Near Sharpsburg in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The People of Ferry Hill
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
| | National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | |
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, March 28, 2026
1. The People of Ferry Hill Marker
Primary source records do not tell the full story of those who lived and worked at Ferry Hill. Several members of the Blackford family-who owned Ferry Hill-kept diaries, providing detailed insights into their lives and business interests on the plantation.
John Blackford, his son Franklin, and Henry Kyd Douglas were three who did. These diaries are the main source of information about the daily life of people at Ferry Hill.
There are not any diaries from the women or the enslaved people who lived here. The names of wives and children were listed in wills and land deeds as they were updated with new marriages and births. Only some of the names of the people enslaved at Ferry Hill are known. Their names and experiences are found in the diaries of the plantation owners, newspaper ads about runaway slaves, property records, and deeds of sale.
Timeline of Residents at Ferry Hill
1818-1839
Family Residents: Property owner John Blackford, his second wife Elizabeth Knode, and their 8 children.
Enslaved Residents: There is no complete list of how many people were enslaved at Ferry Hill during this period. Some names that are known: Edmund, Julius, Murphy, John Lewis, Caroline, Enoch, Will, Anna, Daphney, Hannah, Malina, Aaron, Caroline, David, George, Isaiah, John, Mary,
this page online
1839-1848
Family Residents: John Blackford's three grown sons - Franklin, Henry, and William - and their wives and children.
Enslaved Residents: At least 10 people were enslaved at Ferry Hill during this period. Some names that are known: Edmund, Aaron, Murphy, Julius, Maria, and Jinny.
1848-1867
Family Residents: Helena Blackford Douglas, her husband Robert Douglas, their three children, and Robert's son from his first marriage, Henry Kyd Douglas.
Enslaved Residents: At least 16 people were enslaved at Ferry Hill during this period. Only one name is known: Edward Jackson.
Ferry Hill into the 20th Century
During the Civil War Ferry Hill served as a headquarters and encampment site for both Union and Confederate troops. After the war and the end of enslavement in the United States, Ferry Hill remained in the hands of Helena and Robert Douglas' descendants.
In 1941, the family turned Ferry Hill into a restaurant, which it remained until 1974 when it was sold to the National Park Service.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Agriculture
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, March 28, 2026
2. The People of Ferry Hill Marker
Location. 39° 26.294′ N, 77° 47.861′ W. Marker is near Sharpsburg, Maryland, in Washington County. It can be reached from Shepherdstown Pike (Maryland Route 34) west of Canal Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16502 Shepherdstown Pike, Sharpsburg MD 21782, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Baltimore Metro Region and in Western Maryland. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. 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 one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Swearingens Ferry and Pack Horse Ford (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The James Rumsey Bridge / The Battle of Antietam or Sharpsburg (about 300 feet away); Blackfords Ford (about 300 feet away); A View into the Past (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Ferry Hill Place (about 800 feet away); Shepherdstown (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Blackford's Ford (approx. 0.2 miles away); River Crossing (approx. 0.3 miles away in West Virginia). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sharpsburg.
Other markers no longer nearby. Ferry Hill Place (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Ferry Hill (was within shouting
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, March 28, 2026
3. Ferry Hill Plantation
The marker is visible in the lower right corner of this photo.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 30, 2026, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 22 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 30, 2026, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.
