Report by Slavery Inventory Database
May 27, 2021
Introduction
The stated goal of this project was to write a brief report contextualizing and summarizing slavery and the enslaved (and potentially free Black population) from the arrival of William H. Harvey in 1845 through the time of William Blaisdell ending in 1868 at Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm.
In order to accomplish this goal, we need to understand everyone who lived and/or worked on the property. The people who existed on Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm could include white occupants, enslaved occupants, and free people of color. If possible, we hoped to identify and understand how each group contributed to and interacted with said land and household. In doing this, we do everything possible to identify, by name and family group, a site’s enslaved and potential Free population through available historical documents within the contracted research period.
Traditionally, research has not always allowed room for the historical Black experience, pushing these individuals to the periphery of a historic site’s interpretation. Similarly, extant record groups and documented lifeways often do not provide information about those Black individuals connected to historical sites. At the core of our mission is to advocate for these persons and to prompt sites to create space for their inclusion within the historical narrative and the historic site’s interpretation.
Navigating a project, such as Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm’s, necessitates approaching the research from several different angles and through a more current interpretive lens, with the hope of better centering Black existence on the property. When beginning this type of research project, we first start with the identification of the white slaveholding family. Although this does add insult to injury, unfortunately this is how the institution of slavery was established and how it was maintained. Enslaved individuals were considered legal property. Understanding the white family and their lifeways is integral to understanding the enslaved families and their paths through time and across the historic cultural landscape.
We began by establishing the acreage of the property and attempted to understand the labor that was needed to operate that parcel. We worked to gain insight into the white families that owned the property in order to understand how the domestic and agricultural labors were being performed, and by whom. We worked to understand the scope and scale of the farm to understand what kind and how much manual labor would be needed to operate that enterprise. Understanding what labor was needed to run said household and agricultural business allows us to assess if the white family was capable of the labor required on their own or would they have needed outside help.
Labor performed on Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm could have come from five main categories:
- White owners of property provided all known labor themselves.
- Enslaved individuals held by property owners.
- Hire of enslaved individuals from other slaveholders.
- Hire of Free people of color.
- Hire of white laborers.
Also important to understanding the potential existence of individuals on the site, enslaved or otherwise, is identifying and understanding what structures were located on the property during the different ownership periods. We hope to identify if there were any outbuildings on the property which could potentially be an indicator for enslaved or other workers.
At Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm, we attempted to understand the various and differing references in historical documents, record groups and previous research to the existence of other domiciles on the property. These would hopefully provide some insight into the number of persons that lived and/or worked on the site.
We began by identifying and reviewing the previous research performed associated with the current interpretation of Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm. After reviewing this research through our lens, we proceeded upon our usual routes of inquiry, identifying the existence and location of available records and record groups related to the history of the site.
We would like to note for the record, that unfortunately, during the time frame of our contract, the Falls Church Library Special Collection was unavailable due to renovations. This is an important resource to follow up with at a later date.
- The resources we were able to access are the following:
- Birth Records
- Burial Records
- Church Records
- Death Records
- Fairfax Court Slavery Index
- Federal Census Records (Agriculture, Population and Slave Schedules)
- Federal Southern Claims Commission Records
- Historical documents provided by Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm
- Local History Publications
- Local Special Collection Resources
- Maps
- Marriage Records
- Newspapers
- Published Historical Accounts and Documents
- Slavery Inventory Database
- Unpublished Historical Accounts and Documents
- Virginia Chancery Case Records
- Virginia Court Minute Books
- Virginia Court Order Books
- Virginia Land Records (Deed Books)
- Virginia Land Tax Records
- Virginia Personal Property Tax Records
- Virginia Probate Records
- Virginia Registration of Free Negroes
- Virginia Road Order & Petition Records
- Virginia Sheriff’s Execution Records
- Virginia Term Paper (Judgments) Records
- Virginia Voting Records
Our report followed the contracted periods of research that began with William H. and Eliza M. Harvey in 1845 and continued through to William Shepherd’s taking over the land from William Blaisedell and family. We have also provided information related to problem areas associated with previous reports, areas outside of contracted purview that we have assessed as needing additional research, as well as providing potential opportunities for broader and more interesting interpretation.
For each landowner we approached our research with the following questions:
- What were the years of land ownership?
- What was the actual acreage of the tract during each period of ownership?
- What structures were located on said property and when were they constructed?
- What were the domestic and agricultural labor needs during each period of ownership?
- How many people were on the property during each period of ownership?
- Did a specific religion or ideology in relation to the institution of slavery play a role in the way labor was performed?
The Institution of Slavery in Falls Church and the Surrounding Area
Enslaved labor was utilized by a substantial number of early white, Fairfax County landowners. Fairfax County’s land was cultivated and harvested by enslaved laborers from large, middling, and small slaveholders.[1] The original Trammell Tract (248 acres), which is essentially the land of the modern-day city of Falls Church, was patented to John Trammell in 1729. Trammell utilized enslaved labor. The area in which modern-day Falls Church lies was historically patented by white slaveholders. The arrival of Northern citizens into the Falls Church area in the early 1840s ushered in a new era of thinking as far as how labor was performed and by whom.[2]
Although this Northern influx brought new ideas about the institution of slavery, the greater Falls Church area remained entrenched in the use of enslaved labor. From the 1840s through to the civil war, the land around the city of Falls Church remained primarily owned by white slaveholders, several of whom had large holdings. These large enslaved holdings could have contributed to the pool of enslaved labor that would be utilized by other non-slaveholding property owners.
Although there was a free Black population in the Falls Church area prior to the Civil War, our previous research has led us to believe that the large postbellum Black population came primarily from out of the large slaveholding properties surrounding the city.
The acreage containing Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm provides an example of this distinct transition of slaveholding to other sources of labor. The owners of the 248 acre Trammell tract as well as the smaller Cherry Hill property held enslaved individuals until the 1840s. William H. Harvey utilized hired enslaved labor in 1845. According to known documentation, the owners of Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm after Harvey did not utilize enslaved labor, choosing instead other ways to perform work on the property.
Owners of the Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm tract who were slaveholders:
- 1729 John and Susannah Trammell 248 acres, slaveholders
- 1755 Sampson Trammell 248 acres, slaveholders
- 1803 Abner and Susan Pinnet Cloud 248 acres, slaveholders
- 1833 John Mills 248 acres, slaveholder
- 1843 Augustine and Ann S. Gadsby Newton, 248 acres, slaveholder (son, Charles A. Newton, resident on tract, slaveholder)
Analysis and Interpretation of Primary Property Owners During Contracted Period
William H. and Eliza M. Harvey
Ownership 1844-1848
66 acres 2 rods 3 poles
William H. Harvey and wife, Eliza, assumed control of the 66 acre (66 acre 2 rods 3 poles) parcel through an unrecorded deed of sale with Augustine Newton in January of 1844. It is then reaffirmed through a recorded deed of sale with Augustine Newton’s descendants in July of 1845.[3] Augustine Newton died before the original deed could be recorded. At the time of sale, this 66 acre parcel of land was part of the larger 248 acre Trammell tract inhabited by Charles A. Newton, son of recently deceased Augustine Newton. The larger tract was described as having “a very comfortable dwelling house, and all requisite outbuildings. Also, a very fine Orchard, containing several hundred choice apple trees, and a large number of thrifty young peach trees, lately planted by the present occupant.”[4]
Because the original agreement between Augustine Newton and William H. Harvey was not recorded with the county, this may also clarify the land taxation recorded in 1844 in the name of Augustine Newton as opposed to William H. Harvey by Fairfax County. We believe William H. Harvey to have been residing on the property, starting in January 1844.[5]
In 1844, the 248 acre property belonging to Augustine Newton was assessed on Fairfax County Land Tax records as having improvements (structures) valued at $200.[6] In 1845, William H. Harvey assumed the legal ownership of the 66 acre property (Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm) that was taken from the original 248 acre tract. He was assessed in 1845 for structural improvements valued at $600.[7] We agree that it appears most likely that William H. Harvey built the Cherry Hill historic house in 1845, causing the $600 assessment. But, we can not say definitively that this was an increase of $400 over the previous assessment of $200, because of the property split. There is the possibility that this could have been an altogether new structure with the assessed value of $600.
The 1845 auction advertisement describes the tract of land, inhabited by Charles A. Newton, as containing 248 acres and “a very comfortable dwelling house, and all requisite outbuildings.”[8] Although the deed to William H. Harvey from Augustine Newton’s heirs does indeed include the phrasing “parcel of land, with all buildings, improvements, and appurtenances”, it does not include any description of the structures or their locations.[9] This may have been included in the survey referenced in the deed that is now separated from the deed book and missing. Further research on the full 248 acre parcel may prove the existence of other structures during the period of earlier property owners.
That year, Harvey was also taxed for the hire of two white male individuals and one enslaved Black individual (gender unspecified) on the Fairfax County Personal Property Tax rolls.[10] The assumption has been that the hiring of labor was for the purpose of building the structure now known as the Cherry Hill historic house. Due to the existence of preexisting agricultural endeavors on the site, we assert that labor, enslaved and otherwise, could have been used for any number of purposes, including agriculture, construction, or domestic. Harvey was taxed on these individuals because they were year long hires living on the site. This span of time could reflect a need for labor in some form that extended beyond just home construction.
There is no known information at Fairfax County Courthouse related to William H. Harvey hiring or holding enslaved persons.[11] The enslaved person noted on the Personal Property Tax Records was recorded as being over the age of sixteen. No other information about this individual is available and/or known at this time. There is still no known information related to the potential agricultural pursuits on the property during Harvey’s ownership that would lead to a better understanding of the labor needed on site. There is also no known available information directly related to the construction of the home other than the increase in improvements value.
Land Tax Records, Fairfax County, Virginia[12]
|
Year |
Name of Land Owner | Residence of Owner | Number of Acres | Description of the Land | Rate of Land per Acre | Value of Improvements [Structures] | Total Value of Lands & Buildings | Total Amount of Tax |
| 1844 | Augustine Newton of Mills | Alexandria | 248 | At Falls Church | $7.25 | $200.00 | $1798.00 | $2.25 |
| 1845 | William Harvey of Newton | Fairfax | 66 | At Falls Church | $16.25 | $600.00 | $1072.50 | $1.08 |
| 1846 | William H. Harvey of Newton | Fairfax | 66 1/2 | At Falls Church | $16.25 | $600.00 | $1080.63 | $1.09 |
| 1847 | William H. Harvey of Newton | Fairfax | 66 1/2 | At Falls Church | $16.25 | $600.00 | $1080.85 | $1.09 |
Personal Property Taxes, Fairfax County, Virginia[13]
| Year | Name | White Males Over 16 | Slaves Over 16 Years | Slaves 12-16 Years | Horses |
| 1845 | “William Harvey & hires” | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 1846 | William H. Harvey | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1847 | William H. Harvey | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
George B. Steele
Ownership 1848-1856
70.108 acres
On November 29, 1847, George B. Steele assumed control of the property from William H. Harvey.[14] In 1850, the Federal Census recorded three Steele family members in the same household: Charles B. Steele, age 51, a farmer from Massachusetts; Ester A. Steele, age 51, from Connecticut; George B. Steele, age 24, a farmer from Massachusetts.[15]
Fairfax County Land Tax records show George B. Steele taxed for the 70.188 acre tract of land from William H. Harvey in the years 1848-1856.[16] The 1850 Land Tax Records also identified George B. Steele as owner of a second tract of land.[17] This second tract, a 70 acre property adjacent to the Cherry Hill tract, is believed to be the tract previously owned by a Mr. Poor.[18] There is a record of this second tract of land being sold in the year 1851 and eventually being the land owned by Williston Clover.[19]
Personal Property Tax Records for the years of 1848-1850 separately recorded George B. Steele and his presumed father, Charles B. Steele. For the years of 1848-1850, George B. Steele was taxed for one white male over the age of 16, presumed to be himself. In the years of 1847, 1849, and 1850, Charles B Steele was taxed for one white male over the age of 16, again presumed to be himself. In 1848, Charles B. Steele was taxed for two white males over the age of 16, one who was marked as hireling and one presumed to be said Steele. This is the only recorded hire during the period of Steele ownership at Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm. For the years of 1852-1856, George B. Steele was taxed for two white males over the age of 16. The presumption is that these two individuals were George and his father Charles, due to the lack of a notation of a hire, as was recorded in 1848.[20]
The lack of recorded improvements on the 70 acre non-Cherry Hill tract, as well as the 1850 Federal census records, provide a picture of the Steele family living together in the Cherry Hill historic house while being taxed separately. The hired hand of 1848 probably would have lived somewhere on the property as well.
There is no known available information within the Fairfax County Courthouse related to either hiring or holding of enslaved individuals by the Steeles while on the property.[21] There was no information located regarding the scope of the Steele farming operation. Due to the lack of known debt related records for George B. Steele’s almost decade of time on the property, we have made the assumption that the Steeles had some level of success and did not incur the same financial difficulties as some of the other Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm landowners.
1850 Federal Census, Fairfax County, Virginia[22]
| Name | Age | Sex | Color | Occupation | Value of Real Estate | Birthplace |
| Charles B. Steele | 51 | Male | White | Farmer | [Not Stated] | Massachusetts |
| Ester A. Steele | 51 | Female | White | [Blank] | [Not Stated] | Connecticut |
| George B. Steele | 25 | Male | White | Farmer | [Not Stated] | Massachusetts |
Land Tax Records, Fairfax County, Virginia[23]
|
Year |
Name of Land Owner | Residence of Owner | Number of Acres | Description of the Land | Rate of Land per Acre | Value of Improvements [Structures] | Total Value of Lands & Buildings | Total Amount of Tax |
| 1848 | George B. Steele of Harvey | Fairfax | 70.108 | Near Falls Church | $16.25 | $600.00 | $1148.47 | $1.15 |
| 1849 | George B. Steele of Harvey | Fairfax | 70.108 | Near Falls Church | $16.25 | $600.00 | $1148.47 | $1.15 |
| 1850 | George B. Steele of Harvey | Fairfax | 70.188 | Near Falls Church | $16.25 | $600.00 | $1148.47 | $1.15 |
| 1851 | George B. Steele of Harvey | Fairfax | 70.188 | Near Falls Church | $20.00 | $600.00 | $1413.50 | $1.70 |
| 1852 | George B. Steele of Harvey | Fairfax | 35.151 ½ [24] | Near Falls Church | $28.00 | $600.00 | $1006.52 | $1.82 |
| 1853 | George B. Steele of Harvey | Fairfax | 70.188 | Near Falls Church | $20.00 | $600.00 | $1412.50 | $2.83 |
| 1854 | George B. Steele of Harvey | Fairfax | 70.188 | Near Falls Church | $20.00 | $600.00 | $1412.50 | $2.83 |
| 1855 | George B. Steele of Harvey | Fairfax | 70.108 | Near Falls Church | $20.00 | $600.00 | $1413.20 | $2.83 |
| 1856 | George B. Steele of Harvey | Fairfax | 70.108 | Near Falls Church | $20.00 | $600.00 | $1413.20 | $2.83 |
| 1857 | George B. Steele of Harvey | Fairfax | 69.96 (acreage lost to railroad) | At Falls Church | $20.00 | $600.00 | $1392.00 | $1.40 |
Personal Property Taxes, Fairfax County, Virginia[25]
| Year | Name | White Males Over 16 | Slaves Over 16 Years | Slaves 12-16 Years | Horses |
| 1848 | George B. Steele | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1848 | Charles B. Steele & hireling | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1849 | George B. Steele | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1849 | Charles B. Steele & hireling | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1850 | George B. Steele | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1850 | Charles B. Steele | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1851 | George B. Steele | [NOT | LISTED | THIS | YEAR] |
| 1852 | George B. Steele | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 horses, 3 cows |
| 1853 | George B. Steele | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1854 | George B. Steele | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1855 | George B. Steele | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 horses, 1 cow |
| 1856 | George B. Steele | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 horses, 1 cow |
William A. and Eirene Wheeler Blaisdell
Ownership 1856-1865
73 acres
Moving his family south from Massachusetts, William Augustus Blaisdell took ownership in 1856 of the property now known as Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm. The Blaisdells moved onto the 73 acre property composed of two parcels purchased from George B. Steele.[26] At the time of their acquisition, the family consisted of father William A. Blaisdell (b.1820), mother Eirene Blaisdell (b.1820), and three children, Henry Augustus Blaisdell (b.1848), Hiram Wheeler Blaisdell (b.1851), and Anna Cora Blaisdell (b.1854). William and Eirene would have three more recorded children while living in Virginia. These were William Nelson Blaisdell (b.1859), Edwin Carter Blaisdell (b.1861), and Frank Gardner Blaisdell (b.1863). Unfortunately, William would survive little more than a year, and Henry would die in 1865.[27] We found no records providing information as to the death or burials of either Blaisdell children that died while residing in Falls Church.
The Blaisdells were one of the many Northern families who migrated into the Falls Church area in the years leading up to the Civil War. From the Fairfax County Personal Property Tax records, we observed that many of the other Northern families went without holding enslaved labor or hiring enslaved labor on a yearly basis.[28] The Blaisdells appear to be part of the now firmly established Northern shift in both farming practices and attitudes towards enslaved labor seen in the Falls Church area.
Regarding the Blaisdells’ lack of usage of enslaved workers, we have so far found no records illustrating whether this was due to ideology, religious belief, or financial reasons. Records show William A. Blaisdell voted against secession in 1861.[29] He also aided the neighboring Reed family in handling legal and financial matters following John Reed’s murder by Confederate raiders in 1864.[30] We cannot assume either of these actions definitively point to the ideology of William A. Blaisdell regarding the institution of slavery.
Regular travel between Falls Church and the District of Columbia during wartime would have necessitated approval by local Union forces. Correspondence provides evidence that William A. Blaisdell, himself, was still traveling to and from the District of Columbia markets during the Civil War.[31] An 1864 “Lost” advertisement placed by Blaisdell for the return of his missing “memorandum book, with sundry papers, letters, accounts, &c” supports the idea he was likely still traveling into the city to conduct business.[32] These bits of information appear to show that William A. Blaisdell was both trusted by local Union leadership to travel and that he was still conducting business in some way. Regardless of his continued commerce, by the end of 1864, the Blaisdells were selling the Cherry Hill property in order to shortly return north to Massachusetts.[33]
William A. Blaisdell operated a business growing a wide variety of produce and traveling to the market in District of Columbia to sell them.[34] Our assessment of Mr. Blaisdell’s business concluded that it was necessary to have at least one other skilled, knowledgeable, and trustworthy individual in a capacity at either farm or market locations regularly. We also know Mr. Blaisdell was not originally a farmer by trade and would leave the profession upon returning to Massachusetts after the Civil War.[35] The scale and scope of his farming business at Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm would have necessitated other reliable and consistent, knowledgeable labor. The existence of a “hot-house” (greenhouse) on the property would have supported a long and varied growing season.[36] The amount of required laborers could have fluctuated with growing and harvest seasons throughout the year. The relatively young ages of the Blaisdell children leads us to assume that they would have been unlikely to provide much in the form of the hard labor needed to run the farm-to-market business William A. Blaisdell operated on his property.
There is no known available information within the Fairfax County Courthouse related to either hiring or holding of enslaved individuals by the Blaisdells while on the property[37] There was also no evidence in the Fairfax County Personal Property Tax Records of William A. Blaisdell being taxed for any yearly hired laborers, white or Black. Although we know Blaisdell would have required assistance with his farming and market operations, at this time, we have found no evidence of who these workers might have been.[38] We must point to the fact that no local, state, or federal documents would exist if Blaisdell were paying free, waged workers or hiring extra help during periods requiring increased labor. This would have been part of William A. Blaisdell’s personal accounting and family records, if recorded at all. No known previous correspondence by Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm with Blaisdell family descendants has provided insight into this accounting. The lack of known recorded debt-related documents leads us to conclude he was able to pay workers and run his business with a certain level of success.
The existence of at least two potential residential structures (the Cherry Hill historic house and tenant house) referenced to be on the property may mean some, or all, of the potential labor could have resided on Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm.[39] The unfortunate absence of the Blaisdell family on the 1860 Federal Census limits our knowledge of the family and any potential free domestic or farm labor residing on the property.[40] This potential enumerator error is hugely damaging to understanding and interpreting the Blaisdell narrative while on Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm.
Between 1857 and 1858 the value of the improvements (structures) on the property went from $600 to $1000. We believe the Fairfax County Land Tax recorded improvement value of $1000 likely reflected the addition of outbuildings on the property.[41] These structures and their uses are reflected in the advertisement found in the 1869 legal proceedings between William H. Daniel and William D. Shepherd.[42]
The number of structures and their related uses again highlight the amount of agricultural and domestic labor required on the Blaisdell farm. Each structure was connected to multiple tasks that needed to be performed on a regular, if not daily, basis. The significant absence of recorded labor does not necessarily mean an absence of laborers. Instead, this could very well point to the type of day labor provided by free Black individuals from the surrounding area. This work could also have been performed by white laborers. Unfortunately, Federal Census records only provide occupation, not employer location.
The lack of recorded legal documentation about the laborers on Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm provides an excellent opportunity for community engagement. The pursuit of a localized community based oral history project may be able to provide insight into what role the free Black population could have played on Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm as well as on the surrounding properties that also lacked enslaved labor.
1860 Federal Census, Fairfax County, Virginia[43]
| Name | Age | Sex | Color | Occupation | Value of Real Estate | Birthplace |
| William A. Blaisdell | [NOT | LISTED | THIS | YEAR] |
Land Tax Records, Fairfax County, Virginia[44]
|
Year |
Name of Land Owner | Residence of Owner | Number of Acres | Description of the Land | Rate of Land per Acre | Value of Improvements [Structures] | Total Value of Lands & Buildings | Total Amount of Tax |
| 1858 | William A. Blaisdell of Steele | Fairfax | 73.53 | At Falls Church | $30.00 | $1000.00 | $2199.94 | $1.32 |
| 1859 | William A. Blaisdell of Steele | Fairfax | 73.53 | At Falls Church | $30.00 | $1000.00 | $2199.94 | $1.32 |
| 1860 | William A. Blaisdell of Steele | Fairfax | 71 | At Falls Church | $30.00 | $1000.00 | $2030.00 | $1.70 |
| “1861-1863” | William A. Blaisdell of Steele [45] | Fairfax | 71 | At Falls Church | $30.00 | $1000.00 | $2130.00 | [Not Listed] |
| 1862 | [No Recorded Enumeration Due to Civil War] | |||||||
| 1863 | [No Recorded Enumeration Due to Civil War] | |||||||
| 1864 | William A. Blaisdell of Steele [46] | Fairfax | 71 | At Falls Church | $30.00 | $1000.00 | $2130.00 | $15.98 [“x” next to sum] |
| 1865 | William A. Blaisdell | Fairfax | 71 | At Falls Church | $30.00 | $1000.00 | $2130.00 | $4.26 |
Personal Property Taxes, Fairfax County, Virginia[47]
| Year | Name | White Males Over 16 | Slaves Over 16 Years | Slaves 12-16 Years | Animals | Other |
| 1857 | William B. Blaysbill [sic] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 horses, 5 cattle | 1 clock |
| 1858 | William B. Blaisdell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 horses, 10 cattle or sheep, 1 [illegible] | 1 clock |
| 1859 | William A. Blaisdell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 horses, 6 [illegible] | |
| 1860 | William A. Blaisdell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 horses, 3 sheep | 1 carriage |
| 1861 | William A. Blaisdell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 horses, 5 cows, 2 hogs | 1 carriage, 1 clock |
| “1862-1864” | William A. Blaisdell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 horses, 2 cattle, | 1 clock |
| 1865 | William A. Blaisdell | 1 male over 21 | [No Other Information] |
The Transition Period from William A. Blaisdell to William D. Shepherd
A note regarding the previous research around the transfer of Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm from William A. Blaisdell to William D. Shepherd and current findings. Our research findings conflicted with the information found in Shirley W. Camp’s Past Times Around Falls Church about the specific time that the Blaisdell family vacated Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm.
Camp identified the Blaisdells being assessed for personal property taxes by Fairfax County for the years 1866, 1867, 1868.[48] However, she did not provide the corresponding land tax records that would help us to identify the property. We viewed, transcribed and analyzed a digital copy of said land tax records from the Library of Virginia. It is our understanding that this is the only surviving copy of said records.
We located William Shepherd on the Fairfax County Land Tax records for the years 1866, 1867 and 1868 (see Land Tax table below). These records show the individual responsible for paying the tax during said years as “William Shepherd of Blaisdell.” This notation was a normal tactic of enumerators when identifying correct parcels of land as they transferred from one property owner to the next.
After performing a line by line audit of the Fairfax County Personal Property Tax records for the years 1866, 1867 and 1868, we did not locate anyone named Blaisdell that would have confirmed the findings of previous researchers.
Also, we were unable to locate any record of a Blaisdell on the Fairfax County Land Tax records for the years 1866, 1867 and 1868 beyond the enumerator’s reference attached to Shepherd’s taxation.
Our assessment of the records available to us identify William D. Shepherd was the taxable owner associated with the Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm property during the years of 1866, 1867, and 1868.
William D. and Sarah Ann Shepherd
Ownership 1865-1870
73 acres
The first identified record of William D. and Sarah Ann Shepherd’s purchase of the property known as Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm dates to December 1864.[49] Records seem to prove that William A. Blaisdell was still active in Falls Church through 1865.[50] A deed of trust recorded as satisfied in May of 1866 appears to convey property and appurtenances to the Shepherds.[51] However, there is no evidence found at this time to prove they ever resided on the property. A legal dispute between the Shepherds and the succeeding Cherry Hill owner, Joseph Riley, provided evidence supporting that, for a time, the Shepherds did own and reside on the nearby Oak Mount property.[52]
Between 1867 and 1868, the assessed value of the structures on Cherry Hill increased from $1000 to $2000 on the Fairfax County Land Tax records.[53] We can again refer to the 1869 advertisement to understand what contributed to this increase. There is a newly built storehouse on the SE corner of the property. This storehouse was offered as a potential separate sale with one acre of attached land. The 1869 advertisement also points to there being the Cherry Hill house, a tenant house, and multiple non-domestic structures.[54]
William D. Shepherd’s brief period of Cherry Hill ownership does not seem to have involved him residing or working on the property. This postbellum period would not have involved enslaved laborers. There is evidence in Chancery Court records of William D. Shepherd having some involvement with the recently built store on the property, as well as “mechanics, laborers and farm hands” paid through William H. Daniel.[55] In 1870, the Federal Census enumerated a Falls Church household with three white individuals: Wm. H. Daniel, grocer; Mary A. Daniel, keeping house; and John D. Brush, grocer. A fourth person in the house was Francis Jackson, Black, listed as a cook. We believe these individuals made up the household associated with the corner store on Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm and referred to in said court records.[56]
William Shepherd’s actual involvement with the Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm property during his ownership is unclear. But, we believe this period of time provides an excellent opportunity for interpretation of the post war period in Falls Church. The creation of the store on Cherry Hill as well as the potential tenant house and Cherry Hill historic house, provide space for interpreting the coexistence of Black and white individuals in the area following the Civil War. The site’s existence at a significant wartime flashpoint provides the potential for hard conversations around how Black and white individuals, and Union loyalists and secession supporters interacted following a period of significant rift.
Land Tax Records, Fairfax County, Virginia[57]
|
Year |
Name of Land Owner | Residence of Owner | Number of Acres | Description of the Land | Rate of Land per Acre | Value of Improve-ments [Structures] | Total Value of Lands & Buildings | Total Amount of Tax | Alterations in Previous Year |
| 1866 | W. A. Shepherd of Blaisdell | Fairfax | 73.43 | At Falls Church | $30.00 | $1000.00 | $2198.09 | $3.08 | |
| 1867 | W. A. Shepherd of Blaisdell | Fairfax | 73.43 | At Falls Church | $30.00 | $1000.00 | $2198.07 | $6.59 | |
| 1868 | Wm. A. Shepherd of Glezidell | Fairfax | 73.43 | At Falls Church | $43.68 | $2000.00 | $3199.31 | $9.60 | $1000.00 improve-
ments added |
Personal Property Taxes, Fairfax County, Virginia[58]
| Year | Name | White Males Over 16 | Slaves Over 16 Years | Slaves 12-16 Years |
| 1866 | [William D. Shepherd not listed] |
1870 Federal Census, Falls Church, Fairfax County, Virginia[59]
| District | House No. | Family No. | Name | Age | Sex | Color | Occupation | Value of Real Estate | Birth- place |
| Fairfax/Falls Church | 430 | 420 | William D. Shepherd | 55 | M | W | Agent for Life Insurance | 30,000 | PA |
| Fairfax/Falls Church | 9 | 9 | Wm. H. Daniel | 26 | M | W | Grocer | DC | |
| Mary A. Daniel | 20 | F | W | Keeping House | 1400 | DC | |||
| John D. Brush | 21 | M | W | Grocer | VA | ||||
| Francis Jackson | 24 | F | B | Cook | VA | ||||
| Fairfax/Falls Church | 52 | 51 | John Jackson | 30 | M | B | Farm Hand | VA |
Recommended Areas for Further Research and Interpretation
John Mills
Ownership 1833-1843
248 acres
John Mills purchased the 248 acre “Cloud’s Land” tract of land (the original Trammel tract) in Falls Church containing buildings and “good orchards” by auction in 1833.[60] Although the 1833 auction advertisement describes buildings of some kind, Fairfax County Land Tax records show no value for improvements (structures) on the property until 1840.[61] This could mean the structures were perceived to have no taxable value regardless of inclusion in the 1833 auction advertisement.
Although there were multiple John Mills in Fairfax County, we feel strongly that the John Mills, Jr. mentioned in the Wrenn report was most likely the individual on the Falls Church property enumerated on the 1840 Federal Census.[62] Due to census, land tax, personal property tax and chancery cases, we assert that John Mills, Jr, was the slaveholder John Mills on the 1840 census.[63] John Mills, Jr. was taxed for one enslaved person over 16 years of age on the 1840 Fairfax County Personal Property Tax record.[64] The census enumerates three enslaved persons: one male, aged 0-9; one female, aged 10-23; one female, aged 24-35.[65]
The existence of some kind of structure and the enumeration of John Mills on the census in Falls Church during his period of ownership of the 248 acre property containing the future Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm provides a strong case for the existence of at least three enslaved individuals on this land. We believe this warrants further research into the John Mills period of research with a focus on the enslaved.
1840 Federal Census, Fairfax County, Virginia[66]
| White | 1, Male 5-9 | 1, Male 30-39 | 2, Female 10-14 | 1, Female 20-29 | 1, Female 40-49 |
| Enslaved | 1, Male 0-9 | 1, Female 10-23 | 1, Female 24-35 |
Land Tax Records, Fairfax County, Virginia[67]
|
Year |
Name of Land Owner | Residence of Owner | Number of Acres | Description of the Land | Rate of Land per Acre | Value of Improve-ments | Total Value of Lands & Buildings | Total Amount of Tax | Alterations in Previous Year |
| 1835 | John Mills of Cloud | Fairfax | 223 | At Falls Church | $12 | 0 | $2676 | $2.15 | |
| 1836 | John Mills of Cloud | Fairfax | 223 | At Falls Church | $12 | 0 | $2676 | $2.16 | |
| 1837 | John Mills of Cloud | Fairfax | 223 | At Falls Church | $12 | 0 | $2676 | ||
| 1838 | John Mills of Cloud | Fairfax | 223 | At Falls Church | $12 | 0 | $2678 | ||
| 1839 | John Mills of Cloud | Fairfax | 223 | At Falls Church | $12 | 0 | $2678 | ||
| 1840 | John Mills of Cloud | Fairfax | 223 | At Falls Church | $7.25 | $200 | $1616.75 | $1.52 | |
| 1841 | John Mills of Cloud | Fairfax | 223 | At Falls Church | $7.25 | $200 | $1616.75 | $2.03 | |
| 1842 | John Mills of Cloud | Fairfax | 223 | At Falls Church | $7.25 | $200 | $1616.75 | $2.13 |
Personal Property Taxes, Fairfax County, Virginia[68]
| Year | Name | White Males Over 16 | Slaves Over 16 Years | Slaves 12-16 Years | Animals |
| 1840 | John Mills, Jr. | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Augustine and Ann S. Gadsby Newton,
Charles A. Newton, son, resident on tract
Ownership 1843-1845
248 acres
Augustine Newton purchased the 248 acres from John Mills in 1843. Charles A. Newton appears to have inhabited the 248 acre property during the years of 1842-1844, prior to William H. Harvey’s purchase.[69]
Charles A. Newton was recorded in Fairfax County Personal Property Tax records for holding enslaved persons in the years 1842, 1843, and 1844. We believe Charles was on the 248 acre tract containing the Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm property during this period.[70]
This evidence points to the existence of enslaved individuals on the property during the time immediately preceding our contracted research period. Due to this fact, we believe the Newton family period of ownership warrants additional research and interpretation into the enslaved experience at Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm. Further research of the entire 248 acre parcel may also help evaluate what other structures may have existed on the larger property prior to the split of William H. Harvey’s purchase.
Land Tax Records, Fairfax County, Virginia[71]
|
Year |
Name of Land Owner | Residence of Owner | Number of Acres | Description of the Land | Rate of Land per Acre | Value of Improve-ments | Total Value of Lands & Buildings | Total Amount of Tax | Alterations in Previous Year |
| 1843 | Augustine Newton of Mills | 240 | At Falls Church | $7.25 | $200 | $1798 | $2.7 | ||
| 1844 | Augustine Newton of Mills | Alexandria | 248 | At Falls Church | $7.25 | $200 | $1798 | $2.25 |
Personal Property Taxes, Fairfax County, Virginia[72]
| Year | Name | White Males Over 16 | Slaves Over 16 Years | Slaves 12-16 Years |
| 1842 | Charles A. Newton | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 1843 | Charles A. Newton | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 1844 | Charles A. Newton | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Conclusion
The stated goal of this project was to write a brief report contextualizing and summarizing slavery and the enslaved (and potentially free Black population) from the arrival of William H. Harvey in 1845 through the time of William Blaisdell ending in 1868 Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm.
We found no evidence of slaveholding by Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm property owners during the contracted for period of research. William H. Harvey is the sole individual using enslaved labor in some form during the time frame. Unfortunately, at this time, there is no further information known to be available about the enslaved individual hired by Harvey during the year of 1845.
William H. Harvey represents the pivot on the Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm property from slaveholding property owners to those individuals who did not rely on enslaved labor. Property owners prior to 1845 held enslaved people on the property.
Both John Mills and the son of Augustine Newton held enslaved individuals on the property in the period of time just prior to the contracted research period. These individuals would be a good starting point for creating interpretation around the shifting attitudes towards slavery in the Falls Church community as it evolved on the landscape of Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm. Research into these property owners and the Black individuals they held in slavery would be helpful in expanding the interpretation at Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm. This would be instrumental in creating space for a broader narrative and the difficult conversations around the evolving Black experience in the community on and around the historical site.
The period of time between William H. Harvey and the Civil War provides an opportunity to discuss how the Northern influx to Falls Church shifted attitudes to both farming practices and labor. These advocates for progressive means of diverse agriculture also modeled farming without enslaved labor. Families, like the Reeds, provide a narrative based on abolition, education, and faith that could be expanded upon through interpretation on site. This is an area of research we find worth exploring.
Our mission at SID is to act as an advocate for the individuals represented within the entire history of a site. Regardless of the legal property boundaries, there is a moral historical obligation to taking responsibility for the former land holdings and the individuals enslaved on those lands. Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm has an opportunity to be the representative historical property of the City of Falls Church and provide a platform to tell the story of the entire 248 acre Trammell Tract and surrounding area that encompasses what is now the downtown Falls Church area, interpreting a broader more inclusive narrative.
Property Advertisements
Alexandria Gazette, May 18, 1833.
Alexandria Gazette, March 12, 1845.
“Elegant Country Residence For Sale,” 1869, Daniel vs. Shepherd, Fairfax County Term Papers 1869-201, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[1] Mitchell, Beth. “Virginia in 1760: An Interpretive Historical Map.” Map. Fairfax County, VA: Office of Comprehensive Planning, 1987; Sprouse, Edith Moore. Fairfax County in 1860: A Collective Biography. Fairfax, Va.: The Author, 1996. Accompanied by a set of plat maps of Fairfax County, revised 1981, with the 1860 land boundaries superimposed; Sweig, Donald. Slavery in Fairfax County, Virginia, 1750-1860: A research report. History and Archaeology Section, Fairfax County, VA: Office of Comprehensive Planning, 1983.
[2] Abbott, Richard H. “Yankee Farmers in Northern Virginia, 1840-1860.” Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 76, no. 1 (1968): 56–63; Hellman, Susan, and Maddy McCoy. “Soil Tilled by Free Men: The Formation of a Free Black Community in Fairfax County, Virginia.” Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 125, no. 1 (2017): 39–67.
[3] Deed of Purchase, 1845, Fairfax County Deed Book K3: 61, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center, Ann S. Newton, widow and heirs of Augustine Newton and Charles A. and Sarah Ann Newton to William H. Harvey, Written July 16, 1845, Recorded December 18, 1845. Original Articles of Agreement made between Augustine Newton and William H. Harvey on January 25, 1844.
[4] “Elegant Country Residence For Sale,” 1869, Daniel vs. Shepherd, Fairfax County Term Papers 1869-201, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[5] Land Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1844; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Land Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1845; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[8] Alexandria Gazette, March 12, 1845, page 3.
[9] Deed of Purchase, 1845, Fairfax County Deed Book K3: 61, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center, Ann S. Newton, widow and heirs of Augustine Newton and Charles A. and Sarah Ann Newton to William H. Harvey, Written July 16, 1845, Recorded December 18, 1845.
[10] Personal Property Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1845; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[11] Fairfax Circuit Court Slavery Index, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[12] Land Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1844-1847; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[13] Personal Property Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1845-1847; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[14] Deed of Purchase, 1849, Fairfax County Deed Book N3: 371, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center, William H. and Eliza M. Harvey to George B. Steele, Written December 20, 1848, Recorded February 22, 1849.
[15] 1850 U.S. Federal Census, District Not Stated, Fairfax County, Virginia.
[16] Land Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1848-1856; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[17] Land Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1850; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[18] Deed of Purchase, 1848, Harriet H. Poor and others to George B. Steele, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center, Recorded February 21, 1848.
[19] Camp, Shirley W. Past Times at Falls Church: the Change from Plantation to Village and Town 1729-1875, Detailing the Owners of Cherry Hill Farm, Falls Church, Virginia 1845-1875, and Its Origins in the Trammell Patent. Baltimore, MD: Gateway Press, 1997.
[20] Personal Property Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1848-1856; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[21] Fairfax Circuit Court Slavery Index, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[22] 1850 U.S. Federal Census, District Not Stated, Fairfax County, Virginia.
[23] Land Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1848-1857; Fairfax County Circuit Court Historical Records, Fairfax, VA.
[24] This appears to be an enumerator error. There are no recorded records that explain the loss and subsequent regain of acreage.
[25] Personal Property Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1848-1856; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[26] Deed of Purchase, 1856, Fairfax County Deed Book X3: 419, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center, George B. Steele to William A. Blaisdell, Written July 17, 1856, Recorded July 17, 1856. Two tracts of land: Tract 1 containing 66 acres 2 roods 3 poles; Tract 2 containing 6 acres 3 roods.
[27] Camp, Shirley W. Past Times at Falls Church: the Change from Plantation to Village and Town 1729-1875, Detailing the Owners of Cherry Hill Farm, Falls Church, Virginia 1845-1875, and Its Origins in the Trammell Patent. Baltimore, MD: Gateway Press, 1997, pages 219-220.
[28] Personal Property Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1830-1856; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[29] Conley, Brian A., Fractured Land: Fairfax County’s Role in the Vote for Secession, May 23, 1861, 2001.
[30] Steadman, Melvin Lee. Falls Church, by Fence and Fireside. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1995; Virginia Case Files, Southern Claims Commission, Records of the 3rd Auditor, Allowed Case Files, Records of the U.S. General Accounting Office, Record Group 123, NARA. The Reed family was active in educating local Black citizens. John Reed was involved in an integrated Home Guard that defended Falls Church.
[31] “Clover Family Records.” Falls Church, Va: Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm.
[32] Evening Star (Washington, DC), May 25, 1864.
[33] Deed of Purchase, 1866, Fairfax County Deed Book F4: 221, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center, William A. and Eirene M. Blaisdell to William D. Shepherd, Written December 5, 1864, Recorded January 2, 1866.
[34] “Elegant Country Residence For Sale,” 1869, Daniel vs. Shepherd, Fairfax County Term Papers 1869-201, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[35] 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
[36] “Elegant Country Residence For Sale,” 1869, Daniel vs. Shepherd, Fairfax County Term Papers 1869-201, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[37] Fairfax Circuit Court Slavery Index, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[38] Personal Property Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1858-1865; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[39] “Elegant Country Residence For Sale,” 1869, Daniel vs. Shepherd, Fairfax County Term Papers 1869-201, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[40] 1860 U.S. Federal Census, District Not Stated, Fairfax, Virginia. William Blaisdell (and several of his Falls Church neighbors) were seemingly missed by the census enumerator that year.
[41] Land Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1857-1858; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[42] Fairfax County Chancery Record 1869-201, Shepherd vs. Daniel, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[43] 1850 U.S. Federal Census, District Not Stated, Fairfax County, Virginia.
[44] Land Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1858-1865; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[45] Fairfax County Court Order Book 1863: page 72, May 17, 1864, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center. William A. Blaisdell was granted remission of taxes assessed for the year 1861.
[46] Fairfax County Court Order Book 1863: page 151, February 20, 1865, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center. William A. Blaisdell was granted remission of taxes assessed for the years 1862, 1863 and 1864.
[47] Personal Property Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1857-1865; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[48] Camp, Shirley W. Past Times at Falls Church: the Change from Plantation to Village and Town 1729-1875, Detailing the Owners of Cherry Hill Farm, Falls Church, Virginia 1845-1875, and Its Origins in the Trammell Patent. Baltimore, MD: Gateway Press, 1997.
[49] Deed of Purchase, 1866, Fairfax County Deed Book F4: 221, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center, William A. and Eirene M. Blaisdell to William D. Shepherd, Written December 5, 1864, Recorded January 2, 1866.
[50] Camp, Shirley W. Past Times at Falls Church: the Change from Plantation to Village and Town 1729-1875, Detailing the Owners of Cherry Hill Farm, Falls Church, Virginia 1845-1875, and Its Origins in the Trammell Patent. Baltimore, MD: Gateway Press, 1997, page 42; Fairfax County Court Order Book 1863: page 245, September 19, 1865, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center. William A. Blaisdell to oversee the election at Falls Church the second Thursday in October [1865]; Inventory, 1865, Fairfax County Will Book Z1: 363, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center, Inventory of John D. Reid [Reed]. Seth Osborne, Cyrus Osborne and William A. Blaisdell all appointed to value Reed’s estate.
[51] Deed of Trust, 1865, Fairfax County Deed Book F4: 180, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center, William and Sarah Ann Shepherd to William A. Blaisdell, Written December 5, 1864, Recorded December 13, 1865. Deed book marginalia identified as the deed of trust being satisfied on May 3, 1866.
[52] Fairfax County Chancery Record 1872-001, Shepherd, ETC vs. Riley, ETC, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center; Fairfax County Chancery Record 1872-034, Riley vs. Love, TRST, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[53] Land Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1867-1868; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[54] “Elegant Country Residence For Sale,” 1869, Daniel vs. Shepherd, Fairfax County Term Papers 1869-201, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[55] Daniel vs. Shepherd, Fairfax County Term Papers 1869-201, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[56] 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Falls Church Township, Fairfax County, Virginia; Steadman, Melvin Lee, Jr., Falls Church by Fence and Fireside identified a John Jackson, a Black man residing in a tenant house near to the store, that may have been the tenant house described as being located on the property in the 1869 unpublished advertisement. We can not confirm this information but did identify a John Jackson in Falls Church on the 1870 Federal Census.
[57] Land Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1866-1868; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[58] Personal Property Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1866; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[59] 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Falls Church Township, Fairfax County, Virginia.
[60] Wrenn, Tony P., and Henry H. Douglas. Cherry Hill Farm, Falls Church, Virginia. Falls Church, VA: Falls Church Historical Commission, 1977; Alexandria Gazette, May 18, 1833, page 3.
[61] Land Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1833-1844; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[62] Wrenn, Tony P., and Henry H. Douglas. Cherry Hill Farm, Falls Church, Virginia. Falls Church, VA: Falls Church Historical Commission, 1977; 1840 U.S. Federal Census, Fairfax County, Virginia.
[63] 1840 U.S. Federal Census, Fairfax County, Virginia; Personal Property Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1840; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center; Land Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1835-1842; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center; Fairfax County Chancery Record 1842-029, Donaldson vs. Mills, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[64] Personal Property Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1840; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[65] 1840 U.S. Federal Census, Fairfax County, Virginia.
[66] Ibid.
[67] Land Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1835-1842; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[68] Personal Property Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1840; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[69] Deed of Purchase, 1843, Fairfax County Deed Book H3: 150, Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center, Lawrence B. Taylor, of the first part; John Mills, of the second part and Augustine Newton, of the third part, Written January 29, 1853, Recorded March 21, 1843; Alexandria Gazette, March 12, 1845.
[70] Personal Property Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1842-1844; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[71] Land Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1843-1844; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.
[72] Personal Property Tax Records, Northern District of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1842-1844; Fairfax County, Virginia Historic Records Center.