About this blog

Hi. I started this blog to talk about history – the history of the Richmond, Virginia, region, as well as the history of my family. The two subjects are more intertwined than I realized when I moved here.

I’m Tony Wharton. I was born in Kentucky and raised in South Florida, and I am happy to say that I have lived in Virginia, with one interruption, since 1986. I worked as a daily newspaper reporter for 20 years, but I’ve freelanced for some years now.

I am deeply interested in history, so it’s not surprising that I began researching my family’s story several years ago. It didn’t take long for me to realize that we’ve been here a long time – I’ve firmly documented my direct line to the mid-1700s – and that my many cousins have experienced and shaped every imaginable facet of American history.

It took me a little longer to understand that our story loops through Virginia over and over. When I moved here in pursuit of a good job, I had no notion that I was treading familiar ground for the Whartons. That ancestor from the 1700s? He was born in Lunenburg County, about an hour southwest of here. And more than once, in the years since, I’ve stumbled over other connections that I’ll talk about on these pages.

Not everything here directly relates to my family history. I’m interested in good stories, most of all, and that’s what I want to tell. Sometimes there will be a connection to my family, sometimes not. Sometimes a story will remind me of something else I want to talk about.

Finally, this is an experiment, a work in progress. Have patience with me, and let me know what you like and what you don’t. Don’t be a stranger – there’s a good chance we’re related!