The Harrisons, James River, and Berkely Plantation

After we helped reenact the first House of Burgesses in Virginia, we enjoyed a shady lunch along the James River and explored one of the beaches, finding lots of treasures!

Then we drove about 30 miles up the James River to explore Berkeley Plantation.

Along the way we passed many other plantation homes, including Sherwood Forest, home of President James Tyler.

Little did I know how that would factor in to our trip to Berkeley Plantation.

1619 – BERKELEY HUNDRED PLANTATION

In 1619, Captain John Woodliff who had survived the starving time of Jamestown, was commissioned to board passengers from Berkely, England to Jamestown, to settle a new colony.

Remembering the starving time, he insisted on only taking laborers and not gentlemen.

On December 4, 1619, they landed at a site near Jamestown, later to be named Berkeley.

The men gave thanks, historically documented as the first British colonial Thanksgiving in America, two years before the pilgrims arrived in Massachusetts.

Three years later, they were massacred by Indians.

1726 – HARRISON FAMILY

After graduating from the College of William and Mary, Benjamin Harrison IV married a daughter of Robert “King” Carter around 1722.

A year later his daughter, Elizabeth, was born, who in adulthood married Peyton Randolph who was speaker of the House of Burgesses in Williamsburg.

Born on land his father purchased through a land patent with the Berkeley Hundred, Benjamin Harrison IV built a Georgian home in 1726 which is considered the oldest three-story brick mansion in Virginia.

Also, around 1726 his son, Benjamin Harrison V was born, who later signed the Declaration of Independence and served as governor of Virginia.

One of his sons, William Henry Harrison, was also born here, later becoming a war hero and then president under the slogan, Tippicanoe and Tyler Too.

His vice-president, John Tyler, owned Sherwood Forest Plantation near Berkeley.

William Henry Harrison’s grandson, Benjamin Harrison, became president in the late 19^th century.

However, Benjamin Harrison VII inherited in 1699 a debt-ridden Berkely Plantation worn out from tobacco which forced him to cede family ownership.

1862 – TAPS

During the Peninsula Campaign of 1862, when Union troops camped on the former Berkeley Plantation, the famous tune Taps was written which quickly spread through the Army of the Potomac and Confederates.

1907 – DRUMMER BOY

In 1907, the land was purchased by a former drummer boy for the northern troops in 1862 who fondly remembered his experiences encamped at Berkeley.

1925 – RESTORATION

When his son, Malcolm Jamieson inherited the property, he restored it so he and his new wife could live on it.

Together through brought many colonial antiques to furnish the mansion.

This was before historic preservation as we know it, and shortly before Rev. Goodwin convinced Mr. Rockefeller to finance the restoration of Williamsburg’s historic area, a short drive away.

Although the original moldings and wood floors are intact, the paint colors are a bit off.

Yet much of the colonial flavor is retained, despite electric table lamps and such.

Eventually the family bequeathed the historic home as a museum for all to enjoy today.

For more photos, check my Flickr set.