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Jameson’s Hill

Written By: Theresa Meeker Pickett

Jameson’s Hill, located in Culpeper, Virginia, holds historical significance due to its association with Colonel John Jameson, a key figure in the American Revolutionary War. Jameson served as Culpeper County’s court clerk from 1771 to 1810 and was a captain in the Culpeper Minute Men battalion during the Revolutionary War. In September 1780, while commanding a post near Tarrytown, New York, he played a crucial role in exposing Benedict Arnold’s treason by apprehending British Major John André, who was carrying documents detailing Arnold’s plot to surrender West Point to the British.

Col. John Jameson
Colonel Jameson

Colonel Jameson owned extensive land in Culpeper County, including a mill in the Rixeyville area. His home stood on the west side of South Main Street, between what are now Stevens and Scanlon Streets. His property is believed to have extended west to Mountain Run, encompassing what is now known as Jameson’s Hill. An 1802 Mutual Assurance policy described his home as a two-story wooden structure with a wood-shingled roof, valued at $3000. Since insurance companies typically required buildings to have stood for a few years before issuing policies, this suggests the house was built in the late 1790s.

During the Civil War, Culpeper’s strategic location made it a significant site of conflict. More than 350 soldiers, primarily Confederates who died in local hospitals, were initially buried on land that was once part of the Jameson Estate, now known as South Blue Ridge Avenue. Their remains were later moved to a grave in Fairview Cemetery.

Fairview Cemetery

Today, Jameson’s Hill stands as a testament to Culpeper’s rich history, reflecting its Revolutionary War heritage and the enduring legacy of those who shaped the nation’s early years.

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