NORTHUMBERLAND—The Northumberland County Historical Society (NCHS) will present historian Mark Gearhart at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 6, at the Ball Memorial Library and Museum, 86 Back Street, Heathsville.
Gearhart recently released a 17th century map of Northumberland County that plots the location, acreage, and patent date of the land claims of about 200 original settlers from the 1600s. The map also marks the location of Indian paths and settlements, roads, churches and other significant landmarks of the early settlement period.
Gearhart said his late father, James Gearhart, began the project in 1992. J. Gearhart was a cartographer by trade and accumulated copious notes through years of research. M. Gearhart attributes his ability to complete the immense project to his 50 years in the computer industry and the recent development of software.
“We think visitors and residents will find special interest in the history identified in this map,” said M. Gearhart. The map reveals an unexpected discovery regarding the earliest Northumberland settler. The 1636 settler, John Harloe, was likely the earliest settler, arriving only 29 years after the Jamestown landing and before the county was even formed.
NCHS president Wiatt Garland said this is the first map to plot the original Northumberland settlement in this way. He is “proud that NCHS has talented folks within its membership able to contribute to the development of this landmark publication,” said Garland. “Some of us felt for a long time there was a need for a map of this type. I want to note specifically the contribution of M. Gearhart, who was responsible for the coordination, cartography and typography.”
Garland also expressed appreciation for the contributions of J. Gearhart, for the original idea.
The 40- by 30-inch map is on display in the NCHS library. Copies are available there, or shipping is available. To order the map, call 580-8581 or check https://northumberlandvahistory.org or https://www.facebook.com/northumberlandvahistory/.
The 2024 edition of The Bulletin of the Northumberland County Historical Society also will be available at the meeting. It contains an illustrated article by M. Gearhart, “Making the Map: Northumberland County in the 17th Century.” This article explains how the research was conducted, the methods used to plot the locations and how to read the map to the best advantage.
The presentation is free to the public and light refreshments will be served after the program.
