Historic Araby
The Araby House
ARABY is one of Charles County's oldest and most beautiful historic properties, dating from about 1685. The historic house and approximately 74 acres are included on the National Register of Historic Places.
It is unknown who built the original Araby house. It was purchased by William Eilbeck in 1734. The National Register describes the house as being late Federal in its exterior appearance. The original house was a one story, five-bay gambrel roofed, Flemish bond brick structure. It is believed that in the mid-nineteenth century the roof was raised to a full two-story height. The interior is noted for its exceptional paneling. The exterior includes large plantings of boxwood and a rose garden. A grist mill dating from 1760-1780 was once located within 500 yards of the house. The mill was destroyed in the early 50's for the sake of highway construction.
William Eilbeck was born near Gosforth, Cumberland, England. He was the son of William and Margaret Dixon Eilbeck. In 1725 he left England for Virginia as a Tobacco agent for Peter Howe and John Aderton. Eilbeck married Sarah Edgar of Prince George's County, Maryland in 1730. In 1734 he purchased 182 acres on Mattawoman Creek and within a few years had added considerable acreage to his land holdings. Their home here they called Mattawoman; today we know it as Araby.
It was at this site that in 1750 the Eilbecks' daughter Anne married George Mason IV. George Mason was the author of the Virginia Bill of Rights and contributed significantly to the drafting of the Constitution of the United States. It is believed that the Masons lived at Araby for a time until the completion of their home at Gunston Hall, in Virginia, on Mason Neck. Gunston Hall is now a National Historical Landmark. John Eilbeck Mason, one of the twelve children of George and Anne Eilbeck Mason, was born at Araby. William Eilbeck was a vestryman of Durham Church, and by 1745 was one of the gentleman justices of Charles County. He was a member of the county militia with the rank of Colonel. By the time of his death in 1764 William Eilbeck was one of the wealthiest men in Charles County.
Upon the death of the Eilbecks the property passed to their grandson William Mason. Mason Springs is named for William Mason. The Eilbeck and Masons occupied Araby until 1849. In 1849, four hundred and two acres including the house were sold by Mary E. Mason (daughter of William Mason) and Ann Mason (widow of William Mason) to William Thompson. After a succession of owners, including the Charles Wills family who changed the name of the house to "Araby," Araby and its lands were purchased in 1935 by Admiral and Mrs. Frank Jack Fletcher. Admiral Fletcher was a prominent military figure in the South Pacific during World War II. The house and 95 acres of the original plantation are currently owned by Mrs. Ellen Cline. .