The Legend VS The Map Study
THE LEGEND: A hurricane on October 19, 1749 washed up an 800 acre sandspit just west of Ocean View. With additional sand washed up in a storm in 1806, it became known as Willoughby Spit, after the seventeenth century Indian fighter and pioneer settler, Captain Thomas Willoughby. (Norfolk, The First Four Centuries, Thomas C. Parramore. page 75).
THE MAP STUDY: James R. Melchoir, Department of Geology, College of William and Mary conducted a study of old maps in January 1970 and concluded that the spit was formed by storms in the period between 1799 and 1807. The complete study is found in the Kirn Memorial Library's Sargeant Room, but the maps used are summarized below:
1. Tindall's map of the James River in 1608 shows an unnamed point of land but no spit.
2. A map dating from the late 1600's (displayed in the George Wythe house, Williamsburg) and a map dated 1719 by I. Senex show a small point of land extending slightly northward known as Willoughby's Point.
3. Tiddeman's map of 1737 shows Willoughby Point and Sewell's Point, but no spit.
4. Another map dated 1776 shows Willoughby Point and Sewell's Point, but no spit.
5. A navigation chart by Antoine Smith in 1778 with depth soundings shows Willoughby Point but no spit. Depth soundings are shown where the spit would have been.
6. A military sketch by William Faden in 1781 for General Cornwallis shows Willoughby Point but no spit.
7. A marine navigational chart by W. Heather dated 1799 shows no spit, but does show soundings over the top of where the spit would have been.
8. A map by Bishop James Madison (president of William and Mary) dated 1807 shows the spit clearly.
9. A map dated 1818 by James Kearney shows the spit very much like it is today.
CONCLUSION: The spit was formed between 1799 and 1807.
There were two significant hurricanes between 1799 and 1807. One in 1804 passed close to the Virginia Capes on Tuesday, October 9, 1804. A ship off Cape Henry reported a dreadful squall that struck at 1100 hours. "For two days a smart gale from the west and north set against tide, left many ships dry at wharves."
A hurricane in 1806 passed slightly east of Norfolk on Saturday, August 23, 1806. "It was the most violent and destructive storm of wind and rain ever known here. The wind thro' the day was from south to east. In the night it got more northward."
CONCLUSION: These storms plus others could have formed the spit.