Yorktown, VA - 1630 History; William and Mary College Quarterly, Vol. 14, No. 1

Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project

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Yorktown

     William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 14, No. 1
(Jul., 1905), pp. 64-65

Page 64

                                          YORKTOWN.

     On October 8, 1630, the Council of Virginia determined to
plant a settlement in the Indian district called Chiskiack, on
the south side of York river.  The leaders of the settlers were
two councillors, Captain John Utie and Captain John West,
brother of Lord Delaware, who were allowed 600 acres apiece
on York river, on opposite sides of the mouth of King's creek.
Captain Utie settled at "Utimaria," on the west side, and Cap-
tain West on the east side, at a plantation afterwards called
"Bellfield."  Other settlers ranged themselves on the river on
either side of Utie and West, and soon there were two parishes,

    (seal) http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/york/yorkseal.gif



Chiskiack and York.  Two years later, in 1632, palisades were
run by Sir John Harvey across the peninsula from Archer's
Hope creek ot Queen's creek, six miles long, and Williamsburg
(first called Middle Plantation) was built within the centre of
the line of palisades.  In 1633 was born, at "Bellfield," John
West, Jr., founder of West Point, the first child born on York

Page 65

river.  In 1634 the colony was formed into eight counties, and
Charles River county (afterwards York county) was created,
taking in the plantations on the York.  Court was held for many
years at the different large plantations, but about 1660 it began
to be held regularly on the west side of Wormeley's creek, at a
place called "York," first established by Sir John Harvey.  After-
wards, about 1676, court was held at the "Half-way House," on
the road between Yorktown and Middle Plantation.  In 1691
fifty acres of the estate of Benjamin Reade, on York river, was
bought for a town called Yorktown, and in 1698 the court re-
moved to the place which was about three miles above York.
Yorktown continued to develop until the incident occurred which
at once proved its glory and destruction.  It became the scene of
the surrender of Lord Cornwallis in 1781, but by the war it was
reduced to a mass of ruins, and has never since regained the
trade which it once had.  It was once a corporation and had
a council, and the town seal is still preserved.  The accom-
panying cut is from a wax impression given me by the late
Captain Robert A. Bright, who had the original seal in his
possession.