Magruder House (18PR982)

The Magruder House (18PR982) is located within the original platted town of Bladensburg in Prince George’s County. The extant house was used as a residence, farm, and doctor’s office. Historical records indicate that the house was constructed around 1742, and that the property has been continuously occupied to the present. Evidence of prehistoric occupations dating to the Archaic and Woodland periods has also been documented.

This house was built by William Hilleary who owned the property from 1742-1763. Richard Henderson (1763-1793) and David Ross, Jr. (1793-1802) were later 18th century owners/occupants of the house. According to 1798 tax records, the property at that time included a variety of outbuildings, including a log wash house and quarter, frame milk house, stone meat house, frame hen house, frame stall, and a shed on the 3 acre parcel. The early to mid -19th century saw a series of tenants occupying the house. The Magruder family owned and occupied the house from 1853-1880. Later domestic occupation of the Magruder House (1880-1954) is, again, represented by various tenant and owner occupations.

The Maryland State Highway Administration and URS Corporation, Inc. undertook archaeological investigations at the Magruder House property (18PR982) in May of 2009. The investigation included the excavation of 21 STPs and seven 5 x 5-ft square test units around the extant house.

The investigation resulted in recovery of 266 prehistoric artifacts, 12,489 historic and modern artifacts, 4,424 faunal remains, and 489 floral remains. Thirteen historic cultural features were identified. Features include two post holes and/or molds, three soil stains or artifact concentrations, four pits, three trenches, and a gravel path. Artifacts and features span the historic period of occupation from the mid- to late 18th century to the 20th century. The prehistoric components date to the Archaic and Woodland Periods and indicate long-term use of the landscape by prehistoric populations.

Three flotation samples measuring a total of 25.25 liters in volume were processed and analyzed from the Magruder House Data Recovery. In addition, one hand-collected botanical sample was selected for study.

The results of archeobotanical analysis are in Furgerson, Kathleen, 2012, Archeobotanical Analysis Report. Appendix F in Crowl et al. 2012.

(Edited from Maryland Archeobotany and archeological site survey form, Maryland Historical Trust)