USA > Virginia > City of Norfolk > City of Norfolk > History of Norfolk County, Virginia and representative citizens, V.1 > Part 53
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 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. 8
Second Ward. 8
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 ȘIoo: 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 1-2.
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-W. W. Dey.
Commonwealth's attorney-William H. Venable. City attorney-Walter H. Taylor.
City engineer-W. 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. Gauger 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, c.r- 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.
363
'AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
Superintendent-Herbert L. Smith. Registrar-T. J. Peele.
BOARD OF STREET, SEWER AND DRAIN COMMISSIONERS.
T. D. Hofheimer, chairman : H. Hodges; W. T. Cooke.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Pire 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, e.r-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. Trehy. 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 Bcaman. City treasurer, er-officio clerk-H. S. Herman. Acting clerk-R. E. Steed.
Messenger-Boswell T. Camp. Councilmen (23)-
First Ward-J. Lce 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. Oid, Common Council ; E. H. Cunningham, Common Coun- cil; E. I .. 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 PORTSMOUTH 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, If houses, £2.139, 193. James Baker. bricklayer. 5 houses, £326. Thomas Newton, rope-walk. £4.235, 6d. John Hutchings. merchant, 15 houses. £1.940. Lewis Hansford. merchant, i house, £77. 1 ... 3d. William Holt. merchant, 8 houses. £1.569. 175 ... 3d. Taylor Hansford. merchant, 7 houses. £960.
364
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
Samuel Bacon. watchmaker. 7 houses. £1,816, 10s .. Elizabeth Kelsick. 4 houses, £433.
John Willoughby estate, 12 houses, £1.004, 155.
Bartholomew Thompson, tanner. 8 houses, £319. Samuel Portlock, blockmaker, 2 houses, fo81, I2s., od.
. Mary Ross, tavern-keeper. 2 houses. £162, 10s. Edward Parke. tander. 7 houses, £740. Mary Herita, baker, 8 houses. 2676, 108. Stephen Tankard, tavern-keeper, 5 houses, £1.354, I2s., 2d. James Maxwell. mariner, 5 houses. 1757. 8s., 4d. Lemuel Willoughby estate, 6 houses, £754. Alexander Guthry, mariner. 2 houses, £278, IOS. Thomas Poole, silversmith. I house, $72. 105. William Minnetree, carpenter. 4 houses. £230. Christopher Calvert, mariner. JI 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, 2s., 6d. John McCloud, joiner, 3 houses, £148, Id. John Gardner, ship carpenter. 3 houses. £236. Joyce Edwards, ship carpenter, 4 houses, £265. Samuel Danby, 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, IOS. John Shore, bricklayer. I house, suburbs, £77. Maximilian Morley, shoemaker, 5 houses, £234. John Williams, mariner, 2 houses, Church street, £133. IOS,
Charles Cooper, carpenter, 7 houses. £638. Richard Pickadick. silversmith, 3 houses, £162. John Smith, £160. 16s.
1 Marg. Taylor. 3 houses, Church street, £200, IOS. Robert Tucker. mariner, I house, £93, IOS. 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, 7 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, £604. 13s., 4d. James Holt. attorney, 2 houses. £1.842. 10S. David O'Sheal, attorney, 3 houses, £397. John Harris, mariner, £167, 196 .. 3d. Richard Scott estate, 6 houses. 2785.
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, f17I.
Goodrich Boush, merchant, 8 houses, £182. John Livingstone, merchant. 8 houses, £389. Robert Hallon, mariner, £246.
Sarah Cann, 12 houses, f1.417.
Francis McKerrell, mariner, 3 houses, Catharine street, £450, 2S.
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.
Thomas Newton, merchant, 28 houses, £5.654.
James Archdeacon, merchant, 5 houses, £505.
John Phripp estate, merchant. 18 houses, £2,845, 13S.
Mathew Phripp, merchant, £392, 7S.
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., 8d.
Robert Tucker, Jr., merchant, 6 houses, Main street, f789.
John Smith, 8 houses, £1. 108.
Thomas Matthews. II houses, £995.
John Keisick. 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, £2,31I, 15s, 7d. Hardress Waller, carpenter, 16 houses, £1,394, 5S. John James, carpenter, 7 houses, £555. Paul Proby, mariner, 10 houses, Bermuda street, £8S2. Richard Ingston, mariner, 6 houses, £647.
Nicholas Wonycutt, mariner, 4 houses, £558. Mary Williamson, 5 houses, £434. Paul Loyall, merchant, 13 houses, £1.932, 53. Loyall, Newton & Co., merchants, 3 houses, £2,820, 15s., 7d. Nat Tatum, 2 houses, £242.
John Marnox. mariner, 6 houses, Cumberland street. £480.
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.
1.
HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, NORFOLK, VA. 1
4 44.
1
U. S. CUSTOM HOUSE, NORFOLK, VA.
--
367
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
Francis Haynes, mariner. I house, £170. Sarah Dyson, 6 houses, Bermuda street. £346. Henry Tucker, mariner, 8 houses, Bermuda street, £405. George Jamieson. blacksmith, 4 houses, £201, 105. John Poole, carpenter, 4 houses, £332. James Wood, bricklayer. I house, Cambridge street, £235. John 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. £132. Howard Poole, bricklayer, 9 houses. £3.336. 5s. William Chisholm. merchant. 16 houses, f1.830. Andrew Martin, 3 houses, Brewer street. £422. William Porter. 2 houses, Main street, EISI. Joshua Nicholson. 4 houses, £280.
Morto Brien, tallow chandler. 2 houses. f190. Thomas Price, mariner. 6 houses, Main street, £638. County of Norfolk, 3 houses. £495.
Borough of Norfolk. 5 houses, £1.480, 155. Parish of Elizabeth River, 10 houses. £3.355. William Calvert, mariner. 7 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, £733. John Archer, merchant. I house, £503. 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, f1,833. 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, £1,293. 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, £467. Samuel Farmer, merchant, 5 houses. £768. James Campbell & Co.'s rope-walk and tan yard, £1.501. Matthew Rothery, 5 houses. Rothery's lane. £1.399. Henry Rothery, 3 houses. Cumberland street. £120. Peter Bazor, hatter, I house, Church street, £150. Thomas Applewhite. I house, Main street, f150. John Greenwood, merchant, 14 houses, £1.423. Josiah Deane. ship carpenter. 5 houses. £350. Christopher Busten, ship carpenter, 5 houses, Cath- arine street. £508.
James Dawson, mariner. 10 houses. $894. John Barrett. mariner. 3 houses, £265. Beniamin Knight, 7 houses. f;15. Richard Symes, 3 houses, 6229. D. W. McClurg, physician, 4 houses, in suburbs, £1,083. Josiah Hodge, mariner. 3 houses. £200. Talbot Thompson, sailmaker, 4 houses, Cumber- land street, £10.
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. rod.
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-
369
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.
"We have several other excellent schools both for the primary and higher branches of an English and classical education."
THE FIRST ACT FOR BUILDING THE TOWN.
Under the following Act passed on the 25th of February, 1752, in the reign of George II of England, and 47 years after Norfolk was created a borough, Portsmouth was founded.
The General Assembly begun and held at William and Mary College in Williamsburg on Thursday, the 27th day of February, in the 25th reign of our sovereign lord. George II, by the peace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc., and in the year of our Lord, 1752, enacted (Chapter XXIV) :
An Act for Establishing the Town of Portsmouth, in the County of Norfolk, and to prevent the building of wooden chimneys therein.
I. Whereas, it hath been represented to this As- sembly that William Craiord, of the County of Nor- folk. Gentleman. hath lately laid out a parcel of land, on the south side of Elizabeth River, opposite to the town of Norfolk, into 122 lots, commodious streets, places for a Court House, Market, and public build- ings. for a town. by the name of Portsmouth, and made sale of most of the said lots to divers persons who are desirous to settle and build thereon speedily; and also that the said town lies very convenient for trade and navigation :
II. Be it enacted, by the Lieutenant Governor, Council, and Burgesses of this present General Assem- bly and it is hereby enacted, by the authority of the same, That the said piece or parcel of land be, and is hereby constituted, appointed. erected. and established. a town, in the manner it is already laid out. by the said William Craford, in lots and streets, to be called by, and retain the name of Portsmouth. and that the free- holders of the said town, shall forever hereafter enjoy the same rights and privileges, which the freeholders of any other town, erected by Act of Assembly in this Colony, have and enjoy.
III. And be it further enacted by the authority aforcsaid, That it shall not be lawful for any person whatsoever. to erect or build, or cause to be erected or built. in said town, any wooden chimney; and if any person shall presume to erect, or build. any wooden chimney, contrary to the directions of this act, it shall and may be lawful. for the sheriff of the said county, and he is hereby required. to cause such chimney to be pulled down and demolished.
The survey of the town was made on the 7th day of February, 1752, by Gresham Nim- mo, surveyor.
370
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
At a court of Norfolk County, held on the ISth day of January, 1750, present, Col. Will- iam Craford, Capt. John Hutchings, William Portlock, Charles Sweny. Capt. William Ivy, Capt. George Veale. -X- -X- *
"Col. William Craford this day produced in Court the plan of the town of Portsmouth and prayed that the same may be lodged in the Clerk's office for the use of the inhabitants thereof."
This map is now in the clerk's office of the Court of Hustings for the city.
GRANT TO CRAFORD.
The grant to William Craford out of which Portsmouth was carved reads as follows :
George. etc .. to all. etc. Know ye that for divers good causes and consideration, but more especially for and in consideration of the sum of twenty-five shillings of good and lawful money for our use paid to our re- ceiver general of our Revenues in this our Colony of Virginia. We have given, granted and confirmed and by these presents for us, our heirs and successors do give, grant and confirm unto William Craford one certain tract or parcel of land containing eleven hun- dred and twenty-nine acres lying and being on ye west side of ye mouth of the Southern branch of Elizabeth River in the County of Norfolk and bounded as fol- loweth, to-wit: beginning at ye mouth of Crab Creek and running thence by a line of markt trees up ye creek dividing Wm. Bustin's land from this south westerly fifty-six degrees and a quarter four hundred eighty-six pole to a gum Huses corner, thence on a line of markt trees of the Huses patent south westerly thirty-three degrees and a half one hundred and twelve pole to a pine on ye north side of Parrodice Creek. thence run- ning up ye creek and bounding thereon north westerly fifty-five degrees sixty-three pole to a red oak on ye said creek and at the mouth of the reedy branch. thence on a line of markt trees dividing this land and the land of Edward Hues northeasterly five degrees forty-five "minutes" one hundred forty-nine pole to a white oak thence on a line of markt trees dividing this land and the land of the said Hues north westerly twenty-two degrees and a half forty pole to a sassafras thence on a line of markt trees dividing this land and the land of ye said Hues or Henry Low northeasterly thirty-seven degrees and a half one hundred eighty-one pole to a pine on ye east side of the head of Church Creek, thence running down on ye east side thereof and bounding northwesterly two degrees three hundred twenty-six pole thence on ye said creek again north- easterly eighty-one degrees ninety pole, thence run- ning crossing a small creek issuing out of Church Creek southeasterly thirty degrees eighty-eight pole to
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.