Lee-Fendall House Associated Burials
Explore the final resting places of families connected to Alexandria’s historic Lee-Fendall House Museum
History of the Lee-Fendall House
Explore the Lee-Fendall House through this comprehensive interactive map showcasing the final resting places of families connected to this historic Alexandria house museum. View 16+ individuals and families across six historic cemeteries and 4 Alexandria landmarks, connecting the Lee-Fendall House to regional history.
Built in 1785 by Philip Richard Fendall on land purchased from his cousin “Light Horse Harry” Lee, the Lee-Fendall House served as home to generations of notable Alexandrians—including members of the Lee family, a Civil War surgeon, labor leader John L. Lewis, and the merchant Cazenove family. Over the years, it witnessed Revolutionary diplomacy, Union occupation, and labor activism.
1780s–1820s: Fendall Era
Philip R. Fendall builds the house in 1785. The Fendalls host George Washington and play key roles in Alexandria society until Philip’s death in 1805. Philip Richard Fendall, Sr. was married three times – his second wife Elizabeth Steptoe Lee died in 1789, and he married his third wife Mary “Mollie” Lee in 1791. Philip Richard Fendall, Jr. was born in the house in 1794. After Philip Sr.’s death in 1805, Mary ‘Mollie’ Lee Fendall continued to own the house until her death, though she moved to a boarding house in Washington around 1825, where she died on November 10, 1827. Philip Sr., Elizabeth, and Mary are all buried together in Ivy Hill Cemetery, having been relocated there in the mid-20th century from their original private cemetery near Slaters Lane and Route 1.
1828–1850: Edmund J. Lee Era
Edmund J. Lee acquires the house at auction in 1828 to settle Mollie’s debts. Financial hardships force a sale in 1834, but his son regains it in 1836. Edmund repurchases it in 1839 and lives there until his death in 1843. His daughters later sell it to Louis A. Cazenove in 1850. Edmund Jennings Lee Sr., his wife Sarah Lee, and several of their descendants are buried in Christ Church Cemetery, including Ann Harriotte Lee Lloyd, Sarah Elizabeth Lee Bland, Rev. William Fitzhugh Lee, and Cassius Francis Lee.
1850–1870: Cazenove Family
Louis Cazenove buys the home as a wedding gift for his bride, Harriet Tuberville Stuart, granddaughter of Declaration of Independence signer Richard Henry Lee. He adds Greek Revival features to the house but tragically dies of scarlet fever in March 1852. Louis’s father A.C. (Anthony-Charles) Cazenove also lives in the house and dies in October 1852; he is buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery. His granddaughter, Anna Eliza Gardner married Cassius Lee, son of Edmund Jennings Lee, and is buried with her husband in Christ Church Episcopal Cemetery. The Union Army seizes the house in 1863 for use as a military hospital. After the war, the house returns to Harriet, who sells it in 1870. Louis Sr., his wife Harriet, and their son Louis, Jr. are all buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery.
1870–1902: Fleming Era
Dr. Robert Fleming Fleming and Mary E. Lee Fleming purchase the home in 1870. Dr. Fleming dies on August 19, 1871, just one year after the purchase. After Dr. Fleming’s death, Mary Lee moved to Washington, D.C. and according to the family, she loaned the house to her sister, Myra Gaines Lee Civalier, for life (Myra died in 1908 and is buried in Ivy Hill). Mary retained ownership of the house until her death in 1902, after which the property was sold. Dr. Fleming and his wife are buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, PA. Tragically, their son Thomas Fleming, grandson John Paton Fleming, and granddaughter Mary Lee Fleming were killed in the Knickerbocker Theatre Disaster on January 28, 1922, in Washington, DC, when the theatre roof collapsed during a blizzard, killing 98 people. They are buried in Alexandria’s Presbyterian Cemetery.
1903–1937: Downham Era
From local entrepreneurship to modern conveniences – Robert F. Downham purchased the house in October 1903 from the estate of Dr. Robert Fleming Fleming for $5500. He modernized the home and was a prominent Alexandria businessman—saloon owner, grocer, clothier, and realtor—who served as president of the Friendship Fire Company (1903) and on Alexandria City Council (1920). He married into the Greenwell family; his in-laws William Henry Greenwell (d. 1907) and Mary Teresa Bradley Greenwell (1840–1925) are buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Downham is buried in Ivy Hill Cemetery, while his parents, E. E. and Sara Price, are buried in Alexandria’s Presbyterian Cemetery, along with his sister Sara Maude Aitcheson and brothers Emanuel Francis “Frank” Downham, Henry “Harry” Downham, Horace English Downham (1871–1872), and Horace English Downham (1874–1902).
1937–1972: Lewis Era
From local business to national labor history – In 1937, Myrta Lewis purchased the home for $27,000 from neighbor Mai Downham after expressing her admiration for the house through their mutual friend Mrs. R.R. Sayers at 607 Oronoco Street. Her husband John L. Lewis was one of America’s most powerful labor leaders, serving as president of the United Mine Workers from 1920 to 1960. After Myrta died in 1942, their daughter Kathryn became Lewis’s personal secretary until her death in 1962. Lewis was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964 by President Lyndon Johnson, recognizing his transformative impact on American labor. Lewis died in the house in 1969 at age 89 and is buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois, the same cemetery where Abraham Lincoln rests. This transition marked a shift from local business legacy to national labor history, linking the home to the broader story of 20th-century worker rights.
The Fendall Legacy Continues
A family connection spanning centuries – The Virginia Trust has established the Bill Fendall Trust as an endowment for ongoing museum support. William Gray (Bill) Fendall, a descendant of John Fendall (older brother of Philip Richard Fendall who built the house), designated the Lee-Fendall as the sole beneficiary of his estate upon his death in 2014. Bill was a World War II and Korean War veteran who received a Purple Heart and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery with his wife Bette. After John L. Lewis’s death, Bill and Bette had considered purchasing the house, and Bill remained a devoted supporter throughout his life.
1972–Present: Museum Era
Preserving the legacy for future generations – Jay Winston Johns founded the Virginia Trust for Historic Preservation on July 14, 1968, at the urging of Frances Shively, a docent at the Robert E. Lee Boyhood Home. The Trust acquired the property through a collaborative funding effort: $75,000 from VTHP, $65,000 from the state of Virginia, and $35,000 from the City of Alexandria. The house opened as a museum in 1974 with Shively as the first director, living on the second floor in what had been John L. Lewis’s office. The Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation, preserves the home’s architectural heritage and historical legacy for public benefit. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Virginia Landmarks Register.
Civil War Hospital (1863-1865)
During the Civil War, the Lee-Fendall House was requisitioned as a branch of Grosvenor Military Hospital. Nearly 100 Union soldiers died in the house, and many were buried at Alexandria National Cemetery—the first government cemetery established during the Civil War in July 1862, located in The Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex. The home witnessed the first recorded successful US Army blood transfusion and served as quarters for Chief Surgeon Dr. Edwin Bentley.
In May 1864, when officials proposed ending burials at Alexandria National Cemetery in favor of the newly established Arlington National Cemetery, Bentley objected, citing “great inconvenience and expense” and arguing that distance would “prevent the attendance of escort or chaplain and also the military burial to which every soldier is entitled.” His advocacy kept Alexandria National Cemetery active, with burials actually increasing in 1864–1865.
After the war, Bentley continued his Army career, co-founded Arkansas’s first medical school, and pioneered treatment for what we now call Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. When he died in 1917, he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery—the very cemetery whose expansion he had once questioned in favor of Alexandria’s sacred ground.
How to Use This Interactive Map of Lee-Fendall House Burials
Click any marker to learn about each person’s life, read their full biography, and discover where they’re buried. Each story connects to the larger narrative of American history and the Lee-Fendall House legacy.
Historic Landmarks
Hover or click any landmark marker to learn about each historic site
Gold marker (H): Lee-Fendall House Museum
Red markers (R): Lee family homes
Purple marker (J): Jennings House
Red cross (✚): Civil War hospital sites
Family Cemetery Connections
Red markers (L): Lee Family burials and descendants
Brown markers (F): Fendall Family graves
Blue markers (C): Cazenove Family sites
Green markers (M): Fleming Family locations
Orange markers (D): Downham Family burials
Orange markers (S): Union soldiers who died in the house
Dark Gray markers (B): Modern family supporters
Interactive Features
Click “Read Full Biography” to explore their complete story
Click “Visit Museum Website” to plan your visit to the Lee-Fendall House
Click “View Cemetery” to see their burial location and other notable burials there
Planning a visit? Both markers and popups provide addresses and directions
Historic Locations
Cemetery Connections
Stories Spanning Six Historic Cemeteries
From Christ Church Cemetery to Arlington National Cemetery, discover the interconnected stories of those who lived, worked, and died in the Lee-Fendall House:
Founding Families
The Lees and Fendalls who built Alexandria society, hosted George Washington, and shaped the early Republic through politics, law, and commerce.
Civil War Hospital
Union soldiers who died in the Lee-Fendall House hospital, plus the physicians like Dr. Edwin Bentley who performed groundbreaking medical procedures.
Merchant Families
The Cazenoves, Flemings, and Downhams who modernized the house and connected Alexandria to national and international commerce networks.
Historic Preservation
Those who saved the Lee-Fendall House for future generations, including modern supporters like Bill Fendall, a descendant of the original Fendall family who designated the house as the sole beneficiary of his estate. Bill, a World War II and Korean War veteran who received a Purple Heart, is buried with his wife Bette in Arlington National Cemetery, ensuring the Fendall family connection spans from the house’s construction in 1785 to its modern preservation.
Plan Your Lee-Fendall House Exploration
Start at the Museum: Visit the Lee-Fendall House Museum at 614 Oronoco Street to see where these families lived
Explore the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex: Many Lee-Fendall House families rest within this historic cemetery complex, including Presbyterian Cemetery (1809) and Christ Church Episcopal Cemetery (1808), along with Alexandria National Cemetery (1862) where Union soldiers who died in the house are buried—making it an ideal central stop for your cemetery tour
Venture Beyond: Use this map to discover notable figures at Ivy Hill Cemetery (1856), St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery (1796, end of S. Royal Street), and Arlington National Cemetery (1864)
Interactive Features: This map provides addresses and directions to help you explore Alexandria’s historic sites and plan an efficient route through multiple cemetery locations
These remarkable individuals represent the diverse families and visitors who called the Lee-Fendall House home across nearly two centuries. Each grave tells a story that connects to the broader narrative of American history—with many of these stories concentrated within walking distance of each other in Alexandria’s historic Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex.
Research Sources
This interactive map combines original research from Gravestone Stories with additional historical documentation:
Smith Group. (2023, June 30). Lee-Fendall House historic structure report: 614 Oronoco Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314 (Final report). Virginia Trust for Historic Preservation.
Gravestone Stories biographical research and cemetery documentation.
Primary source materials provided by Fleming family descendants.
Explore More Interactive Maps on Alexandria’s Hidden History
In addition to the Lee-Fendall House map, Gravestone Stories offers several other interactive resources that bring Alexandria’s layered past to life:
Discover 50 Extraordinary Lives Buried in Alexandria
From George Washington’s lost pallbearer to Cold War spies—explore the remarkable individuals who shaped American history and now rest in Alexandria’s cemeteries. Each pin reveals a story of triumph, tragedy, and transformation.
Alexandria’s African American Heritage
A starting point for discovering Alexandria’s rich African American heritage. Explore historic cemeteries, churches, civil rights landmarks, and the stories of educators, leaders, and community builders who shaped the city.
Interactive Map of Fallen Firefighters in Alexandria
Honoring the brave firefighters and leaders who served Alexandria from 1774 to today. Discover their heroic stories and final resting places throughout the city’s historic cemeteries, including the tragic 1855 Dowell China Shop Fire.
Alexandria Cemetery Map
Use our comprehensive cemetery map to discover the locations of 34 significant historic burial grounds throughout the city. This interactive guide leads you to Revolutionary War patriots, Civil War heroes, lost family cemeteries, and more than 260 years of American history.
Last updated: September 27, 2025
