Located to the west of Richmond, VA along the James River, Tuckahoe was the boyhood home of Thomas Jefferson and is a National Historic Landmark, protected in perpetuity by a preservation easement donated by the owners. It is considered by some architectural historians to be among the finest early 18th century plantation homes in America with numerous original outbuildings still intact on the property.
The Randolphs of Tuckahoe
Built between 1733 and 1740 by the prominent Randolph family, Tuckahoe stands as an example of plantation life in Virginia across hundreds of years. Like many wealthy families of the time, the Randolphs were involved in the cultivation of tobacco (among other things) and had an enormous influence in shaping the habits, customs, and politics of both the colony and the nation. Visitors to the state have but to travel to places such as Colonial Williamsburg to understand the extent of the Randolph’s reach.
In 1695, William Randolph of Turkey Island took out a patent on the land that would become Tuckahoe. His son, “Thomas of Tuckahoe”, had settled the land by 1714 but the main house as we know it today was not built by Thomas, but by his son- William.
The unique H-frame main house was constructed in two separate stages. The north end of the house was built first in 1733, and the center hall and south wing was built by about 1740. Original outbuildings along Plantation Street (which include the Slave Cabins, Old Kitchen, and Smokehouse) make this one of the most complete early 18th century plantation layouts in North America. Tuckahoe is the only surviving Randolph home still standing on its original site.
William Randolph and Maria Judith Page started their family at Tuckahoe in the 1730’s. By 1745, their three children were orphaned after the untimely death of both parents. In William’s will, amended slightly before his death, he named his good friend, Peter Jefferson as guardian of his children and specifically requested the Jefferson family move to Tuckahoe to care for them.
Thus it was that the Jefferson family (including a two-year-old Thomas Jefferson) came to live at Tuckahoe for seven years from 1745-1752 until the young Thomas Mann Randolph was deemed of age to manage the property.
The Wights of Tuckahoe
As is the story of many wealthy plantation families, the Randolphs eventually sold off portions of the property to cover debts. Hezekiah Lord Wight acquired Tuckahoe around 1830 and left it to his son, Edwin Wight, upon his death in 1837. While a number of enslaved workers were freed through his will, the majority remained enslaved on the property. Between 1840 and 1850, it was estimated there were between 30 and 40 enslaved workers.
The Allens of Tuckahoe
The Wight family owned Tuckahoe until around 1850 when it was sold to Joseph Allen. When Joseph died in 1862, the property and the enslaved workers were left to his son, Richard Allen. Records from the Allen period show a very detailed and organized layout of the fields depicting the various crops that were planted, how the fields were fertilized, etc. There are also more detailed records of the enslaved workers which include names, ages, shoe sizes, and where they worked on the property.
After the Civil War, a number of the enslaved families remained in the area and likely continued to work at Tuckahoe as paid servants.
The Coolidges of Tuckahoe
The Coolidge family purchased Tuckahoe around the turn of the 20th century. The property was once again in the hands of the original family, as the Coolidges were relations of the Randolphs. While the family maintained their permanent residence in New England, they did spend some time at Tuckahoe and were know to have had a large Randolph family gathering with many descendants on the front lawn. Pictures of this celebration can be seen inside the Old Stable building.
The Baker-Thompsons of Tuckahoe
The current family has owned Tuckahoe since 1935. With the intent to protect the home and keep it intact, Jessie Ball duPont purchased the home as a gift for her sister- Isabelle Ball Baker. The home remains a private residence for Isabel’s grandson and his family to this day. To insure the continuing preservation “in perpetuity” of this special place with its historic buildings and undisturbed, expansive grounds, the Thompson/Krusen family donated conservation and historic easements to Virginia’s Board of Historic Resources and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.