Just below Williamsburg on the James, Carter's
Grove (circa. 1751-1753) is a remarkable, somewhat confusing place.
Built in the late 1730s by Carter Burwell, grandson of Robert "King" Carter,
perhaps the richest man in the colonies in the early
![]() "King " Carter |
eighteenth century, this stately Georgian mansion was meant to be a
showplace more than a functioning tobacco plantation. The Colonial
Williamsburg Foundation acquired the place n the late 1960s.
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While testing archaeologically in the early 1970s, CW's premier historical
archaeologist, Ivor Noel-Hume, discovered "Martin's
Hundred,," a settlement wiped out during the Indian Revolt
of 1622. The center of life there was a palisaded "village" named "Wolstenholme
Towne." Here's an artist's conception of the place from
one of the assigned National Geographic articles, along with
a photo of a three-dimensional model.
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The site has not been reconstructed. Instead, there is a walking tour,
complete with recorded voice-overs by Noel-Hume (talking out of barrels
no less!) and outlines of buildings and compounds. There is also
a terrific underground museum. We can see the excellent introductory flick
at the visitor's center, then see the archaeology museum, then take the
walking tour of the settlement itself.
![]() Blockhouse at Martin's Hundred |
![]() Ivor Noel-Hume Talks Out of a Barrel |
![]() The Class Entering the Winthrop Rockefeller Museum |
![]() Inside the Rockefeller Museum at Martin's Hundred |
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