Leedstown, Virginia facts for kids

Leedstown is a small, historic community in Westmoreland County, in the U. S. state of Virginia. It's not a big city, but it played an important part in American history. This is where the famous Leedstown Resolutions were signed, which helped lead to the American Revolution.

A Look Back: Leedstown's History

Early Days and Name Changes

Long ago, even before the year 1678, a man named Edward Bray built some important buildings here. He built a brick church, an ordinary (which was like an inn or tavern), a ferry, and a wharf (a place where boats could dock). Back then, this spot was known as Rappahannock.

After 1678, people started calling it Bray's Wharf or Bray's Church. By 1742, it was simply known as Leeds. Later, it became known as Leedstown, the name we use today. The Virginia House of Burgesses, which was like the government assembly for the Virginia colony, officially made Leedstown a town in 1742.

Leedstown in Colonial Times

During the time of the American colonies, Leedstown was more than just a place for buying and selling goods. Important people visited often. For example, George Washington, who would later become the first President of the United States, came to Leedstown many times.

There was also a ferry here that carried people and goods across the river to Layton, a town in Essex County. This ferry was very important for travel and trade. It operated for a long time, until about 1927, when the Downings Bridge opened, connecting Leedstown to Tappahannock.

Changes After the Revolution

After the American Revolutionary War, shipping and trade at Leedstown began to slow down. Many farmers and landowners, called planters, started moving west. They went to new lands in what are now the states of Kentucky and Ohio. This meant less business for Leedstown.

However, in the late 1800s, Leedstown saw a small comeback. This was thanks to visits from the Rappahannock River Steamboat Line. Steamboats brought people and goods, helping the community a little.