Oxford Dendrochronology Laboratory Report 2009
Summary:
A total of twelve phases of construction from eight buildings were sampled and dated as part of a multidisciplinary research project into the survival of pre-Civil War slave cabins. The project was funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and was managed through the Department of Historic Preservation at the University of Mary Washington and the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. The tree-ring dates ranged from 1785 to 1858, although the earliest of these are reused timbers.
NEH – SLAVE HOUSING PROJECT: Dendrochronology dates for examined slave buildings
| Building | County | Dendro. date | Construction format |
| Arcola, West duplex | Loudoun | 1813 | Stone duplex |
| Arcola, East duplex | Loudoun | 1844/45 | Stone duplex |
| Sherwood Forest | Stafford | 1845/46 | Frame duplex |
| Bacon’s Castle, Phase I | Surry | 1828/29 | Frame duplex, initial phase |
| Bacon’s Castle, Phase II | Surry | 1847/48 | Frame duplex, second phase |
| Four Square, Phase I | Isle of Wight | 1788/89 | Frame duplex, initial phase |
| Four Square, Phase II | Isle of Wight | 1829/30 | Frame duplex, second phase |
| Logan Farm | Isle of Wight | 1785/86 | Reused timbers |
| Logan Farm | Isle of Wight | 1837/38 | Frame duplex |
| Spring Hill | Culpeper | 1858/59 | Frame duplex |
| Ben Lomond | Prince William | 1833/34 | Stone duplex |
| Walnut Valley Plantation | Surry | 1815/16 | Frame (single room) |