History of the Armfield Farm Community
The idea Armfield Farm subdivision started in July 1973 when their heirs of
Mr. J.B. Armfield sold the acreage for development. Here is a look back on the history
of the land and the namesake of the community.
1727 – 1890
Turberville/Stuart
On December 4, 1727 Captain (later Major) George Turberville of Westmoreland County
received a patent of over 4,000 acres of land on Flat Lick Run (now Flatlick Branch of
Cub Run) from Thomas Lord Fairfax.i The acreage covered what is the present day
Brookfield subdivision and continuing southwest; the Foxfield and Franklin Glen
subdivisions; and portions of Washington Dulles International Airport.ii
Back at that time, this area was part of Stafford County, which would later be parsed out
to become Prince William County, Fairfax County, Loudoun Countyiii, and finally when
the political boundaries was set to be Fairfax County.
On the entire tract, though not specific to where, grew tobacco, apples, and peaches.iv
After several divisions of the land and inheritances, over 1500 acres north of the Little
River Turnpike (present day Lee Jackson Memorial Highway – US Highway 50) was
allocated to Cornelia Lee Turberville in May 1817 who with her husband, Charles
Calvert Stuart, later built the original Chantilly Mansion.v
vi
Cornelia likely named the estate after her maternal grandfather, Richard Henry Lee, a
signer of the Declaration of Independencevii and one of Virginia’s first US senators.viii
R.H. Lee had named his estate in Westmoreland County, Virginia also by the name of
Chantilly.ix 1800s Chantilly may have been pronounced with a heavy southern accent as
“Chantilla,” as suggested by maps of the time that use the incorrect spelling.x
After Stuart’s death in 1843, their son, Sholto, managed the affairs of the farm, which at
that time was heavily leveraged to their neighbor, Francis Lightfoot Lee, then-owner of
the Sully plantation.xi Based on the drawing below, the present subdivision is to the left
of NW/SE line from Frying Pan Road (later redesigned to Centreville Road) and Flat
Lick, with the Leith/Bokel section being south of Flat Lick.
xii
The Civil War was very difficult for Chantilly, and was occupied from until 1863
primarily as a Federal cavalry headquarters. It was the starting point of a brigade’s march
into the Battle of Chantilly (aka Battle of Ox Hill) in September 1862xiii and it was the
site of a daring raid by Confederate then-Captain John S. Mosby in March 1863. Circa
February 1863, Union troops set fire to the Chantilly Mansion.xiv
After the War, a number of debts were secured against the property and at the time of
Cornelia’s death in 1883, the farm needed to be sold.
xv
Advertisements for the sale noted four tenement houses, one of which is the stone house
that exists today on the property of the International Country Club.xvi
xvii
1890-1913
Weaver
Following Cornelia’s death and subsequent litigation, a portion of the Chantilly farm was
sold to Joseph Weaver in November 1890xviii and later sold equal shares to his three
brothers. Then Joseph was adjudged insane by the Supreme Court of DC and his brothers
took over the handling of the estate. When Joseph was released from the Government
Hospital in 1910, he wanted his property restored to him, including income for the years
he was in the hospital.xix Before that took place, a portion of the property was sold to
H.B. Derr and J.W. McLane in November 1909.xx Joseph Weaver died in June 1912.xxi
The property was reclaimed by the living Weaver brothers in foreclosure in February
1913 and sold to C.C. and G.F. Carr.xxii
1913-1914
Carr
The Carrs sold 154 acres to J.B. Armfield on June 1, 1914 for $4,312.xxiii
1914-1973
Armfield
John Bynum Armfield was born on January 12, 1872 and raised in Surry County, North
Carolina.xxiv It is not known what specifically brought J.B. to Fairfax County in the early
1910s when he bought the land the Community now sits in 1914. The Armfields paid off
the mortgage to the property by May 1918.xxv
J.B. Armfield was known as a prominent dairy farmer, often cited for his productive
herd.xxvi However, life on the farm was not without its struggles. In July 1934, his hay
barrack and a cow barn on the neighboring Lee farm were both struck by lightning and
burned.xxvii
J.B Armfield was married to Dora P. Speas from the neighboring Yadkin County, North
Carolina. They had three children, Elizabeth born in 1908, J. Bynum born in 1914 in
Virginia, and Mary born in 1916 on the farm.xxviii
J.B. died on January 25, 1964 at the age of 92. His obituary read:
John B. Armfield of Fairfax Route 5, died Saturday last. He was one of
the oldest residents of the County and had been active until a short while
before his death. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, Mrs.
Elizabeth Bokel and Mrs. Mary Leith, and a son John B. Armfield Jr. His
funeral took place on Monday at 10am and burial was in Chestnut Grove
Cemetery.xxix
Dora died in 1969 and is buried next to J.B.xxx
Elizabeth became a school teacher and married Paul Bokel in Baltimore, Maryland in
1937. They had a daughter, Mary, in 1938. Unfortunately, Paul died shortly after that
and by the 1940 census, Elizabeth and Mary Bokel returned to the farm.xxxi Elizabeth
died in 2005 and is buried next to her parents.xxxii
J. Bynum was more civically minded involved in Democratic politics in the 1940sxxxiii
and was appointed manager for the Town of Herndon in 1948.xxxiv During the 1950s, he
had moved to Richmond and was working for as an accountant for the Immigration and
Naturalization Service.xxxv He died prior to Elizabeth, date unknownxxxvi, possibly circa
1973.xxxvii
Mary married Carroll Leith. She died in January 2011 and is buried in Middleburg,
Virginia.xxxviii
1973-Present
Development of Armfield Farm
Once sold by J.B.’s children in 1973, the farm underwent development by multiple
builders. The section containing Leith and Bokel Drives, marked in the county land
records as the subdivision of Armfield Estates, was first developed circa 1982. Later, the
Armfield Farm subdivision plots on Springhaven Drive near Lees Corner Road started
the build out of the community from east to west and on Armfield Farm Drive near
Centreville Road from north to south with most construction complete by 1994.xxxix
The Armfield Farm Homeowners Association was formally incorporated on
November 18, 1980.xl The community consists of 470 single-family houses, a pool and
pool house, two tennis courts, one volleyball court, three basketball courts, four
playgrounds, one large ball field, numerous other open spaces, and walking paths.
i
Leigh, W. Lewis (1959). Leeton. Historical Society of Fairfax County, Virginia, Inc., 6, 45.
Northern Neck Deed Book B, page 54. As published in Leigh. p. insert btw 52-53.
iii
From 1757 to 1798, the land west of Difficult Run was considered part of Loudoun. Difficult Run begins
near the intersection of US Highway 50 and Interstate 66 and ends at the Potomac just east of Great Falls
(VA) National Park. Leigh. p. 45.
ii
iv
Ibid. pg. 46.
Ibid. p. 47-48.
vi
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chantilly_VA_Historical_Marker.jpg 4 Oct 2013.
vii
Leigh. p. 47.
viii
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Henry_Lee. 5 Oct. 2013.
ix
http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/biographies/richard-henry-lee/.. 5 Oct. 2013.
x
Dranesville Dist. Map, G. M. Hopkins, 1878.
xi
http://www.novahistory.org/Chantilly.html. 23 Aug. 2013.
xii
Plat of Chantilly parcel, 1886. Ibid.
xiii
Official Records of the Civil War, 1 Sep 1862, Report Written January 15, 1863, Chap XXX1, p. 1010.
As quoted in Ibid.
xiv
http://www.novahistory.org/Chantilly.html. 23 Aug. 2013.
xv
Broadside advertisement of Stuart estate, 1886. Fairfax County Chancery Case CFF 75bb, 1887. as
shown in Ibid.
xvi
http://www.novahistory.org/Chantilly.html. 23 Aug. 2013.
xvii
Image of Chantilly Stone House c. 1823. Ibid.
xviii
Fairfax County Deed Book D-5, page 519-521 and Fairfax County Deed Book J-5, page 526-528.
xix
Fairfax County Chancery Case 1913-083.
xx
Fairfax County Deed Book E-7, page 216-218.
xxi
Fairfax County Chancery Case 1913-083.
xxii
Fairfax County Deed Book P-7, page 617-620.
xxiii
Fairfax County Deed Book V-7, page 493-494.
xxiv
Social Security Death Index
xxv
Fairfax County Deed Book H-8, page 21-22.
xxvi
Armfield J.B. Has honor cows (30 July 1925). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has cows on honor roll (31 July 1925). Fairfax Herald, p. 5.
Armfield J.B. Herd has best record (7 Jan 1926). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Herd is high producer (8 Jan 1926). Fairfax Herald, p. 2.
Armfield J.B. Has honor roll cow (24 June 1926). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has honor roll cow (25 June 1926). Fairfax Herald, p. 2.
Armfield J.B. Has honor cow (9 July 1926). Fairfax Herald, p. 5.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cow (7 Nov 1929). Herndon Observer, p. 2.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cow (5 Dec 1929). Herndon Observer, p. 2.
Armfield J.B. Has high-five herd (16 Jan 1930). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (4 Dec 1930). Herndon Observer, p. 3.
Armfield J.B. Cow production listed (19 Feb 1931). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (5 Mar 1931). Herndon Observer, p. 2.
Armfield J.B. Has high producing cows (6 Mar 1931). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (9 Apr 1931). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cow (7 May 1931). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high scoring cow (8 May 1931). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (16 July 1931). Herndon Observer, p. 4.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (30 July 1931). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (3 Sep 1931). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high-ten herd (8 Oct 1931). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has honor cows (6 Nov 1931). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (12 Nov 1931). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high-five herd (3 Dec 1931). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high producing cows (4 Dec 1931). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Herd places second (7 Jan 1932). Herndon Observer, p. 4
Armfield J.B. Leading herd in December report (8 Jan 1932). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high-five herd (11 Feb 1932). Herndon Observer, p. 3.
Armfield J.B. Has high scoring herd (11 Mar 1932). Fairfax Herald, p. 4.
Armfield J.B. Has high producing cows (18 Mar 1932). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (12 May 1932). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
v
Armfield J.B. Owns high-ten cow (7 July 1932). Herndon Observer, p. 2.
Armfield J.B. Has association honor cow (8 July 1932). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high-ten cows (14 July 1932). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has an honor cow (15 July 1932). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cow (12 Jan 1933). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high rated cows (13 Jan 1933). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (9 Feb 1933). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high-five herd (9 Feb 1933). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Herd is ranked 3rd. in assn (10 Feb 1933). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (16 Mar 1933). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (30 Mar 1933). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Four year dairy statistics (1 June 1933). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (8 June 1933). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (14 Sep 1933). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high-ten cows (14 Sep 1933). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Herd has high milk production (15 Sep 1933). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (26 Oct 1933). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (9 Nov 1933). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (14 Dec 1933). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high-ten cows (11 Jan 1934). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has production cows (8 Feb 1934). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (22 Mar 1934). Herndon Observer, p. 2.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (19 Apr 1934). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (3 May 1934). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (14 June 1934). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Baltimore daughter visits (21 June 1934). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (9 Aug 1934). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (8 Nov 1934). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (10 Jan 1935). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has honor cow (15 May 1936). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has honor cows (21 May 1936). Herndon Observer, p. 4.
Armfield J.B. Has honor cows (18 June 1936). Herndon Observer, p. 8.
Armfield J.B. Has an honor cow (19 June 1936). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cow (13 Nov 1936). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (19 Nov 1936). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high four herd (17 Dec 1936). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production herd (18 Dec 1936). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high four herd (21 Jan 1937). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high five herd (22 Jan 1937). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high twelve cow (1 July 1937). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cow (2 July 1937). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Wins prize at Floris Fair (24 Sep 1937). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cow (21 Oct 1937). Herndon Observer, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cow (22 Oct 1937). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cow (6 Jan 1938). Herndon Observer, p. 4.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cow (7 Jan 1938). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cow (21 Jan 1938). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cow (4 Mar 1938). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production herd & cow (18 Mar 1938). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high 4 herd (24 Mar 1938). Herndon Observer, p. 8.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (8 Apr 1938). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (14 Apr 1938). Herndon Observer, p. 8.
Armfield J.B. Has high production herd (10 June 1938). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production herd (10 Nov 1939). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production herd (23 Nov 1939). Herndon Observer, p. 5.
Armfield J.B. Has high production herd & cow (17 Jan 1941). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production herd & cow (21 Feb 1941). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production herd (11 Apr 1941). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Has high production cows (25 Sep 1941). Herndon Observer, p. 5.
Armfield J.B. Has high production herd (10 Oct 1941). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
xxvii
Relief Game (27 July 1934). Fairfax Herald, p. 6.
xxviii
United States Federal Census, 1920.
xxix
Armfield John B. Sr. Obit. Fairfax Rte. 5 resident (31 Jan 1964). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
xxx
Virginia Find A Grave Index.
xxxi
United States Federal Census, 1940.
xxxii
Washington Post Death Notice. Elizabeth Bokel. 22 May 2005.
xxxiii
Armfield J.B. Jr. Young Democratic Club chairman (27 Dec 1940). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.B. Jr. Member of Democratic committee (25 Nov 1949). Fairfax Herald, p. 1.
Armfield J.Bynum On Democratic Executive Committee (13 Oct 1950). Fairfax Herald, p. 3.
xxxiv
Armfield J.Bynum Apptd. Herndon town manager (10 Sep 1948). Fairfax Herald, p. 6.
xxxv
Richmond, Virginia, City Directory. 1959. pg. 26.
xxxvi
Washington Post Death Notice. Elizabeth Bokel. 22 May 2005.
xxxvii
Turner, Tiffany & Grutzius, Krissy (May 1986). Living in the Armfield’s House. Touchstones:
Landmarks and People of Western Fairfax County, 1(1), 46-47.
xxxviii
Virginia Find A Grave Index.
xxxix
Aerial photographs courtesy of Fairfax County GIS and Mapping Services.
xl
http://www.armfieldfarm.org/documents/Armfield_Art_of_Incorp.pdf. 1 Feb. 2014.