Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-12-11

] =
ton of country had the precautlon
TO secure titles to their lands, until
Lord Fairfax migrated to Virginia,
and opened his Office for granting
warrants in the Northern Neck
The earliest grant which the author
could find in this settlement bears
date in 1747. The most OF the
grants are dated in 1749. This
was a most unfortunate omission
on the part of these people. 1t
left Fairfax at the discretion OF
exercising his Unsuitable disposi-
ton for the monopoly OF wealth
and instead Of granting these lands
upon the usual terms allowed to
other settlers, he availed himself OF
the opportunity of laying of in
manors, fifty-fve thousand acres,
in what he called his South Branch
manor, and nine thousand acres on
/ Patterson's creek.
This was considered by the settlers
an odious and oppressive act on
the part Of his lordship, and many
of them left the country. (a) These
two great surveys were made in
the year 17l7. To such tenants
as remained, his lordship granted
leases for ninety-nine years, reserv-
ing an annual rent Of twenty shill-
ings sterling per hundred acres;
whereas to all other immigrants
only two shillings sterling rent per
hundred was reserved, with fee
simple title to the tenant. Some
further notice of Lord Fairfax and
his ina mense grant will be taken in
a future chapter.
Tradition relates that man
by the name Of John Howard,
and his son, previous to the
first settlement of our Valley,
explored the country, and dis
covered the charming Valley Of
the South Branch. crossed the AL
legauy mountains, and on the Ohio
killed a very large buffalo bull,
skinned him, stretched his hide
over ribs of wood, made kind Of
boat, and in this frail bark descend
cd the Ohio and Mississippi to
New Orleans, where they were ap-
pretended by the French as sus.
picious characters, and sent to
France; but nothing criminal ap.
pearing against them, they were
discharged. From hence they
crossed over to England, where
Fairfax by some means got to hear
of Mr.. Howard, sought an inter
view with him, and obtained from
him a description Of the fertility
and immense value Of the South
Branch, which determined his lord
ship at once to secure it in man.
ors. (b) notwithstanding this self
ish monopoly on the part of Fair
fax, the great fertility and value
of the country induced numerous
tenants to take leases, settle, and
improve the lands.
At an early period many immi'
grants settled on Capon, (anclcnt-
| " called Cacaphon, which is said
to be the Indian name ,)also on Lost
river. Along Back creek, Cedar
creek, and OpeQuon, pretty numer-
ous settlements were made. The
two great branches of the Shenan-
doah, from its forks upwards, were
among our earliest settlements.
An enterprising Quaker, by the
name of Ross, obtained IA warrant
for surveying forty thousand acres
of land. The surveys on this war
rant were made along OpeQuon,
north of Winchester, and up to
| Apple.pie ridge. Pretty numerous
immigrants of the Quaker profes.
sion removed from Pennsylvania,
and settled on Ross's surveys. The
reader will have observed in my
preceding chapter, that as early
as 1888, this people had regular
monthly meetings established on
Opequon. (c)
The lands on the west side Of the
Shenandoah, from a little below
the forks, we're first settled by
overseers and slaves, nearly down
to the mouth OF the Bullskin. A
Col. Carter,(d) of the lower country,
had obtained grants for about six
ty.three thousand acres of land on
this river. His surveys commenced
q short distance below the forks OF
the river, and ran down a little be.
y low Smokers ferry, upwards Of 20
miles. This fine body of land is
now subdivided into great many
most valuable farms, consider
able part of which are now owned
; by the highly respectable families
of Burwells and Pages. But little
of il now remains in the hands OF
Carters heirs.
Another survey of thirteen thOus-
and acres was granted to another
> person, and lies Immediately be-
low and adjoining Carte's line,
: running a considerable distance in
to the county OF Jefferson. This
fine tract OF land, it is said, was
sold under the hammer at vii.
liamsburg, some time previous to
, the war of the revolution. The
owner had been sporting, lost
; money, and sold the land to pay
his debt Of honor. General Wash