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UPDATE! (4/11/13) Special thanks to Mark Schumann for the photographs. Mark is a descendant of the Herbert family, and forwarded these photos to me. I thought they warranted a re-publish of this article, originally published on 11/5/12.
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Edward H. Herbert was born on the family farm in what is now the Berkeley section of Norfolk in 1806. The Herbert family has a long history in Hampton Roads, beginning with a land grant from the King of England to George Herbert in 1650. The Herberts were shipbuilders from their earliest days in the New World, but Edward would choose a life in farming. Moving just a few miles to the east, he purchased 200 acres of the former David Murray estate in Princess Anne County and established Level Green Plantation in 1833.
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| Riveredge, the home to several generations of Herberts in Berkeley. Riveredge would later serve as the childhood home of a young Douglas MacArthur. Photo courtesy of Mark Schumann. |
Mr. Herbert would grow Level Green to nearly 600 acres over the next 25 years, and establish himself as a successful farmer in Princess Anne County. He continued to expand his property north to the banks of the Elizabeth River through additional land purchases, from present day Sunnyside Drive to Whitehurst Landing.
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| Edward H. Herbert. Undated photo courtesy of Mark Schumann. |
Mr. Herbert died on December 4, 1862. In his will, he directed his land holdings be sold upon the death of his wife Margaret (she died in 1870), and it is at this time that the land between Providence Road and the Elizabeth River is first referred to as "Woodstock Farm" in court documents.
The area near the intersection of Providence Road and Indian River Road would be known as "Herberts" for the next hundred years; but today, the once prominent family name is nowhere to be found. The Level Green neighborhood offers one of the only remaining references to this areas pre-Civil War history.
NOTES
In several documents, E. H. Herbert has the title "Colonel", though I have not found evidence of a military career. Several of Edwards children were active in the Civil War, but as far as I can tell he remained a farmer during the conflict. Union troops did occupy one of his houses during the war.
There is a land survey of Mr. Herbert's entire estate at the time of his death that presumably shows the borders of Level Green Plantation, though I cannot locate this document. It does not appear to exist at the Virginia Beach courthouse, and the records previously on file in the Norfolk Circuit Court also seem to have disappeared.
There is an 1871 land survey of Woodstock Farm and "Branchville" (Avalon Terrace and Whitehurst Landing today) at the Virginia Beach Courthouse. I have superimposed the survey over a modern-day Google Maps photo of the area, to clearly show the area covered by Woodstock Farm:
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Edward Henry Herbert married Rebecca Tatem Herbert and they had four children - Annie Herbert, Laura Herbert McAlpine (my great-great grandmother), Rebecca Herbert and Edward Herbert. It was my understanding from my grandmother that Level Green was "burned down by the Yankeees". Sunnyside was built for Laura Herbert Mcalpine and her husband, James Newton McAlpine who was a staff surgeon in the civil war. The Princess Anne Co. courthouse burned down from what I was told so that could be reason for the mystery in locating documents. After Rebecca passed, Edward Henry Herbert then married Margaret Tatem who had six more children - Abner Herbert, Mary Herbert, Ellen Herbert, Arthur Herbert, Alice Herbert ande John Herbert.
ReplyDeleteLaurie Forrest: We are distant cousins then; Rebecca Herbert was my great-great grandmother. She married Henry McNair, who was the son of a PA congressman, but appears himself to have been the black sheep of the family. They lived all over the South, but after Henry's death, Rebecca returned to Norfolk. Another distant cousin tells me Rebecca was rumored to have been a Confederate spy... which I totally discounted till I found a reference to her having been in Union custody! Haven't been able to follow up on it though.
DeleteUnknown- your account is the same as I've heard through oral history. Aline Herbert McNair Griffith is my great grandmother and her mother is Rebecca Herbert. i would love to connect with any family still living in the area when I visit in May.
DeleteDo you live in the area? I'll be in Charles City, VA, May 17-24 for a wedding and would like to connect with any available family between Richmond and Virginia Beach.
DeleteI was very recently made aware of this particular family story (VERY recently -- as in, this morning!) but I would offer one piece of compelling evidence to the contrary: Level Green is mentioned in the book _Old Houses In Princess Anne, Virginia_ by Sadie Scott Kellam. The book was written in 1931, and refers to the house in the present tense. If the house had been destroyed by Union troops, I would have expected a mention of that in the book. It is possible that the house was damaged by fire and later repaired, or perhaps another structure was burned?
ReplyDeleteThe mystery deepens...
i do believe that i may be related to this family as well... i have been doing my research and it leads me here as well as the carlyle family... anyone have any ideas or history with that family...
ReplyDeleteIf you give me some background I might be able to help you as I remember the name Carlyle in some of the documents and info I have.
DeleteHello everyone, I was directed to this blog by someone in the line as well and I too am part of the Herbert Family. My Great, Great grandfather was Abner T Herbert. I am just starting to get back into working on the history. As far A Level Green burning down, I do recall reading in a book that there was a fire but that the structure was rebuilt afterward. As far as what happened to it, I have not found anything. Sunny Side was was torn down to make way for new houses in an unfortunate way where some shady dealing took place When Aunt LouLou passed away. My Grandfather lived there at one time with her. He told me stories of how the Union took over the house during the war and used it as an officers prison. He said that the parlor glass doors had actual etched signatures of the prisoners. When the troops were coming the family took all the valuables (Silverware, money, jewelry etc) and buried them in the barn so they would not be found.
ReplyDeleteDHerbert -- welcome to the page! If you are interested in sharing any of your research, please email me at garockey@gmail.com.
DeleteI am the daughter of Edward H Herbert III. He recently passed away. My great great grandfather was also Abner DHERBERT. I have a suspicion you are one my brothers D. ;-) The Herbert family is still alive and well living in Norfolk and outlying areas.
DeleteYes Jen, it is me your brother. I just got an email notifying me you commented.
DeleteAn Edward H. Herbert of Princess Anne, procurer of timber (masts, etc.) for government shipyards can be found on pp. 264-266 in Sketches of Lower North Carolina by Edmund Ruffin (1861) on the website Internet Archives.
ReplyDeleteHello everyone, my name is Abner Tatem Herbert,III. I live in Chesterfield VA. I just came upon this research while trying to find additional information about my Great Grandfather (Abner Tatem Herbert’s), service during the Civil War as a Member of Co. F of the 15th Calvary. He went by the nickname Buck and was referred to fondly as Captain “Buck” Herbert. The nickname has been passed down through the generations. My father was Abner Tatem Herbert, II. His father, my Grandfather, was Edward Henry Herbert who was the Chief of the Norfolk Water Division. He had 4 sons. Edward H., Monroe C., Ransome D., and my dad Abner T. Herbert,II. He also had 4 daughters, Virginia, Dorothy, Elizabeth and Maude.
ReplyDeleteI have recently been given a number of documents and news paper articles and photos that belonged to my 1st Cousin Mary Lou, who was the daughter of my dads sister, Virginia Herbert Nye. I could go on about more of the Herbert family, but I’ll wait to see if anyone has any interest and responds. I would very much like to learn more about D. Herbert who was mentioned earlier and anyone who I may be related to. I can be reached at abnert@comcast.net or you can call me at (804) 399-6820. I love to talk.
Thanks, Abner T. (Buck) Herbert, III
This is Edward H Herbert IV great grandson of a Edward Herbert brother of Abner Tatum Herbert II.My brothers are David Herbert and Todd Herbert. My sisters are Cheryl Herbert and Jennifer Herbert.
ReplyDelete