Rebecca Dorsey Ridgely

The wife of Captain Charles Ridgely (who commissioned Hampton mansion to be built), Rebecca Dorsey Ridgely (1740-1812), was the first mistress of Hampton. She witnessed the construction of the mansion, but did not live there for long. After her husband’s death, she turned the new house over to her nephew, Charles Carnan Ridgely, and moved to a nearby estate in what is now Towson (now known as "Auburn"). Rebecca was a fervent and early convert to Methodism and donated a great deal of money to Robert Strawbridge, an Irish immigrant and preacher who is now recognized as the founder of Methodism in America.

Individuals

Captain Charles Ridgely

The owner who commissioned the building of the Hampton mansion.
Charles Carnan Ridgely

Second owner of the Hampton mansion and at one time the governor of Maryland.
The story of Toby
Toby

The story of Toby, and enslaved worker in the Hampton ironworks.
Enslaved People

Hampton was the second largest plantation in Maryland. Learn about the struggle, hardships, and lives of the enslaved.
Indentured Servants

Indentured servants made up a significant portion of the Hampton labor force at one time. Read about their stories on the plantation.
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People of Hampton

Hundreds of people lived, worked, and were enslaved at Hampton coinciding America's development as a nation. Explore more of their stories.

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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.
Slavery at Hampton

From the colonial period through 1864, the Ridgelys enslaved over 500 people. Enslaved persons, from young children to the elderly
Indentured Servants at Hampton

Indentured servants were not willing laborers and the working conditions at Northampton Furnace was grueling.
Gruesome
Working Conditions

Accounts of the working conditions of the forced labor iron works.
Forms of Control

From physical to mental abuse for the youngest ages to the oldest. Learn about the harsh truths and forms of control.
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.
History & Culture
History & Culture

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