Belvoir (Saffold Plantation)
Encyclopedia
Belvoir, also known as the Saffold Plantation, is a historic plantation
and plantation house near Pleasant Hill, Alabama
, United States. It was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
on November 2, 1990.
. He was educated there and began a law practice in Watkinsville, Georgia
. He married Mary Evelyn Phillips, of Morgan County
, in 1811. The couple would eventually have 12 children together. They relocated to Clarke County
, Mississippi Territory
in 1813, where he participated in the Creek War
in 1813-14. Saffold served in the legislature of the Alabama Territory
in 1818. He participated in the Constitutional Convention and became an Alabama circuit judge in 1819. He established his plantation, which he named Belvoir, in rural Dallas County, Alabama
in 1825. Belvoir translates roughly from French
to English
as "beautiful to see." He remained a circuit judge until 1832, when he was appointed to the Alabama Supreme Court
. He served as Chief Justice from 1834 until 1836.
Although the plantation at Belvoir was established in 1825, the construction date for the current main house is unclear. It is known that the Saffolds were still living in a large hewn log house in 1838, when English
naturalist
, Philip Henry Gosse
, was serving as a teacher for the Saffolds and other area children. Some of his experiences at Belvoir, including his negative impressions of slavery
, were later published in his book, Letters from Alabama: Chiefly Relating to Natural History. Family records indicate that the current main house was built prior to the death of Saffold on February 15, 1847. Architectural historians usually date it to the early-to-mid 1850s, due to stylistic elements found in its architecture.
Belvoir changed hands several times following the American Civil War
, with cotton production giving way to cattle farming by the mid 20th century. The Mason family from Birmingham
used it and the surrounding 500 acres (202.3 ha) as a hunting lodge until it was bought by the McQueen family, relatives of the Masons, for $50,000 during the 1960s. The house was in a state of disrepair by the late 1990s, when it was added as a "Place in Peril" by the Alabama Historical Commission
. The McQueens declined several purchase offers from people that they felt weren't particularly interested in restoring the house, until meeting the Collias family from Boston
. Following their purchase of the house, the Colliases restored the house to a good state of preservation.
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
and plantation house near Pleasant Hill, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, United States. It was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
The Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage, commonly referred to as the Alabama Register, is an official listing of buildings, sites, structures, objects, and districts deemed worthy of preservation in the U.S. state of Alabama. These properties, which may be of national, state, and local...
on November 2, 1990.
History
Belvoir was established as a cotton plantation in 1825 by Reuben Saffold II. Saffold was born on September 4, 1788 in Wilkes County, GeorgiaWilkes County, Georgia
Wilkes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 10,687. The 2007 Census estimate shows a population of 10,262. The county seat is the city of Washington. Referred to as "Washington-Wilkes", the county seat and county are commonly treated as a...
. He was educated there and began a law practice in Watkinsville, Georgia
Watkinsville, Georgia
Watkinsville is a town in Oconee County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 2,097. The city is the county seat of Oconee County...
. He married Mary Evelyn Phillips, of Morgan County
Morgan County, Georgia
Morgan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 15,457. The 2005 Census Estimate shows a population of 17,492. The county seat is Madison, Georgia.-Geography:...
, in 1811. The couple would eventually have 12 children together. They relocated to Clarke County
Clarke County, Alabama
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*54.5% White*43.9% Black*0.4% Native American*0.3% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*0.7% Two or more races*1.0% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Mississippi Territory
Mississippi Territory
The Territory of Mississippi was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from April 7, 1798, until December 10, 1817, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Mississippi....
in 1813, where he participated in the Creek War
Creek War
The Creek War , also known as the Red Stick War and the Creek Civil War, began as a civil war within the Creek nation...
in 1813-14. Saffold served in the legislature of the Alabama Territory
Alabama Territory
The Territory of Alabama was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 15, 1817, until December 14, 1819, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Alabama.-History:...
in 1818. He participated in the Constitutional Convention and became an Alabama circuit judge in 1819. He established his plantation, which he named Belvoir, in rural Dallas County, Alabama
Dallas County, Alabama
Dallas County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of United States Secretary of the Treasury Alexander J. Dallas. The county seat is Selma.- History :...
in 1825. Belvoir translates roughly from French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
to English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as "beautiful to see." He remained a circuit judge until 1832, when he was appointed to the Alabama Supreme Court
Alabama Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Alabama is the highest court in the state of Alabama. The court consists of an elected Chief Justice and eight elected Associate Justices. Each justice is elected in partisan elections for staggered six year terms. The Governor of Alabama may fill vacancies when they occur...
. He served as Chief Justice from 1834 until 1836.
Although the plantation at Belvoir was established in 1825, the construction date for the current main house is unclear. It is known that the Saffolds were still living in a large hewn log house in 1838, when English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
naturalist
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
, Philip Henry Gosse
Philip Henry Gosse
Philip Henry Gosse was an English naturalist and popularizer of natural science, virtually the inventor of the seawater aquarium, and a painstaking innovator in the study of marine biology...
, was serving as a teacher for the Saffolds and other area children. Some of his experiences at Belvoir, including his negative impressions of slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
, were later published in his book, Letters from Alabama: Chiefly Relating to Natural History. Family records indicate that the current main house was built prior to the death of Saffold on February 15, 1847. Architectural historians usually date it to the early-to-mid 1850s, due to stylistic elements found in its architecture.
Belvoir changed hands several times following the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, with cotton production giving way to cattle farming by the mid 20th century. The Mason family from Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
used it and the surrounding 500 acres (202.3 ha) as a hunting lodge until it was bought by the McQueen family, relatives of the Masons, for $50,000 during the 1960s. The house was in a state of disrepair by the late 1990s, when it was added as a "Place in Peril" by the Alabama Historical Commission
Alabama Historical Commission
The Alabama Historical Commission is the historic preservation agency for the U. S. state of Alabama. The agency was created by an act of the state legislature in 1966 with a mission of safeguarding Alabama’s historic buildings and sites. It consists of twenty members appointed by the state...
. The McQueens declined several purchase offers from people that they felt weren't particularly interested in restoring the house, until meeting the Collias family from Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. Following their purchase of the house, the Colliases restored the house to a good state of preservation.