Eric, so very true. Apportionment as we know it today bore no resemblance to then. Wes, the district numbers of today probably have very little (if any) correlation to then. As to franchise (right to vote) in 1817 not even leaseholders had a right to vote. Only white males over 21 who owned land (how much varies by statute). This was a big issue of contention at the Convention of 1829 when lease-holders were finally enfranchised. A lot of how the Senate and House districts (and for that matter Congressional Districts) were apportioned had more to do with land ownership and nearly nothing to do with population.
But as Eric says, the district boundaries should be found in Hening. They did not change all that often, and you may have to start with the 1776 convention and move forward in time.
Craig Kilby
P.S. This would make a great article with maps if you are so inclined.
> On Oct 22, 2015, at 4:49 PM, Eric Grundset <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> It would be described in an Act of Assembly from the session before than that reapportioned the state, although at that time it wasn't done the way we do it now with one-man, one-vote for the House of Delegates. The Senate was done differently than now too with both having lopsided representation for eastern counties at the expense of the western ones -- sectionalism!
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Oct 22, 2015, at 3:27 PM, Wesley Pippenger <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>> I see that Virginia's 17th District today is roughly Louisa County and
>> above. Where do I find what the coverage of District 17 was in 1817 when
>> Hon. James Pleasants was in office?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Wesley E. Pippenger
>>
>> Little Egypt
>>
>> P.O. Box 309
>>
>> 515 Faulconer Circle
>>
>> Tappahannock, VA 22560
>>
>> (804) 443-3482 home
>>
>> (202) 550-6788 cell
>>
>> http://www.wesleypippenger.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ______________________________________
>> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
>> http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
>
> ______________________________________
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
> http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
______________________________________
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
|
