Image of Grave on Worldgate Property
Grave
This is a map of HMH Properties who are the owners of Worldgate Shopping Center. X is marked to indicate the approx location of the grave.
Khaled Noori
Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration, Real Estate Division.
1870 Census Records
Records
This is the 1870 Census Records of the Ratcliffe family. It shows the household Nancy at the age of 63, Cora at age 34, and Laura at the age of 32.
Khaled Noori
U.S. Census Records
Ancestry.com
1850 Census Record
Records
This is the 1850 Census record which shows Arin (Ann M) Ratcliffe at age 47 with John (21), Cora (16), and Laura (14)
Khaled Noori
U.S. Census Records
Ancestry.com
Sketch of Laura's Grave
Grave
This is a sketch of Laura's grave. It is scaled for each square to represent 1 ft. Based on my observation, I made note of possible depressions to indicate there could be more than just Laura buried there.
Khaled Noori
Family Tree of Laura Ratcliffe
Family Tree
This is a simple version of Laura Ratcliffe's family tree. Richard Ratcliffe, the founder of Fairfax, had about 8 children and 40 grandchildren. However, I only including the direct connection to Laura.
Khaled Noori
Ancestry.com
More Rooms Inside Merrybrook
Merrybrook
The first picture shows the room where Laura had used when she would have company. Instead of a bookshelf on the right, there was a bay window that was significant because Laura's body was shown there at her funeral for people to come by and pay their respect.
The other picture shows another room that was added for Laura by Milton Hanna in the 1880s. There is a beam to show that the rooms were once separated from each other.
Khaled Noori
Outside of Merrybrook
Merrybrook
Outside the backyard is a well that was built in 1824 as well as a slave quarters. However, there is no records showing that Laura Ratcliffe had any slaves when they moved into Merrybrook in 1867.
Khaled Noori
Inside Merrybrook
Merrybrook
This is a picture of the dining room of Merrybrook. In the corner of the dining room, is the secret staircase that once led to a room upstairs.
Khaled Noori
Oldest Structure of Merrybrook
Merrybrook
According to Win Meiselman, the pictures shows the oldest part of the house which was built in 1824. Overall, there has been 3 more additions to the house since 1824.
Khaled Noori
Laura Ratcliffe's Room
Merrybrook
This is suggested by Win Meiselman to be Laura Ratcliffe's bedroom when she moved in 1867.
Khaled Noori