Romancoke, Virginia Explained

Romancoke, Virginia
Settlement Type:Unincorporated community
Pushpin Map:Virginia#USA
Pushpin Label:Romancoke
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within Virginia and the United States
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Virginia
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:King William
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population As Of:2000
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Coordinates:37.5736°N -76.8506°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP codes
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID

Romancoke is an unincorporated community in King William County, Virginia, United States.Romancoke was a plantation initially developed by William Claiborne in the 17th century, and inherited by his burgess sons William Claiborne Jr. then Thomas Claiborne.

Eventually, in the early 19th century, George Washington Parke Custis, father of Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee (wife of Gen. Robert E. Lee) inherited Romancoke Plantation, as well as Arlington and White House Plantations. His will appointed Gen. Lee as executor, and directed him to manumit approximately 200 slaves within five years of his death (which happened in 1857). The American Civil War and Emancipation Proclamation intervened, but Gen. Lee fulfilled the clause by December, 1862.[1] Lee's second son, Rooney Lee, managed both White House plantation and nearby Romancoke after resigning his U.S. Army commission.[2] His youngest son, Robert E. Lee, Jr., inherited Romancoke and after the war took up residence (about four miles from West Point).

Notes and References

  1. http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/spotsylvania/wills/c2320001.txt
  2. Book: Freeman. Robert E. Lee. 1. Chapter 23.