Gwynn's Island facts for kids
Gwynn's Island is a cool island located in the Chesapeake Bay. It's off the coast of Virginia's Middle Peninsula. You can find it in the northeast part of Mathews County, just south of where the Piankatank River meets the bay. A special swing bridge connects the island to the rest of the county over Milford Haven. The towns of Gwynn and Grimstead are both on the island.
Contents
A Look Back: History of Gwynn's Island
Early Inhabitants and First Settlers
Did you know people lived on Gwynn's Island a very long time ago? Archeologists have found signs that people were here as far back as ten thousand years ago! Later, in 1642, a man named Hugh Gwynn from Jamestown bought the island. He and his family were the first English settlers to live there.
Lord Dunmore's Stay
During the American Revolution, Gwynn's Island became a temporary home for Lord Dunmore. He was the very last royal governor of Virginia. After the city of Norfolk was burned, Lord Dunmore used Gwynn's Island as his base. However, a sickness called smallpox spread among his group. Also, American patriots attacked them. Because of these problems, Lord Dunmore and his people left the island in the summer of 1776.
A Tricky Experiment
In July 1776, during the attacks on Gwynn's Island, something unusual happened. A soldier named Captain Dohickey Arundel was in charge of two large cannons. He wanted to try out a new kind of weapon he invented. It was an experimental wooden mortar. Even though other officers told him not to, he decided to fire it. Sadly, the mortar exploded right away, and Captain Arundel was killed. He was the only person on the patriot side to be hurt during those attacks.
Gwynn's Island Today
Today, Gwynn's Island is a peaceful place. A resident named Thomas Edwards is the Director of the Gwynn's Island Museum. He has been leading the museum since 2015. The museum helps people learn all about the island's long and interesting history.
