Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-07-23
SOME HISTORICAL ITEMS ABOUT
STAUNTON.

SOME HISTORICAL ITEMS ABOUT
STANTON.
AN OLD DOCUMENT BROUGHT TO LIGHT
INTERESTING READING FOR THE
PRESENT GENERATION.
&C., &C., &C.
In the year 1745, VIM. Beverly addressed
letter to the County Court Of Augusta,
signifying his intention of conveying to
and for the use of said county. certain
land for the purpose of a court house, pris-
on, &c. The letter is as follows
WILLIAMSBURG, Oct. 80, 1745.
Gentlemen
Whereas tn Governor and Council has
been pleased to order that the court of
your county should be held in the court
house | built for the purpose at my mill
place, this is therefore to assure you that
l will be up at your court before the
spring, and make you deed for the said
house and two acres of land about the
same. to the use Of the county, to build
their prison, stocks, &c. on, for so long as
the court shall be kept there, but not to
have any other liberty but for the public
buildings. Thought it would be proper
to write this, that you might have it under
tality, might not have it in their power to
give you any trouble. [ am, gentlemen,
your most obedient servant,
W. BEVERLY.
To the Court of Augusta County.
AS expressed in this letter, VIM. Bev-
erly conveyed, by deed recorded IN the
,fU nj of I1oI TO fo ho i1S
tices of Augusta county and their success
sors. all that tract ofland containing twen-
ty-fve acres (instead of the two acres
promlsed) lying in Beverly. Manor, Angus
ia county. that was surveyed and laid off
by his direction, for the use of the court
house of Augusta.
The twenty-five acres conveyed by
Beverly embraces that portion of Staun-
ton Between Coalter street, on the east
side, and Augusta street on the west, and
extending from the jail lot, on the south,
to about where the Picker building
stands on the north.
In addition to the land, there was con-
veyance made by him of all houses, build
ings, orchards, ways, waters, water cour-
ses, profits, commodities, Embellishments,
and appurtenances. whatsoever, or in any
wise appertaining to said tract.
In the second year Of the reign of George
the Third, November, 1851, an act was
passed for establishing the town of
Staunton, in the county Of Augusta
Campbell, in his history of Virginia, says
Staunton was laid off in the. year 174S, and
was incorporated the following year.
This happened to be one of the acts re-
pealed by the Crown, under subsequent
protest of the House of Burgesses, and an
other act of incorporation was not applied
for until 1862. Hence originated mis-
take in all the histories as to the date of
the charter. Thus it appears that Staun-
ton is the oldest town in the Valley Of
Virginia.
The act, which is to be found in the
seventh volume of Henning's Statute.
states that
s'Whereas the erecting towns on the
frontiers of this colony may prove of great
benefit and advantage to the inhabitants
by inducing many of them to settle togeth-
er, which will enable them the better to
sion Of an enemy, and whereas 1t has been
represented to the present General Assem-
bly, that VIM. Beverly, Esq.,, decd, did in
his lifetime lay out parcel of land, In the
county of Augusta, at the court house of
said county, into lots and streets, for a
town, and did sometime after wards give
to the said county Is acres of land more.
adjoining the said former lots, to be add
ed to and made part Of the said town.
L. =, oil ~, 1oid off ivtn Inf
and streets, most of which are now dlSpos-
ed of, and many families settled there, &c,
Be it therefore enacted by the 1t. Govern
or. Council and Burgesses of this present
General Assembly, that the land so laid off
by said VIM. Beverly, in the county OF
Augusta, shall be an established town.
and shall be called and known by the name
of Stanton"
The part of the town above referred to
as having been previously laid off, is call
ed s'OId Town" and lies between Angus
ia street on the east, land Church stree on
the west, and was so laid off by Beverly,
February q, 1749, plat of which is of re-
cord in the clerk 8 Office of the county
court of Augusta.
The act above quoted in part, provided
for the keeping of two fairs, annually, in
June and November, to continue for the
space of two days, for the sale and vend-
ing Of all cattle, victuals, provisions goods,
wares apd merchandise. It also prohibit
ed the erection and building of wooden
chimneys, and the sheriff was required to
prevent anv from remaining in existence.
Under this act, VIM. Preston, Israel Chris
tian David Stewart, John Brown. John
Page, VIM. Lewis, Eledge McClanahan
Robt. Breckenridge and Randall Lock-
heart were appointed Trustees, and were
empowered to make, from time to time,
sssuch rules, orders and directions for the
regular and orderly building of the houses
in said town as shall seem expedient, and
settle all disputes. &c. concerning boun
diaries of lots.'
Certain of the above named trustees
having died or removed, and the sue ces-
sion not having been continued as requir
ed by the act, in February, 1772, VIM
Bowyer, John Frogg. Sampson Mathews
Geo. Mathews, Robt. Reid and Alexander
McClanahan were appointed to supply va
cancies in the Board of Trustees for build
ing, carrying on and maintaining tn
Gown.
West of Church street, a tract of
acres. belonging to Alexander st. Clair
was laid off and added to the town by &C
of the General Assembly, passed Novem-
Der 9th. 1857, plat of which is recorded
in the Augusta county clerks office.
North of Frederick and east of Wate
street was the land of Hon. Archibald stu
art. This was added to the town by al
OFT of A.ear,hJ1 nassad a nril 9th 1909