The following is provided for your visiting pleasure and information.
Edgehill is representative of historic homes in Lancaster County, Virginia.Its origin and construction can be traced to pre 1738. It is listed among the Lancaster's Historic Sites identified in the Mary Ball Historical Society. Though upgraded over the years, it retains in general its original appearance. The house has an appealing siting on a hillside overlooking tilled fields and mature woods that flank its property's perimeter. It is located on Edgehill Lane which is off VSH 354 directly across the highway from the road going to Belle Isle State Park.
Information about Edgehill Plantation is presented in the following
sections:
1. Historical events
2. Property description
3. Ownership history
4. Buildings descriptions
5. Photos
It is recorded that Edgehill existed prior to 1738 when Colonel James Ball purchased it from Captain John Stott. A story has it that George Washington's father-in-law, laid the foundation of the home's original in-kitchen fireplace. I believe it's only a story and can find no supporting evidence.
During a ceremony at Edgehill in March 1862, the Girls of Saint Mary's Chapel presented the Flag of Company D, of the 9th Virginia Cavalry, to that Company. The southeastern corner of the property, where there is a stream and robust spring, was used as the staging area for the Company's members for that ceremony. Captain John Murphy of Lancaster was the commander at that time.
The property is bounded on the south and west sides by Virginia State Highway 354 for approximately twenty-five hundred feet. The north and east sides are defined by a rambling streambed. It currently consists of one hundred and seventeen acres. Approximately fifty acres are tilled; ten acres are in pine tree crop, two acres in homeland and the rest in mature natural forest. Most of the flat land is tilled. The hill and streambed areas are in forest. Its three tilled areas are noted for their productivity and continue to provide bountiful crops of corn, soybeans, wheat, etc. The wooded areas harbor deer, wild turkeys and rabbits. Edgehill Lane is the road leading from VSH354 to the homesite.
Background
In the seventeenth century, the Moraughtacunds Indian tribe occupied
this land area on the Northern Neck. Only God knows how long they
resided here or occupied it before then. It is possible that John
Smith set foot near the Edgehill plantation property during either
his first travel in this area, somewhat against his will as a
captive of the Indian Chief Opechacanoough, or on his return in
1608 to explore the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers and the rest
of the bay region. He might have noted the Deep Creek estuary
as a great place to fish, i.e., "The fish were at times so
abundant that Captain Smith's party, without nets, tried to catch
them once with a frying pan. That didn't work, but they had more
success when, during a low tide that trapped some fish in the
marsh grasses, they speared them with their swords."
When Charles II of England was restored to the throne in 1660,
the land grants he had bestowed while in exile took effect. Consequently
those who served as its agents achieved huge land patents. In
this environment Bryan Stott, Joseph Ball and others might have
acquired patents for large tracts of land in the Morattico area.
Mr. Stott's patent might have originally consisted of several
hundreds of acres extending around the Morattico area all the
way to the Deep Creek inlet on the Rappahannock River. (The Lancaster
County patent book 8 at page 82 cites the Bryan Stott patent 640
acres in Lancaster County on the east side of Morratico Creek.
Bryan Stott's first wife had six children, the youngest being
named John. This might be the same John Stott that sold it to
James Ball in 1738.)
The Deep Creek estuary on the Rappahannock River was important
to the people living in this area at that time in that their harvested
tobacco was stored in public warehouse on its shores. In 1756
a fire destroyed all of the tobacco stored there. Because of that
fire, Captain Henry Tapscott, then owner of Edgehill, and others
were relieved of the duty they had paid to the Crown for their
tobacco stored there . Recently, Dan Tapscott speculated that
there was a road from Nuttsville directly through Edgehill Plantation
to the Belle Isle Park side of Deep Creek. In the Spring of 2003,
Mrs. M. Hull, who lived at Edgehill circa 1920, gave testimony
to the fact that indeed "a path well traveled, went directly
through Edgehill plantation from Deep Creek to Nutsville."
Chronology
Prior to 1738 - The earliest recorded history of Edgehill shows
that John Stott owned it.
1738 - April 22, James Ball, son of Joseph, acquired the plantation
from John Stott and evidently that same year sold it to Captain
Henry Tapscott. While the Tapscott family owned the property from
1738 to the 1870s, it's not clear who actually lived there during
all that time.The Captain moved on to Stony Hill. Chichester Tapscott,
a decendent of Henry, lived there for some time. Chichester was
killed in the Civil War and soon thereafter his widow married
Captain Fairfax Mitchell, and this is how the property passed
from the Tapscott to the Mitchell family.(The later provided in
a note by Mrs. Chichester Tapscott Pierce.)
1910 - George Jenkins acquired Edgehill from the Robert Mitchell
estate. (DB 56 p. 410)
1919 - Melinda Clarke acquired Edgehill. (DB 61 p. 481)
1939 - Ralph Talbot acquired Edgehill (DB 73 p. 240)
1982 - Robert Proutt acquired Edgehill. (DB 234 p. 288)
1998 - Frank Schwartz acquired Edgehill. (DB 405 p. 823) (The
first time a survey and property plat was executed.)
Edgehill's homestead is positioned in a two acre grassed area
located in the center of the plantation. It contains the main
house and three dependency buildings; a Studio, Root house and
Barn. Edgehill Lane leads from VA SH 354 for six hundred and twenty
five feet to the homestead area.
1.The Main House.
It is in the center of the homestead area and situated with its
front facing the west overlooking the south and west tilled fields.
This is the original homesite and sections of the original foundation
exist under the present structure. A large front porch affords
opportunity to view and enjoy cool breezes and captivating sunsets.
A large screened in porch on the north side of the house is preferred
for enjoyment later in the evening. This porch has views of the
north and eastern tilled fields.
The home has undergone two significant modifications;
The home's brick walled basement (20' x 20') is under the addition
added in the 1830 period. The first floor contains a large living
room, a dining room, half-bath, and an entrance foyer with an
oak railed stairway to the second floor. The dining room, foyer
and living room have lovely natural wide oak flooring. The living
room has a mantled fireplace. The second floor includes two medium
and one large bedrooms, and one full bathroom. The large bedroom
includes a fireplace. The upstairs has narrow strip oak floors.
The kitchen area, which includes a storage room, is under construction.
It contains an old style enameled double sink with side drain
shelves. Interior walls throughout the entire house are smooth
finish plasters over batten boards.
It has three covered porch areas - a large one in the front, a
screened one off the living room and a smaller one off the kitchen.
Its entire roof is covered in beautiful random sized blue/gray
slate.
The home's water source is from a brick lined well, five feet
in diameter that was most likely dug and built in the 1830-renovation
period. Its bricks are the same as those used in the basement
of the addition in the home. Two active streams feed the well
approximately thirty feet below ground level. Mrs. M. Hull, who
lived at Edgehill circa 1925, tells the story about the well being
"a favority stopping place for all those who traveled on
a path that existed between Deep Creek and Nutsville. "The
well was known miles around for its water's purity and flavor."
Much work is to be done to restore this home. It was neglected
for many years but fortunately the fine slate roof has kept its
interior in relatively good shape.
2.The Caretaker's Quarters (The Studio)
This is a two story building. The bottom level was originally
used as a garage. The top section was divided into three rooms
- what appeared to be a living area and two small "Bunk Bed/Storage"
areas with very tiny closets. This structure and the Root house
were part of the second renovation (circa 1939) mentioned above.
It has been completely renovated and enlarged to include a living
room, dining area and kitchen upstairs, and a bedroom, entrance
foyer and full bath downstairs. Its living room has a beamed cathedral
ceiling and the original beautiful random width oak floor. A sliding
glass door leads from the living room to a large deck that overlooks
tilled fields. The bedroom also has a wood floor. The entrance
foyer and bathroom have slate and tiled floors. An oak treaded
spiral staircase in the entrance foyer joins the first and second
floors. The majority of the Studio has a slate roof like the ones
over the Main and Root houses.
3.The Root building
This is an 8' x 6' concrete block structure with a slate roof.
It has one door and no windows. It was originally used for storing
root vegetables. Its ceiling is exposed and the rafters have nail
holders everywhere possible.
4.The Garage/Barn
This new addition to the plantation was built in 2001. It is a
40' x 26' structure that includes a loft area on the top floor.
Its sides are covered with planks that match the wide cedar siding
of the main house. It has a metal roof, two metal garage doors
in the front and one in the back. Its main floor is smooth finish
concrete.
The photos are grouped as follows:
Buildings complex
Main house
Studio
Root building
Barn/garage
A view from the north toward buildings on the homestead. From
left to right, the barn/garage, the Root building (barely visible
behind the tree), Studio and Main House.
Two views of the front of the Main house, from a distance and
closer up
This is completely renovated with new kitchen and bath facilities.
Its front faces north, its deck faces west and provides ample
opportunity to view the pastoral setting of the tilled fields
accompanied by spectacular sunsets.
There are several Web sites containing other relative interesting
and informative historical data about the Edgehill plantation
area. I have chosen not to list them in order to keep these pages
immune from their dynamics. I suggest using keywords in your search
engine such as Virginia homes, Deep Creek, Henry Tapscott, Belle
Island, etc.