THE INNIS HOUSE

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  The Innis house is located on Marye's Heights at Fredericksburg along the Sunken Road. It was built between 1856 and 1861. A Mrs. Martha Stephens bought it on April 20th 1861. Mrs. Stephens was born Martha Farrow but would have at least three surnames throughout her life. Farrow, Innis, and Stephen's, or Steven's, because it is listed both ways. There is no evidence that she was ever married. Supposedly, one of her husbands in later life was a former slave. All in all pretty outrageous behavior for a woman during the 1860's. The Innis house was occupied by Mr. John Innis, who was one of Mrs. Stephen's common law husbands.It is rumored that she ran a brothel or illegal bar out of her home. She owned this house and the Stephen's house next door which no longer exists. By 1860 she had two children with a man who was a cabinetmaker named Edward Stephens. They had two girls, Mary, who was 10, and Agnes who was 5. In 1970 the house and land was purchased by the United States Park Service and was restored to it's 1862 appearance. During restoration the interior walls were uncovered and as many as 58 bullet and shell holes were discovered inside. Luckily, the occupants of the homes left just before the fighting. There was no cellar and no place to hide. Confederate sharpshooters used the upstairs of the house during the battle. Although I was only allowed to see the downstairs, the upstairs also has bullet holes and graffiti from Confederate soldiers. Confederate General McClaws stated that the house "had no space as large as two hands on it that had not been pierced." It is believed that the house was hit by both enemy and friendly fire. 

The Stephens house after the war





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