During the reign of the Georges, from 1714-1830, the future kings were forbidden to marry English royaly or Catholics. German princesses were the most suitable source for wives. Frederick, oldest son of King George II, married Augusta of Saxe-Gotha in 1735.
By 1738, the colonists in Virginia honored Frederick and his wife Augusta (the Princess of Wales) by naming two new counties after them, Frederick and Augusta. Both counties were so far on the edge of development that it took until 1743 for Frederick to have enough tithables to operate, and it took Augusta until 1745 to become operational. For seven years, residents of Augusta had to keep on travelling to the county seat of Orange to probate wills, record deeds for land, and try civil or criminal suits.
