The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-01-08
nEMOIR
In Regard 10 the Formation and Names
of the Counties OF west VIFEInIR,

Of the Counties Of West PiEginIR.
To Hon. A, R, BOtslFr, Of Jefferson nnuniy; Daniel
Lamb, Of Whee lug anIW s, Laldley, Of Charles,
e., ri. GIisi PFcIt%iIaIy : Y 70 the history 0l
IY TUE AUTHOR
The frat passage Of the Blue Ridge, ~
the western boundary Of civilization, by
an organized exploring expedition, was
projected and performed by an eCcom.
plished gentleman, scholar and soldier,
Col. Alexander spottswood, Governor Of
the Colony Of Virginia, in the year 1918
But the after establishment Of the white
race, westward Of the Blue Mountains,
was by ColoniSts, who migrated from
Pennsylvania and Maryland, entering the
Valley OF Virninls at Harper's Ferry, In
the year 1884, the county Of Orange was
established by the Colonial Legislature,
and named in honor OF the illustrious
William, Prince Of Orange, who after.
wards filed the throne OF England jointly
with his royal consort, Mary, daughter Of
King james the Second. The county Of
Orange comprehended, terrltorially, the
whole country westward Of the Blue
Ridge-sll of our Slate Of West Virginia.
The progress OF colonization In the She.
aandoah Valley, induced the division Of
that part Of old Orange lying to westward
Of The Blue Ridge, into the two counter
NJ Frederick aud Augusta In the year
1888.
These tgo counties were respectively
called 10 honor oiths Prince and Princess
Of Wales. Frederick, lhe heir apparent oil
he throne, elder brother cf the after King
George the Third, Is represented by his.
tOrians Of the time 90 Rn' amiRble, aCComp'
lished Prince, who held q large place III
the affections aud reverence Of the Eng
IIsh people. Both he and bis estimable
c%onsort, Augusta, oil Sake 0tha, died
young, childlets, and greatly lamented by
he nation. The "ThtenodIa Augustalis,"
a monody on the Princess death, may be
found In the published works OF Gold
smith.
In the wear 1853 Hamrshits was formed
Of the western part Of Frederick, both be.
ipR In the Northern Neck OF Virginia
Of which Themes, Lord Fairfax, Baron oil
Cameron, was Lord Proprietary. l Ker.
chenal's History OF The Valley there is q
curious tradition touching the naming Of
this county, from that oil England. One
dsy Lord Fairfax was at Fort Loudouni,
(Winchsster,) and saw . aToye Of such
very fine hogs there % induced him 10 10.
qutie where they had been raised. Being
| ;pld tLRt they werelrom the South Branch
Of The Potomac, bis Lordship observed
that be Intended shortly to erect q new
comfy out Of western Frederick, which
would embrace the South Branch Yalloy,
and II should be called Hanpshire, from
the county OF England, celebrated Tor the
growth Of superior hogs.
Theearlipst notwithstanding we have
NJ the white nAniO occupancy In the
South Branch Valley, Is 10 be found In
an interesting journal Of George Wash.
ing,on, tho boy surveyor, who accompan-
led Lord FairiRH's expedition In a survey.
ing tour, to lay out 'the FARLEY South
Branch Manor" 10 lT47!S. This very
curious and entertaining journal OF Cen
eral Washington, written at sixteen years
VI sRs, 10 published at length In the sec.
ond volume Of SPARKS Invaluable "tife
and Writings OF WashlDgton,N q work
for accuracy, research aud fidelity, be-
yond all comparison the best that. has
been gtlupn, Though the county was
created by legislation IL ly5s. the oreantEs.
lion, BY establishment Of Ia County oourt,
did not take plsce until 1867, in which,
wear, The GFBt eourt was corstituted and
held, The RI. Hon Thomas Bryan Martin,
nephew Of Lord Fairfax, presiding. The
seat Of Justice was finally established ut
Romuey, founded by Lord Fairisx him.
seli, on "PearBall's Level" a beautiIul
hlutf OF highland overlooking the South
Branch 81 the Potomac, near Pearsalrs
Fiat, In 1862. This necessary protection
OF The fort, al onCe suggests the delay N
organizing the county accustomed by the
dian border trouble Just before and A.
Ter the defeat Of General BraddOek, In l154I
he year after the 10 undation 81
Hampshire. Romney, one o. the English
"clnqus poets" affords this line Of Cow
ley!