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| Franklin Farm Historical Research |
Last updated:
September 05, 2002
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Historical Research Analysis and
Recommendations
on
the James B. Franklin Farm
for
Burke Centre Partnership
by D.Anne A. Evans
The land presently owned by Mr. and Mrs. James Franklin covers an area of Fairfax County first patented in the first half of the 18th century and settled in the second half of that century. (Beth Mitchell: Beginning at a White Oak) Sarah Lane Rowles Higgs, one of the early residents of the present Franklin home, and who inherited 298 acres of the "land known as Oakhill" from her father, was a member of the Lane family about which little is known, although they appear to have been prominent landholders and citizens and on friendly terms with their better known neighbors, the Lees, the Turbervilles and the Fitzhughs.
In my opinion, Burke Centre Partnership could contribute to Fairfax County recorded history and historic preservation in three areas as follows:
The Franklin House
In 1938 or 1939 Mr. and Mrs. Franklin were visited by a Mrs. Sallie Lane Lewis of Manassas, a descendent of the Lane family, who left with them a typewritten list f data she had heard from Benjamin F. Higgs, one-time owner of the farm, in 1914, when Higgs was 85. According to this typescript the Higgs home, the present Franklin house, was once known as "Oak Hill." Mr. Higgs believed it was given to his mother, Sarah Lane Rowles, when she married Benjamin Higgs in 1816. the couple received Oak Hill for their home from Mrs. Higgs' father, William Lane, Sr.
According to the 1879 Postal map of Fairfax county, the Benjamin Higgs residence is shown at the same spot as the present Franklin house, near the junction of Lawyers and west Ox Road (then Old Fox Mill Road). In this respect Mrs. Lewis' information checks out. However, the records show (Will Book J-1, p. 110) that Mrs. Higgs received 298 acres of "the land known as Oakhill" at an earlier date, 1808, when she was married to Joseph e. Rowles, who died in 1811.
It is interesting to note that Joseph E. Rowles was previously married to Hannah Eskridge, whose grave marker was copied by Mrs. Clella Lightbown in 1935, before she and her husband buried the tombstones in back of the Franklin house. Hannah Eskridge was the widow of Nathaniel Fitzhurgh's executor (Fairfax County Deed Book I-1, pp. 492-93), or for William Carr Lane, Sr., who lent Joseph Rowles 800 pounds (Will Book J-1, p. 110).
In his will Nathaniel Fitzhugh left his estate to be divided equally between his wife Hannah Eskride and his son John, but stressed that Hannah was to have the house in which they were living. (Will Book H-1, pp. 151-52.)
Nathaniel Fitzhugh died in 1800. There is a deed of sale by Nathaniel and Hannah his wife in Loudoun County Deed Book Y, p. 334 dated 3 November 1797, in which they sold a tract which was part of the larger holding on which they were living. One of the boundary markers for the land purchased was a stone set on the Ox Road, another was an oak on the bank of Licking branch which ran into Horsepen Run. Since Ox Road originally ran from Occoquan to Frying Pan (Fairfax County, Virginia: A History by Netherton, et al, p. 25) and Horsepen Run is not far from the Franklin farm, this suggests several possibilities in regard to dating the present Franklin house:
1. The house is the same one mentioned in Nathaniel Fitzhugh's will left to his wife and possibly built for her at the time of their marriage. She may have continued to live in it with her second husband, Joseph Rowles. He would have inherited the house when Hannah died and might have brought his second wife, Sarah Lane, to live there. The house passed to Sarah after Rowles' death in 1811, and became the Higgs farm after she married Benjamin Higgs in 1816.
2. The house was built by Joseph Rowles sometime after 1800, probably for his wife, Hannah, although he could have already owned the farm and been living there at the time, if it was not the Fitzhugh property mentioned in the will. There is no documentary evidence in either Fairfax or Loudoun County books that Rowles owned or bought any property, but it might have been inherited and not listed as sold to him in the deed books. Rowles died apparently unexpectedly and intestate as there is no will to indicate where he got the land.
3. There was no house on the "land known as Oakhill" until Sarah Lane Rowles married Benjamin Higgs in 1816, and they built the present house. This is the least likely possibility, since the grave markers in back of the house are dated 1805 and 1806 at the earliest. Such graveyards are usually on occupied farms.
Some of the features which the Franklins have uncovered in the renovation and alteration of their house such as wooden pegs holding beams in place; the random width pine floorboards in the living room, and the mud mortar used in the basement construction, certainly indicate the house was built in the days of early settlement. The fireplaces in every room and the slave graveyard fit in with the picture of relatively well off family, but this construction data should be examined by an architect with knowledge of historic restoration to be confirmed.
Mrs. Elizabeth David of the Fairfax county History Division reports that the Franklin house has been on their list of places to list on the Historic Register for some time. She would like very much to visit the Franklins and obtain information. This listing carries no legal obligation; it is merely a matter of putting information on record.
However, if this preliminary research can be confirmed, it would make the Franklin house one of the oldest in that part of the County, and would suggest sufficient land should be left around it to maintain its character, and that it be sold to someone who would keep it in its present condition. One way of finding such a buyer would be for the Franklins to advertise the house in the historic properties section of the Preservation News of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
As far as the diary buildings of the Franklin farm, they are interesting because this is one of the last operating dairy farms in an area that led the sate in dairy production between the two World Wars. The era has been well researches and documented, both in the Fairfax County history book and in a recent study made by Elizabeth Prior on Frying Pan Farm Park further down West Ox Road. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin's personal story would make an interesting contribution to the oral history collection of the Fairfax County Virginia Room if they would consent to tape it, but the dairy buildings would probably be best memorialized in street names near their present location.
The Abandoned Road
There is the remains of an old road bed in front of the Franklin farm house and at various other localities on the farm, according to Mr. Franklin. Local history has it that this was Lawyers Road, and the house was built facing it. Present day West Ox Road passes the back of the house. If, as is probable, the house was built circa 1800 or before, this abandoned road might be the route of Ox Road at that time, or the Frying Pan Road mentioned in old deeds but unknown today, since early American custom was to name a road for its destination. In any event it would be worthwhile to allow history research to be done on the property to map the course of this and any other abandoned roads before the bulldozer obliterate traces of them.
The Virginia Highway Department Research Council in Charlottesville is anxious for localities throughout the state to collect data and write the history of local roads before it is lost. Dr. Peter Henriquez at George Mason University is offering road history as one of the subjects his Local History class students may choose for a research paper, in hopes that some of this may be done for Fairfax County.
Civil War Action Evidence
Since the Battle of Chantilly or Ox Hill during the Civil War took place in the area of the Franklin Farm, and since a minie ball, turned up by a plow, is in the Franklins' possession, it would be advisable to permit research on the property for other such evidence as might remain. Dr. Henriquez has said he would like very much to go over the farm with a friend who is an expert at retrieving Civil War souvenirs.
Conclusion
The two primary objectives for historic preservation on the Franklin farm are, first, to see that any buildings of historic value that can be reasonably retained, are left; and, secondly, to allow historians access to the site for research.
There is at least one other house in addition to the Franklin home, which should be looked at before development. This is the house called "Tuckaways" by Franklins, "the Wrenn place" by the neighbors.
It is certainly commendable that Burke Partnership is concerned with finding what is of historical significance, either to be retained or recorded, before the property is developed as a subdivision.
The Franklin Farm Foundation - 12700
Franklin Farm Rd - Oak Hill, VA 20171
Phone: 703-620-6230 Fax: 703-620-9021
E-Mail: foundation@franklinfarm.org
Map of Franklin Farm
Map
of the foundation office at the above address
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