Surry County Virginia USGenWeb Archives News.....History, 1948 

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"Smithfield (VA) Times," Vol. 31, No. 30, Wed., Dec. 22, 1948, p. 1 

"Colonial Surry" by John B. Boddie Now Complete 

  The latest book to be announced by the Dietz Press, Inc., Richmond, Va., is 
titled "Colonial Surry" by John B. Boddie.  It is a beautiful volume and one 
that should find favor with those who are interested in this part of Virginia. 

  The first two paragraphs in the author's preface gives the reader an idea of 
the scope of research that has gone into the book: 

  "This book was begun in 1938, soon after 'Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight 
County' was published.  The first eight chapters were written in 1938-39.  The 
outbreak of the war caused the removal of the writer to the Hawaiian Islands 
and brought about a temporary suspension. Work was resumed in 1943. 

  "The manuscript reached such proportions that it seemed too large to publish 
in one volume. 'Seventeenth Century' bulked too large and had too many pages. 
So it was decided to separate this work into two or three volumes.  The next 
one, which is nearly complete, will contain about seven hundred pages and will 
be entitled 'Colonial Families of Surry and Sussex.'" 

  Mr. Boddie's present volume is extremely interesting.  He tells the kind of 
men who founded Jamestown, the English who reached Surry County, early 
settlements and early land owners, the ancient planters and the early worthies 
of Surry.  A chapter is devoted to the Warren House; another to the Surry 
people before the Council and General Court 1622-32.  One of the most 
interesting chapters in the book is devoted to the customs and manners of the 
seventeenth century. 

  The author leaves no stone unturned in this fine study of old Surry County. 

  He describes the Burgesses and the prominent men of Surry before Bacon's 
Rebellion; America's first tax strike; and, of course, the always fascinating 
story of Bacon's Rebellion; followed by a chapter on the Parishes and 
ministers. 

  The last eighty pages in the volume tell about the County Government from 
1652 to 1776, and to many this will be the most important part of Mr. Boddie's 
work.  Here he tells of the plantations, the Colonial militia, the Burgess 
from James City, Jamestown, Sussex and Southampton, the Sheriffs, the County 
Court Clerks, the land grants, the Census of Tithables, a list of Tithables 
taken, the Virginia Quit Rent Rolls, Surry marriages, Census of 1782, Sussex 
marriage bonds, and the Sussex census of 1782. 

  Happily, the book is well indexed.  The author also gives an explanation of 
abbreviations, which is so desirable in a study of this nature. 

  From the first to the last page, John B. Boddie, has gathered together, put 
into proper shape, and written an excellent book on "Surry County" in 
Virginia. 


Additional information: 

Boddie, John Bennett, "Colonial Surry," (Richmond: Dietz Press, 1948) 
LVA Call No. F232.S9 B58 

reprint (Baltimore, MD: Southern Book Co., 1959) 

reprint (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1974) 
LVA Call No. F232.S9 B58 1974

reprint (Baltimore, MD: Clearfield Co., 1989) 
LVA Call No. F232.S9 B58 1989 

The works by John Bennett Boddie & his wife, while good secondary sources, 
   contain many errors, and need to be checked against primary sources & 
   later secondary sources, such as historical society journals. 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
File Manager Matt Harris (zoobug64@aol.com). 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/surry/history/19481222st.txt