Home of Jefferson, Monroe & the University of Virginia:

Albemarle County & Charlottesville, VA 

New 89 Page Illustrated Book

Early days in Albemarle County, Virginia -- which today encompasses the communities of Batesville, Boyd Tavern, Campbell, Charlottesville, Cismont, Cobham, Covesville, Crozet, Earlysville, Esmont, Free Union, Greenwood, Howardsville, Ivy, Keene, Keswick, Mission Home, North Garden, Scottsville (part), Shadwell, White Hall, and Yancey Mills -- are recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and factual data in this booklet, 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 89 page spiral-bound book has print enlarged to fit 8 1/2 x11" paper. The front cover is protected with a vinyl sheet.

The Howe history, printed in 1845, 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. Gwathmey's 1937 contribution, sub-titled "Where the Western Migration Began" is a rich resource for the names of prominent families. Many of these early settlers and/or their descendants later migrated to the "western" states of Kentucky, Ohio, etc. Because the booklet is comprised of excerpts from several sources, there may occasionally be duplication of material.

Among the many subjects discussed are: Physical Features of the Area, the University of Virginia; Recollections of prisoners housed in Revolution; Gov. Jefferson & Legislature Saved by Tarleton's Appetite, Jack Jouett, and a Swift Horse; a Description of Monticello; Bios of Peter Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson, Meriwether Lewis, William Wirt, author of "The British Spy," George Rogers Clark, James Monroe; the University of Virginia; the Lewis and Clark Expedition; Scottsville and the Staunton and James River Turnpike, the Steam Railroad and other Transportations Developments; Early Land Grants; First Justices, County Militia, etc. (1745); House of Burgesses members; Officers in the Revolution; a visit by Lafayette in 1824;  Courthouse history and portraits, including Judge Archibald Stuart, Colonel John Bowcock, and many of the names listed below; Stately Homes of the County, Filippo Mazzei, a liberal, who brought vine cuttings and olive trees to Albemarle; Dr. Thomas Walker, physician turned explorer and spectulator, who named the Cumberland Gap; the Farmington Country Club; and other interesting bits of history and trivia.

 A separate section on Charlottsville includes Points of Interest and small maps of the town and the university.

Some of the other family names mentioned include: Ballard, Barclay, Black, Bowen, Braham, Brooks, Brown, Burch, Cabell, Carr, Carter, Clark, Coles, Dabney, Davis, Dawson, Douglass, Duke, Durrett, Dyer, Early, Eubank, Farrar, Fry, Garland, Garrett, Garth, Gilmer, Gordon, Harris, Harrison, Harvie, Hays, Henderson, Hening, Hopkins, Hudson, Irvin, Jarman, Jouett, Kerr, Key, Kinsolving, Leake, Levy, Lewis, Lindsay, Lynch, McKennie, Macon, Magruder, Marks, Martin, Massie, Maupin, Maury, Meriwether, Michie, Minor, Nelson, Nicholas, Old, Page, Perry, Peyton, Quarles, Randolph, Rives, Rodes, Rogers, Scott, Shelton, Simms, Southall, Stevenson, Thompson, Tooley, Turner, Twyman, Walker, Wallace, Watson, Wertenbaker, White, Wingfield, Wood, Woods and Yancey.

Illustrations include: the University of Virginia; Monticello; and the Albemarle Courthouse.

Wouldn't this make a unique gift?