John Marshall, a lawyer, of Charlotte Court House built Roxabel in 1838-39. The new dwelling was valued at $5000.00 by the tax collector. His wife was Rebecca LeGrand. In 1858, their only child, Hunter Holmes Marshall and his wife, Sarah Stith Marshall, moved to Roxabel, where they lived until moving to Richmond. Their daughter, Mary Marshall, remained at Roxabel with the four younger children. Mary married Robert Henry Gaines in 1868 and they continued to live there.
H.H. Marshall left Roxabel to his grandchildren. The property surrounding Roxabel was involved in a lengthy lawsuit concerning the administration of the estate of John St. George Randolph by H.H. Marshall from 1858 until the court ordered the sale of Roxabel in 1904.
Curtis & Augusta Benschoter purchased the property and owned it until 1909 when it was sold to the Nicholsons. Dr. Clarence Nicholson and his wife, Clara, lived in the home for 28 years. Dr. Nicholson practiced medicine from the office to the right of the house. In November of 1932, a fire originating under a hot water heater consumed the house. The old bricks were cleaned and used to construct the existing house which is similar to the original one.
In 1946, Mr. and Mrs,. John L. Vassar bought the property and lived there until 1965. The bulk of the property was sold to timber interests and a 100 acre tract and the house were retained. Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Bailey bought the property and lived there until 2005 when three of the Vassar's grandsons purchased and reclaimed the house and grounds. (based on “The Marshall House Called Roxabel” by G.T. Gilliam, The Southsider,VOL XIX, Number 1, 2000)
