Carter's Grove circa 2000

Carter's Grove is currently a 750 acre Virginia plantation on the James River in the Grove Community of southeastern James City County. Completed in 1755 and named for Carter Burwell, it was built on the site of an earlier tract known as Martin's Hundred which had first been settled by the English colonists around 1620. Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 35th 110,862 km² 320 km 690 km 7. ... A plantation is an intentional planting of a crop, on a larger scale, usually for uses other than cereal production or pasture. ... The James River at Cartersville The James River in the U.S. state of Virginia is 547. ... Grove is an unincorporated community located in the southeastern portion of James City County, Virginia. ... James City County, Virginia as shown on 1895 map James City County (formally, the County of James City) is a county located on the Virginia Peninsula, in the U.S. state of Virginia. ... Martins Hundred was an early 17th century plantation located along about ten miles of the north shore of the James River in the Virginia Colony east of Jamestown in present-day James City County, Virginia. ...

After hundreds of years of multiple owners and generations of families, around 1964 Carter's Grove was added to Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's properties.

Carter's Grove was open to tourists for many years, but it is currently closed to the public, pending a reevaluation of its role in Colonial Williamsburg's programs. View of Duke of Gloucester Street Colonial Williamsburg is the historic district of the independent city of Williamsburg, Virginia. ...

History

Wolstenholme Towne

In 1620, Wolstenholme Towne was built on the original land grant on the James River known as Martin's Hundred (in what is now James City County, Virginia). It was owned by an investment group of the Virginia Company of London but was later abandoned after losing many of its citizens in the Indian Massacre of 1622. Wolstenholme Towne was a fortified settlement in the Virginia Colony with a population of about 40 settlers of the Virginia Company of London which was located about 9 miles downstream from Jamestown. ... The James River at Cartersville The James River in the U.S. state of Virginia is 547. ... Martins Hundred was an early 17th century plantation located along about ten miles of the north shore of the James River in the Virginia Colony east of Jamestown in present-day James City County, Virginia. ... James City County, Virginia as shown on 1895 map James City County (formally, the County of James City) is a county located on the Virginia Peninsula, in the U.S. state of Virginia. ... Virginia Company of London Seal The London Company (also called the Virginia Company of London) was an English joint stock company established by royal charter by James I on April 10, 1606 with the purpose of establishing colonial settlements in North America. ... Indian massarce of 1622, depicted as a woodcut by Theodore de Bry In 1622, the Virginia Colony was attacked by a group of Native Americans under chief Opechancanough of the Pamunkeys, a tribe in the Powhatan confederacy. ...

Robert Carter

Robert Carter (1663-1732) aka "King" Carter, was born in Corotoman in Lancaster County, Virginia. Robert was married to Judith Armistead (1665-1699). He bought some of the land that had been Wolstenholme Towne when his daughter married. His daughter was Elizabeth Carter (1688-1721). Robert retained ownership of the property and Elizabeth was entitled to the income produced by the land. Robert Carter aka King Carter (August 4, 1663 - August 4, 1732) was a colonist, founding father and owner of Carters Grove in Virginia. ... Lancaster County is a county located on the Northern Neck in the state of Virginia. ... Wolstenholme Towne was a fortified settlement in the Virginia Colony with a population of about 40 settlers of the Virginia Company of London which was located about 9 miles downstream from Jamestown. ...

Elizabeth Carter

Elizabeth Carter (1688-1721) was married to Nathaniel Burwell (1680-1721), of Corotoman, Lancaster County, Virginia in 1709. Elizabeth and Nathaniel had a son: Carter Burwell (1716-1777). Lancaster County is a county located on the Northern Neck in the state of Virginia. ...

Carter Burwell

Carter Burwell (1716-1777) inherited the property from his grandfather, and built the current house on what was by then a 1,400 acre estate. Carter married Lucy Ludwell Grymes (1720-?). Lucy was the daughter of John Grymes (1691-1749) and Lucy Ludwell (1698-1748). Carter and Lucy lived in the completed house for six months before Carter died in 1777. Carter had a son, Nathaniel Burwell (1750-1814) who married Susanna Grymes (1752-1788) on November 28, 1772.

Nathaniel Burwell

Colonel Nathaniel Burwell (1750-1814) moved to Carter's Grove in 1771 and raised corn and wheat. Carter's Grove remained in the Burwell family until 1838.

Archibald McCrea

Archibald McCrea, a Pittsburgh industrialist, bought the mansion in 1928. He and his wife, Mary Carling (née Dunlop) "Mollie" McCrea originally of Petersburg. The McCrea had the mansion substantially modernized and expanded under the guidance of Richmond architect Duncan Lee. Map Political Statistics County Independent city Mayor Annie M. Mickens Geographic Statistics Area  - Total  - Land  - Water 60. ... Duncan Chaplin Lee, descendant of Confederate General Robert E. Lee and protégé and trusted aide to Office of Strategic Services chief William J. Donovan, who became the NKVD’s most senior source in American intelligence. ...

Archibald McCrea died in 1937, but his widow lived on at Carter's Grove another 25 years. Soon after, it was purchased from her estate, and transferred to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

The site is currently operated by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. In the 1970s, archaeological discoveries uncovered the remains of circa 1620 Wolstenholme Towne fortified settlement on the property. It and interpretive slave quarters from a later period were partially restored to represent their respective periods during the almost 400 year history of the property, greatly adding to the attraction's features for tourists. View of Duke of Gloucester Street Colonial Williamsburg is the historic district of the independent city of Williamsburg, Virginia. ... Wolstenholme Towne was a fortified settlement in the Virginia Colony with a population of about 40 settlers of the Virginia Company of London which was located about 9 miles downstream from Jamestown. ... It has been suggested that Chattel slavery be merged into this article or section. ...

However, the main house at Carter's Grove is furnished as it was in 1928, and therefore, while of increasing historic value, does not fit well into the earlier time eras which are the main focus of Colonial Williamsburg presentations.

During a period of declining attendance at Colonial Williamsburg attractions, the foundation determined the substantial distance from the main restored area (7 miles) to be an additional contributing factor to the need to reevaluate its role. On January 2, 2003 the site was closed to the public to save operating funds. Closer to the downtown Williamsburg area, Colonial Williamsburg now operates the Great Hopes Plantation interpretive site which can easily be reached by the pedestrian traffic from the restored area, and continues the story of the lives of the slaves who played a vital role in building Colonial Virginia. View of Duke of Gloucester Street Colonial Williamsburg is the historic district of the independent city of Williamsburg, Virginia. ...

A future role of Carter's Grove as an attraction had not yet been determined as of March, 2006. Certain support functions of Colonial Williamsburg continue to operate on the Carter's Grove property, however, and the property is secured and maintained, even though not open to the public.