Timelines

Smithfield Crossing 8.29.1864.2 e1533907986947

1798

Establishment of Smithfield

The town of Smithfield, present day Middleway, was legally established by an act passed by the Virginia General Assembly. The town had been unofficially "established" in 1734 by John Smith, Sr., and his two sons John, Jr., and Rees who had built grist and hemp mills on Turkey Run. The mills currated a small farming and milling community in the area. The town is famous for the Legend of Wizard Clip (see video). For more information on the history of Middleway, visit the Middleway Conservancy.

✕

Timeline Help

A chronological listing of historical events which may have affected the lives of residents in eastern Jefferson County and surrounding areas.
1Where is this information from?
The vast majority of these accounts are taken from newspaper articles of local papers of the time period.
2How can I apply this information to my own research?

We use this timeline to help us understand the events that may have affected or shaped a person's life. Here are some ideas as to how this timeline may help your further your own research:

  • View events that may have affected a particular ancestor or their family members.
  • Uncover events which an ancestor may have participated in, leading to more sources of information.
  • Discover more about the history and culture of the area in which an ancestor lived.
  • Evaluate possible concerns and popular pastimes of an ancestor.
3I want to view a timeline of events in a specific area.
Click on "Location" in the "Filter by" bar. This will drop down a list of locations which currently have happenings in the timeline. Clicking on a location will show only events related to that specific area. Note that clicking on a county or state will show all happenings related to any location within that county (and any county within a state).
4I want to see timeline items between two years.
Click on "Years" in the "Filter by" bar. This will drop down a form which accepts a starting year and an ending year. Filling out both fields will display timeline items which took place in and between the two years. Filling out only one field will display all timeline items beginning at or ending on the years inputted.