Ellwood was built by William Jones in the 1780s. In 1823 Jones’ wife of 50 years, Betty Churchill Jones, died. The then 78-year-old Jones married his 16-year-old grandniece Lucinda Gordon. Lucinda gave birth to a daughter 11 months later who they named Betty. They were married for 16 years when William Jones died at the age of 95 in 1845. When Lucinda remarried, Jones’ will stipulated that the property would pass to their daughter Betty. In 1848 Betty married J. Horace Lacy. They lived at Ellwood until 1857 when they moved to Chatham across the Rappahannock River from Fredericksburg, which became their primary residence. Ellwood served as their summer home where their slaves farmed the land. Lacy served in the Confederate army on the staffs of several generals. During the battle of Chancellorsville, the field hospital of Jackson’s Corps was established in the location of the current Wilderness Vineyards. The Reverend Beverly Tucker Lacy served as a chaplain on Jackson’s staff. Beverly was the older brother of Horace. After Jackson’s arm was amputated Reverend Lacy to it to Ellwood to bury it. General Samuel Crawford used the house as his headquarters on the evening of May 4th. General Warren commanding the V Corps established it as his headquarters on the morning of the 5th. General Burnside also used it as a headquarters.

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