Our History

Following are miscellaneous historical tidbits of the local area as excerpted from the John Harrower Journal and transcribed by Sue Gordon for a WPA report in 1937.

Martha and George Washington

Col Dangerfield and his wife entertained very lavishly.  Mr. Harrower mentions a dinner party given to General and Mrs. Washington, John Parke Custis and his wife, Eleanor Calvert, Mrs. Alexander Spotswood, and Mrs. Dansie, Misses Washington and Dandridge.

He speaks of them being of the “highest rank and fortune of any in the Colony”.

This is an excerpt from The Journal of John Harrower, an indentured servant in the Colony of Virginia, 1773-1776, by John Harrower, Edward M. Riley.  Published by distributed by Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York, 1963.  Accessed online via GoogleBooks.

Munday, 2jd. This morning a great number of Gentlemen and Ladies driving into Town it being an annuall Fair day and tomorrow the day of the Horse races, at 11 AM Mf Anderson begged to settle as a schoolmaster with a friend of his one Colonel Daingerfield(1) and told me he was to be in Town tomorrow, or perhaps tonight, and how soon he came1 he shou’d aquant me. at same time all the rest of the servants were ordred ashore to a tent at Fredericksb? and severall of their Indentures were then sold, about 4 pm I was brought to Colonel Dainger- field, when we imediatly agreed and my Indenture for four years was then delivered him and he was to send for me the next day. at same time ordred to get all my dirty Cloaths of every kind washed at his expense in Toun; at night he sent me five shillings onb by Cap! Bowers to keep my pocket.

(1) Col. William Daingerfield of Belvidera was the son of Edwin Daingerfield and Mary Bassett, daughter of Col. William Bassett of Eltham. The Bassetts were near of kin to Martha Washington. Col. Daingerfield’s grandfather was William Daingerfield, who married Elizabeth Bathurst, daughter of Lancelot Bathurst of Virginia, fifth son of Sir Edward Bathurst of Sussex, England.

Tuesday, 241)1. This morning I left the Ship at 6 AM having been sixteen weeks and six days on board her. I hade for Breackfast after I came ashore one Chappin2 sweet milk for which I paid 3^- Curr. at 11 AM went to see a horse race about a mille from Toun, where there was a number of Genteel Company as well as others, here I met with the Colonel again and after some talk with him he gave me cash to pay for washing all my Cloaths and something over. The reace was gain’d by a Bay Mare, a white boy ridder. There was a gray Mare started with the Bay a black boy ridder but was far distant the last heat.’

Thursday, 26th. This day at noon the Colonel [Daingerfield]  sent a Black with a cuple of Horses for me and soon after I set out on Horseback and aravied at his seat of Belvidera about 3 pm and after I hade dined the Colonel took me to a neat little house at the upper end of an Avenue of planting at 500 yd? from the Main house, where I was to keep the school, and Lodge myself in it.

This place is verry pleasantly situated on the Banks of the River Rappahannock about seven miles below the Toun of Fredericksburgh and the school’s right above the Warff so that I can stand in the door and pitch a stone onboard of any ship or Boat going up or coming doun the river.

Freiday, 2?th. This morning about 8 AM the Colonel delivered his three sons to my Charge to teach them to read write and figure, his oldest son Edwin 10 years of age, intred into two syllables in the spelling book, Bathourest [Bathurst] his second son six years of age in the Alpha- bete and William his third son 4 years of age does not know the letters.

Following are miscellaneous historical tidbits of the local area as excerpted from the John Harrower Journal and transcribed by Sue Gordon for a WPA report in 1937.

Arriving at Fredericksburg
Mr. Harrower came to Virginia on the Snow Planter.  He mentions anchoring at Urbanna, and passing Port Royal, the little hamlet having the distinction of coming within one vote of being the site of the Capitol of the United States at the time Philadelphia was selected.  He writes of the river banks, seven  miles above Port Royal, being covered with trees and blossoms and gentlemen’s seats and planters’ houses being seen plainly from the ship.

Nearest Church
The nearest church to Belvidere was in Fredericksburg and very often Mr. Harrower was unable to attend on account of not having a saddle for his horse.

Growing in the Garden
Green peas were planted in the garden in early March and ready for eating in early June.  A second crop was planted in the summer.  Cucumbers, watermelons and musk melons were planted in the middle of March.  Watermelons grew up to 20 pounds.  Wild cherries were ripe in late May or early June.  Strawberries were eaten on May 8, 1775.  Indian corn was planted in April and May.

Fodder for Feed
In September they began to pull fodder; a colonial practice was to pull the tender leaves from the [corn] plant while still green and wrap them in bundles to be used as feed for livestock during the winter.  It was also the practice to cut off the top of the stalk just above the highest ear and store the tops for fodder.  At Belvidera about 3 weeks were required to pull fodder from approximately 400 acres.

Letters Back Home
Mr. Harrower wrote his wife that he had every necessity.  He speaks of the Colonels fine strawberries, cherries, melons, honey, cider and  toddies, he mentions the melons being so near the school-house he could look out at them.