Belvale facts for kids

Belvale is a very old and important house located in Fairfax County, Virginia. It was built a long time ago, between 1763 and 1766. A man named George Johnston built it. He was an important person in Virginia during his time.

Belvale: A Historic Virginia Home

Belvale was the country home of George Johnston. He was a member of the Virginia Assembly from 1758 to 1766. This was like being a lawmaker in the government of Virginia back then. Johnston was also a good friend of Patrick Henry, who was famous for saying "Give me liberty or give me death!"

Johnston was also a legal advisor to George Washington. This meant he helped Washington with legal matters. Because of this, George Washington often visited Belvale. Sometimes, Belvale is also called "Belle Vale Manor" in old records. While Belvale was Johnston's country home, he also had a house in the city of Alexandria.

The Land's History

The land where Belvale stands has a long history. It was first given out on July 6, 1698, to a person named Richard Carpenter. The land was located near a place called "Doeg's Run," which is now known as Dogue Creek.

Richard Carpenter passed the land to his wife Mary and daughter Ann in 1750. Later, in 1763, Mary and Ann sold the property to George Johnston. This is when Johnston started building the Belvale house we know today.

Interesting Stories About Belvale

People say that the land around Belvale has a ghost! The story goes that a young man was killed in a duel there. A duel was a fight between two people, often with swords or guns, to settle an argument. This young man was supposedly buried under a cedar tree. Some stories even say that George Washington helped dig the grave and plant the tree.

Records from the Historic American Buildings Survey mention that there might have been a cemetery on the property. This burial ground might have been used for enslaved people who lived and worked there. Today, this burial ground is no longer visible.