CAROLINE.
Caroline was formed in 1727, from Essex, King and Queen, and
King William. It is 30 miles long by 20 broad. The Rappahannock
flows on its north, the Pamunkey on its south boundary, and the
Mattapony runs near its centre. The surface is broken, and the
soil various, but the low grounds of these streams are extremely
fertile, and admirably adapted to the culture of corn, wheat, and
tobacco. Caroline was formerly divided into three parishes; Drysdale
and St. Mary's, created in 1727, and St. Margaretts in 1744;
in each of which a church was placed—the latter only remains.
The Baptists are now the prevailing denomination. Pop. 1830,
17,774; 1840, whites 6,725, slaves 9,314, free colored 774: total,
17,813.
The principal villages are Bowling Green and Port Royal. The
first is situated on the main road from Fredericksburg to Richmond,
22 miles from the former, and a short distance only E. of the railroad
between these two places. It is the seat of justice for the
county, and was originally called New Hope. Its fine location, on
a beautiful level green, has given rise to its present name. It
contains 2 churches and about 40 dwellings. Port Royal, on the
Rappahannock, 22 miles below Fredericksburg, is a somewhat
larger village. It was founded in 1744, and possesses a fine harbor,
capable of admitting vessels drawing 11 feet of water. The
Concord Academy is an institution in this county in excellent repute.
Edmund Pendleton was born in this county in 1741, and died in Richmond in 1803. He was president
of the Court of Appeals, and of the Virginia convention of 1775. He was twice appointed a member
of Congress. In 1788 he was chosen president of the convention of Virginia which met to consider
the adoption of the Federal constitution. When the Federal government was organized, he was selected
by Congress to be district judge for Virginia, but declined the appointment. Wirt says "He had in a great
measure overcome the disadvantages of an extremely defective education, and by the force of good company,
and the study of correct authors, had attained to great accuracy and perspicuity of style. . . . His
manners were elevated, graceful, and insinuating. His person was spare, but well proportioned, and his
countenance one of the finest in the world; serene, contemplative, benignant; with that expression of
unclouded intelligence, and extensive reach, which seemed to denote him capable of any thing that could
be effected by the power of the human mind. His mind itself was of a very fine order. It was clear,
comprehensive, sagacious, and correct; with a most acute and subtle faculty of discrimination; a fertility
of expedient which never could be exhausted; a dexterity of address which never lost an advantage and
never gave one; and a capacity for continued and unremitting application which was perfectly invincible.
As a lawyer, and a statesman, he had few equals and no superiors. For parliamentary management, he
was without a rival. With all these advantages of person, manners, address, and intellect, he was also
a speaker of distinguished eminence. He had that silver voice of which Cicero makes such frequent and
honorable mention; an articulation uncommonly distinct; a perennial stream of transparent, cool, and
sweet elocution; and the power of presenting his arguments with great simplicity and striking effect. He
was always graceful, argumentative, persuasive; never vehement, rapid, or abrupt. He could instruct
and delight; but he had no pretensions to those high powers which are calculated to "shake the human
soul."
General William Woodford, a revolutionary officer of high merit, was born in Caroline. He early
distinguished himself in the French and Indian war. Upon the assembling of the Virginia troops at
Williamsburg in 1775, consequent upon the hostile attitude of Lord Dunmore, he was appointed colonel
of the second regiment. In the military operations immediately subsequent, in that section of the state,
his name is honorably mentioned in history, particularly at the battle of Great Bridge, fought Dec. 9th,
upon which occasion he had the chief command, and gained a signal victory over the enemy. He was
finally promoted to the command of the 1st Va. brigade, in which station he served through the war. He
was in various actions, in one of which, the battle of Brandywine, he was wounded. He was made
prisoner by the British in 1780, during the siege of Charleston, and taken to New York, where he died on
the 13th of November of that year, in the 46th year of his age.
Caroline was also the birth-place of Col. John Taylor, "one of the most zealous of the republican
party," and an intimate associate of Jefferson. "He represented Virginia in the United States Senate,
and was distinguished among the great and good men which this ancient commonwealth has produced.
He did much towards advancing the science of agriculture in his native state, and was ever forward in
promoting objects conducive to the public good. As a statesman, he is perhaps better known by his Construction
Construed; and an Inquiry into the Principles of the Government of the United States, which
he published in 1814. He also published several other treatises on various subjects. He died in this
county, Aug. 20th, 1824, ripe in years and honor." A county formed in western Virginia, in the session
of 1843-4, was named in honor of him.
