Earliest History of Cumberland Plantation

Earliest History of Cumberland Plantation. . , Earliest History of Cumberland Plantation , Cumberland and the nearby Pamunkey River exhibit abundant evidence of Chief Powhatan's 'Great Nation' before and following the arrival of the Europeans at Jamestown in 1607. When the Littlepage family settled Cumberland in the 1660s, there was tension between the Native Americans and the colonial pioneers of the area that became New Kent County. Richard Littlepage, however, was able to obtain permission from the head of the local tribe to hire hunters and scouts. , , Cumberland Town . The first Littlepage land patent was followed by other land acquisitions in 1663. About that time, it is believed that Richard Littlepage built his large home, Cumberland, and by 1674 he had obtained the important office of Sheriff of New Kent. It was Frances Littlepage, wife of Richard Littlepage III, who contributed 100 acres in 1748 for the purpose of establishing Cumberland Town. The town flourished as a trading center and port in the 18th and 19th centuries, thriving on lumber harvesting, flour mills, tobacco warehouses and retail trade. Cumberland was considered in the Virginia House of Burgesses as the seat of government before Richmond replaced Williamsburg as the colonial capitol. , , Cumberland During the Revolutionary War , The final year of the Revolution brought both British and American armies to New Kent County when the United States and French forces were on the march to Yorktown. The British had been active at New Kent Courthouse and Cumberland in the summer of 1781 and American forces under Lafayette accumulated stores at Cumberland later in the same year. Hospital supplies were requisitioned there by Dr. Pope in August 1781 for troops attached to General Daniel Morgan's forces. , , Many revolutionary era relics have been recovered from the Pamunkey immediately off shore and on the grounds of Cumberland Plantation, including French cannons in 1816. Two bronze cannons that came from a French corvette stationed at Cumberland are displayed today at the Virginia Military Institute.