Lake Ridge in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Chinn Family
Photographed By Phyllis Prats, February 11, 2007
1. The Chinn Family Marker
Inscription.
The Chinn Family. . Near this site lived six generations of the Chinn family, one of Prince William County’s early African-American families. The family traces its heritage to Nancy, a slave born in 1794 on the William Roe farm in Fauquier County. William Roe’s nephew, Henry Fielder Roe, who owned land near present-day Lake Ridge, eventually became the owner of Nancy and her children through inheritance. One of Nancy’s daughters, Mary Jane, married Thomas Chinn, another slave, and they had eight sons. After Emancipation, the Chinns bought several hundred acres of land along Telegraph and Davis Ford Roads (now Minnieville Road). They built homes in the area known as Agnewville, or sometimes known as Chinntown. The family has a long history of service to the County. John Chinn owned a general store, and Robert and William Chinn donated land on which Mt. Olive Baptist Church stands. Several Chinns are buried in that church’s cemetery.
Near this site lived six generations of the Chinn family, one of Prince William County’s early African-American families. The family traces its heritage to Nancy, a slave born in 1794 on the William Roe farm in Fauquier County. William Roe’s nephew, Henry Fielder Roe, who owned land near present-day Lake Ridge, eventually became the owner of Nancy and her children through inheritance. One of Nancy’s daughters, Mary Jane, married Thomas Chinn, another slave, and they had eight sons. After Emancipation, the Chinns bought several hundred acres of land along Telegraph and Davis Ford Roads (now Minnieville Road). They built homes in the area known as Agnewville, or sometimes known as Chinntown. The family has a long history of service to the County. John Chinn owned a general store, and Robert and William Chinn donated land on which Mt. Olive Baptist Church stands. Several Chinns are buried in that church’s cemetery. (Marker Number 28.)
16.612′ W. Marker is in Lake Ridge, Virginia, in Prince William County. Marker is at the intersection of Minnieville Road (Local Route 640) and Old Bridge Road (Local Route 641), on the right when traveling north on Minnieville Road. It is at the end of the bus stops of the park-and-ride lot across from Tackett's Mill Shopping Center. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Woodbridge VA 22192, United States of America. Touch for directions.
5. Chinn Family Graves in the Mt. Olive Baptist Church Cemetery
The stone on the left is for Mary J. Chinn, one of Nancy's daughters and wife to Thomas Chinn.
Photographed By Kevin W., October 29, 2007
6. Chinn Family Graves in the Mt. Olive Baptist Church Cemetery
The stone in the background is for John Chinn, who owned the general store, and his family.
Photographed By Kevin W., October 29, 2007
7. Chinn Family Graves in the Mt. Olive Baptist Church Cemetery
Rebecca Chinn, wife to Robert Chinn who donated land for the church.
Photographed By Kevin W., October 29, 2007
8. Mt. Olive Baptist Church Corner Stone
Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Organized Oct. 17, 1915
Credits. This page was last revised on October 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 11, 2007, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 7,651 times since then and 185 times this year. Last updated on October 3, 2023, by N. Jozsa of Woodbridge, Virginia. Photos:1. submitted on February 11, 2007, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 2. submitted on July 12, 2009, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on October 29, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.