Weems–Botts Museum facts for kids

Weems–Botts House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Weems-Botts House
Location in Northern Virginia Show map of Northern Virginia Location in Virginia Show map of Virginia Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Corner of Duke Street and Cameron Street Dumfries, Virginia
Area	1.6 acres (0.65 ha)
NRHP reference No.	75002029
Quick facts for kids Significant dates
Added to NRHP	May 12, 1975

The Weems–Botts House Museum is a cool historic place in Dumfries, Virginia, in the United States. It includes the old Weems–Botts House and another building called the Weems–Botts Museum Annex. This annex has a special library for looking up old records. Both buildings are in Merchant Park. The park also has a bandstand that honors William Grayson, who was an important citizen and one of Virginia's first senators.

When you visit the museum, you can learn about the history of Dumfries. This town is the oldest officially recognized town in Virginia. You'll also discover stories about the people who lived in or used the house. Two important people were Mason Locke "Parson" Weems and a lawyer named Benjamin Botts.

The museum was fixed up in 1975 as part of a big project to celebrate 200 years of the U.S. The town of Dumfries owns the museum. A group called Historic Dumfries Virginia, Inc., which is a non-profit organization (meaning they don't make money for themselves), helps run it.

The House's History

Parson Weems (1759-1825) was the first person to write a biography about George Washington. He also made up the famous cherry tree story.

The Weems–Botts House was first used as a vestry for the Quantico Church. A vestry was a room or building where church leaders met and kept church records.

Parson Weems' Story

In 1798, a man named Parson Weems bought the house. He was from Maryland. Parson Weems was a clergyman, which is like a minister or priest. But he also became a writer and sold books. He would travel around in his wagon, selling books.

While selling books in Dumfries, Weems met Fanny Ewell. She was the daughter of a rich tobacco farmer named Colonel Jesse Ewell. Fanny and Parson Weems got married in 1795.

While he owned the house, Parson Weems wrote a famous book. It was called A History of the Life and Death, Virtues and Exploits of General George Washington. This book was the first biography written about George Washington. Weems also created the well-known cherry tree story. In this story, young George Washington says, "I cannot tell a lie, I did it with my little hatchet." Weems also made up a story that Washington threw a silver dollar over 300 feet across the Rappahannock River. He also wrote books about other important figures like Benjamin Franklin and William Penn. After his father-in-law passed away in 1805, Weems and his family moved to the Ewell family's large home, Bel Air.

Benjamin Botts' Time

'Parson Weems' Fable' is a painting from 1939 by Grant Wood. It shows Parson Weems and his famous "Cherry Tree" story.

In 1802, Parson Weems sold his shop to a lawyer named Benjamin Botts. Benjamin Botts used the building as his law office. He was from Dumfries and was becoming a very successful lawyer in Virginia.

Benjamin Botts is best known for being one of the lawyers who defended Aaron Burr. Burr was involved in a big trial where he was accused of serious crimes. Botts was killed in a terrible fire at the Richmond Theater on December 26, 1811.

Benjamin Botts (1776-1811) was a lawyer famous for defending Aaron Burr in a major trial.

After Benjamin Botts, the house had several different owners. From 1869 to 1968, the Merchant family lived there. The house was then restored and opened as a museum in 1975.