Stratford Hall (plantation) facts for kids
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Stratford Hall
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Back side of Stratford in 2012
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Built | 1738 |
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| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000851 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | October 7, 1960 |
Stratford Hall is a famous historic house in Westmoreland County, Virginia, United States. It was the home of the important Lee family of Virginia for four generations. This special place is known as the childhood home of two Founding Fathers of the United States. These men, Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee, both signed the United States Declaration of Independence.
Stratford Hall is also the birthplace of Robert E. Lee. He became a famous general during the American Civil War. Today, Stratford Hall is a National Historic Landmark. It is open to the public as a museum, cared for by the National Park Service.
Contents
Building Stratford Hall
The story of Stratford Hall begins with Thomas Lee. He was an important person in Virginia in the early 1700s. In 1717, Thomas Lee bought the land for Stratford Hall. He knew it was a great spot for farming and trade because it was right on the water.
Building the main house, called the Great House, started in the late 1730s. It was designed in the Georgian style. The house is made of brick and has two stories. It's shaped like an "H" and has four smaller buildings around it. These smaller buildings are still there today.
By 1742, Stratford Hall was a very busy place. It was a large farm, known as a plantation, where many people lived and worked. One visitor even said it was like "a towne in itself." About 200 enslaved African people lived and worked at Stratford and other Lee properties.
Life on the Plantation
Stratford Hall had a busy dock on the Potomac River. Many merchant ships came and went from here. There was also a grist mill that ground wheat and corn. Enslaved and indentured servants worked hard farming crops like tobacco.
Many skilled workers also lived and worked at Stratford. These included blacksmiths, coopers (who made barrels), carpenters, tailors, gardeners, and weavers. Stratford Hall is located in a historic area of Virginia called the Northern Neck.
The Lee Family's Legacy
Thomas Lee and his wife, Hannah Harrison Ludwell, raised eight children at Stratford Hall. Their six sons and two daughters all played important roles in early American history.
- Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee were delegates to the Second Continental Congress. They both signed the United States Declaration of Independence. Richard Henry Lee later served as President of the Continental Congress.
- Thomas Ludwell Lee was active in Virginia politics. He helped write the Virginia Declaration of Rights.
- William Lee and Dr. Arthur Lee were diplomats. They worked to help America gain independence from Great Britain.
- Hannah Lee was an early supporter of women's rights.
Later Generations at Stratford Hall
Thomas Lee's oldest son, Philip Ludwell Lee Sr., inherited Stratford Hall. He continued to expand the plantation, making it very large. Philip and his wife, Elizabeth Steptoe, had two daughters. Their daughter Matilda later inherited Stratford Hall.
Matilda married Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee. He was a hero of the American Revolution. They lived at Stratford Hall for a few years before Matilda passed away.
During this time, an enslaved man named Caesar was a chef at Stratford. He was known for making hot chocolate for guests. His son, Caesar Jr., worked as a postillion, riding horses to guide carriages.
"Light Horse Harry" Lee later married Ann Hill Carter. Their fourth child, Robert Edward Lee, was born at Stratford Hall in 1807. Robert E. Lee only lived at Stratford Hall for his first four years. However, he always remembered it fondly. During the Civil War, he even wrote about wanting to buy it back.
Sadly, "Light Horse Harry" Lee faced financial problems. His family had to leave Stratford Hall in 1810 or 1811. The plantation then passed to his son, Major Henry Lee IV. But he also faced money troubles and had to sell Stratford Hall.
Stratford Hall After the Lees
For over a century, Stratford Hall was owned by other families. In 1822, William C. Somerville bought the property. After his death, the plantation was sold again in 1828 to Henry D. Storke. His wife, Elizabeth "Besty" McCarty Storke, lived there until she passed away in 1879. She is buried at Stratford Hall.
In 1929, a group of women formed the Robert E. Lee Memorial Association. They wanted to save Stratford Hall and honor the Lee family. The Association bought the property from the Storke family's heirs. Today, this Association takes care of Stratford Hall and keeps it open for visitors.
Stratford Hall was even featured on a United States postage stamp! It appeared on a 4-cent stamp in 1936–1937. The stamp showed General Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, with Stratford Hall in the middle.
Burials at Stratford Hall
- Thomas Lee
- Hannah Harrison Ludwell
See also
