Bruce
Interesting using "Notes..." as a gazetteer. I do have a question about it.
My copy  which is a 1982 version in paperback does not have Hobbes listed in
the index. Did yours? Just curious as to how you found that in the book.

On Thu, Feb 10, 2011 at 11:52 AM, Bruce Terrell <[log in to unmask]>wrote:

> I did a good bit of searching and can't find an answer.  This probably
> isn't
> much help but I would venture that it was probably both.  Hobbes (His) Hole
> was established in 1680 from the existing small town in 1680.  It was named
> for the fact that it had a nearshore deep water anchorage.  Jefferson in
> his
> "Notes on Virginia" also reported 4 fathoms depth at Hobbs Hole.  It was
> also adjacent to Hoskins creek.  I think it was William Tatham (c.1800) who
> reported most early tobacco commerce done by lighters (ususally
> flat-bottomed scows) to ships anchored in deeper water.  The "hole" likely
> make that place a desireable port for lighterage.
>
> By the early 18th century the location is alternately called Hobbs Hole and
> Tappahannock when it is designated a tobacco inspection wharehouse.  This
> suggests a higher rate of commerce.  The deep water would also allow direct
> docking of seagoing vessels if there was a wharf. I conducted some map
> research from sources on line
> (http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/historicalmaps/us_states/virginia/index.html -
> is
> a good one).  Couldn't find anything with enough detail to indicate
> wharves.
> Some source indicate that there were wharves by the time of the Civil War.
>
> If you are looking for archaeological evidence for lighterage, I would
> expect that would be hard to prove.  I would expect that untangling
> different generations of wharves would require underwater archaeology and
> sampling of the timbers for dendrochronology testing.
> Regards,
> Bruce Terrell
>
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-- 
Douglas Burnett
Satellite Beach
FL

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