Tuckahoe Plantation
Encyclopedia
Tuckahoe, also known as Tuckahoe Plantation, is located on Route 650 near Manakin, Virginia
overlapping both Goochland
and Henrico
counties. It was declared a historic district
and a National Historic Landmark
in 1969.
, wife of Peter Jefferson
. When William Randolph died in 1745, he named Peter as family guardian. The couple moved from Charlottesville
into the house with their two year old son, Thomas Jefferson
. They lived in the home until 1754 and for 7 years young Thomas was tutored with his cousins. The management of the plantation was turned over to Thomas Mann Randolph in 1757. In, 1794 William B. Randolph was born he rightful owned Tuckahoe until after the slavery was abolished. In, the 1860 census it says he had 49 slaves on the plantation.
The house is currently under the care of owner/managers Mr. and Mrs. Addison B. Thompson. The grounds are open for self-guided tours and the house is open for private tours by appointment and may also be rented for private events.
supported by simple wooden posts and is framed by a wooden railing. To either side of the entrance is a pair of windows as well as a central window over the entrance, each with dark shutters. Each two-sashed window contains 9 panes of glass. The gabled roof rests on a simple cornice line with dentil
moldings. A large brick chimney rises from either side of the home.
The grounds around the house include the schoolhouse linked to the education of Thomas Jefferson, a kitchen house, slave quarters, smokehouse, storehouse, stable, and the cemeteries of the Randolph and Wight families.
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...
overlapping both Goochland
Goochland County, Virginia
Goochland County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 21,717. Its county seat is Goochland. It is located in the Richmond-Petersburg region and is a portion of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area ....
and Henrico
Henrico County, Virginia
Henrico is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. As of 2010, Henrico was home to 306,935 people. It is located in the Richmond-Petersburg region and is a portion of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area...
counties. It was declared a historic district
Historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries, historic districts receive legal protection from development....
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 1969.
History
Construction is generally thought to have been begun by Thomas Randolph (of Tuckahoe), however, some believe that it was his son, William Randolph III, who finished the work. That house is the current north wing with additional rooms and sections added over time to form the "H" shaped house today. William Randolph was the cousin of Jane Randolph JeffersonJane Randolph Jefferson
Jane Randolph Jefferson, née Jane Randolph was the wife of Peter Jefferson and the mother of president Thomas Jefferson. Born February 9, 1721 in Shadwell Parish, Tower Hamlets, London, she was the daughter of Isham Randolph and Jane Rogers, and a cousin of Peyton Randolph.There is almost no...
, wife of Peter Jefferson
Peter Jefferson
Peter Jefferson was the father of American President Thomas Jefferson . A surveyor and cartographer, his Fry-Jefferson Map of 1751 accurately depicted the Allegheny Mountains for the first time and showed the route of "The Great Road from the Yadkin River thro Virginia to Philadelphia distant 455...
. When William Randolph died in 1745, he named Peter as family guardian. The couple moved from Charlottesville
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
into the house with their two year old son, Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
. They lived in the home until 1754 and for 7 years young Thomas was tutored with his cousins. The management of the plantation was turned over to Thomas Mann Randolph in 1757. In, 1794 William B. Randolph was born he rightful owned Tuckahoe until after the slavery was abolished. In, the 1860 census it says he had 49 slaves on the plantation.
The house is currently under the care of owner/managers Mr. and Mrs. Addison B. Thompson. The grounds are open for self-guided tours and the house is open for private tours by appointment and may also be rented for private events.
Exterior
Thomas Randolph (of Tuckahoe)The two story wood structure sits in its original spot, amongst verdant landscape and soaring trees. The structure forms an "H" with both wings mirroring the other and connected by a central corridor. The entrance to the house is reached by a flight of stairs and a small stoop. The stoop is covered by a projected pedimentPediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
supported by simple wooden posts and is framed by a wooden railing. To either side of the entrance is a pair of windows as well as a central window over the entrance, each with dark shutters. Each two-sashed window contains 9 panes of glass. The gabled roof rests on a simple cornice line with dentil
Dentil
In classical architecture a dentil is a small block used as a repeating ornament in the bedmould of a cornice.The Roman architect Vitruvius In classical architecture a dentil (from Lat. dens, a tooth) is a small block used as a repeating ornament in the bedmould of a cornice.The Roman architect...
moldings. A large brick chimney rises from either side of the home.
The grounds around the house include the schoolhouse linked to the education of Thomas Jefferson, a kitchen house, slave quarters, smokehouse, storehouse, stable, and the cemeteries of the Randolph and Wight families.
Further reading
- Masson, Kathryn and Brooke, Steven (photographer); Historic Houses of Virginia: Great Plantation Houses, Mansions, and Country Places; Rizzoli International Publications; New York City, New York; 2006
External links
- Tuckahoe Plantation Website
- Tuckahoe, at National Park Service
- James River Plantations, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary
- Tuckahoe, Goochland County, 4 photos at Virginia DHR
- Tuckahoe Plantation, River Road, Richmond vicinity, Manakin vicinity, Goochland County, VA: 8 drawings, 1 data page, at Historic American Building Survey