Abingdon (Plantation : Va.)

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Abingdon (also known as the Alexander-Custis Plantation) was a plantation that the prominent Alexander, Custis, Stuart, and Hunter families owned. The plantation's site is now located in Arlington County in the U.S. state of Virginia. In 1778, John Parke Custis, the son of Daniel Parke Custis and Martha Washington and the stepson of George Washington, purchased Abingdon and its 1,000-acre estate from Robert Alexander.

Abingdon is known as the birthplace of Eleanor "Nelly" Parke Custis Lewis (March 31, 1779 – July 15, 1852), a granddaughter of Martha Washington and a step-granddaughter of United States President George Washington. Published accounts have credited Abingdon as being the home to the progenitor of all weeping willows (Salix babylonica) living in the United States. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which occupies part of Abingdon's grounds, contains indoor and outdoor displays that commemorate the plantation's history.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Peter family papers, 1772-1932 George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
referencedIn Records of the National Park Service, 1785 - 2006. National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records, 2013 - 2017 National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration
referencedIn Historical Photograph Files, 1896–1963 National Archives at College Park
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Custis (Family : Virginia) family
associatedWith Custis, John Parke, 1754-1781 person
associatedWith Lewis, Nelly Custis, 1779-1852 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Arlington VA US
Subject
Plantations
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

Establishment 1778

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