"Old Homes of Essex County, Virginia," (1957) says this about Cherry Walk, once Cherry Row: Cherry Walk, situated between Millers Tavern and Dunbrooke, has been a Broaddus home for over one hundred years. It is a Colonial site, and it was occupied prior to 1700. In 1739 James Farguson sold the place to John Croxton, Sr., for the sum of "7000 pounds of good tobacco and cask." He left the place to his son, John Croxton, Jr., who married Mary Anne Haile he, in turn, willed it to his oldest son, Carter, of Revolutionary fame whose remains now rest in the old burying ground back of the garden. This Carter requested that no stone or tablet mark his grave, as he wished his work in life to be his earthly monument. It was he who built the present house in 1781. The house is in a good state of preservation. It is built of brick in Queen Anne style, with Dutch roof, cypress shingles on the lowest portion, and dormer windows both front and back. The house contains ten rooms, three porches and a high basement which is still used as a dining room. There is a large chimney at each end of the house. The fireplaces within have tall fluted mantels. There is a hall through the center with double Cross and Bible doors at each end.The old bar fastening is still used. The first floor windows contain eighteen panes of glass with sash frames put together with wooden pegs. Even the big kitchen is in good repair. In it is the old crane with pot hooks and pots, waiting from year to year for "hog killing" time. Alexander Woodford Broaddus of Caroline County came to live at Cherry Walk in 1854. His first wife was Fanny Ellen, daughter of Carter Croxton. In 1859, he married Sally Haile, a daughter of Captain R.G. Haile of Beaver's Hill. They reared a large family at Cherry Walk. He was a successful farmer and added many acres to his estate. he was county treasurer for a number of years and died in office in 1883. Fiser, Mary Ferguson, Wichita, Kansas, ] John Ferguson and his children spelled their names several ways, even within the same document, as evidenced by the will abstracted below. While Fargisson, or Fargeson are probably the spellings they used most, I have chosen to list them with the spelling "Ferguson" which their decendants adopted (during the 2nd or 3rd generation from John Ferguson, Sr.) ______________________________________ From Larry Ferguson III: "John was probably brought to America as a deportee/indentured servant in 1667 (Patent Book 6, pg 45). He married Ann Stubbleson in 1683 (Book D7, pg 129)... Still trying to prove John's arrival in America but circumstantial evidence supports the theory strongly. " [email protected] ______________________________________ From Jesse Ferguson: 1. Name is spelled Fargeson in the records of Old Rappahannock County, VA. where the marriage is recorded under the date 1682. Ann is spelled Anne in this same record. 2. In the Order Book for Old Rappahannock County on page 16 is an order under the date of 2 April 1684 for John Fargeson to be paid by the County Court for services rendered. (Notes 1 and 2 source: Genealogy of Virginia families IV, He-S--The Pendleton Family by Mrs Katherine Cox Gottschalk, Washington, D.C. and Major John Bailey Calvert Nicklin, Chattanooga, Tenn., Page 677 (Broderbund CD #162)). ______________________________________ "My Ferguson Ancestors in America, 1680-1973" by James Edward Ferguson , pg. 1: John Ferguson's..."first known purchase of a tract of land in Virginia on 5 Novemebr 1680...It appears he lived at this site for the remainder of his life. His second son, James Ferguson, was born here." ______________________________________ Cherry Walk c.1780 (As it is Now--post ownership of John Ferguson)From Woodlawn-Sandy, turn left on Rt. 620 for 0.5 miles to Cherry Walk. After touring house return to Rt. 360 and proceed to Tappahannock to continue tour. Built on a colonial site by Carter Croxton, of Revolutionary War fame, the house remained in the family and was home to Alexander Woodford Broaddus, a county notable, who left it to his youngest daughter, Woodley, later Mrs. A. S. Acree. She guarded the property zealously for almost 100 years until her death in the mid 1970s. It was bought by the Rowlands in 1982.The house is a four-bay brick dwelling with dormered steep gambrel roof. Of particular note are the five supporting outbuildings: two dairies. a smokehouse, a summer kitchen, and a privy. A much-enlarged early barn, a plank corncrib, and a late 19th century blacksmith's shop have also been restored.Beverley Wellford Rowland, who has strong ties to this area dating to the 17th century, designed and planted the gardens after extensive research. Her plan included a formal herb garden, Mr. Rowlands vegetable garden which mirrors the design of the herb garden, a fruit plot, and a swimming pool with surrounding perennial borders filled with native and drought tolerant plants. The gardens reinforce the historic integrity and rural simplicity of the house and outbuildings and attest to the owners' continuing hands-on involvement with the project.The entire site, including 97 acres, house, and all outbuildings, is listed on the Virginia Register and the National Register of Historic Places and is protected in perpetuity by an historic and open space easement donated by the Rowlands to the State of Virginia.Open for the first time to Historic Garden Week visitors. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Speed Rowland, owners. SON, JOHN, SOLD TO CROXTON:Essex Co. Deed Book # 19, page 127 18 Jul. 1730 Virginia This indenture made the 18th day of July 1730 between Joseph Mann, John Farguson and John Croxton of South Farnham Parish, Essex County. That the said Joseph Mann for the sum of 34 pounds current money of Virginia to him in hand by John Farguson and John Croxton doth grant, bargain and confirm onto John Farguson and John Croxton and their heirs forever all the rights, title and interest to a certain parcel of land containing 6 acres in the above Parish and being part of a tract formerly belonging to Frances Brown, dec'd. Beginning at a White Oak to a corner between Joseph Mann and John Farguson from there to a corner maple between John Farguson and John Croxton's land to a corner hickory. To John Farguson and John Croxton and their heirs forever. s/ Joseph Mann s/ Mary (x) Mann Thomas Barker Thomas Younger Ann Croxton At a Court held for Essex County on the 21st day of July 1730, the deed was delivered to John Farguson and John Croxton by Joseph Mann and admitted to record.