The Pope Family
Col. Nathaniel Pope was the first Pope in America, arriving in Maryland in 1634 from Bristol, England. Nathaniel’s daughter, Anne, married John Washington and their great grandson, George, became the first President of the United States of America. Jacob Pope, our ancestor, came to Halifax, N.C. in 1725 along with two brothers. Jacob later moved to what is now Orange County where his son, Joel, received a land grant from Lord Granville. Although very little of that land remains in the family, the Pope Cemetery still exists a few miles away and is the final resting place of many of our ancestors.
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The Farm
On December 10, 1806, the McDade family acquired several hundred acres of land in Cedar Grove, NC. In 1856 Mary Jane McDade married John S. Pope and some of that land was part of her dowry. Construction of their home was interrupted in September 1861 when he enlisted to fight for Southern independence. John rose to the rank of Captain. After the war, construction of the house was completed and John and Mary Jane reared three children, Bunn, Carl and Jodie.
The main money crop for the first 150 years was tobacco along with corn converted to liquid and sold by the fifth during hard times. Earlier this century, we converted the farm to a meat lamb operation. Today, we are recognized as purveyors of the the highest quality lamb produced in manner that does not compromise the earth and atmoshere for future generations. We invite you to visit and tour a modern and sustainable farm. |
