Gloucester in Gloucester County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Gloucester Courthouse

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 26, 2021

1. Gloucester Courthouse Marker

Inscription. Gloucester County was formed from York County in 1651. Its first brick courthouse, one of Virginia's earliest, was erected by 1685. The county built a new courthouse in 1766, and the Virginia General Assembly established Botetourt Town around it in 1769. John New's Ordinary (later the Botetourt Hotel), built ca. 1770, featured dining rooms, a billiards room, and a ballroom. A debtor's prison and clerk's office were built by 1824, followed by a new jail (1873) and a clerk's office (1896). Excavations have located other houses and taverns in the village. Union forces occupied the county seat at various times during the Civil War, and Union and Confederate troops skirmished here on 29 Jan. 1864.

Erected 2016 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number NA-1.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce • Political Subdivisions • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 29, 1864.

Location. 37° 24.907′ N, 76° 31.797′ W. Marker is in Gloucester, Virginia, in Gloucester County. It is on Main Street (Business U.S. 17) just east of Justice Drive

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, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6502 Main St, Gloucester VA 23061, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Middle Peninsula

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Tidewater,

and in the Chesapeake Bay Region.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: In Memoriam John Clayton (within shouting distance of this marker); Boutetourt #7 A.F. & A.M. Lodge (within shouting distance of this marker); The Birdsall Building (within shouting distance of this marker); To the Confederate Dead of Gloucester (within shouting distance of this marker); Werowocomoco (within shouting distance of this marker); Court House (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named In Memoriam John Clayton (within shouting distance of this marker); Gloucester in the Civil War (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gloucester.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 26, 2021

2. Gloucester Courthouse Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 763 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.