Ancestral Homeplace of Phillips - Abercrombie - Jarrard
The historic home at 13175 Hutcheson Ferry Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA is the Ancestral Homeplace of Levi Phillips, Maurice & Berma Abercrombie, and Lamar "Buddy" & Virginia "Ginny" Jarrard. In June 2008, resident Laurie Searle worked with Buddy Jarrard to create a historical report on this homeplace. Buddy provided the source for this history from family photos, letters, deeds, and articles. Click here for a printable copy of the report.
This property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the 1996 Roscoe-Dunaway Gardens Historic District (#96001314).
Also see the Philips Family Cemetery Report.
Succession of Landowners
This property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the 1996 Roscoe-Dunaway Gardens Historic District (#96001314).
Also see the Philips Family Cemetery Report.
Succession of Landowners
- Levi Phillips purchased the land in 1828 and lived there with his second wife Elizabeth Gilbert.
- Delila Phillips, daughter of Levi and Elizabeth, married William Hines.
- Willie Hines Sewell, daughter of Delila and William, lived there and sold the homeplace to Maurice C. Abercrombie, a relative, in 1941.
- Maurice and wife Berma lived there until their deaths: Maurice died in 1990; Berma in 1996; at which time Buddy Jarrard, Berma’s nephew, inherited the property.
- Buddy and Ginny Jarrard are the current property owners. (Buddy passed away in 2016).
About the Three Families
Levi and Elizabeth Phillips
The land was acquired by Levi Phillips through the Coweta County Land Lottery of 1827 and an additional land purchase in 1833. Levi built his first dwelling near Phillips Ferry Road and operated Phillips Ferry across the Chattahoochee River. He later built a one-room structure in 1840, which is now the kitchen of the Ancestral Homplace. Levi died in 1852 and was buried in a small family cemetery close to the first dwelling. His second wife Elizabeth, daughter Delia Phillips, and grand daughter Willie Hines Sewell, lived in the Ancestral Homeplace.
Maurice and Berma Abercrombie
The Ancestral Homeplace was purchased from Willie Hines Sewell in 1941 by Maurice Abercrombie (great, great grandson of Levi Phillips) and his wife Berma. Maurice operated Bittersweet Farms where he raised Black Angus cows, Rhode Island Red chickens, and various crops. Berma raised more than 350 varieties of beautiful daffodils and other flowers in her gardens. Maurice and Berma lived there until their deaths: Maurice died in 1990; Berma died in 1996.
Lamar “Buddy” & Ginny Jarrard
Lamar “Buddy” Jarrard inherited the Ancestral Homeplace from his aunt Berma Abercrombie in 1996. Buddy and his wife Ginny lovingly care for their historic home, which still has most of its original heart pine paneling, as well as various pieces of furniture, accessories, and tools from the past. In 1999, the Jarrard home, barn, and yard were the setting for several scenes in the movie “Remember the Titans.”
Levi and Elizabeth Phillips
The land was acquired by Levi Phillips through the Coweta County Land Lottery of 1827 and an additional land purchase in 1833. Levi built his first dwelling near Phillips Ferry Road and operated Phillips Ferry across the Chattahoochee River. He later built a one-room structure in 1840, which is now the kitchen of the Ancestral Homplace. Levi died in 1852 and was buried in a small family cemetery close to the first dwelling. His second wife Elizabeth, daughter Delia Phillips, and grand daughter Willie Hines Sewell, lived in the Ancestral Homeplace.
Maurice and Berma Abercrombie
The Ancestral Homeplace was purchased from Willie Hines Sewell in 1941 by Maurice Abercrombie (great, great grandson of Levi Phillips) and his wife Berma. Maurice operated Bittersweet Farms where he raised Black Angus cows, Rhode Island Red chickens, and various crops. Berma raised more than 350 varieties of beautiful daffodils and other flowers in her gardens. Maurice and Berma lived there until their deaths: Maurice died in 1990; Berma died in 1996.
Lamar “Buddy” & Ginny Jarrard
Lamar “Buddy” Jarrard inherited the Ancestral Homeplace from his aunt Berma Abercrombie in 1996. Buddy and his wife Ginny lovingly care for their historic home, which still has most of its original heart pine paneling, as well as various pieces of furniture, accessories, and tools from the past. In 1999, the Jarrard home, barn, and yard were the setting for several scenes in the movie “Remember the Titans.”
Piecing Together the Past
Much of history is pieced together from land deeds, wills, family letters, and other documents. The following notes are from Margaret Perryman.
Phillips Ferry was in land lot 163, district 8 (163/8/Coweta), original Coweta on the eastern side. The western landing was in land lot 59, district 3, original Carroll.
Land lot 163/8/Coweta was purchased from the state (all fractional land lots were bought and most were paid for on the installment plan) by Levi Phillips on December 25, 1828. It was granted to him on October 2, 1848.
Land lot 59/3/Carroll was purchased by James N. Wright on December 21, 1828. On January 24, 1829 he sold his interest in it to Levi Phillips. It was granted to Phillips on the same days as 163 above, October 2, 1848. While these people were paying for these fractions, it was their land and they could live on it or do with it as they pleased, even before it was granted to them.
From Campbell County Will Book A, page 86, will of Levi Phillips, filed on January 24, 1852. “…to wife Elizabeth all of the location which I now live on, No. 163, 97 acres…”
The above land was deeded to Elizabeth Phillips on September 20, 1856, (Campbell County Will Book F-411). She owned this land at least as late as 1881, as she was paying tax on it. James Hutcheson never owned 163/8.
When James Hutcheson died about 1859 (or prior to that time), he owned the western land site, 59/3, but I have not found a deed to him. This was bought from the estate by Joseph Hutcheson January 22, 1867.
Maps of the Civil War (1864) period all show the ferry as “Phillips.” One shows what is now known as Hutcheson Ferry Road, as “Phillips Ferry Road.” The lower road from Palmetto to (what is now) Roscoe shows as “Lower Phillips Ferry Road.” Also shows a “Phillips” living between County Line P.O. and the river. Also shows a “Hutcheson” living nearby.
I have one early reference to James Hutcheson living in the area. This is a deed whereby Levi Phillips bought the western part of land lot 158/8 on the east side of the Chattahoochee River, April 23, 1833. This deed says James Hutcheson owns the east part of this land lot.
Much of history is pieced together from land deeds, wills, family letters, and other documents. The following notes are from Margaret Perryman.
Phillips Ferry was in land lot 163, district 8 (163/8/Coweta), original Coweta on the eastern side. The western landing was in land lot 59, district 3, original Carroll.
Land lot 163/8/Coweta was purchased from the state (all fractional land lots were bought and most were paid for on the installment plan) by Levi Phillips on December 25, 1828. It was granted to him on October 2, 1848.
Land lot 59/3/Carroll was purchased by James N. Wright on December 21, 1828. On January 24, 1829 he sold his interest in it to Levi Phillips. It was granted to Phillips on the same days as 163 above, October 2, 1848. While these people were paying for these fractions, it was their land and they could live on it or do with it as they pleased, even before it was granted to them.
From Campbell County Will Book A, page 86, will of Levi Phillips, filed on January 24, 1852. “…to wife Elizabeth all of the location which I now live on, No. 163, 97 acres…”
The above land was deeded to Elizabeth Phillips on September 20, 1856, (Campbell County Will Book F-411). She owned this land at least as late as 1881, as she was paying tax on it. James Hutcheson never owned 163/8.
When James Hutcheson died about 1859 (or prior to that time), he owned the western land site, 59/3, but I have not found a deed to him. This was bought from the estate by Joseph Hutcheson January 22, 1867.
Maps of the Civil War (1864) period all show the ferry as “Phillips.” One shows what is now known as Hutcheson Ferry Road, as “Phillips Ferry Road.” The lower road from Palmetto to (what is now) Roscoe shows as “Lower Phillips Ferry Road.” Also shows a “Phillips” living between County Line P.O. and the river. Also shows a “Hutcheson” living nearby.
I have one early reference to James Hutcheson living in the area. This is a deed whereby Levi Phillips bought the western part of land lot 158/8 on the east side of the Chattahoochee River, April 23, 1833. This deed says James Hutcheson owns the east part of this land lot.
See the Historical Report for more information and photos.