Rosewell (plantation) facts for kids
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Rosewell
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Ruins of Rosewell.
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Rosewell, HABS Photo |
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| Area | 9.9 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1725 |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000244 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 1, 1969 |
Rosewell Plantation was once a grand home in Gloucester County, Virginia. For over 100 years, it was the home of a part of the Page family. This family was one of the important early families in Virginia.
Building the Rosewell mansion began in 1725. It was made of brick and overlooked the York River. This house was one of the most fancy homes in the American colonies. It was a huge mansion on a large farm.
A historian named Thomas Tileston Waterman called Rosewell "the largest and finest of American houses of the colonial period." For many years, Rosewell Plantation was known for its big parties and celebrations. Sadly, the home was destroyed by a fire in 1916.
In 1793, the Page family sold part of the land to the Catlett family. They built a house called "Timberneck." This house still stands today inside Machicomoco State Park. Like Rosewell, Timberneck has been studied by archaeologists. It is now being fixed up by a group called the Fairfield Foundation.
Contents
Exploring Rosewell's Past
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The building of Rosewell started in 1725. It was begun by Mann Page I (1691–1730). He was the grandson of Colonel John Page, an important person from Jamestown. Mann Page I studied in England at Eton College and Oxford University. When he came back to America, he joined the Governor's Council of the Virginia Colony. This council helped the governor make decisions.
Mann Page I married Judith Carter in 1718. She was the daughter of Robert "King" Carter, another powerful figure. They had five children together.
Mann Page I wanted to build a mansion that was as big and fancy as the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg. He died in 1730, and his wife Judith Page took over the property. The house was built with brick, marble, and mahogany wood. Some of these materials came all the way from England.
Historians believe Mann Page I might have designed the house himself. It was about 12,000 square feet, which was twice the size of the Governor's Palace. Rosewell was the biggest home built in colonial Virginia. Its design was likely inspired by large homes in London.
Completing the Grand Mansion
Their son, Mann Page II (1718-1778), finished building the mansion when he grew up. The Page family had spent a lot of money on the house. Mann Page II had to sell some of his land to pay for its completion. The Page family continued to live at Rosewell for 100 more years.
In 1837, the Page family sold the mansion to Thomas Booth. He made some changes to the house. He removed the fancy top parts and the lead roof. He also sold the carved marble fireplaces and much of the beautiful wood inside. A new, flatter roof was put on instead.
The plantation had a few more owners after that. Then, in 1916, a fire broke out and destroyed the Rosewell mansion. Today, only the ruins of the house remain. Archaeologists have studied the site. They have found many old items and learned more about life and building styles in colonial times. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.
From the early colonial days until the Civil War, enslaved people lived and worked at Rosewell. They worked in the fields and as house servants, cooks, and maids. Large plantations like Rosewell were almost like small towns. Enslaved people also worked as skilled craftspeople, like blacksmiths and carpenters. They grew food for the owners and often for themselves.
The Important Page Family of Virginia
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John Page (1743–1808) was a grandson of Mann Page I. He grew up at Rosewell. He became a politician and served as Governor of Virginia. He went to college with Thomas Jefferson in nearby Williamsburg. John Page fought in the American Revolutionary War. Besides being governor, he served in the U.S. Congress and the Virginia government.
Other famous members of Virginia's Page family include Colonel John Page, who was Mann Page I's father. There was also Governor Page's brother Mann Page III. Later, Thomas Nelson Page became a U.S. Ambassador to Italy. William Nelson Page was known for building the Virginia Railway. Thomas Jefferson Page was a naval officer. Richard Lucian Page was a general during the Civil War.
What Rosewell Looked Like
Rosewell Mansion was described in an old book called "Life In Old Virginia." It said the house was strongly built of brick, with three stories and a basement. The walls at the bottom were very thick. The main hall was large, and the ceilings were high. The whole house showed that the family had good taste and was wealthy. From the top windows, you could see beautiful views of the land and the York River.
Governor Page often had Thomas Jefferson visit Rosewell. During one of his visits, Thomas Jefferson wrote an early version of the Declaration of Independence. He wrote it in a room on the second floor, which is now called the 'Blue Room.'
The fancy brickwork, the tall three stories, and where the mansion was built all reminded people of grand London homes. Rosewell was one of the most advanced buildings in early America.
A historian named Daniel Drake Reiff wrote that "Rosewell was the largest and most advanced brick building in Virginia at the time." He thought it was special because it looked like a London townhouse. He also believed a bricklayer from London might have come to help build it.
The brickwork at Rosewell is similar to Christ Church in Lancaster County. This church was built by Robert Carter, Mann Page I's father-in-law. This makes some people think the same builders might have worked on both places.
Rosewell was the first house in the American colonies to have a part that stuck out from the middle. This was many years before other houses had this feature. This part made the outside of the house look more interesting.
When it was first finished, the house had a flat lead roof behind a low wall on top of its three stories. It also had two round towers at each end. Smaller buildings in front of the mansion created a fancy entrance area. The inside of the house was painted in a very stylish way. When people were fixing up the Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg, they looked at a paint order from John Page to help them choose colors. In 1771, John Page ordered paints like white lead, yellow ochre, and Venetian Red from London.
See also
