SITES AND MUSEUMS

Billingsley Manor

Billingsley, originally a 700-acre tract at the confluence of the Patuxent River and the Western Branch, was patented in 1662 to Maj. John Billingsley. In 1687 five hundred acres were conveyed by his heirs to Col. Thomas Hollyday, who upon the establishment of Prince George's County in 1696, became Chief Justice of the Prince George's County Court. Col. Hollyday lived on the Billingsley estate, in a house that is no longer standing, until his death in 1704. His son and heir, James Hollyday, acquired additional land and received a new patent for Billingsley for 1,069 acres. In 1740, James Hollyday sold the tract to Dr. James Weems, reserving for himself and his heirs the graveyard where his father was buried. Because the house dates from 1740 it was probably James Weems who built the present structure.

The Weems family lived at Billingsely for 100 years, until sold by Dr. Weems' great granddaughter Mary Weems Mullikin and her husband, John Beans Mullikin. Several other local families have owned the property including Dr. Richard K. Osbourn of Upper Marlboro, and the Traband family who owned the property for over 40 years. Traband heirs then sold the parcel to Arthur N. Meloy in 1917. In 1989, his son Samuel W. H. Meloy and his wife Frances sold 430 acres including the house to The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission as part of the Patuxent River Watershed Park.

The surrounding tidal freshwater wetlands are ranked by The Smithsonian Institute as among the top ten most important natural areas in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Hours: Sundays, 12 noon - 4pm or by appointment.
Address: 6900 Green Landing Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Phone: 301-627-0730
Web Site: www.pgparks.com

Accessible for people with disabilities
Partially accessible for people with disabilities
Fee Required