For restaurateurs, the decision about venue selection when choosing to open a business can be an extraordinarily involved process almost bordering on a science. However, in the case of Charlie Carroll who opened Middleburg's newest addition to the fine dining scene, The Fox's Den Tavern, the choice of Middleburg for his labor of love was easy; it felt instantly like home.

Although a native of County Waterford, Ireland, Mr. Carroll is a direct descendent of both Benjamin Franklin and Charles Carroll, both Founding Fathers of our nation and Signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Perhaps more has been written and is known about Franklin, the son of a staunch loyalist, who was personally responsible for authoring content in the actual document itself. (Thomas Jefferson was chosen as the main author in the elite group of the six primary contributors, among them John Adams and Franklin, principally due to his status as a Virginian.) Franklin, at age 70, was the oldest Signer and so invested in the undertaking of forming a free nation, as were all the brave men who stood up for freedom, that he is quoted as saying "we must all hang together or assuredly we shall all hang separately."

Less however is known about Charles Carroll of Carrollton, MD, an American Federalist and the only Catholic to be among this elite group.

Mr. Carroll was a wealthy landowner born in Annapolis, Maryland on September 19, 1737. He was a descendent of the O' Cearbhaill Lords of Eile in King's County Ireland, now County Offaly. The Lords of Eile were among the most powerful clans in Ireland and their genealogy and involvement in Irish royalty can be traced back well over two thousand years.

Carroll eventually settled near Mt. Airy, Maryland at Carrollton Manor. Because his father was also called Charles Carroll, he distinguished himself as Charles Carroll of Carrollton. (Hence his signature on the Declaration, Charles Carroll of Carrollton,) Due to his Roman Catholic faith, he was barred from entering politics, practicing law, or voting.

Carroll was, however, undeterred and through the business of agriculture became one of the wealthiest men in the Colonies. It is believed that the First Amendment to the Constitution was written to honor him for his financial contributions during the Revolutionary War, which stood out so blatantly in contrast to a previously denied lifetime of fundamental civil rights.

Present day Carroll County, Maryland represents part of the land owned by Mr. Carroll. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and represented Maryland as a State Senator from 1777-1800. When the first U.S. Senate was created he was asked to represent Maryland, thus becoming the Free State's very first United States Senator.

Carroll served the U.S. Senate from 1789- 1792 until Congress passed a law preventing representation of both State and U.S. Senates at the same time. He resigned from the U.S. Senate and chose to return to his beloved Maryland.

Although a landowner of vast properties and planter dependent on slaves, he called publicly for the abolition of slavery nearly half a century prior to the Civil War. He did this with the full knowledge that, by doing so, his business interests could suffer, yet again our Founding Fathers were not average men; they were of the highest moral character and intellect. His statement on the subject was, "Why keep alive the question of slavery? It is admitted by all to be a great evil."

Carroll was the last surviving signatory of the Declaration, living until the age of 95 who died in Baltimore on November 14, 1832. His quiet strength of character and devotion to freedom for all was widely recognized.

Charlie Carroll has done much to preserve his family's history, and many of the Carroll family belongings can be seen on display at The Fox's Den. The rich history of Virginia drew Charlie to Middleburg, and as a history buff he was particularly thrilled to inherit the space at 7 West Washington Street from the previous tenants who had operated the Hidden Horse Tavern.

The building itself is one of the oldest in the Town, dating back to the immediate post Revolutionary War era, and it has been rumored that Colonel John S. Mosby hid horses in the basement, which after a loving restoration has now become The Fox's Den. After a quick review in the summer of 2010, Charlie tasked himself with the challenge of opening the new restaurant a mere two months after committing to the project.

The entire team of wait staff, management, prep cooks, and even the executive chef took over painting, staining, interior design, hanging paintings, logo artwork, kitchen renovation, etc. A seemingly impossible task for most, luckily Mr. Carroll and members of his team had come to Middleburg with years of experience in the hospitality and restaurant industry.

The plan for the menu was simple; American "comfort" food, done exquisitely well and prepared with the freshest ingredients available. Service was to be emphasized, as was the idea of an adjacent Pub Area for friendly gatherings.

The Fox's Den has quickly developed a reputation for excellence in the Virginia Piedmont, not only for the quality of the food, but for the friendliness of the staff, the devoted clientele, and the constant dedication to excellence based on customer feedback.