03/28/2026
As we come to the close of Women’s History Month, I want to recognize Anne Frisby Rousby Fitzhugh (1727-1793). Anne was part of early Maryland’s colonial world, connected to both Rousby and Fitzhugh’s families and lived during a time that required real resilience and strength. After the death of her husband, John Rousby III, Anne inherited and owned Rousby Hall, carrying forward the legacy of the property during the Revolutionary era. In 1780, as British forces moved thru the Chesapeake and into the Patuxent, they reached Rousby Hall. Anne is remembered for standing her ground during the moment, refusing to be intimated as her home and livelihood were threatened. She is recognized as an ancestor of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Owning Rousby Hall is more than preserving an and stewarding a historic home, it means living alongside its history. During Women’s History Month, it’s important to pause and recognize the women who have lived here and shaped this place long before us.
