USA > Virginia > City of Norfolk > City of Norfolk > History of Norfolk County, Virginia and representative citizens, V.1 > Part 58
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 following compose the officers at this time: Emmett Deans. foreman; H. Robie. Ist assistant foreman: C. E. Richardson, 2nd assistant foreman ; R. D. Guy, recording sec- : retary ; C. D. Deans, financial secretary : H. O. Pearson, treasurer : R. L. McMurren, M. D., surgeon : G. S. Bell. 3rd assistant chief : John W. Tatem, Jr., driver: W. R. Walker, tiller- man.
GREAT CONFLAGRATIONS.
On the 21st of March, 1821. a conflagra- tion broke out at the corner of High and Craw- ford streets and the following property was destroyed: On High street. the Market House ; a three-story brick building owned by Mordecai Cooke and occupied by Captain Rooke ; five frame buildings owned by Morde- cai Cooke, one by Francis Armistead. one by Dr. George W. Maupin, one by John Robbins.
on Davis' wharf of D. Ballentine ; warehouses on Myer's wharf of John Kay: ships "Lo- thair," "Home" and Georgiana.'
There was a considerable fire on High street on April 3, 1839. Several buildings were destroyed, including a book store, tin fac- tory, and the printing offices of the Ports- mouth Times, John T. Hill, editor. Thomas Godwin, a cabinetmaker, was killed by the falling of a chimney of a house now No. 305 High street. which crushed through the roof of a large frame building, that stood on the spot now occupied by the Maupin Building, Nos. 301-303. used as a cabinet-maker's shop. Mr. Godwin was inside endeavoring to remove his chest of tools when he was crushed to death.
On April 28, 1859. St. Paul's Roman Cath- olic Church was set on fire and destroyed. Twice the hose of the Independent and Reso- lute fire companies were cut while operating against the fires. The incendiaries or their ac- cessories were the culprits.
On May 1, 1859, the houses of William Benthall. Willoughby Bain and William Bain were destroyed by incendiaries.
The burning of the "Isaac Bell" was a scene ever to be remembered. A ship on fire in midstream was the grand sight which the people of Norfolk and Portsmouth witnessed on October 1, 1880. At 3 o'clock P. M. the fire bells of the Old Dominion Steamship "Isaac Bell" rang out an alarm, -- that magnifi- cient ship was on fire. A volume of flames bursting out of the hold of the ship at the foot of the foremast, and all efforts to stay them being fruitless, the tugs hauled her to the Hos- pital flats, where the ship with its cargo was burned to the waters edge. The cargo con- sisted of 750 bales of uncompressed cotton, nine hogsheads and 35 tierces of tobacco, and 14 barrels of resin, the whole valued at about $50.000. The ship was built in March. 1808. was 1,612 tons, with a carrying capacity of 2.500 tons dead weight and cost the company $200,000. The burning of the ship continued
two by Thomas E. Brooks; one brick build- ing owned by John Foster. one by Richard . .. Blow; one frame building owned by Capt. Seward: on the north side of London street : from where it crossed water street, the fire swept every building to the end of Davis wharf; on Water street the warehouse and all buildings of Richard Blow, blacksmith shop of Mr. Peed, frame dwelling of John Brooks. frame dwelling of Mr. Spady, frame dwelling of Dr. George W .- Maupin, and the residence of Mordecai Cooke. completing the two squares bounded by High. Crawford (then Main) London, Queen and Water streets ; warehouses . into the night and was witnessed by thousands
397
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
of people, who lined the shores and wharves on both sides of Elizabeth River.
On September 2, 1895, the dry kilns of the Portsmouth Luniber Manufacturing Company were destroyed by fire ignited by a spark from the smoke-stack.
....
On October 10, 1895, warehouse "D." Sea- board Air Line Company, with contents. Pct- ers & Reed's wharf and stave yards on Water street were destroyed by fire, which caught in the warchouse, but the crigin was not ascer- tained.
---
Never in her history has Portsmouth had such a baptism of fire as that which raged for five hours on the night of March 28, 1895. Thirty-five houses were burned to ashes, in- cluding St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church, and 300 people were made homeless by two incendiaries. These men seemed to have con- ceived a plan to destroy the whole city, which would have been accomplished had it not been for the interposition of circumstances, like the hand of Divine Providence. The incendiaries were apprehended and after tedious trials were convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary for terms entirely inadequate for their heinous offences.
Mayor J. Thompson Baird in his annual message to the Council said :
"The report of the Chief of the Fire De- partment makes the loss by fire during the year to be $85.566.25. This is an immense and unusual loss, but the great bulk of it was ! caused by the incendiary fire of March 28th. which the Chief rates at $70,000. He does not cite the data from which he gives this esti- mate, and I think his figures rather above the actual loss : it was, however, a night of terror long to be remembered by the community. At one time that conflagration threatened the major part of the city. But for the assistance received from our sister city of Norfolk. the U. S. Navy Yard and the county, our brave firemen, who fought the advancing flames with all the vigor and determination which inspires men to battle with the enemy of their home, must have suffered the agony unspeakable,
which only belongs to those who are forced to look hopeless and helpless on the unstayed hand of the destroying angel.
"Four of the cruel men who wantonly, out of the wickedness of their hearts, kindled this and other incendiary fires, were arrested, convicted and are now in prison in the peni- tentiary at Richmond. Their trials were long and tedious, but the arduous and untiring ef- forts of two of our eminent citizen lawyers. James F. Crocker and William H. Stewart. who volunteered to assist the Commonwealth's attorney, was finally crowned with success, and we have had a rest which is likely to continue for many years to come.
"The people of the city of Portsmouth can never discharge their obligations to these most excellent citizens. for the battle which they fought was in defense of every man's fireside. from the most opulent to the humblest. Their names are written in indelible characters in the archives of Portsmouth for emulation in gen- erations to come.
"The Fire Department of Portsmouth is not . excelled: it has reached a membership which in point of numbers and in character of material, makes it the peer of any con- solidated enemy of the fire fiend within the borders of the Commonwealth. The companies are bravely officered, splendidly equipped and superbly manned, they are thoroughly armed in discipline, patience and temperance, and so far as lies within the power of their limited numerical force. their service is invaluable and their battle-front invincible."
Chief of Police F. T. Lvnan, speaking of the increase of felonies in his report to the mayor, said :
"This was owing to an organized gang of desperadoes, who have for the past year in- fested the city. They, going about at night. stopped at nothing short of murder .- houses were burned. dwellings burglarized and stores robbed. At last the police, obtaining a clue, arrested and brought to trial the leaders of if not the entire gang, when with the valuable service voluntarily given by the Common-
-
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
398
wealth, by those eminent gentlemen and law- yers, Col. William H. Stewart and Maj. James F. Crocker, they were convicted, and are now serving long terms of imprisonment in the State Penitentiary."
MAYORS OF PORTSMOUTH.
As a matter of interest to the resident read- er, the following list of chief magistrates of the town and city, in the order of their suc- cession, is given :
I. John S. White, elected for one year, 1852 ; re-elected, 1853.
Hezekiah Stoakes, elected for one year.
2. 1854.
D. D. Fiske, elected for one year, 1855.
4. James G. Hodges, elected for one year, 1858; re-elected, 1857.
George W. Grice, elected for one year, 1856; re-elected, 1859 and 186e.
6. John O. Lawrence, elected for one year, 1861.
7. John Nash, elected for one year, 1862; had served only one month when the city was placed under martial law.
8. Daniel Collins, elected under Federal military rule for one year, 1863; re-elected, 1864 and 1865.
9. James C. White, elected for one year, 1866; under the Reconstruction Act. Mr. White served beyond the legal term for which he had been elected.
IO. James E. Stoakes, appointed by Gen- eral Schoolfield, May 1, 1868.
II. E. W. Whipple, appointed by General Canby, October 5, 1869.
12. Philip G. Thomas, elected for one year 1870 ; re-elected, 1871.
13. A. S. Watts, elected for two years, 1872 ; re-elected, 1874.
14. John O'Connor, elected for two years, 1876.
15. J. Thompson Baird, elected for two years, 1878: re-elected at each subsequent elec- tion until 1894 ..
. 16. L. H. Davis, elected for two years, 1894.
17. J. Thompson Baird, again elected, for two years, 1896, and has been re-elected at each subsequent election and is the present incum- bent of the office.
ROSTER OF CITY OFFICERS.
Mayor-J. Thompson Baird.
City Clerk-I ... P. Slater.
Treasurer-George A. Tabb.
City Auditor-T. Hume.
City Collector-R. A. Hutchins.
Commissioner of the Revenue-R. L. Herbert.
City Attorney-John W. Happer.
Street Inspector-John W. Wood.
Clerk of Market-Edw. N. Grant.
Physician to Almshouse-F. S. Hope. M. D.
Keeper of Almshouse-John Bright.
Wood Measurer. Sealer of Weights and Measures -John C. Parkerson.
Keeper of Cemeteries-Cary J. Hall.
Judge Hustings Court-James F. Crocker.
Clerk of Court-C. T. Phillips.
Commonwealth's Attorney-R. C. Barlow.
Sergeant-Williamson Smith.
Deputy Sergeant-Jesse B. Hoofnagle.
City Engineer-Bascom Sykes.
Sanitary Inspector-D. W. Murden.
Physician to the Poor-Gray G. Holladay. M. D.
High Constable-E. S. Anderton.
Superintendent Public Schools-John C. Ashton.
City Council : John J. King, president ; D. W. Bal- lentine, vice-president.
First Ward: J. W. Brown. Jr., Dr. Joseph Grice, W. S. Langhorne. R. E. Crump.
Second Ward: D. W. Ballentine, C. W. Walker, Charles E. Murden, Emmett Deans, F. O. Cain, Charles G. Hume. Third Ward: J. Leon Codd. Jesse M. Overton. J. Edw. Johnson.
Fourth Ward: John J. King. L. C. Brinson, Sam- uel T. Montague. R. E. Glover.
Fifth Ward: L. M. Palmer, S. Cleburne Browne. Educational Department-Superintendent public schools, John C. Ashton : clerk of school board. William A. Culpepper; treasurer of school board, George _1. Tabb.
School Board: D. A. Williams, president : First Ward, D. A. Williams. W. O. Hope, L. P. Slater; Sec- ond Ward. B. F. Howell. James C. Proctor, W. D. Minter : Third Ward. W. T. Ballentine. C. H. Morris, H. O. Pearson ; Fourth Ward. John T. Lawrence, J. F. Schroeder. Charles Owins: Fifth Ward. George R. Trant, R. D. Hamilton. L. M. Palmer.
Fire Department-Chief engineer. F. Wiersdorf; wardens, R. L. Herbert. C. R. Warren. G. S. Bell.
Board of Police and Fire Commissioners-J. Thompson Baird. mayor. president ; L. Aug. Bilisoly, W. C. Corbitt, J. W. Johnson, R. F. Taylor. James O. Shannon.
Justices of the Peace-Charles R. Nash. John C. Niemeyer. Caleb N. Moody. C. C. Alexander.
Board of Health-E. L. Lash. president: F. R. Barksdale, M. L. Hunt, E. L. Poilard, R. H. Neville.
CHAPTER XXIII
SKETCHES OF BERKLEY AND OTHER TOWNS AND VILLAGES
BERKLEY -- GREAT BRIDGE -- PORT NORFOLK AND PINNER'S POINT -- WEST NORFOLK-SOUTH NORFOLK-GILMERTON -- LAMBERT'S POINT-CHURCHLAND-OCEAN VIEW --- WILLOUGH- BY BEACH-NORFOLK-ON-THE-ROADS-DEEP CREEK.
BERKLEY.
The locality of the town of Berkley was first Powder Point and Ferry Point, then the town of Washington, where the County Court was once established. Tradition says George Washington visited the place with a view of locating the national capital there, hence it was christened the town of Washington. Not many years ago it was rechristened in honor of Lycurgus Berkley, a prominent citizen, and the town of Berkley, Virginia, was incorpor- ated by an Act of the Legislature of Virginia. passed March, 1890. At this time the assessed value of property within the corporate limits of the town, was $845.536. In 1899 the as- sessed value was $1,616,236, or an increase of nearly 100 per cent. in nine years.
jority of the voting population, which could never be obtained. Consequently no attempt was made to permanently better the condition of the streets, the town's finances being lim- ited to the amount collected from taxes and licenses, which was barely sufficient for run- ning expenses.
The legislature of 1895-96 passed an amendment to the charter, authorizing the issue and sale of bonds to the amount of $50,000, at the option of the Council. This was increased in 1897-98 to $100,000, and at the last session of the Legislature the limit was made $150,000.
Of the above amount, bonds amounting to $110,000 have been issued and sold, and $95,- 000 has been expended on town improvements, as follows: $5,000 for improvement of the equipmetre for fire protection ; $10,000 for pur- chase of real estate for cemetery and other purposes; $So,000 for street improvements ex- clusively, which is evidenced by the widening of Chestnut street at a cost of $2,841.45 and paving the same with Belgian block-two miles of street graded and macadamized or paved with Belgian block-two and one-half
The limited charter granted in 1890 di- vided the town into three wards, and provided for its government by ordering the biannual election of II councilmen, who in turn elected the town officers,-mayor, sergeant, recorder, etc. No provision, however, was made for. the improvement of the town, except by the issue of bonds to the amount of $10.000. and i this had to be authorized by a two-thirds ma- i miles of streets curbed, guttered and shelled-
400
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
two miles of streets graded and shelled-15,- 000 square yards of brick sidewalk laid. In this amount is also included the cost of survey- ing, maps. etc .; also the cost of sewers for carrying off the surface water, etc.
The first bonds issued and sold bear six per cent. interest, and were sold with difficulty, while the last sold realized a handsome prem- ium, notwithstanding the interest was only five per cent.
Berkley, which will be the third city in the galaxy of cities forming the cluster in the arms of the Elizabeth River, and lying in the crotch of the figure V, is going rapidly to the front and is destined to be a place of note.
Berkley is within a few minutes travel by ferry of either Norfolk or Portsmouth, with a number of manufactories, marine railways. public buildings, etc. A new electric strect railway, which is liberally patronized, has re- cently been put into operation, running through the principal streets to the ferry, and another . has been proposed.
The public schools are under the direction of Prof. O. L. Kennedy, who is the principal of the high school, and has six assistants. There are enrolled in this school 330 pupils. The South Norfolk school has 140 pupils, and three teachers.
The Ryland Institute is a chartered institu- tion, and its objects are to furnish higher edu- cation to young ladies. It is a female board- ing school. Rev. A. E. Owen, D. D., is the president and he is assisted by a fine corps of teachers.
Among the textile manfactures that have assisted Berkley in taking rapid strides in the textile industry may be mentioned the under- wear factory of the Berkley Knitting Mills, with G. W. Simpson. president, and William L. Bailie. Jr., manager: the Chesapeake Knit- ting Mills and Elizabeth Knitting Mills, both owned and operated by Foster Black, and the more recently erected Yard & Thread Spinning Mills, operated by the Cotton Seed Oil & Fibre Company, of Philadelphia. the latter mill hav- ing been moved from Philadelphia to this
town, where advantages and inducements sur- passed those offered by other sections.
The aggregate capital represented by the above-named mills. amounts to over three- quarters of a million dollars, and employment is given to over 1,000 people, mostly natives of this section, who are fast becoming as skill- ful operatives as the labor procured from the older textile industrial sections.
The capacity of the knitting and spinning mills of Berkley will reach between 1,200 and 1.500 dozen of underwear per day, and about 20,000 pounds of yarn are spun daily.
: The development of these industries has to a great extent outgrown the industrial popu- lation of this section, particularly the feinale wage-earners, who are always in demand by the various spinning and knitting mills, the greater portion of the labor employed being girls 16 years of age and over.
TOWN OFFICERS. Mayor -- Russel! A. McCoy. Treasurer-C. L. Odd. Sergeant -- W. S. Rudd. Health Officer-Dr. F. M. Morgan. Council-M. C. Keeling. president. First Ward, M. C. Keeling. J. HI. Jacocks. R.A. Roach, George G. Martin : Second Ward. W. W. Robertson. John Whet- stone. William L. Bailie, Jr., C. H. Williams. Third Ward. S. M. Bland. C. W. Parks. J. E. Reed.
. Improvement Board-First Ward, G. D. Williams (secretary ) : Second Ward, A. H. Martin (chairman) ; Third Ward. J. J. Ottley.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Berkley Graded-Walke avenue, between 5th and 6th streets; O. L. Kennedy. principal.
South Norfolk-Jackson avenue : Miss Lena Wright, principal.
Berkley -- Liberty street extended, South Norfolk; George W. Braye, principal.
U. S. POST OFFICE.
Postmaster-George T. Tilley.
BENEVOLENT ORGANIZATIONS.
Berkley Lodge, No. 167. A. F. & A. M .- W. M., W. L. Berkley. Jr. : secretary, J. S. Rodgers. Middleton Lodge, No. 145. I. O. O. F .- N. G., G. B. Randolph ; secretary, Benjamin F. Townsend. St. Bride's Council. No. 13, Order of Chosen Friend -- Secretary, L. Berkley.
Chesapeake Tribe, No. 50. I. O. R. M .- Chief of records, J. E. Cooper.
401
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
Lec Lodge, No. 48, K. of P .- C. A. Marwitz, C. C .; W. W. Johnson. V. C .; George T. Wrenn, P. W .: Will- iam MeK. Woodhouse. M. of W .: Charles Gibbs. K. of R. and S. : W. E. Roach. M. of F .: J. H. Jacocks, M. of E .: Charles Purdie, M. at A. : H. A. Johnson, I. G .: J. L. Piggott, O. G .: W. B. Dougherty. representative to Grand Lodge.
Old Dominion Council. No. 48, Royal Arcanum- Regent. George A. Simmons; secretary, Charles B. Gibbs.
Berkley Lodge. No. 278. B. P. O. L .- Exalted ruler. A. H. Boushell ; secretary, W. S. Rudd; treasurer. M. L. Nash.
GREAT BRIDGE.
Great Bridge is located at the head of navi- gation on the Southern Branch, where the Al- bemarle & Chesapeake Canal enters the river. and is one of the old-time lively villages. It was the scene of the battle of Great Bridge, and the Daughters of the American Revolu- tion have erected a monument on the bank of the canal in commemoration of the event.
The Albemarle & Chesapeake Canal Com- pany was organized in 1855 under the name of the Great Bridge Lumber & Canal Company. and among the incorporators were the follow- ing Norfolk County names : Thomas V. Webb, S. B. Tatem, I. N. Hall, J. Cary Wes- ton. The canals of this company form the connecting links in the waterway from Norfolk to Albemarle Sound. This water-way, start- ing at Norfolk, is up the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River to Great Bridge: then through nine miles of canal to North Landing River: then down North Landing River to Currituck Sound: through Currituck Sound to Coinjock Bay; through Coinjock Bay to the second canal of this company five miles in to North River; down this river to Albemarle Sound, making a route about 78 miles long through which vessels drawing as much as eight and a half feet,-with a tonnage of as much as 800 tons, and loaded with as much as 400,000 feet of lumber,-have navigated with perfect safety. There is only one lock. 220 by 40 feet, which enables large rafts of timber to pass through this canal with very little trouble.
Marshall Parks was president from 1855 to
1885: Franklin Weld, from 1885 to 1898, be- ing succeeded by Warren J. Elliott, who is now president. Robert M. Cannon is vice-presi- dent and general manager, and D. S. Burwell. secretary and treasurer. The directors are : Robert M. Cannon, John Vermillion, J. H. Chapman, R. StP. Lowry and E. G. Rich- mond. The Great Bridge in colonial days was a place of considerable commercial importance. The State located a tobacco warehouse there and trade in lumber and grain also flourished. January 29, 1729. the town of Great Bridge was established with the following boundaries : Beginning at the intersection of Center Green Sea Road with the Post Road leading from Norfolk Borough to North West River Bridge ; thence running a south course along said Green Sea Road to the line of John Caldwell and Pool's heirs; thence a northwest course along said line to Horse Run Branch : thence a south- west course to Thurmer Hoggard's field ( called Truss) to a point from which a direct line may be run a northwest course, along and within five feet of the western end of the house at present the residence of John Hodges, Jr., to the channel of Great Bridge River ; thence running up the channel of said river to the confluence ( by a cut ) of said Horse Run Branch with said river; thence a south- east course to said Green. Sea Road at the beginning. Samuel Willis, John Cald- well, William Grimes, Sr .. John Jches, John Hodges, Jr., and Edward Hall, Sr., were appointed trustees. They were empowered to makc 'by-laws and regulations for police and the regulations for building houses; to abate nuisances; to improve and repair streets; to levy taxes, not to exceed $2 on each $100 value of property ; and to appoint a clerk and collec- tor. to keep a record of proceedings. The general law concerning trustees of towns was made applicable to this town. The records of this town are not now in existence and how long it remained a town is not known; but it must have retrograded into a village before many years, for its history as a town is not within the memory of man. The old-time races
402
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
at the village gathered great crowds. In 1820, Joseph S. Seguine. Richard Baugh, Cary Wes- ton and Edward Wilson entered their horses for the races. The village is near the great corn- growing region of the county and still holds up as the local mart at the mouth of a great canal.
PORT NORFOLK AND PINNER'S POINT.
Port Norfolk is a new flourishing town upon an ancient foundation. Although it can- not be legally termed a town, if Pinner's Point on the east is added we have a large and flour- ishing community as the northern suburb of Portsmouth. The great docks and ware- houses of the Norfolk & Carolina and Southern railroads and a large fertilizer factory are lo- cated at Pinner's Point. A furniture factory, Armour's Cold Storage, and the terminus and warehouses of the Belt Line are at Port Nor- folk. The commercial and manufacturing ad- . vantages of these localities are among the most favorable on the Elizabeth River. Port Nor- folk occupies the old Glebe land of Ports- mouth Parish, embracing the 175 acres pur- chased from Col. William Craford on the 17th day of September, 1761, by the parish, being the same property which he purchased on the 26th day of February. 1734, from John Abbott, of Pasquotank in the province of North Caro- lina, and Courtney. his wife, and which was de- vised by the will of Joseph Holloway, dated May 5. 1705, to his daughter-in-law, Mary Courtney. On this old Glebe the first rector of the parish was buried. His tomb was re- moved to Trinity Churchyard on June 10, 1890, and the inscripition reads as follows : "Here lies interred the Rev. Charles Smith. Rector of Portsmouth Parish, who died the IIth of January, 1773, in the 61st year of his age: He officiated as minister upwards of thirty years and his conduct through life was unex- ceptionable. He was a sincere friend, a most tender husband, an affectionate father, and a humane and good man. He was esteemed and beloved when alive, and died universally la-
mented. In testimony of this tender regard his son-in-law, James Taylor, and daughter, Alice Taylor, have erected this monument."
On the 18th day of December, 1815, the overseers of the poor, pursuant to the Con- fiscation Act of January, 1802, sold this land at public auction for $22 per acre to John Thompson, the grandfather of John Thompson Baird, the present mayor of Portsmouth. Af- ter the death of Mr. Thompson, it was sold to Col. Levin Gale for $6,500; and passing through several other hands, it became the property of the Port Norfolk Land Company on July Ist and 11th, 1890. Gen. H. Kya Douglass, the distinguished Confederate cay- alry officer and adjutant general of the State of Maryland, was made president of the com- pany, which laid out the land in lots and began the building up of this beautifully located town which overlooks the waters that floated the "Great Eastern" and now bear the great fleets of ships which come for Pocahontas coal. Con- federate War forts were located at Port Nor- folk and Pinner's Point. Here the British forces under General Mathews, from the fleet of Sir George Collier, landed on May 9, 1779, and captured Portsmouth and Norfolk.
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.