Maryland Historical Trust Inventory No. 74B-016a Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form

1. Name of Property (indicate preferred name)

historic William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor (preferred)

other Beall Tenant House

2. Location

street and number 17500 Clagett Landing Road not for publication

city, town Upper Marlboro vicinity

county Prince George's

3. Owner of Property (give names and mailing addresses of all owners) name Richard H. and Peggy B. Dobson

street and number 13600 Brandywine Road telephone

city, town Upper Marlboro state MD zip code 20613-5904

4. Location of Legal Description courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Prince George's County Courthouse liber 2521 folio 123

city, town Upper Marlboro tax map 78 tax parcel 13 tax ID number 07 0718874

5. Primary Location of Additional Data Contributing Resource in National Register District

Contributing Resource in Local Historic District

Determined Eligible for the National Register/Maryland Register

Determined Ineligible for the National Register/Maryland Register

Recorded by HABS/HAER

Historic Structure Report or Research Report at MHT

X Other: Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Prince George's County Planning Department

6. Classification

Category Ownership Current Function Resource Count district public agriculture landscape Contributing Noncontributing building(s) X private commerce/trade recreation/culture buildings structure both defense religion 1 sites X site domestic social structures object education transportation objects funerary work in progress 0 1 Total government unknown health care X vacant/not in use Number of Contributing Resources industry other: previously listed in the Inventory 1

7. Description Inventory No. PG: 74B-016a Condition

excellent deteriorated

good X ruins

fair altered

Prepare both a one paragraph summary and a comprehensive description of the resource and its various elements as it exists today.

The William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor is located at 17500 Clagett Landing Road in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. The site of the William Wells House, Clagett House (PG: 74B-015), William Elliott House (PG: 74B-16b), and a tobacco barn are all located on the same parcel of land known as Cool Spring Manor. The Clagett House remains extant, remnants of the other dwellings and outbuildings are located on the property. The property is surrounded by agricultural field and woodlands to the north, east, and west. A late-twentieth-century residential development is located to the south of Clagett Landing Road. SITE The William Wells House at Cool Spring Manor is no longer extant. During the 2007 on-site survey, the dwelling was found to have been reduced to a small pile of brick and wood rubble. The Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation notates that the structures on the 185.51-acre site were razed in January of 1998. The William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor was constructed c. 1795 for farmer William Wells. When the building was surveyed in 1985, it consisted of a one-and-a-half-story, three-bay structure. The heavy hand-hewn joists, joined by pegs in bird-mouth joints, were clad in beaded clapboard joined by rose-head nails. The building was covered by a steeply pitched side-gabled roof with an extended slope on the façade that covered a porch. An exterior brick chimney was located in each gable end. The structure was fenestrated by 6/6 and 4/4 windows. The two-room interior of the dwelling had no floor at the time of the 1985 on-site survey; the log post foundation was then visible.1 INTEGRITY The William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor retains no above-ground integrity. The structure has lost all integrity of design, workmanship, materials, association, and feeling due to its ruinous condition. What remains of the dwelling is located on its original site surrounded by the Clagett House at Cool Spring Manor (PG: 74B-015) and the remains of the William Elliott House (PG: 74B-16b), retaining its integrity of location. The loss of over 150 acres of the Cool Spring Manor parcel has compromised its integrity of setting.

1 Susan G. Pearl, “William Wells House at Cool Spring Manor,” (PG: 74B-16a) Maryland Historical Trust State Historic Sites Inventory Form (1985), 7:1.

8. Significance Inventory No. PG: 74B-016a Period Areas of Significance Check and justify below

1600-1699 agriculture economics health/medicine performing arts

X 1700-1799 X archeology education industry philosophy

1800-1899 architecture engineering invention politics/government

1900-1999 art entertainment/ landscape architecture religion

2000- commerce recreation law science

communications ethnic heritage literature social history

community planning exploration/ maritime history transportation

conservation settlement military X other: Local history

Specific dates c. 1795 Architect/Builder Unknown Construction dates c. 1795 Evaluation for: National Register Maryland Register not evaluated Prepare a one-paragraph summary statement of significance addressing applicable criteria, followed by a narrative discussion of the history of the resource and its context. (For compliance projects, complete evaluation on a DOE Form – see manual.)

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor, located at 17500 Clagett Landing Road in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, marks the location of a late-eighteenth-century building. The vernacular farmhouse, no longer extant, reflected the significant role of tobacco farming in Prince George’s County during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The tenants of the site may have left an archaeological record. The site’s importance as an archaeological site could not be determined at the time of the 2007 on-site survey. This site no longer retains sufficient above-ground integrity to convey its significance as part of the county’s agricultural history.

HISTORIC CONTEXT

The William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor is located north of Upper Marlboro. According to the 1861 Martenet Map Florenceville had a blacksmith shop and schoolhouse, which were located to the east of present-day Route 301, just south of Clagett Landing Road. Florenceville was likely established as a tobacco port along the Patuxent River due to the presence of Wootton’s Landing in 1861.2 By 1878, Florenceville had an established store and doctor’s office.3 As the Patuxent River and the Western Branch silted, the river became unnavigable for large ships transporting tobacco. As a result, Baltimore became the commercial hub of tobacco in Maryland. Benedict Calvert originally owned the entire parcel of land known as Cool Spring Manor. Calvert’s children sold 200 acres of Cool Spring Manor to William Wells in March of 1793.4 In 1798, the property was occupied by Wells and consisted of a 27’ by 20’ dwelling (c. 1795), 20 by 16 foot kitchen, 12’ by 10’ meathouse, and 18’ by 14’ cornhouse.5

2 Simon J. Martenet, “Atlas of Prince George’s County, Maryland, 1861,” Adapted from Martenet’s Map of Prince George’s County, Maryland (Baltimore: Simon J. Martenet C.E., 1861). 3 G.M. Hopkins, Atlas of Fifteen Miles Around Washington, Including the County of Prince George Maryland (Philadelphia: G.M. Hopkins, C.E., 1878). 4 Elizabeth, George, and John Calvert to William Wells, Prince George’s County Land Records, JRM 2:104. 5 Pearl, “William Wells House at Cool Spring Manor,” 8:1.

Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. PG: 74B-016a Historic Properties Form

William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor Continuation Sheet Number 8 Page 1 After Wells’ death in 1842, his estate devised 270 acres of Cool Spring Manor, his “home Plantation,” to his sister Sarah Wells Elliott’s son, William Elliott.6 Elliott constructed the nearby William Elliott House (PG: 74B-16b) c. 1850. Elliott was born around 1824 and was working the land of Cool Spring Manor as a farmer in 1850.7 The 1861 Martenet Map indicates William D. Clagett owned the property to the north of Clagett Landing Road and William Elliott owned the property to the south.8 In 1864, William Elliott and his wife Rachel sold 334 acres of Cool Spring Manor to Samuel L. Brooke.9 Brooke died in 1869 and left the property to his son, T. Blake Brooke.10 The 1878 Hopkins Map only indicates that Henry W. Clagett resided at the Clagett House at Cool Spring Manor.11 In 1878, the William Wells House was sold to Brooke’s brother Samuel Brooke, Sr., to pay off Brooke’s debts.12 Samuel Brooke, Jr. remained in possession of the property until 1918 when it was sold to James B. and John F. Beall.13 The Bealls farmed the property through the 1950s and used the William Wells House as a tenant house. In January 1961, when Helen H. and George E. Schindler sold Cool Spring Manor to Richard H. and Peggy B. Dobson, the deed contained a clause allowing the Schindlers to harvest that year’s crop of corn, soy beans, and tobacco. “The within described property is conveyed subject to existing tenancies, and the Sellers reserve the right of ownership to crops in the ground for 1960 and the right to harvest the same as well as the right to store the same in barns on the property until and as when placed for sale during late 1960 as to Corn and Soy Beans, and late spring, 1961, (May-August) for tobacco, and there is to be no charge by the Grantee for these reservations.”14 The William Wells House at Cool Spring Manor was a productive tobacco farm for over two hundred years. Since the time of the 1985 on-site survey, the William Wells House has fallen into disrepair and deteriorated to a point where it has been deemed no longer extant. The Dobsons currently own the William Wells House Site, Clagett House (PG: 74B-015), and the William Elliott House (PG: 74B-16b), all located at Cool Spring Manor.

6 Pearl, “William Wells House at Cool Spring Manor,” Chain of Title. 7 1850 U.S. Federal Census, Marlborough, Prince George’s County, Maryland, Series M432, Roll 295, Page 78, William Elliott. 8 Simon J. Martenet, “Atlas of Prince George’s County, Maryland, 1861,” Adapted from Martenet’s Map of Prince George’s County, Maryland (Baltimore: Simon J. Martenet C.E., 1861). 9 William and Rachel Elliott to Samuel L. Brooke, Prince Geogre’s County Land Records, FS 2:553. 10 Pearl, “William Wells House at Cool Spring Manor,” Chain of Title. 11 G.M. Hopkins, Atlas of Fifteen Miles Around Washington, Including the County of Prince George Maryland (Philadelphia: G.M. Hopkins, C.E., 1878). 12 Nathan Masters ordered by Court to sell real estate of T. Blake Brooke, Prince George’s County Land Records, HB 13:429. 13 Samuel Brooke, Jr., trustee, to James B. and John F. Beall, Prince George’s County Land Records, 137:288. 14 Helen H. and George E. Schindler to Richard H. and Peggy B Dobson, Prince George’s County Land Records, WWW 2521:123.

9. Major Bibliographical References Inventory No. PG: 74B-16a Hopkins, G.M. Prince George’s County, from Atlas of Fifteen Miles Around Washington. Philadelphia: G.M. Hopkins, C.E.,

1878. Martenet, Simon J. Martenet's Map of Prince George’s County, Maryland. Baltimore: Simon J. Martenet, 1861. Pearl, Susan G. “William Wells House at Cool Spring Manor.” (PG: 74B-16a) Maryland Historical Trust State Historic Sites Inventory Form, 1985. Prince George’s County Land Records. 1850 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Online: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007. Subscription database. Digital

scan of original records in the National Archives, Washington, DC. http://www.ancestry.com.

10. Geographical Data Acreage of surveyed property 185.51 Acreage of historical setting 334 Quadrangle name Bristol Quadrangle scale: 1:24,000 Verbal boundary description and justification

The William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor is located north and west of Clagett Landing Road, and east of South Crain Highway (MD 301). The site is located on 185.51 acres, which was originally part of a 334-acre parcel known as Cool Spring Manor. The dwelling has been historically associated with Parcel 13 on Tax Map 78 since its construction.

11. Form Prepared by name/title Saleh Van Erem, Architectural Historian

organization EHT Traceries, Incorporated date January 2008

street & number 1121 Fifth Street, NW telephone 202.393.1199

city or town Washington state DC

The Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties was officially created by an Act of the Maryland Legislature to be found in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Article 41, Section 181 KA, 1974 supplement. The survey and inventory are being prepared for information and record purposes only and do not constitute any infringement of individual property rights.

return to: Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Department of Planning 100 Community Place Crownsville, MD 21032-2023 410-514-7600

Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. PG: 74B-16a Historic Properties Form

William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor Continuation Sheet Number 9 Page 1

CHAIN OF TITLE PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY LAND RECORDS

Will T 1:258 Benedict Calvert, to son George, several parts of Cool Spring Manor and all February 18, 1788 parcels contiguous. Deed JRM 2:104 Elizabeth, George and John Calvert to William Wells (200 acres of Cool Spring March 8, 1793 Manor). Will PC 1:194 William Wells, to nephew, William Elliott “my home Plantation called May 4, 1842 Coolspring Manor containing 270 acres.” Deed FS 2:553 William and Rachel Elliott to Samuel L. Brooke (334 acres of Cool Spring December 13, 1864 Manor at $70 per acre). Will WAJ 1:416 Samuel L. Brooke to T. Blake Brooke (Plantation Cold Spring Manor, 334 acres). June 26, 1869 Deed HB 13:429 Nathan Masters ordered by Court to sell real estate of T. Blake Brooke (Cold June 3, 1878 Spring Manor) in order to pay his debts. (Property acquired by will of his father,

Samuel L. Brooke) 334 acres of Cool Spring manor are sold to highest bidder, Samuel Brooke, Sr., brother of T. Blake Brooke.

Deed JWB 25:688 Samuel Brooke, widower, to his children Anna Steele, William Clement Brooke, October 14, 1893 Samuel Brooke, Jr., Charles H. Brooke, Laura C. Brooke and Clarice Brooke

(334 acres of Cold Spring Manor).

Deed 49:341 Edward Hall, Jr., Trustee, to William M. Holladay (334 acres of Cold Spring December 21, 1908 Manor). Deed 49:342 William M. Holladay to Samuel Brooke, Jr., Trustee (334 acres of Cold Spring December 24, 1908 Manor). Deed 137:288 Samuel Brooke, Jr., Trustee, Charles Hill and Gertrude F. Brooke, Samuel November 25, 1918 Brooke, Jr., Anna Brooke Steele and Nevitt Steele, Clarice Yates and Isaac Irving

Yates, to James B. Beall and John F. Beall (334 acres known as Cold Spring Manor).

Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. PG: 74B-16a Historic Properties Form

William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor Continuation Sheet Number 9 Page 2 Deed 164:355 James B. and Mildred G. Beall to John F. Beall (Their interest in tract in Queen August 23, 1921 Anne District). Deed 926:13 John F.X. and Olive Beall to Matilda Duvall ($10, all of the parcel known as March 24, 1947 Cold Spring Manor). Deed 1549:414 Matilda W. Duvall to Helen H. and George E. Schindler ($10, 297 acres). October 27, 1952 Deed WWW 2521:123 Helen H. and George E. Schindler to Richard H. and Peggy B Dobson ($10, Cool January 3, 1961 Spring Manor).

Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. PG: 74B-16a Historic Properties Form

William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor Continuation Sheet Number 9 Page 3

Photo: William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor, looking east. (August 2007)

Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. PG: 74B-16a Historic Properties Form

William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor Continuation Sheet Number 9 Page 4

Photo: William Wells House at Cool Spring Manor, looking north, c. 1985. (Susan G. Pearl)