HISTORY OF THE BRIARS

Perched above the Mississippi River in Natchez, Mississippi, The Briars has witnessed over two centuries of Southern history. The story begins in 1784, when Spain granted the land to Richard Bacon. In 1814, Arthur Mahan purchased the property, and just four years later, in 1818, Judge John Perkins commissioned architect Levi Weeks to design and build the elegant home that still stands today.

The Briars is perhaps best known as the childhood home of Varina Howell, who would later marry Jefferson Davis and serve as First Lady of the Confederate States of America. From 1828 to 1850, the house was leased to Varina’s parents, William Burr Howell—son of New Jersey Governor Richard Howell—and Margaret Kempe Howell. On February 26, 1845, Varina wed Jefferson Davis here at The Briars, sealing its place in American history.

In 1853, Walter Irvine purchased the home, and it remained in his family until 1927, when it was sold to Emma Augusta Wall. By the 1970s, The Briars was in the hands of Robert E. Canon and Newton Wilds, who later transformed it into a bed and breakfast.

In January 2023, The Briars began a new chapter when it was purchased by Chip and Clara Newman of Flora, Mississippi. The Newmans are committed to a full restoration, returning this 1818 landmark to its former grandeur and opening its doors once again for tours, events, and a new generation of stories.