Hanover County VA: Haralson, Chiles, Simms, Thacker, Sprouse, Riddle

[PappyDick]

I feel moved to run down to Hanover VA tomorrow and look at "the Small Book" of 1733-35, their only surviving early court records. There was a good bit of info abstracted from it in 1911 and published in the Wm & Mary Quarterly; but the folks doing that were probably more interested in Huguenots, or whatever. I just wonder if there are Indian references in there, that they didn't bother (or choose) to abstract. Can't blame it on Plecker, it's before his rule. But anyway, I'm going to take a quick peek.

I just mention it in case any of y'all want me to look at your brick walls, or something.

[PappyDick]

I'm back, had an interesting trip, will probably report a bit on several different threads (for different families). Was not able to help Wachinika because of the narrow range and early dates of the one book I had time to look at. It's called "the Small Book" in some sources, but it's just under 350 pages, large folio size, with pretty difficult handwriting. I looked at a few of them, and made notes on my notes... there may be something there for some of you.

Did some relatively meaningless sightseeing in Louisa County, also. The Florence L. Page library on history and genealogy in Montpelier is open for a few hours, 4 days a week -- but Thursday isn't one of them. (That's still in Hanover Co., but barely.) Mondays 6 to 8 PM; Wed-Fri-Sat from 9 AM to 2 PM. It's in a cute little old tavern building with a huge sycamore tree in front. The Sycamore Tavern.

The Louisa Co. Historical Museum is in a late 19th century brick jailhouse, and is closed until the first week of April "for inventory and renovation." In case any of you were planning to run by, wait.

[rockhound]

I would definitely like to see anything on the Riddles.

If you took any digital photos of the area, I wouldn't mind see the lay of the land as well.

Thanks.

[PappyDick]

I didn't get to Riddles, but check other things I post today. On Gibson, Harrelson and Chiles, I guess.

I think my digital photos are too large to post here. I only took one (of Sycamore Tavern in Montpelier) yesterday. PM your email address to me if you want to see it. The land is rolling, surprisingly open still, lots of little pines. There's a recreational lake (Lake Anna) nearby, and that is a local attraction, of sorts. (It attracts people from Richmond and Washington who want to retire with a water view.)