Ivy Cliff began as a modest two story home built in the 1790's by Henry Brown  In Bedford County VA near the town of New London.  There were at least four additions through the 1860's. Henry became very wealthy through business and land ownership and eventually owned approximately 3400 acres including Ivy Cliff.  He served in the militia during the revolutionary war, was wounded at the battle of Guilford Courthouse, N.C., and eventually made captain many years after the war.  Henry served as President of the Board of Trustees of New London Academy, Sheriff of Bedford County, and county tax collector.  He even collected taxes from his neighbor, Thomas Jefferson. 

Henry Brown's descendants were activly involved in politics throughout the 1800's and his grandson, Colo. John Thompson Brown died at the Battle of the Wilderness in 1864.  JTB's  Frock coat he died in has survived all these years and was sold at auction in 2007 for over $100,000!  Brown descendants lived at Ivy Cliff until 1923 when the house was sold at auction to the Miles family who lived here until 2005.

Today, Ivy Cliff is comprised of 17 acres, original chicken and carrier pigeon coup, corn crib, servants cabin, water well, early 20th century cow barn, tobacco barn, and chick brooding pen.  Since Jefferson was a neighbor, It is the belief of some architectural historians that the triple hung windows were designed by Thomas Jefferson.

Henry Brown's Rev War Pension

Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements

Pension Application of Henry Brown: S8098

Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris

State of Virginia County of Bedford Sct.

On this 22 day of October 1 nd 832 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices

of Bedford now sitting Henry Brown Sr. a resident of the County of Bedford & State of Virginia

aged 72 years the 10th day of August last who being sworn according to law doth on his oath

make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the

7th day of June 1832.

That in the year [blank] he was drafted as a Militia man to go against the British who

had landed at portsmouth in the State of Virginia he belonged at that time to a company of

Militia Commanded by Captain Robert Alexander of Bedford he thinks his number in the

muster Roll was 7 he fixed up his knapsack and marched to near the place where the men

were to Rendezvous when orders came for them to return home. all those that proved that

they had marched got credit for a tour of duty and that he got credit for a tour of duty by a

Court Marshall which sat in New London [now in Campbell County] and of which Colo. James

Callaway was one, who was then the Colo. Commandant of the County of Bedford that in the

year [blank] he was called out again to stand guard over a number of Tories who were taken up

and confined in Jayl and in other houses in the Town of New London the Captain of the guard

was one John Cotterall. How long he served he does not now remember but recollects he was

there for a very considerable Time and has no doubt got Credit for a Tour of Duty, That

afterwards he helped guard the British prisoners who were taken at the Cowpens [in South

Carolina, 17 Jan 1781] as far as Lynchburg on their way to the Barracks in Albemarle, but

thinks this was only an occasional service and not a regular Tour of duty– That in the year

[blank] he (with a number of his neighbors who are now mostly dead, was drafted as a militia

man to go against the British who who were then in North Carolina and had driven General

[Nathanael] Greene across Dan River into Virginia [14 Feb 1781], before he joyned Greenes

army he with a number of his neighbours Listed as volunteers in a company of which Jacob

Moon was Capt., Benjamin Rice Lieutenant and Thomas Lumpkin Ensign. He was then attached

to Colo. [Charles] Lynch’s Regiment of Rifle men and was with Colo. [William] Washington’s

Corps of Light horse through different parts of N Carolina mostly between Greenes army and

the enemy until the Battle of Guilford [Battle of Guilford Courthouse, 15 March 1781] at which

battle he was wounded being shot through the thick part of the thigh he was carried from the

Ba [page torn] ground to a house about 3 miles off and Captain Moon under whom he served

was brought to the same House and died there of his wounds. He was afterwards carried to the

[Troublesome] Iron works where Gen’l. Greenes army Lay and then to the hospital on Dan River

where he remained until his Father and Brother brought him home in a horse litter. he is

confident he was confined to the house by his wound for more than 12 months and suffered

from it considerably for several years afterwards. This was the end of his Revolutionary

services, Cornwallis having been Captured the ensuing Fall [19 Oct 1781] and peace soon after

Restored to the Country. He cannot remember with any degree of certainty the length of any of

the Tours of duty above mentioned, but it is the Current opinion in this Quarter that were

mostly for three months according to this statement which he believes to be correct, he is

entitled to nine months actual service and if in addition to this the period of his disability

from his wounds be added it will make the aggregate duration of his services and disabilities in

the service Twenty one months. He has no documentary evidence of his services & if he ever

had any written discharges they are lost or mislaid. he cannot prove any thing about the first

Tour he got Credit for, unless there is some evidence of it on the old muster rolls or in the

records of the Court Marshall (if their be any now in existence) he believes every person who

knew any thing about it is dead, or long since removed from this part of the Country he can

prove his services at New London by John Teass[?] & Henry Adams whose affidavits are

hereunto annexed. he can prove his services and his wounds by many, but more particular by

Henry Adams & Genl. Joel Leftwich whose affidavits are hereunto annexed. he was born in the

County of Bedford & State of Virginia on the 10th day of August 1760, and has resided there

ever since. there is a register of his age in an old Church Book now in possession of Major

Samuel Mitchell of Bedford he never asked or received any compensation for his services and

of Course his name is not on any pension roll in the United States [signed] Henry Brown