The name John Tyler doesn’t typically evoke images of the greatest of our American Presidents, but his Presidency was unique in at least one way: he was the first President ever to assume the title following the death of an incumbant. And from what I’ve learned, it wasn’t a job that was easily ascended to. William Henry Harrison (remember Tippecanoe and Tyler Too – the slogan for the Harrison/Tyler ticket?) died just 31 days into his term, leaving the country without a President for the first time ever. Whig leader Henry Clay hoped to run the government and leave Tyler (who was living in Virginia at the time) as a ‘figurehead’ President only. Tyler would have none of that, and thus established the traditional succession of Presidents when he became our country’s tenth from 1841-1845, serving for nearly an entire term.
I became much more acutely aware of the life and Presidency of John Tyler during the road trip that my friend Bob and I took through the great state of Virginia. And I have to say that the tour of Tyler’s plantation had to be one of the most fascinating of historical sites – and not only for the amazing fact that Tyler’s grandson is still living on the estate. Here are the things that we saw that were related to President John Tyler:
Tuesday, August 7, 2007 – John Tyler Birthplace – Along the same stretch of Route 5 in Charles City, Virgina, that his former home and plantation was located, Bob and I found a sign indicating the Greenway Plantation. The land was on private property, so we parked our car nearly in the cornfield and got out to snap photos of the sign and the house on the property.
Me ’round Greenway
The house on the Greenway property
Tuesday, August 7, 2007 – John Tyler’s Sherwood Forest Plantation – Easily one of the highlights of our entire trip was our personal tour of the Sherwood Forest Plantation, the former home of President John Tyler…and the current home of Tyler’s Grandson Harrison Tyler. Amazingly, this home had been inherited by President Tyler’s predecessor William Henry Harrison, who held it for three years and sold it. John Tyler purchased it in 1842 and lived there after retiring from the White House.
Of utmost disappointment was that Tyler’s grandson, who sometimes does conduct private tours of the estate, was getting ready for a trip out west and not available for us to meet. However, Tim, the guide we ended up with, was more than cordial allowing us to photograph inside the house, cross the proverbial velvet ropes, and giving us several books and materials on John Tyler which more than made up for the $35 fee we had to pay to tour the place.
We got a fascinating look at the house that the current Tylers had restored, along with tons of the President’s personal belongings. After touring so many historical landmark homes, it was hard to believe that people were still living in the house.
Exterior of the Sherwood Forest house, so named because he felt he had been ‘outlawed’ by the Whig Party
Me on the stoop of Sherwood Forest
With an original painting of the President
The living area of the home, which had been nearly been burnt to the ground by Union soldiers
The dining area
Me in the estate pet cemetery. Tyler’s beloved horse “The General” was buried among the other animals
Site on the property where President Tyler had originally wanted to be buried. Since the area was under Union control when Tyler died in Richmond, he was instead buried in the nearby Hollywood Cemetery.
Tim related many fascinating stories about the President and his family. Tyler had been elected to the Confederate House of Representatives, but passed away in Richmond before he ever took office. As the story goes, President Abraham Lincoln would not allow Tyler’s widow Julia Gardiner Tyler passage to travel to Richmond unless she declared allegiance to the Union.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007 – Grave of Letitia Christian Tyler – John Tyler’s first wife Letitia Christain Tyler died while he was in office on September 10, 1842. She was buried on the site of the plantation of her birth, at a postage-sized cemetery known as Cedar Grove in the town of Roxbury. This place was not easy to find – but we managed.
The sign in Roxbury gave only the vaguest direction as to where to find Letitia
Me and the grave of Letitia Tyler
Monday, August 6, 2007 – Grave of John Tyler – Although John Tyler’s wishes were to be interred on his Sherwood Forest Estate, he happened to pass away in Richmond while Charles City was under siege by the Union army. Tyler was buried draped in a Confederate flag at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, overlooking the James River just yards away from former President James Monroe. Tyler’s second wife, who also held the esteemed postion of First Lady beginning on June 26, 1844 is buried alongside of her husband.
Close-up of John Tyler’s monument
Me and Johnny T.
Continue to the next President…
Return to Monday in Virginia 2007…
Return to Tuesday in Virginia 2007…
I am a coin designer for the United States Mint, working on a coin honoring first lady Letitia Christian Tyler. One of the images the Mint wants is of her home at Greenway. Could you e-mail me the original high-resolution photo of Greenway’s front along with permission to use the photo as a reference? I would greatly appreciate it… photos of Greenway are hard to find, and all are so small that details are fuzzy. Sincerely, Susan Gamble
Susan Gamble
January 19th, 2008
I don’t know if Susan still needs that picture, but I live at Greenway Plantation and would be more than happy to send her some pictures if need be.
Kevin
April 24th, 2011