John Ridgely

The estate’s fifth owner, John Ridgely (1851-1938), was known as “Captain Jack” by virtue of his service as commanding officer of the Towson Company of the old first Maryland Infantry Regiment. He, his wife Helen, and mother, Margaretta, worked to preserve Hampton’s reputation as an historically important estate and as a premier agricultural center, maintaining and upgrading the mansion and outbuildings, and expanding the prize-winning herds of dairy cattle. In 1901, John sold Hampton’s renowned Madeira wine collection to J.P. Morgan and used the proceeds to add modern bathrooms and a new roof to the mansion. After his wife’s death, he had the house wired for electricity in 1929. ‘Captain Jack’ particularly delighted in buying stock for and breeding Hampton’s prize-winning Jersey cattle. An avid rider and fox-hunter with the Elkridge Hunt Club, he brought the Maryland Hunt Cup steeplechase to Hampton in 1895, 1903, 1919 and 1920.

Individuals

Margaretta Sophia Howard Ridgely

Following the death of her husband, Margaretta ran the Hampton estate for decades
Charles Ridgely

Charles Ridgely was the fourth owner of the Hampton Estate.
Margaretta Sophia “Margie” Ridgely

Margie went against her family's norms and would go on to make a difference in many people lives.
Eliza Ridgely III

An intelligent and determined woman with strong religious and reforming impulses.
Helen West Stewart Ridgley

The Many Roles & Achievements of Helen West Stewart Ridgley
John Ridgely, Jr.

The final owner of the Hampton Estate.
Lillian Ketcham Ridgely

Learn about Lillian, and her amazing accomplishments from being a WWII vet, a nurse, and helping run Hampton.
John Ridgely III

Learn about John Ridgely III from his service during WWII to his contributions to Hampton becoming a National Park Site.
Hampton's best known enslaved person
Nancy Davis

The story of Hampton's most documented enslaved person.

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The Ridgely Family

The Ridgely Family owned and managed the Hampton Estate for almost 200 years. Explore their impact on history!
The Ridgelys of Hampton

Learn about the history of the Ridgely family at Hampton.
Free Black Laborers

Free Black Laborers worked at Hampton for various reasons. A good amount did to eventually purchase their family members.
Revealing the Lives of the Enslaved

A recent Ethnographic Study uncovered major information on the lives of those enslaved at Hampton and their descendants. Read about it here.
Slavery at Hampton

From the colonial period through 1864, the Ridgelys enslaved over 500 people. Enslaved persons, from young children to the elderly
History & Culture
History & Culture

Hampton National Historic Site today preserves the core of what was once a vast commercial, industrial, and agricultural plantation.