Shirley Plantation facts for kids
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Shirley
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Main house of Shirley Plantation, July 2006
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5 mi. N of Hopewell off VA 608, Hopewell, Virginia |
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| Built | circa 1723 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000328 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 1, 1969 |
| Designated NHL | April 15, 1970 |
Shirley Plantation is a historic estate located on the north bank of the James River in Charles City County, Virginia. You can find it on State Route 5, a scenic road between Richmond and Williamsburg. It is known as one of the oldest working farms in Virginia, first settled by Europeans in 1613. It is also recognized as the oldest family-owned business in North America, with the Hill family taking ownership in 1638.
At first, people who agreed to work for a set time, called indentured servants, were the main workers. However, by the early 1700s, the plantation sadly began to rely on the forced labor of enslaved African people. About 70 to 90 enslaved individuals were forced to work there at any given time. They performed tasks like plowing fields, cleaning, caring for children, and cooking. Shirley Plantation was added to the National Register in 1969 and became a National Historic Landmark in 1970.
Contents
The Plantation's Early Years
European settlers first arrived on the lands of Shirley Plantation in 1613. Sir Thomas West, the 3rd Baron De La Warr, named the area West and Sherley Hundred. This name likely honored his wife, Cessalye, whose father was Sir Thomas Sherley.
In 1616, John Rolfe wrote about Shirley as one of six European settlements in the colony. He noted that Captain Isaac Maddeson led 25 workers who focused on growing and preparing tobacco. This tobacco was then shipped to other colonies and to England. The settlement survived a Native American uprising in 1622 without much damage. For a while, it was the westernmost European settlement on the north side of the James River.
The Hill Family Takes Over
In 1638, Edward Hill bought part of this land. This marked the beginning of the Hill family's ownership, which continues to this day. Edward Hill's original plot of about 450 acres grew over time through marriages and more land purchases. By 1660, he owned about 2,476 acres in Charles City County.
When Edward Hill died, his land went to his son, Edward Hill II. One of these early Hill owners built the first large house at Shirley, called the Hill House. This house was later taken down around 1870. Edward Hill II supported Governor William Berkeley during Bacon's Rebellion in 1676. Because of this, Bacon's rebels attacked and looted the property.
Edward Hill III inherited the property in 1700 and continued to run it as a plantation. However, his only son died young, leaving no male heirs. When Edward Hill III passed away in 1726, he left Shirley Plantation to his youngest daughter, Elizabeth. She had married John Carter in 1723. After John Carter died in 1742, Elizabeth married Bowler Cocke. He helped raise her son, Charles Hill Carter, who later became an important figure.
Building the Great House
The construction of the main house you see today, known as the "Great House," began around 1723. It was finished in 1738. This new mansion was built close to the older Hill House. In 1868, the owners decided to take down the Hill House. Its materials were then used to build another mansion nearby, called Upper Shirley.
For over 280 years, at least eight generations of the Hill Carter family have lived in the Great House. Anne Hill Carter, who was born at Shirley, married Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee in the mansion's parlor in 1793. They later became the parents of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
The Role of Enslaved People
Shirley Plantation, like many others in the American South, relied on the forced labor of enslaved people. This became especially true after the mid-1600s, when fewer indentured servants came from England.
In 1787, Charles Hill Carter owned 67 enslaved people over the age of 16 at Shirley Plantation. He also owned another 67 younger enslaved people. In the 1800s, between 70 and 90 enslaved African people were forced to work on the plantation each year. They were made to plow fields, clean, and cook.
After the American Civil War ended in 1865, enslaved people were freed. This meant that Hill Carter, the owner in 1866, no longer had access to forced labor. He had to divide his estate. The main part, which is today's Shirley Plantation, went to his son Robert. The "Upper Shirley" part went to William Fitzhugh Carter. Today, Upper Shirley is home to Upper Shirley Vineyards.
Shirley Plantation Today
Shirley Plantation was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. It was then recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1970. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, archaeologists from the College of William and Mary studied the site. They excavated the location of the old Hill House, the living quarters built for enslaved people around 1843, and even older Native American settlements.
Today, members of the eleventh generation of the Hill Carter family still live on the upper floors of the Great House. The bottom floor is open for visitors to take tours and learn about the plantation's long history.
Architecture of the Great House
The "Great House" is a three-story building built in the Georgian style. It has red brick walls and white trim. The house looks the same from both the riverside and the courtyard side. Each side has a two-story entrance with Doric columns supporting a triangular top part called a pediment. The main entrance is in the center, with long rectangular windows on either side.
Inside, the house has a famous carved walnut staircase. It seems to float up three stories without any visible support. This "floating" or "flying" staircase is unique in America. The roof is sloped and has decorative moldings. There are also dormer windows and two large brick chimneys. At the very top of the roof, there is a white stand holding an upside-down pineapple, a symbol of welcome.
Several other buildings surround the main house. These include a two-story kitchen with living spaces for enslaved Africans, a two-story laundry building with living spaces, a smokehouse, a stable, an ice house, a large storage building, and a dovecote (a building for doves).
Learning About the Past
In 1989, an article pointed out that tour guides at Shirley Plantation sometimes did not talk enough about the history of slavery and forced labor on the estate. At that time, the owner, Helle Carter, said she wanted to focus on the "proud" local heritage while trying not to upset anyone. This sometimes led visiting children to ask important questions like, "Where are the slave quarters?" and "What did the enslaved people do?" Today, many historic sites, including Shirley Plantation, work to share a more complete and honest history, including the difficult parts, so that visitors can truly understand the past.
