Real Estate Experience You Can Count On in the Richmond Area

At the time the English first reached the new world, the section of Virginia which would later be designated Hanover County was populated by many Native Americans who valued the abundant fish of its rivers and streams and the bountiful game of its forests and fields. These waters and earthly bounty quickly resulted in colonization by the early settlers.

Officially formed in 1720 and named for the Elector of Hanover in Germany, later King George I of England, the county is marked on the north by the North Anna and Pamunkey Rivers and on the south by the Chickahominy River. Within its boundaries also flow the Little River, the Newfound River, and the South Anna River.

Just as the rivers contributed to Hanover's role in early Virginia and subsequently to its role in the Revolutionary War, its proximity to Richmond, the Capitol of the Confederacy, resulted in its being the scene of numerous battles and occupations during the War Between the States.

During the eighteenth century, Hanover was the center of the "Great Awakening" in Virginia, led by the Reverend Samuel Davies, who founded the Hanover Presbytery and who would later be names president of Princeton University. It should also be noted that during this same time, there also existed in Hanover an active settlement of Quakers, whose number included the family of Dolley Payne Madison.

No overview of Hanover would be complete without mention of its railroads and farms, both of which have contributed to the vigorous and rich quality of life enjoyed by its citizens. Railroads, like the rivers of earlier days, proved to be an important link in the history of the of the county and, although today they are rivaled by transport and travel on the highway system, their history and influence remain significant. The Chesapeake and Ohio, founded in 1836 as the Louisa Railroad Company, changed its name to the Virginia Central Company in 1850 and to the C&O in 1878. It has merged with a number of other railroads over the years, and is now known as CSX. Like the C&O, the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad, running from Richmond to Washington, is also now a part of the CSX system. Both of these railroads served the Confederate cause during the War and the RF&P was responsible for the development of the Town of Ashland as a resort for Richmonders wishing to escape the heat of summers in the city. Following the War, the railroad promoted permanent establishment of the Town by luring Randolph-Macon College to the area and by providing free commuter passes to Richmond for those purchasing town lots. Well into the twentieth century, passenger and freight service were and integral part of life in Hanover County. Today CSX rails still transverse Hanover, crossing at Doswell - the former C&O going west and the former RF&P, north to Washington.

For years, farming provided the backbone of the Hanover community. Today, both truck farming and dairy farming continue to be important to the county. Markets across the state await the arrival of Hanover Tomatoes and, although dairies today tend to be family operated, they continue to carry on a tradition of pride. One farm tradition continues on a land grant from the king.

As testimony to its continuing vigor and to its role in the history of the Commonwealth, many old homes remain in private ownership today. A recent inventory reflects more than 50 pre-Revolutionary dwellings, plus approximately 200 pre-Revolutionary houses erected prior to 1860.

The plentiful historic sites of interest include geographic locations, churches, and public buildings in addition to private homes.

• Hanover Town (1676) and Newcastle (1738): these two communities, located on the Pamunkey River were Hanover's earliest settlements.
• Richmond National Battlefield Park: The park contains four units of the National Park Service's Civil War sites.
• Slash Church (1729) is the oldest frame church still standing in Virginia. The Fork Church (1735) has been in continuous use since it was built.
• Hanover Courthouse (1723) has been in continuous use and the site of important events since it was established. Patrick Henry pled the Parson's Cause here, one of the earliest and most defiant statements against the rule of George III.
• Old Gaol (1835) was built with stone cut from the South Anna River; it is now a museum housing many items from Colonial times.
• Scotchtown (1720) was the childhood home of Dolley Madison as well as the home of Patrick Henry during his most active political years.

• Henry Clay (1777-1852): Known as one of the Great Compromisers, Clay served in the Kentucky Legislature, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives. He was born at Clay Spring and studied law before moving to Kentucky to begin his political career.
• Patrick Henry (1736-1799): Born at Studley, the "Voice of the American Revolution" displayed his oratorical power in the county courthouse where he successfully argued the "Parson's Cause" case. Famous for his statement, "Give me liberty or give me death", he was also a member of the House of Burgesses (1765-1776), the First and Second Continental Congress and was the first elected governor of the Commonwealth (1776-1779; 1784-1786). He lived at Scotchtown from 1771-1778.
• Spencer Roane (1762-1822): Founder of Phi Beta Kappa at the College of William and Mary, he married Anne Henry, daughter of Patrick Henry. At age 21, Judge Roane was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and at 25, a state senator. He was a member of the Court of Appeals from 1795 until his death.
• Thomas Nelson: One of the wealthiest men in Virginia, this ardent patriot expended his entire fortune in the cause of liberty. A signer of the Declaration of Independence, General Nelson was commander of the Virginia forces at Yorktown.
• Lewis Littlepage (1762-1802): Born at "South Wales", this romantic adventurer was appointed to a diplomatic post in Madrid under Ambassador John Jay. Leaving the diplomatic service, he became an officer in the army of Spain and later and officer in the army of France. Louis XIV bestowed on him the Chevalier of the Legion of France. From France he went to Poland where he became an important envoy and powerful figure at Court. King Stanislavs sent Littlepage as his ambassador to the Court of Catherine of Russia. Recognized as a personal favorite of Catherine, he later served in both the Russian army and navy. Littlepage returned to America where he died at age 40.
• Dolley Payne Madison (1768-1849): Born of Quaker parents, Dolley grew up a member of Hanover's sizable Quaker community. In full sympathy with the Revolutionary cause, Mr. Payne freed his slaves and departed Virginia for Philadelphia when Dolley was in her early teens. In 1794, she married James Madison, at that time a member of the Continental Congress from Virginia. When the British burned the White House in 1812, it was she who managed to save Madison's state papers and the Stuart portrait of Washington.
• Thomas Nelson Page (1853-1922): Born at "Oakland", a graduate of Washington and Lee University and the University of Virginia School of Law, Thomas Nelson Page practiced briefly in Hanover and Richmond. He is best known for his stories and novels of Old Virginia, many of which reflect local scenes. As Ambassador to Italy, he had a distinguished diplomatic career before dying at "Oakland" in 1922.