Joseph Chiswell White built this home for his new bride, Rebecca in 1824. They raised 5 children here – 3 boys and 2 girls. At least 2 of these boys fought in the Civil War. One (Thomas Henry White) served as an aide and scout to Robert E. Lee. Interestingly, both of these boys were eventually captured and paroled at Conrad’s Ferry (now White’s Ferry).
This is a truly incredible place. In this home, children once slid down the bannister, a young family gathered for dinner each night, boys embraced their mother one last time before heading off to war, and men returned to begin new chapters of their lives.
But with the the good memories, we must also acknowledge the dark ones. Joseph owned many slaves who worked the land here (a common thing in the Ag Reserve until slavery was abolished from Maryland in 1864) and the boys fought for and likely believed in a misguided cause that was ultimately (thankfully) crushed by the Union (nearly everyone from the Medley District who fought in the Civil War fought with the CSA).
