CHAPTER 33
The Tracy Family History
Spring Hill and Glentivar
Spring Hill
(Ivy Neighborhood)
Home of Mr. Garrard Glenn
Spring Hill is actually two stories: First, is that of the plantation itself. Original patent of 2,000 acres on Ivy Creek, taken out by Charles Hudson Hanover, 1735, and bought from him, 1737, by the elder Michael Woods Sr. Margaret Woods, a daughter, married Andrew Wallace the immigrant at about this time...They lived at Spring Hill, Andrew Wallace dying in 1785. Thomas Wells of Philadelphia, who is remembered as one of the group of men who interested Mr. Jefferson in the development of the Albemarle Academy. (The school then existed on paper only and eventually evolved into the University of Virginia.), and who served as one of its trustees, was probably the next owner. (The property then passed to a couple of other owners.) Spring Hill entered the John Wood Jr. family and is still the home of direct descendants of this line. Ivy Depot, originally known as Woodville, was laid off in 1826 upon fifty acres of this estate.
Spring Hill becomes the new home for the newlyweds, Margaret Woods and Andrew Wallace. To marry, the young couple had to leave Albemarle County, and ride to Orange County “...to find a clergyman of the Established Church, since no other denomination at that period could legally perform the marriage ceremony.” For our Presbyterians to maintain the function of local government they had to take an oath to the Church of England. The Presbyterian Church officials had to take an oath to the Established Church. (Mere technicalities.) But to marry, one had to travel no matter how far, to a Church of England clergyman to perform the ceremony. This couple's marriage tells us that Albemarle County was ruled by the Presbyterian Church, and there was no Established Church in our county.
The Presbyterians were not required to attend the Church of England services, however, they were required financially to support the Established Church, its institutions, and clergymen. They had to pay for the “...upkeep of Episcopal Church buildings, and parsons’ homes and farms.” (These are not mere technicalities.) This taxation without representation would last until the Revolutionary War.
Glentivar
(Greenwood Neighborhood)
Home of Captain and Mrs. H.A.W. Randall Mills
The home of Michael Wallace and his wife Lavinia. Mr. Wallace obtained permission to plant the “mountain field” of this plantation in Albemarle pippins (apples), this being the beginning of their cultivation in this neighborhood.
Lavinia wrote in the deed “that she signed it gladly.”
Spring Hill and Meriwether Lewis, the famed explorer:
Meriwether was born in present-day Ivy in 1774. However, Ivy was not created until many years later, in 1826. Ivy was carved out of 50 acres of Spring Hill. This was still Spring Hill farm at the time of his birth, which means that Meriwether Lewis was born on our people's farm.
Today: John Grisham, the writer, and his family live in Albemarle. They live on a 1,000 acre horse farm in the Covesville area outside of Charlottesville. This is the historic "Oakwood" plantation. The dwelling was built in 1785 by the Harris family.
Note: One of the most common crops during the Virginia Colonial period was marijuana (same as today). So valuable, that at times it was required to be grown by law. It was the stalk, hemp, that was used for paper, sails, rope, gunnysacks, textiles, and at times it was even used for money. Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew marijuana on their plantations.
My family history web site has 79 chapters. If you would like to know more about the other chapters then go to my
Home Page www.thetracyfamilyhistory.net
Next Chapter