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Charles Adams Bryan (1849-1918) was the son of Richard Hughlett Bryan (1821-1906) and Eliza Jennings Cropper (1823-1891) who were originally from Cecil County, Maryand.  The Bryan family came to Stafford around 1858 and settled first at Richards’ Hill (Ingleside) near Falmouth.  They were Unionists and left Stafford during the War Between the States and lost much of…

William Tell Coates (born 1873) was from Washington, DC, but in 1903 purchased a tract of land located between Hope Road (Route 687) and Aquia Creek.  There was a landing here than became known as Tell Coates’ Landing and during the early twentieth century, a considerable amount of timber, cordwood, and railroad ties were shipped…

Taylor Chapman (c.1712-1750) was the son of Jonathan Chapman (died before 1749) and Jane Taylor and the grandson of Nathaniel Chapman (1709-1760) who had been manager of Accokeek Iron Works in Stafford.  Nathaniel owned land in Charles County, Maryland as well as in Stafford, Fauquier, and Fairfax Counties.  Nathaniel’s home plantation in Maryland was directly…

Lemuel Chadwell (c.1800-after 1850) was involved in a number of ventures in Stafford.  In 1830 he paid taxes on 30 enslaved people and 1 horse and seems to have had either business dealings or family connections with the Waller family of Clifton in Widewater.  He may have been involved in freestone quarrying or fishing.  Exactly…

Jeremiah Carter’s (c.1810-186_) parentage isn’t known with certainty.  He may have been the son of Jeremiah Carter (c.1784-after 1828) of Stafford and was likely descended from Capt. Thomas Carter (c.1630-1700) of Lancaster County.  Jeremiah was a merchant and kept stores in the village of Aquia, at Stafford Courthouse, and in Fredericksburg.  In 1835 he was living…

James Carter (1697-1743) lived at Palace Green just to the north of Aquia Harbour subdivision.  James was the son of Thomas Carter (1632-1700) and Katherine Dale (1652-1703) of Lancaster County, Virginia.  Researchers believe there may have been a kinship between Thomas Carter and Robert “King” Carter (1663-1732) of Lancaster, though this has yet to be proved.  James…

Charles Carter (1738-1796) was known as “Charles Carter of Ludlow,” which was the name of his plantation in Stafford County.  He was the son of Charles Carter (1707-1764) of Stanstead and Cleve and Mary Walker (died 1742).  He was also the grandson of Robert “King” Carter (1663-1732) of Lancaster County.  Around 1755 the younger Charles…

Capt. George Burroughs (c.1750-c.1827) served as a vestryman for Aquia Church in 1785, 1816, and possibly other years, as well.  He was commissioner of the revenue for Stafford from at least 1797-1805 and operated a store in the village of Aquia from at least 1804-1806.  He and other members of his immediate family seem to…

Harry Selah Brown (c.1884-1967) was a native of New York City.  In 1909 he opened one of Fredericksburg’s first movie theaters.  An accomplished musician, he played the piano while the silent movies were being shown.  In 1927 he founded Brown’s Motel, one of the early motels and tourist camps that were built after U. S.…

Dixon Brown (dates unknown) was the son of John Brown and employed himself as a blacksmith and wheelwright in Stafford.  In 1814 he rented James Horton’s “old plantation” in the northern part of Stafford.  In 1809 the Stafford court granted Dixon a license to keep a house of “private entertainment” (legal gambling) and in 1833…

Daniel Carroll Brent (1759-1815) was the son of William Brent (1733-1782) and Eleanor Carroll (1733-1804).  He was born and resided at Richland in the Widewater area of Stafford.  In 1782 he married Anne Fenton Lee (1754-1803), the daughter of Thomas Ludwell Lee (1730-1778) and Mary Aylett (c.1738-after 1806) of Bell View and Berry Hill, Stafford…

Thornton Weldon Berrey (1868-1906) was born in Madison County, Virginia and graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in law.  He married Caroline Stewart Bryan (1875-1962), the daughter of Stafford’s Clerk of Court Charles Adams Bryan.  T. Weldon Berrey practiced law in Stafford and, for the last three years of his life, operated…