File:1 North Virginia Avenue.jpg

Summary

Residents of 1 North Virginia Ave, Brunswick, MD (Lot #12 on Leonard Smith’s plat of 1787)

SUMMARY: The plot was first purchased by Charles Beagle in 1787, and exchanged hands several times until the Ridenbaugh family took possession of it in 1839 and occupied the house until 1869. Adam Ridenbaugh was a laborer and later a ferryman. It then exchanged hands several times again until B.F. Sigafoose, a machinist on the railroad, purchased it in 1882. His family lived in the home until the 1920’s when B.F. moved in with his daughter and son-in-law across the street (where he died in 1932). The next occupants were James Albert Porter (in train service) and his family. The house was not included in the 1940 census, and I have no further record until 1959 when (Judge) William W. Wenner moved in. Four years later, Charles R. “Petie” Virts moved in with his family. Petie died in 2013, and the house was sold the following year toJonathan Vance who, in 2020, sold it to Landmark Investment Properties LLC in Manassas, VA. I understand the current owners (August 2020) are Nicole Plaza and Zachary Anderson.

HERE ARE THE DETAILS:

The town of Berlin was platted in 1787 by Leonard Smith, who had purchased the property.

10/20/1787: Leonard Smith sold lot #12 to Charles Beagle.

1790 census: Two Leonard Smiths in Frederick County; no Charles Beagle (although there were Nicholas, Tobias, and Henry Beagle) 1794: Leonard Smith died. 1800 census: Two Leonard Smiths in Frederick County. Also one Christian [?] Beagle and one John Shepherd. 1810 census: No Leonard Smith, Charles Beagle, or John Shepherd. 1820 census: No John Shepherd. There is a Henry Beagle in District 3.

12/16/1820: Charles Beagle to John Sheperd (or Shepard or Shepherd).

18/28/1825: John Shepherd to Jno. House.

1830 census Frederick Co., District 3: John Shepherd (age 15-20 ), his wife (age 20-30), and one child. John House also in District 3.

3/1/1839: Mrs. Eveline [Margaret??]Ridenbaugh took “possession of the house” (entry dated 8/10/1867). Therefore, it is safe to assume that the house was built prior to 1839.

Note: Unable to find Eveline Ridenbaugh anywhere in the U.S. in 1850, 1860, or 1870 census. There is a Margaret Ridenbaugh (80) in the Petersville District in 1860. 1840 census, Fred. Co., Petersville District: No Eveline Ridenbaugh, but there is one

Adam Ridenbaugh (age 30-40) and his wife (age 20-30) and their son. 1850 census, ditto: Adam Ridenbaugh (42, laborer), Mary A. (24), John W. (10), and Worthington (8). 1860 census: Unable to find Adam Ridenbaugh anywhere in U.S.

10/16/1867: Evelin Ridenbaugh to Adam Ridenbaugh.

5/29/1869: Adam and Mary A. Ridenbaugh to William T.J. Adams.

Note: Adam was still in Berlin in 1870 and 1880 census. He died in 1894. 1870 census, Frederick Co., Petersville District:John W.T. Adams (31 yo plasterer born in Bermuda), his wife Susan (27, born in MD), and 3 children (Ella D., 7; James W.C., 5; and Rufus P., 1), + John’s brother Edmund (22 yo carpenter)

9/18/1877: William and Susan Adams to William J. Allen.

1880 census, Berlin: William Allen (37 yo canal boatman) and wife Julia (31) and their 4 children (Jeremiah, 6; Harry, 5; Bertha 1; and Flora, one month old) + Julia’s sister Anna Rench (21). Also in 1880 census: Willliam Dean (47 yo laborer), his wife Mary A. Dean (47), and their 5 children (ages 5, 10, 14, 24, and 22)

11/5/1882: William & Julia Allen to Mary Ann Dean.

12/5/1882: William E. & Mary Ann Dean to B.F. Sigafoose.

1900 census, Brunswick: B.F. Sigafoose (48 yo inspector), his wife Laura (39), and their 10 children (ages 3 mos to 22 years). Note: They were married in 1876.]

1910 census, Brunswick: BenjamineSigafooose (58 yo machinist, B&O shop), his wife Laura (49), and their 5 children (ages 10-21). Living on First Street [today: Virginia Ave.]

1920 census, Brunswick: Benj. F. Sigafoose (68 yo machine work, RR), his wife Laura, and their two children (ages 19 and 21). Living on Bridge Street [today: Virginia Ave.]

1930 Census: B.F. Sigafoose (78) is living with his daughter and son-in-law Edgar L. (35) and Bessie Shelton (32) at 8 North Virginia Avenue. Residents of 1 North Virginia Avenue: J. Albert Porter (27 yo, train service, RR) and his wife Margaret, and their 3-month old son James. Note: Some of their neighbors are the same as those of B.F. Sigafoose in the 1900, 1910, and 1920 census, suggesting that this is the house where B.F. Sigafoose and his family lived in prior to the Porters.

1930-1959: 30-year information gap. Would have to search property records at Frederick County Courthouse.

1940 census: James A. Porter and his family are living in Knoxville. 1 N. Virginia Avenue in Brunswick is not listed, although other houses on that street are!

1959: (Judge) William W. Wenner, just out of law school, moved in.

1963: Charles R. “Petie” Virts moved in, raised his family there. He died in Martinsburg in 2013.

9/22/2014: [estate of] Charles R. Virts to Jonathan Vance.

2/18/2020: Jonathan Vance to landmark Investment Properties (Manassas, VA)

Current owners (August 2020): Nicole Plaza and Zachary Anderson.