List of James River plantations facts for kids

The James River plantations were large farms built a long time ago in the Virginia Colony. They were located along the James River, stretching from where the river meets the sea at Hampton Roads all the way up to the Fall Line near where Richmond is now. These plantations played a big part in the early history of Virginia.

History of James River Plantations

The first English settlement at Jamestown in 1607 faced many challenges for five years. But then, a colonist named John Rolfe found a way to grow a special kind of sweet tobacco. After 1612, this tobacco became the colony's most important export. It was usually shipped in large barrels called hogsheads.

In the 1600s and 1700s, the James River was like a busy highway for trade. Because of this, many early plantations were built right on the riverbanks, both north and south. Most of these plantations were very large, often bigger than 100 acres (0.4 square kilometers), and many had their own docks for shipping goods. The word "plantation" came from an old English way of dividing land into "hundreds."

While some of these old plantations are now gone, many of the larger and older ones are still around today. Some are even open for people to visit! Most are still privately owned, but you can usually visit the houses and grounds by paying an admission fee.

Early Plantations (17th Century)

In 1619, the first government meeting in America, called the House of Burgesses, was held. Here's a list of some of the early plantations and the people who represented them:

• For James City: Ensign William Spence (burgess) and Captain William Powell
• For Charles City: Samuel Sharpe (burgess) and Samuel Jordan
• For the City of Henricus: Thomas Dowse and John Pollington
• For Kiccowtan: Captain William Tucker and William Capps
• For Martin's Brandon (Captain John Martin's Plantation): Thomas Davis and Robert Stacy
• For Smythe's Hundred Plantation: Captain Thomas Graves and Walter Shelley
• For Martin's Hundred Plantation (also called Wolstenholme Towne): John Boyse and John Jackson
• For Argall's Gift Plantation: Thomas Pawlett and Edward Gourgainy
• For Flowerdew Hundred Plantation: Ensign Edmund Rossingham and John Jefferson (burgess)
• For Captain Lawne's Plantation: Captain Christopher Lawne and Ensign Washer
• For Captain Warde's Plantation: Captain John Warde and Lieutenant John Gibbs

Plantations on the North Side of the James River

Here are some of the plantations located on the north side of the James River, listed from east to west (downriver to upriver):

• Herbert House
• Blunt Point Plantation
• Denbigh
• Richneck
• Bourbon
• Endview
• Lee Hall is a large house built in 1859. It was the home of Richard Decatur Lee, a rich local farmer. During the American Civil War in 1862, it was used as a headquarters by Confederate generals Joseph E. Johnston and John B. Magruder. Today, Lee Hall Mansion is a museum you can visit.
• Carter's Grove is built on the old sites of Martin's Hundred Plantation and Wolstenholme Towne.
• Kingsmill
• Ambler Mansion This mansion was built around 1750 on Jamestown Island. It was a large brick house with a classic Georgian style. It burned down during the American Revolution and again during the American Civil War. It was rebuilt both times. After burning a third time in 1895, it was left as ruins, which the National Park Service has now made stable.
• Powhatan
• Green Spring
• Tomahund is a plantation west of the Chickahominy River. The original house, built in the mid-1700s, is no longer there, but Tomahund is still a working farm today.
• Tedington was built around 1750. The house was a long wooden building with a special type of roof called a gambrel roof. It was destroyed by fire in 1928.
• Rowe Plantation was also on Sandy Point. Its unique house no longer exists.
• Sherwood Forest was the home of President John Tyler. He was the first Vice President to become President. He also served as Governor of Virginia and a U.S. Senator. The house, built around 1730, is the longest wooden house in America. President Tyler made it even longer, to 300 feet (90 meters), in 1845, adding a ballroom for dancing. Sherwood Forest is a very important historical site and is open to the public every day.
• Kittiewan (originally Millford) is an 18th-century wooden plantation house overlooking Kittiewan Creek and the James River. Its first owner was Dr. William Rickman, who helped manage Virginia's hospitals during the American Revolution. The house's beautiful wooden interior was almost bought by the Metropolitan Museum of Art! Today, the Archeological Society of Virginia takes care of the house and its 720 acres (2.9 square kilometers). You can visit by appointment.
• North Bend Plantation was built in 1819. In 1853, it was made twice as big. During the American Civil War in 1864, it was the headquarters for Union Major General Phillip Sheridan. About 30,000 Union soldiers prepared to cross the James River here. The home has been owned by the Copland family since 1916 and is open for tours by appointment.
• Weyanoke
• Upper Weyanoke This plantation has been settled by English colonists since the 1600s. The Minge family, who owned other properties like North Bend, owned it in the 1700s and early 1800s. The main house today is a two-story brick home built in 1859.
• Belle Air Plantation is a very old wooden house, possibly the oldest plantation home along State Route 5. It shows how houses were built in the 1600s and 1700s. It is open for tours during Historic Garden Week and by appointment.
• Piney Grove at Southall's Plantation was started in the 1700s. The oldest part of the house, built before 1790, was first a corn crib, then a store, and finally became a home in 1905. It's a rare example of early Virginia log architecture. You can visit the grounds daily, and guided tours of the house are available by appointment.
• Greenway Plantation is a wooden plantation house built around 1776. It was the home of Judge John Tyler, Sr., and his son, future President John Tyler, was born here in 1790. John Tyler lived here until 1829, when he moved to Sherwood Forest Plantation. The plantation is privately owned and well-preserved.
• Burlington Plantation
• River Edge This property was given to Colonel William Cole by the King of England. The house was likely built in the early 1700s. During the American Civil War, part of General Grant's army crossed the James River from a nearby landing here to attack Petersburg.
• Evelynton was once part of the large Westover Plantation. It was named after William Byrd's daughter, Evelyn. The Ruffin family has owned this 2,500-acre (10 square kilometers) farm since 1847, and it's still a family-run farm today. The house, gardens, and grounds are open daily.
• Westover was built around 1750. It's famous for its secret passages, beautiful gardens, and amazing architecture. You can visit the grounds and gardens daily, but the house itself is not open to the public.
• Berkeley Plantation was the home of the Harrison family, one of Virginia's most important families. Benjamin Harrison V, who signed the Declaration of Independence and was Governor of Virginia, was born here. His son, William Henry Harrison, who became the ninth U.S. President, was also born at Berkeley. His grandson, Benjamin Harrison, became the 23rd President. On December 4, 1619, early English settlers celebrated the first official Thanksgiving in America here. It was also where the famous bugle call Taps was first played during the American Civil War. It is usually open for tours daily.
• Edgewood and Harrison's Mill is a unique example of Gothic Revival architecture along State Route 5. Edgewood was once part of Berkeley Plantation. The mill was built by Benjamin Harrison V. The grounds are open daily, and guided tours of the house are available by appointment.
• Westbury
• Shirley Plantation, founded in 1613, is the oldest plantation in Virginia and the oldest family-owned business in North America, dating back to 1638. The Hill family and their descendants have lived here since 1738. Anne Hill Carter Lee, the mother of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, was born here. Shirley Plantation is a very important historical site and is open for tours daily.
• Upper Shirley This beautiful house, built in the late 1800s, overlooks the James River. It was built using bricks from an older building at nearby Shirley Plantation. It is privately owned and not open to the public.
• Turkey Island
• Malvern Hill
• Curles Neck was founded on 750 acres given to Thomas Harris in 1633. The original house built by Harris is one of the oldest in Virginia. The plantation grew to over 5,000 acres (20 square kilometers).
• Varina Farms
• Wilton was built around 1753 for William Randolph III. It was the main house of a 2,000-acre (8.1 square kilometers) tobacco plantation and home to the Randolph family for over 100 years. Famous people like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson visited here. In 1933, the house was moved to its current location in Richmond to save it from industrial development.
• Chatsworth was part of the large Randolph family property. A home was built there in 1751.
• Tree Hill started as a farmhouse in the late 1700s and grew into an impressive two-story plantation house by the mid-1800s. It has a great view of the James River and the Richmond skyline.

Plantations on the South Side of the James River

Most of the plantations on the south side of the James River can be reached by State Route 10. This road runs between Suffolk and Richmond.

Here are some of the south side plantations, listed from east to west:

• Bacon's Castle is in Surry County and is Virginia's oldest documented brick house, built in 1665. It's a rare example of Jacobean architecture. It got its name because followers of Nathaniel Bacon used it as a fort during Bacon's Rebellion in 1676. Today, Bacon's Castle is a museum open to visitors.
• Chippokes Plantation was started in 1617. In 1967, the 1,700-acre (6.9 square kilometers) plantation was given to Virginia to become Chippokes State Park. It's one of the oldest working farms in the nation and still has its original boundaries from the 1600s. You can take tours of the old mansion, gardens, and the Farm & Forestry Museum.
• Rich Neck Farm The house was built in the early 1800s and was known for having many original smaller buildings still standing. It was connected to the Ruffin family, who were important in Virginia. Sadly, the house was destroyed by fire in 2012.
• Pleasant Point This was the home of the Edwards family in Virginia. The house was built between 1724 and 1765. During the Civil War, it was a Confederate signal station, and U.S. troops raided the property in 1864.
• Smith's Fort This plantation is named after Captain John Smith's "New Fort," built in 1609 across the river from Jamestown. This same land was later given by Chief Powhatan to John Rolfe as a wedding gift when he married Pocahontas. The current main house was built in 1751.
• Swann's Point
• Four Mile Tree This plantation near Jamestown was once 2,000 acres (8 square kilometers). It was the home of the Browne family for 200 years. The main house, built around 1745, is still well-preserved.
• Pipsico (now Pipsico Scout Reservation)
• Eastover plantation has been a retreat center since 1972. The 19th-century house has been updated for guests and can be rented for special events like weddings or for Bed and Breakfast stays.
• Wakefield Plantation was the original home of the important Harrison family as early as 1643. The current mansion at Wakefield was built in the 1940s.
• Claremont Manor is on the south shore of the James River. The land was granted in 1621. The manor house was built in 1754 and named Claremont Manor in 1793. The plantation stayed in the Allen family for over 200 years.
• Brandon Plantation is a 5,000-acre (20 square kilometers) working farm. It's one of the longest-running farms in the United States. It has a unique brick mansion, possibly designed by Thomas Jefferson, completed in the 1760s. It was started in 1616 by Captain John Martin, one of the original leaders of the Virginia Colony at Jamestown. The Harrison family owned it from 1700 to 1926. Brandon is a National Historical Landmark, and its house and gardens are open for tours.
• Upper Brandon Plantation This was part of the original Brandon land. William Byrd Harrison inherited this part and built a large brick mansion in 1825. He made it a model farm. It stayed in the Harrison family until 1948. Today, it's a privately owned working farm.
• Edloe is an important wooden plantation house overlooking the James River. The date it was built is unknown because many records were destroyed during the Civil War. However, old beams found during renovations suggest it was built in the 1700s. It is still a privately owned working farm today.
• Dunmore
• Willow Hill This 700-acre (2.8 square kilometers) plantation was originally granted to Col. John Ward in the 1600s. The original house burned down in the 1840s and was rebuilt on the same foundation.
• Bonnacord Captain David Peebles, a Royalist from Scotland, came to Virginia around 1649. In 1650, he got 833 acres (3.4 square kilometers) on the south bank of the James River and called his plantation ‘Bon Accord.’
• Aberdeen is a historic brick plantation house built around 1810. Unlike many James River plantations, it was built further back from the river. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Flowerdew Hundred dates back to 1618–19. Sir George Yeardley, the Governor of the Virginia Colony, may have named it after his wife, Temperance Flowerdew. It was a successful farm, producing tobacco, corn, fish, and livestock. Sir George also built the first windmill in British America here. Today, Flowerdew Hundred is a private home.
• Hatches
• Maycox (now part of the James River National Wildlife Refuge)
• Greenway is on the south side of Route 10, east of Hopewell. The house was built around 1800 and is one of the oldest still standing in Prince George County. It's a private home and is currently a horse farm.
• Beechwood Plantation (home of Edmund Ruffin) This large, two-story wooden mansion was built in the 1850s. Sadly, it has been empty and falling apart since 2011.
• Tar Bay This was one of the few brick homes built on the south bank of the James during the colonial period. It was a fancy Georgian plantation house built in 1746. It was used as a summer home by the Ruffin family when it burned down in the mid-1960s. Its ruins can still be seen today.
• Bouvier Castle
• Jordan's Journey
• Evergreen Plantation (birthplace of Edmund Ruffin)
• Appomattox Plantation is a plantation house located at City Point in Hopewell. It is famous for being the Union headquarters during the Siege of Petersburg in 1864–65. The restored house and grounds are managed by the National Park Service, and there's a museum there called Grant's Headquarters at City Point Museum.
• Weston Manor is a large wooden plantation house built in 1789. It's known for its old-fashioned interior and is open for tours from April 1 to October 31 each year.
• Presquile Plantation In 1780, David Meade Randolph and his wife Mary Randolph settled here. David was known as a great farmer and inventor. Mary was a lively hostess. However, living near the swampy areas of the James River caused them to get sick often, so they moved to Richmond. Part of the plantation is now the Presquile National Wildlife Refuge.
• Mont Blanco (also known as Mount Blanco) was a plantation on a high bluff overlooking the James River. The house was built in the late 1700s for John Wayles Eppes, who was a U.S. Representative and Senator from Virginia, and the son-in-law of President Thomas Jefferson. The name "Mont Blanco" was suggested by Jefferson, meaning "White Mountain," because of the high bluff. During the American Civil War, the plantation was raided by Union soldiers. The house was destroyed by fire in the mid-1950s. Today, the land is used for homes, and only the name "Mount Blanco" reminds us of the historic plantation.
• Meadowville was originally part of an early settlement from 1613. The land was later divided. In 1926, a canal was dug across the property, making a part of it into Meadowville Island. The land was used for farming until the early 2000s, when it was sold for a new housing community.
• Rochedale Hundred was also part of the early 1613 settlement. This land was also used for farming until the late 1980s when it was sold for a new housing community. In 1990, the Varina-Enon Bridge opened nearby.
• Kingsland (owned by Christopher Branch at Henricus)
• Spring Hill is a wooden plantation house built around 1767. It has a special type of brick foundation. Today, the house is in ruins in the woods.
• Bellwood is a historic plantation house that has had several names. It was built around 1804. In 1941, the U.S. Army bought the property, and the house became an officers' club. It still has many of its original features and is a registered historic landmark.
• Ampthill (Chesterfield County, Virginia) Plantation was on the south bank of the James River, built around 1730. It was later owned by Colonel Archibald Cary, who had a flour mill and iron forge nearby. Mary Randolph was born here in 1762. In 1929, the house was taken apart and moved to Richmond, where it still stands today. The original plantation land is now a DuPont plant.