Abounding in Family Names

King & Queen County, VA

New 37 Page Booklet

Early days in King and Queen County, Virginia -- which today encompasses the communities of Bruington, Cauthornville, Indian Neck, Little Plymouth, Mascot, Mattaponi, Newtown, Plain View, Shacklefords, Shanghai, Stevensville, and Walkerton  -- are recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and factual data in this booklet, comprised of excerpts from three rare vintage books: Historical Collections of Virginia by Henry Howe; Twelve Counties of Virginia by John H. Gwathmey; and Virginia, a Guide to the Old Dominion, a WPA Writer's Program publication. The spiral-bound booklet is printed on 60#  8 1/2 x11" paper, with the print enlarged to fit the paper. The front cover is protected with a vinyl sheet.

The excerpt from the Howe history, printed in 1845, is quite brief. It covers the early development of this area, while excerpts from the WPA book, give a nostalgic glimpse from a 1940 vantage point, including interesting historical notes and sightseeing possibilities. The bulk of this booklet comes from Gwathmey's 1937 contribution, sub-titled "Where the Western Migration Began", a rich resource for the names of early families. Many of these settlers and/or their descendants later migrated to the "western" states of Kentucky, Ohio, etc. Because the booklet is comprised of excerpts from several sources, there may occasionally be duplication of material.

Among the many subjects discussed are: Physical Features of the Area, Carter Braxton, signer of Declaration of Independence and non-importation agreement; Religious liberty advocates; School of Donald Robertson near Dunkirk and other schools; Old Church, Mattapony Church and other early churches; the Mattaponi River; Members of the King's Council and the House of Burgesses,  and Justices (1830-1860); ; Colonel George Brooke, Robert Beverley, Judge Thomas Todd; Officers in War of 1812; County Judges; officers in the War Between the States; Major J.R. Bagby, Dr. Bernard Walker and the Home Guard and other incidents during the Civil War; the slaying of Colonel Ulric Dahlgren and the retaliation that followed; Distruction of county records; the new (post CW) courthouse with its 54 portraits and two tablets; The Mount, Canterbury, Locust Grove, Hillsboro, Newington, Laneville, Bel Air, Carrsbrook, Mantua and other old homes and their founders; and other interesting bits of history and trivia.

The courthouse portraits include: Judges -- Jones, Jeffries, Foster, Wright, Ruffin, Roane, Tunstall,  Spencer, Fleet, Dew, Fleet ; Physicians -- Cox, Gresham, Hoskins,  Fauntleroy, and Garnett; Ministers -- Semple, Todd, Broaddus; Military Officers -- Street, Bagby, Pollard, Acree, Dudley, Davis, Courtney, Bland and Bland, Harwood, Spencer, and Campbell; Statesmen -- Braxton, Robinson, Roane; Gresham, Ruffin, Boulware, Hutchinson; College Presidents/Educators -- Dew, Ryland, Southgate; Wilson; County Officers - Porter, Pollard, Pollard, Vaughan; Other Notable Citizens -- Dew, Gresham, 3 Corbins, Garnett, and Pollard.

Illustrations include: the King and Queen Courthouse.

The booklet has no index, so I can't check for individual names, but I am happy to answer other questions.

Wouldn't this make a unique gift?

History of
King and Queen County
Virginia
only $9.99

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