|
Keywords |
historic marker Gray's Creek settlement VA US United States of America attraction display education historical marker Historical Site information landmark marker Place of Interest sign Tourist Destination Travel Destination United States Virginia America attractive destination educating historic markers historic site info signage tourist attraction American appealing history no people settlements text tourism travel South attract historic nobody word daytime displays historical markers landmarks markers signs appeal color image educate historical outdoor vertical day destinations historic sites tourist attractions colour image outside day time USA day-time Jason O. Watson / historical-markers.org U.S. words color images daylight outdoors U.S.A. verticals colour images natural light outsides Surry County sign with text |
Caption |
ENGLISH SETTLEMENT ON GRAY'S CREEK
English settlement along Gray's Creek began by 1609 when Capt. John Smith ordered a defensive fortification built on the tidal creek opposite Jamestown. Though the English did not finish constructing the fort (known as Smith's Fort) and soon abandoned it, an earthwork remains on a high bluff overlooking Gray's Creek. It is believed that Thomas Rolfe, the only child of John Rolfe and Pocahontas, inherited his father's patent along this creek. The stream was named Smith's Fort Creek and then Rolfe's Creek. By 1648 it became known as Gray's Creek for Thomas Gray, who had patented land at the mouth of the creek.
Department of Historic Resources, 2004 |