Gwynn's Island, Mathews County, Virginia
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Location: Mathews, Virginia, United States
Surnames/tags: black_heritage slavery
History
Gwynn’s Island is situated in Mathews County, Virginia, at the mouth of the Piankatank River on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay approximately 80 miles east of Richmond and the same distance north of Norfolk by road. The formation of Mathews County originated from the establishment of a very large York County in 1634. In 1651, Gloucester County broke off from York County to the south. For nearly 140 years, current Mathews County was a part of Gloucester County until 1790.
Around 1610, Hugh Gwynn arrived in Jamestown. The name Gwynn means “white” and can be traced back as direct descendants of Caractacus, son of King Cymbeline, one of the early kings in Wales.
Around 1611, the legend begins, Gwynn was exploring the area of the Piankatank River when he heard cries for help from an Indian girl who had fallen from her canoe. He dove in and pulled her to safety, saving her life. When asked her name she replied “Pocahontas, daughter of Chief Powhatan." In gratitude for saving her life, she gave the island to Hugh Gwynn. [1]
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