Harry Buck House, North of Main Street (14800 Governor Oden Bowie Drive), Upper Marlboro, Prince George's County, MD

Significance: Darnall's Chance was built between 1741 and 1742 by James Wardrop, a Scottish immigrant, who amassed a fortune as a merchant and entrepreneur in the bustling port-town of Upper Marlborough, Maryland. In 1748, he married Lettice Lee, daughter of Phillip Lee, the progenitor of the Maryland branch of the illustrious Lee family of Virginia.

The Wardrops managed a large residential complex that included a substantial brick house, outbuildings, orchards, livestock and an ornamental garden. Their household included 32 slaves - house servants, skilled craftsmen and field hands. Following Wardrop's death in 1760, Lettice married Dr. Adam Thompson (creator of the "American Method" of smallpox inoculation) and after his death, she wed Col. Joseph Sim. She died on April 3, 1776 and willed her children the property, including the family burial vault.

The house was remodeled in 1857 and produced such a drastic change that the original Georgian appearance of the Wardrops' dwelling was lost. In 1986, the house was saved from demolition and returned to its 1742 appearance. Darnall's Chance was opened to the public as a house museum in 1988.

Survey number: HABS MD-661

Building/structure dates: 1741-1742 Initial Construction

Building/structure dates: 1857 Subsequent Work

Building/structure dates: 1986 Subsequent Work

houses brick vaults architecture burial chambers upper marlboro buck house harry buck house main street oden drive governor oden bowie drive upper marlboro prince george maryland john brostrup historic american buildings survey catherine c lavoie lettice lee virginia b price joseph sim adam thompson james waldrop photo prince george county ultra high resolution high resolution ornament governors greenhouse gardens library of congress

1933 - 1970

Library of Congress

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