Maryland Historical Trust Inventory No.

10-1

Maryland Inventory of
Historic Properties Form

1. Name of Property (indicate preferred name)

historic Friendship

other

2. Location
street and number 28110 Ridge Road not for publication

city, town Damascus, MD 20872 vicinity

county Montgomery

3. Owner of Property (give names and mailing addresses of all owners)

name Nancy L. Hood and Denis R. Hood

street and number 9419 Green Valley Road telephone
city, town Union Bridge state MD zip code 21791-8119

4. Location of Legal Description

courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Courthouse liber 30461 folio 302
city, town Rockville, MD tax map FY42 tax parcel P200 tax ID number 12-00937190

5. Primary Location of Additional Data

Contributing Resource in National Register District
Contributing Resource in Local Historic District
Determined Eligible for the National Register/Maryland Register
Determined Ineligible for the National Register/Maryland Register
Recorded by HABS/HAER
x Historic Structure Report or Research Report at MHT
x Other: Montgomery County Locational Atlas 1976

6. Classification
Category Ownership Current Function Resource Count
district public x agriculture landscape Contributing Noncontributing
building(s) x private commerce/trade recreation/culture buildings
structure both defense religion sites
x site domestic social structures
object education transportation objects
funerary work in progress Total
government unknown
health care vacant/not in use Number of Contributing Resources
industry other: previously listed in the Inventory
7. Description Inventory No. 10-1

Condition
excellent deteriorated
x good ruins
fair altered

Prepare both a one paragraph summary and a comprehensive description of the resource and its various elements as it
exists today.

Friendship (#10-1) is a farm of 89.99 acres located on the east side of Kemptown Road (Route 80) at its
junction with Ridge Road (Route 27), opposite Friendship United Methodist Church, in Clagettsville, Maryland.
The address is 28110 Ridge Road, although the farm is entered from Kemptown Road. The farm derives
primarily from land described in the land records as “originally called Friendship now called Prospect Hill.”
The front portion of the property is open fields; the rear portion is forested. There are several unnamed
tributaries of Bennett Creek on the rear portion of the property, as well as a pond and wetlands. The farmstead
is set in a valley and is clustered in an area of about 4.7 acres, approximately 860 feet to 1400 feet off the public
road. Contributing buildings include the dwelling house (circa 1786), bank barn, dairy barn, milk house, and
spring house. The property also contains a family cemetery and a slave cemetery.

Dwelling House (contributing)

The dwelling house is composed of a two-story main log section, a two-story rear ell, and three one-story
additions. The main block is oriented east, and is four bays wide by one bay deep, with a side gable roof. The
earliest part of the house may date from as early as 1786, when Nehemiah Moxley purchased the property.1
The east (front) façade of the main block has two front doors in the center bays, with a three-light transom
surmounting each door. Windows are 2 over 2 sash. The gable ends of the main block have cornice returns.
The rear ell is two bays wide by one bay deep. A shed-roofed porch wraps around the full façade of the east
and south sides of the house. There are standing seam metal roofs on the house and porch, and the house is clad
with drop siding.

The southwest corner of the porch is enclosed. According to Farquhar, “the kitchen at the south or far end of
the porch is of modern construction, it having been built in the same spot after an old original log kitchen was
removed.”2 On the north side of the rear ell is a one-story shed-roofed porch that has been enclosed. In recent
years, a one-story addition was constructed on the north side of the main block. According to Michael Dwyer
in 1979, a shed-roofed meat house was attached to the rear wing, and bargeboard decorated the cornice of the
main block and the rear ell.3 Neither meat house nor bargeboard is in place today.

Bank Barn (contributing)

To the east of the dwelling house stands a bank barn. The barn has a stone foundation, vertical board siding,
and a standing metal seam roof. The barn may have been built in two sections. Exposed cantilevered logs
support the forebay above the stable. The wagon ramp and rolling door are on the north side, and the stable

1
William Moxley and Elizabeth Holland married in 1785. William’s father, Nehemiah Moxley of Anne Arundel County, acquired the
property (apparently 200 acres) in 1786 from Henry Ridgely of Anne Arundel County (see Deed K 188-190), who patented a 1575-
acre tract called Friendship in 1760 and who was one of the largest landowners in Montgomery County. Census records show
William Moxley living in Montgomery County by 1790.
2
Roger Brooke Farquhar, Old Homes and History of Montgomery County, Maryland, ©1952, 1962, Judd & Detweiler, Inc.,
Washington, D.C., page 163.
3
Donald Leavitt, Maryland Historic Trust Inventory Form: Friendship, #10-1, Architectural Description by Michael Dwyer, July
1979.
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faces downhill on the south side. There are false round-topped windows painted on the south façade. On the
east gable end, there is applied lettering that states “1795 Moxley.”4

Dairy Barn and Milk House (contributing)

Southwest of the bank barn are a small dairy barn and detached milk house dating approximately from the
1920’s. The buildings are concrete block and have standing seam metal roofs. The dairy barn has a steeply
pitched gambrel roof with a flared eave, hay hood, and horizontal wood siding in the gable ends. The dairy
barn has quoins of beveled concrete block, while the rest of the concrete blocks are smooth faced.

Spring House (contributing)

South of the house, to the south of the pond, stands a gable-roofed spring house with a standing seam metal roof
and board and batten siding. On the south gable end is a spring capped by a concrete hood inscribed “May 26,
1924 – W S M.”

Cemeteries
There are two cemeteries associated with this property. Only one has been geographically located.
According to the Montgomery County Cemeteries Inventory,5 the Moxley Family Cemetery is located 250
yards northwest of the dwelling house in a field under the power line. There are no gravestones, but there is a
white metal cross in the vicinity. In 2007, it was recorded that there was a slate marker that had been dragged
out and was propped against a tree by the house. A slave cemetery is said to be located southwest of the house
in a wooded area.6

Other Outbuildings and Structures (contributing)

To the east of the bank barn is a one-story outbuilding in two sections used for vehicle and equipment storage.
The main section is square and has board and batten siding, a rolling door on the north side, and a pyramidal

4
Brooke Farquhar, Old Homes and History of Montgomery County, Maryland, ©1952, Judd & Detweiler, Inc., Washington, D.C.,
page 169, states that “An old barn is nearby, is constructed in part with oak and chestnut logs, said to have been hewn out by
Nehemiah Moxley, when he built his first barn about 1795.” In his 1962 edition, Farquhar instead states, “According to the records
of the Moxley family, this farm has been in the one family since 1795, when Nehemiah made his first purchase of Friendship, 162
acres, for 225 pounds sterling.” However, our research indicates that Nehemiah Moxley did not live in Montgomery County, and that
the 162 acres of Prospect Hill that he purchased in Montgomery County in 1795 (Deed F-6/257-259) from James Norwood Junior
appears not to be the land on which #10-1 Friendship is located, but rather land that is circling the current Windsor Forest Road, on
both sides of the Patuxent, on the east side of Ridge Road. The land on which #10-1 Friendship is located seems instead to the 200
acres described in Deed K 188-190. This deed was recorded 1802.3.16, but indicates in its text that the land was actually purchased
by Nehemiah Moxley from Henry Ridgely on 1786.1.8 though not conveyed. To roughly locate lands described in deeds, compare
survey maps attached to patents, deed references to specific lines or courses in the patents, the Clagettsville area map (Map 1) of the
Montgomery County Historical Society – Patents @ 1800 (which includes a clear mylar overlay of 1800 patents and a 1987 MNCPPC
base map with ADC grid, current roads, and land features), and maps of current property lines, roads, and land features.
5
Montgomery County Cemeteries Inventory, ID # 266.
6
Montgomery County Cemeteries Inventory, ID # 267.
Maryland Historical Trust
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standing seam metal roof with exposed rafters. The rear section has a shed roof, also standing seam metal,
vertical wood siding, and a drive-though aisle.

To the south of the dwelling house is another vehicle and equipment storage outbuilding with attached loafing
shed to the south, now also used for equipment storage. The vehicle and equipment storage building is square,
is clad with lap siding, has two large openings on the east side, and has a hipped standing seam metal roof with
exposed rafters. The attached loafing barn is flat-roofed, open on the east side, has window openings on the
south side, and is sheathed with vertical wood siding on the south and corrugated metal on the west. It has a
standing seam metal roof.

To the south of the vehicle and equipment storage building/loafing barn is a small, side-gabled building of that
may have been a dairy house but is currently used as a play house. The east (front), south, and north facades are
clad with drop siding, and the rear facade with board and batten. The roof is covered with wood shingles.
There is a modern replacement window in each of the east, south, and west facades, and the door on the east
façade is made of vertical wood planks. A wooden front porch has been added.

To the southwest of the dwelling house, behind the equipment storage building stand two small outbuildings of
unknown purpose: a four-foot tall, shed-roofed building with board and batten siding, a standing seam metal
roof, and a single opening – a door, which is located on its west façade; and a larger, five-foot tall, one-story,
shed-roofed building with lap siding, a standing seam metal roof, a window, and a door.

Behind and to the west of these two small outbuildings is a one-story, rectangular, shed-roofed building,
probably a chicken coop, clad in lap siding over vertical wood planks, with a single 6/6 sash window on the
west facade and two window openings and two doors of vertical wood siding on the south facade.
Further to the south, close to a tributary of Bennett Creek, is a one-story, shed-roofed chicken coop with board
and batten siding, a door of vertical wood planks on the east side, and several window openings on the south
side facing the creek. Nearby, a narrow wooden bridge with wooden railing leads over the same tributary of
Bennett Creek to the pond where the spring house is located.

Church Hall (demolished)

According to Allie May Moxley Buxton,7 a descendant and family historian, on the northern corner of the
property abutting Kemptown Road once stood the Montgomery Methodist Church Hall, built in 1916 and
demolished on July 20, 1974. The church hall, the former 28130 Kemptown Road, stood near the entrance to
Friendship Farm (#10-1), and across the street from Montgomery Methodist Church.

7
Allie May Moxley Buxton, Nehemiah Moxley – His Clagettsville sons and Their Descendants, BookCrafters, Chelsea, Michigan, ©
1989, page 44.
8. Significance Inventory No. 10-1

Period Areas of Significance Check and justify below

1600-1699 x agriculture economics health/medicine performing arts
x 1700-1799 archeology education industry philosophy
x 1800-1899 x architecture engineering invention politics/government
x 1900-1999 art entertainment/ landscape architecture religion
2000- commerce recreation law science
communications ethnic heritage literature social history
community planning exploration/ maritime history transportation
conservation settlement military other:

Specific dates 1786-1827 Architect/Builder

Construction dates

Evaluation for:

National Register Maryland Register not evaluated

Prepare a one-paragraph summary statement of significance addressing applicable criteria, followed by a narrative discussion of the
history of the resource and its context. (For compliance projects, complete evaluation on a DOE Form – see manual.)

Friendship (#10-1) has been under the continuous possession of the direct descendants of Nehemiah Moxley,
through his son, William, who was the first to reside there. William was married in 1785 and formally received
the farm on which he was residing in 1827. The farm currently is owned by a seventh-generation Moxley
descendant. Friendship derives its name from one of the earliest and largest land patents in the area. The farm
includes an outstanding array of buildings and structures that typify farming as it evolved in Montgomery
County through the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Contributing buildings and structures include a
dwelling house, bank barn, gambrel-roofed dairy barn and milk house, spring house, two vehicle and storage
buildings, one with attached loafing shed, two chicken coops or poultry houses, a dairy house, and two domestic
outbuildings of unknown purpose. The dwelling house, which is log covered by siding, has two front doors, a
regional type derived from German building traditions from Pennsylvania that is no longer common in
Montgomery County.

Nehemiah Moxley8, a farmer from Anne Arundel County, started purchasing land in the upper tip of
Montgomery County in an area now known as Clagettsville in the last quarter of the 1700’s. He conveyed land
to his sons – William, Ezekiel, and Jacob -- to take up residence and set up plantations.9 Their three homesteads
were each listed on the October 1976 Locational Atlas and Index of Historical Sites in Montgomery County
Maryland and have remained on the Atlas since then. William’s homestead is listed as 10-1 Friendship and is
located at the address noted in this form above. Ezekiel’s homestead is listed as #10-3 John Moxley House,
which is located at 28800 Kemptown Road. Jacob’s homestead is listed as #15-3 Rezin Moxley House, which
is located at 3597 Medd Avenue, Mt. Airy, MD (in part not within Montgomery County). Remarkably, Moxley
descendants still own and/or live on each property.

Nehemiah Moxley himself (b.12/19/1737 or 1738, d. 2/13/1836) apparently never resided in Montgomery
County, but lived and died in Anne Arundel County in an area that is now Howard County.10 His obituary
states “he was present, and assisted with many others of his fellow citizens, in throwing the tea overboard at
8
See Buxton, op. cit., for background information on Nehemiah Moxley and his family.
9
Op. cit., page 8.
10
Op. cit., page 6.
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Annapolis, at the commencement of the Revolutionary War”11 – a significant event in Maryland’s

Revolutionary War history. As related in Nehemiah Moxley, on 10/15/15/1774, colonists boarded the Peggy
Stewart brigantine at Annapolis, dumped its tea cargo overboard, and then burned the ship. The colonists did so
to protest the ship’s captain actions -- paying tax on the tea to the British and then smuggling the tea into the
colony despite the ban on imports from Great Britain imposed by the first Maryland Convention, which opened
in Annapolis on 1774.6.22.12

In 1786, Nehemiah Moxley purchased land from Henry Ridgely (1728 - 179113) of Anne Arundel and in 1802
repurchased the same land – 200 acres -- from Henry Ridgely Jr., Henry’s executor, for a nominal sum to
remedy deficiencies in the earlier conveyance.14 This land appears to lie both to the west and east of Ridge
Road (Route 27), then known as Bucey’s Road.15 The land was from a 1575-acre tract described as “Friendship
now known as Prospect Hill,” which Captain Henry Ridgely had surveyed and patented as Friendship in 1760.
Friendship was one of the earliest and largest patents in the area now known as Clagettsville, and Captain Henry
Ridgely went on to become one of the largest land owners in what eventually became Montgomery County. 16
11
Op. cit., pages 6-7.
12
Richard K. MacMaster & Ray Eldon Hiebert, A Grateful Remembrance – The Story of Montgomery County, Maryland 1776 – 1976,
Montgomery County Government and Montgomery County Historical Society, page 31.
13
Harry Wright Newman, Anne Arundel Gentry: A Genealogical History of Some Early Families of Anne Arundel County,
Maryland, Volume Three, published by author, Annapolis, MD, 1979, page 34. The Ridgeleys were a prominent family in
Maryland’s early history, and different branches spawned many sons named Henry over the centuries. However, per Newman, the
Henry Ridgely who lived from 1728 to 1791 was the owner of land called Friendship of 1275 acres, which he was forced to mortgage,
along with numerous other properties, on 4/27/177_ to meet substantial debts. Newman notes this mortgage was fully redeemed by
the value of Ridgeley’s personal estate after his death.
14
See Deed K 188-190, dated 3/16/1802, which mentions an earlier land transaction on 1/8/1786 between Henry Ridgely and
Nehemiah Moxley for land lying in Montgomery County, part of Friendship now called Prospect Hill, for which no deed was found.
(Deed K 188-190 from 1802.3.16 is from Henry Ridgely, Junior, executor for Henry Ridgely deceased, to Nehemiah Moxley, for five
shillings current money, for 200 acres of land lying in Montgomery County from Friendship now called Prospect Hill, beginning at the
56th line of Friendship…to Shadrach Penn’s part of Friendship…to the main road leading through Montgomery County by Gaithers
store known by the name of Buceys Road…to the 46th line of Friendship…to the 68th line of Henry and Elizabeth Enlarged…to the
61st line of Friendship … to the beginning. The 1802 deed was issued because Henry Ridgely Junior was authorized by Henry
Senior’s will to remedy “all lands sold by the said Henry Ridgely deceased, and remaining unconveyed, including this land part of
Friendship now called Prospect Hill, which was sold by Henry Ridgely Sr. to Nehemiah Moxley on January 8th, 1786.”)
15
See reference to Buceys Road in Deed K 188-190 cited in the footnote above. The road may have been called Buceys Road in
honor of Edward Busey, who in 1748 was granted a patented for a 100-acre tract known as Black Walnut Plains, thus became the
earliest patent holder in the area of eventually known as Clagettsville. (See MSA S 1220-1653 in Frederick County plat records,
which is an unpatented Resurvey of Black Walnut Plains from 1758 granted to “Edward Busey” and which refers to the original patent
from 1748 granted to the same Edward Busey.) (See also Janie W. Payne, “Highlights of Early Damascus Area History, Old Quaker
road, Buffalo Road,” in The Montgomery County Story, Montgomery County Historical Society, Vol. IX, No. 4, August 1966, page
6.) The aforementioned “Gaithers store” may have been located on this same main road as it passed through Sunshine, as the 1879
Hopkins Atlas shows a Gaither and a store at this location.
16
See the 1783 Census for Montgomery County, which show that Henry Ridgely had 2172 acres in Sugarloaf and Linganore
Hundreds, and his son, Henry Ridgely Jr. had 800 plus acres. According to Richard K. MacMaster & Ray Eldon Hiebert, A Grateful
Maryland Historical Trust
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Captain Ridgely twice resurveyed the 1575-acre tract known as Friendship17 – in 1770 as Friendship Enlarged,18
1915 acres (patented on 10/25/1796 to Thomas Snowden and Charles A. Warfield), and in 1775 as Prospect
Hill,19 3008 acres (patented on 10/31/1796, again to Snowden and Warfield). Thus Friendship Farm, where
Nehemiah’s son William Moxley and William’s descendants have lived all these years, takes its name from the
original and much larger land patent, Friendship.

Nehemiah allowed William to live upon and farm the 200 acres that Nehemiah purchased in 1786 and again in
1802. In 1828, Nehemiah conveyed to William for consideration of one dollar and natural love, two parts of
tracts of Friendship then in the possession of William lying in Montgomery County, totaling about five acres
and seven perches.20 Nehemiah died in 183621, and ownership of the rest of the land transferred to William
thereafter, under the terms of Nehemiah’s will, dated 11/5/1827, which gave William the “plantation where
(William) now resides,” except for 50 acres next to the Forney land, for about 150 acres. 22

William, whose birth date is unknown, married Elizabeth Holland on 12/20/178523 and took up possession of
the land quickly. Census records show William Moxley living in Montgomery County by 1790, with two free
white females and two slaves. The 1793 Montgomery County tax assessment records for the 3rd District
(Sugarloaf and Linganore) show that William “owned”24 200 acres that were part of Prospect Hill, with the
price per acre “13/7” and the total amount (value) “135.16.8.” These records also show at the time that he had
three slaves.

William and Elizabeth had nine children, including Nehemiah, often referred to as Nehemiah Jr. even though he
was Nehemiah senior’s grandson, not son.25 In 1845, William died and was buried on Friendship Farm.26
Under the terms of his will, the farm passed to his son Nehemiah (Jr.), who was unmarried.27 The land then
passed down through successive generations of the family (see Deeds and Land Ownership, attached). In 2005,

Remembrance: the Story of Montgomery County, Maryland 1776-1976, Montgomery County Government and Montgomery County
Historical Society, Rockville, MD, 1976 and 1996, page 44, only 6 persons, owned more than 3000 acres at this time, namely Robert
Peter, James Brooke, Richard Thomas, George Plater, Henry Ridgely, and Daniel Carroll.
17
Maryland State Archives Accession # MSA S 1197-1575, in Frederick County.
18
Maryland State Archives Accession # MSA S 1189-560, in Anne Arundel County.
19
Maryland State Archives Accession # MSA S 1189-1293, in Anne Arundel County.
20
Deed BS1/521, 5/12/1828, Nehemiah Moxley to William Moxley, two tracts of land from Friendship within Montgomery County –
one tract being one acres and three perches beginning at the end of 14 perches and one half perch on the 22nd line of Friendship “now
in the possession of William” and the other being four acres and four perches more or less beginning at the 23rd line of “said land.”
21
Buxton, op. cit., page 6, Nehemiah Moxley, born 12/19/1737 or 1738, died 2/18/1836.
22
Buxton, op. cit., page 354.
23
Buxton, op. cit., page 15.
24
As discussed, William resided upon but did not yet actually own the 200 acres ascribed to him in the 1793 Tax Assessment.
25
Buxton, op. cit., page 15.
26
Buxton, op. cit., page 15.
27
Buxton, op.cit., pages 362-363.
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the farm, then 89.99 acres, passed to Floyd Keen Moxley’s daughter, Nancy L. Hood, and her husband, Denis
R. Hood, with Floyd retaining a life estate in the house and lawn. Ms. Hood grew up on the farm, but now lives
elsewhere.

Friendship Farm was strategically located on one of the oldest roads and most important roads in the County –
the main road from Frederick to Annapolis, which is now in part known as Kemptown Road (Route 80). This
road was established sometime between 1748 to 1774, after Fredericktown had been laid out in 1745 and
become the county seat in 1748, when Frederick County was created.28 The road ran from The City of
Frederick along the Fredericktown-Baltimore Road to New Market, through Monrovia, through Kemptown,
over Rue’s Ford (over the Monocacy), through what became Clagettsville, Damascus, Etchison, and Unity (i.e.,
approximately along what are now Routes 108 Laytonsville Road and Route 650 New Hampshire Avenue), to
Green’s Bridge above Brighton Dam Road, near Green’s Bridge Road) and over the Patuxent. In 1774, the
General Assembly listed this road as one of several “principal market roads to be improved.” The road has
been known by various names, including the “Road from New Market to Colesville,” and “Road from New
Market to Washington.” In 1767 court records, as well as in deeds29 from the area that eventually became
known as Clagettsville, the road is referred to as “Bucey’s” or “Busey’s” Road, perhaps because the earliest
patent in the Clagettsville area was taken out by Edward Busey, in 1748 for Black Walnut Plains30
(approximately where Brown’s Church Road is today). From the early 1800’s to the latter part of the 1800’s,
the road was known as the “Quaker Road” and “Old Quaker Road,” because there were Quaker settlements
south of New Market in Monrovia, and into Patuxent and Annapolis.

The strategic location of Friendship Farm was enhanced when, in 1829, the Buffalo Road was laid out (Ridge
Road – Route 27 – above the junction with the current Kemptown Road). At the time, Congress was
considering laying out a proposed National Route from Buffalo, New York, through Washington, D.C., to New
Orleans. While Congress was deliberating, the Maryland General Assembly in 1829 authorized laying out a
portion of the road. Ultimately, however, Congress never approved the road, and the whole route was never
built. Nevertheless, Friendship Farm thus was located at the junction of two major roads. The Buffalo Road
ran through Ridgeville and Mount Airy in Frederick County, and a portion still forms the boundary between
Frederick and Carroll County today.31

The buildings, structures, and cemeteries on the property demonstrate the transition of Montgomery County
from a tobacco-based, slave-owning agricultural economy to a more diversified one that included dairy farming,

28
Information in this paragraph, aside from information on Edward Busey patent called Black Walnut Plains, is liberally drawn from
Jaynie W. Payne, “Highlights of Early Damascus Area History,” in Montgomery County Story, published by Montgomery County
Historical Society, Vol. IX, No. 4, August 1966, pages 1-10.
29
See Deed K 188-190, 3/16/1802, from Henry Ridgely to Nehemiah Moxley, which mentions “Bucey’s Road.” – see footnote 13.
30
See MSA S 1220-1653, Frederick, an unpatented Resurvey of Black Walnut Plains dated 4/26/1758 for 1420 acres, which refers to
the original survey from 10/27/1748 for 100 acres.
31
Payne, op. cit., pages 1 – 10.
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which was dependent on a good road network. There are log structures, frame structures, and concrete block
structures, demonstrating evolving agricultural construction materials. The are several types of barns on the
property – a bank barn, derived from German traditions, a loafing barn, and a dairy barn with milk house,
demonstrating the variety of ways animals were sheltered over time. An array of outbuildings, from the spring
house to the chicken coop to vehicle and equipment storage buildings to the buildings of unknown purpose,
illustrate evolving farm activities and practices. The dwelling house is significant not only because of its log
construction and early date, but because it is a fine example of an early double-door house, a regional variant
that we are only now beginning to document.
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#10-1 Friendship Deeds and Land Ownership

• In 1786 (and again in 1802), Nehemiah Moxley purchased from Henry Ridgely 200 acres of land from
Friendship now known as Prospect Hill.32
• In 1828, Nehemiah conveyed to William two tracts of Friendship in Montgomery County then in the
possession of William, totaling slightly over 5 acres.33
• On 5/22/1835, Nehemiah Moxley conveyed to son Ezekiel Moxley 50 acres of land lying and being in
Bennett’s Creek, “from the plantation where William now resides,” together with buildings and
improvements.34
• On 11/9/1835, Ezekiel Moxley, Sr. (William’s brother) and his wife, Rebekah (third wife, “Forner” by
previous marriage), conveyed 50 acres to William Moxley, Sr., part of a tract called “Friendship.”35
• On 2/18/1836, Nehemiah Moxley died. Land was then distributed under the terms of his will, dated
11/5/1827, including to William. Per Nehemiah’s will, William was to receive the “plantation where he
resides,” which consists of 150 acres (more or less), except the 50 acres lying next to the Forney land.36
• In 1845, William died and was buried on Friendship Farm. Under the terms of his will, the farm passed to
his son Nehemiah (Jr.), who was unmarried. 37
• In 1847, Nehemiah (Jr.) willed his land of about 150 acres to his brother Henry’s son, George M. Moxley,
with the provision that Henry be able to reside on and have use of the farm during Henry’s lifetime. 38
• The final account of George M. Moxley’s estate, dated 1899.1.3, shows distribution of his estate to his six
living children.39
• Also on 1899.1.3, however, a deed was recorded from Cornelius E. Moxley, executor for and son of
George M. Moxley, deceased, to William E. Watkins, the husband of Fannie Watkins, George’s niece.

32
See Deed K-188-190, dated 3/16/1802, which mentions an earlier land transaction on 1/8/1786 between Henry Ridgely and
Nehemiah Moxley for land lying in Montgomery County, part of Friendship now called Prospect Hill, for which no deed was found.
(Deed K 188-190 from 1802.3.16 is from Henry Ridgely, Junior, executor for Henry Ridgely deceased, to Nehemiah Moxley, for five
shillings current money, for 200 acres of land lying in Montgomery County from Friendship now called Prospect Hill, beginning at the
56th line of Friendship…to Shadrach Penn’s part of Friendship…to the main road leading through Montgomery County by Gaithers
store known by the name of Buceys Road…to the 46th line of Friendship…to the 68th line of Henry and Elizabeth Enlarged…to the
61st line of Friendship … to the beginning. The 1802 deed was issued because Henry Ridgely Junior was authorized by Henry
Senior’s will to remedy “all lands sold by the said Henry Ridgely deceased, and remaining unconveyed, including this land part of
Friendship now called Prospect Hill, which was sold by Henry Ridgely Sr. to Nehemiah Moxley on January 8th, 1786.”)
33
Deed BS1/521, 5/12/1828, Nehemiah Moxley to William Moxley, two tracts of land from Friendship within Montgomery County –
one tract being one acres and three perches beginning at the end of 14 perches and one half perch on the 22nd line of Friendship “now
in the possession of William” and the other being four acres and four perches more or less beginning at the 23rd line of “said land.”
34
Deed BS 7/203.
35
Deed BS 7/374.
36
Buxton, op. cit., page 354.
37
Buxton, op. cit., page 362 – 363.
38
Buxton, op.cit., page 363.
39
Buxton, op. cit.
Maryland Historical Trust
Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 10-1

Historic Properties Form

Name
Continuation Sheet

Number 8 Page 6

This deed conveyed 114 ¾ acres of land within Montgomery County known as “Prospect Hill originally
called Friendship”, described as Lot No. 1 in the division of the George M. Moxley’s estate. Fannie and
William Watkins, also on the same date of 1899.1.3, immediately conveyed this land to Cornelius E.
Moxley.40
• On 1902.11.11, Cornelius and his wife, Florence E. Moxley, had conveyed 19 ½ acres of the 114 ¾ acres
of Prospect Hill to Robert S. Moxley and Orida M. Moxley.41
• On 1918.1.2, Cornelius E. Moxley and his wife Florence E. Moxley, conveyed to Floyd S. Moxley one
acre of land from the land that had been conveyed by William Watkins and his wife, with the poignant
note that should Floyd S. die in the World War, the land would revert to Cornelius or Floyd’s brothers.42
• On 1937.8.25, Cornelius’s widow, Florence E. Moxley, conveyed to her son, Floyd S. Moxley, and to her
son’s wife, Lena E. Moxley, the aforementioned 114 ¾ acres of land, excepting any portions Cornelius
may have sold in his lifetime.43
• On 1942.12.23, Robert S. Moxley and Orida M. Moxley conveyed to Floyd S. Moxley and Lena E.
Moxley one acre more or less of the 19 ½ acres of land conveyed to them in 1902 by Cornelius and his
wife.44
• On 1973.10.12, Floyd S. Moxley and Lena E. Moxley conveyed to Glen Floyd Moxley 44,915.94 square
feet of land from the conveyance Florence E. Moxley had made to them in 1937.45
• On 1975.4.02, Lena E. Moxley conveyed to her son, Floyd K.M. Moxley, and his wife, Ruby J. Moxley,
89.99 acres, including land that had been conveyed in 1937 from Florence E. Moxley to Floyd S.
Moxley and his wife Lena, along with property conveyed in 1942 from Robert S. Moxley and his wife
Orida, and excepting property conveyed from Floyd S. Moxley and Lena to Glen Floyd Moxley in
1974.46
• On 1975.10.8, Floyd K.M. Moxley, personal representative of the estate of Floyd S. Moxley, deceased,
conveyed to himself and his wife, Ruby Joe Moxley, one acre of land that in 1917 had been conveyed by
Cornelius and Florence Moxley to Floyd S. Moxley. 47
• Floyd S. Moxley died 1974.7.23 and his wife Lena died 1982.3.23, and their son, Floyd K.M. Moxley,
was the sole inheritor at his father’s death.48
• On 1996.6.14, Floyd Keen Maloy Moxley and Ruby Joe Moxley conveyed to themselves as Trustees of
the Moxley Family Trust, the same one acre conveyed on 1975.10.8 above.49
40
Deeds T6/341-344 and T6/344-347.
41
Deed TD 24/119-120.
42
Deed PBR 268/469-470.
43
Deed CKW 677/265-266.
44
Deed CKW 900/23-24.
45
Deed HMS 4452/40-43.
46
Deed HMS 4627/155.
47
Deed 4699/679-681.
48
See Montgomery Chapel Cemtery headstones, also Buxton, op. cit., page 364.
49
Deed 17192/206-209.
Maryland Historical Trust
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Name
Continuation Sheet

Number 8 Page 7

• Also on 1996.6.14, Floyd Keen Maloy Moxley and his wife, Ruby, conveyed to themselves as Trustees of
the Moxley Family Trust, the 89.99 acres (conveyed to them on 1975.4.02).50
• On 2005.4.13, Floyd Keen Maloy Moxley, Surviving Trustee of Floyd Keen Maloy Moxley and Ruby Joe
Moxley Family Trust, conveyed to himself, individually, a 50% tenant-in-common interest in three
parcels, the first two being the 89.99 acres and the third being the one acre conveyed above on 1918.1.2
and on 1975.10.8.51
• On 2005.8.8, Floyd Keen Maloy Moxley, both individually and as Trustee of the Ruby Joe Moxley
Family Trust, conveyed to Nancy L. Hood and Denis R. Hood (Grantees) two parcels, in fee simple,
being the same land conveyed in 2005.4.13 above, and 2) to himself, Floyd Keen Maloy Moxley (Life
Tenant), a life estate in part of the property described as a single family residence and the lawn/yard on
which the residence is situate.52 (The total acreage of these two parcels is 89.88 acres, as follows: Tax
Account ID #12-00937190 – 88.89 acres, and 12-00937188 – one acre.)

50
Deed 17192/210-214.
51
Deed 29655/496-500.
52
Deed 30461/302.
9. Major Bibliographical References Inventory No. 10-1

See continuation pages.

10. Geographical Data

Acreage of surveyed property 88.99
Acreage of historical setting
Quadrangle name Quadrangle scale:

Verbal boundary description and justification

11. Form Prepared by

name/title Sandra L. Youla
organization MNCPPC/MCPD – Historic Preservation Section date September 2, 2008
street & number 8787 Georgia Avenue telephone 301-563-3400
city or town Silver Spring state MD

The Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties was officially created by an Act of the Maryland Legislature
to be found in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Article 41, Section 181 KA,
1974 supplement.

The survey and inventory are being prepared for information and record purposes only
and do not constitute any infringement of individual property rights.

return to: Maryland Historical Trust

Maryland Department of Planning
100 Community Place
Crownsville, MD 21032-2023
410-514-7600
Maryland Historical Trust
Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 10-1

Historic Properties Form

Name
Continuation Sheet

Number 8 Page 1

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Allie May Moxley Buxton, Nehemiah Moxley – His Clagettsville sons and Their Descendants, BookCrafters,
Chelsea, Michigan, 1989.

Farquhar, Roger Brooke, Old Homes and History of Montgomery County, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Judd
& Detweiler, Inc., 1952, 1962.

Deeds. Frederick and Montgomery County Land Records.

Leavitt, Donald, Maryland Historic Trust Inventory Form: Friendship, #10-1, Architectural Description by
Michael Dwyer, July 1979.

MacMaster, Richard K. & Ray Eldon Hiebert, A Grateful Remembrance – The Story of Montgomery County,
Maryland 1776 – 1976, Montgomery County Government and Montgomery County Historical Society

Montgomery County Cemeteries Inventory, located at the Historic Preservation Section/MNCPPC/Montgomery

County.

Newman, Harry Wright, Anne Arundel Gentry: A Genealogical History of Some Early Families of Anne
Arundel County, Maryland, Volume Three, published by author, Annapolis, MD, 1979.

Payne, Jaynie W.,“Highlights of Early Damascus Area History,” in Montgomery County Story, published by
Montgomery County Historical Society, Vol. IX, No. 4, August 1966
Maryland Historical Trust
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Name
Continuation Sheet

Number 8 Page 2

#10‐1 Friendship

#15‐8 Clagettsville

#10-1 Friendship – Vicinity Map

Maryland Historical Trust
Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 10-1

Historic Properties Form

Name
Continuation Sheet

Number 8 Page 3

#10‐1 Friendship

Bank Barn
Dwelling House Vehicle/Equipment Storage

Moxley Family Cemetery

Vehicle/Equipment 
Storage w/Loafing Shed

Two  Small Outbuildings Dairy Barn
Milk House
Slave Cemetery Chicken Coop

Dairy House
N
Spring House 

#10-1 Friendship -- Homestead

Maryland Historical Trust
Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 10-1

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Continuation Sheet

Number 8 Page 4
10/1 Friendship, 28110 Ridge Road, Damascus February 2008

Friendship Farm: View of the fields and homestead looking west.

Dwelling house: southwest and southeast facades, looking north.

10/1 Friendship, 28110 Ridge Road, Damascus February 2008

Dwelling House: Northeast façade.

Dwelling House: Northwest and southwest facades.

10/1 Friendship, 28110 Ridge Road, Damascus February 2008

Bank Barn: Southwest and southeast facades, looking north.

Bank Barn: Northwest façade, looking southeast.

10/1 Friendship, 28110 Ridge Road, Damascus February 2008

Bank Barn: Northeast gable.

Bank Barn: Southeast Façade, underside of projecting forebay.

10/1 Friendship, 28110 Ridge Road, Damascus February 2008

Spring House: Northeast façade, looking west.

Spring House: Concrete Hood capping the spring, inscribed “May 26, 1924 – W S M”.
10/1 Friendship, 28110 Ridge Road, Damascus February 2008

Milk House and Dairy House: Southeast facades, looking northwest.

Vehicle and Equipment Storage Shed: Northeast façade, looking southwest.

10/1 Friendship, 28110 Ridge Road, Damascus February 2008

Dairy House: Northeast and northwest facades, looking southwest.

Two Outbuildings, function unknown: Southeast facades, looking northwest.

10/1 Friendship, 28110 Ridge Road, Damascus February 2008

Chicken Coop to the west of above buildings: Southeast and northeast facades, looking
north.