Every time I return to Virginia - my home state - I’m pulled like a magnet to the river named for King James I in 1607. Actually, the James is difficult to avoid if you travel anywhere from north to south through Virginia, because it’s the largest river which has a course wholly within one given state. So, before I begin with any history or genealogy, I want to introduce you to this watershed so that you have a better idea about the people who once populated this area and about the individuals and families who continue to live along its banks.

The James River literally and figuratively cuts the state in half as it runs for 340 miles east and west. Its source begins in Iron Gate to the west on the border between Alleghany and Botetourt counties, where the Cowpasture and Jackson Rivers flow together. The James ends in the Chesapeake Bay to the east. This river drains a watershed of approximately 10,000 miles, and the tidal waters from the Chesapeake reach as far inland as Virginia’s capital at Richmond. But, you’ll learn as I go along with this blog that the James isn’t very deep or wide in spots. In the Hampton Roads area, the river is as much as 5 miles wide at points, and vehicles cross on the Jamestown Ferry, the James River Bridge, and the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel. In other spots, like the falls area near Richmond or near the bridge to Lynchburg/Natural Bridge area where the Appalachian Trail passes, one could ford the river by foot during a dry spell.

While people enjoy fishing, swimming, boating, rafting, kayaking, and other river sports on the James, the river isn’t suitable for water skiing or large boat recreation till you pass east of Richmond and its fall line. You might guess now that people who lived along the James in the past faced numerous obstacles when they tried to use this waterway for business purposes. Transport of tobacco or other products was spotty; so numerous wharfs were located along the shoreline to accommodate travelers during floods and droughts. Flat-bottomed boats called Batteaus were used to navigate along rocks and through fall lines. You can see these boats in action in June during the 2006 Batteau Festival in Lynchburg.

I was born in Clifton Forge, a town located near James River’s source. But, I knew little about this area’s history or about my ancestral roots until I began research into these veins about a decade ago. Since then, I’ve learned that many written histories are somewhat inaccurate and that other histories remain untold. Thus, I began this blog as a resource for individuals who are interested in this region and in the individuals who populated the area for over three centuries.

Credentials

I’m an active writer, journalist, poet, graphic designer, and fine artist with an undergraduate degree in visual communications and an accompanying graduate degree in history. My interests include international travel, culture, and genealogy. My twenty-five year writing career includes thirteen Colorado Press Association awards for journalism, a series of articles, a book about visual communications, and several E-books on Web design and accessibility. I’m also a weekly contributor to BuyandHold’s weekly financial column, “Mom Chroniclesâ€Â? and a monthly contributor to Better Investing Magazine.

After I raised my daughter, I returned to complete my college degrees. After I completed my graphic design and visual communications degree I pursued a life-long dream to study American history. The professors at DePaul University led me to other paths, where I also learned about the Reformation and about Caribbean history. The latter pursuit led me to participate in two archeological digs in San Salvador, Bahamas, once as a student and again a year later as an assistant. Both lines of study, in addition to American history with a focus on the 18th century, led to insights that helped me to understand James River’s history.

While my education, career, and interests may seem disparate, my underlying focus is on how people generate ideas, how they communicate their thoughts, and how they eventually put their ideas into practice. To this end, the individuals who lived along the James River for the past three centuries have sustained my interest with their customs, ideals, and goals. I hope that you find something of interest here, and that you’ll also participate with your insights.

Other Sites

Graphic Design Basics - A site for graphic designers that contains book reviews, contest news, interviews, and product information.

Goinhome.com - This site began as the graphics site, but I’ve transformed it to reflect my interest in history in general. The topics vary.

Quiltshome - A quilt lover’s site. Book reviews, show and contest information.

Fungifest - A site for mushroom lovers, especially for those folks who like to attend mushroom events or who are searching for local mushroom clubs.