A history of Prince Edward county, Virginia, from its formation in 1753 to the present ...

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Foreword

Prince Edward county is not a large county. The possible constituency for such a work as this is, therefore, decidedly limited. Hence, in order that it shall have an adequate circulation; a circulation worthy of the county; it will be necessary that its natural appeal shall be supplemented by county pride. The urge of possible profit will not be sufficient to secure for it any large reading under the circumstances. The author entertains no expectation of monetary remuneration. The task has, with him, been a real work of love. Prince Edward county has never had a "History" published. It will be too bad if there is not discovered sufficient pride of county to secure for this belated effort a fitting response.

The author believes that such county pride does exist in such measure as will make welcome this effort to make permanent some of the splendid history of the county. Few counties of Virginia are richer in historical material than is Prince Edward. It ought to have been published long ere this. This is at least an honest effort to supply the deficiency. It will provide a real starting point to some future more serious attempt to do justice to a great subject. This is the sincere desire of the present writer.

HUtory of Prince Edtonrd Connty

Preface

This impretentioiis volume is put forth in the sincere hope that it may prove of some value to the student of history, as well as to the present life of the Old Dominion, as it is contributed to by Prince Edward county.

Of necessity, the record must be fragmentary and faulty in many respects, but in the more vital things, the author ventures the hope that reasonable accuracy has been attained. He is a pioneer in-so-far as this county is concerned.

An effort has been made to link up the present with the past in a real way, hence the work is something more than a mere recital of past events. Much of present events and conditions, together with the life story of many now living, contributors to the sturdy progress of affairs in this part of the State, is included. The encyclopaedic method has been deliberately and purposely adopted. The orthodox historian will doubtless be shocked at this. The net result will doubtless be, however, that the lay reader will find it all the more readable and interesting. That is one objective aimed at. A serious attempt has been made to bring the study down to even date, and this could be the more easily accomplished by the adoption of this method. "Ancient" history usually finds but the "faithful few" really interested.

No history of the county having been previously published, the present worker found himself beset by a bewildering mass of material. Out of this he was forced to make selection in a most arbitrary fashion. A previously mapped out course has been more or less rigidly adhered to, in spite of the many resulting inequalities. Doubtless much that is worthy of inclusion will be found to have been sacrificed, and much about which a question might very legitimately be raised will be found included. This is, perhaps, inevitable. All could not be used.

Particular attention is directed to the chapter on "The Churches of Prince Edward." A fine history of the county might very easily be erected out of the story of her Churches. This is, perhaps, the first time in Virginia that a serious attempt has been made, in a county history, to give due credit to the Churches as history-making mediums.

And the attention of the reader is also directed to the chapter on "Prince Edward county in the World War," where the most complete roster and record of all Prince Edward county soldiers and sailors who served in that terrible conflict, ever compiled by any county, after any war, is to be found. It is extremely desirable that such a record shall be preserved and we have ventured to include it here.

That so much space has been given to the affairs of war requires, perhaps, some word of explanation. The late World War cost, in terms of human life, 10,000,000 soldiers and sailors; and 30,000,000 civilians, who but for that sanguinary event might be living today, were sacrificed. In terms of money, as related directly to the objects of the war, it cost one hundred and eighty-six billions of dollars !

What "War" means to the United States will, perhaps, best be understood, if we can apprehend what it is claiming as its proportion of our national revenues It is perhaps but little realized by the average layman, that ninety per cent, of our revenues go to pay our bills to "War." Of this alarming proportion, sixty-eight per cent, goes for past wars, and twenty-two per cent, for the maintenance of our present Army and Navy. Of the small balance remaining, education receives one per cent, and labor, commerce, and the general public are expected to divide the balance amongst them !

And all this, in this good day of Our Lord, the Prince of Peace ! From these considerations it will readily be seen that "War" has not been given undue notice in this volume, for Prince Edward county has shared in due proportion in all that pertains to that phase of national life. Humanity is mortgaged to the hilt that "War" may be fed.

America simply 7nust lead the war-weary nations of the earth to a better day. The author breathes a fervent prayer that a future historian may have the happy privilege to record the death of "War," The responsibility of leadership in that direction is upon us. We must not falter in leading the way to universal disarmament, and to ultimate peace.

I submit the book to the public in the satisfying conviction that I have not been remiss in the effort to ascertain and to record the truth as it pertains to the history of this part of the Old Dominion: the bare and simple truth, without fear or favor. That there has been much of diligent research will be made manifest by a reading of the chapter on "Bibliography." And I have done my best to make the record easily readable. It is enough for the servant that he be found faithful and, in this my humble effort, I have striven to merit that commendation.

1922. C. EDWARD BURRELL.

History of Prince Edivard County

EXPLANATORY

Perhaps a brief note respecting some archaic terms, unavoidably employed, is here in order, so that the reader may readily possess the definitions necessary to a proper understanding of some passages in this work.

"Tithes." "Tithable." 'For many years, from the beginning of the Colony, taxes were levied, not on property, but on persons as such, so that a "Tithable," generally speaking, was such a person thus subject to taxation; usually all males above sixteen years of age and servants of both sexes above that age. The "Tithe," therefore, was the tax thus imposed upon such taxable persons.

"Pounds, Shillings, etc." It must be borne in mind that the pound was not the pound sterling. The pound here spoken of, amounted to but twenty shillings, i. e., the equivalent to $3,33V2- The shilling, too, was not the modern shilling; it was the equivalent to 16 2-3 cents.

"The Test." In Colonial times an Oath was administered in which the affiant declared it to be his belief that there is not the "real presence" in the elements of the Communion of the Lord's Supper; an echo of Old World conflicts. This was the "Test" so-called.

"Prison Bounds." This was an area, which was not in any case to exceed ten acres, about the jail, or place of confinement, where prisoners, not committed for treason or felony, had liberty, on giving proper security that they would not break "bounds" but would continue therein until discharged. This provision was, for the most part, for the benefit of persons imprisoned for debt. This privilege was to last for only one year.

Chapter Nineteen Bibliography 403 A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE STATE

A proper history of Prince Edward County requires that there shall precede it, a brief sketch of the beginnings of the State of which it forms an honorable part. For it ought always to be remembered that Prince Edward County is a p)art of what was once a mighty Principality of vast dimensions.

All of North America between Nova Scotia, or New Scotland, on the north ; and Florida, Land of Flowers, on the south; was once known as "Virginia." Queen Elizabeth of England, to which crown the country then belonged, was so charmed by the accounts given by the sea captains under Sir Walter Raleigh, of the wonders of the coasts of the Carolinas in 1585, that she named the whole country "Virginia," in honor of herself, the "Virgin Queen," of which designation she was particularly proud.

All of Raleigh's efforts to found a colony on those shores were doomed to failure. The fate of one attempted colony on Roanoke Island, North Carolina, remains a pathetic mystery to this day.

However, in the reign of James I, a successful settlement was made in what is now Virginia proper. A Royal Charter, granted to the "Virginia Company of London," in 1606, gave to that body the right to found a colony one hundred miles square, anywhere between the thirty-fourth and the forty-first degrees of north latitude; that would be between the mouth of Cape Fear river in North Carolina, and the mouth of the Hudson river in New York; and to the "Virginia Company of Plymouth," a similar right between the thirty-eighth and forty-fifth degrees, which would be between the Potomac river and Nova Scotia; both of course, in "Virginia" as then constituted. Either Company might occupy in the overlapping territory, but were proscribed from making a settlement within one hundred miles of each other. Operating under this charter, the "Virginia Company of London" founded the settlement of Jamestown, named for James I, under which monarch the Charter was granted, on May 13, 1607, This Settlement thus ante-dated the Plymouth Colony, founded under the Mayflower Compact by 13 years, though what glory may attach to being the first American Colony, is most frequently Ascribed to the "Pilgrim Fathers," who made their landing at Plymouth Rock, from the Mayflower, in 1620. This mistake has arisen from a confused interpretation of the records, and that in turn, from a failure to appreciate the fact that the Virginia of that period extended far north of the New England states of the present day and, of course, embraced Massachusetts and Plymouth Rock. Both the Jamestown Settlement, and the Plymouth Settlement were therefore, in 'Virginia' ; the Ja'mestown Settlement being prior to that at Plymouth Rock, as we have seen, and in what is today, Virginia proper. The Jamestown Colony was conveyed from England in three small vessels, the combined tonnage of which, was less than that of the "Mayflower." Indeed the Mayflower herself was partly owned by men then living at Jamestown ! These three were the Sarah Constant, 100 tons; the Goodspeed, 40 tons; the Discovery, 20 tons.

The "Virginia Company of London" was granted a second Charter in 1609, under the terms of which the boundaries of the Jamestown colony were extended along the coast for some two hundred miles, north and south, from Point Comfort, and further, "up into the land throughout frolm sea to sea, west and north-west, and also, all the land lying within one hundred miles along the coasts of both seas," Naturally, these bounds were never attained. The term "from sea to sea" could have had but one construction and meant from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean, and, with the line projected "west and north-west," embraced practically all the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, with a part of Minnesota, as well as nearly all the Great Lakes. This territory, with that already granted under the former Charter, meant that this Company was given control of an immense Principality. As things then were, with the primitive methods of travel, etc., it was a practical impossibility for them to cover such vast territories or to come into actual possession of them. As a simple matter of fact, they did not succeed in doing so.

To the latter part of this territory, subsequently known as the "Northwest Territory," Virginia did actually claim title under the Charter granted the "Virginia Company of London." Moreover, she later got actual title by conquest of her own soldiers under George Rogers Clark, who operated under orders from the famous Patrick Henry, the then Governor of the State, during the Revolutionary War. However, in order to quiet dissension, she, in 1784 ceded it to the Federal Government, reserving only so much land therein as was necessary to enable her to fulfill her promise of land grants, made to her own soldiers who served in the Revolutionary and Indian Wars.

The Settlement at Jamestown languished, and made little or no progress, till about 1620, but soon after that time it began to grow and had some prosperity. In 1622 the population is said to have numbered about 4,000 persons. Previous to this time there had been a period Imown as the "Starving Time," when there was much suffering through the failure of agriculture, so that many of the people were forced to eke out a precarious existence on roots, acorns, berries, nuts, herbs, and even on skins and snakes. In 1620 however, and from then on, a change took place. There was a great abundance of fruits, vegetables, and grains. Wine and silk were made in considerable quantities. Some 60,000 pounds of tobacco were produced each year. Cattle increased greatly in numbers. The Settlement was now, at last, in a prosperous condition.

At about this time, women were imported, white women of course, and were sold to the colonists ! By reason of competition, the price of a wife rose from one hundred and twenty pounds of tobacco, to one hundred and fifty pounds !

Thus far the settlers had succeeded in living in some measure of amity wdth the Indians, some religious work being done amongst them. Pocahontas, daughter of King Powhatan, Avhose real name was Matoax, rescuer of Captain John Smith, was the first convert gained from amongst these savage peoples. In 1613 she was married to John Eolph, an Englishman. Her baptismal name was Rebecca. In 1616 she went with her husband to England, where her eldest son was born, and Avhere, at Gravesend, she died.

But on Friday, March 22, 1622, occurred the great and terrible massacre incited by Opeckankanough, in which three hundred and fifty men, women, and children Avere ruthlessly slain, and the cattle driven off, so that the remnant of the Settlement were left sorely distressed. The wily and savage Opeckankanough, pretending a desire to become a Christian, so beguiled the pious head of the College, Mr. Thorpe, that he took much pains in instructing him and was led to place considerable confidence in his sincerity, but on that fatal Friday, that good man, with the rest, was cruelly massacred according to the secret plans of the treacherous savage, who, under the mask of religion, had plotted the sudden and entire overthrow of the English. He was the implacable enemy of the white man, harboring no illusions as to the ultimate fate of the Indian if the white man were suffered to gain a firm foothold on what he considered to be his soil. He died as he lived, a brave, implacable savage.

The progress of the Settlement was seriously retarded by this awful event, so that the extension of the frontiers was very greatly delayed. The general and continued hostility of the Indians, which succeeded the massacre, and which seriously threatened the very life of the Settlement, also hindered development and growth. However, with true Anglo- Saxon courage, the colonists ultimately recovered themselves and development began in real earnest, never again to be seriously threatened.

Shortly before the massacre of 1622 (1619), a Dutch vessel, probably a camouflage for the "Treasurer," brought into Jamestown, the first cargo of negro slaves that were ever introduced into America, and here was sown the seed that resulted in the horrors of the War Between the States, of 1861-1865.

THE GENESIS OF PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

The original division of the Old Dominion into "Shires," after the English fashion; as performed by the Assembly of 1624, at which time the State was divided into eight such "Shires," as follows: James City; Henrico; Charles City; Elizabeth City; Warrick Ri\'ier; Warrosqiiyoake ; Charles River; and Accawmack, and the later, and more intensive divisions of the same territory, give much aid in tracing the development of the various counties of the State as at present constituted.

Prince Edward county, named for Edward Augustus, a son of Frederick, Prince of Wales, followed the division of the old "Shire" called Charles City.

In 1703 Prince George was erected out of Charles City, and from Prince George was later carved, Brunswick in 1732 ; Amelia in 1735 ; and Dinwiddle in 1754.

In 1753 an Act was introduced to separate the present Prince Edward county from Amelia and the separation took place accordingly in 1754. Nottoway was a further division of Amelia county by an Act of 1789.

A further division of the ancient "Shire" of Charles City, produced Lunenburg county from BrunsAvick, in 1746: Halifax, in 1752; Bedford, in 1754; Charlotte, in 1765: Mecklenburg, in 1765; Greenville, 1781. Pittsylvania was separated from Halifax in 1767; and Henry in 1777. In 1791 Patrick was taken from Henry. In 1782 Campbell county was separated from Bedford and, in 1786, a part of the present Franklin county was erected out of Campbell county.

A general pedigree sheet of Charles City Shire would look something like the chart on the following page:

CHARLES CITY

PRINCE GEOKOE, 1703

BRUNSWICK 1732

AiVtELIA 1735

DINWIDDIE

LUNENBURG 1746

PITTSYLVAMA

HENRY

BEDFORD 1754

CAMPBELL

FRANKLIN

PRINCE EDWARD

GREENVILLE

NOTTOWAY 1789

CHARLOTTE 1765

MECKLENBURG 1765

(In Part)

PATRICK 1791

This County is situated in the south-central part of Virginia, its nearest border-line being some sixty miles southeast from the City of Richmond.

It is about twenty-five miles long and about twelve miles wide. It contains an area of 345 square miles, over one-third of which is in a state of cultivation. The population of the county is (1921), 14,767.

The Appomattox River runs on the northern border of the county, and, with its many branches, waters the surrounding lands. Farmville is the head of the old Batteau navigation, now discontinued, altliough the stream is navigable much higher up. Small fish are found in some abundance in the stream.

The Appomattox Kiver is capable of furnishing considerable water power at this point, which is, as yet, practically unutilized.

Transportation within the county, and with the outside world, is furnished by the Norfolk & Western ; the Southern ; and Virginian railways, in addition to the fine system of public roads.

Road building within the county is in a state of great activity, several stretches of State and National highways being either already completed, or under construction. For the most part, the roads of the county compare very favorably with those in other parts of the State. Farmville is the "hub" of the system of roads being built under the direction of the State Highway Commission in this part of the State.

With her splendid schools, fine churches, clear water, rich soil, equable climate, good roads, and central location. Prince Edward county is one of the very best countiesj in the Commonwealth in which to make happy an,d prosperous homes.

History of Prince Edivard County 29

THE ORGANIZATION OF PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

As stated elsewhere, Prince Edward county was formed in 1753, from a part of Amelia county. The first minutes of the new county, recorded in the "County Court Orders, 1754- 1758," says: "The Commission of Peace being first read, and the Commission of Dedimus Potestatom, David Flournoy and John Nash, Jr., administered the Oath of Chancery to John Nash the elder, George Walker, Joseph Morton and James Wimbish, Gentlemen, who also read and subscribed the Test; whereupon John Nash the elder administered in like manner, the aforesaid Oaths, to David Flournoy and John Nash, Jr., Gentlemen, who also read and subscribed the Test.

The Court being thus Constituted."

And thus Prince Edward county came into active being. These, and many succeeding minutes, were laboriously transcribed in quaint old English characters, by John Nash, the elder. Clerk of the Court.

At a succeeding Court, held February 12, of the same year, John Nash, Jr., duly appointed Sheriff of the County, and John Nash, Sr., were appointed a Commission to solicit the Court of Amelia to appoint a Commission to act with them in running the county lines.

At the same Court, George Walker, James Wimbish, and David Flournoy were "appointed to review the proposals of the people for building a Court House, and to report the several proposals to the next Court." One Charles Cuppler, was at this time recognized as an Attorney at Law; the first in the new county. At the June Court of the same year, Arthur Neal was appointed Constable and took the Oath.

The findings of the Committee appointed to ascertain the proposals for the building of the Court House and report, and the results following therefrom, will be found set out in Chapter Four of this work.

The county was divided into Six Magisterial Districts, as follows: Buffalo District; Farmville District; Hampden District; I^eigh District; Lockett District; and Prospect District.

The county is in the Fourth Congressional District, and in the Fifth Judicial District. For further matter respecting the Judiciary of the county, see Chapter Fifteen of this work.

The Honorable E. T. Bondurant is the present representative of the county in the House of Delegates.

The Honorable Louis E. Epes is the present representative of the count}?^ in the State Senate.

The present Board of Supervisors of the county are :

Farmville District : J. Ashby Armistead.

Hampden District: W. A. McCraw.

Samuel W. Watkins is the Treasurer of the county: E. L. Dupuy, Commissioner of Revenue; and Judge Asa D. Watlrins, Commonwealth's Attorney.

Representatives in the House of Delegates and Senate

Allen, James, 1782.

Booker, Richard A., 1861 (Jan.).

Booker, William, Convention 1776; House 1776-77.

Burke, Samuel D., 1840-41.

Carter, Samuel, 1805-06.

Dillon, James, 1829-30.

Farrar, Stephen C, 1827-28.

Flournoy, William C, 1850-51, 1852 (Jan.).

Holcombe, John, 1782.

M'Dearmon, Samuel D., 1845-46.

Mcllwaine, Richard, Convention 1901-02.

Madison, James, 1835-36.

Molloy, Thomas, 1795.

Moore, Joseph, 1781-82.

Morton, John, 1777.

Nash, John, 1778.

Thornton, John T., Convention 1861.

Watldns, Asa D., 1897-98.

Watts, William, Convention 1775; House 1776.

Womack, Archer, 1809-10.

Womack, Benjamin W., 1847-48.

Woodson, Charles, 1811-12.

Bondurant, E. T., 1920.

Prince Edward and Appomattox Watkins, F. N., 1865-66, 1866-67.

George Carrington, 1798-99.

31, 1831-32, 1832-33.

Archibald A. Campbell, 1835-36, 1836-37.

William C. Knight, 1859-61.

Christopher C. McRae, 1865-67.

James D. Bland, 1869-71 (Negro).

John T. Hamlett, 1869-71.

John Robinson, 1871-73 (Negro).

87. '

History of Prince Edicard County 35

George E. Allen, 1916, 1918.

Louis E. Eppes, 1920.

Prince Edward County Senatorial representatives have served two or more counties, changing with various re-distributions.

THE COURT HOUSE

The site of the first Court House of Prince Edward county, was at the village of Worsham, near to the location of Hampden- Sidney College. The fii-st courts ^ere held in private residences in that immediate vicinity. A Public Square was purchased and suitable buildings erected thereon in due course. This place was named for the Worsham family, the most conspicuous of them, in the affairs of the county being Branch G. Worsham, who became County Clerk in 1825 and continued till after the Civil War.

At the February Court, February 12, 1754, Charles Anderson offered the use of his kitchen as a temporary lockup until such time as a suitable prison could be erected, which offer was declined, doubtless with thanks.

At the next court, the same Anderson was awarded the contract for the building of a Court House, Stocks, Pillory, and Whipping Post, at or near his house in the county, the jail building to be of logs, twelve feet by sixteen feet in the clear, and to bring in his account at the laying of the next levy. He was later, at the May Court, 1755, paid fiftytwo pounds and fifteen shillings for the same.

At the October Court of the same year, arrangements Avere made for the painting of the Court House, the tarring of the roof, and for changing the character and the place of the windows.

Many entries are to be found in the minute books of the Court respecting the Court buildings, providing for their upkeep, renewal, etc., in the century and a quarter, or thereabouts that the Court House remained at Worsham. High hopes had been entertained as to the prospective growth of the little village, but they remained unfulfilled; the place did not irrow.

A pereistent agitation had grown up for the removal of the county seat to the larger and more convenient neighboring town of Farmville, which would not down. This agitation culminated in a decision of the people in favor of such a removal. The following order apears in "County Court Orders,^ under date of April 18, 1871 : "The Council of the Town of Farmville having represented to the Court that the Corporation had contracted with James B. Eley, for the purchase of a lot of land containing not less than one-half acre, situated in the Town of Farmville, on the East side of the Main Street of said Town, between the Baptist and the African Baptist Churches, and desiring the Court to enter on record, its approval of said land as a location for a Court House, Clerk's Office, and Jail, it is ordered that the said location be hereby approved," etc.

This order was signed by the Hon. F. N. Watkins, then serving as County Judge.

The following entry of the 'County Court Orders,' on page 282, under date of February 12, 1872, shows progress :

"It being suggested to the Court that the Council of the Town of Farmville will, in a short time, tender to the Court a Court House, Jail, and Clerk's Office, built in Farmville in pursuance of the provisions of the Act of General Assembly, Approved 4th November 1870, and of March 4th, 1871, in relation thereto, it is ordered that R. B. Berkeley, H. R. Hooper, and E. Wiltse be Commissioners on the part of the Court to confer with the Corporation of Farmville, and report to the Court whether said buildings are suitable for the use of the county, what stoves and other furniture will be necessary therefor, and the probable cost thereof, together with any otlier matter concerning the same, deemed pertinent thereto."

The final consummation of all these plans for removal to Farmville are attested in an Order of the Court, under date of March 19, 1872, and appearing on Page 287, 'County Court Orders' as follows:

"A Deed, bearing date of February 1872, from the Town of Farmville to the County of Prince Edward, with certificate of acknowledgment annexed, was presented in Court and ordered to be recorded. And, it appearing to the Court that the deed conveyed according to law, the lot in Farmville on which the Court House, and other Public Buildings are erected, it is ordered that the said Deed be accepted and approved.

Commissioners Berkeley, Wiltse, and Hooper, appointed at the February Term to examine the new Court House, made a report, which was Ordered Filed.

The Court doth Order that it be certified on the records of the Court as follows, to wit:

That the General Assembly of Virginia did (by an Act entitled, 'An Act to Authorize the Qualified Voters of the County of Prince Edward to vote on the Question of removing the County Court House to the Town of Farmville' Approved, 2nd November, 1870, and by an Act Amending the third section thereof. Approved 4th March, 1871) provide for the vote indicated in the Tables of said Acts. That said vote has been taken; that from the returns and abstracts of the votes so cast upon the Question of the removal of the Court House of Prince Edward, it appeared that a majority of the Votes were "For the Town of Farmville." That the Council of the Town of Farmville have caused to be erected a Court House, Jail, and Clerk's Office, in the corporate limits of said Town, on a lot of land not less than one-half or more than two, acres, and have tendered the same this day to the Court by an Order of the Council of the Town of Farmville, and have agreed to complete unfinished parts of buildings by Orders of the Council, herewith filed. That the fee simple title thereto has been made to the County of

Prince Edward by a conveyance of General Warranty, which conveyance has been this day approved by this Court, and entered of record (See sep Acts, 69, 70. pa 550, and of 70, 71 pa 150) it is thereupon Ordered : —

FIRST : That the conveyance and Buildings herein men-

tioned be accepted and approved.

SECOND: That as soon as practicable the Clerk of this Court remove the Books, Papers, and Furniture in the Clerk's Office, and in the existing Court House, and Jail, to the Clerk's Office, and Court House, and Jail, in Farmville, and thereafter the Court shall be held in Farmville.

THIRD : That the real estate and other corporate prop-

erty of the County of Prince Edward, be, and the same is hereby delivered to the Supervisors of Prince Edward, to be used for public purposes, and managed and controlled by them according to law. This Court neither abandoning or compromising any right of, or title to the said property, or any part thereof, at any time held by the County.