Williamsburg, the oldest incorporated town of Virginia, and capital of James City county, lies near the James River, 48 miles by rail ESE. of Richmond. Here are William and Mary College (q.v.) and the Eastern State Lunatic Asylum. Founded in 1632, it was the colonial and state capital till 1779. The town was taken by McClellan after severe fighting on May 5-6, 1862. Pop. 1500.
Williamsburg
Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 10: Swastika to Zyrianovsk and Index, p. 668
Source scan(s): p. 0697