John Rogers

John Rogers was an overseer of three plantations, including Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. He then owned and operated the East Belmont plantation. Rogers was a co-founder of the Albemarle Agricultural Society, and was known for his revolutionary agricultural reforms. His influence and knowledge-gathering was centered among planters in Albemarle County, as well as across the country and in Europe.

Early years John Rogers was the son of Mary Trice and Byrd Rogers, They had two other sons, Philip and Byrd. (Lewises, Meriwethers and Their Kin states that John's mother was Martha.) John and Byrd descended from Giles Rogers who immigrated from Worcestershire, England to Virginia in the 1690s They also descended from Englishman John Rogers, the martyr of Smithfield who was burned at the stake in 1555.

Career Overseer

Rogers was the overseer of the Belmont Plantation for John Harvie. He was also the overseer of Monticello beginning in 1791 and later of Shadwell.

Landowner and farmer

Rogers purchased the Belmont estate in 1807, following the death of John Harvie. (By 1835, the value of the residence doubled, so it is believed that Rogers initiated improvements to the house before his death.) His son, John Jr., expanded the residence and added Flemish bond brickwork to the frame building. It was a good example of late Federalist architecture.

Agricultural reform Rogers—along with Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, and Robert McCormick—was a founder of the Agricultural Society of Albemarle. Rogers was "in the forefront of the agricultural reform movement" of the early 19th century. He was known for his progressive approaches to agriculture, including methods for improving the quality of the soil after years of tobacco crops.

Personal life He married Susan Goodman, the daughter of Charles Goodman, and they had four children: John, Thornton, Mary and Janetta. Mrs. Rogers married Edward Thurman of Tennessee. Thurman ran the farm ably, using new farm implements, like the reaper.