Norborne Berkeley (soldier) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Norborne Berkeley
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| Born | March 31, 1828 Aldie, Loudoun County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | January 12, 1911 (aged 82) Haymarket, Prince William County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Allegiance |  Virginia Confederate States of America |
| Service/ |
 Virginia Militia Confederate States Army |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Unit | 8th Virginia Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Spouse(s) | Lavinia Hart |
| Children | 4 sons |
Norborne Berkeley (born March 31, 1828 – died January 12, 1911) was an important person from northern Virginia. He owned a large farm and later became an officer in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. After the war, he helped write new rules for Virginia as a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1868. He represented Loudoun County.
Early Life and Family
Norborne Berkeley was born near Aldie in Loudoun County. His father, Lewis Berkeley, soon built a large home called Evergreen manor in nearby Prince William County. Norborne was the third of five children. His older brothers were Edmund Callendar Berkeley and William Noland Berkeley. His younger siblings were Mary Lewis Berkeley Cox and Charles Fenton Mercer Berkeley.
Norborne went to Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. After that, he studied at the Virginia Military Institute, graduating in 1848. Three of his brothers also graduated from VMI. They later served under him during the Civil War.
When he was 25, his father gave him a farm called "Stoke" in Loudoun County. In 1860, he owned this farm and other property, including 20 enslaved people. Norborne Berkeley later said he inherited these enslaved people from his father.
In 1849, Norborne Berkeley married Lavinia Hart Berkeley. They had four sons who lived to adulthood: Edmund Spottswood, Norborne Jr., Charles Carter, and William Noland. These sons later moved to different states across the country.
Service in the Civil War
Before Virginia left the United States in 1861, Norborne Berkeley was training with a local group of soldiers called a militia. He was good at keeping the soldiers organized. He became a major in this group, which was part of the 8th Virginia Infantry. His three younger brothers also joined this unit.
In April 1862, Norborne Berkeley was chosen by the soldiers to be their Lieutenant Colonel. He was promoted to Colonel in August 1863 because of his brave actions at the Battle of Gettysburg. During this battle, he was wounded in the leg and captured by Union soldiers. His younger brothers, William Noland and Charles, were also captured. His brother Edmund was wounded but not captured.
Norborne Berkeley was sent to a prison hospital in Maryland. Later, he was moved to a prison in Ohio. In March 1864, he was exchanged for a Union prisoner and released. His younger brothers were also exchanged around the same time.
By October 1864, Norborne Berkeley was in a hospital due to illness. He was later promoted to brigadier general, though this was a special honor rather than a full promotion. He left the army in March 1865 because of ongoing health problems. He was officially released from service in April 1865.
Life After the War
After the Civil War ended, Norborne Berkeley went back to Loudoun County. He sold his farm, Stoke, to his brother-in-law to help pay off debts.
In 1868, voters in Loudoun County chose Norborne Berkeley to represent them at the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1868. This was a meeting where leaders worked to create new laws and rules for the state of Virginia after the war. Another former Confederate soldier, Dr. George E. Plaster, was also elected with him.
However, Norborne Berkeley did not win his next election. He tried to become the county treasurer but lost. After this, he stopped being involved in politics. He lived at different family homes in northern Virginia. For a short time, he also taught at Virginia Tech.
Later Years and Legacy
Norborne Berkeley passed away on January 19, 1911, at his brother's Evergreen manor house in Haymarket, Virginia. He is buried in the cemetery of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Haymarket.
In 2001, a handwritten paper by Norborne Berkeley was found. It was about the First Battle of Manassas, an important battle during the Civil War.
His old farm house, Stoke, still stands near Aldie, Virginia. It was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. This was partly because of its connection to Norborne Berkeley. It was also recognized because of a later owner, Eleanor Truax Harris, who was a famous gardener. She ran "Berkeley Gardens" there, which provided flowers even during the Great Depression.
