Return to Index

1. SUBJECT:

William Herring Home.

2. LOCATION:

2 miles east of Bridgewater, Virginia, east of Warn Springs Pike.

3. DATE:

1776.

4. OWNERS:

• William Herring obtained a patent from England to several hundred acres of land prior to 1776.
• "Alexander", son of William Herring, acquired title to part of this estate in 1793.
• This farm descended from William Herring to Alexander Herring in 1793, then to grandfather …Herring, and later to Captain John A. Herring.
• The present owners are sons of Captain Herring, Thomas G. and Charles C. Herring. The present owners of the original farm divided it into two separate farms and homes.

1. DESCRIPTION:

See form 3686, attached.

2. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The Herring family is one of the very few Rockingham County families whose direct descendants still own and occupy parts of the original (William Herring and wife’s) estate, which Alexander Herring acquired in 1776. Alexander, son of William Herring, and wife, were married in Rockingham County in 1793. His wife was Margaret Reed Smith, daughter of John Smith. The Smith family figures prominently in Rockingham County’s early history, prior to 1793.

Elizabeth Smith (Herring) was born in 1777, her father being deceased at the time of her marriage. History relates that four of her uncles served in General Morgan’s riflemen during the Revolution.

Alexander and Margaret Herring resided in Rockingham on part of the original Herring land near Dayton, Virginia. Two homesteads of the original Alexander Herring estate, near Dayton, are still owned and occupied by two brothers, viz., Thomas G. and Charles C. Herring. These homesteads are a part of the original grant of one of the Herring farms of sixty-eight hundred acres originally granted to his mother’s brothers for Revolutionary services, having been one of Washington’s generals. Two other of these grandsons were left over one thousand acres each of fine farm land on "Cooks Creek" part of which land is still owned by the two Herring brothers, Thomas G. and Charles C., mentioned above, which is still kept in a high state of cultivation. The present owners are large breeders of racehorses and have produced many thoroughbred colts, with race records in the United States. One of the original Herring homesteads, now owned by Thomas G. Herring, is the original old log house which has been modernized with many improvements, yet left with its original hewn log frame, also the inside hewn log joists, rafters, etc., are preserved in their original forms, which show the early architecture, workmanship, etc. of over one hundred years ago. This is one of the few buildings spared by General Sheridan in his famous raid of the Valley during the Civil Strife between the States. All barns, slave cabins, and outbuildings were burned and orders given to burn the dwelling, but the officer in charge, commanding the incendiary brigade, upon finding a Masonic manual, or Code of Laws, and upon learning the husband, who was in the Confederate Army, was a "Mason" rescinded his order to burn and the house, with its contents, was left unharmed.

Some of the Herring family, Captain John A. and his family are buried in the old cemetery at Bridgewater, and some of the earlier Herrings are buried at New Erection Cemetery.

 

William Herring Home

Page 2

 

3. ART:
4. SOURCES OF INFORMATION: