Huguenot Houses in Powhatan and Chesterfield Counties

Sublett's Tavern

1640 Huguenot Trail (Route 711)

Sublett's Tavern, circa 1757, is one of several homes in Powhatan built by

descendants of the Sublett family. Three Sublett families received land patents in the

French lands, namely Abraham Sublett Jr., Peter Sublett Jr., and Peter Lewis Sublett,

all of whom left several descendants.

Sublett opened his "ordinary" or tavern in 1813 and ran that portion of the business

for many years. The stop was favored by many on their way to or from Richmond,

and he also accommodated his guests by providing stables for their horses and pens

for the turkeys, cattle, and hogs they were taking to the Richmond market. The house

shows typical tavern construction with social rooms downstairs and private

bedrooms upstairs. The floors are the original wide heart pine boards. Over the years

the tavern also served as a post office from 1826-1946, as well as a voting precinct.

When the current owner bought Sublett's Tavern in 1974 from a descendant of

William Sublet, son of Peter Lewis Sublett, major renovations were in order. Today it

is beautifully restored.

Compiled by Lucille C. Moseley for the 300th Anniversary

Celebrating the Arrival of the Huguenots in Virginia

Huguenot Houses in Powhatan and Chesterfield Counties

Elioch

1610 Huguenot Trail

French Huguenot descendant Anthony Martin, grandson of immigrant Jean Martin

(Martain), built the original four-room brick house with a basement in the late

eighteenth century. Captain William Wood Finney bought Elioch in 1830, covered it

with clapboards, made it into its present "H" shape, and named it for his home in

Scotland. The house is situated on a large lawn in the midst of a beautiful grove of old

trees. The thirteen-room house with a central hall has tall five-panel doors with

original locks and heavy hand-made hinges. Shingles removed from the state capitol

in Richmond were used to roof this house. Colonel Finny is buried in the woods

behind Elioch and his faithful servant is buried nearby.

The grave of Anthony Martin is also on the land with this inscription:

Here lie the remains of Anthony Martin,

born 26th day September 1737 and

departed 30th June 1805. Age 67, 1 month, 6 days.

Remember me as you pass by;

As you are now, so once was I.

As I am now so you must be,

Compiled by Lucille C. Moseley for the 300th Anniversary

Celebrating the Arrival of the Huguenots in Virginia

Huguenot Houses in Powhatan and Chesterfield Counties

Terre Haute

Terre Haute, meaning "high land" in French, lies above the James River in eastern

Powhatan County. About 1740 David and Elizabeth (Chastain) LeSueur relocated

from their original patent land on the river to this land. They bought the property

from two other original refugees--137 acres from William Battersby and 160 acres

from William Sallé. It is believed that they built the first room shown here, a large

room with an English basement below and a chamber above.

In 1789 the Harris family took ownership of the property, adding four rooms,

hallway, and stairs. They and their descendants farmed Terre Haute until the 1950s.

2521 Huguenot Springs Road

It is now owned by a Harris cousin of Huguenot heritage who has restored the house,

adding brick wings.

Compiled by Lucille C. Moseley for the 300th Anniversary

Celebrating the Arrival of the Huguenots in Virginia