Maidstone-on-the-Potomac

Maidstone-on-the-Potomac is a historic house and farm located on the Potomac River near Falling Waters, West Virginia, directly opposite Williamsport, Maryland. The property encompasses approximately 218 acres, or 88 hectares, and includes a principal house whose origins date to about 1741. It is best understood as a historic property and geographic landmark rather than a conventional consumer or corporate brand. The house was built by Evan Watkins, who operated Watkins Ferry across the Potomac. The crossing connected the communities on either side of the river and was used by prominent travelers including George Washington and General Edward Braddock. The ferry gave the property an important role in regional transportation before the construction of a permanent bridge. In 1795, the property was sold to Peter Light. The Light family retained it until 1854 and substantially enlarged the house during its ownership. The crossing subsequently became known as Light's Ferry. It later passed to Robert Lemen, who converted the operation into a cable ferry; the site was therefore also identified as Lemen's Ferry in historical accounts. The property was involved in military movements during the American Civil War. In 1861, Union forces under Captain Abner Doubleday used the ferry to cross into Virginia during raids. In 1863, Doubleday again crossed the river by fording while pursuing Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia as it moved toward Gettysburg. Following Lee's defeat, approximately 70,000 Confederate soldiers crossed the river at Lemen's Ferry during their retreat. A bridge was built at the location in the late nineteenth century, replacing the ferry as the principal crossing. In the modern period, U.S. Route 11 passes through the property and divides the tract. The site also has a genealogical association with the Boone family through marriages connecting descendants of the Watkins family with relatives of Daniel Boone. Maidstone-on-the-Potomac was damaged by a fire of suspicious origin on the night of March 7, 2009. The incident occurred amid several similar fires reported in Berkeley County, West Virginia, and Washington County, Maryland, but the available reference material does not establish a confirmed cause, perpetrator, or legal outcome.

Maidstone-on-the-Potomac is a historic house and farm situated along the Potomac River near Falling Waters in Berkeley County, West Virginia. The property lies opposite Williamsport, Maryland, and covers roughly 218 acres. Its main house dates from approximately 1741, when Evan Watkins built it and operated a ferry at the river crossing. Watkins Ferry served as an important transportation link before the development of a bridge. Historical accounts associate the crossing with George Washington and General Edward Braddock, who used it during the colonial and early national periods. The Watkins family remained connected with the property and ferry for an extended period. In 1795, Peter Light acquired the property. Members of the Light family held it until 1854 and significantly expanded the house. During this period, the ferry and residence became known as Light's Ferry. After the property passed to Robert Lemen, he converted the crossing into a cable ferry, and the site became known as Lemen's Ferry in later historical references. The crossing acquired additional importance during the Civil War. In 1861, Union forces commanded by Captain Abner Doubleday used the ferry to move into Virginia during raids. In 1863, Doubleday crossed the river again by fording while pursuing the Army of Northern Virginia as it advanced toward Gettysburg. After the Confederate defeat at Gettysburg, about 70,000 Confederate soldiers crossed at Lemen's Ferry during the army's movement away from the battlefield. A permanent bridge was constructed at the site in the late nineteenth century, ending the ferry's central role as a transportation service. In the present landscape, U.S. Route 11 crosses the property and divides the historic tract. The location consequently represents several overlapping layers of regional history: colonial-era travel, ferry commerce, nineteenth-century estate development, Civil War military movement, and modern road infrastructure. The property also has a family-history connection to the Boone family. During the Watkins family's ownership of the ferry, descendants of Evan Watkins became connected by marriage to members of the Boone family. The recorded relationships include John Watkins, a great-great-grandson of Evan Watkins, who married Elizabeth Karn, a relative of Daniel Boone. Their son, Christopher Columbus Watkins, married Rachel Bristow, who was descended from Hannah Boone, a sister of Leah Boone. On the night of March 7, 2009, Maidstone-on-the-Potomac was damaged by a fire described as suspicious. The fire was one of several similar incidents reported within a short period in Berkeley County, West Virginia, and Washington County, Maryland. The cited material does not provide a definitive finding about the cause of the fire or identify any resulting prosecution. No information in the supplied references establishes a current owner, commercial operator, restoration program, or public visitation policy.

• 2009

  Fire damage

  [1]Maidstone-on-the-Potomacen.wikipedia.org

  A fire of suspicious origin damaged the property on March 7, during a period of similar fires in the surrounding region.

• 1863

  Civil War troop movements

  [1]Maidstone-on-the-Potomacen.wikipedia.org

  Abner Doubleday crossed the river near the property while pursuing Robert E. Lee's army, and approximately 70,000 Confederate soldiers later crossed at Lemen's Ferry after the Battle of Gettysburg.

• 1861

  Union military crossing

  [1]Maidstone-on-the-Potomacen.wikipedia.org

  Union forces under Captain Abner Doubleday used the ferry to cross into Virginia during Civil War raids.

• 1854

  End of Light family ownership

  [1]Maidstone-on-the-Potomacen.wikipedia.org

  The Light family relinquished the property after retaining it for several decades and enlarging the house.

• 1795

  Sale to Peter Light

  [1]Maidstone-on-the-Potomacen.wikipedia.org

  Peter Light purchased the property, beginning the Light family's period of ownership.

• 1741

  Construction of the main house

  [1]Maidstone-on-the-Potomacen.wikipedia.org

  Evan Watkins built the principal house, which became associated with the ferry crossing he operated on the Potomac River.

A historic riverfront house, farm, ferry site, and regional transportation landmark.

• 2009

  Suspicious fire at the historic property

  Maidstone-on-the-Potomac was damaged by a fire on March 7, 2009. The fire was described as suspicious and occurred alongside several similar fires in Berkeley County, West Virginia, and Washington County, Maryland. The supplied reference does not state whether the incident was conclusively determined to be arson or whether anyone was charged.

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1. 1Maidstone-on-the-Potomacen.wikipedia.org