Benjamin Harrison IV
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Harrison IV was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, the son of Benjamin Harrison III
, and the father of Benjamin Harrison V
, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence
and the fifth Governor of Virginia
. Harrison is also known as the builder of Berkeley
which is believed to be the oldest three-story brick mansion in Virginia
and is the ancestral home to two Presidents of the United States: William Henry Harrison
, his grandson, and Benjamin Harrison
his great-great-grandson. Two powerful and influential families in colonial Virginia, the Harrison family and the Carter family, were united when Harrison married Anne Carter, the daughter of Robert "King" Carter. His family also forged ties to the Randolph family as four of his children married four grandchildren of William Randolph I.
Benjamin Harrison IV was born in a small house on the plantation named "Berkeley Hundred
" or "Berkeley Plantation". Upon completion of his studies at The College of William & Mary, he became the Harrison family's first college graduate. Harrison settled on his family estate and, like his predecessors, he increased his land holdings. Around 1722, Harrison married Anne Carter, whom William Byrd II
had described as "a very agreeable girl". As part of a dowry
from Robert Carter, Harrison managed and received profits from land that was technically owned by his father-in-law. This land was entailed by Carter to Harrison's son, Carter Henry Harrison. Using bricks fired on the Berkeley plantation, Harrison built a Georgian-style three-story brick mansion on a hill overlooking the James River
in 1726. Berkeley would later earn a distinction shared only with Peacefield
in Quincy, Massachusetts
as the ancestral home for two United States Presidents. In 1729, Harrison purchased 200 acres of the Bradford plantation from Richard Branford III. From 1736 to 1742, he represented Charles City County, Virginia
in the House of Burgesses.
Harrison and his wife had eleven children:
Anne Carter is thought to have preceded Harrison in death. In 1745, he and his "two youngest daughters" (one of which was very likely Hannah) were killed when lightning struck his house. Harrison's will expressed his intent to be buried near his son, Henry, and it broke with the British tradition of primogeniture
by leaving large amounts of wealth to all of his children. The six plantations that comprised Berkeley, along with the manor house, equipment, stock, and slaves, became the responsibility of Benjamin Harrison V, the oldest son. Eight other plantations were divided among the remaining sons and his remaining daughters were given cash and slaves.
One source indicates that Harrison's tomb is located on the grounds of the "old Westover Church
", but another states he was buried in his family's cemetery.
Benjamin Harrison III
Benjamin Harrison III was an early member of the Harrison Family of Virginia, serving as the colony's Attorney General, Treasurer, and Speaker of the House of Burgesses.-Biography:...
, and the father of Benjamin Harrison V
Benjamin Harrison V
Benjamin Harrison V was an American planter and revolutionary leader from Charles City County, Virginia. He earned his higher education at the College of William and Mary, and he was perhaps the first figure in the Harrison family to gain national attention...
, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence
United States Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
and the fifth Governor of Virginia
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
. Harrison is also known as the builder of Berkeley
Berkeley Plantation
Berkeley Plantation, one of the first great estates in America, comprises about on the banks of the James River on State Route 5 in Charles City County, Virginia. Berkeley Plantation was originally called Berkeley Hundred and named after one of its founders of the 1618 land grant, Richard Berkeley...
which is believed to be the oldest three-story brick mansion in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and is the ancestral home to two Presidents of the United States: William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
, his grandson, and Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
his great-great-grandson. Two powerful and influential families in colonial Virginia, the Harrison family and the Carter family, were united when Harrison married Anne Carter, the daughter of Robert "King" Carter. His family also forged ties to the Randolph family as four of his children married four grandchildren of William Randolph I.
Biography
Berkeley Hundred
Berkeley Hundred in the Virginia Colony comprised about eight thousand acres on the north bank of the James River near Herring Creek in an area then known as Charles Cittie . It was named for one of the original founders, Richard Berkeley, a member of the Berkeley family of Gloucestershire, England...
" or "Berkeley Plantation". Upon completion of his studies at The College of William & Mary, he became the Harrison family's first college graduate. Harrison settled on his family estate and, like his predecessors, he increased his land holdings. Around 1722, Harrison married Anne Carter, whom William Byrd II
William Byrd II
Colonel William Byrd II was a planter, slave-owner and author from Charles City County, Virginia. He is considered the founder of Richmond, Virginia.-Biography:...
had described as "a very agreeable girl". As part of a dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
from Robert Carter, Harrison managed and received profits from land that was technically owned by his father-in-law. This land was entailed by Carter to Harrison's son, Carter Henry Harrison. Using bricks fired on the Berkeley plantation, Harrison built a Georgian-style three-story brick mansion on a hill overlooking the James River
James River
The James River may refer to:Rivers in the United States and their namesakes* James River * James River , North Dakota, South Dakota* James River * James River * James River...
in 1726. Berkeley would later earn a distinction shared only with Peacefield
Peacefield
Peacefield, also called Old House, is a historic home formerly owned by second President of the United States, John Adams, and other members of the Adams family, located in Quincy, Massachusetts near Boston...
in Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
as the ancestral home for two United States Presidents. In 1729, Harrison purchased 200 acres of the Bradford plantation from Richard Branford III. From 1736 to 1742, he represented Charles City County, Virginia
Charles City County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,926 people, 2,670 households, and 1,975 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 2,895 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
in the House of Burgesses.
Harrison and his wife had eleven children:
- Elizabeth Harrison (born ~1723) married Peyton RandolphPeyton RandolphPeyton Randolph was a planter and public official from the Colony of Virginia. He served as speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses, chairman of the Virginia Conventions, and the first President of the Continental Congress.-Early life:Randolph was born in Tazewell Hall, Williamsburg, Virginia...
, the son of Sir John RandolphSir John RandolphSir John Randolph of Tazewell Hall, Williamsburg was a Speaker of the House of Burgesses, an Attorney General for the Colony of Virginia, and the youngest son of William Randolph and Mary Isham.-Biography:...
, the grandson of William Randolph I, and the first President of the Continental CongressPresident of the Continental CongressThe President of the Continental Congress was the presiding officer of the Continental Congress, the convention of delegates that emerged as the first national government of the United States during the American Revolution...
. - Anne Harrison (born ~1724) married William Randolph III, the son of William Randolph IIWilliam Randolph IIWilliam Randolph II of Wilton , also known as William Randolph, Jr. or Councillor Randolph, was the Treasurer of Virginia and the oldest child of William Randolph and Mary Isham.-Biography and family:...
and the grandson of William Randolph I, and had five children. - Benjamin Harrison VBenjamin Harrison VBenjamin Harrison V was an American planter and revolutionary leader from Charles City County, Virginia. He earned his higher education at the College of William and Mary, and he was perhaps the first figure in the Harrison family to gain national attention...
(born ~1726) married Elizabeth Bassett. His third son was William Henry HarrisonWilliam Henry HarrisonWilliam Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
, the ninth President of the United States. His descendants include CongressmanUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
John Scott HarrisonJohn Scott HarrisonJohn Scott Harrison was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio and the only man to be both the son and the father of U.S. Presidents. His father, William Henry Harrison was the 9th President in 1841; and, his son, Benjamin Harrison, was the 23rd President from 1889-1893...
and Benjamin HarrisonBenjamin HarrisonBenjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
, the 23rd President of the United States. - Lucy Harrison (born ~1728) married Edward Randolph Jr., the son of Edward RandolphEdward RandolphEdward Randolph , sometimes referred to as Edward Randolph of Bremo, was a ship captain, a London tobacco merchant, and the seventh and youngest son of William Randolph and Mary Isham.-Biography:...
Sr. and the grandson of William Randolph I, and the couple had two children. - Hannah Harrison (born ~1730 – ~1745)
- Carter Henry Harrison ICarter Henry Harrison ICarter Henry Harrison I , also known as Carter Henry Harrison of Clifton, was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates...
(born ~1732) married Susannah Randolph, the daughter of Isham Randolph and the grand-daughter of William Randolph I, and had six children. His descendants include two mayors of Chicago: Carter Henry Harrison IIICarter Harrison, Sr.Carter Henry Harrison, Sr. was an American politician who served as mayor of Chicago, Illinois from 1879 until 1887; he was subsequently elected to a fifth term in 1893 but was assassinated before completing his term. He previously served two terms in the United States House of Representatives...
and his son Carter Henry Harrison IVCarter Harrison, Sr.Carter Henry Harrison, Sr. was an American politician who served as mayor of Chicago, Illinois from 1879 until 1887; he was subsequently elected to a fifth term in 1893 but was assassinated before completing his term. He previously served two terms in the United States House of Representatives...
. - Henry Harrison (~1734 – ~1736) who died in infancy.
- Henry Harrison (born ~1736)
- Robert Harrison (born ~1738)
- Charles Harrison (born ~1740)
- Nathaniel Harrison (born September 30, 1742)
Anne Carter is thought to have preceded Harrison in death. In 1745, he and his "two youngest daughters" (one of which was very likely Hannah) were killed when lightning struck his house. Harrison's will expressed his intent to be buried near his son, Henry, and it broke with the British tradition of primogeniture
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
by leaving large amounts of wealth to all of his children. The six plantations that comprised Berkeley, along with the manor house, equipment, stock, and slaves, became the responsibility of Benjamin Harrison V, the oldest son. Eight other plantations were divided among the remaining sons and his remaining daughters were given cash and slaves.
One source indicates that Harrison's tomb is located on the grounds of the "old Westover Church
Westover Church
Westover Church is a historic church 5 miles west of Charles City off VA 5 in Charles City, Virginia. It was built in 1731 and added to the National Register in 1972....
", but another states he was buried in his family's cemetery.