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Scotchtown (plantation)
Encyclopedia
Scotchtown is a plantation located in Hanover County, Virginia
, that was once owned and used as a residence by Patrick Henry
, revolutionary
and first Governor of Virginia
. It is located in Beaverdam, Virginia
, 10 miles (16.1 km) northwest of Ashland, Virginia
on VA 685. The house is owned and managed by the Preservation Virginia which operates a number of other historic properties across the Commonwealth, including the John Marshall House
, the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse, Bacon's Castle
, and Historic Jamestowne
.
The house, at 93 feet (28.3 m) by 35 feet (10.7 m), is one of the largest 18th century homes to survive in the Americas. In its present configuration it consists of eight substantial rooms on the first floor surrounding a central passage, with a full attic above and English basement
below.
Patrick Henry purchased the house in 1771 and lived there with his wife, Sarah Shelton Henry, and their six children. This was his home during his most influential period, including his famous "Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death!
" speech at St. John's Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia
. It was also his residence when he was elected Governor of Virginia in 1776. His wife Sarah, who suffered from mental illness, died at the site in 1775. Scotchtown remained his home until 1778, when he married his second wife and relocated to the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg.
In the 19th century, the property was owned by the Sheppard/Taylor family. In 1958 it was purchased by Preservation Virginia (formerly known as the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities).
Scotchtown was long believed to have been the girlhood home of Dolley Madison
, wife of president James Madison
, who was a relative of Patrick Henry. However, little evidence beyond Madison's own recollections of the house as a child support this fact, and her recollections may have been memories of visits to the house during her childhood.
The home was owned by the Sheppard-Taylor Family after 1801 until it was given to Preservation Virginia (formerly known as the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities) in 1958. Little is known about the Sheppard-Taylor family, other than the changes they made to the appearance of the house over the generations.
Scotchtown was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1965. The property received a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services
in 1993 to "reexamine its policies, procedures, and the current condition of its collection and structures," including restructuring its programming. It is currently open for visitors seasonally or by appointment.
Hanover County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 86,320 people, 31,121 households, and 24,461 families residing in the county. The population density was 183 people per square mile . There were 32,196 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile...
, that was once owned and used as a residence by Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry was an orator and politician who led the movement for independence in Virginia in the 1770s. A Founding Father, he served as the first and sixth post-colonial Governor of Virginia from 1776 to 1779 and subsequently, from 1784 to 1786...
, revolutionary
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
and first Governor of Virginia
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
. It is located in Beaverdam, Virginia
Beaverdam, Virginia
Beaverdam is a small unincorporated community in Hanover County in the central region of the U.S. state of Virginia. It was located on the Virginia Central Railroad, which later became part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad....
, 10 miles (16.1 km) northwest of Ashland, Virginia
Ashland, Virginia
Originally known as Slash Cottage, Ashland is located on the Old Washington Highway U.S. Route One and the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad, a busy north-south route now owned by CSX Transportation...
on VA 685. The house is owned and managed by the Preservation Virginia which operates a number of other historic properties across the Commonwealth, including the John Marshall House
John Marshall House
The John Marshall House is the home of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall, located in Richmond, Virginia. Marshall was appointed to the court in 1801 by John Adams and served for the rest of his life, writing such influential decisions as Marbury v. Madison and McCulloch v...
, the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse, Bacon's Castle
Bacon's Castle
Bacon's Castle, also variously known as "Allen's Brick House" or the "Arthur Allen House" is located in Surry County, Virginia, USA, and is one of the oldest dateable brick buildings in Virginia....
, and Historic Jamestowne
Historic Jamestowne
Historic Jamestowne is the official name used for promotional purposes for the original site of the 1607 James Fort and the later 17th century city of Jamestown. It is located on the James River at Jamestown, Virginia and operated as a partnership between Preservation Virginia and the U.S...
.
The house, at 93 feet (28.3 m) by 35 feet (10.7 m), is one of the largest 18th century homes to survive in the Americas. In its present configuration it consists of eight substantial rooms on the first floor surrounding a central passage, with a full attic above and English basement
English basement
An English basement is an apartment on the lowest floor of a building, generally a townhouse or brownstone, which is partially below and partially above ground level and which has its own separate entrance from the rest of the building...
below.
History
The Scotchtown property was given as a land grant to Charles Chiswell, a prominent planter and iron mine owner, in 1717. Chiswell built a small house on the property, probably in the 1720s, which was expanded to its present size around 1760. IT was first given the name "Scotch Town" in a 1757 deed of sale. At this time the house was also the location of a store which bought and sold local tobacco.Patrick Henry purchased the house in 1771 and lived there with his wife, Sarah Shelton Henry, and their six children. This was his home during his most influential period, including his famous "Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death!
Give me Liberty, or give me Death!
"Give me Liberty, or Give me Death!" is a quotation attributed to Patrick Henry from a speech he made to the Virginia Convention. It was given on March 23, 1775, at St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia, and is credited with having swung the balance in convincing the Virginia House of Burgesses...
" speech at St. John's Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia
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...
. It was also his residence when he was elected Governor of Virginia in 1776. His wife Sarah, who suffered from mental illness, died at the site in 1775. Scotchtown remained his home until 1778, when he married his second wife and relocated to the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg.
In the 19th century, the property was owned by the Sheppard/Taylor family. In 1958 it was purchased by Preservation Virginia (formerly known as the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities).
Scotchtown was long believed to have been the girlhood home of Dolley Madison
Dolley Madison
Dolley Payne Todd Madison was the spouse of the fourth President of the United States, James Madison, and was First Lady of the United States from 1809 to 1817...
, wife of president James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
, who was a relative of Patrick Henry. However, little evidence beyond Madison's own recollections of the house as a child support this fact, and her recollections may have been memories of visits to the house during her childhood.
The home was owned by the Sheppard-Taylor Family after 1801 until it was given to Preservation Virginia (formerly known as the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities) in 1958. Little is known about the Sheppard-Taylor family, other than the changes they made to the appearance of the house over the generations.
Preservation
The property was sold at auction in 1957 where it was purchased by Preservation Virginia for $17,000. Extensive archaeological work has taken place in the decades following, and a number of restoration projects have restored the house to its late 18th century appearance, including rebuilding outhouses such as the icehouse, kitchen, and law office.Scotchtown was declared 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 1965. The property received a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services
Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is an independent agency of the United States federal government established in 1996. It is the main source of federal support for libraries and museums within the United States, having the mission to "create strong libraries and museums that connect...
in 1993 to "reexamine its policies, procedures, and the current condition of its collection and structures," including restructuring its programming. It is currently open for visitors seasonally or by appointment.
External links
- Scotchtown Website at Preservation Virginia
- Patrick Henry timeline
- Scotchtown - A Place Of Celebration, Grief
- Scotchtown, Hanover County, single photo at Virginia DHR
- Scotchtown, State Route 685 vicinity, Beaverdam, Hanover County, VA: 12 photos, 11 drawings, 6 data pages and supplemental material, at Historic American Building Survey