Discover Stafford

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Discover Stafford

A virtual museum that creates a community and tells stories about the richness of Stafford, VA

06/03/2026

🗺️ Explore Stafford’s historical map, interactive stories, and heritage trail — perfect for curious minds this February! What will you uncover? 🔍 https://pulse.ly/63xf4dqdx2

06/02/2026

🔥 Stafford is a “burned record” county: about two-thirds of its court records were lost during the Civil War, complicating genealogical research.

Union vandals raided the courthouse and clerk’s office at least twice and stole or destroyed the records. They dumped thousands of records out into the yard between the courthouse and clerk’s office. Essentially, they destroyed nearly every loose paper that had been generated between 1664 and 1862, as well as some of the bound volumes. They also stole records and carried them home. After the war, the court sent men out to retrieve a couple of volumes for which they learned of their location. Over the last 15 years or so, two stolen volumes of early court records have been returned.

The term “burned record” throws many people. It actually refers to the loss of court records by any means, not strictly by fire.

06/01/2026

June is here — and so is a great reason to dust off your reading list! 📚 The VA250 Book Group is meeting on June 4th at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library to discuss The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777–1780 by Rick Atkinson. As we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, Stafford County's own Revolutionary War history makes this reading all the more meaningful. Hunter's Iron Works, right here on the Rappahannock, was one of the primary suppliers of arms for Continental troops. Stafford's story is in these pages. Will you be joining? 🇺🇸

05/28/2026

To wrap up our month-long look at the Brent family, we’re honoring their most lasting legacy: Religious Freedom. 🙏✨

At a time when practicing Catholicism was often restricted, the Brents established a sanctuary in Stafford County. They were instrumental in founding the Catholic community in Virginia, eventually leading to the establishment of the Aquia Catholic Cemetery—the state's oldest.

Their courage to live out their faith helped pave the way for the religious liberties we cherish today. Next time you drive past Aquia, take a moment to remember the family that helped build the foundation of our county! ⛪️🌳

05/27/2026

Most large-scale mining in Stafford ended after the discovery of gold in California in 1849. While Virginia gold was high-quality, Western gold was cheaper and easier to mine, particularly because water seepage made Stafford mining more difficult and costly. Still, the idea of Stafford serving as a potential source of Confederate gold during the war remains intriguing. Evidence indicates that mining occurred during the conflict, with strong links to the Confederate War Department’s Nitre and Mining Bureau, which processed gold ore.

05/25/2026

We Remember. Today, we will gather at Aquia Episcopal Church to lay wreaths and honor the eight veterans who rest there. Their service — like so much of Stafford’s story — is part of something larger than any one of us. 🕊️ To all who have served, and to the families who carry their memory: thank you. — Discover Stafford

AquiaChurch

05/17/2026

🌿 This week, we’re highlighting George Brent, nephew of Giles and Margaret, and his famous Stafford estate, "Woodstock."

George was a prominent lawyer and the only Catholic to serve in the Virginia House of Burgesses during the colonial era. His home in Woodstock, near Aquia, became a symbol of the family's influence and commitment to their faith and community.

Though the original house is gone, the archaeological site continues to tell the story of a family that helped shape the legal and social landscape of early Virginia. 🏠📍

05/14/2026

Did you know a Stafford local was the first woman lawyer in America? 🏛️

Margaret Brent was a powerhouse of the 1600s. By the time she passed away in Stafford County in 1671, she had amassed a massive legacy:

📍 She owned the land that became Alexandria (1654).
📍 She scouted and owned the future site of Fredericksburg (1658).
⚖️ She was a master of law and land, famously recognized by RBG as a "great lady" who confused her contemporaries so much they called her a "Gentleman" in official records!

While her gravesite was likely lost to the ravages of the Civil War, her name lives on—not just on the front of Margaret Brent Elementary, but in the history of American justice. 🎓📖

05/12/2026

This Memorial Day, we invite you to pause and remember. 🕊️

Join us Monday, May 25, at 1:00 PM at historic Aquia Episcopal Church for a quiet and meaningful remembrance ceremony. Wreaths will be laid at the graves of the eight veterans who rest on these sacred grounds.

📍 2938 Richmond Hwy, Stafford, VA 22554
🕐 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
🔗 https://pulse.ly/uusvv5hyk9

All are welcome. Come honor those who served.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day! Today we’re celebrating one of the most formidable women in Stafford’s history: Margaret Brent. 📜⚖️

Margaret was a true trailblazer. Not only was she one of the colony's largest landowners, but she was also the first woman in the English New World to request the right to vote in the Maryland Assembly. When she moved to Stafford County, she brought that same fierce independence with her, managing vast estates and navigating the legal world at a time when women rarely had a voice.

Her legacy of leadership is a cornerstone of Stafford’s colonial history.

Address

Stafford, VA

Telephone

(540) 286-1118

Website

http://discoverstafford.org/

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