Westover Plantation
Encyclopedia
Westover Plantation is located on the north bank of the James River
in Charles City County, Virginia
. It is located south of State Route 5, a scenic byway which runs between the independent cities of Richmond
and Williamsburg
. It is a US National Historic Landmark
.
Sir John Pawlett, by deeds of lease and release
, demise
d most of Westover Plantation in 1665 to Theodorick Bland of Westover for 170L. Bland lived on the property until his death in 1671 and was buried in the chancel
of the original Westover Church
which he helped build. His eldest son, Theodorick, inherited the land and joined with his brother, Richard
, in its ownership. The brothers eventually conveyed
1,200 acres of the property to William Byrd I
in 1688 for 300L and 10,000 pounds of tobacco and cask.
It is notable for its 18th century and later history, when the mansion, Westover Plantation, was built in the Georgian style. It was considered the seat of the William Byrd
family in Virginia. William Byrd II
, the founder of Richmond
, was thought to have built the mansion circa 1730. This date was part of the 1960 designation of the house as a National Historic Landmark. However, recent dendrochronologic
testing on boards and planks in the house showed that they dated to the 1750s. The house was thus probably built and first occupied by William Byrd III
, not his father. The revised construction date has been recognized by the National Park Service
.
The house is noteworthy for its secret passage
s, symmetry and balance of proportions, magnificent gardens, and architectural
details. The grounds and garden are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, but the house is not open to the public.
Like the other plantations along the James River, Westover was first devoted to the cultivation of tobacco, the major commodity
of colonial Tidewater Virginia. The Byrd family depended on the labor of hundreds of enslaved
Africans, as tobacco was a labor-intensive crop. The original grounds would have included slave quarters, and slaves would have served also as domestic servants and skilled artisans of many types. As tobacco cultivation exhausted the soil, in the nineteenth century planters
shifted to mixed crops.
During the American Civil War
, Westover was used as headquarters of the Union
Fifth Corps. The site was damaged by Hurricane Isabel
in 2003. Ten feet of riverbank, a 250-year-old road, and a 150-year-old poplar from the south lawn were lost to the river during the storm.
James River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
in 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...
. It is located south of State Route 5, a scenic byway which runs between the independent cities of Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
and Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
. It is a US 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...
.
Sir John Pawlett, by deeds of lease and release
Lease and release
Lease and release is a temporary transfer of title to real estate under real property law. Lease and release was "a mode of conveyance of freehold estates, formerly common in England and in New York, its place is now supplied by a simple deed of grant...
, demise
Demise
Demise, in its original meaning, is an Anglo-Norman legal term for a transfer of an estate, especially by lease...
d most of Westover Plantation in 1665 to Theodorick Bland of Westover for 170L. Bland lived on the property until his death in 1671 and was buried in the chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
of the original 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....
which he helped build. His eldest son, Theodorick, inherited the land and joined with his brother, Richard
Richard Bland (burgess)
Richard Bland , sometimes known as Richard Bland of Jordan's Point, was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, the father of Richard Bland, the son of Theodorick Bland of Westover, and the grandson of Richard Bennett, an English Governor of the Colony of Virginia...
, in its ownership. The brothers eventually conveyed
Conveyancing
In law, conveyancing is the transfer of legal title of property from one person to another, or the granting of an encumbrance such as a mortgage or a lien....
1,200 acres of the property to William Byrd I
William Byrd I
William Byrd I was a native of Shadwell, London, England. His father, John Byrd was a London goldsmith with ancestral roots in Cheshire, England....
in 1688 for 300L and 10,000 pounds of tobacco and cask.
It is notable for its 18th century and later history, when the mansion, Westover Plantation, was built in the Georgian style. It was considered the seat of the William Byrd
William Byrd I
William Byrd I was a native of Shadwell, London, England. His father, John Byrd was a London goldsmith with ancestral roots in Cheshire, England....
family in Virginia. 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:...
, the founder of Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, was thought to have built the mansion circa 1730. This date was part of the 1960 designation of the house as a National Historic Landmark. However, recent dendrochronologic
Dendrochronology
Dendrochronology or tree-ring dating is the scientific method of dating based on the analysis of patterns of tree-rings. Dendrochronology can date the time at which tree rings were formed, in many types of wood, to the exact calendar year...
testing on boards and planks in the house showed that they dated to the 1750s. The house was thus probably built and first occupied by William Byrd III
William Byrd III
William Byrd III was the son of William Byrd II and the grandson of William Byrd I. He inherited his family's land in Virginia and continued their planter prestige as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses.He chose to fight in the French and Indian War rather than spend much time in Richmond...
, not his father. The revised construction date has been recognized by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
.
The house is noteworthy for its secret passage
Secret passage
Secret passages, also commonly referred to as hidden passages or secret tunnels, are hidden routes used for stealthy travel. Such passageways are sometimes inside buildings leading to secret rooms. Others allow occupants to enter or exit buildings without being seen...
s, symmetry and balance of proportions, magnificent gardens, and architectural
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
details. The grounds and garden are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, but the house is not open to the public.
Like the other plantations along the James River, Westover was first devoted to the cultivation of tobacco, the major commodity
Commodity
In economics, a commodity is the generic term for any marketable item produced to satisfy wants or needs. Economic commodities comprise goods and services....
of colonial Tidewater Virginia. The Byrd family depended on the labor of hundreds of enslaved
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
Africans, as tobacco was a labor-intensive crop. The original grounds would have included slave quarters, and slaves would have served also as domestic servants and skilled artisans of many types. As tobacco cultivation exhausted the soil, in the nineteenth century planters
Planters
Planters is an American snack food company, a division of Kraft Foods, best known for its processed nuts and for the Mr. Peanut icon that symbolizes them. Mr. Peanut was created by grade schooler Antonio Gentile for a 1916 contest to design the company's brand icon...
shifted to mixed crops.
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...
, Westover was used as headquarters of the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
Fifth Corps. The site was damaged by Hurricane Isabel
Hurricane Isabel
Hurricane Isabel was the costliest and deadliest hurricane in the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season. The ninth named storm, fifth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the season, Isabel formed near the Cape Verde Islands from a tropical wave on September 6 in the tropical Atlantic Ocean...
in 2003. Ten feet of riverbank, a 250-year-old road, and a 150-year-old poplar from the south lawn were lost to the river during the storm.
External links
- "Westover", James River Plantations, National Park Service
- "Westover", Virginia's James River Plantations
- Listing in National Historic Landmarks website
- Student account of a visit to Westover, Journals, College of William and Mary