How could one tell the story of America’s quest for independence without including one of Hanover County’s most famous residents, Patrick Henry?
Henry was born in Hanover and spent much of his life here. His experiences growing up and living in the county helped shape his principles, as well as the nation’s future.
To begin your own quest to discover this fascinating man, perhaps you can startyour adventure at Studley Plantation in Eastern Hanover. A plaque marks the site where the plantation, which served as the Henry family farm, once stood.
Henry was born on May 29, 1736 to Scottish immigrant John Henry and his wife Sarah Winston Henry. The home was destroyed by fire in 1807, but the site is now recognized as the Patrick Henry’s Birthplace Archaeological Site by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
In 1763, while living at Hanover Tavern, Henry established himself as a leading orator, as well as a fighter for the young nation’s independence, when he argued the sentencing phase of the “Parson’s Cause,” a legal issue that is recognized as a major event leading to the American Revolution. The case was argued across the street from the tavern in the Hanover Courthouse.
The courthouse grounds are open year round and on the second Tuesday of each month docent-led tours of the Courthouse are offered. Visit HanoverHistorical.org for more information.
[(Picture on left) George Cooke’s 1834 depiction of Patrick Henry arguing the Parson’s Cause case at the Hanover County Courthouse]
From 1771 to 1778, Henry lived in Scotchtown. It was here that he conceived some of his more revolutionary ideas. While residing here, Henry delivered his “Give me liberty or give me death” speech at what is now St. John’s Church in Richmond.
Scotchtown is the only home of Henry that is still standing. In 1958, Preservation Virginia acquired the home and restored it to its appearance during Henry’s time there. For more information, visit PreservationVirginia.org.
Henry’s fiery passion for independence was, perhaps, first kindled when, as a child, he and other future revolutionaries attended Hanover’s Polegreen Church, where they would listen to the minister, Samuel Davies, as he advocated for principles that would eventually be expressed in the first amendment to the American Constitution.
One of the best ways to get acquainted with Henry is through the Historic Polegreen Church Foundation’s Patrick Henry Tour, an immersive, full-day experience that takes you on a 50-mile journey through Hanover.
“The tour strings together the places that shaped Patrick Henry, from his birthplace to the humble, hand restored cottage at Pine Slash,” says Amber Hawkins, the Foundation’s Executive Director. She adds, “Each stop peels back another layer of the man who would become the voice of the American Revolution.” Learn more about this tour at HistoricPolegreenChurch.org.
Editorial by Steve Cook; July 2026