His family had once owned a huge plantation, Berry Hill, worked by over 3,000 slaves. Berry Hill Estate originally was part of a  tract granted by the English Crown in 1728 to William Byrd II. (Berry Hill is now a resort and conference center outside South Boston, Virginia and is a National Historic Landmark.)
His family had previously owned a large plantation called Berry Hill, which employed over 3,000 enslaved people. Berry Hill Estate was originally part of a land grant given by the English Crown in 1728 to William Byrd II. (Berry Hill is now a resort and conference center outside South Boston, Virginia, and is a National Historic Landmark.)