A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia, Part 37

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 37
USA > Virginia > A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia > Part 37

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).

from R. and 71 ms. S. S. W. of W., County Courts are held on the 2d situated on the turnpike road, 15 ms. Thursday in every month ;- Quarter- from Fredericksburg. It contains ly in. March, May, August and No- vember.

several dwelling houses, 1 extensive mercantile store, 1 tavern, a tailor's

Circuit Superior Courts of Law and a blacksmith's shop. This place and Chancery are held on the 23d is situated in a healthy country, which of May and August, by JUDGE Lo- produces corn, oats, barley, wheat, to- M

bacco, rye, potatoes, hemp, flax, &c.

THOMBURG, P. V. 69 ms. from R. Much gold is found in the vicinity. and 70 ms. S. W. of W., situated 14 and several gold establishments in ac- ms. S. of Fredericksburg. A part of the tive operation, some of which are village is on the N. and a part on the worked to great advantage and profit. S. side of the river Ta. It contains These gold operations, have already several dwelling houses, 1 mercantilelproduced a very sensible effect upon store, 1 house of entertainment, 1 this section of country, bringing a general mill, running 3 pair of stones, considerable amount of capital into ac-" 1 tanyard and a blacksmith's shop, 1 tive use, and making business brisk. common school; and there is in the Should the mining business continue vicinity a Baptist house of public to improve, of which there is at pre- worship. The mail arrives only sent no doubt, this place must increase once a week.

TODD'S STORE, P. O. 80 ms. from !

R. and 70 ms from W.

considerably in importance. The mail from Fredericksburg to Char- lottesville, and a horse mail from

TWYMAN'S STORE, P. O. 99 ms. Louisa pass daily. Fifteen mails a from R. and 89 ms, S. W. of W. week are received. p. ULL.

STAFFORD.

STAFFORD was created by act of Assembly 1675, and formed out of a part of Westmoreland county. It is bounded on the N. by Prince Wil- liam,-E. by'the Potomac river, separating it from Charles Co. Md.,- S. E. by King George county,-S. by the Rappahannock which separates it from Caroline county,-S. W. by Spottsylvania,-W. by Culpeper,- and N. W. by Fauquier. Near lat. 38º 25', long. 0° 22' W. of W. C .- Length 20 miles; mean width 12, -- and area 300 square miles. Its sur- face is hilly, and generally poor. The agricultural productions are wheat, rye, corn, oats, hay, tobacco, &c. The soil is of a varied character. On the Potomac it is of a light loam, which is very productive, and is inter- spersed with beds of shell marl of the richest quality. Contiguous to this division of the county, there is a tract of land six or eight miles in width and extending through the entire length of the county, which abounds with free stone of excellent quality. Large quantities of this article are exported to supply the demands of Washington, Baltimore, Norfolk and various other places. The soil in this free stone region is of a sandy nature, and less productive than the loam in the more immediate vicinity of the Potomac. In the remaining portion of Stafford the soil is a clay of varying color and consistency, and with proper husbandry produces good

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EASTERN VIRGINIA-STAFFORD.

crops of wheat. The species of stone found here are granite, quartz, &c. A vein of gold ore extends through this part of the county, which is represented to be equal in richness to any that has been discovered in Vir- ginia. There are three considerable creeks in the county, viz: Aquia, Potomac, and Accokeek ; all of which admit the tides from Potomac river. The two first named are navigable by schooners for several miles in the interior, and in common with the river affords valuable sites for herring fisheries. There are nine houses of public worship in this county-4 Baptist, 2 Methodist, 1 Presbyterian, and 2 free for all denominations.

Population 1820, 9,517-in 1830, 9,362. It belongs to the sixth judi- cial circuit and third district. Taxes paid in 1833, $2085 32-in 1834 on lots, 118 63-on land, 81179 73-1816 slaves, 8454 00-1690 horses, $101 40-4 studs, $43 00-30 coaches, $64 00-47 carryalls, $47 00- 29 gigs, $18 05. Total, $2025 81. Expended in educating poor children in 1832, 8305 11-in 1833, $247 28.

TOWNS, VILLAGES, POST OFFICES, &c.

AQUIA, P. O. 80 ms. from R. and at this place. Population about 500 42 from W. It takes its name from a persons, of whom 2 are attorneys and creek on which it is situated at the 3 regular physicians. head of tide water. There are one

SPOTTEDVILLE, P. O. 69 ms. from or two old dilapidated houses, in R. and 79 from W., situated 12 ms. which some trade was probably for- merly carried on,-but no business is now done. N. W. of Falmouth, on the stage road leading from Winchester and Warrenton to Fredericksburg, and in

FALMOUTH, P. V. 68 ms. N. of R. the immediate vicinity of several gold mines. Spottedville is the name of a P. O. which stands 4 ms. above the place at which the road forks. At the latter place are situated a ta- vern, a mercantile store, a Baptist and a Methodist house of public wor- At this place a road to Staf- ford C. II., 16 ms. distant, intersects one to Richard's Ferry, and the Rat- tle Snake gold mines, one to Jeffer- sonton in Culpeper, and one to Sum- merville, Elk Run, and Warrenton.

and 58 S. S. W. of W., situated on the left bank of Rappahannock river, at the foot of the falls, in the southern part of the county, a mile above Fred- ericksburg. It is connected with ` the Spottsylvania shore by a bridge. Falmouth was incorporated and laid ship out as a village by act of Assembly in 1727. It has rapidly improved- containing 70 dwelling houses, 12 general stores, 1 house of public worship free for all denominations, 1 common school, 1 masonic hall, 1 STAFFORD C. H. P. V. 76 ms. druggist shop, 3 merchant mills, N. E. of R. and 46 S. W. of W., in manufacturing about 30,000 barrels lat. 38º 10' N. and long. 25' W. of of flour annually, and inspecting 60,000, 3 grist mills, 1 in the town and 2 in its immediate vicinity, (one of which is situated on the site of an old forge, at which was the largest manufactory of arms during the revo- lution,) 1 tanyard, 1 tailor, 2 black- County Courts are held on the 2d Monday in every month; Quarterly smith shops, and 1 buhr mill stone factory. The handsomest bridge in March, June, August and Novem- across the Rappahannock is situated her.

W. C. This village, besides the usu ... al county buildings, contains 13 dwel- ling houses, 2 mercantile stores, 1 tavern and several mechanics. Popu- lation 90 persons, of whom 1 is a physician.

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EASTERN VIRGINIA-SURRY.

.. JUDGE SCOTT holds his Circuit( STAFFORD SPRINGS, P. O. in the Superior Court of Law and Chance- western part of the county, 104 ms ry on the 2d of June and November. from R. and 88 from W.

SURRY.

This county was created by the legislature in 1652, we are not able to ascertain from what county it was created. It is bounded N. W. and N. by Prince George, N. and N. E. by James river, which separates it from Charles City and James City, E. and S. E. by Isle of Wight, S .. by Southampton, and S. W. by Sussex. Its length and breadth are nearly equal and about 18 ms., area 324 sq. ms. It extends in lat. from 26° 50', to 37º 11' N. and in long. from 0º 19', E. to 0° 18' W. of W. C. The southern and western part of Surry slopes to the S. E. and is drained into Blackwater river, the N. E. part slopes towards the James. Population in 1810, 6,855-1820, 6,594-1830, 7,109. It belongs to the 1st judicial cir- cuit, and 1st district. Tax paid in 1833, $1,261 04-in 1834. on lots, 82 19-land, $625 29-1,702 slaves, $425 50-861 horses, $51 66-2 studs, 826 00-19 coaches, $44 50 -- 18 carryalls, $18 00-10 gigs, 864 35. Total, $1,257 49. Expended in educating poor children in 1832, 8374 27-in 1833, 8263 18.

TOWNS, VILLAGES, POST OFFICES, &c.

BACON CASTLE, P. O. 70 ms. from mechanics are a cabinet maker and R. and 192 ms. from W.

BAILEYSBURG, P. O. 67 ms. S. E. of R. and 189 from W.

tailor. 'Two miles west of the town a cotton factory has recently gone in- to operation which runs 250 spindles.

CABIN POINT, 47 ms. S. E. of R. Population 44 persons ; of whom 1 is and 169 ms. from W. C., situated in an attorney and 1 a physician. the western part of the county nearly County Courts are held on the 4th Monday in every month :- Quarter- in the meridian of Washington.

SURRY C. H. P. O. 60 ms. S. E. ly in March, May, August and No- by E. of R. and 183 ms, a little E. of vember. S. from W. It contains besides the JUDGE BAKER holds his Circuit ordinary county buildings, 4 dwelling Superior Court of Law and Chance- houses, a 'tavern, 2 mercantile stores ry on the 25th of April, and 15th of and a repository of public arms. The October.

SUSSEX.

SUSSEX was created by the legislature in 1754, and taken from a part of the county of Surry. It is bounded on the N. by Prince George, N. E. by Surry, S. E. and S. by Southampton, and W. by Dinwiddie. Its length from S. W. to N. E. is 37 ms .; mean breadth 16 ms .; and area 592 sq. ms. It extends in lat. from 36° 42', to 37° 07' N. and in long. from 0° 02' E. to 0° 46' W. of W. C. The southern parts are drained into Three creek, a branch of Nottoway,-its central parts into Nottoway river, and its north-

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EASTERN VIRGINIA-SUSSEX.

ern parts into Blackwater river. Population in 1810, 11,362-1820, 11,884-1830, 12,720. It belongs to the second judicial circuit, and first district. Tax paid in 1833, $2,729 44-in 1834, on land, $1,206 01 --- 4,067 slaves, $1,016 75-1,974 horses, $118 44 -- 3 studs, $25 00-72 coaches, $188 25-12 carryalls $12 00-257 gigs, $145 10. Total, $2,711 55. Expended in educating poor children in 1832, $338 95-in 1833, $600 97.

TOWNS, VILLAGES, POST OFFICES, &c.

COMAN'S WELL, P. O. 54 ms. S. besides the warehouse, are a hand- S. E. of R. and 176 ms. from W.

DAVIS'S TAVERN, P. O. 50 ms. S. E. of R.

LITTLETON, P. O. 66 ms. S. of R. and 188 ms. from W.

MILLBORO' P. O. 55 ms. S. S. E. of R. and 5 ms. S. E. of Sussex C. H. PARHAM'S STORE, P. O. 50 ms. S. S. E. of R. and 172 ms. from W.

STONEY CREEK WAREHOUSE, P. 0. 43 ms. from R. and 165 ms. from W. This P. O. has been recently moved from Rowanty creek, and is now situ- ated on the Petersburg Rail Road, immediately on the south bank of ly fertile and well adapted to the cul- Rowanty creek, over which the Rail Road passes, by means of a bridge 110 ft. in length, built on the lattice plan of Towns. The warehouse is one of the depots, substantially built with a turn out station immediately through it. The house is 70 ft, by 30. The engine and cars pass thro' when ever necessary, to prevent the obstruction of each other, or loading

and unloading, &c. The locomotive this warehouse, it is reasonable to an-

engines with their trains of cars and coaches pass and repass daily, with the exception of Sunday, when the train carrying the mail only has the privilege. The United States south- ern mail, together with the small mails for the adjacent post offices are carried by these locomotives. The produce of the Roanoke and the in- termediate country are transported by this road with facility, and in great

some and commodious building just completed, intended for a tavern, 1 mercantile store and the houses of several mechanics. In the vicinity are 3 houses of public worship, (2 Methodist and 1 Baptist,) 4 well es- tablished grist and 2 saw mills. This depot is 9 ins. west of the C. H. and 3 ms. from the junction of Stoney and Rowanty creeks, with the Nottoway" river,-all of which streams afford a moderate supply of shad in their sea- son, and an abundance of small fish at all times. The lands are general- ture of Indian corn, wheat, oats and tobacco. The neighboring low grounds and swamps afford quantities of white oak and pine timber, from which are manufactured an abundance of pipe and other staves, and sent by the Rail Road, together with other lumber to Petersburg.

Judging by the progress of im- provement since the company built ticipate, that at no distant day a thriv- ing and handsome little village will spring up. The neighborhood is supplied with excellent water, and thickly settled with industrious and wealthy farmers.

SUSSEX C. H. P. O. 50 ms. S. S. E. of R. and 172 ms. S. W. of W. situated about the centre of the Co.

County Courts are held on the 1st Thursday in every month ;- Quarter- quantity and variety. Five ms. S. of ly in March, May, August and Octo- ber.

JUDGE MAY holds his Circuit Superior Courts of Law and Chancery

this place, the road passes Nottoway river, by means of a similar bridge of the same length and construction. The improvements at Stoney creek, on the 10th of May and October.

。

.55

288

EASTERN VIRGINIA-WARWICK.

WARWICK.

WARWICK was one of the eight original shires into which Virginia was divided by the legislature in 1634, under the name of Warwick river. It is bounded on the N. by York county, E. by Elizabeth City county, S. by James river which separates it from Isle of Wight, and W. by James City county. Its length diagonally from south east to north west is 18 ms .; mean width 73; and area 95 sq. ms. It extends in lat. from 37° 03', to 37° 13' north, and in long. from 0° 22', to 0° 38' east of Washington City. I occupies a portion of the narrow peninsula which runs down between York and James rivers, and slopes towards the latter. Population in 1810, 1,835 -- in 1820, 1,608-1830, 1,570. It belongs to the third judicial circuit, and second district. Tax paid in 1834, on land, $170 64-544 slaves, $136 00-230 horses, 813 80 -- 3 coaches, $8 00-2 carryalls, 82 00- 36 gigs, $20 30. Total, $350 74. Expended in educating poor children in 1832, $20 42-in 1833, $57 81.

TOWNS, VILLAGES, POST OFFICES, &c.

WARWICK C. H. P. O. 184 ms. County Courts are held on the 2d S. E. of W. and 81 ms. S. E. by E. of Thursday in every month ;- Quarter- R. Besides the usual county build- ly in March, May, August and No- vember. ings, there are only 2 dwelling houses ; 1 of which is a house of pri- vate entertainment, 1 general store, and 1 common school. Population ry on the 29th of April and Septem- 21.

JUDGE UPSHUR holds his Circuit ". Superior Court of Law and Chance-

ber.

WESTMORELAND.

WESTMORELAND county is situated on the N. E. frontier of Virginia, and occupies an intermediate spacc in that range of counties embraced be- tween the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers-commonly designated as the Northern Neck.

The first mention which has been found of this county is in an act* of the "Grand Assembly" of July 1653; by which Act, "It is ordered, that the bounds of the county of Westmoreland be as followeth, (viz.) from . Machoactoke river, where Mr. Cole lives, and so upwards to the falls of the great river Pawtomake, above the Necostin's towne." From the lan- guage of this statute it would seem that the county was previously in exis- tence; but it is not ascertaincd at what time it was taken from the older county of Northumberland (at first called Chicawane or Chickcown) which was established in 1648, and declared by an act of that year to contain the "neck of land between Rappahannock river and Potomack river."t

The large extent which was at first given to Westmoreland has been greatly diminished, so that at present it lies between 38º 29' N. lat. and

* Henning's Stat. at Large, 381.

t Henning's Stat. at Large, 352.

RMY

289

EASTERN VIRGINIA -- WESTMORELAND.

0° 30' E. long. from W .; and is bounded on the N. E. by the Potomac river on the N. W. by King George county,-on the S. by the Rap- pahannock and Richmond counties-and on the S. E. by the county of Nor- thumberland .. Its length is about 30 miles, and its mean breadth 9g ms. and is estimated to contain an area of 335 sq. ms.

The county is indented by numerous water courses, chiefly tributary to the Potomac. The first in importance is Nominy (or Nomini) bay, an arm of the Potomac, and extending five miles in length and one in breadth. Its mean depth is 8 feet. It affords a safe harbor for vessels of small bur- den. Into this bay flows Nominy river, which is navigable for vessels of burden for about 7 miles from its mouth, and for boats two miles farther.

The creeks running into the Potomac are-Monroe's, navigable for vessels and for boats for about 4 miles from its mouth ; Mattox, for ves- sels of burden as far as the bridge about 3 miles, and for boats 3 or 4 miles beyond ; Pope's creek, navigable about 2 miles for boats only. These crecks are situated in the N. W. part of the county. To the N. E. are found, Chantilly or Cold Harbor creek, navigable for boats only about one mile ; Lower Machodoc, four miles for vessels and for boats 1 mile higher.

Into Nominy bay empty -- Currisman creek, navigable about 1 mile .- Poor Jack, about 1 mile and a quarter ; Smart's, about three-quarters of a mils by boats only. Buckner's creek flows into Nominy river, and may be navigated by small craft for 3 miles, and 1 mile farther by boats; Yoco- mico river receives the waters of Garner's, Jackson's and Bonum's creeks : the first navigable for 2 miles-the second for 1 mile and a quarter, and the last for one and a half miles for boats only. Glebe creek may be here mentioned, flowing into the Potomac midway between Buckner's and Yo- comico, and navigable for vessels of light burden for one or two miles. In the western part of the county Baldwin's and Brockenbrough's creeks'run into the Rappahannock. They are believed to be wholly unnavigable.

Most of these waters abound with the finest fish, oysters and wild fowl which furnish the means of subsistence to many of the poor, and spread the richest repasts* of luxury on the tables of the wealthy.

The face of the county is diversified by hills and flat land. A range of the former, pursuing a S. E. and N. W. course, penetrates the entire coun- ty longitudinally, and divides the waters of the Potomac and Rappahan- nock. Upon the summit of this range, at various intervals are situated several private mansions, from which can be seen in opposite directions the waters of the majestic Potomac, and of the gently meandering Rappa- hannock, with extensive plains intervening-exhibiting to the delightful eye of every lover of natural scenery, the most beautiful and variegated landscapes.

The soil on either river, and adjacent to the creeks, is fertile and produc- tive, and remarkably well adapted to the growth of Indian corn and wheat; the two kinds of grain chiefly cultivated. That on the Potomac and its. tributaries consists of a rich argillacious, loamy mixture. That on the Rappahannock contains a greater measure of sand ; and though not infe-

* The good people of Westmoreland, however frugal and temperate in all things else, discover a highly epicurean taste for these "luxuries of the deep." Although so abundant and so accessible-they loose none of their value from this cause-but are nevertheless held in the highest estimation ----

"As if increase of appetite grew"

"By what it fed on,"

1750001 KJTRYRAJ

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290

EASTERN VIRGINIA-WESTMORELAND.' ".

rior in fertility, is from this cause better suited to the production of corn than wheat. The middle or forest lands are, for the most part sterile- are covered with a thick growth of pine and cedar and exhibit all the symptoms of early exhaustion from the successive culture of tobacco, and neglect of improvement. They are not irreclaimable ; for experiment bas proved that these lands are susceptible of the highest degree of improve- ment by the aid of clover and plaster ; and they have in many instances gratefully repaid the attentions of the husbandman by the production of ample and abundant crops. This is peculiarly the case with that section of the county which lies above, or to the N. W. of the Court House. And the same remarks will apply with nearly equal propriety to that portion, which is situated below, or to S. and S. E. of the C. H.

Hitherto, indeed, but little regard has been paid to system in agricultural improvement. But within the last few years an honorable and praise- worthy emulation has been excited among the farmers to excel in skill and industry : and whilst greater neatness and arrangement have marked this increased attention to the farming operations, more plentiful returns and an advanced fertility in the condition of the soil, are most happily mani- fested.

Wheat and corn are the staple productions ; though other crops are grown-such as rye, oats and cotton, &c., which are principally used in domestic consumption. Cord wood (pine, hickory and oak, and some tan- bark, but chiefly the former) has been extensively exported from the county to the cities of the District, and to Baltimore, and has proved a source of lucrative commerce. It is estimated that upwards of 15,000 cords have been shipped in one year from the county.

Westmoreland possesses but few antiquities or natural curiosities : and none of sufficient interest and importance to distinguish its history, or im- part attractions to its geography : none from which the philosopher of na- ture or of man could glean new materials for useful remark or ingenious speculation, either to enlarge the circle of physical science, or to illustrate the manners and customs of an antecedent race of human beings.

Of the curiosities of nature the most interesting perhaps is the cliffs on the Potomac. These rise abruptly from the water's edge and form a pre- cipice of between two and three hundred feet high-extending to a distance of more than, four miles along the course of the river. In the sides of these cliffs at intervals from their base to their summit are found embedded the remains of various kinds of fish and other animals-denoting accord- ing to the received theory on the subject, an antediluvian existence of these animals. Many fossil remains have also been found deeply deposited be- neath the surface of the earth, far in the interior of the county and in a champaign region-some curious specimens of which are in the possession of a gentleman residing near the Court house, who has made several rare collections of the kind.

. Though there is presented but little here of importance to arrest the eye of the stranger, yet to the citizen of the county there are some objects of peculiar attraction and interest. These are the birthplaces and former resi- dences of some of the sons of Westmoreland and the most distinguished men of our country .. 'The ruins of Chantilly, situated upon the Potomac -once the residence of RICHARD HENRY LEE, are still exhibited. With- in a few miles of the same river and higher up may be seen Stradford, the family seat of the Lee's for many generations; and latterly of Gen'l HENRY

Lawal

291

EASTERN VIRGINIA-WESTMORELAND.

LEE. On Pope's creek the scarcely distinguished remains of a house are discovered, which tradition designates as the spot on which the illustrious WASHINGTON was born .* In a few years these will have become obliterated, as they are now barely perceptible, and not a stone be left to point the inquisitive patriot to the place that gave birth to the "Father of his county." Ought not the spot to be rescued from the oblivion to which it is destined by the effects of time and the incursions of the ploughshare ? Does it not merit from the hands of his countrymen a durable memorial of the incident by which it is marked ? Let the public of Virginia answer. -At the head of Monroe's creek is a spot also known as remarkable for the birth of the late President JAMES MONROE.

In the Hall of Justice hangs a full length portrait- of the Earl of Chat- ham. This painting was executed by Peel, and presented by Edmund Jennings, Esq. merchant of London, to the "Gentlemen of Westmoreland," in 1768, through the hands of R. II. Lee. The letters of Mr Jennings to Mr. Lee upon its presentation, are preserved in the clerk's office among the archives of the county.

'The picture represents Lord Chatham, in the costume of a Roman Sena- tor-with head, arms and legs bare, and holding in his left hand a copy of Magna Charta ; and obliquely to his right in the foreground is presented an altar with the flame of liberty issuing forth-and upon it desposited a civic wreath.

But however destitute this county is of natural curiosities and works of art-yet there are events connected with her history, already partially al- luded to, which furnish abundant cause to her citizens to exult in her fame, and justify them in claiming for their county the classical appellation of the Athens of Virginia. Some of the most renowned men of this coun; try were born within her borders. Of these may be mentioned Washing: ton, R. H. Lee and his three brothers, Thomas, Francis and Arthur, Gen'l Henry Lee, the Jate Judge Bushrod Washington, and the late Presi- dent James Monroe-names of the highest distinction for wisdom, patriot- ism, eloquence, learning, fortitude and valor, and which of themselves would render illustrious the history of any country. To have given birth to these distinguished men and fathers of the American Republic, is a source of cherished pride and honor to the citizens of Westmoreland, and they refer to these incidents as constituting a brilliant epoch in the annals of their county-and as vindicating for it a clear and undisputed title to the classic name they have appropriated to it. Should centuries elapse before it again attains distinction for its moral and intellectual character- it has acquired a fame venerable and immortal, that must descend conspicu- ous to all future ages.

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A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia, Part 37

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