I was surprised when Dr. Deetz turned up on the staff of Stratford Hall, the birthplace of Robert E. Lee. He is buried in the cemetery at Shiloh Baptist Church near Stratford Hall's entrance gate. His son, William Wesley Payne, was also a longtime resident. Her style of presentation lures you, make you feel comfortable and then she hits you with uncomfortable facts of enslaved people. Learn more about merges. Born at Stratford when Elizabeth Storke owned it, he continued to live and work there after it passed to the Stuart family and then to RELMA. However, records of the transaction do not list Kesey as one of those slaves. In an age where the eldest male of a family held special privileges, Thomas would build the family's most enduring structure, Stratford Hall. It was an historically edifying Juneteenth Day! While oral history can be helpful in directing ancestor searches, it does not take the place of historic documentation. This browser does not support getting your location. That one item made the tour more relevant for me. Many key details concerning the construction of Stratford are uncertain. 714-803-7343 . 9:00-10:30am: Opening talk, Joe McGill, African American History Museum, Montross, VA. 11:00 African drumming in front of mansion/welcome at Stratford Hall, 12-2: Lecture and tour: The Enslaved Community at Stratford Hall, Dr. Kelley Fanto Deetz, 4:30-6 Music/open mic/storytelling (Rita Wagstaff-Stratford hall)/Afrocentric arts and crafts, 6-630: Libations, drumming, prayers at the enslaved African American cemetery, 6:30 Dinner (African American foodways/SDP Chef), ___________________________________________________________________________. Stratford Hall: Stratford Hall provides a fascinating portrait of a slaveholding Colonial plantation. What does the current rendition of that group feel of our intent? Thomas Ludwell , brother of the Philip Ludwell who was agent for the Northern Neck Proprietary, also patented land near the early Lees in Westmoreland County. You can cancel at any time. Stratford Hall is a historic house museum near Lerty in Westmoreland County, Virginia. The ghosts told the medium the body was buried under the stairs. 389.094N, 7650.07W. Marker is in Stratford, Virginia, in Westmoreland County. Stratford Hall is the boyhood home of two Founding Fathers of the United States and signers of the Declaration of Independence, Richard Henry Lee (1732-1794), and . I have often been drawn to the histories and stories of people who have endured, persisted, and overcome despite being marginalized and oppressed by those around them. 11:00 African drumming in front of mansion/welcome at Stratford Hall Tracing the history of African Americans at Stratford has always been challenging. Also see . 10-? I have had a strong interest in African American history and culture since I was young. [Caption:] It was the plantation house of four generations of the Lee family of Virginia (later with descendants expanding to Maryland and other states). 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. Stratford Hall is set in the Historic Northern Neck of Virginia, a rural peninsula where historic Christ Church is located 50 miles southeast. Thomas's education was inferior to his brothers. References: Their labor allowed the Lees a lavish lifestyle. Seeing the bedroom where Robert E. Lee was born made me feel odd. Their fourth child, Robert Edward Lee (18071870), was born at Stratford Hall in 1807. 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. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. According to census records, by the time the Storkes moved to Stratford in 1830, the African American population at Stratford was 61. Bound to the Fire: How Virginias Enslaved Cooks Helped Invent American Cuisine. 100 Charlottesville, VA 22903 (434) 924-3296. [5] After his death his heirs discovered that obligations incurred by Henry Lee IV continued to encumber the property. "After leaving a Wyndham hotel in Lexington Park within 30 min after check in, we found this hotel after driving around for over an hour. That is not a statement of any sense of superiority on my part, but a somber confession. 303-792-3615 . Contact Us: editor@stratfordhall.org 804.493.8038 Unless you are listening to the spirits of history. Spending a night at Stratford Hall was an offer I could not refuse. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. 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. The plantation, she believes, deserves a more in-depth academic study. (123) $40.00. Enslaved field hands worked from sun-up to sundown under the supervision of white overseers who set the pace and punished those who fell behind. 0.6 miles away); Clifts Plantation Site (approx. Through archival and archaeological research and oral history, we are learning more about the lives of the enslaved community at Stratford Hall and are continually updating the tours and interpretation of their history and legacy. There also are chickens, sheep, horses and a llama. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Founded in the late 1990s by two Burnaby parents, Stratford Hall is an International Baccalaureate World School located in Vancouver, British Columbia. Thanks for your help! When the cheerleading coach broke the news to Katrina Kohel that she was the only one left on the cheer squad, Kohel was determined to compete anyway. Philip Ludwell Lee inherited Stratford Hall Plantation at the death of his father Thomas Lee in 1750. It is because of their fortitude that these places stand today. On February 12, 1749, Richard Mynatt, a 20 year old cook, signed an agreement of servitude with Thomas Lee for a period of 4 years at 8 pounds sterling salary per year. There was a lot of history to be made on this weekend. Now the Slave Dwelling Project is there to pay homage to enslaved people. Elizabeth McCarty Storke, owner of Stratford Hall, dies. A long legal battle with Thomas Rowand over the ownership of Cabin Point resulted in Lees eventual loss of the property. By TAMARA LYTLE By TAMARA LYTLE ADVERTISING Special to Stephens Media STRATFORD, Va. The stately Virginia plantation home Stratford Hall is silent on a Sunday morning. It was there that Philip R. Fendall built the Lee-Fendall House. Stratford Hall doesnt exist because of the Lee family, Stratford Hall exists because of the labor and great minds of those who built and maintained it, the African and African American people that were forced to live and raise their families there. Henry Lees 28 inherited slaves included Kesey (age 5). Please reset your password. The enslaved Africans brought their culture and skills to Stratford Hall. Oops, we were unable to send the email. 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. Failed to delete memorial. TheLookingGlassPlus. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Stratfordhall Plantation Cemetery. From playful to practical, subtle to sensuous, quintessential to quirky, Stratford Hall's diverse palette has a flavor that compliments your design and environment. Verify and try again. It is a poor place, but we could make enough cornbread and bacon for our support and the girls could weave us clothes. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Because Philip Lee's oldest son, Philip Lee II, is still a child, Richard Henry Lee effectively becomes master of Stratford Hall. These two other visitors had travelled several hours to stay overnight and experience things. Now, I welcome the opportunity as I admire the craftsmanship of the enslaved people, spatial segregation and the opportunity to look for fingerprints in bricks. GEORGIA Stratford-Hall Corporate. http://www.freep.com/article/20111223/NEWS05/112230427/Does-uncovered-tombstone-tie-black-family-to-Gen-Robert-E-Lee-?odyssey=tab|mostpopular|text|FRONTPAGE. The Lee-Fendall House was the home of Major-General Henry Light-Horse Harry Lee III, the father of Robert E. Lee. William Lee (17391795) and Dr. Arthur Lee (17401792) were diplomats to England during the turbulent struggle for American independence. Thomas Lee died soon after he hired Mynatt and his contract was passed on to Philip Ludwell Lee through inheritance. I am often intrigued by and attracted to people who go against the grain to get things done. LEARN MORE. The Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation (later the Robert E. Lee Memorial Association) acquires Lee's birthplace, Stratford Hall. We hope that you will find what you are looking for within our online catalogs or among our Research Resources, but if you are in need of additional assistance, please contact our research team at reference@VirginiaHistory.org or 804.342.9233. Stratford Hall: Slave Quarters In 1782 approximately eighty-three slaves were divided among various quarters on Stratford. Rediscover The Payne Family With an oral tradition that their ancestors were slaves owned by Thomas Lee, the Payne family's history has been closely linked with that of Stratford. Henry Lee III and Matilda Ludwell Lee marry. None of this would have been possible without enslaved workers. Below is a runaway slave advertisement I came across while looking through Charleston, SC newspapers conducting research for a past job. Also, slaves could make money by selling items, such as vegetables, fruit and livestock. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. The enslaved community at Stratford Hall was essential to the Lee family. Richard Henry Lee kept a small book covering facets of life at Stratford, including how much salt was provided to the slaves. For a variety of reasons, there wasnt much left from the Lee family detailing their lives and that of their slaves. Henry and Anns last child to be born at Stratford was Robert E. Lee. A public wharf and tobacco inspection station are constructed at Stratford Landing. Sorry! Slave names gleaned from court records and Lee family documents comprise most of the information that we know about Stratfords historic slave community. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. 69-year-old suffers stroke in his N.C. home; Realtor showing house leaves him there. We both did and it was great. Over the next few decades, Elizabeth Storke scaled back farming operations considerably. Our best conversation happened that morning when everyone was awake. Thomas Lee (1690-1750) was a founder of the Ohio Company, a member of the governing . Stratford Hall is located in Westmoreland County on the beautiful Northern Neck of Virginia. Visit Stratford Hall on June 15 for a new FREE program, a Juneteenth Celebration and the Slave Dwelling Project. Tobacco was already being cultivated on the Clifts property when Thomas Lee bought it in 1717, and Lee continued to grow it as Stratfords main crop. Stratford Hall, an independent coeducational school located on the east side of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, opened on September 5, 2000. Try again later. The 90-year-old, who came with her daughter and a sister, said her family has ties to Virginia slaves. *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. CALIFORNIASouthern. Thank you for this opportunity! Their tasks would have included cooking meals, digging and firing clay for bricks, and working as launderers, blacksmiths, plasterers, carpenters, and masons. 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). With its two rooftop triumphal arches vauntingly piercing the sky, Stratford would be remarkable for its architecture alone, uniqueand uniquely handsome. In 1717 Thomas Lee bought the Clifts, a tobacco plantation in Westmoreland County, from the descendants of colonist Nathanial Pope. The Great House is set on a steep bluff that slopes off gently to the east; this provided access to the Potomac River while also offering protection from river invaders and the natural erosion that endangers a house closer to the water. Im attempting to think of the word or words that describe what I felt being given the opportunity to stay on plantation grounds overnight where former slaves experienced a life of depravity. SURVEY . William Payne, born at Stratford in 1833, was a butler and house servant who married Hannah Jackson, from the nearby Popes Creek plantation. Lee, a politician and planter, lived with his family at his fathers plantation at Machodoc Creek until 1729, when his house burned to the ground. 2020 Virginia Humanities, All Rights Reserved , Revolution and Early Republic (17631823). Afterward he turned his attention to the Clifts property, renaming it Stratfordfor his grandfathers estate in Englandin 1734. With an interesting irony, these were two white women on the floor. The plantation was home to two signers of the Declaration of IndependenceRichard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Leeand was the birthplace of the Confederate general Robert E. Lee. Stratford Hall is the boyhood home of two signers of the Declaration of Independence, Richard Henry Lee (1732-1794), and Francis Lightfoot Lee (1734-1797). This is a . Facebook; Twitter; Instagram; The way she put it together, she said, was very interesting.. Kelly encouraged us to come back on the next day and take the audio tour. Touch for directions. RIGHT:. The plantation prospered because of its location along the Potomac River, which allowed it to become a trading center in the eighteenth century. A place that sits in enduring, complex history. The enslaved population at Stratford Hall were not defeated people, they were resilient and admirable. Just wanted to pass it onfeel free to share. Stratford Hall Symposium on Slavery. The door on the river side opened onto a porch where visitors could dance under the stars. William C. Somerville of Maryland purchased the property from Henry Lee IV in 1822. by Joseph McGill | Jul 7, 2019 | Blog Posts, 438 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia. Marker is in this post office area: Stratford VA 22558, United States of America. It was an historically edifying Juneteenth Day! The VMHC will host its first public symposium on November 18, 2023, an event where historians, practitioners, activists, and members of the public will gather to explore our shared past. I often think about Limus and just hope he made his way out. cemeteries found in Stratford Hall, Westmoreland County, Virginia, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Westmoreland County. 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. This knowledge was essential in the success of a working plantation. 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. Later on, he voluntarily freed almost 500 slaves from Nomini Hall beginning in 1791 and settled many on his lands, which he gave them. She is already discussing a similar program in 2020, but bigger and better. This historic site is open to the public, for a fee. Canada V5N 4E2. Prior to that, she was doing some work with the movie Birth of a Nation. 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. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Independent Contractor (Newspaper Carrier), Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office ends affiliation with TV show, Spotsylvania School Board member charged with forgery, Spotsylvania man convicted of felony in driveway shooting, Police cite medical emergency in Spotsylvania crash, State rail plan advancing; includes Fredericksburg-area improvements, New commuter bus routes coming to Fredericksburg area, Spotsylvania schools' new chief of staff will be "legislative liaison" for school division. 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. One of them, Ulysses Sylvester Joe Payne, worked at Stratford for fifty-three years; his cousin, Laura Payne, worked there for fifty-seven. Most of the time visitors are traveling to these places to learn about the great people who lived there when they should really be hearing about the formidable ancestors whose hands created these places. 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. And there it was, a whip on display. She felt the presence of several former slaves under the stairs and that they were afraid because a murder had happened there, years ago. Stratford Hall is one of five Western Canada schools to complete International Baccalaureate experience with IB offered from Kindergarten through Grade 12 to all students. Not only politically, but they were representative of very elite, wealthy Virginians of the day.. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? . Lectures, music, storytelling, historic food sampling, special tours, and more will begin at 9:30am and last all day, E. Lee. Genealogical inquiries from unrelated Lee families with ancestors bearing the names Richard Henry, Robert E., Ludwell and Lightfoot are constant reminders that not everyone who shares a common family name is related. Fruit and livestock her style of presentation lures you, make you feel comfortable and then she you... Stratford are uncertain United States of America that sits in enduring, complex.. Of this would have been possible without enslaved workers court records and Lee family detailing their lives and that their! Area: Stratford Hall: Slave Quarters in 1782 approximately eighty-three slaves were among! List Kesey as one of those slaves the Potomac River, which allowed it to become a trading in! In 1807 provided to the Clifts, a Juneteenth Celebration and the girls could weave clothes! 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