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Long Branch Plantation is a historic family seat in Millwood, Virginia built in the early 19th century; named after the creek that runs through the property. Built on approximately 1000 acres (currently 400 acres) by Robert Carter Burwell in 1811 and owned by the Burwell-Nelson family until 1957. The property was placed on the National Register on October 1, 1969. ==History== On September 18, 1650, Charles II of England, granted the original tract of the Northern Neck of Virginia, to seven followers including Lord Culpepper. On September 7, 1688, after acquiring the interests of the remaining grantees, Lord Culpepper was recognized as the sole owner of the Northern Neck. This land passed to his grandson Thomas, 6th Lord of Fairfax and was managed by him until his death in 1781. Robert Carter, familiarly known as “King Carter” was appointed agent for the sale and lease of unoccupied areas of the Fairfax proprietary. On September 22, 1730, acting as Fairfax’s agent, he executed a deed to ten of his sons and grandsons: 50,212 acres of land in what are now Clark, Warren, and Frederick Counties, Virginia. In 1740 the land was split into eight lots and divided into approximately the same size lots.〔Robert Carter land division, Northern neck deed book C, p. 27〕 Robert “Robin” Burwell, a grandson to King Carter, received 5,619 acres of the land. Robert “Robin” Burwell left his land to his son Nathaniel and to his grandson Robert Carter Burwell. In 1769, Robin Burwell conveyed half of his land to his son Nathaniel,〔Chappelear, B. Curtis, "Robert Burwell's land on the Shenandoah River," Proceedings of the Clarke County Historical Association, Vol. 5, 1945〕 who later sold it in 1771. After Robin Burwell’s death, controversy erupted over who owned various portions of the original grant.〔Decree, Henderson vs. Burwell et al., Nov. 20,1788, Virginia Historical Society〕 In 1798, after the legal problems had been sorted, Robert Carter Burwell inherited his grandfather’s land of about 1,000 acres lying roughly between Long Branch Creek and Rattlesnake Spring.〔Deed, Robert Carter Burweel's executor to Robert Carter Burwell, Dec. 3, 1798, deed book 25, p. 458, Frederick County Circuit Court〕 Around 1790, Robert Cater Burwell established Long Branch Plantation and began farming wheat.〔Long Branch Plantation ledger book, 1796〕 During the early years of the plantation, Burwell lived with his sister and brother-in-law just north of Long Branch at Rattlesnake Plantation, currently known as Rosney. In the beginning of the 19th century Burwell began to plan his own home, just south of Rosney near Long Branch Creek. In 1811, Burwell had planned a large, two-story brick home with an east wing. Burwell consulted with architect, Benjamin Henry Latrobe during construction.〔Carter, Edward C., Thomas Jeffrey, eds., The Papers of Benjamin Henry Latrobe (Clifton, N.J.: Published for the Maryland Historical Society by J.T. White, 1976)〕 After the start of construction of the plantation house, Burwell left in the summer of 1813 to fight in the War of 1812. He died later that year of diseases he contracted while stationed in Norfolk.〔Proceedings of the Clarke County Historical Association(PCCHA), Vol. 14, 1956-57, p. 61〕 He willed his land to his sister, Sarah Nelson and her husband Philip.〔Will book 9, p. 263, Frederick County Circuit Court〕 It is unknown whether Burwell finished construction of the mansion before his death or if Sarah and Philip continued construction upon their inheritance. In 1842, Philip Nelson sold Long Branch to his nephew, Hugh Mortimer Nelson and his wife Anna Maria Adelaide Holker.〔Deed, Philip Nelson and wife to Hugh M. Nelson, March 23, 1842,deed book B, p. 221, Clarke County Circuit Court〕 This was the first time Long Branch changed hands in a financial transaction and the last until 1957. When Hugh M. Nelson and his wife Adelaide moved to Long Branch with their three-year-old daughter, Nannie, they started a large renovation and expansion of the property.〔Clarke County land tax records, Virginia State Library〕 In 1847, Hugh Nelson Jr. was born. After moving to Virginia from Baltimore, Maryland,〔Johnson, Rev. John Lipscomb, The University Memorial Biographical Sketches of Alumni of the University of Virginia Who Fell in the Confederate War p. 206-216〕 Hugh and Adelaide took to life as Virginia planters and assumed a leading role within Millwood's society. Hugh Nelson took command of the Clarke Cavalry,〔Musick, Michael P., Sixth Virginia Cavalry (H.E. Howard inc.: Lynchburg, Va., 1990), p. 3〕 served as a justice of the peace,〔Order signed by Hugh Nelson in his capacity as justice of the peace, Burwell Family papers, Virginia Historical Society〕 and was a vestryman for the Christ Church. Their position in Millwood's society came with considerable expense. As early as 1850, Nelson started to take out loans against Long Branch. He took out several debts and left many bills unpaid.〔Creditors' accounts, Nelson vs. Arnett, Clarke County Circuit Court〕 There is little evidence that Adelaide knew of any financial troubles. In 1861, Hugh M. Nelson organized the Clarke Cavalry and reported for duty to fight with the Confederate Army.〔Musick, Sixth Virginia Cavalry, p. 141〕 After fighting in the Seven Days Battles, Nelson fell sick with typhoid and died on August 6, 1862. Long Branch escaped much damage during the war. Reports of the fields being burned was the extent of any damage done. After the war, Adelaide discovered the debt and was in danger of losing Long Branch. The plantation had decreased in value. In 1860, Long Branch was assessed for $103,600. By 1870, it had decreased to the value of $45,000.〔Censuses of 1861 and 1870, Hadley Library〕 In 1867, after much legal battle, the courts had ordered the personal effects of Hugh Sr. be put to auction. Adelaide and her son, Hugh Nelson Jr. bought back the majority of the plantations possessions.〔Sale account of Hugh M. Nelson's personal property, will book F, p. 1, Clarke County Circuit Court〕 In 1869, the courts ordered that the house and farm where auctioned off to pay off the remaining debts. The land was auctioned off in two plats, half of the land in one and 280 acres with the house and old buildings. Adelaide was the only bidder for the lot with the house.〔Nelson's Adm'r v. Kownslar's Ex'or & others, University of Virginia〕 Eight months after Adelaide died of pneumonia in 1875, Hugh Nelson Jr. bought back the other half of the farm〔Nelson Adm'r vs. Kownslar's Exec'r, p. 4〕 and the entire farm was restored to the family by court decree in 1884.〔Hansbrough, Reports of Cases Decided in the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia, p. 479〕 Hugh Nelson Jr. and his wife, Sallie Page Nelson, lived at Long Branch and established a reputation for their hospitality and entertaining. After the death of Hugh Nelson Jr. in 1915, Sallie Page Nelson remained at Long Branch until her death in 1951. In August 1957, Long Branch was sold to Abram and Dorothy Hewitt.〔Deed, Nannie N. Huidekoper to Abram Hewitt, deed book 52, p. 388, Clarke County Circuit Court〕 At the time of the sale, Long Branch had deteriorated and the Hewitt’s worked to repair and renovate the house. They lived at Long Branch, raising their four sons until 1978 when they sold Long Branch to two doctors from California.〔Deed, April 28, 1978, deed book 127, 9. 372, Clarke County Circuit Court〕 In 1982, they sold to a Texas businessman and horse breeder.〔Deed, March 31, 1982, deed book 146, p. 40, Clarke County Circuit Court〕 The condition of Long Branch had deteriorated significantly and the mortgage defaulted on. Once again, Long Branch was auctioned on the steps of the Clarke County Courthouse. In 1986, Harry Z. Isaacs, a Baltimore textile executive and horse breeder, purchased the house and land for $1.35 million.〔The Winchester Star, Sept. 17, 1986, p. 13〕 Isaacs began an extensive restoration of Long Branch. Shortly after the start of the restoration, Isaacs learned he had terminal cancer. Upon his death, he left the house and 400-acres to a non-profit foundation and opened Long Branch to the public. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Long Branch Plantation」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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