Eltham, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Eltham is a small unincorporated community
in New Kent County
, Virginia
, United States
. Located along State Routes 30
, 33
, and 249
in modern times, it is located slightly west of the town of West Point
. It was named for Eltham Plantation, across from West Point on the nearby Pamunkey River
. Eltham Plantation was owned by William Burwell Bassett and his wife, Anna Maria Dandridge, the sister of Martha Washington
. Martha's husband, General George Washington
galloped from Yorktown to Eltham on November 5, 1781, to the bedside of his stepson, John Parke Custis
, who had contracted camp fever during the Yorktown Campaign and subsequently died at the Pamunkey River plantation.
Eltham Landing played a prominent role for Union forces as a port during the 1862 Peninsula Campaign
of the American Civil War
. The manor house was destroyed by fire in 1876. The New Kent - Charles City Chronicle is published here.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in New Kent County
New Kent County, Virginia
At the 2000 census, there were 13,462 people, 4,925 households and 3,895 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 per square mile . There were 5,203 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Located along State Routes 30
Virginia State Route 30
Virginia State Route 30 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs from U.S. Route 1 in Doswell east to Interstate 64 and SR 607 near Norge. SR 30 runs east–west through Hanover and Caroline Counties, connecting US 1 and I-95 with Kings Dominion and...
, 33
Virginia State Route 33
Virginia State Route 33 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs from U.S. Route 33 and US 250 in Richmond, Virginia east to Chesapeake Boulevard in Stingray Point...
, and 249
Virginia State Route 249
State Route 249 is a primary state highway in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Virginia. It is an old alignment of State Route 33 in New Kent County, running between Bottoms Bridge and Angel View Church via Talleysville and New Kent...
in modern times, it is located slightly west of the town of West Point
West Point, Virginia
West Point is an incorporated town in King William County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,867 at the 2000 census.-Geography:West Point is located at...
. It was named for Eltham Plantation, across from West Point on the nearby Pamunkey River
Pamunkey River
The Pamunkey River is a tributary of the York River, about long, in eastern Virginia in the United States. Via the York River it is part of the watershed of Chesapeake Bay.-Course:...
. Eltham Plantation was owned by William Burwell Bassett and his wife, Anna Maria Dandridge, the sister of Martha Washington
Martha Washington
Martha Dandridge Custis Washington was the wife of George Washington, the first president of the United States. Although the title was not coined until after her death, Martha Washington is considered to be the first First Lady of the United States...
. Martha's husband, General George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
galloped from Yorktown to Eltham on November 5, 1781, to the bedside of his stepson, John Parke Custis
John Parke Custis
John Parke Custis was a Virginia planter, the son of Martha Washington and stepson of George Washington.-Childhood:...
, who had contracted camp fever during the Yorktown Campaign and subsequently died at the Pamunkey River plantation.
Eltham Landing played a prominent role for Union forces as a port during the 1862 Peninsula Campaign
Peninsula Campaign
The Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. The operation, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B...
of 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...
. The manor house was destroyed by fire in 1876. The New Kent - Charles City Chronicle is published here.