Home1810 Edition

PETERSBURGH

Volume 17 · 150 words · 1810 Edition

in America, is a sea-port town in Virginia, 25 miles southward of Richmond, seated on the south side of the Appamatox river, about 12 miles above its junction with James river, and contained nearly 300 houses in 1787, in two divisions; one is upon a cold clay soil, and is very dirty; the other upon a plain of sand or loam. There is no regularity, and very little elegance in Peterburgh. It is merely a place of business. The Free Masons have a hall tolerably elegant; and the seat of the Bowling family is pleasant and well built. It is very unhealthy. About 2000 hogheads of tobacco are imported here annually. Like Richmond, Williamsburgh, Alexandria, and Norfolk, it is a corporation; and what is singular, Peterburgh city comprehends part of three counties. The celebrated Indian queen, Pocahontas, from whom descended the Randolph and Bowling families, formerly resided at this place.