Abingdon Plantation, Arlington County, Virginia
Location: Arlington, Virginia, United States
Surnames/tags: Alexander Custis slavery
Contents |
Introduction
This complex piece of property, which is now the location of Reagan International Airport, was originally owned by Captain John Alexander sometime after he immigrated to Virginia from Scotland, around 1653. He settled in Stafford County and became a planter.
Capt John Alexander
Alexander obtained 'Howsons Patent 1669', 6-8000 acres on the southwestern side of the Potomac River, all the lands from "Great Falls of the Potomac to Great Hunting Creek." [1]This was land first granted by letters patent in 1669 to shipmaster Robert Howson for headrights (compensation) for settlers that he had brought to the Colony of Virginia. Howson immediately sold the patent to John Alexander for 6,000 pounds of tobacco.
After John Alexander's death in 1677, his son Robert inherited the land.
Garrard Alexander
In 1735 Garrard Alexander, John's grandson, inherited the northern part of the Howson patent. The town of Alexandria, named after John Alexander, was chartered in 1749 on a more southerly part of the patent.
In 1760, Abingdon plantation housed 24 slaves. [2] Garrard wrote his will in Aug 1760. He died on 16 Sep 1761 and per his will, left the house and adjoining 904 acres to his son Robert Alexander, Sr., along with another 863 acres of land and the following slaves: [3]
- to son Robert Alexander, Jr.
- to daughter Nancy:
- Peg and her increase, the daughter of a negro wench called Moll
- to daughter Mary Ann:
- a girl called Peg, daughter of Bess
- to wife Mary:
All the remaining slaves not specifically mentioned in the will were to be equally divided between his sons, Phillip, George and Garrard.
John Parke Custis
In 1778, John Parke Custis, the son of Daniel Parke Custis and Martha Washington, purchased Abingdon, and its now 900 acre estate, from Robert Alexander. Eventually, due to his death[4] before payment was fully made, the estate returned to Robert Alexander in 1792. George Washington Parke Custis inherited a tract of land from his father which was a more northerly tract separated from Abingdon by 900 acres. This eventually became Arlington House.
Taxes
Robert Alexander Sr. had personal property taxed in Fairfax Co, VA, most likely on Abingdon 1782[5]
- 8 slaves
1783 Robert Gilpin's Dist.[6]
- 3 slaves under age 16
1784[7]
- 4 slaves under age 16
1785 Charles Alexander's Dist.[8]
- 4 slaves over age 16
- 2 slaves under age 16
1786 in John Moss Dist.[9]
- 9 slaves over age 16
- 8 slaves under age 16
1787 John Moss Dist.[10]
- 10 slaves over age 16
- 8 slaves under age 16
1789[11]
- 4 slaves above age 16
1790[12]
- 2 slaves above age 16
- 1 slave above age 13
1791[13]
- 12 slaves above age 16
- 1 slave above age 12
1792[14]
- 9 slaves above age 16
1793 M. Moss Dist. Notes that Robert Alexander Sr. is dec'd by 7 May and Robert Jr. is listed[15]
- 11 slaves above age 16
- 3 slaves above age 12
Robert Alexander Sr. died in 1793.[16] Court appointed commissioners surveyed the estate and divided it.[17]
- Robert Alexander, Sr. had a slave named Stephen who was to be liberated at Robert's death for his faithful service.[16]
"...It is further my desire at the expiration of six years to be computed from this date (28 Jan 1793) that my slave Stephen shall be liberated as a compensation for his faithful services to me."
Robert Alexander Jr.
Robert Alexander Jr. was probably born between 1772- 1777. He was a minor when his father wrote his will. It is said that son Robert Alexander Jr. died in 1798.
Estate
Robert Alexander Jr. was to be given 1/2 the portion of the John Custis property. And if his mother is agreeable, he was to have the portion with the house on it.[16] If he died without heirs his brother Walter Alexander was to receive all of the inherited properties.
Taxes
1793 M. Moss Dist. Notes that Robert Alexander Sr. is dec'd by 7 May and Robert Jr. is listed as well.[15]
- 11 slaves above age 16
- 3 slaves above age 12
1795[18]
- 9 blacks above age 16
- 1 black above age 12
1796[19]
- 10 blacks above age 16
- 1 black above age 12
1797 in George Minor's Dist.[20]
- 8 blacks above age 16
- 1 blacks above age 12.
1798 George Minor's dist.[21]
- 9 blacks above age 16
- blacks above age 12
1799 Robert Alexander Jr. is on the tax list (although probably deceased by this time), again in George Minor's district.[22]
- 7 blacks above age 16
- 1 black above age 12
1800, Robert Alexander Jr.'s personal property is again seen on the tax list in George Minor's district. There is a mark by his name which may indicate he is deceased by this time.[23]
- 9 blacks above age 16
- 2 blacks above age 12
By 1801 Robert Alexander Jr.'s property is no longer seen on the Fairfax county personal property tax list. When Robert Jr. died (1798?) his brother Walter Alexander was to receive all that was given Robert Jr. by their father.
Walter Alexander
In 1800, Walter owned the southern half of the estate (545 acres) on which the Abingdon house stood. Walter owed money to Andrew Schofield and Company. With his wife's permission he put the land up against what he owed.[24]
Walter is listed in the 1810 census for Charles, Maryland as owning 15 slaves. In 1820, he is in Alexandria, Virginia owning 7 slaves. In 1830 and 1840 he owns 2 slaves. It is probable that these were not on Abingdon.
Johnson to Withers
It is unclear who sold the property in 1808 to Reuben Johnson for $4000.
In 1829, Johnson conveyed the property to John Withers. Withers held the property until 1835 when it was sold to General Alexander Hunter.
George Wise
Between 1808 to 1835 the property was leased to George Wise. The Wise family lived at Abingdon until General Alexander Hunter took it over.
The above information is from this research paper on Abingdon Plantation: https://arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/1999-5-Abingdon.pdf
Alexander Hunter
Alexander Hunter owned Abingdon at the time he died. His will directs Abington Plantation to go to his brother Bushrod W. Hunter, until Bushrod's son Alexander attains the age of 21. If Alexander does not live to the age of 21 the Abingdon plantation and all its contents shall become the property of Bushrod Hunter forever.[25]
Slaves
See: Slaves of Alexander Hunter, Virginia for list of enslaved people he owned at Abingdon.
Sources
- ↑ Wesley E. Pippenger. John Alexander, A Northern Neck Proprietor, His Family, Friends and Kin 1990, Gateway Press, Baltimore County, Maryland. Cited by Mike Marshall.
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abingdon_(plantation)
- ↑ Probate:"Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900"
Will Books, 1742-1866; General Index to Wills, 1742-1951; Author: Virginia. County Court (Fairfax County); Probate Place: Fairfax, Virginia
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62347 #123786 (accessed 24 January 2022)
Garrard Alexander probate on 9 Aug 1760. - ↑ Deed books (Fairfax County, Virginia), 1742-1866:"Deed books (Fairfax County, Virginia), 1742-1866"
Catalog: Deed books (Fairfax County, Virginia), 1742-1866 Deed books v. S1-U1 1789-1793
Film number: 008190156 > image 723 of 861
FamilySearch Image (accessed 13 February 2022) - ↑ Unclassified:Film number: 007862492 > image 238 of 701
FamilySearch Image (accessed 14 February 2022)1782 personal property taxes - ↑ Unclassified:Film number: 007862492 > image 261 of 701
FamilySearch Image (accessed 14 February 2022)*1783 personal property taxes - ↑ Unclassified:Film number: 007862492 > image 283 of 701
FamilySearch Image (accessed 14 February 2022)*1784 personal property tax - ↑ Unclassified:Film number: 007862492 > image 290 of 701
FamilySearch Image (accessed 14 February 2022)*1785 personal property tax - ↑ Unclassified:Film number: 007862492 > image 320 of 701
FamilySearch Image (accessed 14 February 2022)*1786 - ↑ Unclassified:Film number: 007862492 > image 328 of 701
FamilySearch Image (accessed 14 February 2022)*1787 personal property tax - ↑ Unclassified:Film number: 007862492 > image 445 of 701
FamilySearch Image (accessed 14 February 2022)*1789 personal property tax - ↑ Unclassified:Film number: 007862492 > image 465 of 701
FamilySearch Image (accessed 14 February 2022)*1790 personal property tax - ↑
Unclassified:
Film number: 007862492 > image 526 of 701
FamilySearch Image (accessed 14 February 2022)- 1791 personal property tas
- ↑
Unclassified:
Film number: 007862492 > image 545 of 701
FamilySearch Image (accessed 14 February 2022)- 1792 personal property tax
- ↑ 15.0 15.1
Unclassified:
Film number: 007862492 > image 604 of 701
FamilySearch Image (accessed 14 February 2022)- 1793 personal property tax
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2
Will books, 1742-1866; general index to wills, 1742-1951:
"Will books, 1742-1866; general index to wills, 1742-1951"
Catalog: Will books, 1742-1866; general index to wills, 1742-1951 Will books, v. D1-F1 1776-1794
Film number: 007675994 > image 626 of 691
FamilySearch Image (accessed 13 February 2022)- will of Robert Alexander 1793, proven 18 Feb 17923
- ↑
Unclassified:
Film number: 008141174 > image 288 of 350
FamilySearch Image (accessed 13 February 2022)- 21 Jun 1796 Land survey, area of Lots No. 1
- ↑
Unclassified:
Film number: 007862492 > image 686 of 701
FamilySearch Image (accessed 14 February 2022)- 1795 personal property tax
- ↑
Unclassified:
Film number: 007862493 > image 6 of 656
FamilySearch Image (accessed 14 February 2022)- 1796 personal property tax
- ↑
Unclassified:
Film number: 007862493 > image 67 of 656
FamilySearch Image (accessed 13 February 2022)- 1797 personal property tax
- ↑
Unclassified:
Film number: 007862493 > image 109 of 656
FamilySearch Image (accessed 13 February 2022)- 1798 personal property tax Fairfax VA
- ↑
Unclassified:
Film number: 007862493 > image 137 of 656
FamilySearch Image (accessed 13 February 2022)- 1799 personal property tax
- ↑
Unclassified:
Film number: 007862493 > image 182 of 656
FamilySearch Image (accessed 13 February 2022)- 1800 personal property tax, George Minor Dist, Farifax Co, VA
- ↑
Deed books (Fairfax County, Virginia), 1742-1866:
"Deed books (Fairfax County, Virginia), 1742-1866"
Catalog: Deed books (Fairfax County, Virginia), 1742-1866
Film number: 007894514 > image 66 of 706
FamilySearch Image (accessed 14 February 2022) - ↑
Will books, 1800-1878; index to wills, 1800-1951:
"Will books, 1800-1878; index to wills, 1800-1951"
Catalog: Will books, 1800-1878; index to wills, 1800-1951 Will books, v. 4-6 1831-1855
Film number: 007643942 > image 318 of 684
FamilySearch Image (accessed 14 February 2022)- 1849, will of Alexander Hunter written 17 Apr 1847, proved 2 Feb 1849.
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Gina (Pocock) Jarvi