historic site historic site commonly known listed national_register_of_historic_places virginia landmark virginia possessed lee family virginia built main house following purchase home working farm series private owners acquired federal government area construction airport year later national historic site today county operates site specific focus lee family history period land likely controlled groups claimed area english settlers encountered language speaking members tribe modern day known raid july bacon rebellion english colonists settling modern came conflict diplomatic attempts failed governor sent june military action unclear later land grants english settlers disputed suggesting english gained control area english took control violent conflict little recorded disposition land time english gained control land patented lee family virginia lee period originally acquired grandfather inherited richard father death land divided richard younger brother older richard given northern half having resided manager property approximately period predominant crop grown tobacco richard severely curtailed tobacco production favor sustainable crops including wheat corn reduced soil inherent tobacco production allowed practice crop rotation planted fruit including peach apple trees produce spirits richard constructed dairy ran primarily supervision wife lee election united_states congress years richard turned day day management estate brother supervised spring planting fall harvest managed collection rent tenant farmers construction large house richard planned estate construction begun left congress richard chosen estate having drawn heavy debt trying aid brothers severe financial difficulties decided longer sustain ownership accordingly decided sell plantation raise cash pay debt sold second cousin son years purchase called family able realize annual profit success system employed wife complications delivery fifth child died years later nervous breakdown stroke unable care committed philadelphia following breakdown placed administrative care nephew management marked apparent managers money estate having allowed estate clear debt stocked arranged good system years according universal belief opinion friends connections neighbors wasted debts lost colonel replaced committee estate january butler proved unsatisfactory june county court ordered removal good management estate control placed hands colonel george_washington hunter claims hands fare maintained single devoted proprietor father summer children exception entered navy care relatives moved care lee children start select seminary boys girls subsequent years lee children grew older began leave entered navy went west_point moved west ohio country oldest daughter married sunrise ceremony february brothers law absent estate harrison took representing interests appointed administrator colonel hunter replaced july finally bizarre period estate ostensibly sold buyer arrested england prior completing purchase sold merchant period following purchase home working farm series private owners land including main house acquired way construction airport campaign save site began immediately involved included previous owners property lee descendants neighbor later endowed provides support site campaign ended president signed legislation making national historic site county agreed operate site county historical park acquired additional acres bring total size historic site approximately acres site historic period significance encompasses ownership interpretation site reflects ownership founder explains park authority decision completely furnished federal period chain ownership
Sully Historic Site