Smith's Fort

In 1609, Capt. John Smith had the "New Fort" built by Jamestown colonists directly across the James River from Jamestown. They built it on a high bluff, giving the location a sweeping view of Gray's Creek. In later years, the plantation became known as "Smith's Fort" and consisted of 1200 acres of land. The Gray family acquired the plantation, and it also became known as "Gray's Creek Plantation." Many plantation houses stood on the site, but the surviving manor house today was built in the 1760s for Capt. Jacob Faulcon, a Cobham merchant, Revolutionary militia officer, vestryman of Southwark Parish, and longtime Surry County Clerk of Court. The house retains much of the original pine woodwork.