Four Mile Tree facts for kids
|
Four Mile Tree
|
|
Estate Manor, c. 1940
|
|
 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
|
|
| Nearest city | Surry, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Area | 250 acres (100 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000826 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | December 18, 1970 |
Four Mile Tree is the name of a large historic farm, also called a plantation, located near Jamestown, Virginia. It was once a very big property, covering about 2,000 acres (8 square kilometers). It sits on the south side of the James River, right across from Jamestown.
A beautiful old house stands on a hill overlooking the river. This farm was the home of the Browne family for 200 years. The first owner, Colonel Henry Browne, was an important advisor to Governor William Berkeley in 1643. The main house, built around 1745, is still in great shape and looks much like it did long ago.
Contents
What is Four Mile Tree?
Four Mile Tree is a historic property known for its old house and long history. It is named "Four Mile Tree" because it is about four miles (6 kilometers) from Jamestown. Today, it is a private home.
The Old House at Four Mile Tree
The main house at Four Mile Tree is made of brick and has one-and-a-half stories. It has a special roof shape called a hip-on-gambrel roof. The house also has chimneys inside its walls.
The bricks are laid in a pattern called Flemish bond. In the 1800s, the brick was covered with a special plaster to make it look like carved stone. Some of this plaster has now fallen off. The front of the house has five sections, with a main entrance in the middle. This entrance has a porch from the 1800s.
Inside the house, the oldest wooden parts are in the central staircase area. The stairs have turned wooden railings and a heavy handrail. Some rooms have old fireplaces that were added in the early 1800s.
A Long History
Four Mile Tree is a very old property. It was started in the early 1600s. Before Four Mile Tree, there were even older settlements nearby called "Burrow's Hill" and "Pace's Paines." The graveyard at Four Mile Tree has the oldest readable tombstone in Virginia, dating back to 1650.
The Browne Family
Four Mile Tree was the main home for the Browne family from the time of King Charles I until 1799. The Brownes were a very important family in Surry County. They were often local judges and helped check the quality of tobacco. They also owned enslaved people from early on.
Many members of the Browne family served in important government groups during the 1600s. These groups included the Governor's Council and the House of Burgesses.
Important Events
During the American Revolutionary War, William Browne was part of a local group called the Surry Committee of Safety. He was also a leader in the local army, known as the militia. His son, who was the last Browne to own Four Mile Tree, also served in the revolutionary militia.
In the War of 1812, the British attacked and damaged the farm. In 1815, the property went to William Browne Jr.'s granddaughter, Sally Elizabeth Bowdoin. She and her husband, General Philip St. George Cocke, lived at Four Mile Tree until 1840. They then moved to another farm called Belmeade.
After the Cocke family left, the house stayed mostly the same for a long time. In the late 1900s, a new part was added to the south side of the house. Four Mile Tree was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history.
