Maryland Historical Trust
Maryland Inventory of
Historic Properties Form
1. Name of Property
Inventory No. 74B-016a
(indicate preferred name)
historic
William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor (preferred)
other
Beall Tenant House
2. Location
street and number
17500 Clagett Landing Road
not for publication
city, town
Upper Marlboro
vicinity
county
Prince George's
3. Owner of Property
(give names and mailing addresses of all owners)
name
Richard H. and Peggy B. Dobson
street and number
13600 Brandywine Road
city, town
Upper Marlboro
telephone
state
MD
zip code
20613-5904
4. Location of Legal Description
courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Prince George's County Courthouse
Upper Marlboro
city, town
tax map 78
tax parcel
liber
2521 folio 123
13
tax ID number
07 0718874
5. Primary Location of Additional Data
X
Contributing Resource in National Register District
Contributing Resource in Local Historic District
Determined Eligible for the National Register/Maryland Register
Determined Ineligible for the National Register/Maryland Register
Recorded by HABS/HAER
Historic Structure Report or Research Report at MHT
Other: Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Prince George's County Planning Department
6. Classification
Category
district
building(s)
structure
X site
object
Ownership
public
X private
both
Current Function
agriculture
commerce/trade
defense
domestic
education
funerary
government
health care
industry
Resource Count
landscape
recreation/culture
religion
social
transportation
work in progress
unknown
X vacant/not in use
other:
Contributing
0
Noncontributing
buildings
1
sites
structures
objects
1
Total
Number of Contributing Resources
previously listed in the Inventory
1
7. Description
Inventory No. PG: 74B-016a
Condition
excellent
good
fair
deteriorated
X ruins
altered
Prepare both a one paragraph summary and a comprehensive description of the resource and its various elements as it
exists today.
The William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor is located at 17500 Clagett Landing Road in Upper
Marlboro, Maryland. The site of the William Wells House, Clagett House (PG: 74B-015), William Elliott
House (PG: 74B-16b), and a tobacco barn are all located on the same parcel of land known as Cool Spring
Manor. The Clagett House remains extant, remnants of the other dwellings and outbuildings are located on the
property. The property is surrounded by agricultural field and woodlands to the north, east, and west. A latetwentieth-century residential development is located to the south of Clagett Landing Road.
SITE
The William Wells House at Cool Spring Manor is no longer extant. During the 2007 on-site survey, the
dwelling was found to have been reduced to a small pile of brick and wood rubble. The Maryland Department
of Assessments and Taxation notates that the structures on the 185.51-acre site were razed in January of 1998.
The William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor was constructed c. 1795 for farmer William Wells. When
the building was surveyed in 1985, it consisted of a one-and-a-half-story, three-bay structure. The heavy handhewn joists, joined by pegs in bird-mouth joints, were clad in beaded clapboard joined by rose-head nails. The
building was covered by a steeply pitched side-gabled roof with an extended slope on the façade that covered a
porch. An exterior brick chimney was located in each gable end. The structure was fenestrated by 6/6 and 4/4
windows. The two-room interior of the dwelling had no floor at the time of the 1985 on-site survey; the log post
foundation was then visible.1
INTEGRITY
The William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor retains no above-ground integrity. The structure has lost
all integrity of design, workmanship, materials, association, and feeling due to its ruinous condition. What
remains of the dwelling is located on its original site surrounded by the Clagett House at Cool Spring Manor
(PG: 74B-015) and the remains of the William Elliott House (PG: 74B-16b), retaining its integrity of location.
The loss of over 150 acres of the Cool Spring Manor parcel has compromised its integrity of setting.
Susan G. Pearl, “William Wells House at Cool Spring Manor,” (PG: 74B-16a) Maryland Historical Trust State Historic Sites
Inventory Form (1985), 7:1.
1
8. Significance
Period
Areas of Significance
1600-1699
X 1700-1799
1800-1899
1900-1999
2000-
agriculture
X archeology
architecture
art
commerce
communications
community planning
conservation
Specific dates
c. 1795
Construction dates
c. 1795
Inventory No. PG: 74B-016a
Check and justify below
economics
education
engineering
entertainment/
recreation
ethnic heritage
exploration/
settlement
health/medicine
industry
invention
landscape architecture
law
literature
maritime history
military
X
Architect/Builder
performing arts
philosophy
politics/government
religion
science
social history
transportation
other: Local history
Unknown
Evaluation for:
National Register
Maryland Register
not evaluated
Prepare a one-paragraph summary statement of significance addressing applicable criteria, followed by a narrative discussion of the
history of the resource and its context. (For compliance projects, complete evaluation on a DOE Form – see manual.)
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
The William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor, located at 17500 Clagett Landing Road in Upper
Marlboro, Maryland, marks the location of a late-eighteenth-century building. The vernacular farmhouse, no
longer extant, reflected the significant role of tobacco farming in Prince George’s County during the eighteenth
and nineteenth centuries. The tenants of the site may have left an archaeological record. The site’s importance
as an archaeological site could not be determined at the time of the 2007 on-site survey. This site no longer
retains sufficient above-ground integrity to convey its significance as part of the county’s agricultural history.
HISTORIC CONTEXT
The William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor is located north of Upper Marlboro. According to the
1861 Martenet Map Florenceville had a blacksmith shop and schoolhouse, which were located to the east of
present-day Route 301, just south of Clagett Landing Road. Florenceville was likely established as a tobacco
port along the Patuxent River due to the presence of Wootton’s Landing in 1861.2 By 1878, Florenceville had
an established store and doctor’s office.3 As the Patuxent River and the Western Branch silted, the river became
unnavigable for large ships transporting tobacco. As a result, Baltimore became the commercial hub of tobacco
in Maryland.
Benedict Calvert originally owned the entire parcel of land known as Cool Spring Manor. Calvert’s children
sold 200 acres of Cool Spring Manor to William Wells in March of 1793.4 In 1798, the property was occupied
by Wells and consisted of a 27’ by 20’ dwelling (c. 1795), 20 by 16 foot kitchen, 12’ by 10’ meathouse, and 18’
by 14’ cornhouse.5
Simon J. Martenet, “Atlas of Prince George’s County, Maryland, 1861,” Adapted from Martenet’s Map of Prince George’s County,
Maryland (Baltimore: Simon J. Martenet C.E., 1861).
3
G.M. Hopkins, Atlas of Fifteen Miles Around Washington, Including the County of Prince George Maryland (Philadelphia: G.M.
Hopkins, C.E., 1878).
4
Elizabeth, George, and John Calvert to William Wells, Prince George’s County Land Records, JRM 2:104.
5
Pearl, “William Wells House at Cool Spring Manor,” 8:1.
2
Maryland Historical Trust
Maryland Inventory of
Historic Properties Form
Inventory No.
PG: 74B-016a
William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor
Continuation Sheet
Number 8
Page 1
After Wells’ death in 1842, his estate devised 270 acres of Cool Spring Manor, his “home Plantation,” to his
sister Sarah Wells Elliott’s son, William Elliott.6 Elliott constructed the nearby William Elliott House (PG: 74B16b) c. 1850. Elliott was born around 1824 and was working the land of Cool Spring Manor as a farmer in
1850.7 The 1861 Martenet Map indicates William D. Clagett owned the property to the north of Clagett
Landing Road and William Elliott owned the property to the south.8
In 1864, William Elliott and his wife Rachel sold 334 acres of Cool Spring Manor to Samuel L. Brooke.9
Brooke died in 1869 and left the property to his son, T. Blake Brooke.10 The 1878 Hopkins Map only indicates
that Henry W. Clagett resided at the Clagett House at Cool Spring Manor.11 In 1878, the William Wells House
was sold to Brooke’s brother Samuel Brooke, Sr., to pay off Brooke’s debts.12 Samuel Brooke, Jr. remained in
possession of the property until 1918 when it was sold to James B. and John F. Beall. 13 The Bealls farmed the
property through the 1950s and used the William Wells House as a tenant house.
In January 1961, when Helen H. and George E. Schindler sold Cool Spring Manor to Richard H. and Peggy B.
Dobson, the deed contained a clause allowing the Schindlers to harvest that year’s crop of corn, soy beans, and
tobacco. “The within described property is conveyed subject to existing tenancies, and the Sellers reserve the
right of ownership to crops in the ground for 1960 and the right to harvest the same as well as the right to store
the same in barns on the property until and as when placed for sale during late 1960 as to Corn and Soy Beans,
and late spring, 1961, (May-August) for tobacco, and there is to be no charge by the Grantee for these
reservations.”14 The William Wells House at Cool Spring Manor was a productive tobacco farm for over two
hundred years.
Since the time of the 1985 on-site survey, the William Wells House has fallen into disrepair and deteriorated to
a point where it has been deemed no longer extant. The Dobsons currently own the William Wells House Site,
Clagett House (PG: 74B-015), and the William Elliott House (PG: 74B-16b), all located at Cool Spring Manor.
Pearl, “William Wells House at Cool Spring Manor,” Chain of Title.
1850 U.S. Federal Census, Marlborough, Prince George’s County, Maryland, Series M432, Roll 295, Page 78, William Elliott.
8
Simon J. Martenet, “Atlas of Prince George’s County, Maryland, 1861,” Adapted from Martenet’s Map of Prince George’s County,
Maryland (Baltimore: Simon J. Martenet C.E., 1861).
9
William and Rachel Elliott to Samuel L. Brooke, Prince Geogre’s County Land Records, FS 2:553.
10
Pearl, “William Wells House at Cool Spring Manor,” Chain of Title.
11
G.M. Hopkins, Atlas of Fifteen Miles Around Washington, Including the County of Prince George Maryland (Philadelphia: G.M.
Hopkins, C.E., 1878).
12
Nathan Masters ordered by Court to sell real estate of T. Blake Brooke, Prince George’s County Land Records, HB 13:429.
13
Samuel Brooke, Jr., trustee, to James B. and John F. Beall, Prince George’s County Land Records, 137:288.
14
Helen H. and George E. Schindler to Richard H. and Peggy B Dobson, Prince George’s County Land Records, WWW 2521:123.
6
7
9. Major Bibliographical References
Inventory No. PG: 74B-16a
Hopkins, G.M. Prince George’s County, from Atlas of Fifteen Miles Around Washington. Philadelphia: G.M. Hopkins, C.E.,
1878.
Martenet, Simon J. Martenet's Map of Prince George’s County, Maryland. Baltimore: Simon J. Martenet, 1861.
Pearl, Susan G. “William Wells House at Cool Spring Manor.” (PG: 74B-16a) Maryland Historical Trust State Historic Sites
Inventory Form, 1985.
Prince George’s County Land Records.
1850 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Online: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007. Subscription database. Digital
scan of original records in the National Archives, Washington, DC. http://www.ancestry.com.
10. Geographical Data
Acreage of surveyed property
Acreage of historical setting
Quadrangle name
185.51
334
Bristol
Quadrangle scale: 1:24,000
Verbal boundary description and justification
The William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor is located north and west of Clagett Landing Road, and east of
South Crain Highway (MD 301). The site is located on 185.51 acres, which was originally part of a 334-acre parcel
known as Cool Spring Manor. The dwelling has been historically associated with Parcel 13 on Tax Map 78 since its
construction.
11. Form Prepared by
name/title
Saleh Van Erem, Architectural Historian
organization
EHT Traceries, Incorporated
date
January 2008
street & number
1121 Fifth Street, NW
telephone
202.393.1199
city or town
Washington
state
DC
The Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties was officially created by an Act of the Maryland Legislature
to be found in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Article 41, Section 181 KA,
1974 supplement.
The survey and inventory are being prepared for information and record purposes only
and do not constitute any infringement of individual property rights.
return to:
Maryland Historical Trust
Maryland Department of Planning
100 Community Place
Crownsville, MD 21032-2023
410-514-7600
Maryland Historical Trust
Maryland Inventory of
Historic Properties Form
Inventory No.
PG: 74B-16a
William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor
Continuation Sheet
Number 9
Page 1
CHAIN OF TITLE
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY LAND RECORDS
Will T 1:258
February 18, 1788
Benedict Calvert, to son George, several parts of Cool Spring Manor and all
parcels contiguous.
Deed JRM 2:104
March 8, 1793
Elizabeth, George and John Calvert to William Wells (200 acres of Cool Spring
Manor).
Will PC 1:194
May 4, 1842
William Wells, to nephew, William Elliott “my home Plantation called
Coolspring Manor containing 270 acres.”
Deed FS 2:553
December 13, 1864
William and Rachel Elliott to Samuel L. Brooke (334 acres of Cool Spring
Manor at $70 per acre).
Will WAJ 1:416
June 26, 1869
Samuel L. Brooke to T. Blake Brooke (Plantation Cold Spring Manor, 334 acres).
Deed HB 13:429
June 3, 1878
Nathan Masters ordered by Court to sell real estate of T. Blake Brooke (Cold
Spring Manor) in order to pay his debts. (Property acquired by will of his father,
Samuel L. Brooke) 334 acres of Cool Spring manor are sold to highest bidder,
Samuel Brooke, Sr., brother of T. Blake Brooke.
Deed JWB 25:688
October 14, 1893
Samuel Brooke, widower, to his children Anna Steele, William Clement Brooke,
Samuel Brooke, Jr., Charles H. Brooke, Laura C. Brooke and Clarice Brooke
(334 acres of Cold Spring Manor).
Deed 49:341
December 21, 1908
Edward Hall, Jr., Trustee, to William M. Holladay (334 acres of Cold Spring
Manor).
Deed 49:342
December 24, 1908
William M. Holladay to Samuel Brooke, Jr., Trustee (334 acres of Cold Spring
Manor).
Deed 137:288
November 25, 1918
Samuel Brooke, Jr., Trustee, Charles Hill and Gertrude F. Brooke, Samuel
Brooke, Jr., Anna Brooke Steele and Nevitt Steele, Clarice Yates and Isaac Irving
Yates, to James B. Beall and John F. Beall (334 acres known as Cold Spring
Manor).
Maryland Historical Trust
Maryland Inventory of
Historic Properties Form
Inventory No.
PG: 74B-16a
William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor
Continuation Sheet
Number 9
Page 2
Deed 164:355
August 23, 1921
James B. and Mildred G. Beall to John F. Beall (Their interest in tract in Queen
Anne District).
Deed 926:13
March 24, 1947
John F.X. and Olive Beall to Matilda Duvall ($10, all of the parcel known as
Cold Spring Manor).
Deed 1549:414
October 27, 1952
Matilda W. Duvall to Helen H. and George E. Schindler ($10, 297 acres).
Deed WWW 2521:123
January 3, 1961
Helen H. and George E. Schindler to Richard H. and Peggy B Dobson ($10, Cool
Spring Manor).
Maryland Historical Trust
Maryland Inventory of
Historic Properties Form
Inventory No.
William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor
Continuation Sheet
Number 9
Page 3
Photo: William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor, looking east. (August 2007)
PG: 74B-16a
Maryland Historical Trust
Maryland Inventory of
Historic Properties Form
Inventory No.
William Wells House Site at Cool Spring Manor
Continuation Sheet
Number 9
Page 4
Photo: William Wells House at Cool Spring Manor, looking north, c. 1985. (Susan G. Pearl)
PG: 74B-16a