Historical collections of Virginia containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c., relating to its history and antiquities, together with geographical and statistical descriptions : to which is appended, an historical and descriptive sketch of the District of Columbia : illustrated by over 100 engravings, giving views of the principal towns, seats of eminent men, public buildings, relics of antiquity, historic localities, natural scenery, etc., etc. |
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NORTHAMPTON. |
 | Historical collections of Virginia |  |
NORTHAMPTON.
Northampton was originally called Accawmacke, and was one
of the original 8 shires into which Virginia was divided in 1634.
In March, 1642-3, its name was changed to Northampton; and in
1672 its limits were reduced by the formation of a new county, the
present county of Accomac. Northampton is the southern extremity
of the long low peninsula forming the eastern side of the
Chesapeake, and comprehending eight counties in Maryland and
two in Virginia. The shore has numerous small creeks, and numerous
islands stretch along the Atlantic. Pop. in 1840, whites
3,341, slaves 3,620, free colored 754; total, 7,715.
Eastville, the county-seat, is 151 miles easterly from Richmond,
in the centre of the county. It contains about 30 dwellings, and
is a place of considerable business. Capeville, 6 miles N. of Cape
Charles—the southern point of "the eastern shore"—contains a
few houses.
The subjoined description of "the eastern shore" in general,
and of this county in particular, was published several years since:
Separated as these counties are from the rest of the state by the spacious bay, which
the eye can scarcely see across, and being among the first settled parts of the colony,
they are a more unmixed people than as often to be found in our country, and retain
more of the usages, and even language of former times, than perhaps any part of the
state. The ancient hospitality of Virginia is here found unimpaired; and the inhabitants
have a high relish for good living, which they are also enabled to indulge by a soil
and climate extremely favorable to gardening, and by an abundance of excellent fish,
oysters, and crabs. They preserve great neatness in their houses and persons, which is
a characteristic of persons living in a sandy country. The whole county is as level as
a bowling-green, and the roads are good at all seasons of the year. This circumstance
has probably increased the social character and habits of the people, as it certainly has
their pleasure-carriages. The number of gigs in the county is near three hundred, which
is considerably greater than that of the freeholders. It is computed that the county
pays about $10,000 a year for its carriages.
The soil of this county is thin, light, and always more or less mixed with sand; but
as it commonly rests on a stiff clay, and the land is too level to be carried off by the
much encouraged to pursue an improving course of husbandry; yet in truth they are
but indifferent farmers. They cultivate the same land incessantly, one year in Indian
corn, and the next in oats, (their two principal crops,) and their lands improve under
this severe process, provided they are not also pastured. Whenever a field is not in
cultivation, it puts up everywhere a rich luxuriant crop of a sort of wild vetch, called the
magotty-bay bean, which shades the land while it is growing, and returns to it a rich
coat of vegetable manure. It is by means of this fertilizing plant, and the aliment
which is plentifully furnished by the vapors from the sea, that the product of these
lands is so much greater than a stranger would be led to expect from the appearance
of the soil. The land is so easily cultivated that there are few parts of the state in
which more is produced to the man, or the horse, though more may be produced to the
acre. On the best farms, a hundred barrels to the hand are often obtained. The fig
and the pomegranate flourish without protection during the winter. The former attains
the size of a stout tree, sometimes twenty feet high, and its delicious fruit is in greater
abundance than the inhabitants can consume. They have not yet learned the art of
curing it; or perhaps the species they have is not suited to that operation.
Wind-mills are in use here, but tide-mills, at the mouth of small inlets, are preferred
when attainable. These inlets deeply indent the shore, both on the "bay and sea-side,"
and while they are convenient for fishing, shooting wild-fowls, and as harbors for their
boats and small craft, they give a pleasing variety to the landscapes, which are, indeed,
as pretty as is compatible with so unvarying a surface. Upon the whole, we know of
no part of the state in which the comforts of life are enjoyed in greater number, or
higher perfection. They have, too, the sea and land breezes of the West Indies, which
temper the sultry heats of summer; and their only annoyances seem to be a few moschetoes,
a good many gnats, and now and then a bilious or intermittent fever. There is
here an article of culture which is not much met with in other parts of the state—it is
the palma christi, called castor bean. It now constitutes a part of almost every farmer's
crop, to the extent of eight to ten acres or more. The quantity of the nut or bean produced,
is the same as the land would produce in corn. Each bushel yields about two
gallons and a half of oil, and sells, at the press, for $1 25 a bushel. This plant is now
cultivated in many of the counties on the western shore, and the oil it affords has become
a considerable article of export, being preferred to that of the West Indies.
Among the curiosities of this county are the ancient records of the county from 1640,
and a marble tomb, or sarcophagus, about five feet high, and as many long, from which
we transcribe the following singular inscription:
Under this marble tomb lies the body
of the Hon. John Custis, Esq.,
of the City of Williamsburg,
and Parish of Burton
Formerly of Hungar's parish, on the
Eastern Shore
of Virginia and county of Northampton,
Aged 71 years, and yet lived but seven years,
which was the space of time he kept
A Bachelor's home at Arlington,
on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
On the opposite side one reads—
This inscription put on this tomb was by
his own positive orders.
Wm. Cosley Man, in Fenchurch-street,
fecit, London.[1]
The Hon. Abel Parker Upshur was the son of Littleton Upshur, and was born in
this county, June 17th, 1790. "He received his classical education at Yale and Princeton
colleges, and studied law under the instruction of his friend, the late Hon. Wm. Wirt,
at Richmond, where he practised his profession from 1810 until 1824, when he removed
to Vancluse, his patrimonial residence in this county. In the courts of the eastern
shore, he continued the practice of his profession until Dec. 15th, 1826, when he was
appointed by the legislature to fill the vacancy on the bench of the general court, caused
by the death of his maternal uncle, the late Judge George Parker. He had previously
represented his native county in the state legislature. On the 5th of Oct., 1829, he was
containing a review of Judge Story's work on the constitution of the United States, and
contributed many articles to the newspapers on the topics of the day. On the reorganization
of the judicial system of Virginia, under the new constitution, he was reappointed,
April 18, 1831, to a seat on the bench of the general court, and was assigned to the
third judicial circuit. This office he continued to fill until the 13th of Sept., 1841, when
he was appointed by President Tyler, secretary of the navy. On the 24th of July, 1843,
he was transferred, under the same administration, to the office of secretary of state,
which he held until the time of his death, Feb. 28th, 1844, which was occasioned by
the accident on board the U. S. steamer Princeton."
The Southern Literary Messenger says, that the ancestors of Mr. Upshur settled upon
the eastern shore more than two centuries since. His family is one of the oldest in Virginia,
and has been remarkable for staid habits and sterling worth. Generation after
generation they remained upon the eastern shore, cultivating the soil, and ornamenting
society. From the same source we learn that Mr. Upshur was considered one of the
most graceful and accomplished orators. His style was unexceptionably good, his arguments
forcible, and set forth in sentences remarkable for terse and vigorous language.
His speech in the Virginia convention of '29 and '30, is said to have been one of the
ablest and best delivered during the sitting. He never took a leading position in politics
until called to the presidential cabinet. Mr. Upshur was an able writer, and one of the
most polished contributors to the periodical literature of the country.
Alden, in his "Collection of Epitaphs," published in 1814, says the Hon. John Custis, a gentleman
of great opulence, died about 1750, and that this monument was erected and inscribed agreeably to the
directions in his will. G. W. P. Custis, Esq., of Arlington, D. C., is one of his descendants.—H. H.
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