FAIRFAX COUNTY & STATEWIDE FILES, VIRGINIA, USGENWEB ARCHIVES, BIOGRAPHIES ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Bill BOGGESS billboggess@webtv.net March 8, 2009 Author: William Samuel BOGGESS See image of La Grange: Robert BOGGESS' (1707-1772) blood line were owners of Fairfax county land for over 240 years, finally sold in 1974 by Mrs Philip Otterbach Ward after the replacement house burnt in February 1972 which had been built on foundation constructed by Robert Boggess, D7, in 1741. Robert BOGGESS of LaGrange, neighbor to and vestryman with, the likes of Daniel McCarty of Cedar Grove, George Mason of Gunston Hall and George Washington of Mount Vernon at the Truro Parish, these four the longest serving of the eighty-one so elected during parish's lifetime (1732-1784). Robert declined to run in 1765 when the parish was split. Following is from: The History of Truro Parish in Virginia by Rev. Philip Slaughter, D.D.: Edited With Notes and Addenda by Rev. Edward L. Goodwin Historiographer of the Diocese of Virginia: Published by George W. Jacobs & Company, Publishers, Philadelphia, 1907 www.newrivernotes.com/va/truro1.htm " No Parish in the Colony had a Vestry more distinguished in its personnel, or more fully qualified for their positions, than the Parish of Truro. Of its earlier members indeed little has come down to us but their names inscribed on almost every page of the scant records remaining to tell of the settlement of these upper reaches of the "Northern Neck," and the establishment of religion and civilization in what was then but a wilderness. But later her Vestrymen are found ranking among the first gentlemen of Virginia in position and influence. Eleven of them sat at various times in the House of Burgesses. Two of them, the Fairfaxes, were members of "His Majesty's Council for Virginia. " Another of her Vestrymen was George Mason, one of the first among the founders of the State and the great political thinkers of his age; while still another was declared to be the "Greatest man of any age," the imperial George Washington." Robert, served Truro Parish (Pohick church) as 'vestryman' 20-years, four as "Church Warden", before Truro Parish was split into two distinct parishes, "Fairfax" and "Truro", in 1765 when he did not run. This in lieu of the 28-years credited him in: "The Letters of George Mason". They all attended the first Pohick church one-half mile south from his La Grange home and ordinary (current day address, 9501 Old Colchester Road), pictures of which are now owned by Fairfax Historical Landmarks Preservation Commission. Existing 235 y/o (2nd) Pohick church, one-half mile north of LaGrange, wasn't completed until 1774, two years after Robert's demise and is the Pohick church The Boggess Family Association visited in 2002. Robert constructed a horse race track on his plantation which was used by all, including George Mason to write a letter to George Washington in 1858. Robert also had constructed "LaGrange", built 267 years ago, in 1742, the year Fairfax county was created from Prince William and year following "Belvoir Manor", for William Fairfax, with additions added later, at what now would be 9501 Old Colchester Road. Currently, county property with a 200+ year old hardwood tree and a gravestone slab remaining, believed resting place of ten Marders family, with Rebecca Kirby Marders, (1825-1882) w/o James S Marders from a 1968 photo, stone engraved: "Until the daybreaks and the shadows flee away to our mother ...", was used as an 'ordinary', torn down after civil war [c1867], (Marders name appears on civil war maps) with replacement house built next to the plantation home, on old foundation, burnt down February 2, 1972, then owned by Mrs Philip Otterbach Ward until 1974. Source: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/vr/cem/cem265.htm The Boggess blood line lineage of ownership for nearly 250 years, is: Robert Boggess, D7, started purchasing his land when it was in Prince William county in 1730s, then son Vincent, E16, Susanna Elizabeth (Betty), F44, James Abraham Kirby, Jr, G200, his daughter Rebecca (1825-1882), married James S Marders, their daughter Susie B Marders, born ABT 1861, married William R Ward, born 1850. Their grandson, 62 y/o, Marvin Ward on 5 Mar 2009, wrote; "My biggest regret in life is that the beautiful Mansion (the second house) and the orginal house which had been refurbished and was the house I actually grew up in are gone." "When my Grandfather died his will was contested by his sister my Aunt Tay and it went into probate. They couldn't find a deed of course and upon research found the original land grant. Unfortunately they also found a large amount of reconstruction era taxes that were not paid and the state took the the remaining 35 acres. The original 3000 acres were taken by the federal government during WWI and constructed Fort Humphrey now Fort Belvoir." William & Susan's son Phillip Otterbach Ward, born February 1882 at LaGrange, became owner of what was left, after his passing, his widow Mrs Phillip Otterbach Ward, who in 1974 sold to Maywood Building Corporation who in turn for $225,000 sold it in 1976 for Fairfax county's Norman M Cole, Jr, Pollution Control Plant, processing 67-million gallons of wastewater per day. As of 2007 a site thereon is being prepared as an Indigent Burial Site for Fairfax county, estimated to suffice needs for thirty years. It is believed ten Marders are presently buried, which will be determined so as to not disturb. I emailed the Fairfax county department in charge a couple times in 2007 and suggested it be named La Grange Cemetery, but no word has been returned. Source: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/08/AR2007080801001_pf.html also see: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/final_cemetery_report_april_2007_for_web.pdf