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Thomas Towson (1779-1861)—was born near Baltimore, Maryland. A marble cutter and quarrier by trade, Towson was much involved in cutting and supplying sandstone, also called freestone, for the building of the city of Washington. During the early 1800s, Thomas split his time between Baltimore and Stafford. Around 1806 he married Eleanor Norman of Edge Hill,…

On March 20, 1847, the Washington and New Orleans Magnetic Telegraph Company incorporated and began construction of a telegraph line between those two cities. The previous year lines had been run from New York to Washington. The company’s intention was to build the line along the railroad, though in some areas, such as Stafford, that…

Slavery was part of the way of life for Stafford County. It is known that enslaved people worked on Brent’s Island (now known as Government Island) quarrying stone from 1694 to 1791. Sandstone, called Freestone or Aquia Stone, was used throughout Colonial America for architectural trim, making grave markers, and foundations. In December of 1791,…

Colonial Time In Europe, silk was a prized commodity during the seventeenth-century. France had a thriving industry and King Charles II of England wanted to have one in his own colonies. In the late 1630’s, experimentation with silkworm farming began in Virginia. It was encouraged by two Royal Governors, Sir William Berkeley and Edward Digges.…

Paved roads are a relatively recent convenience in Stafford County, the first one not having been constructed until 1921. From the early 1600s, Stafford’s rather unique geography impacted transportation. The county is bounded on the north by Chappawamsic Swamp, on the east by the Potomac River, and on the south by the Rappahannock River. Throughout…

Richard Cassius Lee Moncure (1805-1882)—was the son of John Moncure (1772-1822) of Clermont, Stafford County. He married Mary Butler Washington Conway (born 1807), the daughter of John Moncure Conway (1779-1864) and Catherine Storke Peyton (1786-1865). Richard bought Glencairne, a farm just north of the town of Falmouth. From 1827-1828 he represented Stafford in the Virginia…

1784-1860 Peter Vivian Daniel, an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court, was born at Crow’s Nest in Stafford County on April 24, 1784. His parents Travers Daniel and Frances Moncure Daniel were known for their hospitality and played an important role in public affairs. Travers Daniel’s grandfather, Raleigh Travers, was a member of…

John Taliaferro Brooke (1761-1821)—the son of Richard Brooke (died 1792) and grandson of Robert Brooke who accompanied Alexander Spotswood and the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe on their expedition west. During the American Revolution, John T. Brooke and his three brothers served in the Continental army. John practiced law in Fredericksburg and was a partner…

History: Gold was discovered in Virginia in 1782, a nugget being found on the Stafford side of the river a short distance downstream from the falls. Serious mining didn’t commence until around 1830 and continued until the outbreak of the Civil War. While mining at most sites ceased during the war, it may have continued…

Gen. Fitzhugh Lee (1835-1905)—was the son of Sidney Smith Lee (1802-1869) and nephew of Gen. Robert E. Lee. In 1861 Fitz Lee joined the Confederate cavalry as a lieutenant and fought at the First Battle of Manassas. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel later in 1861 and to brigadier general in 1862. At the close…

Duff Green (1792-1854)—was born in Culpeper and came to Stafford around 1810 and resided in what is now known as Gordon Green Terrace in Falmouth. Among other activities, he commanded the Falmouth militia company and, during the 1830s, was inspector of flour for the port of Falmouth. He was a director of the Farmers Bank…

Basil Gordon (1768-1847) was one of many Scottish merchants that settled in Virginia in the 18th century. Merchants by trade, Basil and his brother Samuel Gordon (1759-1843) came to Virginia in 1784 and maintained extensive mercantile stores in Falmouth. Samuel lived at what is now called Gordon Green Terrace in Falmouth and Basil lived in…