Martin's Hundred facts for kids

Martin's Hundred was an early settlement in the Virginia Colony during the 1600s. It was like a large farm or "plantation" located along the James River, east of Jamestown, Virginia. Today, this area is part of James City County, Virginia. A famous book by Ivor Noel Hume in 1979 first shared many details about this historic place.

The Story of Martin's Hundred

Martin's Hundred was a special "particular" plantation. It was part of the Virginia Company of London, a group that helped set up colonies. A group of investors called The Society of Martin's Hundred owned it. They named it after Richard Martin, a city official. Sir John Wolstenholme was one of these investors. William Harwood was in charge of the settlement. The main part of Martin's Hundred was a small, strong village called Wolstenholme Towne. It had simple cabins and was a "hundred," which was a way to divide land in old England.

Settlers Arrive

The Society of Martin's Hundred received a large piece of land, about 80,000 acres, in 1618. In October of that year, about 250 settlers left for the plantation. They arrived in Virginia around January or March of 1619.

The Powhatan Attack

The land the English claimed was once home to the Powhatan people. These were Native American tribes led by Chief Powhatan. On March 22, 1622, the Powhatans launched a surprise attack. They wanted to drive the English away. They attacked settlers in their homes and fields. From near modern Richmond to Newport News, the Powhatans burned buildings and damaged property. About 400 English settlers died in this event, known as the Indian Massacre of 1622. Martin's Hundred was hit the hardest. It lost more than 50 settlers, possibly as many as 70. The exact number of deaths at Wolstenholme Towne is not known separately.

After the Attack

The 1622 attack almost succeeded in stopping the English settlements. The English moved back to the safety of Jamestown. Wolstenholme Towne was settled again about a year later. However, it was completely abandoned sometime after 1645. Martin's Hundred had representatives in the House of Burgesses, which was like an early government. This lasted from 1619 until 1634, when Virginia's counties were formed.

Carter's Grove Plantation

It seems that no signs of Wolstenholme Towne were left by 1709. That's when a wealthy landowner named Robert "King" Carter bought the land. Later, this land became known as Carter's Grove Plantation. It was passed down through many owners. In 1964, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation bought it. This foundation runs many historic sites in Williamsburg.

Discovering the Past

In 1970, Ivor Hume, an archaeologist for Colonial Williamsburg, began digging. He found 23 grave sites from the early 1600s. These discoveries helped us learn more about Martin's Hundred.

Recent Changes at Carter's Grove

In 2007, Colonial Williamsburg sold Carter's Grove to Halsey Minor. The sale included rules to protect the historic house and land. After Minor's company faced financial trouble, Colonial Williamsburg bought the property back in 2014. In September 2014, they sold Carter's Grove to Samuel Mencoff. He is known for preserving historic places. The president of the foundation said the property was in good hands. Mencoff promised to work with Colonial Williamsburg to protect Carter's Grove.

Colonial Williamsburg and Martin's Hundred

The remains of Wolstenholme Towne were forgotten for a long time. They lay hidden under the fields of Carter's Grove. Then, in 1976, archaeologists found the site. Parts of it were restored. They also restored areas that showed where enslaved people lived in later times. These additions helped tourists learn about the property's nearly 400-year history.

Why Carter's Grove Closed

The main house at Carter's Grove is decorated as it was in 1928. This means it doesn't quite fit with the earlier time periods that Colonial Williamsburg usually focuses on. Also, Carter's Grove is about 7 miles from the main restored area of Williamsburg. This distance made it harder for visitors to reach. So, on January 2, 2003, Carter's Grove was closed to the public to save money.

New Interpretive Sites

Closer to downtown Williamsburg, Colonial Williamsburg now has the Great Hopes Plantation. This site is easy for people to walk to. It tells the story of the lives of enslaved people. They played a very important part in building Colonial Virginia.

Current Status

As of 2006, the future of Carter's Grove as a public attraction was not decided. However, Colonial Williamsburg still uses parts of the property for support work. The property is kept safe and maintained, even though it is not open to visitors. In early 2008, archaeologists finished studying different areas of Carter's Grove. Colonial Williamsburg later sold the Carter's Grove plantation, Martin's Hundred, and the museum to a private owner. What they plan to do with the property is not known. However, Colonial Williamsburg staff can still visit the museum. This is because some important historical items are still there and need to be protected.

The Carter's Grove Country Road was a scenic road that connected to Colonial Williamsburg. It was damaged by Hurricane Isabel in late 2003. It has been closed to traffic ever since. Today, a large part of the original Martin's Hundred land is now the community of Grove. It is located along U.S. Route 60, east of the Busch Gardens Williamsburg theme park.