Cary, Lott, Birth Site
Also known as: Lott Cary House
Why it's listed
This small farmhouse in Charles City County, Virginia, is identified by long-standing local tradition as the birthplace of Lott Cary. Built in the late 18th century on the plantation of John Bowry, it began as a two-story hall-parlor dwelling and was later enlarged with one-story additions. Asbestos shingles and tar paper now cover much of the exterior, and little original material survives apart from a worn architrave and an east-end chimney with Flemish bond brickwork and a corbeled cap. Cary was born enslaved in 1780, moved to Richmond in 1804, bought his freedom in 1813, and became a Baptist minister. In 1821 he sailed to Liberia, where he founded a church, started schools, served as a physician and helped defend the colony before dying in 1829. No document proves he was born in this house, and he was probably born in slave quarters that no longer stand. The house is the surviving remnant of the plantation and the local focus of his memory.
Significance in brief: Local oral tradition holds for over 150 years that this house is where Lott Cary was born in 1780. Cary became the first black American missionary to Africa and one of the founders of Liberia. The house is the only visible remnant of the John Bowry plantation where he was born and lived, and it is the focus of local sentiment. It also represents the contribution of black Virginians in the early national period.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80004883, listed July 30, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NW of Charles City on VA 602, Charles City |
|---|---|
| County | Charles City County |
| Listed | July 30, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80004883 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | late 18th century |
| Architectural style | Late 18th-century Tidewater vernacular, hall-parlor plan |
| Areas of significance | Black, Religion, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked as occupied, in good condition and altered; used for agriculture and as a private residence. Little original fabric remains. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 37.38432, -77.08105 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80004883.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712749
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.