USA > Virginia > City of Norfolk > City of Norfolk > History of Norfolk County, Virginia : and representative citizens, 1637-1900 > Part 56
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125
Section 10. In such elections the city shall continue divided (as at present ) into two wards until the Council shall lay it off into wards differently, or alter the wards, and the said elections shall be held at such place in each ward as shall have been or may be hereafter pre- scribed by the Council.
Section II. The elections shall be conducted in the following manner: The sergeant shall, by publication in one or more of the city newspapers, and if there be no such newspapers, then by written advertisements at sundry places in the city, give notice thereof to the cit- izens for at least two weeks prior to any election, speci- fying time and places ; and if any unadvoidable cause should render a change of either place necessary, it shall be the duty of the sergeant to have said change announced on or before the day of election. in one or more of the city newspapers, or by handbills.
Section 12. The sergeant shall hold the election in the ward in which he resides and shall appoint in writ- ing, previous to the election. a deputy in each of the other wards, to hold an election therein, who shall be invested for that purpose with the same powers, and be restricted by the same disabilities as the said sergeant.
Section 13. In case of the inability of the sergeant, from sickness or from any other cause, to hold the election in the ward in which he resides, he shall have full power and authority to appoint, in writing, at any time before or on the day of election, a deputy, who shall hold the election in said ward, who shall be in- vested with the same powers and restricted by the same disabilities as himself. The elections for senators, dele-
381
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
gates and members of the House of Representatives shall be conducted by the same officers and in the same manner as prescribed in this Act, and by the laws of the Commonwealth.
Section 14. Any deputy appointed as aforesaid shall act under the obligations of an oath, to be admin- istered to him by an alderman, faithfully to execute the powers conferred by the said appointment. And each and every deputy shall make return to the sergeant within three days; and if from any cause there he no sergeant, then to the clerk of the Council of the city, of the number of votes given to the respective candi- dates in the ward in which he acted as deputy; which, with the votes given in his own ward. when he acts in lieu of his deputy, shall be published in some newspaper in the city and be lodged with the clerk of the Court of Hustings.
Section 15. Of persons to fill offices created or continued by this Act, elections shall be held in all the wards on the same day: but if from any cause the elec- tion shall not be held in any or all of said wards on the day prescribed, the sergeant or his deputy or deputies shall proceed to hold the same as soon as said cause is removed. after three days notice in the newspapers.
Section 16. For superintending said elections the Council shall, previous thereto. appoint five discreet per- sons in each ward as commissioners, any two or more of whom may act: and the said commissioners shall have such powers and perform such duties as are pre- scribed in the sixth section of the seventh chapter of the Code of Virginia and after taking such oath as is mentioned in the seventh section of that chapter, a cer- tificate of which oath shall be returned to the clerk of the Hustings Court. to be preserved in his office.
Section 17. No elector shall be permitted to vote in any other ward than that in which he resides.
Section 18. The qualifications of any person or persons elected as councilmen shall be adjudged of by the whole number of councilmen elected, or a majority of them.
Section 19. At all elections which shall be held as afore-aid, the person or persons who shall receive the highest number of votes, if duly qualified, shall be con- sidered as elected. And in case of a tie or equality vote between any two or more candidates, the sergeant or other person conducting the election shall decide be- tween the persons so tied.
Then follow 55 other sections embracing the general powers of the Common Council. duties of the mayor, provisions for the Circuit Court ; a supplemental Act was passed on the 25th of March, 1858, providing for the dis- position of the common property of the county of Norfolk and the city of Portsmouth.
The Court of Hustings for the city of Ports- mouth, established by the charter, held the first session at the Court House of Norfolk County in the said city on Tuesday, the 4th day of May, 1858, it being the first Tuesday in the
month of May as prescribed. Aldermen San- uel Watts, Arthur R. Smith, John Nash, Will- iam H. Morris, Moss W. Armistead, John S. White, Robert Dickson, William W. Davis, Ed- ward Kearns being present, the court proceeded to organize, and Arthur R. Smith was desig- nated as chairman to preside at the court. Arthur Emmerson was appointed cryer and James Murdaugh was appointed clerk pro tempore. The court, being organized and opened, proceeded to business, and the follow- ing certificates were directed to be recorded. to evidence the due qualification of the aldermen of the city, viz :
City of Portsmouth, to-weit: This day personally appeared before me, James Gregory Hodges, Mayor of the City of Portsmouth. John Nash. Robert Dickson. William W. Davis, Arthur R. Smith, William H. Peters. William H. Morris, who were by the voters of said city at an election held on Thursday, the 22nd day of April, 1858, at the Town Hall the place of voting in Jackson Ward in said city, elected Aldermen of the said city in and for said ward, and took the several oaths prescribed by law.
Given under my hand this 30th day of April. 1858. JAMES GREGORY HODGES,
Mayor. City of Portsmouth. to-wit: This day personally appeared before me. James Gregory llodges, Mayor of the City of Portsmouth. Samuel Watts, John S. White, Charles R. McAlpine. Edward Kearns, Robert 11. Cuth- erell, Moss W. Armistead, who were, by the voters of the said city al an election held on Thursday, the 22nd day of April. 1858, at the Court House, the place of voting in Jefferson Ward in said city. duly elected Aldermen of the said city in and for said ward and took the several oaths prescribed by law.
Given under my hand this 30th day of April, 1858. JAMES GREGORY HODGES. Mayor.
Arthur Emmerson, who was duly elected clerk by the voters of the city, qualified. David J. Godwin, who was duly elected Common- wealth's attorney, qualified : the court fixed his salary at $300 per annum. Claudius W. Mur- daugh, Leopold C. P. Cowper and Virginius O. Cassell were elected commissioners in chan- cery. James Murdaugh, John S. Stubbs. Leo- pold C. P. Cowper. J. M. Brickhouse, James G. Holliday, James F. Crocker, David J. God- win, Claudius W. Murdaugh. Virginius O. Cassell, P. H. Daughtery and Abram S. Watts qualified to practice law in said court.
382
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
Joseph Hobday, who was duly elected com- missioner of the revenue by the voters of the city, qualified. Herman Mathews, who was duly elected constable, qualified. David J. Godwin, Claudius W. Murdaugh, Abram S. Watts, John Emmerson, qualified as notaries public under commissions from His Excellency, Henry A. Wise, Governor of Virginia.
The court appointed Samuel Watts, David J. Godwin and Arthur Emmerson a committee to prepare rules and regulations for conducting business. William H. Bingley qualified as dep- uty clerk.
In April, 1858, George W. Grice was elected first mayor of the city. On the 5th of July, 1860, a bill creating the office of judge of the Court of Hustings was enacted and Hon. Ed- ward W. Massenburg was elected the first judge.
CHANGING THE WARDS.
An Act to provide a new charter for the city of Portsmouth was approved March II, 1873 (Acts 1872-73, Ch. 152, Page 122) :
Section 3. The present Council of the City of Portsmouth shall. within 60 days after the passage of this Act. appoint five discreet and proper persons, resi- dents and voters in said city, any three of whom may act, who shall without delay proceed to lay off said city into wards, not less than two nor more than five, and to define the boundaries of said wards, and, where practicable. to use the streets and alleys of said city for boundaries. The said commissioners shall report to the Council the wards laid out, and the boundaries thercof, with a plat of the same, and. if approved by said Coun- cil, the same shall be confirmed by the Council, and each ward designated by names or numbers, and the wards so established and defined shall be the wards of said city until changed by Act of the General Assembly. Until such revision be made, the wards of said city shall remain as at present defined. Upon such revision the Council shall apportion the councilmen among the various wards established. * *
Section 13. The Council of the City of Ports- mouth, after the revision of the wards of said city, as hereinhefore provided, shall be composed of 15 mem- bers. to be apportioned among the several wards in proportion to the number of inhabitants in cach ward. The councilmen chosen shall, at the time of election and during their continuance in office, be residents of the ward for which they are chosen. They shall be elected by the voters qualified to vote for councilmen, as hereinbefore provided, who are residents of the respec- tive wards for which such councilmen are chosen. . If
the revision of the wards of the city as hereinbefore provided shall not be made, the Council of the city shall remain as at present constituted. The qualifica- tions of any person or persons elected as councilmen shall be adjudged of by the whole number of council- men elected or a majority of them.
Under these provisions the Council took the matter up and at the meeting on April 6, 1873, Mr. Brown moved that five discreet citi- zens be appointed to redistrict the city and that the chair appoint the committee, which motion was carried. The chair appointed the follow- ing gentlemen: William T. Robinson, G. F. Edwards, R. E. Glassett, V. A. Haynes, G. W. Watts. On motion the chair was instructed to fill all vacancies. On motion of Mr. Maupin the wards were to be numbered instead of named. On motion of Mr. Smith the com- missioners were each allowed $25 for their services.
At a meeting of the Council, on April 28, 1873, the President stated that it was called to hear the report of the commissioners. Then followed the report of commissioners, which was adopted by a resolution, and the Council also fixed the number of councilmen for the city at 15, to-wit: Five each for the First and Second Wards, two for the Third Ward and three for the Fourth Ward.
The new charter of the city of Portsmouth. now in force, is provided by Acts of the Gen- eral Assembly, approved March 6, 1882, Jan- uary 28, 1884, and February 23, 1894. The latter Act extends the boundaries to embrace, in addition, the territory beginning in the western boundary line of the city at a point 113 feet south from the south side of Glasgow street : and from thence running west, parallel with Glasgow street, to the center of the chan- nel of Scott's Creek ; thence northwardly along the center of the channel of this creek to low- water mark of the Elizabeth River, thence east- wardly along the low-water-mark line of the river to the northwestern boundary line of the city ; and thence southwardly along the western boundary line of the city to the point of be- ginning. This territory is known as the Fifth Ward.
383
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
IHISTORICAL EVENTS.
The will of Rev. Charles Smith, the first minister of Portsmouth Parish, is dated Jan- uary 24, 1771. After disposing of his estate including several small legacies he directs his manuscripts to be burned and his body to be buried decently in a plain pine coffin near a cherry tree "bearing about S. W. from this he use and upon the Glebe." and a codicil dated October 30, 1772, says, "My will now is that after my within-mentioned mulatto woman Mary waits on my graddaughter Abegail Tay- lor one year after my decease thenceforward I emancipate and set her free with all her future issue forever."
Isaac Luke died October 31. 1784. in the 54th year of his age. He was one of the most prominent citizens of his time.
Rev. Richard Cave. Jones on December 17. 1792, produced his credentials as a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church to the Coun- ty Court, and qualified to celebrate the rites of matrimony.
The sugar house near Gosport Bridge was opened in 1802 and produced the best double- refined loaf sugar. It was burned down in 1831. The rum distillery in Gosport with a capacity of 600 gallons per day was opened in 1803.
Among the Portsmouth ships and captains in 1807 were: Ship "Flora," Capt. Robert Benthall : ship "Anacreon." Capt. Henry Pet- ers ; ship "Elizabeth." Capt. Isaac Luke; ship "William & Mary." Capt. Henry Dickson : ship "Malvina." Capt. Robert Dickson ; ship "Mo- doc," Capt. Robert Barclay: ship "Margaret Wright." Captain Rooke : ship "Constitution." Captain McRea.
On April 16, ISII, the French privateer "Revanche de Cerf," Capt. John Jacques, that had been detained nine months by Commodore Rodgers and released by the Admiralty Court. while lying in the harbor opposite the U. S. Marine Hospital at Ferry Point (on Berkley Flats), was boarded by an armed force from the shore, set on fire, blown up and entirely de- stroyed.
On March 31, 1815. Francis Grice, of Phila- delphia, began building ships in Portsmouth. He was afterward naval constructor.
On October 25, 1824, the Marquis de LaFayette visited Portsmouth : he was met at the ferry landing, then at North street, and es- corted by the Portsmouth Rifles and Greys to the intersection of Crawford and High streets, where the welcome by the city was tendered.
In 1825 the schooner "Ranger." com- manded by Captain Seward, whose family lived on Water street. was captured by the pirates off the coast of South America.
On May 19. 1827, the steamer "Fredericks- burg." built by Joseph Porter, was launched, 136 tons burden. She was to run between Washington and Potomac Creek.
On April 16, 1829. the Virginia & North Carolina Transportation Company contracted for and had completed in 30 days 10 vessels for the canal trade at the following shipyards : Joseph Porter's Portsmouth: John Overton's, Portsmouth : Miles Chambers & Hathaway's, Portsmouth: Ryan & Gayles', Portsmouth; Oney S. Dameron's, Norfolk: Isaac Talbot's, Nofolk ; John G. Colley's, Norfolk.
On July 30, 1830, the new steamboat "Lady of the Lake." was built by Capt. Guy C. Wheel- er at his shipyard in Portsmouth, moved by her own steam.
The Fourth of July. 1833. was celebrated with a grand military parade of Norfolk Coun- ty, Norfolk and Portsmouth soldiers :
Norfolk County Horse Guard-Capt. Doughty. St. Bride's Patrici :- Capt. Tatem. Norfolk L. I. Blues-Capt. King. Norfolk Juniors-Capt. Forniquet. Norfolk Independents-Capt. Tonkin. Portsmouth Light Dragoons-Capt. Murdaugh. Portsmouth L. I. Greys-Capt. Watts.
Portsmouth Artillery-Capt. Cassell.
Portsmouth Rifle :- Capt. Gayle.
Portsmouth Grena diers-Capt. Darden.
The Globe Tavern. afterward "The High Street Hotel." was kept by Captain Reynolds. It was situated on the north side of High street, about 100 feet east of Court street, now the site of the Commercial Building. Invitations
384
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
to a ball were sent out, with a picture of an eagle holding in his talons a scroll with "E Pluribus Unum":
The pleasure of your company is solicited at a Ball to be given at the Globe Tavern, in Portsmouth, on Friday evening, the 21st inst.
Arthur Emmerson.
Dempsey Nash,
Mordecai Cooke,
John L. King,
Robert B. Butt.
Levin Gayle,
John B. Levy, John K. Cooke,
Benjamin Spratley.
Albert G. Nash,
Isaac R. Bayley, Columbus C. Robertson,
James H. Langhorne,
Henry V. Niemeyer,
Henry C. Bell. Tapley Portlock,
Joseph A. Bilisoly, George Blow.
Managers.
10th Feb. 1834.
On April 24, 1844, Henry Clay visited the city and Capt. Samuel Watts gave a reception at his mansion, where a large number of ladies and gentlemen were introduced to the dis- tinguished gentleman. On July 24. 1847, the U. S. S. "Pennsylvania" arrived from Phila- delphia,-the only voyage she ever made; she was receiving ship at Gosport until burned by the Federals in 1861.
Liberia was founded by free colored people. sent out in 1822 by the American Colonization Society, of which Henry Clay was president. Joseph Jenkins Roberts, the first president of the republic, was elected October 5, 1847 .- he was a native of Portsmouth, and was carried out on a ship commanded by Capt. Henry Peters.
On April 17. 1854. the ship "Gosport," 900 tons, was launched from Page & Allen's yard, Gosport.
On August 27, 1854, the brig "St. Julien" was launched from the shipyard of S. Herbert in Portsmouth. She was an unfortunate ves- sel : she stuck on the ways ; her commanding officer, Captain Pleasants, died from cholera morbus four days after ; she was capsized and lost at sea on her first voyage.
On August 28, 1854, the ship "James Guthrie, 1,200 tons, was launched from Page & Allen's yard, Gosport.
The Great Freeze .- In January, 1857, a snow-storm of great violence burst upon the
coast and invaded the tidewater counties, ac- companied by a strong wind and high tides. On Monday, the 19th, the snow lay six feet deep, and the river was frozen over from shore to shore. A few days later the whole harbor was blockaded with ice, and all communication by water was cut off. At one time the mercury registered nine degrees below zero,-an un- heard-of event in this latitude, but common enough in the North and Northwest where "blizzards" are mere incidents of every win- ter's experience. Thousands of people swarm- ed upon the ice and availed themselves of this opportunity,-the first within the memory of living men, and probably the last for many gen- erations to come,-of disporting themselves upon the congealed bosom of the Elizabeth.
On the 20th of May, 1873. the Seaboard Club of Portsmouth defeated the Chesapeake Boat Club of Norfolk, over a three-mile course down the harbor. The race was intensely ex- citing, witnessed by thousands of people on either shore, and the victory was complete,- 18 minutes and 55 seconds to 19 minutes and 25 seconds : the victorious boat was called the "Ripple," and the defeated, the "Vesta."
"RIPPLE'S" CREW.
( Trained by William Webber. U. S. Navy. )
Boyer Lemosy-Bow, age 17. Weight 133
J. W. Brown, Jr .- No. 2, age 17. Weight 128
C. H. Niemeyer-No. 3, age 19. Weight 140
Herman C. Niemeyer-No. 4, age 17. Weight 146
James T. Burton-No. 5. age 23. Weight 140
WV. F. Lemosy-Stroke, age 19. Weight 141
N. E. White-Coxwain, age 19.
Weight 108
Total Weight 936
"VESTA'S" CREW.
W. A. Graves, Jr .- Bow Weight 137
F. B. Dornin-No. 5. Weight 128
IV. C. Dickson-No. 4. Weight 151
L. W. Tazewell-No. 3. Weight 144
J. C. Baker-No. 2. . . Weight 146
Fred Hardy-Stroke. Weight 145
William Waller-Coxwain.
Weight 106
Total Weight 957
On August 30, 1875. the Third Georgia Regiment returned to Portsmouth to hold their annual reunion. They were enthusiastically re- ceived by the people and royally entertained.
385
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
Capt. Samuel Watts, a distinguished citi- zen, died May 18, 1876. He was born Novem- ber 28, 1799.
"The August Storm."-On August 18. 1879. the city was surprised by the unwelcome visit of something very nearly akin to a hurri- cane-or so, at least, it seemed to the unac- customed eyes of the population, although it would probably have aroused neither surprise nor alarm in our brethren who dwell in the prairie-home of the cyclone and tornado. It began about 9 o'clock. A. M., with a furious easterly wind and driving rain, which lasted several hours, inflicting considerable damage upon the shade-trees, fences and lightly-con- structed buildings of the city. The wharves and gardens near the river were submerged. vessels were driven ashore, and the bark "Dav- id Dudley" was capsized and drifted. bottom upwards, to the Berkley Flats. An occasional more-than-usually impetuous blast would tear the branches from the trees, palings from the fences and shingles from the houses, in a man- ner equally unceremonious and impartial, and hurl them about in all directions. Trees were uprooted. houses damaged, and woe to the merchants whose sign-boards were not firmly secured! The surrounding country also suf- fered severely, chiefly in the matter of fences and barns. Numerous slight accidents and "hair breadth escapes" were reported, but for- tunately the city escaped without any loss of life. For several days afterward the local newspapers enlarged upon the destruction wrought by this unwonted visitor, which is still commonly referred to as "The August Storm,' although more than 21 years have passed since its passage.
On April 2. 1885, occurred the suspension of the Exchange National Bank, followed by the closing of the Franklin Savings Bank and Bain Brothers Bank. of Portsmouth .- the greatest financial disaster that ever occurred in Norfolk and Portsmouth. The failure was estimated to cover nearly $4.000.000 and created intense excitement.
Capt. Osmond Peters died February 15.
1886. aged 72 years. He entered the United States Revenue Marine service as 3rd lieutenant in 1837 and continued in the service until his State seceded from the Union, when he re- signed and entered the service of the Confed- crate States. During the Seminole troubles he served in the mosquito fleet against the Indians. He was a Mexican war veteran. Captain Peters was a man of noble impulses, and an efficient and able officer. upright in all his transactions.
The earthquake of August 31. 1886. which filled Charleston. South Carolina, with mourn- ing and desolation, was felt here also, and with sufficient force to shake everything else except the confidence of the Portsmouth people in themselves and in the future prosperity of their city: but the shock was not repeated and no evil consequences ensued. So extremely in- frequent, indeed. are atmospheric or seismic disturbances of any kind in this placid and de- lectable latitude that their visitations assume almost historical importance, being regarded by our people as epochs whence succeeding time is measured, and are consequently entitled to be placed on record.
Joe Sam Brown, the most popular citizen in the city. died September 20. 1887 .. Dr. George W. O. Maupin, an eminent physician, died June 26. 1888.
Mrs. Fanny Murdaugh Downing, of Ports- mouth, was one of the sweetest singers of the South. Most of her poems breathed the spirit of love and devotion for the Confederate heroes. Unfortunately her poems have never been col- lected in book form. "After once writing them she seemed to think little about them. It was as if a bird might sing to express its feelings and then go on to the enjoyment of all the other delights of nature without seeming to realize that its own sweet warbles had added so greatly to them." She was born October 19. 1831, and died May 6, 1894.
On May 22. 1895. the Third Battalion under command of Maj. R. E. Warren left for Poca- hontas on account of the mine riots, and re- turned June Ist. .
On July 8, 1895. Mrs. Eliza Ann Bilisoly,
386
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
widow of Joseph A. Bilisoly, died in the gIst year of her age. She was the first president of the Ladies Memorial Association. She left eight children, 33 grandchildren, 41 great- grandchildren,-total 84 and five generations. She had lost by death three children, 22 grand- children and nine great-grandchildren,-total 34 dead. Descendants living and dead at the time of her death, IIS.
On July 15, 1895, the Union Depot of the Seaboard Air Line was occupied. On July 23, 1895. the workingmen of the Navy Yard passed resolutions, in high tribute to Naval Constructor Francis T. Bowles, who had been ordered to New York.
On October 20, 1898, R. E. Glassett, a dis- tinguished journalist, died. On November II. 1898, Virginius Butt, one of the most ef- ficient commissioners of the revenue in the State died from the effects of a carbuncle. On November 25, 1898, Owen D. Ball, one of the oldest railroad officials of the Seaboard Air Line, died.
On October 16, 1899, the U. S. S. "Texas" returned to the Navy Yard from a mission destroying derelicts.
Patriotic services were held in the public schools on the 14th of December. 1899. in com- memoration of the death of George Washing- ton. In the district schools the observance took the form of readings, recitations and sing- ing of patriotic songs, but in the high school the order of exercises was more ambitious.
The second and third grammar grades as- sembled with the junior, intermediate and sen- ior high school classes at the time of the mid- day recess, and the scholars joined with gusto in the singing of "Hail Columbia," with which the exercise opened. Then followed an ad- dress on "Washington, the Patriot Under Two Flags." The exercises were under the aus- pices of Fort Nelson Chapter, D. A. R.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.