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This is the Old Schermerhorn/Austin Montezuma Farm passed down from potter John Poole Schermerhorn Sr, d. 1850
homestead on Mechanicsville Turnpike, Hwy. 360, two miles East of Richmond, Va. The family burial ground is in the left foreground between the home and the highway in a grove of trees. The home is c. 1825-30 and reportedly burned and was rebuilt to specs. at some time c. 1910.
Schermerhorn/Austin farm until 1880 when it was sold at auction to John B. Davis to settle debts. Davis. Was Thomas J. Stonewall Jackson's HQ during the Seven Days Campaign, July 9-15, 1862. Farm was advertised for sale in the 1860's during the War Between the States but could not be sold or was taken off market. Compliments to Robert E.L. Krick, Chief Historian, Richmond NBP/NPS , for the significance of the house in the WBTS. This house was between the middle and inner (star forts) defenses of the city of Richmond during the War. It was apparently just outside or near the tollgates to the Turnpike. A Schermerhorn ancestor was employed as Toll-Gate Collector according to census information (Wm. Francis Schermerhorn). Camp Schermerhorn, Henrico Co. was host to the Surry Light Artillery in March, 1864 on the Montezuma acreage on one side of the Mechanisville Pike (US 360). Montezuma subdiv. in Richmond got its name from this estate/property.
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