The Washingtons of Jefferson County
The Lands of the Five Brothers
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1718 - Virginia - Lawrence Washington was born to Augustine (1694-1743) and Jane Butler Washington, his wife.
1738 - Virginia - Returns from England's Appleby School with brother Augustine, commissioned forthwith a captain to fight in the War of Jenkins' Ear. (The Papers of George Washington, Colonial Series, Vol.1, P. 7).
July 19, 1743 - Virginia - Returning from nearly two years fighting under Admiral Vernon
with Virginia troops at the siege of Cartegena (Ibid, P. 7), Lawrence meets and marries Ann Fairfax, daughter of Col. William Fairfax. Lawrence begins rebuilding home to later become Mt. Vernon.
The Washington brothers come to know the influential nobleman and landholder. Lord Thomas Fairfax summer, 1749 - Virginia - Lawrence's seven years, representing Fairfax County in the colony's House of Burgesses is curtailed by tuberculosis. Seventeen-year-old younger brother George Washington
begins surveying the tens of thousands of acres, owned by the Fairfaxes, called the "Northern Neck Proprietary," today Berkeley (WV), Jefferson (WV), and Clarke (VA) Counties (Ibid , PP. 7-8).
Aug. 20, 1750 - Frederick County, VA. - GW surveys for Lawrence Washington 175 acres near the North Fork of Bullskin Run. Granted to LW Oct. 13, 1750. Total LW acres =175.
"The three tracts of land included in the surveys of 20 Aug. 1750 were run in the field as one tract of 810 acres for William Davis and Richard Stephenson." (Ibid., P. 36 and GW's Survey Field Book, 1749-1750, Library of Congress). (ED. NOTE - This would later be much of the eastern portion of Prospect Hill).
"August 20, 1750 Plats drawn Then Survey'd for Richard Stephenson and William Davis a certain tract of waste and ungranted Land Beg. at a Spanish Oak, black Oak and white Oak and thence N. 10 degrees E. Forty three poles to a Large hic. in a hallow thence S. ten degrees E. One hundred poles to a Large white Oak and small hickory in or near a said Corner th. S. 37 degrees E. One hundrd and Eighty four poles to a Dead white Oak INSERT being on a END INSERT path"
"thence N 36 degrees E. Thirty Six poles to a Stooped white oak by a path Side Corner to a tract Survey'd and for William Davis thence S. 50 degrees 45 minutes E. four hundrd and twelve poles to a red Oak And other Corner of William Davis's Land in Corner Geo Fairfax's Line thence S. 41 degrees West Three hundred and ninety Eight poles to a hickory Sapl. or about a pole of the N. Branch"(end of page 1)
". . .of Bullskin thence N. 37 degrees West 280 poles to small hickory Saplins about 9 poles from the Corner of the Patent land and another 20 poles to red Oak Pitt's Patent thenc with his Lines N. 50 E. Seventy poles to a red Oak in Stephenson's clear Ground; thence N. 5 degrees W 250 poles to 2 hickorys, thence N. 35 degrees W. 160 po. thence S. twenty-five degrees 30 minutes W. 10 poles to a Large white Oak by a parcel of Rocks thence returned in straight Line N forty degrees 45 minutes W. one hundrd Seventy one thence N 50 degrees W.78 poles to the beg: con of 810"
Lewis Thomas, William Crawford, Daniel McKleduff, Mr."
Aug. 21, 1750 - Frederick County, VA. - GW surveys for LW 209 acres on Evitts Run (Worthington's Marsh). Granted to LW Oct. 17, 1750. (Treated as one tract with tracts surveyed Aug. 22 and Aug. 23). (Source: The Papers of George Washington: The Colonial Series, Vol. 1, P. 36). Total LW acres = 384.
Aug. 22, 1750 - Frederick County, VA. - GW surveys for LW 595 acres near Evitts Run (Worthington's Marsh). Granted to LW Oct. 17, 1750. Total LW acres = 979.
NOTE: "The three tracts of land included in the surveys of 21, 22, and 23 Aug.1750 were run in the field as one tract for Lawrence Washington" (Ibid., P. 36).
Aug. 23, 1750 - Frederick County, VA. -
GW surveys for Lawrence Washington 613 acres on the North Fork of Bullskin Run. Granted to LW Mar. 20, 1752. (ED NOTE: This is the central portion of the later Prospect Hill). Total LW acres = 1592. Total acreage of just the three tracts surveyed Aug 21-23 = 1417.
"August 21 to 23/1750 Plat drawn Then Survey for Maj. Lawrence Washington Re Waste Land between the Lines of Mr. Worthington, Davis and Keys bounded as followeth beg. at Sycamores standing on the edge of Worthington's running __and Davis C. thence S 72 degrees E twenty eight poles to a red Oak thence S. 70 degrees W. Five hundred and ninety four poles to several small Saplings W__ beg. Corner thence S.20 degrees W Two hundrd and Sixty poles to a red Oak, "
"thence N. 70 degrees W One hundred and twenty poles to a white Oak, thence N. 20 degrees W. Two hundrd and Seventy Six poles to a white Oak, Then West 2 degrees Forty five poles to a white Oak hickory and Walnut S. 10 degrees W. Five hundred and forty poles to a black Oak thence S. 80 degrees E. Sixty poles to a white Oak thence N 10 degrees E. 45 poles to a Corner of"(end page 1)
"Pitt's Patent Land Eighty Eight poles to a Large hickory in a hollow Corner to a second Survey for Davis and Stephenson thence with their Lines N. 80 degrees East One hundred poles to a Large white Oak of small hickory"
"thence S. 37 degrees E. One hundred and Eighty four poles to 2 white Oaks one of them Dead by a path and thence N 36 degrees E. Thirty Six poles to a stooping white Oak by the said path Corner to a__ survey made for William Davis thence with his Line N 29 1/4 degrees E. One hundred and fifty Six poles to 2 red Oaks Davis' Corner thence to a Corner of his Patent Line S. 54 degrees E. Six poles to a large red Oak INSERT: Portion of END INSERT his Patent Line being protracted thence to a Co. of Samuel Washington's Patent now W__ a white Oak and thence along this Line of Keys S 17 degrees W. Three hundred and thirty four poles to a red Oak where Key's Corner to a stand. . ." (end Page 2)
". . . the Course's being protracted thence S 72 degrees East Two hundred and four poles to a hickory on the West side of a Meadow where Davis's Patent is"
"thence following the Courses of his patent SW One hundred Eight poles to a red Oak on ye side of a hill ye Patent says a hickory but there is neither Line or Corner to be found/thence N.70 degrees W. One hundred forty poles to a black Oak and white Oak thence along ye N. side thence N 45 degrees West 140 poles to a Large red Oak in a small hallow, thence NE 22 poles to a hic. sap thence NW 76 poles to 3 hic lie near a path th. N. 82 degrees E. 82 poles to Davis's Patent."
Wm Crawford Lewis Thos.) Col. Daniel McKleduff."
Aug. 24, 1750 - Frederick County, VA. - GW surveys for LW 1106 acres on Evitts Run (Worthington's Marsh). Granted to LW Oct. 17, 1750. (Treated as one with tract of Aug. 26) (Source: Ibid, P. 36). Total LW acres = 2698.
"August 24 and 25th Plats drawn Survey'd for Maj. Lawr Washington following tract of land Beg. at a Sycamore at Corner of Robt Worthingtons Pat given thence N. 10 degrees W 24 poles to a hickory on other of W.'s Co. th. N 2 degrees E. 42 poles to a hickory on another W's C. thence N.24 W 64 poles to a white Oak"
". . . thence S 27 degrees W. 20 poles to a white a Oak and hickory th. N 65 degrees W. 170 poles to a red Oak th North 15 P. to a red O. th West 50 poles to a white Oak th N. 110 poles to a white Oak and red Oak INSERT on _ East side a glade END INSERT on another Corner of his Patent Line also a Corner of his Survey th. with those Lines N. 89 degrees E 200 poles to a Large red Oak and small hickory"
". . .thn N. 19 1/4 degrees E. 262 poles to 3 Locusts in a Bottom thence leaving his Lines and run th. N _ 86 degrees E. 10 poles to Double hickory near a Limestone Rock Henry Bradshaws Corner th. with his Lines S 70 degrees E 210 poles to 3 hickory and a Locust 4 poles from a" (end Page 1)
"Large red Oak on a level Bradshaws Corner th N 20 degrees E 60 poles to a white Oak on a Level in Bradshaws Line, th S. 53 degrees E. 137 poles Capt. Rutherfords beg Corner of his P '2'"
". . . th. INSERT (______)END INSERT with his Lines S 22 degrees W. 255 poles to a red Oak and white Oak thence S. sixty degrees E. 94 poles to a Dead red Oak and small hickory and adjoins Rutherfords C. also Corner to Walter Shirley"
". . . th. with Shirly's Line S. 13 degrees E. 310 poles to a Scrubby red Oak Shirley's and north of Thomas's Corner, th with Thomas's Lines West one hundred and twenty poles to a red Oak and white Oak th. S. 240 poles to a red Oak and a hic. Thos' C. in Keys's Line th with Key's Line N 72 degrees W. two hundred fifty Six poles to a white Oak on Worthington's near the mill _ N 2 degrees 33 minutes E. 110 or 210 poles to said Beg."
"William Crawford, Thomas Carney"
Aug. 26, 1750 - Frederick County, VA. - GW surveys for LW 570 acres near the head of Evitts Run (Worthington's Marsh). Granted to LW Oct. 16, 1750. (Treated as one tract with tract of Aug. 24) (Ibid, P.25, 36). Total LW acres = 3268. Total acreage of tracts surveyed just on Aug. 24 & 26 = 1676.
"August 26, 1750 Plat drawn Then Survey'd for Ma. Lawrence Washington of Vacancy between Worthington's Lines beginning in an upper C of Surgeons' Line and white Oak and Edge of the Barons near __ the glade thence with W Lines S 72 degrees E. 410 poles to a black Oak and hickory, th N 9 E. 150 poles to a hickory thence N six degrees W. Sixty poles to a white Oak th. N. 1 degree E. 154 poles to a red Oak th West 120 poles to a white Oak th. S. 35 degrees W. 44 poles to a white Oak th - N 70 W. 102 poles to a red Oak th. S. nine degrees W. 89 poles to a white Oak S. 10-15 degrees W 206 poles to Beg. Corner and 570 acres."
"Hugh Rantion" "Timothy McCarty Robt Worthington Marker"
Mar. 25, 1751 - Frederick County, VA. - GW surveys for Lawrence Washington 570 acres at the Fork of Bullskin Run. Granted to LW Mar. 20, 1752. (Ibid, P. 28) Final total LW acres = 3838.
Oct. 20, 1750 - Frederick County, VA. - George Washington is the second member of the Washington family to purchase land in Jefferson County, buying 453 acres along the lower fork of the Bullskin from Thomas Rutherford.
"Survey'd for myself the land at the head of the Marsh which I bought of Captn Rutherford and afterward granted to Lord Fairfax." (Ibid, P. 26 and GW's Survey Field Book, 1750-1, P. 16 Library of Congress).
Oct. 25, 1750 - Frederick County, VA. - GW obtains a grant for "about ninety-three Acres" on Bullskin Run (Northern Neck Grants, Book G, P. 466). Total GW acres = 546.
Dec. 3-4, 1750 - Frederick County, VA. - GW buys 456 acres adjacent to the 93 acres from James McCraken (Ibid, P. 27 and Frederick County Deed Book 2, 1749-1752, PP. 209-11).
March 16-17, 1752 - Frederick County, VA. - GW buys a 552-acre tract from George Johnston, also located on the Bullskin in Jefferson County. (Frederick County DB 2, PP.478-481). Total GW acres = 1554.
March, 1752 - Frederick County, VA. - GW receives a grant from the Northern Neck proprietary of 760 acres on the Bullskin. (Northern Neck Book Grants, Book H, P. 136). Final total GW acres = 2314.
NOTE: Part of a larger Frederick County, this land was then within the new Berkeley County, broken-off in 1772, and then part of Jefferson County, created in 1800. The separations occurred as population increased and efforts were made to keep each county's Courthouse in the center of a county's drawn area.
July 26, 1752 - Mt. Vernon VA. - Lawrence Washington dies after a hasty return from Bermuda. (The Diaries of George Washington, Donald Jackson, Ed,, University Press of Virginia: Charlottesville, Va., 1976, Vol.1, P. 34).
"His will made June 20 and probated September 26th leaves to his half-brothers, Samuel, John, and Charles all those several tracts of land in Frederick County of which he was possessed, except the tract on the South Fork of Bullskin and two tracts purchased of Colonel Cresap and Gerrard Pendergrass, his half-brother George to have use of an equal share in the devises during the natural life of the devisor's wife; the devisees to pay Betty (Washington) Lewis 150 pounds." (Fairfax County Will Book A, pages 539-542, as quoted in John W. Wayland's "The Washington and their Homes," McClure Printing Company: Staunton, VA., 1944, P. 133).
John Augustine and his wife, Hannah Bushrod, inherit about 1534 acres as four adjacent parcels of land, adding adjacent 753 acres from two purchases in 1768 and 1772.
NOTE ON According to family historian John Augustine Washington, advances in surveying techniques, and greater care in measuring improved lands caused variation in estimating the acreage of a survyed parcel. As time passed and the land was improved, reported acres tended to be more accurate and increase. For example, Prospect Hill is listed in 1792 Census records as being 2611 acres. In 1810, the same platted land was reported to be 2720 acres. Two back-to-back references to the 564-acre parcel, purchased in 1768, vary by ten acres. The Prospect Hill parcel, as described below, also varied in its official acreage.
The 320-acre (or 311 acres - the same survey refers to parcels of both sizes through the deed chain, SOURCE: Galtjo Geertsema) parcel upon which the mansion was later built was purchased by LW from Andrew Pitts Nov. 3, 1748 (Frederick County Deed Book I, P. 441). It had been originally part of a 1020-acre parcel owned by Jost Hite and a 400-acre portion of that parcel purchased by Andrew Pitts. (SOURCE: Galtjo Geertsema).
This central part of Prospect Hill was described in surveyor's terms in 1761 (Frederick County Deed Book 6, PP. 478-481):
"Beginning at a white oak on the south side of the Meadow about twenty-eight poles below the Waggon Road and running"
"then North 10 degrees East 164 perches to two Spanish Oaks and one white Oak,"
"thence South 80 degrees E. eighty perches to a white oak, thence South 35 degrees East 160 perches to two red oaks; then South 43 degrees West 199 perches to a white oak;"
"thence North 70 degrees West 108 perches;"
"thence North 70 degrees West 20 perches to a white oak and Hickory; thence South 32 degrees West 154 perches to a red oak and a Locust thence North 64 degrees West 108 perches to a red oak; thence North 29 degrees East 195 perches to the west Boundary with all Appurtances thereunto Belonging (Except so much of the Meadow Ground as lies Between a tract known by the name McKay and where the Meadow fence row stands on the said Pitts Old Survey)."
Adjacent and north of this parcel, JAW began farming a second inherited parcel. This 12-sided, 613-acre parcel was surveyed August 23, 1750. LW obtained a Fairfax grant to it March 20, 1752. (Frederick County Deed Book H, P. 148).
A 175-acre parcel, included in the mentioned Aug. 20, 1750 survey by George Washington of his half-brother's land, is a narrow, southeast-to-northwest strip of land between the previous two parcels. LW received a grant October 13. 1750. (Frederick County Deed Book G, page 437, and G. Geertsema)
Sharing a long north-south border to the first Prospect Hill tract, JAW also inherited from LW another rectangular, 435-acre parcel.
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There remains a road on the PH/Huntfield property. A road or right-of-way following the same path is mentioned or shown in court documents and maps in 1761, 1810, 1819, 1878 (2), 1880, 1883 (2), 1916 (based on an earlier 1900 map), 1917. and 1929.
This meandering northeast-to-southwest road linked a ten-acre woodlot owned by the Washingtons with the Prospect Hill manse, a spring, and Bullskin Marsh. It appeared, in earlier times, to have been a main public road, described in 1810 as "Charles Town Road." A hand-dug well, said to have been dug in 1755 by men under Gen. Edward Braddock, is near this early road,
September 21, 1761 - Early Prospect Hill, manse portion, Frederick County, VA. - In JAW's lease of the 311-acre parcel to Valentine Crawford, the property is described as being "on the south side of the meadow twenty poles below the Waggon Road." (Frederick County Deed Book 6, Page 478). It is not referring to the Hite or Old Summit Point Road which is considerably westward. (NOTE: 20 poles is about 330 feet).
February, 13, 1810 - Charles Town, VA. - Hannah Lee Washington's (Corbin's widow) division of estates shows the "Charles Town Road" running in a southwesterly direction across the lower third of the property past a spring adjacent to the PH manse.
April 15, 1819 - Charles Town, VA. - The dotted line between Lots 1 and 2 and indicated by the letters ABCDEFG marks the general path of the mentioned Charles Town Road. (The plat shows, at the extreme upper right, the note "C-town Road" in faded script).
March 20, 1878 - Charles Town, VA. - In papers describing 265 acres of PH sold at auction by Bushrod Washington Herbert to his neighbor, Col. John T. Gibson, it is agreed that "a right of way for use of land owned and occupied by Bushrod W. Herbert" be maintained. This right-of-way was from BWH's woodlot to the north, running south, then southwesterly in the direction of his manse. The path is the same as in previous descriptions. (Jefferson County Deed Book H, P. 327).
August 9, 1878 - Charles Town, VA. - BWH, in selling two acres and a house to African-American Peter K. Johnson, also reserves "the right of way over the present road across the west end of said lot for all his lands forever." (This road goes by PKJ's house). (Jefferson County Deed Book F, P. 287).
June 11, 1880 - Charles Town, VA. - PKJ's purchase of 61 acres of the old PH property includes permission for a right-of-way along this road/path.
"It is made and agreed by the parties . . . that Gibson is to furnish said Johnson a right of way from the eastern part of the land hereby conveyed." (Jefferson County Deed Book H, P. 548).
1883 - Jefferson County, VA. - On the S. Howell Brown map of Jefferson County, a dotted line shows this road or right-of-way. It begins at the northeastern corner of Herod Miley's rectangular lot on the Old Summit Point Road (today Route 13). From there it runs southward along the eastern, northeast/southwest boundaries of Miley's and Bushrod C. Washington's properties. Then, it may continue westward along Washington's and Peter K. Johnson's shared, east-to-west property line. (Other maps show this path continuing further south toward the PH manse and spring).
December 22, 1883 - Charles Town, VA. - When PKJ buys six acres from the heirs of his neighbor, Eleanor W. Howard, it is agreed "there is specially reserved from this conveyance a right of way from the land of Louisa F. Chew . . . with the right of way to the use of the water from said spring, said right of way for the benefit of said Louisa F. Chew's land." This is part of the road, coming from the south and "Blakeley," going north to the PH manse and spring complex. (Jefferson County Deed Book M, P 414).
1900 (copied as 1916 WV Geological Survey Map) - Charles Town, VA. - shows the roads internal to the Prospect Hill/Huntfield tract.
May 11, 1917 - Charles Town, VA. - The right of way is shown only through the final PH manse property, west of PKJ's land.
The right of way goes by a springhouse, a dwelling, and the Prospect Hill manse. It then continues south, providing aforementioned access to the spring from the Blakeley manse, the home in 1883 of Louisa Chew.
1929 - Charles Town, VA. - The Shaw Whitmer Map shows part of this road, beginning at, and going southwest, perpendicular from Old Summit Point Road. It passes a home, labeled "Braddock," shows a branch west to another home, called "Braddock Hill." The road's main line proceeds southwest, crossing, then recrossing the track of the Norfolk & Western RR. The road then continues southwest along the track, turning more sharply west before terminating close to the location of Peter K. Johnson's residence. The spring is about one hundred yards further west.
Washington family tradition holds that men under Gen. Braddock in 1755 built a well and blacksmith shop on JAW's 613-acre parcel farmed under overseer Farrell Littleton.
A letter appeared in the "Spirit of Jefferson" newspaper in Charles Town, WV, November 6, 1935 by Susan G. "Zan" Gibson who grew up in another home standing today on the Huntfield property, called "Marquee," about 600 yards southeast from the site of a hand-dug well, near the Norfolk & Western railroad track. She was the daughter of John T. Gibson and Frances W. Gibson, his wife. They owned the house and property that constitutes much of the eastern portion of what in 2000 is called "the Huntfield Property."
The letter reads as follows:
"Much surprise has been manifested by those who have lived all their lives in this county and their ancestors before them for generations, at the erroneous statement that appears in the list of places to be marked by the State Marker Commission that Braddock's Well is on the "Blakeley" farm.
One can only wonder when, and by whom, the Well was moved from its site on the old Winchester road a mile or more west of Charles Town - 'The spot where General Braddock camped in 1755 and dug his well and put up a blacksmith shop.'
"I lived a goodly part of my life near this Well. I played about it as a child with my neighbor children. Two soldiers of the American Revolution lived across the field from this Well. They taught their children and grandchildren that it was Braddock's Well. All our visitors were taken to see this Well. There we would meet other people with their visitors. Until of late it was a shrine.
"It is rather absurd to locate it on the Blakeley farm. Had the General been making camp in the wilderness as Blakeley was then, he would not have needed a well, he was so near two or more big springs."
"Mr. Bushrod C. Washington, of Ashville, N.C. says: 'Your letter regarding Braddock's Well is the first intimation that the position of the Well was ever questioned. It was handed down for several generations that General Braddock and his army, en route west through the wilderness that prevailed in our fertile Valley, camped about a mile west of the present site of Charles Town and his men dug a well.
"My ancestors owned a considerable estate and it was divided into farms, and one was named 'Braddock farm.' In 1872, my father built a house on this farm and the two house sites divided honors as to name. One was the 'Old Braddock farm,' the other the 'New Braddock farm.' It would seem out of place to locate the Well elsewhere."
"Mr. Washington continues: 'If Braddock had camped near the Bullskin with its source on the property that also belonged to my ancestors, there would have been no need to dig a Well.'
"It looks as if the Marker Commission will have to allow Braddock's Well to remain on its original site."
Another source repeats this account: "Braddock's army, in their route to the west, passed through this region; one mile west of the village, on the land of Bushrod Washington, Esq, there is a well dug by them." (J. E. Norris, ed., "The History of the Lower Shenandoah Valley: The Counties Frederick, Berkeley, Jefferson, Clarke," A. Warner, Publishers: Chicago, 1890, P. 341)
(Re-interview with Dale Mills, Nov. 4, 2000. Address: 507 E. 11th Ave., Ranson, WV 25438. Phone: 304 725 1105)
In 1979, while hunting, Mr. Mills said he discovered in a rock brake in the southeastern section of today's "Huntfield" property the remains of a well. Mr. Mills, who is an experienced mechanic and builder, said the well is hand-dug. It is five to six feet in diameter with bricks about five layers deep. A cover made of wood had apparently disintegrated and no longer exists.
He discovered the well when, while pursuing a doe, he jumped over the rock brake and nearly fell into the open well. Mr. Mills dropped a large rock in it and heard no impact sound at the bottom. With a machete, he and a friend took a fallen, very straight poplar tree, cut off the roots and limbs. It was about fifty feet in height. They pushed the clean trunk into the well, that disappeared into its depth. The rock brake and well are not at the lowest ground in its vicinity.
He said it still exists as of 2000
Roy Bradford, Mills' son-in-law, also reported that he has seen the well too.
He confirmed its location on a map of the immediate area on a current USGS map and a USGS map from 1916. On the latter map, there still is shown a lane running north to south and perpendicular from the Old Summit Road to the site of the well. This location would also have been along the "Charles Town Road" as shown in the Hannah B. Washington Division of Estates plat in 1810.
Mr. Bradford grew up hunting and walking the Huntfield property, and for at least five years has had an agreement to enter the adjacent Claymont property to fell trees and cut up firewood. He can be reached c/o Mr. Mills' address.
This well's design closely fits the design of a well built by soldiers under Braddock who, in the fall of 1755, built a well at Fort Loudon near Winchester. On P. 70 in Samuel Kercheval's "The History of the Valley" first published in 1833, reprinted in 1902. It reads. "Immediately after the defeat of Braddock, Washington retreated to Winchester in the county of Frederick, and in the autumn of 1755 built Fort Loudon . . . Our highly esteemed and venerable general, John Smith, who settled in Winchester in 1773, informed the author that he had seen and conversed with some of Washington's officers soon after he settled in Winchester, and they stated to him that:
"Washington marked out the site of the fort, and superintended the work; that he bought a lot in Winchester, erected a smith's shop on it, and brought from Mt. Vernon his own blacksmith to make the necessary iron work for the fort. . . It covered an area of about half an acre, within which area, a well, one hundred and three feet deep, chiefly through a solid limestone rock, was sunk for the convenience of the garrison. The labor of throwing up this fort was performed by Washington's regiment, so says Gen. Smith." Like the Prospect Hill well, this well was on unusually high ground with properties that nevertheless drew water well.
The well and black smith shop appear to have been dug by Braddock's men on JAW's 613-acre parcel either in late April-early May, with George and JAW present, This would have been during Braddock's men's march to Fort DuQuesne, consistent with Washington family tradition.
Digging of the well and blacksmith shop made sense in the spring,1755 in light of the severe drought,
May 28, 1755 - Winchester, VA. - GW wrote JAW : "The Drought in this County, if possible, exceeds, what we see below, so that it is very reasonably conjectur'd they won't make Corn to supply the Inhats; and as for Tobacco, they have given any hope of making any."
Col. Washington was in a position to have all of JAW's wheat flour sold to feed his men, who would be stationed in Winchester later that year." (Papers, Colonial Series, Vol. 1, PP. 288-289),
Widespread Indian attacks in the area that fall gave Col. Washington authority over several thousand men to build stockades and fortifications to farmers who refused to leave their farms for the stockades. He even brought his blacksmith from Mt. Vernon and was reimbursed for his services to these ends.
Such circumstances make the creation of a well and blacksmith on his brother's property reasonable, do-able, and fortuitous for all parties.
The creation of the well and a blacksmith shop, to repair weapons and build fortifications, also makes sense in that one of two of Braddock's commissary officers had a producing farm next door.
Charles Dick (1715-1782), a Fredericksburg merchant, then owned a 1279-acre farm immediately to the north of the well site. (Frederick County Deed Book 3, PP. 22-23, March 5, 1753 for 353 acres; PP. 25-25, March 5, 1753 for 526 acres; PP. 317-321 October 1, 1754 for 400 acres).
Lt. Gov. Robert Dinwiddie appointed Dick Dec. 28, 1754 to provide beef, butter and other supplies to troops via Fort Cumberland, Winchester, and Fredericksburg. (Papers, Colonial Series, Vol. 1, PP. 303, FTNT. 1),
April 23-24-first week of May, 1755 - Mt. Vernon to Bullskin - JAW accompanied his brother, Col. George Washington, from Mt. Vernon to their properties on the Bullskin. The journey is en route to Winchester, where Col. Washington went alone with Gen. Braddock's troops to Wills Creek and ultimately Fort Duquesne.
". . . John Augustine Washington apparently went with GW as far as Bullskin plantation." (Papers, Colonial Series, Vol. 1, PP. 259, 261),
April 27, 1755 - Bullskin plantation - GW and JAW arrive. (ED NOTE: We cannot know if this refers to either JAW's farm, George's or both. They are both adjacent and on the Bullskin Run.
April 30, 1755 - Bullskin Plantation - GW writes Sarah Cary Fairfax, covering many small matters.
According to Winthrop Sargent's "A History of an Expedition against Fort DuQuesne in 1755, under Major-General Edward Braddock," (Lippincott & Co.: Philadelphia), 1856, P. 198:
"It may not be amiss to trace here the exact line of route which they followed. By St. Clair's advice, the army was to start from Alexandria in two divisions; one regiment and a portion of the stores to Winchester, Va., whence a new road was nearly completed to Fort Cumberland; and the other regiment with the remainder by way of Frederick in Maryland."
"A portion of the stores were to be conveyed in part by water-carriage on the Potomac."
"Accordingly, on the 8th and 9th of April, the Provincials and six companies of the 44th regiment under Sir Peter Halkett, set out for Winchester . . . Halkett's command marching by the Winchester route seem to have no difficulty." (Sir Peter Halkett was born 1695, served as a Scottish baronet, and was killed July 9, 1755 at Fort DuQuesne).
May 3, 1755 - "Dick's Plantation" - Peter Halkett's 44th Regiment encamped on May 3rd at Charles Dick's Frederick County Plantation just north of JAW's lands, where the prospective Braddock Well exists. He wrote: "1 Corpl & 9 men to mount Guard on the Artillery and Baggage. 1 serjt to take the Number of horses as the(y) Are put into the pasture. 1 Tent to be pitched in the Front of the Artillery & another in ye Rear of the Baggage. The genl to beat to morrow morning (at) 4 O'Clock & march Immediatly." ("Halkett's Orderly Book," Charles Hamilton, Ed., University of Oklahoma Press: Norman, 1959, P. 86). Halkett had 500 men that was increased by 200 Colonial volunteers. (Ibid., P. 7, FTNT. 1)
On May 1- 4th latest, 1755 - Bullskin - JAW remains in that area while brother George rides to Fredericktown, Maryland to meet Gen. Braddock and return through the Bullskin area further south to Winchester. (Papers, Colonial Series,Vol. 1. PP. 266-7).
September-November, 1755 - Bullskin - The well and blacksmith shop may, instead, have been built during the vigorous efforts of a regiment under GW in the fall of 1755 to build protective enclosures for farmers and central forts,such as Fort Loudon, against a tidal wave of Indian attacks.
Remote stockades were required because many farmers, wanting to protect their winter food stores, cattle and sheep refused to leave their farms for the safety of the central forts. If the blacksmith shop and well were part and parcel of a small stockade, it would have served the tenants, enslaved persons, and overseers from both the Washington brothers' plantations and that of Charles Dick across the Winchester Road or "Old Hite Road".
GW would later contract both his Mt. Vernon blacksmith and use of a wagon to the building crews at Ft. Loudoun and environs. His blacksmith, an enslaved man named "Peter" was, thus, more available to work on either his or JAW's plantation about twenty miles away.
Chief builder Charles Smith wrote GW from Fort Loudon Oct. 12, 1758: ". . . I have Imploy'd Your Waggons 7 Days in fetching Stone, Lime & Water for the Masons & timber for Covering the Barricks."
"What GW received at this time for the use of his wagon and the work of his smith has not been determined, but it may be noted that in his cash accounts, he records at Mount Vernon on 11 April, 1758 having received 80 pounds.4.10 on his smith's account and 13 pounds. 1.10 'for waggonage;' and on 20 May at Winchester, near the Bullskin plantation, he records 17 pounds.0.3 in his smith's account ledger. (Ledger A, 36, 39, Library of Congress, GW Papers; Diaries, Vol 6., PP. 75-77).
April, 1755-1758 - "For these three years, John Augustine (Washington) divided his time among these plantations (Mount Vernon for George, Ferry Farm, and Bullskin in Frederick County), as well as tending to his own plantation that he was developing in the Shenandoah Valley." (Papers, Colonial Series, Vol. 2, P. 352 FTNT. 6).
By 1758, Overseer Littleton and possibly tenants appear to have grown wheat flour in great quantities from Prospect Hill plantation.
June 24, 1758 - Perkins' Mill near Winchester, VA. - GW indicates in Ledger A, P. 51, that Commissary Thomas Walker received 6,308 pounds of flour valued at 31.10.10 pounds and 1,500 pounds of flour from his younger brother, John Augustine Washington." That this grain was ground to flour at the mill of Isaac Perkins (Parkins) near Winchester suggests the grain came from the JAW's Prospect Hill plantation, the closest of his farms. (Papers, Colonial Series, Vol. 5.
March 31, 1760 - Winchester, VA - George Washington wrote his overseer at his Bullskin plantation, Christopher Hardwick:
"ordering two Mares from thence & desiring him to engage me a Ditcher. Inclosed a Letter from my Brother Jno. to his Overseer Farrell Littleton and directed him what to do if the Small Pox shd. come amongst them." (Diaries, Vol. 1, P. 259).
Sept. 21, 1761 - Prospect Hill Plantation, 311-acre parcel - The manse may have been built between 1761-1762 by Valentine Crawford, (if he met the requirements of his ten-year lease with JAW). He agrees to lease from JAW the main 311- (or 320) acre parcel of Prospect Hill. The agreement reads:
"In consideration of the yearly rent and Covenants (during the term aforesaid) on or before the Eighteenth day of October in each year for the first rent in Consideration of his Building a dwelling House fifteen pounds Virginia currency and for every year after, twenty five pounds of the late Virginia currency."
JAW requires Crawford: "shall not work any of the Arable lands more than four years together, but every fourth year they shall fallow and rest in a Husband-like manner."
He adds Crawford shall: "keep all the Meadow Grounds on the premises under a good and sufficient fence to defend at all times the encroachments of Hogs and from every other thing . . ,"
". . . unless at the proper time of Feeding the same for cattle, sheep or Horses to be turned in;"
". . . and that the said Valentine Crawford shall not . . . grant any way or Passage through or over the said Land hereby devised. . .without the Consent of the said John Augustine Washington . . ."
Crawford is permited not more than two tenants to work and live on the property with him.(Frederick County Deed Book 6, PP. 478-481).
April 2, 1768 - Prospect Hill - JAW purchases for 282 pounds from Robert Worthington, Sen. and Anne of Frederick County 564 acres. It is located on the west side of Prospect Hill. (Frederick County Deed Book 12, Page 317).
March, 1769 - Bullskin Area, Frederick County, VA - GW visits his family holdings. (Diaries, Douglas S. Freeman)
September 5, 1770 - Frederick County, VA. - GW's brother Samuel and family spend their first days living at their new home, "Harewood," in Frederick County.
GW wrote in his diary at Mt. Vernon: "Returned from the Arbitration at Colchester. In the Evening my Brothr. Saml. & his wife & children came hither from Fredericksburg in their way to Frederick."(Diaries, Vol. 2, PP. 268-269). (Samuel would live there until his death in 1781. He was probably accompanied by his fourth wife, Anne Washington of Westmoreland County. The children mentioned were probably Thornton (c. 1760-1787), his son by his deceased second wife, Mildred Thornton Washington; and son, Ferdinand Washington (1767-1768), his eldest surviving son by Anne Steptoe Washington, but there may have been others. (Wayland, P. 143).
October 6, 1770 - Harewood, Frederick County, VA. - GW wrote in his diaries: "Bated at old Codley's" (ED. NOTE:Located near Williams' or Snicker's Gap near Bluemont, VA.) ". . . and lodgd at Brother Sam's."
June, 1772 - Prospect Hill, Frederick County, VA. - JAW, his wife, and youngest child, son Corbin visit Prospect Hill. GW writes in his diary June 25th: "Rid as far as the Mill and turned round back on Acct. of Rain. In the Afternoon my Brothr. Jno. & Wife & Son Corbin came here on there way from Fred(eric)k. (Diaries, Vol. 3, P. 115.) (Corbin would inherit Prospect Hill in 1787).
December 7, 1773 - Prospect Hill - JAW pays 440 pounds to Richard and Betty Stephenson for a seven-sided parcel at the southeastern corner of Prospect Hill and "on Bulskin Marsh." The deed describes the land as follows: "Beginning at two red oaks in the line of said John Augustine Washington; thence along his line South 55 degrees W. 77 poles to a white oak in a glade thence North five degrees W. 146 poles to 2 red oaks - th. South 43 degrees W. 118 poles to a locust stake at the edge of the spring run of Bullskin Marsh in the line of said Washington th.; running down the said run S. 34 degrees E. 128 poles, the.; South 16 degrees 30 minutes E. 40 poles to a young Elm at the edge of the run Extending thence; - South 84 degrees E. 256 poles to sundry marked sapling at the line of the intire tract of Richard Stephenson Sr., dec'd, then. - along the line of the same South 49 degrees W. 242 poles to Beg., containing 190 acres." (Frederick County Deed Book 2, PP. 310-311).
March, 1774 - Bullskin Area, Frederick County, VA. - GW visits family properties. During these visits he signs leases with tenants which, as a matter of course, lease 200-acre parcels, require construction of a 20-foot dwelling and 40-foot barn, set minimums of acreage set out for peach and apple orchards, require a well maintained woodlot, sturdy fencing, limited rights-of-way, crop rotation, and periodically "resting" arable lands. Brother JAW and GW's nephew Bushrod Washington had similar leases for their Bullskin lands.
1775 - Prospect Hill - (From JAW's "Ledger 1774-1787")NOTE: Monetary amounts separated by decimal points are from the left: "pounds," "shillings," and "pence." All business described was from Prospect Hill.
"George Lock tenant in Berkeley at six pounds, 1775 - 12.0.0."
"James Gill, cooper and tenant in Berkley" rented a house at Prospect Hill at two pounds per annum (P. 16).
1776 - Prospect Hill - (From JAW's "Ledger," 1776, partial).
"George Lock tenant in Berkeley at six pounds, 1776 - 6.0.0 "
"James Gill, cooper and tenant in Berkley" rented a house at Prospect Hill at two pounds" per annum (P. 16).
Mrs. Mary Newcomer tenant, paid 1.10.0 in 1776 per annum as rent.(P. 17).
1777 - Prospect Hill - (From JAW's "Ledger" 1777, partial).
May 10, 1777 - 0.14.0 to Peter Burr for four bushels of flax seed.(P. 13)
May 21, 1777 - Prospect Hill - "By cash from berkeley tenants 88.12.00.(P. 13)
"Mr. Will Strother (JAW's overseer - ED NOTE) for articles sold of my estate - bellows, whiskey, grind stone, flour - 201.7.9 (P. 13)
August 29 - October 22, 1777 - Prospect Hill - "To Wm Grubb 15.4.00 for whiskey . . . 12.6.3 for use of Mr. Henry Whiting's horse. . . 5.19.00 76 levys for Sheriff Wm Cunningham . . .Wm Brook 7.10 for smith's work . . .recvd 53.12.6 from Ben Beeler for 357 1/2 bu wheat . . . 1296 lb. pork sold to Gabriel Throckmorton 16.13.9 . . .business with John Briscoe, Wm Douglas, John Dilling, Wm Grubb, Joseph Hackney, Thomas Baldwin. (P. 13).
JAW rented to tenants who lived in structures on Prospect Hill.
"George Lock was paid 2.7.6 for nine and a half days 'cradling' . . . Wm Patterson (weaver in Berkeley) rented a house 3.10.0 . . .sold JAW 3 barrels of corn and two bushels of wheat . . . JAW paid Wm Patterson 1.10.0 for "40 yds. of linen" . . .
1.10.0 for 5 days cradling
. . . . . paid WP 4.10.0 for ten yds of wool. (P. 15)
"Mrs. Mary Newcomer tenant, paid 1.10.0 in 1777, per annum as rent.(P. 17) . . .She also knitted stockings for Jerry Sanford for 0.5.0 and stockings for overseer Wm Strother for 0.4.0 . . .and paid 0.0.3 for one and a half bushels of dried apples. (P. 18).
"Jacob Iler (tennant in Berkeley) rent 75-76 24.00.00 77 - 12.00.00" (P. 16).
JAW bought 44 pairs of "Negro shoes" in 1777 suggesting he had roughly 44 enslaved persons
at his Berkeley property of Prospect Hill. He paid in 1777 Nathan Haines, "a tanner in Berkeley" 4.15.00 for the leather for 19 pairs "Negro shoes" and 6.5.0 for the leather for 25 additional pairs of "Negro shoes." JAW also sold Haines lard, pork, and bacon. JAW also sold two bushels of wheat to the ferryman,Charles Lawrence (presumably on the nearby Shenandoah River). (P. 17).
1778 - Prospect Hill - (From JAW's "Ledger" 1778, partial)."Mrs. Mary Newcomer tenant paid 1.10.0 in 1778 per annum as rent (P. 17).
1782-1787 - JAW owned 44 enslaved persons in Berkeley County, 64 in Westmoreland County (where he lived), and nine in Loudon County. (Fothergill, Augusta B., Naugle, John Mark eds., "Virginia Taxpayers, 1782-87, Other Than Those Published by the United States Census Bureau, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.: Baltimore, 1978,P. 132)
1783 - Prospect Hill - Local Census shows Prospect Hill, now with about 2600 acres, inhabited by one white male, twelve enslaved persons over the age of sixteen; twelve enslaved persons over the age of sixteen; eight horses; 61 head of cattle; and twenty stud horses. ("Reconstructed Census 1774-1810 Berkeley County, P. 113D).
Corbin Washington, the youngest of JAW's and Hannah's four children,. (Wayland, PP. 113, 318, 330), married Hannah Lee,
daughter of Richard Henry Lee, a Signer of the Delcaration of Independence.
They "lived for many years at Walnut Farm, which lies near Bushfield (JAW's home) and was originally part of that estate." He managed Prospect Hill through an overseer. (Wayland, P 125).
June 22, 1784 - Bushfield - JAW writes his last will and testament (Minor changes that did not affect Prospect Hill were added Nov. 19, 1785) (Westmoreland County Deeds and Wills Book 18, PP. 6-10):
"Imprimus I bequeath to my beloved Wife Hannah Washington during ther natural life, the use of one third of all the Negroes I am possessed of among which are to be included my waiting man Jerry, his wife suck, my Semstres Jenny, Billy, her Husband and her daughter Venus. Billy, Jenny & Venus I impower my Wife to devise to such of my Children by her as she please."
"I give to my said Wife one half of all my furniture both house and Kitchen, all my plate, my Chariott and the four horses that belong to it, all the plough horses and the stocks of Cattle, Sheep and Hogs on the Bushfield Estate and all the plantation untensils."
I also give to my beloved Wife thirty pounds a Year during her widowhood to be raised out of the Estate hereafter devised to my sons Bushrod and Corbin and regularly paid to her, the above Legacys are to be free from any incumbrance of debts contracted by me, and are intended in lieu of her dower in my Estate with which Legacys I hope my said Wife will be satisfied as she is entitled besides to all the lands her Father left her, but if she should never the less claim her right of dower in my Estate then the above Legacys to be void."
"Item for the purpose of discharging my just debts and payment of the Legacys hereafter devised to my Daughters, it is my Will and desire that my Executors hereafter named make sale of and Lawfull Conveyances for my Lands in Loudoun County purchased of George Carters Estate and containing abt 2500 Acres one half my Stock of Cattle Horses Sheep & Hogs in Berkley"
(NOTE: Frederick County was divided into Berkeley, and Fredrick Counties in 1772).
"and Loudoun Countys, the residue of my Furniture, my Crops on hand at the time of my death and debts due me to be applyed also to the same purpose also so many Negroes to be sold out of those thereafter named should Judge it most for the interest of my sons
to sell a larger of Negroes for the purpose of paying my debts and Legacys & reserve the lands above directed to be sold,"
"they are at liberty to do so, and in that case I give and bequeath my land in Loudoun to my two sons Bushrod and Corbin and their Heirs and assigns to be Equally divided between them."
"Item I give and bequeath to my Daughter Jenny Washington her heirs 600 pounds specie, and confirm to her the gift of the Negroes she has recd from me, the sums of money advanced my son in law Will Augt. Washington and the presents in other things made since her Marriage."
"Item I give to my Grandaughter Ann Ayler Washington a Negro Girl between the age of six and ten years old."
"Item I give to my Daughter Mildred Washington 1000 pounds specie to be raised as soon as possible after my death by my Executors and put to interest on good landed security for the use of my said Daughter Mildred and untill this is done my said Daughter Mildred to be allowed Fifty pounds a Year out of ye Estate left my sons Bushrod and Corbin but provided my said daughter Mildred should die before she comes of age or Marrys then it is my Will and desire that the Legacys given her be Equally divided between her surviving Brothers and sister. I also give my daughter Mildred a Negro Girl."
"Item I give and devise to my son Bushrod Washington his Heirs and Assigns the following tracts. the tract of Land in Berkley patented in my own name Joining the lands of Rutherford, Nourse, Blackbourne & containing 643 Acres, my land in Stafford County conveyed to me by my mother Mrs. Mary Washington adjoining the lands of Downmans Estate and Colo. Burgis Ball on Rapehanock and containing 400 Acres,"
"two surveys made for me on or near the Waters of Redstone Creek each survey containing 320 Acres one of them in my own name called the forks, the other I had surveyed in the name of Lawrence Washington and is called Bears Range the suveys are adjoining each other and form a square.
"I also give to my son Bushrod one half of my Negroes not otherwise disposed of after my Debts and Legacys are paid and one half of my stock not otherwise disposed of."
"Item I give and devise to my son Corbin Washington his Heirs and Assigns all the lands, I hold and am possessed of in Berkley County not otherwise disposed of and the remaining half of my Negroes and stock not otherwise disposed of " "reserving to my son Bushrod Washington the use of the tract of Land I purchased of Mr. James Russell of London and a field on the Land I purchased of Robert Washington known by the name of Smoots field to assist in working his Negroes on during his Mother's natural life, and in Case my son Bushrod should be defeated in his just Expectations of inheriting his Mothers land which she possesses under her Fathers Will at her death, then laid off according to quality for my son Bushrod which upon that contingency I give to him and his Heirs and assigns for ever."
"Item I give one third of my Negroes lent to my wife during her Natural life; at her death it is my Will and desire they should be equally divided between my sons Bushrod & Corbin and their Heirs."
"Item "It is my Will and desire that in Case either of my sons Bushrod or Corbin should die without Lawfull issue that the lands devised to each son so dying shall descend to the surviving son and his Heirs and assigns and the Negroes left to such of my sons so dying shall be equally divided among all my surviving children."
"Item what ever Estate I may be possessed of, or have any right or claim to, not disposed of by this my last Will, be equally divided between my two sons Bushrod and Corbin and their Heirs &c &c."
"Lastly I constitute and appoint my Beloved Wife Hannah Washington during her Widowhood and no longer Executrix and my much esteemed Brother Genl. Washington and my sons Bushrod Washington and Corbin Washington Executors of this my last will and testament in Witness where of I have here unto set my hand & seale this 22d day of June 1784."
"John Augustine Washington (LS)"
NOTE: "On November 19, 1785 certain additions were made to this will: a deed of gift had been made to Bushrod (following the latter's marriage) of 41 Negroes - they were to be deducted from the number that might fall to him later. The testator had purchased land near Bath (now Berkeley Springs) of Robert Throckmorton Jr., 213 acres, this tract and two lots in the town of Bath were to be applied to debts and legacies. He confirmed to his grandson Augustine Washington and his heirs a Negro boy Griffin and to his grand-daughter Hannah Bushrod Washington
a Negro girl Harriet." (Wayland, PP. 122-125).
January 10, 1787 - Mt. Vernon - GW wrote in his diaries: ". . .Just before Dinner Mr. Brindley Manager of the Susquehanna Works & his Son in law came on their way to South Carolina. About the sametime I recd. by express the accot. of the sudden death (by fit of the Gout in the head) of my beloved Brother Colo. Jno. Auge. Washington. At home all day." (Diaries, Vol.5, PP. 92-93).
1792 - Prospect Hill - Berkeley County tithables list Corbin Washington owning 2611 acres. ("Reconstructed Census 1792, P. 76).
October 19, 1799 - Fairfax County, VA. - Corbin Washington made out his will. (Wayland, P. 125).
November, 1799 - Fairfax County,VA. - Gen. George Washington visited his nephew and wife. (Both died within a year and were buried at Bushfield, JAW's home),
April 21, 1800 - Fairfax County, VA. - CW's will is probated.
June 17, 1800 - Fairfax County, VA. - CW's wife makes her will, is probated January 18, 1802. (Wayland, P. 125)
1800 - Corbin Washington is listed as still owning Prospect Hill. "The second largest slaveholding listed in Jefferson County was CorbinWashington's 38 at Prospect Hill. Corbin WAshington, who actually had died in December, 1799, never lived in Berkeley County, and this represented the "upper quarter" of an absentee owner. The 2,500 acre farm included the later Clay Mont and Blakeley farms; the Prospect Hill was a diminutive structure destroyed in the 1930s." (from "Tithables in Jefferson County 1800" by John A. Washington "The Magazine of the Historical Society of Jefferson County, Vol. __, P. 69).
1799 - Bushrod Washington . >and his wife, Anne Blackburn Washington, inherit Mt. Vernon and four thousand acres. (GW's Will)
Bushrod Washington, (JAW's and Hannah's second son with Corbin), was a graduate from William and Mary College, a private at Yorktown, and was a long-time associate judge on the U.S. Supreme Court. He and his wife live at Mt. Vernon, childless, from 1802-1829. Both die, days apart, in the fall of 1829. (SOURCE: Catalogue of the Centennial Exhibition Commemorating the Founding of The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union 1853-1953, PP. 63-68).
1829 - Blakeley, Jefferson County, VA. (ED. NOTE: In 1801, the eastern part of Berkeley County became Jefferson County.) - John Augustine Washington, Bushrod's nephew and grandson of JAW, inherits the Mt. Vernon manse and 1225 acres. He already manages 1450 acres of farmland in Jefferson County. (900 acres from his father in 1811; 274 inherited acres in 1819; and buys 276 acres in 1823).
The 274-acre tract is the southwest portion, and the 276-acre tract, from Mathew Ranson (Jefferson County Deed Book 16, P. 114), is in the center of today's PH/Huntfield tract.
John Augustine would divide his time between his newly-built manse in Jefferson County and Mt. Vernon. Health reasons prompted him to spend the warmer months in the "mountains." The Washington family has had a history of tuberculosis. (SOURCE: John Augustine Washington).
1832 - Blakeley, Jefferson County, - John Augustine dies.
Jane Charlotte Blackburn Washington, his widow, inherits Mt.Vernon. She lives there until 1843, moving to Blakeley.
She is the daughter of Major Richard Scott Blackburn. She married John Augustine in 1829. Two of their children died in infancy. Two of her sons are Thomas Blackburn Washington and John Augustine Washington Jr. (Ibid., P. 66)
1850 - Blakeley, Jefferson County, - Jane Charlotte Washington deeds Mt. Vernon to John Augustine, Jr. (Born May 3, 1820, John Augustine, Jr "is described as a man of splendid physique, nearly six feet and well-built, with brown eyes that sparkled with mirth and intelligence and wavy brown hair. He was a man of brillant mind and was a fluent talker. He was graduated from the University of Virginia in the class of 1840; and in February, 1843, his marriage to Eleanor Love Seldon took place.
They had seven children, all born at Mount Vernon; namely, Louise Fontaine, (1844-1927); Jane Charlotte Willis, (1846-?); Eliza Seldon, unmarried; Annie Marie Washington Tucker, (1851-1927); Lawrence Washington; Eleanor Love Howard; and George Washington (1858-1905). (Ibid., P. 67).
1855 - Blakeley, Jefferson County, - Jane C. Washington formalizes in her will the transfers Mt. Vernon, Blakeley, and Prospect Hill/Huntfield lands to John Augustine, Jr.
February 13, 1810 - Charles Town, VA. (NOTE: After 1801, Berkeley County's eastern portion with most Washington lands became Jefferson County) - Hannah Washington, Corbin's widow, had Prospect Hill surveyed and divided among her three sons.(Jefferson County Deed Book 5, PP. 350-356). Richard Henry Lee, Bushrod Corbin, and John Augustine Washington would each inherit a third of the land and property of Prospect Hill when each turned twenty-one. In 1809, RHLW turned 21,
prompting the division of his third from the PH estate, including the manse, livestock and enslaved persons.
The land tract is described in the survey by William McPherson:
(A) "Beginning at an Elm in the marsh to Beverly Whiting's, (B) thence with his line N. 19 1/2 degrees W. 40 poles (C) thence N. 37 degrees W. 115 5/10 poles to a stake in the Marsh (D) thence N. 64 degrees 40 minutes W. 183 poles to a white oak (E) thence N. 4 degrees E. 133 poles to a stone in Charles Town Road (F) thence N. 73 degrees E. 65 5/10 poles (G) thence N. 4 degrees 8 minutes E 75 5/10 poles (H) thence N. 82 degrees E. 62 poles (I) thence N. 70 degrees E crossing Charles Town Road in an oblique direction 142 poles to a white oak and sundry marked Saplings on the north side thereof (J) thence N. 3 5/10 E. 107 poles to a black oak Abram Davenport's corner (K) thence 83 1/2 degrees E. 112 1/2 poles to sundry saplings Thomas Hammond's corner (L) thence with his line S 11 1/5 degrees E. 164 1/2 poles to Kellenberger's corner (M) thence with his line S 79 degrees W. 74 poles to a stump (N) thence S. 40 degrees W 32 5/10 poles to a Black Oak (O) thence S 27 degrees W 125 1/2 poles to a stump (P) thence S 53 1/4 degrees E 122 5/10 poles to a black oak (Q) thence S. 51 1/2 degrees W 117 poles to a black oak (R) thence S 53 degrees E 239 5/10 poles to a black oak Hammonds, Colett (S) thence with his line and Beverly Whitings N. 87 degrees W 269 poles to the beginning, containing 885 Acres."
Land use is specified for RHLW's Prospect Hill. (Ibid, P. 355):
"(And) to equalize the said division in our opinion that the crop of small grain growing on the entire estate should be harvested at the joint expense of the three Brothers and one third thereof allotted to the said Richard H.L. Washington And further we have caused an exact inventory of the slaves belonging to the estate of the said Hannah Washington in said County to be made which is hereto annexed marked B and we have allotted to the said Richard H. L. Washington his third part in value thereof as follows that is to say:"
"Ned and Family - $1300"
"Bob and Family - $700"
"Nat & Jenny his wife and Harry, Daughter to Boatswain - $725"
"Gawin and Family - $700"
"William (Carpenter) and Family - $1400"
"Furrow and Family - $780" (END P. 355)
(BEGIN P. 356)"Prince Junior and Family - $500"
"Prince and Beck - $200"
"Harry - $350"
"Sall and Family - $650"
"Fortune Gardener - $600"
"Isaac - $00"
"Richard to pay his Brothers - $38.50 from $7905, equalling $7866.50."
The Ruling goes on:"And we have also allotted to the said Richard H. L. Washington his third part of the remainder of the personal estate of the said Hannah Washington in Jefferson County that is to say: 15 Horses, 65 Head horned Cattle, 70 Sheep, 7 Hogs, 2 Yoke of Oxen and our third of
RHLW's younger brothers, John Augustine and Bushrod Corbin, each turned 21 in 1810 and 1811, receiving their thirds of Prospect Hill.
Hannah Washington's division of property reads:
"At the request of the Commissioners appointed by Jefferson Court to divide the Estate of Hannah Washington decd and have surveyed the tract of Land in Jefferson County called Prospect Hill, Bounded as follows viz.
"Beginning at (A) a Sycamore stump on the south side of Bullskin comes to Nathan Haines; (B) thence with his line No. 5 3/4 degrees W 474 poles to a Hiccory; corner said Haines's Land, (C) thence with his line and Daniel Collett N. 8 degrees 3 minutes West 217 poles; (D) Thence North 6 degrees by Land formerly Lawrence Washington's 453 poles ; (E) thence S. 60 degrees E. 202 poles to a black oak corner to Lawrence Washington's; (F) thence with his lines S. 67 degrees E. 178 poles to a white oak, (G): thence South and West 85 6/10 Poles to a white oak; (H) thence south 85 degrees East 59 1/2 Poles"
(P. 351) (I) "thence N. 57 1/2 degrees E. 182 poles to a white oak corner to John Briscoe, (J) thence S. 74 degrees E. 123 poles to a black oak corner to Abraham Davenport, (K) thence N. 83 degrees E. 112 5/10 Poles to sundry marked Saplings corner to Thomas Hammonds, (L) thence S 11 1/2 degrees E 164 5/10 poles to Kellenbergers corner, (M) thence with his lines S 79 degrees W. 74 Poles to a stump (N) thence S 40 degrees W. 32 5/10 poles to a black oak, (O) thence S. 24 degrees W. 125 5/10 poles to a stump (P) thence S. 53 1/4 degrees E. 122 5/10 poles to a black oak, (Q) thence S 51 1/4 degrees W 117 poles to a B. ok. (R) thence S. 53 degrees E. 239 5/10 poles to a black oak, Hammonds corner (S) thence with his and Beverly Whitings lines N. 87 degrees W. 269 poles to a Elm in the marsh (T) then N. 19 degrees W. 40 poles; (U) thence N 37 degrees W 115 2/10 poles to a stake in the Marsh (V) thence S 39 degrees W 18 8/10 poles to a white oak (W) thence N. 79 degrees W. 22 Poles (X) thence S 20 degrees W. 164 poles to a Hiccory (Y) thence S 53 degrees W 9 poles to the line of Beverly Whiting's purchase from William Grubb (Z) thence N. 68 3/4 W 127 poles (ZZ) thence S. 19 degrees W 296 poles to the beginning, containing 2720 Acres." 1810 - Jefferson County, VA - Washington Lands - Richard Henry Lee Washington had 48 enslaved persons at Prospect Hill (P. 64); John Thornton Augustine Washington had 31 enslaved persons (P. 76); Lucy Washington had twelve enslaved persons (P. 95); Samuel Washington, 21 persons (P. 64); Fairfax Washington had 37 enslaved persons (P. 55). Bushrod Corbin Washington listed 88 enslaved persons under his overseer Elijah Cleveland, needed to build a very large home. (P. 63) (From the 1810 U.S. Census).
She gets the 300 acres with the house;
brothers/neighbors Bushrod Corbin and John Augustine both get 300 acres. Her portion, in time, goes to her two surviving sons, Noblet Herbert, Jr. and Bushrod Washington Herbert. Bushrod W. Herbert lives in the manse of Prospect Hill until his death at the age of 73 October 4, 1888.
According to death records in the Jefferson County Courthouse, two enslaved persons died on the same property in the 1850s.
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