In 1767 the Virginia House of Burgesses divided Halifax County to create Pittsylvania County, naming it for William Pitt, First Earl of Chatham, whose defense of America before Parliament in 1765 had earned the gratitude of the colonists. The county seat was to be located near the headwaters of the Sandy River and named Chatham. However, the community now known as Callands was known as Pittsylvania Courthouse during the 10 years it existed. No written records describe a courthouse or its location, though the Callands Store on Sago Road has traditionally been considered a possible site. The 1767 Clerk’s Office is documented.