Berkeley Plantation
Berkeley Plantation is the most famous of all Virginia Plantations. Located in Charles City overlooking the James River it is still a working plantation, today . It is rich in history beginning in 1619. The main crop used to be tobacco but, in order to make a profit the switch was made to soy beans and corn. They use about 500 acres. The first Thanksgiving was celebrated here in 1619. It continues to be reenacted as well as the most historical events such as the laying of the wreaths, annual commemoration honoring Benjamin Harrison V, one of seven Virginia signers of the Declaration of Independence and 18th century owner of Berkeley Plantation.
Berkeley was home to eight generations of the Harrison family, which includes one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Harrison, and two presidents of the United States, Harrison’s son, William Henry Harrison, and great-grandson, Benjamin Harrison. During the Civil War, the plantation was used as a staging ground for 140,000 Union soldiers under Gen. George McClellan. And Taps was composed here in 1862.
Berkeley became the Jamieson family home in 1907 when Jamieson’s grandfather, John, purchased the property. John Jamieson had been a drummer boy with McClellan’s army during the Civil War when he camped on the land.
Jamieson’s grandfather made his fortune up north after the Civil War. He and his family owned a fleet of tugboats and went into the dock-building business. He originally purchased Berkeley for the vast timber it had then. Jamieson’s father, also named Malcolm, spent many summers camping on the estate which was in total disarray after 75 years of neglect. He fell in love with the place despite its squalid state. The beautiful main house, built in 1726, was falling apart and being used to store grain.
When Jamieson’s grandfather died in 1927, his son requested Berkeley Plantation as his portion of the family inheritance. “My dad’s relatives told him he was crazy,” recalls Jamieson.
In 1933, Jamieson’s father married Grace Eggleston. The young couple settled on the estate and began to restore the home and grounds. It was a lifelong project. The couple lived on the estate until their deaths in the late 1990s. They financed their project through the crops. They never took money from the state or federal government. It was a love they shared. Jameison’s son talks of his memories on the James River spending afternoons fishing with his Dad. There are only 10 maybe 20 plantations still family run. The Jamieson’s own it still ,today. Both children still reside there and Mac was married there last October. Enjoy the 1726 mansion, an architectural gem with exceptional antiques. Five terraced gardens leading from the house to the James River were dug by hand before the Revolutionary War. Flowers bloom Spring through Fall. Many hundred-year old trees grace the restored boxwood garden offering breathtaking vistas of the James River.
On the adjacent farmland, sheep graze lazily in the distant rolling hills along the river on this nearly 1000-acre plantation. Miles of old fashioned gravel roads meander through field and forest, pastures, ponds and river. Wildlife abounds in this delightful, peaceful setting. Wait for dusk to enjoy the herds of deer.
A small magical woodland glade is nestled in the trees beside an expansive glimpse of the James River and rolling fields. Magnificent sunsets fall over the James River shore. Linger a while at the river’s edge and enjoy the gentle lapping couple lived on the estate until their deaths in the late 1990s. They financed their project through the crops. They never took money from the state or federal government. It was a love they shared. Jameison’s son talks of his memories on the James River spending afternoons fishing with his Dad. There are only 10 maybe 20 plantations still family run. The Jamieson’s own it still ,today. Both children still reside there and Mac was married there last October. Enjoy the 1726 mansion, an architectural gem with exceptional antiques. Five terraced gardens leading from the house to the James River were dug by hand before the Revolutionary War. Flowers bloom Spring through Fall. Many hundred-year old trees grace the restored boxwood garden offering breathtaking vistas of the James River.
On the adjacent farmland, sheep graze lazily in the distant rolling hills along the river on this nearly 1000-acre plantation. Miles of old fashioned gravel roads meander through field and forest, pastures, ponds and river. Wildlife abounds in this delightful, peaceful setting. Wait for dusk to enjoy the herds of deer.
A small magical woodland glade is nestled in the trees beside an expansive glimpse of the James River and rolling fields. Magnificent sunsets fall over the James River shore. Linger a while at the river’s edge and enjoy the gentle lapping couple lived on the estate until their deaths in the late 1990s. They financed their project through the crops. They never took money from the state or federal government. It was a love they shared. Jameison’s son talks of his memories on the James River spending afternoons fishing with his Dad. There are only 10 maybe 20 plantations still family run. The Jamieson’s own it still ,today. Both children still reside there and Mac was married there last October. Enjoy the 1726 mansion, an architectural gem with exceptional antiques. Five terraced gardens leading from the house to the James River were dug by hand before the Revolutionary War. Flowers bloom Spring through Fall. Many hundred-year old trees grace the restored boxwood garden offering breathtaking vistas of the James River.
On the adjacent farmland, sheep graze lazily in the distant rolling hills along the river on this nearly 1000-acre plantation. Miles of old fashioned gravel roads meander through field and forest, pastures, ponds and river. Wildlife abounds in this delightful, peaceful setting. Wait for dusk to enjoy the herds of deer.
A small magical woodland glade is nestled in the trees beside an expansive glimpse of the James River and rolling fields. Magnificent sunsets fall over the James River shore. Linger a while at the river’s edge and enjoy the gentle lappingwater and soft breezes. Visit the Berkeley Plantation and http://virginiatouristsguide.com/index.asp for all your vacation needs.
Virginia Tourists Guide - Charles City, Virginia
Berkeley was home to eight generations of the Harrison family, which includes one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Harrison, and two presidents of the United States, Harrison’s son, William Henry Harrison, and great-grandson, Benjamin Harrison. During the Civil War, the plantation was used as a staging ground for 140,000 Union soldiers under Gen. George McClellan. And Taps was composed here in 1862.
Berkeley became the Jamieson family home in 1907 when Jamieson’s grandfather, John, purchased the property. John Jamieson had been a drummer boy with McClellan’s army during the Civil War when he camped on the land.
Jamieson’s grandfather made his fortune up north after the Civil War. He and his family owned a fleet of tugboats and went into the dock-building business. He originally purchased Berkeley for the vast timber it had then. Jamieson’s father, also named Malcolm, spent many summers camping on the estate which was in total disarray after 75 years of neglect. He fell in love with the place despite its squalid state. The beautiful main house, built in 1726, was falling apart and being used to store grain.
When Jamieson’s grandfather died in 1927, his son requested Berkeley Plantation as his portion of the family inheritance. “My dad’s relatives told him he was crazy,” recalls Jamieson.
In 1933, Jamieson’s father married Grace Eggleston. The young couple settled on the estate and began to restore the home and grounds. It was a lifelong project. The couple lived on the estate until their deaths in the late 1990s. They financed their project through the crops. They never took money from the state or federal government. It was a love they shared. Jameison’s son talks of his memories on the James River spending afternoons fishing with his Dad. There are only 10 maybe 20 plantations still family run. The Jamieson’s own it still ,today. Both children still reside there and Mac was married there last October. Enjoy the 1726 mansion, an architectural gem with exceptional antiques. Five terraced gardens leading from the house to the James River were dug by hand before the Revolutionary War. Flowers bloom Spring through Fall. Many hundred-year old trees grace the restored boxwood garden offering breathtaking vistas of the James River.
On the adjacent farmland, sheep graze lazily in the distant rolling hills along the river on this nearly 1000-acre plantation. Miles of old fashioned gravel roads meander through field and forest, pastures, ponds and river. Wildlife abounds in this delightful, peaceful setting. Wait for dusk to enjoy the herds of deer.
A small magical woodland glade is nestled in the trees beside an expansive glimpse of the James River and rolling fields. Magnificent sunsets fall over the James River shore. Linger a while at the river’s edge and enjoy the gentle lapping couple lived on the estate until their deaths in the late 1990s. They financed their project through the crops. They never took money from the state or federal government. It was a love they shared. Jameison’s son talks of his memories on the James River spending afternoons fishing with his Dad. There are only 10 maybe 20 plantations still family run. The Jamieson’s own it still ,today. Both children still reside there and Mac was married there last October. Enjoy the 1726 mansion, an architectural gem with exceptional antiques. Five terraced gardens leading from the house to the James River were dug by hand before the Revolutionary War. Flowers bloom Spring through Fall. Many hundred-year old trees grace the restored boxwood garden offering breathtaking vistas of the James River.
On the adjacent farmland, sheep graze lazily in the distant rolling hills along the river on this nearly 1000-acre plantation. Miles of old fashioned gravel roads meander through field and forest, pastures, ponds and river. Wildlife abounds in this delightful, peaceful setting. Wait for dusk to enjoy the herds of deer.
A small magical woodland glade is nestled in the trees beside an expansive glimpse of the James River and rolling fields. Magnificent sunsets fall over the James River shore. Linger a while at the river’s edge and enjoy the gentle lapping couple lived on the estate until their deaths in the late 1990s. They financed their project through the crops. They never took money from the state or federal government. It was a love they shared. Jameison’s son talks of his memories on the James River spending afternoons fishing with his Dad. There are only 10 maybe 20 plantations still family run. The Jamieson’s own it still ,today. Both children still reside there and Mac was married there last October. Enjoy the 1726 mansion, an architectural gem with exceptional antiques. Five terraced gardens leading from the house to the James River were dug by hand before the Revolutionary War. Flowers bloom Spring through Fall. Many hundred-year old trees grace the restored boxwood garden offering breathtaking vistas of the James River.
On the adjacent farmland, sheep graze lazily in the distant rolling hills along the river on this nearly 1000-acre plantation. Miles of old fashioned gravel roads meander through field and forest, pastures, ponds and river. Wildlife abounds in this delightful, peaceful setting. Wait for dusk to enjoy the herds of deer.
A small magical woodland glade is nestled in the trees beside an expansive glimpse of the James River and rolling fields. Magnificent sunsets fall over the James River shore. Linger a while at the river’s edge and enjoy the gentle lappingwater and soft breezes. Visit the Berkeley Plantation and http://virginiatouristsguide.com/index.asp for all your vacation needs.
Virginia Tourists Guide - Charles City, Virginia
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