PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA - CEMETERIES – “Eldon” Cemetery ----¤¤¤---- Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Eldon: 1937 Sep. 10 Research made by Susan R. Morton Cemetery Location: 11 miles south of Manassas, Virginia on Route #608; thence on Route #614 to Brentsville, Virginia; thence on Route #619 3 miles, right side of road. Prince William Co., Virginia DATE: Unknown. OWNERS: This was a part of a large tract of land and close to the original “Brent Town”. The first record of the particular part is found in Deed Book 13 folio 350 dated 1835 from Wesley Cole to George Weedon. Sixty acres were allotted to the Wesley Cole by division of the estate of Richard Cole, for the sum of $113. Next is the transfer in 1870 of one acre for $89.37 this was only a strip added on. There seems to be no record of the sale of the remainder to Ellicott. This deed found in Deed Book 21, folio 260 is from Ferdinand Weeden to Ann Eliza Ellicott. DESCRIPTION: The great oaks that stand like sentinals over the house are the striking feature of this place. While the house has a charm and homelike atmosphere, it is not notable for any architectual detail. It is surrounded by an old garden, and on the north side are some very find old boxwood bushes. The house is weather beaten to a soft gray that blends with the surroundings. There is a narrow central hall from which opens the living room with a large fireplace. From this room a door opens into the kitchen, which is a very large room, taking up the entire “L”. This room also has a large fireplace. To the east of the house is the graveyard, a well cared for plot with box bushes and other shrubs, at the rear is an unusually large dogwood tree. Many of the old graves are marked with common field stones with no inscriptions. These are the few inscriptions: Wm. J. Ellicott born March 15, 1840 died October 6th, 1916 Co. A. 49th Virginia Cavalry He was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness Mary E. Ellicott born Oct. 8, 1866 died Nov. 12th, 1881 Mother Emma L. Ellicott Sept. 7th, 1843 Oct. 11th, 1921 Elizabeth S. Deats born Oct. 11th, 1813 died Feb. 8th, 1898 Robert Dears Born May 15th, 1812 died May 24, 1904 HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: While this land was a part of the old Brent Town section and there are no doubt many historic connections, there is no way of verifying them. The present occupants of the house are direct descendents of the Ellicott family that came here from England in the 18th century and made their mark in many places. There were three brothers, all pioneers and founders of the milling industry in America. Joseph, built Ellicott Upper Mills on the Patapsco River in Maryland in 1781. Ellicott city on the Fredericksburg Turnpike, in Maryland, was founded by Andrew and John Ellicott. In March 1791 when L’Enfant was appointed to superintend the laying out of Washington, D.C., Andrew Ellicott was the principal surveyor. Buffalo is indebted to Joseph Ellicott for his foresight and perserverence for the secession by the Seneca Indians to the Holland Land Company of the land on which the city of Buffalo now stands. He will always be remembered for this surveys of much of New York state. There is scarcely a deed recorded or a mortgage foreclosed without reference to the maps made by him for the Holland Company. He made the original map of New Amsterdam in 1804 the name being changed to Buffalo in 1812. The younger brother, Nathaniel, came to Occoquan and acquired the mills there and the Ballandine house on the rocks, now known a “Rock Ledge”. The Ellicotts were Quakers and it was as tutor to the Ellicott children in Occoquan that John Davis came to that place and left a rich memento of his sojourn in Prince William County in his book “Four Years of Travel in America”. The following item was found in Deed Book 4 folio 19 and shows that the Ellicotts had other interest besides the Mills in Occoquan. “This indenture made the first day of June 1809 between Hazelwood Parish of Fredericksburg, Virginia of the first part and Thomas Triplett of the Town and County of Alexandria, D.C. of the second part and Nathaniel Ellicott of the Third Part; Whereas the said Nathaniel Ellicott has sold to the said Hazelwood Parish his line of stages running between Alexandria and Dumfries, consisting of two large stages and two mail stages, also including the stable and lot on which it stands, as now used and owned by the said Ellicott in Dumfries, who has twenty- four horses, such as the said Parish may choose from those now running for the said line.” This was sold for $2,266. After Nathaniel Ellicott’s death, the property in Occoquan was taken over by the Janey’s and the family moved farther back in the County, where they have resided ever since. SOURCES OF INFORMATION: Informants: Mr. Wm. Ellicott of Orlando Mr. Wm. Green Miss Maud Ewell of Haymarket, Virginia Mrs. F. A. Barnes, Occoquan, Virginia Court Records, Clerk’s Office, Prince William County, Manassas, Virginia Family Records and genealogy of the Ellicott family. Tombstone Inscriptions Visit by worker. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joan Renfrow NOTICE: I have no relationship or further information in regards to this family. ___________________________________________________________________