Lunenburg County/Nottoway County

Z-45

Lunenburg County Lunenburg County, organized in 1746, was named for King George II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Nine counties were later formed from this “Mother of Counties.” British Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton raided here during the Revolutionary War, as did Union Brig. Gens. James H. Wilson and August V. Kautz during the Civil War. Tobacco was transported to auction on plank roads, and later railroads, making Kenbridge a major market town. Bright leaf tobacco was a staple throughout the 20th century. After 1909, Victoria became a hub on the Virginian Railway, which transported coal from West Virginia to Tidewater. The 1827 courthouse in Lunenburg village reflects Thomas Jefferson’s architectural influence. Side 2: Nottoway County Nottoway County was formed from Amelia County by the General Assembly in 1788. In July 1781, American Revolutionary soldier Peter Francisco reportedly encountered about nine men from British Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton's command at West Creek, the home of Benjamin Ward. Using his legendary strength and cunning, Francisco single-handedly bested his enemies. The county seat is Nottoway. The Roman Revival courthouse there was completed in 1843 by Branch H. Ellington to replace a 1793 courthouse. The new structure included elements of Thomas Jefferson's architectural style in its design. Former Virginia Governor William Hodges Mann (1843-1927) lived in the county.

Department of Historic Resources, 2023

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References/Bibliographic Citation:

Mark M. Boatner, Encyclopedia of the American Revolution (New York: D. McKay Company, 1966); FRANCISCO’S FIGHT M-18, Historical Highway Marker Files, Department of Historic Resources, Richmond, Virginia; Gerald Tate Gilliam, "Tarleton's Raid of 1781 Against Southside Virginia," The Southsider 13, no.3 (1994): 50-56; William H. Gaines, Jr., "Courthouses of Lunenburg and Mecklenburg Counties," Virginia Cavalcade 20(1971): 22-33; William W. Hening, The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619…13Vols. (Richmond: 1809-1823); Calder Loth, ed., The Virginia Landmarks Register, 4th. ed. (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1999), 282-283, 360-361; Gay Weeks Neale, The Lunenburg Legacy (Lunenburg Courthouse, Va.: Lunenburg County Historical Society, 2005); William P. Palmer, ed., Calendar of Virginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts ... Preserved in the Capitol at Richmond, 11 vols.(1875-1893; reprint, New York: Kraus Reprint Corp., 1968), 2:323-324; Emily J. Salmon and Edward D. C. Campbell, Jr., eds., The Hornbook of Virginia History, 4th ed. (Richmond: Library of Virginia, 1994), 166, 168.