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Monmouth (Natchez, Mississippi)
Encyclopedia
Monmouth Plantation is a historic plantation
on a 30 acres (12.1 ha) lot built in 1818 by John Hankinson and inhabited by John A. Quitman
, a former Governor of Mississippi and well known figure in the Mexican-American War. It was declared a Mississippi Landmark in 1986 and a National Historic Landmark
in 1988.
in Natchez, built Monmouth in 1818, during the depression that followed the War of 1812
. During a yellow fever
outbreak in the city shortly thereafter, Hankinson and his wife caught the disease and died. In 1825, the house was sold at a public auction
to Calvin Smith, who one year later sold the property to John Anthony Quitman, the future Governor of Mississippi. Quitman stayed in the house until his death in 1858 and became well known for volunteering in the movement for Texan independence
in 1835 and for fighting in the Mexican-American War.
When Quitman purchased the plantation, the house had a cellar under half of it, a detached brick kitchen behind it, a garden house, and several outhouses. Originally a Federal style
house, the house was extensively renovated by Quitman in 1853 in Greek Revival style
. The original brick was covered by stucco, and the portico
was added to the front, along with the four square columns supporting it. Quitman also added the rear gallery and southeast wing of the house, along with a second story for the detached kitchen.
After Quitman died at the plantation on July 17, 1858, and his wife died a year later, their three daughters married and remained at the plantation. In 1862 when Natchez was attacked by the Union army
during the American Civil War
, most of the slaves escaped, and some joined the Union forces. Most of Quitman's original possessions were either stolen in 1863, when the house was occupied by Union soldiers, or sold by Quitman's daughters in 1865 due to financial difficulty. In 1914 the last surviving daughter of John Quitman died, leaving the house to her nieces, who later sold it in 1924.
Monmouth Plantation Timeline
1818 - Monmouth is built in 1818, by Natchez postmaster, John Hankinson.
1824 - John A. Quitman purchases Monmouth as home for his wife Eliza Turner and newborn daughter, Louisa.
1833 – Cholera claims Quitman’s infant sons, John and Edward. An enslaved woman at Monmouth named Aunt Dicey is put into service as a nursemaid to Eliza and John Quitman’s children.
1834 – Quitman purchases fifty slaves. A house slave at Monmouth name Harry Nichols is put into service as personal valet to John Quitman.
1836 - Harry Nichols travels with Quitman to Texas. Quitman participates in Texas Independence over Mexico.
1842 – John and Eliza’s family grows to seven children. Aunt Dicey is “banished” to Springfield Plantation by Eliza for “misbehaving”.
1846 – John Quitman serves as a victorious general in the war with Mexico he is assisted by “faithful” Harry Nichols. Quitman procures a daguerreotype of Harry.
1850 – John Quitman becomes Governor of Mississippi. A Monmouth house slave named Belle Vessels assists at the “White House of Mississippi”.
1856 – Aunt Dicey is allowed back at Monmouth. Viola Vessels, a Monmouth house slave, is bridesmaid at the wedding of enslaved couple at neighboring Melrose, a suburban estate owned by Quitman’s law partner, John McMurran. Viola is married the following year to Marcellus Brannick, a house slave at Melrose.
1858 – Quitman dies at Monmouth. His wife Eliza dies at Monmouth one year later. Daughters Annie Rosalie, J. Antonia, and Louisa marry and remain at Monmouth.
1861 – The state of Mississippi secedes from the Union. The Quitman daughters see their husbands off to war. Monmouth slaves are asking, “how’s master”?
1862 – Natchez surrenders to the Union Army. Monmouth house slaves begin to run off, including Monmouth house slaves Charles Vessels, Richard Austin and Isaac, all of whom join the Union Army.
1863 – Monmouth is occupied by Union Soldiers whereupon extensive looting occurs. Harry Nichols joins the Union Army, and then returns to Monmouth “demanding wages”. Quitman daughters begin paying wages to eight former house slaves. Aunt Dicey and Old Sarah are compensated in their old age.
1865 – The only staff left at Monmouth is “Fred and his family along with Harry and his wife”. Surviving Quitman daughters sell of f Monmouth’s household possessions to former Monmouth enslaved to supplement their income.
1875 – A Lease/Lien agreement is signed with John Williams, giving the Quitman daughters a lien on any cotton grown on Monmouth premises for the payment of rent.
1887 – John Quitman’s granddaughters, Eva C. Lovell and Alice Lovell, move back to Natchez and take up residence at Monmouth. Viola Vessels Brannick’s daughters, Corinne and Hester, childhood companions to Evan, return to Monmouth as paid staff.
1902 – Belle Vessles, a former house slave to Governor Quitman at the “White House of Mississippi”, lives at the edge of Monmouth where she and her husband rent Monmouth land for crops. One year later Quitman’s daughter, Annie Rosalie Quitman Duncan, sell a half acre of Monmouth to Viola Brannick (a widow) for the sum of $200.
1912 – Corrine Scott “a colored woman” who grew up at Monmouth purchases from Rose Duncan one-half acre of Monmouth property as “her residence for the sum of $100”. Former house slave, Charles Vessels also purchases a portion of Monmouth property.
1914 – Annie Rosalie Quitman Duncan, the last surviving child of John and Eliza Quitman, dies at Monmouth, leaving Monmouth to her nieces, Eva Lovell and Alice Lovell. Descendents of Monmouth enslaved and staff, Corinne Scott, Frank Tolles, Viola Brannick, and Kitty Austin are listed as beneficiaries in “Aunt Rose’s” will.
1924 – Monmouth passes from the hands of Quitman descendents when it is sold to Annie Gwen. Corrina (Corinne) Scott sells her portion of Monmouth to Mamie Davis for $500.
1978 - Ronald and Lani Riches purchase and begin restoration of Monmouth after decades of neglect.
, purchased the property in 1978 and planned to restore it to its original condition. The restoration of the house took three years and restored the use of the plantation's two gasoliers and two gas sconces
along with the original brick kitchen. In 1982, after archaeological research determined the location of two small houses used as slave quarters, the buildings were reconstructed on the original sites. Though most of John Quitman's original furnishings had been lost, the house still contained a few pieces such as a sofa, a carved settee, and several chairs. The Riches searched for other furniture and memorabilia from Quitman, and they were able to recover his desk, two four-poster beds, and the Quitman family bible
. Other memorabilia now include the gold sword presented to Quitman by James K. Polk
and the United States Congress
for his services in the Mexican-American War, as well as the red handkerchief Quitman used to rally his troops.
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
on a 30 acres (12.1 ha) lot built in 1818 by John Hankinson and inhabited by John A. Quitman
John A. Quitman
John Anthony Quitman was an American politician and soldier. He served as Governor of Mississippi from 1835 to 1836 as a Whig and again from 1850 to 1851 as a Democrat and one of the leading Fire-Eaters.-Early life:John A. Quitman studied Classics at Hartwick Seminary, graduating in 1816...
, a former Governor of Mississippi and well known figure in the Mexican-American War. It was declared a Mississippi Landmark in 1986 and 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...
in 1988.
History
John Hankinson, a postmasterPostmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
in Natchez, built Monmouth in 1818, during the depression that followed the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. During a yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
outbreak in the city shortly thereafter, Hankinson and his wife caught the disease and died. In 1825, the house was sold at a public auction
Public auction
A public auction is an auction held on behalf of a government in which the property to be auctioned is either property owned by the government, or property which is sold under the authority of a court of law or a government agency with similar authority....
to Calvin Smith, who one year later sold the property to John Anthony Quitman, the future Governor of Mississippi. Quitman stayed in the house until his death in 1858 and became well known for volunteering in the movement for Texan independence
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
in 1835 and for fighting in the Mexican-American War.
When Quitman purchased the plantation, the house had a cellar under half of it, a detached brick kitchen behind it, a garden house, and several outhouses. Originally a Federal style
Federal architecture
Federal-style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the United States between c. 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815. This style shares its name with its era, the Federal Period. The name Federal style is also used in association with furniture design...
house, the house was extensively renovated by Quitman in 1853 in Greek Revival style
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
. The original brick was covered by stucco, and the portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
was added to the front, along with the four square columns supporting it. Quitman also added the rear gallery and southeast wing of the house, along with a second story for the detached kitchen.
After Quitman died at the plantation on July 17, 1858, and his wife died a year later, their three daughters married and remained at the plantation. In 1862 when Natchez was attacked by the Union army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, most of the slaves escaped, and some joined the Union forces. Most of Quitman's original possessions were either stolen in 1863, when the house was occupied by Union soldiers, or sold by Quitman's daughters in 1865 due to financial difficulty. In 1914 the last surviving daughter of John Quitman died, leaving the house to her nieces, who later sold it in 1924.
Monmouth Plantation Timeline
1818 - Monmouth is built in 1818, by Natchez postmaster, John Hankinson.
1824 - John A. Quitman purchases Monmouth as home for his wife Eliza Turner and newborn daughter, Louisa.
1833 – Cholera claims Quitman’s infant sons, John and Edward. An enslaved woman at Monmouth named Aunt Dicey is put into service as a nursemaid to Eliza and John Quitman’s children.
1834 – Quitman purchases fifty slaves. A house slave at Monmouth name Harry Nichols is put into service as personal valet to John Quitman.
1836 - Harry Nichols travels with Quitman to Texas. Quitman participates in Texas Independence over Mexico.
1842 – John and Eliza’s family grows to seven children. Aunt Dicey is “banished” to Springfield Plantation by Eliza for “misbehaving”.
1846 – John Quitman serves as a victorious general in the war with Mexico he is assisted by “faithful” Harry Nichols. Quitman procures a daguerreotype of Harry.
1850 – John Quitman becomes Governor of Mississippi. A Monmouth house slave named Belle Vessels assists at the “White House of Mississippi”.
1856 – Aunt Dicey is allowed back at Monmouth. Viola Vessels, a Monmouth house slave, is bridesmaid at the wedding of enslaved couple at neighboring Melrose, a suburban estate owned by Quitman’s law partner, John McMurran. Viola is married the following year to Marcellus Brannick, a house slave at Melrose.
1858 – Quitman dies at Monmouth. His wife Eliza dies at Monmouth one year later. Daughters Annie Rosalie, J. Antonia, and Louisa marry and remain at Monmouth.
1861 – The state of Mississippi secedes from the Union. The Quitman daughters see their husbands off to war. Monmouth slaves are asking, “how’s master”?
1862 – Natchez surrenders to the Union Army. Monmouth house slaves begin to run off, including Monmouth house slaves Charles Vessels, Richard Austin and Isaac, all of whom join the Union Army.
1863 – Monmouth is occupied by Union Soldiers whereupon extensive looting occurs. Harry Nichols joins the Union Army, and then returns to Monmouth “demanding wages”. Quitman daughters begin paying wages to eight former house slaves. Aunt Dicey and Old Sarah are compensated in their old age.
1865 – The only staff left at Monmouth is “Fred and his family along with Harry and his wife”. Surviving Quitman daughters sell of f Monmouth’s household possessions to former Monmouth enslaved to supplement their income.
1875 – A Lease/Lien agreement is signed with John Williams, giving the Quitman daughters a lien on any cotton grown on Monmouth premises for the payment of rent.
1887 – John Quitman’s granddaughters, Eva C. Lovell and Alice Lovell, move back to Natchez and take up residence at Monmouth. Viola Vessels Brannick’s daughters, Corinne and Hester, childhood companions to Evan, return to Monmouth as paid staff.
1902 – Belle Vessles, a former house slave to Governor Quitman at the “White House of Mississippi”, lives at the edge of Monmouth where she and her husband rent Monmouth land for crops. One year later Quitman’s daughter, Annie Rosalie Quitman Duncan, sell a half acre of Monmouth to Viola Brannick (a widow) for the sum of $200.
1912 – Corrine Scott “a colored woman” who grew up at Monmouth purchases from Rose Duncan one-half acre of Monmouth property as “her residence for the sum of $100”. Former house slave, Charles Vessels also purchases a portion of Monmouth property.
1914 – Annie Rosalie Quitman Duncan, the last surviving child of John and Eliza Quitman, dies at Monmouth, leaving Monmouth to her nieces, Eva Lovell and Alice Lovell. Descendents of Monmouth enslaved and staff, Corinne Scott, Frank Tolles, Viola Brannick, and Kitty Austin are listed as beneficiaries in “Aunt Rose’s” will.
1924 – Monmouth passes from the hands of Quitman descendents when it is sold to Annie Gwen. Corrina (Corinne) Scott sells her portion of Monmouth to Mamie Davis for $500.
1978 - Ronald and Lani Riches purchase and begin restoration of Monmouth after decades of neglect.
Restoration
After several changes of ownership, Mr. and Mrs. Ron Riches of Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, purchased the property in 1978 and planned to restore it to its original condition. The restoration of the house took three years and restored the use of the plantation's two gasoliers and two gas sconces
Sconce (light fixture)
A sconce is a type of light fixture affixed to a wall in such a way that it uses only the wall for support, and the light is usually directed upwards. It does not have a base on the ground...
along with the original brick kitchen. In 1982, after archaeological research determined the location of two small houses used as slave quarters, the buildings were reconstructed on the original sites. Though most of John Quitman's original furnishings had been lost, the house still contained a few pieces such as a sofa, a carved settee, and several chairs. The Riches searched for other furniture and memorabilia from Quitman, and they were able to recover his desk, two four-poster beds, and the Quitman family bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
. Other memorabilia now include the gold sword presented to Quitman by James K. Polk
James K. Polk
James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee...
and the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
for his services in the Mexican-American War, as well as the red handkerchief Quitman used to rally his troops.