Hayes Plantation
Encyclopedia
Hayes Plantation, also known as Hayes Farm, is a historic plantation near Edenton, North Carolina
that belonged to Samuel Johnston
(1733–1816), who served as Governor of North Carolina
from 1787 to 1789. Johnston become one of the state's first two United States Senators
, serving from 1789 until 1793, and served later as a judge until retiring in 1803. Samuel Johnston died in 1816 at "the Hermitage," his home near Williamston in Martin County, N.C. The residence currently known as Hayes was completed by his son, James C. Johnston, a year after Samuel's death. There are numerous other structures on the property, some predating the Hayes house itself, including the Hayes Gatehouse, which James Johnston lived in prior to the construction of the Hayes house. James C. Johnston died a bachelor and left Hayes to his "friend and advisor" Edward Wood of Greenfield Plantation. Mr. Wood and his family moved to Hayes and members of the Wood family live there today. It is a working farm with numerous crops, including cotton, tobacco, peanuts and various grains. The modern day Wood family has hosted many functions and gatherings at the home including the North Carolina Supreme Court and the North Carolina House of Representatives, among many others.
The main house, considered by architectural scholars to be "one of the South's most accomplished examples of a five-part palladian villa
," was designed by English-born architect, William Nichols, Sr.
, famous for his early Neoclassical
-style buildings in the American South
and for designing statehouses for three Southern states. Construction of the house began in 1814, but was not completed until 1817. The central block of the house is connected to its dependencies by curved hyphens
. A broad belvedere
crowns the roof of the central block. The plantation house is privately owned, but was designated a National Historic Landmark
on November 7, 1973 and added to the National Register of Historic Places
on February 26, 1974.
It is located east of Edenton, half a mile past Johnston's bridge on Southside Road.
Just outside the home is a small graveyard called Johnston's cemetery. Many notable figures are buried here such as Penelope Barker, leader of the Edenton Tea Party, James Iredell, an associate justice to the Supreme Court, Samuel Johnston, Governor of NC, and James Wilson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Wilson's remains were moved in 1906 to Christ Church Philadelphia by the state of Pennsylvania.
In 2007, John G. Zehmer published a book on the plantation called, "Hayes: The Plantation, Its People, and Their Papers". The book consists of many historic documents, photos, and memories from various members of the Wood family and those who know it best.
Edenton, North Carolina
Edenton is a town in Chowan County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,966 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Chowan County. Edenton is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region. In recent years Edenton has become a popular retirement location and a destination for...
that belonged to Samuel Johnston
Samuel Johnston
Samuel Johnston was an American planter, lawyer, and statesman from Chowan County, North Carolina. He represented North Carolina in both the Continental Congress and the United States Senate, and was the sixth Governor of North Carolina.-Early Life and Revolutionary Politics:Johnston was born in...
(1733–1816), who served as Governor of North Carolina
Governor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
from 1787 to 1789. Johnston become one of the state's first two United States Senators
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, serving from 1789 until 1793, and served later as a judge until retiring in 1803. Samuel Johnston died in 1816 at "the Hermitage," his home near Williamston in Martin County, N.C. The residence currently known as Hayes was completed by his son, James C. Johnston, a year after Samuel's death. There are numerous other structures on the property, some predating the Hayes house itself, including the Hayes Gatehouse, which James Johnston lived in prior to the construction of the Hayes house. James C. Johnston died a bachelor and left Hayes to his "friend and advisor" Edward Wood of Greenfield Plantation. Mr. Wood and his family moved to Hayes and members of the Wood family live there today. It is a working farm with numerous crops, including cotton, tobacco, peanuts and various grains. The modern day Wood family has hosted many functions and gatherings at the home including the North Carolina Supreme Court and the North Carolina House of Representatives, among many others.
The main house, considered by architectural scholars to be "one of the South's most accomplished examples of a five-part palladian villa
Palladian architecture
Palladian architecture is a European style of architecture derived from the designs of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio . The term "Palladian" normally refers to buildings in a style inspired by Palladio's own work; that which is recognised as Palladian architecture today is an evolution of...
," was designed by English-born architect, William Nichols, Sr.
William Nichols (architect)
William Nichols, Sr. was an English-born architect who emigrated to the United States and became most famous for his early Neoclassical-style buildings in the American South...
, famous for his early Neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
-style buildings in the American South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
and for designing statehouses for three Southern states. Construction of the house began in 1814, but was not completed until 1817. The central block of the house is connected to its dependencies by curved hyphens
Hyphen (architecture)
In architecture, a hyphen is a connecting link between two larger building elements. It is typically found in Georgian style architecture, where the hyphens form connections between a large central house and end pavilions in the Georgian five-part house, which was in turn derived from Palladian...
. A broad belvedere
Belvedere (structure)
Belvedere is an architectural term adopted from Italian , which refers to any architectural structure sited to take advantage of such a view. A belvedere may be built in the upper part of a building so as to command a fine view...
crowns the roof of the central block. The plantation house is privately owned, but was designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
on November 7, 1973 and added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on February 26, 1974.
It is located east of Edenton, half a mile past Johnston's bridge on Southside Road.
Just outside the home is a small graveyard called Johnston's cemetery. Many notable figures are buried here such as Penelope Barker, leader of the Edenton Tea Party, James Iredell, an associate justice to the Supreme Court, Samuel Johnston, Governor of NC, and James Wilson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Wilson's remains were moved in 1906 to Christ Church Philadelphia by the state of Pennsylvania.
In 2007, John G. Zehmer published a book on the plantation called, "Hayes: The Plantation, Its People, and Their Papers". The book consists of many historic documents, photos, and memories from various members of the Wood family and those who know it best.