17 Photos of Historic Dameron Marsh in Virginia

Dameron Marsh in Virginia is a 316 acre promontory that lies along the northeastern point of the Northern Neck of Virginia just above where the Rappahannock River empties into the Chesapeake. It is a beautifully serene wildlife area and nature preserve that takes some driving to get to, but definitely worth the trip. Especially if your surname is either Dameron or Damron!

The Damerons / Damrons are not a populous bunch, but that surname has definitely been in the United States going back to Colonial times. It’s highest distribution is in the South, ranging from Virginia to Kentucky, to North Carolina, to Tennessee, to Texas. The first Dameron was a Lawrence Dameron who first patented land in Northumberland County, Viriginia in 1652. According to the Dameron-Damron Family Association (DDFA) all of the Damerons, or Damrons, in the US are in some way descended from him.

In fact, just outside of the Dameron Marsh itself is a small cemetery dedicated to the first Damerons in Virginia, along with a headstone dedicated to the memory of Lawrence Dameron.

Dameron Marsh is a bit tricky to get to, but one of the most beautiful country road drives I’ve ever taken. I got to drive out there with my cousin Sunday, July 1st, 2018. You have to first get to Warsaw, VA out on the Northern Neck which is a quick jaunt over the Rappahannock Bridge from Tappahannock – that drive over the bridge is sensational! From there you head straight down the Neck, either down highway 3 to Kilmarnock or via the 360 towards Burgess.

There’s a few twists and turns to eventually get you down to Guarding Point Lane at the end of which you’ll see a old house off in the distance on the right-hand side of the road. From there you just keep going straight until you see the state DCR signs.

There’s a small trail that you can take down to the shoreline. Sometimes, like when I was there, the gate is closed and you cannot drive down to the water’s edge. It’s a nice walk though. In the summer it can get pretty muggy but the overwhelming beauty of the trees and the peaceful sounds makes is all worth it. It was an almost spiritual walk down that path for me as I had time to commune with my ancestors. It was a very special day for me, especially when I noticed the Lawrence Dameron memorial cemetery and got to pay my respects to a very special family name of mine.

You can visit the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s website for more information. My photos were taken July 01, 2018. Read more about Virginia in my article here on the Family History Foundation. Yeah buddy!

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