Chapter I: Front Matter

GREEN SPRING FARM
Fairfax County, Virginia

by
ROSS AND NAN NETHERTON

June 1970

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
ILLUSTRATIONS iv
PREFACE v
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vi
INTRODUCTION 1
HISTORICAL NOTES
I. Gentleman Freeholders: The Moss Family (1770-1835) 3
II. Orchard and Dairy: Fountain Beattie (1878-1917) 19
III. The End of the Farming Era: Michael Straight (1942-1969) 31
ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION: THE MANSION HOUSE 36
ASSOCIATED BUILDINGS
I. The Tobey House 51
II. The Barn 55
III. The Log Cabin 57
IV. The Spring House 59
APPENDIXES
A. Fairfax County Historic Landmarks Survey Form 63
B. Summary of Ownership 64
C. Will of John Moss, 1809 66
D. Inventory of Personal Estate of William Moss, April 15,
1835 68
E. Affidavit of Thomas Love and Alfred Moss, October 29,
1839 74
F. Inventory of Personal Estate of Thomas Moss, December 2,
1839 76
G. "A Visit From Mr. Polevoy," _The New Republic_, July 16,
1956 77
LIST OF SOURCE MATERIALS 81

ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure Page
1 John Warner Survey Map, 1740 4
2 John Halley Survey Map, 1840 12
3 R. R. Farr Survey, 1874 12
4 Hopkins' Atlas Map, 1879 20
5 Fountain Beattie and Annie Hathaway Beattie, c. 1885 22
The Mosby and the Beatties, c. 1890 22
The Old Stone Spring House, c. 1885 22
The Lane to Green Spring Farm, c. 1885 22
6 John Singleton Mosby 24
Reunion at Manassas 24
7 Front View of Green Spring Farm, 1936 30
Side View of Green Spring Farm, 1936 30
8 Berry Survey Map, 1941 30
10 Floor Plans, Mansion House 38
14 Three Views of the Tobey House, c. 1960 50
15 Floor Plans of the Tobey House 52
19 Spring House Floor Plans 58
20 Fairfax County Property Map, 1969 62