Near Minnieville in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Bel Air Plantation

June 16, 2005

1. Bel Air Plantation Marker

Inscription. This land was part of a 2960-acre tract granted to Henry Walker in 1677 which he called “Walker Town.” Major Charles Ewell (c. 1713–1747) acquired 800 acres in 1739 and built “Bel Air” in 1740. The house is believed to be built on the foundations of an early frontier fort. Ewell was a vestryman and churchwarden of Dettingen Parish and formed a partnership in 1744 to establish an iron works on the Occoquan. His son Col. Jesse Ewell (1743–1805) was a justice and militia commander for Prince William County. Notable guests at “Bel Air” included George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Rev. Mason Locke Weems (1759–1825), George Washington’s first biographer and originator of the cherry tree story, married Frances Ewell in 1795 and is buried here. At the time of Jesse Ewell’s death, 18 slaves were employed on this farm. In 1848 the house was bought by Chapman Lee, a native of Connecticut who farmed “Bel Air” without using slaves.

Erected 2005 by Prince William County Historical Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Notable Buildings • War, US Revolutionary.

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In addition, it is included in the Virginia, Prince William County Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1677.

Location. 38° 38.357′ N, 77° 21.902′ W. Marker is near Minnieville, Virginia, in Prince William County. It is on General Washington Drive half a mile north of Minnieville Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14513 General Washington Drive, Woodbridge VA 22193, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area,

in Northern Virginia,

and in the Piedmont.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North 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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow

September 26, 2007

2. Bel Air Plantation Marker

One of Bel Air Plantation's gate pillars can be seen in the background.

flies: Minnieville (approx. ¾ mile away); Greenwood Presbyterian Church and Cemetery (approx. 0.9 miles away); “Let There Be Lights” (approx. one mile away); Howison Homestead (approx. one mile away); a different marker also named Howison Homestead (approx. one mile away); Carey M. Perkinson (approx. 1.3 miles away); Montclair Veterans Flagpole (approx. 1.4 miles away); Maddox Cemetery (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Minnieville.