Historic Murphy's Spring

Historic "Murphy's Spring" at Chestnut Oak in Amissville, Virginia

This Historic Spring ( located on Rt. 637 in Amissville, VA ) was established during the late 1700s and served travelers as they passed through the Virginia community know then as Hedgesville of Rappahannock County. Murphy's Spring served travelers for over 200 years and still remains in working condition. According to the "Old Timers" this spring has never gone dry, even in the severe drought of the 1930s. It is designated as a historical landmark on the latest Rappahannock County historical map published by the Rappahannock County Historical Society in 1999. It occupies this beautiful setting at the entrannce to Chestnut Oak and Autumn Haze Farm.

The specific ownership of the 400-acre " Murphy Track of Land from which the Autumn Haze Farm was a par of.

Immediately prior to the Peyton family's purchase around the turn of the 20th century is not detailed in the available information. However, the general history of the area indicates that the land was part of the Northern Neck Proprietary, which was granted by King Charles II to seven loyal friends in 1649 and inherited by Thomas 6th Lord Fairfax in 1719.

Amissville Area Land History :

Mid-1700s: Lord Fairfax began granting large tracts of land to individuals, including Thomas Burk, Samuel Scott, and others, between 1747 and 1766.
Late 1700s: The Amiss and Bayse families acquired significant acreage from these initial grantees and became major landowners in the area.
Murphy Association: The name "Murphy" is associated with a historic spring (Murphy's Spring) located in the Chestnut Oak area of Amissville,

which served travelers in the late 1700s. This suggests the Murphy family were early settlers in the region, and it is likely the land in question was part

of their holdings before the Peytons acquired it.