Southampton-Isle of Wight County Virginia USGenWeb Archives History.....History, 1931 

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A COMPREHENSIVE STORY 
   OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY 
         ______ 

 (By Julia Abbott Culler) 

  After the work of establishing homes in the Colony of Virginia really began, 
one has but to note the growth of population in many of the localities chosen 
as places of settlement to know that those early pioneers had a keen eye for 
beauty and charm, as well as for business.  Along with the convenience and 
safety and luxurious abundance that the open waterways making in from the 
Chesapeake Bay had to offer, there was a charm, a beauty, a glory that would 
have satisfied every demand of Wordsworth’s nature-loving soul. 
  Some of the earliest settlements of the Virginia Colony were made in 
"Warrasquoyacke", that shire south of the James River which, three years 
later, was to be re-named Isle of Wight.  The earliest settlement was made in 
1619-to be very exact, in April, 1619; yet, when Sir George Yeardley called 
the first General Assembly that was ever held in Virginia, July 30, 1619, two 
representatives from the new settlement at Lawne’s Creek, Isle of Wight, were 
present, Christopher Lawne and Ensign Washer.  But the shire was not given 
geographic boundaries and recognized as a political unit until 1634, when it 
numbered 522 inhabitants, despite the ravages made by the great massacre of 
1622. 
  But more than one hundred years were to go into the growth of Isle of Wight 
before the increase of population and the great extent of territory west of 
the Blackater [sic; Blackwater] River and the forming of another county.  The 
new political division was named Southampton in honor, indirectly, of the 
third Earl of Southampton, Henry Wriothesley, whom students of Virginia 
history know to have been the treasurer of the London Company, and the just 
and generous friend of the early colony of Virginia; and whom students of 
Shakespeare know to have been the great poet’s patron and friend- 
" *   *  *  the only man of Shakespear’s time 
Whom our great poet ever said he loved" 
  The early history of the colony tells of Southampton "hundred", an early 
division of the colony which was swallowed up in the readjustment and the 
making of the eight shires in 1634-larger divisions than the "hundreds".  For 
this early division, the "hundred" of Southampton, the new county seems to 
have been directly named, but yet in honor of the third Earl of Southampton 
Hampton in Elizabeth City county, and Hampton Roads were named for the great 
earl, but they carry but a fragment of his name.  It is interesting to note 
that the town of Hampton was named for a nobleman under whose presidency the 
Virginia Company, in 1621, set apart a thousand acres for the foundation of a 
Free School in Virginia. 
  Although the records give no information about the coming of the first white 
settlers into the present limits of Southampton, it seems more probable that 
land in this fair section was owned by some ofthe earliest of the settlers. 
The numerous streams, large and small, offered an easy and safe way of 
penetrating into the interior; the luxurious growth, mild climate and natural 
charm-truly a "place for man’s habitation"-would invite the early 
'prospector'; but the location of the first Isle of Wight courthouse-not a 
matter of speculation-fixes early occupation of Southampton territory.  The 
courthouse was located on the old Kello plantation, near the little village of 
Berlin, in the northeastern section of the county.  The year following the 
formation of the new county, in 1749 a new courthouse was built on what is 
known as the Broomfield farm, two miles east of Courtland.  Just one session 
of court was held here; the next year saw the need of a better location-if not 
more central, at least more accessible.  On the north side of the Nottoway 
River, on the main highway running through the county, an acre of ground was 
purchased from Miss Nancy Shire for county use.  On the acre plat was built a 
frame building-courthouse and clerk’s office combined-the nucleus of the 
county seat of Southampton, and named Jerusalem!  Not to bar the money 
changers but the horse traders, a fence was built abound the plat-the 
courthouse square---in 1751; the fence remained intact until 1925! 
  In striking contrast to the Warrasquovacke [sic; Warrasquoyacke] tribe of 
Indians in Isle of Wight was the tribe of Nottoways living in Southampton on 
the banks of the river bearing their name.  Their reservation was fifteen 
miles square and was located in the eastern part of the county, not far from 
the little town of Delaware.  For more than one hundred years they continued 
on their own lands, bartering the products of their hunting and fishing in 
exchange for guns, blankets, ammunition-commodities which the white settlers 
could secure; sold to them their lands; lived side by side with them, 
generally in peace and harmony.  An Act of the General Assembly, in 1752, 
declaring "that if any person or persons shall hereafter, under any pretense 
whatsoever, take from the Indians any of their guns, blankets or other 
apparel, such persons so offending shall pay to the Indians so injured the sum 
of 20 shillings for every such offense", indicates that the Nottoways were not 
always given a 'square deal'. Rum was their undoing; the unprincipled white 
settler knew how to bag his game. 
  The Kaskoos tribe lived on the banks of the Neherrin [sic; Meherrin], in the 
southern part of the county, and the Assamoosics on Assamoosic Creek, between 
Courtland, the present county seat, and Berlin, were probably of Iroquoian 
origin; yet they and the Nottoways were supposedly of the Powhatan 
confederacy.  Records seem to be lacking to show whether they played any part 
in the massacre of 1622, or of that later one led by Opechancanough in 1644. 
The stealthy prowling Indians who committed depredations before Bacon’s 
Rebellion, 1676, may have hunted out the sparse and scattered settlements in 
what is now Southampton, but their raids were undoubtedly in more populated 
districts.  According to the pact, or treaty, made at the close of the 
rebellion, the Indians were forced to retreat westward across the Blackwater 
River, the hoped-for barrier to check their depredations on the white man’s 
plantations.  It is to be remembered that the Blackwater is the dividing line 
between Isle of Wight and Southampton, and that the Nottoways were living in 
Southampton as late as 1825.  "Although never prominent in history", says 
Hodge, "they kept up their organization long after the other tribes of the 
region were practically extinct. As late as 1825 they still numbered 47, with 
a 'queen" on a reservation in Southampton County."  their lads [sic; lands] 
were protected and a special board of such citizens as James Trezevant, 
Benjamin Blunt, and William Urquhart was appointed to look after their 
interests and education. 
  It was not the Revolution, or the War of 1812, or yet the stressful period 
of the War between the States that wrought scenes of horror in Southampton, 
and left the thresholds, the walls of the once peaceful and happy homes, the 
cribs and beds gory with the blood of helpless and unsuspecting men, women and 
children.  This work of carnage was to be that of Nat Turner, a wild, 
fanatical colored preacher and his confederates, in the famous Nat Turner 
Insurrection begun on a Sunday night, August 21, 1831.  For a night and a day 
the carnage went on unchecked; the isolation of the plantations, the 
itervening [sic; intervening] stretches of forest, the unguarded and 
unsuspecting homes of the white people, left them the helpless victims of this 
band of drunken and blood-gorded fanatics.  Decorated in a horrible manner, 
feathers in their hats, red sashes about their waists and over their 
shoulders, blood-red material torn from the lining of gigs, strips of sheets 
dyed in the blood of their victims-in the middle of the night they proceeded 
to murder their best friends.  Fifty-five men, women and children were the 
victims of this wild mob before the carnage could be stopped, or the 
perpetrators apprehended.  Not until October 30 was Nat Turner captured; 
hiding in fodder stacks and in dug-outs, he had remained in Southampton.  When 
discovered, he surrendered without making resistance.  He was given a fair 
trial and an opportunity to make a full confession.  His straightforward, 
dear, intelligent statement, together with words of advice to other negroes 
not to "misinterpret revelations", is an echo of the wisdom in the poet’s 
line, "A little learning is a dangerous thing." 
  Nat Turner-"Old Nat", as he is still known in Southampton-and three of his 
confederates, convicted on his testimony, were executed.  In all, fifty-three 
negroes were arraigned; of these, twelve were transported, seventeen were 
executed, and the rest discharged. 
  Southampton was not a theatre of war in any one of our great conflicts, but 
the county muster-rolls, the precious memories that cling about scenes, about 
incidents often repeated, tell the story of patriotic allegiance, noble effort 
and willing sacrifice. South Quay, on Blackwater River, and Monroe, on 
Nottoway River, were once ports of entry where imports were exchanged for 
native products.  When during the Revolution, British cruisers closed 
Chesapeake Bay, stores and military supplies were brought in by way of 
Albemarle Sound, thence up the tributary streams to these inland ports.  Some 
of the old homes of the county are, in a manner, war records; "Bonnie Doone", 
five miles from Courtland, home of Major Thomas Riddley [sic; Ridley; 
"Strawberry Plains", home of Jane Urquhart, a descendant of the Honorable J. 
W. Urquhart, first judge of Southampton; "Rose Hill"-bearing-in the gable end 
the family coat of arms home of Colonel Albright Jones, of Revolutionary note. 
  Near Newsoms still stands the inconspicuous home where was born General 
George Henry Thomas who, for merit and valor during the battle of Chickamauga, 
Tennessee, September 20, 1863, won the name, "The Rock of Chickamauga", and 
was given command of the Army of the Cumberland.  Commanding in Tennessee, he 
defeated Hood at Nashville, December 16, 1864.  Geeral [General] Thomas was 
graduated from West Point and gallantly defended his country in the Mexican 
War.  The sword preseted to him by Southampton in appreciation for his valiant 
service in Mexico is among the treasures of the Virginia Historic Society, 
Richmond.  After the Mexican War, General Thomas went north to make his home. 
When the War between the States asked men to pledge their alllegiance [sic], 
General Thomas remained with the North and became a major-general.  Living at 
the old home in Southampton were a brother and two sisters.  Tradition tells 
the story that when the news came that "George" was with the Army of the 
North, the face of his picture was turned to the wall, never to be seen again. 
Few who look admiringly on the handsome statute [sic; statue] in the centre of 
Thomas Circle, Washington, D. C., of George Henry Thomas, superb and 
commanding, know of the tragedy in the boyhood home where allegiance to the 
Southern cause left the brother-forgotten. 
  Among others who have enriched the history of their native county and their 
State-in war or peace, often both-was James H. Rochelle, who was born in 
Courtland (Jerusalem).  A lieutenant in the U S. Navy before the Civil War, he 
resigned to enlist in the Navy of the Confederacy.  He participated in the 
battle of Hampton Roads. was second in command of the "Patrick Henry" by which 
the Union boats, "U. S.", "Congress", and "Minnesota" were destroyed.  After 
Lee surrendered, Lieutenant Rochelle was commissioned a captain in the 
Peruvian Navy under Commodore Maury, to explore the Amazon. 
  John Y. Mason, whose old home "Fortville" was near Drewryville, was a member 
of the House of Representatives, United States District Judge, twice Secretary 
of the Navy, United States Attorney General, and Minister to France.  He died 
in Paris, October, 1859.  General William-Hahone [sic; Mahone]-railroad 
president, politician, senator, soldier-was born at Monroe, 1826.  At the 
battle of Petersburg, 1864, he won the title, "Hero of the Crater".  Graduated 
from the Virginia Military Intitute, in 1847, he was the surveyor of the 
Orange and Alexandria R R., and of the Norfolk and Western; later he 
consolidated the Southern, Virginia and Tennessee with the Norfolk and Western 
and became the first president of the consolidated lines. 
  Inconsidering natoble [sic; In considering notable] individuals, we must not 
overlook matters of great importance to the county.  In 1888, the Southern 
R. R. was put through Southampton; Jerusalem, the county seat, was one of the 
stations on the new road.  With an understanding that outweighed custom, the 
postmisstres of the town, Miss Fannie Barrett, suggested a change of name for 
this old county seat that dates from 1750.  The legislature of 1887-88 changed 
the name to Courtland, at the request of the people of the old town; but the 
oldest citizens still speak of it as 'Old Jerusalem' 
  Living wholly within the Tidewater section and away from the coast, the real 
business of the people is farming.  Southampton is easily the leading cotton 
county of the State, and one of the first in the production of peanuts -a 
sufficient reason why hogs outnumber all other livestock combined.  Corn and 
hay are likewise important crops.  As in all of the strictly agricultural 
counties of the State, the towns are small and scattered, and their 
populations combined are far below the rural population. 
  Southampton is a Baptist stronghold, the membership of this denomination, 
white and colored combined, outnumbered that of all other denominations.  The 
oldest churches in the county were undoubtedly those of the Church of England; 
Nottoway Parish was established in 1734, some fourteen years before the county 
was formed.  Such of the old churches as can be definitely located have 
suffered strange experiences.  One of the oldest in the county is Old Vick’s 
Church, near Newsoms.  Originally an Episcopal Church, built in the early 18th 
century, it was later used by the Methodists, and then by the Baptists; but 
neither was able to support it.  After some years it seems to have lost its 
original name, and was known as Glebe Land Tract.  The Methodists again took 
possession of it and renamed it Mt. Ebenezer.  Since 1902 it has housed a 
public school; but to the oldest citizens, it is known as Old Vick's Church. 
(All rights reserved. Copyright 1931) 


Library of Virginia (LVA), Richmond, VA 
Virginia Memory [digital collections], 
Virginia Chronicle [newpaper collections], 
"The Highland Recorder" (Monterey, VA), Vol. 53, No. 15, 
   Apr. 10, 1931, p. 4, col. 1-3 

Additional information: 

This history is as poor as its typography, and is posted here as a curiosity, 
   not to edify serious readers.  The errors, myths & mis-characterizations 
   are too numerous and egregious to warrant rebuttal. 

For accurate information, see the following work: 

Parramore, Thomas C. 
"Southampton County, Virginia." 
Published for the Southampton County Historical Society 
by the University Press of Virginia, Charlottesville, 1978. 
LVA Call Number F232.S7 P37 


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file at: 
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