Page 140 - WPA Book
P. 140
Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
HOUSES
Craney Island
Page Two
Tradition has it that two Byrd brothers from the James River started on a trip north and in passing through the
Valley decided to make their home here. One of them was possibly a captain.
On the 27th of February 1751, Magdalena and Andrew Byrd’s bond as Administrators of Andrew Byrd, dec’d,
with sureties, John Debkin and Samuel Newman, was recorded in Will Book 1, page 283. In the petition to the
administration, Andrew states that he is the eldest son and Magdalena was the widow.
An order in the council issued by King George the Second to Andrew Byrd for two hundred and ten acres of
land on Smith’s Creek indicates that Andrew was here in 1731, the year the order in council was issued, though
the patent was not issued until 1756, but in the meantime he had bought other lands. The Byrd lands extended
nearly as far north as Mt. Jackson in Shenandoah County and included the fine old place known as Red Banks
which was the place of Colonel Abraham Byrd, included in his purchase of five hundred and fifty acres in 1773
and who, doubtless, was a nephew of Andrew Byrd the pioneer.
Just when Craney Island was so named in not known; it was probably given this name because the old
homestead was located between Smith’s Creek and the mill race which form an Island on which the house
stands.
Here and there in Rockingham County are to be found old Franklin stoves and said to have been manufactured at
Craney Island, near Red Banks and it may be they were made by Abraham Byrd whose place was Red Banks. It
may be of interest to note that besides the old Franklin stoves made at Craney Island near Red Banks that the
stone hammers used in building the Valley Pike in crushing or breaking the stone were also made at Craney
Island. There were no stone crushers such as we now have, at least in this part of the country, so the stone had to
be broken with hammers and by hand.
As will appear later on, the name Craney Island became Craney Island Mills.
The Andrew Byrd home stands at the feet of the Massanutten and near the Fairfax Line. A “hump” in the
mountain range is known as Byrd’s Knob, so named for the Byrd’s.
Andrew Byrd, II, and wife Mary, widow of Joseph Reece, resided at Craney Island. He was the eldest son of
Andrew Byrd the pioneer. He was commissioned captain of Militia in 1762 and was also captain of Militia in
1752. He was a miller and from this fact it may be assumed that the word “Mills” was added to the plantation
name. In subsequent conveyances, the place is identified as Craney Island Mills. Deed April 18, 1803, Valentine
Siever of Frederick, farmer to Andrew Byrd, miller, etc.
Among the papers extant handed down in his family to William P. Byrd are three original land patents, two old
family Bibles, the first printed in London, 1763, and a volume entitled the New Practice of Piety, published in
London 1749, “By his Majesty’s Special Authority.” On the last is noted: “Andrew Bird his property, Anne
Deming …given to him by a British officer.” Also “Andrew Bird - I finish reading Book Thru on Sunday 12th
day of Feb. 1793. Andrew Bird his book”.
The land patented to Andrew Byrd September 5, 1749, was in consideration of “divers good causes and
considerations but more especially for and in consideration of the sum of twenty shillings of good lawful
money,” this for 190 acres; the patent of June 20th 1772 for one hundred and fifty acres was in consideration of
the sum of fifteen shillings. On the one hundred and seventy-four acres in “Brock’s Gap on North Shenadel
including the Chimney Rock.” Altogether the Byrds were the owners of something more than two thousand
acres of land.
Page 139 of 482
HOUSES
Craney Island
Page Two
Tradition has it that two Byrd brothers from the James River started on a trip north and in passing through the
Valley decided to make their home here. One of them was possibly a captain.
On the 27th of February 1751, Magdalena and Andrew Byrd’s bond as Administrators of Andrew Byrd, dec’d,
with sureties, John Debkin and Samuel Newman, was recorded in Will Book 1, page 283. In the petition to the
administration, Andrew states that he is the eldest son and Magdalena was the widow.
An order in the council issued by King George the Second to Andrew Byrd for two hundred and ten acres of
land on Smith’s Creek indicates that Andrew was here in 1731, the year the order in council was issued, though
the patent was not issued until 1756, but in the meantime he had bought other lands. The Byrd lands extended
nearly as far north as Mt. Jackson in Shenandoah County and included the fine old place known as Red Banks
which was the place of Colonel Abraham Byrd, included in his purchase of five hundred and fifty acres in 1773
and who, doubtless, was a nephew of Andrew Byrd the pioneer.
Just when Craney Island was so named in not known; it was probably given this name because the old
homestead was located between Smith’s Creek and the mill race which form an Island on which the house
stands.
Here and there in Rockingham County are to be found old Franklin stoves and said to have been manufactured at
Craney Island, near Red Banks and it may be they were made by Abraham Byrd whose place was Red Banks. It
may be of interest to note that besides the old Franklin stoves made at Craney Island near Red Banks that the
stone hammers used in building the Valley Pike in crushing or breaking the stone were also made at Craney
Island. There were no stone crushers such as we now have, at least in this part of the country, so the stone had to
be broken with hammers and by hand.
As will appear later on, the name Craney Island became Craney Island Mills.
The Andrew Byrd home stands at the feet of the Massanutten and near the Fairfax Line. A “hump” in the
mountain range is known as Byrd’s Knob, so named for the Byrd’s.
Andrew Byrd, II, and wife Mary, widow of Joseph Reece, resided at Craney Island. He was the eldest son of
Andrew Byrd the pioneer. He was commissioned captain of Militia in 1762 and was also captain of Militia in
1752. He was a miller and from this fact it may be assumed that the word “Mills” was added to the plantation
name. In subsequent conveyances, the place is identified as Craney Island Mills. Deed April 18, 1803, Valentine
Siever of Frederick, farmer to Andrew Byrd, miller, etc.
Among the papers extant handed down in his family to William P. Byrd are three original land patents, two old
family Bibles, the first printed in London, 1763, and a volume entitled the New Practice of Piety, published in
London 1749, “By his Majesty’s Special Authority.” On the last is noted: “Andrew Bird his property, Anne
Deming …given to him by a British officer.” Also “Andrew Bird - I finish reading Book Thru on Sunday 12th
day of Feb. 1793. Andrew Bird his book”.
The land patented to Andrew Byrd September 5, 1749, was in consideration of “divers good causes and
considerations but more especially for and in consideration of the sum of twenty shillings of good lawful
money,” this for 190 acres; the patent of June 20th 1772 for one hundred and fifty acres was in consideration of
the sum of fifteen shillings. On the one hundred and seventy-four acres in “Brock’s Gap on North Shenadel
including the Chimney Rock.” Altogether the Byrds were the owners of something more than two thousand
acres of land.
Page 139 of 482
