Page 50 - History of Rockingham Co
P. 50
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
the regular administration of justice, that the reasonableness
of their request was obvious. Accordingly, Joost Hyte,
Morgan Morgan, John Smith, Benjamin Bourden, and George
Hobson were appointed justices within the limits aforesaid—
that is, in the Valley. Hite and one or more of the others
lived in the lower Valley, but it is likely that one or two of
the five either lived in the upper Valley, or were frequently
prospecting in that section. Burden later had large holdings
of land in what is now Rockbridge County and adjacent sec-
tions.
Moreover, in August, 1734, just a few months after the
aforesaid petition was presented, the county of Orange was
formed. This was an act likely intended to be a still more
satisfactory response to the request and desire of the Valley
settlers for the efficient administration of law and justice. It
shows the growth of political organization westward, and also
indicates that the settlement of the Valley had reached a
somewhat general stage by 1734. The rapid development
from 1734 to 1738 is implied in the fact that in 1738 an Act
was passed providing for the organization of the Valley and
the country westward therefrom into the counties of Freder-
ick and Augusta.
Let us now give attention to a number of items that show
the progress of settlement from 1734 to 1738 in more detail.
On October 28, 1734, John Tayloe, Thomas Lee, and
William Beverly obtained a grant of 60,000 acres of land on
the Shenandoah River, beginning on Stover's upper tract.
This grant accordingly must have extended southwest from
the vicinity of Port Republic, up the river past Grottoes, and
a considerable distance into the present limits of Augusta
County. It was bestowed upon the usual conditions, that one
family be located upon each thousand acres within two
years. ^2
From Deed Book No. 1, Orange County, the following
items have been selected:
12- See Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, April, 1906,
pp. 360-362.
—39—
the regular administration of justice, that the reasonableness
of their request was obvious. Accordingly, Joost Hyte,
Morgan Morgan, John Smith, Benjamin Bourden, and George
Hobson were appointed justices within the limits aforesaid—
that is, in the Valley. Hite and one or more of the others
lived in the lower Valley, but it is likely that one or two of
the five either lived in the upper Valley, or were frequently
prospecting in that section. Burden later had large holdings
of land in what is now Rockbridge County and adjacent sec-
tions.
Moreover, in August, 1734, just a few months after the
aforesaid petition was presented, the county of Orange was
formed. This was an act likely intended to be a still more
satisfactory response to the request and desire of the Valley
settlers for the efficient administration of law and justice. It
shows the growth of political organization westward, and also
indicates that the settlement of the Valley had reached a
somewhat general stage by 1734. The rapid development
from 1734 to 1738 is implied in the fact that in 1738 an Act
was passed providing for the organization of the Valley and
the country westward therefrom into the counties of Freder-
ick and Augusta.
Let us now give attention to a number of items that show
the progress of settlement from 1734 to 1738 in more detail.
On October 28, 1734, John Tayloe, Thomas Lee, and
William Beverly obtained a grant of 60,000 acres of land on
the Shenandoah River, beginning on Stover's upper tract.
This grant accordingly must have extended southwest from
the vicinity of Port Republic, up the river past Grottoes, and
a considerable distance into the present limits of Augusta
County. It was bestowed upon the usual conditions, that one
family be located upon each thousand acres within two
years. ^2
From Deed Book No. 1, Orange County, the following
items have been selected:
12- See Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, April, 1906,
pp. 360-362.
—39—
