Sweet Briar House, home of the Sweet Briar College presidents, began as a two story, six room, red brick farmhouse. It is believed that it was built in the late 18th century by one Joseph Crews who called it and his plantation, "Locust Ridge." Some of the plantation was originally patented as "wild land' in 1753.
Elijah Fletcher bought the house and 1,000 acres from Mr. Crews in 1830 for $7,000.00. Elijah had become a very wealthy land owner in VA. The plantation became the Fletchers' summer home and was called "Sweetbrier" for the wild roses that grew on the property.
Elijah had married to Maria Antoinette Crawford, whose father was the owner of Tusculum and seven other plantations, in 1813.
In 1858, Indiana and her sister, Elizabeth, were given "Sweet Briar" plantation by their parents. Their brother, Sidney, had received "Tusculum Plantation" from them several years earlier. Indiana later bought out her sister's share and became the sole owner.
Indiana married James Henry Williams, an Episcopal clergyman from New York, in 1865. They were blessed with only one child, a daughter, Maria Georgiana, who was called Daisy. Sadly Daisy died in 1884 from a lung ailment at the age of 16. James died in 1889.
After Indiana's death in 1900 and in accordance with her will, Sweet Briar College was chartered by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1901 in remembrance of her daughter, Daisy.
Indiana survived the Civil War, endured the death of her husband and only child. Her legacy continues today, as an all girl college. She was a remarkable woman.
Elijah Fletcher bought the house and 1,000 acres from Mr. Crews in 1830 for $7,000.00. Elijah had become a very wealthy land owner in VA. The plantation became the Fletchers' summer home and was called "Sweetbrier" for the wild roses that grew on the property.
Elijah had married to Maria Antoinette Crawford, whose father was the owner of Tusculum and seven other plantations, in 1813.
In 1858, Indiana and her sister, Elizabeth, were given "Sweet Briar" plantation by their parents. Their brother, Sidney, had received "Tusculum Plantation" from them several years earlier. Indiana later bought out her sister's share and became the sole owner.
Indiana married James Henry Williams, an Episcopal clergyman from New York, in 1865. They were blessed with only one child, a daughter, Maria Georgiana, who was called Daisy. Sadly Daisy died in 1884 from a lung ailment at the age of 16. James died in 1889.
After Indiana's death in 1900 and in accordance with her will, Sweet Briar College was chartered by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1901 in remembrance of her daughter, Daisy.
Indiana survived the Civil War, endured the death of her husband and only child. Her legacy continues today, as an all girl college. She was a remarkable woman.
Sweet Briar House, home of the Sweet Briar College presidents, began as a two story, six room, red brick farmhouse. It is believed that it was built in the late 18th century by one Joseph Crews who called it and his plantation, "Locust Ridge." Some of the plantation was originally patented as "wild land' in 1753.
Elijah Fletcher bought the house and 1,000 acres from Mr. Crews in 1830 for $7,000.00. Elijah had become a very wealthy land owner in VA. The plantation became the Fletchers' summer home and was called "Sweetbrier" for the wild roses that grew on the property.
Elijah had married to Maria Antoinette Crawford, whose father was the owner of Tusculum and seven other plantations, in 1813.
In 1858, Indiana and her sister, Elizabeth, were given "Sweet Briar" plantation by their parents. Their brother, Sidney, had received "Tusculum Plantation" from them several years earlier. Indiana later bought out her sister's share and became the sole owner.
Indiana married James Henry Williams, an Episcopal clergyman from New York, in 1865. They were blessed with only one child, a daughter, Maria Georgiana, who was called Daisy. Sadly Daisy died in 1884 from a lung ailment at the age of 16. James died in 1889.
After Indiana's death in 1900 and in accordance with her will, Sweet Briar College was chartered by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1901 in remembrance of her daughter, Daisy.
Indiana survived the Civil War, endured the death of her husband and only child. Her legacy continues today, as an all girl college. She was a remarkable woman.
Elijah Fletcher bought the house and 1,000 acres from Mr. Crews in 1830 for $7,000.00. Elijah had become a very wealthy land owner in VA. The plantation became the Fletchers' summer home and was called "Sweetbrier" for the wild roses that grew on the property.
Elijah had married to Maria Antoinette Crawford, whose father was the owner of Tusculum and seven other plantations, in 1813.
In 1858, Indiana and her sister, Elizabeth, were given "Sweet Briar" plantation by their parents. Their brother, Sidney, had received "Tusculum Plantation" from them several years earlier. Indiana later bought out her sister's share and became the sole owner.
Indiana married James Henry Williams, an Episcopal clergyman from New York, in 1865. They were blessed with only one child, a daughter, Maria Georgiana, who was called Daisy. Sadly Daisy died in 1884 from a lung ailment at the age of 16. James died in 1889.
After Indiana's death in 1900 and in accordance with her will, Sweet Briar College was chartered by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1901 in remembrance of her daughter, Daisy.
Indiana survived the Civil War, endured the death of her husband and only child. Her legacy continues today, as an all girl college. She was a remarkable woman.
