A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia, Part 31

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 31
USA > Virginia > A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia > Part 31

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County Courts are held on the 2d Monday in every month. Quarterly in March, June, August, and Novem- ber.

schools, mercantile stores, and mills; and the neighborhood is somewhat densely settled. Should the contem- plated rail road between Portsmouth and the Roanoke be completed, of which there is every probability, the value of this place will doubtless be greatly enhanced, as it will pass im- mediately by South Quay. This, JUDGE BAKER holds his Superior together with the Dismal Swamp Court of Law and Chancery on the canal, which connects the Carolina 15th May and 30th September. and Virginia waters, already having SOUTH QUAY, P. O. 95 ms. S. S. E. of Richmond and 217 from W. C. a very sensible influence on this part of the country.

NELSON.

NELSON was created by act of Assembly in 1807, and formed out of a part of Amherst county. It is situated immediately between the Blue Ridge and James river. Bounded by Albemarle N. E. and E .- by James river separating it from Buchingham S. E .- and Amherst S., and S. W .-* by the Blue Ridge, separating it from Rockbridge W .- and Augasta S. W. The longest line is diagonal from the extreme southern to the ex- treme northern angle-about 40 ms .- greatest width 28-and area 560 sq. ms .- extending in lat. from 37° 32' to 38° 02' N. and in long. from 1º 50' to 2º 7' WV. of W. C. Its declivity is S. of S. E .- and it is drained by' the different branches of Rock Fish and 'T'ye'rivers.

'This county is very broken and mountainous, particularly as it approaches the Blue Ridge. Between the ridges of mountains are many beautiful

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EASTERN VIRGINIA-NELSON.

vallies, very fertile and productive; upon the James are extensive low grounds, from a quarter to half a mile in width, very rich and fertile :- in the northwestern part of the county, on the head waters of the Rockfish river, and on the southwestern, on the waters of the 'l'ye river, are large tracts of low grounds, and nearly level bodies of fine productive lands. The staple products of the country are, wheat, Indian corn, tobacco, rye, oats and potatoes-to the production of which the soil is well adapted. Tobacco was at one time the principal production for market, but the cul- tivation of that article has of late years greatly diminished, and has been succeeded by the less exhausting cultivation of wheat and rye.

This county is watered in the S. W. by Tye river, and in the N. E. by Rockfish river, both have their sources in the Blue Ridge, and after run- ning entirely through the county empty into the James. They are by the aid of artificial improvement, capable of batteaux navigation to within 10 or 12 miles of the Blue Ridge. The mountains in this county afford evi- dent indications of being filled with iron and copper ore, and contain seve- ral chalybeate springs, one of which in the S. E. is much frequented, and has been found very beneficial in all cases of debility. The mountains of this county generally contain a very rich soil, capable of producing fine crops of tobacco and corn, and partially adapted to the production of pota- toes and hemp .- There is no county in the State which affords, by the ex- haustion of the soil, more lamentable proofs of an injudicious system of husbandry ; but there is now a spirit of improvement among the planters and farmers; they are beginning to use clover and gypsum freely, the beneficial influence of which is very manifest,-and in a few years there is but little doubt that this county will be among the most fertile, produc- tive and wealthy counties in the State.

Besides the rivers before referred to, there are numerous creeks pene- trating this county, in every direction, affording many sites for mills and other machinery. There are three manufacturing mills .- The forest of the county consists of oak, pine, chesnut, chesnut oak, hickory and pop- lar .- In the spring, summer and autumn, the scenery exhibited by the mountains and vallies, is truly beautiful and picturesque, but in the winter gloomy and desolate. The health of the county is equal to that of any county in the State.

Population in 1820, 10,137 -- in 1830, 11,251. Nelson belongs to the twelfth judicial circuit and sixth district. Taxes paid in 1833, 82723 88 -in 1834, on lots, 863 36-on land, $1586 57-2983 slaves, 8745 75- 2375 horses, $142 50-16 studs, $184 50-16 coaches, $41 30-15 car- ryalls, 816 15-11 gigs, $6 95. Total, 82787 08. Expended in edu- cating poor children in 1832, $169 06-in 1833, $192 45.

TOWNS, VILLAGES, POST OFFICES, &c.

DAWSON'S, P. O 107 ms. N. W. [manufacturing flour mill, 1 saw mill, of R. and 149 S. W. of W.

FABER'S MILLS, P. O. in the W. part of the county, 170 ms. S. W. of W. C. and 103 W. of R. It con- tains 1 mercantile store, I distillery, 1 blacksmith shop, 1 tailor, 1 boot and shoe factory, 1 wheelwright, 1

1 woollen manufactory, and 10 dwel- ling houses; in the vicinity there is a Baptist house of public worship. Population 50.

GREENFIELD, P. O. 152 ms. from W. and 110 from R.

LOVINGSTON, P. V. and seat

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EASTERN VIRGINIA-NELSON.

of justice, 118 ms. a little N. of W. from R. and 160 S. W. of W. C., in lat. 37º 41' and long. 1º 52' W. of W. C .- situated on a branch of Tye river, near the centre of the county, on the stage road leading from Char- lottesville to Lynchburg, nearly equi- distant between the two places, 40 ms. nearly S. from Staunton, and 36 ms. nearly N. from Buckingham C.H.

scenery of an extended eastern and southern view, and the prospect of an unbroken chain of the Blue Ridge mountain of more than 60 ms. in ex- tent. The view from Hanblet's moun- tains which is near town, is among the most interesting in the . State. The Blue Ridge, the Sugar Loaf, the Tobacco Row, and many other moun- tains are in full view, whilst the southern prospect unfolds to the vis- ion plantation beyond plantation, woods beyond woods, hill beyond hill in rich succession, until the scene closes, where earth and sky meet, in the far distant horizon."

"Lovingston contains 124 houses, among which are the court house, clerk's office, and jail, enclosed by a brick wall, which is entered through two arched gates. There are 6 mer- cantile stores, 1 apothecary shop, 2 schools, 2 taverns, 1 tanyard, 2 sad- dlers, 1 blacksmith, 2 cabinet makers, 1 milliner and mantua maker, 1 wheelwright, 1 house joiner, and 1 chair maker. The different chris- tian denominations are Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian. The court house is used as a place for public worship. Population 250 persons; of whom there are 3 attorneys, and 2 practising physicians."

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

JUDGE THOMPSON holds his Cir- cuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery on the 29th of April and September.

MOUNT HOREB, P. O. 111 ms. W. of R. and 160 from W.

"It is a thriving little village, beau- MURRELL'S SHOP, P. O. 110 ms. W. of R. and 177 from W. tifully situated in a cove, at the head of which is Loving's Gap to the N. NEW MARKET, or Tye River Warehouse, P. O. in the southern partof the county, at the influx of Tye river into the James, 108 mins. W. of R. and 165 from W. It contains a tobacco inspection, at which from 3 and commanding a view of a fine country to the S. The surrounding hills are truly romantic. The Sugar Loaf mountain is situated about 4 ms. from town, the top of which is often visited by parties to enjoy the rich to 500 hosgheads are annually in- spected, 1 mercantile store, 1 tavern, a grist and saw mill, a blacksmith shop, and 12 or 14 dwelling houses. Population 65 persons, of whom 2 are physicians.

TYE RIVER MILLS, P. O. in the western part of the county, 131 ms. N. W. of R. and 173 from W .- situ- ated on the Blue Ridge, near Tye river, and Tye river turnpike, 10 miles N. W. of Lovingston, in a populous neighborhood. The farm- ers of the surrounding country are wealthy and the land fertile, produc- ing well all the staples of the coun- try. There are several mills and mercantile stores in the neighbor- hood.

VARIETY MILLS, P. O. in the eastern part of the county, 112 ins. N. W. of R. and 167 from W. It contains 4 dwelling houses, 1 manu- facturing mill, 1 grist mill, 1 mercan- tile store, 1 tanyard, and 1 cooper shop. Population 25,

WARMINSTER, P. O. in the eastern part of the county, 160 ms. S. W. of W. and 100 W. of R .- situated on the left bank of James river, 3 mile from its margin, where it receives the waters of Swan creek, 50 ms. below Lynchburg. Though called a vil- lage, it consists at present of but 3

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dwelling houses, and 2 store houses, bacco was authorised by the same and a masonic hall nearly in ruins, law which established the town, and which is sometimes used as a place of was continued for some years with considerable success, and abandoned, like most of the smaller inspections on James river. The statute book likewise presents several enactments authorising lotteries for raising money to build an academy, a church, and for opening roads to this place: but it is not known that any of these were ever carried into effect. The valley of James river though fertile here, is narrow, and the interior coun- try on either side is not productive. The roads to it from every quarter are bad, and it is not probable that even the contemplated central improve- ment would increase the village be- yond its present size. It may be re- marked however that its situation is picturesque in a high degree. From a cliff opposite, on the right bank of the river, is an extensive and inter- esting view, taking in the fertile val- ley, winding for several miles above and below, with the seats on the ad- jacent heights; the small village half concealed by trees in the midst of the cultivated plain below, the near prospect embraced by ranges of mountains beyond, and the Blue public worship. A classical school has been annually kept here, or in the immediate vicinity. White popu- lation 15, colored 10. One physician has generally resided here. War- minster was established by enactment in the year 1788, and for a number of years carried on a profitable com- merce with the surrounding country to the extent of 40 or 50 miles. The foundations of several of the largest estates in Virginia were laid here; but with the progress of population in other quarters of the State-with the division of the old county of Am- herst, and the subsequent establish- ment of the towns of New Glasgow and Amhert C. H., Lovingston and New Market, Bent Creek, and other places, trade has been carried to every man's door, so that the country which was once tributary to Warminster, now carries its support to other places with greater natural advantages .- This place, in consequence, has for some years past been retrograding in the number of its inhabitants and houses ; many of the lots have been purchased by the proprietor of the estate, in the midst of which it is situ- Ridge, predominant over the whole, ated, and have been thrown into the in the distant horizon. adjacent fields .- An inspection of to-

NEW KENT.

NEW KENT was created by an act of the House of Burgesses in 1654, and formed from a part of York county. It is bounded N. by the Pamun- key, which separates it from King William-N. E. by the York, separat- ing it from King and Queen,-E. by James City,-S. by the Chickahomi- ny, which separates it from Charles City and Henrico,-and W. by Hano- ver. Its length diagonally from east to west, is 33 miles, its mean breadth 7, and its area 231 sq. ms .-- It extends in lat. from 37º 19' to 37° 36' N. and in long. from 0° il' E. to 0° 24' W. of W. C .- New Kent is compos- ed of two narrow inclined planes; leaning towards its bounding rivers, its surface is hilly. Population in 1820, 6,630-in 1830, 6,458. New Kent belongs to the fourth judicial circuit and second district. Tax paid in 1832-3, 81271 91-in 1833-4, on lands, $618 84-1753 slaves, 8438 25

เ

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EASTERN VIRGINIA-NORFOLK.

-834 horses, $50 04-2 studs, 822 00-29 coaches, 868 25 -- 12 carryalls $12 50 -- 50 gigs, $48 00 -- Total, $1257 88. Expended in educating poor children in 1832, $102 22-in 1833, $161 64.

TOWNS, VILLAGES, POST OFFICES, &c.

NEW KENT C. H. P. V. near [leaves here for Richmond, on Tues- the centre of the county, 133 miles days, Thursdays, & Saturdays. There ire 2 other mails a week-1 from Flanover C. H. and another from King William C. H., the former on Tuesdays, the latter on Wednesdays. New Kent C. II. may be considered a healthy place, there being no ponds or other stagnant waters within four miles of the village. Population 41 persons; of whom one is a physician. S. W. of W. and 30 E. of R. in lat. 37° 26', and long. 0º 06' W. of W. C .- situated on the south side of the main stage road leading from Rich- mond to Williamsburg, and 3 miles S. of Pamunkey river, the nearest point of which from the C. H. is the old town of Cumberland, situated im- mediately on the south side of the ri- ver. Besides the usual county build- County Courts are held on the 2d Thursday in every month ;-- Quar- terly in March, May, August and No- cember. ings, this village contains 10 dwelling houses, 6 mercantile stores, and 4 ta- verns-no house of publie worship, the C. H. being made use of for that purpose .- The stage from Richmond to Williamsburg arrives here on Mon- days, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and \ November.

JUDGE SEMPLE holds his Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chance- ry on the 2nd Monday in May and

NORFOLK.

NORFOLK was created by act of the Legislature in 1691, and formed out of a part of lower Norfolk. It is bounded on the N. by Hampton Roads and the Chesapeake,-E. by Princess Anne,-S. by Currituck and Cam- den counties of North Carolina,-and W. by Nansemond. Its length from south to north is 32 miles, its mean width 17, and area 544 sq. miles .- ex- tending in lat. from 36° 30' to 36° 59' N. and in long. from 0° 33' to 1º 2' E. of W. C.

The northern part of this county is drained through Elizabeth river into the Chesapeake, and the southern through the Dismal Swamp, and Lake Drummond, into the Pasquotank, and thence into Albemarle Sound, North Carolina. (See an account of the Dismal Swamp in the General Descrip- tion of Virginia, page 41, the more particular description there promised for this county, not having come to hand.)

The Dismal Swamp Canal is 22 miles long, and has been a work of such labor and difficulty, as cannot be appreciated by those who have not seen it in progress. The public reports show that nearly $800,000 have been expended on the work, The tolls of the year ending November 30th 1832, were $33,290, and those of 1829 were only $13,010, showing an in- crease of $20,250. Lake Drummond, near the centre of the Dismal Swamp, and three miles from the Canal, is in times of great drought the only feeder, it has a surface of about six square miles, and varies from 10 to 20 feet deep. Its surface when full is 211 feet above tide water, and 6

Tren

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above the level of the water in the upper level of the canal, which has five locks, two of the north end rising 13 feet. The N. W. lock, 10 miles S. has 33 feet rise to the summit level ; Culpeper lock, 6 miles distant, 33 feet fall; and the south descending lock has 13 feet fall. This canal opens a communication between the port of Norfolk, and Portsmouth, and the wa- ters of Albemarle and Pamlico sounds. The north end empties into Deep creek, a branch of Elizabeth river, 4 miles in length; and the south into Joice's creek, a branch of Pasquotank river, The Dismal Swamp is 20 miles through, in the direction of the canal.

As the Portsmouth and Roanoke Rail Road, which is now under con- tract, is likely to exercise a very important influence upon the destinies of the whole section of country through which it will pass, we give a deserip- tion of its location and plan of construction, from the report of its engineer WALTER GWYNN, EsQ.

"The line which I have selected as the basis of my estimate, commences at the intersection of the western boundary of Portsmouth and the centre line of High street, and proceeds over an extremely level and unbroken surface to an eligible site for crossing by a bridge, a branch of the Nanse- mond river, a few hundred yards north of the termination of the Dismal Swamp Land Company's Canal. Thence continuing the line to Suffolk several spring branches are crossed, requiring the construction of small stone drains and some heavy cuttings and fillings. After leaving Suffolk the character of the country changes and becomes somewhat bold-and in order to diminish the quantity of excavation and embankment several undu- lations in the plane of the Rail Road are unavoidably made-the inclina- tions are, however, gentle, and the line reaches Blackwater without encoun- tering any other difficulties than an increased expenditure on this portion of it. From Blackwater a level is maintained for some distance, the line passes along the borders of the Swamps which make up to the Highlands, and crossing the Nottoway, on the lands of Mr. Rochelle about seven miles be- low Jerusalem, it ascends at the rate of 20 feet per mile, passing near Mr. Gurley's to the Cypress Bridge Road. Thence, leaving Vick's Chapel a little to the south and making a slight undulation to avoid some filling, the line arrives at Capt. Barns' Quarter, on the summit of the ridge dividing the waters of the Nottoway from those of the Meherrin. From Captain Barns' a descent is effected on a grade of 20 feet per mile to Buckhorn Run. Thence the line is continued, on a level, across the Meherrin, about a mile above Branch's Bridge. It then ascends, varying from an inclination of 20 to 12 feet per mile, until the summit of the Rail Road is attained, giving an elevation, above the level of tide water, of 144 feet.

" Descending from the summit, the Line crosses the Petersburg Rail Road, (on a level with that Road,) about two hundred yards south of Capt. Garey's. It afterwards crosses the head of Raccoon Swamp, and termi- nates on the North bank of the Roanoke River, opposite Weldon. Its direc- tion is S. 70 W., and its length 77 miles, being only half a mile longer than the distance on a direct line between Portsmouth and Weldon.

"The greatest inclination does not exceed 20 feet to the mile, and through- out the whole extent of the Road there are but few deviations from a straight lino, and these are effected on the ares of circles whose radii are in no instance less than 5730 feet, and are most generally 11,460 feet in length.

"Gentle inclinations and easy curvatures (when it is necessary to vary from a straight line) are points of essential importance in the location of

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EASTERN VIRGINIA-NORFOLK.

Rail Roads-these desirable objects as well as a line extremely favorable to the advantageous employment of Locomotive Engines are here attained. Indeed, considering the straightness and the moderate ascents and descents, the performance of an Engine (of giren power) will be greater on this, than on any other Rail Road now constructed in the United States. We are therefore enabled to use hght Engines, thereby diminishing very consi- derably the great and leading items in the expense of transportation on Rail Roads, viz: wear and tear and repairs.

"The Engine which it is proposed to nse will not exceed five tons weight, and its performance on this Road will be equal to that of a six ton Engine, on a Road with 30 feet grades. From this general view it will be scen, that the face of the country is eminently suitable to the proposed work. The intervening Swamps and the alluvial bottom lands of the Nottoway, Blackwater and Meherrin, offer no serious obstacles .- The bottom is every where composed of solid materials, affording a firm foundation for any em- bankment or other structure it may be necessary to place on it.

" Construction of the Road .- It will not be necessary on the present oc- casion to discuss the relative merits of the various modes of construction- and the variety of materials which have been used in the formation of Rail- Ways. Suffice it to say, that the almost universal substitution of wood for stone, and the iron-edge-rail, establishes its preference in the first instance even where stone is abundant and timber scarce. Among the many reasons for this preference of wood, are-its elasticity, its sufficient stability, and its diminution of the wear and tear of engines and cars. It follows, then as a necessary consequence, that I recommend for your Rail Road the use of timber, which is found in abundance, of excellent quality on almost every part of the line.

"The superstructure, then, which I propose to adopt, will be heart pine rails, nine by five inches, plated with iron bars two inches wide, and half an inch thick, resting on white or post oak sills, ten by twelve inches, and eight feet long, placed across the road, five feet apart from centre to centre. The rails will be placed parallel to each other four feet eight and a half inches apart, let into the sills and properly secured by white oak wedges. The sills will be notched for the reception of the rails and wedges and hol- lowed out in the middle, so as to admit of the construction of a path over them, which will add considerable stiffness to the road, at a very moderate expense-and adapt it to the use of either horse or locomotive power, or both. " Width of Road Bed .- I have estimated for a single rail-way, which for the present will afford sufficient accommodation to the trade and travel. The ditches, however, will be cut and the waste earth disposed with a view to a double track, whenever it may be deemed necessary. The graduated surface of the road-bed in excavations, will vary from 18 to 16 feet in width, the slopes being 45º. The graded surface on embankments will present a uniform width of 123 feet, with side slopes of 333º or 1} base to 1 per- pendicular.

"Between Suffolk and Spikes' Run we shall pass several small streams by means of stone drains. The stone for this purpose can be readily ob- tained at Port Deposites, and the work done now, on as reasonable terms as at any other period. Farther on, wooden structures will be thrown over the water courses, with a span affording sufficient room for the erection hereafter of stone or brick culverts. The bridges across the Blackwater, Nottoway and Meherrin Rivers will be supported by abutments and piers

القارة

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EASTERN VIRGINIA-NORFOLK.

of masonry, the stone for which can be transported by water from Norfolk to their respective sites, and will not at most exceed $5 per perch (of 25 cubic feet) delivered. On approaching the Roanoke, rock is found tolera- bly convenient to the line, and will probably be used in crossing the Oco- neechee, Troublefield, and Raccoon Swamp."

Population in 1820, 15,465, including that of the borough of Norfolk- exclusive of the borough, 6,987 -- in 1830, 24,814. Norfolk belongs to the first judicial circuit, and first district. Tax paid in 1832-3, (no report)- in 1833-4, on lots, $1403 63-on land, $1220 23-3280 slaves; $770 00 -1572 horses, $94 32-6 studs, $52 00-33 coaches, $73 00-27 carry- alls, $28 00 -- 133 gigs, $87 15-Total, $3728 33. Expended in educat- ing poor children in 1832, $482 36-in 1833, $573 40.

TOWNS, VILLAGES, POST OFFICES, &c.

DEEP CREEK, P. V. 123 ms. from [is composed of these two substances, R. and 226 from W. Deep creek, is and is of various depths, sometimes of a branch of Elizabeth river. The 20 feet ;- in this (sponge as it is call- village is situated near the creek, at the northern extremity of the Dismal

ed here) are imbedded innumerable old trees of juniper, from which much Swamp canal. It stands on each side of the lumber shipped from Deep of the canal, near its northern outfall lock, and has indeed been created by the canal. It is now a flourishing depot, being located nearly equidistant between the towns of Norfolk and Portsmouth. It contains 25 dwelling houses, 6 general stores, 2 taverns, l house of public worship, free for all denominations, 1 grist mill, 1 saw mill, 2 boot and shoe factories, and 2 tailors. Its commercial business is

Creek is made. It is no uncommon thing to find under the roots of a tree that has been cut for the purpose of making shingles, another and larger old fallen tree, entirely covered with sponge. and trees of new growth, which is in a perfectly sound state, and nearly or quite as good for shin- gles, as the green timber. These shingles, and the other lumber, are brought out of the Swamp, either nearly confined to a trade in large through ditches cut for the purpose, juniper or white cedar shingles, rails, in narrow, long lighters, or are carted out by mules, on roads made of poles laid across the road, so as to touch each other, forming a bridge or cause- way. There are very many miles of such road. The laborers carry the shingles, &c. to these roads from the trees, on their heads or shoulders .- The border of Deep creek is a salt pales, and timber for coopers. It gives constant employment to ten or twelve respectable schooners, which load in the creek, a mile below the locks, and trade to Philadelphia, New York, and other places. These shin- gles and other juniper lumber, are the produce of the Dismal Swamp, though much of the Swamp has no trees of marsh .- In opening a communication large growth, but is covered with an from the north outfall lock, through almost impenetrable thicket of reeds, this marsh to the creek, a very large grass, and bushes; some parts of it, jand solid pine stump was found, evi- however, are timbered with gum, beach, pine, and oak; and other parts with juniper and cypress: these lat- ter growing where the water and mnd or decayed vegetable matter is deep-

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A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia, Part 31

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