A Revolutionary Beginning
Farmville’s history is deeply tied to one of its earliest and most influential figures, Major Benjamin May. Born in Scotland, May came to North Carolina in the mid 18th century. By around 1750, he had established himself on the south side of Contentnea Creek, just two miles west of where Farmville would later rise.
Benjamin May was not only a landowner but also a Revolutionary War officer. His service in the fight for American independence placed him among the ranks of men whose sacrifices helped shape the nation. After the war, he turned his focus to farming, acquiring thousands of acres of land and enslaved individuals to work the property. This made him one of the most prominent landholders in the region, and his estate would become a cornerstone of the community’s early economy.
Though Farmville itself would not be chartered until more than a century later, the groundwork laid by May’s estate and influence gave the area its first identity. His presence symbolized stability, wealth, and leadership in an era when rural communities depended on strong figures to guide their growth.
The Growth of a Family Legacy
The May family continued to build upon Benjamin May’s foundation. His descendants expanded the family’s holdings and influence, and in 1854 his grandson James William May built what is now the centerpiece of Farmville’s historical preservation, the May House.
The house, constructed in the Greek Revival style, was more than just a family home. It reflected the agricultural wealth and social standing of the May family in Pitt County. Generations of the family lived there, maintaining ties to the land and the community that had grown up around them.
This continuity of ownership preserved not just a building, but also a living history of Farmville. The home and its grounds bore witness to the shifts from antebellum plantation life, through the turmoil of the Civil War, into Reconstruction, and eventually into the 20th century.
From Private Estate to Public Treasure
One of the most significant moments in the preservation of Farmville’s history came with Tabitha Marie DeVisconti, a direct descendant of Major May. Known for her commitment to heritage and community, Tabitha donated her family’s 19th century home, along with the surrounding property and many valuable artifacts, to the town of Farmville.
Her gift ensured that the May family’s legacy would not fade into obscurity. Instead, the house was transformed into the May Museum and Park, opening to the public in 1991. Today, the museum preserves agricultural tools, clothing, photographs, and documents that trace the history of both the May family and the wider Farmville region.
Walking through the May Museum feels like stepping back in time. Visitors can glimpse what daily life looked like for a family rooted in the soil of Pitt County, how they lived, worked, and adapted across generations. The museum’s park also provides a green space where the community can gather, just as generations of Mays once gathered on the same grounds.
A Lasting Legacy
Major Benjamin May’s story is more than just the biography of a man. It is a story about how land, family, and community intersect to shape a town’s identity. Farmville exists today not simply as a result of civic planning in the 19th century, but because men like Benjamin May laid foundations long before the town was ever drawn on a map.
The transformation of his family’s home into a public museum shows how Farmville treasures its past while opening it up for future generations to learn and appreciate. It is a reminder that the legacies we leave behind, whether in land, leadership, or generosity, can echo for centuries.
For visitors and locals alike, the May Museum and Park is not just a historical site. It is a living monument to Farmville’s roots, to Major May’s Revolutionary spirit, and to the resilience of a community that continues to honor its past while building its future.
Visit the May Museum and Park
📍 3802 South Main Street, Farmville, NC
📞 (252) 753 6725
🌐 maymuseumandpark.com
