Northampton
Northampton was originally called Accawmacke, and was one of the original 8 shires into which Virginia was divided in 1634. In March, 1642-3, its name was changed to Northampton; and in 1672 its limits were reduced by the formation of a new county, the present county of Accomac. Northampton is the southern extremity of the long low peninsula forming the eastern side of the Chesapeake, and comprehending eight counties in Maryland and two in Virginia. The shore has numerous small creeks, and numerous islands stretch along the Atlantic. Pop. in 1840, whites 3,341, slaves 3,620, free colored 754; total, 7,715.
Eastville, the county-seat, is 151 miles easterly from Richmond, in the centre of the county. It contains about 30 dwellings, and is a place of considerable business. Capeville, 6 miles N. of Cape Charles -- the southern point of "the eastern shore" -- contains a few houses.
The subjoined description of "the eastern shore" in general, and of this county in particular, was published several years since:
Separated as these counties are from the rest of the state by a spacious bay, which the eye can scarcely see across, and being among the first settled parts of the colony, they are a more unmixed people than is often to be found in our country, and retain more of the usages, and even language of former times, than perhaps any part of the state. The ancient hospitality of Virginia is here found unimpaired; and the inhabitants have a high relish for good living, which they are also enabled to indulge by a soil and climate extremely favorable to gardening, and by an abundance of excellent fish, oysters, and crabs. They preserve great neatness in their houses and persons, which is a characteristic of persons living in a sandy country. The whole county is as level as a bowling-green, and the roads are good at all seasons of the year. This circumstance has probably increased the social character and habits of the people, as it certainly has their pleasure-carriages. The number of gigs in the county is near three hundred, which is considerably greater than that of the freeholders. It is computed that the county pays about $10,000 a year for its carriages.
The soil of this county is thin, light, and always more or less mixed with sand; but as it commonly rests on a stiff clay, and the land is too level to be carried off by the
rains, or "to wash," to use a term of the upper country, the inhabitants are very much encouraged to pursue an improving course of husbandry; yet in truth they are but indifferent farmers. They cultivate the same land incessantly, one year in Indian corn, and the next in oats, (their two principal crops,) and their lands improve under this severe process, provided they are also not pastured. Whenever a field is not in cultivation, it puts up everywhere a rich luxuriant crop of a sort of wild vetch, called the maggoty-bay bean, which shades the land while it is growing, and returns it to a rich coat of vegetable manure. It is by means of this fertilizing plant, and the aliment which is plentifully furnished by the vapors from the sea, that the product of these lands is so much greater than a stranger would be lead to expect from the appearance of the soil. The land is so easily cultivated that there are few parts of the state in which more is produced to the man, or the horse, though more may be produced to the acre. On the best farms, a hundred barrels to the hand are often obtained. The fig and pomegranate flourish without protection during the winter. The former attains the size of a stout tree, sometimes twenty feet high, and its delicious fruit is in greater abundance than the inhabitants can consume. They have not yet learned the art of curing it; or perhaps the species they have is not suited to that operation.
Wind-mills are in use here, but tide-mills, at the mouth of small inlets, are preferred when attainable. These inlets deeply indent the shore, both on the "bay and sea-side," and while they are convenient for fishing, shooting wild-fowls, and as harbors for their boats and small craft, they give a pleasing variety to the landscapes, which are, indeed, as pretty as is comfortable with so unvarying a surface. Upon the whole, we know of no part of the state in which the comforts of life are enjoyed in greater number, or higher perfection. They have, too, the sea and land breezes of the West Indies, which temper the sultry heats of summer; and their only annoyances seem to be a few mosquitoes, a good many gnats, and now and then a bilious or intermittent fever. There is the palma christi, called castor bean. It now constitutes part of almost every farmer's crop, to the extent of eight to ten acres or more. The quality of the nut or bean produced, is the same as the land would produce in corn. Each bushel yields about two and a half gallons of oil, and sells, at the press, for $1.25 a bushel. This plant is now cultivated in many of the counties on the western shore, and the oil it affords has become a considerable article of export, being preferred to that of the West Indies.
Among the curiosities of this county are the ancient records of the county from 1640, and a marble tomb, or sarcophagus, about five feet high, and as many long, from which we transcribe the following singular inscription:
Under this marble tomb lies the body of the Hon. John Custis, Esq., of the city of Williamsburg, and Parish of Burton. Formerly of Hungar's Parish, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and county of Northampton, Aged 71 years, and yet lived but only seven years, which was the space of time he kept A Bachelor's home at Arlington,on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
On the opposite side one reads -- This inscription put on this tomb was by his own positive orders.
Wm. Cosley Man, in Fenchurch-street, fecit, London.
The Hon. Abel Parker Upshur was the son of Littleton Upshur, and was born in this county, June 17th, 1790. "He received his classical education at Yale and Princeton colleges, and studied law under the instruction of his friend, the late Hon. Wm. Wirt, at Richmond, where he practised his profession from 1810 until 1824, when he removed to Vaucluse, his patrimonial residence in this county. In the courts of the eastern shore, he continued to practice his profession until Dec. 15th, 1826, when he was appointed by the legislature to fill the vacancy on the bench of the general court, caused by the death of his maternal uncle, the late Judge George Parker. He had previously represented his native county in the state legislature. On the 5th of Oct., 1829, he was
elected a member of the general convention of Virginia. He published a pamphlet containing a review of Judge Story's work on the constitution of the United States, and contributed many articles to the newspapers on the topics of the day. On the reorganization of the judicial system of Virginia, under the new constitution, he was reappointed, April 18, 1831, to a seat on the bench of the general court, and was assigned to the third judicial circuit. This office he continued to fill until the 13th of September, 1841, when he was appointed by President Tyler, secretary of the navy. On the 24th of July, 1843, he was transferred, under the same administration, to the office of secretary of state, which he held until the time of his death, Feb. 28th, 1844, which was occasioned by the accident on board the U. S. steamer Princeton."
The Southern Literary Messenger says, that the ancestors of Mr. Upshur settled upon the eastern shore more than two centuries since. His family is one of the oldest in Virginia, and has been remarkable for staid habits and sterling worth. Generation after generation they remained upon the eastern shore, cultivating the soil, and ornamenting society. From the same source we learn that Mr. Upshur was considered one of the most graceful and accomplished orators. His style was unexceptionably good, his arguments forcible, and set forth in sentences remarkable for terse and vigorous language. His speech in the Virginia convention of '29 and '30, is said to have been one of the ablest and best delivered during the sitting. He never took a leading position in politics until called to the presidential cabinet. Mr. Upshur was an able writer, and one of the most polished contributors to the periodical literature of the country.