Senior Moments

Our visit to Shirley Plantation, Virginia. June 23, 2007.

While we were in Virginia back in 2007, we visited Shirley Plantation, located on the James River between Williamsburg and Richmond.

Shirley Plantation is Virginia’s first plantation (1613), established by royal grant only six years after John Smith’s settlement at Jamestown.  Shirley Plantation is the oldest family-owned business in North America dating back to 1638.  Construction of the present mansion began in 1723 when Elizabeth Hill, great-grandaughter of Edward Hill, the first owner, married John Carter, eldest son of Robert “King” Carter.  Completed in 1738, the mansion, referred to as the “Great House,” is largely in its original state and is owned, operated, and lived in by direct descendants of Edward Hill.

I really wanted to see Shirley because Anne Hill Carter, the mother of Robert E. Lee, was born at Shirley.  She married Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee in the parlor at Shirley.  George Washington was one of the wedding guests.

Robert E. Lee spent quite a bit of time at Shirley as a youngster, and I thoroughly enjoyed being able to see this house and grounds.

To see these pictures and others, click HERE.

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I’m grateful for the opportunity to visit historical places and experience where events in our past took places.

Tags: History, Travels, Virginia

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