Near Garysville in Prince George County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Flowerdew Hundred

Photographed by Andy Walker, September 21, 2008

1. Flowerdew Hundred Marker

Inscription. Four miles north of here, Governor Sir George Yeardley established Flowerdew Hundred settlement by 1619. In 1621 a windmill was built there, the first one recorded in English North America. In response to English expansion in Powhatan lands, such an occurred at Flowerdew and elsewhere, paramount chief Opechancanough planned a coordinated assault on English settlements. The settlement survived the attack on 22 Mar. 1622 and was inhabited through the 18th century. On 14-16 June 1864, U. S. General Ulysses S. Grant and Major General George G. Meade’s Army of the Potomac landed there and marched toward Petersburg to attack it.

Erected 2005 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number K-214.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • War, US Civil • Wars, US Indian. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR), and the Windmills series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1619.

Location. 37° 14.876′ N, 77° 9.017′ W. Marker is near Garysville, Virginia, in Prince George County. It is at the intersection of James River Drive (Virginia Route 10) and Flowerdew Hundred Road (County Route 639), on the right when traveling west

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on James River Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hopewell VA 23860, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Coastal Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Powell's Creek (here, next to this marker); Maycock's Plantation (a few steps from this marker); James River National WildLife Refuge (approx. one mile away); The Cattle Raid (approx. 2.1 miles away); Merchant's Hope Church (approx. 2.9 miles away); Augustus Robbins, Jr. (approx. 3.1 miles away); a different marker also named Merchant's Hope Church (approx. 3.1 miles away); Westover (approx. 4.4 miles away).

More about this marker. This marker replaced a 1948 marker with the same name and number which read, “Four miles north, Governor Sir George Yeardley patented land there in 1619, and in 1621 built at windmill point the first windmill in English America. The place was named for Temperance Flowerdew, Yeardley’s wife. Near there Grant’s army crossed the James in June, 1864.”

Also see . . . Wikipedia Entry for George Yeardley. “It is often assumed that Yeardley named this plantation “Flowerdew Hundred” after his wife, as a kind of romantic tribute. However, the land appears to have been

Previous Flowerdew Hundred Marker image. Click for full size.

J. J. Prats Collection, Photographer Unknown, October 1, 1972

2. Previous Flowerdew Hundred Marker

in use by Stanley Flowerdew, Yeardley’s brother-in-law, before it was patented by Yeardley, so the plantation may have been associated with the Flowerdew name before Yeardley’s patent. Note that Yeardley named his Mulberry Island plantation “Stanley Hundred,” undoubtedly after his Stanley in-laws. In other words, both of Yeardley's plantations were named in honor of his wealthy in-laws.” (Submitted on September 13, 2011, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.)

James River Dr & Flowerdew Hundred Rd (facing east) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, April 29, 2010

3. James River Dr & Flowerdew Hundred Rd (facing east)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 21, 2008, by Kathy Walker of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,438 times since then and 110 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 21, 2008, by Kathy Walker of Stafford, Virginia. 2. submitted on September 13, 2011, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 3. submitted on April 29, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.