USA > Virginia > City of Norfolk > City of Norfolk > History of Norfolk County, Virginia and representative citizens, V.1 > Part 40
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
The Cotton Exchange has a tasteful build- ing with marble front at the cotton head- quarters in Atlantic City Ward, well arranged for its uses.
The Norfolk Academy, of pure Doric de- sign, is one of the buildings most admired by visitors to the city. It stands near the center of a large square. This building was designed by Walter, one of the architects of the National Capitol, after the Temple of Theseus, at Athens.
Norfolk has several handsome hotel build- ings, the most prominent being the Monticello and the New Atlantic. The Monticello cost about $500,000, and is superb in all its ap- pointments. The New Atlantic cost $250.000 and is also a handsome structure. Ford's Ho- tel (formerly the Gladstone), is next in archi- tectural importance, and the contract is closed for a large addition that will add about 80 room11s.
A fund is being raised for the Norfolk Protestant Hospital. The Market and Armory building is perhaps the largest in the city, and it is well adapted for its uses.
The city is not deficient in modern office and store buildings. The leading business structure in this line is the Citizens' Bank Building. The Columbia Building comes next. There are also other popular office buildings. and tenants are found as soon as good business blocks are completed.
A number of new: school-houses, that are thoroughly modern and tasteful in appearance. and many beautiful church structures complete the list of public buildings. Among the latter are the Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church. that cost $120,000: St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church, that cost $100,000, and the Park Avenue Baptist Church, erected at a cost of $25,000.
1
270
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS OF PORTSMOUTH
Vary in style of architecture as well as size. The United States Hospital is a massive build- ing, which was erected at a cost of $600,000. It stands in a commanding position on the river front and is one of the first objects to attract attention as one enters the port.
The new Armory and Market building is a handsome and commodious structure. Other public buildings are the Court House, Clerk's Office, City and County Jail, City Hall and four large public school buildings. The Pyth- ian Hall, Elks' Hall, Kirn Hall, Y. M. C. A. Building, St. Joseph's and St. Paul's Acad- emies are also fine structures. The Seaboard Air Line Union Depot is an ornament to the city.
THE NORFOLK COUNTY COURT HOUSE.
The first court for Lower Norfolk County was held at a private residence on the 15th of May, 1637. It must be remembered at that period and until 1751 the year began on the 25th of March, according to the Jewish com- putation, consequently May 15th came before January 22d of the same year. They were con- tinued to be held at different residences until an agreement was entered into with the tavern keeper. William Shipp. The court granted him a license to keep an ordinary and agreed to meet regularly at his tavern if he would keep a `first-class establishment with accommoda- tions for the people of the county as well as strangers. The records show that the courts met there for a long time. The first Court House was on Lynnhaven River. We have not been able to ascertain when this first Court House was. built, but as late as August, 1661, the court met at the house of Thomas Harding. The first county jail was finished on the 20th of May, 1646; until that time the sheriff had to keep the prisoners until they could be sent to the public prison at Williamsburg.
The first Court House in Norfolk County of which we have any record was on Main
street at the head of Market Square, but the date of its construction is unknown. An Act passed in 1752 to explain the charter of the borougli of Norfolk provided "That nothing herein contained shall be construed to take away, or alter, the right of the justices of the County of Norfolk in and to one certain lot or parcel of land within the said borough, whereon the Court House and prison now stand." The Court House and prison were de- stroyed by the British January 1, 1776.
( Hen. Vol. 9, Page 231.) October, 1776, Ordinance for Norfolk County,-"Whereas by the burning of the Borough of Norfolk, the Court House of the County was destroyed, and the place where it stood will be much exposed to the attacks of the enemy in case they should return, which, together with the dispersed state of the inhabitants of the said county, hath prevented the rebuilding of the said Court House, by means whereof the justices of the said County have been hindered from holding courts at the usual place and only one court hath been held for the said county since the Court House was so burned, and that not at the Court House and without a writ of ad- journment. whereby doubts have arisen whether the said justices have power to build a temporary Court House at any other place and whether the proceedings of the court last held were valid, therefore enacted that the justices could erect a temporary Court House and in the meantime hold court anywhere, pro- vided due notice was given."
On June 19, 1777, the court ordered "That the Sheriff make diligent inquiry about the iron grates that belonged to the prison recently burnt and that he get search warrants for the same."
On the 17th day of July, 1783, the court ordered "That the Clerk remove the records belonging to this County from Abram Worm- ington's to Wetwood, where they are to re- main by consent of said Clerk in his safe- keeping until an office can be built for their reception, the expense thereof to be laid in the next County levy."
-
271
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
After the destruction of the County Court Hlouse two courts were held at different places, as appear from the following orders :
On the 9th day of March, 1785, William Smith was allowed by the court for the use of his room as Court House, per account to this day, 12,000 pounds of tobacco; Patrick Mc- Canly for use of his room as an office for one vear commencing this day, 3,200 pounds of tobacco;' Paul Loyall for bringing the records from Great Bridge to Norfolk, 300 pounds of tobacco; Katharine Boush for the use of the office at Wetwood from 1784 to this day, 2,400 pounds of tobacco. On December 15, 1785, a letter from the body corporate of "Norfolk Borough" under the signature of the mavor to the court was read, whereupon it was or- dered "That Mathew Godfrey, Gent., return an answer thereto expressing the thanks of this Court for the polite offer made to them to use their Town Hall ( for holding court)."
On the 16th of February, 1786, it was or- dered "That the Commissioners appointed to let out to the lowest bidder the building of a County Court House be directed to clesist therefrom until the sense of the next General Assembly shall be known thereon, and that in the meantime the business of the Courts shall be carried on within the Borough of Norfolk as usual."
On the ISth of January, 1787, it was or- dered "That George Kelly, Thomas Brown, Robert Boush and Ben Pollard. Gent .. or any three of them be commissioners, advertise and let out to the lowest bidder the building of a County Court House of brick agreeable to the plan A. In which plan the said commissioners or any three of them may make any convenient alteration which may appear to them to be necessary and to place the same on any part of the Court House land between the street and gut making into the said land."
On November 22, 1788, it was ordered "That the Clerk remove the records and papers from his house so soon as the Court House is finished and received, to the room set apart for that purpose."
About this time began a heated official con- troversy about removing the Court House front Norfolk to Washington, now Berkley. At court held on the 17th day of October, 1788, it was ordered "That Daniel Sanford, Thomas Nash, Sr., Samuel Veale, John Kearns, Ma- thew Godfrey, John Willoughby, James Tay- lor, Thomas Ritson, William King, Thomas Veale, John Cowper and James Bruce Nich- ols, Gents., be added to the Commissioners re- specting tlie Court House and that they or a majority of them receive the said house agree- able to contract or take such other steps as may to them appear right ; to which Edward Archer and William Newsome. Gents., dissented for the following reasons: First, because the question was yesterday put for adding new Commissioners and the Court was divided; 2d, because the Court of to-day would not al- low the same number of Commissioners to be added by Edward Archer. Gent., from E. River Parish that were allowed from the other parishes ; 3d, because they are well convinced that the adding of more Commissioners at all will tend to raise schisms and great contentions in the County. and lastly, because the four gentlemen originally appointed, or majority of them, namely, George Kelly, Ben Pollard, Robert Boush and Thomas Brown, are able to attend and fully competent to the determina- tion and the adding new ones reflects very much on them, as the inference is they will not do equal justice."
The commissioners appointed to let out the building of a County Court House of brick, made their report March 19, 1789. in these words, to-wit: "Pursuant to the orders of the Worshipful Court of Norfolk County bear- ing date on the 18th and 19th days of Janu- ary, 1787, we, the Commissioners therein named, did proceed to let out the building of a County Court House to the lowest bidder agreeable to the plan given by the Court, which building was undertaken by Lemuel Carter and William Hobday for the sum of £980, and afterward judging that a cupola would be an ornamental addition thereto, did
1
272
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
contract with William Hobday to build the same for the sum of £50, which was approved of and ratified by the Court. We have also, in pursuance of the order of the 19th of Janu- ary, 1787, drawn on the County Treasurer for sich sums as became due to the undertakers as they advanced in the work, a list of which drafts is hereto annexed amounting to £1,042 IS. 3d., being the full sum due to the under- takers for building and completing the same."
The difficulty between the justices in re- gard to the removal of the Court House from the borough of Norfolk was solved by an Act of the General Assembly, passed on the 19th day of November, 1789, authorizing the re- moval of the Norfolk County Court without the borough. The Act recited that it "will be greatly for the ease and relief of the inhabi- tants of the County of Norfolk to remove the Court of said County without the borough of Norfolk," and enacted that "from and after the first day of December next Courts for the said County of Norfolk shall not be holden within the limits of the Borough of Norfolk."
It also provided that the justices should meet at the house of Mrs. Shafer at Powder Point in St. Bride's Parish and fix on a place for holding courts until the necessary building could be erected for a permanent seat ; that the court at its first session held at Mrs. Shafer's house should appoint commissioners to sell the lot of ground within the borough of Norfolk "on which the Court House is now erected;" that the commissioners should apportion the money arising from the sale of the said lot be- tween the inhabitants of the county and those of the borough, according to the tithables they respectively had at the time of levying the ex- pense of building the said Court House.
It also provided that the proportion due the borough should be paid to the chamberlain of that corporation and the county's share should be applied toward defraying the expense of erecting the Court House and other public buildings as well as for the purchase of a lot, and the surplus, if any. to be applied under the direction of the court to the establishment of
free schools. The justices were forbidden to assess any tax whatsoever on the inhabitants of the borough of Norfolk.
In Deed Book 32, page 43, in the county clerk's office, is the deed from Edward Archer and others to Robert Taylor in consideration of £1,300 for a certain piece or parcel of land situate, lying and beginning in the borough of Norfolk on the north side of Main street op- posite the Market House. This deed is dated the IIth of May, 1790, and recites that the commissioners sold under the Act of the Gen- eral Assembly, passed November 19, 1789. A lien was reserved for deferred payment which was released by deed of 31st of May, 1792. The commissioners had the lot divided into three parcels and sold at public auction on the 6th day of April, 1792. One of the parcels was purchased by Robert Taylor. another by John Calvert and the other by Bay- lor Hill. The total amount of the sales was £2.341. This was the land owned by the county for its public buildings in the borough of Norfolk. It had been doubtless reserved when the 50 acres were purchased from Nich- olas Wise for the town in 1680.
At a court held on the 20th of August. 1789,-"James Mathews, foreman. George W. Burgess, William Wilkins. James Wilkins, James Taylor, Spivy Wyatt, John Moore. William Porter, Richard Baris. George Webb. William Novall, Thomas Powell, John War- ren, Willoughby Creekmur, John Murden, John Randolph. Epaphroditus Butt and Na- thaniel Tatem, who being sworn a grand jury of inquest for the body of this County, went out and after some time returned and made their presentaments in the following manner : 'We the grand jury present such of the Justices of Norfolk County Court who have ran coun- ter to and violated the Constitution sitting as judge and party, at the same time belonging to another jurisdiction and acting legislative. executive and judicial officers. we present those of the Justices who have made the unwarrant- able attack upon the rights and privileges of the people by refusing to put the legal and
273
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
necessary questions of the administration of said Court when repeatedly called for and de- manded, and we present those justices who have been instrumental in retaining the Court belonging to the County within the Borough contrary to the real interest and repeated cries and complaints of the people.'
17th December. 1789. Court, 13 justices present .- "The Court, in pursuance of the Act of Assembly for removal of the Court House of Norfolk County, etc., do fix on the place called and known by the name of Washing- ton, there being a majority of votes for that place, for the erecting of the necessary public buildings at such place for the holding of courts of said County, and that until such buildings be erected the Courts to be held at the brick house of the estate of Charles Small- wood at Ferry Point.
"Ordered that Willis Wilson, John Kearnes. William Newsum, Edward Archer, James Webb, Robert Butt and John Hodges, or any five of them, after being first sworn faithfully and impartially to perform the duties required of them by the Act for removal of Norfolk County Court. &c. sell the lot of ground within the Borough of Norfolk on which the Court House is now erected, on such terms as they in their judgment shall think best and convey the same to the purchaser in fee or make report to the Court.
"Ordered that Thomas Nash, Thomas Newton, Charles Odean. John Hudson and Samuel Veale or any three purchase a lot in the place called and known by the name of Washington to erect public buildings for hold- ing courts for said County and they or a ma- jority of them propose plans of such buildings and lay them before next court.
"Ordered that the clerk remove the rec- ord and papers from the present Court House to such a house as Edward Archer, Thomas Newton and William Newton or any two may think proper and that they or a majority of them examine the records, &c., previous there- to and report to next court."
May 16, 1791 .-- "Ordered that the Court
be adjourned till the 3rd Monday in June next then to meet in the upstairs room of the red House at Ferry Point belonging to Edward Allmand." July 16, 1792 .- "Ordered that Commissioners appointed to sell Court House in Norfolk make report at next court of ac- court of sales." July 16, 1792 .---- "That com- misioners appointed to receive the Court Hlouse built by James S. Mathews this day made report and same was recorded."
September 18, 1789 .- "Ordered that the Clerk furnish the representatives with the fol- lowing copies from the records and the said representatives are hereby instructed to lay them before the next session of assembly and to urge their endeavors to obtain remedy to and redress of the same. viz: the motion for an additional number to superintend the building of the Court House with the protest against the same. The judge or presiding member of the court who refused to put the question for adjourning the court to Ferry Point when called for by a majority of the court. The same respecting the recommending justices. the presentment of the grand jury vs. the jus- tics for malpractices. Officers of the corpora- tion sitting as judges in the County Court and the opinion of the court respecting their summoning jurymen within the Borough of Norfolk."
At court held January 21, 1790 .--- "Thie commissioners appointed to purchase a lot of land in the place called and known by the name of Washington, to erect public buildings for holding of courts for said County, and to prepare plans for such buildings and lay them before the next court, made their report in these words to-wit: 'In obedience to an or- der of Court dated the 17th day of December. 1789. we the subscribers met at the place called Washington to fix on a lot for building a Court House and prison and having viewed the different lots fixed on No. 9 belonging to Edmund Allmand and purchased the same for the sum of £25, the said lot is sufficiently large for all necessary buildings. We have also caused a plan of a court house and pris-
16
274
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
on to be drawn which is hereto annexed; in drawing the plans, particularly for the prison, we considered that the situation of it would require one so large that a goaler might in- habit therein for the comfortable accommoda- tion of the unfortunate Debtor & the safe keeping of criminals: we beg leave to refer the Court to the plans hereto annexed for further information. . Thomas Nash, Sr., Thomas Newton. Jr .. Samuel Veale.' It is thereupon ordered that the said report be re- corded and that the plan of a Court House with the dimensions of a prison be received."
At court on January 21, 1790, it was or- dered "That Thomas Nash. Thomas Newton, Charles Odean. John Hudson, Samuel Veale, Thomas Bressie and William Boushell or a majority of them, advertise and let out to the lowest bidder the building of a county prison of brick of such dimensions as are mentioned in the note at the bottom of the report this day returned to Court. to be paid for in such man- ner as the said Commissioners or a majority of them may agree and make report to the Court."
At court May 17. 1790,-"Ordered that Thomas Nash, Thomas Newton, Charles Odean, Samuel Veale, Thomas Bressie, and William Boushell or a majority of them ad- vertise and let out to the lowest Bidder, the Building of a County Court House of Brick of such dimensions as are mentioned in the plan received by the Court at January last."
The Court House was built under these or- ders and the courts were held in it until 1803. The old building is still in existence and used by the Berkley Knitting Mills.
"It being represented that the location of the Court House and jail in the town of Wash- ington was inconvenient and the inhabitants of Portsmouth being willing to erect necessary public buildings at their own expense on re- ceiving the lot with Court House and prison in the town of Washington. to be sold to re- imburse them for the expense of the new buildings," on the 20th of January, 1801, the legislature authorized the removal of the court
as soon as a Court House and prison of like form and dimensions and strength with those in the town of Washington, should be erected on the ground set apart for that purpose in the town of Portsmouth by voluntary contri- butions .- now the site of Hotel Monroe and and the Commercial Building, at the northeast corner of High and Court streets.
On the roth day of April, 1803. William King. Richard Blow, Samuel Brown and James S. Mathews on the bench, the court re- ceived the report of Ralph Pigot. William Wil- son, Jr., and William Pritchard, who had been- appointed to examine the materials and work- manship of the Court House and jail in the town of Portsmouth, which report stated they had found them agreeable to statements of commissioners and in conformity with the Act of the General Assembly passed on the 20th day of January. 1801. for the removal of the Court House and jail from the town of Wash- ington to the town of Portsmouth.
On the 16th day of May. 1803 .- "It ap- pearing to the Court that a new Court House and Jail in the town of Portsmouth of like form and dimensions and strength with those in the town of Washington hath been erected on the ground set apart for that purpose in the said town of Portsmouth. It is ordered that the Court be henceforth held in the said Court House in the town of Portsmouth to which place the Court doth now unanimously ad- journ.'
November 22. 1842, the justices were or- dered to be summoned for the next court to consider building a new Court House, and at the next court, December 17, it was "Re- solved. That Dr. Arthur R. Smith, William Etheridge and John A. Chandler be a com- mittee on the part of Norfolk County to act with a committee from Portsmouth to me- morialize the legislature to authorize the build- ing of a new Court House on the lot at the northwest intersection of High and Court streets, to sell the present Court House and lot and apply the proceeds to the new Court House." This order was amended on the 23d
--
275
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
of December, 1842, so that should Portsmouth become fully incorporated it should have power to hold a Hustings Court and that the Court House should be used by the said te wn to hold its Corporation Court therein equally with the County Court. James G. Hatton. Jobn .A. Chandler, Richard Baugh, Samuel Watts and William Etheridge were appointed a committee to petition the legislature, then in session, to authorize the court to remove the seat of jus- tice to the lot then occupied by the clerk's office. This change was authorized by an Act of the General Assembly, passed on the 14th of December. 1844, which permitted the Coun- ty Court, by arrangements with the trustees of the town of Portsmouth, to rebuild the old Court House or build a new one on the lot occupied by the clerk's office or some other locality. On the 17th of March. 1845. Dr. A. R. Smith, Leaven Gavle, Richard Baugh, John G. Hutton and George T. Wallace were appointed a committee to have a Court House built on the clerk's office lot, also a jail on said or any other lot.
--------
So the present Norfolk County Court House was built, located at the northwest cor- ner of High and Court streets in the city of Portsmouth and is owned and occupied joint- ly with that city. The court was removed to this Court House on Monday, the 20th day of July, 1846. Samuel Watts, James E. Wil- son, Edward P. Cowper and Frederick Wil- son were on the bench and ordered that
"Whereas, at the last term of this court an order was made requiring that all the jus- tices should be duly summoned to appear here
this day to take into consideration the pro- priety of making an order for the immediate removal and sitting of this court to and in the new Court House lately erected by virtue of an Act of the General Assembly of Virginia and that a copy thereof was set up at the Court House door and also at the Clerk's of- fice door and it appearing to the court that said order has been duly executed according to law .- It is ordered that this court will now proceed to remove its sessions forthwith to the new Court House on the lot known as the clerk's office lot in the town of Portsmouth and that all future sessions of this court be hereafter held therein," and the court there- upon proceeded to the new Court House. And so court has been held at this Court House ever since.
After the Confederate War, the whole in- terior of the court room was changed and di- vided into two rooms, one for the Court of Hustings of the city of Portsmouth, on. the west side, and the other for the courts of Nor- folk County on the east side. The steps and entrance on the Court street side were changed to High street, the cupola removed and the general aspect was much altered. The county purchased another lot on the west side of its clerk's office, on which it enlarged the clerk's office and equipped it with every convenience. The jail, which was built at the same time with the Court House, at the southeast cor- ner of High and Washington streets, was re- cently torn down, and a new one for both cor- porations erected at the northwest corner of County and Water streets.
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.