USA > Virginia > City of Norfolk > City of Norfolk > History of Norfolk County, Virginia : and representative citizens, 1637-1900 > Part 53
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1793. Thomas Newton, Jr., 1794 (served two months). James Ramsey, 1794. Seth Foster,
1795. Samuel Moseley, 1796. George Loy- all, 1797. Baylor Hill. 1798. John K. Read.
1799. Seth Foster. 1800. John Cowper, ISOI. William Vaughan, 1802. Thomas H. Parker, 1803. Miles King, 1804. Luke Wheeler, 1805. Thomas H. Parker, 1806. Richard E. Lee. 1807. John E. Holt, 1808.
Miles King. 1809. William B. Lamb, 1810.
Miles King, Jr., 1811. William B. Lamb, 1812. Miles King, Jr., 1813. William B. Lamb, 1814. John E. Holt. 1815. William B. Lamb, 1816. John E. Holt, 1817 (served four months less one day, and resigned). James Taylor, 1817 ( served one day and resigned ). ( The resigna- tion of Mayor Holt one day before his term ex- pired made him eligible to the office for the suc- ceeding term.) John E. Holt. 1817 (served one year, less one day). John Tabb, 1818 (served one day and resigned ). John E. Holt. 1818 (served one year less one day ) Wright Southgate. 1819 (served one day and re- signed). John E. Holt. 1819. Wright South-
gate, 1820 (served two days and resigned). John E. Holt, 1820. George W. Camp. 1821 ( served three days and resigned ). John E. Holt. 1821. John Tabb. 1822 (served four days and resigned ). John E. Holt, 1822. William B. Lamb, 1823 ( served a few days and resigned). John E. Holt, 1823. William A. Armistead, 1824 ( served a few days and resigned ). John E. Holt. 1824. John Tabb, 1825 (served three days and resigned). John E. Holt, 1825. Isaac Talbot, 1826 (served five days and resigned). John E. Holt, 1826. Daniel C. Berraud, 1827 (served three days and resigned). John E. Holt, 1827. George T. Kennon, 1828 (served four days and resigned). John E. Holt, 1828. Thomas Williamson, 1829 (served two days and resigned). John E. Holt, 1829. Giles B. Cook, 1830 (served Io days and resigned). John E. Holt, 1830. Wright Southgate. 1831 (served 10 days and resigned). John E. Holt, 1831. John E. Holt (19th term), no record of any intervening elec- tion,-he died in office October 12, 1832. Miles King. 1832-43. W. D. Delaney. 1843- 51. Simon S. Stubbs, 1851. Hunter Woodis, 1853. Simon S. Stubbs, 1854. Hunter Woodis, 1855 (he died in office in the fall of the same year, a victim of the yellow fever). Ezra T. Summers, 1855. Finley Ferguson, 1856. William W. Lamb, 1858: also in 1860 and 1862. and was serving as mayor when the United States military authorities entered Nor- folk. William H. Brooks, 1863. James L. Belote, 1864. Thomas C. Tabb, 1865. Will- iam W. Lamb. 1866. John R. Ludlow, 1866- 68. Francis DeCordy, 1868-70. John B. Whitehead. 1870-72. John R. Ludlow, 1872- 74. John B. Whitehead. 1874-76. John S. Tucker. 1876-80. William Lamb, 1880-86. Barton Myers, 1886-88. R. G. Banks, 1888- March 7, 1890. E. M. Henry, March 7-June 30, 1890. Frank Morris, July 1. 1890; died January 13. 1892. S. Marx. January 18. 1892. June 30. 1892. A. B. Cooke. 1892-94. Charles W. Pettit. 1894-96. W. R. Mayo. 1896-98. C. Brooks Jolinston, 1898-1900 : re-elected 1900 for term of two years ; resigned May 14. 1901.
362
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
Nathaniel Beaman elected to fill unexpired term, May 14, 1901.
Norfolk City is governed under a charter which provides for a mayor ; a legislative coun- cil composed of two bodies, an upper or "select" council, and a lower or "common" council; a judge of the Corporation Court ; a judge of the Court of Law and Chancery ; a police judge ; justices of the peace ; a treasurer ; and auditor ; a collector ; a commissioner of the revenue; an engineer : a city attorney ; a school board for the department of public education ; a board of street, sewer and drain commissioners ; a board of electrical control; a board of health ; a quar- antine board; also governing boards of the water, fire and police departments, etc.
Some of these boards have large powers and, while they are all subordinate to the Coun- cils in most matters, in some things the Board of Education has independent powers under the charter.
The two houses of the Council have 36 members, 23 in the "common" branch and 13 in the "select" branch. The people elect all members of the Council by wards under an ap- portionment based on population as follows :
First Ward. S S
Second Ward. Third Ward. 8
Fourth Ward. 6
Fifth Ward ( Brambleton) . 3
Sixth Ward ( Atlantic City) 3
From the whole number meeting in joint session the members of the Select Council are chosen. As to their powers: These bodies are co-ordinate ; a measure may originate in either, but must pass both.
There are also the other numerous officials required in all large cities such as clerks of courts, market clerks, weighers and sealers, grain, street and plumbing inspectors, gaugers, water registrars, cemetery keepers, etc.
The chiefs of the police and fire departments are elected by the Councils. The elective city officials hold office for two years, with the ex- ception of three, viz: The commissioner of revenue is elected for four years, the clerk of
the courts for six years, and the city treasurer for three years.
In the four old wards, on the $100, the rate of taxation is: City, $1.70; State, $.40 ; total, $2.10. In the Fifth Ward, on the $100: City, $1.05; State, $.40; total. $1.45, until July I, 1902,-after that date the same as the re- mainder of the city. In the Sixth Ward, on the $100: City, $1.25; State, $.40; total, $1.65, until February 22, 1905,-after that date the same as the remainder of the city. The assessed valuation of real estate is about two- thirds of the actual value. The credit of Nor- folk is first class ; her five per cent. bonds selling at 115, and her four per cent. bonds at 107 I-2.
OFFICERS OF THE CITY OF NORFOLK.
(July 1, 1900.)
Mayor-C. Brooks Johnston (resigned May 14, 1901, succeeded by Nathaniel Beaman, same date). Mayor's clerk-Cyrus D. Jordan.
City treasurer-H. S. Herman.
City auditor-Joseph T. Culpepper.
Collector of city taxes and levies-William L. Baker.
Commissioner of revenue-\V. W. Dey.
Commonwealth's attorney-William H. Venable. City attorney-Walter H. Taylor.
City engineer-\V. T. Brooke.
Assistant city engineer-Walter H. Taylor.
Inspector of buildings-Alexander Nugent.
Inspector of streets-Benjamin L. Christian.
Superintendent of cemeteries-John W. Broughton. Superintendent of Calvary Cemetery-F. Gillam (colored).
Keeper of Almshouse-H. A. Tarrall.
Clerk of the Market-W. H. H. Woodhouse.
Sealer of weights and measures-A. W. Grandy. Ganger and inspector of liquors-J. W. Cake.
Janitor of City Hall-B. F. Bunting.
Custodian of Christ Church Clock-T. Shepherd Brown.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Board of Health-Nathaniel Beaman, mayor, er- officio chairman; N. C. Pamplin; Dr. C. F. Newbill, health commissioner.
Clerk to the Board-A. Plummer Pannill.
Physician to the Almshouse-Dr. Stark A. Sutton. Physicians to the city poor-Drs. P. S. Schauck and J. R. Speight.
Coroners-Drs. E. N. Newton and E. P. Oden'hal.
WATER DEPARTMENT.
Board of Water Commissioners-George McIntosh, president ; Richard H. Wright, treasurer ; N. M. Osborn.
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Superintendent-Herbert L. Smith. Registrar-T. J. Peele.
BOARD OF STREET, SEWER AND DRAIN COMMISSIONERS.
J. D. Hofheimer, chairman; H. Hodges; W. T. Cooke.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Fire Committee of the Councils-William W. Han- nan, Common Council: Albert Stahl. Common Coun- cil; W. P. Oberndorfer, Select Council.
Chief engineer-Martin J. Ryan.
Assistant engineer-John S. Webber.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Board of Police Commissioners-Nathaniel Bea- man, mayor, er-officio chairman : A. P. Thom; John N. Vaughan.
Clerk to the Board-Cyrus D. Jordan.
Chief of police-Charles G. Kizer.
Ist assistant chief of police-M. J. Villines.
2nd assistant chief of police-Andrew Stephens.
Ist sergeant-T. F. Dalton.
2nd sergeant-Charles A. Beane.
3rd sergeant-John T. Mayo.
4th sergeant-G. M. Heppel. Chief clerk-L. T. McGuire.
CITY COURTS.
Corporation Court-Hon. Allan R. Hanckel, judge ; James V. Trchy, clerk.
Court of Law and Chancery-Hon. W. B. Martin, judge: James V. Trehy, clerk.
Circuit Court-Hon. R. R. Prentis, judge: Law- rence Waring. clerk. Police Court-Hon. Tazewell Taylor, justice- Cyrus D. Jordan, clerk.
Justices of the peace-J. Lee Seneca. James B. Hol- land. Harry Smith, A. H. Ashburn, A. J. Dalton, J. L. Nash.
High constable-W. G. Pettis.
THE COMMON COUNCIL. (July 1, 1900.)
President-J. Frank East.
Vice-president-Nathaniel Beaman.
City treasurer, ex-officio clerk-H. S. Herman.,
Acting clerk-R. E. Steed.
Messenger-Boswell T. Camp.
Councilmen (23)-
First Ward-J. Lee Seneca. Thomas S. Fitz-gib- ben, E. H. Cunningham. J. A. Ridgewell, Albert Stahl. Second Ward-J. N. Kiernan. W. M. Hannan, William McManus. J. G. Tilton. F. T. Wise. Third Ward-Nathaniel Beaman, J. W. Keeling, William W. Old, J. O. Pitt, R. W. Whitehurst.
Fourth Ward-J. Frank East. D. A. Underdown, W. H. Mayo, A. C. Walker.
Fifth Ward-C. Preston Denby. A. M. Cousins. Sixth Ward-Edward Camp, Thomas S. Southgate.
THE SELECT COUNCIL.
President-Fred Greenwood.
Vice-president-Charles H. Consolvo. Clerk-H. N. Poulson.
Messenger-Boswell T. Camp.
Councilmen (13)-
First Ward-Charles H. Consolvo, T. M. Cashin, J. J. O'Keefe.
Second Ward-E. L. Mayer, William Pannill, W. P. Oberndorfer.
Third Ward-J. W. Cashin, Fred Greenwood, C. O. Wrenn. Fourth Ward-Frank Jacobs E. S. Joynes.
Fifth Ward-Jesse O. Reid.
Sixth Ward-R. L. Forrest.
Finance Committee of the Councils-Nathaniel Beaman, chairman of Common Council: Charles H. Consolvo, chairman of Select Council : William W. Old, Common Council : E. H. Cunningham. Common Coun- cil; E. L .. Mayer, Select Council.
R. E. Steed, clerk to the Committee.
SINKING FUND COMMISSIONERS.
Col. Walter H. Taylor. J. G. Womble, Richard Walke.
. . BOARD OF ELECTRICAL CONTROL. (As per city ordinance. )
J. A. Ridgewell, chairman of Council Light Com- mittee. W. T. Brooke, city engineer.
Martin J. Ryan, chief of Fire Department.
R. A. Smith, city electrician.
LOSSES SUSTAINED IN THE BURNING OF NOR- FOLK AND PORTSMOUTII BY LORD
DUNMORE.
The commissioners appointed by an Act of the Virginia Assembly in 1777 to inquire into and ascertain the losses sustained by the late in- habitants of the borough of Norfolk by the burning of it and Portsmouth by Lord Dun- more in 1776 were Richard Kello, Daniel Fish- er, Joseph Prentiss and Rev. Robert Andrews.
They met in Norfolk in September, 1777, when Hardress Walter and Richard Taylor, carpenters, were sworn to value the ruins.
The following appears as a part of that commission's report and may be of interest to their descendants :
George Abyvon, merchant, II houses, £2,139, 19S. James Baker, bricklayer, 5 houses, £326.
Thomas Newton, rope-walk, £4.235, 6d.
John Hutchings, merchant, 15 houses. £1,949.
Lewis Hansford. merchant. I house. £77. 1s .. 3d. William Holt. merchant. 8 houses. £1.569. 17s., 3d. Taylor Hansford, merchant, 7 houses, £960.
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
Samuel Bacon, watchmaker, 7 houses, £1,816, IOS. Elizabeth Kelsick. 4 houses. £433.
John Willoughby estate, 12 houses. £1,004, 15s.
Bartholomew Thompson, tanner, 8 houses, £319. Samuel Portlock, blockmaker, 2 houses, £981, I2s., 6d. Mary Ross. tavern-keeper. 2 houses, £162, IOS. Edward Parke, tanner. 7 houses. £740. Mary Herita, baker. 8 houses. £676, IOS.
Stephen Tankard. tavern-keeper, 5 houses, £1,354, I2S., 2d. James Maxwell, mariner. 5 houses, £757, 8s., 4d. Lemuel Willoughby estate. 6 houses, £754. Alexander Guthry, mariner. 2 houses, £278, IOS. Thomas Poole, silversmith, I house, £72, IOS.
William Minnetree, carpenter, 4 houses, £230. Christopher Calvert, mariner. II houses, £1,102, 15s. Thomas Orion. tanner, 5 houses, £291. James Guy, sailmaker, I house, £252.
James Atkinson, tavern-keeper. 2 houses, £385.
James Leitch, shoemaker. 4 houses £140.
John and William Ingram, merchants, 4 houses, £436. Joseph Mitchell, carpenter. 6 houses. £1.325, Is., 4d. William Ivey, mariner, 4 houses, £318, 25., 6d. John McCloud. joiner. 3 houses. £148, Id. John Gardner, ship carpenter, 3 houses, £236. Joyce Edwards, ship carpenter, 4 houses, £265. Samuel Danhy, ship carpenter, 2 houses, £82. John Boggess, merchant. 3 houses, £247, 12S. Lemuel Bonick, mariner, 5 houses, £416. Anthony Walke, merchant, £372.
Joshua Peede, tailor, 3 houses, £319.
James Dyson, tailor, 3 houses, £417, 10S. John Shore, bricklayer. I house, suburbs, £77. Maximilian Morley, shoemaker, 5 houses, £234. John Williams, mariner, 2 houses, Church street, £133. 10S.
Charles Cooper, carpenter, 7 houses. £638. Richard Pickadick, silversmith, 3 houses, £162. John Smith, £160. 16s.
Narg. Taylor, 3 houses, Church street. £200, IOS. Robert Tucker, mariner, I house, £93, 105.
John Lee, merchant, 7 houses. £417. Thomas Morris, carpenter, 5 houses. £284. 5s. William Day, mariner, 2 houses, suburbs, £68. Sarah Taylor. £187, 5s., 6d.
Mary Rotherz, 4 houses. £379.
John Selden estate, 8 houses, £815.
W. R. W. Curle, attorney, ; houses, £526, IOS. Solomon Edey, mariner, 5 houses, Bermuda street, £352. Wright Westcott, mariner. 5 houses. Catharine street. £988.
James Williams. blockmaker. £78. 5s. John Dunn's estate, 4 houses, Catharine street, £701. 6s. James Haldane. coppersmith. £694. 13s., 4d. James Holt, attorney, 2 houses, £1,842, IOS.
David O'Sheal, attorney. 3 houses, £397. John Harris, mariner, £167, 19s., 3d. Richard Scott estate. 6 houses. : 785.
James Dunn, carpenter. 7 houses, Catharine street, £395.
Maximilian Calvert, merchant, 41 houses, £3,899. James Cooper. carpenter, 13 houses, £1,292.
Willis Bramble, ship carpenter, 2 houses, £339. William Freeman, butcher. 10 houses, £1,134.
Prudence Bayne, 2 houses, £171.
Goodrich Boush, merchant, 8 houses, £482.
John Livingstone, merchant. 8 houses, £389.
Robert Hallon, mariner, £246.
Sarah Cann, 12 houses, £1,417.
Francis McKerrell, mariner, 3 houses, Catharine street, £450, 25.
Hodge Miller, mariner, 2 houses, Main street, £215. William Smith, cooper, 14 houses, £1,067, IOS.
Thomas Drury, mariner, 2 houses, Cambridge street, £83.
Ed. Moseley. carpenter, 2 houses, £396.
Phripp, Taylor & Co., merchants, £1,305.
Thonias Newton. merchant, 28 houses, £5,654.
James Archdeacon, merchant, 5 houses, £595.
John Phripp estate, merchant, 18 houses, £2,845, 13S. Mathew Phripp, merchant, £392, 75.
Phripp & Bowdoin, merchants, £433, 5s.
Robert Tucker estate, 12 houses, £2.962.
John Griffin, carpenter, 4 houses, £424.
Seth Pointer, carpenter, 10 houses, Catharine street. £565, Is .. Sd.
Robert Tucker, Jr., merchant, 6 houses, Main street. £789.
John Smith, 8 houses, £1 108.
Thomas Matthews, II houses, £995.
John Kelsick, I house, £150. Samuel Blows, blacksmith, 2 houses, Church street, £213. IOS.
Dr. James Taylor. 13 houses, £2,805. Margaret Taylor, 5 houses, ¿1,236. Severn Eyres estate, II houses, =939.
Jacob Williams, baker, 7 houses, £500.
Society of Masons. I house, £1.200.
John Godfrey, blockmaker, 4 houses, £286.
Dickerson Pryor, joiner, 6 houses, £546.
Cornelius Calvert, merchant, 12 houses, £2,311, 15s, 7d. Hardress Waller, carpenter, 16 houses, £1,394, 55. John James, carpenter, 7 houses, £555. Paul Proby, mariner, 10 houses, Bermuda street, £882. Richard Ingston, mariner. 6 houses, £647. Nicholas Wonycutt, mariner, 4 houses, £558. Mary Williamson, 5 houses. £434. Paul Loyall, merchant, 13 houses, £1.932, 5S. Loyall, Newton & Co., merchants, 3 houses, £2,820, 15s., 7d. Nat Tatum. 2 houses, £242.
John Marnox. mariner, 6 houses, Cumberland street. £489. William Bevan, joiner. 5 houses, £238. William Cornick, mariner, 4 houses, £337.
Saunders Calvert, 5 houses, Main street, £526.
Henry Cornick, mariner, I house, £294. Wilson Newton. 17 houses, £1.524.
John Collins, mariner, £84.
Rebecca Newton. 3 houses. £215.
Joel Mohun, blacksmith, 3 houses, £928, 18s. Philip Carberry, baker, 3 houses, £729.
HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, NORFOLK, VA.
U. S. CUSTOM HOUSE, NORFOLK, VA.
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
Francis Haynes, mariner, I house, f170. Sarah Dyson, 6 houses, Bermuda street, £346. Henry Tucker, mariner, S houses. Bermuda street, £405.
George Jamieson, blacksmith. 4 houses, £291, IOS. John Poole, carpenter, 4 houses, £332. James Wood. bricklayer, I house, Cambridge street, £235. Joli Brodfoot, 5 houses, Cumberland street, £373, IOS. Ann Winterton, 2 houses, £172. John Johnson, mariner. 4 houses, £386.
Thomas Thompson, tanner, 8 houses. Catharine street. £1.520. James Bushel. carpenter, 3 houses, without limits town. £114.
Arthur Denby, wheelwright. 4 houses, without lim- its town. £557. William Westerhouse. 2 houses, without limits town. f132. Howard Poole, bricklayer, 9 houses. £3.336. 5s. William Chisholm, merchant, 16 houses, ft.830. Andrew Martin, 3 houses. Brewer street, £422. William Porter. 2 houses, Main street, £181. Joshua Nicholson. 4 houses. £280.
Morto Brien, tallow chandler. 2 houses, £190. Thomas Price, mariner. 6 houses. Main street. £638. County of Norfolk, 3 houses, £495.
Borough of Norfolk. 5 houses, £1.480. 15s.
Parish of Elizabeth River. 10 houses. £3.355. William Calvert, mariner, ; houses. £480, 6s. Eliza Hansford. 2 houses. £236. 14s., 6d. Thomas Talbot. shipbuilder, 18 houses, £3.308. John Gilchrist, 6 houses, £609, 10S.
John Ramsay. physician. 10 houses. £1,506.
John Woodside. tailor, 9 houses, Woodside lane, £1,602. Stephen Wright, 14 houses, £1.681. Joseph Hutchings, 12 houses, £1.717.
William Aitcheson, merchant, 7 houses. Catharine street, £1,364.
John Calvert. mariner, 5 houses. Main street, £537. Joshua Wright, saddler. I house. £213.
Thomas Claiborne. 3 houses, £346. Robert Waller, 6 houses. £1.370.
William and Thomas Farmar, merchants, 12 houses, Main and Bank streets. £1.563.
Ed. Archer, merchant, 5 houses, f733 John Archer. merchant. I house. 1503. Richard Taylor, carpenter, 5 houses. £1.033. Mathias Christian, miller. 2 houses. Church street, £185. Daniel Hutchings, merchant. 7 houses. Main street, £691. Nicholas Poole, silversmith. 2 houses, Bermuda street. £306.
James Ramsay, 6 houses. £555. Town Point Company. 8 houses. £677.
John Payne, barber, I house, £208.
Jonas Herbert, mariner. 5 houses. £541.
John Williamson, blacksmith, 7 houses, Main street, £416. Samuel Boush. 52 houses, £7.405. John Browness. 13 houses, Main street, £1.400. Breshaw & Lorrain, carpenters, 2 houses, £380.
Richard Brown, carpenter, 14 houses, £1,833. Andrew Sprowle, merchant, 2 houses, £155. Neil Jamieson, merchant, 17 houses, Main street, £2,173. Alex. Gordon. physician. 10 houses, £695. John Hardy, mariner, 14 houses, f1,293.
William Orange, merchant. 40 houses. £1,792.
James Parker, merchant. 5 houses, £563. John Cramond, merchant. 4 houses, Catharine
street, £341. Robert Gilmour. merchant. 5 houses, Main street, £167. Samuel Farmer. merchant. 5 houses, £768. James Campbell & Co.'s rope-waik and tan yard, £1.500. Matthew Rothery. 5 houses. Rothery's lane. £1.399. Henry Rothery, 3 houses, Cumberland street, £420. Peter Bazor, hatter. I house. Church street, £150. Thomas Applewhite, I house, Main street, £150.
John Greenwood, merchant, 14 houses, f1,423.
Josialı Deane, ship carpenter. 5 houses. £350.
Christopher Busten, ship carpenter. 5 houses, Cath- arine street. £598.
James Dawson. mariner. 10 houses, £894.
John Barrett, mariner, 3 houses, £265.
Benjamin Knight. 7 houses. £715.
Richard Symes, 3 houses, f229. D. W. McClurg, physician, 4 houses, in suburbs, £1.083.
Josiah Hodge. mariner. 3 houses, £200.
Talbot Thompson, sailmaker. 4 houses, Cumber- land street. £40.
Andrew Stevenson. mariner. 3 houses. £270.
The New Distillery Company, £6,000.
Archibald Campbell, merchant, 19 houses. £2,407.
W. Morgan, mariner. 2 houses, £227. County of Norfolk. 2 houses. £1.400.
The total of which was £176.426 Is. 10d.
As I understand, this above only relates to the value of buildings, and does not include value of merchandise, furniture. goods and other property that was destroyed in the gen- eral burning of the town by Lord Dunmore.
At the same time the value of property de- stroyed in the town of Portsmouth is stated to have been £8,450.
On Windmill Point, opposite, and where the fort was erected, the value of property de- stroved is stated to have been £2.005.
I make it that there were 1,333 houses or buildings destroyed in all.
I see that a British officer on board the British ship "Otter," which was one of Lord Dunmore's fleet, in writing home. stated that there were only about 12 houses left standing, on the northernmost end of the town.
THOMAS B. ROWLAND.
CHAPTER XXII
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH
THE TOWN-THE FIRST ACT FOR BUILDING THE TOWN-GRANT TO CRAFORD-WILL OF THE FOUNDER-DALE PLANTATION-EXTENDING THE BOUNDARIES-TITHABLES OF 1798-INCORPORATED AS A TOWN-NAMES OF SQUARES-EFFINGHAM STREET-INCOR- PORATED AS A CITY-CHANGING THE WARDS -- HISTORICAL EVENTS-THE GREAT FREEZE-THE AUGUST STORM-THE YELLOW FEVER-THE GOSPORT IRON WORKS -THE . UNITED STATES NAVAL HOSPITAL-PORTSMOUTH'S PATRIOTISM AND PATRIOTS -THE CONFEDERATE CAUSE-THE PORTSMOUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT-GREAT CON- FLAGRATIONS-MAYORS OF PORTSMOUTH-ROSTER OF CITY OFFICERS.
An Act of General Assembly in 1662, for building a town ( Hen. Stat., Vol. 2, Page 172, Ch. 16) contained very minute provisions ; the town (Jamestown) was to consist of 32 brick houses, one of which was to be built by each of the 17 counties; no wooden houses were thereafter to be built within the limits of the town, nor those then standing to be repaired, but brick ones were to be erected in their stead. In 1680 it was directed that in each of the coun- ties (then 20 in number) 50 acres of land should be purchased and laid out for towns, the places for which are specified in the Act (Hen. Stat., Vol. 2, Page 271, Ch. 5). This Act seems not to have received the royal assent (Qd. Page 508). In 1691 another Act was passed (Qd. Vol. 3, Page 58, Ch. 8). This As- sembly suspended (Page 108, Ch. I), but be- fore the suspension, some lands had been laid out into lots and built on (Qd. Page 186, Ch. IO; Page 432, Ch. 44). In 1705 an Act was passed for establishing ports and towns, con- taining provisions of a general and compre-
hensive character (Qd. Page 404, Ch. 42) ; but this was repealed by proclamation in 1710. Thenceforth the course was to pass special Acts establishing towns and therefore Portsmouth was the outcome of a special Act of the General Assembly.
On the Southern Branch of the broad and beautiful Elizabeth River, 106 miles from the State Capital, Richmond, 230 miles from the Federal Capital, Washington, and eight miles from Hampton Roads, in Latitude 36 degrees 50 minutes north, and Longitude 76 degrees 19 minutes west, lies the city of Portsmouth, in the State of Virginia, with a population of 17,427. Nature has endowed her with every physical advantage that can conduce to the growth of a community and the prosperity of a people, en- joying, as she does, the delight of a climate at once so mild and healthful that deaths from sunstroke are almost unknown, and from extra- ordinary exposures to cold even in extreme winter of the rarest occurrence. Blessed with the benefits, in common with her sisters Nor-
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
folk and Berkley, of the finest harbor on the American shores of the Atlantic Ocean, pos- sessing the profits accruing from the fertile lands by which she is surrounded ; withal peo- pled by industrious inhabitants, she is moving forward to reach those great proportions her founder, Col. William Craford, expected.
An editorial of the Daily Messenger, Oc- tober 6, 1843, on Portsmouth says: "There is no section of Virginia which presents a more desirable residence than this town. To the man of business there are facilities rarely to be met with. A direct communication with North Carolina by the Portsmouth & Roanoke Rail- road, a tri-weekly line of steamboats to Rich- mond and Petersburg, a daily line to Baltimore and Philadelphia, and a weekly line of packets to New York, thus presenting a line of the prin- cipal markets in the country. To men of wealth there are fine opportunities for invest- ing money, with other advantages not found elsewhere. A climate midway between the froz- en regions of the North, and the burning sun of the South, the temperature of which is most conducive to health, being neither subject to the pulmonary and inflammatory diseases of the North, or the equally fatal bilious diseases of the South.
"Another, and not the least important con- sideration in the selection of a residence is the advantage which this town affords for the edu- cation of children. We have several schools of a high order for both sexes. The Virginia Literary, Scientific and Military Academy, un- der the superintendence of Captain Partridge, which has at present four professors, and an- other will be added as soon as the patronage will justify it. The Odd Fellows' School, un- der the management of Mr. Connelly, where in- struction is imparted upon a new and highly recommended system. The Portsmouth Fe- male Seminary, with those accomplished teach- ers, Mrs. Young and Miss Town, which af- fords our citizens the opportunities of edu- cating their daughters at home under their own supervision, which is of no minor importance to those who have daughters to educate.
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