Middlesex County Museum (MCM) was recently gifted two original land grants from the late 1700s. Both were signed by the seated governor of the commonwealth at the time as awards to two different residents of the county of Middlesex. Both were awards for service preformed during the American Revolution. These important historical documents are expected to go on display at MCM sometime in April.
One is signed by Virginia Gov. Patrick Henry to Abraham Chapline in 1785 for 330 acres for land that is now in Kentucky. The second is signed by Virginia Gov. Beverley Randolph to Ralph Wormeley Jr. in 1790 for 200 acres in what is still Middlesex.
This donation was a valuable asset to the museum’s permanent collection, as it directly meets the mission of the organization and is an original document. MCM currently does not have any other such land grant pieces in its document collection.
Within the Middlesex peninsula, the granting of land by England’s king began in 1642. The first Middlesex land grant was given to John Matrum, Gent., in payment for the transportation of 38 persons from England to the New World. He was given 1,900 acres, which he named “Matrums Mount, in Pyanketanke River,” on July 20, 1642. The boundary began at Materums Creek, towards the Gleab Creek, including “a small island in a great bay on the north side of the Pyanketanke River.”
According to the Library of Virginia: “After examining and approving documentation of Revolutionary War military service, the governor issued a certificate on which the Land Office register subsequently issued a warrant for bounty lands. The certificates are printed forms filled in with the name of the individual, his rank, whether he served in a state or a continental line unit, and the length of such service.”
The original certificates are dated, signed, and filed in individual folders along with any supplemental papers presented with the claim other than those actually proving military service. The certificates were numbered 1-9926 and cover the period July 14, 1782-Aug. 5, 1876.”
This grant will cover the cost of conserving the documents and will allow them to be displayed and utilized in a digital form as part of the museum’s educational outreach. It will be part of the new display area within the Middlesex County Historic Courthouse in Saluda, whose first exhibit will highlight the life and stories of our local soldiers during the Revolutionary War. It will be opening to the public within the next month.
The Middlesex County Museum and Historical Society is open to the public Wednesday and Friday 1-5 p.m. and Sunday 1-3 p.m. It is in Saluda at 777 General Puller Highway (Route 33). For information, visit Middlesexmuseum.com or email info@middlesexmuseum.org.
