Berkley Hundred Plantation

We drove to the Berkley Hundred Plantation this morning and toured the house and grounds. Berkley is located on the banks of the James River west of Williamsburg and is the site of a settlement which dates to December of 1619 when the ship Margret landed here with 38 Colonists from England.





The house was built starting in 1726 and was home to Benjamin Harrison V, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and who was a contemporary of  Thomas Jefferson and a friend of George Washington.







The 2000 acre plantation was owned by Harrison and supported  130 slaves and other workers. Tobacco was the main crop although a small farm was used to raise food for the workers.







William Henry Harrison, the grandson of Benjamin was born in the house here and was President for a month in 1841. He died of Pneumonia a month after taking office. His grandson, Benjamin Harrison VII was our 29 President. Lincoln reviewed the union troops camped here during the civil war. Lots of history in one place.