the london company lost its franchise and virginia became a royal colony in 1624. in 1634, the colony was divided into shires, soon renamed counties, a term still in use in virginia 350 years later. adam thorowgood is credited using the name of his home in england when helping name new norfolk county when it was formed from elizabeth city county in 1637. the following year, new norfolk county was split into upper norfolk county (soon renamed nansemond county) and lower norfolk county, which was still quite large, encompassing the entire area now within the modern cities of portsmouth, norfolk, chesapeake, and virginia beach. thorowgood's 1635 patent covered of land. much of the land between lynnhaven river and seawell's point was owned by three men: captain thomas willoughby, francis mason and adam thorowgood.