Henricus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henricus
Henricopolis, Henrie Town, Henrico
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Town
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Reconstruction of Mt. Malady, the first English hospital in America
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| Present Country | United States of America |
| State | Virginia |
| Established | 1611 |
| Abandoned | by 1622 |
| Founded by | Thomas Dale |
| Named for | Prince Henry |
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Henrico
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| Nearest city | Dutch Gap, Chesterfield County, Virginia |
| Area | 12 acres (4.9 ha) |
| Built | 1611 |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001400 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | April 13, 1972 |
Henricus was an early English settlement in Virginia. It was also known as Henricopolis or Henrico Town. Sir Thomas Dale founded it in 1611. He wanted a safer place than Jamestown, Virginia, which was often swampy and dangerous.
The town was named after Henry, Prince of Wales. He was the oldest son of King James I. Henricus was built on a bend of the James River. This spot is about 12 miles southeast of where the city of Richmond, Virginia is today.
Today, you can visit the Henricus Historical Park. It's a living history museum where people show what life was like back then. The park is surrounded by the Dutch Gap Conservation Area. This area has woodlands and wetlands.
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Exploring Henricus's Past
Henricus was the second successful English settlement in the New World. It was built across from a Native American village called Arrohateck. At this time, the First Anglo-Powhatan War was happening. Native American tribes, led by Nemattanew, resisted the colonists.
Henricus was one of the farthest English settlements from Jamestown. In 1612–1613, a special place called "Mt. Malady" was built nearby. This was the first hospital in the English colonies of North America.
Pocahontas and the Settlement
This area was close to where Pocahontas grew up. She was part of the Appomattoc tribe of the Powhatan Confederacy. During her time at Henricus, she met Reverend Alexander Whitaker. He helped her learn about Christianity.
Pocahontas later met colonist John Rolfe here. They married on April 5, 1614. They lived across the river at the Varina Farms Plantation. Their son, Thomas Rolfe, was born there. Many important families in Virginia are descended from him.
A Dream for a College
The Virginia Company wanted to build the first college in British America. In 1618, King James I of England gave them permission. This college was planned for Henricus. In 1619, land was set aside for the "University of Henrico."
However, the fort was abandoned during the Indian massacre of 1622. The Powhatan people largely destroyed it. Even though more settlers came back later, King James I took control of the colony in 1624. The college was never fully built there.
Henricus Becomes a County
Henricus became part of the Shire of Henrico in 1634. It was renamed Henrico County in 1637. Later, in 1693, the College of William and Mary was founded in Williamsburg. A plaque at that college mentions that its idea came from the college planned at Henricus.
Henricus in Modern Times
The area around Henricus saw action during the American Revolutionary War. Later, during the American Civil War, it was part of the Bermuda Hundred Campaign. In 1865, the Battle of Trent's Reach happened nearby. This was a major naval battle.
During the Civil War, Union General Benjamin Butler ordered a channel dug. This channel, called the Dutch Gap Canal, was meant to help ships avoid Confederate defenses. The channel was made wider in 1870. It then became the main path of the James River. The old river path filled with silt, creating the 810-acre (330 ha) Dutch Gap Conservation Area.
In 1922, Chesterfield County took over the land where Henricus once stood. This area was used for mining sand and gravel. Today, you can still see old sunken ships in the lagoons.
For a long time, no one was sure exactly where Henricus was. After archaeological digs, the U.S. National Register of Historic Places listed the 12-acre (4.9 ha) site in 1972. Even though the original settlement hasn't been fully found due to changes in the land, a reconstructed village was built nearby. This is the Henricus Historical Park, a living history museum.
