Hunter's Hall near Shadwell in Albemarle County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Shadwell, Birthplace of Thomas Jefferson
Photographed By J. J. Prats, March 8, 2009
1. Shadwell, Birthplace of Thomas Jefferson Marker
Thomas Jefferson—author of the Declaration of Independence, third president of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia—was born near this site on 13 April 1743. His father, Peter Jefferson (1708–1757), a surveyor, planter, and officeholder, began acquiring land in this frontier region in the mid-1730s and had purchased the Shadwell tract by 1741. Peter Jefferson built a house soon after, and the Shadwell plantation became a thriving agricultural estate. Thomas Jefferson spent much of his early life at Shadwell. After the house burned to the ground in 1770, he moved to Monticello, where he had begun constructing a house.
Erected 2001 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number W-202.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #03 Thomas Jefferson, the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is April 13, 1743.
Location. 38° 0.906′ N, 78° 24.948′ W. Marker is near Shadwell, Virginia, in Albemarle County.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Thomas Jefferson (approx. 0.2 miles away); Edgehill (approx. 0.9 miles away); “The Albemarle 26” (approx. 1.1 miles away); Horses & Mules (approx. 1.9 miles away); Slave Housing (approx. 2 miles away); Mulberry Row (approx. 2 miles away); Textiles (approx. 2 miles away); Vegetable Garden (approx. 2 miles away).
More about this marker. This marker replaced a marker with the same number titled “Shadwell Estate” dating from the late 1920s that read “Peter Jefferson acquired the land in 1735, and built the house about 1737. Thomas Jefferson was born here, April 13, 1743. He lived here, 1743–1745 and 1752–1770. The house burned in 1770, and Jefferson then moved to Monticello.”
Regarding Shadwell, Birthplace of Thomas Jefferson. Shadwell was a farm-house of a story and a half in height, and had the four spacious ground rooms and hall, with garret columns above, common in these structures two hundred years since. It also had the usual huge outside massive chimneys, planted against each gable like Gothic buttresses,
Photographed By J. J. Prats, March 8, 2009
2. Shadwell, Birthplace of Thomas Jefferson Marker
Also see . . .
1. Peter Jefferson. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on January 8, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Shadwell. Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello website entry:
Shadwell was the birthplace of Thomas Jefferson, and the main plantation of his father, Peter Jefferson. (Submitted on September 14, 2013, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia.)
Photographed By PaulwC3, September 12, 2013
3. Site of Shadwell (1741-1770)
The birthplace of Thomas Jefferson (located near the village of Shadwell) burned in 1770. The site has been the subject of multiple archaeology studies, with the most recent in the early 1990s. Looking north, toward the Southwest Mountains, across one of the entrance ways of the one and a half story structure.
Photographed By PaulwC3, September 12, 2013
4. Site of Shadwell (1741-1770)
The birthplace of Thomas Jefferson (located near the village of Shadwell) burned in 1770. The site has been the subject of multiple archaeology studies, with the most recent in the early 1990s. Looking south, toward the Rivanna River, across one of the entrance ways of the one and a half story structure.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, March 8, 2009
5. Driveway to Shadwell?
Google’s satellite photos shows nothing at the end of this track. (Click on the map link under Location above, switch to Satellite view and zoom in.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2009, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 16,355 times since then and 441 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 24, 2009, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 3, 4. submitted on September 13, 2013, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. 5. submitted on March 24, 2009, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
