300 years and still making history

  Liberty Hall’s story began in Northamptonshire England, in Green’s Norton with Robert Green. He was the youngest son in a rather healthy family of strong, tall men; so was unlikely to move up the inheritance chain and was in need of opportunities. Fortunately for Robert, while his family had noticeably healthy genes, they also had great connections to the Court, (including his 5th Cousin Katherine Parr – the only wife Henry VIII actually liked) and his father William was a member of King William III’s Royal Bodyguard. (To be in the Royal Bodyguard one must be strong, healthy and over 6 feet tall; so not just a vanity Court position.) So young Robert, perhaps with a grant from the King (or maybe Queen Anne) he became a colonial landholder at just 15 years of age in 1710.

Robert’s mom also contributed to his fortunes (least she could do to make up for all those bigger brothers she gave him) through her own big brother, Sir William Duff, a Scottish Quaker, with whom Robert traveled to the New World to make his fortune. Uncle Duff had received many of his own patents prior to departing for Virginia, though I am not sure how or have much of a clear story on him. We know that Uncle Duff joined the Monthly Meeting at West River in southern Maryland, a slightly “freer” religious area than Northern Virginia. We also know that Uncle Duff lived a stricter lifestyle than Robert, a traditional Anglican, which caused Robert (only 17 upon his arrival) to quickly seek out his own life independent from his Uncle.

Legend has it that Robert named his first parcel of land, this plantation, “Liberty Hall” because it was a place at which “A man could be at his liberty...” We assume he might also have added, under his breath, “from Uncle Duff.”

Robert had a successful life, serving as a Capt. in the Orange County Militia, as vestry man for St. Mark’s Parish, and he was also a member of the House of Burgess, a Justice of the Peace and Sheriff for Orange County. He (and his wife Eleanor) had 7 healthy sons, all taking after the Green family line in being very strong, healthy and tall as well as inheriting their mother’s flaming red hair; thus earning the nickname “The Red Green’s of Culpeper.” 

Aside from being healthy, the Green family was blessed with significant military, civil and economic talents. Robert’s luck in receiving a patent for land so well situated, with 2 strong streams flowing through the rolling hills of the pasture land and bordered by two strong rivers ensured the long-term success of the plantation and his family. 

At the time of its inception, Liberty Hall, was located in the County of Essex, within an area that would be established (through a very long legal battle) as Lord Fairfax’s Northern Neck of Virginia. During its first owner’s life, Liberty Hall began in Essex and passed to Spotsylvania County on December 17, 1721, to Orange in 1734 and settled in Culpeper in 1749 (though after Robert’s will was probated in Orange). 

Throughout history, Liberty Hall has raised cattle as well as horses for sport. Attesting to this fact are numerous advertisements in colonial papers for cattle and horses for sale and for stud at Liberty Hall. From the early 18th century to mid-19th century the Hall was also the location of two robust Mills, which included a county store with various goods. The largest Mill was in the Hazel River (on what we call Danny’s Island) and was part of the Hazel River Navigation Company complete with Lock and Canal system. The rock foundations of the docking area and rings to securing transports are still there along the bank. 

The plantation’s land, given its strategic advantages of river borders and strong streams, was host to both armies during the Civil War. Thankfully, as the house was uninhabitable due to the fire shortly before the war, Liberty Hall was not destroyed. Many relic hunters have found treasures buried here and continue to enjoy unearthing the plantation’s secrets even today.

Throughout its 300+ year history, the plantation has consistently sustained operations for cattle, equestrian sports and been a center for hospitality. 

Thomas Rutherfoord assumes ownership of Liberty Hall in 1876 from John & Eleanor Green, which marks the end of the 166 years of direct ownership by the Red Greens and their descendants. Thomas Rutherford was likely a descendent of the Slaughter family and thus is also likely a Green descendent as well. Rutherford rebuilds the Hall and was able to salvage much of the original wood frame (East Indian Mahogany and heart of Pine) of the house and used that to plank the interior floors of the house. The 3-room basement of the main house is original and was undamaged in the fire, built in the early 1700’s with 3-foot-thick stone walls.  

Henry & Alice Ratrie receive the plantation from Rutherford in 1891. The Ratrie’s used the Hall as a show place (in addition to raising cattle) and were very active in the social scene, hosting frequent gatherings reported in period newspapers, during the close of the 19th century. They added what was likely a carriage house with loft apartment as servant’s quarters (originally was not connected to the main house,) as well as a larger kitchen. On the plantation they likely built the red wood barn, used for hay and winter feed storage for their cattle. Sadly, both Henry & Alice died just prior to their daughter’s marriage to Robert Stark at the Hall in February 1910. (Henry died in October 1909 and Alice on Christmas Day 1909.) They raised 4 children in the Hall; Elizabeth, Turner, Alice and Henry. Daughters Alice and Elizabeth lived here and managed the plantation after their parent’s death.