Williamsburg, Virginia: Archaeologists are digging up a piece of colonial American history, uncovering an extravagant garden once owned by a wealthy politician. This garden, located in Williamsburg, was created by John Custis IV, a prominent tobacco plantation owner and a member of Virginia’s colonial legislature. Custis is also known as the father-in-law of Martha Washington, who married George Washington after Custis’ son Daniel passed away.
The garden, dating back to the 18th century, was a symbol of status, much like owning a luxury car today. It featured exotic plants from around the world, reflecting the elite’s desire to showcase their wealth. However, the excavation reveals much more than just the garden itself.
“The garden may have been Custis’ vision, but he wasn’t the one doing the work,” said Jack Gary, executive director of archaeology at Colonial Williamsburg, a living history museum that now owns the property. “Everything we see in the ground that’s related to the garden is the work of enslaved gardeners, many of whom must have been very skilled.” Archaeologists have discovered thick fence posts made of red cedar, gravel paths, and soil stains indicating where plants once grew in neat rows.
They also found a pierced coin, typically worn by young African Americans as a good-luck charm, and fragments of an earthenware chamber pot likely used by enslaved people. The dig also uncovered evidence of animals buried intentionally, including chickens and a cow’s foot, and a snake's remains, suggesting the complex and often hidden practices surrounding the garden. “We have to wonder if we’re seeing traditions that are non-European,” Gary said.
“Are they West African traditions? We need to do more research. But it’s features like those that make us continue to try and understand the enslaved people who were in this space.” The Colonial Williamsburg museum, which tells the story of Virginia’s colonial past, has traditionally focused on the European settlers.
However, it has been expanding its efforts to include the experiences of Black Americans, who made up more than half of the population but were often marginalised in historical accounts. The museum plans to reconstruct Custis’ garden and home, known as Custis Square, using detailed archaeological findings since no original maps or diagrams exist. The garden was about two-thirds the size of a football field and featured impressive elements such as lead statues of Greek gods and meticulously trimmed topiaries.
Custis corresponded with British botanist Peter Collinson, exchanging seeds and plants, which may have introduced new species to Virginia, including the early mention of tomatoes in Williamsburg, according to Eve Otmar, Colonial Williamsburg’s master of historic gardening. Despite its grandeur, Custis’ garden was more about displaying personal wealth than scientific exploration. It was strategically placed to be visible from Williamsburg’s only church house, ensuring that its opulence was on display for all to see.
“In the 18th century, those were unusual things,” Otmar said. “Only certain classes of people got to experience that. A wealthy person today — they buy a Lamborghini.
” The museum continues to investigate the lives of the more than 200 enslaved people who worked for Custis as Crystal Castleberry, Colonial Williamsburg's public archaeologist, has met with their descendants. While some names have been identified, such as Cornelia and Beck, details about their lives and contributions remain sparse. The ongoing research aims to shed light on these individuals and their role in maintaining the garden and its legacy.
“Are they related to one another?" Castleberry asked. "Do they fear being split up or sold? Or are they going to be reunited with loved ones on other properties?” Agencies.
