daughter of Ashton Alexander, M.D. and Catherine Hanson Thomas, of Baltimore. As a wedding gift the Chief Justice gave his son, in trust, two thousand three hundred and seventy-five acres and built the home he called "Mont Blanc". We do not know the style of the home built on this spot - yet it is hoped that continued archaeological investigation will give us some idea. Three homes of John, Jr.'s brothers remain nearby, much as they were built: "Oak Hill", the new house built in 1818 by Thomas Marshall; "Carrington" built by the youngest son, Edward Carrington Marshall, about 1 1/2 miles from here; and "Leeds" the home of James Keith Marshall, which is very much like "Carrington" in style. The home of Dr. Jacquelin Marshall, "Prospect Hill" built in 1811, was incorporated into a new structure which burned to the ground in 1933. "Carrington" was built in 1830 and "Leeds" (now called "Leeds Manor") was built in 1829. In 1833, a one-story stone addition was built for the Chief Justice - this was joined to the original house around 1850.

Although John, Jr. is described as being "well read in all solid learning; jovial, merry, and sprightly, a boon companion, of fine address and exceeding popular manners." It appears that he was a good farmer and was elected 

several times to represent Fauquier County in the General Assembly of Virginia. Elizabeth bore him six children at Mont Blanc. John, III (who distinguished himself from the several other John Marshall namesakes in the vicinity, as "John Marshall of Mont Blanc") - one source records that his name was John James Marshall - he never seems to have used the middle name in any legal documents, was born 7 April 1821, followed by Ashton Alexander on 23 April 1824.

The next child was Hanson Contee, born 29 March 1828, who died 29 July 1831, purportedly after a fall from a second floor window. James Edward was born 17 October 1830, then Catherine Thomas on 9 November 1832. Catherine lived but three months, dying 27 January 1833. On 25 November 1833, John, Jr. died, leaving a pregnant wife who gave birth to their daughter, Mary Willis, on 30 March 1834. To understand the history of the property, one must look at the codicils of the will of Chief Justice John

Mont Blanc