A friend, neighbor, and associate of Thomas Jefferson. His estate, Belle Mont (Belmont after the Civil War) bordered Jefferson's Monticello estate to the northwest and was built by the same mason who did the brick work on Monticello; John's sister married that mason. John's house still stands and is on the Historic American Buildings Survey (VA-1247). He was on the committee with Jefferson that, in 1814, organized and established what would become the University of Virginia; he handled the committee's money.
In addition to running his plantation, he dealt in real estate and was the postmaster in Charlottesville from 1803 until his death in 1837 (i.e. most of Jefferson's presidency). He also operated, with Twyman Wayt, a dry goods store and there are numerous entries in Jefferson's memorandum books for purchases from the firm. One letter to Jefferson, from businessman Opie Norris, attests to John's relationship with Jefferson as Mr. Norris used him as his character reference.
He was a founding member in 1817 of the Albemarle Agricultural Society of which ex-president James Madison was the first president and Thomas Mann Randolph first vice president. He was also vice president of the 1823 committe that established Charlottesville's fist library. Jefferson and two other men prepared the catalogue of books to purchase.
He was also a close friend of Alexander Garrett, also on the 1814 committe, who was executor of Jefferson's estate and is said to have placed Jefferson in his coffin. John's son, Benjamin Bannister Winn, married Alexander Garrett's neice Mary Jane Garrett (daughter of brother Ira). Alexander was one of three witnesses to John's will.
In 1847 his estate was sold to Slaughter Ficklin and, in 1886 after both Slaughter and his wife had died, it was sold to become one of the nation's first subdivisions and today gives its name to the Belmont neighborhood of Charlottesville.
In addition to running his plantation, he dealt in real estate and was the postmaster in Charlottesville from 1803 until his death in 1837 (i.e. most of Jefferson's presidency). He also operated, with Twyman Wayt, a dry goods store and there are numerous entries in Jefferson's memorandum books for purchases from the firm. One letter to Jefferson, from businessman Opie Norris, attests to John's relationship with Jefferson as Mr. Norris used him as his character reference.
He was a founding member in 1817 of the Albemarle Agricultural Society of which ex-president James Madison was the first president and Thomas Mann Randolph first vice president. He was also vice president of the 1823 committe that established Charlottesville's fist library. Jefferson and two other men prepared the catalogue of books to purchase.
He was also a close friend of Alexander Garrett, also on the 1814 committe, who was executor of Jefferson's estate and is said to have placed Jefferson in his coffin. John's son, Benjamin Bannister Winn, married Alexander Garrett's neice Mary Jane Garrett (daughter of brother Ira). Alexander was one of three witnesses to John's will.
In 1847 his estate was sold to Slaughter Ficklin and, in 1886 after both Slaughter and his wife had died, it was sold to become one of the nation's first subdivisions and today gives its name to the Belmont neighborhood of Charlottesville.
A friend, neighbor, and associate of Thomas Jefferson. His estate, Belle Mont (Belmont after the Civil War) bordered Jefferson's Monticello estate to the northwest and was built by the same mason who did the brick work on Monticello; John's sister married that mason. John's house still stands and is on the Historic American Buildings Survey (VA-1247). He was on the committee with Jefferson that, in 1814, organized and established what would become the University of Virginia; he handled the committee's money.
In addition to running his plantation, he dealt in real estate and was the postmaster in Charlottesville from 1803 until his death in 1837 (i.e. most of Jefferson's presidency). He also operated, with Twyman Wayt, a dry goods store and there are numerous entries in Jefferson's memorandum books for purchases from the firm. One letter to Jefferson, from businessman Opie Norris, attests to John's relationship with Jefferson as Mr. Norris used him as his character reference.
He was a founding member in 1817 of the Albemarle Agricultural Society of which ex-president James Madison was the first president and Thomas Mann Randolph first vice president. He was also vice president of the 1823 committe that established Charlottesville's fist library. Jefferson and two other men prepared the catalogue of books to purchase.
He was also a close friend of Alexander Garrett, also on the 1814 committe, who was executor of Jefferson's estate and is said to have placed Jefferson in his coffin. John's son, Benjamin Bannister Winn, married Alexander Garrett's neice Mary Jane Garrett (daughter of brother Ira). Alexander was one of three witnesses to John's will.
In 1847 his estate was sold to Slaughter Ficklin and, in 1886 after both Slaughter and his wife had died, it was sold to become one of the nation's first subdivisions and today gives its name to the Belmont neighborhood of Charlottesville.
In addition to running his plantation, he dealt in real estate and was the postmaster in Charlottesville from 1803 until his death in 1837 (i.e. most of Jefferson's presidency). He also operated, with Twyman Wayt, a dry goods store and there are numerous entries in Jefferson's memorandum books for purchases from the firm. One letter to Jefferson, from businessman Opie Norris, attests to John's relationship with Jefferson as Mr. Norris used him as his character reference.
He was a founding member in 1817 of the Albemarle Agricultural Society of which ex-president James Madison was the first president and Thomas Mann Randolph first vice president. He was also vice president of the 1823 committe that established Charlottesville's fist library. Jefferson and two other men prepared the catalogue of books to purchase.
He was also a close friend of Alexander Garrett, also on the 1814 committe, who was executor of Jefferson's estate and is said to have placed Jefferson in his coffin. John's son, Benjamin Bannister Winn, married Alexander Garrett's neice Mary Jane Garrett (daughter of brother Ira). Alexander was one of three witnesses to John's will.
In 1847 his estate was sold to Slaughter Ficklin and, in 1886 after both Slaughter and his wife had died, it was sold to become one of the nation's first subdivisions and today gives its name to the Belmont neighborhood of Charlottesville.
Gravesite Details
The Winn family were originally buried on John's plantation (Belmont) but were moved when the plantation was subdivided in the 1890s.
Family Members
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