Site Search

William Brent (1733-1782)—the son of Capt. William Brent (1710-1742) of Richland, Stafford County. In May 1757 William became a justice for Stafford but in October 1765 he resigned in protest of the Stamp Act. Shortly thereafter, he resumed his office as justice and served until his death. In 1776 William was elected one of two…

The Indians of Virginia grew a type of tobacco that was not enjoyed by the English settlers in Jamestown, for it was very bitter. It also did not appeal to the market in England. John Rolfe (c. 1585 – 1622), who was one of the early settlers, wanted to introduce to the European market a…

Tobacco as Currency Prior to the American Revolution, paper money and coins were in extremely short supply and tobacco was routinely used in place of cash. This versatile plant, then, was exported, smoked, and served as currency. Colonial Virginia produced a variety of goods, chiefly pitch, tar, turpentine, iron, lumber, hogshead and barrel staves, shingles,…

Robert Brent (1764-1819)—was the son of Robert Brent (1730-1780) and Ann Carroll (1733-1804). Robert was born at Woodstock in Stafford and, like his father and brother, was involved in the cutting of sandstone from Brent’s/Government Island in Aquia Creek. He was a judge of the Orphan’s Court in Washington and paymaster of the army. Thomas…

Through centuries of Western Civilization members of Royalty have not always brought honor to their noble offices nor filled their subjects with pride in their accomplishments. Virginia’s Princess, daughter of its most powerful native chieftain did both. Born to one of the almost one hundred wives of Powhatan, the little Metoaka was an instant favorite…

George Washington was said to be a good dancer. His mother taught him to dance when a small boy at Ferry Farm. Colonial Period Music, Dance, and Games http://www.stratfordhall.org/kids.html/EDUCATION Music and Dancing link takes you to directions for dancing the Minuet. Games and Leisure link describes games and activities that colonial children played as well…

Today mosquitoes are a nuisance and pose only a limited health risk. Until the mid-19th century, however, mosquitoes carried a variety of potentially deadly diseases including malaria. From the time the first colonists arrived in the early 1600s until well after the conclusion of the Civil War, mosquito-borne diseases were some of the most feared…

The MacGregor Overlay is displayed on a modern aerial photograph of Falmouth, showing roughly where the town’s original streets and lots would be located today. In 1728, the Falmouth town trustees sold 27 lots to various individuals. More sales quickly followed. Almost immediately, the new owners subdivided their lots, selling or leasing small parcels to…

John Waugh (1630-1706)—the first rector (minister) of Overwharton Parish, a position he held from 1668 until 1701. He lived at Overwharton plantation, which is now known as Waugh Point in King George County. An educated man, he attended to the spiritual needs of frontier people from what is today King George County all the way…

The Manahoc Indians, who had a village above the site of the present Belmont Estate, used fish caught in the Rappahannock as “barter goods.” They caught these fish in traps located near the “fall line” in the river where the present Falmouth Bridge is located. They strung the fish on green willow poles and smoked…

The small log building in Falmouth that we know as Hobby School is one such place where little documented history exists, but a wealth of oral tradition abounds. For decades, locals have claimed that, as a lad, George Washington attended school in this building and was taught by John Hobby. In truth, Mr. Hobby served…