New Exhibition Coming In March 2022

Middlesex in the 1600s The Saluda Cultural and Historic District will be celebrated in a series of displays as part of an exhibition opening in March in the Visitor Center of the Museum. A Timeline, divided into centuries, will overview different central themes taking place in Middlesex. A variety of maps, illustrations, and artifacts with be showcased in the exhibit.

This illustration of the native locals was part of “DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INDIANS OF VIRGINIA” made by Captain John Smith and included within his book A Map of Virginia, Oxford: Joseph Barnes, 1612.

Native American Communities Beginning in the 1660s, discussion will center around the early Native American communities established in our geographic area prior to English settlement. Recorded on John Smith’s map of 1608 and his journals of the time, two old Nimcock Indian towns were located within the land grant of Rosegill and “Payankatanke” an Indian kings’ residence was located on Jackson Creek. With the arrival of the English came much friction with the local native peoples. Unfolding over the course of some 40 years after the Jamestown settlement, it is recorded as a First Indian massacre of 1622, a Second Indian massacre of 1644 and finally in 1646, the establishment of a Treaty with the Powhatan Confederacy.

Original English Land Grants The first land grants in the new Colony of Virginia for our geographic area were given to John Matrum, Gent. (Mottrom) as 1,900 acres to become Barn Elms on the Piankatank River. August 1642 saw a land patent for Bland’s on the Piankatank. October 13, 1642 the first land patents on the Rappahannock River were given to John Benton for 1,250 acres and two more smaller grants in November and December. In 1649 a land grant was given to Ralph Wormeley for 3,200 acres which become Rosegill. And then four more land grants were made in 1649. The footprint of the county of Middlesex is born.

Henry Perrott and Nesting Henry Perrott was instrumental in establishing Middlesex County as separate from Lancaster County. His home “Nesting” was built on land deeded Jan 12, 1655 and is believed to be the oldest standing home presently in the County. Three generations of the Perrott family were involved in running the new county. Their family crest is held within our own county logo.