Philip Ludwell III

Philip Cottington Ludwell III (December 28, 1716 – March 25, 1767) was a Virginia planter, soldier and politician who twice represented Jamestown in the House of Burgesses, and like his father and grandfather of the same name also served on the Virginia Governor's Council. Like his grandfather decades earlier, he left his plantations in the care of overseers in 1760 and permanently moved to London, England. In 1738, Ludwell had become the earliest known convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity in North America, and would translate several religious works from Greek into English.

Early life and education

Born at Green Spring plantation in James City County, to the former Hannah Harrison and her husband Philip Ludwell Jr., Philip Ludwell III was their only son and heir, and orphaned at age 15. His grandfather Philip Ludwell (c. 1638–c. 1723) had been a colonial soldier and planter who married the widow of Virginia's colonial Governor William Berkeley, and himself became Governor of the Province of Carolina 1691–94), and also served as speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses. A member of the First Families of Virginia, Ludwell was a cousin of George Washington's wife Martha.

Ludwell graduated from the College of William & Mary and married Frances Grymes (d. 1753) of Morattico plantation on the Northern Neck of Virginia shortly before he officially became an adult and gained control of his inheritance. Her father Charles Grymes was a burgess as was an uncle and some cousins. They had four daughters, three of whom survived their mother: Hannah Philippa Ludwell (1737-1784), who would marry Virginia merchant and American diplomat William Lee; Frances, who did not marry and died before her father's estate was settled; and Lucy, who married her guardian's son, John Paradise.

The Divine and Holy Liturgy of St. Gregory the Diologist translated by Col. Philip Ludwell III published by ROCOR

Career

Upon reaching his majority, Ludwell inherited a town house in Williamsburg and several plantations including Green Spring, Rich Neck Plantation near the capital at Williamsburg, and Chippokes, south of the James River. Ludlow assisted Governor Robert Dinwiddie (1751-1756) and leased a large parcel of the Governor's Land.

Seven years after his wife's death, as tensions grew between Britain and her American Colonies, Ludwell placed his plantations in the care of overseers, including Cary Wilkinson, and sailed to London with his three daughters, whom he educated, as well as oversaw the education of children of other Virginia planters.

Ludwell had been received into the Orthodox church on December 31, 1738 (Old Style) in London, England. A special dispensation had been granted by the church's Holy Synod in Russia. He was also given exceptional permission to continue to attend Anglican services in Virginia, since the dispensation recognized that "apart from the Province of Pennsylvania, all religions but Protestantism are banned." which is used during Great Lent and is commonly called the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts today.

Death and legacy The Ludwell-Paradise House, built by Ludwell in 1753, still stands in Colonial Williamsburg. After a long period of declining health, Ludwell wrote his will on February 28, 1767. His funeral was served at the Russian Church in London on Monday, March 30, 1767. He was buried at Bow Church. Extensive archeological work has been performed at Rich Neck Plantation, and Chippoke Plantation State Park now includes an open-air farm museum demonstrating life in the era.