The Howards Of Virginia Today
Directed by , this historical drama was adapted from the 1939 novel The Tree of Liberty by Elizabeth Page .
: The story follows Matt Howard (played by Cary Grant ), a common backwoodsman and surveyor, who falls in love with and marries Jane Peyton ( Martha Scott ), a woman from a wealthy, royalist family. As the American Revolution approaches, the couple's differing political and class backgrounds create deep marital tension. Matt is a staunch supporter of independence—mentored by his close friend Thomas Jefferson —while Jane's family remains loyal to the British Crown. The Howards of Virginia
: A prominent early settler, Matthew Howard arrived in Virginia by 1637. He held land on the Elizabeth River before eventually moving to Maryland around 1650. Directed by , this historical drama was adapted
: A later 19th-century branch of the family resided at Kenmore , the historic Fredericksburg estate once owned by George Washington's sister, Betty Washington Lewis . Matt is a staunch supporter of independence—mentored by
: You can watch the film on platforms like Prime Video . Historical Howard Families in Virginia
: The 5th Baron Howard of Effingham served as the royal governor of Virginia from 1683 to 1692. He is noted for strengthening English control over the colony following Bacon's Rebellion .