A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia, Part 36

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 36
USA > Virginia > A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia > Part 36

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).

SLATE MILLS, P. O. 109 ms. from R. and 91 S. W. of W. This vil-

WASHINGTON, P. V. and seat of justice, 118 ms. from R. and 81 S. W. of W. C. It is situated at the southeastern foot of the Blue Ridge, in a fertile country, upon one of the head branches of Rappahannock river, (called Bush river,) and recent- ily chosen as the seat of justice for the county. It was formerly a P. O.(in Culpeper Co.) It contains besides the usual county buildings, (lately erected,) 1 academy, 55 dwelling

SANDY HOOK, P. O. 134 ms. from R. and 85 from W., situated 3 ms. S. of Chester Gap, and one-fourth of a houses, 4 mercantile stores, 2 taverns, mile N. of Flint Hill in Wakefield 1 house of public worship, free for Manor, on the road leading from lull denominations,

The principal

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EASTERN VIRGINIA-RICHMOND.

mechanics are 4 blacksmiths, 4 car-lin March, June, September, and No- penters, 2 saddlers, 1 hatter, 1 tan- vember. ner, 2 wagon makers, 3 tailors, 4 shoemakers, 1 cabinet maker, 1 sil-

JUDGE FIELD holds his Circuit Su- perior Court of Law and Chancery versmith, 3 milliners, 1 plaisterer and on the 22d of April and September. bricklayer. In the vicinity there is a large and highly respectable female seminary, in which are taught all the various branches of English lite- rature, together with the French and Italian languages; and in the imme- diate neighborhood, are' 2 large and

WOODVILLE, P. V. in the western angle of the county, 115 ms. N. W. of R. and 97 S. W. by W. of W., situated on the road leading from Thornton's Gap, in the Blue Ridge, to Fredericksburg, 11 ms. from the top of . the Ridge, and 55 from the extensive manufacturing flour mills. latter. It contains 4 mercantile stores, 2 taverns, 1 school in which is taught all the main branches of an English education, 30 dwelling houses, 1 tan- yard, 3 blacksmiths, 1 saddler, 1 boot and shoe maker, 1 cabinet maker, 1

This village is rapidly improving, and is in a flourishing and prosper- ous condition, being situated in a thickly settled and enterprising neigh- borhood. Population 350 persons; of whom 4 are attorneys, and 2 regu- carpenter and house joiner, and 1 lar physicians.

Itailor. Population 200 persons; of

County Courts are held on the Ist|whom 1 is an attorney, and 2 are Monday in every month. Quarterly regular physicians.

RICHMOND.

RICHMOND Was created by the Legislature in 1692, when the old county of Rappahannock was extinguished and the counties of Essex and Rich- mond made from its territories. It is bounded N. and N. E. by Westmore- land,-E. by Northumberland,-S. by Moratico creek, which separates it from Lancaster,-S. W. and W. by the Rappahannock river, which sepa- rates it from Essex,-and N. W. by Brockenbrough creek, separating it from Westmoreland. Its mean length is 25 miles, breadth 72; and area 194 sq. miles. It extends in lat. from 37° 47' to 38º 10' N. and in long. from 0° 10' to. 0° 30' E. of W. C.

Richmond belongs to the fifth judicial circuit, and third district. Popu- lation in 1820, 5,706-in 1830, 6,055. Tax paid in 1833, $1158 67-in 1834,-on land, $679 02-1281 slaves, $320 25-686 horses, $41 16- 4 studs, $40 00-16 coaches, $40 40-9 carryalls, $9 00-78 gigs, $47 25. Total, #1177 08. Expended in educating poor children in 1833, $167 51-no report for 1832.

TOWNS, VILLAGES, POST OFFICES, &c.

HARNHAM, P. O. 66 ms. N.E. of R. W. C. This village, besides the and 128 from W.

usual county buildings, court house, LYELL'S STORE, P. O. 60 ms. from R. and 122 S. S. E. of W. clerk's office and jail, contains 9 pri- vate dwelling houses, 2 general stores, RICHMOND C. Il. P. V. 56 ms. from R. and 118 S. E. of W., in lat. 1 house of public worship, (Episco- palian,) 1 female boarding school, in 37° 55' N. and long. 0° 18' E. of which are taught the necessary

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EASTERN VIRGINIA-SOUTHAMPTON.

branches of polite education, and I neighborhood. Population 100 per- primary school for boys, 2 boot and sons; of whom 4 are attorneys, and 1 a physician. shoe factories, 1 saddler, and 2 houses of public entertainment. The near- County Courts are held on the 1st Monday in every month. Quarterly in March, May, August and Novem- est navigable waters are two branches of the Rappahannock river, each 3 ms. distant, one the Toteskey, the ber. other Rappahannock creek. The JUDGE LOMAX holds his Circuit situation of this place is elevated and Superior Court of Law and Chance? healthy, and the vicinity in a high ry on the 12th of April and 8th of October. state of improvement. Indian corn and wheat are the staple crops of the

SOUTHAMPTON.

· SOUTHAMPTON was created by act of Assembly in 1748, and formed out of a part of Isle of Wight county. It is bounded N. W. by Sussex,- Surry N .- Blackwater river, separating it from the Isle of Wight, N. E. -Nansemond E.,-Hertford and Northampton counties, N. Carolina, S. -and Meherrin river, separating it from Greensville, S. W. Its length is 40 miles, mean width 15; and area 600 square miles. 'The parallel of N. lat. 36° 40', and the meridian of W. C. intersect in this county. Its slope is southeastward, and in that direction it is traversed by Nottoway river. The soil of this county is light and but little broken and well adapted to. the cultivation of Indian corn, cotton, beans and potatoes, of which the two first are the principal commodities The husbandry is generally good. -It abounds in the finest of pine timber, from which is made for exporta- tion tar and turpentine. Nottoway river runs from N. W. to S. E., and by its junction with the Black water river forms the Chowan. It is naviga- ble for vessels of 60 or 70 tons, as far as Monroe, from which place con- siderable quantities of lumber and other produce are shipped to Norfolk .. Its length is about 120 miles .- Blackwater river takes its rise in Prince George county, and running in a southwardly direction, unites with the Nottoway. It is navigable for vessels of the largest size as far as South Quay in Nansemond county, and for small vessels for some miles higher: up into the county of Southampton., In the low grounds bordering upon, Nottoway and Blackwater rivers, the growth is chiefly oak and cypress of the finest quality, which must at no distant period be of great value .- The Portsmouth and Roanoke rail road passing through the county, and con- sequently crossing each of these rivers, will afford the greatest facility in conveying produce to market .- The prevailing religious denominations in this county are the Methodist and Baptist. They each have numerous houses of public worship in convenient parts of the county.

Population in 1820, 14,170-in 1830, 16,074. Southampton belongs to. the first judicial circuit and first district. Tax paid in 1833, 83136 33- in 1834 .- On lots, $31 28-on land, $1470 03-3835 slaves, 8958 75- 2661 horses, $159 66-14 studs, $166 00-51 coaches, $125 00-24 car- ryalls, 824 00 -- 277 gigs, 8161 55. Total, 83096 28. Expended in educating poor children in 1832, $515 45-in 1833, $507 81.

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EASTERN VIRGINIA -- SPOTTSYLVANIA.

TOWNS, VILLAGES, POST OFFICES, &c.

BETHLEHEM CROSS ROADS, P. O. of public entertainment. This town 91 ms. from R. and 213 from W.

BOWERS', P. O. 91 ms. S. E. of R. ing neither retrograded or advanced. and 213 from W. situated in the southern part of the county.

FARM TAVERN, P. O. 90 ms. S. physicians.

S. E. of R. and 210 S. of W.

has been stationary for 20 years, hav- Population 175 persons; of whom 4 are resident attorneys, and 4 regular

County Courts are held on the 3d

JERUSALEM, P. V. and seat of Monday in every month ;- Quarter- justice. 81 ms. S. S. E. of R. and ly in March, June, August and Vo- vember. 203 from W. in lat. 36° 42' and long. 0° 3' W. of W. This village is situa- JUDGE BAKER holds his Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery on the 1st of June and 29th of Octo- ber. ted on Nottoway river, and contains besides the ordinary county buildings, about 25 dwelling houses, 4 mercan- tile stores, 1 saddler, I carriage maker, URQUHART'S STORE, P. O. 79 ms. 2 hotels, 1 masonic hall, and 2 houses S. E. of R. and 201 from W.

SPOTTSYLVANIAN

SPOTTSYLVANIA, was created by the legislature in 1720, and formed out of portions of Essex, King William and King & Queen counties. It is bounded on the N. by the Rappahannock river which separates it from Culpeper and Stafford, on the E. by Caroline, on the S. by Caroline, Han- over and Louisa, and on the W. by Orange. It is situated between 37º 59k and 38° 20' N. and between 20° 30' and 57º 30' W. from W. This coun- ty contains exclusive of Fredericksburg, 11,826 inhabitants. The soil of Spottsylvania is various, that near the rivers and smaller streams is very . fine; but it is far otherwise on the ridges; for a wretched system of cultiva- tion adopted by the first settlers and long persisted in by their descendants, has reduced the land, originally thin, to a condition from which it will re- quire much time and labor to rescue it.

The gold mines of this county having excited some interest, it may not be out of place here to say something of them. About seven years ago two brothers of the name of White, discovered some small pieces of gold on, their farm, this naturally excited them to look further; when it was disco- vered that after every rain numerous particles of various sizes became visi- ble. This was a sufficient hint to others. The most energetic, but misdi- rected zeal covered the country with explorers, having the least possible knowledge of the matter in hand. They might be seen hurrying hither. and thither with a spade and tin pan, now stooping to lift a stone-now stooping to wound the bosom of their mother earth, and perhaps add another pound to the already cumbrous load of "indications" at their back. It . was marvellous to see how they mutilated and distorted terms of science. The classic heathen were not more familiar with their household gods, than were these children of mamon with what they were pleased to call "fridigi- nous quarte" and "oringinized iron." A little cube of sulphuret of iron found on a man's farm, would elevate his hopes to the highest pitch of ex- citement; and if any one told him that it was not gold, he incontinently sus.

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EASTERN VIRGINIA- SPOTTSYLVANIA.

pected him of a design to purchase the land. Gold, however, was found in considerable quantities, and that sort of stock rose to an excessive price, which of necessity produced a correspondent reaction, and the present de- pression is probably as much below the real value, as the former was above it .*

Tobacco was formerly planted to the exclusion of almost every thing else ; but within the last 30 years it has gradually given place to wheat and Indian corn.

The minerals found in greatest abundance are granite, free stone, quartz and shistus : the two latter being ordinarily the gangue of the gold.

The religious sects in the county are exclusive of the town, chiefly Bap. tists, who have 8 meeting houses; and Methodists who have 4 meeting houses. Of stores there are 7; mills 25, some of which are prepared for making flour, but only 1 is thus employed, and taverns 5. In these last are included only those which have tavern licence. The natural growth of the county is principally oak, and what is here called fox-tail pine, the lat- ter being found in lands which were formerly exhausted by injudicious cul- tivation, and being neglected have thus clothed themselves. Population 1820, 14,254-1830, 15,134. This county belongs to the 5th judicial cir- cuit and 3rd district. Taxes paid in 1833, $4,064 10-in 1834, on lots, $959 24-on land, $1,534 89-4,250 slaves, $1,062 50-2,478 horses, $148 68-10 studs, $98 00-78 coaches, $174 00-4 stages, $7 00-39 carrayalls, $39 00-131 gigs, $80 27. Total, $4,103 58. Expended in educating poor children in 1832, $402 39-in 1833, $507 23.

HISTORICAL SKETCH .- The earliest authentic information we have of that portion of our state now called Spottsylvania, is found in an act past "at a grand assemblie held at James Cittie" between the 20th September 1674, and the 17th March 1675, in which war is declared against the In- dians; and amongst other provisions for carring it on, it is ordered that "one hundred and eleven men out of Glocester county be garrisoned at one! " ffort," or place of defence at or neare the ffalls of Rapahanack river, of which ffort Major Lawrence Smith to be captain or chiefe commander ;" and that this "ffort" be furnished with " ffour hundred and eighty pounds of powder, ffourteen hundred and fforty three pounds of shott." This "ffort" was built in 1676 as appears by the preamble of a subsequent act.

In the year, 1679 Major Lawrence Smith upon his own suggestion was empowered, provided he would settle or seate downe at or neare said fort by the last day of March 1681, and have in readiness upon all occasions on beat of drum, fifty able men well armed with sufficient ammunitions, &c. and two hundred men more within the space of a mile along the river, and a quarter of a mile back from the river, prepared always to march twenty miles in any direction from the fort; or should they be obliged to go more than such distance to be paid for their time thus employed at the rate of other "souldiers," "to execute martiall discipline" amongst the said fifty " souldiers and others so put in arms" both in times of war and peace; and

* There are two. manners of gathering gold practised here-1st. by washing the earth for what is called " surface-gold."" This plan is pursued in several places in' the county. The earth containing the particles, is thrown into cradles, into which mercury is poured, and a constant stream of water is directed-the amalgum found in the bottom is distilled-2nd. mining, properly so called, is also carried on at a place on the Rappahannock river about 20 miles above Fredericksburg, the property of the United States Mining Company, incorporated at the last session of the legislature.

EASTERN VIRGINIA-SPOTTSYLVANIA.

281

said Smith with two others of said privileged place to hear and determine all causes civil and criminal, that may arise within said limits, as a county Court might do, and to make bye-laws for the same. These military set- tlers were priviledged from arrest for any debts save those due to the King, and those contracted among themselves-and were free from taxes and le- vies save those laid within their own limits.

The exact situation of this fort cannot now be determined with absolute .. certainty ; but as it is known that there was once a military post at Germana, some ruins of which are still occasionally turned up by the plough, it is probable that this is the spot selected by Col. Smith for his colony. .:

The earliest notice we have of Spottsylvania county, as such, is found in 7th Geo. I. 1720, passed at Williamsburg, of which the preamble declares by way of inducement "that the frontiers toward the high mountains are ex- posed to danger from the Indians and the late settlements of the French to the westward of the said mountains." Therefore it is enacted that Spott- sylvania county bounds upon Snow creek up to the mill, thence by a S. W. line to the North Anna, thence up the said river as far as convenient, and thence by a line to be run over the high mountains to the river on the N. W. side thereof, so as to include the northern passage through the said mountains, thence down the said river until it comes against the head of Rappahannock, thence by a line to the head of Rappahannock river and down that river to the mouth of Snow creek, which tract of lands from the 1st of May 1721 shall become a county by the name of Spottsylvania Co."

The act goes on to direct that " fifteen hundred pounds current money of Virginia shall be paid by the treasurer to the Governor, for these uses, to wit : £500 to be expended in a church, court house, prison, pillory and stocks in said county: £1,000 to be laid out in arms, ammunition, &c. of which each "Christian tytheable" is to have "one firelock, musket,* one socket, bayonet fired thereto, one cartouch box, eight pounds bullet, and two pounds powder." The inhabitants were made free of public levies for ten years, and the whole county made one parish by the name of St. George.

From the following clause of the same act it is presumed that this new county had been cut off from Essex, King & Queen and King William: for the act declares that " until the Governor shall settle a court in Spottsyl- vania," the justices of these counties " shall take power over them by their warrants, and the clerks of said courts by their process returnable to their said courts, in the same manner as before the said county was constituted.," &c.

In the year 1730 an act was passed directing that the Burgesses for this county should be allowed for four days journey in passing to Williams- burg; and the same returning. In the same year St. George's Parish was divided by a line running from the mouth of Rappahannock to the Pamun- key: the upper portion to be called St. Mark's Parish ; the lower part to re- tain the name of St. George's Parish. - Four years after this the county was thus divided : St. George's Parish to be still called Spottsylvania; and St. Mark's Parish to be called Orange, and all settlers beyond the " Sherran- do,"t river to be exempt for three years from the "paiment" of public and parish dues.

* Whether it was intended to make these a compound word as firelock-musket, we know not-we have followed the printed act. + This is the spelling of the act " Sherrando." 36

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EASTERN VIRGINIA-SPOTTSYLVANIA.

The Governor fixed the seat of justice at Germanna, where the first court sat on the 1st day of August 1722 when Augustine Smith, Richard Booker, John Taliaferro, Wmn. Hunsford, Richard Johnson and Wm. Bledsoe were ¥ sworn as justices, John Waller, as clerk, and Wm. Bledsoe as sheriff: this place being found " inconvenient to the people," it was directed by law that from and after the 1st August 1732, the court should be held at Fredericks- burg, which law was repealed seventeen years afterwards, because it was " derogatory to his majesty's prerogative to take from the Governor or com- mander-in-chief of this colony his power and authority of removing or ad- journing the courts;"' and because " it might be inconvenient in a case of small pox or other contagious distemper."

In 1769 the county which had theretofore been one parish. was thus di- vided,-all that part lying between the rivers Rappahannock and Po retain- ed the name of St. George's Parish,-the rest of the county was erected into a new parish called Berkley. In 1778 an act was passed authorising the justices to build a Court house at some point near the centre of the coun- ty to which the courts hould be removed, provided a majority of the justices should concur in deeming it advisable. It appears that the justices deter- mined to avail themselves of this privilege, for an act of 1780 passed, as is therein stated in consequence of a representation, that the Court house in Fredericksburg was " unfit to hold courts in," authorises the county court to be held at the house of John Holladay, "until the new Court house now building in the said county shall be completed."

The first regular stage coaches that passed through this county were es- tablished by Nathaniel Twining, by virture of an exclusive privilege granted him in 1784, for the term of three years, to be paid at the rate of five pence per mile by each passenger.

TOWNS, VILLAGES, POST OFFICES, &c.

. CHANCELLORSVILLE, P. V. 76 ms. [ville is only a P. O. situated in the from R. and 66 from W., situated at midst of the gold region, and contigu- the junction of Elly's road with the ous to the White Hall gold mine, 10 ms. S. W. of Fredericksburg, 24 ms, E. of Orange C. H., 8 ms. S. of the Wildnerness tavern, 12 ms. E. of the Orange Springs, and 10.ms. W. of Spottsylvania C. H. immediately on the road leading from Orange Springs to Fredericksburg. The mail is car- pretty, and the soil tolerably fertile ried on horseback, and received on Wednesday's and Thursday's. Swift Run Gap and Fredericksburg turnpike, about 10 ms. from the latter place. It contains 14 dwelling houses, a tavern which has a front of 106 ft. on the turnpike and runs back 55 ft. on Elly's road, and a blacksmith shop. The surrounding scenery is very and susceptible of improvement. The products are corn, wheat, rye, oats

FREDERICKSBURG, Port of Entry, and hay, which are principally sold P. T. and county seat, 56 ms. S. S.

in Fredericksburg. The neighbor- hood is thickly settled, and contain 3 houses of public worship, 2 of which belong to the Baptist, and 1 to the Methodists, and a Sunday school in a prosperous condition.

DANIELSVILLE, P. O. 90 ms. from R. and 80 ms. S. W. of W. Daniels-

W. of Washington City, and 66 ms. a little E. of N. from Richmond, in lat. 38° 34', 20" N. and long. 77º 38' W. of W. C., situated on the'S. side of Rappahannock river, at the head of tide water, and about 150 ms. from its mouth. This is a prosperous port : vessels of 140 tons can be navigated

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EASTERN VIRGINIA-SPOTTSYLVANIA,

to the foot of the falls: It derives its and by the canal, the lower part of name from Prince Frederick, father which is now open, bituminous coal of George III, and was founded in from Richmond, and the anthracite, and is supplied with water, through aqueducts, constructed by an incorpo- 1727, on what was originally called the lease land, and contained when first laid out, 50 acres,-in 1742 the rated company. In the immediate vi- boundaries of the town were enlarged, and still further enlarged in 1759. The town is seated in a rich valley, the view of which from any of the neighbouring hills is exceedingly beautiful. It is incorporated, the management of its affairs are entrust- ed to a Mayor at $400 per annum, and a common Council without sala- ries. The corporation owes about

cinity are found vast quantities of very fine granite and free stone. A canal is now in progress to connect this town with Fox's mill, a point on the river 35 ms. above. . There are an- nually exported from this town 75,000 barrels of flour, 150,000 bushels of wheat, 400 hogsheads of tobacco, about 500,000 bushels of Indian corn, 500 tierces of flax seed, and between $16,000, but holds real property to a 65 and $70,000 worth of gold, &c.

much larger amount. The public In the year 1738 a law was passed di- "ecting that "Fairs should be held in Fredericksburg twice a year for the buildings are a C. H., clerk's office and jail, a neat brick market house abundantly supplied with all kinds of sale of cattle, provisions, goods, wares meats, fish and vegetables. There and all kinds of merchandize whatso- ever." . All persons at such Fairs, going to or from them, were privil- edged from arrest and execution -- du- ring the Fairs, and for 2 days before and 2 days after them, except for cap- ital offences, breaches of the peace, or for any controversies, suits and quar- rels that might arise during the time. 'These Fairs were continued from time to time, by various acts until 1769 when the right of holding them was made perpetual. Population, whites 1,797 persons; of whom 16 are 5 houses of public worship, 1 Episcopalian, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Me- thodist, 1 Baptist and 1 Reformed Baptist; 5 male and 7 female schools, besides 2 free schools, 1 male and 1 female, which are incorporated and endowed, the former having 40, and the latter 18 pupils, and to each of the above churches is attached a Sunday school. There are 1 orphan asylum, 4 taverns and 97 licensed stores, 2 printing offices, the Virginia Herald and the Political Arena, each issuing a semi-weekly paper. 'The former of are resident attorneys, and 6 regular these is the oldest paper in Virginia. physicians: slaves, 1,124; free blacks, The principal mechanical pursuits 387. Total 3,308.

are 3 tanneries and 3 saddlers,“be- sides house carpenters, iron founders, cabinet makers, tailors, boot and shoe makers, house, sign and ornamental painters, stone cutters, brick layers. blacksmiths, watch makers, tallow chandlers, tin plate workers, copper smiths, gun smiths, hatters, butchers, bakers, machinists, coach makers and trimmers, carvers and gilders, stucco workers, plaisterers, plumbers, turn- ers and confectioners. This town is supplied with 3 kinds of fuel, viz :- wood from the neighborhood, by land and 79 ms. S. S. W. of W., .

LEWIS'S STORE, P O. 59 ms. from R. and 84 ms. from. W.

MOUNT PLEASANT, P. O. 60 ms. from R. and 76 from W., situated im- mediately on the main south western route, leading from Fredericksburg by Cartersville to Powelton, in Geor- gia, 20 ms. S. W. of F., 5 ms. S. of Spottsylvania C. H. 6 ms. N. W. of New Market, 10. ms. N. of Dabney Mills, and 7 ms. N. E. of Lewis's Store.

PARTLOW, P. O. 59 ms. N. of R.

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EASTERN VIRGINIA- STAFFORD:

SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H. P. O.)

WILDERNESS, P. O. on the north situated about the centre of the coun- western border of the county, 81 ms. ty, on Po river.

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A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia, Part 36

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