The Burwell-van Lennep Foundation land to the west of the Shenandoah River was part of the original land grant of 50,703 acres given by Lord Fairfax on September 22, 1730, to the eight sons and grandsons of Robert "King" Carter, his residing agent in Virginia. The Burwell-van Lennep land was inherited by Carter Burwell, the grandson of Robert Carter.
To quote from a report of November 3, 1740, made by the surveyor, Robert Brooke:
"The letter C being next drawn and name Carter Burwell from the other hatt I do allot unto the said Carter Burwell that part in this plat marked C being five thousand six hundred and forty acres together with one island (Burwell Island in the Shenandoah) of one hundred and sixty acres and his full share and equal part to be held in severalty by him and his heirs forever."
Carter Burwell's son, Col. Nathaniel Burwell (1750-1814) of "Carter's Grove" near Williamsburg, Virginia, inherited the above tract of 5,800 acres on the Shenandoah River. But he did not move to the Valley until after the Revolution. Until that time, his farmland in the Valley was operated by local Overseers.
Nathaniel Burwell made a comparative study of the productivity of the respective soils, which indicated that the Valley was more than 50% more productive of wheat than was the Tidewater area. Burwell built a grist mill on his valley land with the help of General Daniel Morgan, who provided the labor of his Hessian prisoners from the Battle of Saratoga. Around this Burwell-Morgan Mill, grew the village of Millwood, and nearby, Burwell build his residence "Carter Hall" which is now the headquarters of Project HOPE.
The land which forms the portion of the Land Trust west of the Shenandoah River contains the eastern portion of Nathaniel Burwell's "Carter Hall" plantation. Subsequent to his death, this portion was divided into various farms by inheritance amongst several daughters and granddaughters, and became known as the Burwell Island Farms. The three farms now in the Land Trust, from north to south along the river, are known as the Page Farm (including the Overseers's Cottage), the Mayo Farm (including the Farm House), and the Randolph Farm (including The Pines house).
In the 1960s, two descendants of Nathanial Burwell; Isabella van Lennep, and her cousin, Charles Burwell, were residing in western Connecticut and often discussed what could be done to preserve this historic Burwell land in Clarke County, Virginia. Charles was active in environmental organizations and suggested a 501c3 Land Trust be created to hold and preserve the Island Farms in perpetuity. The result was the creation of the Burwell-van Lennep Foundation, a 501(c)3 Charitable Land Trust on September 18, 1967.
The declaration of the Trust stated the following:
"Whereas, this parcel of land has a rich historical heritage because of its original grant and uninterrupted association with the Burwell, Carter, and Mayo families, as well as its retention with a minimum of alteration and change throughout the centuries, and
"Whereas, the location, terrain, nature, and character of the property does lend itself likewise to the study, both theoreitcal and practical, of biology, horticulture, and animal husbandry, and
"Whereas, grantor is desirous of making this tract available for educational purposes for posterity
"Now Therefore, for and in consideration of the sum of One Dollar ($1.00) cash in hand paid to the Grantor by the Trustees, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Grantor does hereby transfer the property more particularly described in Exhibit A attached hereto...."To be held in Trust to be known as the Burwell-van Lennep Foundation forever, as a charitable Trust, on the following terms and conditions...."
The original board of trustees were all descendants of Natianiel Burwell, with the exception of the attorney who formed the trust, J. Sloan Kuykendall.
On March 15, 1988, the late Richard Plater donated approximately 265 acres on the east side of the Shenandoah River to the Burwell-van Lennep Foundation. Dick Plater was an amateur ecologist and historian who had contributed vitally to the welfare of Clarke County, and most especially, to the restoration of the Burwell Morgan Mill in Millwood. This hillside land containing Slate Ridge and Ivy Spring Hollow contributed to the diverse ecology of the land protected by the Burwell-van Lennep Foundation.
Charles Lee Burwell
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