The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-31

From the Philadelphia Record.
There is a certain quiet charm and
tinse Of beautiful romance about the old
scenes and old things in Eastyille' Va
one Of the oldest settled portions Of the
original eolonies The earliest settlement
on the eastern shore Of Virginia was
made by Capt. Thomas Ancient Savage
at the foot Of savages Neck, near this
place, on a grant from the Indian king
OF the Accomacks, called the laughing
king This grant included the present
site OF Eastville.
The point is first mentioned in the old
Northampton records in 1864 as Horns
Old Fields" from an Indian. Jack Horn,
who made the first clearing there. A
tavern license was granted 10 Joseph
Goodwin al that time and later the name
Of Peachburg was given the little vii
lage that grew up about the courthouse
which was built there IN 1855 About
1900 when IT had become more important
and post-ofice had been established. it
took the name OF Eastville, which It since
has retained.
At first the whole eastern shore was
one county. one OF the original eight,
known as Acchawmacke when il was
organized in 1854. The name was changed
to Northampton in the year Of 1872, and
in 1863 the northern portion was cut of
and formed into the separate county OF
Accomack. In the old clerks Office erect
ed in 17ls. there are records going back
10 1892 and unbroken 10 the present day,
forming the oldest continuous records
I'm this country.
From these one finds that the first
courthouse was erected by Col William
Waters in 1854 al a cost OF 1000 pounds OF
tobacco. The next one was erected in
1855 By Joseph Goodwin. and in 17d It was
rebuilt In brick by a Capt. John Marshall
al n cost Of $1,000 pounds OF tobacco.
The old building has therefore long and
Interesting history IL was superseded as
a courthouse IN 1896. when another was
erected at the rear OF the former one
and which was itself torn down IN 1893
TO give place TO a more modern and at
tractive one.
The older building, however. has been
allowed 10 stand. and IS now venerable
object OF antiquity in the midst OF change
and decay In this quaint and unpre-
\ teutlOuS structure were ANeA'u sum- VA
the most noted cases OF Colonial times.
1t was 20 by 20 feet, one story high. with
loft for the jury.
( GodwIn's tavern existed for many years.
/ but in 1850 the Taylor House was built 10
{ supersede the other and Il stu Is doing
I service as the town hotel Another
quaint old structure IS the old Masonic
Hall. built just after the Revolution and
used by that order for about 100 years
/ In 1851 a body OF Northern troops entered
! IL and were charged with having taken
away the silver mounted regalia and
other costly furnishings and they have
never been recovered.
4 The old clerks Office was erected in 1Ils
and the debtors prison some years later.
/ tt Is situated back from the street and
contains many interesting articles, the
/ old clerks desk. the attorneys table and
/ other furniture Of the old courthouse and
/ the cases filled with old court papecs'
going back 70 the year 100 and later.
/ These furnishings are Of solid walnut
and did service for some 200 years The
/ building is OF brick. of "a quaint design,
| but well built and well preserved At