A Place Called "Courtland"

A Place Called "Courtland". Spotsylvania Court House National Historic District. , On April 14, 1839, John Pulliam, local farmer, wrote in his diary......"Agnes and myself went up to Lewis Rawlings to meeting, heard an excellent sermon by Reverend J. Cook, dined at Lewis Rawlings, came home.", In 1836, Samuel Alsop Jr. sold the "Tavern Tract" to Lewis Rawlings. Along the Tavern, came 1,034 acres and improvements, including a two story brick dwelling where Alsop had lived with his family. The home built by Alsop at this site existed prior to 1836. Alsop served spirits, held horse races and entertained at the Tavern and home. Rawlings and his wife Hannah, devoutly religious, held church services at the home. Perhaps overwhelmed by the number of parishioners who showed up regularly on Sunday, he donated land a short distance away and helped built Christ Episcopal Church in 1842., Lewis, Hannah and family would live here until 1852 when Joseph Sanford became the new owner. The home and 234 acres would pass to Phillip Anns in 1867. After Ann's death, the property would be sold by the County to Thomas Harris. In 1913, Harris separated the home from the Tavern and offered it for sale. C. P. Mason became the new owner along with 234 acres directly behind the home. On July 30, 1920, Peter Powell acquired the home and 121 acres for $7,500., [Captions:] , Capt. Jedediah Hotchkiss, C.S.A. drew this map of the battlefield showing the entrenchments near "Courtland.", This 1867 photo (left) shows "Courtland" as originally built with no porch at main entrance. Enlargement of main entrance below left shows a woman in black. This could be Phillip Anns's wife Lydia. Enlargement below right shows damage done to the house by Union Troops during the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse in 1864., The photo above shows the western side "Courtland" circa 1920., Union soldier Leo Frankenstein produced this watercolor of "Courtland" and Sanford's Tavern in 1865.