Elk Hill

Elk Hill is a Virginia historical marker in Goochland County, dedicated 2016.

Rte. 6, at intersection with Rte. 608

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About a mile southwest is Elk Hill, once owned by Thomas Jefferson. The land was patented by John Woodson in 1715 and was later acquired by John Wayles, father of Martha Wayles. Martha lived here with her first husband, Bathurst Skelton, who left her a widow in 1768 at the age of 19. Martha married Thomas Jefferson in 1772. Her sister inherited Elk Hill, but Martha and Thomas Jefferson purchased it in 1778. During the Revolutionary War, British Lt. Gen. Charles Cornwallis made Elk Hill his headquarters for several days in June 1781. His troops destroyed the barns, and a number of enslaved African Americans left with the army. Jefferson sold Elk Hill in 1799.

Maps this old were drawn largely by eye, so places on them can sit miles from where they really are. The pin is ours and marks the marker's location today.

TodayHistorical map

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

American Geographical Society Library, UW-Milwaukee

Historical maps covering this location

1719 · A new map of the English empire in America viz Virginia, New York, Maryland, New Jersey… (American Geographical Society Library, UW-Milwaukee)
1755 · Virginie, Maryland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1781 · MARCH of the ARMY under Lieut:t General EARL CORNWALLIS in VIRGINIA, from the JUNCTION at… (Digital Commonwealth, Boston Public Library)
1862 · Seat of war in Virginia (Digital Commonwealth, Boston Public Library)
1889 · Virginia and West Virginia (eastern portion). (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

Virginie, Maryland, 1755, covering the location of Elk Hill, with a pin at the marker's coordinates — Virginie, Maryland, 1755, covering this location. David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries. The pin is ours, placed from the marker's coordinates.

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What that marker records spans 1777 to 1789, overlapping William Gabby's years there.

From one family's 77-marker roster

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Elk Hill

Historical maps covering this location

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