The Belmont constructed by Ludwell Lee is located east of Leesburg and is
not the Belmont of Albemarle County, some 100 miles away. Although there is
no definitive proof where James or Dolley Madison stayed after the flight
from Washington, it is claimed that Dolley did go to Lee's Belmont estate.
That is now restored and is the country club for a gated community.
Richard E. Dixon
Clifton, VA 20124-2115
703-830-8177
fax 703-691-0978
> [Original Message]
> From: John Philip Adams <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 9/18/2005 3:14:01 PM
> Subject: Re: Belmont of Keswick Hunt County near Monticello
>
> 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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