To make a very long explanation very short, the history of the South (unlike the North) - especially Virginia - rendered the plantation - large farm - almost a necessity. The result was that the courthouses to which all HAD to go now and then for taxes, business, etc. were placed out not far from the centers of the areas popukation. Around those courthouse were found a few inns, restaurants, blacksmiths, and a very few needed businesses. Since most everyday needs were met by the plantation itself, there was seldom other than those mentioned to go to the courthouse. SO, those little comunities were very slow in growing. Accordingly, the courthouse itself was a handy way of describing it, its attendant offices, and those few little artisans and purveyors who were nearby. So, Sussex county seat is Sussex Courthouse; Appomattox Courthouse was/in Appomattox County, etc. If your ancestor was said to be born at "____ Courthouse" then that family either had a mail delivery station there - later "post offices" - or lived close enough by to be identified as being from that tiny community. As often as not, unlike in the North, the courthouses were near the center of the population, while the "cities" grew at the mouths of rivers and at the seaports; those, by reason of commerce moving by the great rivers and harbors of VA. This is very simplified; perhaps others will add further facts to these. Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: "Barbara Scott Wyche" <robertw@att.net> To: <VA-SOUTHSIDE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, July 30, 2001 3:38 PM Subject: [VA-SOUTHSIDE-L] CH Birth > Being from Texas where the towns are not separate from the county they sit > in the middle of, I am a bit curious about the Virginia designation of CH, > as in Dinwiddie CH. > > I understand that CH refers to the courthouse, but I have someone who was > born at Dinwiddie CH. Now I am pretty sure he wasn't born AT the > courthouse, so does this mean he was born in the little town itself, that > maybe his mother lived in this town when he was born? > > The date of birth is about 1812/3. > > Thanks in advance, > Barbara Wyche > robertw@att.net > > > > ==== VA-SOUTHSIDE Mailing List ==== > VAGenWeb > http://www.rootsweb.com/~vagenweb > > > ============================== > Join the RootsWeb WorldConnect Project: > Linking the world, one GEDCOM at a time. > http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com >

And here I thought the lists were so quiet! I have had many responses to my e-mail address plus this from our erudite friend, Paul. Having been in both Dinwiddie CH and Sussex CH, I can certainly appreciate the picture you have painted, Paul. If we were to fill in some of the background details by adding the excitement of trading days or court days or little fairs or even the excitement of a horserace, I guess we could see this little village bursting at the seams on some days or languishing in the heat of a too long summer day on others. Virginia has kept its charm and beauty in its little villages. I wish I could say the same of the little towns I have grown up in which have been swallowed up by huge cities and suburban sprawl. It would have been perfect had the information read, "This child was born in Dinwiddie CH at the home of his grandfather because his father was at war." Barbara ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Drake" <martee@citlink.net> To: <VA-SOUTHSIDE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, July 30, 2001 4:04 PM Subject: Re: [VA-SOUTHSIDE-L] CH Birth > To make a very long explanation very short, the history of the South > (unlike the North) - especially Virginia - rendered the plantation - > large farm - almost a necessity. The result was that the > courthouses to which all HAD to go now and then for taxes, business, > etc. were placed out not far from the centers of the areas > popukation. Around those courthouse were found a few inns, > restaurants, blacksmiths, and a very few needed businesses. Since > most everyday needs were met by the plantation itself, there was > seldom other than those mentioned to go to the courthouse. SO, > those little comunities were very slow in growing. Accordingly, the > courthouse itself was a handy way of describing it, its attendant > offices, and those few little artisans and purveyors who were > nearby. So, Sussex county seat is Sussex Courthouse; Appomattox > Courthouse was/in Appomattox County, etc. If your ancestor was said > to be born at "____ Courthouse" then that family either had a mail > delivery station there - later "post offices" - or lived close > enough by to be identified as being from that tiny community. As > often as not, unlike in the North, the courthouses were near the > center of the population, while the "cities" grew at the mouths of > rivers and at the seaports; those, by reason of commerce moving by > the great rivers and harbors of VA. This is very simplified; > perhaps others will add further facts to these. Paul > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Barbara Scott Wyche" <robertw@att.net> > To: <VA-SOUTHSIDE-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, July 30, 2001 3:38 PM > Subject: [VA-SOUTHSIDE-L] CH Birth > > > > Being from Texas where the towns are not separate from the county > they sit > > in the middle of, I am a bit curious about the Virginia > designation of CH, > > as in Dinwiddie CH. > > > > I understand that CH refers to the courthouse, but I have someone > who was > > born at Dinwiddie CH. Now I am pretty sure he wasn't born AT the > > courthouse, so does this mean he was born in the little town > itself, that > > maybe his mother lived in this town when he was born? > > > > The date of birth is about 1812/3. > > > > Thanks in advance, > > Barbara Wyche > > robertw@att.net > > > > > > > > ==== VA-SOUTHSIDE Mailing List ==== > > VAGenWeb > > http://www.rootsweb.com/~vagenweb > > > > > > ============================== > > Join the RootsWeb WorldConnect Project: > > Linking the world, one GEDCOM at a time. > > http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com > > > > > ==== VA-SOUTHSIDE Mailing List ==== > VAGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~vagenweb > > > ============================== > Search over 1 Billion names at Ancestry.com! > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist1.asp > >