Riddick's Folly House Museum

Mission:

The mission of Riddick’s Folly is to provide a tangible link to our community’s history through the portrayal of the 19th century Riddick family home.

History:

The Riddick family first came to North America between 1630 and 1650 when James Riddick arrived in the rapidly growing Virginia Colony. He immediately began buying land, and by the time of his son's birth (also named James), he had already established himself as a prominent land owner and businessman. In the generations that followed, the Riddicks grew in number and influence, settling in the lands around Nansemond County (now the City of Suffolk).

Mills Riddick (1780-1844) owned four plantations -- Jericho, Old Place, Sweet Retreat, and White Marsh -- that surrounded the dusty town of Suffolk. In addition to these lands, he also owned stakes in the Albemarle Land Company and the Dismal Swamp Land Company. But despite these businesses, Mills Riddick made most of his personal fortune selling lumber, specifically shingles, throughout the United States. He owned part of a schooner docked at Constant's Wharf in Suffolk that he used to transport his cargo, as well as himself to the busy ports of the mid-Atlantic.