Where is the "Garrett Farm"?

[SSlater]

Here is a problem the will amuse you as well as make you wonder. I'm sure it will surprise you.
In 1990, I was hired to supervise the construction of the "Boy Scout National Jamboree" on Fort A. P. Hill, in Caroline County, VA. I was given Maps and Orders that identified sensitive Historical Areas that we were to avoid. The "Garrett Farm" on Route 301, marked by the State Historical Sign, was included.
The instructions were prepared for the Norfolk District of the Corps of Engineers, by a Professional Survey Company, which I prefer not to name. Here is a complete copy of this topic given to me.

THE GARRETT FARM 44 Ce 85. This is the location of Richard H. Garrett's farm, where on April 26, 1865, John Wilkes Booth was captured and killed as he attempted to escape south after shooting Abraham Lincoln. The most detailed map from the 1860's indicates three houses along the Port Royal road in this vicinity, and the only one identified belonged to W. Garrett. It is situated on the west side of the road, just below the present Rollins Fork. This may be a mistake on the map, or it is possible that one of the unlabeled homes belonged to Richard Garrett and that W. Garrett was a nearby relative.
Unfortunately, heavy disturbance has probably destroyed any surviving archaeological evidence of the farmhouse and of the nearby tobacco barn in which Booth was apparently captured. The site remains a historically significant one, however, and additional research might throw more light on the Garrett family and their homes in the immediate vicinity. More important, it might confirm beyond any doubt exactly which Garrett farm was the site of Booth's death.
All this material - Maps, text, names, etc. will be donated to this Symposium, as soon as I can contact the owner and he accepts them.

[Steve]

(07-31-2017 08:02 PM)SSlater Wrote:  Here is a problem the will amuse you as well as make you wonder. I'm sure it will surprise you.
In 1990, I was hired to supervise the construction of the "Boy Scout National Jamboree" on Fort A. P. Hill, in Caroline County, VA. I was given Maps and Orders that identified sensitive Historical Areas that we were to avoid. The "Garrett Farm" on Route 301, marked by the State Historical Sign, was included.
The instructions were prepared for the Norfolk District of the Corps of Engineers, by a Professional Survey Company, which I prefer not to name. Here is a complete copy of this topic given to me.

THE GARRETT FARM 44 Ce 85. This is the location of Richard H. Garrett's farm, where on April 26, 1865, John Wilkes Booth was captured and killed as he attempted to escape south after shooting Abraham Lincoln. The most detailed map from the 1860's indicates three houses along the Port Royal road in this vicinity, and the only one identified belonged to W. Garrett. It is situated on the west side of the road, just below the present Rollins Fork. This may be a mistake on the map, or it is possible that one of the unlabeled homes belonged to Richard Garrett and that W. Garrett was a nearby relative.
Unfortunately, heavy disturbance has probably destroyed any surviving archaeological evidence of the farmhouse and of the nearby tobacco barn in which Booth was apparently captured. The site remains a historically significant one, however, and additional research might throw more light on the Garrett family and their homes in the immediate vicinity. More important, it might confirm beyond any doubt exactly which Garrett farm was the site of Booth's death.
All this material - Maps, text, names, etc. will be donated to this Symposium, as soon as I can contact the owner and he accepts them.

Richard Garrett had a son named William who was born in 1845. Maybe the map was referring to him?

[Gene C]

There is some interesting info on the forum about the farm, roadside markers, and Dave Taylor has some interesting photo's and info on his BoothieBarn.com

Aerial Photo of Garrett Property circa 1930
http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...ht=Garrett

A nice map also.

[LincolnMan]

Speaking of Garrett- current Senator Gary Peters is a direct descendant of his. His father (now deceased) was in attendance a few years back when I was giving a presentation on the Lincoln assassination. I didn't know his connection until I introduced myself. What a great surprise that was!

[Jim Garrett]

The Library of Virginia in Richmond has the Garrett family Bible.

[LincolnMan]

Jim: Have you seen it? That would be a shrill!

[Jim Garrett]

Herb Collins, former political curator at the Smithsonian, published a directory of bible records of Caroline County and it has Richard H. Garrett's Bible listed at Library of Virginia.