“Are you ready for another exciting post of ‘Hail to the Chief’?”
“This post will feature the places I’ve visited that were associated with our 10th President.”
“And even though John Tyler was scorned by the United States and viewed as a traitor during his final years of life, it was still a pleasure for me to honor the legacy of the President known as His Accidency.”
GREENWAY PLANTATION – Built around 1776 in Charles City County, Virginia by Judge John Tyler, Sr., this 1 ½ – story plantation house was the birthplace of 10th President John Tyler on March 29, 1790.
“When Judge Tyler died in 1813, John Tyler inherited Greenway at the age of 23. Tyler lived in the house until the age of 39 when he sold the plantation and moved to nearby Sherwood Forest Plantation.”
“This original wood frame house was privately owned, which meant Tom, Bob Moldenhauer, and I had to be snuck up the driveway and into the front yard for a closer view of the birthplace.”
TYLER’S WILLIAMSBURG PLANTATION – At dawn on April 5, 1841, Secretary of State Daniel Webster’s son, Fletcher, arrived at John Tyler’s plantation with a letter from the Secretary informing the Vice President of Harrison’s death the morning before.
BROWN’S HOTEL SITE – Located at the corner of 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, the Brown’s Hotel was where John Tyler took the Oath of Office on April 6, 1841 after the death of William Henry Harrison. The hotel was razed in 1935.
“The Brown’s Hotel was where John Tyler resided during his short time as Vice President. As soon as Tyler arrived at the hotel from his home in Williamsburg, Chief Justice William Cranch administered the President Oath of Office to our 10th President.”
THE WHITE HOUSE – “When Tyler moved into the White House, Congress contested he was “Acting President” and was still in fact Vice President in name. His opponents referred to Tyler as “His Accidency”.John Tyler held steadfast that he was the 10th President, and his stance paved the way when future Presidents died in office. In 1967, the 25th Amendment to the Constitution made it official.”
LETITIA CHRISTIAN – The 22-year-old Letitia Christian married John Tyler at her parent’s home on March 29, 1813, which was John’s 23rd birthday. During her husband’s Presidency, Letitia made only one appearance as First Lady. She remained in a wheelchair in the upstairs living quarters, reading her Bible and prayer book. Letitia died in the White House from a stroke on September 10, 1842 at the age of 51.
“Letitia Christian Tyler became the first First Lady to die in the White House. Due to her health, Letitia never did assume the duties of White House hostess. That role was carried out by daughter-in-law Priscilla Cooper Tyler.”
ELIZABETH COOPER TYLER – Priscilla, as she was called, married Robert Tyler, the eldest son of John Tyler, on September 12, 1839. When Letitia Tyler was unable to fulfill her role as First Lady due to illness, Priscilla became the White House hostess. The 26-year-old continued that role until she and her husband moved to Philadelphia in 1844.
LETITIA TYLER-SEMPLE – Nicknamed ‘Letty’, Letitia was the 4th child and 2nd daughter of John and Letitia Tyler. ‘Letty’ served in the role of White House hostess along with Priscilla Tyler, and then continued by herself when Priscilla moved away from Washington. The 23-year-old remained White House hostess until President Tyler married Julia Gardiner on June 26, 1844.
JULIA GARDINER – President John Tyler, age 54, married 24-year-old Julia Gardiner on June 26, 1844 in the Church of the Ascension in New York City. Julia assumed the role of First Lady for the final eight months of Tyler’s Presidency.
SHERWOOD FOREST PLANTATION – “Built in 1730 on the north bank of the James River near Charles City, Virginia, Sherwood Forest was the home of John Tyler from 1842 until his death in 1862. Originally named ‘Walnut Grove’, Tyler bought the plantation to use as his retirement home after his Presidency.John Tyler renamed his new plantation ‘Sherwood Forest’ in a reference to the folk legend Robin Hood to signify that he had been “outlawed” by the Whig Party.”
“Before Tyler’s purchase, William Henry Harrison inherited Walnut Grove in 1790 and held it for three years. He sold it in 1793, having never lived in the house.Did you spot me standing just to the left of the porch steps?”
“On my first trip to Sherwood Forest on May 12, 2019, I stood alongside one of the two cast iron dogs that adorn each side of the porch.During the Civil War, Union soldiers tried to steal the dogs. The soldiers only made it to the end of the driveway as the dogs weighed 500 pounds each.”
“This is the formal garden on the south side of Sherwood Forest. The ornament near me, including the small toad on top, was the only lawn fixture that partially survived Union occupancy during the Civil War.”
“This toad-topped ornament was purchased and placed in the small garden by John Tyler’s wife Julia in the 1840s.”
“John Tyler converted the garçonnière into his law office and practiced law here from 1845 to 1862. At 301-feet long, Sherwood Forest is the longest frame house in America.”
“The hyphen that connects the law office to the Big House was added by the Tyler’s and used as a ballroom to accommodate the popular dance of the day – the Virginia reel. Today it’s called line dancing.”
“President Tyler had chosen this site as his gravesite. However, he died in Richmond during a meeting of the Confederate Congress and due to the Union Amy occupation of the area, John Tyler was buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond out of necessity.”
“On May 18, 2021, I returned to Sherwood Forest with one goal in mind – to go inside the historic home of John Tyler.”
“During my second visit, I posed with the other cast-iron dog statue that guarded the porch.”
“On my second visit, I also spent more time at the actual front of the house, which was the side facing the James River.”
“During his two marriages, Tyler fathered 15 children, more than any other President in history.”
“I was allowed to be photographed in only one room of the house and we picked this living room. The footrest in front of the chair to my right was owned by Thomas Jefferson.”
“I’m standing on a table used by Tyler in the White House. To my left was our 10th President’s cigar box; to my right was one of his books; and the remnants of his walking stick was in front of me.”
VIRGINIA STATE CAPITOL – In November 1861, John Tyler won election to the Confederate House of Representatives, and he waited for the first session scheduled for February 1862.
EXCHANGE HOTEL SITE – “John Tyler died on January 12, 1862 in his room at the Exchange Hotel in Richmond, Virginia. The hotel stood on the corner of N. 14th Street and E. Franklin St. from 1841 to 1901.The parking structure behind me was constructed on the site of the Exchange Hotel.”
“John and Julia Tyler were in their room at the Exchange Hotel on January 12, 1862 when he complained of chills and dizziness before he collapsed.In this drawing, the Exchange Hotel, built in 1841, is the building pictured on the right. Across the street is the Ballard House, which opened in 1855.”
“Tyler was treated but failed to improve. On the night before the couple planned on returning to Sherwood Forest, Tyler began to suffocate. His doctor gave him a sip of brandy just after midnight, which was when the President said “Doctor, I am going.” The doc replied: “I hope not, sir.” Tyler said: “Perhaps it is best.” Those were his last words – shortly after, John Tyler was dead at the age of 71.”
“Even though Tyler had requested only a simple burial, President Jefferson Davis and the Confederate government gave him a state funeral with all the pomp and circumstances afforded a President.The body of John Tyler, draped in a Confederate flag, laid in state in the Hall of Congress in the Capitol Building in Richmond. When he left the Capitol, Tyler’s remains were taken to St. Paul’s Church for his funeral.”
HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY – Following John Tyler’s death on January 12, 1862 in his room at the Exchange Hotel in Richmond, Virginia, his coffin was draped in a Confederate flag and Tyler was laid to rest near the tomb of James Monroe.
“Tyler’s death was the only one in Presidential history not to be officially recognized in Washington; solely due to his allegiance to the Confederate States of America.”
“When John Tyler’s coffin was lowered into the ground draped in the Confederate flag, he became the only U.S. President to be laid to rest under a flag not of the United States.”
“When my photographer and I made our first trip to Hollywood Cemetery, John Tyler’s final resting place was the 37th Presidential gravesite the two of us had visited together.”
“My first visit to the grave of John Tyler was on May 12, 2019 – which was the 121st anniversary of the birth of Tom’s grandmother Mamie Struebing.”
“A little over two years later, I returned to Hollywood Cemetery and visited the grave of John Tyler on May 18, 2021.”
“Did you enjoy this post dedicated to the life of John Tyler? Please leave me a comment. Thank you for the visit and I’ll see you on the next post featuring James K. Polk.”
My name is Thomas Watson and I've been a U.S. history fanatic since I was 9 years old. In 2013, I decided to take my passion to the next level when I purchased a Thomas Jefferson bobble head with the sole intention of photographing that bobble head at Presidential sites. From that first day on July 10, 2013 at Spiegel Grove in Fremont, Ohio, this journey has taken on a life of its own. Now, nearly 40,000 miles later, I thought it was time to share the experiences, stories, and photos of Jefferson's travels. Keep in mind, this entire venture has been done with the deepest respect for the men who held the office as our President; no matter what their political affiliations, personal ambitions, or public scandals may have been. This blog is intended to be a true tribute to the Presidents of the United States and this story will be told Through the Eyes of Jefferson. I hope you enjoy the ride!
