> The discussion of books and Cabells reminded me that I recently > came across a > website that might be of interest when trying to ascertain where > the Fluvanna > River was as it appeared on some land patents (answer the James > River west of > a point I can't remember but somewhere around Louisa Co I think). For most of the 18th Century, geographers had not determined where the main channel of the James River began. During this time, the James River was officially known as the strech of the waterway that flowed downstream from the point where the Rivanna River entered it. This point of land was and is referred to as the "Point of Fork", and is at the Town of Columbia in Fluvanna County. The Rivanna headed up to Charlottesville, while the Fluvanna went towards Lynchburg. At some point, geographers realized that the main channel of the James was the one that went through the Blue Ridge, and that entire stretch of river became known as the James River. Today, the beginning of the James River is recognized as the point where the Calfpasture (or Cowpasture, I can't remember) River meets the Jackson River, near Longdale Furnace and Clifton Forge. Scott To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html