Name/Title
1975 Article: Weems-Botts HouseCataloged By
Rachel HughesPublication Details
Publication Type
NewspaperDate Published
circa Oct 1975Transcription
Transcription
The Weems-Botts House at the corner of Duke and cameron streets in Dumfries, is first on the tour. The Weems house is reported to be the oldest frame house in Dumfries. It sits on 1.6 acres of land at the corner. Parson Weems, nationally known biographer of George washington, bought the house in 1798 from trustees of Dumfries for "35 pounds, current money of Virginia."
Weems apparently used the house as a bookstore. He moved to Bel Air Plantation in 1808 or 1809 and preached at Pohick Church during his years in Prince William County.
The property was sold to Benjamin Botts, a noted local attorney, in 1802. Botts came into national prominence during the Aaron Burr trail. Upon his death in the Richmond Theater fire of 1811, the property came into the hands of John Miner Botts. From 1869 until a recent date the property was the residence of the Merchant family and was purchased in May of 1974 by historic Dumfries to house a museum to contain artifacts and papers from the area and serve as an information center forTranscriber
Rachel HughesCreated By
info@historicdumfriesva.orgCreate Date
August 28, 2024Updated By
info@historicdumfriesva.orgUpdate Date
August 30, 2024