Southampton County, Virginia

History

Shire to County

During the 17th century, shortly after establishment of the Jamestown Settlement in 1607, English settlers and explored and began settling the areas adjacent to Hampton Roads. By 1634, the English colony of Virginia consisted of eight shires or counties with a total population of approximately 5,000 inhabitants. Southampton County was originally part of the Warrosquyoake Shire. The shire was renamed Isle of Wight County in 1637.

Related Topics:
Jamestown Settlement - 1607 - 1634 - Shire - Counties - Warrosquyoake Shire - Isle of Wight County - 1637

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In 1749, the portion of Isle of Wight County west of the Blackwater River became Southampton County. Later, part of Nansemond County, which is now the Independent City of Suffolk, was added to Southampton County.

Related Topics:
1749 - Blackwater River - Nansemond County - Independent City - Suffolk

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Southampton County may have been named for Southampton, a major city in England, or for one of the founders of the Virginia Company and a great supporter of the colonization of Virginia, Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton.

Related Topics:
Southampton - Virginia Company - Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton

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Nat Turner

In 1831, Southampton County was the location of the most serious slave rebellion in United States history. On August 21-22, the infamous Southampton Insurrection, led by the slave Nat Turner, resulted in the deaths of 58 whites and an unknown number of blacks. Turner and his followers were captured, tried and 20 were hanged.

Related Topics:
1831 - Slave - Nat Turner

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William Mahone, naming Ivor

William Mahone (1826-1895) was born in Southampton County, in the tiny community of Monroe, which was located on the Nottoway River about 8 miles south of present-day Courtland. His parents were Fielding and Martha Mahone. They moved to Courtland in 1840, where Fielding Mahone ran a hotel (tavern). Young Billy Mahone attended Virginia Military Institute (VMI), trained as a civil engineer, and graduated in the class of 1847. He worked as a school teacher before, in 1853, he was hired to build the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad (Now Norfolk Southern).

Related Topics:
William Mahone - Nottoway River - Courtland - Virginia Military Institute - Civil engineer - 1847 - Teacher - 1853 - Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad - Norfolk Southern

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In 1855, he married Otelia Butler, the daughter of the late Dr. Robert Butler of Smithfield, who had been Virginia State Treasurer prior to his death in 1853. Popular legend has it that William Mahone and his cultured wife, Otelia Butler Mahone (1837-1911), traveled along the newly completed Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad naming stations. Otelia was reading Ivanhoe a book written by Sir Walter Scott. From his historical Scottish novels, Otelia chose the place names of Windsor, Waverly and Wakefield.

Related Topics:
1855 - Robert Butler - Smithfield - Otelia Butler Mahone - Walter Scott - Windsor - Waverly - Wakefield

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Otelia Mahone is said to have tapped the Scottish Clan "McIvor" for the name of Ivor. Later, when they could not agree, it is said that they became even more creative, and invented a new name, which is how the tiny community of Disputanta was created. The N&P railroad was completed in 1858.

Related Topics:
Ivor - Disputanta

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William Mahone became a Major General in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, while his wife Otelia served as a nurse in Richmond. He later led the state's Readjuster Party and became a Senator in the United States Congress.

Related Topics:
Major General - Confederate Army - American Civil War - Nurse - Richmond - Readjuster Party - United States Congress

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A large portion of U.S. Highway 460 between Petersburg and Suffolk is named in honor of General William Mahone.

Related Topics:
U.S. Highway 460 - Petersburg - Suffolk

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