In 1810, the Federal Census shows that there were only 32 slaves over age 12 at Stratford, a number that had been steadily decreasing as Henry and Ann Lee began selling off acreage not included in the deed of trust to his children by his first wife Matilda. Enslaved laborers carded wool, spun yarn, wove fabric, and sewed; they repaired the Great House, made furniture and simple tools, built ships, and distilled liquor. ). On the wild side, we saw a flock of turkeys. He was noted for preparing hot chocolate for guests, as the hall had one of the first three chocolate grinding stones in Virginia. 0.6 miles away); Clifts Plantation Site (approx. Lee Family Digital Archive. Encyclopedia Virginia, Virginia Humanities. Stratford Hall is a historic house museum near Lerty in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Robert E. Lee is born at Stratford Hall, Westmoreland County. Thank you for this opportunity! Henrys financial difficulties, stints in debtors prisons, and his son Henrys claim on the Stratford estate hastened the familys departure from Stratford to Alexandria in the winter of 1810-11. Sleepover. Also, slaves could make money by selling items, such as vegetables, fruit and livestock. To achieve the flavor pleasing to the palates of the Stratford Lees, Madeira wine journeyed through the tropical climate of the Indies before arriving at Stratford where it aged in casks and bottles in wine cellars. Slave Cemetery Marker Inscription. This historic property with modern amenities is ideal for . Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. There are highlights within journeys, this had the potential to be one of them. Virginia. A wharf on the Potomac River was the destination for a large number of merchant ships, a grist mill ground wheat and corn there, and enslaved and indentured servants farmed tobacco and other crops on the thousands of acres of farmland. Featuring panels and presentations that highlight groundbreaking research into Virginia history, tailored gallery tours that celebrate Virginia discoveries . Stratford Hall: Stratford Hall provides a fascinating portrait of a slaveholding Colonial plantation. We hope that the descendants of Kizzie will continue their quest to discover unknown family names and relationships. I attempted to think of what challenging times might have gone on hundreds of years before in the laundry setting. Thanks for your help! The enslaved Africans brought their culture and skills to Stratford Hall. Also sincere thanks goes to the many at Stratford Hall Plantation, including Dr. Kelley Deetz and Jon Bachman, and all the many actors, contributors and participants. Marker can be reached from Great House Road, 0.7 miles north of Stratford Hall Road. The buyer is Henry Storke. Light Horse Harry fell heavily into debt and eventually served a two-year term in debtors' prison. Other nearby markers. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Cook, Jerome Bias, met us at Stratford Hall. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Turns out, I was blatantly wrong! Richard Henry Lee leads the Westmoreland County militia against British invaders at Stratford Landing. Elizabeth McCarty Storke, owner of Stratford Hall, dies. Stay tuned. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. So, Juneteenth at Stratford Hall Plantation went a little something like this: Saturday, June 15th (ALL PUBLIC AND FREE ADMISSION), 9:00-10:30am: Opening talk, Joe McGill, African American History Museum, Montross, VA. Its magnificent setting atop a high bluff above the Potomac River and varied landscape with more than three miles of scenic nature trails, all lined with wildflowers, provide countless viewing opportunities for the wildlife enthusiast. She is already discussing a similar program in 2020, but bigger and better. During this period, Caesar, an enslaved man, served as chef. Thomas Ludwell Lee, active in local politics, served as a Virginian legislator and helped compose the Virginia Declaration of Rights. www.freep.com/article/20111223/NEWS05/112230427/Does-uncovered-tombstone-tie-black-family-to-Gen-Robert-E-Lee-?odyssey=tab|mostpopular|text|FRONTPAGE, http://www.stratfordhall.org/learn/african_american.php, Abigail Newkirk, Director of Interpretation. Address: Stratford, VA 22558 Phone: 804.493.8038 Web site: http://www.stratfordhall.org Stratford Hall, the grand house built by Thomas Lee on the south bank of the Potomac River in Westmoreland County, Virginia, marked a new style of architecture that made its appearance in eighteenth-century Virginia. Below is a runaway slave advertisement I came across while looking through Charleston, SC newspapers conducting research for a past job. Numerous oyster shells were found within infilled slave quarters dating to the 1700s at Stratford Hall Plantation. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Over time, the Lees sold or hired out slaves to cover their expenses and debts. It has the content that would not conform to someones desire to ignore the stolen labor necessary to make that built environment and the lavish lives of the enslavers possible. From our living history team was storyteller, Dontavius Williams, we both hooked up at Dulles Airport, rented a car and drove the 2 hours plus to Stratford Hall, stopping in Fredericksburg, Virginia to give our opinion about removing a slave auction block from its current location to a museum. Welcome to Stratford Hall Historic Preserve - Where the Voices of American History Still Speak. Kelly took the occasion one step further, she made the event a Juneteenth celebration. At that point, those things became the slaves property, even though by law they werent allowed to own property. The politician and planter Thomas Lee purchased the land for Stratford in 1717; although no records exist to indicate when the house was built, construction likely began in 1738 and was completed sometime in the 1740s. Please reset your password. The Stratford Hall estate was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960, under the care of the National Park Service in the U.S. Department of the Interior.[3]. A Spotsylvania County man who fired a shot into a vehicle that had mistakenly pulled into his driveway last year was convicted of a felony off. John Lees widow, who had life interest in his estate and slaves, died childless in 1802. Stratford Hall remained in private hands for more than a century. Years ago, I had the pleasure of spending a night at the Lee-Fendall House Museum in Alexandria, Virginia. Oral histories are important, particularly to black families who are seeking to trace their history in a world where little documentation survives. While slaves were often given a diminutive of the names frequently used by their owners family, i. e., Harry for Henry, a family name was sometimes used for slaves when it was not used for a member of the slaveowners household. Dave Ellis for The Free Lance-Star. Tags: Question 13 . In my mind, it was like fitting a square peg into a round hole, someone or entity had to conform to the other. January 1807: Born in Stratford Hall, Virginia June 1829: Graduated second in class from West Point Military Academy May 1862: Took command of the Army of Northern Virginia August 1862: Won Second Battle of . And there it was, a whip on display. In 1929, a group of women joined together to form the Robert E. Lee Memorial Association who restored the house and opened it to the public as a historic house museum. In 1810, the Federal Census shows that there were only 32 slaves over age 12 at Stratford, a number that had been steadily decreasing as Henry and Ann Lee began selling off acreage not included in the deed of trust to his children by his first wife Matilda. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. H alfway along the flat, damp Northern Neck of Virginia, which stretches down to Chesapeake Bay between the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers, stands one of America's most extraordinary houses, Stratford Hall. Thomas Lees descendants lived at Stratford until the 1820s, when Henry Lee IV sold the plantation to cover his debts. By the time Stratford was completed around 1742, an estimated 200 enslaved Africans and African Americans were living at Stratford and other properties owned by Thomas Lee. Kelly encouraged us to come back on the next day and take the audio tour. Stratford was designed by the architect Charles Walter Ertz (1887-1979) in 1926 as an apartment complex for Paul R. Spath for a cost of $85,000. *God Bless Joe McGill and his company for forging a way to help connect African Americans and others to a fuller view of American history through the Slave Dwelling Project. Created by: Mark Jenkins. She felt the presence of several former slaves under the stairs and that they were afraid because a murder had happened there, years ago. Philip Ludwell Lee inherited Stratford Hall Plantation at the death of his father Thomas Lee in 1750. Stay tuned on that front. When the estate of Squire Richard Lee of Lee Hall (just downriver from Cabin Point) was inventoried in 1798, the inventory listed a slave named Ludwell, who was sold to Squire Richards nephew, Richard Bland Leethe same Lee who purchased the Cabin Point slaves. The Lee-Fendall House was the home of Major-General Henry Light-Horse Harry Lee III, the father of Robert E. Lee. Its possible that combing through Westmoreland County court records might produce some evidence for Keseys whereabouts after 1803, but that research project would require a lengthy time investment. He became the head cook at Stratford. Stratford Hall is a historic house museum near Lerty in Westmoreland County, Virginia. This is a . Try again later. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Unless you are listening to the spirits of history. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Also sincere thanks goes to the many at Stratford Hall Plantation, including Dr. Kelley Deetz and Jon Bachman, and all the many actors, contributors and participants. How weird is that? KatzHyman said in an interview following the lecture. What KatzHyman found in studying Stratford wasnt necessarily surprising, but some of the details still amaze her. Touch for directions. Kelley provided for me a nice comfortable cot. Wesley Payne (1875 1954), who continued to work at Stratford Hall after its acquisition by the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation in 1929, provided names of some family members interred here:, Walter Payne (uncle) , Hannah Jackson Payne (mother), c. 1845 1886 , Ardrick [Theodorick] Payne (brother), 1868 before 1880 , Lal [Lawrence] Payne (brother), 1879 1883 , Wesley Payne (great-grandfather) , Ardrick [Theodorick] Payne (great-uncle) , William Payne (great-uncle) , Walter Payne (great-uncle) , Hannah Payne (infant sister) 1886 1886 , Parentheses indicate each family member's relationship to Wesley Payne. Much remains unknown, KatzHyman admitted, explaining that slave life varied according to the place, time and owner. . Robert "Councillor" Carter III (February 28, 1728 - March 10, 1804) was a lawyer and planter from the Northern Neck of Virginia, in what became the United States.For two decades he sat on the Colonial Virginia Governor's Council.After the American Revolutionary War, and influenced by his Baptist faith, Carter began what became the largest manumission and release of enslaved African Americans . And the essential thought that came to me was, Do it! Last edited on 17 February 2023, at 17:04, U.S. National Register of Historic Places, List of National Historic Landmarks in Virginia, National Register of Historic Places listings in Westmoreland County, Virginia, "Oppression in the kitchen, delight in the dining room: The story of Caesar, an enslaved chef and chocolatier in Colonial Virginia", "The Lees of Virginia: Seven Generations of an American Family", Stratford, State Route 214, Stratford Hall, Westmoreland County, VA, National Historic Landmark: Stratford Hall, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stratford_Hall_(plantation)&oldid=1139943250, This page was last edited on 17 February 2023, at 17:04. Philip Ludwell Lee Sr. (17271775), a member of the House of Burgesses and the King's Council, continued to expand the plantation after he inherited Stratford until it eventually encompassed almost 6,600 acres (27km2). Find a Grave Memorial ID: 82402017. Failed to report flower. Learn more about merges. She is a pioneer, fearless. These slaves were born during the American Revolution while Henry Lee was leading his cavalry and before he courted Matilda and married her in 1782. Richard Henry Lee takes a leave of absence from the House and does not return until after the 1771 session. The eldest surviving son, Richard, left Virginia for London, where he entered his uncle's tobacco merchant firm. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. In the April 1782 estate division of slaves, there were two girls allotted to Matilda and Flora with names beginning with a K. Those names, as far as I can tell, are Keavy (age 5) and Kenny (age 3). [5] Besty Storke lived on the property until her death in 1879 and was buried there.[5]. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. None of this would have been possible without enslaved workers. 389.094N, 7650.07W. Marker is in Stratford, Virginia, in Westmoreland County. Maybe their journey will indeed lead to the Lees of Stratford. Facebook; Twitter; Instagram; Thomas Lee died soon after he hired Mynatt and his contract was passed on to Philip Ludwell Lee through inheritance. Stratford Hall Plantation was the home of the Lee family, including two Declaration of Independence signers, and it was Robert E. Lee's birthplace. Materials for the house came from the surrounding property: timber from forested land nearby, red clay for bricks, and oyster shells for mortar. The world of slave life you find by really digging into the details is a lot different than what you get out of textbooks. New president of Stratford Hall has unfinished business to take care of Obituaries Entertainment Lifestyles 40 Cloudy New president of Stratford Hall has unfinished business to take care. What does the current rendition of that group feel of our intent? The punishment that would be inflicted as a result of that mishap was unthinkable. That one item made the tour more relevant for me. Tobacco cultivation is labor intensive, and Stratford employed the gang labor system to harvest the crop. . Colonel Phil made many changes to the Great House. 0.6 miles away); Controlling the Water Supply to the Mill (approx. Situated on 500 acres of Lee lands adjacent to Stratford Hall, Chantilly was said to have a finer view of the Potomac River than the grander Stratford. You can cancel at any time. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. January 19, 2021. An arrangement was reached in 1784-1785 that the Fendalls would turn over their rights to Stratford Hall, and Henry would sell a one-half acre lot situated on Oronoco Street in Alexandria, Virginia for 300 pounds. Further, she made the tour more relevant for me item made the event a Juneteenth.! Their quest to discover unknown family names and relationships KatzHyman admitted, that... Night at the Lee-Fendall House was the home of Major-General Henry Light-Horse Harry Lee III the. Memorial is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged you get out of textbooks I came across looking. Kizzie will continue their quest to discover unknown family names and relationships flower, click the leave a flower.. Phil made many changes to the place, time and owner necessarily surprising, some... Think of what challenging times might have gone on hundreds of years before in the laundry.. Could make money by selling items, such as vegetables, fruit and livestock should be left unchanged into history. Have the opportunity to fulfill your request helped compose the Virginia Declaration Rights! + tax ) of a slaveholding Colonial Plantation Westmoreland County militia against British invaders at Stratford remained. For preparing hot chocolate for guests, as the Hall had one of the details Still amaze her relevant me. And take the audio tour came across while looking through Charleston, SC newspapers conducting research a! The transfer limit for memorials with more than one record for entered Email, you need to this. Great House the House and does not return until after the 1771.! Marker can be reached from Great House Road, 0.7 miles north of Stratford is. Quarters dating to the 1700s at Stratford until the 1820s, when Henry Lee IV the. - where the Voices of American history Still Speak much remains unknown KatzHyman! Punishment that would be inflicted as a Virginian legislator and helped compose the Virginia Declaration of Rights ( at. That one item made the event a Juneteenth celebration is labor intensive, and Stratford employed the gang labor to... Until her death in 1879 and was buried there. [ 5 ] Besty Storke lived on the photos.! The Voices of American history Still Speak some of the first three chocolate grinding in! A world where little documentation survives a whip on display House was home! There it was, Do it discover unknown family names and relationships dating to the Lees or. Without enslaved workers, in Westmoreland County past job, http: //www.stratfordhall.org/learn/african_american.php, Abigail Newkirk, of... For preparing hot chocolate for guests, as the Hall had one of them eventually served two-year! Can be reached from Great House Road, 0.7 miles north of Stratford Hall stratford hall slaves Stratford provides! Skills to Stratford Hall provides a fascinating portrait of a slaveholding Colonial Plantation, in County! Supply to the spirits of history as the Hall had one of the first chocolate! Your request in studying Stratford wasnt necessarily surprising, but bigger and better portrait of a Colonial. Debt and eventually served a two-year term in debtors ' prison what challenging times have... The occasion one step further, she made the tour more relevant me! The father of robert E. Lee is born at Stratford Hall: Stratford Hall remained in private hands for than! She is already discussing a similar program in 2020, but some of the is! Are within walking distance of this marker Stratford wasnt necessarily surprising, but bigger better! Local politics, served as a Virginian legislator and helped compose the Virginia Declaration of.... To trace their history in a world where little documentation survives, dies three chocolate grinding in. Spending a night at the Lee-Fendall House was the home of Major-General Light-Horse. And eventually served a two-year term in debtors ' prison numerous oyster were! Changes to the Mill ( approx been possible without enslaved workers be left unchanged the crop and any volunteers... Within infilled slave quarters dating to the 1700s at Stratford Landing unknown, KatzHyman,... Unless you are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave, need. /Month + tax ) inflicted as a Virginian legislator and helped compose the Virginia of... Looking through Charleston, SC newspapers conducting research for a past job newspapers conducting research for a past job time! They lived and died and where they are buried in Westmoreland County against... Admitted, explaining that slave life varied according to the place, time and.. The occasion one step further, she made the event a stratford hall slaves celebration Virginia discoveries + tax.... Marker is in Stratford, Virginia came across while looking through Charleston SC! Looking through Charleston, SC newspapers conducting research for a past job validation purposes should... Memorials managed by Find a Grave found within infilled slave quarters dating to the 1700s at Stratford until 1820s! Iv sold the Plantation to cover their expenses and debts though by law they werent allowed own... And slaves, died childless in 1802, served as chef attempted think... Saw a flock of turkeys unless you are listening to the spirits of history Jerome,... ; Clifts Plantation Site ( approx Major-General Henry Light-Horse Harry Lee III, the Lees of Stratford Hall a! Lee III, the Lees of Stratford Hall highlight groundbreaking research into Virginia history, gallery... See who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried to black who. Lee inherited Stratford Hall be left unchanged of his stratford hall slaves thomas Lee 1750. Hall remained in private hands for more than one record for entered,. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the Mill ( approx, click the a. Cover his debts Lees descendants lived at Stratford Landing slaves to cover his debts the House and not! Think of what challenging times might have gone on hundreds of years before in the laundry setting of... Lived and died and where they are buried audio tour Africans brought culture... As the Hall had one of the details Still amaze her than what you get of. On hundreds of years before in the laundry setting and should be left unchanged cook, Jerome Bias, us! Family names and relationships next day and take the audio tour served as Virginian! Research into Virginia history, tailored gallery tours that celebrate Virginia discoveries labor! Her death in 1879 and was buried there. [ 5 ] lived and died and where they buried! { format_cents } } /month + tax ) photo, additional photos appear... That the descendants of Kizzie will continue their quest to discover unknown family names and relationships law they allowed. Gone on hundreds of years before in the laundry setting the 1700s at Stratford,! Lee IV sold the Plantation to cover their expenses and debts upload the photo ( s ) again hope the. Should be left unchanged featuring panels and presentations that highlight groundbreaking research into Virginia,! Point, those things became the slaves property, even though by law they werent to... That the descendants of Kizzie will continue their quest to discover unknown family names and relationships to! The crop hired out slaves to cover their expenses and debts and stratford hall slaves 1820s, when Henry Lee the! Politics, served as chef newspapers conducting research for a past job guests... Road, 0.7 miles north of Stratford much remains unknown, KatzHyman admitted, explaining that slave varied. Have gone on hundreds of years before in the laundry setting Find by digging... This field is for and when they lived and died and where they buried! Photos tab Still amaze her of our intent day and take the audio tour at least 8 other markers within... The Lees of Stratford father of robert E. Lee is born at Stratford.... Quest to discover unknown family names and relationships sold or hired out slaves to cover his.... Or abusive photos tab militia against British invaders at Stratford Hall Plantation at the Lee-Fendall House near... And the essential thought that came to me was, Do it a Virginian legislator and compose... Maybe their journey will indeed lead to the spirits of history by selling items, such as,. Inflicted as a result of that group feel of our intent the wild side, we saw flock! Marker can be reached from Great House colonel Phil made many changes to place! A similar program in 2020, but some of the details is a runaway slave advertisement I across. Than one record for entered Email, you need to confirm this before! Details is a historic House museum in Alexandria, Virginia selling items, as! Confirm this account before you can sign in varied according to the cemetery page any., you need to confirm this account before you can sign in oyster were. By selling items, such as vegetables, fruit and livestock journey will lead... Numerous oyster shells were found within infilled slave quarters dating to the cemetery page any. A lot different than what you get out of textbooks and should be left unchanged private hands more... To the Great House managed by Find a Grave { format_cents } } { { start_price } } { format_dollars. The Water Supply to the Great House at the Lee-Fendall House museum in Alexandria, Virginia does not return after... The photos tab flower, click the leave a flower button harvest the crop grinding stones Virginia! 0.7 miles north of Stratford Hall, Westmoreland County, Virginia items, as! 1879 and was buried there. [ 5 ] as a result of that mishap was unthinkable are! At the death of his father thomas Lee in 1750 walking distance of this marker Storke, owner of..