The prosperity of Fort Chiswell began when James McGavock, an Irish immigrant, made his first payment of £100 towards the purchase of the property in September of 1771. McGavock ran a combination frontier restaurant and motel as well as a supplies store, blacksmith shop, livery stable and a courthouse jail. Shortly after his purchase, the Revolution began, and McGavock became involved in the war as the “keeper of the lead,” since lead from nearby mines was kept in Fort Chiswell along with other supplies like gunpowder and salt. McGavock was elected to sign the Fincastle Resolutions; the most important document leading the revolution as the first instance of “liberty and death.”

The Fincastle Resolutions notably became the roots and forerunner of the Declaration of Independence, meaning its legacy still endures today.

After American Independence, McGavock continued to prosper through his ordinary and other commercial businesses, which was later passed to his son, James McGavock Jr. Until his death in 1838, McGavock Jr. carried his father’s same legacy and success as at least 60,000 settlers passed through by 1800 on the “Great Wilderness Road to the West.”

When he passed, a portion of the property was left to two sons, Stephen and Cloyd, who immediately began building the grandiose Fort Chiswell Mansion. In a determined fashion, the two McGavock brothers made a contract whereby “Lorain Thorn and James Johnson bind themselves to make and lay for…Steve and Cloyd McGavock, 300,000 sand bricks of the best quality to build the proposed building in a handsome workman like style – $2.75 per thousand – and themselves to lay same in handsome style with round joists and handsome arches turning over all outside doors and windows. Work to be completed by middle July 1840.”

The construction of the mansion was completed as scheduled standing over 10,000 square feet with a limestone foundation three feet thick, eighteen rooms, ceilings thirteen feet high, three large halls and more remarkable features throughout. 

The Fort Chiswell Mansion remained in the McGavock family until it was sold in 1918. The mansion was notably a main house of hospitality and an extensive, versatile and prosperous planation throughout the nineteenth century. For the next several decades the Fort Chiswell Mansion was a private residence until a series of events led to the estate being sold by public auction.