Tappahannock Magistrate is where you can find the magistrate of Essex county.

The town was basically established in the early 1600's when a settler opened the “Hobbs His Hole” waterhouse and trading post here, named for himself. For a short time the town even took on the name New Plymouth. When a local land owner sold the British crown a tract of land for a port of entry, the town site was established. An act of the Virginia Legislature at James City around 1680 formalized the town. Today a number of the early homes still remain in Tappahannock’s Historic Landmark District. Some of the structures you might see on a walking tour of this district are Scots Arms Tavern, Ritchie House, Henley House, Beale Memorial Baptist Church, Anderton House, Customs House, McCall-Brockenbrough House and the Old Debtor's Prison.