Sweet Hall

Last updated
Sweet Hall
SWEET HALL.jpg
Sweet Hall, April 1971
USA Virginia location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
LocationS of King William, near King William, Virginia
Coordinates 37°34′12″N76°54′11″W / 37.57000°N 76.90306°W / 37.57000; -76.90306
Area65 acres (26 ha)
Built1720
Architectural stylePre-Georgian
NRHP reference No. 77001490 [1]
VLR No.050-0067
Significant dates
Added to NRHPNovember 7, 1977
Designated VLRFebruary 15, 1977 [2]

Sweet Hall is a historic former plantation house for which the existing location Sweet Hall, Virginia is named. The only surviving house in the county with upper cruck roof framing (once common in rural England but never in what became the United States), it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1977.

Contents

History

In 1655 and 1677, land in King William County (then part of New Kent County now only across the Pamunkey River), was patented on behalf of Thomas Claiborne (1647-1683) the son of powerful merchant and politician William Claiborne (d. 1676) who served as the colony's secretary and sat on the Virginia Governor's Council. Because many county records were destroyed over time, the exact location of that Thomas Claiborne's patent is unknown, but members of the Claiborne family established Romancoke plantation (which later served as the family's main plantation) in that era, and his brother William Claiborne Jr. served in the House of Burgesses. His son (William Claiborne's grandson) Thomas Claiborne (1680-1732) helped found the town of West Point (then known as "Dillaware Town") and resided at Sweet Hall as the century ended and the new century began. By 1720 that Thomas Claiborne lived at Sweet Hall and received legislative approval to operate a ferry between Sweet Hall and "Tank's Queen's Creek" (which the legislature reaffirmed in 1748 as to "Claiborne Gooch's"). [3] His son Thomas Claiborne (1704-1735) moved westward to become clerk of Stafford County, but was buried at Sweet Hall, as was his father. Nathaniel Claiborne (d. 1756) inherited and lived at Sweet Hall, and he and his widow operated the ferry. [4]

Nathaniel Claiborne and his wife had two daughters who married sons of Robert Ruffin. The Ruffin family, likewise one of the First Families of Virginia, had extensive landholdings in many counties and held many political offices. By 1773, Robert Ruffin offered the 400 acre plantation for sale, stating that he had bought it from a trust (possibly foreclosed mortgage) held by Roger Gregory. Apparently, no buyer could be found, for James Ruffin insured the Sweet Hall house in 1801. [5]

Following the depredations of the War of 1812, William George Vidal bought the house and insured it with no deductions for bad repair. However, he committed suicide there, so the property was again advertised for sale in 1829. It was later acquired by Capt. Sterling Lipscombe and his son in law R.T. Puller owned it in 1897. The Palmer family bought the property in 1924 and family members continued to own it as least through its National Register listing in 1977. [6]

Architecture

The 1+12-story, asymmetrical T-shaped brick dwelling is a noteworthy example of pre-Georgian architecture. The front facade is five bays wide and the house is topped by a rare upper cruck, or curved-principal, gable roof with dormers. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathaniel Claiborne</span> American politician

Nathaniel Herbert Claiborne was a nineteenth-century Virginia lawyer and planter, as well as an American politician who served in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly and in the United States House of Representatives (1825-1837).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Varina Farms</span> Historic house in Virginia, United States

Varina Farms, also known as Varina Plantation or Varina Farms Plantation or Varina on the James, is a plantation established in the 17th century on the James River about 10 miles (16 km) south of Richmond, Virginia. An 820-acre (330 ha) property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 as "Varina Plantation". At that time it included two contributing buildings and one other contributing site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elsing Green</span> Historic house in Virginia, United States

Elsing Green Plantation, a National Historic Landmark and wildlife refuge, rests upon nearly 3,000 acres (1,200 ha) along the Pamunkey River in King William County, Virginia, a rural county on the western end of the state's middle peninsula, approximately 33 miles (53 km) northeast of the Richmond. The 18th-century plantation, now owned by the Lafferty family, has been in continuous operation for more than 300 years. In addition to the plantation house, dependency buildings and cultivated land, Elsing Green includes 2,454 acres (993 ha) of surrounding farmland, forest and marsh land. Elsing Green has been on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places since 1969, and received formal National Historic Landmark status in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lower Brandon Plantation</span> Historic house in Virginia, United States

Lower Brandon Plantation is located on the south shore of the James River in present-day Prince George County, Virginia.

Nathaniel West of Poplar Neck was a planter, military officer and politician of the British Colony and Dominion of Virginia who was one of the first two representatives for King William County in the House of Burgesses, and later represented New Kent County in that legislative assembly.

The Edmund Ruffin Plantation, also known as Marlbourne, is a U.S. National Historic Landmark in Hanover County, Virginia, 11 miles (18 km) northeast of Richmond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carter Hall (Millwood, Virginia)</span> Historic house in Virginia, United States

Carter Hall was the Millwood, Virginia, USA estate of Lt. Col. Nathaniel Burwell (1750–1814). It is located in the upper Shenandoah Valley, off Virginia Route 255 northeast of Millwood. The estate includes a grand plantation house, a great lawn, and terraced gardens, and has panoramic views in all directions. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferry Plantation House</span> Historic house in Virginia, United States

Ferry Plantation House, or Old Donation Farm, Ferry Farm, Walke Manor House, is a brick house in the neighborhood of Old Donation Farm in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The site dates back to 1642 when Savill Gaskin started the second ferry service in Hampton Roads to carry passengers on the Lynnhaven River to the nearby county courthouse and to visit plantations along the waterway. A cannon was used to signal the ferry, which had 11 total stops along the river. The first ferry service was started nearby by Adam Thoroughgood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windsor Shades</span> Historic house in Virginia, United States

Windsor Shades is located on the Pamunkey River in Sweet Hall, Virginia, United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Archeological native artifacts found on the property surrounding the house suggest it was the site of Kupkipcok, a Pamunkey village noted on John Smith's 1609 map.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burwell family of Virginia</span>

The Burwells were among the First Families of Virginia in the Colony of Virginia. John Quincy Adams once described the Burwells as typical Virginia aristocrats of their period: forthright, bland, somewhat imperious and politically simplistic by Adams' standards. In 1713, so many Burwells had intermarried with the Virginia political elite that Governor Spotswood complained that " the greater part of the present Council are related to the Family of Burwells...there will be no less than seven so near related that they will go off the Bench whenever a Cause of the Burwells come to be tried."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathaniel Burwell</span> American politician

Nathaniel Burwell was an American politician and plantation owner. Perhaps the most distinguished of five men of that name to serve in the Virginia General Assembly before the American Civil War, this Nathaniel Burwell won election to the Virginia House of Delegates as well as the Virginia Ratifying Convention, and also served as the county lieutenant for the James City County militia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayfield Cottage</span> Historic house in Virginia, United States

Mayfield Cottage is a historic plantation house located near the grounds of Central State Hospital near Petersburg, Dinwiddie County, Virginia. Believed to be the oldest existing brick house in Dinwiddie County, it was built around 1750 and the residence of Robert Ruffin until 1769, when he moved to King William County. From 1885, the property was used by the hospital for its headquarters. The house remained part of the hospital complex until 1969. It was moved from its original site about .5 miles (0.80 km) to the southeast of the present site in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Providence Plantation and Farm</span> Historic house in Virginia, United States

Providence Plantation and Farm, also known as Fogg House and Farm, is a historic plantation house located near Newtown in King and Queen County, Virginia. The two story, 3-bay Federal style brick main house was built about 1826, and expanded circa 1840. Also on the privately-held property, demonstrating the changes over time as the plantation which once encompassed about 1299 acres shrunk to the listed 6.47 acres, are the contributing two-story Reconstruction-era carriage house, and Great Depression-era hen laying house, two-story sweet potato shed, and mechanic's shop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berry Hill (Berry Hill, Virginia)</span> Historic house in Virginia, United States

Berry Hill is or was a historic home and farm complex located near Danville, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. However, may be in the process of being delisted in connection with industrial development plans by Mega Site, the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aberdeen (Disputanta, Virginia)</span> Historic house in Virginia, United States

Aberdeen is a historic plantation house located several miles north of Disputanta, Prince George County, Virginia. It was built sometime between 1790 and 1810, by Thomas Cocke. In 1790 Thomas inherited a 1,685-acre portion of his father's estate, Bonnacord, which he named "Aberdeen." Thomas's brother, John P. Cocke, inherited the remainder of Bonnacord. Thomas married Sarah Colley, daughter of Nathaniel and Martha Batte Colley of Tar Bay Plantation located about five miles west of Bonnacord.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bushfield (Mount Holly, Virginia)</span> Historic house in Virginia, United States

Bushfield, also known as Bushfield Manor, is a historic 2+12-story Flemish bond, 18th century brick Colonial Revival mansion located in Mount Holly, Westmoreland County, Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boldrup Plantation Archeological Site</span> Archaeological site in Virginia, United States

Boldrup Plantation Archeological Site is a historic archaeological site located at Newport News, Virginia. A modern residential development has succeeded the 17th-century plantation. Three successive colonial governors lived at Boldrup : John Harvey, Samuel Stephens (1629-1669) and William Berkeley (1605-1677). The last owned it through his wife, Frances Culpeper Berkeley, who with her new husband sold it to another member of the Virginia Governor's Council William Cole. Although it remained in the Cole family for another two generations, his namesake grandson William Cole III, advertised it for sale in 1776 and again in 1782, by which time he was living at Buckland plantation in Charles City County, which he had also inherited. Soon thereafter, Boldrup was owned by Judge Richard Cary, who was married to Mary Cole, daughter of William Cole Jr. and lived at Peartree Hall nearby, and at his death bequeathed it to his son Miles Cary. The Cary family owned several nearby plantations in Warwick and adjoining counties, including Richneck, Marshfield and Windmill Point, but never resided at Boldrup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warner Hall</span> Historic house in Virginia, United States

Warner Hall is a historic plantation in Gloucester County, Virginia, United States. Augustine Warner, progenitor of many prominent First Families of Virginia, and great-great-grandfather of President George Washington established the plantation in 1642 after receiving a royal land grant, and would serve in the House of Burgesses, as would many later owners. While Augustine Warner Jr. operated the plantation and served as speaker of the House of Burgesses, rebels associated with Bacon's Rebellion sacked and looted it, as well as made it their headquarters after they sacked Jamestown. Warner sought compensation for goods valued at £845, or the equivalent of what 40 slaves or servants would produce in a year, which led to litigation with fellow burgess William Byrd, whom Warner blamed for supporting Bacon but who portrayed himself as a fellow victim. Warner had no male heirs, although his daughter Mildred would become the grandmother of George Washington, and his daughter Elizabeth married John Lewis, who assumed the house and surrounding plantation, as well as served in the House of Burgesses, as did their descendants until circa 1820. The house burned in 1840, and the two surviving outbuildings were joined circa 1900 to become a Colonial Revival mansion. It is currently operated as a country inn. The cemetery on the property, which includes graves of the Warner and Lewis families, has been maintained by the Association for Preservation of Virginia Antiquities since 1903.

References

  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  3. NRIS section 8, cont. sheet 3
  4. NRIS cont. sheet 3 (p. 6 of 9)
  5. NRIS pp. 6-7 of 9
  6. NRIS p. 7 of 9
  7. Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission staff (n.d.). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Sweet Hall". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. and Accompanying photo