Bel Alton in Charles County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Rich Hill Through the Years
) 1666 Hugh Thomas receives a 600 acre patent to "Rich Hill."
) 1666—1714 Beginnings
) 1714—1807 Brown Family Era
) (Image of Dr. Gustavus Brown)
) Scottish immigrant Dr. Gustavus Brown builds the house. 1729
) 1807—1971 Cox Family Era
) (Image of chimneys.)
) 1807 Samuel Cox, the elder, purchases the property in 1807. He may have added the massive chimney at the west end and raised the hipped roof.
) (Image of Samuel Cox)
) Samuel Cox inherits Rich Hill in 1849. It is during his ownership that Booth and Herold hide on his property in April 1865.
) 1971-2014 Joseph and Mary Vallario
) (Images of house and National Register of Historic Places marker.)
) Rich Hill is added to the National Register of Historic Places.
) (Image of house.)
) Joseph Vallario modifies the house to its 18th century appearance by removing the front and rear porches and the East Wing addition.
) 2014 2014—present Charles County & the Friends of Rich Hill
) (Image of the house and eight people.)
) Charles County begins rehabilitation of Rich Hill.
) Richhill.org
Erected 2017 by Friends of Rich Hill, Charles County Government.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Booth's Escape series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1666.
Location. 38° 28.267′ N, 76° 57.933′ W. Marker is in Bel Alton, Maryland, in Charles County. Marker can be reached from Rich Hill Farm Road, 0.1 miles Bel Alton Newtown Rd. Marker between parking lot and house. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bel Alton MD 20611, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Rich Hill (here, next to this marker); Archaeology Provides a Key to the History of Rich Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); Rich Hill Farm in the 19th Century: Samuel Cox and his Award-Winning Farm (within shouting distance of this marker); Rich Hill Farm in the 20th Century (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Rich Hill (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); John Wilkes Booth and David Herold (approx. 1.2 miles away); Pine Thicket (approx. 1.2 miles away); John Wilkes Booth (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bel Alton.
Also see . . .
1. Rich Hill. Maryland's National Register Properties (Submitted on January 23, 2019.)
2. Booth's Escape Byway. Maryland Office of Tourism website entry (Submitted on August 19, 2019.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 23, 2019. This page has been viewed 365 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 23, 2019. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.