Editing Gloucester County, Virginia (section)

== History ==

=== Prehistoric ===
This area was inhabited for thousands of years by successive cultures of [[hunter-gatherer]] Indian peoples; artifacts have been dated to at least the late [[Woodland Period]] (c. AD 1000).

An important village site known as Werowocomoco was occupied by c. AD 1200 by the [[Algonquian languages|Algonquian]]-speaking peoples of the numerous emerging tribes in the area. Before the late 16th century, the [[Powhatan Confederacy]] had been formed. It was made up of an estimated 30 tribes in the coastal region, who spoke distinct but related languages, and was led by a paramount chief, known as the Powhatan. The Powhatan Confederacy was estimated to total 12,000 to 15,000 people across the coastal region of present-day Virginia. Werowocomoco was the stronghold and capital of this confederacy, located on the north side of the York River in what is now Gloucester.

This complex, stratified society had developed in part due to the cultivation and processing by women of varieties of maize, [[beans]] and [[Squash (plant)|squash]]. With these crops, the women produced a surplus that, together with the game and fish collected by the men, supported a dense population in a number of settlements. The people also gathered nuts, berries and other foods of the region.

=== European colonists ===
Around 1570, Spanish [[Jesuit]]s attempted to establish what was known as the [[Ajacan Mission]] on the south shore of the [[York River (Virginia)|York River]] across from Gloucester. They were killed by natives led by a Christian convert named [[Don Luis]], who was affiliated with a village known as [[Chiskiack]] ([[Naval Weapons Station Yorktown]] much later was developed at this site in present-day York County; the historic village site has been preserved.)

When English settlers founded [[Jamestown, Virginia|Jamestown]] in 1607 on the James River to the north, they soon came into conflict with local Indians. The newcomers competed for land, game and other resources in the Powhatan territory, and the two cultures did not understand each other's concepts of property, particularly in land use.

In late 1607, [[John Smith of Jamestown|John Smith]] was captured and taken to [[Chief Powhatan]] at Werowocomoco, his eastern capital. According to legend, Powhatan's daughter [[Pocahontas]] saved John Smith from being executed by the natives; however, some historians question the accuracy of much of Smith's account of that incident. Smith was accompanied by other Englishmen when he returned in a later visit to the Powhatan at Werowocomoco.

=== Lost site of Werowocomoco ===
After the Powhatan moved their capital to a safer, inland location and abandoned the village around 1609, knowledge of this site was lost. Researchers later tried to identify it by Smith's historic writings. The current site of [[West Point, Virginia|West Point]] seemed to offer a clue to its location; from there, Smith had noted the distance downstream to Werowocomoco. Based upon his description, at one time scholars thought the former capital was located near [[Wicomico, Virginia|Wicomico]] (site of [[Powhatan's Chimney]]), about {{convert|25|mi}} southeast of present-day West Point. Smith also noted that Jamestown was {{convert|12|mi}} from Werowocomoco "as the crow flies." Using that measure, the site near Wicomico is about 12 miles from Jamestown.

In 1977, [[archeologist]] Daniel Mouer of [[Virginia Commonwealth University]] identified a site on Purtan Bay as the possible location of Werowocomoco; it was also about 12 miles from Jamestown. He was able to collect artifacts from the surface of plowed fields and along the beach, but the landowner did not want any excavation. Mouer found fragments of Indian [[ceramic art|ceramics]] dating to the Late [[Woodland Period]] and determined that the area was the possible site of Werowocomoco.<ref>[http://powhatan.wm.edu/aboutProject/index.htm "Werowocomoco"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228222351/http://powhatan.wm.edu/aboutProject/index.htm |date=February 28, 2009 }}, College of William and Mary</ref>

More than 20 years later, a different landowner authorized [[archaeological excavation]] on the property. Between March 2002 and April 2003, the Werowocomoco Research Group conducted excavations and analysis at the Werowocomoco site. The research group is a collaborative effort of the [[College of William and Mary]], the [[Virginia Department of Historic Resources]], and Virginia tribes descended from the Powhatan Confederacy. Initial testing included digging 603 test holes {{convert|12|to|16|in|cm}} deep and {{convert|50|ft}} apart. They found thousands of artifacts, including a blue bead which may have been made in Europe for trading.<ref>[http://powhatan.wm.edu/aboutProject/archaeologicalSurvey.htm Werowocomoco] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302004239/http://powhatan.wm.edu/aboutProject/archaeologicalSurvey.htm |date=March 2, 2009 }}, College of William and Mary</ref> Combined with the historical descriptions by English colonists of Werowocomoco, researchers believe these discoveries have established the site of the ancient capital. "We believe we have sufficient evidence to confirm that the property is indeed the village of Werowocomoco," said Randolph Turner, director of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources' Portsmouth Regional Office in 2003.<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/05/07/national/main552771.shtml "Powhatan's Tribal Village Found, 17th century Indian Chief Was Father Of Pocahontas"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228211041/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/05/07/national/main552771.shtml |date=February 28, 2009 }}, CBS News, May 7, 2003</ref>

Two Gloucester-based archaeologists, Thane Harpole and David Brown, have worked at the site since 2002 and continue to participate in the excavations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/williamsburg/dp-28225sy0jan14,0,782007.story?coll=dp-news-local-wbg|title=Sites attract archaeology buffs|date=February 16, 2007|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216225626/http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/williamsburg/dp-28225sy0jan14,0,782007.story?coll=dp-news-local-wbg|archive-date=February 16, 2007}}</ref> Archeologists have discovered a dispersed village community occupying the site from AD&nbsp;1200 through the early 17th century. They recovered artifacts (including native [[pottery]] and stone tools), as well as floral and faunal food remains from the large residential community. The research group has also recovered English trade goods produced from glass, copper, and other metals originating in Jamestown. The colonists' accounts of interaction at Werowocomoco during the early days of Jamestown emphasized Powhatan's interests in acquiring English objects (particularly copper, which the Indians used to create their own [[Objet d'art|''objets d'art'']].

The project is noted for the researchers' consultation and collaboration with members of the local [[Native Americans of the United States|Indian]] tribes – the [[Mattaponi]] and [[Pamunkey]], descendants of the Powhatan Confederacy. Such archeological sites often contain burials and associated sacred artifacts important to these tribes:

{{blockquote|When I step on this site folks...I just feel different. The spirituality just touches me and I feel it.|Stephen R. Adkins, chief of the [[Chickahominy people|Chickahominy]] Tribe and member of the Virginia Indian Advisory Board<ref>[http://web.wm.edu/news/archive/index.php?id=3841 "Werowocomoco ditches date back to at least early 1400s"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701073052/http://web.wm.edu/news/archive/index.php?id=3841 |date=2010-07-01 }}, University Relations, William and Mary</ref>}}

Gloucester County has celebrated Werowocomoco and other Powhatan-heritage sites as part of the county's history. Both the newly identified site on Purtan Bay and Powhatan's Chimney at Wicomico are within the territory which Indians have considered as part of Werowocomoco. In the [[Algonquian languages|Algonquian]] language, the "village" of the chief was not defined as a small place, but the term referred to "the lands" where he lived. The custom of the Powhatan tribes was to relocate their villages within a general area to allow lands to recover from cultivation or move to better sources of water and game.

=== English developments ===
In 1619, the Virginia Company divided its developed areas into four incorporations, called "citties" {{sic|nolink=y}}. At that time, most of the area which became Gloucester County would have been considered part of [[James City (Virginia Company)|"James Cittie"]] (although it was not yet settled). In 1634, by order of [[Charles I of England|King Charles I]] the colony was divided into the eight shires of Virginia. First named [[Charles River Shire]] by the English, [[York County, Virginia|York County]] was renamed in 1642 during the [[English Civil War]]. The [[Pamunkey]] called the river of their territory "Pamunkey"; residents retained that name for the portion upstream from West Point. The English first named the major river the Charles River; during the English Civil War, it was renamed as the York River).

The colonial government granted early land patents in the area in 1639, but it was not until after 1644 that Gloucester was considered safe for settlement.<ref name="gloucesterva.info">Gloucester County, Virginia, ''History of Gloucester County'' (http://www.gloucesterva.info/151/History-of-Gloucester-County : accessed April 8, 2019).</ref> By that time, Algonquian peoples had been pushed out of the area by colonists after many died in epidemics of infectious diseases. They had no immunity to the new diseases carried by the Europeans. [[George Washington]]'s great-grandfather received a Gloucester County land patent in 1650.

=== Gloucester County formation and divisions ===
Gloucester County was formed from [[York County, Virginia|York County]] in 1651.<ref>Gloucester County appears to have been created between April 3 and May 21, 1651. On April 3, 1651, there were at least four patents for land in York County issued by the Governor. The tracts were all located in what became Gloucester County, ''see,'' Polly Cary Mason, ''Records of Colonial Gloucester County, Virginia'', 2 volumes (1946; reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1946), vol. 1, pages 6, 38, and 58, citing Virginia Land Office Patents No. 2, 1643–1651, pages 301, 302, 304, and 324; digital images, ''Ancestry.com'' (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed April 2, 2019). The earliest reference to the existence of Gloucester County is a land patent dated May 21, 1651, ''see'', James Roe and Peter Richeson land grant May 21, 1651, for 1,500 acres first mention of Gloucester County, Gloucester Co., Virginia, Land Office Patents No. 2, 1643–1651, pp. 319–320; Virginia. Colonial Land Office. Patents, 1623–1774, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia; digital images, ''Library of Virginia'' (http://www.lva.virginia.gov/ : accessed April 2, 2019).</ref> No legislative enactment has been found for its formation.<ref>Polly Cary Mason, ''Records of Colonial Gloucester County, Virginia'', 2 volumes (1946; reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1946), vol. 1, page xiv; digital images, ''Ancestry.com'' (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed April 2, 2019).</ref>  Gloucester County consisted of four parishes: Abingdon, Kingston, Petsworth and Ware. It was named for [[Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester]], third son of Charles I. Gloucester County figured prominently in the history of the colony and the Commonwealth of Virginia.<ref name="gloucesterva.info"/> Kingston parish was renamed as [[Mathews County, Virginia|Mathews County]] in 1791, after the American Revolutionary War and independence of the United States. The remaining three parishes were retained in Gloucester; the county was split on what is now the eastern county line.

=== Plantations and historic sites ===
During the 17th and 18th centuries, Gloucester was developed as a major [[tobacco]]-producing area; this was the chief commodity crop and the basis of the wealth of major planters. Many of the old [[Plantation complexes in the Southeastern United States#Plantation house|plantation houses]] and private estates have been preserved in good condition. These establishments are periodically open to public visitation during Historic Garden Week. Examples of colonial architecture are the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal churches]] of Ware (1690) and Abingdon (1755), where Presidents Washington and Jefferson worshiped. Some early colonial buildings at the county seat on Courthouse Green continue to be used for public purposes.[[File:Mann Page I Founder of the Present Rosewell Mansion 1725.png|thumb|left|175px|Mann Page I, builder of [[Rosewell (plantation)|Rosewell]]|alt=Old drawing of small child with bird]]
During the 17th century, the tip of land protruding into the [[York River (Virginia)|York River]] was named Tyndall's Point by [[Robert Tyndall]], mapmaker for [[John Smith of Jamestown|Captain John Smith]]. In 1667, colonists built fortifications there, at what was then called Gloucester Point. These defenses were rebuilt and strengthened many times from the colonial period through the [[American Civil War]]. This site is also known for the "Second Surrender" by General [[Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis|Lord Charles Cornwallis]] to General [[George Washington]] at Yorktown.

[[File:Abingdon Episcopal Church.JPG|thumb|175px|Abingdon Episcopal Church.]]

===Guinea===
One area of Gloucester County is known as Guinea; it includes the unincorporated communities of Achilles, Maryus, Perrin, Severn, and Big Island. Located near [[Gloucester Point]], the area has been the center of the county's seafood industry. (The Atwell,Shackelford, Rowe, West, Jenkins, Green, Kellum, King and Belvin families are chief among those who have worked in the fishing industry here). Although the industry has declined, it remains a cultural core of the community. The fishermen are known locally as "Guineamen". They speak a distinct form of [[non-rhotic]], Southern English.

The name "Guinea" is of uncertain origin. Residents in this area have been referred to as "Guineamen" at least since 1730.<ref>{{cite web |title=Guinea History |url=http://www.guineaheritage.org/heritage/ |publisher=Guinea Heritage Association |access-date=November 12, 2022}}</ref>  As noted by George Dow in 1969, London physician [[George Pinckard]] referred to the master of a ship containing slaves from the [[Guinea]] coast as a "Guinea Man" in letters dating 1795.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dow |first1=George Francis |title=Slave Ships and Slaving |date=January 1, 2002 |publisher=Courier Corporation |isbn=978-0-486-42111-7 |page=xxii |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9dwJB-iKPXsC&pg=PR22 |access-date=November 12, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>  It is likely this area was called Guinea after being used as a landing site for importation of slaves from that area. Another story, passed among the "Guineamen" is that people on the Guinea Neck were continuing to use golden [[Guinea (coin)|Guineas]] to pay for things up from about 1781–1860, the start of the [[American Civil War]].

At one time, the name was thought to have derived from the period of the American Revolutionary War. [[Loyalists]] quartered [[Hesse|Hessian]] [[mercenaries]] here who were attached to [[Cornwallis]]' army; they were paid one guinea per day. The Hessians were thought to have occupied lower Gloucester during the closing days of the Revolutionary War, or to have settled here after deserting the British. Cornwallis sent British troops and cavalry to [[Military occupation|occupy]] Gloucester in October 1781; Hessians may have been a part of that contingent due to Gloucester's strategic importance at the mouth of the York River.

===Daffodils===
[[Image:Daffodills (Narcissus) - 25.jpg|thumb|''Narcissus pseudonarcissus''|alt=Bright-yellow daffodil in bloom|193x193px]]
The history of the [[daffodil]] in Gloucester County is nearly as old as the county. When Gloucester was formed in 1651 from part of York County, early settlers brought daffodils from England. Settlers soon discovered the soil and weather conditions were good for them. The bulbs were passed from neighbor to neighbor, naturalizing by the beginning of the 20th century. The daffodil industry (which earned the county the title "Daffodil Capital of America") developed during the 1930s and 1940s. Today, the county's daffodils are celebrated every year with the annual "Daffodil Festival". The whole county comes out during the first weekend in April to celebrate the county's history.<ref>[http://www.gloucesterva.info/Portals/0/pr/documents/daffodil/WildAboutDaffodils81210p.pdf "Wild about Daffodils"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304124506/http://www.gloucesterva.info/Portals/0/pr/documents/daffodil/WildAboutDaffodils81210p.pdf |date=March 4, 2016 }}, Pamphlet of the Gloucester County Daffodil Festival Council & Parks, Recreation and Tourism (rev. 2010)</ref> \.<ref name="Daffodil Festival">{{cite web|url=http://www.gloucesterva.info/ParksandRecreation/daffodilfestival/tabid/315/Default.aspx|title=Parks and Recreation: Daffodil Festival|website=www.gloucesterva.info|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313193130/http://www.gloucesterva.info/ParksandRecreation/DaffodilFestival/tabid/315/Default.aspx|archive-date=March 13, 2013|access-date=March 12, 2013}}</ref>

===Modern day===
Gloucester is a growing and increasingly changing county that is an integral part of the [[Hampton Roads]] metropolitan area. Growth in the [[Virginia Peninsula|Peninsula area]] has encouraged development in the [[Gloucester Point, Virginia|Gloucester Point]] and the [[Gloucester Courthouse, Virginia|Courthouse]] regions of Gloucester. Gloucester's Main Street and [[U.S. Route 17 in Virginia|U.S. Route 17]] have served as vital corridors of commercial and community growth in the county. Between 1970 and 2000, the county's population grew by over 60% and this additional influx of new residents encouraged mass commercial and residential development, and subsequently has become an important commercial center for the [[Middle Peninsula]], upper [[Hampton Roads]], and the [[Northern Neck]] areas.

[[Canon Inc.|Canon Virginia]] has a recycling facility in the [[White Marsh, Virginia|White Marsh]] area of the county,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cvi.canon.com/Business_Operations/Recycling_Operations_categoryLandingPage.shtml|title=Canon Virginia, Inc.|website=www.cvi.canon.com|access-date=May 22, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601085438/http://www.cvi.canon.com/Business_Operations/Recycling_Operations_categoryLandingPage.shtml|archive-date=June 1, 2016}}</ref> which processes old printer cartridges and recycle their parts for new cartridges.  [[Peace Frogs]], based near [[Gloucester Courthouse, Virginia|Gloucester Courthouse]] is an apparel brand that makes a full line of apparel and accessories sporting frog designs.

The [[Virginia Institute of Marine Science]] is based in [[Gloucester Point, Virginia|Gloucester Point]]. VIMS is the [[College of William & Mary]]'s Marine Science post-graduate school.

Despite an influx in development, Gloucester still maintains a large amount of rural and farmland (especially in the northern end of the county) which contributes to the county's rich agricultural tradition.

Gloucester County's Comprehensive Plan<ref>{{cite web|title=Gloucester County Comprehensive Plan|url=http://gloucesterva.info/Portals/0/planning/documents/CompPlanUpdate/Full%20Comprehensive%20Plan%20ADOPTED%202016.pdf?ver=2016-04-28-135924-857|publisher=Gloucester County, Virginia|access-date=May 18, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616173746/http://gloucesterva.info/Portals/0/planning/documents/CompPlanUpdate/Full%20Comprehensive%20Plan%20ADOPTED%202016.pdf?ver=2016-04-28-135924-857|archive-date=June 16, 2016}}</ref> cites both [[Gloucester Point, Virginia|Gloucester Point]] and [[Gloucester Courthouse, Virginia|Gloucester Courthouse]] as development districts.