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Charles Parish Chapter National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR or DAR) is named for Charles River Shire, one of the eight original shires of Virginia formed in 1634. The shire was located southeast of Jamestown Settlement (1607) on the Virginia Peninsula, near the York and Poquoson Rivers and their tributaries. The parish became part of York County by mandate of Charles I of England in March 1642/43. First named New Pocoson [sic] Parish or New Poquoson Parish (1642/43), some sources say that the name may have been changed to New Towson Parish about 1650, and was then renamed Charles Parish before July 8, 1702. So it remained until the close of Charles Parish registers in 1789.
The Register of Charles Parish, York County, Virginia, contains some of the oldest colonial Virginia church records in existence today. Some Charles Parish Chapter, NSDAR, members can find baptism, marriage, and burial records of their ancestors in the Charles Parish Register. The monument shown marks the former location of Charles Parish Church, and remnants of the church’s foundation remain there to be seen. Along Yorktown Road, in the Tabb area of York County just east of the intersection of Pleasant Dale Lane, can also be found an old cemetery, shaded by old trees and containing tombstones of early settlers of the area.

Fun Facts About Poquoson, Virginia

Did You Know?

That Poquoson Avenue was called "the path to the church." (Church meaning the Old Charles Parish Church that was located in Tabb.)

The corduroy roads (boards laid side by side) were chic in the 1920s.

That on May 16, 1958, Wayne Martin, the pitcher of the home team "Yankees" threw the first pitch to start organized Little League Baseball in the town of Poquoson. The Yankees, coached by John "Tiny" Firth and Everette "Big Penny" Martin, won by scoring seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to beat the Braves seven to six. Martin was the winning pitcher.

The first movie theater in Poquoson was located at 1279 Poquoson Avenue and was affectionately known as the "Thimble".

The first telephone service was operated by Joe Moore from his home at 767 Poquoson Avenue. He kept the lines and telephone in repair. Most of the phones were primarily located in business establishments and the children of the proprietors often acted as "messengers" to deliver messages to the residents in their respective areas. Since all incoming calls rang on every phone, you only answered when your particular ring was heard, e.g., one short and two longs or two shorts and one long.

The Forrest Road used to be "Barrel Factory Road."

Hudgins Road used to be "Billy Goat Road."

Before it was Hunt's Point it was Phettyplace Cloyse's Point.

Wythe Creek Road was called "The New Road."

Weston Cemetery traditionally called "Western", however, deeds show that William Weston sold the additional property to the cemetery on the condition that it be named "Weston". Situated originally on Parsons land, it contains some of the earliest marked graves in Poquoson, including one believed to be that of Martha Holloway Parsons, who died in 1798. This rough fieldstone marker inscribed "MP - 1798" has now vanished.

Messick Point was named in the early land grants as "Boar Quarter Point." Around 1800, when Zadock Messick came down the bay from Maryland's Eastern Shore, he established a home and a business on the point. It then became known as "Messick's Point" and the whole general area became the Messick Post Office district. It is now a significant part of Poquoson's seafood industry.