> 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

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