Mr. Bill Shelton

About six years ago, I was giving a private tour of the Cold Harbor Campaign which took place in Hanover County, Virginia in June 1864.  One of my first stops was on the Studley Road just east of the swampy creek known as he Totopotomoy where Breckinridge’s confeds faced off against Hancock’s Union boys.  Across the creek stood “Rural Plains,” a house built around 1670 and was Hancock’s headquarters during the fighting there.  Not planned as a stop - I was just going to drive past the house explaining the history there.  Instead, on impulse, I pulled into the circular drive to show my tour the house very quickly.  When finished, I couldn’t back out onto busy Studley Road or turn around and I decided to drive around past the house (I respect private property, so I did feel like an interloper.)  Standing by the house was a man.  I stopped to apologize and explain why I was there.  The man turned out to be 84 year old William Shelton, the owner and direct descendant of the original owners from the King’s Grants.  He treated me like an old friend and for almost an hour, he told me all about the history here on his property.  He even invited us inside the house which had seen Patrick Henry marry his first wife - a Shelton girl back in 1754.  We were pressed for time and had to go.  I got his phone number.  He told to visit anytime.  Later that year, I did return with my wife and we hung out and talked.  He sold shrubbery and we bought three boxwoods which proudly grow in our yard in King William County today.  I returned 2 or 3 more times later to walk the grounds and take photos and just chat to Bill Shelton.  Long story short, Mr. Shelton and his wife have left us now, but not before he sold his property to the National Park Service.  It is part of the Richmond National Battlefields.  It will be protected forever.  They have only opened the grounds for visitors a couple of times.  When they do open it full time to the public, I intend to go back and walk around and remember the kindness and friendship shown by Mr. Shelton to this history nut.

By Kevin A. Kearns