Established in Nansemond County, now Suffolk City, the Samuel Eley House property consists of a 19th-century I-house, several outbuildings and structures, and the foundation sites of other buildings. Collectively, the property embodies the common form of a southeastern Virginia farm that evolved in response to local trends in agriculture, commerce, and society. Reflecting more than 100 years of changing architectural design and construction technology, the circa-1826 Federal-style dwelling was partially reconstructed or altered in the mid-19th century using Greek Revival and Italianate stylistic attributes. When it was built, Nansemond County was emerging from a brief agricultural depression as farmers learned to enrich depleted soils with minerals. Revitalized fields brought farmers success in growing assorted grain crops and raising livestock. Today the property retains integrity of materials, workmanship, design, setting, location, and association, offering an exceptional example of one of the few remaining early 19^th-century houses in the area. The property’s period of significance extends from 1826 through 1919.