Fox Hill - Grandview in Hampton, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Fox Hill

Bell's Island

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 14, 2020

1. Fox Hill Marker

Inscription. In 1812, two Englishmen, William Johnson and Alex Weston, jumped ship out on the bay and made their way to Bell's Island, less than a half mile to the east of this marker. No one knows whether they were pirates or deserters, but Johnson brought along a sea chest containing a ship's log, sailing entries, and ship drawings.

Johnson founded a Fox Hill family dynasty. He married Elizabeth Wallace from Maryland in 1814, and together they had nine children. He bought 25 acres of land about 1,000 feet south of this marker along both sides of Dandy Point Road. Many of William and Elizabeth's descendants live in Fox Hill today.

One who played a significant role in local history was Teresa Hubbard Hubbard Johnson. While her husband, James, was serving in the Confederate Army, family lore has it, Union forces from Fort Monroe raided local pantries and, in so doing, threatened the populace with starvation. The story continues that Teresa, then 23, walked from Fox Hill to Fort Monroe where she brought the matter to the attention of post commanders, including Gen. Benjamin Butler, and extracted a promise that the raids would end.

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William

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Johnson's Sea Chest - Courtesy of Fox Hill Historical Society

Drawing of the USS Adams from the 1813 logs of ship navigator William Johnson. - Courtesy of Fox Hill Historical Society

James and Teresa Johnson, "Tank and Tootsie" Courtesy of Fox Hill Historical Society

Erected by Bringing History to Life in partnership with Virginia Civil War Terails.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1812.

Location. 37° 4.776′ N, 76° 16.646′ W. Marker is in Hampton, Virginia. It is in Fox Hill - Grandview. It can be reached from the intersection of State Park Drive and Adriatic Drive when traveling north. Located in the Grandview Nature Preserve. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hampton VA 23664, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Virginia’s Peninsula

and in Coastal Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Tidewater,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 14, 2020

2. Fox Hill Marker

Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Fox Hill (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Fox Hill (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Fox Hill (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Fox Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); Back River Lighthouse Ruins (approx. 0.2 miles away); Buckroe Beach (approx. 2.8 miles away); Buckroe (approx. 2.8 miles away); a different marker also named Buckroe Beach (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hampton.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 15, 2020, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 590 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 15, 2020, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.