Listing Details

SOLD BY CARRIAGE PROPERTIES / OFF MARKET

The Tea Farm comprised about 600 acres of land which was originally part ofNewington Plantation granted to Landgrave Daniel Axtel about 1680, which remained in the Axtel-Blake families until it was sold to Henry Middleton in 1887. Henry Middletonwilled it to his granddaughter, Harriet Minnot, and she sold 542 acres to Dr. Charles U Shepard in 1889.Dr. Shepard immediately started building constructions of his home, a tea factory and began planting tea. In 1892, he marketed 98 pounds of tea and by 1909 had 100 acres planted in tea and marketed 12,000lbs. In 1890 he established a school for his tea pickers, who for half a day's work, received a free simple education and thirty to fifty cents per day for their labor.