With three journeys in mind to explore ruins of the 18th century: the Lee family ruins, the Fairfax family ruins, and the Custis family ruins, I was intrigued by how they all intertwined.
Beginning at the southernmost point, we arrived at Leesylvania State Park, Robert E. Lee’s ancestral home.
LEE FAMILY TREE
According to a nearby historical marker, the Lee family history began in Virginia in 1675 when Richard Lee II married Laetitia Corbin.
According to a family tree in the museum, it appears that their son Henry Lee married Mary Bland and established Lee Hall in Westmoreland County, where his son Henry Lee II was born.
After graduating from the College of William and Mary with a degree in law, he married Lucy Grymes, a relation of George Washington.
HENRY LEE II ESTABLISHES LEESYLVANIA
It was they who named the woods, Leesylvania. (Latin, sylvania=woods).
In 1750, Henry Lee II chose this high spot overlooking the Potomac for their home.
It is thought that their home was similar to nearby Rippon Lodge, which I hope to soon visit.
George Washington’s diary recounts numerous visits to the Lee home, 14 miles south of Mount Vernon.
In 1754, he settled Leesylvania, which likely looked like the header photo.
HENRY LEE III – LIGHT HORSE HARRY LEE
It was here that Henry Lee III aka Light Horse Harry Lee, was born in 1756.
In the American Revolution Henry Lee III was a calvary commander of light dragoons.
Because of his swift and daring attacks against the British, Henry Lee III was dubbed Light Horse Harry Lee.
The engraving, above, depicts Light Horse Harry Lee at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina, March 1781.
Lee designed the regimental that he and his men wore, which looks much like those of the British cavalry, which could prove dangerous.
His political service included the General Assembly and as governor.
When George Washington passed away, Henry Lee III eulogized: First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.
In 1793, the widowed Henry Lee III married Anne Hill Carter Lee, of Shirley Plantation, which we visited a few years ago.
She was also a descendant of Robert “King” Carter.
At their home of Stratford Hall in 1807, Robert E. Lee was born.
LEESYLVANIA DESTROYED BY FIRE
After the death of Henry Lee II in 1787, this home burned down.
In the 1950’s, a road was cut through here, further damaging the area.
Today only a bit of the foundation can be seen in all the growth.
LEE FAMILY CEMETERY
Henry Lee II is buried here, in the family cemetery.
Died on the 15th Instant, at the seat of Mr. Richard Bland Lee in Loudon County (Sully Plantation), Hon. Henry Lee, Senator for the District of Fairfax and Prince William, in the fifty-eighth year of his age, thirty of which have been assiduously devoted to the service of his Country. (Obituary from The Virginia Journal and the Alexandria Advertiser)
Henry Lee II’s public service included: burgess for Prince William County 1758–1775, Virginia Conventions of 1774, 1775, and 1776, and state senator from 1776-1787.
CIVIL WAR CONFEDERATE DEFENSE
Ending our hike we ascended a rise of land where we found cannons overlooking the Potomac River, surrounded by old Civil War era earthworks.
Interestingly, Confederate General Robert E. Lee ordered these artillery positions on the grounds of his ancestral home, since the river meandered from Washington DC.
A glimpse through the trees brought more views of the river and more interesting looking places beckoning us for a future visit…
LEESYLVANIA NEIGHBORS
After completing the trail we visited the museum at the visitor center.
Wow! I find these maps so helpful in planning time travel trips to historical sites and ruins!All of the other places are now on my “to visit” list!
Although I’ve been to many of these locations, I see new ideas for our “go to visit” list.
19th CENTURY OWNERS OF LEESYLVANIA
In 1825, Captain Henry Fairfax, bought his land from the Lee family.
Captain Henry Fairfax was not related to the Fairfax family that George Washington famously knew.
That Fairfax family returned to England before the American Revolution.
My favorite part of their story is that their son, John Fairfax, purchased Oak Hill (pictured below) from President James Monroe’s heirs in 1852.
Living at Oak Hill until after the Civil War, John Fairfax returned to his boyhood home of Leesylvania.
Since most of the dorms at Patrick Henry College are named after the homes of US presidents from Virginia, we researched the history behind my son’s dorm, Oak Hill.
I learned it was the last home of President Monroe, and we drove by it all the time to and from Patrick Henry College and our home.
