Belmont's elegant house was erected 1799-1802 by Ludwell Lee (1760-1836),
son of Richard Henry Lee, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Although practically unknown to most architectural scholars, the house is
one of the most refined expressions of Federal-style plantation architecture
in the Middle Atlantic region. Laid out in the popular five-part plan, it is
akin to such notable houses as Woodlawn, Dumbarton House in Washington,
D.C., and the mansions of Annapolis.

Ludwell Lee was born on his father's plantation, Chantilly, in Westmoreland
County. He acquired the Belmont property through his first wife (and first
cousin), Flora Lee, who inherited the land through their common grandfather
Thomas Lee of Stratford. Thomas Lee had patented the Belmont tract in 1728.
Ludwell served as aide-de-camp to General Lafayette during the campaign of
1781. Like most of his kinsman, he went into public service and became a
member of the Virginia General Assembly.

The plantation served as a refuge for President Madison when the British
sacked Washington, D.C. during the war of 1812, and when General Lafayette
made his triumphal tour of America in 1825, he was lavishly entertained by
his old friend Ludwell Lee at Belmont.

John Philip Adams, Cobb's Hall Lee Family
Baytown, Texas 77520


-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Lonny J. Watro
Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2005 1:42 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Belmont of Keswick Hunt County near Monticello


Could anyone tell me the history of the Belmont Plantation of Keswick Hunt
County. To pass the time I occassionally look through the Wall Street
Journal's Friday's Country Estates pages to see what plantations are on the
sellers block. This week there are two listed in the Charlottesville area
that appear to have some history.

Medow Hill Farm near Wintergreen Resort is only circa 1913.
But then there is Blemont which is claimed to be:
"Historic circa 1735 manor home on 23 acres in heart of Keswick Hunt
County."

I searched the Internet to see if I could find a historical write-up for
Belmont of Albemarle (which is the county it would have probably been a part
of in 1735) - no luck. I'm sure Belmont must have had some interesting
inhabitants, because their neighbors would have been the Jeffersons, the
Merriwethers, the Lewis's, the Walkers, and other notable Albemarle citizens
of that time.

Thanks,
Lonny Watro

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