Ballestone-Stansbury House

A fine example of Federal architecture, the Ballestone-Stansbury House is one of the few surviving farmhouses in the Back River Neck peninsula. It was originally built sometime between 1780-1813 by a member of the Stansbury family and enlarged on two other occasions. It is now part of Rocky Point Park and a museum operated by the Ballestone Preservation Society. Inside, the house features Early American art dating from 1780 to 1880. The Society offers tours, special exhibits, living history reenactments, and seasonal events. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

The Stansbury family's history in Baltimore County likely dates back to the 1658 when Detmar and Reuska Stansbury arrived. It appears they were indentured servants to a landowner named Thomas Bradley. One of their children, Tobias, acquired 100 acres and served as a "ranger" who helped protect the area from Indian attacks. One of his grandchildren, Thomas, married Jane Hayes in 1710. It was one of their children, Dixon (1720-1805), who, it seems, built the original part of Ballestone-Stansbury House. Dixon inherited 37 acres through is wife, Penepole, in 1783 and later acquired his brother-in-law's adjacent property, where Dixon built the house.

However, the precise construction date and the name of the builder is unknown. The National Register of Historic Places nomination form suggests it was built by Joseph Stansbury or his son Ephraim, around 1800 (who they are in the family tree is not clear). Another source indicates that many scholars believe the house was first built in the 1780s. How long it remained the family is also unclear. They may have owned it until either 1817 or 1819, or until 1852. What is certain is that it was purchased by a man named Edward Miller in 1855. The family enlarged the house around 1870 and again in the 1870s or 1880s. The family later sold it to the county parks department in 1969. Restoration work took place between 1974 and 1976.

"Ballestone Manor." Baltimore County Government. Accessed August 12, 2022. https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/recreation/programdivision/community/middleriver/ballestone.html.

"Ballestone-Stansbury House." Enjoy Baltimore County. Accessed August 12, 2022. https://www.enjoybaltimorecounty.com/play/Ballestone-Stansbury-House.

Roberts, Keith. "Stansbury Family Linked with History of Middle River." Patch.com. July 10, 2011. https://patch.com/maryland/essex/stansbury-family-linked-with-history-of-middle-river.