A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia, Part 26

Author: Martin, Joseph. ed. cn; Brockenbrough, William Henry
Publication date: 1835
Publisher: Charlottesville, J. Martin
Number of Pages: 1278

USA > Washington DC > Washington DC > A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia > Part 26
USA > Virginia > A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia > Part 26

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

TOWNS, VILLAGES, POST OFFICES, &c.

HAMPSTEAD, P. O. in the S. E.) angle of the county, 96 ms. N. E. of R., and 86 ms. S. W. of W. Hamp. stead is called a village on the post office list, but is in truth merely an old established post office, perhaps the oldest in the county, and equally long known as a stand for a store. ber. It is situated 1 mile from Boyd's hole on the western shore of the Po- tomac, and about 6 ms. N. E. of King George C. H. in a rich country : the staples of which are, corn, wheat and cotton. There are no manufactures in the Northern neck; agriculture is the pursuit of the whole population. Within a mile and a half of Hamp- stead, there is a Protestant Episcopal church of the largest class of country churches, built of brick :- it is called St. Paul's, and its congregation em- braces all the middle and lower part of the county. The Rev. Mr. Gold- smith is its present pastor.

County Courts are held on the 1st Thursday, in every month :- Quar- terly in March, June, August and November.

JUDGE LOMAX holds his Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery, on the Ist of May und 8th of Octo-

MILLVILLE, P. V. 97 ms. from R., and 87 ms. S. of W. This village contains 8 dwelling houses, 2 general stores, 1 grist mill, 1 blacksmith and 1 shoemaker shop, and 19 inhabitants. Millville is situated on the head wa- ter of Rosier's creek, which divides King George and Westmoreland counties, so that a part of the village is in each county.

PORT CONWAY, P. V. and Sea Port, 60 ms. from R., and 79 ms. S. of W., situated on the N. side of the Rappahannock, opposite to P. Royal, in Caroline, in the S. W. part of the county. It contains 13 dwelling houses, 2 mercantile stores, and seve- ral mechanics. The land in the vi- cinity is considered fertile, and well adapted to corn and wheat, the only crops cultivated to any extent. The location is a beautiful one for a large town, the land extending back for 2

KING GEORGE C. H. P. O. situated near the centre of the county, 88 ms. N. N. E. of R., and 78 ms. S. W. of W. . There are besides the usual county buildings, 14 dwelling houses, 1 general store, and 1 tavern. The mechanics are, tailors, boot and shoe makers, saddlers, blacksmiths, ms. in a perfect level. Some years &e. Population 50 persons; of whom since there was a tobacco warehouse, I is a physician.

and inspection at this place, and con-

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EASTERN VIRGINIA-KING WILLIAM.

siderable trade carried on in that ar -; turned their attention to wheat and ticle, but of late years the farmers corn. Population of Port Conway have abandoned its cultivation, and |35.

KING WILLIAM.

KING WILLIAM was established by the legislature in 1701, and formed out of a part of King & Queen Co. It is bounded on the N. W. by the county of Caroline, on the S. and W. by the Pamunkey river, which sepa- rates it from Hanover and New Kent, and on the N., and E. by the Matta- pony river, which separates it from the county of King & Queen. Its mean length is 32 ms .- its mean breadth 8} ms., and it contains 270 sq. ms. It extends in lat. from 37° 30', to 37º 57' N., and in long. from 0° 09' E. to 0' 19' W. of W.

This county lies very much in the figure of an isosceles triangle, extend- ing from its boundary line with Caroline as its base, for a distance of 45 ms. between the two rivers Pamunkey and Mattapony, to their confluence at West Point, the head of York river. These two branches of York river fertilize a large portion of this narrow county, and afford the most conve- nient navigation, as well as fine shad and herring fisheries. Excellent oysters and crabs are taken in great abundance a few miles below West Point, and even at West Point, where the water is strongly impregnated with salt. The Pamunkey is navigable by schooners carrying about 1,600 bushels, from the Oyster-shell Landing, 2 ms. by land, below Dabney's Ferry; which last point is considered the head of tide water, and is about 35 ms. above West Point, and 16 ms. N. of the City of Richmond. The Mattapony is navigable by vessels of somewhat larger burthen, (say 2,000 bushels) from Aylett's, a small village, on the S. bank of the river, about 30 ins. above West Point, and 28 ms. N. of the City of Richmond, and 20 ms. from Tappahannock, in the county of Essex. Navigation is extended a few miles above Aylett's, to Dunkirk bridge by boats and small schooners, with light loads. With very trifling expense or trouble, the navigation might be made good to Dunkirk for any vessel that could reach Aylett's, and the river might be readily and cheaply cleared out, so as to afford good boat navigation many miles higher.

The crops are chiefly of corn, and wheat, although oats and cotton are profitably cultivated. 'Tobacco (as in most of the tide water counties) has been ahost abandoned. Very profitable business may be, and no doubt will be done by shipping wood and timber for market from this county.

Rumford Academy is the only public seminary in the county worthy of notice. It is an excellent brick building, calculated to accommodate 40 or 50 pupils with board, situated immediately on the road leading from Ay- lett's to the C. H. and 5 ms. distant from either place, in a very healthy and agreeable part of the county. This has been always esteemed an in- stitution of considerable merit, and has generally enjoyed an excellent school, in which the usual branches of an academic education are taught. It is now in good hands, and may be justly recommended to the public. There is a Post Office at this Academy.

'This is a very religious county, with but little, if any appearance of bi- gotry, intolerance or fanaticism. The Baptists are the most numerous sect,

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of whom the Reformers constitute the larger portion. There is a very re- spectable congregation of Methodists, who have a large and excellent house for public worship, called Powell's chapel. There are also a few Presby- terians, who usually attend religious worship at the Acquintaine church. There are 4 brick churches, viz :- Mangohick, Cat tail, Acquintaine and West Point Church. These churches are for the most part used by the Baptists, but free for all denominations. There is also an excellent Bap- tist meeting house called Beulah, used exclusively, it is believed by what are commonly denominated the old Baptists. Population in 1820, 9,697- in 1830, 9,319, whereof 3,389 were whites-and 5,930 blacks. This county belongs to the 4th judicial circuit and second district. Taxes paid in 1833, 82,565 87-in 1834, on lots, $20-on land, $1,238 76-3,319 slaves, 8829 75-1,655 horses, 899 30-7 studs, 8100 00-67 coaches, $152 00-14 carryalls $14 00-222 gigs, $126 26. Total, 82,563 03. Expended in educating poor children in 1832, 8236 10-in 1833, $162 49.

TOWNS, VILLAGES, POST OFFICES, &c.

AYLETT'S P. V. 27 ms. N. E. of the river flats is quite productive. The R., and 110 from W., situated at the inhabitants of the neighbourhood are head of navigation on the banks of intelligent, and in easy circumstances. Mattapony river, a branch of York Several handsome mansions are lo- cated near it, built in a modern and handsome style, and their fine appear- ance adds importance and beauty to this little village. river, about 30 ms. from its junction with the Pamunkey, to form York river. It contains 15 dwelling houses, 3 mercantile stores, and 4 groceries. The mechanics are, tailors, house BRANDYWINE, lies at the intersec- tion of the road leading from Aylett's to Newcastle ferry, with the road lead- ing from Mechanicsville to the C. H. 7 ms. from Aylett's, 4} from Newcas- tle ferry, 10 ms. from the C. H. and 5 from Mechanicsville .- It has an excellent tavern, a grocery, and gig carpenters, wheelwrights, blacksmiths, &c. Population 50 whites, and 60 colored. Total 110. Aylett's, in proportion to the inhabitants it con- tains, is a place of considerable trade. Many thousand bushels of grain, are shipped annually to the neighboring markets, and coastwise. Vessels of maker. easy draft of water can ascend up the ENFIELD, P. O. 108 ms. from W. Mattapony, and load at this village; 36 from R., and about 300 yds. from Mechanicsville, and 33 ms. from Dabney's ferry, on the road leading from that ferry to Aylett's. It con- tains 2 stores, a blacksmith, shoema- ker, cabinet maker, saddler and har- ness maker, and a carpenters shop.

but down about 8 ms. below the bar in the river, vessels of the burthen of 3 to 4,000 bushels meet with no ob- struction in the navigation. In the vicinity of this place are several ma- nufacturing flour mills, and 5 houses of public worship, 1 Episcopalian, 2 Methodist, and 2 Baptist.

Rumford Academy is situated 4 ms. distant, and is a seminary of re- spectable standing. The soil of the surrounding country, is light, sandy loam, and better adapted to the cul- ture of maize, cotton and peas, than wheat, or tobacco: and immediately on

GREEN MOUNT, P. O. 33 ms. from R. and 104 ms. from W.

KING WILLIAM C. II., 27 ms, N. E. of R., and 120 W. of S. from W. C., situated between the Mattapo- ny and Pamunkey rivers, 2 ms. from the former, and 5 from the latter, 6 ms. distant both from Rumford Aca- demy and the Piping Tree, 7 ms. from

Ml +

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EASTERN VIRGINIA-LANCASTER.

Brandywine, and 10 ms. from Aylett's. It contains, besides the usual county buildings, 8 dwelling houses, several mechanic shops, and 1 mercantile store. Some of the lots and buildings present a state of high improvement, the public lots and buildings, consist- ing of a C. H., Clerk's office, and 2 jails-all constructed of brick, and handsomely inclosed with an iron railing. The lot is laid off in a square

County Courts are held on the 4th Monday in every month :- Quarterly in March, May, August and Norem- ber.

JUDGE SEMPLE holds his Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery on the 1st of April and September.

LANESVILLE, P. O. 7 ms. below the C. H., has 2 stores, and several mechanics.

MANGONICK, P. O. 102 ms. from W., and 40 from R. There is here a store, blacksmith shop, gig maker, and tasteful management, especially shoemaker, and tailor's shop. Dis- tant 10 ms. from Aylett's.

PIPING TREE, P. V. 20 ms. N. E. of R., and 127 from W., situated Jon the Pamunkey river, 10 ms. S. of Aylett's, though called a village, which is beautifully set with grass, yet it is not remarkable for any thing and 'shaded by a grove of locust trees. more than a comfortable tavern house Population 75 persons; of whom 1 island ferry on the road leading direct an attorney, and 2 are regular physi- to R. cians.

RUMFORD ACADEMY, P. O., 115 ms. a little S. of W. from W., and 32 N. E. of R., situated on Mattapony river, 6 ms. below Aylett's, and 6 ms. above the C. H. The mail arrives twice a week. (See above in descrip- tion of the county.)

LANCASTER.

LANCASTER was created by the legislature in 1652 ;- we are not informed from what county it was taken. It is bounded N. by Richmond and Northum- berland counties, E. by Northumberland, and the Chesapeake, S. and W. by the Rappahannock river, which separates it from Middlesex. Its length is 24 ms., mean breadth 8, and area 300 sq. ms., and it extends in lat. from 27° 35', to 37º 55' N., and in long. from 0º 22', to 0° 40' E. of W. C. It is deeply indented on its Rappahannock border with several small but very convenient bays. Population in 1820, 5,517-in 1830, 4,801. It belongs to the 5th judicial circuit and 3d district. Tax paid in 1832-3, 8971 25-in 1833-4, on land, 8462 86-1,385 slaves, $346 25-638 horses, $38 28- 2 studs, 816 00-29 coaches, $60 00-7 carryalls, $7 00-108 gigs, 859 40. Total, 8989 79. Expended in educating poor children in 1832, $117 90.

TOWNS, VILLAGES, POST OFFICES, &c. S.

LANCASTER C. II., P. V., sit-[pursuits are carried on. Population nated near the centre of the county, 80 persons; of whom 1 is an attor- ney, and 1 a physician. 83 ms. N. E. of R., and 145 ms. S S. E. of W. Besides the usual coun- County Courts are held on the 3rd Monday in every month : - Quarterly in March, May, August and Norem- ty buildings, it contains about 30 dwelling houses, 3 mercantile stores, and I tavern. Various mechanical ber.

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EASTERN VIRGINIA-LOUDOUN.

JUDGE LOMAX holds his Circuit the Post Office was located here in Superior Court of Law and Chance- 1818. It has 2 dwelling houses, 1 ry, on the 25th of May, and 28th of October. country store, a blacksmith and tailor shop.

KILMARNOCK, P. V. situated on a

PAIN'S ROADS, P. O. 52 ms. small creek of Chesapeake bay, 90 from W., and 72 ins. from R., situated ms. N. E. by E. of R., and 153 ms. between the Rappahannock, and Car- from W., about 16 ms. N. of the rotoman rivers, 15 ms. from the mouth mouth of Rappahannock river, and of the former, and 5 ms. from the 13 nis. from the navigable waters of mouth of the latter. In the neck Chesapeake bay. It contains 40 called Carrotoman, which runs N. dwelling houses, 3 mercantile stores, and S. for the distance of 10 ms. be- and 1 tavern. Various mechanical tween those 2 rivers. Some 8 or 10 pursuits are carried on; and in the years back, this was a place of con- neighbourhood in different directions, siderable trade, but at present, it con- are 4 houses of public worship, 1 tains only 4 or 5 dwelling houses, a Episcopalian, 1 Baptist, and 2 Metho-|school, a Baptist meeting house, and dist. Population 130 persons; of 2 boot and shoe factories. Popula- whom 1 is a physician.

tion 40. The soil is fertile, producing well. The principal crops are wheat, Indian corn, and cotton. Though

NUTTSVILLE, P. V. in the northern part of the county, 138 ins. S. S. E. of W., and 76 N. E. by E. of R., sit- situated between 2 large commercial uated 7 ms. above Lancaster C. II., rivers, not more than 1 mile from in a N. W. direction, and about 2 ms. either, the view is entirely obstructed from the Rappahannock river. This by an immense growth of oak, and place was established 35 or 40 years pine woods, an article of considerable since, by a person by the name of value in the trade of this section of Wm. D. Nuti, (hence Nuttsville) and country.

LOUDOUN.

LOUDOUN was created by the Legislature in the year 1757, and formed from a part of Fairfax county. It is bounded on the N. by the Potomac, which separates it from Frederick county, Maryland, and on the N. E. by the same river, separating it from Montgomery county, Md.,-E. by Fair- fax,-S. by Prince William and Fauquier,-and W. by the Blue Ridge which separates it from Frederick and Jefferson counties. Its length is from S. E. to N. W. 22 miles, mean breadth 21, and area 468 square miles; and it extends in lat. from 38º-42' to 39º 18' N. and in long. from 0° 20' to 0º 54' W. of W. C.

The most prominent feature of this county is its ranges of mountains. The blue Ridge divides this county from Frederick and Jefferson, the line running on the summit. It presents here that uniformity and general ap- pearance, which characterizes it, throughout this State, having gaps or de- pressions every eight or ten miles, through which the public roads pass. Its altitude here varies from about 1000 to 1400 feet above tide water, and from 300 to 700 feet above the adjacent country ; and its course is about S. S. W. Another range of nearly equal height, and similar features, called the Short Hills commences at the Potomac river about 4. miles below Harper's Ferry, running parallel to the ridge and extending about 9 miles into the

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EASTERN VIRGINIA-LOUDOUN.

county, where it is broken by a branch of Kittoctan Creek passing through it ; beyond which it immediately rises again, and extends about 3 miles further, where it abruptly terminates. A third range called the Kittoctan mountain commences at the Potomac river, opposite the Point of Rocks in Maryland, about 12 miles below Harper's Ferry, and runs parallel to the Blue Ridge, nearly through the county; and forms a valley of about 10 miles wide, from the northern to the southern boundary of the county. This mountain does not probably exceed an average of more than 300 feet above the surrounding country, though some of its peaks may attain an altitude of 600 feet. It rises near the Potomac into one of its highest peaks, and in the same range becomes alternately depressed and elevated several times, until it reaches the neighborhood of Waterford, where it di- vides itself into several branches, and presents the appearance of an elevat- ed and hilly country, deeply indented by the severals streams that rises in its bosom.

On reaching the Leesburg and Snicker's Gap turnpike road, a distance of 11 or 12 miles, it expands to 3 miles in width, and continues much the same until after it is broken by Goose Creek, and its tributary the N. W. Fork, when it gradually loses itself in the hills of Goose Creek and Lit- tle river, before reaching the Ashby's Gap turnpike. Immediately S. of Aldie on Little river, another range commences called the Bull Run moun- tain, and extends in a single range into Fauquier county. This range might properly be considered a continuation of the easternmost range of the Kittoctan, as its course and some of its features correspond very nearly with it, save only that it is higher than any of the ranges of the latter, ex- cept the western .. No range of mountains or even hills of much eleva- tion exists E. of the Kittoctan, that being the first range met with above tide water. Three or four detached hills, with an elevation of 100 or 200 feet above the adjacent country, are on the waters of the N. W. Fork of Goose Creek, and are all that are deemed worthy of notice.

It may be perceived, on reference to the map, by the course of the waters, that the general slope of the county is to the N. E. The streams that rise in the Blue Ridge mostly run to the E., until they approach the Kit- toctan mountain, where they either turn more to the N. or S. to pass that range by the N. W. Fork and Goose Creek, or by the Kittoctan creek that falls into the Potomac, above the Point of Rocks. E. of the Kittoc- tan mountain the streams generally pursue a N. course. The Kittoctan creek is very crooked, its basin does not exceed about 12 miles from N. to S. and includes the whole width of the valley between the mountains, ex- cept a small portion in the N. E. angle of the county; and yet its whole course measuring its meanders would exceed 35 miles in length ; and it has a fall of 180 feet in the last 18 miles of its course, and is about 20 yards wide near its mouth. Goose Creek where it enters the county from Fau- quier, is a considerable stream and pursues generally a N. E. course, and receives many small streams, until it passes the first range of the Kittoctan mountain, where it receives a large tributary, the N. W. Fork. The latter stream rises in the Blue Ridge, and pursues a S. E. course, and unites with the Beaver Dam, coming from the S. W. immediately above the Kit- toctan mountain, where their united waters pass by a narrow valley to Goose Creek. After receiving the N. W. Fork, the main stream pursues generally an E. N. E. course for a few miles further, where it receives the Little river from the S. This stream rises in Fauquier county W. of the

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EASTERN VIRGINIA-LOUDOUN.

Bull Run mountain, and enters this county a few miles above Aldie, and pursues a N. and N. E. course until after passing that town, when it turns more northwardly and falls into Goose Creek. The now increased stream meanders a little more to the N. E. and N. and finally falls into the Poto- mac, 4 miles N. E. of Leesburg. Its length in this county is about 30 miles, and it has a fall of 100 feet, in the last 22 miles of its course. It drains nearly one half of the county, and is about 60 yards wide at its mouth.

Broad Run the next stream of consequence, E. of Goose Creek, rises in Prince William county, and pursues a N. course with some meanderings through this county, and falls into the Potomac about 4 miles below the mouth of Goose Creek. Sugar Land run, a smaller stream, rises partly in this county, though its course is chiefly in Fairfax county, and falls into the Potomac at the N. E. angle of this county. In the S. E. angle of the county several streams rise and pursue a S. and S. E. course, and consti- tute some of the upper branches of Occoquan river.

This county is not rich in minerals, though there are some small indi- cations of Iron ore in several places. A furnace formerly existed at the E. base of the Kittoctan mountain, on the margin of the Potomac river, but has been out of blast for a good many years, owing to the scarcity of fuel. The ore in the vicinity is said to be abundant, and the water power there used was obtained from the Kittoctan creek, W. of the mountain, by excavating a tunnel through one of its spurs, 500 feet through the rock and 60 feet below the surface of the hill. Magnetic iron ore has been found in some places, and that, or some other similar substance, has an effect upon the needle of the surveyor's compass, and renders surveying very difficult where great accuracy-is required. In some instances the needle has been known to be drawn 7º from its true course. This effect is more or less observed nearly throughout the Kittoctan mountain, and in many other places in the county. In one place it is said that silver has been obtained in small quantity, and in another place there is an indication of copper ore, but whether sufficiently rich to justify working, remains to be tested. Small angular lumps of a yellowish colored substance have been found in a few places, embedded in rock, and supposed to contain sulphur, from the strong sulphurous smell given out on its being exposed to a strong heat. Limestone has not been found in many places near the surface of the ground in this county. It is found in Digg's valley and some other places, and quarries are worked N. E. of Waterford, on the E. side of the Black Oak Ridge, and at the base of the Kittoctan mountain, where Goose Creek first approaches it. Near the latter place, marble is found of an excellent quality, but has not been worked much. In the vicinity of Leesburg and N. of it, and between the Kittoctan mountain and the Potomac river, a colcarcous rock is found in abundance, apparently formed of pebbles cemented together, and similar in formation to that used for the pillars of the Representatives Hall in the Capitol at Washington, and commonly known as the Potomac marble ; when burnt it produces an inferior lime.

There are several mineral springs in the county of the class called Chalybeate, and several springs and wells that are affected with lime.

Many varieties of stone are found in this county, among which are granite very abundant, horne blende, gneiss, quartz, and as before observed, limestone and marble. Much of it however, on or near the surface, ap- pears to be a variety of granite and horne blende. The latter kind is fre-

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EASTERN VIRGINIA-LOUDOUN.

quently found in round or oval masses, and in that form it is almost impos- sible to break it. White flint is met with frequently, and blue flint occa- sionally, throughout the county, on or near the surface, but seldom in large masses or deep in the ground. Small pointed stones of different kinds of flint, and supposed to be Indian darts, are occasionally found, as also some rare varieties of stones, of a singular form, and exhibiting some curious phenomena. Some few years ago, a stonemason broke a stone on the Kittoc- tan mountain, and found it to contain a shell resembling an oyster shell filled with sand petrified.

The different strata of rocks and earth, throughout the county, have a direction parallel with the mountain, and an elevated position inclining to the west, evidently shewing some general cause in their formation.

Perhaps no county .in the State is better watered for all purposes except manufacturing in times of drought. The springs are generally small and very numerous, and many of them are very lasting tho' liable to be effect- ed by drought. In such cases by absorption, and evaporation, the small streams are frequently exhausted before uniting and render the larger ones too light for manufacturing purposes. Many of our farms might be divided into fields of ten acres each and have running water in each of them in ordinary seasons. But one spring in the county is large enough to turn a mill, and that is near Leesburg, on which is a large merchant mill capable of manufacturg 75000 bushels of wheat in a year.

The most common growth of timber found here, is the white, black, Spanish, red, and box oak; hickory and green maple; white and yellow poplar; black and white walnut, ash, sassafras, dogwood, chesnut, and chesnut oak on the mountains, peach oak (so called from the resemblance of its leaves to that of the peach tree;) in low grounds and near the mar. gin of streams, is the sycamore, red, and slippery elm, birch and some beech; the persimmon, black and red haw or white thorn is common and the Virginia thorn, suitable for hedging, is found in the eastern part of the county. Common locust is found in part of the county; the quaking asp is occasionally met with, and so is the yellow pine; and on some of the cliffs of Goose Creek and Beaver Dam, the hemlock or spruce pine is to be found. The wild May cherry or service berry, the witch hazel, fringe tree, red bud, papaw and spicewood are not uncommon. Three varieties of the large grape commonly called fox grape, and several kinds of lesser grapes, are found here, and were formerly very common.

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A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia, Part 26

Author: Martin, Joseph. ed. cn; Brockenbrough, William Henry Publication date: 1835 Publisher: Charlottesville, J. Martin Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Martin, Joseph. ed. cn; Brockenbrough, William Henry
Publication date: 1835
Publisher: Charlottesville, J. Martin
Number of Pages: 1278