The first in a series of articles about 'Lost Fredericksburg.' Forbes House had deep roots

Date published: 4/10/2004

JUST ACROSS from City Hall, at the corner of Hanover and Princess Anne streets, lies an empty yard that borders Fredericksburg United Methodist Church and what was at one time the Roman Catholic church of Fredericksburg. This site was, until the middle of the last century, the location of an old house with an even older kitchen dependency.

The original portion of the Forbes House was erected circa 1786 and was the home of Charles Yates until his death in 1809. Charles Yates was born in 1727 at White Haven, England. He purchased the lot upon which he built his home from Zachariah Lewis, who was at that time an extensive landholder in Spotsylvania County.

Charles Yates appears prominently and often in meeting minutes recorded by the early Fredericksburg Council. There appears to have been ongoing confusion as to exactly where this property was located--in Fredericksburg or neighboring Spotsylvania County. The minutes of the July 8, 1783, council meeting state that Charles Yates appeared before the council asking for their input and opinion on this very subject. The document goes on to state that Yates paid his taxes "within the place called Allentown."

Yates was a highly regarded member of the local Masonic lodge. Upon his death, his home passed on to his nephew John Yates, along with the wedding ring of Charles' grandmother Yates, Charles' gold ring engraved with his coat of arms, and other properties. He left $2,000 to the Fredericksburg Charity School. The executor for his English properties was another nephew, Richard Mathews of Wigton. His will named 20 beneficiaries with no mention of either wife or children, so one may surmise that he was a gentleman bachelor.

The next owner of the house was Robert Stannard, who purchased the property April 8, 1815. He is believed to have been a member of a prominent Spotsylvania family of the same name. The property next passed to Robert Ellis, who lived in the home with his wife, Mary, and numerous sons and daughters. Many of the children went on to become prominent members of local society. Robert and Mary Ellis are buried in the Fredericksburg Masonic Cemetery.

Date published: 4/10/2004