One thing is certain — Governor’s Land residents are certainly part of something historic. With roots dating back to 1607, our private country club community in Williamsburg, Virginia was an early English settlement, established as Company Land. Prior to the completion of our Tom Fazio-designed award-winning golf course, archaeologists did a deep dive into the rich roots our scenic lawn emerges from.
The Governor’s Land Foundation Heritage Committee recovered artifacts from English settlers 415 years ago and from Native American communities dating 5,000 years back. Among the discoveries were a rifle barrel tarp, bill hook, and padlock buried deep below the 1st and 18th fairways of our championship golf course. The bill hook is a machete-like weapon, often mounted on long poles and used both in close combat to pull enemies off of their horses and agriculturally to cultivate prosperous crops. The English padlock was thought to have secured the possessions of an early Jamestown settler and became the official logo of the Governor’s Land Foundation (GLF). All three artifacts can exclusively be found on display in our Cypress Room.
Also among the discoveries were copper necklace beads, almost unrecognizable after aging over the past four centuries. Beyond connecting the James and Chickahominy Rivers, Governor’s Land bridges our blossoming modern community with the fascinating past of its foundation. Historians continue to unveil new findings indicative of the lifestyle of the Virginia civilizations’ past helping us better understand the roots our residents enjoy today.
To learn more about the fascinating origin of Governor’s Land, purchasing a home in our historic community, or becoming a member at Two Rivers Country Club, call (757) 258-9258 or email info@tworiversclub.com today!