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Site of America's First Coal Mine...
Goochland County,VA

Early days in Goochland County, Virginia -- which today encompasses the communities of Beaumont, Columbia, Crozier, Dabneys, Fife, Goochland, Gum Spring, Hadensville, Maidens, Manakin, Sabot, Oilville, Richmond, Sandy Hook, and State Farm -- are recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and factual data in this booklet.
 
It is comprised of excerpts from three rare vintage books: Historical Collections of Virginia by Henry Howe; Twelve Counties of Virginia by John H. Gwathmey; and Virginia, a Guide to the Old Dominion, a WPA Writer's Program publication. The 36-page spiral-bound booklet is printed on   8 1/2 x11" paper, with the print enlarged to fit the paper. The front cover is protected with a vinyl sheet.
 
The excerpt from the Howe history, printed in 1845, is quite brief. It covers the early development of this area, while excerpts from the WPA book, give a nostalgic glimpse from a 1940 vantage point, including interesting historical notes and sightseeing possibilities. The bulk of this booklet comes from Gwathmey's 1937 contribution, sub-titled "Where the Western Migration Began", a rich resource for the names of early families. Many of these settlers and/or their descendants later migrated to the "western" states of Kentucky, Ohio, etc.
 
Among the subjects discussed are: Physical Features of the Area; Gen. Nathaniel Massie, who led many Virginians to Ohio; and Frederick and Edward Bates, who led many Virginians to Missouri; other noted citizens: Gov. James Pleasants, James A. Seddon, Col. John Payne and the Payne and Underwood families;  the Monacan Indians and Capt. John Smith; the William Byrd family; Bacon's Rebellion; the Iroquois Trail; Huguenot settlers at Manakintowne;   Goochland members of the House of Burgesses, the first justices, including Peter Jefferson, the Committee of Safety; and the names of some Goochland Revolutionary War  and War of 1812 officers; Invasion by the Army of Cornwallis; first coal mine in America; Remarkable diary of Sen. Joseph Underwood; the James River and Kanawha Canal; George Washington and the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad; the Tarleton Coat of Arms; Manor houses, such as Tuckahoe, ancient seat of the Randolphs, including Thomas Jefferson's first schoolhouse, Rock Castle, and Bolling Hall; Captain Christopher Newport and early explorations to find the South Sea;  Devastation by Colonel Ulric Dahlgren in 1864; the State Farm at Crozier; and other interesting bits of history and trivia.
 
Illustrations:  A sketch of the 1826 Goochland Courthouse is the sole illustration.
 
Because the booklet is comprised of excerpts from several sources, there may be some duplication of material.
Wouldn't this make a unique gift?