Blenheim (Maryland)
"Blenheim" was the once historic estate of the Lee family of Charles County, Maryland. It was owned by Capt. Philip Lee, Sr., Hon., Esq. (1681–1744).
Philip had been living in Maryland approximately 14 years when he inherited from his father, Col. Richard Lee II, Esq. (1647–1715), a tract of land at Cedar Point in Maryland called the “Lee’s Purchase” plantation, of Stump Dale, situated on the Potomac River in Charles County. However, this property was occupied by a tenant with a sole and exclusive contract between 1705 and 1718. It was not until the later date that Philip would gain legal title to the land when the dispute between his father and another claimant to the land was settled by the Provincial Court. The property was only just being developed when Philip died in April 1744, and his will was recorded in Charles County on May 1, 1744. At this date there was a one-room-and-loft dwelling which doubled as Philip’s naval office. In addition he had built a bakehouse and mill which he listed in his will. Philip’s home plantation was his Prince George’s County seat, where all of his children were likely born.
After Philip’s death, his son Hon. Richard Lee III “Squire” (1706–1789) purchased the one-half interest in the “Lee’s Purchase” plantation held by the widow of Col. Thomas Lee, Hon. (1690–1750) and replaced the house that stood during Philip’s lifetime with a larger 1 1⁄2-story house. Richard lived there until about 1760 when “Lee’s Purchase” was sold and Richard began building his “Blenheim” plantation house on another tract of land further inland. It was located near the Maryland end of the present Potomac River Bridge. This land was purchased in 1752, which until that date had no prior connection to the Lee family. Blenheim was named after the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. Despite the fact that Philip did not build the “Blenheim” Plantation, he is still known as the progenitor of the “Blenheim Lees”. From this line three Maryland Governors were produced: Gov. George Plater III, Esq. (1735–1792), Gov., Col. Thomas Sim Lee (1745–1819), and Gov. John Lee Carroll (1830–1911).
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