With the site’s 4th birthday in April 2017, a top to bottom review was due. All hyperlinks/URLs were tested and several inoperable links updated to their new addresses. A few were deleted where the target page is no longer available. … 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 →
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 →
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 →
The road of approximately 34 miles was built between 1803 and 1810-12 from Alexandria to the Little River ford in Aldie, Virginia. That terminus further connected to established roads through western counties and through the Blue Ridge Mountains to the … Continue reading →
For 112 years Ravensworth ownership stayed exclusively within the Fitzhugh family. Then in September 1797, Henry Rose and Augustine Smith bought 3009 acres in a joint business venture, seeking quick profits by subdividing and reselling the land. In selling Parcel … Continue reading →
In February 2015, an email arrived from Eric Payne seeking help locating the site of his ancestors’ 18th century mill, which he hoped to visit on a trip to Northern Virginia. Locating Payne’s Mill on Accotink Creek began the process … Continue reading →
Role in Ravensworth: leaseholder in Parcel 1.1; owner Parcel 1.1.1.5 William Payne was born February 14, 1751, the oldest son of William Payne, Jr. (1724-1782) and Susannah Payne (1721-1771). He was the fourth William in his direct line, but apparently … Continue reading →
Role in Ravensworth: leaseholder in Parcel 1.1 (Payne’s several appointments to public office and voting record are compelling evidence that he had written leases rather than a mere tenant agreement, as having legal title to land was a qualification for … Continue reading →
Role in Ravensworth: leaseholder in Parcel 1.1; Overseer (Payne’s several appointments to public office are compelling evidence that he had a written lease(s) rather than a mere tenant agreement, as having legal title to land was a qualification for voting … Continue reading →