Army scenes on the Chickahominy

Army scenes on the Chickahominy
Harper''s pictorial history of the Civil War. (Chicago : Star Publishing Co. 1866)

Monday, April 29, 2013

George Webb - Author



From the History of the Harvard Law School and of Early Legal Conditions in America. Vol. 1


William Parks was the owner operator of the Virginia Gazette (1736-1750). In 1733 with the help of Webb he published the first compilation of the laws of Virginia. Webb, a planter, was a Vestryman of St. Peters, and Sheriff in 1737 (typically a rotating job amongst the Justices). He also operated a ferry across the Pamunkey.

Here is the link to The Office and Authority . . .  on Google Books.


Tuesday, April 23, 2013

The USS New Kent



Some information on the USS New Kent, a Haskell class attack transport. The Haskell class were named after counties. There was also a USS Rockingham, a USS Rockbridge and a USS Buckingham.

Monday, April 15, 2013

A Mass at the White House, 1862


Rev. William Corby, front right


 - from Memoirs of chaplain life by William Corby

 This would probably be the first mass ever said in New Kent . . .unless the Ajacán Mission was actually located here, but more on that some other time.


Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Letitia Tyler at 125


Letitia Tyler, the oldest inhabitant of Virginia, died at her home in Richmond several days ago. Her relatives say she was 125 years old, having been born in New Kent county in 1773. She had great-great-grandchildren. She went to Richmond fifty years ago with the family of Mr. Joshua Williams and was a nurse for many generations in the Williams family. Her mother was a half-breed Indian.

- Rockingham Register, December 15, 1899

Monday, April 8, 2013

Reaction in New Kent to the Harpers Ferry Raid


More Volunteers.- Capt. Vaiden(Melville Vaiden) of the New Kent Troop, with Lieut. (Telemachus)Taylor and Surgeon Tyler(Tazewell Tyler??), arrived in this city yesterday afternoon, to tender the services of that company, 60 strong. to Gov. Wise, to go to Charlestown and aid in repelling any invaders who might attempt to release from prison the famous land pirate, incendiary and murderer, John Brown. News reached New Kent yesterday morning that 5,000 armed men were marching upon Charlestown, and the Troop of that county determined at once to join their brother soldiers in repelling the invaders. Of course they were very much surprised to hear that there was no truth in the report, and that their services were not needed. For their promptness and patriotism, however, they deserve all praise, and will doubtless receive the thanks of the Commander-in-Chief on his return to the capital.


- Daily Dispatch, November 22, 1859

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Confederate Stone Fleet in the Pamunkey

 
An Annex from  
Navy Department,
Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
Naval History Division,
Washington, D.C.
 
 
THE CONFEDERATE STONE FLEET

The Confederate Army and Navy found it expedient at times to construct
barricade at strategic points in inland waterways to permit the escape
During the first half of 1862, two areas of Virginia, Croatan Sound and
of their forces, prevent captures, and impede the Federal advance. the Pamunkey River, were obstructed with numerous ships which were
served briefly as transport. Varied sizes and types of ships, having
seized from private owners specifically for this purpose, or which had little if any previous service were loaded with stone and sand, or
CSA, and employed to carry provisions and supplies while the arrny was
filled with dirt, then towed to a designated spot and sunk as a hazard to all craft that passed. The following ships were seized by forces under Gen. J. E. Johnston,
on the Pamunkey River. Most of the ships were then sunk in that vicinity
at Yorktown. When the army withdrew toward Richmond, the transports were loaded with Government stores that were discharged at White House, Va., during May 1862 to delay Union gunboat.
Ships sunk at White House, Va., between 5 & 10 May 1862

CLAUDIA, owned by M. Williams

LITTLE ADDIE, sloop owned by J. Montgomery



 
 
Ships destroyed at Cooke's Island 5 & 10 May 1862
AMERICAN COASTER, schooner owned by M. Crockett, was loaded with dirt
and prepared for sinking but was captured by USS CURRITUCK. She was
later used as a Union transport.
DAVID VANAME, schooner owned by C. Johnson

DIANA HOPKINS
, schooner owned by E. Phillips
HANNAH ANN, schooner
EXPERIMENT, schooner owned by W. Messick FRIENDSHIP, schooner owned by Allman and Watts
KING WILLIAM, schooner owned by Sayre & Fleming
J. & G. FAIR, schooner owned by W. Lee J. T. CONNOR, owned by J. Bagby JOSEPHINE, schooner owned by W. Dansey

MARY ELIZABETH PRINCESS, schooner owned by W. Lee

MARY LUYSTER, owned by J. T. Bland

ORNAMENT, sloop owned by Crittenden and Post

PALESTINE, schooner owned by Thomas

*PLANTER

WILLIAM SHANBERG, schooner owned by W. Messick and E. Phillips 
R. P. WALLER, schooner owned by T. Gilliam SARAH ANN, schooner owned by W. Ward **STARLIGHT WILLIAM EDWARD, schooner owned by J. and W. Thomas
 
 
 
Ships destroyed at Garlick's landing Between 5 & 10 May 1862
JENNY LIND, schooner owned by J. F. New & Co.
STAR, owned by S. Moon 
 
Ships Burned Near Indian Town Between 5 & 10 May 1862
RELIANCE
WAY, schooner owned by Gresham and Bagby 
 
Ships burned at Newcastle on 17 May 1862
MARGARET SCHULTZ, owned by Harrenn and Ballown
O. WHITMOND, owned by J. Wright
WATCHMAN, owned by J. Brown
WALTON, owned by J. Warring WAVE, owned by R. Howard
WILLIAM S. RYLAND, owned by W. Berkley 
 
Ships burned at Cumberland between 5 & 10 May 1862
CALIFORNIA, schooner owned by Blassingham
CAROLINE BAKER, schooner owned by F. and C. Post 
 
Ships sunk near Bassett's Landing on 17 May 1862
ALERT, owned by A. West
BETTY RICHARD, owned by W. Smith
ANN BELL, owned by W. Thomas
J. R. BAYLIS
FRANCIS AND THEODORE, owned by J. Arrington
JEFFERSON, schooner owned by Garefoster & Braumly
JAMES BRADEN, owned by S. Kimble JOHN ALLEN, schooner owned by S. Guy
MARY BAXTER, owned by C. Parks
LITTLE WAVE, owned by T. Hibble MARY ALICE, owned by Captail Gage MIRAGE

OXFORD, schooner of 85 tons and 7' draft built in 1855 at Dorchester, 
Md., and owned by Claybrook and Dobyns.
PARAGON, sloop SARA WASHINGTON, schooner owned by Moore and Elliston
WILLIAM AND WESLEY, schooner owned by J. Cronmonger
SEA WITCH, owned by J. Robins UNION, owned by B. F. Gresham VIRGINIA, owned by E. Lawson WILD PIGEON, schooner owned by W. Messick
WILLIAM FRANCIS, schooner owned by C. Coleman
 
 * PLANTER, a schooner, was prepared for sinking but was captured by USS
CURRITUCK on 7 May 1862. She was turned over by the Union to her former owner in recognition of assistance rendered in the York and Pamunkey Rivers. ** STARLIGHT, also scheduled for destruction, was approached while
Potopotank River where she was abandoned. She was seized by CORWIN on 16
underway for White House, Va., by USS CORWIN. STARLIGHT escaped up the
June and sent into Norfolk at a prize.
 
- from DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN FIGHTING SHIPS, Vol. II