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The historic Rochelle–Prince House, located at 22371 Main Street in Courtland, dates back to an early period of Virginia’s history.   

The first Rochelle, known to reside in the southeastern section of Virginia, was Ralph Rochelle, whose name appeared on a tax list for Surry County in 1668.  His son, George Rochelle, also resided in Surry County.  George Rochelle’s son, John Rochelle, also resided in Surry County.  John Rochelle’s first son, also named John Rochelle, lived in Southampton County, where his will was recorded in 1794.  The second son of John Rochelle (the 1st) was James Rochelle (1786-1835) who served as Clerk of The Southampton County Court for twenty years. 

James Rochelle owned several lots in the town of Jerusalem (now called Courtland) during the period 1812-1820.  James Rochelle’s close friend, Dr. Henry Gray owned two lots on which Gray built a house and an office.  At Dr. Gray’s death, his widow, Martha Hines Gray continued living in the Gray house.  James Rochelle was listed as co-guardian of Dr. Gray’s son and executor of the Gray estate.  In April of 1817, James Rochelle married Dr. Gray’s widow, Martha.  In 1821, James Rochelle purchased the Gray property from Dr. Gray’s heirs and from that time until the 1880s the former Gray house remained in the Rochelle family.    

According to tax records, between 1826 and 1827, James Rochelle doubled the value of Dr. Gray’s original buildings, which resulted from either rebuilding or substantial additions. These buildings became known as the Rochelle House. James Rochelle’s son, James Henry Rochelle, was born during that period. James Henry Rochelle became famous as a naval officer.   

James Rochelle was clerk of the Southampton County Court during the famous trial of Nat Turner and his followers. His signature appeared on several court records from that trial. He died at his home in Jerusalem in 1835. 

Incidentally, James Rochelle’s nephew George Henry Thomas, who later became a major general in the Union Army, read law in James Rochelle’s office in Jerusalem. 

Mattie Rochelle, daughter of James and Martha Rochelle, married John Tyler, Jr., son of President John Tyler.  They lived in the Rochelle House for several years with their three children.

James Henry Rochelle attended the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis and was graduated in 1848.  In 1853, he served on the U.S.S. Southampton (Virginia) as a part of Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry’s trade expedition to Japan.  Following the outbreak of the Civil War, he resigned his commission in the United States Navy.  He then received his commission in the Confederate Navy, serving as a lieutenant and eventually as a commander, beginning with service on the Patrick Henry during the famous sea battle between the Monitor and Merrimac in Hampton Roads in Virginia.

The Rochelle family continued to play a prominent role in Southampton County.  Mattie Rochelle Tyler’s daughter, Mattie Tyler, served for many years as postmistress and is said to be instrumental in changing the name of the county seat from Jerusalem to Courtland.  Another daughter of John Tyler, Jr. and Mattie Rochelle was Letitia for whom her uncle James Henry Rochelle named an island in the Amazon during his hydrographic survey trip.  She married General William B. Shands of Courtland.

The Rochelle House, now known as the Rochelle-Prince House, is owned by the Southampton County Historical Society through the generosity of the late Ann Louisa Prince. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register.

CLYDE PARKER is a retired human resources manager for the former Franklin Equipment Co. and a member of the Southampton County Historical Society. His email address is magnolia101@charter.net.