The German Element of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

The great Valley of Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley, lies near the present north-western border of the State, between the Blue Ridge and the first ranges of the Alleghanies. The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia is formed by the nine counties of Augusta, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Page, Warren, Frederick, and Clarke, of Virginia; with Berkeley, and Jefferson of West Virginia. The great majority of the German element was made up of the descendants of early immigrants who arrived in America prior to 1800, and came across the Potomac above Harper’s Ferry, from Maryland and Pennsylvania, with more to follow from New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and the East Virginia counties of Spottsylvania, Orange, and Madison. Following the period of the Revolutionary War, the German element in the Valley was considerably increased by Hessian soldiers who came over in the English service, and remained in America. This work, like many of this era, provides a descriptive account of the geography and topography of the Valley, early settlers and settlements, government institutions, wars, religion, education, and industry. The author’s scholarly approach provides the researcher with a wealth of information relative to the Valley, and includes an Appendix and a Bibliography, which outlines sources and research material. Genealogists will appreciate the various lists of testators, persons selling land, legislators, revolutionary pensioners, etc. Softcover, (1907), 2011, Appendix, Bibliography, Index, 328 pp.