Berkeley Plantation is located along the James River in Virginia. It was originally an 8000 acre land grant in 1618 and was the site of a massacre in 1622 where local Indians killed most of the colonists. The current Georgian-style manor house was built in 1726 by Benjamin Harrison IV and his wife. It has historical significance as the birthplace of William Henry Harrison, the 9th US President, and was visited by the first ten US Presidents.

1. Berkeley Plantation Situated along the James River in Charles City County, Virginia, Berkeley Plantation was originally called Berkeley Hundred. The plantation was a 1618 land grant of 8000 acres by the Virginia Company of London to a group of men including Richard Berkeley, its namesake.

2. On Good Friday, March 22, 1622 local Indians attacked the Berkeley settlement killing nearly all its colonists. This stone on the grounds of the plantation is inscribed: “In Memory of the Unknown Indian.” (c. CARSON OCTOBER 2007)

3. BERKELEY PLANTATION, CHARLES CITY COUNTY, VIRGINIA: Construction of the mansion began in 1726. The Georgian-style manor house is one of the oldest three-story brick houses in Virginia and the first with a pediment roof. Carriage front view. (c. Carson October, 2007)

4. Plan of Berkeley Plantation

5. BERKELEY PLANTATION WAS BUILT BY BENJAMIN HARRISON IV AND HIS WIFE ANNE CARTER. THEIR INITIALS ARE INSCRIBED INTO THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING ALONG WITH A HEART AND THE DATE, 1726. (c. CARSON OCTOBER 2007)

6. KITCHEN: BERKELEY PLANTATION - The Kitchen was connected to the mansion by an underground passageway, called the Whistling Walk, through which servants would carry food. (c. CARSON OCTOBER 2007)

7. ENTRANCE TO CELLAR: BERKELEY PLANTATION (c. CARSON OCTOBER 2007)

8. Cistern: This stone cistern was Berkeley’s source of drinking water. (c. CARSON OCTOBER 2007)

9. Bachelors’ Quarters, Berkeley Plantation: Gentlemen guests would stay in a separate house on visits to the plantation. (c. CARSON OCTOBER 2007)

10. Manor House, Berkeley Hundred, River Front View. (c. CARSON OCTOBER 2007)

11. Mansion from River Front, Berkeley Plantation (c. CARSON OCTOBER 2007)

12. Gazebo and Tea House: Berkeley Plantation (c. CARSON OCTOBER 2007)

13. River Front view from the Georgian-style Manor House through the gardens to the James River, Berkeley Plantation (c. CARSON OCTOBER 2007)

14. Flower bed in the Gardens on the grounds of Berkeley Plantation (c. CARSON OCTOBER 2007)

15. View of the grounds at Berkeley Plantation (c. CARSON OCTOBER 2007)

16. The James River as seen from the grounds of Berkeley Plantation (c. CARSON October 2007)

17. Glimpse of James River from grounds of Berkeley Plantation. (c. CARSON OCTOBER 2007)

18. Gravestone of Elizabeth Barrett, wife of Col. Benjamin Harrison V, signer of the Declaration of Independence in the family cemetery plot on the grounds of Berkeley Hundred. (c. CARSON OCTOBER 2007)

19. Gravestone of Col. Benjamin Harrison V, signer of the Declaration of Independence and Governor of Virginia. Cemetery, Berkeley Plantation. (c. CARSON OCTOBER 2007)

20. Benjamin Harrison V (1726-1791) graduate of College of William and Mary; Member, Virginia House of Burgesses; Governor of Virginia; signatory, Declaration of Independence Source: Wikimedia Commons

21. Memorial commemorating the sacrifices of the signers of the Declaration of Independence at Berkeley Hundred, Charles City County, Virginia. (c. CARSON OCTOBER 2007)

25. William Henry Harrison (1773-1841) 9 th President of the United States (1841) Source:White House [website] http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/wh9.html