London Town was situated near the Chesapeake Bay. It was surrounded by prime rich soil in the colonial period, on which planters grew many crops, especially the profitable tobacco, as well as other export crops such as hemp, flax, and wheat.  And people grew crops for local consumption, from corn and squash to many green vegetables and fruits. Because export and trade was so important, most cities and towns throughout history were built along waterways, and London Town was no different.

What might have been the advantages or disadvantages of this location for London Town's residents?

To help you better understand life in colonial London Town, you will be introduced to several children, including young Mehitable, James, Thomas, and Larkin. They lived and worked in their family's ordinary in 1709. Then you will meet Hannah and her family, who lived at London Town in 1739. For a time, Hannah's father was very successful and wealthy and the family enjoyed a comfortable life. Finally, you will meet Jacob, a boy enslaved by the Brown family in 1762. The Browns lived in a large, brick tavern that still stands in London Town. As you read the stories based on these children who once lived in London Town, think about how and why their lives were similar and different from each other's and from your own.

1785 Map - London Town in Yellow (click on map to zoom in and out)
The Filson Historical Society