Huguenot Trail District History Agenda The Boundaries of

Huguenot Trail District History

Agenda • • The Boundaries of the District Scouting History of the District Locality History Scouting Activities for Local History

Current District Boundaries • Bon Air, North Chesterfield VA – North of Hull Street Road (Route 360) – West of Richmond City • • • Midlothian, VA Powhatan County Cumberland County Buckingham County Prince Edward County Town of Farmville

Scouting History of the District • Huguenot Trail District was created in 2008 • Prior to 2008 – Chesterfield and Powhatan Counties belonged to Shawandasse District – Localities west of Chesterfield County belonged to the Meherrin District

Bon Air, VA • Prior to 1877 – The area was known as Brown’s Summit due to the Brown family farm at the intersection of Brown and Jahnke Roads – Trains came to the area in latter half of 1860 s. The area had a stop called ‘Pawhite Stop on the Railroad to Coalmine Line ½ mile before the Robiou’s Station. – Anderson Edwards owned a large plantation and sold to Nathan and James Duval in 1840 s

Bon Air, VA • Post 1877 – Colonel Algernon Buford bought part of the Duval land renamed Brown’s Summit to Grand Summit. – Richmond Jeweler Lewis Jahnke bought the other half of the Duval estate and helped start the Bon Air Presbyerian Church with Rev Hazen. – 1877 Bon Air Land Improvement Company developed the Bon Air Hotel

Midlothian, VA • Salisbury plantation was built by Thomas Randolph in 1777 as a hunting lodge. This served as Patrick Henry’s home during his 4 th and 5 th terms as Governor of VA. • In 1758, Mid-Lothian Mine was shipping 5000 bushels of coal a year towards Richmond and the James River. • In 1780, T Jefferson petitioned VA Governor to sell coal outside VA to help pay the war debt of the American Revolution. • Coal wagons eventually caused the disrepair of the Buckingham road towards Richmond and led to the creation of the Commonwealth’s first toll road, the Manchester road.

Midlothian, VA • A daily stage line service between Richmond and Lynchburg stopped in Mid-Lothian at the home of Major Abraham Woolridge for an overnight stop. His home was called Midlothian. • Eventually a rail line was established between Midlothian and Manchester for both coal and people.

Midlothian, VA • Bellona Federal Arsenal produced cannon balls for the War of 1812 and purchased the property from William Trabue. • A daily stage line service between Richmond and Lynchburg stopped in Mid-Lothian at the home of Major Abraham Woolridge for an overnight stop. His home was called Midlothian.

Robiou’s Road • Anthony Robiou owned Bellgrade Plantation, site of the current Ruth’s Chris’ Steak House • Involved in Chesterfield’s best known murder story • As a 45 year old, his friend agreed to allow him to marry his 14 year old daughter, Emily Wormeley. • Robiou came home to find his young bride in the arms of another man, 19 year old John Reid. He threw her out and told all about his bride. • Father Wormeley shot Anthony Robiou dead with the assistance of John Reid. • Trial was the talk of 1853 in Chesterfield. Reid was found not guilty but Father Wormeley was found guilty and hanged in June 1853.

Powhatan County, VA • Initially named Scottville after revolutionary leader Gen Charles Scott • Later named for Chief Powhatan • Est May 1877 from Cumberland County • Historical Markers and Powhatan Plantation

Cumberland County, VA • Est in 1749 from Goochland County • Named for William Agustus, Duke of Cumberland 2 nd son of King George II of Great Britain • 3 unincorporated communities • National Registry of Historic Places – 17 locations

Buckingham County, VA • Est in 1761 from Albemarle County • Considered part of Charlottesville Metropolitan Statistical Area • Geographical center of Virginia; 5 unincorporated communities • African Americans fleeing Tidewater VA • Notable Persons – Carter Woodson – Founder of Black History Month – Randolph Jefferson – Younger brother of TJ

Prince Edward County, VA • Est in 1754 from Amelia County • Named for Prince Edward, younger brother of King George III • RR Morton Museum recognized as a nationally significant community landmark and now serves as a center for civil rights. Brown v Board of Education • Notables: – Blanche Kelso Bruce – first black, full-term US Senator in 1875 – Civil Rights leader Rev Vernon Johns

French Huguenots in Central VA • 207 French Protestant refugees fleeing religious persecution from Catholics in France arrived in Manakin Town, VA in 1700 to settle in the VA frontier. VA Lt Governor Francis Nicholson authorized the settlement after King William III had denied the settlement request. The King wanted the settlement in Norfolk area but VA maintained there was more available land west of Richmond. • 25 miles separated the French settlement from the Indian settlement in Powhatan. • George Washington is descended from a French Huguenot named Nicholas Martiau. • Paul Revere’s father was a Huguenot – Apollo Rivoire. • Formation of Manakin Episcopal Church in 1701 on Huguenot Trail Road. • By 1750, their farming settlement had been assimilated into the surrounding communities of Mid-Lothian.

Scouting and Family Fun • American Cultures and American Heritage Merit Badges • List of Virginia Roadside Markers • National Registry of Historic Places • WHAT CAN YOU FIND OUT ABOUT THE AREA YOU LIVE? ?

References https: //www. dhr. virginia. gov/highway-markers/ www. nps. gov A History of the Powhatan County Historical Society The French Huguenot Settlement in Virginia by the National Humanities Center • A History of the Village of Midlothian by Barbara Burchett • •

What Can you uncover?