[5] The property became known as Lansdowne when Charlotte Hunt and her new husband George Matthews Marshall, a Princeton University graduate, built their lavish home on the 727 acres in 1852–1853.

Charlotte's father, Jefferson County, Mississippi planter David Hunt - one of the only 35 millionaires in the U.S. in 1860 - gave the five of his seven children who reached adulthood before the Civil War $70,000 (by his valuation) in assets from his estate.

[5] Thus, Charlotte received the Lansdowne property on the high ground near Natchez for her home, and Arcola cotton Plantation in the very fertile flood-prone land of Tensas Parish near the Mississippi River town of Waterproof for an income.

[13] In 1860 George's Louisiana and Mississippi real estate (land and non-movable items) was valued at $319,000 (~$8.82 million in 2023).

[14] This did not include his personal property, such as furniture, livestock, enslaved Africans, plantation equipment, cash, stocks, etc.

The following is more information about (the approximately $254,000) Arcola cotton Plantation in Tensas Parish, Louisiana in 1860, which supported Lansdowne.

[5] After the American Civil War of 1861–1865, the Marshall's Arcola Plantation was lost; so cotton, corn, sheep and cattle were raised on Lansdowne until about 1960.

[19][3][14] At times the Marshall descendants relied on the small income from the sale of butter and eggs from their farming operation to help keep them going.

[14] The home contains rare Zuber & Cie wallpaper, rosewood and mahogany furniture, and Egyptian marble mantelpieces.

[7][14] The rosewood parlor set and Zuber & Cie wallpaper were purchased by George Marshall I on a trip to France.

[14] To keep the house livable, in the early 1900s a bathroom was added on the end of the rear porch adjoining a bedroom.

[14] In 1962 a kitchen was installed in the butler's pantry and a second bathroom was added to one corner of the middle bedroom.