Rivers, Streams, Creeks and Swamps

 01 Feb 23:

A nice compilation of waterways in our new locale, with GPS coordinates: 

Top Streams in Isle of Wight County, Virginia

We have quite a few places to muck about in our new area, who knew there were so many creeks and swamps out here? We've been on Burwell's Bay, James River a few times, and there are ramps nearby for three of the creeks on the list, which lead into some of the other creeks. Maybe we can check out all of them, but the last on the list are Rattlesnake Swamp and Tormentor Creek.

We'll be watching the tide chart!

Cypress Creek near Smithfield Station.

One interesting part of our research, in the early 1800s there were proposals to connect the top of the Pagan River with the inland Blackwater River that runs down the County's western border, using a canal. This would have connected inland trade to both the James River and down the Blackwater-Chowan to Albermarle Sound. They only needed 10 miles of canal to do it, but it never happened. Had they done so, they would have made this part of SE Virginia and NE North Carolina an Island. A few decades later the railroads started laying track everywhere and waterway trade began to dry up.

Pagan River - Blackwater River Canal

SUSAN CONSTANT, GODSPEED and DISCOVERY

 29 Jan 23:

3 ships of the first Jamestown Expedition, SUSAN CONSTANT, GODSPEED and DISCOVERY.

Image: Travel With Annita

FMI: Jamestown Expedition

Warraskoyack Tribe

29 Jan 23:

The Warraskoyack Indians, members of the Powhatan paramount chiefdom, lived near the mouth of the Pagan River and along its tributaries. Their town of Mokote likely stood in the vicinity of present-day Rescue, while Mathomouk was probably situated along Burwell Bay. The principal settlement of Warraskoyack was located farther inland, perhaps east of modern Smithfield

The Warraskoyak were an Algonquian-speaking tribe in Tsenacommacah. The Warraskoyak werowance, Tackonekintaco, paid tribute to paramount chief Powhatan. The homeland of the Warraskoyak provided easy access to oysters and fish from the river. It had been occupied for at least 5,500 years. Sea level rise at the end of the last Ice Age drowned the mouth of the Pagan River, and the resulting wetlands were valued food sources for Native Americans long before the evolution of the Warraskoyak tribe. 

Inland, across the watershed divide separating the James and Blackwater rivers, hunting and gathering opportunities were rich in what today are labeled Pettit and Belle Meadow pocosins and Pouches, Passenger, and Rattlesnake swamps. In those swamps and woods, the Warraskoyak must have encountered Iroquoian-speaking Nottaway hunters coming up the Blackwater River. 

The Algonquian-speaking Quiyoughcohannock lived to their west, upstream on the James River beyond Hog Island. The powerful Algonquian-speaking Nansemond tribe, with 200 warriors according to John Smith, lived downstream on the Nansemond River with a "kings house" on Dumplin Island. The size of the Nansemond tribe would have deterred the Warraskoyak from conflict, if those neighbors chose to hunt near Mokete, Mathomauk, or the king's house of the Warraskoyak. From those three towns, the Warraskoyak found it easy to canoe out into the James River to trade with the English. They welcomed visitors from Jamestown, bypassing Powhatan with direct trade of food for metal tools and prestige goods. At John Smith's request, they hosted an English boy so he could learn the Algonquian language and facilitate trade and diplomacy. 

In early 1608, the Warraskoyak allowed a Paspahegh guide to lead two Jamestown colonists into their territory to search for survivors of the "lost colony" on Roanoke Island. Later that year, they assisted another searcher, Michael Sicklemore, to journey towards the Chowan River on another futile expedition. 

FMI.

Warraskoyack Tribe

Historical Marker

Smithfield Waterfront in the Days of Sail

29 Jan 23:

We purchased this watercolor that depicts the Smithfield waterfront along the Pagan River in the days of sail. The warehouses were destroyed in the 1921 fire, and taking their place now are a few townhouses, a dock and the headquarter facilities for Smithfield Foods. 

Image: Artist unknown

Permission from Smithfield Foods is required to access the public dock. The Pagan River is accessible from the James River, Clontz Park boat ramp and Jones Creek Boat Ramp.

FMI: Smithfield Waterfront

Topographic Maps and Nautical Charts

Maps are important through time, as some spots have gone by different names. For some areas we'll refer to the 1918 Smithfield US Geological Survey topographic map.

Garmin Active Captain is a good reference for the modern day waterways.

FMI: Maps

Lot 32 - 113 S. Mason Street

Lot 32 - 113 S. Mason Street

29 Jan 23:  Built 1750-1760, called the Mary Jackson House. Giles Driver, a mason, purchased the home from Mary Jackson's estate around 1765 and owned it for several years. Mason Street was formerly known as Driver's Alley, renamed Mason's Street for Freemasons who helped pave the local streets. Driver was also a mason,  

FMI: Historic District

Historic District

29 Jan 23:

The Historic District for our purposes will focus on the first 72 lots laid out in a 1750 survey, 2 years before the Town of Smithfield was incorporated. The image below is taken from a map prepared by Helen Haverty King, updated by the Isle of Wight County Museum and Isle of Wight County Historical Society. Without their dedicated and sustained efforts, none of this research would have been possible. Copies of the entire map can be purchased from the Museum. 

 FMI: 

Helen Haverty King

Historic District

Isle of Wight County Museum