USA > Virginia > Virginia counties : those resulting from Virginia legislation > Part 13
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w WYOMING :
(1850) "The origin of the name [as applied to this county] is involved in obscurity." ( Lewis, p. 713). For etymology, meanings and variants, see HI. A. I.
WYTHE:
(1790) "named after George Wythe, a signer of the declaration of Inde- pendence." (U. S., p. 331; Heuser's "Wythe County", p. 1).
e YOHIOGANIA :
(1776-1786) "An Indian word [Youghhiogheny] meaning 'stream flowing in an opposite direction'", of which the name of the county is obviously a variant. (U. S., p. 333). For etymology, meanings and variants, see II. A. I.
YORK :
(1842/3) "Was named after Charles, Duke of York, afterwards Prince of Wales, and Charles I. Charles was King when the county
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received its name, but 'York Plantation', the nucleus of the county, had existed a number of years." (Green, p. 60; U. S., p. 333; Long, 34).
"It was named in honor of James, then Duke of York, after- wards James II. He was created Duke of York in 1642/3, the same year Charles River County in Virginia was changed to York". (Lyon G. Tyler).
Of the one hundred and seventy-two counties thus- named, seventy-two were formed by the Colony, and we find that the loyalty of the colonists to the Mother Country was strikingly reflected in these names, the sources of which seem to have been (for names of the counties in each group, see below ) :
Reigning house in England, and members thereof, 25;
Localities,-former English homes of the colonists, . 19;
Governors appointed by the Crown, 12 ;
Englishmen of prominence who had befriended the Colony, 8; Indian tribes which had owned the areas of these counties, 8.
Counties named by the Colony, 72.
Of the remaining one hundred counties, which were named by the State, the sources of the names seem to have been (for names of the counties in each group, see below) :
Soldiers ( chiefly Revolutionary), 23;
Governors, . .
19;
Revolutionary patriots, statesmen, etc., 14;
Indian tribes and personages, ..
14;
Virginians of prominence (jurists, senators, officials, etc.)
11;
Presidents of the United States,
5;
American statesmen,
3;
Natural features,
3;
Englishmen of prominence, connected with colonial affairs,
2;
Frontiersmen and hunters,
2 :
English queen,
1;
Land-owner's family
1;
Re-adjuster legislator, 1;
Royal family of France 1.
Counties named by the State, 100.
Counties resulting from Virginia legislation, 172.
NAMED BY THE COLONY IN HONOR OF:
KINGS AND QUEENS,-
Amelia,
Elizabeth City,
King William,
Augusta,
Frederick,
Louisa,
Brunswick,
Gloucester,
Lunenburg,
Caroline,
Hanover,
Mecklenburg,
Charles City,
IIenrico,
Orange,
Charles River,
James City,
Princess Anne,
Charlotte, King and Queen,
Prince Edward,
Cumberland,
King George,
Prince George,
Prince William, ..... 25;
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LOCALITIES,-
Lower Norfolk,
Northumberland, Stafford,
Middlesex,
New Kent,
Surry,
New Norfolk,
Sussex,
Norfolk,
Upper Norfolk,
Northampton,
Westmoreland,
York, 19;
GOVERNORS,-
-
Albemarle,
Culpeper
Amherst,
Dinwiddie,
Fincastle, Goochland,
Berkeley,
Dunmore.
Botetourt,
Fauquier,
Loudoun, Spotsylvania, ...... 12 ;
ENGLISHMEN,-
Chesterfield, Fairfax,
Pittsylvania,
Warwick.
Richmond,
Warwick River, .. ... 8;
Halifax,
Southampton,
INDIANS (or with Indian words),-
Accawmack (1634),
Nansemond,
Warrosquyoake.
Accomack (1663),
Ohio,
Yohogania, 8;
Monongalia,
Rappahannock (1656),
72.
NAMED BY THE STATE IN HONOR OF:
SOLDIERS,-
Campbell,
Lincoln,
Russell,
Clarke,
Marion,
Scott,
Fayette (1780),
Mercer (1786) . Smythi,
Fayette :1831),
Mercer (1837), Taylor,
Grayson,
Montgomery, Warren,
Greene,
Morgan,
Wayne,
Greensville, Lewis,
Putnam,
GOVERNORS,-
Brooke,
Henry,
Nicholas,
Cabell,
Jefferson,
Page,
Floyd,
Lee,
Pleasants,
Giles,
McDowell,
Preston,
Gilmer,
Nelson (1786), Tyler,
Harrison,
Nelson (1808),
Wise.
Wood, .19;
REVOLUTIONARY PATRIOTS,-
Bland, Braxton, "Carroll,. Franklin, Hancock,
Hardy,
Patrick,
Mason (1789),
Pendleton,
Mason (1804), Marshall,
Randolph,
Wythe, . 14;
Mathews,
Woodford, .23;
Pulaski,
Virginia Counties
Bedford, Buckingham ( ?), Essex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Lancaster,
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INDIANS (or with Indian words),-
Kentucky,
Rappahannock (1833), Roanoke,
Logan,
Nottoway,
Shenandoah,
Pocahontas,
Wyoming. ..... .. .14;
Barbour, Craig, Doddridge, Madison, (1786),
VIRGINIANS OF PROMINENCE,-
Madison, (1793),
Tucker,
Ritchie,
Upshur,
Roane,
Wirt, .... .. 11;
Tazewell.
PRESIDENTS OF U. S.,-
Buchanan, Jackson,
Jefferson,
Washington, .5;
Monroe,
AMERICAN STATESMEN,-
Clay,
Webster, ....... 3;
NATURAL FEATURES,-
Bath,
Highland, Rockbridge, ...... 3;
ENGLISHMEN,-
Raleigh,
Rockingham, 2;
FRONTIERSMEN,-
Boone,
Wetzel,
2;
ENGLISH QUEEN,-
Fluvanna, .
1;
LAND-OWNER'S FAMILY,-
Alexandria,
.. 1;
RE-ADJUSTER LEGISLATOR,-
Dickenson,
1:
ROYAL FAMILY OF FRANCE,-
Bourbon,
1;
100. ,
Counties resulting from Virginia legislation,
172.
Alleghany, Appomattox, Greenbrier, Illinois, Kanawha,
Powhatan,
Calhoun,
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PART VI.
TEXTS OF ACTS OF ASSEMBLY (CONCERNING COUNTIES) WHICH DO NOT APPEAR IN HENING
On April 20th, 1916, Mr. Earl G. Swem, Assistant State Librarian, dis- covered in the Library a full-text copy of the Acts passed "at a Grand As- sembly summoned the 6th January 1639", which Acts appear in Hening (i, 224) only in the most abridged form,-one of which (see Chap. i, below) defines the bounds of Isle of Wight, Upper Norfolk and Lower Norfolk Counties ; while An Act [Concerning the Bounds of the Countyes of Nance- mund and the Isle of Wight] "passed at the sessions of 1643-1646" is quoted from the "Virginia Magazine of History and Biography", xxiii (July, 1915), 254-5.
The Library had before also been fortunate enough to locate in the Public Record Office in London original manuscript copies of nine Acts of Assembly (forming counties) which do not appear in Hening, copies of which are here printed in full (Chaps. iii to xi, below) for the first time, so far as we have been able to ascertain. Certain it is that those forming these counties appear in Hening by title only, under the references cited :
· Prince George, passed August 25, 1702 (Hening iii, 223) ; King George, passed November 24, 1720 (Hening iv, 95) ;
Hanover, passed November 26, 1720 (Hening iv, 95) ; Goochland, passed March 6, 1727 (Hening iv, 240) ; Caroline, passed March 15, 1727 (Hening iv, 240) ;-
while the following are not even mentioned by title in Hening (vols. 6 and 7) :
Culpeper, passed March 23, 1748 ; Cumberland, passed March 23, 1748; Southampton, passed April 30, 1749; Chesterfield, passed May 1, 1749.
The notes appended to the titles of these Acts (Chaps, iii to xi) carry the references current in the Public Record Office in London.
It is hoped that these full-text copies will be of interest to those who are preparing histories of the counties referred to.
CHAP. I.
[An Act Concerning the Bounds of Isle of Wight, Upper Norfolk and Lower Norfolk Counties]*
[Passed at session of January 1639/40.]
It is thought fitt and enacted for a finall Determination of all differences between the Isle of Wight county and the Upper and Lower Norfolk counties that the Isle of Wight county shall begin at Lawnes creek and from thence to extend down along the main River unto the plantation of Richard haies
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formerly belonging unto John Seward including the sd plantation & famelies and from thence to extend from the main River into the Woods Southerly unto the plantation of William Nowell and Mr. Robt. Pitt including likewise the sd plantation and families and from thence Southerly as aforesd. And the Upper county of New Norfolk to begin at the aforesd, plantation of Richd. Haies and from thence into the Woods Southerly as aforesaid and by the main River from thence to extend down by the main River unto the creek near the plantation of Francis Bullock being the first creek to the Westward of Cranye Point including the plantation of the sd Francis Bullock and no ways intrenching upon the Western branch of Elizabeth river nor the creek thereof wch do belong to the county of Lower Norfolk. These bounds being sett and Limitted by the consent and agreemt of the Burgesses for the sd counties. And it is further thought fitt that these bounds be as well for the sd parishes as the counties and that all former Acts of assembly concerning the same by virtue of this Act be repealed and made void.
* On April 20th, 1916, Mr. Earl G. Swem, Assistant State Librarian, dis- covered in the Library . a full-text copy of the Acts passed "at a Grand Assembly summoned the 6th Jany. 1639", which Acts appear in Hening (i, 224) only in the most abridged form. In a letter from Mr. Conway Robinson to Governor Giles, under date of February 20th, 1829, Mr. Robinson states to His Excellency that he had found the original which he used in the General Court Office, and had caused a copy of it to be made, which copy he was enclosing to the Governor with the suggestion that provision be made for its publication.
This Act is XXII of those appearing in the manuscript and corresponds with the abridgement appearing on p. 228 of volume 1 of Hening.
CHAP. II.
[An Act Concerning the Bounds of the Countyes of Nancemund and the Isle of Wight]*
[Passed at Session of November, 1647.]
Whereas many differences have beene and are likely to arise through the uncertaine division of the bounds of the countyes of Nancemund and the Isle of Wight as they are sett downe by Acts of Assembly Ao. 1642: Whereby it was expressed that the bounds of Nancemund should stretch southerly into the woods from the plantacon of Richard Hayes upon the main River, wch bounds through the uncertainty of them have occasioned many disputes and controversies tending to discord and disorder bee it therefore enacted for the better understanding and more certaine knowledge of the westerne bounds of the said County of Nancemund. That the plan- tacon of Richard Hayes upon the maine River shall bee and remayne in the County of the Isle of Wight according to tenor of the said Act Ao. 1642. That the whole track of land belongeing unto Mr ffantleroy shall bee and remayne in the County of
(Rest of manuscript gone)
* From the "Virginia Magazine of History and Biography," xxiii (July, 1915), 254-5.
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CHAP. III.
An Act for Dividing Charles City County .*
[Passed August 25, 1702.]
Whereas Sundry & diverse inconveniencies attend the Inhabitants of that part of Charles City County wch lyes on the South side of James river when they have any occasion to prosecute Law Suites in the sd County Court or to go to any other publick meeting by reason of the Difficulty in passing James River Be it Enacted, by the Governr Councill & Burgesses of this present Generll Assembly And by the Authority thereof And it is hereby Enacted that on and after the 23d day of April wch shall be in the year of our Ld God 1703 the sd County of Charles City be divided into two distinct Counties so that James River divide ye Same And that, that part of the said County wch is & lyes on the North side of the said James river shall for ever thereafter be called & knowne by the name of Charles City County. And that that part of the sd County wch is & lyes on the South side of the said river shall remain and for ever thereafter be called & knowne by ye name of Prince George County. & for the due administracon of Justice. Be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesd & it is hereby. Enacted yt after the time aforesd a Court for the said Prince George County be con- stantly held by the Justices thereof upon the Second Wednesday of every month in such manner as by the Laws of this Country is Provided And shall be by their Commission directed & whereas the towne Land Lying at flowerdy hundd was purchased by the intire County of Charles City as then it was all ye charges about the Same being equally Levied upon the whole number of Tithables of the said County Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid & it is hereby Enacted that one third of the Tobo ariseing from the Sailes of the said towne Land to the Several takers up thereof be repaid to the Inhabitants that shall be for the time being on the North side of the sd James river in Charles City County upon ye takeing up of the said towne Land.
[No Endorsement.]
* C. O. 5. 1313. No. 16v.
[From a set of Acts passed in the session beginning August 14, 1702.]
CHAP. IV.
An Act for dividing Richmond County .*
[Passed November 24, 1720.]
WHEREAS diverse and Sundry Inconvenienceys attend the Upper In- habitants of the Said County by reason of their Great distance from the Court-House and other places usually appointed for publick meetings.
BE it therefore ENACTED by the Lieut Governr Council and Burgesses
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of this present General Assembly And It is hereby Enacted by the Authority thereof That from and Imediately after the Twenty Third day of Aprill which Shall be in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Twenty One The Said County of Richmond be divided into Two distinct Countys and that the Same be divided by Charles Bever dams And from the Head thereof by a North Course to Westmoreland County And that that part of the County lyeing below the Said Dams and Course remain and Shall for Ever thereafter be called and knowne by the Name of Richmond County And that part of the County which is above the Said Dams and Course Shall be called and knowne by the Name of King George County And for the due Administration of Justice
BE it further ENACTED by the Authority aforesaid and it is hereby Enacted That after the Time aforesaid A Court for the said King George County be constantly held by the Justices thereof upon the First Friday of Every Month in Such maner as by the Laws of this Country is provided and shall be by their Comission directed.
ex) J. Randolph. CH B.
[Endorsed : ]
13. Virginia. Virginia Septimo Georgy. 1720. AN ACT For dividing Richmond County. reced wth Colo Spotwood's Lre of 6th March 1720/1.
Reced Sth May 1721. Sent to Mr West 30 Novr 1723. Reced back 16 Janry 1723/4. Read. Reported.
* C. O. 5. 1387. Anno. 1720 --
CHIAP. V.
An Act For dividing New Kent County .*
[Passed November 26, 1720.]
WIIEREAS many Inconveniencys attend the Upper Inhabitants of the . said County by reason of their Great distance from the Court house and other places usually appointed for publick meetings.
BE it therefore ENACTED by the Lieut Govr Council and Burgesses of this present General Assembly And It is hereby Enacted by the Authority of the Same That from and Imediately after the ffirst day of May next the Said County of New Kent be divided into Two distinct Countys And that that part of the County lycing below the parish of Saint Paul shall for Ever thereafter be called and knowne by the Name of New Kent County And that that part of the County which lyeth in the parish of St Paul shall be called and knowne by the Name of Hannover County And for the due Administration of Justice
BE it further ENACTED by the Authority aforesaid And it is hereby Enacted That after the Time aforesaid a Court for the said County of Hannover be constantly held by the Justices thereof upon the First Friday
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of Every Month in Such maner as by the Laws of this Country is provided and Shall be by their Comission directed.
ex) J. Randolph. C H B
[Endorsed : ]
15 Virginia. Virginia Septimo Georgy. 1720. An Act For dividing New Kent County. reced wth Coll Spotswoods Lre of 6th March 1720/1. Reced Sth May 1721. Sent to Mr West 30th Novr 1723. Reced back 16 Janry 1723/4. Read. Reported.
C. O. 5. 1387.
Anno. 1720- (13)
CHAP. VI.
An Act For dividing the County of Henrico .*
[Passed March 6, 1727.]
WHEREAS many Inconveniencies attend the upper Inhabitants of the County of Henrico by reason of their Great distance from the Court-house and other places usually appointed for Public Meetings
BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Lieutenant Governor Council and Burgesses of this present General Assembly And it is hereby Enacted by the Authority of the same That from and immediately after the First day of May next the said County of Henrico be divided into two distinct Counties-And that the Division be made by a Line on the North side James River beginning at the mouth of Tuckahoe Creek thence up the said Creek to Chumley's Branch thence along a line of marked Trees North Twenty degrees' East to Hanover County And on the South side James River begining at the Lower Manachin Creek from thence along a line of marked Trees in a direct course to the mouth of Skinquarter Creek on Appamatox River And that that part of the County lying below the said line shall for ever hereafter be called & known by the name of Henrico County And that that part of the County lying above the said line shall be called & known by by the name of Goochland County And that all that part of the Parish of Henrico lying above the said line shall be included in and be part of the Parish of Saint James And that all that part of the sd Parish of Saint James lying below the said line shall be included in and be part of the Parish of Henrico any Act usage or Custom to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. And for the Administration of Justice BE IT FURTHER ENACTED by the Authority aforesd and it is hereby Enacted That after the time aforesd a Court for the said County of Goochland be constantly held by the Justices thereof upon the third Tuesday of every Month in such manner as by the Laws of this Country is provided and shall be by their Commission directed.
AND WHEREAS there have been several sums of Tobacco levied by
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the Court of the said County of Henrico for Wolves heads more than sufficient to satisfie the proportion of the Public Levy due from the same. BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Authority aforesaid And it is hereby Enacted That so much of the Overplus of the said several sums of Tobacco or of the money for which the same have been sold as exceeds the proportion of the Public Levy due from the said County of Henrico and which have not already been expended for the use of the said County and all such other Tobacco as is now due to the said County of Henrico for Wolves heads Be divided and paid between the said Counties of Henrico and Goochland Two thirds thereof to the said County of Henrico and the other third to the said County of Goochland for defraying the charge of Public Buildings in each County.
[Endorsed :]
No 17. Virginia. At a General Assembly Begun and held at Williams- burg the first day of February in the first year of the Reign of Our Sov- erain Lord George II. By the Grace of God of Great Britain France & Ireland, King Defender of the Faith &c. and in the year of Our Lord MDCCXXVII.
An Act For dividing the County of Henrico. Its Effects Perpetual Reed 30th of July 1728. Sent to Mr Fane Octbr ye 8th 1728
Recd ba'k Novembr 15th Read, Reported,
* C. O. 5. 1388. p. 101-2.
CHIAP. VII.
An Act for erecting a new County on the heads of Essex, King and Queen and King William Counties And for calling the same Caroline County .*
[ Passed March 15, 1727.]
WHEREAS divers and sundry Inconveniencies attend the upper In- habitants of the Counties of Essex, King & Queen and King William by reason of their great distance from their respective Court houses and other places usually appointed for Public Meetings,
BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Lieutenant Governor Council and Burgesses of this present General Assembly And it is hereby Enacted by the Authority of the same That from & immediately after the First day of May MDCCXXVIII all the land lying between the Lower line of Spotsilvania County and a line to be run paralel therewith from the mouth of Portobago Creek on Rappahanock River to Morocosick Creek thence down the said Creek to Mattapony River thence up the said River to Boot Swamp and up the said Swamp to the Fork thereof and thence South West to Pamunkey River be divided from the said Counties of Essex, King & Queen and King William and made a distinct County to be from thenceforth known and
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called by the name of Caroline County And that all and every the Inhabi- tants thereof be separated & exempt from the said Counties and from all Dependences Offices and Charges for or in respect thereof and also dis- charged from all duties whatsoever relating to the same except the charge and duties of clearing the Rivers of Mattapony and Pamunkey respectively Which shall be done and performed by the Inhabitants of that part of the said new County now included in the Counties of King & Queen and King William, respectively in such manner as if this act had never been made. And for the due administration of Justice in the sd new erected County, BE IT FURTHER ENACTED by the authority aforesd And it is hereby Enacted That after the time aforesaid a Court for the said County of Caroline be constantly held by the Justices thereof upon the second Thurs- day in every month in such manner as by the Laws of this Country is provided and shall be by their Commission directed.
AND WHEREAS it is suggested to this assembly That the County of King William at the laying the last County Levy did raise a con- siderable sum of Tobacco for defraying some public charge of the County which is not yet expended,
BE IT ENACTED by the Authority aforesaid That if either of the said Counties have levied any Tobacco for Public uses which is not yet laid out & expended such County respectively shall at the laying the next Levy raise and pay to the Inhabitants taken out of the same County their full proportion of the Tobacco so raised and not yet expended to be ap- plied for lessning the Levy of the said Inhabitants.
AND WHEREAS the said Counties have considerable Claim's from the Public for killing of Wolves,
BE IT ALSO ENACTED by the authority aforesd That each of the sd Counties respectively shall contribute their Proportions of the said Claims to the Inhabitants taken out of the said Counties into the County of Caroline according to their number of Tithables to be applied towards build- ing of a Court house for the said County of Caroline.
[ Endorsed : ]
No 18. Virginia.
At a general Assembly Begun and held at Williamsburg the first day of February in the first year of the Reign of Our Soverain Lord George II. By the Grace of God of Great Britain France & Ireland King De- fender of the Faith &c. And in the year of Our Lord MDCCXXVII.
An Act For erecting a new County on the heads of Essex, King and Queen and King William Counties And for calling the same Caroline County. Perpetual.
Recd 30 July 1728. Sent to Mr Fane, Octobr Sth
1728. Recd back, Novembr yo 15th
Read,
Reported.
* C. O. 5. 1388. P. 103-4.
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CHAP. VIII.
An Act for dividing the County of Orange .*
[Passed March 23, 1748.]
FOR the greater Ease and Convenience of the Inhabitants of the County of Orange in attending Courts and other public Meetings Be it Enacted by the Lieutenant Governor Council and Burgesses of this present General Assembly and it is hereby enacted by the Authority of the same that from and immediately after the seventeenth day of May next ensuing the said County of Orange shall be divided into two Counties that is to say all that part of the County lying on the south side of Rappahanock River to the Head of the Conway River shall be one distinct County and retain the Name of Orange County and all that other part thereof on the north side the said Rappahanock and Conway River commonly called the Fork of the Rappahanock River shall be one other distinct County and called and known by the Name of Culpeper County And that for the due Ad- ministration of Justice after the said seventeenth day of May a Court for the said County of Orange be constantly held by the Justices thereof upon the fourth Thursday and a Court for the said County of Culpeper be con- stantly held by the Justices thereof upon the third Thursday in every Month in such Manner as by the Laws of this Colony is provided and shall be by their Commissions directed PROVIDED always that nothing herein con- tained shall be construed to hinder the Sherif or Collector of the said County of Orange as the same now stands entire and undivided to make Distress for any Levies Fees or Dues which shall be due from the said County of Culpeper after the said seventeenth day of May in such Manner and not otherwise as by Law he might have done if this Act had never been made any Law Custom or Usage to the contrary thereof nothwith- standing.
March 22. 1748. Read the third time & passed the House of Burgesses. Peter Randolph C. H. B. William Gooch John Robinson Speaker
March 23. 1748 Read the 3d Time & agreed to by the Council.
N. Walthoe C. G. A.
A Copy Test William Randolph C. H. B.
[Endorsed : ]
Virginia. At a General Assembly begun and held at the College in Williamsburg on Thursday the Twenty seventh day of October in the Twenty second year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith &c. And in the year of our Lord 1748. Numr 34.
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