Northern Neck of Virginia, 14 July 2014

 From Richmond, we moved to the historic Northern Neck.  It is the northernmost Virginia peninsula jutting into the Chesapeake Bay.  It is bounded by the Potomac River to the north and the Rappahannock to the south.  Our home for this week was Grey's Point RV Resort on the Rappahannock, a pivotal waterway during the two hundred years of our country's existence.  The Battle of Rappahannock during the War of 1812 was fought not far from here. 

Not far across the Rappahannock was the Lancaster Tavern, established in 1790.  It is a cute B & B.  It also had excellent food. 

 The primary purpose of our visit was Penny's genealogical research.  This is the grave of her 7 times Great Grandmother near Lancaster, Virginia.

 It is situated adjacent to the Yeocomico Episcopal Church.  First established in 1655, the original structure was replaced in 1705 by this structure made from bricks fired in a kiln just to the left of this photo.  The famous author and illustrator, John Dos Pasos, is also buried here.

 Constructed in 1669, St. Mary's White Chapel is the final resting place of many members of Mary Ball Washington's (mother of George) family, the diplomat George Steuart (spelled correctly), and actress Margaret Sullivan.

 This magnificent Christ Church of Lancaster Co. was first established in 1670, and reconstructed in 1730.  It still retains the original high back pews and three level pulpit.

 More modest, but no less historic, is Wicomico Parrish Episcopal Church, first established in 1645, a scant 38 years after the establishment of Jamestown.  One of the vestrymen was none other than Richard Henry Lee, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

 There were also many small cemeteries spread throughout the countryside.  This one, where many of Penny's ancestors are buried was in the middle of a soybean field.  We found it only because we were able to plug the latitude and longitude into our GPS.  The last owner of the family home arranged for this graveyard and the right-of-way to it be retained in perpetuity.  

 This is all that remains of the, once thriving, port of Leedstown, frequented by George Washington. On February 27, 1766, it was the site of the adoption of the Leedstown Resolves, a protest against the Stamp Act and a forerunner of the Declaration of Independence.  The graveyard above isn't far from here.

This is Stratford Hall, Residence of Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee III, the other Lee who signed the Declaration of Independence.  It was also the birthplace of Robert E. Lee.

Down the hill from this monument was the birthplace of George Washington.  Both he and his mother, Mary Ball Washington were born on the Northern Neck.

As we traveled around the Northern Neck, we couldn't help but wonder how many of our founding fathers had traveled along the same routes we were traversing.