further expansion toward the beckoning west; this division was not to
take effect until January first, 1777. Fincastle became extinct as a
county, its territory becoming Kentucky, Washington and Montgomery
Counties. The Act of Assembly recites that the part of Fincastle lying
"to the south and westward of a line beginning on the Ohio at the mouth
of Great Sandy creek and running up the same and the main, or
north-easterly, branch thereof to the Great Laurel Ridge or Cumberland
Mountain, thence south westerly along the said mountain to the line of
North Carolina shall be one distinct county and called and known by the
name of Kentucky; and all that part of the said county of Fincastle
included in the lines beginning at the Cumberland Mountain where the
line of Kentucky county intersects the North Carolina line, thence east
along the said Carolina line to the top of Iron mountain, thence along
the same easterly to the source of the south fork of Holstein river,
thence northwardly along the highest part of the high lands, ridges and
mountains that divide the waters of the Tennessee from those of the
Great Kanawha, to the most easterly source of Clinch river, thence
westwardly along the top of the mountains that divide the waters of
Clinch river from those of the Great Kanawha and Sandy Creek to the line
of Kentucky county thence along the same to the beginning" shall be
known "by the name of Washington; and all the residue of the said county
of Fincastle shall be" known as Montgomery.
It is said that Washington County is the first place or area named for
General Washington in the United States. It is also the first time the
words Kentucky and Tennessee occur in a county division and show the
scope of western settlements. Montgomery County was named for General
Richard Montgomery, a Revolutionary officer, who fell 31 December 1775,
while trying unsuccessfully to scale the city walls and capture Quebec
from the English.
The next formation was a division of Pittsylvania County in 1777, ten
years after its creation. The new county lay on the west side of "a line
beginning at the mouth of Blackwater on Staunton river and running
parallel with the line of Halifax county till it strikes the country
line." The name Henry honored Patrick Henry, the famous orator of the
Revolution and first Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He
purchased a large acreage in Henry County but resided in nearby Campbell
County.
Also, in 1777, Albemarle was divided "by a line beginning at the most
western point in the line of Louisa County and running thence directly
to the lower edge of Stott's ferry on the Fluvanna river and that part
which lies south eastward of the said line together with the islands in
the Fluvanna river adjacent thereto shall be called by the name of
Fluvanna county." The county was named for the river and the river was
so called in honor of Queen Anne whose name is borne by four other
Virginia rivers. Fluvanna, used for most of the eighteenth century, was
the title given the James River above its falls at Richmond. Tobacco and
other merchandise was taken in bateaux down this river to Richmond.
Both Henry and Fluvanna Counties had been formed mostly because of
natural increase in population rather than of any tide of immigration.
The creation of Powhatan County in 1777 was of the same type. This
county embraced the portion of Cumberland lying on the south side of
James River and in Southam Parish, which was the eastern end of
Cumberland and adjoined Chesterfield County. The name Powhatan honored
the celebrated Indian chieftain.
In 1778, the vast sprawling territory of Augusta underwent changes. One
was an addition to Hampshire County of the territory on the north of "a
line beginning at the north side of the North Mountain opposite to the
upper end of Sweedland Hill and running a direct course so as to strike
the mouth of Seneca creek on the north fork of the south branch of
Potomac river and the same course to be continued to the Allegheny
mountain, thence along the said mountain" to the county line. "The
residue of the county and parish of Augusta" was divided by a line
beginning "at the South Mountain and running thence by Benjamin
Yardley's plantation so as to strike the north river below James Byrd's
house thence up the said river to the mouth of Naked creek, thence
leaving the river a direct course so as to cross the said river at the
mouth of Cunningham's branch in the upper end of Silas Hart's land to
the foot of North Mountain, thence fifty-five degrees west to the
Allegheny mountain and with the same to the line of Hampshire"; all the
portion north eastward of this line was to be called Rockingham. It is
supposed the name of this county honors the Marquis of Rockingham, Prime
Minister of England in 1765-66 when the unpopular Stamp Act was
repealed.
In the same Act of Assembly, 1778, by which Rockingham was created
Greenbrier County, now in West Virginia, was formed from Montgomery and
Botetourt Counties to the west of "a line beginning on the top of the
ridge which divides the Eastern from the Western Waters, where the line
between Augusta and Botetourt crosses the same, and running thence the
same course continued north fifty-five degrees west to the Ohio, thence
beginning at the said ridge at the said lines of Botetourt and Augusta,
running along the top of the said ridge, passing the Sweet Springs to
the top of Peter's mountain, thence along the said mountain to the line
of Montgomery county, thence along the same mountain to the Kanawha or
New river, thence down the said river to the Ohio." Greenbrier County
takes its name from its principal river. It is the anglicized version of
the French word "ronce" for brier or bramble and "verte" for green. The
town Ronceverte, situated on the river, keeps the French word.
At the same time Rockbridge County was formed from parts of Botetourt
and Augusta. It was bounded "by a line beginning in the top of the Blue
Ridge near Steele's mill and running thence north fifty-five degrees
west passing the said mill and crossing the North mountain to the top
and the mountain dividing the waters of the Calf Pasture from the waters
of the Cow Pasture and thence along the said mountain crossing Panther's
gap to the line that divides the counties of Augusta and Botetourt." The
remainder of Botetourt shall be divided "by a line to begin at Audley
Paul's and running thence south fifty-five degrees east crossing James
river, to the top of the Blue Ridge, thence along the same crossing
James river, to the beginning of the aforesaid line dividing Augusta
county; then beginning again at the said Audley Paul's, and running
north fifty-five degrees west till the said course shall intersect a
line to be run south forty-five degrees west from the place where the
above line dividing Augusta terminated."
The enabling acts setting forth the bounds for the counties when created
have been quoted fully, both for the information they contain and for
the comprehensive geographical knowledge they reveal. They show
painstaking surveys and study to achieve accuracy under the handicap of
lack of roads and bridges. In addition to technical knowledge, the
surveyor needed a sturdy physique to withstand the daily hardships that
were part of his routine work.
Rockbridge, the name of the new county whose bounds have been described,
commemorated the unique scenic wonder within its confines known as
Natural Bridge. This is a span of stone 215 feet high over Cedar Creek.
Once a trail passed over it and now a modern highway. It has been known
and visited since 1770.
WEST OF THE OHIO AND TO THE MISSISSIPPI. ILLINOIS COUNTY FORMED
Illinois, the last county to be formed in the decade 1770 to 1780 was an
area on the western side of the Ohio River which had been a part of
Augusta County. In the preamble to the Act creating this county, the
Assembly noted with satisfaction that "by a successful expedition
carried on by the Virginia militia on the western side of the Ohio river
several of the British posts within the territory of this commonwealth
in the country adjacent to the river Mississippi have been reduced."
This, of course, was a reference to George Rogers Clark whose exploits
secured the Mississippi Valley area for Virginia and the United States.
Illinois County was a part of the large territory given by Virginia to
the nation in 1783.
KENTUCKY COUNTY DIVIDED
The next event was the division of the unwieldy county of Kentucky into
three parts; Jefferson, Fayette and Lincoln, with the towns of
Louisville, Lexington and Harrodsburg for their respective county seats.
Jefferson County was so named to honor Thomas Jefferson, and was the
first honor of this sort accorded him. Fayette was for the beloved ally,
the Marquis de la Fayette and Lincoln for General Benjamin Lincoln of
the Revolution. When compelled to surrender Charleston, South Carolina
to the British, he had endured the humiliation of giving up his sword to
Sir Henry Clinton. In return, when Yorktown was captured and Lord
Cornwallis required to yield his sword, General Lincoln was awarded the
distinction of receiving it. Cornwallis, however, did not appear in
person, and it was his aide who handed the sword to General Lincoln.
From these three counties was formed the present Commonwealth of
Kentucky.
A division of Brunswick in the south eastern part of the state took
place now and Greensville County came into being. This lay to the east
of a line beginning "two miles above Chapman's ford on Meherrin river
and running a due south course to the boundary line between this state
and North Carolina and from the station aforesaid by another line due
north to Nottoway river." The name selected for this county commemorated
General Nathanael Greene of the Revolution who marched into this area on
his return from the Battle of Guilford Court House.
In 1782, occurred a division of Bedford County. The eastern end was cut
from the whole and named for General William Campbell, the hero of
King's Mountain, one of the decisive battles of the Revolution. Campbell
lies to the east of a line beginning "at the mouth of Judy's creek on
James river, thence to Thompson's mill on Buffalo creek, thence to the
mouth of Back creek on Goose creek thence the same course continued to
Staunton river." Staunton is the name given the Roanoke River as it
passes through Bedford, Campbell, Charlotte and Halifax Counties. In
Mecklenburg, it resumes its original name of Roanoke and so continues
into Albemarle Sound.
The next development was Harrison, taken from Monongalia County.
Neither is now a Virginia county, but it is mentioned since it honors
Benjamin Harrison, one of the seven Virginia Signers of the Declaration
of Independence who also completed in 1784, the year the county was
formed, a three year term as Governor of the Commonwealth.
In the next year, a new county, Nelson, now in Kentucky, was created.
This, too, honored a former Governor and Signer of the Declaration of
Independence, Thomas Nelson. It was his home in Yorktown that Lord
Cornwallis used as his headquarters during the siege and battle.
In 1786, Franklin was formed out of "that part of the county of Bedford
lying south of Staunton river together with so much of the county of
Henry lying north of a line to be run from the head of Shooting creek to
the west end of Turkeycock mountain, thence along the top of the
mountain to intersect the dividing line between the counties of Henry
and Pittsylvania, thence along that line to the mouth of Blackwater
river." The reason for this name is obvious: all America honored the
achievements of Benjamin Franklin.
DEED OF CESSION. VIRGINIA GIVES THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY
The tempo of western expansion had increased to such an extent that four
counties were formed in 1786. One of these, Hardy, lies now in West
Virginia as does its parent county of Hampshire. It might be well to
explain now, even though out of chronological sequence, the genesis of
West Virginia. In May 1861 when Governor Letcher called out the Virginia
militia, many persons living beyond the Alleghanies throughout that
section of Virginia bordering on Ohio and Pennsylvania were not in
sympathy with his action. The residents of some forty counties held a
convention and were almost unanimous in their desire to break away from
Virginia and form a new state. A constitution was framed which was
ratified by the people in May 1862. The following year, 1863, West
Virginia became a state of the Union and at one blow, Virginia lost a
third of her territory. The loss of the rich coal fields and other
natural resources of West Virginia impoverished the Old Dominion more
severely and made "Reconstruction Days" longer and more difficult than
they might otherwise have been.
Returning to Hardy County, we learn that it was named for Samuel Hardy
formerly of Isle of Wight County "one of the number who signed the Deed
of Cession which transferred the Northwest Territory to the General
Government."
Virginia's claim to territory was of long standing, her charters of 1609
and 1612 giving her dominion to the Pacific Ocean, but no exploration
beyond the Mississippi had been attempted. Her claim of dominion to the
Mississippi, however, was of more substantial character. In 1778 with a
picked force of 180 Virginia riflemen, George Rogers Clark captured the
great Northwest Territory from the English "in one of the most amazing
exploits in American history." This territory Virginia organized as "the
county of Illinois." "But for Clark's conquest the treaty of 1783 might
well have fixed the nation's western boundary at the Alleghanies instead
of at the Mississippi." Almost all the Ohio Valley and parts of
Wisconsin and Michigan were included in this voluntary gift that
Virginia made in 1783 to the weak confederated colonies. In 1785
Congress passed a Land Ordinance providing for the sale of this land.
"Thus this cession provided the infant republic with its only sure
source of revenue" since at that time "Congress had neither the power to
impose nor the machinery to collect any taxes."
The other three counties formed in 1786 lie now in Kentucky which, in
1792, was "organized as a state out of Virginia territory with her
consent." These divisions are Mercer and Madison, created out of
Lincoln, and Bourbon out of Fayette. Mercer honored General Hugh Mercer
of the Revolution; Madison, James Madison, later known as the "Father of
the Constitution," and Bourbon, the French reigning family,
particularly Louis XVI who had given aid in the Revolution.
The next county, Russell, was taken from Washington. Its bounds are:
"all that part of the said county lying within a line to be run along
the Clinch mountain to the Carolina line; thence with that line to the
Cumberland mountain, and the extent of country between the Cumberland
mountain, Clinch mountain and the line of Montgomery county shall be one
distinct county and called and known by the name of Russell." The name
was selected as a tribute to General William Russell "who distinguished
himself at the Battle of King's mountain." Russell remains a Virginia
county.
Five westward expansions now occur in quick succession. In 1787, from
Harrison was formed Randolph County named for Edmund Randolph, first
Attorney General of the Commonwealth and a member of the Continental
Congress. Both Harrison and Randolph are in West Virginia. Pendleton,
also now in West Virginia, was formed in 1788 from portions of Hardy,
Augusta, and Rockingham counties. It is named for Edmund Pendleton,
President of the Virginia Convention of 1775.
The next year two new Kentucky counties were formed; Mason from Bourbon
and Woodford from Fayette. The former took its name from George Mason of
"Gunston Hall," author of the Bill of Rights and the latter from General
William Woodford, a native of Caroline County, Virginia who rendered
distinguished service in the Revolution and later moved to Kentucky.
At the same time, a new county destined to be in West Virginia was
formed from Greenbrier and part of Montgomery counties and given the
name of Kanawha from the river.
The only one of the counties formed in 1789 that is now in Virginia is
Nottoway. This was comprised of that part of Amelia County "lying south
of a line to begin at a place called Wells bridge on Namozene creek
which divides the said county from the county of Dinwiddie, thence
running through the said county of Amelia so as to strike the line of
Prince Edward county five miles west of a place called Ward's ford on
Appomattox river." Nottoway is an Indian word meaning "a snake, that is,
an enemy." Nottoway River derives its name from the Indian tribe and the
county honors both.
1790-1800 EXPANSION IN THE FIRST DECADE AFTER THE REVOLUTION
The next year a county was cut from Montgomery and named Wythe. It lies
to the "south-west of a line beginning on the Henry line at the head of
Big Reedy Island, from thence to the waggon ford on Peck creek, thence
to the clover bottom on Blue Stone, thence to the Kanawha county line."
The name is for George Wythe, eminent jurist and a Signer of the
Declaration of Independence. Elected in 1779 to the Chair of Law and
Police, recently established at the College of William and Mary, he
"became the first occupant of a chair of law in America, and the second
in the English speaking world." The first chair of law established in
England was at Oxford University, and Sir William Blackstone was the
first professor.
The year 1791 saw the formation of three counties, all of them
rearrangement of lines in established communities rather than expansion
into new territory. The first was the division of Henry into two
counties: "all that part of the said county lying west of a line
beginning on the line dividing the counties of Henry and Franklin one
mile above where it crosses Town creek, a branch of Smith's river,
thence a parallel line with Pittsylvania line to the country line shall
be one distinct county and called and known by the name of Patrick." The
name, of course, was the given name of the great orator, and since Henry
County bore his surname, the new division took his given name. It is a
county of beautiful mountains with panoramic views. The Fairy Stone
State Park is within its borders. On Fairy Stone Mountain and in the
streams at its base are found tiny stones shaped like crosses. The story
is that the gentle fairy folk when they heard of our Lord's Crucifixion
wept profusely and their tears turned to stone crosses as they fell, a
lasting memorial of their grief.
The next county, formed in 1791, was Bath. Its bounds are thus
described: "All those parts of the counties of Augusta, Botetourt and
Greenbrier within the following bounds, to wit: beginning at the west
corner of Pendleton county, thence to the top of the ridge dividing the
headwaters of the South branch from those of Jackson's river, thence a
straight line to the lower end of John Redman's plantation on the
Cow-pasture river, thence to the top of the ridge that divides the
waters of the Cow-pasture from those of the Calf-pasture thence along
the same as far as the ridge that divides Hamilton's creek from Mill
creek, thence to the Mill mountain, and with the same to the north
corner of the line of Rockbridge county, thence along the said mountain
crossing the line of Botetourt county to the ridge that divides the
waters of Pad's creek from those of Simpson's creek, thence along the
said ridge to the Cow-pasture river, thence crossing the said river a
direct course and crossing Jackson's river at the mouth of Dunlap's
creek, thence up the same as far as the narrows above the plantation of
David Tate, Senr., so as to leave the inhabitants of the said creek in
Botetourt county, thence a direct course to the top of the Allegany
mountain where the road from the Warm Springs to Greenbrier court house
crosses the said mountain, thence along the top of the said mountain
opposite the headwaters of Anthony's creek, thence a direct course
crossing Greenbrier river to the end of the Droop mountain, thence up
the same to the great Greenbrier mountain thence along the said mountain
to the line of Randolph county thence with the same along the said
mountain dividing the waters of Monongalia and Cheat from those of
Greenbrier river, and thence to its beginning shall form one distinct
county."
The above is quoted in full since the names used are still in use, and
it is possible to judge from them the extent of the county. Warm Springs
is still in Bath, but Narrows is in Giles County, and Alleghany County
lies between Bath and Giles.
The name Bath derives from the medical springs within its boundaries,
which for many years during the summer months were visited by persons
from as far south as Louisiana. Families drove up in their carriages and
stayed for months to enjoy the curative effects of the waters and
bracing mountain air.
The third county formed in 1791 was Mathews which was taken from
Gloucester. It lies "to the eastward of a line to begin at the mouth of
North river, thence up the meanders thereof to the mill, thence up the
eastern branch of the millpond to the head of Muddy creek thence down
the said creek to Piankatank river." The name is said to be in honor of
a Major Thomas Mathews of the Revolution who afterwards was prominent in
the legislature representing the Borough of Norfolk in the House of
Delegates from 1785 to 1791.
In 1793, there were also three counties formed. One of these, Grayson,
was taken from Wythe as follows: "Beginning in the Washington line where
it joins the Iron Mountain, thence along the said mountain to a spur of
the same that forms Ewing mountain, keeping the ridge that divides the
waters of Cripple and Bush creeks to the top of the said mountain,
thence a straight course to the Popular Camp mountain by Rose's mill
thence to the mouth of Greasy creek thence a straight course to the
Montgomery line." Grayson took its name from Colonel William Grayson, an
officer in the Revolution, member of the Continental Congress and one of
the first two senators elected from Virginia after the adoption of the
Constitution to serve in the Congress of the United States.
Unfortunately his tenure of office was short; he died 12 March 1790.
Also in 1793, Russell County was divided and all that part "which lies
westwardly of a line beginning on the top of Clinch mountain, one mile
eastwardly of big Maukason gap, thence a direct course to the mouth of
Stock creek thence up the same to Powell's mountain, thence due north to
the Kentucky boundary shall form one distinct county and be called and
known by the name of Lee." The name honored General Henry Lee who was
Governor of Virginia 1791-1794. He is more often called "Light Horse
Harry Lee" from the fact that he commanded, during the Revolution, light
horse cavalry. He was the father of General Robert E. Lee. Lee is the
county farthest to the west and adjoins Tennessee and Kentucky.
Also in 1793, the county of Madison was formed from Culpeper. Its bounds
were within a line "Beginning at the mouth of Robinson river thence up
the same to the mouth of Crooked run, thence up the said run to the
mountain road where Tennant's church formerly stood, thence a straight
course to the head of Hugh's river in the Blue Ridge, thence the same
course continued to the top of the ridge and to the line of Shenandoah
county, thence westwardly on the top of the ridge with the lines of the
counties of Shenandoah and Rockingham to the line of Orange county to
the beginning." One may wonder that the name Madison was used again, but
at this date the earlier Madison County lay in Kentucky. When in 1792
Kentucky achieved statehood, it was composed of nine counties formerly
in Virginia; namely: Fayette, Lincoln, Jefferson, Madison, Mercer,
Nelson, Bourbon, Mason and Woodford.
Four years after Madison County, Virginia was formed, Brooke was cut
from Ohio County. This name was for Robert Brooke, Governor of Virginia
1794 to 1796. He was a grandson of the Robert Brooke who, in 1716,
accompanied Governor Spotswood on the famous expedition across the Blue
Ridge Mountains. Both Brooke and Ohio are now in West Virginia.
In 1798, Wood was established from Harrison County. It is named for
James Wood, Governor of Virginia 1796 to 1799, and son of Colonel James
Wood, an early settler in the Valley of Virginia, and founder of the
city of Winchester. Wood and Harrison are also West Virginia counties.
The next county created, also destined to lie in West Virginia, was
Monroe. This was formed from Greenbrier County and named to honor James
Monroe. Born, like General Washington, in Westmoreland County, he had a
long political career culminating in the Presidency of the United
States. The creed he expounded, called the "Monroe Doctrine", is still
followed by our government.
THE NEW CENTURY BRINGS SIX NEW COUNTIES 1800-1810