USA > Virginia > Virginia county names : two hundred and seventy years of Virginia history > Part 7
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Just west of the Auditorium and between Pocahontas and Gilbert streets was the His- tory Building, a permanent colonial structure of 124XI29 feet. Many States contributed to make the historic exhibit both interesting and instructive, but Virginia's exhibit was probably the most attractive of them all. To
184
Virginia County Names
this success the Virginia State Library con- tributed much by the loan of valuable papers and documents.
The letters and papers were neatly ar- ranged, with printed descriptive labels, in glass cases. Several cases were devoted to letters, etc., of Patrick Henry; in one case were autograph letters of the Virginia gov- ernors beginning with Berkeley and going through Dunmore; another case contained letters from all the Virginia signers of the Declaration of Independence-Richard Henry Lee, Francis Lightfoot Lee, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Carter Braxton, Benjamin Har- rison, Thomas Jefferson, and George Wythe. From George Rogers Clark-spelled without a final e-was a letter of October 22, 1782, to the governor of Virginia, and also a letter to the governor from Daniel Boone, August 30, 1782. From Richard Bland there was a letter of August 1, 1771, to Thomas Adams in England.
In one case there was an old newspaper giving a list of "toasts" offered by the House of Burgesses on May 16, 1769. Among those "toasted" were Governor Botetourt and the Duke of Richmond. A second case con- tained a portrait of the "Right Honorable
185
The Jamestown Exposition
Norberne Berkeley, Baron de Botetourt, late Governor of Virginia"; and in another case were three portraits-Sir Thomas Smith, Treasurer of the Colony, 1606-1619; Sir Edwin Sandys; and Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton. "These three men," said the printed description by the Virginia His- torical Society, "more than any other were influential in the settlement of Virginia."
West Virginia contributed to the History Building a painting of the Battle of Point Pleasant by Captain Joseph Faris.
Near the West Virginia State Building was an exhibit, unique and characteristic of the push and energy of what was until 1863 the western part of the Old Dominion-"an obe- lisk of West Virginia coal, 40x40 feet at the base and 160 feet high. It is laid in obelisk form, a stratum for each county of the State, and illuminated by electric lights, forming an exhibit visible far out at sea."
The Jamestown Exposition is now a thing of the past, and visitors to the grounds would probably find it hard to recognize the place. But the Exposition has not been in vain; it has, we believe, done much for Virginia's one hundred counties, much for the State at large, much for the nation.
CHAPTER XVI
CONCLUSION
I have traced the naming of Virginia counties from 1634, when the eight original shires were organized, through the naming of Dickenson county in 1880-from eight counties to one hundred counties.
The names, as they were given, singly or sometimes in groups, make a record for the historian almost as suggestive as the early Chronicles of the Anglo-Saxons in England. Viewed in the light of the circumstances at- tending the naming, the names give a picture of thoughts and feelings of the Virginians-a moving picture that begins with colonial Vir- ginia in her loyalty to King James I of Eng- land, that continues with Revolutionary Vir- ginian in her devotion to the Father of his Country, and that ends with modern Virginia honoring one of her own sons in the naming of her youngest county.1
1James City county, organized 1634; Washington county, organized 1776; Dickinson county, organized 1880.
(187)
188
Virginia County Names
The story of Virginia is the story of the oldest English colony, and in that story we seek and we find a richer heritage of names taken from England than in the story of any other colony. For one hundred and sixty- nine years Virginia was a colony, and during that period fifty-eight of her one hundred counties were organized and named.
Fifty-six of these fifty-eight counties took their names, directly or indirectly, from Eng- land. Royal English families contributed twenty-six names, English shires gave twelve, one came from an English island, six were from governors imported into the colony, and ten were from Englishmen of prominence, some of whom never set foot on Virginia soil. One of the fifty-eight names, Dunmore, was afterwards, in 1777, changed to Shenan- doah, thus reducing the colonial names of English origin to fifty-five. The other three names were Nansemond, Accomac, and Shen- andoah, all Indian. The fifty-five English names were, during the Revolution, increased to fifty-six-fifty-seven, if Greenville county be named after Sir Richard Temple Gren- ville. It is more than a coincidence that Virginia should have fifty-eight counties named during the colonial period, and that ยท
189
Conclusion
fifty-seven county names should come from England.
The characteristics of the two States, Vir- ginia and West Virginia, mother and daugh- ter, are shown in their county names. Vir- ginia, old and conservative, looked to Eng- land for the majority of her county names; West Virginia, young and independent, has, with few exceptions, names of American origin.2 Virginia clings to the spirit of the English cavaliers, and honors the memory of their high-born descendants, men of lofty ideals and noble lives. West Virginia, strong and sturdy, is building a common- wealth rich in material resources and strong in the spirit of self-made men.
Virginia's age is shown by her fifty-seven counties with names from England; West Virginia's youth is shown by the fact that only three counties out of fifty-five-Berkeley, Hampshire, and Raleigh-are taken from England. West Virginia is distinctively American in her county names, Virginia is largely colonial.
Now, while it is true in general that Vir- ginia has had a spirit of deliberation and con-
2Most of the West Virginia counties were named before the new State was formed, however.
190
Virginia County Names
servatism, a spirit at times antagonistic to progress, that spirit is, we believe, gradually giving way to one more practical and pro- gressive, a spirit fired by renewed youth and refined by three hundred years of struggle. Virginia is awaking. Nor does West Vir- ginia exhibit solely the marks of rude and pushing youth. Education is beginning to keep pace with oil, and culture is strenuously contending with coal.
Virginia's past is glorious, a precious heri- tage to all sons of the Old Dominion. Vir- ginia's future, now rosy with promise, lies, under God, in the hands of her sons.
1
APPENDIX
1
TABLE I.
LIST OF VIRGINIA COUNTIES, ORGANIZATION, ETC.
AUTHORITIES .- Initials in last column within parentheses denote authorities for county names. Thus: (A), "Appleton's American Cyclopedia; (CC), County Clerk (to author) ; (G), Dr. B. W. Green; (H), Howe's "His- tory of Virginia;" (HH), Henry's "Life of Henry;" (M), Mrs. Mary B. Moon (private letters to author) ; (S), Smith's "Governor's of Virginia." Names without reference the author, Long, is the authority.
NAME OF COUNTY.
Organ- ized.
County or Counties Taken From.
Named After.
I. Charles City,
1634 Original Shire,
2. Elizabeth City,
1634 Original Shire,
3. Henrico,
1634 Original Shire,
4. Isle of Wight,
1634 Original Shire,
5. James City,
I634 Original Shire,
Jamestown from James I.
6. Northampton,
1634 Original Shire,
English earl. (?)
7. Warwick,
I 634 Original Shire,
English earl. (G)
8. York,
1634
Original Shire,
King Charles I. Princess Elizabeth, daughter James I. Prince Henry, son James I. English island.
Jas. II, Duke of York and son Charles I. Indian tribe.
9. Nansemond, 1639-40 (?)
I3
IO. Northumberland, 1648
II. Lancaster, 1651
12. Gloucester, 1652
York, .
Son of Chas. I, Henry Duke of Gloucester.
English shire of Surrey.
English shire.
English shire of Kent.
English shire. (?)
Indian tribe. (H)
English shire.
King William and Queen Mary. (H)
|English shire. (?)
Queen Anne.
English shire. (?)
English duke. (?)
King William III.
Husband of Queen Anne.
Title Geo. I. Duke Brunswick-Luneburg.
House of Hanover.
28. King George,
1720 Richmond,
29. Spotsylvania,
1720 Essex, King and Queen, King William
30. Caroline,
31. Goochland,
32. Prince William, 1730 Stafford and King George,
33. Amelia,
1734 Prince George,
34. Orange, 1734 Spotsylvania,
35. Augusta, 1738 Orange,
36. Frederick, 1738 |Orange,
(?)
(?)
13. Surry, .
14. Westmoreland, 1653
15. New Kent,
1654| York,
16. Stafford,
1666 |Westmoreland,
17. Accomac, 1672 Northampton,
18. Middlesex, 1675 |Lancaster,
19. King and Queen,
1691|New Kent,
20. Norfolk,
21. Princess Anne,
1691 |Lower Norfolk=Nansemond ( Howe, 392) 1691 |Norfolk,
22. Essex,
1691 |Old Rappahannock,
23. Richmond,
1692 Old Rappahannock,
24. King William,
1701 King and Queen, .
25. Prince George, 1702 Charles City,
26. Brunswick, 1720 Surry and Isle of Wight,
27. Hanover,
1720|New Kent,
I727 Essex, King and Queen, King William 1727 Henrico,
Governor Gooch. (H)
Son of George II.
Daughter of George II.
House of Orange. Augusta, wife of Fred'k, Prince of Wales. Son of George II, and Prince of Wales.
193
Appendix-Table I
1652 (?)
Northumberland,
| English shire. (?) English shire. (?)
King George I. Gov. Alexander Spotswood. (H) Wife of George II.
NAME OF COUNTY.
Organ- ized.
County or Counties Taken From.
Named After.
37. Fairfax,
1742 Prince William,
38. Louisa,
1742|Hanover,
39. Albemarle,
I744 Goochland,
40. Lunenburg,
1745|Brunswick,
41. Chesterfield,
1748 Henrico,
42. Culpeper,
1748 Orange,
43. Cumberland, 1748 Goochland,
44. Southampton,
1748 Isle of Wight,
45. Dinwiddie,
1752 Prince George,
46. Halifax,
1752 Lunenburg,
47. Bedford,
1753 |Lunenburg,
48. Prince Edward,
1753|Amelia,
49. Sussex, 50. Loudoun,
1754 Surry,
1757 Fairfax,
1759|Prince William,
1761 Albemarle,
1761 Albemarle,
54. Charlotte, .
1764 |Lunenburg,
English Lord, Thomas Fairfax. (H). Daughter of George II. English general, nominal Gov. Va. (S.) Title George II, Duke Brunswick-Lune- burg. (G)
English earl, statesman.
Lord Culpeper, governor of Virginia. (H) Son Geo. II. William Duke Cumberland. Earl of Southampton. (G) Colonial governor of Virginia. (H) Earl Halifax.
English shire. (?)
Duke of York, second son of Frederick, Prince of Wales. (M)
English shire. (?) Eng. gen, appointed gov. of Va. (H) Francis Fauquier, gov. of Virginia. (H) [Eng. general, appointed gov. of Va. (S) English shire. (A) Wife of George III.
194
Virginia County Names
51. Fauquier,
52. Amherst,
53. Buckingham,
55. Mecklenburg, 1764 Lunenburg,
56. Pittsylvania,
57. Botetourt,
58. Shenandoah, 59. Henry,
1772 Frederick,
1776 Pittsylvania,
60. Montgomery,
1776 Fincastle District (1772-1776),
1776 Fincastle District (1772-1776),
1777 Albemarle,
62. Fluvanna, 63. Powhatan,
1777 Cumberland,
64. Rockbridge,
1778 Augusta and Botetourt,
65. Rockingham,
1778 |Augusta,
66. Greenville,
1780 Brunswick,
67. Campbell,
178I Bedford,
68. Franklin,
1785|Henry and Bedford,
69. Russell, 70. Nottoway,
1788 |Amelia,
Indian tribe (H)
71. Bath, 1790| Augusta, Greenbrier (W. Va.) and Bo-|Baths and springs of the county. (A) tetourt,
72. Matthews,
1790
Gloucester,
1790 Montgomery,
73. Wythe, 74. Patrick, 75. Grayson, 76. Lee,
1790 Henry, 1792 Wythe, 1792 Russell,
77. Madison, 1792 |Culpeper,
Queen Charlotte, from Mecklenburg- Strelitz. William Pitt, Earl of Chatham. Lord Botetourt, governor of Virginia. (H) Shenandoah River, Indian name. (H) Patrick Henry. (H)
General Richard Montgomery. (H) United States President. (H) Old name upper James; Queen Anne (M) Indian chief.
Natural bridge. (H)
English prime minister.
English statesman, Sir Richard Temple Greenville. (G) Gen. Wm. Campbell. (H) Benjamin Franklin.
1785 Washington,
Gen. William Russell (H)
Appendix-Table I
Senator George Matthews, governor of Georgia, 1793-96. (H) Chancellor George Wythe. (H) Patrick Henry. (H H) Senator William Grayson. (H)
Henry Lee, gov. Virginia, 1791-94. (H) United States President.
195
1767 Halifax, 1769 |Augusta,
61. Washington,
NAME OF COUNTY.
Organ- ized.
County or Counties Taken From.
Named After.
78. Tazewell, 79. Giles,
1799 Russell and Wythe,
Tazewell, and Monroe Governor William B. Giles. (H)
80. Nelson,
1807 Amherst,
Governor Thomas Nelson. (H) General Winfield Scott. (H)
8I. Scott,
1814|Lee, Washington, and Russell,
82. Alleghany, 1822 Bath, Botetourt, and Monroe (W. Va.), Alleghany mountains; Indian name.
83. Floyd,
1831 | Montgomery,
84. Page,
1831 Shenandoah and Rockingham,
85. Smyth,
1831 Washington and Wythe,
86. Rappahannock,
1831 |Culpeper,
87. Clarke,
1836 Frederick,
88. Warren,
1837 Frederick and Shenandoah,
89. Greene,
1838|Orange,
90. Roanoke,
1838 Botetourt,
Count Pulaski, of Poland. (H)
92. Carroll,
93. Appomattox,
1842 |Grayson, Chas. Carroll, signer Dec. of Ind. (H) 1845 Buckingham, Prince Edward, Charlotte, River, from Indian tribe. Campbell, 1847 District of Columbia, at first Fairfax, . Alexander family. (C C) Elevated land.
1847 Pendleton (W. Va.), and Bath, ..
196
Virginia County Names
John Floyd, gov. Virginia, 1830-34. (H) Governor John Page. (H)
General Alexander Smyth. (H) River, from Indian tribe. (H)
George Rogers Clark, Indian fighter. (H) General Joseph Warren. General Nathaniel Greene. (H) River, from Indian tribe. (?)
91. Pulaski,
1839 Wythe and Montgomery,
94. Alexandria, 95. Highland,
1806 | Montgomery, (W. Va.).
Senator Henry Tazewell. (H)
96. Craig,
1850 Botetourt, Roanoke, Giles, Monroe| Craig's Creek. (A)
(W. Va.).
97. Wise, 98. Buchanan, 99. Bland,
1855 Lee, Scott, and Russell,
Governor Henry A. Wise. (A)
1858 Russell and Tazewell,
1861 |Wythe, Tazewell, and Giles,
too. Dickinson,
1880 Russell, Wise, and Buchanan,
United States President. Richard Bland. (G) Member Virginia Assembly. (C C)
NAMES OF AUTHORITY AND NUMBER OF COUNTY NAMES EXPLAINED.
Charles M. Long (author),
50 Mrs. Mary B. Moon, Charlottesville, 2
Howe's "History of Virginia,' 34 Smith's "Governors of Virginia," 2
Dr. B. W. Green, Charlottesville, Va.,
5
Henry's "Life of Henry,' I
-
County Clerks (asked by Long), 2
IO0
"Appleton's American Cyclopedia,"
4
Appendix-Table I
197
TABLE II
AREA AND POPULATION OF COUNTIES.
NAME OF COUNTY.
Area.
Pop. 1900.
Accomac,
478
32,570
Albemarle
755
34,912
Alexandria,
32
20,958
Alleghany,
452
16,330
Amelia,
355
9,037
Amherst,
464
17,864
Appomattox, Augusta,
1,012
39,659
Bath,
548
5,595
Bedford,
729
30,356
Bland,
352
5,497
Botetourt,
548
17,161
Brunswick,
529
18,217
Buchanan,
492
9,692
Buckingham,
552
15,266
Campbell,
554
42,147
Caroline,
562
16,709
Carroll,
445
19,303
Charles City,
183
5,040
Charlotte,
479
15,343
Chesterfield,
484
28,519
Clarke,
189
7,927
Craig,
35I
4,293
Culpeper,
399
14,123
Cumberland,
297
8,996
Dickenson,
324
7,747
Dinwiddie,
521
37,184
Elizabeth City,
50
19,460
Essex,
277
9,70I
Fairfax,
433
18,580
Fauquier,
676
23,374
Floyd
383
15,388
Fluvanna,
289
9,050
Franklin,
690
25,953
Frederick,
425
18,400
Giles,
349
10,793
Gloucester,
253
12,832
342
9,662
200
Virginia County Names
NAME OF COUNTY.
Area.
Pop. 1900.
Goochland,
296
9,519
Grayson,
438
16,853
Greene,
150
6,214
Greenville,
288
9,758
Halifax,
806
37,197
Hanover,
478
17,618
Henrico,
273
115,112
Henry,
425
19,265
Highland,
407
5,647
Isle of Wight,
352
13,102
James City,
159
5,732
King and Queen,
336
9,265
King George,
183
6,918
King William,
246
8,380
Lancaster,
I37
8,949
Lee,
433
19,856
Loudoun,
519
21,948
Louisa,
529
16,517
Lunenburg,
471
11,705
Madison,
336
10,216
Mathews,
92
8,239
Mecklenburg,
640
26,55I
Middlesex,
I56
8,220
Montgomery,
394
19,196
Nansemond,
393
23,078
Nelson,
472
16,075
New Kent,
233
4,865
Norfolk,
425
114,831
Northampton,
232
13,770
Northumberland,
235
9,846
Nottoway,
304
12,366
Orange,
349
12,57I
Page,
317
13,794
Patrick,
489
15,403
Pittsylvania,
986
63,414
Powhatan,
284
6,824
Prince Edward,
345
15,045
201
Appendix
NAME OF COUNTY.
Area.
Pop. 1900.
Prince George,
302
7,752
Princess Anne,
285
11,192
Prince William,
353
11,112
Pulaski,
338
14,609
Rappahannock,
264
8,843
Richmond,
I88
7,088
Roanoke,
297
37,332
Rockbridge,
593
24,187
Rockingham,
870
33,527
Russell,
503
18,031
Scott,
535
22,694
Shenandoah,
486
20,253
Smyth,
444
17,12I
Southampton,
609
22,848
Spotsylvania,
40I
14,307
Stafford,
285
8,097
Surry,
292
8,469
Sussex,
490
12,082
Tazewell,
557
23,384
Warren,
226
8,837
Warwick,
85
24,523
Washington,
605
33,574
Westmoreland,
245
9,243
Wise,
413
19,653
Wythe,
474
20,437
York,
124
7,482
Total,
40,125
1,854, 184
Notes.
I. Figures for the counties represent square miles land.
2. Areas in black figures represent more than 700 square miles; population in black figures indicate more than 35,000 people.
3. Virginia has 2,335 square miles of water surface, thus making her total area 42,450 square miles.
Virginia County Names
202
TABLE III GOVERNORS OF VIRGINIA, 1607-1908 (A) COLONIAL GOVERNORS: 1607-1775.
NOTE .- A figure in parentheses following a name indicates that the governor thus marked had held the office before. Thus : 16. Sir George Yeardley (11.14,) indicates that in addition to being the sixteenth governor, Yeardley has also been the eleventh and fourteenth.
NAME AND TITLE
I Edward Maria Wingfield, President of Council,
2 John Ratcliffe, President of Council,
. September 10, 1607-September 7, 1608.
3 Captain John Smith, President of Council, . September 10, 1608-August, 1609.
4 Captain George Percy, President of Council, . August, 1609-May, 1610.
5 Sir Thomas Gates, Lieut. Gen. and Deputy Gov.,
6 Sir Thomas West (Lord Delaware), Gov. & Capt .- Gen., June 10, 1610-March 25, 1611.
7 Captain George Percy (4) Deputy Governor,
8 Sir Thomas Dale, Acting Governor, .
9 Sir Thomas Gates (5), Acting Governor,
IO Sir Thomas Dale (8), Acting Governor,.
. March, 1613-April, 1616.
II Captain George Yeardley, Deputy Governor April, 1616-May, 1617. 12 Captain Samuel Argall, Deputy Governor, . May, 1617-April, 1619.
I3 Captain Nathaniel Powell, President Virginia Coun., . . April 9, 1619-April 19, 1619.
14 Sir George Yeardley (II), Gov. and Capt .- Gen.,
. April 19, 1619-November 8, 1621.
15 Sir Francis Wyatt, Gov. and Capt .- Gen., . November 8, 1621-May 17, 1626.
16 Sir George Yeardley, (11, 14), Gov. and Capt .- Gen., . . May 17, 1626-November 14, 1627.
17 Captain Francis West, President Virginia Council, .... November 14, 1627-March 5, 1629.
18 Dr. John Potts, President Virginia Council, March 5, 1629-March, 1630.
DATE OF OFFICE
. May 13, 1607-September 10, 1607.
. May, 1610-June 10, 1610.
. March 28, 1611-May 19, 1611.
May 19, 1611-August 16, 1611.
August, 1611-March, 1613.
19 Sir John Harvey, Governor and Captain-General, . . . . March, 1630-April, 1635. 20 Captain John West, President of Council, .
. April 28, 1635-April 2, 1636.
21 Sir John Harvey (19), Governor and Captain-General, April 2, 1636-November, 1639. 22 Sir Francis Wyatt (15), Governor and Captain-General, November 1639-February, 1642. 23 Sir William Berkeley, Gov. and Capt. Gen., .. .. February, 1642-June, 1644.
24 Richard Kemper, Pres. Council and Acting Gov.,. 25 Sir William Berkeley (23), Governor,
26 Richard Bennet, Acting Governor,
27 Edward Digges, President Council and Governor, 28 Captain Samuel Matthews, President Council,
March 13, 1658-January, 1660.
29 Sir William Berkeley (23, 25), Governor, .
March 13, 1660-April 30, 1661.
30 Col. Francis Morrison, Deputy Governor, . . March 23, 1661-December 23, 1662.
31 Sir William Berkeley (23, 25, 29), Governor,
32 Sir Herbert Jeffries, Lieutenant-Governor, .
33 Sir Henry Chicheley, Deputy Governor,
. December 30, 1678-May 10, 1680.
34 Thomas, Lord Culpeper, a Gov. and Capt. Gen.,
.. May 10, 1680-September 17, 1683.
35 Nicholas Spencer, President Council,
36 Francis, Lord Howard, Lieutenant Governor,
37 Nathaniel Bacon, President Council, .
October 20, 1688-October 16, 1690.
October 16, 1690-October 16, 1693. . October 16, 1693-December 9, 1698.
39 Sir Edmund Andros, Governor, 40 George H. Douglas, b Earl of Orkney, Gov .- in-Chief, . (1697-1734).
41 Sir Francis Nicholson (38), Lieutenant Governor,
42 Edward Nott, Lieutenant Governor,
43 Edmund Jennings, President of Council, August, 1706-June 23, 1710.
44 Robert Hunter, Lieutenant Governor, .
. April 4, 1707.
45 Alexander Spotswood, c Lieutenant Governor, . June 23, 1710-September 27, 1722.
.. . December 9, 1698-August 15, 1705.
. August 15, 1705-August, 1706.
Appendix
203
. June, 1644-June, 1645. . June, 1645-April 30, 1652. . April 30, 1652-March, 1655. March, 1655-March 13, 1658.
December 23, 1662-April 27, 1677. April 27, 1677-December 30, 1678.
. September 17, 1683-April 16, 1684. April 16, 1684-October 20, 1688.
38 Sir Francis Nicholson, Lieutenant Governor,
DATE OF OFFICE
46 Hugh Drysdale, Lieutenant Governor, September 27, 1722-July 22, 1726.
47 Robert Carter, President of Council,
July 22, 1726-October 13, 1727.
48 William Gooch, c Lieutenant Governor, . October 13, 1727-June, 1740.
49 William Anne Keppel, d Governor-in-Chief f, . (September 6, 1737-December 23, 1754)
50 James Blair, President of Council,
51 William Gooch (48), Lieutenant Governor, . July, 1741-June 20, 1749.
52 John Robinson, President of Council, . June 20, 1749-September 5, 1749. .
53 Thomas Lee, President of Council,
54 Lewis Burwell, President of Council,
55 Robert Dinwiddie, c Lieutenant Governor,
56 John Campbell, Earl of Loudoun, c Governor f,
57 John Blair, President Council,
58 Francis Fauquier, c Lieutenant Governor,
59 Sir Geoffrey Amherst, c Governor-in-Chief f,
60 John Blair, (57), President of Council,
. March 3, 1768-October, 1768.
61 Norberne Berkeley, e Baron de Botetourt, Gov .- in-Chief, October 28, 1768-October 15, 1770.
62 William Nelson, President of Council, . October 15, 1770-August, 1771.
63 John Murray, Earl Dunmore, c Governor, . July, 1771-June, 1775.
64 Peyton Randolph, President Virginia Convention, . August, 1774-July, 1775.
65 Edmund Pendleton, President Virginia Convention, ... December, 1775-May, 1776.
204
Virginia County Names
NAME AND TITLE
. June, 1740-July, 1741.
. September 5, 1749-February 12, 1751.
. February 12, 1751-November 20, 1751.
. November 20, 1751-January, 1758.
. (July, 1756-1768).
January, 1758-June 7, 1758.
. June 7, 1758-March 3, 1768. . (1763-1768).
E
(B) GOVERNORS AFTER STATEHOOD 1776-1908
NAME
DATE OF OFFICE
I Patrick Henry, ..
. June 29, 1776-June 1, 1779.
2 Thomas Jefferson, . June 1, 1779-June, 1781.
3 Thomas Nelson, Jr., . June 12, 1781-November 30, 1781.
4 Benjamin Harrison, . November 30, 1781-November 29, 1784.
5 Patrick Henry g,
. December, 1784-December, 1786.
6 Edmund Randolph,
December 1, 1786-December 1, 1788.
7 Beverly Randolph,
. December 1, 1788-December 1, 1791.
.December 1, 1791-December 1, 1794.
9 Robert Brooke, . December 1, 1794-December 1, 1796.
IO James Wood,
II James Monroe,
12 John Page,
I3 William H. Cabell,
14 John Tyler, . December 1, 1808-January II, 18II.
15 James Monroe g, . January 11, 18II-November 25, 1811. . November 25, 1811-December 26, 1811.
16 George William Smith h,
17 Peyton Randolphi, December 26, 1811-January 3, 1812.
18 James Barbour, . January 3, 1812-December 1, 1814.
19 William C. Nicholas, .. December 1, 1814-December 1, 1816.
20 James P. Preston, . December 1, 1816-December 1, 1819.
Appendix
205
.December 1, 1802-December 1, 1805.
.December 1, 1805-December 1, 1808.
8 Henry Lee,
. December 1, 1796-December 1, 1799.
. December 1, 1799-December 1, 1802.
206
Virginia County Names
DATE OF OFFICE
NAME
21 Thomas Mann Randolph, .December 1, 1819-December 1, 1822.
22 James Pleasants, Jr., .
. December 1, 1822-December 1, 1825.
23 John Tyler, December 1, 1825-March 4, 1827.
24 William B. Giles,
. March, 1827-March, 1830.
25 John Floyd,
March, 1830-March, 1834. . March 31, 1834-April 30, 1836.
26 L. W. Tazewell,
27 Wyndham Robertson k,
28 David Campbell,
April 30, 1836-March, 1837. . March, 1837-March, 1840. . March, 1840-March, 1841.
. March 18, 1841-March 31, 1841.
31 John Rutherford k,
32 John M. Gregory k,
March 31, 1841-March, 1842. . March, 1842-January 1, 1843.
33 James McDowell,
January 1, 1843-January 1, 1846.
34 William Smith,
January 1, 1846-January 1, 1849.
35 James B. Floyd,
. January 1, 1849-January 1, 1852.
36 Joseph Johnson l,
. January 1, 1852-January 1, 1856.
37 Henry A. Wise,
January 1, 1856-January 1, 1860.
38 John Letcher,
. January 1, 1860-January 1, 1864. . January 1, 1864-May 9, 1865. . May 9, 1865-April 16, 1868. . April 16, 1868-April 21, 1869.
39 William Smith, 40 F. H. Pierpont, . 41 Henry H. Wells,
42 G. C. Walker m, . April 21, 1869-January 1, 1870. January 1, 1870-January 1, 1874.
43 G. C. Walker,
44 General James L. Kemper, . January 1, 1874-January 1, 1878.
45 F. W. M. Holladay,
January 1, 1878-January 1, 1882.
29 Thomas W. Gilmer,
30 John Mercer Patton k,
Appendix
46 William E. Cameron, . January 1, 1882-January 1, 1886.
47 Fitzhugh Lee, January 1, 1886-January 1, 1890.
48 Philip W. Mckinney, January 1, 1890-January 1, 1894.
49 Charles T. O'Ferrall, January 1, 1894-January 1, 1898. . January 1, 1898-January 1, 1902.
50. J. Hoge Tyler, .
51 Andrew Jackson Montague, . January 1, 1902-January 1, 1906.
52 Claude W. Swanson, January 1, 1906 -~
a Virginia county named after Lord Culpeper. b The Earl of Orkney was never actual governor.
c Counties named after Spotswood, Gooch, Dinwiddie, Fauquier, Earl of Loudoun, Baron Bote- tourt, Earl Dunmore, and Earl of Albemarle.
dKeppel was Earl of Albemarle.
e West Virginia counties named after N. Berkeley and Pendleton.
fKeppel, Earl of Loudoun, and Sir Geoffrey Amherst were never acting governors.
g Henry and Monroe re-elected.
hG. W. Smith, Lieutenant-Governor, acting governor.
i Peyton Randolph, acting governor.
k Robertson (Lieutenant-Governor), Patton, Rutherford, and Gregory acting governors.
/ First election of governor by popular vote.
m Walker provisional governor, April 21, 1869-January 1, 1870.
NOTE-Seven statehood governors of Virginia have Virginia counties named after them: Pat- rick Henry (Patrick and Henry counties), Nelson, Henry Lee, John Page, Giles, John Floyd, and Henry A. Wise. West Virginia has counties named after the following eleven statehood governors of Virginia: Benjamin Harrison, Edmund Randolph, Brooke, Wood, Cabell, John Ty- ler, Nicholas, Preston, Pleasants, Gilmer, McDowell.
207
TABLE IV
AUTHORITIES CONSULTED.
I. "Gazetteer and History of Virginia," by Joseph Mar- tin. Published by Martin, Moseley & Tompkins, printers, Charlottesville, Va., 1835.
2. "History of Virginia," by Henry Howe. Published 1845 by Wm. R. Babcock, Charleston, S. C .; "1856" on first page.
3. "American Cyclopedia," 1869. Edited by George Rip- ley & Charles A. Dana. Published by D. Appleton & Co., New York.
4. "Encyclopedia Britannica," ninth edition.
5. "Hand-Book of Virginia," by Thos. Whitehead, 1893. Published by Everett Waddy Co., Richmond, Va.
6. "First Steps in North Carolina History," 1889, by Mrs. Cornelia P. Spencer. Alfred Williams & Co., pub- lishers, Raleigh, N. C.
7. "The Governors of Virginia," by Margaret Vowell Smith.
8. "Lives of Queens of England of House of Hanover," by Dr. Doran. Published in New York, 1855, in two volumes, by J. S. Redfield.
9. "Appleton's Cyclopedia American Biography."
IO. Private letters from Mrs. Mary B. Moon.
II. Henry's "Life of Henry," in three volumes.
12. County Clerks, 1895, of Alexandria, Bland, Dickenson (1908 also), Greenville.
13. Bishop Meade's "Old Churches and Families of Vir- ginia," and histories of Virginia by Campbell, Cooke, Magill, Smithey, etc .; various United States histories, histories of England, etc,
3140
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