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"His house has the most agreeable Situation of any I have seen in Maryland or Virginia; the broad Potowmack which they account between 7 and 8 miles over, washes the gardens on the North, the River Nomini is within a stones throw on the West, a levil open Country on the East; a Lane of a mile and three quarters accurately measured, lies from the House South-East. . . . There are no Marshes near, which altogether make the place exceeding Description." - Philip Vickers Fithian, Princeton tutor at Nomini Hall, 1773
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Settled in 1665 by Richard and Thomas
Bushrod, Bushfield Plantation at one time included more than 1,500 acres, and by 1745 included a fully established water grist mill. Tobacco was the main commodity of the time and Bushfield apparently was a large producer. Adjoining acreages were purchased with tobacco and many beneficiaries of the various wills of the Bushrod family received their inheritance in tobacco. Living in the center of the lower Potomac plantation area, the Bushrods counted the Carters of Nomini Hall, the Lees of Stratford Hall and Chantilly
(just across the water), and the Washingtons of Wakefield among their close friends and neighbors. John Bushrod inherited Bushfield from his father and uncle. He married Hannah Keene and fathered nine children; two died in infancy. John Bushrod died in 1719 and is buried at Bushfield. He left his estates to his wife for her lifetime. His son John inherited the property when he became an adult in 1732. John Bushrod, the younger, married first Jenny Corbin and second Mildred Seaton. He fathered a daughter, Hannah, by his first marriage, who married John Augustine Washington. At the death of John Bushrod, Bushfield was left to his daughter Hannah Washington for her lifetime and then the property to go to her first born son. John Augustine and Hannah became parents to six children, the oldest two children were daughters who were born at Mt. Vernon where John Augustine was estate manager for his brother George. Shortly after George Washington married in 1759, John Augustine and Hannah moved to Bushfield. John Bushrod died the following year, and Hannah inherited the land, 35 slaves, all the livestock and furnishings. Bushfield was the birthplace of their first son, Bushrod Washington, jurist of the U. S. Supreme Court, who later inherited Mt. Vernon. He was given the family name of a maternal grandfather. A brother was born in 1765 was named Corbin after his maternal grandmother. The other children were Mary, Jenny, William and Mildred. In the year 1776, while living at Bushfield, John Augustine Washington, along with 114 other patriots, pledged life and fortune in the celebrated protest against the famous Stamp Act by signing the Leedstown Resolutions. John Augustine’s older brother and our first President, George Washington, was known to be a guest at Bushfield on many occasions while visiting his brother. Bushfield is also central to a modern-day controversy over whether or not West Ford was the son of George Washington and a slave. The Mount Vernon Lady's Association has indicated they do not believe that he was, but the resemblance is striking for this slave who was freed in 1806 by Hannah. You can learn more by visiting here. Bushfield was sold after the death of Hannah Washington in 1801 to Samuel Lewis, nephew to George and John Augustine Washington. It was shelled by the British in the year of 1814 along with many other estates and churches on the Nomini. Tax records indicate building improvements in 1843 under the ownership of Landon Berkeley and his wife Sarah Ann Campbell. It again saw renovations to the Italianate style in 1857 by owner Ferdinand Blackwell. Under the ownership of the Willing family of Chicago, Bushfield mansion underwent a turn-of-the century renovation by the well known architect Waddy Butler Wood of Washington, D. C. when the
Flemish-bond house was more than doubled in size. Symmetrical flank wings
exhibit Colonial Revival details, such as rounded arch windows. The interior
features Classical fireplace surrounds and plaster cornices and walls. There have been very few changes to Bushfield since that time. A very old graveyard exists on the grounds of Bushfield. Known residents and dates of their death include John Bushrod (1719) and his wife Hannah Keene Bushrod (1739), their son Thomas Bushrod (1719) who died at age 17, and Dr. John Cooper, third husband of Hannah Keene Bushrod. Also buried at Bushfield are John Augustine Washington (1787) and wife Hannah Bushrod Washington (1801), their son Corbin Washington (1799) and his wife Hannah Lee Washington (1799) daughter of Richard Henry Lee. Thought to be buried at Bushfield are John Bushrod (Jr.,) and his wives Jenny Corbin and Mildred Seaton. Bushfield served as the country club for the Miller Glen golf course which was owned by the Miller family.
Gene and Judith Conner had the foresight to purchase the property even while the country club was using the pool and other buildings next to the house. Over the years the Conners patiently reassembled the adjacent parcels and turned Bushfield into a Bed & Breakfast and updated many of systems in the min house. Several smaller outbuildings (including the golf pro shop and some small houses) were moved. The Conners also moved the driveway to come around and to the ‘front’ of the house (riverside) to the ‘back’ of the house and added a portico to serve as the entrance most guests see. The land was also gently sloped to the water to give Bushfield it’s modern day look and green lawn. Bushfield was purchased in 2007 by Dan and Bobbie Elam who have been fortunate enough to live in three properties on the National Register including historic Rosegill
plantation on the Rappahannock River and Richmond’s Monument Ave. Bushfield has been listed with the NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES & VIRGINIA LANDMARK REGISTER. Click here for full nomination. |
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