The Brentsville Courthouse was built in 1822 and is one of several buildings on the Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre site. Within this building the County Magistrate oversaw all criminal and civil cases and all functions of Prince William County government. The site consists of 28 acres with five historic buildings and various archaeological sites. These include the Courthouse and Jail, the ca. 1850 Haislip-Hall House, ca. 1875 Union Church and the 1928 One Room Schoolhouse plus the Brentsville Tavern archaeological site.

The Town of Brentsville was established on 50 acres in 1820 to become the County seat of Prince William County. By 1820, many residents had moved farther west for better farm land, and the old county seat of Dumfries was too far east for the western residents to travel conveniently. The new town of Brentsville was centrally located in Prince William County along the major east/west road that led from the port of Dumfries to the Shenandoah Valley. In 1893, the county seat moved to Manassas.

In response to John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry in 1859, the Prince William Cavalry (Co. A, Virginia Cavalry) was formed here on the courthouse lawn in January 1860. The ladies of Brentsville made a flag and presented it to the company. Other Confederate units from Prince William County, such as Ewell Guards (Co. A. 49th Virginia Infantry), were organized and drilled here. During the Civil War, the town and the courthouse sustained extensive damage. The Battle of Bristoe Station, fought three miles west on Oct. 14, 1863, brought combat to Brentsville’s doorstep. During the battle, Federal General John Buford’s cavalry was posted here to protect the Federal supply train. Confederate partisan units operated in Brentsville until the end of the war. (Photos by Reggie Hall - hallr@aol.com)

For more information on the Brentsville Courthouse go here: http://www.pwcgov.org/default.aspx?topic=030039002160000792