in several land holdings including Ravensworth. He established his residence and seat of operations on the Potomac River, first at Bedford Plantation and ultimately at Eagle’s Nest Plantation. At his … Continue reading →