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Cragfont
200 Cragfont Road, Castalian Springs,
TN ,
USA
Telephone:
(615) 452-7070
Latitude & Longitude:
36° 24' 15.86916",
-86° 20' 28.00536"
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Tennessee State
Historical Marker
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places |
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Cragfont was the home of General James Winchester, a protagonist of the American Revolution , a pioneer in the Middle Tennessee wilderness, a soldier against indigenous Americans, a brigadier general in the War of 1812, and co-founder of the City of Memphis.
 Cragfont House, Castalian Springs, TN
The construction of Cragfont was started in 1798 and finished in 1802. It was the finest mansion on the Tennessee frontier and typified the grandeur and style of the best architecture of the late Georgian period. Named Cragfont because it stood on a rocky bluff with a spring at its base, the house is furnished with Federal antiques, some of which are original to the Winchester family. The basement holds an authentic weaving room.
In the War of 1812, Winchester's troops were a part of the unsuccessful American campaign to invade Canada. He was defeated near Frenchtown, was captured, and marched with some 550 Tennesseans and Kentuckians to Quebec, where they were imprisoned for 15 months. He returned to his home in April, 1814, but soon left to assume command of the Mobile District. After General Andrew Jackson's victory at New Orleans, Winchester returned to Cragfont for good on February 12, 1815. Once there, he resumed pursuit of his agricultural interests, became a leader in the general upgrading of the state, and engaged in land speculation, which led to his fortune. He died at his home on July 26, 1826.
Tennessee State Historical Marker Text:
0.7 mile north, the home of James Winchester, built by artisans from his home state of Maryland and completed in 1802. He was a War of 1812 brigadier general, and in association with General Andrew Jackson and Judge John Overton was one of Memphis's founders. He is buried in the family plot behind the house.
Cragfont was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on February 26, 1970.
Last updated: 2/14/2015 15:17:00 |
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Related Themes: American Revolution, the Revolutionary War.
See more historic sites related to Tennessee in the Revolution.
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Cragfont Historical Marker Location Map, Castalian Springs, Tennessee Map
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