D'Evereux: Named for an uncle
- Jay Brothers
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170 D'Evereaux Dr. Natchez, MS
Circa 1836. Three story white brick with a middle cupola and full length front porch with six columns.
One of the best examples of Greek Revival style in the U.S. One of first homes with full-length two-story portico.
Dr. William St. John Elliott (1800-1855) and the widow Anna Frances Conner Bell Ruffin Elliot (1804-1876) built D’Evereux. Elliot was a Maryland native, and opened Natchez Protection Insurance Company in 1829 which insured cotton crops. Her parents owned the Berkley Plantation in the Second Creek area. Her previous husbands were Egbert H. Bell and Dr. William H. Ruffin. Elliott named the home for his mother's brother, General John D'Evereaux. The Elliotts had no children. Elliott left the mansion to the Catholic Church. Ann wanted to remain in the home so she purchased the home from church. With those funds, the Catholic Church purchased 35 acres and a building in his will for Bishop William Elder in Natchez to start an orphanage. D'Evereux Hall Orphan Asylum opened in 1860. It grew and remained open for a century. The Elliott family also owned Saragossa Plantation.
After Anna's death, the estate went to her grandniece, Margaret Spencer Martin (Mrs. Bayard) Sheilds (1855-1932) and her daughter (Mrs. Ernest Bennett).
The early portion of the 20th century saw abuse of the house from tenant farmers storing crops in the house.
By 1925, Myrna Virginia Smith purchased the home. She commenced restoration and after retiring from teaching in Chicago in 1941 resided there permanently until 1961. After her death, the First Baptist Church of Natchez bought 48.6 acres of the D'Evereaux land to expand its campus; T. B. Buckles from Natchez bought seven acres and the house.
In 1972, the home with the Buckles family still had seven acres around it. NR 1972 See Saragasso Plantation
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