John McIntosh of Colchester, plot #20

Did you know about this former prosperous trading town on the Occoquan River that no longer exists? Colchester was established in 1753 along the Occoquan River in what is now Fairfax County, but all that can be seen now of the previous establishment is a singular building. The town decreased in popularity during the early 19th century due to a decrease in the depth of the Occoquan river and many ventures switching to trade in Alexandria. However, there still is evidence to be found of this community that is long gone. 

John McIntosh was the town tailor, and one of the more permanent establishments within Colchester as he was just down the main street from the town inn. Family oral history says he was born in Scotland around 1717 and he died in Colchester, VA in 1769. 

The Colchester Archeological Research Team (CART) from the Fairfax County Park Authority started excavating the Town of Colchester in 2010. Information found during the CART archaeological dig made it possible to map out where different properties existed and through additional historical records research they were able to assign property owners to some of the foundations uncovered. From the section that was discovered to be McIntosh's plot, they found some features: a stone foundation with a brick floor, from which an analysis indicated that the house collapsed in the early to mid 1800s. 

Records show that McIntosh bought the lot (numbered 20 on the original town plot) for 6 pounds on September 9th, 1758, from the Trustees of the Colchester community. He had some requirements to fulfill to stay in possession of the land, like having to build a house of brick, stone or wood to at least twenty feet square to nine feet tall. It had to have a brick or stone chimney. On his passing, the land was inherited by his son Lachan McIntosh in 1768. 

According to John McIntosh’s will, which can be found in the Fairfax County Courthouse Historic Record Center, McIntosh had 6 children; Locklin, John, Thomas, Catherine, Ann, and Valinder. McIntosh owned multiple plots of land as he gave his different sons different areas of land around the county. Lochlin was given the lot and house in Colchester, John was given a 93 acres plantation, and Thomas was given 100 acres of land. They were however not to inherit the land until the youngest daughter, Valinder, was to come of age. Before that was to happen Elizabeth McIntosh, John’s wife, was to manage the estate as she saw fit. After the youngest came of age the 3 daughters were to inherit an even split of the rest of the estate. Elizabeth was also proclaimed the sole executrix of John’s will. 

The inventory of his property conducted by the town officials gave more information about McIntosh’s operations. He had 3 enslaved peoples; 1 woman named Sarah, 1 boy named Charles, and 1 girl also named Sarah. He had 3 cows, 2 pigs, 2 sows, and 10 “Shotts”,also known as a 3 months old pig. He owned a bible, which suggests that he was literate. There were 5 feather beds in the house which means that some of the children either shared a bed or didn’t sleep on one. 

From the John Glassford & Company Colchester store ledgers, there are records of purchases made on an account for John McIntosh over the course of 11 years. Some of the things that he continually purchased included rum, needles, shoes (both men’s and womens), sugar, shoe buckles, and different fabrics. As a tailor, he made clothing for many people to pay for his purchases, including clothing for Alexander Henderson (the shopkeeper) and the store’s enslaved men, Glasgow, Milford, and Ben. It’s likely that his tailoring skills took place directly between the town’s occupants that were not recorded in the store ledgers as other than payments of McIntosh’s account by others as at least 36 others helped pay on his account. 

John Glassford & Company. Ledgers Year 1758-1760. VA. John Glassford & Company, 1760.

John McIntosh, Tailor (Lot 20), A Cultural History Tour of Old Colchester Park and Preserve. Accessed May 9th 2022. https://fairfaxcountygis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=30f2ef6e8cf044d3b7a4e7d27a452046&webmap=629b9816879844b2a39eea4aeee6d476.

History Revealed. John McIntosh Lot 20, Dropbox. Accessed May 16th 2022. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/c67q35xw6o36clf/AAD2HhShLmeSOV4sln5xckdRa/Colchester%20Lots/McIntosh?dl=0&preview=JOHN+MCINTOSH.docx&subfolder_nav_tracking=1.

Fairfax County Official. Fairfax County Deed Book. Fairfax County Courthouse, 1758.

McIntosh, John. Fairfax County Will Book. Volume C-1. Fairfax County Courthouse, 1769.