Skip to main content

Full text of "Encyclopedia of Virginia biography"

See other formats


This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on library shelves before it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project 
to make the world's books discoverable online. 

It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subject 
to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books 
are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture and knowledge that's often difficult to discover. 

Marks, notations and other marginalia present in the original volume will appear in this file - a reminder of this book's long journey from the 
publisher to a library and finally to you. 

Usage guidelines 

Google is proud to partner with libraries to digitize public domain materials and make them widely accessible. Public domain books belong to the 
public and we are merely their custodians. Nevertheless, this work is expensive, so in order to keep providing this resource, we have taken steps to 
prevent abuse by commercial parties, including placing technical restrictions on automated querying. 

We also ask that you: 

+ Make non-commercial use of the files We designed Google Book Search for use by individuals, and we request that you use these files for 
personal, non-commercial purposes. 

+ Refrain from automated querying Do not send automated queries of any sort to Google's system: If you are conducting research on machine 
translation, optical character recognition or other areas where access to a large amount of text is helpful, please contact us. We encourage the 
use of public domain materials for these purposes and may be able to help. 

+ Maintain attribution The Google "watermark" you see on each file is essential for informing people about this project and helping them find 
additional materials through Google Book Search. Please do not remove it. 

+ Keep it legal Whatever your use, remember that you are responsible for ensuring that what you are doing is legal. Do not assume that just 
because we believe a book is in the public domain for users in the United States, that the work is also in the public domain for users in other 
countries. Whether a book is still in copyright varies from country to country, and we can't offer guidance on whether any specific use of 
any specific book is allowed. Please do not assume that a book's appearance in Google Book Search means it can be used in any manner 
anywhere in the world. Copyright infringement liability can be quite severe. 

About Google Book Search 

Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers 
discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web 



at |http : //books . google . com/ 



UMVERSITY OF VIRGINIfi LIBRfiRY 



)(eei203651 




TTT- 



I,,l?P:vVVi:i: 



r 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



ENCYCLOPEDIA 



of 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF 

LYON GARDINER TYLER, LL. D. 

President of William and Mary College, Williamsburg; Author of ''Parties and Patronage 

in the United States," ''The Cradle of the Republic/' "Williamsburg, the Old 

Colonial Capital," "England in America," "The Letters and Times of 

the Tylers," etc.; Vice-President of the Virginia Historical 

Society, Member of the Maryland Historical 

Society, and various other societies. 



VOLUME II 



NEW YORK 

LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY 

1915 



Digitized by 



Google 



F 
225" 

V z 



Copyright, 1915 
Lewis Historical Publishing Company 



Digitized by 



Google 



PREFACE 

As the aim of the first vohime of this work was to present the biographies of all 
those who had any connection with the founding of the Colony of Virginia down to 
the American Revolution, so the aim of this second volume is to present the biog- 
raphies of the leading figures in the history of the State approximately down to the 
War for Southern Independence, 1861. For this purpose the book, like the first volume, 
is divided into eight parts, under the following headings: I. The Fathers of the Revo- 
lution ; II. Governors of the State; III. Judges of the Supreme Court of Appeals; IV. 
Presidents of the United States; V. Judges of the United States Supreme Court; VI. 
United States Senators; VII. House of Representatives; VIII. Prominent Persons. 

Amid such a wide range uf persons as is called for by the last division, the Author 
does not assume that he has been always wise in his selection. 

The Author. 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



l-FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION 

FROM THE TWOPENNY ACT (1767) TO THE FEDERAL CONVENTION 
OF PHILADELPHIA (1787). 



Adams, Thomas, son of Ebenezer Adams, 
ct Xew Kent county, Virginia, and Tabitha 
Cocke, his wife, and grandson of Richard 
Adams, of Abridge, county Essex, England, 
citizen and merchant tailor of London, was 
born in New Kent county, Virginia, about 
1730. and was clerk of Henrico county. He 
had large business interests with England, 
and went there in 1762 and remained till 
1774. when he returned, and was one of the 
citizens to sign the association entered into 
by the "late members of the house of bur- 
gesses." May 27, 1774. He was chairman 
of the Xew Kent county committee of safety 
in 1774. member of the old congress. 1778, 
and signed the articles of confederation be- 
tween the states, removed to Augusta 
county. Virginia, and represented that dis- 
trict from 1784 to 1788. He married Eliza- 
beth Fauntleroy. widow of his first cousin. 
Howler Cocke, Jr.. and left no issue. His 
will, dated October 12, 1785, was proved in 
Augusta county, Virginia, October 22. 1788. 

Banister, John, was a son of John Banis- 
ter, and grandson of Rev. John Banister, an 
eminent botanist, who was born in England, 
and emigrated about the latter quarter of 
the seventeenth century from the West In- 
dies to Virginia. He was educated in Eng- 
land, and studied law at the Temple. He 
was burgess from Dinwiddie in the assem- 



blies of 1765, 1766-1768. 1769-1771, 1772- 
1774 and 1775. a distinguished member of 
the conventions of 1775 and 1776, and of the 
assembly of 1777. member of the Continental 
Congress. 1777- 1779. and one of the framers 
and a signer of the articles of confederation. 
In 1 78 1 he was lieutenant-colonel of cavalry 
under General Robert Lawson, and during 
the invasion of Virginia was active in re- 
pelling the enemy. Proprietor of a large 
estate, he suffered repeated and heavy losses 
from the depredations of the British. At 
one time, it is said, he supplied a body of 
troops with blankets at his own expense. A 
number of his letters published in the 
*'Rland Papers.*' and in Sparks' "Revolu- 
tionary Correspondence." show him as one 
of the best writers of his day. He resided 
at " r»attersea," near Petersburg, and died in 
1787. He married (first) Patsey. daughter 
of Colonel Thtodorick Bland, of "Cawsons," 
and (second) Anne, daughter of John Blair, 
ot Williamsburg, president of the Virginia 
council. 

Blair, John, Sr. (q. v.. i-66). 

Blair, John, Jr., born at Williamsburg, 
Virginia. 1732, son of Hon. John Blair, pres- 
ident of the Virginia council. After gradu- 
ating from William and Mary he studied 
law at the Temple in London. England, and 
commenced practice at Williamsburg. He 



Digitized by 



Google 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



was a member of the house of burgesses for 
the college of William and Mary at the as- 
semblies of 1766-1768, 1769, and 1769-1771, 
when he resigned to become clerk of. the 
council. In the convention of May, 1776, he 
again represented the college, and was a 
member of the committee which in June, 
1776, reported the declaration of rights and 
state constitution. Upon the establishment 
ot the judiciary he was elected judge of the 
general court, of which he became chief jus- 
tice, and in 1780 a judge of the high court of 
t hancery. He was a member of the conven- 
tion, at Philadelphia, in 1787, which framed 
the Federal constitution, voting for its adop 
tion, and subsequently for its ratification in 
the state convention of 1788. In 1789, by 
appointment of Washington, he became a 
justice of the United States supreme court, 
and held his seat until 1796, when he re- 
signed. He died at Williamsburg, August 
31, 1800. Among the minor offices held by 
him was that of bursar of the college. 

Bland, Richard, son of Richard Bland, of 
••Jordan's Point," Prince George county, and 
Elizabeth Randolph, his wife, was bom in 
Williamsburg, May 6. 1710. He was edu- 
cated at William and Mary College and at 
the University of Edinburgh, and for many 
years after 1748 was a leading member of 
the house of burgesses. In 1753 he con- 
demned Governor Dinwiddic's attempt to 
impose a pistole for land grants as taxation 
without the people's assent, and in 1757 was 
the author and champion of the Two Penny 
Act, which, in claiming for Virginians the 
right of controlling their own taxation, was 
the great preliminary step to the formal 
measures of the American revolution. In 
1764 he wrote a pamphlet defensive of his 



cause entitled "the Colonels Dismounted," 
in which he asserted the exclusive authority 
of the general assembly of Virginia over all 
matters of domestic concern. When the 
Stamp Act was proposed the same year, he 
opposed it with great zeal upon the floor of 
the house of burgesses and was one of the 
cc«mmittee of nine which, in December. 1764, 
prepared the memorials to King, lords and 
commons. He. nevertheless, opposed the 
resolutions of Patrick Henry in May. 1765, 
on the ground that the British governmeni 
had not been given sufficient time to re- 
spond to the previous protest. In 1766. he 
showed, however, that his opposition to the 
r.ritish scheme of taxation was not dimin- 
i.^hed by publishing his pamphlet entitled an 
"Enquiry into the Rights of the British 
Colonies." In this he emphasized the views 
expressed in his •^Colonels Dismounted." 
taking the ground that Virginia was an in- 
dependent kingdom, under no subjection to 
parliament, and only connected with Eng- 
land by the tie of the Crown. The doctrine 
thus advanced was considered a "prodigious 
innovation" in most parts of the country, 
though in course of time the patriots came 
very generally to rest their cause upon it. 
His knowledge of history exhibited in the 
pamphlet gained for him the appellation of 
"The Virginia Antiquary." 

After the repeal of the Stamp Act, Bland 
took equally strong grounds against the 
Revenue Act of 1767. He was chairman of 
the committee of the whole house which re- 
ported the resolutions of April 7, 1768, pro- 
testing against the act; and when the gov- 
ernment of Great Britain demanded the ar- 
lest of the patriots of Masschusetts he was 
one of the leading spirits of the legislature 



Digitized by 



Google 



FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION 



in bringing about the adoption of the pro- 
test of May 8, 1769, and was the first person 
tv. sign the non-importation agreement en- 
tered into at that time. Although new 
loaders after this sprang to the front, in the 
persons of Patrick Henry, Richard Henry 
I.ec, Thomas Jefferson and George Mason, 
Bland continued an able support of the 
cause of American liberty. In 1773 he was 
appointed one of the committee of corre- 
spondence, and in August, 1774. he was ap- 
pointed a delegate to the first Congress 
which met at Philadelphia, and was re- 
elected till August. 1775, when he declined. 
He was a member of the Virginia conven- 
tion of March, 1775, ^"^ ^^ ^^^ organization 
o^ the committee of safety, in July, 1775, he 
was appointed one of its members. In De- 
cember of that year he was a member of the 
convention which sat at Richmond, and in 
May, 1776. he was a member of the conven- 
tion which declared for independence and 
adopted the first state constitution. Thus he 
held continued public service throughout the 
whole revolutionary period — from the Two 
Penny Act to the Declaration of Independ- 
ence. He died in Williamsburg, October 
28. 1776. He married twice, (first) Anne, 
daughter of Peter Poythress; (second) 
Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin Harrison. 

Bland, Theodorick« son of Colonel Theo- 
dorick Bland, of "Cawsons,*' Prince George 
county, was born March 21, 175 1. At the 
age of eleven he was sent to England and 
studied at Wakefield, in Yorkshire, after- 
wards pursuing a medical course at the Uni- 
versity of Edinburgh, and in 1764 returned 
to America. He was among the first in Vir- 
ginia who opposed the practice of medicine 
without a license. When Lord Dunmore's 



seizure of the colony's arms and ammuni- 
tion occurred, Bland is said to have been 
one of those who- succeeded in regaining 
some of this property. Bland continued to 
practice his profession until the outbreak of 
the war of the revolution, when he volun- 
teered and was appointed captain of the first 
troop of cavalry raised in Virginia. As soon 
a? a regiment had been completed he was 
made lieutenant-colonel, and afterward colo- 
nel. He distinguished himself at the battle 
or Brandywine. and at Saratoga was placed 
in charge of the British prisoners sent to 
Charlottesville, Virginia. In 1779, Colonel 
Bland was in command of the tr6ops sta- 
tioned at Albemarle barracks. Virginia. In 
1780 he was elected to Congress, and con- 
tinued in that body three years. He then 
returned to Virginia, and was a member of 
the state legislature. In 1788 he opposed 
the adoption ot the Federal constitution, be- 
ing of the opinion that it was repugnant to 
the interests of his country*. He was. how- 
ever, chosen 10 represent the district in 
which he lived, in the (first) Congress under 
this same instrument. When the a.ssunip- 
tion of the state debt was under consi-ler- 
ation in March. 1790. Colonel Bland spoke 
in favor of such assumption, in this respect 
differing from the opinion of all his col- 
le.igues. He is accredited with considerable 
talent for poetical writing. He died in New 
York City, June i, 1790. at the time of the 
session of Congress. He was buried in 
Trinity churchyard. He married (first) 
Susan Fitzhugh: (second) Mary Dainger- 
f^eld. 

Braxton, Carter, son of George Braxton, 
a wealthy planter, and Mary Carter, his 
wife, daughter of Hon. Robert Carter, presi- 



Digitized by 



Google 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Oent of the Colonial council, was born at 
*'Xe%vington/' King and Queen county, Sep- 
tember 10. 1736, and was educated at Wil- 
liam and Mary College. He married, in 
1755. Judith, daughter of Christopher Rob- 
inson, who soon died, and he lived abroad 
until 1760. when he returned and married 
Elizabeth Corbin. daughter of Hon. Richard 
Corbin, the receiver -general of the customs. 
He served as £ burgess from King William 
ccunty in the assemblies of 1761-1765, 1766- 
176S, 1769, 1769-1771, and 1775. and in the 
conventions ot August, 1774: March, 1775: 
July. 1775, and December, 1775. When Pat- 
rick Henry marched with his troops to Wil- 
liamsburg, in .\pril. 1775. to demand satis- 
fiiction for the seizure of the gunpowder, 
liraxtun was instrumental in obtaining from 
his father-in-law. Richard Corbin, a draft 
for the value of the same. In July. 1775, he 
was made a member of the committee of 
safety for the colony, and in August follow- 
ing was elected a member of Congress to 
succeed Peyton Randolph, deceased. He 
was conservative in his opinions, and drafted 
IP 1776 a form of government for Virginia, 
which was too aristocratic in its features to 
suit the more advanced patriots. He, never- 
theless, signed the Declaration of Independ- 
ence, and throughout the revolution was a 
firm and consistent patriot. He served in the 
house of delegates from 1777 to 1785, and 
was a member of two governor's councils, 
from 1786 to 1 79 1, and from 1794 to 1797. 
He died at "Elsing Green,*' King William 
county, October 10. 1797. 

Brown, John, son of Rev. John Brown, a 
graduate of Princeton in 1749, and a Pres- 
byterian minister, was born at Staunton. 
Virginia. September 12, 1757. He first went 



to Princeton College, and remained there till 
1779. when with the retreat of the American 
aimy he repaired to Williamsburg. X'irginia, 
where he studied the natural sciences under 
President James Madison, of the college, 
nnd law under George Wythe. After leav- 
ing college he entered upon the practice of 
ihc law at Staunton, and from 1787 to 1789 
wns a member of the Continental Congress. 
He soon after removed to Frankfurt, Ken- 
tucky, where he was elected as a representa- 
tive of the first United States Congress, 
serving till 1792. when he was elected 
I'nited States senator from Kentucky. He 
was re-elected in 1799, and served altogether 
f('urteen years. He voted to locate the ieat 
of j^overnment on the Potomac. He died 
in l->ankfort. Kentucky, August 28. 1837. 
B. Gratz Brown, his grandson, was a candi- 
i!ate for the vice-presidency in 1872. 

Bullitt, Cuthbert, son of BcSnjamin and 
Elizabeth (Harrison) Bullitt, was born in 
Prince William county, about 1740, studied 
l.iw and practiced, was a member of the 
county committee of safety in 1774-177O, 
and a member of the convention of May 6, 
1776. and of the house of delegates in 1777 
and 1787. He was also a member of the 
convention of 1788, called to consider the 
new constitution. On December 27, 1788, 
he was elected a judge of the general- court. 
He married Helen Scott, daughter of Rev. 
james Scott. He was brother of Colonel 
Thomas Bullitt, of the American revolution. 
He died in Prince William county. August 
27 1791. 

Cabell, William (q. v., i-202). 

Carr, Dabney, son of John Carr. of "Bear 
Ca.stle," on Elk Run, Louisa countv, and 



Digitized by 



Google 



FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION 



Barbara Overton, his wife, daughter of Cap- 
tain James Overton, was born October 26, 
1743, was schooled at William and Mary 
College, showed great brilliancy of mind, 
and was elected to the assembly of 1772- 
1774, from Louisa county. Here he pre- 
sented the resolutions for the appointment 
of committees of correspondence — the first 
great step towards a union of the colonies. 
His brilliant beginning was, however, cut 
short by death, May 16, 1773. He married, 
July 20, 17O5, Martha JeflFerson, sister of 
Thomas Jefferson, and was father of Judge 
Dabney Carr, of the supreme court of ap- 
peals. 

Carrington, Edward* son of Colonel 
George Carrington, and Anne Mayo, his 
wife, eldest daughter of Colonel William 
Mayo, was born in Goochland county, Vir- 
ginia, February 11, 1749; was a member of 
the county committee in 1775-1776; served 
ix: the revolutionary army ; was a member of 
the Continental Congress, 1785-1786; ap- 
pointed by Washington, in 1789, marshal of 
the United States district court of Virginia ; 
was foreman of the jury in the trial of 
Aaron Burr for treason in 1807; died in 
Richmond, Virginia, October 28, 1810. 

Carrington, Paul, was born in Virginia. 
March 16, 1733, son of George and Anne 
(Mayo) Carrington, and grandson of Dr. 
Paul and Henningham (Codrington) Car- 
rington. After 1748 he went to Lunenburg 
and studied law under Colonel Clement 
Read. He ocgan to practice in 1754 and 
was licensed in 1755 ^^ married, October 
I. 1755. Margaret, daughter of Colonel 
Clement Read. In 1756 he was appointed 
King's attorney of Bedford county. He was 
m.ijor of the militia in 1761, and colonel in 



1764. He represented Charlotte county in 
the house of burgesses from its formation in 
March, 1765, until 1775. I" ^77^ he became 
county lieutenant and presiding justice of 
Charlotte county, and in the same year was 
clerk of Halifax county He was a member 
of all the conventions from 1774 to 1776, and 
chairman of the Charlotte county committee 
which endorsed the resolutions of the Con- 
tniental Congress. He was a member of the 
committee of safety, 1775-76. On January 
23, 1778, he was elected judge of the first 
general court, and filled the office until 1807. 
He died in Charlotte county, January 23, 
1818. 

Carter, Landon, son of Robert Carter, 
president of the Virginia council, and Eliza- 
beth Landon, youngest daughter of Thomas 
Landon, of Crcdnal, county Hereford, Eng- 
land, was born June 7, 1709; educated at 
William and Mary College; resided at 
"Sabine Hall,** Richmond county, and was 
a member of the house of burgesses from 
17.^8 to 1764 inclusive: was a strong de- 
fender of the Two Penny Act in 1757; en- 
gaged in a pamphlet war with Dr. John 
Camm, the head of the clergy, in which he 
took the ground that "necessity made its 
own law*'; in 1764 he was a member of the 
committee which reported the remonstrances 
;igainst the Stamp Act and claimed to have 
been largely concerned in drafting these 
great papers. He spent the rest of his life 
in retirement at his splendid mansion, 
"Sabine Hall,'* in Richmond county, on the 
Rappahannock river. He frequently con- 
tributed articles on scientific subjects to the 
"American Philosophical Transactions/' and 
tc the newspapers, and kept a diary. He 
was chairman of the Richmond county corn- 



Digitized by 



Google 



8 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



mittee of safety, but, while he strongly con- 
dtmned the arbitrary action of Great 
britain. he deplored the action of the Vir- 
ginia convention in 1776, in declaring inde- 
pendence for fear of falling into a worse 
situation under a Republican government. 
He. nevertheless, patriotically cast in his 
fcirtunes with his country. He married 
three times: (first) Elizabeth, daughter of 
John Wormeley. of **Rosegill/' (second) 
Maria, daughter of William Byrd, of **West- 
over/' and (third) Elizabeth Beale. daughter 
ot Thomas and Elizabeth Beale. of Rich- 
mond county. By his first wife he was father 
of Robert Wormeley Carter, a member of 
the house of burgesses. 

Cary» Archibald* son of Henry Gary, of 
'Ampthill,'* (Thesterfield county, and Anne 
Edwards, his wife, was born in Williams- 
burg. January 24. 1721. was educated at 
William and Mary College, and was a mem- 
ber of all the assemblies from 1756 to 1776, 
ond of all the revolutionary conventions of 
1774, 1775 and 1776. He was a member of 
the committee of nine appointed by the 
house of burgesses in November, 1764, to 
draw up remonstrances against the Stamp 
Act proposed by Lord Grenville, but with 
Pendleton, Bland, Wythe, Harrisoii and 
other leading patriots voted in May, 1765, 
against the resolutions of Patrick Henry, 
deeming them premature and unfair to the 
British government. In 1773 he was a mem- 
ber of the committee of correspondence. In 
the convention of May, 1776, he had the 
honor to be chairman of the committee of 
the whole which reported, on the 15th of 
month, the celebrated instructions to the 
Virginia delegates in the Continental Con- 
gress for independence. He was first speaker 



of the senate in 1776 and remained its pre- 
siding officer till his death, February 26, 
1787. He married Mary Randolph, daugh- 
ter of Richard Randolph, of "Curls," in Hen- 
rico county. One of his daughters. Jane, 
married Thomas Mann Randolph. 

Cary» Richard, son of Miles Gary and 
Hannah Armistead. his wife, was born in 
Warwick county, Virginia, about 1739. was 
clerk of Warwick county, in 1764. member 
cf the county committee of safety, 1774- 
1776, of the convention of May 6, 1776, ap- 
pointed a judge of the admiralty court. De- 
cember 17. 1776. and of the general court, 
December 24, 1788. He married Mary Cole, 
and died in Warwick county, November 3, 
1789. He was father of Richard Gary, who 
was a member of the house of delegates in 
1 787- 1 800. and member of the convention of 
1788. 

Curie* William Roscow Wilson* son of 
Wilson Curie, of Hampton, and Priscilla 
Meade, his wife, was chairman of the Eliza- 
beth City county committee of safety in 1774. 
and represented Norfolk borough in the con- 
vention of May, 1776. He was one of the 
committee of thirty-one which was ap- 
pointed May 15, 1776, to draft a declaration 
of rights and state constitution. In 1778 he 
was appointed a judge of admiralty. He 
married (first) Euphan Wallace, daughter 
of Captain James Wallace, and (second) 
Mary Xello. He was descendant from 
Pasco Curie, gentleman, who came from the 
parish of St. Michael in Lewis, county Sus- 
sex, England, to Elizabeth City county, Vir- 
ginia, of which he was a justice in 1688. 

Dandridge* Bartholomew (q. v.. i-220). 



Digitized by 



Google 




ARCHIBALD CARY 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 




HON. WM. FLEMING 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 




WILLIAM FITZHUGH, 
OF ''Chatham." 



4 "'-^ 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION 



Diggcs, Dudley, third son of Colonel Cole 
l^igg<?s, Esq.. of the council, and Elizabeth 
Power, his wife, was born in 1718, was edu- 
cated, it is believed, at William and Mary 
College, practiced law, and was a member of 
the house of burgesses from York county 
from 1 752- 1 776. He was a member of all 
the revolutionary conventions, and a mem- 
ber of the committee of correspondence in 
1773, 2i"d of the committee of safety for the 
colony in 1775. He was appointed in 1749, 
colonel of horse and foot for York, and re- 
ceiver of military fines. During the revolu- 
tion he was state examiner of claims, and for 
many years after a member of the board of 
the Eastern State Hospital, of which hoard 
he was president at the time of his death 
ill Williamsburg, June 3, 1790. He mar- 
lied Martha Armistead, and left issue. 

Fitzhugh, William, son of Henry Fitz- 
hugh, of "Eagle's Nest," King George 
county, and Lucy Carter, his wife, daughter 
of Hon. Robert Carter, of *'Corotoman.'* 
Lancaster county, was born August 24, 
(741. He pursued classical studies under 
private tutors, and resided at "Chatham," 
near Fredericksburg. He was a member of 
the house of burgesses from King George 
county in the assemblies of 1772- 1774 and 
1775, and of the conventions of March, July 
anjl December. 1775, and May, 1776; mem- 
ber of the county committee of safety, 1774- 
1773. oi the Continental Congress, 1779-1780, 
and of the house of delegates 1780-1787. He 
was a great patron of the turf, and had a 
very large estate. He spent the latter years 
of his life at "Ravens worth," Fairfax county, 
where he died July 6. 1809. He married 
Ann, daughter of Peter Randolph, of "Chats- 
worth." Henrico county. 



Fleming, William, son of John and Mary 
(Boiling) Fleming, of Cumberland county, 
was born July 6, 1736, was educated at Wil- 
liam and Mary College, and practiced law. 
He was a member of the house of burgesses 
lor Cumberland in 1772-1775. and of the 
revolutionary conventions of 1775 and 1776, 
and in the last served on the committee of 
independence. He afterwards served in the 
house of delegates, and in 1788 he was made 
a judge of the general court, and by virtue 
of his office was a member of the first su- 
preme court of appeals. In 1789. when the 
new court was organized to consist of five 
judges, he was elected one of them, a posi- 
tion he held during the remainder of his lite. 
In 1804. when the court was engaged in the 
celebrated glebe case. Judge Fleming re- 
fused to preside, as he was personally inter- 
ested. He was a man of excellent judg- 
ment, sterling integrity, and conscientious 
convictions. His decisions were broad and 
designeid to do full justice to the contestants, 
without favor or partiality. In 1809 he be- 
came president of the court. He married. 
October 5. 1766. Elizabeth, daughter of 
Colonel John Champe. and died February 
15. 1824. leaving several daughters. 

Gilmer» George, was a son of George Gil- 
mer, a graduate of the University of Edin- 
burgh, who migrated to Virginia early in the 
eighteenth century and settled in Williams- 
burg, where he successfully combined the 
vocations of physician, surgeon and druggist 
for fifty years. His mother was Mary 
Peachey Walker, sister of Dr. Thomas 
Walker, the distinguished explorer. George 
Gilmer, the son. went to William and Mary 
College and afterwards studied medicine at 
the University of Edinburgh, and after 



Digitized by 



Google 



10 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



graduating, practiced his profession first in 
Williamsburg, and afterwards in Albemarle 
county, to which he removed. He was lieu- 
tenant of an independent company in 1775, 
and served in the convention of May 6, 1776, 
as alternate to Thomas Jefferson, who had 
been elected to Congress. In this body he 
was a member of the famous committee ap- 
|.uinted May 15 to prepare a declaration 
of rights and state constitution. He mar- 
ried his cousin, Lucy Walker, daughter of 
Thomas Walker, and was father of Francis 
Walker Gilmer, an accomplished scholar and 
writer, and grandfather of Hon. Thomas 
Walker Gilmer, governor and secretary of 
the navy. He died at "Pen Parke," .Albe- 
marle county, in 1795. 

Grayson, William, was born in Prince 
William county. Virginia, in 1736, son of 
p.enjamin and Susannah (Monroe) Gray- 
son. His father emigrated from Scotland to 
Dumfries, Prince William county, Virginia, 
and his mother was an aunt of President 
Jj-.mes Monroe. He was graduated from the 
College of Philadelphia, and studied law at 
the Temple, London ; and began practice in 
Virginia. On November 11, 1774, a com- 
pany formed in Prince William county, 
called the Independent Company of Cadets 
chose William Grayson for captain, and 
adopted as their motto .-^tit liber ant nul- 
Ins, On .August 24. 1776, he was appointed 
aide-de-camp to General Washington; and 
January i, 1777, became colonel of Grayson's 
Additional Continental Regiment, organized 
by him. His brother, Rev. Spence Grayson, 
was chaplain. Colonel Grayson distin- 
guished himself at the battle of Monmouth, 
when he commanded his regiment in the 
advanced corps, displaying great valor. Dur- 



ing 1780-81 he was commissioner on the 
board of war; and at Valley Forge he was 
appointed a commissioner to treat with Sir 
William Howe respecting prisoners. At the 
close of the war he was elected a member 
of the Continental Congress in 1784, serving 
three years with distinguished ability. In 

1788 he was sent to the \'irginia convention 
called to consider the constitution of the 
United States; and with Patrick Henry 
powerfully opposed the instrument, and in a 
Utter shortly after declared that the South 
was destined to become the "milch cow of 
the Union." He was chosen a senator to 
the first Congress, which met March 4, 1789, 
took his seat May 2ist, and August 7th 
was granted leave of absence in order to re- 
cuperate his health, but died at Dumfries, 
Virginia, March 12. 1790. He was regarded 
as a man of the first order of talent, and was 
one of the leaders of Congress. 

Griffin, Cyrus, son of Colonel Leroy Grif- 
lin, of Lancaster county, and Mary Anne 
Hertrand. his wife, was born about 1748, 
was educated in England, where he met and 
subsequently married Lady Christina, the 
daughter of John Stuart, sixth earl of Tra- 
(;uair in Scotland. He studied law in the 
Temple, and on his return to America was a 
member of Congress, 1 778-1 781, and elected 
by that body president of the supreme court 
of admiralty ; member of Congress again in 
1787-88, and president of Congress, and was 
I'nited States district judge for \'irginia, 

1789 to his death, December 14, 1810, when 
he was succeeded by John Tyler. In politics 
he was a Federalist. 

Hardy, Samuel, son of Richard Hardy, 
and descended from George Hardy, who 



Digitized by 



Google 



FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION 



II 



(lied in i<'>94, was born in Isle of Wight 
icuinty. Virginia, was a student at William 
and Mary College in 1778-1780. where he 
*«iudied law under Chancellor George 
Wythe. He was a member of the Phi Beta 
Kappa fraternity, and as a means of estab- 
lishing new bonds between the North and 
South obtained from the society charters 
for branches at Harvard and Vale. He was 
a member of the house of delegates in 1781, 
and shortly after was elected a member of 
the executive council. In 1783 was elected 
to the Continental Congress, and served till 
his death. October 17. 1785. and was buried 
in New York. He was a man of much abil- 
ity, and his early death was the occasion of 
great regret. Congress atten<led his funeral 
in a body, and the bill of ex])enses was dis- 
charged by the \'irginia legislature. 

Harrison, Benjamin, son of Benjamin and 
•Anne i Carter) Harrison, was born at Ber- 
keley, on James river, in Charles City 
county. \*irginia. in 1726, and was a student 
at William and Mary College, which he left 
on account of a misunderstanding with a 
|:rotessor. He representetl Charles City 
county in the hou.^^e of burge.^^ses from 1749 
to 1775. ^'^d ^^'^s ^^^ ^f ^^^^ leading mem- 
bers. He served on the committee, in Dc- 
cem!)er. 17^>4. which drew up the address to 
the King, and the remonstrances to the two 
houses i»f parliament against the proposed 
^tamp .\ct. but. in 1765. he opposed the 
.^tainp Act resolutions of Patrick Henry as 
untimely and impolitic. He sat in the first 
( ontinental Congress. 1774. and was a mem- 
Iht till 1777. He was a member of the com- 
mittee which framed the militia system, in 
c peration during the revolutionary war. He 
was chairman of the committee which con- 



ducted the foreign intercourse of the united 
colonies, and was at the head of the board or 
war from June, 1776, until his retirement 
from Congress. Sent to Maryland, he fitted 
out a fleet of small vessels and stopped de- 
predations on the coast, and was chairman 
of the committee for fortification of ports 
and protection of privateers. He presided 
ever the debates in Congress upon the 
Declaration of Independence, and was one 
cf the signers. From May, 1778, to Novem- 
ber, 1781, he was speaker of the house of 
delegates of Virginia, when that body was 
driven from place to place. He was governor 
from November, 1781, to November. 1784, 
and being ineligible for re-election, returned 
to the assembly and was re-elected speaker 
November 24. 1785. In 1788 he was a mem- 
ber of the state convention called to con- 
sider the Federal constitution, and opposed 
its ratification. In 1790 he declined a re- 
iiomination for governor. He died April 
24, 1 79 1, the day after his unanimous 
election to the legislature. He married 
Elizabeth, daughter of William and Eliza- 
beth (Churchill) Bassett. His eldest son. 
Iicnjamin, was paymaster-general of the 
southern department during the revolution, 
j«nd his younge.st son. William Henry, was 
ninth president of the United States. 

Harrison, Carter Henry, son of Benjamin 
Harrison, of "Berkeley," and brother of 
Benjamin Harrison, the signer of the Declar- 
ation of Indo])endence. was born about 1727. 
attended William and Mary College, resided 
at Clifton. Cumberland county; was chair- 
man of the county committee of safety, and 
on April 22, I77^>. drafted and submitted to 
the people assembled at Cumberland Court 
House, the fir.-jt explicit instructions in favor 



Digitized by 



Google 



12 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



of independence adopted by a public meet- 
ing in any of the colonies. He was later a 
member of the house of delegates under the 
uew constitution of Virginia. He married 
Susannah, daughter of Isham Randolph, of 
Cungenness. He was ancestor of Carter 
Henry Harrison, mayor of Chicago in 1893. 
He died in 1793-94- 

Harvie, John, was born in Gargunnock, 
Scotland, and at an early age emigrated to 
Virginia, settled in Albemarle county, and 
entered upon the practice of law. After the 
defeat of the Indians at Point Pleasant, Oc- 
tober 10. 1774, he was appointed by the gen- 
eral assembly of \'irginia a commissioner to 
treat with them, and represented West Au- 
gusta county in the Virginia conventions. 
He was elected to the Continental Congress 
May 22. 1777. and was a signer of the 
articles of confederation the following year. 
He served as purchasing agent for Virginia, 
was register of the land office of that state 
from 1780 to 1791. and May 19. 1788, was 
commissioned secretary of the common- 
wealth. While inspecting the building of 
the celebrated Gamble House, erected by 
him in Richmond, he was killed by falling 
from a ladder, February 6. 1807. 

Henry, James, was born in Accomac 
county, Virginia, in 1 731, of Scotch ancestry. 
He studied law at the University of Edin- 
burgh and practiced in Virginia, where he 
married Sarah Scarborough. He was a bur- 
gess from Accomac county in 1772; a dele- 
gate to the Continental Congress, 1 780-1 781 ; 
judge of the court of admiralty, 1782-88. 
and judge of the general court from De- 
cember 24 1788, until January, 1800, when 
he resigned. He had six children : Edward 
Hugh, who married (first) Martha Cather- 



ine, daughter of Governor Patrick and Doro- 
thea (Dandridge) Henry, and (second) 
Elizabeth Washington, daughter of Dr. 
Valentine and Betty (Washington) Peyton; 
Samuel; John; Mary, who married John 
Wise, who by his second marriage became 
father of Henry A. Wise, governor of Vir- 
ginia ; Tabitha, and Sarah Elizabeth. Judge 
Henry died in Accomac county, December 
9. 1804. 

Henry, Patrick, was born at "Studlcy," 
Hanover county, \'irginia. May 29, 1730; 
sen of John and Sarah (Winston) Syme 
Henry, and grandson of Alexander and Jean 
(Robertson) Henry, of Scotland, who canit 
to Virginia prior to 1730. and of Isaac and 
Mary (Dabney) Winston. John Henry was 
a member of the Church of England, a clas- 
sical .scholar, and a brother of the Rev. Pat- 
lick Henry, first rector of St. George's par- 
ish. Spottsylvinia county, and ultimately of 
St. Paul's parish, Hanover county. His 
mother was a Presbyterian, a sister of Rev. 
William Robertson, of the Old Grey Friars 
.Church, Edinburgh, and cousin of Rev. Wil- 
liam Robertson, the Scottish historian. After 
Patrick was ten years old, his father was hi.s 
only tutor. He became proficient in Latin, 
gained a little knowledge of Greek and was 
a good mathematician. He was well versed 
in ancient and modern history when he was 
fifteen, and had acquired some knowledge of 
the French language. When eighteen years 
of age he established with his brother Wil- 
liam, a country store which they conducted 
unprofitably one year and then wound up 
the business. He was married in 1754 to 
Sarah, daughter of John Shelton, also of 
Hanover county. He made a poor existence 
by farming and was frequently helped by 



Digitized by 



Google 







4. ^^ 



- ^- -^ '"^ - 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION 



13 



his lather. To add to his misfortunes, his 
dwelling house was burned, together with 
his furniture. He then sold some of his 
negroes and with the proceeds purchased a 
stock of goods for a country store. Two 
years' experience found him in debt. He 
thereupon commenced the study of law, and 
within six weeks after taking up "Coke upon 
Littleton" and "Digest of the Virginiii 
Acts." he appeared before Peyton and John 
Randolph, George Wythe. Robert C. Nich- 
olas and Edmund Pendleton, at Williams- 
burg, to be examined for admission to the 
bar. The Randolphs signed the license, but 
Wythe refused, while Nicholas and Pendle- 
ton, on promise of future reading, also sign- 
ed the license. Henry appears to have been 
sensible to his deficiencies, for he continued 
his studies some months before beginning to 
l.ractice. On November 3. 1763, he was re- 
tained by the colony in the celebrated "par- 
sons' cause,'* involving the constitutionality 
c\ the "option law," also known as the "two- 
penny act," passed by the Virginia legisla- 
ture in 1757. He discussed the mutual re- 
lations and reciprocal duties of the King to 
his subjects and of the clergy to their par- 
ishioners, and when he declared that the 
Vving who wolild insist on such a principle 
as advanced would, instead of remaining the 
father of his people, degenerate into a ty- 
rant and would forfeit all his rights to the 
obedience of his subjects, the murmur of 
"treason" ran through the court-house. 
When the jury brought in a verdict of one 
penny for the plaintiff, the people bore the 
young advocate on their shoulders in tri- 
umph around the court-yard. Patrick 
Henry, in the Hanover court-house, had 
> truck the keynote of the American revo- 
lution. In 1765 he was elected to the house 



of burgesses. He took his seat May 20, and 
met all his examiners of two years before 
except John Randolph, besides many other 
distinguished statesmen of Virginia. Nine 
days after he had taken his seat he offered 
resolutions denying the right of Great 
Britain to enforce the Stamp Act in Vir- 
ginia. Peyton Randolph, Pendleton, Wythe, 
and others opposed the resolutions, but after 
what Jefferson characterized a "most 
bloody" debate, Henry carried his resolu- 
tions by a majority of one. It was in this 
debate that he electrified the house with 
"Caesar had his Brutus, Charles the First 
his Cromwell, and George the Third 

" "Treason! treason!" re-echoed from 

every part of the house. Without faltering, 
but rising to a loftier attitude and fixing on 
the speaker an eye which seemed to flash 
fire, Henry completed his sentence, "may 
profit by their example. If this be treason 
make the most of it." From that moment 
Patrick Henry was the political leader of 
Virginia. In 1769 he was admitted to prac- 
tice in the general court and attained emi- 
nence in criminal cases. In May. 1773. he 
I'.elped in organizing and was a member of 
the committee of correspondence. In 1774 
he was delegate to the Virginia convention, 
the first public assembly to recommend an 
annual general Congress. He was a dele- 
gate to the Continental Congress, 1774-76. 
and opened his first session by a speech in 
which he declared, "I am not a Virginian, 
but an .American." He served on the com- 
niittee to prepare the address to the King, 
but his draft was too advanced for the con- 
servative party, and the address was modi- 
fied. When the proposition of Joseph Gal- 
loway for a plan of reconciliation with Eng- 
land was before Congress and apparently 



Digitized by 



Google 



14 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



had the sanction of that body, Mr. Henry 
ltd the opposition and was the only one to 
speak against it. The vote of one colony 
defeated the measure, and Patrick Henry 
alone arose to the occasion that precipitated 
the war. He moved before the Virginia 
convention, March 23. 1775, to put the 
colony in a state of defence preparatory to 
war which was threatening. The delegates 
met in St. John's Episcopal Church, Rich- 
mond, and Mr. Henry for two days listened 
f^ the proceedings toward an amicable set- 
tlement of the colonies and England. He 
foresaw in any compromise acceptable to the 
King, absolute submission that would be 
little less than slavery, and he prepared a 
set of resolutions providing for an immedi- 
ate organization of the militia and the plac- 
ing of the colony in a condition of defense. 
The reading of these resolutions alarmed 
some, who asked him to withdraw his reso- 
lutions. Instead of this he pronounced his 
immortal oration, closing with the sentence, 
**1 know not what course others may take, 
tut as for me. give me liberty or give me 
death!" The Virginia convention of 1775 
made him commander of all the Virginia 
forces, and commissioned him colonel of the 
First Virginia Regiment. When the Vir- 
ginia troops were taken into the Continental 
army. Congress commissioned a subordinate, 
brigadier-general, and offered a single regi- 
ment to Colonel Henry, who declined any 
commission from that body. He was elected 
to the Virginia convention of May, 1776, 
charged with "the care of the republic," the 
royal governor having fled. This conven- 
tion framed a new constitution and elected 
Henry the first governor of the state on the 
first ballot. He was re-elected in 1777, 1778, 
1784 and 1785. and in 1786 declined a re- 



election. In 1777 he planned and sent out 
the George Rogers Clarke expedition which 
conquered the northwest He served in the 
Virginia convention that ratified the Fed- 
eral constitution, and after vehemently op- 
posing it as dangerous to the liberties of the 
people, he offered amendments to the instru- 
ment which were partially adopted. In 1794 
he declined the appointment of United States 
senator, made by Governor Henry Lee. and 
withdrew from public life. In 1795 ^^ de- 
clined the position of secretary of state in 
President Washington's cabinet, in 1796 the 
position of chief justice of the United States 
supreme court, and the nomination for gov- 
ernor of Virginia, and in 1797, the mission 
to France offered by President Adams. In 
1799 he allowed himself to be elected to the 
state legislature in order to oppose the Vir- 
ginia resolutions of 1798, but he died before 
taking his seat. His first wife died in 1775, 
and October 9. 1777. he married Dorothea 
Spotswood Dandridge, a granddaughter of 
Governor Alexander Spotswood. His life 
was written by William Wirt (1817): by 
Alexander H. Everett in Sparks' "American 
Biography" (1844-48); by Moses Coit Ty- 
ler in "American Statesmen" (1887), and by 
his grandson, William Wirt Henry (3 vols. 
1891-92). His body lies in a grave on the 
estate in Charlotte county, where he formerly 
fived, and the simple gravestone is inscribed 
with the one line, "His Fame His Best Epi- 
taph." He died at "Red Hill," Charlotte 
county, June 6, 1799. 

Holtt James (q. v., i-259). 

Hoitt William, son of John Holt, who was 
a justice of York in 1757. and mayor of Wil- 
liamsburg, resided in Williamsburg; was a 
Presbyterian, and partner with Rev. Charles 



Digitized by 



Google 





Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION 



15 



Jefferey Smith, of Long Island, New York, 
ir founding Providence Forge, in New Kent 
county, Virginia, where they had a forge 
and mills. He was a signer of the associa- 
tion entered into May 27. 1774. against the 
importation of British goods, and mayor of 
Williamsburg. In 1776 he was made a com- 
missioner in admiralty. He died in 1791, 
leaving several sons and a daughter, Eliza- 
beth, who married William Coleman, of 
James City county. His sister. Mary, mar- 
ried Rev. Samuel Davies, the noted Presby- 
terian divine. 

Jefferson* Thomas, son of Peter Jefferson 
and Jane Randolph, daughter of Isham Ran- 
dolph, of "Dungeness," Goochland county. 
Virginia, was born at •*Shadwell," Albemarle 
county. April 2, 1743. Though his father 
died when he was fourteen years old. he 
was thoroughly trained by private tutors, 
and spent two years (1760-1762) at William 
and Mary College. He then studied law for 
five years under Chancellor Wythe, in Wil- 
liamsburg, and was admitted to the bar 
when twenty-four years old. In 1769 he was 
elected to the house of burgesses from Albe- 
marle, and became at once one of the group 
of new men who took the lead in public af- 
fairs. In 1773 he assisted in establishing 
committees of correspondence between the 
colonies, the first step towards Union. In 
1774 he drafted instructions for the Virginia 
delegates to the first Congress, assuming the 
extreme ground taken by Dland in 1766. and 
summing up, with trenchant pen. that easily 
gave him the first place among American 
writers, the rights and wrongs of the con- 
tinent. This magnificent paper contained 
every idea in the Declaration of Independ- 
ence except the explicit statement of sepa- 



ration. It was published in pamphlet form 
under the title of "a Summary View of the 
Rights of British America." 

Political events absorbed his attention, 
and he relinquished his law practice, which 
was very extensive. He was a member of 
the Virginia convention of March. 1775. and 
when Patrick Henry made his motion to or- 
ganize the militia. Jefferson argued "closely, 
profoundly, and warmly on the same side." 
In the house of burgesses. June, 1775, he 
prepared a masterly reply to Lord North's 
^'Conciliatory Proposition." and soon after, 
in the second Congress, to which he was 
elected June 20. 1775. on the retirement of 
Peyton Randolph, he prepared a similar 
paper as the answer of that body. He at- 
tended the third Congress, which met in 
Philadelphia, September 25, 1775, but left 
before it adjourned, and did not again pre- 
sent himself till May 13. 1776. Then, as 
chairman of a committee, he drafted the 
Declaration of Independence, which has im- 
mortalized him. On September 2. 1776. he 
resigned from Congress and returned home, 
but Congress, unwilling to dispense with his 
services.' as.sociated him with Dr. Franklin 
and Silas Deane to negotiate treaties of al- 
liance and commerce with France. This ap- 
pointment he declined on account of his 
wife's declining health, and in October he 
took his seat in the house of delegates of 
Virginia, and applied himself to reforming 
the Virgrinia code. The great series of bills 
which he prepared, and which in great part 
were adopted, concerning the descent of 
lands, religion, education and slavery, con- 
stitutes a great monument to his ability and 
patriotism. In January. 1779. he succeeded 
Patrick Henry as governor, and was re- 



Digitized by 



Google 



i6 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



elected in 178b. Among his important meas- 
ures in this office were the removal of the 
capital to Richmond, his maintaining Vir- 
ginia's quota in Washington's army in the 
North, and his supplying General Greene's 
army in the South with provisions and mu- 
nitions of war. 

Jefferson narrowly escaped capture when 
Cornwallis' troops were so near Charlottes- 
ville that the legislature had to adjourn to 
Staunton. He declined to apply for a third 
election to the governorship in 1781, and 
employed his leisure in writing his "Notes 
on Virginia/' a work still regarded most 
highly. Congress appointed him one of the 
commissioners to treat for peace, but he de- 
clined because of the illness of his wife, who 
died September 6, 1782. Later he accepted 
the office of peace commissioner, but peace 
was restored before he could sail for Eu- 
rope. In 1783 he was elected to Congress, 
which sat at Annapolis, May 7, 1784. In 
this body his most prominent work was the 
ordinance for the government of the north- 
west territory. Congress again elected him 
minister, in conjunction with Mr. Adams 
and Benjamin Franklin, to negotiate treaties 
o: commerce with foreign nations. He sailed 
from Boston, July 5, 1784, and reached 
Paris, August 6. On the resignation of Dr. 
Franklin he was appointed minister pleni- 
potentiary to France. His three years 
there resulted in his arrangement of a satis- 
factory consular system between France and 
the United States. He meantime traveled 
extensively in Europe, and became intimate 
with many famous scientists, and his **Notes 
en Virginia," appearing in a French trans- 
lation, won for him great admiration. In 
November, 1789, he returned home on a 
six months leave of absence, and found 



awaiting him his appointment as secretary 
of state by President Washington, whtth he 
accepted. During his five years service in 
thfs office, he distinguished himseli by many 
important public reports, but the differences 
with Hamilton, secretary of the treasury, 
grew so acute that Jefferson resigned, Janu- 
ary I, 1794. Washington vainly endeavoring 
to retain him. In September, 1794, Wash- 
ington urged him strongly to resume the 
state secretaryship, but he positively de- 
clined, declaring with emphasis that noth- 
ing could induce him to again engage in the 
public service. However, in 1796, he was 
the presidential candidate of the Democratic- 
Republican party, and his vote being next 
largest to Adams, under the constitution he 
became vice-president. This office imposed 
but light duties, and he gave much of his 
time to study and research, and prepared his 
famous "Manual of . Parliamentary Prac- 
tice," which has been the principal guide in 
Congress to the present day. In 1800 he 
again became the candidate of his party for 
the presidency, but though his vote in the 
electoral college was greater than his Feder- 
alist competitor, an equal vote was given to 
Aaron Burr, whom the Republicans in- 
tended to be vice-president, and the election 
under the constitution, as it then stood, 
came to the house of representatives. Here 
after a long continued attempt of the Feder- 
alists to reverse the decision of the people 
and to place Burr in the presidency, Jeffer- 
son was finally declared president. In this 
high office he held to the simplest forms of 
conduct, abolishing weekly levees, elaborate 
precedence, rules, etc. A signal innovation 
consisted in his communicating his mes- 
sages in writing instead of delivering them 
in person as Washington and Adams had 



Digitized by 



Google 



FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION 



17 



done. This continued to be the rule for all 
his successors till present conditions having 
removed the old objections, President Wil- 
son revived the obsolete practice of John 
Adams. His most notable achievement as 
president was the purchase of the vast Lou- 
isiana territory, which was practically his 
own unaided work. Second only in im- 
portance to this was his success in keeping 
the country from becoming involved in the 
European wars. Re-elected in 1804, he re- 
tired after the close of his second term to 
his home, "Monticello," near Charlottesville. 
Virginia. The work of his latter days was 
the University of Virginia, which he pro- 
jected and lived long enough to see in per- 
fect working order. He superintended 
every detail, laid down the plans for all the 
severely classical buildings, procured the 
funds for their erection, and mapped out the 
collegiate curricula. At his beautiful man- 
sion. •*Monticello," he entertained the most 
distinguished men of his day, and there, 
after his death, his daughter, Mrs. Ran- 
dolph, passed the remainder of her life in 
ease and comfort, with the aid of $10,000 
gratuity from the states of Virginia and 
South Carolina, granted as a tribute to the 
memory of her illustrious father. His affairs 
had become badly involved, and he had been 
obliged to sell to Congress his valuable 
library for about one-fourth of its cost. He 
died July 4, 1826, and was buried at "Mon- 
tirello." where his grave was marked with 
a stone bearing the following inscription 
written by himself: "Here was buried 
Thomas Jefferson, author of , the Declaration 
of Independence, of the Statute of Virginia 
for Religious Freedom, and Father of the 
^ University of Virginia." This was after- 

VtA-2 



wards replaced with a massive pillar erected 
by the government of the United Statej-, 
and bearing the same inscription. From the 
day of his death to the present ^ime, no other 
jublic man has been so often quoted. In 
originality of mind, versatility of talent, 
general sweep of intellect, universality of 
knowledge, power over men, and conceji- 
tion of the rights of mankind, he stood 
easily head and shoulders above all his great 
contemporaries. Washington alone sur- 
passed him in moral force. 

Jones, Gabriel (q. v., i-267). 

Jones, Joseph, son of James Jones, a build- 
ing contractor, was born in King George 
county, Virginia, in 1727, and was an in- 
fluential member of the house of burgesses 
from King George county in the assemblies 
of 1772-1774, and 1775, and was also a mem- 
ber of the committee of safety in 1775, and 
of all the conventions of 1774, 1775 ^tnd ijjii 
He was a delegate to the Continental Con- 
gress, 1777-7^ and 1780-83. He was judge 
of the general court, 1778-79, and was re- 
appointed November 19, 1789. He was a 
member of the conventions of 1788. and 
served in the Virginia state militia as major- 
general. He was frequently a member of 
the house of delegates, and through his 
opposition the proposition of the legislature 
to revoke the release given to the United 
States of the territory northwest of the Ohio 
river, was rejected, and the legislature was 
induced to conform to the wishes of the 
Federal Congress. His sister. Elizabeth, 
married Spence Monroe, and became thfi 
mother of James Monroe, president of the 
United States. Mr. Jones died in King 
George county, October 28, 1805. His let- 



Digitized by 



Google 



i8 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



ters have been recently published by Worth- 
ington C. Ford, and show him to have been 
a man of decided ability and originality. 

Jones, Walter, son of Colonel Thomas 
Jones, of Hanover county, and Elizabeth 
Cocke, daughter of Dr. William Cocke, sec- 
retary of state, and Elizabeth Catesby, his 
wife, of Northumberland county, was born 
December i8, 1745. He was a student at 
William and Mary College in 1760, with 
Thomas Jefferson, and afterwards studied 
medicine at the University of Edinburgh, 
where he was graduated M. D., June 12. 
1769. He was described "as the most shin- 
ing young gent of his profession now in 
Edinburgh,'' and certain to **make a ^reat 
figure wherever he goes." He returned to 
\'irginia in 1770, and resided at Hayfield, 
Lancaster county, and acquired a large 
practice. He was a warm advocate of Amer- 
ican rights, and in 1777 was appointed by 
Congress to' be physician-general, a position 
which he declined. During the revolution 
he was a member of the house of delegates, 
and in 1786 was a delegate to the convention 
at Annapolis. After the establishment of 
the new constitution he was a member of 
Congress from 1797 to 1799 and from 1803 
to 181 1. He married Alice Flood, daughter 
of Dr. William Flood, of Richmond county, 
and was father of the eminent lawyer. Gen- 
eral Walter Jones, of Washington. He died 
in Westmoreland county, Virginia, Decem- 
ber 31, 1815. He was a master of colloquial 
e'oquence and irony. 

Lee, Arthur, was born at Stratford, West- 
moreland county, Virginia, December 21, 
T740, eighth and youngest son of Governor 
Thomas and Hannah (Ludwell) Lee. grand- 
son of Colonel Richard and Laetitia (Cor- 



bin) Lee, and of Colonel Philip Ludwell, of 
Green Spring, Virginia, and great-grandson 
cf Richard and Ann Lee, and of Philip Lud- 
well. governor of North Carolina, 1689-91. 
He was educated at Eton and the University 
of Edinburgh. After journeying through 
Holland and Germany he returned and prac- 
ticed medicine in Williamsburg. The efforts 
to enforce the Stamp Act determined him 
to study law in order to assist the colonies 
in obtaining redress. He studied law in the 
Temple, London, 1768-70, and practiced in 
London, 1770-76, meantime studying the 
Colonial questions and discussing the Town- 
shend acts and other aggressive measures 
proposed by parliament. He won fame as 
a writer, signing himself "Monitor" and 
"Junius Americanus," and was the author of 
"An Appeal to the English Nation.*' He 
was a leading member of the "Supporters 
of the Dill of Rights," organized for the dis- 
cussion of the measures of the British min- 
istry and the restoration to the American 
colonies of the right to regulate taxes 
through their own representatives. He 
gained the friendship of Burke, Priestly, 
Dunning, Baire and Sir William Jones, and 
was admitted to a fellowship in the Royal 
Society. He was appointed by the general 
court of Massachusetts in 1770 as represen- 
tative for that colony in London, as asso- 
ciate with Benjamin Franklin. He was ap- 
pointed by Congress with Franklin, Jay and 
Dickinson, to open correspondence with 
friends of America in Europe, and was made 
secret agent of the committee in London, 
and opened negotiations with the French 
government which led to his residence in 
Paris in 1776. In 1776 Congress appointed 
him a joint commissioner with Benjamin 
Franklin and Silas Deane to secure a treaty 



Digitized by 



Google 




UGHT HORSE HARRY LEE 
Gov. of Va. 1794 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION 



of alliance with France, and in 1777 he was 
intrusted with special missions to Spain and 
Prussia, and in October, 1778, was contin- 
ued as sole commissioner to Spain, also act- 
ing in the same capacity to the court of 
Prussia, but residing in Paris. His frequent 
quarrels with Franklin and Dcane led to his 
recall in 1779. He was a representative in 
the general assembly of Virginia, 1781 ; a 
delegate to the Continental Congress, 1781- 
84; Indian commissioner in Western New 
^ork and Pennsylvania, 1784, and a member 
of the board of treasury, 1784-89. He was 
opposed to the adoption of the Federal con- 
stitution. He retired to his estate, **Lans- 
downe/' at Urbanna, Middlesex county, Vir- 
ginia, in 17S9. where he devoted himself to 
his books and correspondence. He was a 
member of the American Academy of Arts 
and Sciences, and received the honorary de- 
gree of LL. D. from Harvard College in 
1781. He died unmarried, at Urbanna. Vir- 
ginia. December 12, 1792. 

Lee, Francis Lightfoot, was born at Strat- 
ford. Westmoreland county. Virginia, Oc- 
tober 14, 1734. 5on of Hon. Thomas and 
F-annah (Ludwcll) Lee. He was educated 
at Stratford by Rev. Mr. Craig, a Scotch 
clersryman. He became a member of the 
house of burgesses for Loudoun county, and 
with his brother, in 1765. signed the West- 
moreland declaration against the Stamp Act. 
L'pon his marriage to Rebecca, dp.ughter of 
Colonel John Tayloe, of Richmond county, 
in 1772. he made that county his home, and 
was elected to represent it in the house of 
burgesses. He succeeded Colonel Richard 
Bland as delegate to the Continental Con- 
gress. August 15, 1775. serving 1775-79- He 
signed the Declaration of Independence, as- 



sisted in preparing the articles of confeder- 
ation, and defended the rights of the states 
to the Newfoundland fisheries and the free 
navigation of the Mississippi river. He re- 
tired from Congress in the spring of 1779, 
and resumed his duties as master of exten- 
sive estates, and as justice of the peace of 
Richmond county. He represented the 
county in the state legislature for one or 
two terms. He died in Richmond county, 
April 3, 1797. He was sixth son of Presi- 
dent Thomas Lee. 

Lee, Henry, was born at Leesylvania, 
Westmoreland county, Virginia, January 
29. 1756, son of Henry and Lucy (Grymes) 
Lee, grandson of Henry and Mary (Bland) 
Lee, great-grandson of John and Lettice 
Lee. great-great-grandson of Richard and 
Laetitia (Corbin) Lee. andgreat-grtat-great- 
grandson of Colonel Richard and Anne 
Lee. Henry Lee was graduated at the Col- 
lege of New Jersey. .A. P>.. 1773, •'^- ^I» ^77^- 
Prevented from visiting Europe by the prep- 
arations for revolution, he returned to Vir- 
ginia, recruited a company of "light horse" 
in 1775. was appointed captain in Colonel 
'ihcodorick IJland's legion of Virginia cav- 
alry, and in 1777 joined Washington's army 
in Pennsylvania. He was promoted maior 
for gallant conduct in battle, in January. 
1778. and was given command of two troops 
of horse, to which he added a third troop 
and a company of infantry, and *' Lee's Le- 
gion** became an independent partisan corps 
and its leader received the cognomen, 
"Lighthorse Harry." This corps constantly 
hung on the flank of the British army, and 
annoyed both their march and camp. On 
July 19, 1779. Lee surprised the British at 
Paulus Hook. New York harbor, and with 



Digitized by 



Google* 



20 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



the loss of five of his riders carried off i6o 
prisoners, for which service Congress gave 
him a gold medal. He was promoted lieu- 
tenant-colonel and marched to South Caro* 
lina, where he covered the rear of General 
Greene's army. After Greene had crossed 
into Virginia, Lee remained in the moun- 
tains of North Carolina to encourage the 
Whigs and harrass Tarleton and the loyal- 
ists. His efforts to surprise the British 
dragoons were unsuccessful, but he defeated 
400 loyalists under Colonel Pyle. At Guil- 
ford Court House, March 15, 1781, his legion 
proved more than a match for Tarleton's 
dragoons, and, when General Greene 
marched against Camden, he sent Lee and 
Marion to cut off Rawdon's communications 
with the seacoast, and they captured Fort 
Watson, which forced Rawdon to abandon 
and bum Camden, May 10, 1781. Colonel 
Lee then proceeded south, capturing Forts 
Mott and Granby, and May 25 reached Au- 
gusta, Georgia, which city also fell into his 
hands June 5, 1781. He rejoined Greene's 
army, and took part in the siege of Fort 
Ninety-six, which after twenty-eight days 
was raised on the approach of Rawdon with 
2000 men. In the battle of Eutaw Springs, 
September 8, 1781, Lee's Legion rendered 
distinguished service, and when the British 
retreated to Charleston, Lee followed so 
closely as to capture a large number of Raw- 
don's rear-gu«ird. He witnessed the sur- 
render of Cornwaliis at Yorktown, October 
19, 1781, and soon after resigned his com- 
mission and became proprietor of "Strat- 
ford House," by his marriage to his second 
cousin, Matilda, daughter of Philip Ludwell 
Lee. He was a delegate to the Continental 
Congress from Virginia, 1785-88, and a mem- 
ber of the convention called to ratify the 



Federal constitution in 1788, and in that 
body, with Madison and Marshall, he op- 
posed the efforts of Patrick Henry, Richard 
Henry Lee, George Mason, James Monroe, 
Benjamin Harrison and John Tyler, to de- 
feat the ratification. He was a representa- 
tive in the general assembly, 1789-91, and 
governor 1792-95. President Washington, 
in 1794, commissioned him major-general in 
command of troops sent to Western Penn- 
sylvania to suppress the whiskey insurrec- 
tion, and on his appearance with 15,000 men 
the insurrectionists were overawed and 
peace was restored without bloodshed. He 
w^as a representative in the sixth Congress, 
1 799- 1 801, and at the close retired to private 
life. He married (second) in 1798, .Ann 
Hill, daughter of Charles and Anne Butler 
(Moore) Carter, of Shirley, Virginia. He 
was oppressed by debt the last years of his 
life. On July 27, 1812, while in Baltimore 
on a visit to William Hanson, editor of the 
•'Federal Republican," the printing office 
was attacked by a mob, and in the conflict 
that followed he was left for dead upon the 
street, where he was found insensible. He 
was disqualified for military service from 
the effects of this encounter. He visited the 
West Indies in 1817 for the benefit of his 
health, and on his way home he stopped at 
the homestead of General Greene, near St. 
Mary's, Georgia, where he was entertained 
by Mrs. Shaw, daughter of his old com- 
mander, and under whose roof he died. He 
was the author of: "Funeral Oration upon 
President Washington," (1799), delivered 
before both houses of Congress, in which 
occur the words, *The man, first in war, 
first in peace, and first in the hearts of his 
fellow-citizens" ; and of "War in the South- 
ern United States" (2 vols., 1812). He diea 



Digitized by 



Google 



FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION 



21 



on Cumberland Island, Georgia, March 25, 
1818. Recently his remains were removed 
to Lexington, Virginia, and interred by the 
side of his illustrious son. General Robert 
E. Lee. 

Lee, Richard Henry, fifth son of Thomas 
Lee. president of the Colonial council, and 
Hannah Ludwell, his wite. was born in 
Westmoreland county, January 26, 1732. 
He was schooled at Wakefield Academy, 
Yorkshire, England, and returning to 
America in his nineteenth year studied in- 
dependently until 1755. when he headed a 
company of volunteers for service against 
the French and Indians, but was rebuffed 
by Braddock. In 1757 he was appointed a 
justice of the peace for Westmoreland 
county, and in 1738 was chosen to the house 
of burgesses, of which he continued a mem- 
ber till its expiration in 1775. I" ^^^ house 
of burgesses he proposed "to lay so heavy 
a tax upon slave importation as to end that 
iniquitous and disgraceful traffic within the 
colony.** In November. 1764, he served on 
a committee to draft an address to the King, 
a memorial to the house of lords and a re- 
monstrance to the commons, and prepared 
the first and second of these papers. In Fel)- 
ruar\', 1766, he organized the Westmoreland 
Association, and wrote its resolutions in op- 
position to the Stamp Act. In 1768 he sug- 
gested in a private letter the establishment 
of intercolonial committees, and was one of 
the caucus, in 1773, that caused the adoption 
of the plan by the general assembly. He 
was elected to the first Continental Con- 
gress, 1774, and prepared its memorial to 
the people of British America, and wrote the 
address of the next Congress to the people 
0I Great Britain. As chairman of the com- 



mittee, he drew up the instructions to Wash- 
ington on his assuming command of the 
Continental army. He was a member of 
the Virginia conventions of 1774, 1775 ^^^ 
1776. and on June 7, 1776, in accordance 
with the instructions from the last conven- 
tion he introduced in Congress the famous 
resolution : 'That these United Colonies are. 
and of right ought to be, free and independ- 
ent States, that they are absolved from aU 
allegiance to the British Crown, and that all 
political connection between them and the 
State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, 
totally dissolved." He received word of the 
serious illness of his wife, and left Philadel- 
phia to visit her. He did not return until 
the Declaration had been passed and 
signed, and he then added his signature to 
that immortal instrument. He served in the 
Continental Congress from 1774 to 1780, 
and from 1784 to 1787, and wr.s a signer of 
the articles of confederation in 1778. He is 
said to have served on nearly one hundred 
committees during the session of 177^1777. 
When not serving in Congress, he served in 
the state hou.*;e of delegates. He opposed the 
adoption of the constitution of 1787, deem- 
ing the powers granted to the Federal gov- 
ernment as too extensive. After its ratifi- 
cation he served as senator, mainly for the 
purpose of urging certain amendments, and 
many of which he. was instrumental in se- 
curing. After serving as senator. 1789-92, 
he resigned in the latter year. He was pres- 
ident l^ro tern, of the senate. April to No- 
vember, 1782. He married (first) Anne Ay- 
lett, and (second) Mrs. Anne (Gaskins) 
Pinckard. As an orator he was only ex- 
celled by Patrick Henry, and as a leader in 
the revolutionary movement he stands 



Digitized by 



Google 



22 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



among ihe hrst. His memoirs, political 
rorrespondencc and political pamphlets were 
published by his grandson, Richard Henry 
Lee, in 1825. He died at his residence, 
"Chantilly." in Westmoreland county. June 
19. 1794. 

Lee» Thomas Ludwell, fourth son of 
'Ihomas Lee. and Hannah Ludwell, his 
wife, was born at "'Stratford," in Westmore- 
land county, December 13, 1730. Nothing is 
known of his school days, but it is highly 
probable that he was sent to England for 
his education, as were most of his brothers. 
He studied law, and practiced in the courts. 
He removed to Stafford county, and repre- 
sented that county in the house of burgesses 
in the assemblies of 1758-1761, and 1761- 
1765. and in the conventions of July and 
December. 1775, and May, 1776. He was a 
member of the committee of safety in 1775, 
and in the convention of 1776 ser\-ed on the 
committee which drew up the bill of rights 
and the plan for an independent state. He 
was one of the five revisors appointed by the 
general assembly in 1777, and was judge of 
the general court. He died at his home, 
"Bellevuc," in StaflFord county, April 13, 
1778. He married Anne Aylett, daughter 
of William Aylett, and left seven children. 

Lee, William, seventh son of Thomas and 
Hannah (Ludwell) Lee, was born at '*Strat- 
ford," Westmoreland county, Virginia, Au- 
gust 13, 1759, and was educated, it is be- 
lieved, at home by private tutors. In Feb- 
ruary, 1766, he was a signer of the West- 
moreland county resolutions against the 
Stamp Act, and shortly after went to Eng- 
Icnd, where he engaged in business. He 
look an active interest in the politics of the 
day, and was instrumental in inducing the 



merchants of London to remonstrate to par- 
liament against the revenue taxes on Amer- 
ica, which contributed to bring about a re- 
peal of all the taxes except that on tea. He 
was probably the first American to express 
bis opinions in favor of the separation of the 
.American colonies. In May, 1775, he was 
elected an alderman of London, and in 1776 
held the office of sheriff. The same year he 
went with his brother to Paris, and about 
April 21. 1777. he received notice of his 
appointment by the Continental Congress as 
commercial agent to the United States in 
France; in September, 1777, he was ap- 
pointed to represent the government at Ber- 
lin and Vienna, and later on he accepted 
the position of representative at the Hague. 
In 1778, by permission of the Holland gov- 
ernment, he met Jean de Neufville, an Am- 
sterdam merchant, at Aix-la-Chapelle, to 
complete the negotiation of a loan for the 
American colonies. The two commissioners 
drew up a commercial treaty, and it wa^ 
signed by de Neufville and Van Berckel, 
burgomaster of Amsterdam, and entrusted 
to Henry Laurens to be carried to America 
for the approval of Congress. By the cap- 
ture of Laurens, when on his way from 
America to the Hague to obtain the loan, 
the paper fell into the hands of the British 
ministry and was made the pretext for de- 
claring war against Holland. In the diffi- 
culties between Arthur Lee and the other 
two American commissioners to Paris, 
Franklin and Deane, William Lee took part 
and, in 1779, with his brother, was ordered 
by Congress to return home ; but no action 
was taken after their arrival. He married 
his cousin, Hannah Philippa Ludwell, who 
brought him the "Green Spring" estate (for- 
mer residence of Sir William Berkeley). He 



Digitized by 



Google 



FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION 



23 



died June zj, 1795. and was buried in the 
churchyard at Jamestown. He left one son, 
William Ludweli Lee, who died without 
i« sue ; and two daughters — Portia, who mar- 
ried William Hodgson, of White Haven, 
England, and Cornelia, who married John 
Hopkins, Esq.. of Richmond, Virginia. 

Lewis, Andrew (q. v., i-277). 

Lewis, Thomas (q. v., i-278). 

Lyons, Peter, a native of Ireland, mi- 
grated to Virginia about 1750, and studied 
law under James Power, an English gentle- 
man, resident in King William county, Vir- 
ginia, whose daughter he married. He was 
the attorney tor Mr. Maury in the famous 
parson's cause in 1763, when Patrick Henry 
made his famous debut as an orator. He 
was a friend of the revolution, and in 1779 
was made judge of the general court, and 
thereby became cx-officio a judge of the 
first supreme court of appeals. In 1789 he 
was appointed a judge of the new court of 
appeals, consisting of five judges, and held 
office till his death. In 1803 he became 
president on the death of Judge Pendleton. 
He died July 30, 1809. 

Madison, James, son of Colonel James 
Madison, and Eleanor (Rose) Conway, his 
wife, was descended from John Madison, a 
shipwright, who took out a patent for land 
in 1653. His father was a man of large 
estate, president of the county court of 
Orange, and colonel of the county militia. 
He was born March 16, 1751, and as a boy 
attended the schools of Donald Robertson 
and Rev. Mr. Martin. In 1769 he went to 
Princeton College, where he showed his 
natural brilliancy of mind in graduating in 
two years. He continued a year longer 



studying under the advice of President 
Withcrspoon, and on his return to Virginia 
continued the life of a student at home, as 
his health was bad. He was a member of 
the revolutionary committee of Orange 
county, in 1774, and was elected two years 
later a member of the May convention, 1776. 
Notwithstanding his youth, his influence 
was promptly felt, and it was on his motion 
that the word "toleration" was struck from 
George Mason's draft of the Declaration of 
Rights, and the word "freedom" used in its 
place. He lost his election to the general 
a.<*sembly, in 1777, because of his refusal to 
treat and electioneer, but was elected to the 
executive council by the general assembly in 
the winter of 1 777-1 778. He remained a 
member two years, when he was elected by 
the general assembly a member of Congress, 
in which body he served until the fall of 
1783. It was in this assembly that Madison 
began the work which ultimately led to a 
new constitution and the granting of na- 
tional powers to the Federal government. 
He zealously advocated the grant to Con- 
gross for twenty-five years of the authority 
to levy an impost duty, independent of the 
states, and his address to the people of the 
Lnited States in advocacy was one of his 
ablest state papers. He served in the house 
of delegates of Virginia in 1784 and 1785, 
and as chairman of the judiciary committee 
was particularly instrumental in securing 
the adoption of many of the laws proposed 
by Jefferson and the other revisors in 1779. 
He supported the grant of the impost to 
Congress, and advocated retaliation against 
Great Britain for its commercial restric- 
tions : and when the motion of John Tyler 
v^'as adopted for a general commercial meet- 
ing of the states at Annapolis, he was ap- 



Digitized by 



Google 




^ /i.c*y^-. ^^oC a^^-^^-^e^ ^-^ 



Digitized by 



Google 




Digitized by 



Google 



24 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



pointed a delegate. The meeting at Anna- 
polis led to the Federal convention at Phil- 
adelphia, in which Madison figured as the 
great constructive organizer of the new con- 
stitution and government, winning the name 
of "Father of the Constitution." He after- 
wards joined with Alexander Hamilton and 
John Jay in preparing a series of able es* 
siivs which were published in 17S8 over the 
name of "The Federalist," defensive of the 
v;ork of the convention ; but his ability shone 
ii. even a more brilliant light when in the 
Virginia convention, during the same year, 
he carried the adoption of the constitution 
iigainst all the declamation of Patrick Henry 
and the fervid reasoning of George Mason 
and William Grayson. Succeeding this, he 
v.as defeated for the senate of the United 
States, but elected to the house of represen- 
tJ.tives. In this new capacity he opposed the 
measures of Hamilton, and aligned himself 
with Mr. Jefferson and the Republican party. 
In 1797 he withdrew to private life, but in 
1798 he joined in a movement to oppose the 
alien and sedition laws passed by John 
Adams and the Federalist party, and drew 
the famous resolutions of 1798- 1799, which 
were quoted for many years later as defining 
the ground upon which the States Rights 
party stood. These resolutions, with those 
of Kentucky, drawn by Jefferson, were repu- 
diated by the legislatures of the other states 
under the control of the Federalists. So 
Mr. Madison had himself returned to the 
Virginia house of delegates, and made his 
famous report of 1800, affirming the con- 
federate character of the Union and the sov- 
ereignty of the individual states. In 1801 
Madison became secretary of state in Jeffer- 
son's cabinet, and was his trusted adviser 
during eight years. In 1808 he was elected 



bis successor in the presidential chair, and 
Served two terms. He continued the peace 
policy of his predecessor, and resorted to 
commercial restrictions to coerce Great 
Britain and France. When this proved in- 
adequate, he reluctantly consented to war 
with the former. Modern thought has jus- 
tified him in both particulars. His second 
administration was virtually a history of 
the war of 1812-1814. conducted for the 
most part in gloom, but concluded with the 
glories of a great victory at Xew Orleans. 

After the expiration of his second term, 
he retired to "Montpelier." his beautiful 
home in Orange county, where he spent 
twenty years more in literary and agricul- 
tural pursuits. He was much interested in 
the establishment of the University of Vir- 
ginia, of which he was a visitor, and the 
successor to Mr. Jefferson as rector. To the 
time of his death he continued to be con- 
sulted by statesmen as an oracle on all con- 
stitutional questions. His death occurred on 
June 28, 1836. He married Dorothea Payne 
Todd, but left no issue. 

Marshall, John (q. v.). 

Mason, David (q. v.. i-285). 

Mason, George, son of Colonel George 
Mason, of Stafford county, and Ann Thom- 
son, his wife, daughter of Stevens Thom- 
son, attorney-general of Virginia, was de- 
scended from an ancestor of the same name, 
who came to Virginia about 165 1. He was 
born at Doeg's Neck, Stafford county (now 
Fairfax), in 1726, and was educated at pri- 
vate schools. He was a member of the 
Ohio Company in 1749, and during the 
French and Indian war was active in provid- 
ing supplies to Braddock's army. He was 
a member of the house of burgesses in the 



Digitized by 



Google 



KATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION 



^5 



assembly of 1758-1761. His time was. how- 
ever, chiefly employed in the occupations of 
a planter. In 1750 he married Ann Eil- 
bcck. daughter of William Eilbeck, who had 
removed from Whitehaven, Cumberland 
county, England, to Maryland. He was an 
intimate friend of Washington, and, as a 
means of securing a repeal of the British 
revenue bill of 1767, he drew up a plan of 
non-importation, which was oflfered by 
Washington in the house of burgesses and 
adopted by that body in 1769. One of its 
sections pledged the planters to buy no im- 
ported slaves after November i, of that 
year. In 1773 ^^ wrote a tract, *' Extracts 
from the Virginia Charters, with some re- 
marks upon them" — an argument on the in- 
violability of the Virginia territory west- 
ward of the Alleghanies by virtue of the 
charter granted by Charles II. in 1676. At 
a meeting of the people of Fairfax county. 
July 17. 1774. he recommended a congress 
of the colonies, and urged non-intercourse 
with the mother country. His resolutions 
were sanctioned by the Virginia convention, 
and in 1774 were substantially adopted by 
the first Continental Congress. In 1775 
Mason was a member of the Virginia con- 
vention, but declined election to Congress 
for family reasons. He served on the com- 
mittee of safety ; and was author of the fam- 
ous declaration of rights and plan of gov- 
ernment adopted by the Virginia convention 
of 1776. In 1777 he declined a seat in the 
'Continental Congress. 1787 he sat in the 
convention to trame the Federal <:onstitution 
and took a leading part, favoring election of 
the president directly by the people, for a 
term of seven years, with subsequent ineligi- 
bility. He opposed the provision of the con- 
stitution prohibiting the abolition of the 



slave trade until 1808, denouncing slavery as 
a source of national weakness and demorali- 
zation. He opposed other features of the 
constitution as dangerous, and with Patrick 
Henry stood against its ratification, the two 
insisting upon a number of alterations, and 
upon a bill of rights. Some of these amend- 
ments were subsequently adopted by Con- 
gress, and are embodied in the present con- 
stitution. Mason was chosen one of the 
first United States senators, but declined, 
and spent the remainder of his days at **Gun- 
sion Hall,'' where he died. October 7, 1792. 

McClurg, James, son of Dr. Walter Mc- 
Clurg. an English army surgeon, was born 
at Hampton, in 1747. He was a fellow stu- 
dent with Thomas Jefferson at William and 
Mary College, and graduated in 1762. He 
went to Edinburgh. Scotland, and in 1770 
took the degree of M. D. After two years' 
study in Paris and London, he returned to 
America, settled in Williamsburg, Virginia, 
and rose to the h<!ad of his profession. His 
**Essay on the Human Bile." -first published 
ir London. England, was so highly esteemed 
as to be translated into all the languages of 
Europe. In 1779 he was made professor of 
medicine in William and Mary College, but 
about 1783 resigned and removed from Wil- 
liamsburg to Richmond. For many years 
be was a member of the executive committee 
of Virginia, and when Patrick Henry de- 
clined to serve in the convention to frame 
the United States constitution. Dr. McClurg 
was elected in his place, but was not present 
when the final vote on the constitution was 
taken, being compelled by private affairs to 
be absent, and, therefore, did not sign the 
instrument. He had some facility as a 
writer of verse, and his ** Belles of Williams- 



Digitized by 



Google 



26 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



burg" was well known. Dr. McClurg was 
killed at Richmond, by his horses running 
away. July 9. 1825. and was buried on Church 
Hill, in St. John's churchyard. He mar- 
ried Elizabeth Selden, but left no issue. 

Mercer, James, born at "Marlborough," 
February 26. 1736. son of John and Catharine 
(Mason> Mercer. He graduated from the 
college of William and Mary about 1755. ^^ 
was a captain in the French and Indiai. war. 
and in command at Fort Loudon (Winches- 
ter), 1756. He was a burgess in 1765, and in 
the house dissolved by Governor Dunmore 
in 1774; a member of the assembly, 1774, of 
the conventions of 1775. and the Virginia 
constitutional convention of May, 1776. and 
the committee of safety. 1775-76, which gov- 
erned Virginia until the inauguration of 
Governor Patrick Henry : also a delegate to 
the Continental Congress. 1779-80. He was 
ji:dge of the general court. 1780, and of the 
court of appeals from 1789 until his death. 
He was president of the board of trustees 
of Fredericksburg Academy. He drew the 
will of Mary Washington, mother of George 
Washington, and witnessed her signature. 
He married Eleanor, daughter of Major 
Alexander Dick. Their children were : John 
Fenton; Mary Eleanor Dick, who married 
her first cousin, James Mercer Garnett ; and 
Charles Fenton. He died in Richmond, Oc- 
tober 31, 1793, while attending the court of 
appeals. 

Mercer* John Francis, son of John Mercer, 
of "Marlborough," was bom May 17, 1759, 
educated at William and Mary College and 
served in the revolution as lieutenant Third 
Virginia Regiment; wounded at Brandy- 
wine; promoted captain. 1777; major and 
aide to General Lee, June 8, 1778 ; resigned 



October, 1779; lieutenant-colonel, Virginia 
state cavalry, in service at the battle of 
(luildford and elsewhere: member of Con- 
gress. 1782-1785; removed to Mar>land and 
v.as delegate to the Federal convention: 
representative in the state assembly for sev- 
eral sessions ; elected a representative to the 
second Congress to fill a vacancy caused by 
the resignation of William Pinckney; re- 
elected to the third Congress and served 
from February 6. 1792, until his resignation, 
.-\pril 13. 1794: member of the Maryland 
house of delegates: governor of Maryland, 
1801-1803: again a member of the state leg- 
islature ; died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 
August 30, 1821. 

Monroe, James» son of Spence and Eliza 
(Jones) Monroe, and a descendant of Andrew 
Monroe, a ship captain, who first settled in 
Maryland and afterwards came to West- 
moreland county. Virginia, was born in that 
county, April 20, 1758. At the outbreak of 
the revolutionary war he was one of the 
twenty-five students who left William and 
Mary College to enter the army, he enlisting 
at Washington's headquarters in New York 
City. He was appointed lieutenant in the 
Third Virginia Regiment, under General 
Hugh Mercer, took part in the battle of 
Harlem, where he was severely wounded in 
the shoulder while leading the advance; he 
was also present at the battles of White 
Plains and Trenton ; served as a volunteer 
aide with the rank of major, on the staff of 
ihe Earl of Stirling, and took part in the 
battles of Brandywine, Germantown and 
Monmouth. He was diverted from further 
field service by appointment by Governor 
Jefferson as lieutenant-colonel and military 
commissioner to inspect the condition of the 



Digitized by 



Google 




Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTIOX 



27 



iirmy of the South. In 1782 he was elected 
lo the state assembly, and soon called to the 
txecutive council. He sat in the Congress 
oi [783-86, in Xew York, and there pre- 
sented his bill for the temporary govern- 
ment of the new northwest territory, and 
which culminated in the ordinance of 1787. 
He was appointed one of the judges to de- 
cide the Xew York and Massachusetts boun- 
dary question, but as both states were op- 
posed to his views as to the right of free 
navigation of the Mississippi, he resigned. 
After leaving Congress, he practiced law in 
Fredericksburg. He was elected to the 
state assembly, and also to the state conven- 
tion of 1788. called to consider the ratifica- 
tion of the United States constitution. Fear- 
ing the result of a highly centralized power, 
he cast his vote against the ratification, but 
was reconciled by the adoption later of the 
first- ten amendments. In 1790 he became 
United States senator to fill an unexpired 
term (Grayson, deceased), serving until 
'705- when President Washington appointed 
him minister to France. An aggressive an- 
ti-Federalist, while in the senate he had an- 
tagonized some of the views of the presi- 
dent and several of his appointments, and 
his appointment to the French mission was 
a great surprise to the nation. He was se- 
verely criticized for his friendliness to 
France, and the apprehension that the Brit- 
ish ministry might be oflFended. led to hi.s 
recall, and on his returning home he wrote 
an exhaustive vindication. He was elected 
governor of Virginia and served from 1799 
to 1802. On the election of Jefferson to the 
presidency. Monroe was again sent to 
France as an additional plenopotentiary. 
and with Robert R. Livingston procured 
the cession of the Louisiana territory. He 



subsequently filled diplomatic appointments 
to Spain, where he negotiated for the pur- 
chase of Florida, but failed; and to Great 
r.ritain. where with William Pinkney he 
concluded a treaty. The instrument failed 
to protect American seamen from impress- 
ment or to secure indemnity for American 
goods seized, and the president would, not 
send it to the senate, whereupon Monroe re- 
turned and gave out a defense of his con- 
duct. He was a third time elected to the 
state assembly, and in 181 1 was again 
elected governor, but left the office after a 
few months to take the post of secretary 
of state under President Madison. He also 
acted as secretary of war, 1814-15. In 1816 
he was elected president, and his conduct of 
the office and the peaceful condition of the 
country led to his re-election, with prac- 
tically no opposition — a unique instance in 
the historv of American politics. In his 
message to Congress in 1823, in reference 
to a possible attempt by Spain to regain 
I'lorida. he laid down the principles known 
a? "The Monroe Doctrine." using these 
words: "We should consider any attempt 
on their part (a foreign power) to extend 
t.heir system to any portion of this hemis- 
phere, as dangerous to our peace and safe- 
ty." and again: "The American continents 
by the free and independent condition which 
they have assumed and maintained, are 
henceforth not to be considered as subjects 
for future colonization by any European 
powers." He subsequently effected a treaty 
with Spain and concluded the purchase of 
the Floridas. Although favoring internal 
improvements, he vetoed the Cumberland 
Road bill, holding that Congress had no 
authority to make appropriations for in- 
ternal uses unless of national importance. 



Digitized by 



Google 



28 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



During his administration, the Marquis do 
Lafayette was entertained as the nation's 
ffuest. 

C)n retiring from the presidency, Mr 
Monroe retired to his country seat at **Oak 
Hill." Loudoun county. Virginia, but in 
1829-30 he was a member of the state con- 
vention. Subsequently he went to live with 
his son-in-law. Samuel L. Gouverneur, then 
postmaster at Xew York. He was financial- 
ly embarrassed, and sought to enter upon 
the practice of law. but his years and im- 
paired health forbade success, and he lived 
a very quiet and uneventful life, until his 
death, July 4. 1831. He was married, in 
1/86. to Elizabeth, daughter of Lawrence 
Kortright. of Xew York. 

Moore, Bernard fi-294). 

Nelson, Thomas, was born in Yorktown, 
December 26. 1738. son of William Nelson, 
president of the Virginia council. He re- 
ceived his preliminary education in Virginia 
under the Rev. Mr. Yates, of Gloucester 
county; later, in 1752. was placed in a pre- 
paratory school at Hackney, England. 
Thence he went to Trinity College, and was 
graduated at Cambridge, A. B. He returned 
to Virginia in 1761, where in 1762 he married 
Lucy, daughter of Colonel Philip and Mary 
(Randolph) Grymes. of Middlesex county. 
He was a member of the Virginia house of 
burgesses from 1761-1775 from York county, 
and in 1774, when that body was dissolved 
by Lord Dunjnore, he was among the pro- 
testants against the action of the governor, 
urged the appointment of deputies to a gen- 
eral congress, and was returned to the next 
house. He was a member of the Williams- 
burg convention. August i, 1774, and that of 
March, 1775, where he proposed to meet 



British aggression with armed opposition, 
and was appointed colonel of the Second 
\'irginia Regfiment by the convention in 
July. 1775. On his election as a delegate to 
the Continental Congress in 1775. ^^ ^^ 
signed his commission as colonel and ser\*ed 
in Congress. 1775-77, signing the Declar- 
ation of Independence. He was a member 
of the Virginia constitutional convention of 
May, 1776. He resigned his seat in Con- 
gress in May. 1777. on account of illness, 
and in August. 1777, was appointed com- 
mander of the state forces, and raised and 
equipped a troop of cavalrymen, accompany- 
ing them to Philadelphia. He expended a 
large sum of money in this patriotic pur- 
l)ose. but as the troop was not called into 
MTvice he was never repaid for his outlay 
except by the act of August 8. 1778. in which 
it was "resolved that the thanks of Congress 
be given to the Honorable General Nelson 
and to the officers and gentlemen for their 
trave. i^enerous and patriotic efforts in ihc 
cause of their country." He was returned 
to Congress in 1779, and served a few 
months, but another sudden illness forced 
him to resign. When the invasion of Vir- 
gmia was threatened in May, 1779, he or- 
ganized the militia and at his own expense 
sent two regiments to the South. In June, 
1780. when Virginia resolved to borrow $2.- 
000,000 for the Continental treasury to pro- 
vide for the maintenance of a French fleet, 
he secured a large part of that amount by 
personal endorsement, which he was obliged 
to pay. He was elected governor June 12 
1781 ; commanded the Virginia militia in the 
siege of Yorktown ; ordered the artillery to 
open upon his own house, which he sup- 
posed was the headquarters of the British 
general; was present at the surrender of 



Digitized by 



Google 



FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION 



29 



Cornwallis, and received the thanks of 
Washington in general orders. He retired 
from the office of governor, November 30, 
1 781, whereupon he was accused of mal- 
administration for assuming dictatorial 
1 owers during the perilous term of admin- 
istration. He was exonerated by the state 
legislature. He spent the remainder of his 
life in retirement and poverty, his fortune 
having been expended for his country, and 
no recompense was ever made by the gov- 
ernment to his family. His grave at York- 
town. Virginia, was not marked, but his 
statue was placed in the group on the Wash- 
ington Monument at Richmond. He died 
at "Offley," Hanover county, January -j, 
1789. 

Nelson, William (q. v., i-70). 

Nicholas, Robert Carter, born in 171 5, in 
Hanover county. Virginia, was a son of Dr. 
George Nicholas and Elizabeth Carter, his 
wife, daughter of Hon. Robert Carter, pres- 
ident of the Virginia council (q..v.). He 
graduated from William and Mary College, 
and embraced the law. In 1756 he entered 
the house of burgesses for York county, 
continuing a member until the house of dele- 
gates was organized (1776), and was a 
member of that body until 1779. Though 
conservative in his views, he was nobly pa- 
triotic. He supported the Stamp Act reso- 
lutions of 1764, but opposed those of 1765 
offered by Patrick Henry, deeming them 
premature. He was treasurer of the colony 
from 1 766- 1 777, succeeding John Robinson. 
In 1773 he was a member of the committee 
of correspondence ; a member of all the revo- 
lutionary conventions, and on the resigna- 
tion of Peyton Randolph, president pro tern. 
of that of July. 1775. While he opposed 



Patrick Henry's proposition to organize the 
militia in March, 1775, he submitted as an 
alternative a motion to raise 10,000 regulars 
to serve throughout the war. When the 
news of the action of parliament, in 1774, 
laying an embargo on Boston, reached Vir- 
ginia, he offered a resolution to set apart 
June I, 1774, as a day of fasting and prayer, 
which was agreed to. While he opposed the 
resolution of May 15, 1776, in favor of in- 
structing Congress for declaring independ- 
ence, he refrained from voting that the ac- 
tion of the convention might go out with the 
prestige of unanimity. January 14, 1778, he 
was appointed one of the chancellors of the 
state, but he did not live long. He died at 
his seat in Hanover county, Virginia, in 
1780. He married Anne Cary. daughter of 
Colonel Wilson Miles Cary. and was father 
ol Governor Wilson Cary Nicholas (q. v.). 

Page, John, was born at "Rosewell," Glou- 
cester county, Virginia, April 17, 1744, son 
of Mann and Mary Mason (Selden) Page. 
He was graduated from the College of Wil- 
liam and Mary in 1763, and was married, 
about 1765. to Frances Burwell, daughter of 
Robert Burwell, Esq., of the council. He 
was a member of the house of burgesses, of 
the Colonial council, and the committee of 
safety ; a delegate to the state constitutional 
convention of July, 1776; lieutenant-gov- 
ernor; a representative in the ist-4th Con- 
gresses, 1789-97; a Jefferson elector in 1801. 
and governor, from 1802 to 1805, succeeding 
James Monroe. Being constitutionally in- 
eligible for re-election in 1805. he was suc- 
ceeded by William H. Cabell. He was 
United States commissioner of loans for 
Virginia, by appointment of President Jeff- 
erson, 1805-08: and a visitor to the College 



Digitized by 



Google 



30 



.VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



of William and Mary, appointed in 1776. 
At one time he was urged to take orders in 
the church, his friends desiring that he 
. should become the first bishop of Virginia. 
He was the author of "Addresses to the 
People/* (1796 and 1799). He died in Rich- 
mond. October 11. 1808. 

Fage, Mann, was born at "Rose well/' 
Gloucester county, about 1749, eldest son of 
Mann and Ann Corbin (Tayloe) Page, 
grandi^on of Mann and Judith (Carter) 
I'age, and great-grandson of the Hon. Mat- 
thew and Mary (Mann) Page, and great- 
great-grandson of Colonel John and Alice 
(Luckin) Paj^^e. lie was a half-brother of 
Governor John Page. He was graduated at 
the College oi William and Mary; removed 
lo Spottsylvania county, and was a delegate 
to the Continental Congress m 1777, with 
Thomas JefTers«»n. Thomas Nelson and 
George Wythe. He was married, in 1776, 
to Mary, daughter of John Tayloe,. of Fred- 
ericksburg. He died at "Mansfield." Spot- 
sylvania county, in 1781. 

Parker, Richard, son of Dr. Alexander 
Parker, of E^sex county, was born in 1732, 
was a lawyer, signed the Northern Neck 
.Association in I/C16, was a member of the 
A\ estmoreland county committee of safety 
in 1775; made judge of the general court in 
17S5. and held office till his death in 1815. 
He married Mary Beale, daughter of Cap- 
tain William Ptcale. of Richmond county, 
and .\nne Harwar, his wife, and was father 
of Richard Parker, colonel of the First Vir- 
ginia Regiment, and was killed at Charles- 
ton in 1780, of Alexander Parker, who was a 
captain in the revolution, and afterwards a 
general in the state militia, and of William 
Harwar Parker, an officer in the Virginia 



navy during the revolution, which last was 
father of Richard Elliot Parker, of Clarke 
county. X'irginia, a senator of the United 
States. 

Pendleton, Edmund, born in Caroline 
county. X'irginia. September 9, 1721 : son of 
Henry Pendleton, and grandson of Philip 
and Isabella (Hurt) Pendleton. Philip 
Pendleton emigrated from England in 1(^74, 
settled in X'irginia. and was buried in King 
and ^>ueen county. Edmund Pendleton re- 
ceived training in private schools, and early 
in life became assistant to the clerk of Caro- 
hne county, under whom he read law. He 
was licensed to practice law in 1744, became 
justice of the peace in 1751, and entered the 
X'irginia house of burgesses, in 1752, where 
he !)ecame at once one of the leading mem- 
bers. He declared the Stamp Act uncon- 
stitutional, and that it did not bind the in- 
habitants of Virginia ; was a member of the 
committee of correspondence in 1773. and of 
the colonial convention of 1774. resulting 
from the I'ostcn port-bill, of which conven- 
tion he was elected president. He was a 
delegate to the first Continental Congress, 
September 5. 1774. to October 26, 1774. 
After the death of Peyton Randolph, he suc- 
cieded him in all the first offices of state. 
He was president of the convention of De- 
cember I. 1775, and of May, 1776, and was 
also president of the committee of safety. 
He wrote the resolutions of the Virginia 
convention of May, 1776, favoring a Declar- 
ation of Independence, and proposing a state 
constitution. As head of the committee of 
safety, he had control of the militia and of 
the foreign correspondence of Virginia. 
When the state government was organized, 
he was elected speaker of the house of dele- 



Digitized by 



Google 



FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION' 



3t 



gates, and, with George Wythe and Thomas 
Jefferson, revised the colonial laws. He was 
re-elected speaker in 1777. and, upon the 
organization of the court of chancery, was 
made its president by unanimous vote, and 
v.as transferred to the head of the court of 
appeals on its formation in 1788, holding 
the office until his death. He was president 
of the state convention that ratified the 
Federal constitution, and was one of its 
warmest supporters. In 17S9. President 
Washington appointed him judge of the 
United States district court of Virginia, but 
he declined. When parties were formed, he 
united with the Democratic-Republicans, 
and wrote a protest against waging war 
against France in 1799, claiming that gov- 
ernment to be a "sister republic." without 
whose aid independence could never have 
been obtained. He died in Richmond, Vir- 
ginia. October 23, 1803. 

Frentis, Joseph, son of William Prentis, 
a merchant of Williamsburg, and Mary 
I'nMjke, his wife, was born January 24, 
1754. was a student at William and Mary 
Culkge. member of the Virginia convention 
which met in December. 1775; appointed 
with James Hubard and John Tyler, a com- 
missioner in admiralty. 1776: member of 
the first house of delegates in 1777, from 
Williamsburg: member from York. 1778- 
1788: speaker of the house of delegates, 
i/i^^: member of Patrick Henry's privy 
council. 1779; judge of the general court 
from 1789 to his. death. June 18, 1809; one 
of the revisors of the code of 1794. He was 
chairman of the house committee, which 
was appointed in October. 1785, to draw a 
bill to give the assent of V^irginia to a gen- 
eral regulation of trade by Congress. The 



bill reported by Mr. Prentis was not ac- 
ceptable, and an rdternative resolution ofter- 
ed by John Tyler for a commercial con- 
vention of delegates at Annapolis, was 
adopted. This led to the Federal conven- 
tion at Philadelphia. Mr. Prentis married, 
December 16. 1778, Margaret Bowdoin, 
daughter of John and Grace Bowdoin, of 
Northampton county. He was great-grand- 
father of the present Judge R. R. Prentis, 
president of the State Corporation Commis- 
sion. 

Randolph, Edmund, was born in Wil- 
liamsburg. August 10. 1753, son of John 
Randolph ( [727-178-1). the last attorney- 
general under the royal government ( 1766- 
1775). He was graduated at the College of 
William and Mary, and studied law with 
his father. He remained in \'irginia. when 
his father fled to England in 1775. and 
Washington made him a member of his own 
family, and his aide-de-camp, .\ugust 15. 
1773. On the death of his uncle. Peyton, 
he returned to William.sburg to care for the 
estate, and married Elizabeth, daughter of 
Robert Carter Nicholas. He was a mem!)er 
of the convention of I77^>: was elected at- 
torney-general under the new constitution, 
and was mayor of Williamsburg. He was 
a delegate to the Continental Congress, 
1779-82, where he had a place in the com- 
mittee on foreign aflfairs. He resigned in 
1782. and devoted himself to the care of his 
estate. He was a commissioner to the .An- 
napolis convention, and as a member u^^ged 
the calling of a constitutional convention. 
He was governor. 1786-88. and leader of the 
\:rginia delegation to the constitutional 
convention of 1787, when he introduced the 
g;eneral plan of the instrument as agreed 



Digitized by 



Google 



32 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



upon. He opposed a single executive, pre- 
ferring an executive commission; opposed 
re-eligibility of the president, and his hold- 
ing pardoning power, the vice-presidential 
office, and states having two senators irre- 
spective of their population; and favored 
the giving of powers to the Federal gov- 
ernment sufficient to prevent any state from 
carrying out a law declared by the supreme 
court to be unconstitutional. It was his 
motion that eliminated the word "slavery" 
fiom the constitution. He refused to sign 
the instrument as prepared, unless a second 
national convention should act on it, after 
it had been discussed by the people. In the 
Virginia convention of 1788, however, he 
advocated its ratification as necessary to 
union. The clause of Article VI. on religious 
tests was added at his suggestion. He re- 
signed as governor in 1788, and secured a 
seat in the assembly, that he might take part 
in codifying the laws of the state. On Sep- 
tember 2T. 1789, he was named by President 
Washington as attorney-general, and served 
until January 2, 1794, when he succeeded 
Thomas Jefferson as secretary of state. He 
opposed the Jay Treaty as detrimental to 
Southern interests and the national dignity. 
He held the office of secretary of state till 
August 19. 1795, when, on account of a mis- 
understanding with Washington, he re- 
signed. An account was made up against him 
of $49,000 for moneys placed in his hands 
to defray the expenses of foreign inter- 
course, and he was held responsible for all 
moneys lost through accidents and other 
calamities; after repeated trials, his lands 
and slaves were sold, the government gain- 
ing besides the debt and interest about 
$7,000. He appeared as counsel for Aaron 
Kurr in his trial for treason at Richmond. 



He was the author of: "Democratic So- 
cieties (1795)"; "Vindication of Mr. Ran- 
dolph's Resignation (1795)"; "Political 
Trust, or Animadversions on the Past and 
Present Sute of Public Affairs (1796)", and 
"History of Virginia" (MS. in possession of 
Virginia Historical Society). Edmuird 
Randolph died in Clarke county, September 
13. 1813. 

Randolph, Peyton, was born at "Tazewell 
Hall," Williamsburg, 1721, son of Sir John 
Randolph. He was educated at William and ^ 
Mary College; barrister of law at Inner 
Temple. London, and attorney-general for 
X'irginia in 1748; and the same year repre- 
sented Williamsburg in the house of bur- 
gesses. This body sent him, in 1754, to ap- 
pear before the English ministry to demon- 
strate the unconstitutionality of a pistole fee 
imposed by Governor Robert Dinwiddie on 
every land patent, and after his argument 
the fee was rescinded on land patents on less 
than one hundred acres, and soon after on all 
patents. He had gone to England without 
consent of the governor, who appointed 
George Wythe in his place in the office of 
attorney-general, the latter yielding to Ran- 
dolph on his return a few months later. Ran- 
dolph led a company against the Indians 
after Braddock's defeat ; was chairman of a 
committee, in 1769. to revise the laws of the 
province and was a visitor of William and 
Mary College. In 1764 he strongly opposed 
the Stamp Act; in 1766 was chosen speaker, 
and gave up his post as royal attorney, being 
succeeded by his brother, John. From this 
time on, he held all the first positions in the 
colony. He was chairman of the committee 
of correspondence, 1773-1775* and in August, 
1774, he was chairman of the Virginia con- 



Digitized by 



Google 



FATHERS OF THE R INVOLUTION 



3.^ 



vention; was first president of the Conti- 
nental Congress convened in September of 
the same year. On the removal of the pow- 
der from the Williamsburg magazine, he ap- 
peased the patriots and delayed impeu^ang 
hostilities. He was again speaker of the 
house of burgesses in May, 1775, and after- 
ward sat in the second Congress. He was 
a close friend of Washington, and as a youth 
Jefferson took him as a model. He was 
grand master of Virginia Masons in 1773. 
He married Elizabeth Harrison, sister of 
Benjamin Harrison, the signer, and died of 
apoplexy in Philadelphia. October 22, 1775, 
childless. His remains were conveyed to 
Williamsburg and interred in the chapel of 
William and Mary College, by the side of 
his brother, Sir John Randolph. In 1784, 
the remains of his brother, John, were laid 
beside him. 

Read, Thomas, son of Colonel Clement 
Read, and Mary Hill, his wife, was born at 
"Bushy Forest," in Lunenburg county, 
about 1735-1740, and beg^n life as a sur- 
veyor; studied at William and Mary Col.- 
lege, and was deputy clerk of Charlotte ' 
county, in 1765, when it was set apart from 
Lunenburg. In 1770 he became clerk, hold- 
ing the office till his death in 1817. He was 
a member of the convention of May, 1776, 
and had a place on the committee appointed 
to draw up the declaration of rights, and a 
state constitution. During the revolution, he 
was county lieutenant, and marched with 
the county militia to oppose Cornwallis. He 
was a man of fine physique and a warm 
friend of President Madison. He died at 
his seat, "Ingleside," in Charlotte county, 
February 4, 1817. 

VU-3 



Ronald, William, a native of Scotland, was 
a prominent member of the house of dele- 
gates, during and after the revolution. He 
resided in Powhatan county, which he rep- 
resented in the convention of 1788. He was 
a delegate from Virginia to the Annapolis 
convention, September 5, 1786. His brother, 
Andrew Ronald, was an eminent lawyer of 
Richmond, who was opposed to Patrick 
Henry in the British debts case, in which 
the debtors were represented by Patrick 
Henry. 

Smith, Meriwether, son of Colonel Francis 
Smith, of Essex county, Virginia, was born 
at "Bathurst," Essex county, in 1730. He 
married (first) in 1760, Alice, daughter of 
Philip Lee, and of their children, George 
William became governor of Virginia; and 
(second) September 29, 1769, Elizabeth, 
daughter of Colonel William Daingerfield. 
He sat in the house of burgesses in 1770; 
was a member of the Virginia conventions 
of 1775 and 1776, being the author of a bill 
of rights and a state constitution; was a 
signer of the articles of the Westmoreland 
Association, February 27. 1766, pledged to 
use no articles of British importation, and 
the resolutions of the Williamsburg Asso- 
ciation, which met at the old Raleigh Tavern 
of that city. May 18, 1769. He was a dele- 
gate to the Continental Congress, 1778-82, 
and a member of the Virginia convention, 
which adopted the constitution of the 
United States. He died January 25, 1790. 

Starke, Boiling (q. v., i-330). 

Tabb, John, was a descendant of Humphrey 
Tabb, who came from the neighborhood of 
Welles, in England, to Virginia, about 1637. 



Digitized by 



Google 



34 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



His father, Colonel Thomas Tabb, was one 
of the richest merchants in Virginia, and 
was for many years a burgess. John Tabb 
was born at his father's residence "Clay 
Hill,'* Amelia county, about 1737; was edu- 
cated in England, and was a burgess for that 
county from 1772 to 1776; a member of the 
committee of safety for the colony, 1775- 
1776, and a member of the revolutionary 
conventions of 1774, 1775 and 1776. He 
married. February 17, 1770, Frances, daugh- 
ter of Sir John Peyton, of Gloucester county, 
\'irginia, and died in 1798. His daughter, 
Martha Peyton, married, in 1797, William 
l5. Giles, United States senator, and his son, 
John Yelverton Tabb, was grandfather of 
the poet. Rev. John B. Tabb. 

Tazewell» Henry, son of Littleton Taze- 
well, clerk of Brunswick county, and Mary 
Gray, his wife, daughter of Colonel Joseph 
Gray, of Southampton county, was born in 
Brunswick county, Virginia, in 1753. Or- 
phaned in childhood, he was a student at 
William and Mary College, read law with 
ar uncle, rose to prominence at the bar, and 
from the age of twenty-two was constantly 
in the public service. In the legislature, 
1775-1785, he promoted the abolition of 
primogeniture and entail, and separation of 
church and state. In the convention of 
May, 1776, he was a member of the com- 
mittee which reported the declaration of 
rights and the state constitution. He was 
a judge of the Virginia general court, 1785- 
93, and of the supreme court of appeals in 
1793; in the United States senate, 1794-99, 
and president pro tern, in 1795. As a Jeffer- 
son ian he opposed Jay's Treaty with Eng- 
land. He died while the senate was in ses- 
sion at Philadelphia, January 24, 1799. He 



was descended from James Tazewell, of 
Lymington. Somersetshire. England, and 
from Colonel Edward Littleton, of the \'ir- 
ginia council. 

Tucker, St. George, son of Henry and 
Anne (Butterfield) Tucker, and a descend- 
ant of George Tucker, of Milton-next- 
Cravesend. Kent. England, a leading mem- 
ber of the Warwick party in the Virginia 
Company of London, was born at Port 
Royal, Bermuda. July 9, 1752. Coming to 
\*irginia in 1771. he was graduated at Wil- 
liam and Mary College the next year, stud- 
ied law and began its practice. Embracing 
the revolutionary cause, he planned and 
helped to carry out an expedition against his 
native island, which resulted in the capture 
of a fort with stores. As lieutenant-colonel 
at the siege of Yorktown, he received a 
wound which lamed him for life. In 1778 
he became step-father of John Randolph, by 
marriage with his mother, Frances Bland. 
He was a member of the state legislature, 
and of the Annapolis convention of 1786; 
law professor in William and Mary College 
from 1790 to 1804, succeeding George 
Wythe; one of the commission to revise 
and digest the Virginia laws; judge of the 
state general court. 1785-1803 ; judge of the 
supreme court of appeals (1803-11) ; and of 
the United States district court (1813-27), 
succeeding John Tyler. He was called the 
''American Blackstone," and noted for 
''taste, wit and amiability." He published 
a '* Dissert ion on Slavery, with a Broposal 
for its Gradual Abolition in Virginia" 
(1796); **Letter on the Alien and Sedition 
Laws" (1799) ; an annotated edition of 
Blackstone. and, "How Far the Common 
Law of England is the Common Law of the 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 





r ^e/r- 



Digitized by 



Google 



FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION 



35 



Lnited States'* (1803) ; and, under the name 
of Jonathan Pindar, a volume of satires, 
called "Probationary Odes" (1796). He 
left some manuscript plays, and much verse. 
One of his lyrics, "Days of my Youth*' has 
been widely popular, and is still remem- 
bered. He received the degree of LL. D. 
from William and Mary College in 1790. 
He died at his estate in Nelson county, 
Virginia. November 10, 1827. He married, 
secondly, Lilia Skipwith in 1791. but had no 
issue by her. 

Tyler, John, son of John Tyler, marshal 
of the vice-admiralty court, and Anne Con- 
tesse. his wife, daughter of Dr. Lewis Con- 
tesse, a French Huguenot physician, was 
born in James City county, Virginia, Febru- 
ary 28, 1747. He attended the Grammar 
school at William and Mary in 1754, and 
afterwards was a student in the college. In 
his nineteenth year he stood in the lobby of 
the house of burgesses and heard Patrick 
Henry's speech on the Stamp Act, which 
roused in him a great hostility to England. 
He studied law under the eminent lawyer. 
Robert Carter Nicholas, and removed to 
Charles City county in 1770. Here in 1774 
he was a member of the county committee 
of safety, and in 1773. when he heard of 
Lord Dunmore's act of removing. the pow- 
der from the government magazine in Wil- 
liamsburg, he raised a company of troops in 
Charles City county and joined his forces 
with those of Patrick Hcnr>', to demand 
restoration or compensation. In 1776 he 
was appointed a commissioner of admiralty 
for one year, and in 1778 was elected to the 
house of delegates. Here he was a warm 
supporter of the revolutionary war. and in 
1 78 1 supported the proposition to permit 
Congress to levy a five per cent, duty on 



imported goods. He was an active sup- 
porter of the reforms of Mr. Jefferson. In 
1 78 1 he succeeded Benjamin Harrison, who 
had been made governor, as speaker of the 
house of delegates, and in 1783, so great was 
his popularity, that he defeated Richard 
Henry Lee for that office, but was himself 
defeated in 1785 by Benjamin Harrison, who 
v/as returned to the house after his term as 
governor had expired. He was in favor of 
granting to Congress the power to regulate 
trade, and in 1786 got through the house the 
resolution to call a commercial meeting of 
the states at Annapolis. Meantime, in No- 
vember, 1785. he was elected a judge of the 
admiralty court to succeed Benjamin Waller, 
who resigned. As such he was one of the 
judges of the supreme court of appeals till 
that court was reconstituted in December, 
1788. He was vice-president of the state 
convention in 1788. called to consider the 
new Federal constitution, and denounced the 
clause which permitted the slave trade for 
twenty years ; and on this account, and be- 
cause of the centralizing tendency of that 
instrument, he opposed the adoption of the 
new Federal constitution. When, by opera- 
tion thereof, the admiralty jurisdiction was 
vested in the United States courts. Judge 
Tyler was elected to the general court, and 
in 1792, in the case of Kemper vs. Hawkins, 
took ground in favor of the power of the 
j«diciar\' to overrule legislative acts con- 
travening the constitution. In 1800 he was 
offered by the governor the appointment to 
the chancery court of the Williamsburg dis- 
trict, but he declined. In 1808 he was 
elected governor of Virginia, which office 
he retained till his resignation in i8ti to 
accept the judgeship of the United States 
district court for Virginia. As governor he 



Digitized by 



Google 



36 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



urged the needs of education upon the legis- 
lature, and it was in response to his remon- 
strances that the legislature established the 
Literary Fund. His appointment as United 
States judge was strongly pressed by Mr. 
Jefferson on President Madison, as an ex- 
ception to the rule he had made for himself 
"never to embarrass the President with my 
solicitations." In Jefferson's opinion, Judge 
Tyler had the firmness "to preserve his in- 
dependence on the same bench with Mar- 
shall/* and there was scarcely a person in the 
state "so solidly popular.*' He was an earn- 
est advocate of the war of 1812, and decided 
the first prize case that came up for decision. 
His death occurred at his residence, "Green- 
way," in Charles City county, February 6, 
1813, due to pleurisy contracted during in- 
clement weather while holding court in Nor- 
folk. His wife, whom he married in 1776. 
was Mary Armistead, daughter of Robert 
Booth .Armistead, of York county, by whom 
he had, with other children, a son of the 
same name who became President of the 
United States (1841-1845). 

Waller, Benjamin (q. v., 1-351). 

Washington, George, was born at Pope's 
Creek, Westmoreland county, Virginia, Feb- 
ruary II (o. s.), 1732, son of Augustine 
and Mary (Ball) Washington, and a de- 
scendant of John Washington, who ap- 
peared in Virginia with his brother, Law- 
rence, in 1657. While he was a child, his 
parents removed to Stafford county, oppo- 
site Fredericksburg. He attended an **old 
field school," with Hobby, the parish sex- 
ton, as his teacher. His father dying in 
1743, he returned to Pope's Creek to live 
with his elder brother, Augustine, and after 
attending a private school was commis- 



sioned by Lord Fairfax to survey the Fair- 
fax estates, a task which he discharged so 
satisfactorily that Lord Fairfax procured his 
appointment as a public surveyor. In 1751 
he accompanied his brother, Lawrence, to 
the West Indies, returning the following 
year, when Lawrence died, leaving him 
guardian of his daughter and heir to his 
estates at her death. Washington was soon 
made an adjutant-general of Virginia, with 
the rank of major. In 1753, Governor Din- 
widdie sent him to the frontier to obtain 
information with reference to the French 
^ military posts, a mission which he per- 
formed most successfully. In 1754 he was 
made lieutenant-colonel of a Virginia regi- 
ment under Colonel Fry, and was sent to 
Wills' Creek, where the French had taken 
possession of the English fort at the junc- 
tion of the Alleghany and Monongahela 
rivers. He marched to Great Meadows, and 
surprised the French camp under Jumon- 
ville, the French loss being thirty-one killed 
and prisoners. This was the first blood 
shed in the war, and brought Washington 
to public notice. Colonel Fry dying, he 
succeeded to the command, but was starved 
out at Fort Necessity. His command, how- 
ever, was permitted to march out free and 
Washington returned to Virginia, receiving 
the thanks of the burgesses. When Gov- 
ernor Dinwiddie broke up regimental or- 
ganizations, leaving no officer of higher 
rank than captain, Washington resigned 
and withdrew to Mount Vernon. General 
P»raddock arrived February 20, and know- 
ing of Washington's past service, called him 
to his staff, with the rank of colonel. The 
story of the ill fated advance to Fort Du- 
quesne, of Braddock's contemptuous disre- 
gard of warnings g^ven him, of his death, of 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



5y Google 





Digitized by 



Google 



FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION 



37 



Washington rallying the broken command, 
conducting the retreat, and reading the bur- 
ial service over his fallen chief — all these 
facts are familiar. The Virginia assembly 
now raised a regiment, and gave Washing- 
ton command of all the state forces. In 
1758 his health gave way and he returned 
home, but soon resumed field service, 
marched to and took possession of Fort Du- 
quesnc, and then resigned his commission. 
In 1759 he was elected to the house of bur- 
gesses; was present when Patrick Henry 
introduced his resolutions of May 29, 1765, 
and in May, 1769, offered the non-importa- 
tion resolutions, drawn by George Mason. 
In the Virginia convention which met at 
Williamsburg, August i, 1774, he declared, 
**I will raise a thousand men, subsist them 
a! my own expense, and march them to the 
relief of Boston." He was a delegate to the 
Continental Congress at Philadelphia, in 
1774, and was chairman of the military com- 
mittee at the session of 1775. On June 15 
he was made commander-in-chief, and July 
3d took command of the first American 
army at Cambridge, 14.000 men. enthusi- 
astic, but undisciplined. He directed the 
operations at Boston, and after its evacu- 
ation by the British proceeded to New York, 
which he fortified, and arranged for the 
Canada campaign. He then visited Con- 
gress in Philadelphia, and on his return 
learned of a plot for his assassination, con- 
ceived by the tory Tryon; this was frus- 
trated, the conspirators were imprisoned, 
and the principal actor. Thomas Hickey, 
was hanged. Lord Howe arrived, and at- 
tempted to open a correspondence addressed 
to **Mr. Washington," which was rejected, 
when Howe wrote to the British home 
authorities that it would be well to give 



him his proper title. Washington then 
opened the Long Island campaign, and by 
his coolness and decision saved his army 
and crossed it over to New York. After re- 
sisting Howe for a time, he made his re- 
treat through New Jersey, his troops re- 
duced to 3000 men. Evading Cornwadis, 
he made his historic crossing of the Dela- 
ware, attacked Trenton in midst of a fierce 
storm, and as the fruit of a bayonet charge 
captured Colonel Rahl and 1000 men, then 
rt'crossing the river. Making a night 
march on Princeton, he defeated three regi- 
ments of British troops, and then took post 
at Morristown. In January, 1777, he issued 
a proclamation requiring such inhabitants 
a^ had subscribed to Lord Howe's declar- 
ation, to take the oath of allegiance to the 
United States; his act was questioned in 
Congress, and he was accused of violating 
civil rights, but nothing came of it. He 
ccmdemned the commissioning of foreigners 
as unjust to native officers, but afterward 
warmly approved the appointment of such 
officers as von Steuben and Lafayette. By 
his activity he obliged Howe to retire to 
Xew York, whence Howe sailed to Delaware. 
Washington suffered a reverse at Chad's 
Ford. Pennsylvania, and his army was held 
together with difficulty; later (October 3), 
with 8000 men he routed the enemy at Gcr- 
mantown. but was unable to reap the full 
fruits of a victory on account of some of 
his fresh troops being seized with panic. 
Later he repulsed the enemy at Fort Mer- 
cer, but a British fleet obliged him to aban- 
don the Delaware and he retired to White 
Marsh, and by his activity obliged Howe 
to confine himself to Philadelphia. About 
this time Gates undertook the overthrow 
of Washington, but the plot was discovered 



Digitized by 



Google 



38 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



and frustrated. The winter of 1778 wit- 
nessed the miseries of Valley Forge, and 
here Washington displayed his best quali- 
ties, holding together a disheartened force 
which could be only meagjely fed and 
clothed by means of forced levies. Lady 
Washington was present, living at the home 
o^ Isaac Potts, a Quaker preacher, where 
she gathered other soldiers' wives, who bus- 
ied themselves making garments for the 
soldiers. Washington lived with his officers 
and men, sharing all their discomforts. It 
was here that Baron von Steuben rendered 
efficient aid by perfecting the organization 
of the army and systematically drilling it. 
On May 11, 1778, Sir Henry Clinton with 
10,000 men began his march from Philadel- 
phia to New York, and Washington broke 
camp at \'alley Forge and went in pursuit, 
encountering the enemy at Monmouth, New 
Jersey. Owing to the misconduct of Gen- 
eral Lee, the Americans fell into disorder. 
At this juncture Washington met Lee, whom 
he rebuked with all the indignation of his 
nature, then rallied his troops and drove 
Cornwallis from the field. In July, 1778, 
the French fleet appeared, and Washington 
communicated his plans of attack to Ad- 
miral D'Estaing, but the latter, pleading 
injuries to his ships by a severe storm, 
sailed for the West Indies, having effected 
nothing. In 1779 Washington went before 
Congress with a plea for good money for 
payment of the troops, the Continental cur- 
rency being practically worthless. Later 
(1781), in consequence of nonpayment for 
many months, a Connecticut regiment 
mutinied, a portion of the Pennsylvania line 
rebelled, and the New Jersey line became 
disaffected. These ills were cured in a de- 
gree; and Washington, though a man of 



tender sympathies, felt obliged to hang two 
of the New Jersey ringleaders. While bus- 
ied with the immediate operations of his 
own troops, Washington was directing the 
operations of the army in the south, and 
with consummate skill. As a result of his 
combinations, simultaneous attacks were 
planned against the British in New York, 
Yorktown and Charleston. Washington in 
person led 2000 Continentals and 4000 
French from West Point to Yorktown, a 
distance of four hundred iniles, and invested 
Cornwallis, who surrendered October 19, 
1 78 1, this virtually ending the war. 

On December 4, 1783, Washington took 
leave of his officers in a banquet at Fraun- 
ce*s Tavern, in New York. He then re- 
turned to Mount Vernon, and busied him- 
self with the rehabilitation of his estate, 
and in promoting the settlement of the 
west, his principal interest in the latter un- 
dertaking being to enable the officers and 
men who had followed him during the long 
struggle for independence, to secure homes 
for themselves. On May 2, 1787, at the 
convention assembled at Philadelphia to 
amend the articles of confederation and 
union, Washington was unanimously chosen 
its president, and in February, 1789, the 
electoral college under the new constitution 
elected him first president of the United 
States. He received official notice of his 
election, April 14, 1789, at Mount Vernon, 
and set out on his journey to New York, 
great public assemblages greeting him all 
the way through Maryland, Pennsylvania 
and New Jersey, and he was inaugurated 
April 30, Chancellor Livingston administer- 
ing the oath of office, following it with the 
exclamation, "Long live George Washing- 
ten, president of the United States." Wash- 



Digitized by 



Google 



FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION 



39 



ington now proceeded to the important 
task of selecting a cabinet, a supreme court, 
minister? to foreign courts, and a multitude 
o»* smaller officials, his intimate knowledge 
of men, and his almost superhuman judg- 
ment, enabling him to name a list of unap- 
proachable excellence. In 1790 the seat of 
government was removed to Philadelphia, 
where Washington, at the close of his sec- 
ond presidential term, received John Adams 
as his successor, he having refused to be a 
candidate for a third term, in an address of 
classical beauty, and breathing sentiments 
of fervent patriotism and lofty political 
philosophy. During his administration he 
sent a force of regulars and militia to quell 
the. Indian disturbances on the frontier. 
With the aid of Hamilton, he formed a sub- 
stantial basis for governmental finances, a 
task of the greatest magnitude owing to the 
utter worthlessness of existing Continental 
currency, and the breaking down of the 
national credit. On the occasion of the war 
between France and England he issued a 
proclamation of neutrality in which he ex- 
pressed sentiments which were subsequent- 
ly celebrated in the **Monroe Doctrine": 
**Thc new power 1 the United States) meant 
to hold aloof from Europe * * * and take 
lio interest in the balance of power or the 
fate of dynasties." On September 18, I7')3, 
he laid the corner stone of the capitol build- 
ing at Washington City. In 1794 he sup- 
pressed the ''Whiskey Insurrection." 

After retiring from the presidency, Wash- 
ington returned to private life at Mount 
Vernon. In 1796 he presented to "Liberty 
Hall Academy." in Rockbridge county, Vir- 
ginia, one hundred shares of stock lvalue 
^50,000) of the old James River Company, 
given him by the Virginia legislature as a 



token of esteem and admiration, with these 
v;ords: "To promote literature in this ris- 
ing empire, and to encourage the arts, have 
ever been amongst the warmest wishes of 
my heart, and if the donation which the gen- 
erosity of the legislature of the common- 
wealth has enabled me to bestow upcm 
Liberty Hall — now by your politeness 
called Washington Academy — is likely to 
prove a means to accomplish these ends, it 
will confibute to the gratification of my de- 
sires." In 1798 the threatened war with 
France necessitated arrangements for a pro- 
visional army, and Washington was com- 
missioned lieutenant-general and com- 
mander-in-chief. He appointed Alexander 
Hamilton chief of staff, and gave himself 
to the duties of organization with his old- 
time vigor, but war was happily averted. 
He received the honorary degree of LL. D. 
trom Harvard in 1776: from Yale in 17S1 ; 
from the University of Pennsylvania in 
1783: from Washington College (Mar}- 
land) probably in 1784; and from Brown 
I'niversity in 1790. He was a fellow of the 
American Academy of .Arts and Sciences, 
and member of the American Philosop!\ioa! 
Society. 

On December 12, 1799, while busied on 
his estate, he took a severe cold which de- 
veloped into acute laryngitis, and after be- 
ing bled three times, sank rapidly, and 
breathed his last on December 14. He was 
buried in the family vault at Mount V'er- 
nt»n, and although a vault was prepared 
under the capitol at Washington City, the 
state of Virginia would not consent to the 
removal of the body. His birthday was 
made a national holiday by act of Congre5?s. 
His name stands first in Class M, ruleri 
and statesmen, in the Hall of Fame of Co- 



Digitized by. 



Google 



40 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



himbia University, New York, and is com- 
memorateu :n the massive marble Wa.-hing- 
lon Arch in the same city, and in the \\'j>i-h- 
ington Monument in the national capital. 
Statues of Washington have been erected in 
nearly ever> important city in the com. try, 
the principal ones being that by Houdo»« in 
the capital at Richmond, Virginia, and 
Crawford's equestrian statue in the same 
city ; and the colossal statue by Grcenough, 
in Washington City. Among numerous 
portraits are those of Stuart, Trumbull, and 
both the Peales. 

Martha Washington, wife of President 
and General George Washington, was a 
daughter of Colonel John Dandridge, and 
wido'v of Daniel Parke Custis. Her 
daughter, Martha Parke Custis, died at the 
iige of seventeen: her younger children. 
Eleanor Parke and George Washington 
Parke Custis, were adopted by General 
Washington, who was childless. 

Wythe, George, son of Thomas Wythe, 
r.nd Elizabeth Walker, his wife, who v/as a 
{a*anddaughter of the celebrated Rev. 
George Keith, of England and Penn^jl- 
vania, was descended from Thomas Wythe, 
who came to Elizabeth City county, from 
England about 1680. He was bom in 
1726, was schooled under the care of his 
r.u»iher. who was well educated, an J at- 
tended William and Mary College, lie 
.^'tudied law under his uncle-in-law, Stephen 
Dev/ey, in Prince George county ; settled in 
Williamsburg, and attained distinction at 
the bar, and was made attorney-general by 
Governor Dinwiddie, in 1754, in the absence 
of Peyton Randolph; was burgess for tlie 
city of Williamsburg, August of the same 
year, on the death of Armistead Burwell. 



continuing till 1756. About this time be re- 
moved to Spotsylvania county, wheic he 
married Anne, daughter of Zachary Lewis. 
a prominent lawyer there. In 1758 he was 
?gui!i in Williamsburg, and was burgess 
for the college of William and Mary in the 
assembly of 1 758-1 761, after which he re- 
moved to nis native county. Elizabeth City, 
and was burgess for that county from 1761 
to 17C9, when he was made clerk of the 
house of burgesses, an office retained by 
him till 1775. During the Stamp Act 
troubles, he was one of the committee of 
corrc\spondence. which in June, 1764, pro- 
tested against its enactment, and he drew 
the remonstrance to the house of 00m- 
mcn* adopted by the burgesses in Decem- 
ber. 1764. He opposed the resolution^ of 
Patrick IJcnry in May, 1765, as hasty and 
premature. He served as clerk of the house 
of burge>«cs till he was appointed a mem- 
ber of Congress in August, 1775, ^vhere 
he supported the resolutions of Richard 
Henry Lee. in favor of independence, and 
afterward was a signer of the Declaratio.i 
of Luleptndence. In 1776 he was appointed 
a member of the committee to revise the 
laws of the state and to adapt them to the 
new form of government, having been one 
cf the compilers of the Code of 1769. In 
1777 he was speaker of the house of dele- 
gates, and the same year was appointed one 
of the three judges of the chancery court es- 
tablished by law. While holding this posi- 
tion, he was appointed, in 1779, professor of 
bw at William and Mary College, being 
thus the first professor of law in the United 
States. As a part of his methods of teach- 
ing he held moot law courts and legislative 
assemblies in the old Williamsburg capital. 
He was the first judge to announce the 



Digitized by 



Google 



FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION 



41 



power of the courts to over-rule an uncon- 
stitutional enactment. In 1789 he was made 
sole chancellor of the state, resigned hi? 
professorship, and went to reside in Rich- 
mond. In 1787, he represented Virginia in 
the Federal convention at Philadelphia and 
in 1788 was vice-president of the Virginia 
state convention, which ratified its work, 
Mr. Wythe voting for the constitution. He 
was twice presidential elector on the Re- 
publican ticket. The honorary degree of 
LL. D. was conferred upon him by William 
and Mary in 1790. So just and upright was 
he in his decisions, that he was called the 
"American Aristides/* and both Thomas 



Jefferson and John Marshall studied law 
under him. The former pronounced him 
"one of the greatest men of his age." He 
wa.<i the author of "Decisions in Virgir.t;i 
by the High Court of Chancery." He di^d 
from the cfiects of poison, and his preat- 
nephew, George Wythe Sweeney, was tricci 
lor the crime, but was acquitted. He died 
Jure 8. 1806, and was buried in St. John's 
churchyard, Richmond. He married (sec- 
ond) Elizabeth Taliaferro, daughter of 
Richard Taliaferro, of James City county, 
but he had no surviving issue by either of 
his wives. 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



GOVERNORS OF THE STATE 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



U-GOVERNORS OF THE STATE-1776-1861 



Henry, Patrick, governor, June 29, 1776- 
June I, 1779 (q. v.). 

Jefferson, Thomas, governor, June i, 1779- 
June I, 1781 (q. v.). 

Fleming, William, councillor and acting 
governor, son of Leonard and Dorothea 
Fleming, was born in Jedburgh, Scotland, 
February 18, 1729. He attended a private 
school in Dumfries, and later studied sur- 
gery at the University of Edinburgh. At 
the close of his term he entered the British 
service as a surgeon's mate, and soon after 
was taken prisoner by the Spaniards. After 
a rigorous confinement he was released and 
came to Virginia, where in August, 1755, he 
entered Washington's regiment. He served 
as ensign and lieutenant, and in 1762 he was 
made captain in the regiment commanded 
by Colonel Adam Stephen. After the peace 
in 1763 he resumed the practice of his pro- 
fession in Staunton, where he married Anne, 
sister of Colonel William Christian, April 
9. 1763. He removed to Botetourt county, 
gave up the practice of medicine, and en- 
gaged in the work of a farmer at his home, 
** Belmont." When General Andrew Lewis 
fought the battle of "Point Pleasant/' he 
v/as one of his colonels and was badly 
wounded. In 1776 he was made county 
lieutenant of Botetourt by the committee of 
safety, and when the state government was 
formed he was a senator from the district 
of Botetourt, Montgomery and Kentucky, 
and later became member of the council. 
During the interval between the expiration 



of Mr. Jefferson's second year as governor, 
June I, 1781, and June 12, when General 
Thomas Nelson was made governor, he exer- 
cised the authority of chief magistrate as the 
only member of the council remaining at 
the seat of government. He called out the 
militia and took other means to resist Corn- 
wallis' troops, who had flooded the State, 
for which acts he was indemnified by the 
legislature. In 1782 he was appointed chair- 
man of a committee to enquire into the 
accounts of all commissaries and other 
agents appointed for the western country. 
Later he was a member of the convention 
of 1788 for Botetourt county, and under in- 
structions voted for the constitution. He 
was a man of strong literary tastes, had one 
of the finest libraries in Western Virginia, 
and was a member of the board of trustees 
of Washington College. He died August 5, 
1795- 

Nelson, Thomas, Jr., governor, June 12, 
1 78 1 -November 30, 1781 (q. v.). 

Harrison, Benjamin, governor, November 
30, 1781-November 29, 1784 (q. v.). 

Henry, Patrick, (second term), November 
29, 1784-December I, 1786 (q. v.). 

Randolph, Edmund, governor, December 
I, 1786-December I, 1788 (q. v.). 

Randolph, Beverley, born at *'Chatsworth," 
Henrico county, 1754, son of Colonel Peter 
and Lucy Boiling Randolph : his father sur- 
veyor of customs, 1749* and long a member 
of the house of burgesses. He was gradu- 



Digitized by 



Google 



46 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



a ted from William and Mary College, 1771, 
and was a visitor, 1784; member of general 
assembly during the revolutionar>' war, and 
an ardent patriot. In 1787 he was chosen 
president of the executive council of Vir- 
ginia, and on December i, 1788, succeeded 
Edmund Randolph as governor for one year. 
Every governor was eligible for three years, 
but in 1790 Benjamin Harrison was nomi- 
nated for the office against Mr. Randolph, 
who had served but two years. Harrison 
rejected his candidacy and Randolph was 
ag^in reelected. His administration was 
notable with respect to Indian depredations 
and the relations of Virginia to Pennsyl- 
vania, fie died in February, 1797, at his 
home. "Green Creek,** Cumberland county. 

Lee, Henry, governor, December i, 1791- 
December i. 1794 (q. v.). 

Brooke, Robert, born in Virginia, 1751, 
son of Richard Brooke, and grandson of 
Robert Brooke, a skilled surveyor, who was 
one of Governor Spotswood's knights of the 
horseshoe. He was educated at Edinburgh 
University, and on returning home at the 
beginning of the revolution was captured 
by Howe, British admiral, and sent back to 
England, whence he went to Scotland, then 
to France, and reached Virginia in a French 
vessel carrying arms for the continentals. 
He joined Captain Larkin Smith's company 
of cavalry, was captured near Richmond by 
Simcoe in 1781. was exchanged, and re- 
joined the army. In 1794 he represented 
Spotsylvania county in the house of dele- 
gates, and on December i, of the same year, 
was elected governor and served two years. 
He was a Republican, and in 1798 was 
elected attorney-general of the state, over 
Bushrod Washington, nephew of General 



Washington. He was grand master of 
Masons in \'irginia, 1795-97. He died in 
1799, while still attorney-general, aged only 
thirty-eight years. The county of Brooke, 
tormed from Ohio county, now in West 
Virginia, was named in his honor. 

Wood, James, born in Frederick county, 
in 1750, son of Colonel James Wood, 
founder of \\'inchester. In 1775 ^^ ^^'^^ ^ 
burgess from Frederick county, and in lypy 
a member of the Virginia convention, 
which appointed him colonel of the Eighth 
\'irginia Regiment. He behaved gallantlv 
at the battle of Brandywine; and at Kur- 
goyne's surrender was put in charge of the 
priv-orcrs at Charlottesville. In 1781 he v.-as 
supcrini*^«Kicnt of prisoners of war in \'ir- 
ginia. and used his own means for their in- 
terest. He was president of the last board of 
officers that arranged for the \*irginia line. 
In ,1783. as brigadier-general of state troops, 
he served efficiently during the Indian 
troubles. Elected to the executive council 
in 1784. by. seniority he became lieutenant- 
p)vernor. He was governor, from Decem- 
ber I. 1796, to December i, 1799; and the 
Richmond armory was erected under his 
administration. He was in the legislature 
twelve years, and in the executive council 
twenty years, and died while so serving, 
June 16, 1813. He was president of the 
Society of the Cincinnati from October 9, 
1784. until his death. His wife, who was 
Jean, daughter of Rev. John Moncure, was 
long remembered for her poetic composi- 
tions and charitable works. 

Monroe, James, governor, December i. 
1799-December I, 1802 (q. v.). 

Page, John, governor. December i. 1802- 
December i, 1805 (q.^v.). 



Digitized by 



Google 



GOVERNORS OF THE STATE 



47 



Cabell, William H., was born at ** Boston 
Hill/* Cumberland county. Virginia, De- 
cember i6, 1772. He was a grandson of 
William Cabell of Warminster. Wiltshire, 
England, and was son of Colonel Nicholas 
and Hannah (Carrington) Cabell. He at- 
tended a private school, and in February, 
1785. entered Hampden-Sidney College. In 
February, 1790, he entered William and 
Mary College, as a student of law, under 
Judge Tucker, where he continued until 
July. 1793. He was a member of the as- 
sembly in 1796. and also in 1798, when he 
voted for the Virginia resolutions against 
the alien and sedition laws. He was a Re- 
publican, and was presidential elector in 
1800 and 1804. In the last-named year he 
became again a member of the general as- 
sembly, but December i, 1805. became gov- 
ernor, in which office he continued three 
years, when he was succeeded by John 
Tyler, the first governor of that name. The 
trial of Aaron Burr for high treason, and 
the attack on the frigate Chesapeake by 
the British sloop-of-war Leopard, contrib- 
uated to make his administration mem- 
orable. In 1808 he was elected a judge of 
the general court, and in 181 1 he became a 
judge of the court of appeals. After the 
adoption of the new constitution, in 1830. 
Judge Cabell was again elected to the court 
of appeals, and January 18. 1842, he was 
elected president. He served until 185 1, 
when he retired. He died at Richmond. 
January 12, 1853, and was interred in Shock- 
hoe hill cemetery. The resolutions adopted 
by the court of appeals and bar ascribed to 
him *'much of the credit which may be 
claimed for the judiciary system of Vir- 
ginia and its literature." He married. 
March 11, 1805. Agnes Sarah Bell, eldest 



daughter of Colonel Robert Gamble, of 
Richmond. 

Tyler, John, governor, December i. 1808- 
January 11, 181 1 (q. v.). 

Monroe, James, (2d term), January 11, 
1811-December 5. 181 1 (q. v.). 

Smith, George William, lieutenant and 
acting governor, was born at "Bathurst," 
Essex county, Virginia, in 1762, son of 
Meriwether and Elizabeth (Daingerfield) 
Smith. He was a lawyer, and was member 
of the house of delegates for Essex, 1791- 
1794. He removed to Richmond City, where 
he was one of the leading lawyers, and a 
representative in the house of delegates in 
1 802- 1 808. In 1805 he was captain of the 
Richmond Republican Blues. He entered 
the privy council in 1807. and as lieutenant- 
governor became the acting governor by 
reason of the resignation of James Monroe. 
December 5, 1811. On the 26th of the same 
month he lost his life in the fire that con- 
sumed the Richmond theatre. He married 
(first) February 7, 1793. Sarah, fourth 
daughter of Colonel Richard Adams, and 
(second) Jane, widow of Meriwether Jones, 
editor of the Richmond "Examiner," and 
daughter of Dr. Read, of Hanover county. 
He left issue by the first marriage. 

Randolph, Peyton, lieutenant and acting 
governor, son of Governor Edmund Ran- 
dolph and Elizabeth Nicholas, his wife, 
daughter of Robert Carter Nicholas, was 
born about 1778 and graduated at William 
and Mary College in 1798. He was elected 
tc the governor's council, and as senior 
member was acting governor from the 
death of Lieutenant-Governor George Wil- 
liam Smith. December 26. 181 1. to January 3, 



Digitized by 



Google 



48 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



1812, when James Barbour became governor 
by election of the general assembly. He 
was an eminent lawyer, and in 1821 became 
the reporter of the supreme' court of appeals. 
The results of his labors as such — "Report 
of the cases argued and determined in the 
Court of Appeals of Virginia, r82i-i8i8," 
were published in six volumes 8 vo., Rich- 
mond, 1823-1832. He died at Richmond, of 
a pulmonary complaint, December 26, 1828. 

Barbour, James, bom in Orange county, 
June 10, 1775. son of Colonel Thomas Bar- 
bour, who was a member of the house of 
burgesses from 1769-1776, and the conven- 
tions of 1774 and 1775. His education was 
limited, and chiefly obtained from private 
tutors, of whom the Rev. James Waddell 
was one. He was admitted to the bar be- 
fore he was of age, and was a member of the 
house of delegates from 1796 to 181 2. In 
this ser\*ice he advocated Madison resolu- 
tions of 1798-99, was author of the anti- 
duelling law, and in 1809, as speaker, 
drafted the bill for the literary fund re- 
ported by a committee in response to an 
urgent representation of Governor John 
Tyler on the needs of education. He was 
governor from January 3, 1812, and served 
as such throughout the war with Great 
Britain. In 181 3 he was elected United 
States senator, and was chairman of the 
committee on foreign affairs. He opposed 
the restriction on the admission of Mis- 
souri, and John Quincy Adams compli- 
mented him by saying that the North had 
no man equal to him or Henry Clay in 
ability. He was a senator for ten years, 
and then was appointed secretary of war 
by President John Q. Adams, and served 
till 1828, when Adams sent him minister to 
England, whence he was recalled by Presi- 



dent Jackson in 1829. He was a national 
Republican, and then a Whig, and in 1839 
was president of the convention at Harris- 
burg, which nominated Harrison and Tyler. 
He was for many years president of the 
Humane Society for the education of poor 
children in Orange county. He was father 
of B. Johnson Barbour, an orator of much 
note, and brother of Philip P. Barbour, 
judge of the United States supreme court 

Nicholas^ Wilson Gary, was born in Wil- 
liamsburg. Virginia, January 31, 1761, son 
of Robert Carter Nicholas, the distinguished 
revolutionary patriot. He was graduated 
from William and Mar>' in 1779, entered 
the army, became an officer, and commanded 
Washington's life guard until it was dis- 
banded about 1783. He represented Albe- 
marle county in the house of delegates in 
1784, and in the convention of 1788 called to 
ratify the constitution of the United States. 
He served in the legislature in 1789 and 
1790 and from 1794 to 1799, when he suc- 
ceeded Henry Tazewell as United States 
senator. He warmly supported the admin- 
istration of Thomas Jefferson in the sixth, 
seventh, and eighth Congress till Decem- 
ber 13, 1804, when he resigned to accept the 
office of collector of the ports of Norfolk 
and Portsmouth. This position he held three 
years, when he was elected to the tenth and 
eleventh Congresses as a member of the 
house of representatives. On December i, 
1814, he became governor, serving till De* 
cember i, 1816. He died at "Tufton," the 
residence of his son-in-law, Thomas Jeffer- 
son Randolph, Albemarle county,. October 
10, 1820. 

Preston, James P., was born at "Smith- 
field," June 31, 1774, son of Colonel William 



Digitized by 



Google 



GOVERNORS OF THE STATE 



49 



and Susanna (Smith) Preston. He was a stu- 
dent at William and Mary Callege, 1790-95. 
In 1799 he organized an artillery company; 
in 1802 was elected to the state senate. 
On March 19, 1812, he was made lieutenant- 
colonel of the Twelfth United States In- 
fantry, and for gallantry during the war 
with Great Britain was promoted to colonel, 
and assigned to the Twenty-third Regi- 
ment. In the battle of Chrystlcr's Field, 
November 11. 1813, he was wounded in the 
thigh, crippling him for life. He succeeded 
Wilson Gary Nicholas, as governor, De- 
cember I, 1816, and served till December i, 
1819. During his administration, the law 
was enacted establishing the University of 
Virginia. He was afterward postmaster of 
Richmond for several years. He died at 
"Smithfield," Montgomery county, May 4, 
1843. He married Anne Taylor, sister of 
General Robert Barraud Taylor, of Norfolk. 

Randolph, Thomas Mann» born at *Tuck- 
ahoe/' Goochland county, October i, 1768, 
the eldest son of Thomas Mann Randolph 
and Anne Gary, his wife. He studied first 
at William and Mary College, and then at 
the University of Edinbtirgh. where his 
reading was extensive and varied. On Feb- 
ruary 23, 1799, young Randolph married 
Martha, daughter of Thomas JeflFerson, with 
whom he afterward made his home at **Mon- 
ticello," and the White House. He served 
in the senate in 1793 and 1794, and was a 
member of the United States house of rep- 
resentatives from 1803 to 1807. During this 
time a duel with John Randolph of Roanoke, 
was averted with difficulty. During the war 
of 1812 he was colonel of the Twentieth 
United States Infantry. He was governor 
from December 1. 1819, to December i, 1822. 

VIA— 4 



He died at '^Monticello," June 20, 1828, the 
result of exposure, due to his having given 
away hisicloak to a beggar while riding on the 
highway. He was a deep student and Jeffer- 
son characterized him as "a man of science, 
sense, virtue and competence." His son, 
Thomas Jefferson Randolph, a man of great 
stature, served frequently in the Virginia 
house of delegates and edited the papers of 
his grandfather, Thomas Jefferson. Another 
son, George Wythe Randolph, was secretary 
of war of the Confederate States. 

Pleasants, James, Jr., was born in Gooch- 
land county, Virginia, October 24, 1769, son 
of James Pleasants, and a descendant of 
John Pleasants, a Quaker, who emigrated 
from England in 1663. After a thorough 
school education, he studied law with Judge 
Fleming and began practice with consider- 
able success. In 1796 he was elected from 
Goochland county to the house of delegates, 
and as a Republican supported the resolu- 
tions of 1798-99. In 1803 he was chosen 
clerk of that body, and served until 181 1, 
when he was elected to the house of repre- 
sentatives. He supported Madison's policy 
during the war of 181 2, and became gov- 
ernor. December i, 1822, which office he 
held by annual elections until December i, 
1825. He was a member of the convention 
of 1829-30, his last public service; though 
twice appointed to judicial position, he de- 
clined acceptance from a distrust of his 
qualifications. He died November 9, 1836, 
in Goochland county. He left a distinguished 
son. John Hampden Pleasants, who attained 
almost unrivaled success as editor of the 
Richmond "Whig." His grandson. James 
Pleasants, son of his son. John Hampden, 
was a distinguished lawyer of Richmond. 



Digitized by 



Google 



50 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Tyler, John, governor, December i, 1825- 
March 4, 1827 (q. v.). 

Giles, William Branch, son of William 
Giles and Anne Branch, his wife, was born 
ill Amelia county, X'irginia, August 12, 
1762. He studied at Hampden-Sidney and 
Princeton colleges; and from Princeton he 
went to William and Mary to study law 
under the great law professor, George 
Wythe. He began practice in Peters- 
burg, \"irginia, where he remained for a 
number of years. In 1791 he was elected 
to Congress, and served excepting one ses- 
sion until March, 1803. He was, first, a 
Federalist, but the proposition to create the 
United States Bank led to his joining the 
Republicans. While Alexander Hamilton 
was secretary of the treasury, Mr. Giles at- 
tacked him in the house, accusing him of 
corruption and peculation, and moved reso- 
lutions censuring Hamilton for arbitrary as- 
sumption of authority. Giles was opposed 
tc John Jay's treaty with Great Britain, and 
took active part in opposition to that in- 
strument. He was equally against the pro- 
posed war with France. In 1798 Giles was 
a member of the Virginia legislature, where 
he strongly supported the Virginia resolu- 
tions. In 1801 was a presidential elector. 
In 1804 he succeeded Wilson Gary Nicho- 
las in the United States senate; and, being 
re-elected, served until March 3, 1815, when 
he resigned. His position in the senate was 
prominent, being that of a Republican 
leader, but he was particularly noticeable 
for his opposition to the Madison adminis- 
tration. Mr. Giles was in private life from 
181 1 until 1825, when he was a candidate 
for the United States senatorship. but was 
defeated by John Randolph. The next year 
he was elected to the legislature, and on 



March 4, 1827, became governor, which 
office he held until March 4, 1830. In his 
messages at this time he took strong grounds 
tor resistance against the tariff. Mr. Giles 
v.as one of the ablest parliamentarians of 
his time, an accomplished debater, and was 
generally compared with Charles James 
Fox. Mr. Giles published a number of writ- 
ings, among which were "A Speech on the 
Embargo Laws" (1808) ; "Political Letters 
to the People of Virginia" (1813) ; a series 
of letters signed "A Constituent," in the 
"Richmond Inquirer," in opposition to apian 
for general public education (1818). He 
published in 1824 a letter antagonizing 
President James Monroe and Henry Clay 
on account of their interest in the South 
American cause and that of the Greek revo- 
lution, as also the question of the tariff. 
Mr. Giles died in Albemarle county, \'ir- 
ginia, December 4, 1830. 

Floyd, John, born in Jefferson county, 
April 24, 1783, son of Colonel John Floyd, 
and a descendant of an early Virginia im- 
migrant. He. attended Dickinson (Pennsyl- 
vania) College, studied medicine at the Uni- 
versity of Pennsylvania, was graduated in 
1806, and settled in Montgomery county, 
Virginia. He was appointed a justice of the 
peace in 1807; major of militia in 1808; sur- 
geon in the Virginia line, 1812, and same 
year was elected to the house of delegates; 
was brigadier-general of militia. In 1817 he 
was elected to Congress, and as a leader in 
the house wielded a potent influence. He 
opposed the administration of John Quincy 
Adams, and aided largely in the election of 
Jackson. He introduced the first bill for the 
occupation and settlement of Oregon. He 
became governor, March 4, 1830. and con- 
tinued as such till March 4. 1834. In his 



Digitized by 



Google 



GOVERNORS OF THE STATE 



51 



messages he severely condemned President 
Jackson for his proclamation against South 
Carolina, and took ground against military 
coercion, but he did not believe in the doc- 
trine of nullification. South Carolina gave 
him her vote for the presidency in 1832. 
While he was ser\-ing as governor, occurred 
Xat Turner's slave insurrection in South- 
ampton county, and the trial and execution 
o^ the leader. Nat Turner. He was in poor 
health for some time previous to the ex- 
piration of his term, and he died from par- 
alysis, August 15. 1837, at Sweet Springs, 
Montgomery county. 

Tazewell, Littleton Waller, son of Henry 
Tazewell and Dorothea Elizabeth, daughter 
of Judge Benjamin Waller, was born in Wil- 
liamsburg. Virginia, December 17. 1774. He 
was graduated from William and Mary Col- 
lege in 1792. studied law under John Wick- 
ham, of Richmond, and in 1796 was admit- 
ted to the bar. The last named year he was 
elected to the house of delegates, remaining 
itntil i?oo, supporting the resolutions of 
179.S and Madison's report of 1800. As 
representative to Congress, he. in 1800, suc- 
ceeded John Marshall. While in Congress. 
Mr. Tazewell supported Jefferson in the 
presidential election which fell to the house, 
thus opposing the claims of Aaron Burr. 
He declined a re-election to Congress, and 
removing to Norfolk in 1802. won renown 
for himself as one of the ablest lawyers in 
the Union. He was especially prominent 
as an admiralty or criminal advocate. Ro- 
man Catholic priests consulted him about 
canon law, and London merchants upon 
points affecting their trade. He was an ar- 
dent supporter of the general views and 
constitutional opinions of Jefferson, al- 
though dissenting with equal ardor from 



various special policies of his administra- 
tion. Against both France and England he 
was outspoken, and urged hostilities with 
each. When public sentiment tended to- 
ward war, however, he reversed his position, 
declaring the administration to be incapable, 
his opposition being fierce against Mr. Madi- 
son. Mr. Tazewell continued to decry the 
policy that was bringing about the impend- 
ing struggle with Great Britain, until the 
declaration of war in 1812. when he gave 
the government his loyal support. In 1816 
he became a member of the Virginia legis- 
lature, where his profound knowledge of 
economical and fiscal questions gave him an 
active part in the deliberations of that body. 
I'nder Monroe he was one of the United 
States commissioners instrumental in the 
purchase of Florida from Spain. From 1824 
to 1833 ^^^' Tazewell was once more a 
member of the United States senate. In 
1829 President Jackson oflFered him the 
mission to England, which he declined. 
During this second senatorial career he 
was most conspicuous as chairman of the 
ccmmittee on foreign relations. His report 
on the Panama mission is widely known, as 
?re also his addresses ujx^n the tariff, the 
piracy act. the bankrupt act. and the pre- 
rogatives of the president in the appoint- 
ment of foreign ministers. He opposed the 
administration of John Quincy .\dams 
helped to elect Andrew Jackson, but op- 
posed his policy against South Carolina. In 
1834 he resigned from the senate, after hav- 
ing madf himself particularly antagonistic 
to the presidential action in removing the 
United States deposits from the Bank of the 
United States. He joined the Whig part^c 
formed in 1834 of all the opponents of Jack- 
son, denouncing the proclamation against 



Digitized by 



Google 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



the South Carolina movement, though he 
did not approve the doctrine of nullification. 
In January, 1834, he was elected governor 
and entered upon his duties March 31, fol- 
lowing. When the legislature framed reso- 
lutions instructing their senators to vote for 
expunging from the Journal of the United 
States senate the resolutions censuring Gen- 
eral Jackson for removing the deposits from 
the United States Bank, he resigned in dis- 
gust April 30, 1836, and retired to private 
life at his elegant seat in Norfolk, Virginia, 
never afterwards appearing in public ser- 
vice. He was revered in Virginia for his 
great ability, and his appearance was ma- 
jestic and commanding. He died in Nor- 
folk, May 6, i860. 

Robertson, Wyndham» lieutenant and act- 
i'lg governor, was a son of William Robert- 
son and Elizabeth Boiling, his wife, and 
grandson of William Robertson, baillie of 
Edinburgh, Scotland. He was born near 
Manchester, opposite to Richmond, Vir- 
ginia, January 26. 1803, and first attended 
private schools and afterwards completed 
his education at William and Mary College 
iit 182 1. He was a member of the council 
of state in 1830 and again in 1833. In 1834, 
at the first meeting of the James River and 
Kanawha Company he proposed, instead of 
a canal to Lynchburg, a railroad to progress 
ultimately westward to the Mississippi, 
which showed his wisdom and far-sighted- 
ness^ March 31, 1836, he became lieutenant- 
governor, and on April 30, acting governor, 
by virtue of the resignation of Governor 
Tazewell. He served till March 31, 1837; 
after which he served in the legislature, 
1838-1841. and 1858-1865. As a states' rights 
Unionist, he opposed both secession and co- 



ercion, but approved the former alternative 
when Lincoln resorted to force. He was a 
man of extensive literary attainments, and 
one of his most interesting productions was 
"Pocahontas, alias Matoaka, and her De- 
scendants.'* He died at Abingdon, Washing- 
ton county, February 11, 1888. ^ 

Campbell, David» born at Royal Oaks, 
I*otetourt county, August 2, 1779, son of 
John and Elizabeth (McDonald) Campbell. 
He had only such education as frontier 
schools would afford. In his fifteenth year 
he was made ensign of militia, and he was 
afterward engaged in the clerk's office at 
Abingdon. In 1799 he organized a light in- 
fantry company, of which he was captain. 
He then studied law, but never practiced. 
He was deputy clerk of Washington county, 
1802-1812. July 6. 1812, he was made major 
of the Twelfth United States Infantry ; pro- 
moted to lieutenant-colonel. Twentieth Regi- 
ment ; participated in the St. Lawrence river 
c:impaign, and incurred such rheumatic ail- 
ments that he resigned, June 28, 1814. Re- 
turning home, he was aide-de-camp to Gov- 
ernor James Barbour, soon afterward com- 
missioned brigadier-general, and appointed 
colonel of the Third Virginia Cavalr}-, Jan- 
uary 25, 1815. He served as county clerk 
till 1820, when he was elected to state sen- 
ate, 1820; clerk of Washington county. 1824, 
holding until March 31, 1837, when he be- 
came governor. He had supported Jackson 
for the presidency, but when the Democratic 
party brought forward the sub-treasury and 
standing army measures, he became an ac- 
tive member of the new Whig party formed 
of many elements. As governor, he earn- 
estly urged the common school system. He 
died March 19, 1859. 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 






wm$^m^^-.^ 






.>\ -;J - ■ ^ ' 




Digitized by 



Google 



C'.OVERXORS OF THE STATE 



53 



Gilmer, Thomas Walker, born at Gilmer- 
ton, Albemarle county, April 6, 1802, son of 
George Gilmer, and grandson of Dr. George 
Gilmer. He was educated by private tutors, 
and studied law under his uncle, Peachey 
R. Gilmer, at Liberty. Bedford county. He 
was a delegate, in 1825, to the Staunton 
convention called to agitate a constitutional 
convention; during the Jackson presidential 
campaign, in 1828, he edited the "Virginia 
Advocate"; member of the house of dele- 
gates, 1829-37. serving on important com- 
mittees, among them that on revolutionary 
claims, and later was appointed by Governor 
Floyd to prosecute such claims on behalf of 
the state. He supported Jackson for the 
presidency, but when that executive issued 
his proclamation against South Carolina, 
Mr. Gilmer, with hundreds of other Demo- 
crats, aided in the forming of the Whig 
party. In 1838 he became speaker of the 
house of delegates, and was re-elected as 
such in 1839. He became governor, March 
31. 1840, when he made a tour of the state, 
to examine all public works, and defrayed 
all his expenses out of private funds. Dur- 
ing his administration, occurred the notable 
dispute with Governor Seward, of New 
York, concerning fugitive slaves, Seward 
having refused to surrender such, and Gil- 
mer, in turn, refusing to surrender criminal 
refugees from Xew York and the legislature 
declining to sustain him in the latter posi- 
tion. Governor Gilmer sent to the legislature 
an able message in vindication of himself, 
and resigned the chair, March 18. 1841. He 
was immediately elected to Congress and 
gave his support to President Tyler, when 
Mr. Clay ruptured the Whig party by his 
bank and tariff propositions. He was a strong 
advocate of the annexation of Texas. In 1844 



he was appointed secretary of the navy by 
President Tyler, but in less than two weeks 
came to his death by an explosion on the 
steamship "Princeton," in the forty-second 
year of his age. He married Anne E. Baker, 
daughter of Hon. John Baker, of Shepherds- 
town, West Virginia. 

Patton, John M., lieutenant and acting 
governor, son of Robert Patton, a native of 
Scotland, and merchant of Fredericksburg, 
Virginia, and Ann Gordon Mercer, daughter 
of General Hugh Mercer, who fell at Prince- 
ton in 1777, was born August 10, 1797. He 
v/as liberally educated and practiced law in 
Fredericksburg. In 1830, he was elected to 
Congress and served till 1838, when he rc- 
m.oved to Richmond, and was elected a 
member of the council of state, and as lieu- 
tenant-governor succeeded as acting gov- 
ernor, on the resigtiation of Governor 
Thomas Walker Gilmer, March 18, 1841. un- 
til the expiration of his yearly term*, March 
31. 1841. In 1849, he was associated with 
Conway Robinson in. a revision of the code 
of \'irginia. He died at Richmond, October 
28. 1858, and was buried in Shockoe Hill 
Cemetery. 

Rutherfoord, John, lieutenant and acting 
governor, born in Richmond, Virginia, Dc- 
cembe*- 8 1792, son of Thomas Rutherfoord, 
merchant, and political writer of distinction. 
He was educated at Princeton College, 
studied law. but practiced only a short time. 
He was many years president of the Mutual 
Assurance Society, the first institution of its 
kind in the state; also first captain of the 
Richmond Fayette Artillery, and rose to 
rank of colonel. He was a states-rights 
Democrat till 1833, and a Whig until 1837, 
when he returned to the Democrats on the 



Digitized by 



Google 



54 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



srb-treasury question. In 1826 he was 
elected to the house of delegates and con- 
tinued in that body till 1S39 when he was 
elected as one of the councillors of state. 
On March 31. 1841. he was elected president 
of the council and succeeded John M. Patton 
ar acting governor. During this time he 
continued the controversy with Governor 
Seward, of New York, begun by Governor 
Clilmer. In 1836. he was elected president 
o» the Mutual Assurance Society of Vir- 
ginia, in which position he served efficiently 
for thirty years. At an entertainment at his 
house General Scott pronounced the eulogy 
upon Colonel Robert E. Lee. which con- 
tributed 10 the calling of that great sol- 
dier to command the Virginia forces in 
1861. Governor Rutherfoord married. April 
24. 1816. Anne Coles, and died at Richmond, 
August 3. 1866, leaving descendants. 

Gregory, John M., lieutenant and acting 

governor, the son of John M. Gregory. Sr., 

and Letitia Graves, his wife, was born in 

Charles City county, Virginia. July 8, 1804. 

He was a descendant of early settlers in 

Virginia and his grandfather, John Gregory, 

was killed in action during the revolution. 

His education was acquired at the "old field 

school," and, being poor, he toiled on the 

farm. He taught school in James City 

county, and in 1830 graduatefl Sis\Qachelor 

* • • • 
of Law at William and Mary ^olltfgc. The 

siime year he was elected to the house of 
delegates from James City county, and con- 
tinued in that body by successive elections 
till 1841, when he was elected by the legis- 
lature a member of the council of state. He 
became lieutenant-governor on March 31, 

1842. and as such succeeded John Ruther- 
foord as acting governor till January i, 

1843. when he was succeeded in the execu- 



tive office by James McDowell. In accord- 
ance with an act of the general assembly, 
passed December 14. 1842, the term now 
for which the governors of \'irginia were 
elected began on the first day of January 
next succeeding their elections. In 1853 ^^ 
was appointed United States district attor- 
ney for the eastern district of \'irginia, 
serving till the year i860, when he was 
elected judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit 
of Virginia, serving in this capacity until 
1866. At this date he was removed from 
office by the Federal military authorities, 
and. resuming his practice as a lawyer, was 
soon elected commonwealth's attorney for 
Charles City county. This post he held till 
1880, when he resigned on account of feeble 
health and retired to Williamsburg, where 
he died in 1888. He married Miss Amanda 
Wallace, of Petersburg, Virginia, by whom 
he left a large family. 

McDowell, James, bom at "Cherry 
Grove," Rockbridge county, October 11, 
1795, son of Colonel James and Sarah (Pres- 
ton) McDowell, and a descendant of John 
McDowell, who was killed by Indians, in 
1742. He studied at Yale and Princeton 
colleges, graduating from the latter in 1810; 
then studied law under the famous lawyer. 
Chapman Johnston, but never practiced. He 
entered the legislature in 1831, and after the 
Nat Turner insurrection he advocated the 
gradual abolition of slavery. His brilliant 
speech on nullification in 1833 made him a 
rival of John Tyler for the senatorship, but 
he was defeated. In politics he was a Jackson 
Democrat. He became governor on Janu- 
ary I, 1843, but before the end of his term 
of three years was elected to the United 
States house of representatives, succeeding 
his deceased brother-in-law, William Taylor, 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 




JOHN B. FLOYD 



Digitized by 



Google 



GOVERNORS OF THE STATE 



55 



serving until 185 1 with conspicuous ability. 
His most memorable effort was his speech 
favoring the admission of California to the 
Union. He died at Lexington, August 24, 
1851. He married his cousin Susan, daugh- 
ter of General Francis Preston, and Sarah 
L. Campbell, his wife, daughter of General 
William Campbell, the hero of King's Moun- 
tain. 

Smith, William, born in King George 
county, Virginia, September 26, 1797, son of 
Caleb Smith and Mary W'augh, his wife. 
Jle was educated at private schools and be- 
came a lawyer in 1836. He was elected to 
the state senate, was re-elected, and resigned 
after the firs: session of his second term. 
In 1827 he became a large mail contractor: 
the service expanded to such degree that he 
claimed additional compensation, from 
which was fixed upon him the sobriquet of 
**Extra Billy Smith,'* which well character- 
ized his extraordinary abilities. He was a 
Democrat in politics, and in 1841-43 was a 
Congressman. On January i, 1846, he be- 
came governor, for the term of three years. 
In 1850 he removed to California, and was 
president of its constitutional convention. 
He returned to Virginia, and served as Con- 
gressman, 1858-61. In 1861, though sixty- 
five years old, he volunteered in the Con- 
federate army, was made colonel of the For- 
ty-ninth Virginia Infantry, bore himself gal- 
lantly in numerous engagements; and was 
promoted to brigadier-general and major- 
general. After brief service in the Confed- 
erate Congress, he again became governor, 
January I. 1864, and when Richmond was 
evacuated in April. 1865, he removed the 
seat of government to Lynchburg, and after- 
wards to Danville, surrendering the execu- 
tive office May 9. 1865. After the war he 



engaged in farming at Warrenton. In 1877, 
though eighty-one years of age, he was re- 
elected to the state senate, and the next year 
ci'me within a few votes of election to the 
United States senate, soon afterward retiring 
to private life. He was an ardent temper- 
Avxe man, and a model of chivalry and po- 
liteness. '*His marvelous activity, fearless 
character and powerful talents place him 
among the remarkable men of the age." He 
died at Warrenton, Virginia, May 18, 1887, 
aged ninety years. 

Floyd, John Buchanan, born in Blacks- 
Lurg, June i, 1806, eldest son of Governor 
John Floyd and Letitia Preston, his wife. 
He was graduated from the College of 
South Carolina, in 1826, and beg^n the 
practice of the law in 1828. He resided in 
Arkansas, 1836-39, then came back to Vir- 
ginia and settled in Washington county, 
Virginia, where he engaged in law practice. 
He served several years in the legislature, 
and became governor January i, 1849. Dur- 
ing his administration the Washingfton 
monument, which graces the public square 
ill Richmond was commenced, and his ad- 
ministration was able and efficient. He was 
made .secretary of war in 1857 by President 
ISuchanan, and was subjected to unjust 
charges in the Xorth. because he removed 
some troops to the West in i860, though 
hostility of the Indians demanded it. He 
v/as also charged with covertly conveying 
government munitions of war to the South, 
but an investigation by a special Congress- 
ional committee exonerated him fully. 
When Major Robert Anderson moved his 
garrison from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sum- 
ter. Floyd considered that the status quo 
which the administration promised the 
South Carolina commissioners to preserve 



Digitized by 



Google 



56 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



had been broken, and on the refusal of the 
president to restore the troops he resigned. 
In September, 1861, he was made brigadier- 
general, Confederate States army, and 
held command with General Wise, in West 
Virginia. He was transferred to Tennes- 
see, and in February, 1862, by hard fighting 
extricated his command and escaped with 
it from Fort Donelson. He fell under the 
displeasure of President Davis for thus 
leaving Generals Pillow and Buckner, and 
was relieved of his command. The legisla- 
ture o( X'irginia did not approve of this 
action, and made him major-general in the 
siate service and directed him to recruit 
and organize a division of troops from 
among the classes not embraced in the con- 
scription of the Southern Confederacy. He 
laised 2000 men and operated on the Big 
S»:ndy river with success. He was attacked 
with cancer of the stomach and forced to 
return home. He died near Abingdon, 
Washington county, Virginia. August 26, 
1863. General Floyd married early in life 
his cousin, Sarah Buchanan, but left no 
is-sue. 

Johnson, Joseph, second son of Joseph 
and Abigail Johnson, was born in Orange 
county. New York, December 10, 1785. 
When he was but a lad, his parents removed 
to Harrison county, Virginia, which was 
his home for over seventy years. He was 
captain in the war of 1812; in 1818 was 
elected to the legislature, and in 1822 was 
again re-elected and at the end of his term 
declined re-election. He defeated the able 
and eloquent Philip Doddridge for Congress 
in 1823 and 1825 ; in 1835 was again elected, 
serving six years, as a Jackson Democrat, 
and declining further service; in 1843 ^^^ 
obliged by his party to re-enter Congress, 



and in 1847 declined re-election. He was 
in the constitutional convention of 1850, was 
elected governor by the legislature, and sub- 
sequently by the people, after the adoption 
of the new constitution, defeating the emi- 
nent Judge George W. Summers, who repre- 
sented the Whig party. In this office he 
served from January i, 1852, till January i, 
1856. "He was, perhaps, the only man in 
Virginia who had been before the people 
continuously for forty years and was never 
Qtfeated in any of his aspirations.'* Upon 
the expiration of his term as governor, Mr. 
Johnson retired to private life. When the 
war between the states broke out in 1861, 
ht advised his people to stand by their sec- 
tion. He died in the ninety-second year of 
his age, F^ebruary 2^, 1877. 

Wise, Henry Alexander, born at Drum- 
mondtown, Accomac county, December 3, 
1806, son of Major John and Sarah (Crop- 
per) Wise. He was orphaned at the age of 
six years and his early training was by an 
aunt and Major John Custis, an uncle by 
marriage. He was a student at Washington 
(Pennsylvania) College; studied law under 
Judge Tucker, at Winchester, Virginia ; re- 
moved to Nashville, Tennessee, soon re- 
turning to Virginia. He was elected to 
Congress over Richard Coke, who was sus- 
pected of nullification tendencies, to which 
he was opposed; a duel ensued, in which 
Coke was slightly wounded in the arm. Mr. 
Wise was returned to Congress for six con- 
secutive terms, and rose to the highest 
prominence. He adhered to President Tyler 
in his controversy with Congress, and with 
Thomas W. Gilmer and others belonged to 
what was known as *The Corporal's Guard." 
In 1843 he was nominated as minister to 
France, and was rejected by the senate; in 



Digitized by 



Google 



GOVERNORS OF THE STATE 



57 



1844 became minister to Brazil, where he re- 
mained until 1847. In 1850 he was elected 
to the state convention; in 1855, nominated 
for governor as a Democrat, defeating the 
American (or know-nothing) candidate 
when that party seemed irresistible. He 
was governor from January i, 1856, till 
January i, i860, and in 1859 suppressed the 
John Brown outbreak, ending in the execu- 
tion of Brown. In i860 he was prominently 
mentioned as a presidential candidate. In 
1861 he was a member of the secession con- 
vention, and advocated '*fighting in the 
Union" for redress. When the decision was 
forced, he voted for secession. At the out- 
break of the war he was made brigadier- 
general, and sent to Western Virginia, 
where he won the battle of Scary Creek, but 
a misunderstanding with General Floyd led 
to his recall. Ordered to Roanoke Island, 
he remained until Burnside's assault, in 



which his eldest son fell — Captain O. Jen- 
nings Wise; he himself was ill at Nag's 
Head, and escaped. He was later in the de- 
fenses of Chaffin's Farm, then transferred 
to South Carolina ; in May, 1864, he reached 
Petersburg with his command, just in time 
to resist the first attack on the city, which 
he held, at great odds; he remained here 
until the final movements of General Lee, 
and his was the last command engaged at 
Appomattox. After the war he resumed 
law practice in Richmond, and beyond brief 
service as commissioner to fix the Virginia- 
Maryland boundary lines, he took no part in 
public aflFairs. He was author of "Seven 
Decades of the Union," a most valuable 
work. "He possessed a remarkable and 
marked individuality, being one of the most 
eloquent public speakers of a period when 
oratory was a most common weapon." He 
died in Richmond. September 12, 1878. 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT 

OF APPEALS 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



Ill -JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS 



The Supreme Court of Appeals was first ment continued for ten years. On Decem- 

constituted by legislative act in May, 1779, ber 22, 1788, an act was passed making the 

and consisted of the judges of admiralty, court to consist of five judges, specially 

chancery and general courts. This arrange- elected, as at present continues. 



JUDGES UNDER THE ACT OP MAY. 1779. 



Pendleton, Edmund, president (q. v.). 

Wythe, George (q. v.). 

Nicholas, Robert Carter (q. v.). 

Blair, John (q. v.). 

Carrington, Paul (q. v.) 

Lyons, Peter (q. v.). 

Fleming, William (q. v.). 

Dandridge, Bartholomew (q. v., vol. i, p. 

220). 

Mercer, James (q. v.). 



Tazewell, Henry (q. v.). 

Waller, Benjamin (q. v.). 

Curie, William Roscow Wilson (q. v.). 

Cary, Richard (q. v.). 

Henry, James (q. v.). 

Tyler, John (q. v.). 

Parker, Richard (q. v.). 

Flicker, St. George (q. v.). 

Jones, Gabriel (q. v.). 



JUDGES UNDER THE ACT OP DECEMBER 22. 1788. AND AS AMENDED PROM TIME TO TIME 

Pendleton, Edmund, president (q. v.). 



Lyons, Peter, president (q. v.). 

Carrington, Paul (q. v.). 

Fleming, William, president (q. v.). 

Mercer, James (q. v.). 

Roane, Spencer, son of Colonel William 
Roane and Elizabeth Ball, his wife, daugh- 
ter of Colonel Spencer Ball, was born in 
Essex county, April 4. 1762. He attended 
private schools, and about 1777 entered 
William and Mary College, where he went 
through the usual academic courses, and in 
1780 attended the law lectures of Chancellor 



Wythe, the professor of law. He practiced 
law and entered the house of delegates, and 
in 1784 became a member of the council of 
state. He soon resigned this last office and 
resumed the practice of law, and was elected 
again to the legislature. In 1789 he was 
made a judge of the general court, where 
he continued till 1794, when upon the elec- 
tion of Judge Henry Tazewell to the United 
States senate, he was appointed a judge of 
the Supreme Court of Appeals. He con- 
tinued in that office till his death. In public 
e.stimation he stood second only to Judge 
Pendleton, and upon the death of that 
gentleman he was, beyond dispute, the 



Digitized by 



Google 



62 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



ablest judge of the courts. He belonged to 
what was called the Republican party, and 
he was much engaged in the controversies 
of the day, and frequently wrote for the 
newspapers. He strongly defended the 
rights of his court against the decisions of 
Judge Marshall, in the United States Su- 
preme Court, and Mr. Jefferson wished him, 
at the expiration of Mr. Monroe's term, to 
be run as \'ice-President under Mr. Craw- 
ford, with a view that he might succeed him 
later as President. He was twice one of 
the persons appointed to revise the laws of 
the state, and several times one of the col- 
lege of electors of President and \'ice-Presi- 
dcnt of the United States, and was one of 
the commissioners for locating the Univer- 
sity of Virginia. He married Anne Henry, 
daughter of Patrick Henry, September 7. 
1787. and was father of William H. Roane. 
United States senator. He died at the age 
of sixty, September 4, 1822. 

Tucker, St George (q. v.). 

Pleasants, James (q. v.), qualified as judge 
of the Supreme Court. January 30. 181 1. but 
soon resigned. 

Brooke, Francis T., president, was born 
at **Smithfield." Spotsylvania county, four 
miles below Fredericksburg, on the Rappa- 
hannock river. August 27, 1763, son of Rich- 
ard Brooke and Ann Hay Taliaferro, his 
wife, daughter of Francis Taliaferro, of 
'•Epsom," in the same county. His brother 
was Robert Brooke, governor of Virginia; 
• his grandfather was Robert Brooke, a noted 
surveyor, who was one of Spotswood's 
"Horseshoe Knights." and his great-grand- 
father was Robert Brooke, a justice of 
Essex county about 1700. He was well 
trained by private tutors, and served in the 
revolution as a lieutenant in 1780, in Harri- 



son's artillery. Continental line; his twin 
brother John also received a similar appoint- 
ment in the same regiment. He served 
under Lafayette in 1781, commanded a com- 
pany in Colonel Febiger's regiment, and 
joined General Greene at Charleston, South 
Carolina, serving with him till the close of 
the war. After studying medicine a year 
with his brother Lawrence, he turned his 
attention to the law; was admitted to the 
bar in 1788, and practiced in Monongahela 
and Harrison counties. He was made com- 
monwealth's attorney in the district court 
and practiced in Essex county and in the 
Northern Neck ; elected to the house of dele- 
gates in 1794; removed two years after to 
P'redericksburg, \'irginia; was elected to 
tlie state senate in 1800, and soon after be- 
came speaker. In 1804 he was elected a 
jifdge of the court of appeals, of which he 
was president eight years, from 1823 to 
1 83 1. He was again elected judge in 1831 
and held the office until his death. Judge 
Brooke was an intimate friend of General 
Washington, to whose niece, Mary Ran- 
dolph Spotswood. he was married in 1791. 
Their son, Francis T. (1802-37), was gradu- 
ated at the United States Military Acad- 
emy in 1826, and was killed at the battle 
of Okeechobee, December 25, 1837. Judge 
Brooke's second wife was Mary C. Carter. 
He died at Fredericksburg. March 3, 185 1. 

Coalter, John, son of Michael Coalter and 
•Elizabeth Moore, his wife, daughter of 
James Moore, was born in Rockbridge 
county, August 20, 1771 ; was a tutor in the 
family of Judge St. George Tucker, in Wil- 
liamsburg, and studied law in William and 
Mary College, taking a course in 1789 under 
Chancellor Wythe and Bishop Madison, 
president of that institution. He settled 



Digitized by 



Google 



JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT 



63 



near Staunton and practiced law, and at 
first was very poor and walked to his courts 
with his clothes and papers in a bag on his 
shoulders. He was, first, attorney for the 
commonwealth, and in 1809 he was ap- 
pointed a judge of the general court. On 
May II, 181 1, he was promoted to the court 
of appeals. About 1821 he removed to 
Richmond, and soon after purchased "Chat- 
ham," in Stafford county, opposite to Fred- 
ericksburg, where he resided until the time 
of his death, which occurred February 2, 
1838. **Chatham" was formerly one of the 
elegant estates of the Fitzhugh family, and 
Charles Augustus Murray, grandson of Lord 
Dunniore. draws in his "Travels'* (1839) 
a flattering picture of Judge Coalter in these 
noble surroundings. His face portrayed 
with singular force, "frankness, energy* and 
shrewdness," a combination of qualities 
which had raised him to the highest rank 
in his profession. Judge Coalter married 
three times, (first) Maria* Rind, daughter of 
William Rind, of Williamsburg, editor of 
one of the Virginia "Gazettes.*' published in 
that city at the time of the revolution. He 
married (second) Margaret Davenport, of 
Williamsburg, and (third) Frances Bland 
Tucker, daughter of Judge St. George 
Tucker. By the last wife he left issue sur- 
viving. 

Green* John Williams, son of William 
Green and Lucy Williams, his wife, daugh- 
ter of William and Lucy (Clayton) Wil- 
liams, was born in Culpeper county. Xo- 
vcmber 9. 1781. His grandfather was Colo- 
nel John Green, of Culpeper, a gallant officer 
of the American revolutipn. who served 
with distinction with Washington in New 
York and with Greene in the South. He 
was descended from William Green, an 



English yeoman in the bodyguard of Wil- 
liam, Prince of Orange, whose son, Robert, 
father of Colonel John Green, came to Vir- 
ginia about 1710 with his uncle, William 
Duff, a Quaker of large means. He was 
educated as a lawyer, and served in the war 
of 1812. He became one of the chancellors 
of the state, and in 1822 elected judge of the 
Supreme Court of Appeals. He married 
(first) December 24, 1805, Mary Brown, 
daughter of John and Hannah Ball (Cooke) 
lirown. of Stafford county; married (sec- 
ond) October 9, 181 7, Million Cooke, daugh- 
ter of John Cooke. By the first marriage 
he was father of the distinguished lawyer 
and learned scholar, William Green, LL. D., 
o: Richmond. He died February 4, 1834. 

Carr, Dabney» son of Dabney Carr (q. v.) 
and Martha Jefferson, his wife, was born 
three weeks before the death of his father, 
in Albemarle county, in April, 1773. He 
attended Hampden-Sidney College, and 
after his return home studied law and be- 
came intimately acquainted with the cele- 
brated William Wirt, who had married a 
daughter of Dr. George Gilmer, and was 
then settled in Albemarle. Carr practiced in 
Albemarle county, and in 181 1 became chan- 
cellor of the Winchester district, and in 
1824, on the death of Judge Fleming, was 
made a judge of the Supreme Court of Ap- 
peals. His profound investigations of the 
questions which came before him for deci- 
sion made for him a great reputation. He 
helAhi.< office on the Supreme bench till his 
death. January 8. 1837. He was buried in 
Sbockoe Cemetery. Richmond. 

Tucker, Henry St George, eldest son of 
Judge St. George Tucker by his first wife, 
Frances Bland, daughter of Theodorick 



Digitized by 



Google 



64 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



JJland, and widow of John Randolph, of 
"Matoax," in Chesterfield county, was born 
at that place, December 29, 1780. In 1791 he 
entered the grammar school of William and 
Mary College, conducted by Rev. John 
Itracken, and completed the college course 
of Bachelor of Arts, July 4, 1799. He took 
a law course under his father, the professor 
of law in the college, and began to practice 
at Winchester in 1802. He speedily at- 
tracted notice and was elected to the house 
of delegates in 1807, served afterwards in 
the war of 1812, and in 1815 was elected to 
Congfress. where he served two terms. He 
served in the state senate, 1819-1823 ; presi- 
dent of the Virginia Supreme Court of Ap- 
peals, 1831-41, and law professor at Univer- 
sity of Virginia, 1841-45. He conducted a 
celebrated law school for some years at 
Winchester, and declined the post of United 
Slates attorney-general, offered by Presi- 
dent Jackson. He wrote '^Commentaries on 
the Law of V^irginia" (2 vols., 1836) ; *'Lec- 
tures on Constitutional Law" (1843), ^^^ 
** Lectures on Natural Law and Govern- 
ment" (1844). He was president of the 
Virginia Historical and Philosophical soci- 
eties, and received the degree of Doctor of 
Laws from William and Mary in 1837. He 
married Ann Evelina, daughter of Moses 
Hunter, and died at Winchester, Virginia, 
August 28, 1848. He is to be distinguished 
from an Anglo-Indian relative and name- 
sake (1771-1851), who was chairman of the 
East India Company, and whose life was 
written by J. W. Kaye, 1854. 

Cabell, William H. (q. v.). 

Allen, John J., was born at Woodstock, 
Shenandoah county, Virginia, September 
25. 1797. son of James Allen, a distinguished 



lawyer and judge of the circuit court. He 
v.as educated at Washington College, Vir- 
ginia, and Dickinson College, Pennsylvania. 
He read law with his father, and removed 
to Clarksburg in 1819. In 1827 he was 
elected to the state senate and introduced 
an important bill, which afterwards became 
a law, for the settlement of land titles in 
Trans-Alleghany Virginia. In 1834 he was 
commonwealth attorney for the counties of 
Harrison, Lewis and Preston. At the same 
time he was a member of the Twenty-third 
Congress from December 2, 1833, to March 
3 1835, and served on the committee of the 
District of Columbia. In 1836 he was ap- 
pointed judge of the seventeenth circuit, re- 
moved to Botetourt county, and held his 
first court there September i, 1836. In De- 
cember, 1840, he was elected a judge of the 
state court of appeals, and in 185 1 was made 
the president thereof. He was an ardent 
upholder of the doctrine of secession, his 
masterly defence of which may be found in 
"The Southern Historical Papers" for Janu- 
ary, 1876. In 1865 he resigned and retired 
to private life. Judge Allen was married in 
1824. He died in 1871. 

Brockenbrough, William» son of Dr. John 
Brockenbrough, of Tappahannock, Essex 
county, Virginia, and of Sarah, his wife, 
daughter of Colonel William Roane, was 
born July 10, 1778; was educated at Wil- 
liam and Mary College in 1798; studied law 
and afterwards practiced it with much suc- 
cess. He represented Essex in the house of 
delegates in 1802-03 ; member of the council, 
May, 1803; appointed a judge of the gen- 
eral court. February 7, 1809, and a judge of 
the Supreme Court of Appeals, February 
20, 1834. to fill the vacancy caused by the 
death of Judge John W. Green. He was an 



Digitized by 



Google 



JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT 



65 



able jurist, but did not serve in the Supreme 
Court long, as he died December 10, 1838. 
He was father of John VV. Brockenbrough, 
for many years judge of the United States 
court for the western district of Virginia, 
afterwards member qf the Confederate con- 
gress, and professor of law at Washington 
College. 

Parker, Richard Elliott, was born at Rock 
Spring, Westmoreland county, Virginia, 
December 27, 1783, son of Captain William 
Harwar and Mary (SturmanJ Parker, and 
grandson of Judge Richard and Elizabeth 
(Beale) Parker. He studied law at Law- 
field, Virginia, under his grandfather, Judge 
Richard Parker; was admitted to the bar 
and settled to practice in his native county, 
which he represented in the Virginia legis- 
lature for several years. He was colonel of 
the militia in Westmoreland county at the 
outbreak of the war of 1812, and served as 
colonel of the Thirty-fifth Virginia Regi- 
ment, with which he defended the Northern 
Neck from British attacks, 1813-14. He 
was wounded in the action at White House, 
September 16, 1814, returning after the war 
to the practice of law, and was elected a 
judge of the general court, July 26, 1817. 
He was elected to the United States senate 
to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation 
of Benjamin Watkins Leigh, serving from 
December 15, 1836, to February 13, 1837, 
when he resigned to accept a seat on the 
bench of the court of appeals of Virpnia, 
to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Dab- 
ney Carr, January 8. 1837. He declin'ed the 
position of attorney-general in the cabinet 
of President Van Buren, in 1840. as suc- 
cessor to Felix Grundy. He married Eliz- 
abeth, daughter of Dr. William Foushee. of 
Richmond, Virginia. He died at the "Re- 



treat," Snickersville, Virginia, September 9, 
1840. 

Stanard, Robert, son of William Stanard 
and Elizabeth Carter, his wife, daughter of 
Colonel Edward Carter, of "Blenheim," 
Albemarle county, was born in Spottsyl- 
vania county, August 17, 1781. He attended 
William and Mary College in 1798, studied 
law and began the practice. He met at first 
with little success, but encouraged by his 
father, he persevered and became prominent 
at the Richmond bar about the time that 
John Wickham, William Call and their con- 
temporaries left the field of action. He was 
a member of the state convention of 1829- 
30, which revised the constitution. He 
made a great impression in that assembly of 
able men. On the death of Judge Brocken- 
brough, in 1839, Mr. Stanard was elected to 
succeed him on the bench of the Supreme 
Court of Appeals. His mind was lucid and 
direct. He understood no quibbling and 
despised all sophistry. He died while writ- 
ing an opinion in Richmond, May 14, 1846. 

Baldwin, Briscoe G., eldest son of Cor- 
nelius Baldwin and Mary Briscoe, daugh- 
ter of Colonel Gerrard Briscoe, of Fred- 
erick county, was born at Winchester, Vir- 
ginia. January 18. 1789. After attending a 
private school he entered William and Mary 
College, where he was the fellow student of 
John Tyler, William S. Archer, John J. 
Crittenden and others, who afterwards held 
distinguished public positions. He studied 
law under Judge William Daniel, in Cum- 
berland county, and practiced law in Staun- 
ton. He served in the house of delegates 
from .Augusta in 1818-20, and in 1829-30 
was a member of the constitutional conven- 
tion. He saw service again in the house 



Digitized by 



Google 



66 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



ot delegates in 1841-42, and on January 
29, 1842, he was elected a member of the 
Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia — a 
position in which he continued till his death, 
M^y 18, 1852. He was a learned lawyer, 
an accomplished scholar, and a brilliant 
speaker and orator. He was father of Colo- 
nel John B. Baldwin, who was the leader of 
the Union party in the secession convention 
of 1861, but who voted for secession when 
the issue was presented of fighting one sec- 
tion of the country or the other. 

Daniel, William, a descendant of James 
Daniel, who was born in Middlesex county, 
'Virginia, about 1680, and son of William 
Daniel (1770-1839), a judge of the general 
court from 1813 to 1839, by his wife, Mar- 
garet Baldwin, sister of Judge Briscoe G. 
Baldwin, was born in Cumberland county, 
November 26, 1806. He was educated at 
Hampden-Sidney College and the Univer- 
sity of Virginia, studied law in 1827-28, and, 
ic is said, was licensed and practiced before 
he was twenty-one, and was also elected a 
member of the legislature and served while 
he was yet a minor. On December 15, 1846, 
he was elected a judge of the Supreme Court 
of Appeals; was reelected by the people 
after the adoption of the constitution of 
185 1, and served until 1865. By his mar- 
riage with Sarah A. Warwick, a daughter 
of Major John M. Warwick, of Lynchburg, 
he was father of John W. Daniel, who 
served with much distinction in the United 
States senate. Judge Daniel died at Farm- 
ville, Virginia, March 28, 1873. The Daniel 
family in other lines also has had many dis- 
tinguished representatives. 

Moncure, Richard C. L., was born in Staf- 
ford county, Virginia, in 1805. His great- 



grandfather. Rev. John Moncure, a native 
of Scotland, descended from a Huguenot 
refugee, settled in Virginia in the eighteenth 
century, and was for many years in charge 
of the parish of Overwharton. Richard re- 
ceived his early training at the local schools, 
and supplemented it by private reading. He 
was admitted to the bar in 1825, and soon 
attained the front rank. He practiced in 
Fredericksburg and neighboring counties 
and the Supreme Court of Appeals at Rich- 
mond. He entered politics in 1849, when a 
revision of the code was considered neces- 
sary. He was elected to the legislature and 
v/as placed on the committee having charge 
01 this work, rendering valuable service. 
In 1*851 he was appointed to fill the vacancy 
occurring at the death of Judge Francis T. 
Brooke, but, the state constitution being 
changed that year, the judges* commissions 
were vacated and elections became neces- 
sary. He was chosen as one of the five 
judges constituting the Supreme Court, and 
held the position until the close of the war. 
His tenure of office was temporarily sus- 
pended during the reconstruction period 
(1865-1870), but on the adoption of the new 
constitution in 1870 he was again elected, 
and held the position until his death. He 
was on the bench more than thirty years, 
and his decisions are found in a large num- 
ber of the Virginia reports. He married in 
early life. Mary Washington Conway, and 
had a large family. His eldest son, J. C. 
Moncure. became a judge of the Supreme 
Court of Louisiana. Judge Moncure died 
at his home at Stafford, August 26, 1882. 

Samuels, Green B., was born in Shenan- 
doah county, February i, 1806, and studied 
law under Judge Henry St. George Tucker, 
in Winchester. He was elected as a Demo- 



Digitized by 



Google 



JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT 



67 



crat to the Twenty-sixth Congress, March 
4. 1839-March 4, 1843. In 1852 he was elect- 
ed a judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals 
by popular vote, in pursuance of the consti- 
tution adopted' by the convention of 1850- 
51. He died January 5, 1859, in Richmond, 
Virginia. 

Robertson, William J., was born in the 
county of Culpeper, in the year 1817. He 
received a classical and legal education at 
the University of Virginia (1834-36, 1841), 
from which institution he graduated with 
the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He settled 
in the town of Charlottesville and practiced 
law with great success. He was common- 
wealth's attorney for Albemarle county, 
and won great reputation as a lawytr and 
advocate. In 1859 Judge Robertson was 
elected to the Supreme Court of Appeals by 
popular election over John B. Baldwin. He 
served till April, 1865, when Virginia sub- 
mitted to the Federal army. He then re- 
tired to private life and resumed the prac- 
tice of the law, which he prosecuted with- 



great success. He was attorney in many 
of the most important law cases involving 
the interests of Virginia and her citizens, 
including the famous suit affecting the Ar- 
lington property, belonging to the Lee fam- 
ily and confiscated by the United States. 
He was first president of the Virginia Bar 
Association. Judge Robertson married 
twice, (first) Hannah C, daughter of Gen- 
eral William F. Gordon, of Albemarle, and 
(second) Mrs. Alice Watts Moore, a cele- 
brated Virginia belle. He died May 27, 1898. 

Lcc, George Hay, was born in Winches- 
ter in 1808, studied at the University of Vir- 
ginia, 1827-28, and was a student of law 
under Judge Henry St. George Tucker, at 
Winchester, Virginia. In 1854 he was 
elected by the people, pursuant to the con- 
vention of 1850-51, a member of the Su- 
preme Court of Virginia. At this time he 
was living in what is now West Virginia, 
He never sat after 1861, because West Vir- 
ginia was recognized by Lincoln and his 
cabinet as an independent state. 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 




yic^ J9: ^a^'2^^^-t^(n^^ 



Digitized by 



Google 



IV-PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES 



Washington, George, first President (q. v.). 

Jefferson, Thomas, third President (q. v.). 

Madison, James, fourth Presidlent (q. v.)- 

Monroe, James, fifth President (q. v.). 

Harrison, William Henry, ninth Presi- 
dent of the United States, born at "Berke- 
ley." Charles City county, Virginia, Febru- 
^^y 9» 1773' son of Governor Benjamin (q. 
V.) and Elizabeth (Bassett) Harrison. He 
made good use of his father's excellent 
library, preparing himself for admission to 
Hampden-Sidney College, from which he 
was graduated, then taking up the study of 
medicine in Philadelphia, under the guar- 
dianship of Robert Morris. • He was at- 
tracted by the western emigration, and de- 
sired to enter the army, for clearing the way 
for emigrants, and the objections of his 
guardian were only overruled through the 
influence of President Washington, who 
commissioned the young man (April, 1791) 
ensign in the First United States Artillery 
Regiment, then stationed at Fort Washing- 
ton (the site of the future city of Cincin- 
nati, Ohio), the key to the southwest region, 
practically in Spanish possession and unex- 
plored, (jeneral Wayne was attracted to 
him and made him lieutenant, and he was 
of the detachment that built Fort Recov- 
er}-, on the ground of St. Clair's defeat, and 
he was commended in general orders for 
his "excellent performance of a perilous 
duty." At the battle of the Maumee (Au- 
gust 20, 1794). General Wayne said of him 



that "by his conduct and bravery he ex- 
cited the troops to press to victory." In 
1795 he was promoted to captain, and 
placed in command of Fort Washington. 

In 1798 President Adams made him sec- 
retary of the Northwestern Territory under 
Governor St. Clair, and he resigned his 
military commission. He was frequently 
acting governor during St. Clair's absences, 
and resigned in October, 1799, having been 
elected to Congress as one of the first two 
territorial delegates. In Congp-ess he se- 
cured the subdivision of the public lands 
into small tracts, in the interest of bona 
fide settlers, and to the disappointment of 
speculators. When the territory of Indiana 
was formed, he was appointed governor by 
President .\dams, and was reappointed by 
Jefferson and Madison. The authority 
granted him was extensive: he appointed 
all civil officers, and all military officers 
under the rank of general ; and held the par- 
doning power, as well as supreme authority 
to treat with the Indians. In 1803 the im- 
mense Louisiana territory was added to his 
jurisdiction. His sterling integrity was 
evidenced by the fact that, with unlimited 
opportunities for speculation, he would not 
take a single foot of public land, and he re- 
fused the proffered gift by the people of St. 
Louis of one-third of the land upon which 
the city was subsequently laid out. When 
the Indians became troublesome in 181 1, 
he held an unsuccessful conference with 
them at Tippecanoe, and, having reported 
to Washington, was authorized to force 



Digitized by 



Google 



72 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



them into submission. With one thousand 
regular troops and militia, he built Fort 
Harrison, near the present city of Terre 
Haute, Indiana, and with part of the force 
marched toward the Indian village. He 
was attacked by Tecumseh and his band, 
while in camp at night, but he defeated 
them, and was highly complimented by the 
President. When the war of 1812-14 opened, 
the Indians sided with the British, who had 
taken possession of Detroit. The Kentucky 
legislature commissioned Harrison major- 
general, though he was not a resident of 
the state, and he proceeded with the troops 
furnished him, but was unable to reach 
Hull, who had surrendered. On September 
2. 1 81 2, he was commissioned brigadier-gen- 
eral, and on returning to \'incennes he was 
appointed to the command of all troops in 
the northwest. After an active but futile 
campaign, he journeyed to Cincinnati to ob- 
tain supplies. He was commissioned major- 
general, March 2, 1813. He held Fort Meigs 
against two severe attacks, and after Perry's 
naval victory on Lake Erie, led his troops 
for an expedition into Canada, overtaking 
the British and Indians, in the battle of the 
Thames, capturing the British force entire, 
and killing Tecumseh and dispersing his 
band. This battle ended the war in Upper 
Canada, and Harrison was the popular hero. 
In 1813 he resigned his military commis- 
sion on account of an affront from the sec- 
retary of war. He was Indian commis- 
sioner in 1814-15, and member of Congress 
from Ohio, 1816-19. In Congress he ad- 
vocated a general militia bill, which was 
defeated, but his bill for the relief of sol- 
diers of the late war was passed. He was 
a state senator, 1820-21 ; was defeated for 
Congress in 1822, and a presidential elector 



on the Clay ticket in 1824. He was elected 
United States senator in 1825, succeeded 
Andrew Jackson as chairman of the military 
affairs committee, and resigned in 1828 to 
accept the position of minister to Colombia, 
under appointment by President John 
Quincy Adams, but was soon recalled 
through the influence of General Bolivar. 
He retired to his farm at North Bend, Indi- 
ana, and served as president of the County 
Agricultural Association, and as clerk of 
the court of common pleas at Cincinnati. 
He was a Jeftersonian Republican in poli- 
tics, and when the Whig party was formed 
in 1834, he joined it, professing states' rights 
views on the bank, tariff and internal im- 
provements. In 1835 he was nominated for 
President by some of the Whig legislatures 
in the western and middle states, but he 
was defeated by \*an Buren, the Demo- 
cratic nominee. He was the successful 
candidate and was elected four years later, 
after one of the most exciting canvasses in 
the history of the country, in which "the log 
cabin," "hard cider,'* "Tippecanoe and Tyler, 
tc»o," campaign cries were heard through- 
out the land. He was inaugurated March 
4 1841, selected his cabinet, and on March 
17 called an extra session of Congress to 
take up financial questions. Not believing 
in the power of Congress to create corpora- 
tions in the states, he had in mind a bank of 
the District of Columbia, branching with 
state assent. The trials of his position and 
the apprehension of a breach with Henr>' 
Clay, the leader of the Whigs in Congress, 
brought on an attack of pneumonia, of 
which he died April 4. His wife had not 
yet taken up her residence in the White 
House, and was not present at his death. 
His body lay temporarily in the Congres- 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 




c 




Z^ a/^ ^ 







Digitized by 



Google 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES 



73 



sional burying ground at Washington City, 
and was later removed to North Bend, Indi- 
ana. In 1896 an equestrian statue of Gen- 
eral Harrison was unveiled in Cincinnati, 
in the presence of his grandson, Benjamin 
Harrison, then President. President Wil- 
liam H. Harrison married, in 1795, Anna, 
daughter of Colonel John Cleves Symmes, 
founder of the Miami (Ohio) settlement, 
and United States judge, district of New 
Jersey. 

Tyler, John, son of John Tyler, first gov- 
ernor of that name, and Mary Armistead, 
his wife, was born at *'Greenway," Charles 
City county. Virginia, March 29, 1790. He 
attended first an **old field school" till 1802, 
when he was sent to Williamsburg and 
entered the grammar school of William and 
ilary College. At fifteen years of age he 
entered the college, and graduated Bachelor 
of Arts in 1807. In 1809, before attaining 
his majority, he was admitted to the bar, 
and in 181 1 took his seat in the house of 
delegates as a representative from Charles 
City county. He was a firm supporter of 
Mr. Madison and the war with Great Britain, 
and was captain for a short time of a com- 
pany of volunteers. In 1816 he was elected 
to Congress to fill a vacancy caused by the 
death of Hon. John Clopton. and served till 
1821. In 1823 he was returned to the house 
or delegates, and the next year he was an 
unsuccessful candidate for election to the 
United States senate to fill the vacancy 
caused by the death of John Taylor, of Caro- 
line county. In December, 1825, he was 
made governor of Virginia, and served from 
December i, 1825, to March 4, 1827, when 
he took his seat in the United States senate, 
defeating John Randolph, of Roanoke. In 
this body he advocated states' rights and 



strict construction views, and voted for 
Jackson as President in 1828. When Jack- 
son issued his proclamation in 1832 against 
South Carolina, describing the Union as a 
consolidated nation^ Mr. Tyler withdrew 
his support, and joined the opposition party, 
which in 1834 became known as the Whig 
party. He opposed the so-called "force bill," 
and his was the only vote cast against its 
passage. He suggested to Clay the prin- 
ciples of the compromise tariff, by which 
civil war was averted in 1833. In 1836 he 
was nominated for the vice-presidency as 
the champion of states* rights, but was not 
elected at this time. On the other hand, 
he did not believe in nullification, nor in the 
South Carolina doctrines on the subject of 
slavery. He condemned Calhoun's "gag" 
resolutions against all petitions and motions 
relating in any way to the abolition of slav- 
ery as inexpedient, and in 1832, as chair- 
man of the senate committee, proposed a 
code for the District of Columbia, one sec- 
tion of which prohibited the slave trade in 
the district. In 1838 he was president of 
the Virginia Colonization Society. In 1839 
he was reelected to the house of delegates, 
and the same year had a contest with Wil- 
liam C. Rives for the United States senate, 
when a deadlock prevented election. Soon 
after, he was unanimously nominated by 
the Whig convention at Harrisburg (De- 
cember, 1839) as vice-president, and was 
elected to that office. When President Wil- 
liam Henry Harrison died a month after 
taking office. April 4, 1841. Mr. Tyler, pur- 
suant to the constitution, became President. 
The Whig party was a conglomerate party 
and consisted of Northern National Repub- 
licans and Southern Democrats, who had 
left the Democratic party because of the 



Digitized by 



Google 



74 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



nationalistic views of Andrew Jackson, as 
expressed in his proclamation in 1832, 
against South Carolina, and in other meas- 
ures. The Whig convention at Harrisburg 
did not adopt any platform, and through- 
out the election campaign in 1840 the Whigs 
posed as champions of states' rights, and 
Mr. Clay, their great leader, declared the 
old measures of bank, tariff and internal im- 
piovements all "obsolete questions." Never- 
theless, among the first measures of the 
Whigs was a bank bill, which President 
Tyler, in perfect agreement with his previ- 
ous course as senator, vetoed. This brought 
about a rupture between the President and 
his party, and the entire cabinet resigned, 
with the exception of Daniel Webster, who 
did not approve the dictation of Mr. Clay. 
The President undisturbed, filled his cabi- 
net with states* rights Whigs, and though 
afterwards he received little support in 
Congress from either Democrats or Whigs, 
signalized his administration by achieve- 
ments of far-reaching importance. Chief 
among these was the treaty of Washington 
with Great Britain, settling the northeastern 
boundary and the question of the visitation 
of American ships; and the annexation of 
Texas. Instead of state and individual 
credit stricken down, as at the commence- 
ment of his administration, the treasury 
exhausted, and numerous defaulters, exactly 
the reverse was the condition of affairs at 
the end of his term. There was but one 
defaulter during his administration, and 
he for the very small sum of fifteen dollars. 
After leaving the White House, Mr. Tyler 
retired to his home, "Sherwood Forest," in 
Charles City county, Virginia, where he 
lived for fifteen years the life of a Virginia 
planter, surrounded by every comfort. In 



1857 he was orator at the Jamestown cele- 
bration, and in 1859 was made chancellor 
of William and Mary College, for which he 
had been rector of the board of managers 
for many years. In i860 the condition of 
the country called him from his retirement. 
He recommended a peace conference, and 
v/as president of that which assembled at 
Washington in February, 1861. He was 
also a member of the state convention, 
which met in Richmond in January, 1861, 
and was peace commissioner to President 
Buchanan. When he saw that the northern 
states were opposed to any compromise on 
the slavery question, he voted in the state 
convention for secession. This body soon 
after elected him a delegate to the provi- 
sional congress of the Confederate States at 
Montgomery, Alabama. Later, in Novem- 
ber, 1861, he was elected by the people of 
the Richmond district to the Confederate 
house of representatives, but died before he 
took his seat. His death occurred in Rich- 
mond, January 18, 1862. A great public 
funeral witnessed the interment of his re- 
mains in Hollywood Cemetery. He mar- 
ried twice, (first) Letitia Christian, of New 
Kent county, Virginia, and (second) Julia 
Gardiner, of New York, and left issue by 
each marriage. Jefferson Davis used the 
following language concerning him : ** As an 
extemporaneous speaker, I regarded him as 
the most felicitous among the orators I have 
known." Henry S. Foote spoke of his "high- 
bred politeness, and his "entire freedom from 
hauteur or assumption." Alexander H. Ste- 
phens wrote that "his state papers com- 
pared favorably with those of any of his 
predecessors ;" while Charles Dickens, in his 
"American Notes," giving an account of a 
call upon him in 1842, said : "I thought that 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 




'y/::L.c^,ipo^^'^/u/::^!^- 



Digitized by 



Google 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES 



75 



in his whole carriage and demeanor he be- 
came his station singularly well." 

Taylor, Zachary, twelfth President of the 
United States, was born near Orange 
county, Virginia, November 24, 1784. He 
was a son of Colonel Richard Taylor and 
Sarah Strother, his wife, daughter of Wil- 
liam Strother, of Stafford county. Colonel 
Richard Taylor, his father, was a grandson 
of James Taylor, who emigrated to Vir- 
ginia from Carlisle, England, in 1682. He 
served in the revolutionary war ; was major 
of the Ninth Virginia Regiment in 1778, and 
lieutenant-colonel of the same in 1779. He 
removed to Kentucky in 1785 and resided in 
Jefferson county, and was a member of the 
Kentucky constitutional convention of 
1792. and a member of the Kentucky legis- 
lature under this constitution. He was a 
presidential elector in 1813, 1817, 1821 and 
1825, and was also United States collector 
for Kentucky. He engaged in many of the 
conflicts with the Indians, and was severely 
wounded in 1792 near Eton, Ohio, in the 
battle between General Adams' command 
and the Indians under Little Turtle. 

In this environment Zachary Taylor had 
few advantages outside of the home circle 
and a tutor, Elisha Avers. His home, how- 
ever, was enlivened by guests from the best 
families of Virginia, induced to settle in 
Kentucky by grants of wild lands given to 
her revolutionary soldiers. Colonel Tay- 
lor's home was a stockade of logs, and 
capable of being easily defended against the 
Indians. Here his sons met military men, 
whose stories aroused a martial spirit. 
Zachary was commissioned first lieutenant 
in the Seventh United States Infantry in 
1808. On June 18, 1810, he married Mar- 
garet, daughter of Major Walter Smith, 



United States army, a planter of Calvert 
county, Maryland, and his wife lived with 
him on the frontier where the army was 
engaged in defending the settlers against 
the Shawnee Indians. He was promoted 
captain, November 30, 1810, and in April, 
18 1 2, was ordered to Fort Harrison, above 
Vincennes, where his company strengthened 
the stockade against an Indian assault. The 
attack was made on September 4-5, 1812, 
by a large force, who, with small loss to the 
garrison, were repelled, and in October, 
Captain Taylor was reinforced by General 
Hopkins. He was brevetted major for his 
gallant defence, and given command in an 
expedition against an Indian camp at the 
headwaters of the Wabash. In 1814 he was 
commissioned major, and his battalion made 
a successful demonstration against the In- 
dians, supported by British troops at Rock 
river, which put an end to hostilities. Peace 
having been declared, the army was reduced 
to ten thousand men, and Major Taylor was 
offered a captain's commission, which he de- 
clined, and his resignation was accepted. 
Soon after he was reinstated as major, and 
again took up military life. He was pro- 
moted lieutenant-colonel of the First In- 
fantry in 1819, and given command of Fort 
Snelling, the extreme northwestern post. 
He built Fort Jessup, Louisiana, in 1822, 
and served in the southwest until 1824, 
when he was sent to Louisville on recruit- 
ing service, and to Washington, D. C, as 
II member of the board of officers of which 
Winfield Scott was chairman, to determine 
the organization of the state militia. He 
was at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1827-28, 
and at Fort Snelling, 1829-32. He was pro- 
moted colonel April 4, 1832, and transferred 
to the First Infantry and assigned to the 



Digitized by 



Google 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



command of Fort Crawford, Wisconsin, 
which he completed, and soon after joined 
General Atkinson in his campaign against 
Black Hawk, resulting in the battle of Bad 
Axe, which closed the Indian troubles, 
Black Hawk soon after surrendering to 
Colonel Taylor. In 1836 Colonel Taylor 
was ordered to Florida, and on December 
25. ^ii37^ fought the battle of Okeechobee, 
defeating the Cherokees and receiving the 
brevet of brigadier-general. In 1838 he was 
given command in Florida and in 1840 of 
the Southern division of the Western de- 
partment He removed his family to a 
plantation near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 
July 4, 1845. when it became necessary to 
defend Texas against the Mexicans, he 
marched with fifteen hundred men to Cor- 
pus Christi. His orders being to maintain 
the Rio Grande as the boundary, he awaited 
reinforcements, and on March 8, 1846, he 
advanced to the river opposite Matamoras 
and established Fort Brown. Besides de- 
f tending the fort, he had a skirmish near 
Matamoras, April 19; fought the battle of 
Palo Alto, May 8, and Resaca de la Palma, 
May 9; had a second skirmish before taking 
possession of Matamoras, May 18; was 
brevetted major-general, May 28, and com- 
missioned, June 29; fought the battle of 
Monterey, September 21-23, receiving the 
capitulation of the place on the 24th, and 
granting an armistice of eight weeks, for 
which action he was severely criticised by 
Secretary Marcy. The combat at San Pas- 
qual occurred December 6, and the skirmish 
at San Bardino, December 7, 1846. When 
the government had sent General Scott to 
capture the Mexican capital by the Vera 
Cruz route. General Taylor was subject to 
his orders, and his campaign by way of Sal- 



tillo, across the plains, which he had pro- 
posed to the government at Washington, 
was practically closed, as he could not de- 
pend on any support should the exigencies 
of the campaign demand his troops at \'era 
Cruz. Taylor was ordered to Victoria, 
v/here he turned over his troops, save only 
an escort, to General Scott, to take part in 
the siege of Vera Cruz, and he returned to 
Monterey by way of Agua Nueva, beyond 
Saltillo. He was joined by General Wool, 
and on Februar}- 23-24 they fought the bat- 
tle of Buena \'ista, with four thousand five 
hundred and fifty men against Santa Annas 
army, twenty-two thousand strong. At the 
battle, on the second day, he was urged not 
to continue the fight against such fearful 
odds, but he said, "My wounded are behind 
me; I will never pass them alive." He de- 
feated the Mexicans, and decimated the 
army of Santa Anna. This battle closed his 
career as a soldier, and he returned home 
in November, 1847. He received three 
medals from Congress, and three swords 
from the state legislatures. **01d Rough 
and Ready," now the national hero, was 
taken up by the Whigs as a candidate for 
the presidency. The Native American party 
had offered him the nomination for Presi- 
dent, but put no candidate in the field. The 
Democrats met in Baltimore, May 22, 1848, 
and nominated General Lewis Cass for 
President, and William O. Butler for Vice- 
President, and the Whig national conven- 
tion met at Philadelphia, June 7, 1848, and 
on the fourth ballot nominated General 
Zachary Taylor, of Louisiana, for President, 
and Millard Fillmore was nominated for 
Vice-President. In the election, the Taylor 
and Fillmore electors received 1,360,101 



Digitized by 



Google 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES 



n 



popular votes ; the Cass and Butler electors 
1,220,544, and the Van Buren and Adams 
Freesoil ticket 291,262. The electoral col- 
lege gave Taylor and Fillmore 163 votes, 
and 127 to Cass and Butler. On March 4, 
1849, General Taylor was inaugurated. In 
his message to Congress he recommended 
the admission of California to the Union, 
but did not favor the admission of either 
Utah or Mexico. On July 4, 1850, he at- 



tended the ceremonies of laying the corner- 
stone of the Washington monument, and 
the heat of the day brought upon him 
cholera morbus, which caused his death, in 
the presence of his wife, his daughter, Eliz- 
abeth, and her husband, Colonel Bliss, his 
brother. Colonel Taylor, and family, and 
Jeflferson Davis and family, Vice-President 
Fillmore and his cabinet. He died at the 
White House, Washington, July 9, 1850. 




Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



JUDGES OF THE UNITED STATES 
SUPREME COURT 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 




J. MARSHALL 



Digitized by 



Google 



V-JUDGES OF THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT 



Blair, John (q. v.). 

Marshall, John, was born in Germantown, 
Fauquier county, Virginia, September 24, 
1755, son of Colonel Thomas (q. v.) and 
Mary Isham (Keithj Marshall, the eldest of 
fifteen children. He received his early in- 
structions from Mr. James Thompson, a 
private tutor, and attended the classical 
academy of the Messrs. Campbell, in West- 
moreland county, Virginia. He studied law, 
but at the outbreak of the revolutionary 
war he joined a company of volunteers and, 
as lieutenant, took part in the action at 
v^reat Bridge, in Norfolk county. His com- 
pany was subsequently reorganized* and he- 
me a part of the Eleventh Regiment of 
\ irginia troops, which was ordered to join 
Washington's army in Xew Jersey. He 
was promoted captain of a company in May, 
^117 '* ^vas engaged in the battles of Mon- 
mouth. Brandywine and Germantown, and 
accompanied Washington to Valley Forge, 
December 19, 1777. In 1779 he was present 
at the capture of Stony Point by General 
Anthony Wayne and subsequently covered 
the retreat of Major Lee after his attack on 
the enemy's post at Paulus' Hook, August 
I9« 1779- He was ordered to return to Vir- 
ginia to take charge of the militia which 
was then being raised by the state, and he 
repaired to Williamsburg, Virginia. While 
waiting for the troops he attended, for a 
few months in 1780, a course of law lectures 
by Chancellor Wythe, of the College of Wil- 
liam and Mar\% and the same year was ad- 
mitted to the bar at Williamsburg. Despair- 



ing of the organization of state militia, he 
joined the small force under Baron Steuben 
for the defence of the state. In 1781 he re- 
signed his commission and entered upon the 
practice of law in Fauquier county. He 
early attained prominence at the bar ; was a 
delegate to the Virginia house of delegates 
in 1782; removed his law office to Richmond, 
Virginia; was elected a member of the state 
executive council and was commissioned a 
general in the newly organized state militia. 
He continued to represent Fauquier county 
in the legislature till 1787, and then repre- 
sented Henrico county. He was engaged 
ill the celebrated case of Ware vs. Hilton, 
involving the British debt question, tried in 
the Circuit Court of the United States at 
Richmond before Chief Justice John Jay, the 
attorneys for the American debtors being 
Patrick Henry, Alexander Campbell, James 
Irvine and John Marshall. He was married. 
January 3, 1783, to Mary Willis, daughter 
ot Jacqueline and Rebecca L. (Burwell) 
Amber. He became a Federalist, and was a 
member of the constitutional convention of 
Virginia, which met at Richmond. June 2, 
1788, where he favored the adoption of the 
Federal constitution. He declined the cabi- 
net position of attorney-general, and also a 
foreign mission tendered him by President 
Washington; was again a delegate to the 
house of burgesses, 1788-91, and practiced 
law at Richmond, 1791-97. Upon the with- 
drawal of James Monroe as resident minister 
to France, and the appointment of Charles C. 
Pinckney as his successor, the French gov- 



Digitized by 



Google 



82 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



ernment became hostile to the United States, 
and in 1797 ordered United States Minister 
Finckney to quit the French territory and 
he went to Amsterdam and thence to New 
York. This occasioned great indignation in 
the United States; and an extra session of 
Congress was convened and a special mis- 
sion to France was instituted composed of 
Marshall. Pinckney and Gerry as joint en- 
voys with orders to "demand redress and 
reparation from France." They arrived in 
Paris, October 4, 1797. and were treated 
with due civility. The French directory 
would not acknowledge the commissioners, 
but Talleyrand suggested through secret 
agents that an amicable settlement of affairs 
could be made by the modification of Presi- 
dtMit Adams' speech to Congress in which 
he had denounced the French government, 
and the payment of the sum of $250,000 by 
the American government. To this proposi- 
tion the committee replied that no such con- 
cession would be made and refused to have 
further intercourse with the agents. The 
preparations for a war with France were 
actively begun by the Adams administration 
and Washington was made lieutenant-gen- 
eral of the United States forces then being 
raised. Marshall and Pinckney left France, 
while Gerry, who was a Republican and was 
supposed by the directory to favor the pay- 
ment of tribute rathef'than fight, was com- 
pelled to remain in Paris by threats of an 
immediate declaration of war if he left, but 
when he was urged to enter into negotia- 
tions after the withdrawal of his colleagues 
he refused to do so. Marshall arrived in 
New York. June 17, 1798. and was received 
with great enthusiasm, and a public banquet 
was given to him by both houses of Con- 
gress. It was at this dinner that the 



famous reply of Pinckney to the French 
directory in 1796 — "Millions for defence but 
not one cent for tribute" — was used as a 
toast. Marshall immediately resumed his 
law practice in X'irginia and declined the 
appointment of justice of the Supreme Court 
of the United States tendered him by i*resi- 
dent Adams, September 20, 1798. He was a 
Federal representative in the Sixth Con- 
gress, 1799-1801 ; and gained the favor of 
President Adams by his speech in the case 
of Jonathan Rubins. He was appointed sec- 
retary of state in the reorganized cabinet 
01 President Adams. May 12, iSoo. During 
his administration of state affairs, the treaty 
with France was ratified. While serving as 
secretary of state, he was appointed thief 
justice of the United States to succeed Chief 
Justice Ellsworth, resigned, and took the 
oath of office. February 4, 1801. For one 
month he acted as both secretary of state 
and chief justice — a unique case of the com- 
bination in one person of executive and 
judicial offices. It was before Marshall as 
chief justice that the celebrated trial of 
Aaron Burr was held and a verdict of ac- 
quittal was rendered. He was a member of 
the Virginia state convention of 1829 and 
spoke with great earnestness on the matter 
.of changing the manner of appointment of 
the judges and magistrates of the common- 
wealth and the length of their term of office. 
Although opposed to a high protective tariff, 
he did not approve of nullification. By his 
decisions in the Supreme Court he greatly 
strengthened the hands of the Federal gov- 
ernment. He was the author of a "Life of 
Washington" (5 vols., 1804-07), written and 
published at the request of Washington's 
family, but he was a better judge than his- 
torian, and the work has never been popular. 



Digitized by 



Google 



JUDGES OF THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT 



83 



'J'he first volume was afterward published 
separately under the title of "A History of 
the American Colonies" (1824) and the en- 
tire work was subsequently revised and con- 
densed into two volumes in 1832. The hon- 
orary degree of Doctor of Laws was con- 
ferred on him by the College of New Jer- 
sey in 1802, by Harvard in 1806, and by the 
University of Pennsylvania in 1815. He was 
a member of the American Philosophical 
Society ; a fellow of the American Academy 
of Arts and Sciences, and corresponding 
member of the Massachusetts Historical 
Society. On February 4, 1901, the Supreme 
Court of the United States, with the aid and 
support of the President and Congress, cele- 
brated the one hundredth anniversary of the 
day on which h^took his seat for the first time 
in the Supreme Court of the United States, 
and by common consent all judicial business 
throughout the country ceased, and state, 
city and county bar associations held appro- 
priate exercises, as did colleges, law and 
public schools. His health began to decline 
?t the opening of the session of the Supreme 
Court in 1835. although he presided through- 
out the session. He died in Philadelphia, 
I Pennsylvania, July 6, 1835. '"^ ability as 
a judge consisted in his almost supernatural 
power of distinguishing at a glance the very 
point on which the- controversy depended. 
He was not always correct in his decisions 
but there can be but one opinion as to his 
nipid. resistless and astonishing penetration. 

Washington, Bushrod, was born in West- 
moreland county. Virginia. June 5. 1762, 
the son of John Augustine, younger brother 
of George Washington ; was graduated 
from William and Mary College in 1778. 
and read law in Philadelphia in James 
Wilson's office. In 1780-81 he served in 



Colonel J. F. Mercer's troop, which was dis- 
banded after the siege of Vorktown. He 
practiced at home, at Alexandria and at 
Richmond : was a member of the house of 
delegates in 17S7, and of the convention 
which ratified the Federal constitution; and 
from December 20, ijijS, was a judge of the 
United States Supreme Court, receiving his 
appointment from President Adams. He 
was of "small and emaciated frame, and 
countenance like marble." but eminent for 
learning and ability. He published "Reports 
of the Virginia Court of Appeals, i790-<)6.*' 
in two volumes (1798-99), and of the 
'United States Court for the Third Circuit. 
1803-27," in kuT volumes (1826-29), partly 
edited by R. Peters: these, in the opinion 
of his biographer, did him but imperfect 
justice. At the organization of the Coloni- 
zation Society in June, 18 17, he became its 
I^resident. As the general's favorite nephew, 
he inherited Mount \'ernon, which after- 
ward passed to R. E. Lee, through the Cus- 
tis family. He (bed November 26, 1829. 
His life, by H. r»inney. was privately printed 
in 1858. 

Barbour, Philip Pendleton, was born in 
Orange county, \'irginia, May 25, 1783. 
the son of Colonel Thomas IJarbour. He 
received his early education at the schools 
in his native county, read law, and was 
sent by his father to Kentucky to settle 
some land claims?' in which he was unsuc- 
cessful, and was thereafter left to make 
his own way in the world. He was ad- 
mitted to the bar. practiced law, and sub- 
sequently studied at William and Mary Col- 
lege. From 1812 to 1814 he was a member 
of the legislature, and from 1814 to 1821 a 
member of Congress from Virginia, when 
he became speaker of the house of repre- 



Digitized by 



Google 



84 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



sentatives. In 1S25 he resigned his position, 
and was appointed judge of the eastern dis- 
trict of Virginia. He was in Congress again 
from 1827 to 1S30, was president of the 
\'irginia constitutional convention and 
chairman of the judiciary committee, and in 
1831 was president of the Philadelphia free 



trade convention. In 1836 President Jack- 
son appointed him an associate judge of the 
Supreme Court of the United States. While 
in Congress he opposed all appropriations 
for public improvements, and all import 
duties. He died in Washington, D. C, Feb- 
ruary 25. 1841. 




Digitized by 



Google 



UNITED STATES SENATORS 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



Vl-UNITED STATES SENATORS 



Grayson, William (q. v.). 

Lcc, Richard H. (q. v.). 

Walker, John, was born at '*Castle Hill," 
Albemarle county, Virginia, February 13, 
1744, son of Dr. Thomas Walker, the ex- 
plorer (q. v.), and Mildred Thornton, his 
wife. His mother was daughter of Colonel 
John and Mildred (Gregory) Thornton, the 
latter being daughter of Roger and ^lil- 
dred (Washington) Gregory, sister of Gen- 
eral George Washington. He attended Wil- 
liam and Mary College (1764), and after 
graduation settled at "Bel voir," Albemarle 
county, where he engaged in the occupation 
of a planter. In 1777 he was commissioned 
with his father to make special terms with 
the Indians at Fort Pitt, Pennsylvania, so 
as to retain their friendship throughout the 
revolution. During this war he served as 
an extra aide on the staff of General Wash- 
ington, with the rank of colonel. The lat- 
ter wrote to Patrick Henry, February 24, 
1777, commending the ability, honor and 
prudence of Colonel Walker. The governor 
of Virginia appointed him to the United 
States senate, where he filled the vacancy 
made by the death of William Grayson, 
serving from May 4, 1790, until a successor 
was regularly elected by the legislature. 
His seat was thus relinquished to James 
Monroe. While a senator he voted for the 
removal of the seat of government to the 
Potomac river. He married, in 1764, Eliz- 
abeth, daughter of Bernard Moore, of *'Chel- 
sea," Virginia, and granddaughter, of Gov- 



ernor Alexander Spotswood. They had one 
daughter, Mildred. He died in Orange 
county, Virginia, December 2, 1809. 

Monroe, James (q. v.). 

Tazewell, Henry (q. v.). 

Mason, Stevens Thomson, was born in 
Stafford county, Virginia, in 1760, son of 
Thomson Mason, the brother of George 
Mason, the celebrated author of the Dec- 
laration of rights and state constitution. 
Stevens Thomson Mason was educated at 
William and Mary College, and on the out- 
break of the revolutionary war volunteered, 
was an aide to General Washington, and 
was present at the siege of Yorktown. 
Afterward he became a general of militia. 
He was a member of the house of delegates 
of Virginia, and of the state constitutional 
convention in 1788. He was elected to the 
United States senate, and served from De- 
cember 7, 1795, ^^ March 3, 1803. Mason 
became seriously involved during his sena- 
torial career, in connection with the Jay 
treaty. This treaty, negotiated by John 
Jay, was ratified in secret session by the 
smallest possible constitutional majority. 
It was forbidden by the senate that the 
treaty should be published, but Senator 
Mason did cause to be printed in a Phila- 
delphia newspaper, the ** Aurora," at first an 
abstract of the instrument and afterward a 
complete copy. This created great excite- 
ment, being applauded by the Republicans 
and attacked by the Federalists. Senator 
Mason was a warm personal friend of 



Digitized by 



Google 



88 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Thomas Jefferson, and his strong political 
ally. Personally, Senator Mason was also 
a popular man, esteemed for his integrity 
and admired for his remarkable ability as an 
orator. He died in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- 
vania. May 10, IQP3. 

Nicholas, Wilson Gary (q. v.). 

Taylor, John, known as "John Taylor of 
Caroline," was born in Orange county, Vir- 
ginia, in 1750. His father was James Tay- 
lor, who married Ann Pollard — a sister of 
5- a rah Pollard, who married the celebrated 
Ldmund Pendleton, president of the 
famous convention of May. 1776, that de- 
clared for independence. He was of the 

• same distingiiished family as General Zach- 
ary Taylor. President of the United States. 
He attended William and Mary College and 
graduated there in 1770. He studied law. 
and. settling in Caroline county, began the 
practice in 1774. He entered the army 
when the revolutionary war began, and was 
a colonel of cavalry. He served in the 
house of delegates from 1779 to 1787. being 
one of the leading members. About this 
time he gave up the practice of law and 
devoted his ample time to politics and agri- 
culture. In 1792 he was appointed to fill 
the unexpired term of Richard Henry Lee 
in the United States senate, and was elect- 
ed to the term that began March 4, 1793, 

• but resigned, May 11, 1794; presidential 
elector in 1797; he was a close friend of Mr. 
J<:fferson, and, as member of the house of 
delegates, offered the resolutions of 1798 
condemning the alien and sedition laws; 
appointed to the senate to fill the vacancy 
caused by the death of Stevens Thomson 
Mason, and served from June 4. 1803, until 
December 7, 1803, when he resigned ; again 
appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by 



the death of James Pleasants, Jr., and was 
elected later to serve the regular term for 
six years beginning December 18, 1822, but 
died at his estate in Caroline county, Au- 
gust 20, 1824. Mr. Taylor was a prolific 
political writer, and was the author of "An 
Inquiry into the Principles and Policy of the 
Ciovernment of the United States/' 1S14; 
"Construction Construed and the Constitu- 
tion \'indicated," 1820; "Tyranny Unmask- 
ed." 1822; "Xcw \'iews of the Constitution 
of the United States." 1823. He was also a 
scientific agriculturist, and in 181 1 was first 
president of the \'irginia Agricultural Soci- 
ety. His little books. "Arator," being a 
scries of agricultural essays, practical and 
I'Ctlitical. 1818. wa> one of the first Amer- 
ican books on agriculture. Taylor county. 
Kentucky, was named in his honor. 

Vcnable, Abraham B., son of Nathaniel 
\enable and Elizabeth Woodson, his wife, 
was born in Prince Edward county. \'ir- 
ginia. November 20, 1758. He was gradu- 
ated at Princeton College in 1780; studied 
law and practiced in his native county, and 
from 1791 to 1799 was a representative in 
Congress from Virginia, and United States 
senator from 1803 to 1804, when he re- 
signed and resumed the practice of law in 
Richmond. He was a friend of Thomas 
Jefferson; was founder and first president 
of the Bank of Virginia. He perished in 
the conflagration of the theatre at Rich- 
mond, Virginia, December 26, 181 1. 

Giles. WiUiam B. fq. v.). 

Moore, Andrew, son of David Moore, 
whose father was of the Scotch-Irish race 
who emigrated from the North of Ireland 
and settled in the valley of Virginia, was 
born at "Cannicello," in Rockbridge coiinty. 



Digitized by 



Google 



UNITED STATES SENATORS 



89 



in 1752. He studied law in Willjamsburg 
under Chancellor Wythe, and was admitted 
to the bar in 1774. He served in the revolu- 
tionary army as lieutenant three years and 
attained the rank of captain. After the war 
the Virginia legislature made him a briga- 
dier-general of militia, and in 1808 promoted 
him to major-general. He was a member 
of the state legislature, 1781-89, and 1799- 
iSoo; and in 178S served in the state con- 
vention which ratified the Federal constitu- 
tion. He was elected to the First Congress, 
and served 1789-97. He successfully con- 
tested the election of Thomas Lewis to the 
Eighth Congress, and was appointed to the 
United States senate August 11, 1804, serv- 
ing by subsequent election until March 3, 
1S09. In this body he upheld the policy 
ot President Jefferson. He was one of the 
advocates for removing the seat of govern- 
ment to the Potomac river. The year fol- 
lowing his retirement from the senate, he 
received the appointment of United States 
marshal for Virginia, and retained that office 
until his death, near Lexington, April 14, 
182 1. 

Brentt Richard, son of Colonel William 
Brent, of **Richland,'* Stafford county, who 
was a justice, burgess, and member of the 
convention of 1776, was born about 1760; 
was a representative in Congress, serving 
from December 7, 1795, to March 3, 1799. 
and from December 7, 1801, to March 3, 
1803. He was elected to the United States 
senate for a term beginning March 4, 1809, 
and took his scat May 23, serving until his 
death. In 181 1 he was instructed by the 
legislature to vote against the recharter of 
the United States Bank, but refused to obey 
and incurred its censure. He died in Wash- 



ington, unmarried, December 30, 1814. He 
was distinguished for his eloquence. 

Barbour, James (q. v.). 

Mason, Armistcad Thomson, was born in 
Loudoun county, Virginia, in 1787, son of 
Stevens Thomson Mason, also a United 
States senator. His grandfather, Thomson 
Mason, was born in 1733 and died in 1785. 
Armistead T. Mason was graduated at the 
College of William and Mary in 1807, after 
which he was engaged in farming. He 
served as colonel of cavalry in the war of 
1812. distinguished himself in the defense 
0/ Xorfolk, and was made brigadier-general 
o? militia. After serving in the legislature 
he was elected to the United States senate, 
and served from January 3, 1816, to March 
3. it'^17, when he resigned to become a candi- 
date for the house of representatives 
against Charles Fenton Mercer, but was de- 
feated by a few votes. Great personal bit- 
terness was engendered, resulting in sev- 
eral duels. 1 laving called his cousin, William 
Mason McCarty, a "perjured villain," he 
v,as challenged by the latter, who proposed 
that they should jump together from the 
dome of the capitol. This Mason refused, 
with an intimation that he would accept a 
challenge sent in a proper form. McCarty 
posted Mason as a coward, and was chal- 
lenged for doing so. He declined on the 
ground that Mason was wanting in courage, 
and the matter rested until General Jack- 
son appeared on the scene. It was then 
reopened by Mason, who sent a challenge, 
and it was ultimately agreed that a duel 
should take place with muskets, charged 
with a single ball, at a distance of twelve 
feet. When in position the muzzles of the 
muskets nearly touched. At the word, they 



Digitized by 



Google 



90 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



both fired, and Mason fell dead. This was 
at Bladensburg, Maryland, February 6, 
1819. 

Eppes» John Wayles, son of Colonel Fran- 
cis Eppes and Elizabeth Wayles, his wife, 
daughter of John Wayles. was born in 
Chesterfield county. \'irginia. and attained 
prominence in his profession in Richmond, 
\ irginia. In 1803 he was elected as a Re- 
publican to Congress, and served until 
March 3. 181 1, and from May 24, 1813, to 
March 2, 181 5. He was an able supporter 
of the administration of James Madison. 
Two years later he became a member of the 
United States senate, but resigned in 1819 
on account of ill health. He retired to his 
estate in Buckingham county, where the 
remaining years of his life were spent. He 
married (first) Maria, daughter of Presi- 
dent Thomas Jefferson, and (second) Mar- 
tha, daughter of Willie Jones, member of 
Congress from North Carolina. His death 
occurred September 20, 1823. 

Pleasants, James (q. v.). 

Tazewell, Littleton Waller (q. v.). 

Randolph, John, was born at "Cawsons," 
Prince George county, Virginia, June 2, 
I773i son of Richard, of "Curies,*' and Fran- 
ces (Bland) Randolph, grandson of Richard 
Randolph (1691-1748), great-grandson of 
Colonel William, the immigrant, and Mary 
(Isham) Randolph, of Turkey Island. Wil- 
liam Randolph, the immigrant, came from 
Warwickshire, England, in 1674. John Ran- 
dolph was instructed by his mother and 
stepfather ; attended Walker Maury's school 
in Orange county; the grammar school of 
the same teacher in Williamsburg; the Col- 
lege of New Jersey, i'787-88 ; Columbia Col- 



lege, 1788-89; was present in New York, 
April 30, 1789. at the inauguration of Presi- 
dent Washington, and studied law with his 
second cousin, Edmund Randolph, in Phila- 
delphia, also attending lectures on antomy 
and physiology. In 1795 he returned to Vir- 
ginia and made his home at "Bizarre," the 
family mansion occupied hy his brother 
Richard, and where Richard died in 1796. 
He thus became the head of the household, 
but does not appear to have practiced law 
except to the extent of defending in the 
Federal courts his rights to the portion of 
the Randolph estate. He opposed Patrick 
Henry as a candidate for representative in 
the Sixth Congress, but was defeated. 
When Henry died, June 6. 1799, without 
taking his seat. Randolph was elected and 
was a representative from \'irginia in the 
Sixth to Twelfth Congresses, 1799-18 13, 
serving as chairman of the committee on 
ways and means and being a leader of the 
Republicans. He favored the reduction of 
the army and spoke of the men making it 
up as "mercenaries and hirelings," which 
resulted in his being insulted and jostled by 
two marine officers at the theatre. In a note 
addressed to the President, asking for pro- 
tection against such insults, he addressed 
him as ** President of the United States," 
and signed himself "With respect, your fel- 
low-citizen, John Randolph." President 
Adams presented the note to the house for 
its consideration as "a breach of representa- 
tive privilege." A deadlock resulted, and 
the question was undecided. Randolph 
was a powerful orator, and opposed every 
public wrong, the Yazoo fraud being passed 
in his absence. He defended Jefferson in 
the purchase of Louisiana; and advocated 
an embargo, but soon changed his opinion 



Digitized by 



Google 




JOHN RANDOLPH OF ROANOKE 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



UNITED STATES SENATORS 



91 



and voted against the measure. He favored 
James Monroe as presidential candidate to 
succeed "Mr. Jefferson in 1808, and opposed 
the war of 1812 and the policy of President 
AJadison. which made an enemy of Monroe, 
who had been chosen secretary of state. 
This cost him his reelection to Congress in 
18 1 2, and he retired to "Roanoke," his resi- 
dence in Charlotte county. He was return- 
ed to the Fourteenth, Sixteenth, Seven- 
teenth and Eighteenth Congresses, 1815-17 
and 1819-25, and became the founder of a 
powerful state rights party. He hated slav- 
very, and his duty to his creditors was the 
only bar to the liberation of the slaves 
owned by him during his lifetime. He op- 
posed the Missouri compromise as an in- 
fringement of the constitution. In Decem- 
ber. 1824, he was elected to the United 
States senate to fill the vacancy caused by 
tlie resignation of Senator Barbour, and 
cc mpleted his term. March 3, 1827. While 
in the senate. Clay challenged him for the 
use of offensive language in a speech, and 
a duel followed, April 8, 1826, in which 
neither was hurt. In 1827 he was defeated 
o'' reelection by John Tyler. He was a 
member of the state constitutional conven- 
tion of 1829, and, as a reward for his sup- 
port of Jackson for the presidency in 1828. 
he was appointed United States minister to 
Russia in 1830, but resigned in 183 1. 
Though he did not approve of the doctrine 
of nullification, he condemned Jackson's 
proclamation against South Carolina in 
1832. as subversive of the confederate char- 
acter of the Union. In 1833 ^^ made prepa- 
rations for a second visit to Europe for the 
benefit of his health, but only lived to reach 
Philadelphia. He was declared of unsound 
mind when he made his last will, executed 



in 1832, and a former will made in 1821, 
liberating his slaves and providing for their 
colonization, was sustained. He is the 
author of **Letters to a Young Relative" 
(1834). Hugh A. Garland wrote "Life of 
John Randolph'' (2 vols., 1850), and Henry 
Adams, "John Randolph" (American states- 
man series, 1882). He died in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, May 24. 1833. 

Tyler, John (q. v.). 

Rives, William Cabell, son of Robert 
Rives, of Sussex county, one of the richest 
merchants of Virginia, and Margaret Cabell, 
his wife, daughter of Colonel William Ca- 
bell, of "Union Hill," was born in Xelson 
county. May 4, 1793. He was first schooled 
under private tutors, entered Hampden- 
Sidney College in 1807, and was graduated 
at William and Mary College in 1809. He 
studied law under the direction of Thomas 
Jefferson, 1809-11; served in the defence 
ot \'irginia as aide-de-camp to General 
John H. Cooke, 1814-15. and engaged in the 
practice of law in Xelson county. He repre- 
sented Xelson county in the Virginia house 
of delegates, 1817-19, and was married, 
March 24. 18 19, to Judith Page, daughter of 
the Hon. Francis and Jane Byrd (Page) 
Walker, of Albemarle county, Virginia. He 
removed to Albemarle county in 1821 ; rep- 
resented that county in the Virginia house 
of delegates, 1822-23, and was a Republican 
representative in the Eighteenth, Xine- 
teenth and Twentieth Congresses, 1823- 
1829. He was a member of the board of 
visitors of the University of Virginia, 1828- 
29, and United States minister to France by 
appointment of President Jackson, from 
April 18. 1829. to September 27, 1832, nego- 
tiating the indemnity treaty of July 4, 1831. 



Digitized by 



Google 



9^ 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



He was elected to the United States senate 
to fill vacancy caused by resignation of 
Littleton W. Tazewell, and served from 
January 4. 1833, until February 22, 1834, 
when he resigned, having refused to follow 
the instructions of the \'irginia legislature 
to vote to censure President Jackson for re- 
moving government deposits from the Bank 
of the United States. He was reelected to 
the United States senate in place of John 
Tyler, resigned February 29. 1836. and was 
returned 1840-45. He joined the Whigs in 
1840. but did not approve of the course of 
Mr. Clay in bringing forward the bank bills 
in 1 841. He was appointed United States 
minister to France by President Fillmore, 
serving 1849-53. and in the latter year retired 
tv private life at his residence. "Castle Hill,'' 
Albemarle county. He was one of the five 
commissioners sent from Virginia to the 
peace congress at Washington. D. C, in 
February. 1861, and elected chairman of the 
\'irginia delegates chosen at Richmond, 
April 17, 1861, to represent Virginia in the 
provisional congress at Montgomery, Ala- 
bama, April 29, 1861. He represented his 
district in the second Confederate congress, 
February 22, 1864, to February 22. 1865. 
He was made president of the Virginia His- 
torical Society, 1847, ^^^d received the de- 
gree of Doctor of Laws from the College 
of William and Mary. He was the author 
of: *The Life and Character of John Hamp- 
den" (1845) ; **Ethics of Christianity" 
(1855); "The Life and Times of James 
Madison (3 vols., 1859-69). He died at 
"Castle Hill," Virginia, April 25, 1868. 

Leigh, Benjamin Watkins, son of Rev. 
William Leigh and Martha Watkins, his 
wife* was born in Chesterfield county. Vir- 
ginia, June 18. 1781. He graduated at the 



College of William and Mary in 1802, stud- 
ied law, and carried on a successful practice 
at Petersburg, \'irginia. until 1S13. when 
he removed to Richmond. He was elected 
from Petersburg to the \'irginia legisla- 
ture, where in 181 1 he presented resolutions 
asserting the right of the legislature to in- 
struct United States senators elected by it. 
He was a member of the commission which 
revised the statutes 6i the state, and in 1822 
served as a commissioner to Kentucky, con- 
ferring with Henry Clay in regard to an im- 
portant land law, known as the "occupying 
claimants" law, threatening to annul the 
title which \'irginia held upon certain lands 
lying within the state of Kentucky; but a 
Stitisfactory agreement was finally reached 
by these two representatives. From 1829 
to 1841 he served as reporter of the \'ir- 
ginia court of appeals, and was prominent 
in the state constitutional convention of 
1S29-30. He was first a Democrat and after- 
wards a Whig, and March 5, 1S34. was 
elected to the United States senate, where 
he took the place of William C. Rives, a 
Democrat, who had refused to obey instruc- 
tions from the Virginia legislature, and had 
tendered his resignation. Senator Leigh 
was reelected, but being instructed to vote 
for the celebrated expunging resolutions, re- 
fused to obey. In view of his former atti- 
tude on the doctrine of instructions, this 
made him unpopular. A year later he re- 
signed, but he never recovered his former 
popularity, and from that time his life was 
spent in retirement. He was compiler of 
**Reports of the Court of Appeals and Gen- 
eral Court," 1829-1841. The degree of Doc- 
tor of Law^s was given him by the College 
of William and Mary in 1837. He died in 
Richmond, Virginia. February 2, 1849. 



Digitized by 



Google 



UNITED STATES SENATORS 



93 



Parker, Richard Elliott (q. v.). 

Roane, William Harrison, son of Judge 
Spencer Roane, of the supreme court of ap- 
peals, and Anne Henry, his wife, daughter 
of Patrick Henry, was born in Hanover 
county, Virginia, in 1788. In 1804 he enter- 
ed W illiam and Mary College, and later 
practiced law. He was twice elected a 
member of the executive council of his 
native state, and after serving as a delegate 
to the general assembly, he was elected a 
Republican representative in the national 
house of representatives, and served from 
December 4. 1815. to March 3, 1817. When 
the Democratic party was formed in 1828 
he united himself with this party, and in 
1837 was elected to fill a vacancy in the 
United States senate, which had been 
caused by the resignation of Richard E. 
Parker; he served from September 4. 1837, 
to March 3, 1841. His death occurred at 
his residence, *'Tree Hill," near Richmond, 
\*irginia. May 1 1, 1845. 

Archer, William S., was born in Amelia 
county, Virginia, March 5, 17&J, son of 
Major John Archer, who in the revolution- 
ary war was aide to General Wayne, and 
acquitted himself with special distinction at 
the capture of Stony Point, and grandson 
of William Archer, of Welsh ancestry, a 
colonel in the revolutionary army, who died 
on a British prison ship. He was educated 
at the College of William and Mary, gradu- 
ated in 1806, and studied law. He was 
elected to the state legislature, and served, 
with the exception of a single year, from 
1S12 to 1819. In 1820 he became a member 
from \'irginia to the house of representa- 
tives, where he remained until 1835, exert- 
ing a wide influence, especially as chairman 



of the committee on foreign afi'airs, and as 
a member of the committee on the Missouri 
compromise. He was a states rights man 
and supported General Jackson till his proc- 
lamation against South Carolina in 1832, 
when he joined the new Whig party of op- 
position. In 1841 he was elected to the 
United States senate, and gave a very re- 
luctant support to Clay's project of a bank. 
In 1844 he was chairman of the senate com- 
mittee on foreign relations, and opposed the 
annexation of Texas. He served until 1847, 
when he retired to his estate in Amelia 
county, where he died March 28, 1855. 

Pennybacker, Isaac Samuels, was born in 
Shenandoah * county, Virginia, September 
12, 1807. He was educated at Washington 
College, Virginia, studied law at the Win- 
chester Law School, and settled at Harri- 
sonburg, Virginia, where he commenced the 
practice of his profession. In 1837 he was 
a representative in Congress, and at the ex- 
piration of his term became judge of the 
district court of western Virginia. He de- 
clined the office of United States attorney- 
general, offered him by President Van 
Buren, and subsequently that of justice of 
the supreme court of \'irginia. He was 
spoken of for governor, but declined to run. 
In 1845 he was elected United States sena- 
tor, but before the expiration of his term 
he died in Washington, D. C, January 12, 
1847. 

Mason, James Murray, was born on Ma- 
son's Island, Fairfax county, West Virginia, 
November 3, 1798. He was a son of General 
John Mason, and a grandson of George Ma- 
son, the celebrated Virgfinia patriot of the 
American revolution, and the close friend 
of George Washington. James M. Maaon 



Digitized by 



Google 



94 



VIRGINIA BIOGRArHY 



graduated from the University of Pennsyl- 
vania in 1818, studied law at William and 
Mary College. X'irginia. and practiced law 
at Winchester. \'irginia. In 182O he was 
elected to the state legislature, and was re- 
elected until 1S32. He was a member of 
the X'irginia constitutional convention in 
i8j<). and in 1832 served as a presidential 
elector on the Jackson ticket, and was elect- 
ed i*» Congress as a Jackson Democrat in 
that year, and declined reelection at the end 
ot his term, preferring to return to law prac- 
tice. The \*irginia legislature elected him 
to till an unexpired term in the United 
Slates senate in 1847. and he was reelected 
twice. He resigned in 1861 to cast his for- 
tunes with the Confederacy. His fourteen 
years as senator were stamped with an abil- 
ity fur hard work. He served as chairman 
of the committee on foreign relations fur 
ten years. He was the author of the fugi 
tive slave law in 1850. and strongly opposed 
anti-slavery agitation. As soon as he re- 
signed his seat in the United States senate 



he was elected to the Confederate congress, 
and was appointed, with John Slidell, com- 
missioner from the Confederate States to 
England and France. He sailed from 
Charleston. South Carolina, for Cuba, Oc- 
tiber 12. 1S61. and reached Havana safely. 
The two commissioners engaged passage 
en the r»ritish mail steamer Trent, and were 
captured by Captain Charles Wilkes, of the 
United Slater navy, as the vessel was pass- 
ing through the Bahama Channel. They 
were brought to Boston, and incarcerated 
ill Fort Warren. Boston Harbor, but after- 
ward, on demand of the British government, 
they were released. January 2. 1862, and 
jiroceeded on their mission to Eurc»pe. 
where, until the close of the civil war. they 
actively pushed the claims of the Confed- 
eracy for recognition. Senator Ma.son spent 
several years in Canada after the cessation 
or hostilities, but in 1868 returned to his 
home in Virginia*. He died at Alexandria, 
\'irginia. April 28. 1871. 



Digitized by 



Google 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



VII-HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



Alexander, Mark, son of Col. Robert Alex- 
a:ider, born in Mecklenburg county, Vir- 
ginia, February 7, 1792; attended the public 
schools and the University of North Caro- 
lina; studied law, was admitted to the bar, 
and practiced in Boydton and Lombardy 
Grove, Virginia; member of house of dele- 
gates, 1817-1819; member of state constitu- 
tional convention, 1829 ; elected as a Demo- 
cratic Republican to sixteenth, seventeenth, 
eighteenth, nineteenth, twentieth, twenty- 
first and twenty-second congresses, and 
served from March 4, 1819, to March 3, 1833 ; 
died in Scotland Neck, Halifax county. 
North Carolina, October 7, 1833. 

Allen, Robert, born in Woodstock, Vir- 
ginia, July 30, 1794; was graduated from 
Washington College; studied law, was ad- 
mitted to the bar, and began practice at 
Woodstock; was elected prosecuting attor- 
ney, lie was a state senator for five years; 
elected as a Democrat to the twentieth, 
twenty-first and twenty-second congresses 
1^ March 4. 1827-March 3, 1833). He died in 
Mount Jackson, Virginia. 

Archer, William S. (q. v.). 

Armstrong, William, born in Lisburn, 
Antrim county. Ireland, December 23, 1782; 
came to the United States in 1792, settling 
in \'irginia; studied law while a clerk in 
Winchester; was United States tax collector 
in 1S18-1819: member of house of delegates. 
1822-1823; presidential elector. 1820-1824; 
elected as a Republican to nineteenth, twen- 
tieth, twenty-first and twenty-second con- 

VlA-7 



gresses, serving from March 4, 1825, to 
March 3, 1833. 

Atkinson, Archibald, born in Isle of Wight 
county, Virginia, September 13, 1792; stud- 
ied law in law school of William and Mary 
College; served through the war of 1812 
with Great Britain ; admitted to the bar and 
began practice in Smithfield; member for 
several terms of the state senate, and house 
of delegates; elected as a Democrat to the 
twenty-eighth, twenty-ninth and thirtieth 
congresses, from March 4, 1843, to March 3, 
1849; prosecuting attorney for Isle of Wight 
ccunty; died in Smithfield, Virginia, JanU' 
ary 16, 1872. 

Austin, Archibald, born in Buckingham 
county, Virginia, August 11, 1772; studied 
law. was admitted to the bar, and practiced 
in his native county for over forty years; 
member of house of delegates, 1815-1816; 
elected as a Republican to fifteenth congress. 
March 4, 1817 to March 3. 1819: again a 
member of house of delegates, 1835- 1836, 
and 1836-1837; died in Buckingham county, 
Virginia, October 16, 1837. 

Avcrett, Thomas H., native of Virginia; 
elected as a Democrat to thirty-first and 
thirty-second congresses, serving from 
March 4. 1849, to March 3, 1853. 

Baker, John, a native of Virginia: studied 
law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced ; 
elected as a Federalist to the twelfth con- 
gress (March 4. 1811-March 3. 1813) : after 
retiring from congress, resumed practice; 
died in Shepherdstown, Virginia, August 18, 



Digitized by 



Google 



98 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



1833. He married Ann Mark, daughter of 
Juhn Mark, from Ulster, Ireland, founder 
of the rirst Presbyterian church in Freder- 
icksburg. His daughter, Ann, married Gov. 
Thomas \V. Gilmer. 

Ball, William Lcc, son of James Ball of 
"Cewdley/'and Frances Downman, his wife, 
born in Lancaster county, Virginia, Janu- 
ary 2. 1781; received a liberal schooling; 
served as paymaster in the war with Great 
L'ritain in 1812, assigned to Xinety-second 
\'irginia Regiment: elected 10 the fifteenth, 
sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth con- 
gresses, serving from March 4, 1817, until 
his death, February 28, 1824, in Washmg- 
tc^n, D. C. He married Mary Pierce, dangh- 
tci of Joseph Pierce and Judith Lee, his 
wife, daughter of Kendall Lee. 

Banister, John (q. v.). 

Banks, Linn, born in Madison (then Cul- 
peper) county. \'irginia, January 23, 1784; 
member of house of delegates, and for twen- 
t\ successive } ears served as speaker of that 
body : elected as a Democrat to the twenty- 
fifth congress, to fill vacancy caused by res- 
ignation of John M. Patton; re-elected to 
iwenty-sixth congress and served from May 
19. 1838, to March 3. 1841 ; presented cre- 
dentials as a member-elect to the twenty-sev- 
enth congress, but his election was success- 
fully contested by William Smith, who took 
his seat December 6, 1841 ; was drowned 
while attempting to ford the Conway river 
in iladison county, Virginia, January 13, 
1842. 

Barbour, Philip P. (q. v.). 

Barbour, John Strode, son of Mordecai 
Flarbour and Elizabeth Strode, his wife, born 
in Culpeper county, Virginia, August 8, 



1790; was graduated from William and 
Mary College in 1808; studied law and was 
admitted to the bar; in the war of 1812 was 
aide-de-camp to General Madison : served 
as member of house of delegates ; elected as 
a States Rights Republican to eighteenth, 
nineteenth, twentieth, twenty-first and twen- 
ty-second congresses, serving from March 4, 
1823, to March 3, 1833: member of Virginia 
constitutional convention of 1829-30; chair- 
man of Democratic National Convention 
that nominated Franklin Pierce for the 
presidency, 1852; died in Culpeper county, 
Virginia, January 12, 1855. He was a first 
cousin of Gov. James Carbour. 

Barton, Richard Walker, born on the 
"Shady Oak" farm, Frederick county, \'ir- 
ginia. in 1800; pursued academic studies; 
studied law, was admitted to bar, and prac- 
ticed in Winchester, \'irginia : served sev- 
eral terms in the Virginia house of dele- 
gates: elected as a Whig to the twenty- 
seventh congress, serving from March 4. 
1841, to March 3, .1843: died in Frederick 
county, \ irginia, March 15, 1859. He was 
son of Richard Peter Carton and ilartha 
Walker, his wife, daughter of Dr. Walker, 
of Dinwiddie county. Richard Peter Bar- 
ton was a son of Rev. Thomas Barton and 
Esther Rittenhouse, sister of David Ritten- 
house, of Pennsylvania, the distinguished 
scientist. 

Bassett, Burwell, son of Burwell Bassett 
and Anna Maria Dandridge, sister of ^Irs. 
Washington, born in New Kent county, Vir- 
ginia. March 18, 1764; attended William and 
Mary College : member of house of delegates 
in 1789; member of state senate, 1798-1799, 
1802-1803: elected as a Democratic Repub- 
lican to ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth 



Digitized by 



Google 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



99 



congresses, serving from March 4, 1815, to 
March 3. 1813; elected to fourteenth and 
f'lteenth congresses, serving from March 4, 
1S15. to March 3, 1819; elected to seven- 
teenth and three succeeding congresses 
serving from March 4, 1821, to March 3, 
1S29; in all, served in ten congresses, twen- 
ty years; died in New Kent county, Vir- 
ginia, February 26, 1841. 

Bay ley, Thomas Henry, son of Thomas 
M. Uayley and Margaret P. Cropper, his 
wife, daughter of Gen. John Cropper, born 
ii» Accomac county, Virginia, December 11, 
1810; attended the common schools, and the 
University or Virginia, from which he grad- 
uated ; studied law, was admitted to the bar 
in 1830, and engaged in practice; was mem- 
ber of house of delegates from 1835 to 1840, 
when he resigned on being elected judge of 
the circuit court ; elected as a States Rights 
Democrat to Oie twenty-eighth congress, to 
till a vacancy occasioned by the resignation 
oJ* Henry A. Wise: elected to the twenty- 
ninth and five succeeding congresses, serv- 
ing from May 0, 1844, until his death, June 
23. 1856, at Mount Custis, Accomac county, 
\irginia. He was descended from Richard 
r.ayley, of "Craddock," an early settler in 
Accomac. 

Baylcy, Thomas Monteagle, son of Thomas 
I'ayley and Anne Drummond, his wife, 
daughter of Richard Drummond. born in 
Accomac county, Virginia, September 2. 
^775 • was graduated from Princeton Col- 
lege in 1794; entered public life in 1798 and 
served several years in each of the two 
houses of the state legislature, as a Demo- 
cratic Republican : served as a colonel of 
militia during the war of 1812; elected to 



thirteenth congress, and served from March 
4, 1813, to March 3, 1815; again elected to 
the state legislature, and served several 
terms; died at Mount Custis, Accomac 
county, Virginia, January 6, 1834. His 
tombstone is at Hill's farm in Accomac 
county. (See William and Mary College 
Quarterly, VII., p. 107J. 

Beale, James Madison Hite, born at Mt 
Airy, Shenandoah county, Virginia, Febru- 
ary 7, 1786; pursued preparatory studies; 
elected as a Democrat to twenty-third and 
twenty-fourth congresses (March 4, 1833- 
March 3, 1837) I elected to thirty-first and 
thirty-second congresses, serving from 
March 4, 1849, to March 3, 1853, and then 
declining a renomination ; died in Putnam 
cc unty. West Virginia, August 2, 1866. 

Bedinger, Henry, born near Shepherds- 
town, Virginia (now in Jefferson county. 
West Virginia), in 1810, son of Major 
George Michael Dedinger, born in Virginia, 
an early pioneer in Kentucky, adjutant at 
the battle of Blue Licks in 1782, an Indian 
spy during the revolutionary war, major 
commanding a battalion of sharpshooters 
uiuler St. Clair, member of Kentucky legis- 
i.iture, and ccngressman from that state. 
The son received a classical education, stud- 
.ed law and engaged in practice, first at 
Shepherdstown and later at Charlestown. 
In 1845 he succeeded General George Rust, 
his brother-in-law and law partner, in con- 
gress, where he was distinguished for his 
eloquence as a debater, and he was re- 
elected. In 1853 he was appointed charge 
daffairs to Denmark, and afterward became 
minister resident. During his ministerial 
service he was successful in bringing about 



Digitized by 



Google 



lOO 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



the treaty abolishing the sound dues. He 
died in Shepherdstown, Virginia, November 
26, 1858. 

Beime, Andrew, born in Dengan, Roscom- 
mon county, Ireland, in 1771 ; emigrated to 
Virginia and settled in Union, Monroe 
county; was member of house of delegates 
in 1807-1808 ; member of Virginia constitu- 
tional convention in 1829-1830; state sena- 
toi, 1831-1836; presidential elector in 1836. 
He participated in the war of 1812 as cap- 
tain, and then as colonel of the Monroe 
County Rifles. He was elected as a \'an 
Buren Democrat to the twenty-fifth and 
twenty-sixth congresses, serving from March 
4 1837, to March 3, 1841 ; died March 16, 
1845. in Gainesville, .\labama; his remains 
were interred at Union, Loudoun county, 
Virginia. 

Bland, Theodorick, (q. v.). 

Bocock, Thomas S. (q. v.). 

Botts, John Minor, born in Dumfries, 
Prince William county, Virginia, September 
16. 1802, son of Benjamin Botts, who was 
the youngest lawyer engaged in the defense 
of Aaron Burr. Soon after his birth, his 
parents removed to Richmond, and both 
perished in the conflagration of the Rich- 
mond Theatre, in December, 181 1. Young 
Botts was then only nine years of age. At 
various schools he acquired a knowledge of 
Greek, Latin, French and mathematics. At 
the age of eighteen, when he had studied 
law for six weeks, without an instructor, he 
was admitted to the bar, and it was said 
that Patrick Henry was the only other who 
had accomplished such a feat. After six 
years' practice in Richmond, he became dis- 
satisfied on account of office confinement. 



arid removed to Henrico county, where he 
purchased a farm, which he cultivated with 
such success that in three years he was 
famed for producing the largest crops, acre 
for acre, of any farmer in the state. In 1833 
he was elected to the legislature as a States 
Rights Democrat and opposed the Bank 
charter and a protective tariff. With most 
of the other prominent Virginia Democrats, 
he joined the Whig party in 1834. He 
served in the legislature from 1833 ^^ i^39» 
and was one of the "impracticable" Whigs, 
who supported John Tyler for senator in 
1839 against William C. Rives, whose nomi- 
nation was privately supported by Mr. 
Clay. Soon after he was elected to congress 
and became a warm friend of that statesman, 
serving from 1839 to 1843. ^^'hen John Tvier 
tccame president in 1841, Botts, although 
formerly an ardent States Rights man and 
Tyler's personal friend, changed his views, 
adopted national policies, and became his 
bitter enemy. In the succeeding election he 
v;as defeated by John W. Jones, his Demo- 
cratic opponent. In 1847 he was again 
elected to congress. In the national con- 
vention of 1848 he sustained Clay for the 
presidency, but when success was hopeless, 
went with the Virginia delegation to Gen. 
Taylor. In 1852, he resumed his practice in 
Richmond. On the disruption of the Whig 
party, he joined the Know Nothing party, 
and was mentioned as its presidential can- 
didate. At the outbreak of the war between 
the states he adhered to the Union, and en- 
deavored to prevent the secession of Vir- 
ginia, and failing, retired to his farm. He 
was imprisoned for a time as a disaffected 
person. In 1866 he wrote a volume. 'The 
Great Rebellion, its Secret History, Rise,. 
Progress and Disastrous Failure" (1866). 



Digitized by 



Google 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



lOI 



lii 1866 he was a delegate to the national 
convention of southern loyalists in Phila- 
delphia. In 1867, in company with Horace 
Greeley and others, he signed the bail bond 
or Jefferson Davis. He died at his home, 
January 7, 1869. 

Bouldin, James Wood, son of Maj. Wood 
Bouldin and Joanna Tyler, his wife, born in 
Charlotte county, Virginia, in 1792; studied 
law, was admitted to the bar and engaged in 
practice ; was elected as a Jackson Democrat 
to the twenty-third congress to succeed 
Thomas T. Bouldin, deceased, and was re- 
elected to two succeeding terms; he died 
at "Forest Hill/* Charlotte county. March 
30. 1854. He was first cousin of John Tyler, 
president of the United States (1841-45). 

Bouldin, Thomas Tyler, son of Wood 
Bouldin and Joanna Tyler, his wife, born in 
Virginia, in 1772. studied law and engaged 
ii. practice: served as judge of the general 
court ; he was elected as a Democrat to the 
twenty-first, twenty-second and twenty- 
third congresses, serving trom March 4, 

1S29. until February 11, 1834, when he died 
while delivering before the house a eulogy 
upon his predecessor, John Randolph, of 
Roanoke. He uttered the words, "But I 
cannot tell the reasons why his death was 
not announced, without telling what I told 

a friend I should say, in case ," and he 

fell to the floor dead. He was succeeded in 
congress by his brother James Wood Boul- 
din (q. v.). His son, Wood Bouldin, was 
judge of the state supreme court. 

Boteler, Alexander fq. v.). 

Breckenridge, James, son of Robert Breck- 
enridge and Letitia. daughter of John Pres- 
ton, and grandson of Alexander Brecken- 



ridgc, who emigrated from Ireland, born 
near Fincastle, Augusta county, Virginia, 
March 7, 1763; took part in the revolution- 
ary war; served in Colonel Preston's rifle 
regiment under Gen. Greene; was graduated 
from William and Mary College in 1785; 
studied law, was admitted to the bar, and 
practiced in Fincastle ; member of the state 
house of delegates for several years, and 
took a special interest in the construction 
cf the Chesapeake & Ohio canal, and in the 
establishment of the University of Virginia; 
was a brigadier-general in the war of 1812; 
elected to the eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth 
'iud fourteenth congresses, and served from 
March 4, 1809, to March 3, 1817; died at 
Grove Hill. Botetourt county, Virginia, 
May 13, 1833 He was a brother of John 
Breckenridge, who introduced the resolu- 
tions in the Kentucky legislature, drawn by 
Mr. Jefterson, and directed against the Alien 
and Sedition laws. 

Brown, John, (q. v.). 

Brown, William Guy, born at Kingwood, 
Prcsion county, Virginia (now West Vir- 
ginia), September 25, 1800; attended the 
public schools ; studied law. and commenced 
practice in 1823 at Kingwood: member of 
the house of delegates in 1832 and again in 
1840-43 ; elected as a Democrat to the twen* 
ty-ninth and thirtieth congresses (March 4, 
1845-March 3, 1849) I member of the state 
constitutional convention of 1850: delegate 
to the Democratic National Conventions of 
i860 at Charleston and Baltimore; member 
of the Virginia state convention of 1861 ; 
again elected to the thirty-seventh congress 
from Virginia as a Unionist (March 4, 1861- 
March 3, 1863), and re-elected to the thirty- 
eighth congress from West Virginia; took 



Digitized by 



Google 



102 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



his seal December 7. 1863. and served until 
March 3. 1S65: died at Kingwood, West 
\irginia. April 19. 1S84. 

Burwell, William A., son of Thacker Bur- 
well and Mary Armistcad, his wife, daughter 
ot Gill Armistead, born in Mecklenburg 
county. \'irginia. about 1780; was graduated 
from William and Mary College; moved to 
Franklin county in 1802; elected a member 
of the state house of delegates ; private sec- 
retary to President Jefferson; elected as a 
kepublican to the ninth congress, to fill va- 
cancy caused by the resignation of Christo- 
pher Clark ; re-elected to the tenth, eleventh, 
twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth and 
sixteenth congresses, and served from De- 
cember I, 1S06. until his death in Wash- 
ington, D. C.. February 16. 1821. He mar- 
ried Letitia McCrery. of Baltimore, and was 
father of William M. Burwell. of New Or- 
leans. 

Cabell, Samuel Jordan, born in Amherst 
county, X'irginia. December 15, 1756, son of 
Col. William Cabell, and descended from Dr. 
William Cabell, who settled in Virginia in 
1723 and purchased large estates which have 
remained in the family. He early received 
a classical education and entered William 
and Mary College in 1773, but his studies 
v.ere interrupted by the outbreak of hostili- 
ties. He left college and raised the first 
armed corps in Virginia, with which he 
achieved distinction in the northern cam- 
paign*?, especially in the battle of Saratoga, 
for which he was promoted to major; he 
v.as subsequently made lieutenant-colonel, 
and served under General Greene until the 
fall of Charleston, where he was captured 
und remained on parole until the end of the 
war. He was for several terms a member 



of the state house of delegates. In 1788 he 
was a delegate, with his father, to the con- 
stitutional convention, where both voted 
against the ratification of the national con- 
stitution. In 1785 he was elected to con- 
gress, and by re-elections served until 1S03. 
lie died in Xelson county. Virginia. August 
4. 1818. 

Caperton, Hugh, born in \'irginia in 1780; 
member of the \*irginia state house of dele- 
gates for several years ; elected as a Feder- 
alist to the thirteenth congress (March 4, 
1813-March 3, 1815) ; died in Monroe county, 
\'irginia, February 9, 1847. He was father 
of Hon. Allen T. Caperton. member of the 
Confederate States Congress. 

Carlile, John Snyder, born in Winchester. 
\'irginia. December Kk 181 7: studied law 
and began practice in 1842. in lieverly. \'ir- 
ginia : member of state senate, 1847-51 : dele- 
gate to state constitutional convention of 
1850: elected as a Unionist to the thirty- 
fourth congress (March 4, 1855-March 3. 
1857) ; elected to the thirty-seventh congress 
and served from March 4. 1861, until July 
9. 1861. when he resigned, having been 
elected to the United States senate, to fill 
vacancy occasioned by the resignation of 
Robert M. T. Hunter, and served until 
March 3, 1865 ; died in Clarksburg, West 
Virginia. October 24, 1878. 

Gary, George B., born near Petersburg, 
Virginia, in 181 1 ; elected as a Democrat to 
the twenty-seventh congress (March 4, 1841- 
March 3, 1843) » died at Bethlehem, Vir- 
ginia. March 3, 1850. 

Caskie, John Samuels, born in Richmond, 
Virginia, November 8. 1821 ; was graduated 
from the University of Virginia ; studied law 



Digitized by 



Google 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



103 



and practiced in Richmond; prosecuting at- 
torney ; judg<i of the Richmond and Henrico 
circuit ; elected as a Democrat to the thirty- 
second, thirty-third, thirty-fourth and thirty- 
fifth congresses (March 4, 185 1 -March 3, 
1^59) ; resumed the practice of law; died in 
Richmond, \'irginia, December 16, 1869. 

Chapman, Augustus A., born in Virginia 
in 1806; studied law, was admitted to the 
bar. and practiced in Union, Monroe county, 
(West) \'irginia; elected as a Van Buren 
Democrat to the twenty-eighth and twenty- 
ninth congresses (March 4. 1843-March 3, 
1847) • died in Hinton, West Virginia, in 
June, 1876. 

Chilton, fcamuel, son of Col. Charles Chil- 
ton, of "Hereford," Prince William county, 
and Elizabeth Blackwell. his wife, born in 
Warrenton, Virginia. September 7, 1804; 
studied law and practiced with great success 
at Warrenton : member of the state house 
of delegates for several terms : elected as a 
Whig to the twenty-eighth congress (March 
4 1835-March 3. 1837) : was a delegate to 
the state constitutional convention of 1850- 
51 : died in Warrenton, \'irginia, January 
14. 1867. He married Isabella Roberts 
Prooke, daughter of William Brooke, of 
'Talmouth." 

Chinn, Joseph W., born in Richmond 
county, Virginia; member of the state sen- 
ate, 1829-30; elected as a Democrat to the 
twenty-second and twenty-third congresses 
(March 4. 1S31 -March 3. 1835) : died in Rich- 
mond. Virginia, December 8. 1840. He was 
a son of Joseph Chinn and Elizabeth, daugh- 
ter of Leroy and Judith (Ball) Griffin, his 
wife. He married Mary Ann, daughter 
of Charles Smith, of Morattico Hall, and 



Elizabeth Teackle, his wife, of Xorthamp- 
ton county, and left issue. 

Claiborne, John, son of Thomas Clai- 
borne (q. v.). of Brunswick county, born in 
Brunswick county, Virginia, in 1777; pur- 
sued academic studies and was graduated 
from the medical department of the Univer- 
sity of Pennsylvania in 1798, and practiced; 
elected to the ninth and tenth congresses, 
and served from March 4, 1805, until his 
death in Brunswick county, Virginia, Octo- 
ber 9. i8c8. He had issue: Thomas Clai- 
borne, member of congress from Tennessee, 
Dr. Jarratt M. Claiborne, and Philip, who 
was a member of the house of delegates, 
1815-16. 

Claiborne, Nathaniel Herbert, son of Wil- 
liam Claiborne, of King William county, 
and Mary Leigh, his wife, daughter of Fer- 
dinand Leigh, was born in Sussex county, 
Virginia. November 14, 1777. He received a 
classical education, and served many years 
in the state house of delegates, where he 
won the reputation of being a reformer of 
various abuses of the government. He was 
also a member of the executive council, and 
was a member of congress from 1825 to 
1837. He was the author of **Notes on the 
War in the South'* (1819). He died at Rocky 
Mount. Franklin county, Virginia, August 
15, 1859. He had a brother, William Charles 
Cole Claiborne, first state governor of Louis- 
iana. 

Claiborne, Thomas, born in Brunswick 
county. \'irginia, in 1749; son of Col. Au- 
gustine Claiborne, of "Windsor.*' Sussex 
county, and Mary Herbert, his wife, daugh- 
ter of Capt. Buller Herbert; was sheriff of 
P.runswick county, 1789-1792; colonel com- 



Digitized by 



Google 



104 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



tiianding the Brunswick county militia in 
1789; member of the Virginia house of dele- 
gates, 1784-1786: elected to the third, fourth, 
and fifth congresses (March 4. 1793-March 
3. 1 799 1 : elected to the seventh and eighth 
congresses (March 4, 1801-March 3. 1805); 
died in Urunswick county, Virginia, in 1812. 

Clark, Christopher, born in Albemarle 
county. X'irginia. in 1767; studied law and 
practiced : member of the state house of 
delegates for several terms; elected as a 
JeflFersonian Democrat to the eighth con- 
gress, to fill a vacancy caused by the death 
of John Trigg, re-elected to the ninth con- 
gress and served from November 5. 1804. 
tc July I, 180^). when he resigned : died near 
New I^ndon. \'irginia. November 21, 1828. 
He was a son of Robert Clark and Susan 
Henderson, his wife, daughter of John Hen- 
derson. (See "Cabells and their Kin,'' p. 
290). 

Clay, Matthew, born in Halifax county, 
Virginia. March 25. 1754; served in the revo- 
lutionary war from 1776 to 1783 as a lieu- 
tenant and quartermaster; elected as a 
Democratic Republican to the fifth, sixth, 
seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh and 
twelfth congresses (March 4, 1795-March 3, 
1813) ; died in Halifax county, Virginia, 
1815. 

Clemens, Sherrard, born in Wheeling. 
\'irginia. April 28. 1820; attended Wash- 
ington College and the Cnited States Mili- 
tary Academy; studied law and entered 
upon practice in Wheeling. He was elected 
a.« a Democrat to the thirty-second con- 
gress, to fill vacancy occasioned by the resig- 
nation of George W'. Thompson, and served 
from December 6, 1852, to March 4, 1853; 
was presidential elector on the Buchanan 



arnl Breckinridge ticket in 1856; elected to 
the thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth congresses 
(March 4. 1857-March 3, 1861). He served 
in the Confederate army, and at the close 
of the war resumed the practice of law in 
Wheeling, West \'irginia. Later he moved 
to St. Louis, Missouri, where he continued 
the practice of his profession until his death, 
June 30, 1881. 

Clopton, John, born in St. Peter's parish. 
New Kent county, \'irginia, February 7, 
1756, son of William Clopton and Elizabeth 
Dorrall Ford, sister of Rev. Reuben Ford; 
\va.> graduated from the University of Penn- 
sylvania in 1773: wa.^ captain of a company 
t»f militia in the revolutionary war from the 
date of his graduation from the university 
until the close of the war; refused promo- 
tions to remain with his company that was 
mainly composed of relatives and that was 
fi-rnished its supplies and clothing by his 
father; served several terms'in the Virginia 
house of delegates between 1785 and 1795; 
elected as Democratic Republican to the 
fourth and firth congresses (March 4, 1795- 
March 3. 1799) ; and to the seventh, eighth, 
ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, 
and fourteenth congresses; served from 
March 4, 1801. until his death, in St. Peter's 
parish. New Kent county, Virginia. Sep- 
tember II, 1816. He was succeeded in con- 
gress by John Tyler. He married Sarah 
Bacon, daughter of Edmund Bacon, and left 
issue. 

Coke, Richard, born in Williamsburg, Vir- 
ginia, about 1804, son of John Coke and Re- 
becca Lawson. widow of Col. James 
Shields, completed preparatory studies; was 
graduated from William and Mary College; 
studied law; was admitted to the bar, and 



Digitized by 



Google 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



105 



commenced practice in Gloucester county, 
\'irginia: elected as a States rights Demo- 
crat to the twenty-first and twenty-second 
congresses (March 4. 1829-March 3, 1833); 
died on his estate, "Abingdon,*' in Glouces- 
ter county, \'irginia» March 30, 185 1. He 
was descended from John Coke, who emi- 
grated to X'irgfinia in 1724, a great-grandson 
of Sir Francis Coke, of England. 

Coles, Isaac, born in Virginia; pursued 
preparatory studies ; elected to the first con- 
gress (March 4. 1789-March 3, 1791); re- 
elected to the third and fourth congresses 
(March 4, 1793-March 3, 1797). He was a 
son of John Coles, a prominent merchant of 
Henrico county, who came from Enniscor- 
thy. Ireland. His will, dated September 13, 
18 10. was proved in Pittsylvania county. 
August 17, 1813. 

Coles, Walter, born in Pittsylvania 
county, Virginia, December 8, 1790: son of 
Col. Isaac Coles, of the same county ; com- 
pleted a preparatory course: devoted him- 
self to agriculture; justice of the peace for 
many years; served in the United States 
army during the war of 181 2 as a captain 
of riflemen on the northern frontier ; member 
of the state house of delegates in 1833 *^"d 
1834: elected as a Democrat to the twenty- 
fourth, tweniy-fifth, twenty-sixth, twenty- 
seventh and twenty-eighth congresses 
I March 4. 1835-March 3, 1845) « ^'5ed near 
Robertsons Store. Virginia, November 9, 
1857. 

Colston, Edward, born at Winchester, 
Virginia. December 25, 1786. son of Travers 
Colston, of Richmond county, and a de- 
scendant of William Colston, of Bristol, 
England, a great merchant and cavalier in 



the time of Charles I., was born near Win- 
chester, V'irjL^inia. December 2-., 1786; wa> 
{iiaduatcd from Princeton College in i8o(.i; 
studied lav.-; served in the war of 1812; was 
a member of the fifteenth congress (March 
4, 1817-March 4, 1819) ; was a Federalist in 
politics, and in 1821 was elected to the house 
of delegates, and served till 1834. Under the 
new reorganization of parties he became a 
Whig. He married (first) Jane Marshall, 
daughter of Charles Marshall, and (second) 
Sarah Jane Urockenbrough : died in Berke- 
ley county. Virginia, April 2^, 1852. He 
was a brother-in-law of Willoughby New- 
ton and Charles James Faulkner. 

Craig, Robert, born near Christiansburg, 
Montgomery county, Virginia, in 1792; at- 
tended public schools and was graduated 
from Lewisburg Academy, Greenbriar 
(.ounty: elected as a Democrat to the twen- 
ty-first and twenty-second congresses 
(March 4. 1829-March 3, 1833) ; defeated for 
the twexity-third congress; re-elected to the 
twenty-fourth, twenty-fifth, and twenty- 
sixth congresses f March 4. 1835-March 3, 
1841): died at "Green Hill.'* near Salem, 
Roanoke county, \'irginia. in 1852. 

Crump, George William, born in Pow- 
hatan county. Virginia ; was graduated from 
Princeton College; studied medicine and 
practiced ; member of the state house of dele- 
gates; elected as a States Rights Democrat 
to the nineteenth congress, to fill the va- 
cancy caused by the resignation of John 
Randolph, and served from February 6, 1826. 
to March 3. 1827; defeated for re-election 
to the twentieth congress; appointed by 
President Jackson chief clerk of the pension 
bureau in 1832, which positon he held until 
his death in Washington. D. C, in 1850. 



Digitized by 



Google 



io6 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Davenport, Thomas, born in Cumberland 
county, \'irginia : completed preparatory 
studies: studied law; admitted to the bar, 
and practiced in Meadsville, Virginia ; 
elected as a Federalist to the nineteenth, 
twentieth, twenty-rirst, twenty-second and 
twenty-third congresses (March 4, 1825- 
March 3. iJ^iS) ; defeated for the twenty- 
f<.urth congress: died near Meadsville, Vir- 
ginia, •Xovem])er 18. 1838. 

Dawson, John, born in \'irginia in 1762. 
He was graduated from Harvard College in 
1782. and after pursuing a law course was 
admitted to the bar, but devoted himself 
chiefly to political affairs. In 1793 he was 
a presidential elector, voting for Washing- 
tc-n. He served in the state legislature and 
in the executive coimcil. and was a member 
of the constitutional convention. He jvas 
decked to congress in 1797. and by success- 
ive Ye-elections served uniil 1814. Presi- 
dent Adams made him bearer of dispatches 
to France in 1801. In the war of 1812 he 
rendered important services as aide to Gen- 
eral Jackson. He died in Washington City, 
March 30, 1814. while holding his seat in 
congress. He was a son of Rev. Musgrave 
Dawson, and a nephew of William and 
Thomas Dawson, presidents of William and 
Mary College. From his love of dress and 
fine manners he was known among his 
friends as **Beau Dawson." 

Dc Jarnette, Daniel Colemaiu born near 
r.owling Green. Virginia, September 27, 
1S22: pursued classical studies; served sev- 
eral years in the state house of delegates; 
elected as an anti-administration Democrat 
to the thirty-sixth congress ( March 4. 1859- 
March 3. 1861) ; re-elected to the thirty-sev- 
enth congress, but did not serve ; representa- 



tive from Virginia to the first and second 
Confederate Congresses, 1862-1865: died at 
the White Sulphur Springs. Virginia. Au- 
gust 18, 1 881. 

Doddridge, Fhilip, born in Wellsburg, 
iJedford county, X'irginia, May 17, 1773. He 
attended school in his native place, devot- 
ing himself principally to the study of Latin. 
.-\i*ter leaving school he made a trip down 
the Mississippi river on a flatboat. After 
his return he studied law. was admitted to 
the bar and practiced in Wellsburg, recog- 
nized as the best lawyer in western \'ir- 
ginia. He was a member of the house of 
delegates. i8i5-i^». and 1822-23. He was a 
hading member of the constitutional con- 
vention of 1829-30. He was elected tu con- 
gress in 1829 and re-elected, continuing a 
member until his death, which occurred 
when he was serving on a committee to 
codify the laws relating to the District of 
Columbia. He possessed wonderful powers 
of condensation : the proper words seemed to 
fall -into their proper places, and Daniel 
Webster said of him, "Phih'p Doddridge was 
the only man I really feared in debate." He 
died in Washington City. November 19, 
1832, and was buried in the Congressional 
Cemetery. 

Draper, Joseph, born in Virginia : elected 
to the twenty-first congress, to fill the va- 
cancy caused by the death of Alexander 
Smyth ; re-elected to the twenty-second con- 
gress and served from December 6. 1830, to 
March 2, 1833. He resided in Wythe county, 
V^irginia. 

Dromgoole, George Coke, born in Law- 
lenceville, Brunswick county, Virginia, 
j.bout 1705; completed preparatory studies: 
studied law and was admitted to the bar; 



Digitized by 



Google 



HOUSE OK REPRESENTATIVES 



:o7 



served several years as a member of the 
siatc house oi delegates and senate; elected 
at a Democrat to the twenty-fourth, twenty- 
fifth aiul twenty-sixth congresses (March 4, 
1835-March 3. 1S41) ; declined being a can- 
didate fur re-election; elected to the twenty- 
eighth and twenty-ninth congresses ( Alarch 
4. 1843-March 3, 1847) ; died April 27, 1.S47. 

Edmundson, Henry Alonzo, born in 
Dlacksburg, Montgomery county, Virginia, 
June 8. 1814; completed preparatory stud- 
ies;, studied law and was admitted to the 
bar and began practice in Salem ; elected to 
the thirty-first, thirty-second, thirty-third, 
thirty-fourth, thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth 
congresses (March 4, 1849-March 3, 1861); 
died in his home at Falling Waters, Mont- 
gomery county, Virginia, December 16, 
1890. 

Eggleston, Joseph, born in Amelia county, 
X'irginia. November 24. 175-1. He was gradu- 
ated from William and Mary College in 
1776. and immediately afterward entered the 
revolutionary army and became one of its 
most brilliant cavalry officers. He was soon 
promoted to major, under Col. Henry Lee, 
c-nd commanded the rear-guard of that offi- 
cer's famous legion in the Southern cam- 
I'aign. He especially distinguished himself 
in the desperate battle of Guilford Court 
House in March. 1781. and in the siege of 
Augusta in the following June. In the bril- 
liant battle of Eutaw Springs, in September 
of the same year, his bold attack upon the 
British advance won the first success in the 
?ction. After the war he was a member of 
the assembly for several years. He was 
elected to congress in 1798 to fill vacancy 
caused by the resignation of William B. 
Giles, and v/as re-elected to the sixth con- 



gress, extending his service to March 3, 
1801, when he became a justice of the peace, 
and retained that office until his death, in 
.Amelia county, February 13, 181 1. 

Eppes, John W. (q. v.). 

Estill, Benjamin, native of Washington 
county, born March 13, 1780; was admitted 
to the bar, and began practice in Abingdon ; 
elected to the nineteenth congress (March 4, 
1825-March 3, 1S27) ; died July 14, 1853. 

Evans, Thomas, a native of Accomac 
county, Virginia, was a student of William 
and Mary College, where in 1773 he won one 
of the Botetourt medals for classical learn- 
ing. He married Mildred Moody, of Wil- 
liamsburg, widow of Josiah Johnson, pro- 
fessor of humanitv in the college. He re- 
sided at "Sunderland Hall,"' Accfimac 
county, and was member of the fifth and 
s:xth congresses (March 4, 1797-March 4, 
iSoi). His son, Thomas Moody Evans, 
married Eliza Mary White, daughter of Gen. 
Anihv.nv Walton White, aide-de-camp to 
(leorgo Washington. 

Faulkner, Charles James, born in Mar- 
tinsburg. \'irginia, July 6. 1806; was gradu- 
ated from Georgetown (D. C.) University 
in 1S22: attended Chancellor Tucker's law 
lectures in Winchester: was admitted to the 
bar in 1829. and entered upon practice. He 
was a member of the state house of dele- 
gates in 1832-33 ; was a commissioner on the 
disputed Virginia-Maryland boundary: was 
a state senator. 1841-44, but resigned: was 
elected to the revising legislature in 1848; 
member of state constitutional convention, 
1850. He was elected to the thirty-second 
congress. March 4. 1851. and to the two suc- 



Digitized by 



Google 



io8 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



ceeding congresses. In 1859 he was appointed 
minister to France by President Buchanan. 
He returned at the outbreak of the civil war, 
in 1861. and was taken and held as a pris- 
oner of war, but in December of the same 
year was exchanged for Congressman Ely, 
of New York. During the war he was a 
member of the staf? of Gen. "Stonewair' 
Jackson. After the war he was engaged in 
various railroad enterprises. He was a 
member of the West Virginia constitutional 
convention in 1872, and was elected from 
that state, as a Democrat, to the forty- 
fourth congress (March 4, 1875-March 3, 
1877 1. He died in Boydville. West Virginia. 
November i, 1884. 

Flournoy, Thomas Stanhope, born in 
iVince Edward county, Virginia. December 
15. 181 1 ; attended the public schools: stud- 
ied law, was admitted to the bar. and began 
practice in Halifax, Virginia; elected as a 
Whig to the thirtieth congress (March 4, 
1847-March 3, 1849) ; defeated for the thir- 
ty-first congress; entered the Confederate 
army and was wounded in battle in Vir- 
ginia in June, 1864; died March 13, 1883. 

Floyd, John (q. v.). 

Fulton, Andrew S., born in Augusta coun- 
ty, September, 1800; elected as a W^hig to 
congress (March 4, 1847-March 3, 1849) J 
circuit judge till death, November, 1884. 

Fulton, John H., born in Augusta county ; 
served in legislature, 1823-32; elected as a 
Whig to twenty-third congress (March 4, 
1833-March 3, 1835) ; d^^d in Abingdon, 
Virginia, January 28, 1836. 

Garland, David S., was born in 1769 and 
resided in Amherst county, Virginia; pur- 
sued an academic course; studied law; 



served several terms in the Virginia legis- 
lature and was elected as a Democratic 
Republican to the United States House of 
Representatives to fill a vacancy caused by 
ihe resignation of Wilson Cary Nicholas, 
and served from January 17, 1810, to March 
3, 181 1. He died in 1841, aged seventy-two. 
He was a son of William Garland (born 
1746; died in Staunton in 1777), and Anne 
Shepherd, daughter of Christopher Shep- 
herd, and grandson of James Garland, of 
Albemarle county. He married, in 1795, 
Jane Henry Meredith, a daughter ot Col. 
Samuel Meredith and his second wife, Jane 
Henry, a sister of Patrick Henry, the orator. 

Garland, James, born in Nelson county, 
X'irginia, June 6, 1791 : pursued preparatory 
studies ; studied law. was admitted to the 
bar and began practice in Lovingston, Vir- 
ginia; served in the house of delegates in 
1829: elected as a Democrat to the twenty- 
fourth, twenty-fifth, and twenty-sixth con- 
gresses (March 4, 1835-March 3, 1841); 
moved to Lynchburg, Virginia, and was 
judge of the corporation court of that city 
for nineteen years ; again elected to the state 
legislature in 1876; died in Lynchburg, Vir- 
ginia, August 8, 1885. He was a son of 
Hudson M. Garland, Sr., who was a lawyer, 
member of the house of delegates, 1805-1806, 
and captain in the war of 181 2 ; and a grand- 
son of James Garland, Jr., of Albemarle 
county. He was a brother of Gen. John 
Garland, of the U. S. A., whose daughter 
was the wife of General Longstreet. 

Gametty James Mercer, born at "Elm- 
wood," Essex county, Virginia, June 8, 
1770; son of Muscoe Garnett and Grace Fen- 
ton Mercer, daughter of John Mercer; pur- 
sued an academic course; served several 



Digitized by 



Google 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



109 



terms in the house of delegates; elected to 
the ninth and tenth congresses (March 4, 
1805-March 3, 1809) ; delegate to the state 
constitutional convention in 1829; president 
of the Fredericksburg Agricultural Society 
for twenty years; member of the grand jury 
that indicted Aaron Burr m 1807; died at 
"Elnuvood," Virginia, April 23, 1843. 

Garnett» Muscoe Russell Hunter, born at 
**Elm\vood," Essex county, Virginia, July 
25, 1821 ; son of James Mercer Garnett, Jr., 
and Maria Hunter, his wife; pursued clas- 
sical studies and was graduated from the 
University of Virginia, literary department, 
1839. law department, 1841 ; was admitted 
to the bar in 1841, and commenced practice 
ai Lloyd's, \'irginia; delegate to the State 
Constitutional Convention in 1850; member 
of the house of delegates, 1853-1856; elected 
as a Democrat to the thirty-fourth congress, 
to fill vacancy caused by death of Thomas 
ji. Bayley; re-elected to the thirty-fifth and 
thirty-sixth congresses and served from De- 
cember I, 1856. to Mirch 3, 1861 : delegate 
to the Democratic National Convention in 
Baltimore in 1852 and in Cincinnati in 1856; 
member from Virginia to the first Confed- 
erate Congress: died at "Elm wood/' Vir- 
ginia, February 14, 1864. He was a grand- 
son of James Mercer Garnett. Sr., member 
of United States Congress (1805-1809) (q. 
\.). and a great-grandson of James Garnett 
(q. v. Vol I., 241). 

Garnett, Robert Selden, born in Essex 
county, Virginia. April 26. 1789; pursued an 
academic course : studied law. was admitted 
to the bar, and began practice at Lloyd's, 
Virginia: member of the state legislature; 
elected as a Democratic Republican to the 
fifteenth, sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth 



and nineteenth congresses (March 4, 1817- 
Mcjrch_3^ 1827X1 died in Essex county, Vir- 
ginia. August 15* 1840. 

Gholson, Japies Herbert, born at Gholson- 
ville, Virginia, in 1798; pursued an academic 
course, and was graduated from Princeton 
(College in 1820; studied law, was admitted 
to the bar and began practice at Percivals, 
Virginia; elected as a Democrat to the 
twenty-third congress (March 4, 1833- 
March 3, 1835) ; judge of the circuit court for 
the Brunswick circuit for many years ; died 
in Brunswick county, Virginia, July 2, 
1848. 

Gholson, Thomas, Jr., born in Brunswick, 
Virginia ; pursued an academic course ; stud- 
ied law, was admitted to the bar, and be- 
gan practice in Brunswick county, Virginia ; 
elected as a Democratic Republican to the 
tenth congress, to fill vacancy caused by 
the death of John Claiborne; reelected to 
the eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth and four- 
teenth congresses, and served from Novem- 
ber 7, 1808. until his death in Brunswick 
county, \'irginia, July 4, 1816. 

Giles, William B. (q. v.). 

Goggin, William L., born in Bedford coun- 
ty, Virginia. May 31, 1807; pursued an aca- 
demic course: studied law; admitted to the 
bar in 1828: began practice in Winchester, 
Virginia: member of house of delegates in 
1836; elected as a Whig to the twenty-sixth 
and twenty-seventh congresses (March 4- 
1839-March 3, 1843) ' elected to the twenty- 
eighth congress to fill vacancy caused by 
the resignation of Thomas W. Gilmer, and 
served from May 10. 1844. to March 4. 1845 » 
reelected to the thirtieth congress (March 
4. 1847-March 3. 1849) : defeated as the 



Digitized by 



Google 



no 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Whig candidate lor governor in i860; died 
ii» Richmond, \'irginia, January 5, 1870. 

Goodc, Samuel, born at "\\ hitby," Ches- 
terlicld county. \*irginia. March 21, 1756; 
completed preparatory studies; was a lieu- 
tenant in the Chesterfield troop of horse 
during the revolution, and later a colonel of 
militia: member of the \'irginia house of 
burgesses. 1779-17S3: elected to the sixth 
congress (March 4, 1799-March 3. 1801); 
died in Mecklenburg county. X'irginia. No- 
vember 14. 1822. He was a son of Col. 
Robert Goode and Sally Bland, his wife, 
daughier of Richard T.land. the celebrated 
statesman of the revolution. 

Goode, WUliam Osborne, l;orn in Meck- 
lenburg county. X'irginia. September 16. 
1798. .<on of John C. (loode. of "Ingle wood,"* 
^lecklenburg county, and Lucy Claiborne, 
his wife: was graduated from William and 
Mary College in 1S19; studied law, and in 
1 82 1 was admitted to the bar and began 
practice in Uoydion : served several years 
in the ht»use of delegates : elected as a Demo- 
crat to the twenty-seventh congress (March 
4, iS4i-March 3. 1843) *» ^^^""^ served several 
terms as member of the house of delegates, 
and as speaker three terms; a delegate to 
the state constitutional convention in 1850; 
elected to the thirty-third, thirty-fourth, 
tliirty-fifth and thirty-sixth congresses and 
served from March 4. 1853. ""^'^ ^^^^ death 
in Doydton. X'irginia. July 3, 1859. 

Goodwin, Fetcrson, was born about 1745* 
in Dinwiddie county : completed preparatory 
studies; studied law and was admitted to 
the bar: elected to the eighth, ninth, tenth, 
eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth and 
fifteenth congresses, and served from March 



4v 1803, until his death, February 21, 1818. 
He was a son of Joseph Goodwin, of Din- 
widdie county. 

Gordon, William Fitzhugh, born in Ger- 
manna, Orange county, X'irginia. January 
13. 1787, grandson on the paternal side of 
John Gordon, of Lancaster county, Vir- 
ginia, who about 1727 came to America 
from Newry, county Down. Ireland, and his 
grandmother on the maternal side was a 
hrst cousin of Benjamin Harrison, signer of 
the Declaration of Independence, governor 
of X'irginia. and father of President XX'illiam 
Henry Harrison: Gen. Gordon removed in 
early life from Orange to Albemarle county, 
X'irginia: attended country schools: stud- 
ied law. was admitted to the bar. and prac- 
ticed in Charlottesville. X'irginia: was a 
member of the state general assembly from 
tb.at district at the time of the establishment 
of' the University of X'irginia, under the 
auspices of Mr. Jefferson, whom he ma- 
terially assisted in the legislative develop- 
ment of his plans; member of the state 
house of delegates. 1819-1831 : member of 
congress from X'irginia. 1829-1835. and sig- 
nalized his term of service by introducing, 
in 1834, the bill for the establishment of the 
independent treasury or sub-treasury sys- 
tem of the United States, which was passed 
without much opposition and has since re- 
mained among the Federal statutes prac- 
tically unchanged ; for many years a promi- 
nent figure in the Virginia militia, and at 
the time of his death held the commission 
of major-general. Crosby says of him : **In 
early life Gen. Gordon attained a high posi- 
tion in the state, and although he had 
not participated in the strife of politics for 
many years past, yet to the day of his death 
he was esteemed among the worthiest of the 



Digitized by 



Google 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



in 



Democratic leaders: he was a rigid disciple 
of the states' rights school, and an inflexible 
champion of the rights of the South ; a fervid 
oiatory was his most characteristic talent, 
and incorruptible integrity his distinguish- 
ing virtue : in the relations of private life he 
commanded universal respect, .and among 
his more intimate friends he was regarded 
with a warm ar.d constant affection." Gen. 
Cordon married Elizabeth Lindsay, of 
Albemarle county, Virginia, daughter of 
Col. Reuben Lindsay, who advanced £i.ooo 
to the cause of American independence, 
and then, entering the army, rendered im- 
portant service throughout the revolution 
ar.'d received the particular thanks of Gen. 
Washington after the battle of Yorktown : 
he further showed his devoted patriotism 
by refusing a repayment of his original 
loan and never claiming the land bounty 
awarded him for his services. Gtn. Gor- 
don died at his home uear Gordonsville. 
Albemarle county. I'irginia. .August 2S. 1858. 

Gray, Edwin, i)orn^n Southampton coun- 
t\. \'irginia. in ijCx). son of Col. Joseph 
Gray, burgess iq. v., vol. i. j). 247) ; attended 
the pui)lic schools: served in the house 
of burgesses, ijuj-ijj^: member of the 
house of delegates; elected to the state 
senate : member of the state constitutional 
conventions of 1774. 1773 and 1776: elected 
to the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, 
eleventh and twelfth congresses (March 
4 1799-March 3. 1^131. C'X'irginia Maga- 
zine of History and P.iography." iii. 403 >. 

Gray, John C, born in Southampton coun- 
t>. Virginia: pursued an academic course: 
elected to the sixteenth congress to till 
vacancy caused by the resignation of James 



Johnson, and served from November iS. 
1820, to March 3, 1821. 

GrifEn, Samuel, a descendant of Thomas 
Grifiin. who received grants of land in 1051, 
and brother of Judge Cyrus Griffin (q. v.), 
was born in Richmond county, \*irginia; 
studied and practiced law ; served in the 
revolution as colonel, deputy adjutant gen- 
eral Flying Camp, July 19, 1776; wounded 
at Harkm Heights. October 12, 1776; in 
1781 a member of the state board of war; 
of the house of delegates from Williams- 
burg. 17S7 and 17S8: member of co::gress. 
17S9-1795. He died November 3. 1810. He 
had only one daughter. Elizabeth Corbin. 
who married (first) Samuel Gatlifte. and 
(secor.d) Prof. Ferdinand Stewart Camp- 
bell, of William and Mary College. 

Griffin, Thomas, was born in 1773, son of 
Dr. Corbin Griffin, of Yorktown, X'irginia, 
who was a member of the York county com- 
mittee of safety ( 1775-I77^>). and surgeon 
in the X'irginia line during the revolution: 
member of the house oi delegates, 1793-98- 
99. 1800. 1803-04-05. 1819 20. 1S21. 1822. 
iS.-r»-27. 1830: member of congress in the 
eighth compress (March 4. 1803-March 4, 
1S03) : second in command in the light near 
Hampton during the war of 1812. He mar- 
ried his cousin Mary, daughter of Judge 
Cyrus Griffin. He died October 7, 1S37. 

Hancock, George, born in I-'incastle. Hote- 
t(»urt county. X'irginia. June 13. 1754: pur- 
sued classical studies: served in the revolu- 
tionary war as colonel of infantry. X'irginia 
line, and was taken prisoner at the siege of 
Savannah. Georgia; was paroled and re- 
turned to X'irginia : studied law. was ad- 
mitted to the bar, and practiced in Fincastle; 



Digitized by 



Google 



Ji: 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



elected as a Democratic Republican to the 
third and fourth congresses (March 4, 1793- 
March 3, 1797); died at Fotheringay, Vir- 
ginia, July 18, 1820. 

Harris, John Thomas, born in Albemarle 
county, Virginia, May 8, 1823, son of Na- 
than and Ann (Anderson) Harris; his fam- 
ily, who were among the earliest emigrants 
from England to the Virginia colony, were 
extensive planters and conspicuous in local 
affairs ; the son received an academic educa- 
tion, and while engaged in the study of law 
taught school in Augusta county, Virginia; 
then attended Judge Thompson's Law 
School at Staunton, and upon graduation 
established himself at Harrisonburg, Rock- 
ingham county, Virginia, for the practice of 
his profession ; took an active part in poli- 
tics, and in 1852 was elected common- 
wealth's attorney, to which office he was 
reelected in 1856, and served until 1859; 
presidential elector on the Buchanan ticket 
in 1856; elected as a Democrat to the thirty- 
sixth congress (March 4, 1859-March 3, 
1861), where he was conspicuous as an 
ardent advocate for the Union; before the 
secession of Virginia, however, he cast his 
lot with the fortunes of his state, serving 
two terms in the Virginia house of delegates 
during the war, 1863-1865; judge of the 
twelfth judicial circuit, 1866-1869, and 
though while in this station he decided many 
novel legal questions growing out of the 
war, in only one instance was his opinion 
reversed by the court of appeals ; elected as 
a Democrat to the forty-second, forty- 
third, forty-fourth, forty-fifth and forty- 
sixth congresses (March 4, 1871-March 3, 
1881) ; declined a unanimous renomination ; 
during Democratic ascendancy in that body 
he served as chairman of the committees on 



election, on revision of the laws, and as 
second upon the judiciary; he ranked as one 
of the ablest parliamentarians in that body ; 
chairman of X'irginia Democratic conven- 
tion in 1884; delegate to several Democratic 
national conventions ; presidential elector on 
the Cleveland ticket in 1888; commissioner 
tc the World's Fair at Chicago; after his 
retirement from politics he actively and suc- 
cessfully engaged in the practice of his pro- 
fession; he married, in 1855, Virginia Mau- 
pin Miller, and they had seven children ; he 
died at Harrisonburg, Virginia, October 14, 
1899. 

Harris, William Alexander, born near 
Warrenton, Fauquier county, Virginia, Au- 
gust 24, 1805 : completed an academic course ; 
studied law, was admitted to the bar, and 
commenced practice in Luray; member of 
the house of delegates; presidential elector 
on the Van Buren and Johnson ticket in 
1840; elected as a Democrat to the twenty- 
seventh congress (March 4, 1841-March 3, 
1843) J editor of the '^Spectator" and the 
^'Constitution'* in Washington, D. C. ; charge 
d'affaires to the Argentine Republic, 1846- 
185 1 ; moved to Missouri and then back to 
Washington; editor of the '^Washington 
Union,'' and printer to the United States 
senate, 1857-1859; died in Pike county, Mis- 
souri, March 28, 1864. 

Harrison, Carter Bassett, son of Governor 
Benjamin Harrison, studied at William and 
Mary College ; lived in Prince George coun- 
ty; member of the house of delegates in 
1784. and of the third, fourth and fifth con- 
gresses (March 4, 1793-March 4, 1799) ; 
married Mary Howell Allen, daughter of 
Col. William Allen, of "Claremont," Surry 
county, Virginia. 



Digitized by 



Google 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



113 



Hawcs, Aylett, native of Culpeper county, 
Virginia; pursued a classical course; stud- 
ied medicine; elected as a Democratic Re- 
publican to the twelfth, thirteenth and four- 
teenth congresses (March 4, 1811-March 3, 
1817) ; resumed the practice of medicine; 
died in Culpeper county, Virginia, August 
2h 1833- 

Hayes, Samuel L., native of Pennsylvania ; 
moved to Stuards Creek, Virginia; elected 
as a Democrat to the twenty-seventh con- 
gress (March 4, 1841-March 3, 1843). 

Haymond, Thomas S., native of Virginia ; 
elected to the thirty-first congress to fill 
vacancy caused by the death of Alexander 
Newman, and served from December 3, 
1849, to March 3, 1851. 

Heath, John, son of John Heath, was born 
in Northumberland county, Virginia, and 
studied at William and Mary College; was 
one of the founders of the Phi Beta Kappa 
Society, December 5, 1776, and its first presi- 
dent; served in the house of delegates, 1782, 
when barely twenty-one; a member of the 
third and fourth congresses (March 4, 1793- 
March 4, 1797) ; died in Richmond, October 
3. 1810. while serving in the council of John 
Tyler, Sr, His son, James E. Heath, was 
state auditor. 

Hill, John, born in New Canton, Bucking- 
ham county, Virginia, July 18, 1800; com- 
pleted preparatory studies and attended 
Washington and Lee University; studied 
law, was admitted to the bar in 1821, and 
practiced ; elected as a Whig to the twenty- 
sixth congress (March 4, 1839-March 3, 
1841) ; member of Virginia constitutional 
convention of 1850; commonwealth attorney 
for several years, and county judge, 1870- 

VIR-« 



1879; died at Buckingham Court House, 
Virginia, April 19, 1880. 

HoUaday, Alexander Richmond, born at 
'Trospect Hill," Spotsylvania county, Vir- 
ginia, September 18, 181 1 ; attended the pub- 
lic schools, received special training under 
John Lewis, of Spotsylvania county, and 
attended the University of Virginia ; studied 
law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced 
in Spotsylvania, Orange and Louisa coun- 
ties ; member of the house of burgesses, and 
held several local offices ; elected as a Demo- 
crat to the thirty-first and thirty-second 
congresses ; declined a renomination ; moved 
to Richmond, Virginia, in 1853, and prac- 
ticed law; president of the Virginia board 
of public works, 1857-1861 ; died in Rich- 
mond, Virginia, January 29, 1877. 

HoUeman, Joel, born in Isle of Wight 
county, Virginia, October i, 1799; completed 
preparatory studies; studied law; admitted 
to the bar and began practice at Burwell 
Lay; elected as a Van Buren Democrat to 
the twenty-sixth congress, and served from 
March 4, 1839, until 1840, when he resigned; 
again elected a member of the state house 
of burgesses and served as speaker ; died in 
Smithfield, Virginia, August 5,' 1844. 

Holmes, David, born at Mary Ann Fur- 
nace, York county. Pennsylvania, March 
10. 1770. He pursued classical studies: 
studied law and was admitted to the bar ; he 
held several local offices. He was elected 
to the fifth congress and to five succeeding 
congresses (March 4, 1797-March 3, 1809). 
He was appointed by President Jefferson as 
governor of the territory of Mississippi, 
March 7. 1809, and served from July i of 
that year to 18 17, and was governor of the 



Digitized by 



Google 



114 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



state from October 7, 181 7, to January 5, 
1820. when he was appointed to the United 
States senate to fill vacancy occasioned by 
the resignation of Walter Leaks. He was 
subsequently elected senator, and served 
from August 30. 1820, to September 25, 
1825. when he resigned. He returned to 
Winchester, Virginia, in 1827, and died at 
Jordon's Sulphur Springs, Virginia, August 
20, 1832. 

Hopkins, George Washington, born in 
Goochland county, Virginia, February 22, 
1804: attended the common schools; studied 
law, was admitted to the bar, and began 
practice in Lebanon, Virginia; member of 
the house of delegates, 1833-1834; elected as 
a Democrat to the twenty-fourth and to the 
five succeeding congresses (March 4, 1835- 
March 3, 1847) ; charge d'affaires to Por- 
tugal, March 3, 1847, to October 18, 1849; 
again a member of the house of delegates in 
1849; judge of the circuit court; elected to 
the thirty-fifth congress (March 4, 1857- 
March 3, 1859) ; again elected to the house 
of delegates ; died March 2, 1861. 

Hubard, Edmund Willcox, son of Dr. 

James Thruston Hubard and Susanna Will- 
cox, his wife, was born February 20, 1806; 
was elected as a Democrat to the twcmy- 
seventh, twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth 
congresses (March 4, 1841-March 4, 1847) > 
married Sarah Eppes; died December 9, 
1S72. 

Hungcrford, John Pratt, born in Leeds, 
Westmoreland county, Virginia, January 2, 
1761 ; received a thorough English training; 
served in the revolutionary war ; member of 
the house of delegates for several terms; 
presented credentials as a Democratic Re- 
publican to the twelfth congress, and served 



from March 4, 181 1, to December 2, 181 1, 
when he was succeeded by John Taliaferro, 
who contested his election; elected to the 
thirteenth and fourteenth congresses (March 
4. 1813-March 3, 1817) ; served in the war of 
1812 as brigadier-general of militia; died at 
Twiford. Westmoreland county, Virginia, 
l^ecember 21, 1833. 

Jackson, Edward B., native of Clarksburg, 
Harrison county, West Virginia : pursued an 
academic course in the Clarksburg Male 
Academy ; studied medicine and commenced 
practice in Clarksburg; elected to the six- 
teenth congress, to' fill vacancy caused by 
the resignation of James Tindall ; re-elected 
to the seventeenth congress, and served 
from November 30, 1820, to March 3, 1823; 
died in Clarksburg, West Virginia, Septem- 
ber 8, 1826. 

Jackson, George, a representative from 
\'irginia, served in the fifth congress. 

Jackson, John George, born in Clarksburg, 
Harrison county, Virginia, in 1774; received 
an English training, and became a civil en- 
gineer ; appointed surveyor of public lands 
of what is now the state of Ohio in 1793; 
member of the Virginia house of delegates. 
1797-1801 ; elected as a Republican to the 
eighth, and to the three succeeding con- 
gresses, and served from March 4, 1803, 
until 1810, when he resigned; again state 
representative, 1811-1812; chosen brigadier- 
general of militia ; re-elected as a Democrat 
to the thirteenth and fourteenth congresses 
(March 4, 1813-March 3, 1817) ; declined a 
re-election to the fifteenth congress; ap- 
pointed United States district judge for the 
western district of Virginia in 1819, and 
served until his death in Clarksburg, Vir- 
ginia, March 29, 1825. 



Digitized by 



Google 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



115 



Jenkins, Albert Gallatin, (q. v.). 

Johnson, James, son of Col. Philip John- 
son, of York county ; studied at William and 
Mary College about 1795; represented Isle 
o»* Wight county in house of burgesses; 
elected as a Republican to the thirteenth, 
fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth con- 
gresses, and served from March 4, 1813, 
until February i. 1820, when he resigned to 
become customs collector of Norfolk ; died in 
Norfolk, Virginia, December 7, 1825. 

Johnston, Charles C, born in Abingdon, 
Virginia, in 1795; received a liberal school- 
ing: studied law, was admitted to the bar, 
and practiced at Abingdon, Virginia ; elected 
to the twenty-second congress (March 4, 
1831-March 3, 1833) I died in Alexandria, 
\'irginia, June 17, 1832. 

Jones, James, born in Amelia (now Not- 
toway ) county, Virginia, December 11, 1772; 
attended Hampden-Sidney College, Virginia, 
the Jefferson Medical College. Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, and was graduated in medicine 
from the University of Edinburgh. Scotland, 
in 1796; returned to Amelia county, and 
practiced medicine and engaged in planting; 
several times a member of the state house of 
dtlegates; privy councillor of \'irginia four 
consecutive terms : a presidential elector ; de- 
feated candidate for the fifteenth congress, 
to fill a vacancy: elected as a Republican to 
the sixteenth and seventeenth congresses 
(March 4. 1819-March 3, 1823) : died at his 
ei^tate "Mountain Hall." Nottoway county, 
\'irginia, April 25. 1848. 

Jones, John Winston, son of Alexander 
Jones and Mary Anne Winston, his wife, 
was born in Chesterfield county, Virginia. 
November 22. 1791 ; was a scholar at Wil- 



liam and Mary College in 1803; elected 
as a Democrat to the twenty-fourth, and to 
the four succeeding congresses (March 4, 
i835-March 3, 1845) i speaker of tlie House 
of Representatives in the twenty-eighth con- 
gress ; declined a re-election ; died in Peters- 
burg. Virginia, January 29, 1848. He was a 
grandson of Col. John Jones, of Amelia 
county, and Elizabeth Crawley, his wife. 
Peter Jones, founder of Petersburg, was of 
the same family. (See William and Mary 
College Quarterly, XIX., 287). 

Jones, Joseph (q. v.). 

Jones, Walter (q. v.). 

Kerr, John, born in Caswell county, North 
Carolina, August 4, 1782; attended common 
schools, studied theology and was licensed 
as a Baptist minister in 1802; located in 
Halifax county, Virginia, in 1805 ; elected to 
the thirteenth and fourteenth congresses 
(March 4, 1813-March 3, 1817) ; resumed the 
ministry, and was pastor of the Baptist 
churches of Arbor and Mary Creek; moved 
to Richmond, Virginia, in March, 1825, and 
v.as pastor of the First Baptist Church : re- 
signed in 1832: located on a farm near Dan- 
ville, Virginia, in 1836. and died there Sep- 
tember 29, 1842. 

Kidwell, Zedekiah, born in Fairfax 
county, Virginia, January 4, 1814; received 
a liberal schooling; studied medicine and 
was graduated from Jefferson Medical Col- 
lege. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1839, 
and practiced in Fairfax county, Virginia, 
1839-1849; studied law and was admitted to 
the bar in 1849; moved to Fairmont, Vir- 
ginia; member of the house of delegates; 
delegate in the state constitutional conven- 
tion of 1850; presidential elector on the 



Digitized by 



Google 



ii6 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Democratic ticket in 1852; elected as a 
Democrat to the thirty-third and thirty- 
fourth congresses (March 4, 1853-March 3, 
1857) ; elected a member of the state board 
of public works in 1857; died in Fairmont, 
West \'irginia, April 27, 1872. 

Leake, Shelton Farrar, born in Albemarle 
county, Virginia, November 30, 1812, son of 
Dr. Samuel and Sophia (Farrar) Leake, 
grandson of Capt. Mark and Patience (Mor- 
ris) Leake, great-grandson of Walter and 
Judith (Mark) Leake, and great-great- 
grandson of William Leake, who came from 
England about 1685, and settled in what is 
now Gloucester county, Virginia; completed 
preparatory studies ; taught school for three 
years ; studied law. was admitted to the bar 
in 1835 at Charlottesville, Virginia, and 
commenced practice there; member of the 
state house of burgesses in 1842; represen- 
tative in congress from Virginia, 1845-1847; 
presidential elector on the Democratic 
ticket in 1848; elected lieutenant-governor 
in 185 1 ; three years later was a candidate 
for governor, but after a very close vote was 
defeated for the Democratic nomination by 
Henry A. Wise; was again elected to the 
national congress (March 4, 1859-March 3, 
1861) and served on the committee on manu- 
factures; took part in the civil war, and at 
its close withdrew from politics and prac- 
ticed his profession, in which he was emi- 
nently successful ; he was a criminal lawyer 
of great ability, possessing a combination of 
pathos and pure English and scintillating 
wit; he married, in 1844, Rebecca Gray; 
died at his home in Virginia in the year 1884. 

Lee, Henry (q. v.). 

Lee, Richard Bland, was born at "Lee- 
sylvania," Prince William county, January 



26, 1761, son of Henry Lee, of "Leesylvania," 
and Lucy Grymes, his wife, and a great- 
grandson of Richard Lee, the immigrant; 
pursued English and classical studies in pri- 
vate schools, and attended William and 
Mary College; served in the Virginia legis- 
lature in 1784, and other years, and was a 
member of the first, second and third con- 
gresses from March 4, 1789, to March 4, 
1795. He married Elizabeth, daughter of 
Stephen and Mary Parish Collins, of Phila- 
delphia; died March 12, 1827. 

Leffler, Isaac, born in Washington county, 
Pennsylvania, November 7, 1788: attended 
public schools, and was graduated from Jef- 
ferson College, Pennsylvania: studied law, 
was admitted to the bar, and began practice 
in Wheeling, Virginia, (now West \'ir- 
ginia) : member of state house of delegates, 
1817-1825; elected to the twentieth congress 
as a representative from \'irginia (March 4, 
1827-March 3, 1829) ; moved to that portion 
ot Michigan territory that is now Des 
Moines county, Iowa, in 1835 ; after the cre- 
ation of Wisconsin territory, April 20, 1836, 
represented Des Moines county in the first 
legislature of the new territory, 1836-1837; 
admitted to the Des Moines county bar, 
April 15, 1835, and practiced; chief justice 
of the first judicial tribunal of Des Moines 
county, April 11, 1836; member of the house 
or representatives of the territory of Iowa in 
1841 ; appointed by President Tyler United 
States marshal for the district of Iowa, De- 
cember 18, 1843, confirmed January 16, 1844, 
and removed by President Polk, December 
29. 1845; appointed by President Fillmore 
receiver of public moneys for the Chariton, 
Iowa, land district, August 30, 1852. and 
was removed by President Pierce, March 
29. 1853. 



Digitized by 



Google 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



"7 



Leftwich, Jabez, born in Caroline county, 
Virginia, in 1766; moved with parents to 
Bedford county in 1770; attended the com- 
mon schools; inspector general with the 
rank of colonel on the staff of his brother, 
Ccn. Joel Leftwich, in the revolution ; repre- 
sented Bedford county in the state legisla- 
ture, 1812-1821 ; elected to the seventeenth 
and eighteenth congresses (March 4, 1821- 
March 3, 1825) ; defeated for the nineteenth 
congress ; removed to Madison county, Ala- 
bama, in 1825; member of the Alabama leg- 
islature; died near Huntsville, Alabama, 
June 22. 1855. He was the son of Augustine 
Leftwich, who died in 1795. 

Lewis, Charles S.» native of Clarksburg, 
West Virginia ; completed preparatory stud- 
ies : elected as a Democrat to the thirty-third 
congress, to fill vacancy caused by the death 
o^ John F. Snodgjass, and served from De- 
cember 4, 1854, to March 3, 1855. 

Lewis, Joseph, Jr., born in Virginia in 
1772; elected as a Federalist to the eighth, 
and to the six succeeding congresses (March 
4. iSo3-March 3, 1817) : died at Clifton. \'ir- 
ginia. March 30, 1834. 

Lewis, Thomas, born in Augusta county, 
Virginia; attended the common schools; 
presented credentials as a representative- 
elect to the eighth congress, and served from 
March 4. 1803, to March 5, 1804, when he 
was succeeded by Andrew Moore, who con- 
tested his election. By formal action of the 
house of representatives, counsel for the 
claimants were heard at the bar of the house 
in this case. 

Lewis, William J., born near Lynchburg, 
Virginia; attended the common schools; 
member of the house of delegates ; elected as 



a Republican to the fifteenth congress 
March 4, 1817-March 3. 1819) ; died near 
Lynchburg. Virginia. November i, 1828. 

Love, John, pursued an academic course ; 
elected as a Republican to the tenth and 
eleventh congresses (March 4, 1807-March 
3, 181 1) ; died August 17, 1822. 

Loyall, George, born in Norfolk, Virginia, 
May 29, 1789; was graduated from William 
and Mary College in 1808; visited England 
in 181 5 ; member of the house of delegates in 
1817-1827; delegate in the state constitu- 
tional convention of 1829; successfully con- 
tested the election of Thomas Newton to the 
twenty-first congress, and served from 
March 9, 1830, to March 3. 1831 ; reelected 
to the twenty-third and twenty-fourth con- 
gresses (March 4, 1833-March 3, 1837) ; 
navy agent in Norfolk, Virginia, 1837-1861, 
with the exception of two years; died in 
Norfolk. Virginia, February 24, 1868. 

Lucas, Edward, born in Jefferson county, 
Virginia (now West Virginia), October 22, 
1790; attended the common schools and 
Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania; 
officer in the war of 1812: studied law, was 
admitted to the bar, but did not practice; 
member of the house of delegates ; elected as 
a Jackson Democrat to the twenty-third and 
twenty-fourth congresses (March 4, 1833- 
March 3, 1837) ; military storekeeper of ord- 
nance at the Harper's Ferry Armory, May 
12, 1847. ""^iJ his death, in Harper's Ferry, 
Virginia, March 4, 1858. 

Lucas, William, born near Charles Town, 
Jefferson county. West \*irginia, November 
30, 1800; attended the public schools in 
Charles Town ; studied law, was admitted to 
the bar, and practiced in Charles Town, 



Digitized by 



Google 



ii8 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



West Virginia ; elected as a Democrat to the 
twenty-sixth congress (March 4, 1839- 
March 3, 1841 ) : reelected to the twenty- 
eighth congress (March 4, 1843-March 3, 
1845) ; died on his farm in Jefferson county, 
West X'irginia, August 29. 1877. 

Machir, James, native of Virginia ; elected 
to the fifth congress (March 4, 1797-March 

3. 1799) ; died June 25, 1827. 

Mallory, Francis, son of Charles King 
Mallory, lieutenant-governor of Virginia 
during the war of 1812, born near Hampton. 
Elizabeth City county, Virginia, December 
12, 1807; attended the common schools; 
located in Hampton ; was appointed mid- 
shipman in the United States navy in 1822; 
resigned in 1826; studied law, and medicine, 
and was graduated from the medical de- 
partment of the University of Pennsylvania, 
in 1830, and practiced in Norfolk, Virginia; 
abandoned practice of medicine and moved 
to his farm in Elizabeth City county ; elect- 
ed as a Whig to the twenty-fifth, twenty- 
sixth and twenty -seventh congresses (March 

4, 1837-March 3, 1843) * «^"d supported the 
administration of John Tyler; appointed 
navy agent at Norfolk, November i, 1850; 
president of Norfolk & Petersburg Railroad 
Company, 1853-1859; died in Norfolk, Vir- 
ginia, March 26, i860. He married (first) 
Mary Elizabeth Sheild, and (second) Mary 
Frances Wright, daughter of Col. Stephen 
Wright, of Norfolk, Virginia, by whom he 
had eleven children. 

Martin, Elbert S., native of Virginia ; at- 
tended the public schools ; elected as a Dem- 
ocrat to the thirty-sixth congress (March 4, 
1859-March 3, 1861). 



Mason, John Young, born in Greenville 
county, Virginia, April 18, 1799; attended 
the common schools of his neighborhood, 
later the University of North Carolina, from 
which he graduated in 1816; studied law in 
Litchfield, Connecticut, was admitted to the 
bar in 1819. and commenced practice in 
Hicksford, Virginia, which soon became ex- 
ttnsive and lucrative; elected to the Vir- 
ginia assembly in young manhood, and 
served for a number of years; member of 
the state constitutional convention in 1829; 
elected a member of the United States house 
of representatives in 1831, remained until 
1837, then appointed judge of the United 
States district for Virginia; secretary of the 
navy, March 14, 1844-March 10, 1845. ^"^ 
September 9. 1846-March 8, 1849; attorney- 
general from March 6, 1845, ^o September 
9. 1846; at the end of President Polk's ad- 
ministration, John Y. Mason went to Rich- 
mond, Virginia, and engaged in the practice 
of law ; was a member of the constitutional 
convention of Virginia, and presided over 
the deliberations of that body; in 1853 ^^s 
appointed minister to France by President 
Franklin Pierce, was reappointed by Presi- 
dent Buchanan, and remained abroad for 
the rest of his life, his death occurring in 
Paris, France, October 3, 1859. 

Maxwell, Lewis, native of Virginia ; locat- 
ed at Weston; elected as a Whig to the 
twentieth, twenty-first and twenty-second 
congresses (March 4, 1827-March 3, 1844). 

McCarty, William Mason, son of Col. 
Daniel McCarty, of Westmoreland county, 
Virginia, and Sarah Mason, his wife, daugh- 
ter of George Mason, who wrote the Vir- 
ginia Declaration of Rights, was educated 



Digitized by 



Google 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



119 



at William and Mary College in 1813-1814; 
studied and practiced law; member of the 
\'irginia senate. 1832-34-38-39; and member 
of the twenty-sixth congress, to fill a va- 
cancy caused by the resignation of Charles 
F. Mercer, and served from January 25, 
1840, to March 4, 1841 ; provisional governor 
of Florida. 

McComas, Willianu native of Virginia; 
elected as a Whig to the twenty-third and 
twenty-fourth congresses (March 4, 1833- 
March 3, 1837). 

McCoy, William, native of Augusta coun- 
ty, Virginia; elected as a Jackson Democrat 
to the twelfth, and to the ten succeeding 
congresses (March 4, 1811-March 3, 1833). 

McDowell, James (q. v.). 

McKinlcy, William, native of Virginia; 
elected as a Republican to the eleventh con- 
gress, to fill vacancy caused by the resigna- 
tion of John G. Jackson, and served from 
December 21. 1810, to March 3, 181 1. 

Meade, Richard Kidder, born in Frederick 
county, Virginia, in 1795 ; pursued an aca- 
demic course ; studied law, was admitted to 
the bar, and commenced practice in Peters- 
burg, Virginia ; elected as a Democrat to the 
thirtieth, thirty-first and thirty-second con- 
gresses (March 4, 1847-March 3, 1853) ; de- 
clined the appointment of charge d'affaires 
to Sardinia tendered by President Pierce in 
1853; minister to Brazil by the nomination 
of President Buchanan, July 27, 1857, to 
July 9, 1861 : returned to Virginia and de- 
voted himself to the cause of the Confed- 
eracy; died in Petersburg, Virginia, April 
20. 1862. He was a son of Richard Kidder 
Meade, aide-de-camp to Washington, and 



grandson of David Meade, of Xansemond 
county, and Susanna Evcrard, his wife, 
daughter of Sir Thomas Evcrard, governor 
of North Carolina. 

Mercer, Charles Fenton, born in Fred- 
ericksburg, Virginia, June 6, 1778, son of 
James and Eleanor (Dick) Mercer, and 
grandson of John Mercer, an emigrant from 
Dublin, Ireland, who settled at Marlboro, 
Stafford county, Virginia, where he occu- 
pied a high legal position, and was the com- 
piler of a collection of Virginia laws, known 
as "Mercer's Abridgement;'* his father 
(1749-93), a native of Virginia, was gradu- 
ated at William and Mary College in 1767, 
was a prominent lawyer of the state, mem- 
ber of the Virginia conventions of 1774- 
1775-1776, member of the Virginia house of 
burgesses, of the committee of safety, of the 
continental congress, served in congress 
during 1779-80, and was a judge of the state 
court of appeals ; said to have drawn up the 
will of George Washington's mother; 
Charles F. Mercer graduated from Prince- 
ton College in 1797; lieutenant and captain 
of cavalry in the United States army 1798- 
1800; studied law. was admitted to the bar 
in 1802, and after making a tour of Europe 
during 1802-03, returned to the United States 
and settled in practice in Aldie, Loudoun 
county, Virginia; in 181 1 was again called 
to military duty by the general government, 
was appointed aid-de-camp to the governor 
in 18 1 3, and rose to the rank of brigadier- 
general of militia in command of the forces 
at Norfolk; member of the state house of 
representatives, 1810-1817. and in 1816 was 
appointed chairman of the committee on 
finance, in which capacity he brought for- 
ward a bill for the construction of the Chesa- 



Digitized by 



Google 



120 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



peake & Ohio canal ; to this end a company 
was afterwards formed, of which he was 
elected president: in 1816-17 he introduced 
in the \'irginia legislature a bill for the pro- 
motion of public education, including a uni- 
versity, colleges, academies and primary 
schools, which passed the house of dele- 
gates, but was lost in the senate by a tie 
vote : this bill preceded that of Mr. Jefferson 
for the establishment of the University of 
\*irginia ; elected as a Republican to the fif- 
teenth, and to the eleven succeeding con- 
gresses, and served from March 4. 1817, to 
December 26, 1839. when he resigned; he 
was an ardent supporter of Monroe and 
John Quincy Adams, but an opponent of 
Jackson and Van Curen ; he favored the pro- 
tection of American industries, and was 
earnest and outspoken in his opposition to 
the African slave trade; it is said that he 
was the first to place before congress a reso- 
lution for the elimination of slavery from 
the United States, and in 1853 he visited 
Europe in the interest of abolition, consult- 
ing with many eminent men on the subject ; 
for some years he was prominent as presi- 
dent of the American Colonization Society ; 
he wrote 'The Weakness and Inefficiency 
of the Government of the United States," 
which was published in London after his 
death (1863); he died unmarried, at How- 
ard, Fairfax county, Virginia, near Alex- 
andria, May 4. 1858, and is buried at Lees- 
burg, Virginia. 

Millson, John Singleton, born in Norfolk, 
Virginia, October i, 1808; pursued an aca- 
demic course; studied law, was admitted to 
the bar in 1829, and commenced practice in 
Norfolk; presidential elector on the Polk- 
Dallas ticket in 1844, and on the Cass-But- 



ler ticket in 1848 ; elected as a Democrat to 
the thirty-first, and to the five succeeding 
congresses (March 4. 1849-March 3, 1861); 
resumed the practice of law: died in Nor- 
folk, \'irginia, February 26, 1873. 

Moore, Samuel McDowell, born in Phila- 
delphia. Pennsylvania, February 9, 1796, son 
ot Andrew Moore (q. v.) ; attended the pub- 
lic schools, and Washington College ; locat- 
ed in Lexington, Virginia; member of Vir- 
ginia constitutional conventions of 1829 and 
1861 : elected as a Whig to the twenty-third 
congress (March 4, 1833-March 3. 1835); 
unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the 
twenty-fourth congress ; served in the Con- 
federate army; died in Lexington. \'irginia, 
September 17, 1875. 

Moore, Thomas L., born in Jefterson 
county, \'irginia ; pursued an academic 
course ; elected to the sixteenth congress, to 
fill vacancy caused by the resignation of 
George L. Strother; reelected to the seven*- 
tcenth congress, and served from November 
13. 1820, to March 3, 1823. 

Morgan, Daniel, born in Hunterdon coun- 
ty, New Jersey, in 1736; moved to Virginia; 
commissioned captain of a company of Vir- 
ginia riflemen in July, 1775 • taken prisoner 
at Quebec, December 31. 1775 ; colonel of the 
Eleventh Virginia Regiment, November 12, 
1776; regiment designated the Seventh Vir- 
ginia, September i^rr/jS ; brigadier-general 
in the Continental army, October 30, 1780; 
given thanks of congress and a gold medal 
(resolution of March 9, 178O "for fortitude 
and good conduct of himself, and officers 
and men under his command, in the action 
at the Cowpens, S. C, January 17, 1781 ;" 
served to the close of the war, and then re- 



Digitized by 



Google 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



121 



tired lo his estate known as "Saratoga/* 
near Winchester, Virginia; commanded the 
Virginia militia ordered out by President 
Washington in 1794 to suppress the whisky 
insurrection in Pennsylvania; presented 
credentials as a member-elect to the fifth 
congress as a Federalist, and the. election 
was unsuccessfully contested by Robert 
Rutherford; served from March 4, 1797, 
until March 3, 1799; declined reelection on 
account of ill health; died in Winchester, 
Virginia, July 6, 1802. 

Morgan, William S., born in Monongalia 
county, Virginia, September 7, 1801 ; attend- 
ed the public schools; engaged in farming 
at White Day, Virginia; elected as a Demo- 
crat to the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth 
congresses (March 4, 1835-March 3, 1839) ; 
clerk of the house of representatives in 1840 ; 
declined a renomination for the twenty-sixth 
congress ; member of the state house of rep- 
resentatives. 1840-1841 ; Democratic presi- 
dential elector on the Polk-Dallas ticket in 
1844: a naturalist in the employ of the 
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C, 
until shortly before his death in 1876. 

Morrow, John, elected to the ninth and 
tenth congresses (March 4, 1805-March 3, 
1809). 

Morton, Jeremiah, born in Fredericks- 
burg. Spotsylvania county, Virginia; attend- 
ed William and Mary College, Williams- 
burg. Virginia; studied law, was admitted 
to the bar, and practiced in Raccoon Ford, 
\'irginia; elected as a Democrat to the 
thirty-first congress (March 4, 185 1 -March 
3- 1853) ; unsuccessful candidate for reelec- 
tion to the thirty-second congress; died in 
Lessland, Orange county, Virginia, Novem- 
ber 28, 1878. 



Nelson, Hugh, born at Yorktown, Vir- 
ginia, September 30, I7^'>8. son of Governor 
'J'homas and Lucy (Grymes) Nelson. He 
was graduated from \\'illiam and Mary Col- 
lege in 1780; was a member of the Virginia 
house of representatives and became speak- 
er: served for a time as judge of the general 
court. In 1809 he was a presidential elector 
on the Pinckney ticket, and two years later 
v.as elected to congress as a Republican, and 
by successive reflections served from 181 1 
to 1823, when he resigned to accept the min- 
istry to Spain, in which he served to Novem- 
ber 23, 1824. He married Eliza, only child 
of Francis and Mildred (Walker) Kinloch, 
of Charleston, South Carolina. He died at 
Belvoir, Albemarle county. Virginia, March 
18. 1836. 

Nelson, Thomas Manduit, born in Oak 
Hill, Mecklenburg county, Virginia, Sep- 
tember 2";, 1782; attended the common 
schools ; captain of the Tenth Regiment In- 
fantry and major of the Thirtieth and 
Eighteenth infantries in the war of 1812: 
after the war reduced to captain, and re- 
signed his commission. May 15, 1815; elect- 
ed as a Republican to the fourteenth con- 
gress, to fill vacancy caused by the death of 
Thomas Gholson; reelected to the fifteenth 
congress, and served from December 4, 1816, 
to March 3. 1819; declined a reelection ; died 
near Columbus, Georgia. November 10, 1853. 

Neville, Joseph, born in 1730; served in 
revolutionary army. In 1782 he was asso- 
ciated with Col. Alexander McLean, of 
Pennsylvania, in settling by survey the long- 
standing dispute over the boundary between 
Pennsylvania and Maryland, in 1782 com- 
pleting their work to the southwest corner 
of Pennsylvania; in 1784 their work was 



• Digitized by 



Google 



122 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



tested and corrected by astronomical obser- 
vations and permanently marked, and in 
1849 their surveys were reviewed and found 
to be substantially correct. This was the 
beginning of what came to be known as 
"Mason and Dixon's Line." Joseph Neville 
served in the third congress; he died in 
Hardy county, Virginia. March 4, 1819. 

New, Anthony, born in Gloucester county, 
\'irginia, in 1747; completed preparatory 
studies; studied and practiced law; colonel 
in the revolutionary army : elected as a Re- 
publican from \'irginia to the third, fourth, 
fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth congresses 
(March 4, 1793-March 3, 1805): moved to 
Kentucky and located in Elkton: elected as 
a Republican from Kentucky to the twelfth 
congress (March 4. 1811-March 3. 1813), 
fifteenth congress (March 4. 1817-March 3, 
1819), and seventeenth congress (March 4, 
1821-March 3. 1823); died in Todd county, 
Kentucky, March 2, 1833. 

Newman, Alexander, born near Orange, 
Virginia. October 5, 1804; pursued an aca- 
demic course; held several local offices; 
elected to the Virginia legislature in 1836; 
postmaster of Wheeling, 1845-1849, when he 
resigned ; elected to the thirty-first congress, 
but died before the convening of congress, 
ni Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, September 8, 
1849. 

Newton, Thomas, Jr., born in Norfolk, 
Virginia. November 21. 1768. son of Thomas 
Newton and Amy, his wife, daughter of 
John Hutchings ; completed preparatory 
studies ; studied law and was admitted to 
the bar; commenced practice in Norfolk; 
held several local offices; elected as a Re- 
publican to the seventh and to the thirteen 



succeeding congresses (March 4, 1801- 
March 3, 1829) ; presented credentials as 
member-elect to the twenty-first congress, 
but the election was successfully contested 
by George Loyall, who took the seat March 
9, 1830; reelected to the twenty -second con- 
gress (March 4, 1831-March 3, 1833) ; died 
in Norfolk. \'irginia, August 5. 1847. 

Nicholas, John, born in Williamsburg, 
Virginia, January 19, 1761, son of Robert 
Carter Nicholas, and a brother of Wil- 
son Gary Nicholas, governor of Virginia ; 
another brother, George, was attorney- 
general of Kentucky, and another. Philip 
Norborne Nicholas, was an eminent jurist. 
John Nicholas shared the talents of his 
family, and with them influenced in a 
striking degree the political history of the 
time. He attained distinction as a lawyer. 
In 1793 he was elected to congress as a Re- 
publican, and wielded a strong influence in 
that body until 1801. In 1803 he removed 
to Geneva. New York, and devoted himself 
to large agricultural interests until 1806, 
when he was sent to the state senate, in 
which he served three years. In 1806 he 
became judge of the court of common pleas 
of Ontario county, New York, being the 
first to hold that office, and served therein 
until his death, in Geneva, December 31, 
1819. 

Page Robert, born at "North End," Glou- 
cester county, Virginia, in 1764, son of Hon. 
John Page, of that place, member of the 
council, was born in 1764; was a student at 
William and Mary College and left in 1776 
to join the American army; was captain; 
was elected as a Federalist to the sixth con- 
gress (March 4, 1799-March 4, 1801) ; died 
at Janeville, Clarke county, Virginia, Janu- 



Digitized by 



Google 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



123 



ary 1, 1S40. He married, in 1788, Sarah W. 
Page, daughter of his uncle, Robert Page, 
of "Broad Xeck/' Hanover county, Virginia. 

Parker, Josiah, born at "Macclesfield," 
Isle of Wight county, Virginia, May 11, 
1751 ; pursued preparatory studies; member 
of the county committee of safety in 1775, 
and of the Virginia convention that held ses- 
sions in March, July, and December of that 
year; commissioned major in the Fifth Vir- 
ginia Regiment, February 13, 1776; lieu- 
tenant-colonel, July 28, 1777, and colonel, 
April I, 1778; served under Gen. Charles 
Lee in Virginia until the fall of 1776, when 
transferred to Washington's army ; rendered 
distinguished service at the battles of Tren- 
ton, Princeton and the Brandy wine; re- 
signed from the army July 12, 1778; member 
of Virginia house of delegates. 1780-1781; 
naval officer at Portsmouth, Virginia, 1786; 
defeated for delegate to the Virginia con- 
vention of 1788: elected to the first six con- 
gresses (March 4, 1789-March 3, 1801) ; died 
at "Macclesfield," Virginia. March 18. 1810. 

Parker, Richard, born in Richmond, Vir- 
ginia. December 22, 18 10, son of Richard 
Elliott Parker, judge of the supreme court 
of appeals, and Elizabeth Foushee, his wife ; 
he completed private studies; studied law, 
and practiced at Berryville, Virginia; held 
several local offices, and was elected as a 
Democrat to the thirty-first congress (March 
4, 1849-March 3, 1851); was subsequently 
appointed judge of the thirteenth circuit, 
and presided at the trial of John Brown; 
was applauded by friend and foe for his im- 
partiality. He married Evelina Moss. 

Parker, Severn E., native of Northampton 
county, Virginia ; received a common school 



training; studied law, was admitted to the 
bar, and practiced ; held several local offices, 
and served a number of years as a member 
of the state house of representatives ; elected 
to the sixteenth congress (March 4, 1819- 
March 3, 1821) ; died in Northampton coun- 
ty, Virginia, October 21, 1836. 

Fatten, John Mercer (q. v.). 

Pegram, John, born in Dinwiddie county, 
Virginia, November 16, 1773; attended com- 
mon schools ; held various local offices ; was 
a member of the Virginia house of delegates 
for many years and of the state senate for 
eight years ; elected to the fifteenth congress 
to fill vacancy caused by the death of Peter- 
son Goodwin, and served from November 
16, 1818, to March 3, 1819; major-general of 
state militia in the war of 1812; United 
States marshal for the eastern district of 
Virginia under President Monroe's adminis- 
tration ; died in Dinwiddie county, Virginia, 
April 8, 1831. 

Pendleton, John Strother, born in Cul- 
peper county, Virginia, March 2, 1802, son 
of William Pendleton and Anne Strother, 
his wife ; pursued preparatory studies ; stud* 
led law, was admitted to the bar, and prac- 
ticed in Culpeper county; member of the 
state legislature several terms prior to 1840; 
charge d'affaires to Chile, 1841-1844; elect- 
ed as a Whig to the twenty-ninth and thir- 
tieth congresses (March 4, 1845-March 3, 
1849) y charge d'affaires to the Argentine 
Confederation, 1851-1854; at the same time 
he was also accredited to- Paraguay, and 
other South American republics ; in 1854 he 
was succeeded by Hon. Joseph Graham ; he 
died in Culpeper county, Virginia, Novem- 
ber 19, 1868. 



Digitized by 



Google 



124 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Findall» James, native of V^irginia ; attend- 
ed the common schools; held various local 
offices; elected as a Federalist to the fif- 
teenth and sixteenth congresses, and served 
from March 4, 1817, to 1820, when he re- 
signed. 

Powell, Alfred H., born in Loudoun coun- 
ty, Virginia, March 6, 1781, son of Col. 
Leven Powell, and his wife Sarah, daughter 
of Burr Harrison; was graduated from 
Princeton College; studied law with Col. 
Charles Simnis, of Alexandria, was admit- 
ted to the bar, and in iSoo began practice 
in Winchester, Virginia: served several 
years as a member of the state house of 
delegates; elected to the nineteenth con- 
gress (March 4, 1825-March 3. 1827); dele- 
gate in the state constitutional convention 
of 1830; died in Loudoun county, Virginia, 
1831. 

Powell, Cuthbert, born in Alexandria, 
\'irginia. March 4, 1775, son of Col. Leven 
Powell and his wife Sarah, daughter of Burr 
Harrison; completed preparatory studies; 
studied law, was admitted to the bar, and 
practiced in Alexandria; mayor of Alex- 
andria; moved to Loudoun county; held 
various local offices; elected as a Whig to 
the twenty-seventh congress (March 4, 
1841 -March 3, 1843) J ^'^d at Langoolen, 
Loudoun county, V^irginia, May 8, 1849. He 
married Catherine, daughter of Col. Charles 
Simms, of Alexandria. 

Powell, Lcvcn, was born in Prince Wil- 
liam county, Virginia, in 1737, son of Wil- 
liam Powell and Eleanor Peyton, his wife, 
and grandson of William Powell, of Mary- 
land, who died in 1715; studied in private 
schools; was deputy to his uncle, Henry 



Peyton, sheriff of Prince William county, 
married, in 1763, Sarah, daughter of Burr 
Harrison, of Chappawamsic, and shortly 
after moved to Loudoun county; engaged 
H! mercantile pursuits; in 1775 was major 
of a battalion of minute-men and served 
against Lord Dunmore at Norfolk, Ports- 
mouth and Hampton ; in January, 1777, was 
appointed lieutenant-colonel of the Six- 
teenth Regiment of Virginia Continentals, 
and saw service at White Marsh, near Phil- 
adelphia and at Valley Forge; resigned on 
account of health in 1778 and returned 
home; in 1788 was a member of the state 
convention and voted for the constitution; 
in 1796 as presidential elector was the only 
one from \'irginia to vote for John Adams 
as President; elected as a Federalist to the 
sixth congress (March 4. 1799-March 4, 
1801) : helped to build a turnpike from Alex- 
andria to the upper country; died July 23, 
1810, at Bedford Springs. Virginia. 

PowcU, Paulus, a native of Virginia; re- 
sided in Amherst county, Virginia; held 
various local offices ; elected as a Democrat 
to the thirty-first, and to four succeeding 
congresses (March 4, 1849-March 3, 1859) ; 
defeated for reelection to the thirty-sixth 
congress. 

Preston, Francis, born at ^'Greenfield," 
Botetourt county, Virginia, August 2, 1765, 
son of William Preston, who became a colo- 
nel in the revolutionary army; was gradu- 
ated from the College of William and Mary 
in 1783, and having studied law at that in- 
stitution under George Wythe was soon ad- 
mitted to the bar ; practiced in Montgomery, 
Washington, and other counties until 1793; 
member of the state house of delegates and 
a state senator; elected to the third and 



Digitized by 



Google 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



125 



fourth congresses (March 4, 1793-March 3, 
1797) f at the beginning of the war of 1812 
he enlisted, was appointed colonel of volun- 
teers, and marched with his regiment to 
Norfolk; subsequently he was appointed 
brigadier-general and major-general of 
militia; after his service in congress he 
located in Abingdon, Virginia, and prac- 
ticed law; married, in 1792, Sarah, daugh- 
ter of Col. William Campbell, who distin- 
guished himself in the battle of King's 
Mountain; their sons, William Campbell, 
John Smith, and Thomas Lewis, became 
prominent, the first as a legislator and edu- 
cator, the second as an orator, the third as 
a legislator and soldier; Gen. Preston died 
while on a visit to his son, William C. Pres- 
ton, Columbia, South Carolina, May 25, 
1835. 

Preston, William Ballard, born at "Smith- 
field/' Montgomery county, Virginia, No- 
vember 25, 1805, son of Governor James 
Patton Preston ( q. v.) ; was graduated from 
William and Mary College in 1823; was 
graduated from the law school of the Uni- 
versity of Virginia, admitted to the bar, and 
engaged in practice in 1826; was elected to 
the Virginia house of delegates and to the 
state senate, serving through a number of 
terms; elected as a Whig to the thirtieth 
congress (March 4, 1847-March 3, 1849) ♦ o^ 
March 8, 1849, assumed the portfolio of the 
navy department, having been appointed 
secretary by President Taylor, and he con- 
tinued in this position until the death of 
Gen. Taylor, when he went out of politics 
and public life; in 1858 a scheme was on 
foot in Virginia to open commercial inter- 
course with France, and a line of steamers 
was projected for that purpose; he was sent 



tc» France to promote this scheme, but was 
obliged to return without achieving suc- 
cess, owing to the secession of the Southern 
states ; he was elected a member of the Vir- 
ginia secession convention in 1861, but he 
was himself a Union man and opposed the 
secession movement so long as there was 
any use in such opposition; he was elected 
to the Confederate senate in 1861, and was 
a member of that body at the time of his 
death, which occurred in Smithfield, Vir- 
ginia, November 14, 1862. 

Fryer, Roger Atkinson, born in Dinwiddie 
county, Virginia, July 19, 1828 ; was gradu- 
ated from Hampden-Sidney College in 1845, 
and from the University of Virginia in 1848; 
studied law, was admitted to the bar in 
1849, ^"d practiced a short time in Peters- 
burg, but abandoned the law on account 
of ill health; engaged on the editorial staff 
of the "Washington Union'' in 1852 and the 
'^Richmond Enquirer" in 1854; appointed 
special minister to Greece in 1854; returned 
home and established *The South" in 1857, 
and after it had failed was on the staff of 
the "Washington States;** elected as a Dem- 
ocrat to the thirty-sixth congress, to fill the 
vacancy caused by the death of William O. 
Goode, and served from December 7. 1859, 
to March 3, 1861 ; served in the Confederate 
army; member of the Virginia Confederate 
house of representatives; captured by the 
Union troops in November, 1864, and con- 
fined in Fort Lafayette, but soon afterwards 
released: moved to New York City and 
practiced law, 1866-1890; delegate in the 
Democratic national convention of 1876; 
judge of the court of common pleas of New 
York. 1890-1894; justice of the New York 
supreme court, 1894-1899: retired upon 



Digitized by 



Google 



126 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



reaching the age limit; appointed official 
referee by the state legislature in 1912. 

Rives, Francis E., born in Virginia ; com- 
pleted preparatory studies; elected as a 
Democrat to the twenty-fifth and twenty- 
sixth congresses (March 4, 1837-March 3, 
1841 ) ; declined a renomination ; died at 
Littleton, Sussex county, Virginia, Novem- 
ber 30, 1861. 

Roane» John, born at "Uppowac/' King 
William county, February 9, 1766, son 
ci John Roane, of Essex county, Virginia; 
completed preparatory studies; presidential 
elector on the Washington ticket; member 
of the state house of representatives; dele- 
gate to the state constitutional convention, 
17S8: elected as a Republican to the elev- 
enth, twelfth and thirteenth congresses 
(March 4, 1809-March 3, 1815) ; and to the 
twentieth, twenty-first and twenty-second 
congresses (March 4, 1827-March 3, 1833): 
and to the twenty-fourth congress (March 
4. 1835-March 3. 1837); died at his resi- 
dence. "Uppowac." King William county. 
\'irginia. November 15, 1838. 

Robertson, John, born at **Belfield," near 
Petersburg, X'irginia. in 1787, son of William 
Robertson, merchant, and Elizabeth Boi- 
ling, his wife; completed preparatory studies 
and was graduated from William and Mary 
College; studied law, was admitted to the 
bar, and practiced in Richmond, Virginia; 
attorney-general of Virginia; elected as a 
Whig to the twenty-third congress to fill 
vacancy caused by the resignation of An- 
drew Stevenson ; reelected to the twenty- 
fourth and twenty-fifth congresses, and 
served from December 8. 1834. to March 3, 
1839 ; judge of the circuit court of Virginia 
for several years; died at "Mount Athos," 



near Lynchburg, Virginia, July 5, 1873. H^ 
v/as a brother of Lieutenant-Governor 
Wyndham Robertson (q. v.). 

Rutherford, Robert, probably a son of 
Thomas Rutherford, who represented 
Hampshire county in the house of burgesses 
from 1761 to 1765; was burgess for Fred- 
crick county in 1766- 1773, ^^^ Berkeley 
county. 1774-1776; member of the conven- 
tions of July and December, 1775, and May, 
1776; elected to the third and fourth con- 
gresses (March 4. 1793-March 3, 1797) ; de- 
feated for reelection to the fifth congress 
(see vol. ii, p. 318). 

Samuels, Green Berry (q. v., under 
"Judges of the Supreme Court of Appeals"). 

Seddon, James A. (q. v.).' 

ShefFey, Daniel, born in Frederick, ^lary- 
land, in 1770; received a fair education, and 
Itarned the trade of shoemaker in his father's 
shop; at age of twenty-one settled in Au- 
gusta, Virginia, and there followed his 
trade; afterward studied law, was admitted 
to the bar, practiced his profession and was 
successful; removed to Staunton, Virginia, 
also Abbeville, Virginia ; served in the house 
of delegates; elected as a Federalist to the 
eleventh, and to the three succeeding con- 
gresses (March 4, 1809-March 3, 1817), and 
took a high rank ; his speech in favor of the 
renewal of the first bank of the United 
States was a masterly production; he was 
opposed to the war of 1812; in a contro- 
versy with John Randolph, the latter said: 
'The shoemaker ought not to go behind 
his last;" Mr. SheflFey retorted: **If that 
gentleman had ever been on a shoemaker's 
bench, he would never have left it;" he died 
at Staunton. Virginia, December 3, 1830. 



Digitized by 



Google 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



127 



Smith, Arthur, born in Isle of Wight 
county, Virginia, November 15, 1785, de- 
scended from Arthur Smith, gentleman, 
who came to Virginia in 1622; was gradu- 
ated from William and Mary College; stud- 
ied law, but did not practice ; served in the 
war of 1812; member of the state house of 
delegates; elected to the seventeenth and 
eighteenth congresses (March 4, 1821- 
March 3, 1825); died at Smithfield, Vir- 
ginia, March 30, 1853. 

Smith, Ballard, a representative from 
Virginia to the fourteenth, fifteenth and six- 
teenth congresses (March 4, 1815-March 3, 
1821). He was a son of Francis Smith and 
Elizabeth Waddey, of Hanover county, and 
grandson of Dr. John Smith and Elizabeth 
Ballard; served as lieutenant in the army 
during the American revolution. 

Smith, John, native of Virginia; elected 
to the seventh, and to the six succeeding 
congresses (March 4, 1801-March 3, 1815); 
died in Rockville, Maryland, March, 1836. 

Smith, William, a native of Chesterfield, 
Virginia: completed preparatory studies; 
elected to the seventeenth, eighteenth and 
nineteenth congresses (March 4, 1821- 
March 3, 1827). 

Smyth, Alexander, born in the Island of 
Rathlin, Ireland, in 1765; came to the 
United States and located in Botetourt 
county, Virginia, in 1775; completed pre- 
paratory studies : studied law, was admitted 
to the bar, and began practice in Abingdon, 
Virginia; moved to Wythe county, Vir- 
ginia: member of the state house of repre- 
sentatives from 1792 to 1808; inspector- 
general of the army of 1812: resumed the 
practice of law : again a member of the state 



house of delegates; elected to the fifteenth 
and to the three succeeding congresses 
I March 4, 1817-March 3. 1825) ; reelected to 
the twentieth and twenty-first congresses, 
and served from March 4, 1827, until his 
death, in Washington, D. C, April 17, 1830. 
Smyth county, formed in 1831, was named 
for him. 

Snodgrass, John Fryall, born in Berkeley 
county, Virginia (now West Virginia), 
March 2, 1804; completed preparatory stud- 
ies; studied law, was admitted to the bar, 
and began practice in Parkersburg, Vir- 
ginia; delegate to the state constitutional 
convention in 1850; elected as a Democrat 
to the thirty-third congress (March 4, 1853- 
March 3, 1855) ; died in Parkersburg, Vir- 
ginia, June 5, 1854. 

Steenrod, Lewis, born in Ohio county, 
Virginia (now West Virginia), May 2T, 
1810; attended the common schools; elected 
to the twenty-sixth, twenty-seventh and 
twenty-eighth congresses (March 4, 1839- 
March 3, 1845) * ^^^d near Wheeling, Ohio 
county. West Virginia, October 3, 1S62. 

Stephenson, James, born in Gettysburg, 
Pennsylvania. March 20. 1764: moved to 
Martinsburg, Virginia (now West Vir- 
ginia): volunteer rifleman under Gen. St. 
Clair in his Indian expedition in 1791 ; bri- 
gade inspector: member of the state assem- 
bly in 1800, 1801, and 1802: elected as a 
Federalist to the eighth congress ( March 4, 
1803-March 3, 1805) : reelected to the elev- 
enth congress (March 4. 1809-March 3, 
181 1 ) : again elected to the seventeenth con- 
gress to fill vacancy caused by the death of 
Thomas Van Swearingen: reelected to the 
eighteenth congress, and served from De- 



Digitized by 



Google 



128 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



cember 2, 1822, until March 3, 1825 ; died in 
Martinsburg, West Virginia, August 7, 

1833. 

Stevenson, Andrew, born in Culpeper 
county, \'irginia. in 1784, son of Rev. James 
Stevenson and Frances Arnet Littlepage, 
bis wife; pursued classical studies; studied 
law. admitted to the bar, began practice in 
Richmond, Virginia, and won a prominent 
place in his profession ; member of the state 
house of representatives, 1804-1820, where 
for several sessions he was speaker, gaining 
thereby the experience which made him so 
able a presiding officer while in the national 
house: elected as a Democrat to the 
eighteenth, and to the five succeeding con- 
gresses, and served from March 4, 1823, 
until his resignation. June 2, 1834; served 
a.- speaker. 1827- 1834, his occupancy of the 
speaker's chair covering the stormy times of 
the contest over the re-charter of the United 
States Bank, and even in the greatest heat 
of partisan strife no accusation was ever 
made against his fairness and impartiality; 
was sent as minister to the Court of St. 
James in 1836, and remained until 1841 ; he 
then devoted himself to agricultural pur- 
suits, and to the interests of the University 
of Virginia, of which he was rector at the 
time of his death, which occurred at "Blen- 
heim," in Albemarle county, Virginia, Janu- 
ary 25, 1857. He was a nephew of Gen. 
Lewis Littlepage (q. v.). 

Stratton, John, native of Accomac county, 
Virginia; attended the common schools; 
elected to the seventh congress (March 4, 
1801-March 3, 1803). 

Strother, George F., born in Culpeper 
county, Virginia ; completed preparatory 



studies; studied law, admitted to the bar, 
and began practice in Culpeper; elected as 
a Democrat to the fifteenth and sixteenth 
congresses, and served from March 4, 18 17, 
until his resignation, February 10, 1820 ; re- 
ceiver of public moneys in St. Louis, Mis- 
souri. He was a son of French Strother 
and his wife Lucy, daughter of Robert Cole- 
man. French Strother, who was a mem- 
ber of the convention which met in Wil- 
liamsburg in May, 1776, served thirty years 
in the assembly and was a member of the 
convention of 1788, voting against the adop- 
tion of the constitution (q. v., vol. ii, p. 333 J. 

Strother, James French, born in Culpeper 
county, \'irginia, September 4, 181 1, son of 
James French Strother and Sally Wil- 
liams, his wife, daughter of Gen. James 
Williams ; completed preparatory studies 
and attended St. Louis University; studied 
law, was admitted to the bar, and began 
practice in Culpeper, Virginia; member of 
the state house of delegates and served as 
speaker ; delegate to the state constitutional 
convention in 1850; elected as a Whig to 
the thirty-second congress (March 4, 185 1- 
March 3, 1853) ; died in Culpeper, Virginia, 
September 21, i860. 

Stuart, Alexander Hugh Holmes, born in 
Staunton, Virginia, April 2, 1807, son of 
Judge Archibald Stuart, a graduate of Wil- 
liam and Mary College; Alexander H. H. 
Stuart, after having been prepared for a 
university course, went to William and 
Mary College for a year, and then attended 
the University of Virginia, where he took 
the law course, graduated at the age of 
twenty-one, and was admitted to practice 
at the bar the same year : was in successful 
practice in Staunton when, in 1836, he was 



Digitized by 



Google 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



129 



elected a member of the lower house of the 
Virginia state legislature, and was continu- 
ously reelected until 1839, when he declined 
to serve ; elected as a Whig to the twenty- 
seventh congress (March 4, 1841-March 3, 
1843) » presidential elector on the Clay 
ticket in 1844 and the Taylor ticket in 
1848; on July 22, 1850, assumed the office 
of secretary of the interior, to which he 
had been appointed by President Fillmore, 
and in which he continued until the con- 
clusion of the administration; was a mem- 
ber of the convention of 1856 which nomi- 
nated Millard Fillmore for the presidency, 
and from 1857 to 1861 was in the Vir- 
ginia state senate; he was a strong Union 
man in sentiment at the outbreak of the 
civil war and earnestly resisted the seces- 
sion of his state, while he was one of the 
first of the Southern leaders to promote re- 
conciliation and political agreement after 
the war; although elected a member of con- 
gress in 1865, he was unable to take his seat 
on account of the "iron-clad" oath ; delegate 
to the national Union convention in 1866; 
in 1868 was very active in his opposition 
and resistance to the objectionable features 
ot the reconstruction acts; in 1876 was 
elected rector of the University of Virginia, 
and, excepting a period of two years, be- 
tween 1882 and 1884, he continued to fill 
that position until 1886, when he resigned; 
he was a member of the board of trustees 
of the Southern educational fund founded 
by George Peabody; he was also for many 
years president of the Virginia Historical 
Society; died in Staunton, Virginia, Febru- 
ary 13, 1891. Judge Archibald Stuart, his 
father, was a son of Major Alexander Stuart, 
who was born in Pennsylvania in 1733, and 
grandson of Archibald Stuart, a Scotch- 

VlA-» 



Irish Presbyterian who emigrated to Penn- 
sylvania in 1727, and in 1738 removed to 
Augusta. 

Stuart, Archibald, born in Lynchburg, 
Virginia, December 2, 1795 * completed pre- 
paratory studies; studied law, was admit- 
ted to the bar, and commenced practice in 
Campbell county ; served as an officer in the 
war of 1812; member of the state legisla- 
ture; member of the state convention of 
1829-1830; resided in Mount Airy, North 
Carolina ; elected as a Whig to the twenty- 
fifth congress (March 4, 1837-March 3, 
1839) ; member of the state convention of 
1850-1851 ; died in Patrick county, Virginia, 
September 20, 1855. He was a son of Judge 
Alexander Stuart, and grandson of Major 
Alexander Stuart, who was born in Pennsyl- 
vania in 1733. 

Summers, George W. (q. v.). 

Swearingen, Thomas Van, born near 
Shepherdstown, West Virginia, May 5, 
1784; attended the common schools; elected 
to the sixteenth and seventeenth congresses, 
and served from March 4, 1819, until his 
death in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, 
August 19, 1822. 

Taliaferro, John, born at "Hays," King 
George county, Virginia, in 1768, son of 
John Taliaferro, of **Hays," and Elizabeth 
Garnett, his wife; attended a private 
school; studied law, was admitted to the 
bar, and practiced in Fredericksburg, Vir- 
ginia; elected as a Republican to the sev- 
enth congress (March 4, 1801-March 3, 
1803) ; presidential elector on the Jefferson 
ticket in 1805 ; successfully contested the 
election of John Hungerford to the twelfth 
congress, and served from December 2, 



Digitized by 



Google 



130 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



1811. to March 3, 1813; presidential elector 
on the Monroe ticket in 1821 ; elected to the 
eighteenth congress, to fill vacancy caused 
by the death of William L. Ball; reelected 
to the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty- 
first congresses, and served from April 8, 
1824. to March 3. 1831 ; again elected to the 
twenty-fourth, twenty-fifth, twenty-sixth 
and twenty-seventh congresses (March 4, 
1835-March 3, 1843) ; librarian of the United 
States Treasury Department, 1850, until his 
death at his residence, "Hagley." in King 
George county, Virginia, August 12, 1852. 

Tate, Magnus, born in Berkeley county, 
Pennsylvania, in 1760; studied law. was ad- 
mitted to the bar, and practiced; engaged in 
agricultural pursuits; appointed justice of 
the Berkeley county court, May 19, 1798: 
sheriff of Berkeley county, 1819-1820; 
moved to Virginia; elected to the house of 
delegates of Virginia, 1797, 1803, 1809 and 
1810: elected as a Federalist to the four- 
teenth congress (March 4, 1815-March 3, 
1817) ; died near Martinsburg, Virginia, 
March 30, 1823. 

Taylor, Robert, born in Orange, Virginia, 
April 29, 1763, son of Erasmus Taylor and 
Ji«ne Moore, his wife; completed prepara- 
tory studies; studied law, was admitted to 
the bar, and practiced in Orange, Virginia; 
held several local officers; member of the 
state senate, 1804-1806, and served as 
speaker; elected to the nineteenth congress 
(March 4, 1825-March 3, 1827) ; died on his 
estate, "Meadow Farm," in Orange county, 
Virginia, July 3, 1845. He was a cousin of 
Gen. Zachary Taylor. 

Taylor, William, native of Alexandria, 
Virginia ; completed preparatory studies ; 



studied law, was admitted to the bar, and 
began practice in Rockingham county, \'ir- 
ginia; held several local offices: elected as 
a Democrat to the twenty-eighth and twen- 
ty-ninth congresses, and served from March 
4, 1843, until his death in Washington, D. 
C, January 17, 1846. 

Taylor, William P., born in Fredericks- 
burg, Virginia; received a limited school- 
ing; held several local offices; elected as a 
Whig to the twenty-third congress (March 
4, 1833-March 3, 1835) ; unsuccessful candi- 
date for reelection to the twenty-fourth con- 
gress. 

Thompson, Philip Rootes, born in Cul- 
peper county, Virg^'nia, March 26, 1766; 
member of the state house of delegates, 
1793-1797; elected to the seventh, eighth 
and ninth congresses (March 4. i8or-March 
3, 1807) ; died in Kanawha county, Virginia, 
July 2j, 1837. He was a son of Rev. John 
Thompson, who married (first) the widow 
of Governor Spots wood, and (second) Eliz- 
abeth, daughter of Col. Philip Rootes, of 
"Rose wall/* King and Queen county. 
Philip Rootes Thompson was a son by the 
second marriage. 

Thompson, Robert A., son of Philip 
Rootes Thompson (q. v.), born in Kana- 
wha, Virginia (now West Virginia) ; com- 
pleted preparatory studies; held several 
local offices; elected as a Democrat to the 
thirtieth congress (March 4, 1847-March 3, 
1849) I unsuccessful candidate for reelection 
to the thirty-first congress ; moved, to Cali- 
fornia and appointed state land commis- 
sioner. 

Tredway, William Marshall, born in 
Prince Edw^ard county, Virginia, in August, 



Digitized by 



Google 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



131 



1807; completed preparatory studies; stud- 
ied law, was admitted to the bar, and prac- 
ticed ; held several local offices ; elected as a 
Democrat to the twenty-ninth congress 
(March 4, 1845-March 3, 1847); unsuccess- 
ful candidate for reelection; judge of the 
circuit court of Virginia; member of the 
secession convention of Virginia in 1861 ; 
resumed the practice of law in Chatham, 
Virginia, and died there, May i, 1896. 

Trezvant, James, a native of Siissex coun- 
ty. Virginia; completed preparatory stud- 
ies; studied law, was admitted to the bar, 
and began practice in Jerusalem, Virginia; 
attorney-general of Virginia; delegate to 
the state constitutional convention in 1820; 
served in the state house of representatives ; 
elected to the nineteenth, twentieth and 
twenty-first congresses (March 4, 1825- 
March 3. 1831) ; died in Southampton coun- 
ty, Virginia, September 2, 1841. 

Trigg, Abram, born in Bedford county, 
Virginia, son of Abraham Trigg, who emi- 
grated from Cornwall, England, about 1710; 
completed academic studies: held local 
ortices ; delegate to the Virginia convention 
of 1788 that ratified the Federal constitu- 
tion : served as an officer under Gen. Wash- 
ington in the revolutionary war; elected to 
the fifth, and to the five succeeding con- 
gresses (March 4. 1797-March 3, 1809): 
died in Washington, D. C, May 17, 1804. 
He had three brothers — Stephen, who went 
to Kentucky, as member of the land com- 
mission in 1779. and fell commanding a 
regiment in the battle of Blue Licks; John 
(q. v.) : and William, from whom was de- 
scended Hon. Connally Findlay Trigg, 
member of congress (q. v.) and William 
Robertson Trigg, late of Richmond. 



Trigg, John, born in Bedford county, V^ir- 
ginia, in 1748, son of Colonel Abram Trigg; 
received a liberal schooling; served as a 
captain in the Virginia militia during the 
revolutionary war; member Virginia house 
of delegates, 1784-1792; member of the con- 
vention to ratify the Federal constitution 
in 1788; elected to the fifth, and to the three 
succeeding congresses, and served from 
March 4, 1797, until his death in Bedford 
county, Virginia, June 28, 1804. 

Tucker, George, born in the town of St. 
George's, Bermuda, August 20, 1775; de- 
scended from George Tucker of Milton-next- 
Gravesend; came to Virginia about 1787; 
was graduated from William and Mary Col- 
lege in 1797; studied law, was admitted to 
the bar, and began practice in Lynchburg, 
Virginia ; member of the state house of rep- 
resentatives in 1815; elected as a Democrat 
to the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth 
congresses (March 4, 1819-March 3, 1825) ; 
professor in the University 'of Virginia, 
1825-1845; died at "Sherwood," Albemarle 
county, Virginia, April 10, 1861. 

Tucker, Henry St. George (q. v. under 
"Judges of the Supreme Court of Appeals"). 

Walker, Francis, son of Dr. Thomas 
Walker (q. v.) and Mildred Thornton, his 
wife, widow of Nicholas Meriwether, was 
born at **Castle Hill," Albemarle county, 
June 22, 1764, was a magistrate of his coun- 
ty, colonel of the Eighty-eighth Regiment 
of Virginia militia, member of the house of 
delegates and of the third congress of the 
United States (March 4. 1793-March 3, 
1795). He married Jane Byrd, daughter of 
Gen. Hugh Nelson, and granddaughter of 
William Nelson, president of the Virginia 
council. His children were: Jane Frances, 



Digitized by 



Google 



122 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



the wife of Dr. Mann Page, and Judith, the 
'wife of William C. Rives. 

White, Alexander, born in 1739, was a 
son of Dr. Robert White, a surgeon in the 
British navy, who came to Frederick coun- 
ty about the year 1730. He studied law at 
the Inner Temple, London, in 1762, and in 
1763 matriculated at Gray's Inn. In 1783 
he was elected to the house of delegates 
and became distinguished for his eloquence, 
serving till 1789, when he was elected to 
congress. In this body he served two terms 
(March 4. 1789-March 4, 1793), being one 
of the most active members. He voted for 
locating the seat of government on the Rap- 
pahannock, and later served as commis- 
sioner to arrange for erecting the public 
buildings in Washington, D. C. He voted 
against the incorporation of the United 
States Bank and opposed the Quaker memo- 
rial relating to slavery. He died at Wood- 
ville, Frederick county, September 19, 1804. 

White, Francis, a native of Virginia; 
elected to the thirteenth congress (March 
4, 1813-March 3, 1815). 

Williams, Jared, born in Montgomery 
county, Maryland, March 4, 1766; pursued 
classical studies; became a farmer; mem- 
ber of the state house of delegates in 181 1 



and 1817; elected as a Republican to the six- 
teenth, seventeenth and eighteenth con- 
gresses (March 4, 1819-March 3, 1825) ; 
presidential elector on the Jackson and Cal- 
houn ticket in 1829; died near Newton, Vir- 
ginia, January 2, 1831. 

Wilson, Alexander, native of Virginia; 
completed preparatory studies; member of 
the state legislature; elected to the eighth, 
ninth and tenth congresses (March 4, 1803- 
March 3, 1809). 

Wilson, Edgar Campbell, born in Mor- 
gantown, now in West Virginia, October 
18, 1800; completed preparatory studies; 
studied law, was admitted to the bar, June 
24. 1822, and practiced in Morgantown; 
elected as a Whig to the twenty-third con- 
gress (March 4, 1833-March 3, 1835) ; died 
in Morgantown, Virginia, April 24, i860. 

Wilson, Thomas, born in Rockbridge 
county, Virginia, September 11, 1765; stud- 
ied law in Staunton, Virginia; was admit- 
ted to the bar in Morgantown, Virginia^ 
September 21, 1789; member of* the house 
of delegates; elected as a Federalist to the 
twelfth congress (March 4, 1811-March 3, 
1813) ; died in Morgantown, Virginia, Janu- 
ary 24, 1826. 




Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



Vlll-PROMINENT PERSONS 



Richardson, Richard, was born in New 
Kent county, Virginia, in 1704, son of 
Charles Richardson. He was a land sur- 
veyor, emigrating to Sumter District, South 
Carolina, in 1725, where he conducted a 
plantation, commanded the colonial militia 
in the district, and was elected a member 
of the council of safety in 1775. ^^ ^^^ 
married (first) to Elizabeth, daughter of 
Joseph Cantey, and (second) to Dorothy, 
daughter of James and Margaret Sinkler. 
Upon the revolt among the loyalists of the 
state he used the militia in restoring order, 
and for his services received the thanks of 
the provisional congress and a commission 
as brigadier-general. He was a delegate to 
the provincial congress that framed the con- 
stitution of South Carolina in 1776, and 
while defending the city of Charleston 
against the British under Clinton in 1780, 
was taken prisoner, and sent to St. Augus- 
tine, where he withstood the alluring prom- 
ises of Cornwallis, conditioned on his 
espousing the cause of the Royalists. He 
was held by the British a prisoner of war a 
few months, when broken in health, he was 
sent to his home to die. Colonel Tarleton, 
when on a raid through Carolina in 178 1, 
burned his house and opened his grave to 
be assured of the patriot's death. His son, 
James B. Richardson, was governor of 
South Carolina. 1802-04. Richard Richard- 
son died on his plantation, near Salisbury, 
South Carolina, in September, 1780. 

Hawkins, Philemon, born in Gloucester 
county, Virginia, September 28, 1717; served 



ill a cavalry troop at the battle of Alamance, 
May 16, 1771, as aid to Governor Tryon; in 
the same year was a member of the general 
assembly, and represented Bute and Gran- 
ville counties for thirteen years; he raised 
the first volunteer company in Bute county 
for the revolutionary army, and was elected 
its colonel in 1776; was a member of the 
convention that ratified the national consti- 
tution, was the last surviving signer of the 
constitution of Xorth Carolina, and was fre- 
quently a member of the executive council ; 
died in Warren county, Xorth Carolina, in 
1801, at the advanced age of eighty-four 
years. 

Harris, Samuel, born in Hanover county, 
Virginia, January 12, 1724; during his early 
manhood and in middle life he occupied 
many public offices, namely : Church warden, 
burgess for the county, sheriff, justice of 
the peace, colonel of militia, and commis- 
sary, in all of which he acquitted himself 
creditably; while riding through the coun- 
try in full military dress, he came upon a 
camp meeting in the woods; two itinerant 
Baptist clergymen were haranguing the as- 
semblage, and, on seeing Colonel Harris, at 
once directed their discourse to him ; so 
greatly was he impressed with their argu- 
ments that he was baptized, and became an 
exhorter among the poor white settlers: in 
1770 he was ordained, and the Baptist Asso- 
ciation to which he belonged invested him 
with the office of "apostle :' he relinguished 
his large property, lived with extreme fru- 
gality, and suffered considerable persecu- 



Digitized by 



Google 



136 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



tion from the Established Church, of which 
he had formerly been a member; he exer- 
cised a great influence over the masses, and 
was distinguished as an exhorter; he died, 
probably in Hanover county, Virginia, in 
1794 (q. v., William Samuel Harris, vol. i, 
P- 253)- 

Warden, John, native of Scotland; emi- 
nent practitioner in Virginia courts of law 
from the time of the revolution to his death, 
about 1800. 

Cockey Hartwell, belonged to the famous 
Cocke family, of Henrico and Surry coun- 
ties: he was a graduate of William and 
^Tary College, and an original member of 
the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity ; Richard 
Cocke, of **Mt. Pleasant,'* Surry county, 
married Elizabeth Hartwell, a great-niece 
of Hon. Henry Hartwell; his will was 
proved in 1777. He had Hartwell Cocke, 
who married Anne Ruffin, and had, with 
others, John Hartwell Cocke, born Novem- 
ber 5, 1749, died February 9. 1791 ; and 
Hartwell Cocke. John Hartwell Cocke was 
frequently a member of the legislature, and 
was in the convention of 1788. Grigsby errs 
in confusing him with his brother, Hart- 
well, who removed to Southampton county 
and was captain of militia. John Hartwell 
Cocke was the father of Gen. John Hartwell 
Cocke, of Bremo, the father of Philip St. 
George Cocke. 

Stephen, Adam, was born in Virginia 
about 1730. He joined the Ohio expedition 
with a company in 1754, was promoted to 
lieutenant-colonel, and in the absence of 
Washington commanded the forces at Win- 
chester, whence he set out in 1756 with an 
expedition against the Creeks for the relief 
of the colonists of South Carolina. He had 



charge of the frontier defences of Virginia 
in 1783, performed important services in 
bringing to a termination the French and 
Indian wars, and at the beginning of the 
revolution was given command of a regi- 
ment. He was made brigadier-general, Sep- 
tember 4, 1776, fought at Trenton, and on 
February 19. 1777. was promoted to major- 
general. He led an attacking party at the 
Brandywine. At Germantown. in a fog. his 
division became involved in a combat with 
the troops of Gen. Anthony Wayne. He 
was held responsible for the blunder, was 
accused of intoxication, and was dismissed 
from the service. He was a member of the 
convention of 1788, and supported the con- 
stitution in an able speech. He died at his 
farm in Berkeley county in November, 1791. 

Crawford, William, was born in Berkeley 
county, Virginia, in 1732. died in Wyandot 
county, Ohio. June 11, 1782. He was a sur- 
veyor by occupation, serving under Wash- 
ington. At the outbreak of the French and 
Indian war he became an ensign in the 
Virginia riflemen, and was with Gen. Brad- 
dock in the expedition against Fort Du- 
quesne. He remained in the service until 
1761, and on recommendation of Washing- 
ton was promoted captain. He again saw 
service during the Pontiac war, from 1763 
till 1764, and in 1767 settled in Western 
Pennsylvania, purchasing land, and later 
became a justice of the peace. Early after 
the beginning of the revolutionary war he 
raised a company of Virginians and joined 
Washington's army. He was made lieu- 
tenant-colonel of the Fifth Virginia Regi- 
ment, in 1776; later became colonel, resign- 
ing from the army in 1781. He participated 
in the battle of Long Island, in the subse- 
quent retreat across New Jersey and over 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



U7 



the Delaware, and in the battles of Trenton 
and Princeton, and afterward was engaged 
around Philadelphia. In 1778 he was as- 
signed to frontier duty and for years follow- 
ing was occupied in suppressing the Indian 
attacks on the settlers. After his resigna- 
tion he retired to his farm, hoping to spend 
the remainder of his days with his family, 
after having given nearly twenty-five years 
of his life to the service of his country ; but 
in May, 1782, at the urgent request of Gens. 
Washington and William Irvine, he reluc- 
tr.ntly accepted the command of an expedi- 
tion against the Wyandot and Delaware In- 
dians on the banks of the Muskingum. The 
Indians were discovered on June 4, and an 
engagement ensued in which Crawford's 
troops were surrounded in a grove called 
Battle Island by a force much larger than 
his own. The fight lasted two days, when 
finding themselves hemmed in, they decided 
to cut their way out. In the retreat that 
followed the soldiers were separated, and 
Col. Crawford fell into the hands of the In- 
dians. After several days of cruel experi- 
ence, during which he was subjected to hor- 
rible torture, he was burned to death. The 
story is told by N. N. Hill, Jr., in the '*Maga- 
zine of Western History" for May, 1885, 
under the title of "Crawford's Campaign." 

Mathews, George, born in Augusta coun- 
ty. V'irginia. in 1739, son of John Mathews, 
a native of Ireland, from whence he emi- 
grated to this country in 1737; at the age of 
eighteen years, in 1757, he commanded a 
volunteer company against the Indians, and 
he also participated in the battle of Point 
Pleasant, October 10, 1774; at the outbreak 
ot the revolution, he was commissioned 
colonel of the Ninth Virginia Regiment, 
was actively engaged in the battle of 



Brandywine and at Germantown, was 
wounded in action, was confined on the 
prison ship Xcw Jersey until December, 
1 77 1, when he was exchanged, and he then 
joined Gen. Greene's army as colonel of 
the Third Virginia Regiment; in 1785 he 
removed to the state of Georgia, locating at 
Goose Pond, Oglethorpe county; from 1789 
to 1791 was a representative from Georgia 
in the first congress, and from 1793 to 1796 
was governor of Georgia, and during his 
term of office the famous Yazoo act was 
passed and approved by him, which resulted 
in his political downfall, he losing the nomi- 
nation, by President Adams, for governor 
of Mississippi territory, on that account: 
and in 181 1 President Madison appointed 
him United States commissioner to nego- 
tiate for the annexation of Florida, but the 
following year the President disavowed the 
treaty, which act so incensed Gov. Mathews 
that it is said he started for Washington to 
chastise President Madison, but on his way 
was taken ill at Augusta. Georgia, where 
his death occurred, August 30, 1812. 

Hubard, William, born in York county, 
Virginia, son of James Hubard, was gradu- 
ated at William and Mary College, 1760, 
ordained deacon by the bishop of London. 
1773, and priest. 1776: was in charge of 
Warwick parish. Virginia, from 1773 to 
1776, and in the latter year became rector 
of St. Luke's Church. Newport parish, Isle 
of Wight county, Virginia, where he re- 
mained until his death: this church was 
erected in 1632, and it was often called "Old 
Smithfield Church" or the "Old Brick 
Church:" Mr. Hubard was a leader in the 
community, and served many years as a 
magistrate; died near Smithfield, Virginia, 
in 1802. 



Digitized by 



Google 



1^8 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Hammond^ LcRoy, born in Richmond 
county, \*irginia, about 1740; was reared 
and educated in his native state ; married 
Mary, daughter of John Tyler, of Essex 
county ; removed to Georgia, in 1765, and 
thence to South Carolina, where he engaged 
in the tobacco business, being a dealer for 
many years, achieving success therein ; dur- 
ing the early period of the revolutionary 
war. he was commissioned a colonel, served 
in the "Snow*' campaign, and in the cam- 
paign against the Cherokees, in 1776, in 
which he displayed great bravery, and sub- 
sequently his services were in demand as 
Indian agent, being employed by both con- 
gress and the state of South Carolina; in 
1779 he took the field with his regiment and 
played an important part in the battle of 
Stono Ferry, and after the fall of Charles- 
ton he adopted a desultory mode of warfare, 
and was constantly engaged in fighting the 
Loyalists. British and Indians; in J781 he 
was at the siege of Augusta, afterward art 
that of Ninety-Six, serving under Gen. 
Greene, and later, under Gen. Pickens; 
after the battle of Eutaw he was active in 
guerilla warfare ; Col. Hammond died about 
the year 1800. 

L}mch, Charles» born in Virginia, son of 
Charles Lynch, a native of Ireland, from 
whence he came to this country in boyhood, 
later settling on a large portion of land situ- 
ated on the James river, near the Peaks of 
Otter; Charles Jr. served as colonel of a 
regiment of riflemen in the revolutionary 
war, and his services at Guilford, North 
Carolina, were conspicuous for gallantry; 
he is said to have originated and enacted 
the celebrated code called **Lynch Law" 
during the revolution, in order to punish a 
band of lawless tories and desperadoes 



about Lynchburg, which place was founded 
ty his brother John ; Col. Lynch, who was a 
staunch Whig, organized and led a party 
o» patriots and scoured the country for the 
desperadoes, and when taken gave them a 
summary trial at which he sat as judge, em- 
paneled a jury and executed punishment; 
he died near Staunton, Virginia, about 1785. 

Logan, Benjamin, born in Augusta coun- 
ty, Virginia, in 1743, son of David Logan, 
a native of Ireland, who emigrated to this 
country, settled in Pennsylvania, there mar- 
ried, and later located in Augusta county, 
\'irginia, where he died in 1757; upon at- 
taining his majority, Benjamin Logan re- 
moved to the Holston river, where he pur- 
chased lands ; he served in the wars against 
the Indians, 1764: served in Dunmore's In- 
dian war. 1774: joined Boone's party of set- 
tlers en route to Kentucky in 1775 and left 
the party and settled in what is now Lin- 
coln county, Kentucky, where with the help 
of his brother John he built Fort Logan, and 
removed his family thither the following 
year, 1776, but settled them for a time at 
Harrod's Fort, where they would be less ex- 
posed to Indian attacks; in 1777 his family 
joined him at Logan's Fort, he having been 
reinforced by a number of white men ; on 
May 20. 1777, the fort was besieged by a 
hundred Indians, the siege continuing for 
weeks, until the garrison had about exhaust- 
ed their ammunition and provisions, when 
Logan, attended by two companions, left the 
fort under cover of the night, and made a 
ropid journey of one hundred and fifty miles 
to the Holston settlement, where he procured 
powder and lead, and hastily returned, leav- 
ing his companions to follow with a relief 
party under Col. John Bowman, who dis- 
persed the savages; in July, 1779. he was 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



139 



sccund in command of over three hundred 
men under Col. Bowman in an expedition 
against the Indian settlement ui Chillicothe, 
and in the summer of 178S he again conduct- 
ed an expedition against the Xorthwestern 
tribes ; he was a delegate to the convention of 
1792 that framed the first constitution of 
Kentucky, and to the second constitutional 
convention of 1799; ^^"^^ also a representa- 
tive in the Kentucky legislature for several 
years; Logan county, Kentucky, formed in 
1792, was named in his honor; he married 
Ann, daughter of William Montgomery; he 
died in Shelby county, Kentucky, December 
II, 1802. 

Taylor, Richard, father of President Tay- 
lor, was born in eastern \'irginia, March 22, 
1744; a descendant of James Taylor, who 
came from England in 1682, and settled in 
Eastern Virginia. Richard's love of ad- 
venture carried him to the unexplored coun- 
try west of the Alleghenies, before he reach- 
ed his majority, and he crossed Kentucky to 
the Mississippi valley, thence to Natchez, a 
trading post, and from there northward 
through the trackless forest afoot and alone 
back to his father's home in \'irginia. He 
commanded a \'irginia regiment in the rev- 
olution, and was a field officer on Wash- 
ington's personal force. He was married, 
August 20, 1779. to Sarah Strother, then 
nineteen, and settled on a plantation near 
Orange Court House. They had three chil- 
dren. Zachary being less than one year old 
when they crossed the mountains into Ken- 
tucky and settled on the Beargrass Creek at 
the place known afterward as Springfield, 
six miles from the present site of Louisville, 
a point selected by the elder brother, Han- 
cock (a surveyor of wild lands'), who had 
preceded the family to the new territory. 



President Washington made Colonel Tay- 
lor collector of the port of Louisville, then 
a port of entry, Louisiana being foreign 
territory. He was a delegate to the state 
constitutional convention, a presidential 
district elector on the Madison ticket in 
1813; elector-at-Iarge on the Monroe ticket 
in 1817; district elector on the Monroe 
ticket in 182 1, and elector-at-large on the 
Henry Clay ticket in 1825. Col. Dick Tay- 
lor died at "Springfield," Kentucky, 1826. 

Sevier, John, was born in Rockingham 
county, Virginia, September 23, 1745, son 
of Valentine Sevier (originally Xavier), who 
came from London in 1740. He attended the 
Fredericksburg (Virginia) Academy, and 
married Catherine Sherrill. He founded New- 
market village, in the Shenandoah valley; 
later he removed to the Watauga country, 
and served in Lord Dunmore's war against 
the Indians. He rose to high civil and mili- 
t««ry positions in the Watauga country, and 
fiuight the Indians relentlessly. During the 
revolution he commanded a regiment at 
Uoyd's Creek and King's Mountain, saving 
the day in the latter engagement, .\fterwards, 
he became governor of the new state of 
Franklin, and when that scheme was aban- 
doned he was imprisoned by the North Caro- 
lina authorities, rescued, and took the oath 
of allegiance to the United States govern- 
ment. He was subsequently a congressman 
from North Carolina, governor of Tennessee, 
and a congressman from that state. A coun- 
ty in Tennessee bears his name, and a monu- 
ment to his memory stands in Nashville. 
He died September 24, 1815, near Decatur, 
Alabama. 

Grymcs, John Randolph, born in Vir- 
ginia, about 1746, son of Philip Grymes and 



Digitized by 



Google 



140 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Mary, his wife, daughter of Sir John Ran- 
dolph; he joined the Royal army under 
Lord Dunmore at the head of a troop of 
horse that he had himself raised, in 1776, 
and in the same year he was expelled from 
his estate, and all his negroes, cattle and 
personal property fell into the hands of the 
patriots; in 1777 he joined the rangers, a 
battalion of horse, and at the close of the 
following year resigned and went to Eng- 
land, where he was agent for prosecuting 
the claims of the Loyalists in Virginia; 
when the invasion of Napoleon was appre- 
hended the Loyalist Americans in London 
offered, with the King's approval, to form 
themselves into a company, and Mr. Grymes 
was appointed ensign ; later he returned to 
the United States, settled in Orange coun- 
t}, Virginia, and became a wealthy slave- 
holder and planter; he married, in London, 
England, his cousin, the daughter of John 
Randolph, last royal attorney-general of 
Virginia, and niece of Peyton Randolph, 
president of the continental congress; Mr. 
Gr>*mes died in Virginia in the year 1820. 

Harrod, James, born in Virginia in 1746; 
reared and educated in his native state, emi- 
grated to Kentucky in 1774, and built the 
first log cabin on the present site of Har- 
rodsburg; he was a successful agriculturist, 
an expert with the rifle, and a brave and 
intrepid soldier, ranking as one of the lead- 
ers in military affairs, distinguishing him- 
self at the battle of Point Pleasant in .1774; 
subsequently he represented Harrodsburg 
(which was named in his honor) in the 
Transylvania assembly ; he was in the habit 
of making solitary excursions into the for- 
est, and from one of these trips, which was 
undertaken about the year 1825, when he 
was about eighty years of age, he never re- 



turned, nor was any trace of him ever dis- 
covered. 

Muhlenberg, John Peter Gabriel, born in 
Trappe, Pennsylvania, in 1747, son of Rev. 
Henry Melchoir Muhlenberg, founder of 
the Lutheran church in America; with his 
younger brothers, Frederick and Henry, he 
was sent to Germany to be educated for the 
ministry ; he became involved in a difficulty 
with a tutor, whose rebuke he revenged 
with a blow: foreseeing expulsion, he en- 
listed in a dragoon regiment, from which he 
was soon discharged through the interven- 
tion of friends; returning to America, he 
engaged in theological studies under his 
father, was ordained a minister in the Evan- 
gelical Lutheran Church in 1768, and was 
made assistant rector of churches in New 
Germantown and Bedminster, New Jersey; 
while there he married Anne Barbara 
Meyer ; in 1772 he was called to New Wood- 
stock, Virginia, where many Germans were 
settled; in order to enforce the payment of 
tithes, it was necessary that he should re- 
ceive Episcopal ordination, under which he 
would come under the provisions of the Vir- 
gfinia law, although not a member of the 
Established Church; he went to London, 
England, where he was ordained, and came 
to his new charge in Virginia ; he was soon 
on terms of personal intimacy with Wash- 
ington and Henry, and he was chairman of 
the county committee of safety of Frederick 
county in 1774, and sat in the Virginia con- 
ventions of March 20 and December i, 1775 ; 
the same year he was elected cotonel of the 
Eighth Virginia Regiment; his last sermon 
ended with the words, "There is a time for 
all things — z time to preach, and a time to 
pray, but there is also a time to fight, and 
that time has now come ;" then pronouncing 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



141 



the benediction, he pulled off his gown, and 
stood wearing a full military uniform ; going 
to the door, he ordered the drums to beat, 
and assembled his men ; marching to the re- 
lief of Charleston, South Carolina, his regi- 
ment, known as the "German regiment," 
gained a high reputation for discipline and 
courage; he took part in the battle of Sulli- 
van's Island, shared in the Southern cam- 
paign, and was made brigadier-general; he 
was engaged at Brandywine, German- 
town, ^lonmouth, Stony Point and York- 
town, where he commanded the First Light 
Infantry Brigade, and he was promoted to 
major-general at the end of the war, and 
before the army was disbanded; on return- 
ing to civil pursuits, he took up his residence 
in Philadelphia; was elected a member of 
the Pennsylvania council: in 1785 was vice- 
president of the state under Franklin; was 
three times elected to congress, and in 1801 
was elected United States senator, but re- 
signed to accept appointment by President 
Jefferson as revenue supervisor for Penn- 
sylvania; in 1803 ^^ ^vas made collector of 
the port of Philadelphia; he died October 
I, 1807; his statue appears in the capitol in 
Washington City. 

Jones, John PauU born in Kirkbean, Scot- 
bnd, July 6, 1747; at the age of twelve he 
went to sea, and while on his first voyage 
visited his brother William in Fredericks- 
burg, Virginia; he followed the sea, and in 
1/73 came to \'irginia to settle the estate 
of his brother, who had died the previous 
year; he resided in Fredericksburg about 
two years, and during this time (December 
22, 1775) received his appointment as lieu- 
tenant in the navy from the continental con- 
gress, as first lieutenant of the '"Alfred," on 



board which ship, before Philadelphia, he 
"hoisted with his own hands the flag of 
freedom the first time it was displayed ;" as 
captain of the "Ranger," in Quiberon Bay, 
February 14. 1778, he claimed and obtained 
from Monsieur La Motte Picquet the first 
salute the flag of the new republic received 
from a foreign power; his daring exploits 
at sea are matters of familiar knowledge; 
he continued to serve until the independ- 
ence of his adopted country was acknowl- 
edged, and peace was restored, and at the 
time of his death (July, 1792) he was the 
senior officer in the United States navy; in 
1838. Janette Taylor, of Gosport (Ports- 
mouth), \"irginia, sister of John Paul 
Jones, and other heirs, memorialized the 
governor and council of the state, asking a 
land bounty allowance for the services of 
their illustrious kinsman; on December 21 
01 the same year, as shown by the records 
of the Virginia state land office, they were 
allowed 3,985 acres, as being the amount 
due for the services of John Paul Jones *'as 
a captain in the continental navy, equal in 
rank to a brigadier-general in the conti- 
nental line, for a service of seven years and 
ten months and eleven days;" in 1908 the 
remains of John Paul Jones were brought 
back from France for final interment in the 
United States. 

Hickman, William, born in King and 
Queen county, Virginia, February 4, 1747; 
he was educated as an Episcopalian, but 
united with the Bapjtist church in 1773, was 
licensed tO' preach three years later, after 
visiting Kentucky in the early part of 1776, 
where he preached the first sermon deliv- 
ered in the new settlement; in 1784 he set- 
tled in Fayette county, Kentucky, and 



Digitized by 



Google 



142 



VIRGINIA BlUGRArilY 



founded many churches in that state; his 
death occurred in the state of Kentucky in 
the year 1830. 

Massie, Thomas, son of William Massie 
and Martha Macon, his wife, was born 
August 22, 1747, attended the grammar 
school of William and Mary College, 1759- 
1760; a captain in the revolution, 1775-1778. 
promoted major in the northern campaign, 
1 778- 1 779; aide-de-camp to General Nelson 
winter of 1780-1781 to the fall of Yorktown, 
in 1808 one of the first magistrates of Nel- 
son county, 1808. He married about 1780. 
Sarah Cocke, and died at "Level Green,'' 
his seat in Nelson county, Virginia, Febru- 
ary 2, 1834. 

Madison, James, first bishop of Virginia 
and fourth in succession in the American 
episcopate, was born near Port Republic, 
Virginia, August 27, 1749, son of John and 
Agatha (Strother) Madison, and a descend- 
ant of John Madison, a patentee of land 
in Gloucester county, Virginia, in 1^53. 
Bishop Madison obtained his early educa- 
tion in an academy in Maryland, and in 
1768 entered the College of William and 
Mary : pursued a course of law study under 
the guidance of George Wythe, was admit- 
ted to the bar in 1770, but shortly afterward 
returned to his alma mater, and on July 29, 
1772. received the gold medal for proficiency 
in classical learning; he pursued theological 
studies at the college, in the meantime serv- 
ing as instructor in penmanship, and in 
May. 1773, was appointed professor of 
mathematics; the board of visitors of the 
college furnished him with fifty pounds to 
pay his expenses to London, England, 
where he received orders as deacon, Sep- 
tember 29, and as priest, October i, 1775; 



returned to X'irginia. in 1775, accepted the 
chair of natural philosophy in William and 
Mary Colitgo. and two years later, when 
the board of visitors removed President 
Camm, he was elected president of the col- 
lege and served in that capacity until his 
death in 1812; under his administration the 
chairs of law and medicine were created and 
the college assumed the dignity of a univer- 
sity of which George Washington was made 
chancellor in 1788; the elective system of 
study was adopted, the study of munici- 
pal law was introduced, President Madison 
being the first college president in America 
to introduce that; at the close of the revo- 
lution he was president of the first conven- 
tion of the Episcopal church in Virginia, 
May I, 1785; in 1790 was elected the first 
bishop of the American church in Virginia, 
becoming the fourth in succession in this 
country-; was consecrated in the chapel of 
Lambeth Palace. London. England, by the 
Archbishop of Canterbury, September 19, 
1790; he continued to perform the duties as 
president of the college in addition to his 
oversight of the churches of his diocese for 
twenty-two years ; he received the honorary 
degree of D. D. from the University of 
Pennsylvania in 1785. and from the College 
of William and Mary in 1796; was the 
author of **EuIogy on Washington" (1800) : 
papers in Barton's Journal, a Map of \'ir- 
ginia; and several sermons for special oc- 
casions; married, in 1779, Sarah Tate, 
granddaughter of Secretary William Cocke; 
Mrs. Madison died August 20, 1815, having 
survived her husband more than three years, 
his death occurring in Williamsburg, \'ir- 
ginia. March 6, 1812. 

Garrard, James, was born in StaflFord 
county, Virginia, January 14, 1749; son of 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



143 



Col. William Garrard, who died in 1786; 
died in Bourbon county, Kentucky, January 
9, 1822. While engaged as a militia ollicer 
in the revolutionary war he was called from 
the army to a seat in the Virginia legis- 
lature. Here he was a zealous advocate ot 
the bill for the establishment of religious 
liberty. Having removed with the early 
settlers to Kentucky, in 1783, and settled on 
Stoney river, near Paris, he became there 
a political leader, and was a member of the 
convention which framed the first consti- 
tution of the state. Here he was ordained 
to the Baptist ministry. In 1791, pending 
the convention just named, he was chairman 
of a committee that reported to the Elkhorn 
Baptist Association a memorial and remon- 
strance in favor of excluding slavery from 
the commonwealth by constitutional enact- 
ment. He was elected governor in 1796 and 
re-elected in 1800. serving eight years. 

Jones, Joseph, born at "Cedar Grove," 
Petersburg, \'irginia, August 23, 1749, son 
01 Thomas Jones, grandson of Abraham 
J<»ne>, and great-great-grandson of Maj. 
Peter Jones, who married a daughter of 
Maj. (ien. .\braham Wood (q. v..vol. i, 122). 
Joseph Jones, after completing his prepara- 
tory studies, devoted his attention to mili- 
tary afirairs. was an earnest patriot in the 
revolutionary war. an officer in the Virginia 
militia, holding the rank of colonel, ap- 
pointed October 25, 1784; brigadier-general. 
December 11, 1793, and major-general, De- 
cember 24. 1802: subsequently was ap- 
pointed collector of customs for Peters- 
burg. Virginia, in which capacity he 
served until his decease; married (first) 
Nancy, daughter of Col. William Call, 
(second") Jane, daughter of Roger Atkin- 
son: Gen. Jones died on his estate. Cedar 



Grove, Petersburg. \'irginia, February 9, 
1824. He was ancestor of William Atkin- 
son Jones, a member of the present congress 
(q. v.). 

Doak, Samuel, was born in Augusta 
county, Virginia, in August, 1749, died in 
Bethel, Xorth Carolina, December 12, ^830. 
He was graduated at Princeton in 1775, be- 
came tutor in Hampden-Sidney College, 
studied theology there, and was licensed to 
preach by the Presbytery of Hanover in 
1777. He removed to the Holston settle- 
ment (then part of Xorth Carolina, now a 
part of east Tennessee), and two years later 
to a settlement on the Little Limestone, in 
Washington county, where he bought a 
farm, built a log schoolhouse and a small 
church, and founded the "Salem Congrega- 
tion." The school he established at this 
place was the first that was organized in 
the valley of the Mississippi. In 17S5 it 
was incorporated by the legislature oi 
North Carolina as Martin Academy, and in 
1795 became Washington College. He pre- 
sided over it from the time of its incorpo- 
ration till 1818, when he removed to Celhel 
and opened a private school, which he 
named Tusculum .\cademy. Mr. Doak was 
a member of the convention of 1784 that 
framed the constitution of the common- 
wealth of Frankland. The degree of D. D. 
was conferred upon him by Washington and 
Greenville colleges in 1818. His son 
Samuel was president of Tusculum College. 
Tennessee, in 1857. 

Bradford, John, was born irt Fauquier 
county. Virginia, in 1749. He served two 
years in the war of the revolution, and was 
later present at the battle of Chillicothe. 
He removed to Kentucky in 1785, locating 



Digitized by 



Google 



144 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



in Fa>ellc county, on Cane Run, near LeaC- 
ington. In 1787, with his brother Fielding, 
ho established the Kentucke Gazette, the 
first newspaper published west of the Alle- 
phanies, which was issued under that title 
until 1786 when its name was changed to 
the Kentucky Gazette. The press and equip- 
ment for this enterprise were brought from 
Philadelphia. In 1786 he became public 
printer; in 1792 was one of the electors of 
the senate, and chairman of the town trus- 
tees. He was elected to the legislature in 
1797, and also to that of 1801. John Brad- 
ford was made cashier of the bank, which 
was the result of the famous act of 1801, 
incorporating the first life insurance com- 
pany, in an obscure clause of which were 
concealed full banking privileges, and as- 
signed his interest in the Gazette to his son. 
He was at one time chairman of the board 
of trustees of Transylvania University, and 
when nearly eighty years of age he was 
elected to the shrievalty of Fayette county, 
and held the office until his death, in 1830. 

Posey, Thomas, born in Fairfax county, 
Virginia, July 9, 1750. In 1769 he removed 
to the western frontier of Virginia, and 
served in Lord Dunmore's Shawnee expedi- 
tion, and fought in the battle at Point Pleas- 
ant. In 1775 was a member of Virginia 
committee of correspondence; commanded 
a company in Seventh Virginia Regiment; 
joined Washington's army in New Jersey 
in 1777, where his company was transferred 
to Morgan's riflemen; fought in battles ol 
Bemis Heights and Stillwater; major of 
Second Virginia Regiment at Monmouth; 
in 1778 he was transferred to the Seventh 
Virginia Regiment, and led an expedition 
against the Indians after the massacre of 
Wyoming. At Stony Point he received the 



arms of the British officers. He was at the 
surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, Oc- 
tober 19, 1781 ; in 1782 was made lieuten- 
ant-colonel, and organized a new regiment 
which he commanded in Georgia under 
Wayne, and left the army at the close of 
the war. In 1793-94 he was a brigadier- 
general commanding a brigade under 
Wayne in the Northwest. In the latter year 
he located in Kentucky, was state senator 
several terms, and speaker, 1805-06. When 
war was threatened in 1809 he was com- 
missioned major-general and organized the 
Kentucky volunteers. Later he removed to 
Louisiana and became United States Sena- 
tor to fill a vacancy; was governor of In- 
diana Territory, 1813-16; defeated for gov- 
ernor when Indiana became a state; from 
1816-18 was Indian agent at Shawneetown, 
Illinois, where he died, March 19, 1818. He 
married (first) Martha, daughter of Gen. 
Sampson Matthews, of Augusta county, 
X'irginia; and (second) Mary, daughter of 
John and Lucy (Thornton) Alexander, and 
widow of Maj. George Thornton. 

Porterfield, Charles, was bom in Freder- 
ick county, Virginia, in 1750, son of Wil- 
liam Porterfield, who emigrated from Eng- 
land and settled in Pennsylvania early in 
the eighteenth century. He enlisted in the 
first military company organized in 1775 in 
Frederick county to defend the patriot 
cause, Daniel Morgan being captain ; joined 
Washington's army at Cambridge, Massa- 
chusetts, and was with Colonel Arnold in 
the expedition at Quebec. In the disas- 
trous assault on that city he was taken 
prisoner inside the fort December 31, 1775, 
but was exchanged and again joined the 
army February 3, 1777, serving as captain 
in Morgan's Rifles, 1777-78. He was made 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 




GEaROGERS CLARK 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



'45 



major, July 13, 1778, serving in Wood- 
ford's Brigade; was transferred to the Sev- 
enth Virginia Regiment, September 14, 
1778. and resigned from the service, July 
2, 1779. On August 14, 1779, he was ap- 
pointed by Governor Jefferson lieutenant- 
colonel of a Virginia state regiment organ- 
ized largely through his efforts, and pro- 
ceeded to Charleston, South Carolina, in the 
spring of 1780. At the battle near Camden, 
South Carolina. August 16, 1780, where he 
commanded a part of the advance guard of 
General Gates' army, he was severely 
wounded, taken prisoner, and after ten 
days, having meanwhile received no medi- 
cal attention, submitted to the amputation 
of his leg, and was paroled. His death, re- 
sulting from the effects of his injury, oc- 
curred on the Santee river. South Carolina, 
in October, 1780. 

Harrisoiu Charles, brother of Gov. Ben- 
jamin Harrison; was educated at William 
and Mary College; was colonel of Virginia 
regiment of artillery, November 30, 1776; 
colonel First Continental Artillery, Janu- 
ary I. 1777, and served to June, 1783. He 
died in 1796. He married Mary, daughter 
of Col. Augustin Claiborne, of Windsor, 
Sussex county, Virginia. 

Bedinger, George Michael, born in Vir- 
ginia about 1750, died at Lower Blue Licks, 
Kentucky, about 1830. He was one of the 
early emigrants to Kentucky, and served as 
adjutant in the expedition of 1779 against 
Chillicothe, as major at the battle of Blue 
Licks in 1782, and did valuable service as 
an Indian spy throughout the war. He 
commanded the Winchester battalion of 
Sharpshooters in St. Clair's expedition of 
1791. and was a major of United States 
viA-10 



Infantry in 1792-93. He was a member of 
the Kentucky legislature in 1792, and rep- 
resented that state in congress from 1803 to 
1S07. 

Clark, George Rogers, was born near 
Monticello, Albemarle county, Virginia, No- 
vember 19, 1752; son of John and Ann 
( Rogers) Clark ; and grandson of Jonathan 
and Elizabeth (Wilson) Clark. He prac- 
ticed surveying and in 1771 or 1772 made a 
long tour through the upper Ohio valley 
and cleared and improved land, in Grave 
creek township, twenty-five miles below 
Wheeling. In Dunmore's war, Clark was 
either on Dunmore*s staff or in command of 
a company, and rendered such efficient ser- 
vice that he was offered a position in the 
British army, which he declined. In 1775 
he was deputy surveyor under Capt. Han- 
cock Lee to lay out lands on the Kentucky 
river for the Ohio company, and remained 
there until the fall, making his headquar- 
ters at Leestown and Harrodstown. In 
1776. after a visit home, he returned to Ken- 
tucky, where he became a leader of the set- 
tlers. He was chosen a member of the Vir- 
ginia legislature and after a journey to Wil- 
liamsburg found that body adjourned. It 
was necessary for the settlers in Kentucky 
to be supplied with gunpowder, and Clark 
obtained from Gov. Patrick Henry a letter 
to the executive council. They refused to 
comply with Clark's request unless Clark 
would be responsible for the value of the 
powder if the legislature failed to legalize 
the transaction. Clark declined to assume 
any risk, on the ground that if Virginia 
claimed Kentucky she should protect it. 
The ammunition was g^ranted and Kentucky 
was recognized as a part of Virginia. On 



DigitizQd by 



Google 



146 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



the reassembling of the legislature Clark 
was present and succeeded in gaining for- 
mal recognition of the Kentucky country 
and its organization as a county with the 
same name and boundaries it now has as a 
state. In January, 1777, gunpowder was 
delivered in Kentucky. Clark stopped at 
Leestown and McClelland's and set about to 
organize aggressive warfare against the In- 
dians, who had been making serious depre- 
dations. He was given the rank of lieu- 
I'^nant-colonel, and instructed by Gov. 
Henry to enlist seven companies of sol- 
diers, of fifty men each. W'ith this force 
he was to attack the British post at Kas- 
kaskia. Early in May, 1778, he departed 
from Red Stone with only one-third of the 
troops expected. He stopped at the mouth 
of the Kentucky river and finally to the falls 
of the Ohio and selected Corn Island for 
his camping ground. His men numbered 
about one hundred and seventy, and on 
June 24, 1778, they started for Kaskaskia, 
arriving there on the evening of July 4. Be- 
fore daylight they had disarmed the town. 
Clark sent a part of his force to take pos- 
session of the French villages up the Miss- 
issippi, Capt. Joseph Bowman succeeding in 
capturing Prairie du Rocher, Cahokia, and 
other villages. Meanwhile Clark secured 
the allegiance of the inhabitants of Vincen- 
nes, the most important post on the river. 
At Cahokia he met representatives from 
several tribes, and secured treaties of peace. 
On February 5, 1779, the little army left 
Kaskaskia for Vincennes. For ten days 
they marched through the waters then over- 
flowing the Wabash river and all its tribu- 
taries; Fort Sackville and Vincennes were 
captured after considerable fighting. Clark 
received a commission from Gov. Henry, 



dated December 14, 1778, promoting him 
colonel. He contemplated attacking De- 
troit, but decided it to be impracticable, 
owing to his scanty force. On June 12, 
1779, Virginia presented Col. Clark with a 
costly sword in recognition of his services. 
He returned to the falls of the Ohio later 
in 1779 and found that the garrison had re- 
moved to the mainland and constructed a 
fort in what is now Louisville, Kentucky. 
Early in 1780 he proceeded to the mouth 
of the Ohio river and built Fort Jefferson, 
but owing to sickness and Indian attacks, 
the fort was abandoned in 1781. In that 
year he was commissioned brigadier-gen- 
eral and began to recruit troops for an at- 
tack on Detroit. This expedition, through 
the failure of Col. Lochry to reach Wheel- 
ing until after Clark's departure, was un- 
successful, and the defeat embittered Clark's 
after life. On Clark's return to the west 
he set about organizing the militia. Fort 
Nelson, on the site of Louisville, was con- 
structed, and early in November, 1782, at 
the head of one thousand men, he marched 
against the Indians on the Miami river and 
subdued them. In January, 1783, the treaty 
of peace with Great Britain was ratified by 
congress and attention was turned to the 
vast territory of land acquired through the 
eflforts of Gen. Clark, but Virginia, exhaust- 
ed by the war, failed sufficiently to provide 
for his troops, and on June 2, 1783, he was 
relieved of his command. His financial 
condition rendered impossible the purchase 
of food and clothing, and necessity led him 
to appeal to the government. The appeal 
was unheeded, and even the half pay allot- 
ted to all Continental officers was denied 
him, as he had been a member of the Vir- 
ginia militia and not of the Continental 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



147 



army. He lived in obscurity until 1785, 
when he was appointed a commissioner to 
treat with Indian tribes. In 1786 he again 
acted as United States commissioner, ne- 
gotiating a Treaty with the Shawnees. Later 
in that year he commanded a campaign 
against the Indian tribes on the Wabash, 
but it proved a failure, and he was unjust- 
ly censured by Virginia and congress. Mor- 
tified by his treatment and neglect Gen. 
Clark accepted a commission from the 
French government of '*major-general in 
the armies of France and commander-in- 
chief of the French revolutionary legion on 
the Mississippi river." He was to lead a 
force of two thousand men against New Or- 
leans and the Spanish possessions on the 
lower Mississippi with a view to revolu- 
tionizing the Spanish control and govern- 
ment of that region. This plan was never 
carried out. In 1781 Gen. Clark was granted 
8049 acres of land in Indiana for his ser- 
vices in reducing the British posts. He re- 
sided in Clarksville many years, living alone 
in a log house, stricken with paralysis, ill, 
helpless and poor. The general assembly 
of Virginia, in a letter written by James 
Barbour, dated Richmond, October 29, 181 1, 
conveyed to him the intelligence that that 
body had voted him an annuity of $400, 
tendered him their earnest sympathy and 
notified him of the act of assembly in 
causing to be made a sword with appro- 
priate devices, emblematic of his actions, 
which with the annuity would be duly for- 
warded to him. On receiving the letter he 
said: "I am too old and infirm to ever use 
a sword again, but I am glad that my old 
mother state has not entirely forgotten me. 
and I thank her for the honor." He died 
a few vears later at the home of his sister, 



Mrs. Lucy Croghan. In 1869 his remains 
were removed to Cave Hill cemetery, Louis- 
ville, Kentucky, and his grave marked with 
a handsome monument. On February 25, 
1S92. the anniversary of the capture of Fort 
Sackville, a movement was inaugurated in 
Indianapolis, Indiana, to raise a suitable 
statue to his memory, and on February 25, 
1^95, it was placed on its pedestal in Monu- 
ment Place, Indianapolis. 

Parker, William Harwar, of "Rock 
Spring," Westmoreland county, Virginia, 
born in 1752, son of Judge Richard Parker 
and Mary (Beale) Parker, his wife. He 
served with distinction in the revolutionary 
war; was an officer in the Virginia state 
navy, 1776-80; commanded the Tempest. 
He married Mary Sturman. 

Porterficld, Robert, was born in Freder- 
ick county, Virginia, February 22, 1752, 
brother of Charles Porterfield (q. v.). He 
was appointed second lieutenant in the 
Eleventh Virginia Regiment, December 24, 
1776; served in Col. Daniel Morgan's Com- 
pany through the campaigns of 1777-79; 
was promoted first lieutenant. June i. 1777; 
adjutant, .April 19. 1778: was transferred to 
the Seventh Virginia Regiment. September 
14, 1778, and served as aide to Gen. William 
Woodford, 1778-79, taking part in the 
battles of Brandywinc, Germantown and 
Monmouth. He was promoted captain- 
lieutenant, July 2, 1779: captain. August 16, 
1779, and in December, 1779, accompanied 
Gen. William Woodford to Charleston, 
South Carolina, where he took part in the 
defense of that city, and on its fall surren- 
dered as a prisoner of war. May 12. 1780. 
He was exchanged and transferred to the 
Second Virginia Regiment. February 2. 1781, 



Digitized by 



Google 



148 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



where he served until the end of the war. 
He was married to Rebecca Farrer, of 
Amelia county; removed to Augusta coun- 
ty, Virginia, in 1783, and settled on a farm 
which he called "Soldier's Retreat." He 
was a brigadier-general in the Virginia 
militia during the war of 1812. He was 
justice of the peace for half a century, 
and served as high sheriff for two terms. 
He died in Augusta county, Virginia, Feb- 
ruary 13, 1843. 

Rochester, Nathaniel, was born in Cople 
parish, Westmoreland county, Virginia, 
February 21, 1752, a descendant of Nicholas 
Rochester, who emigrated from Kent, Eng- 
land, in 1689. and settled in Westmoreland 
county, Virginia. He removed to Granville 
county. North Carolina, with his mother 
and stepfather, Thomas Critcher, in 1763, 
and in 1768 obtained employment as a clerk 
in a mercantile house in Hillsboro, North 
Carolina, becoming a partner in 1773. He 
was a member of the committee of safety 
of Orange county in 1775 ; a member of the 
first provincial convention of North Caro- 
Ima ; appointed paymaster, with the rank of 
major, of the North Carolina line, and 
deputy commissary general of the Conti- 
nental army, May 10, 1776, but failing 
health . caused his early resignation. He 
was a delegate to the house of commons ; a 
commissioner to superintend the manufac- 
ture of arms at Hillsboro, and in 1778 en- 
gaged in business with Col. Thomas Hart. 
In 1783 they began the manufacture of flour, 
rope and nails at Hagerstown, Maryland. 
He was representative in the Maryland as- 
sembly; postmaster of Hagerstown, and 
judge of the county court. In 1808 he was 
presidential elector, voting for James Madi- 
son ; was first president of the Hagerstown 



bank, and was engaged in important mer- 
cantile transactions in Kentucky and Mary- 
land. He made large purchases of land in 
New York state, and removing to Dans- 
ville, New York, in May, 1810, established 
a paper mill there. In 181 5 he removed to 
Bloomfield, New York, and in 18 18 settled 
at the falls of the Genesee river, and there 
founded the city of Rochester. He was sec- 
retary of the convention to urge the con- 
struction of the Erie canal; the first clerk 
of Monroe county ; member of the state as- 
sembly, 1821 and 1822, and one of the organ- 
izers of the Bank of Rochester, and its first 
president. He died in Rochester, New 
York, May 17, 1831. 

Hardin, John, born in Fauquier county, 
Virginia, October i, 1753; remained in his 
native state until 1765, when he accom- 
panied his father to near the Pennsylvania 
line, which was .then an unbroken wilder- 
ness, and the life he led there made him a 
skillful marksman, so much so that he was 
greatly feared by the hostile Indians; he 
was ensign in Lord Dunmore's expedition 
against the Indians in 1774, and served as a 
scout; he joined the Continental army at 
the beginning of the revolutionary war, 
acted as lieutenant in Gen. Daniel Morgan's 
rifle corps, and refused a major's commis- 
sion, claiming that his services were of more 
use in the former rank; removed to Ken- 
tucky in 1786, and in the same year volun- 
teered under Gen. Elisha Clarke on the Wa- 
bash expedition, and was appointed lieu- 
tenant-colonel of militia ; he was a member 
of every expedition against the Kentucky 
Indians from 1787 until his death, except 
that of Gen. Arthur St. Clair; in April, 1792, 
he was sent by Gen. James Wilkinson with 
overtures of peace to the Miami Indians, 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



149 



and while he was bearing a flag, of truce 
near Shawneetown, his fine horse and equip- 
ments attracted the cupidity of the chiefs, 
who treacherously shot him to obtain these 
spoils; this occurred on the Ohio river, in 
April, 1792; the county of Hardin, Virginia, 
which was formed in 1792, was named in 
his honor. 

Innes, James, was born in 1754, in Vir- 
ginia, son of the Rev. Robert Innes, a 
Scotchman, and a graduate of Oxford. He 
was a graduate of William and Mary Col- 
lege, and usher of the grammar school. At 
the beginning of the troubles with the 
mother country, he rallied a band of stu- 
dents and secured some stores about to be 
secreted by Dunmore, and he was dismissed 
from college, the faculty being yet loyal to 
the crown. In February, 1776, as captain 
of the Williamsburg volunteers, he marched 
against the enemy at Hampton. In Novem- 
ber following, as lieutenant-colonel, he be- 
came an aide to Washington, and served at 
Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, German- 
town and Monmouth. In October, 1778, he 
was appointed a navy commissioner. In 
1780 he entered the house of delegates. At 
the solicitation of Washington, he raised a 
regiment for home defense, and commanded 
ii at the siege of Yorktown. He was a 
member of the convention of 1788, and elo- 
quently supported the constitution. He 
then engaged in law practice and attained 
high rank at the bar, and later succeeded 
Edmund Randolph as attorney-general. 
Governor Tazewell pronounced him "the 
most classical, the most elegant and the 
most eloquent orator" to whom he ever lis- 
tened. Washington held him in highest 
esteem, and tendered him the attorney-gen- 
eralship, which his state of health obliged 



him to decline. He died August 2, 1798, be- 
fore completing his forty-fourth year, in 
Philadelphia, while discharging his duties 
as commissioner under Jay's treaty, and 
was buried in that city, in Christ Church 
burial ground, not far from the grave of 
Franklin. He was a brother of Henry 
Innes, attorney-general of Kentucky (q. v., 
vol. 1, 263). 

Williamson, Andrew, born in Virginia; 
married Betty, daughter of John Tyler, of 
Essex county; removed to South Carolina. 
In 1775 he was major of South Carolina 
militia, and served in the battle of Ninety- 
six; afterwards fought the Cherokee In- 
dians, and suffered defeat ; made colonel, he 
retrieved his ill fortune and devastated the 
Indian country, and was made brigadier- 
general. He served at the siege of Savan- 
nah, ultimately went to Charleston and was 
taken under British protection. 

Cropper, John, was born in Accomac 
county, V^irginia, December 23, 1755, son of 
Sebastian Cropper, Jr., and Sabra Corbin, 
daughter of Col. Coventon Corbin. He 
was a captain in the Ninth Virginia Regi- 
ment of the revolutionary forces in 1775, 
was promoted to be major of the Fifth, en- 
gaging in the battle of the Brandywine, 
where his regiment suffered severely. He 
became colonel of the Seventh, taking part 
in the battles of Germantown and Mon- 
mouth. May 15, 1778, he was made lieu- 
tenant-colonel of the Eleventh Regiment, 
and afterwards promoted to be colonel of 
this regiment. In August, 1779. he with- 
drew to his farm, and remained there till 
the war closed. In 1781 he was appointed 
county lieutenant, and rendered much as- 
sistance in supplying provisions and equip- 



Digitized by 



Google 



ISO 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



ment to the troops. In December, 1782, he 
joined in an attack on a lot of British barges 
off Accomack Bay, but the Americans were 
defeated and Cropper was wounded and 
taken prisoner. Subsequently he was a 
member of the house of delegates (1784- 
1792). In the war of 181 2 he served as 
colonel of militia, and in 1815 he was com- 
missioned brigadier-general of the Twenty- 
first Brigade. Served in the state senate 
from 1813 10 1817, and in 1816 was president 
of the Virginia branch of the Cincinnati 
Society. He was a g^eat friend of Gen. 
Washington, and spoke always in most 
affectionate terms of the great commander. 
He died at his residence. January 15, 1821. 
His daughter, Sarah Corbin, married Major 
John Wise, speaker of the senate, and was 
mother of Gen. Henry A. Wise. 

Kenton, Simon, born in Fauquier county, 
Virginia, in March, 1755, of Scotch and 
Irish parents. He did field labor, and in his 
sixteenth year, in a quarrel arising from a 
love affair, severely wounded his rival, and 
fled to the mountains. At Cheat river he 
changed his name to Simon Butler, and 
with George Yeager and John Strader en- 
gaged in hunting. In 1771 went exploring 
tc •*Kaintuckce," and later, while hunting 
along the Little Kanawha, they were at- 
tacked by Indians and retreated to the 
Green Briar. Kenton was afterward a spy 
for Lord Dunmore, at Fort Pitt. Later he 
again explored Kentucky, and planted the 
first corn there. The settlement was re- 
peatedly attacked by Indians, and Kenton 
is credited with saving the life of Daniel 
Boone. In 1778 he was captured by In- 
dians, and after being tortured was doomed 
to death, but was saved by Samuel Girty. 
He was afterward to be burned, but through 



intercession of Chief Logan was held for 
ransom, and subsequently escaped. He 
traveled to Vincennes and joined Gen. 
George Rogers Clark, who made him cap- 
tain of a company of volunteers at Harrod's 
Station. After defeating the Indians the 
company was disbanded, and Kenton, learn- 
ing that his foeman of years ago had sur- 
vived his wounds, resumed his proper name, 
and returned home. In 1784 he founded a 
settlement at Limestone, and g^ve to Arthur 
Fox and William Wood a thousand-acre 
tract on which they laid out the town of 
Washington. In the Indian war of 1793, 
Kenton served as major. He was now one 
of the wealthiest men in Kentucky, but 
owing to his ignorance of legal proceedings, 
was reduced to poverty. In 1802 he settled 
at what became Urbana, Ohio, was made 
brigadier-general of militia, and served 
under Gen. Harrison in the battle of Mo- 
ravia township. He died in Ohio, in April, 
1836. 

Parmale, Elisha, was born at Goshen, 
Connecticut, Februar}" 22, 1755, graduated 
from Harvard in 1778, and in 1779 came to 
Virginia because of his health and taught 
in Surry county. In July 1779 he came to 
Williamsburg, Virginia, and became a mem- 
ber of the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity of 
William and Mary College. On December 
5. 1779, the society refused him permission 
to establish a society "to be conducted in a 
less mysterious manner than the Phi Beta 
Kappa." They thanked him, however, for 
his zeal, and granted him leave to establish 
a branch at Harvard, to be called the Ep- 
silon, and one at Yale to be called the Zeta, 
and from these the fraternity spread to 
many colleges in the North. He settled in 
Lee, Massachusetts, and was given a church 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



151 



in 1783. His health declined and he re- 
lumed to Virginia, but died suddenly at the 
scat of Col. Abraham Bird on the Shenan- 
doah river, August 2, 1784, aged twenty- 
nine years, and was buried in the burying 
ground in the vicinity. 

Dale, Richard, was born near Norfolk, 
Virginia, November 6, 1756, died in Phila- 
delphia, Pennsylvania, February 26, 1826. 
He entered the merchant service at the age 
of twelve, and at nineteen commanded a 
ship. In 1776 he was a lieutenant in the 
Virginia navy, was soon captured and con- 
fined in a prison ship at Norfolk. Persuaded 
by some Royalist schoolmates he embarked 
on an English cruiser against the vessels of 
his state; was wounded in an engagement 
with an American flotilla. After the Dec- 
laration of Independence he became a mid- 
shipman on the American brig Lexington^ 
which was captured on the coast of France 
by the English cutter Alert in 1777. Dale, 
with others of the officers and crew, was 
thrown into Mill prison, at Plymouth, on 
the charge of high treason; escaping with 
many of his fellow prisoners, in February, 
1778, he was recaptured, escaped again, dis- 
guised as a British naval officer, reached 
FVance, where he joined John Paul Jones' 
squadron as master's mate. Jones soon 
made him first lieutenant of the Bon 
Homme Richard, and in that capacity he 
fought with distinction in the famous battle 
with the Sera pis, on September 23, 1779, 
receiving a severe splinter wound. After 
the sinking of the Bon Homme Richard in 
that engagement, Dale served with Jones 
in the Alliance, and afterward in the 
Ariel, Returning to Philadelphia. Febru- 
ary 28, 1781. he was placed on the list of 
lieutenants in the navy, and joined the 



Trumbull, which was captured in August 
of that year, Dale receiving his third wound 
in this engagement. He was exchanged in 
November, obtained leave of absence, 
served on letters of marque and in the mer- 
chant service until the close of the war. 
He was appointed captain in 1794, served 
on a short cruise in the "Ganges," during 
the trouble with France, and in 1801 was 
given command of a squadron and ordered 
to the Mediterranean during the hostilities 
with Tripoli. Although greatly hampered 
by instructions, so that no serious enter- 
prise could be attempted, he prevented the 
Tripolitans from making any captures dur- 
ing his command. Returning to the United 
States in 1802, he was again ordered to the 
Mediterranean, but resigned his commis- 
sion December 17, and having gained a 
competency, spent the rest of his life in 
retirement. Dale enjoyed the unusual dis- 
tinction of having been praised by Lord 
Nelson, who after critically watching the 
seamanship of the commodore's squadron, 
said that there was in the handling of those 
transatlantic ships a nucleus of trouble for 
the navy of Great Britain. The prediction 
was soon verified. Two of Commodore 
Dale's sons held commissions in the navy. 

Pendleton, Nathaniel, was born in Cul- 
peper county, Virginia, in 1756, son of 
Henry Pendleton, and grandson of Philip 
Pendleton, the emigrant. He joined the 
revolutionary army, 1775 : was promoted 
brevet-major, serving as aide-de-camp to 
Gen. Nathaniel Greene, and received the 
thanks of congress for his gallantry at Eu- 
taw Springs. South Carolina, September 8, 
1 78 1. On the close of the war he stud- 
ied law and was subsequently appointed 
United States district judge for Georgia. 



Digitized by 



Google 



152 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



He was proposed to President Washington 
as a candidate for the office of secretary of 
state, but was objected to by Alexander 
Hamilton, who afterward became his friend 
and for whom Pendleton acted as second 
in his duel with Aaron Burr. He was a 
delegate from Georgia to the Federal con- 
stitutional convention in 1787, but was not 
present when the constitution of the United 
States was signed. He was a member of 
the Virginia Society of the Cincinnati. In 
1796 he settled in practice in New York 
City, where he married his second wife, 
Susan, daughter of Dr. John Bard. He be- 
came judge of Dutchess county, residing on 
a farm at Hyde Park, New York, where he 
dic'd October 20, 182 1. 

Bccklcy, John James, born in 1757, son of 
Sir William Beckley (or Bickly), baronet, 
who died in Louisa county, Virginia, March 
9, 1771. Grigsby says he was a classmate 
of Fox, at Eton. In 1779 he was clerk of 
the state senate, and in 1781 he was elected 
clerk of the house of delegates, which posi- 
tion he held for many years. He was clerk 
of the convention of 1788; of the United 
States house of representatives from 1789 
to 1799, and from 1801 to 1807. He was 
also first librarian of congress from 1802 to 
1807, being the only person who ever held 
the two offices of clerk and librarian. He 
died in Washington City, April 8, 1807, in 
his fiftieth year. 

Hammond, Samuel, born in Richmond 
county, Virginia, September 21, 1757; later 
settled in Savannah, Georgia, and was ap- 
pointed surveyor-general of that state, was 
also elected to the legislature, fought in the 
Creek war of 1793, and was elected to con- 
gress, on the Democratic ticket, serving 



from October 17, 1803, until March 3, 1805; 
was appointed by President Jefferson mili- 
tary and civil commandant of Upper Louisi- 
ana, serving in that capacity from 1805 until 
1824, and during the latter part of the time 
was receiver of public moneys in Missouri ; 
in 1824 he returned to the South, locating 
in South Carolina, receiving appointment 
as a member of the legislature, as surveyor- 
general, in 1825, and as secretary of state, 
being appointed in 1831 and serving until 
1835, 5" which year he retired from public 
life: he was also a soldier, volunteering in 
an expedition against the Indians under 
Governor Dunmore, distinguishing himself 
ai the battle of the Kanawha; in 1775 he 
raised a cpmpany and took part in the battle 
of Longbridge, and four years later par- 
ticipated in the battle of Stono Ferry, South 
Carolina, under Gen. Lincoln; at the siege 
of Savannah he was appointed assistant 
quartermaster, and at Blackstocks he had 
three horses shot under him and was wound- 
ed; he was a member of the "council of 
capitulation" at Charleston, and was pres- 
ent at the siege of Augusta and the battles 
of Kings Mountain, Cowpens, Eutaw 
Springs, where he was again badly wound- 
ed, and many other engagements; he was 
commissioned colonel of cavalry, September 
17, T781, and served under Gen. Greene 
until the end of the war; his death occurred 
near Augusta, Georgia, September 11, 1842. 

Lacy, Drury, born in Chesterfield county, 
Virginia, October 5, 1758, son of Willium 
and Elizabeth (Rice) Lacy, grandson of 
Thomas and Ann (Burnley) Lacy, and of 
James and Margaret (House) Rice; in early 
life he lost his left hand from the explosion 
of a gun, therefore was incapacitated from 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMLXENT PERSONS 



153 



manual labor, and accordingly he acquired 
a thorough knowledge of the classical lan- 
guages, and in 1781 was offered the posi- 
tion of tutor in Hampden-Sidney College, 
which he accepted, serving in that capacity 
for some time; he studied theology under 
the preceptorship of Dr. John Blair Smith, 
president of Hampden-Sidney College, and 
was licensed to preach in September, 1787, 
and ordained in October, 1788, in which 
year he was elected vice-president of the 
college, and upon Dr. Smith's resignation, 
in the year 1791, succeeded to the presi- 
dency, filling that honorable position until 
1796, when he tendered his resignation, 
which was accepted, and during the remain- 
der of his life he devoted his time and at- 
tention to supplying neighboring churches 
and also taught a classical school ; he served 
as moderator of the general assembly of the 
Presbyterian church in 1809, and as clerk 
of the Hanover Presbytery during the 
greater part of his ministry ; the loss of his 
hand was supplied by one of silver, and this 
fact, together with his clear and musical 
voice, gained for him the name of "Lacy 
with the silver hand and silver tongue ;" his 
death occurred in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- 
vania, December 6, 1815. 

Short, William, was born at "Spring Gar- 
den," Surry county, Virginia, September 30, 
I759» son of William Short, a planter of 
means, and Elizabeth Skipwith, his wife, 
daughter of Sir Peyton Skipwith. He was 
educated at William and Mary College, and 
was an original member of the Phi Beta 
Kappa fraternity, and its president from 
December 5, 1778, until its suspension in 
1781. He was chosen a member of the exec- 
utive council of Virginia in 1783, and when 
Thomas Jefferson was appointed minister 



tc France in 1784, Short accompanied him 
as secretary of legation. After Jefferson's 
departure from France. Short was made 
cl'.arge d'affaires, his commission being the 
first one that was signed by Washington as 
President. On January 16, 1794, he became 
minister to The Hague. He was next ap- 
pointed a commissioner to treat with the 
Spanish government concerning the Florida 
and Mississippi boundaries, the navigation 
of the Mississippi, and other open questions. 
His negotiations resulted in a treaty of 
friendship, commerce and boundaries, which 
was signed October 27, 1795. He returned 
to the United States in iSoi, having been 
absent in the service of the country for 
seventeen years. In 1849 he acted as the 
medium for the revival of the Phi Beta 
Kappa chapter at William and Mary Col- 
lege. His died in Philadelphia, December 
5 of the same year. 

Stuart, Archibald, was the son of Alex- 
ander Stuart, one of the founders of Liberty 
Hall Academy, now Washington and Lee 
University. He was educated at William 
and Mary College, which he left in 1780, 
and joined the regiment from Rockbridge, 
in which his father was major, and fought 
in the battle of Guilford Court House, 
where the father was wounded and taken 
prisoner. During the entire campaign, 
young Stuart had with him the official seal 
of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, of which he 
was vice-president, which seal, many years 
after his death, was found in a secret drawer 
in his escritoire. This seal his son, Hon. 
Alexander H. H. Stuart, transmitted to the 
society at its revival in 1849, but since the 
civil war it has been lost sight of. After the 
revolution, Mr. Stuart studied law under 
Thomas Jefferson. In 1783 he was elected 



Digitized by 



Google 



154 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



tc the house of delegates; he was later a 
member of the convention of 1788, of the 
Virginia senate, a presidential elector, judge 
of the general court, and, in brief, one of 
the leading men of Virginia until his death, 
which occurred July 11, 1832. He was 
father of Alexander H. H. Stuart, secretary 
of the interior in Fillmore's cabinet. 

Cooper, Thomas, bom in London, Eng- 
land, October 22, 1759; educated at Oxford, 
acquiring an extensive knowledge of medi- 
cine, the natural sciences and law; was ad- 
mitted to the bar, and for a time followed a 
circuit practice; becoming involved in the 
political troubles of the time, he was sent 
to France by the Democratic clubs as a 
delegate to the French Democratic organ- 
ization, and there he became an ardent sym- 
pathizer with the Girondists of the revolu- 
tion, and upon his return to England cre- 
ated extreme hostility by his advocacy of 
that party; he was denounced in the house 
of conimons by Edmund Burke, and in re- 
ply he brought out a violent pamphlet 
which was the cause of great sensation; 
soon after, he came to the new world with 
his friend, Dr. Joseph Priestley, and here 
his extreme views upon questions of gov- 
ernment were again the cause of misfor- 
tune; he settled in Northumberland, Penn- 
sylvania, where he soon built up a law prac- 
tice, later was appointed judge, but his arbi- 
trary conduct led to his deposition by his 
own supporters; he occupied the chair of 
chemistry in Dickinson College, Carlisle, 
Pennsylvania, from 181 1 to 1814, and in 
1816 was appointed to the same position in 
the University of Pennsylvania; was called 
to the College of South Carolina in 1820, 
and remained there until 1834 as president 
of the institution and professor of chemistry 



and political economy; when Mr. Jefferson 
was projecting his plans for the University 
of Virginia, he entered into correspondence 
with Dr. Cooper, seeking his opinion upon 
various questions, and the value of Dr. 
Cooper's suggestions is evident from the 
fact that Mr. Jefferson later brought about 
his election as the first professor of Central 
College, having the appointment confirmed 
by the university; he was not allowed to 
serve, however, because of his religious 
views ; he was renowned for his knowledge 
of law, medicine, chemistry, mineralogy, 
politics and political economy ; Jeflferson, in 
writing to Cabell, said of him : ''He is one 
of the ablest men in America, and that in 
several branches of science * * * The best 
pieces on political economy which have been 
written in this country were by Cooper;" 
ii« politics he was a Republican ; in religion 
a free thinker and allied with the Unitarian 
denomination: in philosophy a materialist; 
he died in Columbia, South Carolina, May 
II, 1840, and left an important bibliography 
of which notable works are: "Letters on the 
Slave Trade," London, 1787; "Tracts, Eth- 
ical, Theological, and Political," 1790; "In- 
formation Concerning America," 1790; "Ac- 
count of the Trial of Thomas Cooper, of 
Northumberland," Philadelphia, 1800; "The 
Bankrupt Law in America Compared with 
that of England," 1801 ; "An English Ver- 
sion of the Institutes of Justinian," 1812; 
"Tracts on Medical Jurisprudence," 1819; 
"Elements of Political Economy," Charles- 
ton, 1826. In his "Letters on Emigration" 
Cooper used the notable words : **The gov- 
ernment of the United States is a govern- 
ment of the people and for the people." 

Turbcrvillc, George Lee, born September 
7. 1760, son of George Turberville, of West- 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



^00 



moreland county, and Martha Lee, his wife. 
He was captain in the Fifteenth Virginia 
Regiment, December 2, 1776; major and 
aide-de-camp to Gen. Charles Lee, May 26, 
177S: retired September 14, 1778; in 17S1 
he served with Baron Steuben. After the 
war he was a delegate to the Virginia house 
of delegates, 1785-S6-87; member of the con- 
vention of 1788; and sheriff of Richmond 
county in 1798. He was grandfather of 
Gen. R. L. T. Beale, United States congress- 
man and brigadier-general C. S. A. 

Hitc, Isaac, was a son of Col. Isaac Hite, 
of Winchester, \'irginia. In 1780 he enter- 
ed the Continental army as ensign, became 
a lieutenant in 17S2, and served till the peace 
in 1783. He was known as major, by rea- 
son of his rank in the militia. He was an 
original member of the Phi Beta Kappa fra- 
ternity. He married Nelly, sister of Presi- 
dent Madison. He died at his residence, 
"Bellegrove," Frederick county, December 
22, 1836, in his eightieth year. 

Howard, Benjamin, born in Virginia 
about 1760; completed preparatory studies; 
moved to Kentucky; elected to the tenth 
and eleventh congresses, and served from 
March 4, 1807, to April 10, 1810, when he 
resigned; governor of upper Louisiana, 
1810-1812: appointed a brigadier-general of 
the United States army, March 12, 1813, 
and given command of the eighth military 
department, embracing the territory west of 
the Mississippi river; died in St. Louis, Mis- 
souri, September 18, 1814. 

Ballard, Bland, was born at Fredericks- 
burg, Virginia, October 16. 1761. When he 
was eighteen years old he emigrated to Ken- 
tucky, and became* one of its earliest set- 
tlers. He joined a volunteer force which, 



under Col. Bowman, which was attempting 
tc- free the district of the savages, and 
served in the expedition into Ohio. A year 
later he took part in George Rogers Clark's 
raid against the Piqua towns, and in 1794 he 
was with General Wayne at the battle of 
the Fallen Timbers. He was a man of great 
bravery, and became one of the most re- 
nowned of Indian fighters. In 1780 he was 
employed by George Rogers Clark to ex- 
plore the banks of the Ohio river from the 
Falls, at what is now Louisville, to the 
mouth of the Salt river, and thence to the 
site of the present town of West Point. 
Ballard^s most harrowing experience was 
while witnessing the slaughter of his father, 
mother and two sisters by a party of fifteen 
Indians. A younger sister escaped after 
being scalped and left for dead. Ballard 
was too late to save their lives, but from 
his place of concealment killed nearly half 
of the Indians. After peace had been re- 
stored, Ballard was sent several times as a 
representative to the state legislature. The 
county of Ballard, Kentucky, and its capital, 
Blandville, were named in his honor. He 
died September 5, 1853. 

Henry, William, bom in Charlotte coun- 
ty, Virginia, in 1761 ; in early life he entered 
the army, and participated in the battles of 
Ciuilford, the Cowpens and Yorktown, in 
the revolutionary war, and subsequently re- 
moved to Kentucky, in which state he took 
part in many conflicts with the Indians ; on 
August 31. 1813. he was appointed major- 
general of Kentucky volunteers, command- 
ed a division of three brigades in the battle 
of the Thames, October 5, 1813, and also 
served in the campaigns of Gen. Scott and 
Gen. Wilkinson ; Gen. Henry was a mem- 
ber of the constitutional convention of his 



Digitized by 



Google 



i:;6 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



state, and of both branches of the legisla- 
ture ; he died in Christian county, Kentucky, 
November 23, 1824. 

Littlepage, Lewis, born in Hanover coun- 
ty, \'irginia, December 19, 1762, son of Col. 
James Littlepage and Elizabeth Lewis, his 
wife. He graduated from William and 
Mary College in 1778, then went abroad and 
joined a relative, John Jay, then minister to 
Madrid. In 1782 he volunteered in the ex- 
pedition of the Due de Crillon against 
Minorca, and subsequently accompanied 
the Prince of Nassau-Siegen to the siege of 
Gibraltar, and thence to Constantinople and 
Warsaw. For many years he enjoyed the 
personal friendship of Stanislaus, King of 
Poland, under whom he held, among other 
offices, that of ambassador to Russia. He 
was made a knight of the Order of St. 
Stanislaus, chamberlain and confidential 
secretary, and was a special envoy in sev- 
eral important negotiations. In 1792 he re- 
turned to Virginia, with health broken from 
exposure in camp and travel, and died in 
Spotsylvania, July 19, 1802, aged forty 
years. His voluminous correspondence 
with King Stanislaus, the Marquis de Lafa- 
yette, and other distinguished men, has 
been preserved in Hayden's "Virginia Gene- 
alogies." 

Cabell, Joseph, born January 6, 1762, son 
of Col. Joseph Cabell. He was first taught 
by tutors ; was at Hampd en-Sidney College 
in 1778-79, and at William and Mary Col- 
lege from May 4, 1779, to 1781. He be- 
longed to a company of students attached 
to the regiment of Colonel Joseph Cabell, 
the elder. He was a captain of militia previ- 
ous to 1787. He married Pocahontas Re- 
becca, daughter of Robert Boiling, of Chel- 



lowe, Buckingham county, Virginia. He 
emigrated with his family to Kentucky in 

181 1, settled in Henderson county, and died 
there, August 31, 1831. 

Parker, Thomas, son of Judge Richard 
Parker, of "Lawfield," Westmoreland coun- 
ty, Virginia, and Mary (Beale) Parker, his 
wife. In the revolution he was a captain 
in the Second Virginia Regiment. He re- 
mained in the army after the war, and in 

181 2, as a colonel, served on the northern 
frontier under Gen. Wade Hampton; was 
made brigadier-general in 1812, and com- 
manded at Norfolk, Virginia. He resided 
on his estate, "Soldier's Retreat," Clarke 
county, Virginia: married Sallie Opie, and 
had issue. 

Massie, Nathaniel, born in Goochland 
county, Virginia, December 28, 1763, son of 
Nathaniel Massie and Elizabeth Watkins, 
daughter of Thomas Watkins, of Chicka- 
hominy ; received preparatory education ; 
served in the revolutionary war, 1780, was 
a surveyor of wild lands in Virginia for the 
following eleven years, and of the Virginia 
military district north of the Ohio river, for 
five years, from 1791 to 1796, laying out on 
his own land the town of Chillicothe in the 
latter named year, and in 1800 was one of 
the most extensive owners of land in the 
northwest territory; was a delegate to the 
state constitutional convention of 1802, and 
secured the selection of Chillicothe as the 
state capital ; during the years 1803-04 was 
state senator in the first and second general 
a.ssemblies; speaker of the senate in 1803; 
a Jefferson elector in 1804, a Madison elector 
in 1808, and a representative in the fifth and 
eighth assemblies during the years 1806-07 
and 1809-10; in the year 1807 he was the 



Digitized by 



Google 



PRO-MINEXT PERSONS 



157 



candidate for governor of the state on the 
Republican ticket, but was defeated by his 
opponent, Return J. Meigs, whereupon Mr. 
Massie raised the question of the eligibility 
o( his opponent, and the general assembly 
in joint convention declared him ineligible 
under the constitution, but Mr. Massie does 
not appear by the official records to have 
claimed the office; he served as major-gen- 
eral of the state militia for a number of 
years; he died at Paint Creek Falls, Ohio, 
November 13, 1813, in the prime of life, he 
not having attained the age of fifty years. 

Cabell, Landon, born before February 21, 
1765, son of Col. William Cabell, of **Union 
Hill," Nelson county, Virginia. He attend- 
ed private schools, and Hampden-Sidney 
College. He was at William and Mary Col- 
lege from March, 1780, to May, 1781, when 
the college was suspended on account of 
the British occupation. He was at the last 
meeting of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, in 
January, 1781. He served at Yorktown, in 
the college company attached to his Uncle 
Joseph Cabell's regiment of militia. In 
1783 he reentered William and Mary Col- 
lege, remaining until 1785. He was long a 
justice of the peace in Amherst county, and 
for many years in Nelson county. He was 
offered a seat in the cabinet of President 
Madison, but declined. He died in January, 
1834. 

Lewis, Lawrence, born in Fredericksburg, 
Virginia, April 4, 1767, son of Col. Fielding 
and Elizabeth (Washington) Lewis, and 
grandson of Augustine and Mary (Ball) 
Washington; he was Gen. Washington's 
favorite nephew and after Washington's re- 
tirement from public life, resided with him 
at Mt. Vernon ; he was the last living exec- 



utor of the will of Gen. Washington, and 
continued to reside at Mt. Vernon until the 
death of Martha Washington, May 22, 
1802 ; in 1794 Lawrence Lewis served as an 
aide to Gen. Morgan in his expedition to 
quell an insurrection in Pennsylvania; mar- 
ried, February 22, 1799, Eleanor Parke, 
daughter of John Parke Custis, and a grand- 
daughter of Martha (Custfs) Washington; 
she was adopted with her brother, George 
Washington Parke Custis, by Gen. Wash- 
ington on the death of their father in 1783; 
Mrs. Lewis was born March 21, 1779, died 
a: Audley, Virginia, July 15, 1852; she sur- 
vived her husband, who died at Arlington, 
Virginia, November 30, 1839. 

George, Enoch, was born in Lancaster 
county, Virginia, in 1767, died in Staunton, 
Virginia, in August, 1828. He was under 
the ministry of Rev. Devereaux Jarratt, 
then of the Church of England, and was in 
early life the subject of deep religious im- 
pressions; but having been separated from 
Mr. Jarratt's ministry, he became negligent 
of his religious duties, till, after several 
years, the place was visited by a Methodist 
evangelist, under whose exhortations young 
George became connected with the little 
Methodist Society of his neighborhood. In 
1790 he was admitted on trial into the Vir- 
ginia conference of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, and served for two years as junior 
preacher in Caswell circuit. After this he 
went to South Carolina, and in 1796 was 
presiding elder of Charleston district, and 
the next year on account of impaired health, 
he retired from active work in the ministry. 
In 1803 he entered the Baltimore confer- 
ence, where he labored with great zeal and 
success, till at the general conference, held 



Digitized by 



Google 



158 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



ill Baltimore in May, 1816, he was elected 
and ordained a bishop, in which office he 
served with zeal and effectiveness for twelve 
years. Bishop George belonged to the 
primitive school of American Methodist 
preachers, some of whom were without ex- 
tended scholastic advantages, but neverthe- 
less became able and highly effective 
preachers of the gospel, and also attained 
proficiency in biblical and theological learn- 
ing. He was especially distinguished for 
the fervor and pathos of his pulpit dis- 
courses. 

Hill, William, born in Cumberland coun- 
ty, Virginia, March 3, 1769; was graduated 
at Hampden-Sydney in 1788, pursuing the 
theological course, and was licensed to 
preach by the Presbytery of Hanover, July 
10, 1790; after spending two years as a 
missionary in Virginia he settled in Berke- 
ley (now Jefferson) county, and in 1800 ac- 
cepted the pastorate of the Presbyterian 
church in Winchester ; he removed to Prince 
Edward county in 1834, and after a two 
years' pastorate became pastor of the Sec- 
ond Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, 
but in 1838 returned to Winchester, where 
he spent the remainder of his days; he de- 
livered an oration at Harper's Ferry in com- 
memoration of Gen. Washington, published 
several sermons, and was the author of a 
** History of the Presbyterian Church in the 
United States," which he intended to issue 
111 numbers, but only the first appeared ; he 
died in Winchester, Virginia, November 16, 
1852. 

Copeland, Charles, eminent lawyer, was 
born in 1756; figured in the courts of Vir- 
ginia as the rival of John Wickham and 
William Wirt. Nothing is known of his 



ancestry. He married (first) Rebecca, 
daughter of Robert Nicholson, a merchant 
of Williamsburg, (second) Henningham 
Bernard. He died November 24, 1836. and 
there is a monument to his memory in St. 
John's churchyard, Richmond, Virginia. 

Munford, William, was born in Mecklen- 
burg county, Virginia, August 15, 1775, son 
of Col. Robert Munford, a brave soldier in 
the revolution, and author. His father died 
when he was seven years of age, and his 
education was left to his mother, who, like 
her husband, was endowed with literary 
gifts. He studied the ancient languages and 
literature at William and Mary College, 
under George Wythe, who afterwards was 
his tutor in the study of law. Completing 
his legal course at the age of twenty-one, 
he immediately entered upon an unusually 
brilliant and engrossing career. Until his 
twenty-fifth year he sat in the Virginia 
house of delegates, and for four years rep- 
resented his native county in the state sen- 
ate. At the end of that period he removed 
tc Richmond, and served in the privy coun- 
cil until 1811, when he became clerk in the 
house of delegates, and held that office until 
his death. He acted for several years as 
reporter of the decisions of the supreme 
court of appeals, of which he prepared, with 
some assistance, ten volumes, from 1809 to 
1820. In 1819 he assisted Benjamin Wat- 
kins Leigh in the revision of the Virginia 
statute laws. Of Mr. Munford's poetry, the 
earliest published was is 1798, "Poems and 
Compositions in Prose on Several Occa- 
sions." This included a tragedy, "Almoran 
and Hamet," and a number of poems, most 
of which showed the influence of classical 
literature on the author. He occupied the 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEx\T PERSONS 



159 



leisure of his maturer years in making a 
translation of Homer's "Iliad** in blank 
verse, which was published posthumously 
in 1S48. yir. Munford died at Richmond, 
Virginia, June 21, 1825. 

Girardin, Louis Hue, was appointed pro- 
fessor of modern languages in William and 
Mary College, 1803; for several years he 
conducted a select school for girls in Rich- 
mond. He compiled volume iv. of Burk's 
"History of Virginia." He produced a 
magazine, "Amoenitates Graphicae," with 
six fine . hand-colored plates by Frederick 
Besler. Only the one number was ever 
printed. 

Chapman, Nathaniel, was born in Sum- 
mer Hill, Fairfax county, May 28, 1780. He 
was educated at the academy at Alexandria, 
and graduated from the medical department 
of the University of Pennsylvania in 1800; 
he then studied under Abernethy in London 
for one year, and took a two years* course 
at the University of Edinburgh, where he 
received the degree of Doctor of Medicine. 
He returned to the United States in 1804, 
established himself in practice in Philadel- 
phia, and rose to the front rank of the med- 
ical profession. He was assistant professor 
cf midwifery, 1810-13; professor of materia 
medica, 1813-16; and held the chair of the 
theory and practice of medicine, 1816-50, in 
the University of Pennsylvania. In 1817 
he founded the Philadelphia Medical Insti- 
tute, and during twenty years delivered a 
summer course of lectures ; he was also lec- 
turer on clinics at the hospital of the Phila- 
delphia almshouse. He was president of 
the American Philosophical Society, of the 
American Medical Association. In 1820 he 
founded and for many years edited the 



*Thiladelphia Journal of the Medical and 
Physical Sciences." He published: "Select 
Speeches, Forensic and Parliamentary" 
(1808) ; "Elements of Therapeutics and 
Materia Medica" (1828); '^Lectures on 
Eruptive Fevers, Hemorrhages and Drop- 
sies, and on Gout and Rheumatism," and 
"Lectures on the Thoracic Viscera." He 
died at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July i, 
1853. 

Warrington, Lewis, was born at Wil- 
liamsburg, Virginia, November 3, 1782. He 
received a classical education and was 
graduated from William and Mary College 
hi 1798. He entered the navy as midship- 
man in 1800, and served under Preble in the 
war with Tripoli ; became a lieutenant in 
February, 1807, and was on the "Chesa- 
peake/* in her encounter with the '^Leopard.'* 
June 20. In 1812 he sailed in the "Congress* 
with Commander Rodgers' squadron in pur- 
suit of the British West India fleet. In 1813 
he was made master, and placed in command 
of the ''Peacoek** with which he took nine- 
teen vessels, including the "Epenner,^* cap- 
tured off Cape Canaveral, Florida, April 29, 
1814, after a close contest of forty-two min- 
utes: for this congress voted him a gold 
medal. Having made several prizes in the 
Bay of Biscay, he returned to Xew York in 
the fall, was commissioned captain, and sail- 
ed in Decatur's fleet. On June 30. 1815, he 
took the "XatitilHs*^ and three more East 
India vessels in the straits of Sunda, a 
region until then avoided by American 
cruisers ; these prizes had to be given up as 
peace had been declared before they were 
captured. He was in the Mediterranean, 
1816-19; in command of the Norfolk navy- 
yard, 1820-24 and 1832-39: of the West 



Digitized by 



Google 



i6o 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



India squadron, 1821-26; and then of the 
new navy-yard at Pensacola, where a town 
took his name. He was a navy commis- 
sioner, 1827-30 and 1840-42, a president of 
the board in 1841, chief of the bureau of 
yards and docks in 1842-46, and of that of 
ordnance, 1847 until his death, at Washing- 
ton, D. C, October 12, 1851. 

Smith, John Augustine, was born in 
Westmoreland county, August 29, 1782, son 
of Rev. Thomas Smith, of Cople parish in 
that county. He was graduated from Wil- 
liam and Mary College in 1800, studied med- 
icine and settled as a physician in New 
York City. In 1809 he became lecturer on 
anatomy at the College of Physicians and 
Surgeons, and editor of the **Medical and 
Physiological Journal." In 1814 he was 
elected president of William and Mary Col- 
lege. Dr. Smith was the first layman to 
hold the presidency, and in 1824 he deemed 
it necessary to remove the college to Rich- 
mond. But in this Dr. Smith incurred the 
ppposition of John Tyler, on the board of 
visitors, who voiced the local feeling, and 
Thomas Jefferson, who was then busy with 
the scheme of founding the university at 
Charlottesville, feared the effect of the re- 
moval upon the liberality of the legislature 
to which he was then appealing for pecuni- 
ary aid in favor of his pet enterprise. The 
united opposition defeated Smith's measure, 
and in 1825 he resigned. He resumed prac- 
tice in New York City, and from 183 1 to 
1843 was president of the College of Phy- 
3icians and Surgeons. He published nu- 
merous addresses, lectures and essays, in- 
cluding "Introductory Discourse" at New 
Medical College, Crosby street (N. Y., 1837, 
8 vo.) ; "Select Discourse on the Functions 



or the Nervous System" (1840, 12 mo.) ; 
"The Mutations of the Earth" (1846, 8 vo.) ; 
monograph upon the ''Moral and Physical 
Science" (1853, 12 mo.). Dr. Smith edited 
the New York "Medical and Physiological 
Journal" in 1809, and was a man of splen- 
did talents. A handsome portrait of Dr. 
Smith, the gift of his son and daughter, 
resident in New York City, hangs in the 
college library. He died February 9, 1865. 

Dudley, Benjamin Winslow, was born in 
Spotsylvania county, Virginia, April 12, 
^785, son of Rev. Ambrose Dudley. His 
father removed to Lexington, Kentucky, in 
1786, and there the son obtained his early 
education. He studied medicine with Dr. 
Frederick Ridgeley, of Lexington, and after- 
ward attended lectures at the University of 
Pennsylvania, graduating in 1906. He 
opened an office in Lexington, but had little 
practice. Desiring to better qualify himself 
for his work, but lacking the means, he pur- 
chased a flatboat, which he loaded with 
produce and floated to New Orleans, where 
he invested the proceeds in flour. This was 
taken to Gibraltar and Lisbon, where he 
disposed of it at a large advance. From 
Spain he went to Paris, and there studied 
under Paul A. Dubois. After three years 
there he went to London and studied sur- 
gery under Abernethy and Sir Astley 
.Cooper. He returned home in 1814, and 
found Lexington in the midst of an epi- 
demic of typhoid pneumonia, which was fol- 
lowed by bilious fever. Abscesses formed 
among the muscles and in many cases am- 
putation was necessary. Dr. Dudley ap- 
plied bandages and his success in these 
cases led him to urge the general use of the 
bandage until this treatment was widely 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



i6i 



adopted. In 1817 a medical school was 
added to the Transylvania University, and 
he was elected to the chairs of anatomy and 
surgery. Dr. Dudley condemned blood- 
Jetting, taking advanced ground in the mat- 
ter. His skill with the knife soon gatned 
him a national reputation and his success in 
lithotomy was so great that in England he 
was declared to be **the lithotomist of the 
nineteenth century." He operated for stone 
in the bladder two hundred and twenty-five 
times and lost only six patients. Believing 
that Asiatic cholera was a water-borne dis- 
ease, during the first great epidemic in this 
country (1832) he and his family drank 
cistern instead of well water, and were the 
only ones in Lexington to escape the dis- 
ease. He contributed valuable essays to 
the 'Transylvania Journal of Medicine.*' He 
was married, in 182 1, to a daughter of Major 
Peyton Short. He died in Lexington, Ken- 
tucky, June 20, 1870. 

Scott, Winfield, was born near Peters- 
burg, Virginia, June 13, 1786, son of Wil- 
liam and Ann Mason Scott, and grandson 
of a Scotch soldier, who engaged in the 
battle of Culloden, where he lost a brother 
and fled to America, settling in the neigh- 
borhood of Petersburg, where he practiced 
law. Winfield, after attending a high school 
in Richmond, matriculated at the College 
of William and Mary, and after a two years* 
course took up the study of law. He was 
admitted to the bar in Richmond, in 1806, 
removed to Charleston, South Carolina, in 
1S07, where he was made captain of light 
artillery in the United States army, and 
was ordered to New Orleans in 1808, where 
Gen. Wilkinson, after being unsuccessful 
in winning the youthful officer over to the 
viA-.n 



questionable scheme of Burr, caused his 
court-martial and suspension for twelve 
months. Captain Scott obtained rcmis- 
sance of sentence after three months, 
,and was complimented by a public din- 
aier. June 18, 1812, he was promoted to 
lieutenant-colonel in the Second Artillery, 
and ordered to the Niagara frontier; and at 
Queenstown Heights, October 13, 1812, he 
v*ras taken prisoner and exchanged after a 
lew months. He was promoted brigadier- 
general, March 9, 1814: established a camp 
of instruction at Buffalo, July 3, 1814, trans- 
ferred his brigade to British soil, and on 
July 5 directed the battle of Chippewa, win- 
liing a signal victory, as he did at Lundy's 
Lane, July 25, where he had two horses 
shot under him, was badly wounded and 
finally gained the field, capturing Gen. Rial- 
land, several other officers, and inflicting a 
loss of eight hundred and seventy-eight men 
to the British. These, the only victories on 
Canada soil, gained for him the rank of 
major-general. He removed to Buffalo, 
New York, and on his partial recovery was 
transferred to Philadelphia- He visited 
Europe in 1815, after declining the position 
of secretary of war in President Madison's 
cabinet, held temporarily by James Mon- 
roe. On his return he was given command 
of the Atlantic seaboard, with headquarters 
in New York, and made his home at Eliza- 
beth, New Jersey. He was married, in 
^larch, 1817, to Maria, daughter of John 
Mayo, of Richmond, \'irginia. He took 
part in the Seminole war in Florida, and 
agrainst the Creek Indians, 1836-37. Criti- 
cisms of his conduct of the campaign caused 
his recall in 1837, but a court of inquiry 
found no cause for the same, and in 1838 
he effected the peaceful transfer of the 



Digitized by 



Google 



1 62 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Cherokees to the Indian Territory. On the 
death of Gen. Alexander Macomb, June 25, 
1841, he became general-in-chief of the 
United States Army, with headquarters at 
Washington, D. C. On the declaration of 
war with Mexico in 1846, he planned the 
campaign and accompanied the army to Vera 
Cruz, where he landed 12,000 men. After a 
siege of twenty days, March 9-29, 1847, he 
captured the castle of San Juan de Ulloa, and 
5.000 of the Mexican army. On April 17-18, 
he fought the successful battle of Ccrro 
Gordo; that of Contrcras, August 19-20; 
Cherubusco. August 20; Molino del Rey, 
September 8: Chapultepec, September 13; 
and the assault and capture of the City of 
Mexico, September 13-14, 1847, which end- 
ed the war. Gen. Scott had been looked 
upon as an available Whig candidate for 
President as early as 1839, and again in 
1844. In 1852 he was nominated by the 
Whig national convention at Baltimore. In 
the election, the Scott and Graham electors 
received 1,380.576 popular votes to 1,601,474 
for Pierce and King, and 156,147 for Hale 
and Julian, and when the electoral college 
met he received .the electoral votes of Ver- 
mont, Massachusetts, Tennessee and Ken- 
tucky; Pierce receiving those of all the 
other states. In 1859 he was commissioner 
on the part of the United States in the set- 
tlement of the northwestern boundary ques- 
tion, and successfully accomplished the pur- 
pose. He commanded the army during the 
early part of the civil war, and placed the 
national capital in a condition of defence 
and directed the movements of the troops 
until succeeded by George B. McClcllan, 
and he was placed on the retired list with 
the brevet rank of lieutenant-general, being 
seventy-five years of age. He visited Europe 



in 1861-62, and on his return in 1862 made 
his home at West Point, Xew York. He 
received the honorary degree of Master of 
Arts from the College of Xew Jersey in 
.1814, and that of Doctor of Laws from 
Columbia College in 1850, and from Har- 
vard in 1861, and was elected an honorary 
member of the Massachusetts Historical 
Society. In November, 1814, congress 
.ordered a gold medal struck in his honor, 
and an equestrian statue to his honor was 
erected on Scott Circle, Washington, D. C. 
He was of stately proportions, possibly the 
most imposing of the illustrious soldiers 
of his time, if not of all modern times. 
His published works include: A pamphlet 
against use of intoxicating liquors (1821); 
"General Regulations for the Army'' (1825) ; 
"Letters to the Secretary of War'' (1827); 
"Infantry Tactics" (3 vols., 1835, 1847 and 
1854) ; "Letters on the Slavery Question" 
(1843); "Abstract of Infantry Tactics" 
X1861); "Memoirs of Lieut-Gen. Scott, 
written by Himself (2 vols., 1864). He 
died at West Point, New York, May 29. 
1866. 

Meade» William, was born near Millwood, 
Virginia, November 11, 1789. His father, 
Richard Kidder Meade, was aide to Gen. 
.Washington, and conducted the execution 
of Major Andre. The son graduated at 
Princeton College in 1808, was ordained 
deacon in 181 1 and priest in 1814. In 1821 
he was made rector of Millwood parish, and 
was for many years active in promoting the 
work of the American Colonization Society. 
He was chosen assistant to Bishop Moore 
in 1829, served as rector of Christ Church, 
Norfolk, 1834-36, and in 1841 became bishop 
of the diocese of Virginia. Bishop Meade 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMTXEXT PERSOXS 



163 



Strongly opposed the Tractarian movement 
in England, and republished in America, at 
his own expense, the writings of Rev. Wil- 
liam Goode, subsequently dean of Ripon. 
In 1847 he led in the foundation of the 
Evangelical Knowledge Society. He did 
more than any other man to restore in Vir- 
ginia the influence and prosperity of the 
Episcopal church. In 1861 he did all in his 
power to prevent secession, but after the 
die had been cast supported the fortunes of 
his native state. William and Mary Col- 
lege gave him the degree of Doctor of Divin- 
ity in 1827. He was the author of "Family 
Prayers" (1834); "Pastoral Letters" (1834, 
1854 and 1858) ; "Life of Rev. Devereux 
Jarratt" (1840); "Companion to the Font 
and the Pulpit" (1846); "Lectures on the 
Pastoral Office" (1849); "Reasons for Lov- 
ing the Episcopal Church" (1852) ; "Old 
Churches, Ministers and Families of Vir- 
ginia" (1857), and "The Bible and the 
Classics" (1861). Bishop Meade's life was 
written by Rev. John Johns in 1857. Bishop 
Meade died in Richmond, Virginia, March 
14, 1S62. 

Bonnycastle, Charles, was born in Wool- 
wich, England, in 1792, son of John Bonny- 
castle, professor of mathematics in the 
Military Academy at Woolwich, and brother 
of Sir Richard Henry Bonnycastle, soldier 
and author. He contributed articles to cyclo- 
pedias and periodicals, and aided his father 
in compiling mathematical text-books. 
When the University of Virginia was organ- 
ized in 1825 he came over to take the chair 
of natural philosophy, which, two years 
later, he exchanged for that of mathematics. 
During 1833-35 he served also as chairman 
of the faculty. Professor Bonnycastle pub- 
lished treatises on "Inductive Geometry" 



(1832); "Algebra,'* "Mensuration" and 
papers on scientific subjects. He died in 
Charlottesville, \'irginia, October 31. 1840. 

Pleasants, John Hampden, was born in 
Goochland county, Virginia, January 4, 
1797, son of James Pleasants, governor and 
United States senator. He was educated at 
the College of William and Mary, and was 
graduated in 1817. He studied law in 
Lynchburg, Virginia, and afterwards re- 
moved to Richmond and founded the 
"Whig," the first issue of which appeared 
January 2/, 1824. Under his management 
it soon became the leading Whig paper in 
the state and champion of the party in the 
great contests of the period. In 1841 he 
established the "Independent" in Washing- 
ton, in connection with Edward William 
Johnston and John Woodson. The former 
was a brother of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, 
and was long remembered by his brilliant 
writings under the nofti dc f^lnmc "11 Segre- 
tnrio." He fought a duel with Thomas 
Ritchie. Jr., on account of a statement which 
appeared in the Richmond "Enquirer." that 
Mr. Pleasants was about to found an aboli- 
tion journal, and signed "Macon." At that 
time anti-abolition sentiment in Virginia ran 
extremely high, and nothing was considered 
a greater insult than such an accusation. 
The duel was fought with pistols at thirty 
paces, and Mr. Pleasants received five 
wounds, from the effects of which he died 
I'ebruary 2/, 1846. Mr. Pleasants was mar- 
ried to Mary Massie. and had a number of 
children, one of whom, James Pleasants, 
was an eminent lawyer of the Richmond 
bar. 

Hawes, Richard, born in Caroline county, 
Virginia, February 6, 1797; at the age of 



Digitized by 



Google 



164 



VIRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY 



thirteen years he emigrated to Kentucky, 
in which state he spent the remainder of his 
days ; received a classical education in Tran- 
sylvania University, and then pursued a 
course of study in law, was admitted to the 
bar, and began his practice in Winchester, 
Kentucky ; was a member of the legislature 
in 1S28-29-36, and in the latter year was 
elected to congress as a Whig, serving until 
1841 ; subsequently he became a staunch ad- 
herent of the Democratic party, advocated 
the southern cause during the civil war, and 
left Kentucky with Breckinridge and others 
in 1861 ; on the death of George W. John- 
son, at Shiloh, he was elected to succeed 
him in the nominal office of "provisional" 
or Confederate governor of Kentucky ; when 
Bragg entered the state, Richard Hawes 
went with him to Frankfort, and w^as in- 
stalled governor, October 4, 1862, but was 
compelled to retire immediately, in conse- 
quence of the advance of a division of 
Buell's army ; after the close of the war he 
returned to Kentucky, locating in Paris, 
where he was appointed county judge in 
1866, which office he held until his death, 
which occurred in Bourbon county, Ken- 
tucky, May 25, 1877. 

Graham, William Montrose, was born in 
Prince William county, Virginia, in 1798; 
died in Mexico, September 8, 1847. He was 
graduated at the United States Military 
Academy in 1817, and entered the army as 
lieutenant of artillery. He was promoted 
through the various grades to be lieutenant- 
colonel of the Eleventh Infantry in April, 
1847. He served on recruiting duty, con- 
structing military roads in Mississippi and 
in Florida, and in garrison until 1835. He 
took part in the campaigns against the Semi- 



nole Indians in 1835-38 and in 1841-42, being 
twice severely wounded. In the Mexican 
war he was engaged in the battles of Palo 
Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey, Con- 
treras, Cherubusco and Molino del Rey, 
where he was killed while leading an as- 
sault on the enemy's works. 

Camm, John, was born in England in 
1718, son of Thomas Camm, of Hornsea. 
He matriculated at Trinity College, Cam- 
bridge, June 6, 1738, as a "subsizator." On 
August 24, 1749, he qualified as professor of 
divinity in William and Mary College, and 
was also elected minister of York-Hampton 
parish. He was the last of the colonial 
presidents 01 William and Mary, succeed- 
ing Horrocks as head of the college, and 
head of the Established church in \'irginia. 
He was a man of inflexible courage, and 
led the clergy in the "parsons* causes" 
against the people and Patrick Henry. He 
acted as treasurer of the college ; and in the 
proceedings of the clergy who met in con- 
vention at William and Mar>' College in 
1754, he took a leading part, and was ap- 
pointed their agent to solicit the repeal of 
the act of the colonial house of burgesses, 
making the salaries of the clergy payable 
ir money instead of tobacco. Mr. Camm 
went to England in behalf of the clergy, 
and secured from the privy council there 
a disallowance of the act. But the juries 
in Virginia, influenced by the eloquence of 
Patrick Henry and the countenance of Gov. 
Dinwiddie, gave nominal damages, and 
President Camm again appealed to the privy 
council. But in 1767 Lord North dismissed 
the appeal on the ground that the action 
had been wrongly laid. This closed a con- 
troversy of thirteen years' duration. In 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



i6; 



1769 he married Detsy Hansford, daughter 
of Charles Hansford, one of Nathaniel 
Bacon's lieutenants. On the outbreak of 
hostilities between Virginia and the mother 
country. President Camm would not recog- 
nize the authority of the new government, 
and in the spring of 1777 .was removed by 
the board of visitors, largely dominated by 
native born Virginians. He died the fol- 
lowing year, and his wife a year later. 

Campbell, Alexander, was a resident of 
Norfolk. Virginia, and an early artist. He 
painted a portrait of Washington, and the 
engraving taken from it is said to be the 
first known engraving of Washington. 

Owen, Goronwy, born in Anglesea, North 
Wales, January 13, 1722, son of Owen Gro- 
now, a man of some poetic taste. He was 
attending school near his home, when he 
was met by the celebrated Lewis Morris, 
who sent him to Beaumaris, where he proved 
a most zealous scholar. Later, after the 
death of his mother, he became one of the 
masters of a grammar school in Caernarvon- 
shire. Soon afterward, Mr. Morris sent him 
tc Jesus College, Oxford, where he made 
rapid progress in Greek and Latin, and gave 
evidence of poetical talent in Welsh to such 
a degree that he was even then regarded as 
a rising poet, but the attempt to obtain 
funds enough for their publication had fail- 
ed. He was ordained a deacon in the 
Church of England, and for a few years was 
a curate and school teacher. In 1757 he was 
oflfered by the Bishop of London, through 
the influence, it is supposed, of the Earl of 
Powis. the place of master of the grammar 
school of the College of William and Mary 
at Williamsburg, Virginia. The salary of 
£200 sterling was a tempting consideration 



to a half-starved genius, and, with his wife 
and three children, he took ship for Amer- 
ica. As shown by the faculty minutes, 
Owen qualified as master of the grammar 
school, April 7, 1758. Of his life at the col- 
lege, little is known, save that he married 
Mrs. Clayton, a sister of Thomas Dawson, 
then president of William and Mary, and 
that she was his second wife. After two 
years' service, he resigned; it is said that 
his **merry habits" necessitated his resigna- 
tion. He was soon afterward nominated by 
Governor Francis Fauquier minister of St. 
Andrew's Parish, in Brunswick county, 
where he died, and was buried there in 
1776. As to his scholarship, Dr. Porteus, 
Dishop of London, spoke of him as "the 
most finished writer of Latin since the days 
of the Roman emperors.'* His qualifications 
as a preacher were indifferent. Of his 
poetic talent, his biographer and country- 
men speak in unbounded praise. His ode 
on "The Last Day of Judgment" (Cywydd 
Farn Fawr) is said to be unsurpassed by 
any poem in any language. Editions of his 
works were published in 1763, in 1817, in 
i860, and in 1876. In 183 1 his countrymen 
erected a beautiful tablet to his memory in 
the Cathedral Church, Bangor, Wales. He 
left issue, which are numerously represented 
in the South in the present day. A grand- 
son, William B. Owen, of Nashville, Ten- 
nessee, was a colonel in the Mexican war. 
Another grandson, George W. Owen, of 
Mobile, Alabama, occupied a seat in con- 
gress for several consecutive terms. A 
great-grandson, Richard B. Owen, also of 
Mobile, Alabama, was a distinguished law- 
yer, and served with gallantry in the Con- 
federate army. 



Digitized by 



Google 



i66 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Gates, Horatio, was born in Maiden, Es- 
sex, England, in 1728, in the Castle of the 
Duke of Leeds: little is known of his par- 
entage except rumors that he was the 
natural son of Sir Robert W'alpole, and 
others that made his father the butler in 
the employ of the Duke. He was trained 
as a soldier and first saw service under Fer- 
dinand the Prince of Brunswick. He next 
appears as captain of the King's New York 
irsdependent company and in 1755, at Hali- 
fax as major. He was with Braddock at 
Fort Duquesne, July 9, 1755, where he was 
severely wounded and Washington is cred- 
ited with having saved his life in the re- 
treat. In 1762 he was at the capture of 
Martinique by Monckton, and after visiting 
England in 1763 he purchased a plantation 
in Berkeley county, Virginia. Washington, 
when in 1775 called upon by congress to 
select officers for the continental army, 
named Gates, who was commissioned ad- 
jutant-general, with the rank of brigadier- 
general. In 1776 he accompanied Wash- 
ington to Cambridge, Massachusetts, and 
was commanding-general of the northern 
aimy operating against Crown Point and 
Ticonderoga. He won the support of the 
delegates to congress from the New Eng- 
land states, and was given the rank of ma- 
jor-general and superseded not only Gen. 
John Sullivan, but in August, 1777, Gen. 
Phillip J. Schuyler. The New England con- 
tingent still further pressed their demands 
by openly suggesting Gates as commander- 
in-chief. The battle of Saratoga, which re- 
sulted in the surrender of Burgoyne to 
Gates. October 17, 1777, served to magnify 
his military genius, and congress voted him 
a gold medal and the thanks of the country 
and placed him at the head of the board of 



war. The opportunity thus presented to 
the friends of Gates was taken advantage 
of by the delegates of New England, and the 
cabal against the commander-in-chiei was 
renewed with the object of forcing Wash- 
ington into retirement and thus making 
place for Gates. Gen. Thomas Conway and 
Gen. Thomas Mifflin conspired with Gen. 
Gates, and their correspondence revealed to 
Washington by Lord Stirling and obtained 
by him from Col. James Wilkinson, Gates' 
chief-of-staff, in a moment of unguarded 
conviviality, put the commander-in-chief on 
his guard, and he exposed the whole affair. 
Gates sought to escape the odium by charg- 
mg Wilkinson with forger\% whereupon 
Col. W^ilkinson challenged Gen. Gates who 
first accepted and finally declined the chal- 
lenge. Gates retired to his estate in Vir- 
ginia and took no part in the operations of 
the army until June, 1780, when after the 
capture of Gen. Lincoln, he was. given com- 
mand of the southern army. His force of 
4,000 men was concentrated in North Caro- 
lina to oppose Cornwallis. who was rapidli 
marching northward. On August 16, the 
armies met at Camden, South Carolina, and 
Gates was overwhelmed and his army al- 
most annihilated. He was thereupon super- 
seded by Gen. Nathanael Greene, and sus- 
pended in December, 1780, from military 
duty. A court of inquiry acquitted him in 
1782 and he was reinstated. He removed 
to New York City in 1790 after having 
emancipated his slaves. He was a member 
of the New York state legislature in 1800. 
He was, through his marriage with Mary, 
only child of James Valence of Liverpool, 
placed in possession of a fortune of $450,000 
which Mrs. Gates used during the revolu- 
tion in advancing the military fortune of 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



167 



her husband by a sumptuous lavishment of 
hospitality. He received an LL. D. from 
Harvard in 1779, and was vice-president- 
general of the Society of the Cincinnati, 
17S4-86. He died in New York City, April 
10. 1806. 

Sumner, Jethro, was born in Virginia, in 
1730. His father, William, an Englishman, 
emigrated to America in 1690, being one of 
the first settlers of Suffolk, Virginia. At 
an early age Jethro Sumner removed to 
Warren county, North Carolina, where he 
became a leader in political and military 
affairs. In 1760 he was appointed pay- 
master of the provincial troops of North 
Carolina, and afterward for a considerable 
period he commanded Fort Cumberland. 
In April, 1776, he was appointed by the 
provincial congress colonel of the Third 
North Carolina Regiment, and until 1779 
participated in all the operations of the army 
under Washington, in New York, New Jer- 
sey and P-enn5ylvania. In 1779 he was pro- 
moted brigadier-general by the continental 
congress, and transferred to the southern 
army under Gen. Gates. He took part in 
the battle of Camden in 1780, where by his 
coolness and bravery, he aided greatly in 
rallying the patriot troops after Gen. de 
Kalb had fallen. He was then ordered to 
join Gen. Greene, and fought with splendid 
valor at the battle of Eutaw Springs in 
September. 1781 Subsequently, until the 
cf:ssatton of hostilities, he was engaged in 
the suppression of Tory raids in North 
Carolina. After the war he resigned and 
was married to a wealthy widow of New- 
bern by the name of Heiss. Gen. Sumner 
died in Warren county. North Carolina, in 
1790. 



Wccdon, George, was born in Fredericks- 
burg, about 1730. He was an innkeeper, 
and an ardent patriot, and during the revo- 
lutionary war became the lieutenant-colonel 
of the Third Virginia Regiment, being 
tiansferred to the First Virginia Regiment 
in August. 1776. He was commissioned 
brigadier-general in 1777, and fought in the 
battles of the Brandy wine and Germantown. 
He was acting adjutant-general of the 
United States army from February 20, 1777, 
to .\pril 19. 1777, when Col. Morgan Connor 
was appointed to the position. He resigned 
shortly afterward, but resumed the com- 
mand of a brigade in 1780, and during the 
siege of Yorktown was in charge of the 
Virginia militia. He died in Fredericks- 
burg, Virginia, in 1790. 

Lcc, Charles, was born in Dernhall, Ches- 
shire. England, in 1731. the youngest son 
of John and Isabella ( Bunbury ) Lee. He 
received a classical education and then de- 
voted himself to a study of the art of war. 
His father died in 175 1, and in the same 
year he was commissioned lieutenant in the 
Forty-fourth Regiment of which his father 
had been colonel. Ordered to America in 
1754, the regiment was attached to Brad- 
dock's army in Virginia, and after the dis- 
astrous defeat of July 9. 1755, marched to 
Albany and Schenectady, where Lee met 
Sir William Johnson and was adopted by 
the Mohawk Indians. He purchased a cap- 
tain's commission for £900, June 11, 1756; 
was severely wounded in Abercrombie's 
assault upon Ticonderoga, July i, 1758; 
was present at the capture of Fort Niagara, 
and then marched to Fort Duquesne and 
thence to Crown Point, New York, where 
he joined Gen. Amherst, and in 1760, took 



Digitized by 



Google 



i68 



VIRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY 



part in the capture of Montreal. He re- 
turned to England and was promoted major 
in the One Hundred and Third Regiment 
August 10, 1761. After serxice in Bur- 
goyne's division in Portugal, in 1762, lie or- 
ganized a project for establishing new colo- 
nies in America, to be recruited from Ger- 
many, Switzerland and New England. The 
British ministr}- refused to approve the 
plan, and he went to Poland in 1764, where 
he was appointed on the staff of the King, 
and accompanied the Polish embassy to 
Turkev in 1766. He returned to England 
in 1766, and unsuccessfully urged his claims 
to promotion. He accepted a commission 
as major-general in the Polish army in 
1769. and made a campaign against the 
'lurks, after which he publicly derided his 
.superior officers and left the army. He vis- 
ited Italy in 1770. returned to England, was 
in France and Switzerland, 1771-72, and on 
May 25. 1772. he was promoted lieutenant- 
colonel in the British army and placed on 
half-pay. Disappointed, he arrix-ed in .Amer- 
ica. November 10, 1773. made the acquaint- 
ance of the revolutionary leaders, was in 
Philadelphia during the first session of the 
continental congress, and his expressed 
knowledge of military science attracted at- 
tention. He purchased for £5,000 Virginia 
currency, an estate in Berkeley county, 
Virginia, near the estate of Horatio Gates, 
whose friendship he had gained. He was 
commissioned second major-general in the 
continental army in June, 1775. The friends 
of Lee, notably Thomas Mifflin, earnestly 
urged his claims for first place against Ar- 
tcmas Ward, and when forced to second 
place, Lee mercilessly ridiculed the military 
skill of General Ward. He refused to ac- 
cept until promised indemnity for any pe- 



cuniary loss he might suffer by accepting a 
commission, and congress assented. On 
July 22 he resigrned his commission and 
half-pay in the British 'lirmy and joined 
Washington in his journey to Cambridge. 
Massachusetts, where he was placed in com- 
mand of the left wing of the army, with 
headquarters at Winter Hill. When Sir 
Henry Clinton left Boston on his southern 
expedition, Gen. Lee was sent to Newport. 
Rhode Island, and in January, 1776, pro- 
ceeded to New York, where he directed the 
fortifying of the harbor. When the news 
of the death of Montgomery at Quebec 
reached Philadelphia, Gen. Lee was made 
commander of the army in Canada, but 
when Clinton's destination was found to be 
the southern states. Lee was transferred to 
the command of the department of the 
South, and went from New York to Vir- 
ginia, where he organized the cavalry and 
advocated a speedy Declaration of Inde- 
pendence. He reached Charleston, South 
Carolina, with his army, June 4, 1776, the 
same day the British fleet entered the har- 
bor with the troops of Clinton and Corn- 
wallis. Gen. Moultrie had constructed a 
fort of palmetto wood on Sullivan's Island, 
which Lee proposed to abandon as inde- 
fensible, but through the efforts of Presi- 
dent Rutledge the fort was garrisoned, and 
in the battle of June 28, 1776, Moultrie pre- 
vented the British fleet from making a land- 
ing, and Lee was g^ven the credit of the vic- 
tory and became popularly known as xhe 
'*Hero of Charleston." He proposed to in- 
vade Florida, but congress ordered him to 
report to Philadelphia, where he received 
$30,000 indemnity for losses by the seques- 
tration of his property in England. Lee ar- 
rived in New York, October 14, 1776, and 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



169 



assumed command of the right wing of the 
army on Ilarlem Heights. The acceptance 
of the resignation of Gen. Ward in May, 
1776. made Lee senior-major-general. On 
November 16, 1776, the British captured 
Fort Washington, and forced Washington 
to defend Philadelphia. Washington had 
k-ft Lee with 7,000 men in Westchester 
ccunty, and when ordered to join Wash- 
ington's army in New Jersey, Lee failed to 
obey. Washington was therefore forced to 
fall back to Princeton with 3.000 men, which 
place he reached December 2, 1776, and the 
same day Lee moved across the river and 
encamped at Morristown with 4,000 men. 
Gen. Schuyler had sent Gates from Ticon- 
deroga with seven regiments to reinforce 
Washington, but Lee diverted the march 
and detained three of the regiments at Mor- 
nstown. Washington was subsequently 
forced back across the Delaware river into 
Pennsylvania. This situation gave Lee the 
opportunity he desired, and he industriously 
circulated reports of W^ashington's military 
incapacity. Holding 1 strong position at 
Morristown, he planned to fall upon the 
flank of Howe's army and if possible secure 
a victory that would give him the command 
of the American army. On December 13, 
^775- ^ party of British dragoons surprised 
him at his headquarters at Baskingridge, 
and made Lee, with his staff, prisoners, 
carrying them to New York City. Gen. 
Lee was refused the privileges of a prisoner 
of war and was ordered sent to England 
for trial as a deserter. Washington to pre- 
vent this wrote Gen. Howe that he held 
five Hessian field-officers as hostages for 
Gen. Lee's personal safety, and on Decem- 
ber 12. 1777. Lee was declared a prisoner 
of war subject to exchange. (It is now 



known that during his imprisonment in 
New York he planned a campaign against 
the American army which he claimed would 
result in the easy subjugation of the colo- 
nies, the identical plan, dated March 29, 
1777, being discovered among the private 
papers of the Howes in 1857). He was ex- 
changed in March, 1778, and joined Wash- 
ington at Valley Forge. In June, when Sir 
Henry Clinton planned to retreat from Phil- 
adelphia across New Jersey to New York, 
Washington determined to oppose his 
march. Gen. Lee advised against risking a 
battle, and his opposition was so determined 
that Washington appointed Lafayette to 
the command of Lee's division. Lee solici- 
tated restoration to the command and La- 
fayette yielded, when Washington repeatea 
his orders to Lee and made them peremp- 
tory. When Lee overtook the British near 
Monmouth Court House. June 28, 1778. his 
conduct aroused the suspicion of Lafayette, 
who despatched an aide to Washington, 
who was bringing up the other division, 
asking him to hasten to the front, and when 
he reached Freehold Church he saw Lee's 
division in retreat, closely pursued by the 
British. The commander-in-chief charged 
Lee with disobeying his orders, and. assum- 
mg command, he rallied the Americans and 
defeated the British, after which he ordered 
Lee to the rear. The next day he reinstated 
Lee in his old command, in spite of which 
Lee addressed an exasperating letter to 
Gen. Washington, to which Washington 
made a severe reply. Washington ordered 
Lee under arrest, and in August. 1778. he 
was tried for disobeying orders, in not at- 
tacking the enemy; for making an unne- 
cessary and disorderly retreat: and for dis- 
respect to the commander-in-chief in two 



Digitized by 



Google 



170 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



letters; was found guilty on all and was 
suspended for twelve months. He at once 
reopened his charges against Washington 
and >vas challenged by Col. John Laurens. 
Washington's aide-de-camp, which resulted 
in Lee's being severely wounded in the arm. 
He subsequently addressed a letter to con- 
gress which caused him to be dismissed 
from the army and he retired to his Virginia 
home until the close of the war. While on 
a visit to Philadelphia he was stricken with 
fever and died alone and friendless at the 
tavern at which he was stopping. October 
2. 1782. He was the author of "Strictures 
on a Friendly Address to all Reasonable 
Americans, in reply to Dr. Myles Cooper" 
(1774); **Mr. Lee's Plan" (1777). He 
claimed to know the secret of the authorship 
ot the "Junius" letters and afterwards ac- 
knowledged himself as the author, which 
statement called out a number of articles 
and books in refutation of his claims. 

Neville, John, born in Prince William 
county, 1 73 1, died near Pittsburgh, July 29, 
1803. He was in Braddock's expedition, 
1755 J settled near Winchester, Virginia, 
and was sheriff, and delegate to provincial 
convention. He was at Trenton. Prince- 
ton, Germantown and Monmouth as colonel 
of the Fourth Virginia Regiment, and after- 
wards member of executive council of 
Pennsylvania. In 1794 he was a United 
States inspector under the excise law, and 
aided in putting down the whiskey insur- 
rection. 

Scott, Charles, was born in Goochland 
county, in 1733. He served under Gen. 
Braddock in 1755. In 1775 ^^^ raised and 
commanded the first company of patriots 
south of the James river ; was commissioned 



colonel of the Third Virginia Battalion, Au- 
gust 12, 1776; was promoted brigadier-gen- 
eral, April 2, 1777; served with the army in 
New Jersey, 1777-79. ^i"^ under Gen. An- 
thony Wayne at Stony Point in 1779. He 
was taken prisoner at Charleston in 1780 
and confined until near the end of the war. 
He removed to Woodford county. Ken- 
tucky, in 1785; commanded troops in the 
Indian outbreaks of 1791-94, and the battle 
of Fallen Timbers. He was governor of 
Kentucky, 1808-12. and a town and county 
in that state were named in his honor. He 
died in Kentucky, October 22, 181 3. 

Morgan, Daniel, was born in Hunter- 
don county. New Jersey, probably in 1733, 
of Welsh descent. He worked for his 
father on an herb farm and received no edu- 
cation. He removed to Carlisle, Pennsyl- 
vania, in 1753, ^"d to Charlestown, \'ir- 
ginia, in 1754, where he obtained employ- 
ment on a farm. He joined Braddock's 
army as a teamster in 1755, and at his de- 
feat he transported the wounded to their 
hemes. In 1753 a British officer struck him 
with a sword, and Morgan knocked him 
down, for which five hundred lashes were 
laid on his bare back. In 1757 he was with 
the militia sent to quell an Indian uprising 
at Edwards Fort on the Cocapehon river. 
As ensign he took part in the Indian cam- 
paign of 1758. While carrying despatches 
to Winchester he became engaged in a fight 
with Indians in which most of his comrades 
were slain and a musket ball passed through 
the back of his neck, removing all the teeth 
en the left side of the jaw. In 1762 he re- 
ceived a grant of land in Frederick county, 
Virginia, and devoted himself to farming, 
naming his place ''Soldier's Rest." He was 



Digitized by 



Google 



TROMIXEXT PERSONS 



171 



married about this time to Abigail Bailey, 
ch:iighter of a farmer. He served as lieu- 
tenant of militia during the Pontiac war. 
In 1763-64 he was captain of militia, and in 
1773 served against the Indians. In June, 
1775. he was appointed captain of one of 
the ten Virginia rifle companies raised to 
join Washington's army at Boston, which 
reached the American camp at Cambridge, 
Massachusetts, in July, 1775. having travel- 
led six hundred miles in twenty-one days, 
one of the first companies to report. On 
September 13. 1775. he went on the expedi- 
tion to Quebec under Benedict Arnold, and 
was the first to cross the St. Lawrence 
river. November 13, 1775. ^^ ^^^ ^'^^ ^S" 
sault upon the lower town, took the battery, 
and fought his way into the town, where for 
lack of support his command was captured. 
He was a prisoner at Quebec until August 
10. 1776, when he was discharged on parole, 
sailed for New York, stayed for a time at 
his home, and in November. 1776, was com- 
missioned colonel of the Eleventh \'irginia 
Regiment. When his parole expired he was 
instructed to recruit men for his regiment. 
r>eiore his enlistment was complete he was 
ordered to the army at Morristown. New 
Jersey, and arrived there with 180 riflemen 
in April. 1777. He was placed in command 
of 500 sharpshooters (Morgan's rangers). 
On June 13, 1777. upon the advance of Lord 
Howe from New Brunswick, New Jersey, 
Morgan's rangers had several encounters, 
and upon Howe's retreat toward Amboy, 
Morgan was sent forward to annoy him. and 
followed Howe to Philadelphia. He found 
Gen. Gates at Stillwater in August, 1777: 
was a prominent figure at Freeman's Farm, 
September 19. and at the surrender of Bur- 
goyne. October 7. He was complimented 



by both Gates and Burgoyne, the latter 
characterizing his rangers the finest rtgi- 
ment in the world. He refused to listen to 
( iates' criticism of Washington's conduct of 
the war and assured him that he would 
hervc under no other man as commander- 
in-chief. At Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania, he 
lojoined Washington, who met Howe's 
army and compelled him to retire to Phila- 
delphia, after which the Americans went 
into winter camp at Valley Forge, and 
Morgan returned to Virginia. During 
June, 1778, he served in the Monmouth 
ciimpaign, but was not present at the battle. 
He was commissioned colonel of the Sev- 
enth Virginia Regiment in March, 1779, and 
in June, 1779, congress having promoted in- 
ferior officers over him. he resigned on the 
appointment of Gates to the command of 
the southern army. After the battle of Cam- 
den, he joined Gates at Hillsborough, was 
promoted brigadier-general October 13, 
1780, and served under Gates and Greene, 
and in December, 1780. was sent by Greene 
to threaten the inland posts of Augusta and 
Ninety-six. Cornwallis sent Tarleton to pre- 
vent this, and Morgan retreated to the Cow- 
pens. The battle of January 17, 1781, was 
one of the most brilliant of the war, and re- 
flected credit upon the military genius of 
Morgan. The British army was put to 
flight, but the direction taken by Cornwallis 
obliged Morgan to cross the Fords of the 
Catawba in order to join Greene, and by a 
brilliant march he reached the river first 
and warned Greene of the situation. He 
took part in the manoeuvers leading to the 
battle of Guilford Court House, which re- 
sulted in Cornwallis* retreat into Virginia, 
but before the battle in February. 1781. he 
was incapacitated from further service by 



Digitized by 



Google 



172 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



an attack of rheumatism and he returned 
home. In 1781 he joined in the suppres- 
sion of the Tory rebellion in Virginia, and 
subsequently reported to Lafayette, near 
Jcimestown, Virginia, and was given com- 
mand of the light troops in Lafayette's com- 
mand, but illness compelled him to retire 
in August. 1 781. He engaged in the culti- 
vation of his farm, and became wealthy. In 
1790 he received from congress the gold 
medal voted to him for services rendered 
at the Cowpens. In 1795 he was chosen ma- 
jor-general of the Virginia troops that took 
part in the suppression of the whiskey in- 
surrection in western Pennsylvania. He 
was a Federal representatrve in the fifth 
cc^ngress, 1797-99. and supported the ad- 
ministration of John Adams. A statue was 
dedicated to him at Spartansburg, South 
Carolina, in 1881. He died at Winchester, 
Virginia, July 6, 1802. 

Heth, William, born in Virginia, 1735, 
died in Richmond, April 15, 1808. He was 
an officer in Montgomery's regiment in the 
French war, and was wounded at Quebec. 
He joined the American army at the be- 
ginning of the revolution, and was lieuten- 
ant-colonel of the Third Virginia until the 
war closed; he afterward held a lucrative 
office under President Washington. 

Woodford, William, was born in Caroline 
county, Virginia, in 1735. He distinguished 
himself in the French and Indian war. In 
1775. when the Virginia militia assembled 
at Williamsburg, he was commissioned 
colonel of the Second Regiment At Great 
Bridge, December 9. the same year, he 
fought the forces of Lord Dunmore. royal 
governor of the colony, and gained a vic- 
tory. Dunmore had fortified a passage of 



the Elizabeth river, on the' borders of the 
Dismal Swamp, where he suspected the 
militia would attempt to cross. At the Nor- 
iflk end of the bridge, Dunmore cast up 
his entrenchments, and supplied them amply 
v/ith cannon. His forces consisted of Brit- 
ish regulars, Virginia Tories, negroes and 
vagrants, in number about 600. Woodford 
had thrown a .small fortification at the oppo- 
site end of the bridge. Early in the morn- 
ing the Royalists attacked the Virginians. 
After considerable manoeuvring a sharp 
battle ensued which lasted about twenty- 
five minutes, when the assailants were re- 
pulsed and fled, leaving two spiked field 
pieces behind them. The loss of the as- 
sailants was fifty-five, killed and wounded: 
not a \'irginian was killed. Woodford was 
afterward commander of the First Virginia 
Erigade. having been appointed brigadier- 
general. At the battle of the Brandywine. 
September 11, 1777, ^^ ^^s severely wound- 
ed, but was in the action at Monmouth, 
New Jersey, June 28, 1778, and at the siege 
of Charleston, South Carolina, in 1780. 
Here he was taken prisoner by the British 
and sent to New York City, where he died 
on November 13, of that year. 

Stevens, Edward, was born in Culpeper 
county, in 1745. He participated as major 
of militia in the battle of Great Bridge, De- 
cember 9, 1775, ^nd >n the summer of 1776 
was made colonel of the Tenth Virginia 
Regiment. In 1777 ^^ ^^s ordered to join 
Washington's army in New Jersey, and at 
the battle of Brandywine bore the brunt of 
Gen. William Howe's assault. Subsequent- 
ly taking a gallant part in the battle of Ger- 
man town, he was advanced by congress to 
the rank of brigadier-general. He spent the 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



173 



winter of 1778 at Valley Forge, and in Au- 
gust, 1780, was transferred to the southern 
army under Gen. Gates, opening with a 
brigade of Virginia militia, the battle of 
Camden, and by his bravery being instru- 
mental in preventing a disastrous rout of 
the American forces. He served under Gen. 
Greene at the battle of Guilford Court- 
house, where he was badly wounded, and 
for the bravery which he displayed on that 
occasion was warmly praised by Gen. 
Greene. He then rejoined Washington, 
with whom he participated in the siege of 
Yorktown. From 1782 until 1790 he was a 
member of the Virginia senate. He died in 
Culpeper county, Virginia, August 17, 1820. 

Campbell, William, born in Augusta 
county, Virginia, about 1745, and was of 
Scotch origin. He received a liberal educa- 
tion, and early displayed a taste for military 
matters. He was made a captain in the first 
regiment of regular troops raised in Vir- 
ginia, in 1775. In 1776 he resigned, on ac- 
count of the exposure of his family to In- 
dian attacks, and returned to Washington 
county, where he was made lieutenant-colo- 
nel of militia, and succeeded Evan Shelby 
in the colonelcy. With this rank he con- 
tinued until after the battle of Kings Moun- 
tain (of which he was the hero), and Guil- 
ford, when the Virginia legislature made 
him brigadier-general, with which rank he 
joined Lafayette. He became a favorite of 
that general, who gave him command of a 
brigade of light infantry and riflemen. A 
few weeks before the siege of Yorktown, 
illness obliged him to retire to the home of 
a friend, where he died, in his thirty-sixth 
year. The Virginia legislature voted him 
a horse, sword and pistols, for his conduct 



at Kings Mountain, and named a county in 
h.is honor. He married Sarah, sister of Pat- 
rick Henry. 

Fcbiger, Christian, was born on the island 
of Fuenen, Denmark, in 1746. He was sent 
to a military school, and then accompanied 
to Santa Cruz an uncle who had been ap- 
pointed governor of that island. In 1772 he 
visited North America, and the following 
year entered into commerce with the New 
England colonies. On April 28, 1775. he 
joined a Massachusetts regiment, quickly 
rose to be adjutant, and was present at 
Bunker Hill, where he distinguished him- 
self. Accompanying Arnold on his expe- 
dition to Quebec, he was taken prisoner at 
the storming of that post, December, 1775, 
and was detained in Canada until Septem- 
ber, 1776, when he was sent with other 
prisoners to New York. In the meantime 
appointed lieutenant-colonel of the Eleventh 
Virginia, he joined his regiment January i, 
1777, and in September became colonel of 
the Second Virginia. He was in the cam- 
paign of Philadelphia, and the battle of 
Brandywine. At Germantown he held the 
right; with 4,000 men and two guns at 
Monmouth he acquitted himself brilliantly ; 
and in the attack on Stony Point he com- 
manded the right and personally captured 
the British commander. On September i, 
1780, Col. Febiger was ordered to Philadel- 
phia, where he forwarded supplies to the 
army. Later, while in Virginia on recruit- 
ing duty, he assisted at the surrender of 
Lord Cornwallis, retiring from active ser- 
vice, January i, 1783, and was brevet ted 
brigadier-general. He settled in Philadel- 
phia, engaging in business, becoming treas- 
urer of Pennsylvania, November 13, 1789, a 



Digitized by 



Google 



174 



VIRGINIA DIOGRAPHY 



position which he continued to hold the 
remainder of his life. He died in Philadel- 
phia. Pennsylvania, September 20, 1796. 

Graham, William, was l>orn in Paxton 
township, Pennsylvania, December 19, 1746, 
son of Michael Graham, who emigrated 
from Ireland to America about 1725, and 
settled in Pennsylvania. William graduated 
from the College of New Jersey, A. B., 
1773. A. M., 1776; studied theology, and 
was assistant to the Rev. John Brown in 
a classical school established in a log school- 
house at Mount Pleasant, Virginia, which 
through amalgamation with Augusta Acad- 
emy grew into Washington and Lee Uni- 
versity. On October 26, 1775. he was re- 
ceived as a minister by the Presbytery of 
Hanover at Timber Ridge, X'irginia. In 
1774 he became rector of the log school- 
bouse then known as Augusta Academy, 
which became Liberty Hall, May 6, 1776; 
John Montgomery being his assistant. He 
also filled the chair of moral and intellec- 
tual philosophy and he added to his duties 
those of pasior of two churches and man- 
ager of a farm on North river near Lex- 
ington. The academy was removed to Tim- 
ber Ridge in 1777, and to near his farm at 
Lexington, Virginia, in 1782, when it was 
chartered by the Virginia assembly. The 
first class was graduated in 1785, the name 
having been changed in 1784 to Washing- 
ton Academy, in recognition of a gift by Gen. 
Washington, of 100 shares of stock of the 
James River Canal Company valued at the 
time at $50,000. He resigned the presidency 
of Washington Academy in 1796 and went 
to the Ohio, where he purchased land with 
the design of settling there with his fam/ly 
and a few chosen friends. He was on a 



journey from the Ohio to Richmond, \'ir- 
ginia. when he died at the home of his 
friend. Col. Gamble, and was buried near 
the south door of the Episcopal church on 
Church hill, rendered historical by the or- 
ation of Patrick Henry. President Graham 
was a trustee of Liberty Hall Academy, 
1776-82. and president of the board of trus- 
tees of Washington Academy, 1782-96. He 
was a member of the convention of 1784 to 
form a plan of government for the prop«.)sed 
state of Frankland, and drew up a plan of 
constitution which was not preserved, the 
project falling through as it infringed on the 
rights of the state of North Carolina. He 
died in Richmond. X'irginia, June 8, 1799. 

Meade, Richard Kidder, was born in 
Nansemond county, July 14, 1746, son of 
David and Susannah (Everard) Meade. He 
attended school at Harrow, England, and 
scon after his return to Virginia entered 
the patriot army. On June 24, 1775, with 
several others, he removed the arms from 
Lord Dunmore"s house to the magazine at 
Williamsburg. He was in command of a 
company at the battle of Great Ridge, near 
Norfolk, in December. 1775, and served 
throughout the remainder of the war as 
aide-de-camp to Gen. Washington, partici- 
pating in all of his important battles. He 
superintended the execution of Maj. Andre, 
and at the close of the war he returned to 
Virginia and engaged in farming. He mar- 
ried (first) Elizabeth Randolph, and (sec- 
ond) Jane, widow of William Randolph, of 
Chatsworth. He died in Frederick county, 
in February. 1805. 

Jones, Joseph, born at '*Cedar Grove.*' Pe- 
tersburg, Virginia, August 23, 1749. son of 
Thomas Jones, grandson of Abraham Jones. 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



i/D 



and a descendant of Major Peter Jones, who 
married a daughter of Major-General Abra- 
ham Wood. Joseph Jones, after complet- 
ir.g his preparatory studies, devoted his 
attention to military affairs, was an earn- 
est patriot in the revokitionary war, an 
otticer in the Virginia militia, holdmg the 
rank of colonel, appointed October 25, 1784; 
brigadier-general, December 11, 1793, and 
major-general, December 24, 1802 ; subse- 
quently was appointed collector of customs 
for Petersburg, Virginia, in which capacity 
he served until his decease; married (first) 
Nancy, daughter of Col. William Call, (sec- 
ond) Jane, daughter of Roger Atkinson; 
den. Jones died on his estate, "Cedar 
Grove." Petersburg, Virginia, February 9, 
1824. 

Anderson, Richard doughy was born in 
Hanover county, Virginia. January 12, 1750. 
As captain he served with gallantry 
throughout the revolutionary war, especial- 
ly distinguishing himself at Brandywine, 
(/lermantown and Trenton ; in this last 
battle crossing the Delaware in advance of 
the main body of the army, and driving the 
enemy before him. Retiring at the close of 
the war with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, 
he removed to near Louisville. Kentucky, 
and became one of the most active and in- 
fluential of those heroic men who wrested 
the state from the savages. He was a mem- 
ber of the convention of 1788, and in 1793 
was chosen a presidential elector. In 1797 
he built a two-masted vessel, and shipped 
from Louisville the first cargo of produce 
that ever went from Kentucky direct to 
Europe. About 1785 he married Elizabeth, 
sister of Gen. George Rogers Clark, and by 
her became the father of Richard Clough 



Anderson. He married (second) Sarah 
Marshall, and by her was father of Major 
Robert Anderson, of Fort Sumter fame. He 
died near Louisville. Kentucky, October 16, 
1826. He was a son of Robert Anderson, 
of Hanover county, Virginia, and Elizabeth 
Clough, his wife. 

Smith, Samuel Stanhope, was born at 
Pequea, Pennsylvania, March 16, 1750, his 
father being the Rev. Robert Smith, D. D. 
The son was educated in his father's famous 
log school at Pequea. He was graduated 
from Princeton in 1769, under Dr. John 
Witherspoon, and licensed by the presby- 
tery of Newcastle (to which \'irginia then 
belonged), the same which had previously 
sent South Samuel Davies, a former presi- 
dent of Princeton, to labor as "the apostle 
of Virginia." Stanhope Smith imitated his 
illustrious predecessor. He is identified 
with the movement in 1771 in the presby- 
tery (now Hanover) to establish an acad- 
emy. The outcome was the founding of 
Prince Edward Academy. The land for a 
site was given by Peter Johnston, grand- 
father of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. Smith 
v/as chosen the first rector, and in an ad- 
vertisement he informs the public: "It (the 
academy) is to be distinguished by the 
name of Hampden-Sidney, and will be sub- 
ject to the visitation of twelve gentlemen 
of character and influence in their respective 
counties ; the immediate and acting mem- 
bers being chiefly of the Church of Eng- 
land.'' The college was intended primar- 
ily for the adjoining section and the whole 
south side of X'irginia, and was to be sup- 
ported by all elements, whether of Eng- 
lish, or Scotch-Irish, or French Huguenot 
descent President Smith resigned in 1779, 



Digitized by 



Google 



1/6 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



leaving the academy in the charge of his 
brother, John Blair Smith, whom he had 
engaged as tutor, and accepted the profes- 
sorship of moral philosophy in Princeton 
College, to the presidency of which he suc- 
ceeded on the death of Dr. VVitherspoon. 
This he resigned in 1812. Among his works 
are: "Causes of the Variety of the Com- 
plexion and Figure of the Human Species'* 
(1/^8) ; "Oration on the Death of Washing- 
ton." at Trenton (iSoo) ; Sermons (1801); 
•'Lectures on the Evidences of the Christian 
Religion" (1809) ; "Love of Praise" (1810) ; 
"A Continuation to Ramsay's History of 
the United States*'; "Lectures on Moral and 
Political Philosophy'*; "The Principles of 
Natural and Revealed Religion." He died 
August 21, 1819. 

Buford, Abraham, was born in Virginia. 
He distinguished himself in the early part 
of the revolutionary war, and was appointed 
colonel of the Eleventh Virginia Regiment, 
May 16, 1778. In the spring of 1780 he was 
sent with his command to relieve Gen. Lin- 
coln at Charleston, South Carolina, but 
hearing that the Americans had surrendered 
the place he began his return march. He 
was overtaken by a force of seven hundred 
cavalry and mounted infantry, under com- 
mand of Col. Tarleton, at Waxhaw Creek, 
South Carolina, May 29, 1780. Though hav- 
ing but four hundred infantry and a small 
cavalry force, Buford refused to surrender, 
and was preparing for defense when the 
British fell upon the continental troops, and 
giving no quarter killed nearly the entire 
force. Col. Buford died in Scott county, 
Kentucky, June 29, 1833. 

Baylor, George, was born at Newmarket, 
Caroline county, Virginia, January* 12, 1752. 



He joined the revolutionary army at the be- 
ginning of the war, serving first as aide-de- 
camp to Gen. Washington. He was given a 
horse by congress, in appreciation of his ser- 
vices in the attack on the Hessians at Tren- 
ton, New Jersey, and in his prompt announce- 
ment to congress of the news of the victory, 
in January, 1777, he was promoted colonel, 
and in 1778 was captured by Gen. Gray at 
Tappan, New York, with his entire com- 
mand, after sixty-seven had been killed, and 
he was held a prisoner for some time. Sub- 
sequently he was placed in command of the 
Virginia cavalry, and served until the end 
of the war. A serious lung wound, received 
at Tappan, finally resulted in his death in 
Bridgetown, Barbadoes, West Indies, in 
March, 1784. He was son of John and 
Frances (Norton) Baylor. 

Hoge, Moses, was born in Frederick 
county, Virginia, February 15, 1752. He 
was one of Graham's pupils at Liberty Hall, 
and was intimately affected by the latter s 
genius and personality. He studied the* 
ology under James Waddell, Wirt's "Blind 
Preacher." In 1787 he was pastor in Shep- 
herdstown, gaining much reputation. He 
made his first venture as an author in 1793 
in "Strictures on a Pamphlet by the Rev. 
Jeremiah Walker, Entitled the 'Fourfold 
Foundation of Calvinism Examined and 
Shaken.'" Another characteristic produc- 
tion was: "Christian Panoply: An An- 
swer to Paine's *Age of Reason'" (1799). 
Dr. Hoge was a bold and honorable con- 
troversialist. In Shepherdstown, Dr. Hoge 
had been instructing young men in theology. 
He was readily induced, therefore, to move 
to Hampden-Sidney College in 1807 as Alex- 
ander's successor. Here he resumed the 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



^77 



theological teaching instituted formerly by 
John Blair Smith. In 1809 the general as- 
sembly of the Presbyterian church had dis- 
cussed the subject of ministerial education, 
the outcome of which was the founding of 
the Theological Seminary at Princeton. The 
Presbyteries of Virginia, however, were in 
favor of synodical seminaries, and in 1812, 
at the same time that Dr. Alexander was 
chosen head of the Princeton Seminary, 
the Virginia synod resolved to have a semi- 
nary of its own and elected Dr. Hoge as 
their professor. Dr. Hoge, therefore, filled 
both offices — president of the college and 
professor of theology — until his death. 
Afterward the Theological Seminary was 
separated from the college and under Dr. 
John Holt Rice rendered independent Dr. 
Hoge was an active member of the Ameri- 
can Bible Society. As a preacher he was 
singularly powerful and effective. A volume 
of "Sermons" was published in 1820, after 
Dr. Hoge's death. Two of his sons, gradu- 
ates of the college under their father's ad- 
ministration, also became distinguished as 
preachers — Samuel Davies Hoge, professor 
of mathematics and science at the State 
University in Athens, Ohio, and John Blair 
Hoge, D. D., tutor in Hampden-Sidney Col- 
lege and peculiarly gifted with literary 
talent. Dr. Moses Drury Hoge, of Rich- 
mond, a graduate of the college under Presi- 
dent Maxwell, is a son of Samuel Davies 
Hoge, who married a daughter of Drury 
Lacy. Dr. Moses Hoge died in Philadel- 
phia, July 5, 1820. 

Hall, Thomas, bom in 1750, son of John 

Hall (1722-98) and Sarah Parry, his wife. 

He took the degree of Bachelor of Arts at 

the College of Philadelphia in 1773; 2i"d 

VIK-.12 



appears to have taken orders in England. 
He returned to America in 1774, to take 
cl.arge of an important parish in Virginia. 
He took an active part in the preliminary 
stages of the revolution; but his love for 
the union with the mother country was too 
great for him to approve of the actual seces- 
sion of the American colonies. Before the 
end of the war, he left Virginia, and never 
returned to America, although he never 
ceased protesting his most ardent love for 
his native land, and in one of his letters 
confessed his mistake in not adopting the 
course pursued by it. He served for some 
time as minister of an important church at 
Bristol, England, and afterwards became 
chaplain to the British colony at Leghorn, 
and remained there until his death, April 
12, 1825. His letters describing conditions 
in Italy during the Napoleonic wars are 
most interesting. Tassenari, the historian, 
tells of a singular act of bravery on the part 
of Dr. Hall. When Napoleon marched upon 
Leghorn in 1803, the English residents, tak- 
ing as much of their property as they could, 
sailed away, with few exceptions. Na- 
poleon, who intended to detain them, was 
greatly disappointed, and it is said that he 
entertained the barbarous idea of destroy- 
ing the English cemetery. But when Dr. 
Hall declared that only over his dead body 
should it be entered he desisted. Dr. Hall 
had a large acquaintance in Virginia, and 
several members of his family, and the 
Maryland family of Halls, came there from 
England, induced by him. His own de- 
scendants are found in Italy. He was a 
kinsman of the celebrated Dr. Rush, of Phil- 
adelphia. 



Digitized by 



Google 



178 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Keith, Richard, born in 1757, was a citi- 
zen of Virginia. He served in the revolu- 
tionary army with the rank of major. He 
was one of seven who cut their way through 
the British cavalry at Charleston, South 
Carolina, May 6, 1780, and escaped. He 
commanded a rifle corps in the action with 
Colonel Simcoe, at Spencer's Ordinary, Vir- 
ginia. Januar>' 25, 1781 ; at Jamestown, July 
6 , he served under Lafayette. He was elect- 
ed surxeyor of Georgia in January, 1784. He 
died in 1792. 

Dade, Francis Langhom, was born in 
Virginia. He was killed by Indians near 
Fort King, Florida, December 28, 1835. He 
was appointed third lieutenant in the 
Twelfth Infantry on March 13, 1813, became 
first lieutenant in 1816, captain in 1818, and 
brevet major in 1828. When killed he was 
on the march to Fort King with a detach- 
ment, which was nearly destroyed by a 
treacherous attack of the Seminole Indians. 
A beautiful monument was erected at West 
Point to his memory and that of his com- 
mand. 

Peticolas, Phillippe S., born at Mezieres, 
France. March 22, 1760, son of Colonel Nich- 
olas Peticolas, a veteran French soldier. 
After a partial collegiate course, a mere lad, 
his innate spirit of adventure led him to 
enlist as a soldier in the command of the 
Prince of Deux Points, under whom he 
served for eight years, in the army of the 
King of Bavaria. In the latter part of his 
soldier life, he acquired a taste for miniature 
painting, in which art he acquired a remark- 
able proficiency. Leaving the army, he went 
to San Domingo to take possession of an 
estate there left him by a deceased brother. 
In 1790 he came to America, locating first in 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where, among 



other portraits, he painted one of Washing- 
ton, and gave lessons in music and painting. 
He next resided in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 
from whence he made several visits to New 
York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, as a por- 
trait painter. About 1835 be was induced 
by Joseph Gallego (an uncle of Count Fer- 
dinand de Lesseps), the founder of the 
famous Gallego flouring mills, to make his 
home in Richmond, Virginia. He was 
highly esteemed as a citizen. In 1840 he 
was a warden and a member of the building 
committee of St. James' Episcopal Church. 
He died in Petersburg in 1843. 

Call, Daniel, born about 1765. was a 
brother-in-law of Chief Justice Marshall. 
He published ** Reports of the Virginia 
Court of Appeals'* in six volumes (1790- 
1818) ; and a second edition was edited by 
Joseph Tate (1824-33). He died in Rich- 
mond, May 20, 1840. 

Gait, Alexander D., born in Williamsburg, 
Virginia, in 1771. son of Dr. John M. Gait 
(q. v.). He was educated at William and 
Mary College, Williamsburg, and at Ox- 
ford, England. He was also a private pupil 
of Sir Astley Cooper, and attended the Lon- 
don hospitals from 1792 to 1794. He was 
associated with his father and succeeded 
him as physician to the Hospital for the In- 
sane at Williamsburg. His private practice 
was even larger than his father's. He, too, 
was a philanthropist, but received little 
credit from the poor, whom he treated gra- 
tuitously, and who believed that the state 
paid him for his services to them. He was 
one of the board of directors of William and 
Mary College, and a distinguished surgeon 
in the war of 1812. He married a cousin. 
Miss Mary D. Gait. 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



179 



Buckingham, James Silk, born in Flush- 
ing. England, in 1786. He was intended for 
the church, but being of an adventurous 
turn of mind, became a sailor, bookseller*s 
clerk, law student, printer and captain of a 
West Indiaman. He was employed in 1813 
by the Pasha of Egypt to select a route for 
a canal across the Isthmus of Suez, but 
after being robbed the pasha relinquished 
his design and Buckingham went to India 
and commanded a ship in the service of the 
Sultan of Muscat. After this he went 
through many adventures. He published, 
at various times, volumes of his travels in 
Palestine, in Arabia, in Mesopotamia, in 
Assyria and Media, and two volumes on 
Belgium, the Rhine and Switzerland, and 
two volumes on France, Piedmont and Swit- 
zerland. He lectured through Great Britain 
in support of various reforms, and repre- 
sented Sheffield in parliament from 1832 to 
1837. He subsequently traveled in America 
as a lecturer on temperance and slavery. 
He became a citizen of the United States in 
18 10. as appears by papers filed in the re- 
corder's office in the borough of Norfolk, 
Norfolk county. Virginia. He died June 
30. 1855. 

Call, Richard Keith, born near Peters- 
burg, Virginia, in 179 1. He was appointed 
first lieutenant in the Forty-fourth United 
States Infantry Regiment, July 15, 1814; 
brevet captain, November 7, 1814; was vol- 
unteer aide to General Jackson in April, 
1818; promoted to captain in July, 1818, 
and resigned from the army. May i, 1822. 
He was a member of the legislative council 
of Florida in April. 1822; brigadier-general 
of West Florida militia in January, 1823; 
delegate to congress from 1823 to 1825 : and 



receiver of the West Florida land office in 
March, 1825. He was governor of Florida 
from 1835 ^o 1840, and led an army against 
the Seminole Indians from December 6, 
1835, ^o December 6, 1836, commanding in 
the second and third battles of Wahoo 
Swamp. November 18-21, 1836. It is said 
that at the battle of Ouithlacoochie, Gov- 
ernor Call personally saved General Clinch 
and his command from being cut to pieces, 
contrary to the statement made by the lat- 
ter in the history of the Florida war. A con- 
troversy with Secretary of War Poinsett 
hi President Van Buren's cabinet cost Gov- 
ernor Call his office. He was subsequently 
a Whig and worked earnestly for Harrison's 
election, canvassing the northern states in 
his behalf. President Harrison reappointed 
him governor of Florida, which office he 
held until 1844, but was an unsuccessful 
candidate for governor the following year. 
He had sacrificed his fortune, health and 
popularity to protect the people of Florida 
during the Seminole war, but they could 
not forgive him for turning to the Whigs, 
and he never again was elected to an office 
in the state, but was major-general of militia 
fiom July I to December 8, 1846. He labor- 
ed industriously in the interest of Florida. 
He projected and built the third railroad in 
the United States, from Tallahassee to St. 
Marks, and located and laid out the town 
of Port Leon, which was afterwards destroy- 
ed by a cyclone. He was devoted to Gen- 
eral Jackson, by whose side he had fought 
for every inch of ground from Tennessee to 
the Peninsula, and, regarding himself as one 
of the builders of the nation, during the 
civil war he was one of the few men in the 
South who regarded secession as treason. 



Digitized by 



Google 



i8o 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



But, in February, 1861, in a letter to John 
S. Littell, of Philadelphia, while he deplored 
secession, he strongly defended slavery. He 
died in Tallahassee, Florida, September 14, 
1862. 

Campbell, Robert, born in Virginia, in 
1755- He was engaged in the Indian fight- 
ing on the borders of Virginia, and in the 
revolutionary war he reached the rank of 
colonel. He commanded a regiment at 
King's Mountain. For forty years he was 
a magistrate in X'irginia, and in 1825 re- 
moved to Tennessee. He died in Knoxville, 
Tennessee, February, 1832. 

Edwards, John, born in Stafford county. 
Virginia, in 1755, brother of Benjamin Ed- 
wards. He removed to what afterwards 
became Kentucky, in 1780, where he entered 
23,000 acres of land; was a member of the 
Virginia legislature, 1781-85, 1795, 1796- 
1800; and a member of the Virginia con- 
vention that ratified the Federal constitu- 
tion. He was a delegate to the different 
conventions assembled to establish the 
limits of Kentucky, 1785-88; also to the con- 
vention of 1792 that framed the Kentucky 
constitution. He represented Kentucky in 
the United States senate, October 24, 1791, 
to March 3, 1795. He died in Stafford 
county, Virginia, 1837. 

Graham, George, bom at Dumfries, Vir- 
ginia, about 1772; was graduated at Colum- 
bia College in 1790, and studied law. He 
settled to practice in Dumfries, but later 
n;oved to Fairfax county. In the war of 
1812 he organized and commanded the 
"Fairfax Light Horse" company. When 
Gen. Armstrong resigned as secretary of 
war, in 1814, Graham was made chief clerk 



of the war department, under Monroe, who 
had charge of both the departments of state 
and war, and Graham performed mo£t of 
the duties of secretary until Monroe's tlec- 
tion as President. In 1818 Secretary of War 
J. C. Calhoun sent Graham to Texas to in- 
spect Gen. Lallemand's settlement on the 
Trinity river. Upon his return, Graham 
was made president of the Washington 
branch of the Bank of the United States. 
He rendered important service in this con- 
nection, especially in closing up the "In- 
dian factorage" matter, saving the govern- 
ment a large amount of money. In 1823 he 
was made commissioner of the land office, 
and served as such until his death at Wash- 
ington, August, 1830. 

Brown, Samuel, born in Rockbridge 
county, \'irginia, January 30, 1769, son of 
Rev. John Brown, who came to Virginia 
from the North of Ireland early in the 
eighteenth century. He graduated at Dick- 
inson (Pennsylvania) College, studied med- 
icine under Dr. Rush, in Philadelphia, then 
v.ent to Scotland and obtained the degree 
of doctor of medicine at the University of 
Aberdeen. He practiced successively in 
Washington City ; Lexington, Kentucky ; 
New Orleans, Louisiana, and Natchez, Mis- 
sissippi. In 1819 he became professor of 
the theory and practice of medicine in the 
Transylvania University at Lexington, Ken- 
tucky, and held the position until 1825. He 
was distinguished for his application of in- 
dustrial chemistry to agricultural processes, 
devised the method of clarifying ginseng 
for the Chinese market and brought steam 
into use for the distillation of spirits. He 
brought the process of lithotrity in surgery 
from France to the United States. He 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



i8i 



formed a medical society at Lexington, 
whose organization and code of ethics are 
said to have formed the basis of the medical 
associations now existing in America. In 
1790 he advocated the gradual emancipation 
of slaves in Kentucky. He was a contrib- 
utor of various papers to philosophical soci- 
eties and medical journals. He died near 
Huntsville, Alabama, January 12, 1830. 

Edwards, Benjamin, born in Stafford 
county. \'irginia. He obtained a common 
school education, and became a planter and 
merchant in Maryland. He was a member 
of the state convention that ratified the Fed- 
eral constitution; a member of the state 
general assembly ; and filled the unexpired 
term of Uriah Forrest in Congress, 1794-95. 
William Wirt was a tutor in his family, and 
was aided by him to an education. He died 
in Stafford county, Virginia, November 13, 
1826. 

Macaulay, Alexander, Jr., son of Alex- 
ander Macaulay and Elizabeth Jerdone, his 
wife, was born at Yorktown, Virginia, Feb- 
ruary 20, 1787. Being of an adventurous 
turn he visited Columbia in 181 1 and took 
part in its struggle for independence. He 
captured a Spanish camp at Popayan and 
was made lieutenant-colonel in the army of 
the patriots. At Pasto an armistice was 
patched up, and on his way back to Popa- 
yan he was treacherously attacked near 
Cotambuco and taken prisoner. By an order 
of the Spanish president. Don Torribes Mon- 
tes. he was executed in the city of Pasto in 
the month of January, or the beginning of 
February, 1813. A writer in the Washing- 
ton Intelligencer," in 1816. states that Ma- 
caulay was the idol of the people of Vene- 
zuela and New Grenada, and his name was 



hung by the side of Doiivar in golden let- 
ters, in the saloon of the Cabildo of Popa- 
yan. When taken out to execution he ad- 
vanced before his fellow prisoners and said 
to them, "Let me be the first to receive 
death, in order that I may show my fellow 
patriots how a republican can die." 

Russell, William, born in Culpeper 
county, 1758, died in Fayette county, Ken- 
tucky, July 3, 1825. He went with his father 
to join Daniel Boone on the frontier. He 
v/as a lieutenant in the revolution; was at 
King's Mountain, where he was the first to 
reach the summit, and received a sword 
from the enemy. As captain he served 
against the Cherokees and effected a treaty 
with them. He went to Kentucky at the 
end of the war, and commanded the ad- 
vance in movements against the Indians, 
under Wayne, commanding a regiment of 
Kentucky volunteers. He was in the Vir- 
ginia legislature which separated Kentucky 
from the parent state; on organization of 
the Kentucky government he was sent to 
its legislature, serving until 1808, when 
President Madison made him colonel of the 
Seventh United States Infantry. He suc- 
ceeded Gen. William H. Harrison in com- 
mand of the Indiana, Illinois and Missouri 
frontiers in 181 1, and commanded an expe- 
dition against the Peoria Indians, 1812. He 
was in the Virginia legislature in 1823, and 
declined a nomination for governor. He 
was son of William Russell, lieutenant-colo- 
nel of the Culpeper militia in 1754. 

Wickham, John, born in Southold, Long 
Island, New York, June 6, 1763. He was 
intended for the army, but after studying at 
the military academy at Arras, France, he 
returned home and settled in Williamsburg, 



Digitized by 



Google 



l82 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Virginia, where he practiced law for a time, 
then removing to Richmond. He took high 
rank in his profession, and was counsel for 
Aaron Burr, in his trial for treason. John 
Randolph, of Roanoke, refers to him in his 
will as "my best of friends and the wisest 
and best man I ever knew ;" and Tom Moore, 
the poet, pronounced him "the only gentle- 
man I found in America, and would have 
graced any court" He died in Richmond, 
January 17, 1839. 

Barron, James, was born in Virginia, in 
1769. son of Samuel Barron, captain, of Fort 
George, now Fort Monroe. He became a 
sailor, rose to the rank of master, and after 
commanding various merchantmen, was in 
1798 commissioned a lieutenant in the United 
States navy. He was made captain in 1799. 
commodore in 1806, and when war with 
France threatened in 1807, was assigned to 
the command of the Chesapeake, The latter 
left Washington with a hastily collected 
crew and poorly prepared. Soon after sail- 
ing she encountered the British frigate 
Leopard, whose commander demanded the 
return of certain British deserters, who he 
alleged were in board the Chesapeake. Com- 
modore Barron refused to comply, and the 
Leopard opened fire, killing three of the 
crew of the Chesapeake, and wounding 
eighteen. Barron, after firing one of the 
guns, lowered the United States flag, and 
the British commander boarded the Chesa- 
peake and carried away the sailors of 
whom he was in search. The British gov- 
ernment condemned the action of its repre- 
sentative, returned the sailors taken from 
the Chesapeake, and paid indemnity. Bar- 
ron, however, was severely censured by the 
public and his fellow-officers (though he 



contended, with justice, that, owing to the 
negligence of the navy department, he had 
been powerless to resist the demand of the 
Leopard) ; was tried by court-martial and 
suspended for five years, but was later 
fully reinstated to command. In 1820, re- 
garding Commodore Decatur as the head 
of a cabal, which he believed existed against 
him, he challenged the latter to mortal com- 
bat. In the encounter, which took place 
near Bladensburg, Maryland, Decatur was 
killed and Barron badly wounded. The re- 
sult served to increase the ill feeling against 
Barron. The latter, in 1839, became senior 
officer of the navy, but, until his retirement, 
passed his time in shore duty or on waiting 
orders. Time has acquitted him of the 
charge of negligence, and it is now believed 
that he was in large measure the victim of 
circumstances. He died in Norfolk, Vir- 
ginia, April 21, 1851. 

Clark, William, was born in Caroline 
county, Virginia, August i, 1770, son of 
John and Ann (Rogers) Clark, and grand- 
son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Wilson) 
Clark. When he was fourteen his family 
removed to Kentucky, settling on the site of 
the present city of Louisville, where his 
brother, George Rogers Clark, erected a 
fort, in 1777. This place at the time was 
the scene of frequent Indian raids, and 
young William grew up with a vast experi- 
ence of the methods of Indian warfare and 
an intimate knowledge of their habits. At 
the age of nineteen he participated in Col. 
John Hardin's expedition against the In- 
dians across the Ohio, was made an ensign 
in 1791, served under Scott and Wilkinson 
against the Indians on the Wabash, was 
commissioned lieutenant of infantry, March 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



183 



7. 1792, and in December was assigned to 
the fourth sub-legion. He was appointed 
adjutant and quartermaster, in September, 
>793> served against the Indians and under 
Gen. Wayne, and in July, 1796, resigned, 
owing to ill health. He subsequently re- 
gained his health by turning trapper and 
hunter. About 1804 William Clark removed 
to St. Louis, Missouri, and in March Presi- 
dent Jefferson commissioned him second 
lieutenant of artillery, ordering him to join 
Capt. Meriwether Lewis in an exploring 
expedition from St. Louis to the mouth of 
the Columbia river. This expedition lasted 
two years and was the first to the Pacific 
coast. The success of the explorations, at- 
tended by incredible privations and hard- 
ships, where no white man ever set his foot 
before, was in large measure due to Capt. 
Clark's knowledge of Indian character and 
habits. He was military director of the ex- 
pedition, and kept a journal, subsequently 
published by the United States government. 
On September 23, i8of), the expedition re- 
turned to St. Louis, and Capt. Clark went to 
Washington. Congress granted him 1,000 
acres from the public domain, and on May 
2. 1807, he resigned from the army, having 
been nominated to be governor of Louisiana 
territory a few days before. His commis- 
sion for the latter office was dated March 3, 
1807, and about the same time he was ap- 
pointed a general of the territorial militia 
and Indian agent. In the latter office he 
remained until July i, 1813, when he was 
appointed governor of the Missouri terri- 
tory, by President Madison. When Mis- 
souri applied for admission into the Union 
in 1818, a controversy followed whether it 
should be a free or slave state. In antici- 
pation of the admission of the state an 



election was held August 28, and Clark was 
defeated for governor by Alexander Mc- 
Nair. In May, 1822, he was appointed su- 
perintendent of Indian affairs at St. Louis 
by President Monroe. He held this office 
until his death, in St. Louis, Missouri, Sep- 
tember I, 1838. Clark's Fork, an important 
branch of the Missouri, was named in his 
honor, and Lewis and Clark county, Mon- 
tana, is in joint remembrance of the two 
explorers. 

McDowell, Ephraim, was born in Rock- 
bridge county, Virginia, November 11, 1771, 
son of Samuel and Mary (McClung) Mc- 
Dowell, and grandson of Ephraim McDow- 
ell, who with his brothers, James and John, 
emigrated from Ireland to Pennsylvania. 
Ephraim and John settled in Rockbridge 
county, in 1737. He removed with his par- 
ents to Danville in 1783 ; attended a classical 
school at Georgetown, and studied medi- 
cine under Dr. Humphreys of Staunton, 
and at the University of Edinburgh, 1793- 
94. He practiced medicine and surgery in 
Danville. 1785-1830. He was married, in 
1802, to Sallie, daughter of Gov. Isaac Shel- 
by of Kentucky. He was elected a member 
of the Medical Society of Philadelphia in 
1817. The honorary degree of M. D. was 
conferred upon him by the University of 
Maryland in 1825. He was the first surgeon 
successfully to perform the operation known 
as ovariotomy, and a description of his first 
cases was published in the Eclectic Reper- 
tory and Analytic Review, Philadelphia, 
1817. His successful operations appeared 
incredible at the time, and he became known 
among the profession as the '^father of 
ovariotomy." He was one of the founders 
of Center College at Danville, and an orig- 
inal trustee, 1819-23. In 1879 a monument 



Digitized by 



Google 



1 84 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



to his memory was erected in McDowell 
Park by the State Medical Society. He 
died in Danville, Kentucky, June 20, 1830. 

Baxter, George Addison, born in Rock- 
ingham county, Virginia. July 22, 1771. He 
was one of the many preachers and teachers 
who studied under William Graham at Lib- 
erty Hall. He traveled as an evangelist in 
Virginia and Maryland ; for a time he was 
principal of the New London (Virginia) 
Academy, in Bedford county. In 1798 he 
became professor of mathematics and nat- 
ural philosophy at Liberty Hall, and on the 
death of Mr. Graham succeeded him as prin- 
cipal of the institution, which in 181 3 be- 
came Washington College. In 1829 he re- 
tired from the presidency, but continued 
pastoral labors in Lexington. In 1832 he 
became professor of theolog>' in Union Theo- 
logical Seminary of Hampden-Sidney, and 
he continued to labor there until his death. 
His presidency of the institution lasted for 
all the remainder of the college year after 
the death of Mr. Gushing. He died April 
14. 1841. 

Alexander, Archibald, bom in Rockbridge 
county, near Lexington, April 17, 1772, was 
of Scotch-Irish stock. He was one of Wil- 
liam Graham's pupils at Liberty Hall (now 
Washington and Lee University). It was 
at Samuel Stanhope Smith's recommenda- 
tion that Graham was chosen to take charge 
Of this academy, and he conducted it for 
twenty years. During the revival of 1788, 
Alexander accompanied William Graham to 
Prince Edward, and assisted in the work, 
aiding further in similar efforts upon his 
return to Rockbridge. In 1791 he was a 
member of the general assembly, and in 
1794 was again in Prince Edward as pastor 



of Briery church. Upon the resignation of 
Drury Lacy, in 1796, Archibald Alexander 
was called to the presidency of the college, 
at the early age of twenty-four. Dr. Alex- 
ander made an extended tour through the 
northern and Xew England states in 1801, 
coming in contact with the representative 
men of the day in theological thought. In 
Louisa county. X^irginia, he stopped at the 
house of James Waddell, the famous blind 
preacher in William Wirt's ** British Spy," 
and met for the first time Janetta Waddell, 
who later became his wife. He returned to 
Hampden-Sidney in 1802, and resumed the 
duties of his office, remaining until 1806. In 
that year he accepted a call to the Pine 
street church, Philadelphia. In the follow- 
ing year he was moderator of the general 
assembly. In his sermon before this as- 
sembly, he made a suggestion as to a theo- 
logical seminary. This was at last estab- 
lished in 1812 at Princeton, Xew Jersey, and 
Dr. Alexander was chosen senior professor 
and remained there the rest of his life. Dr. 
Alexander was pre-eminent for piety, and 
possessed unrivaled powers as a pulpit ora- 
tor. He is no less known today through his 
numerous theological and philosophical 
works. The most important are: "Evi- 
dences of the Christian Religion" (1825); 
"History of the Colonization of the Western 
Coast of Africa" (1846); "History of the 
Israelitish Nation" (1852); "Outlines of 
Moral Science" (1852); "Biographical 
Sketches of the Founder and Principal 
Alumni of the Log College" (See Prince- 
ton). Of his sons, two were distinguished 
Princeton professors and theological writ- 
ers. Dr. James W. Alexander and Dr. J. 
Addison Alexander. A grandson, Dr. 
Henry Carrington Alexander, was for 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



«8S 



twenty-two years professor in the Theo- 
logical Seminary of Hampden-Sidney. Dr. 
Alexander died October 22, 1851. 

Bracken, John, was a clergyman, and 
master of the grammar school in William 
and Mary College in November, 1775, serv- 
ing until the grammar school was substi- 
tuted in December, 1779, by a school of 
modern languages of which Charles Bellini 
was professor. At the Episcopal conven- 
tion in May, 1786, in Richmond, Bracken 
leceived ten votes for bishop. He was for 
many years pastor of Bruton parish church 
in Williamsburg. At a meeting held July 
20, 1790. by the directors of the hospital for 
the maintenance and cure of persons of un- 
sound minds in Williamsburg (the oldest 
insane asylum in the United States, estab- 
lished 1768). Dr. Bracken was made presi- 
dent to succeed James Madison, then in 
England seeking consecration as bishop. In 
1792 he became professor of "humanity" in 
William and Mary College: on Madison's 
death in 1812 became president, and in 1814 
was elected bishop of the Episcopal church, 
an otifice which he declined the following 
year, probably on account of failing health. 
He died July 15, 1818. 

Dale, Samuel, was born in Rockbridge 
county. Virginia, in 1772, died in Lauder- 
dale county, Mississippi, May 24, 1841. His 
parents were Pennsylvanians of Scotch- 
Irish extraction. Samuel went with them 
>" ^775 to the forks of Clinch river, Vir- 
ginia, and in 1783 to the vicinity of the 
present town of Greensborough, Georgia. 
In both of these places the family lived with 
others in a stockade, being exposed to fre- 
quent attacks from Indians, and young Dale 
thus became familiar with savage warfare. 



After the death of his parents in 1791 he 
enlisted in 1793 ^s a scout in the service of 
the United States and soon became a fam- 
ous Indian fighter, being known as "Big 
Sam." He commanded a battalion of Ken- 
tucky volunteers against the Creeks in Feb- 
ruary, 1814, and in December carried de- 
spatches for Gen. Jackson froiri Georgia to 
New Orleans in eight days with only one 
horse. After the war he became a trader 
al Dale's Ferry, Alabama, was appointed 
colonel of militia, held various local offices, 
and was a delegate in 1816 to the conven- 
tion that divided the territory of Mississippi. 
He was a member of the first general as- 
sembly of Alabama territory in 1817, of the 
state legislature in 1819-20 and 1824-28, and 
of that of Mississippi in 1836. In 1821 he 
was one of a commission to locate a public 
road from Tuscaloosa through Pensacola to 
Blakely and Fort Claiborne, and on the 
completion of his duty, was made brigadier- 
general by the Alabama legislature and 
given a life pension. In 1831 he wcs ap- 
pointed by the secretary of war, together 
with Col. George S. Gaines, to remove the 
Choctaw Indians to their new home on the 
Arkansas and Red rivers. (See **Life and 
Times of Gen. Sam. Dale,'* from notes of 
his own conversation, by John F. H. Clai- 
borne, Xew York. i860). 

Blackburn, Gideon, was born in Augusta 
county, Virginia. August 2^. 1772; he was 
a nephew of Gen. Samuel Blackburn. His 
parents removed to East Tennessee, and he 
was placed under the instruction of the Rev. 
Mr. Doak. He was' licensed to preach by 
the Abingdon Presbytery between 1792 
and 1795, and with his Bible, hymn book, 
knapsack and rifle, plunged into the wilder- 



Digitized by 



Google 



i86 



VIRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY 



ness, and made his first preaching at a fort 
built for the protection of the frontier; es- 
tJ*blished churches at Marysville, and sev- 
eral surrounding places. In 1803 he under- 
took a mission to the Cherokee Indians, and 
m 181 1 became principal of Harpcth Acad- 
emy, preaching at the same time and organ- 
izing several churches. From 1823 to 1827 
he preached at Louisville. Kentucky, and in 
the latter year became president of Centre 
College, holding the office until 1830. He 
then removed to Versailles, where he 
preached and acted as agent of the Ken- 
tucky State Temperance Society. * In 1833 
he went to Illinois and in 1833 began to 
raise money for Illinois colleges, a work 
which resulted in Blackburn University at 
Carlinville, Illinois. He did not live to see 
its organization or the erection of its build- 
ings, and it did not reach higher than a col- 
l**ge grade. In 1805 the College of New 
Jersey conferred on him the degree of Doc- 
tor of Divinity, and Dickinson College gave 
him those of Master of Arts and S. T. D. 
He died in Carlinville. Illinois, August 23, 
1838. 

Pegram, John, was born in Dinwiddie 
county, Virginia, November 16, 1773, son 
of Captain Edward and Mary (Lyle) Peg- 
nim. His grandfather, Edward Pegram, 
came from England in the fall of 1699 with 
a party of engineers under Col. Daniel 
Baker, whose daughter, Mary Scott Baker, 
he married. Their second son. Captain Ed- 
ward Pegram (born about 1744, died March 
30, 1816), was appointed "special com- 
mander" to defend his parish and county 
against the Indians, and thus became known 
as **King Pegram." He was also a captain 
in the American revolution and a juror in 



the trial of Aaron Burr. John Pegram was 
a magistrate for more than twenty years, a 
member of the house of delegates for many 
years and of the state senate for eight years ; 
a representative in the fifteenth congress, 
1818-19. completing the term of Peterson 
Goodwin, deceased; major-general of state 
militia in the war of 1812, and United States 
marshal of the eastern district of Virginia 
ill Monroe's administration. He married 
(first) Miss Coleman, of Dinwiddie, and 
(second) Martha Ward Gregory, and was 
the father of fourteen children. He died in 
Dinwiddie county, Virginia. April 8, 1831. 

Marshall, Louis, born at **Oak Hill." \'ir- 
ginia, October 7, 1773, son of Col. Thomas 
Marshall, born 1730, died 1802. and his wife, 
Mary Randolph (Keith) Marshall, and 
grandson of Captain John and Elizabeth 
(Markham) Marshall, the former named "of 
the Forest;'* in 1785 his. father removed to 
Lexington, Kentucky, and he accompanied 
him, and thereafter made his home in that 
state; his' education was acquired by study 
at home, and he prepared for the profession 
of medicine and surgery at Edinburgh and 
Paris, residing in the latter named city dur- 
ing the French revolution, and was one of 
the party of students engaged in the attack 
on the Bastile, was also present at the mas- 
sacre of the Swiss guard, witnessed the mur- 
der of Prince de Lamballe, was arrested and 
imprisoned for several years, and was at 
one time condemned to death, but his life 
was saved by the strategem of the turnkey ; 
his brothers, John and James, then in Paris, 
as representatives from the United States, 
procured his release ; in 1800 he began the 
practice of his profession in Woodford 
county, Kentucky, and he also established 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



fn'^^'^^-^^^^Tr^' 




MERIWETHER LEWIS 



Digitized by 



Google 



PRO-MIXEXT PERSONS 



187 



a private school, and shortly afterward he 
discontinued hjs medical practice, establish- 
ing an academy in Woodford, of which he 
was the preceptor until 1830, his pupils in- 
cluding sons of the best families of Ken- 
tucky, his adopted state ; he served as presi- 
dent of Washington College, Lexington, 
Virginia, from 1830 to 1834, and filled a 
similar office in Transylvania University, 
Lexington, Kentucky, from 1855 to 1866; 
he married, at Frankfort, Kentucky, Agatha 
Smith, and his father then gave him the 
ei'tate. **Duckpond.'* in Woodford county, 
Kentucky, where he resided until his death 
in April. 1866. 

Ewing, Finis, was born in Bedford coun- 
ty, Virginia, June 10. 1773, died in Lexing- 
ton. Missouri. July 4, 1841. He was of 
Scotch-Irish descent and both of his parents 
were noted for piety. His early education 
was neglected, but it is said that he studied 
for a time in college. After the death of 
his parents he moved to Xashville, Tennes- 
see, and in 1823 married a daughter of Wil- 
liam Davidson, a revolutionary general. 
Soon afterward he went to Logan county, 
Kentucky, where he was licensed to preach, 
and in 1803 was ordained by the Cumber- 
land presbytery. He met with remarkable 
success as a revivalist, but his ordination 
was not recognized by the Kentucky synod, 
and the presbytery being dissolved, and the 
action of the synod having been sustained 
by the general assembly, he, with two 
others, organized in 18 10 the new Cumber- 
land Presbyterian church, which now num- 
bers about two thousand congregations. In 
doctrine they occupy a middle ground be- 
tween Calvinism and Arminianism. A few 
years after originating the new denomina- 



tion Mr. Ewing removed to Todd county, 
Kentucky, and became pastor of the Leb- 
anon congregation, near Ewingsville. In 
i8jo he proceeded to Missouri, settled in 
what is now Cooper county, and organized 
a congregation at New Lebanon, which still 
flourishes. In 1836 he removed to Lexing- 
ton. Fayette county, where he preached till 
his death. He is the author of "Lectures 
on Divinity," which contains the germ of 
the peculiarities of the creed of the Cum- 
berland Presbyterians. 

Lewis, Meriwether, was born near Char- 
lottesville, Virginia. August 18, 1774, young- 
est son of Captain William and Lucy (Meri- 
wether) Lewis. His uncle on the death of 
Meriwether's father became his guardian. 
Meriwether attended a Latin school, and 
conducted his mother's farm. He enlisted 
in the state militia called out by President 
Washington to suppress the opposition to 
the excise taxes in Western Pennsylvania, 
and then joined the regular service as lieu- 
tenant. He was promoted to captain in 
1797. and became paymaster of the First 
United States Infantry. In 1797 the Amer- 
ican Philosophical Society, through the sug- 
gestion of Thomas Jefferson, undertook to 
secure some competent person to ascend 
the Missouri river, cross the Stony Moun- 
tains, and descend the nearest river to the 
Pacific. Captain Lewis, then stationed at 
Charlottesville on recruiting duty, solicited 
Mr. Jefferson to be allowed to make the 
journey, but Andre Michaux, the botanist, 
was appointed and proceeded as far as Ken- 
tucky, when he was recalled by the French 
minister, then in Philadelphia, and the at- 
tempt was abandoned. Captain Lewis 
served as private secretary to President 



Digitized by 



Google 



i88 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Jefferson, 1801-03, and when congress voted 
the money to carry out the President's pro- 
ject of crossing the continent to the Pacific, 
he was entrusted with the command of the 
enterprise with Captain William Clark, as 
second in command. He pursued a course 
in the natural sciences and astronomical ob- 
servations at Philadelphia and at Lancaster, 
Pennsylvania, preparatory to the undertak- 
ing. The instructions, signed by President 
Jefferson, January 20, 1803, detailed the 
scientific, geographical, commercial and dip- 
lomatical purposes of the expedition and pro- 
vided for all contingencies likely to arise. The 
treaty of Paris, April 13, 1803, had meantime 
transferred the territory of Louisiana to the 
United States, and the information reached 
Washington about the first day of July. On 
July 5, 1803. Captain Lewis left Washington 
for Pittsburgh, where he was to select his 
stores, outfit and men. Delays retarded the 
journey down the Ohio and the expedition 
could not enter the Missouri until the ice 
had broken up in the spring of 1804. They 
ascended the Missouri to its sources, crossed 
the Rocky Mountains, struck the head- 
waters of the Columbia river, floated down 
that river to its mouth and explored much 
of the Oregon country. They started East, 
March 23. 1806, and reached Washington, 
February 14. 1807. Congress granted to the 
two chiefs and their followers the donation 
of lands which had been promised as a re- 
ward for their toil and dangers. Captain 
Lewis was soon after appointed governor 
of Louisiana and Captain Clark commis- 
sioned a general in the militia and agent in 
the United States for Indian affairs in the 
territory of Louisiana. On reaching St. 
Louis, Governor Lewis found much con- 
fusion in public affairs, and in SoptiMnher, 



1809. set out to Washington to carry valu- 
able vouchers of accounts and his journal 
of the expedition to and from the Pacific. 
While at the home of a Mr. Gruider, in Ken- 
tucky, in a fit of h>'pochondria. Governor 
Lewis killed himself. He died October 8, 
. 1809. 

Hall, William, born in Virginia in 1774; 
for several years he was a member of the 
state legislature, and Was at one time speaker 
of the senate; in 1829, on the resignation of 
Samuel Houston, he became governor of 
Tennessee, in which state he resided for 
many years; from 1831 to 1833 he was a 
member of congress, having been elected 
on the Democratic ticket; he was a major- 
general of militia, served in the Indian wars, 
and commanded a regiment of Tennessee 
riflemen under General Jackson in the war 
of 181 2. displaying great bravery in the per- 
formance- of his duties ; he died in Green 
Garden, Sumner county, Tennessee, in Oc- 
tober, 1856. 

Taylor, Robert Barraud, was born in Nor- 
folk, Virginia, March 24, 1774, and was 
graduated at the College of William and 
Mary in 1793. After law study he entered 
the bar of Virginia, and followed practice * 
in Norfolk, winning wide reputation as an 
eminent lawyer. During the last four years 
of his life he was judge of the general court 
of Virginia. He took part in the defense of 
Norfolk during the war of 181 2 as brigadier- 
general of the state militia, and as a result 
of his conspicuous service was offered the 
same rank in the United States army, but 
declined to serve. He was a member of the 
famous Virginia constitutional convention 
of 1829. He was also at an earlier date a 
member of the Virginia assembly. Judge 



Digitized by 



Google 



^■A i j i . ii i^j i ,. ^I ' ^ y ^iffiisj.y i ii i, ^ . j ii, pi j iiiy ■ ^j^^., | ^^ ^^ ■^jj i | .,,i. j^^ > ^ ,>. 




^olti^l ^. ^au/c/c 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



189 



Taylor was one of the members of the first 
board of visitors of the University of Vir- 
ginia, serving from 1819 to 1822. He died 
in Norfolk, April 13, 1834. He was a son 
of Robert Taylor and Catherine (Curie) 
Barraud. 

Empie» Adam» born in Schenectady, New. 
York, September 5, 1775, son of John Empie, 
of Dutch descent He was educated at 
Union (New York) College, entered the 
Episcopal ministry and held charges in New 
York and North Carolina. After the death 
of Dr. Wilmer, in 1827, he was made presi- 
dent of William and Mary College, Wil- 
liamsburg, Virginia. Under him the college 
started on an upward course. In 1826, the 
last year of Dr. Smith's administration, the 
number of students was only twelve, which 
in 1836, the last year of Dr. Empie's admin- 
istration, had increased to sixty-nine. In 
1839 the attendance reached one hundred 
and forty. He resigned the presidency to 
take the rectorship of the new chufch of 
St. James, in Richmond. There he con- 
tinued to serve acceptably until 1853, when, 
enfeebled by age and disease, he retired to 
Wilmington, where he died, November 6, 
i860. 

Lyelly Thomas, bom in Richmond county, 
Virginia, May 13, 1775, son of John and 
Sarah Lyell, members of the Protestant 
Episcopal church, but being isolated from 
the privileges of that church attended the 
Methodist church, hence the son was 
brought up a Methodist; in 1790, when only 
fifteen years of age, he began to exhort, and 
two years later to preach in Virginia and 
subsequently in Providence, Rhode Island; 
from 1797 to 1804 he served as chaplain of 
the United States house of representatives; 



was admitted to the diaconate in the Protes- 
tant Episcopal church by Bishop Claggett 
in 1804, ^"d advanced to the priesthood by 
Bishop Moore in the following year; was 
rector of Christ Church, New York City, 
from 1805 to 1848; secretary of the diocesan 
convention, from 181 1 to i8i6; member of 
the standing committee, from 1813 to 1848; 
deputy to the general convention, from 1818 
to 1844; trustee of the General Theological 
Seminary, from 1822 to 1848; and senior 
member of the board of trustees of the Prot- 
estant Episcopal Society for Promoting 
Learning and Religion in the State of New 
York at the time of his death, which oc- 
curred in New York City, March 4, 1848; 
he received the honorary degree of Master 
of Arts from Brown in 1803, ^^^ ^^at of 
Doctor of Divinity from Columbia in 1822 ; 
his first wife was a daughter Rev. Dr. Abra- 
ham Beach, rector of Trinity Parish. 

Arbuckle, Matthew, bom in Greenbrier 
county, Virginia, in 1776; died at P"ort 
Smith, Arkansas, June 11, 1851. He entered 
the army as an ensign in 1799, became a 
captain in 1806, major in 1812, lieutenant- 
colonel in 1814, colonel of the Seventh In- 
fantry in 1820, and brevet brigadier-general 
in 1830. In 1817 he was successful in an ex- 
pedition against the Fowltoun Indians, and 
in 1846-47 served in the Mexican war. He 
commanded at New Orleans, Fort Gibson 
and Fort Smith. During much of his life 
he was brought constantly in contact with 
the Indians of the frontier, and, by his 
knowledge of their character, always kept 
their confidence. 

Bledsoe, Jesse, born in Culpeper county, 
Virginia, April 6, 1776, died near Nacog- 
doches, Texas, June 30, 1837. When a boy 



Digitized by 



Google 



190 



VIRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY 



he emigrated to Kentucky and then studied 
at the Transylvania Seminary, where he be- 
came a fine scholar. He afterward studied 
law and practiced with great success. In 
1808 he became secr^stary of state under 
Governor Charles Scott, and in 18 12 was a 
member of the legislature. He was elected 
United States senator from Kentucky, and 
served from May, 1813, till 1815. From 
181 7 till 1820 he was state senator. In 1820 
he was a presidential elector, and in 1822 
was appointed circuit judge in the Lexing- 
ton district. Accordingly he settled in Lex- 
ington, where he also became professor of 
law in Transylvania University. Later he 
returned to the practice of his profession, 
ii: 1833 removed to Mississippi, and in 1835 
tc Texas, where he was engaged collecting 
historical material at the time of his death. 

Tyler, Samuel, born in James City coun- 
ty, \'irginia. about 1776. nephew of John 
Tyler, judge of United States district court 
(181 1 ). He attended William and Mary 
College, passed the ordinary period of class- 
ical study, and entered on the study of the 
law with an application that in a very short 
time placed him among the foremost law- 
yers at the bar. He was elected to the leg- 
islature in 1798, and supported the resolu- 
tions of 1798-99, which announced the ac- 
cepted creed in Virginia until the war of 
1861. On December 23, 1801, he qualified 
as a member of the council, and was shortly 
after sent by James Monroe, the governor, 
to Washington, to watch the course of the 
election between Jefferson and Burr. At 
this time he wrote that Pennsylvania had 
her courier at hand, and stood ready to send 
twenty-two thousand troops to Washington 
should the attempt to set aside the lawful 



President prevail. He advised that in case 
ot extremities, a confederacy should be form- 
ed between that state and all south of the 
Potomac. On December 21, 1803, he quali- 
fied as chancellor of the Williamsburg dis- 
trict, an office just vacated by Mann Page. 
It was said of him that "he combined the en- 
ergies of an active and masculine mind, with 
an accurate knowledge of things," which 
especially became the high office filled by 
him. He died at Williamsburg, March 28, 
1812. 

Bacon, Edmund, born in New Kent coun- 
ty, Virginia, in January. 1776; died in Edge- 
field, South Carolina, February 2, 1826. 
While quite young he was chosen by the 
citizens of Augusta. Georgia, where he was 
at school, to welcome Washington, then on 
on official tour through the South as Presi- 
dent. "This delicate and honorable task," 
says a contemporary historian. Judge 
O'Xeall, **he accomplished in an address so 
fortunate as to have attracted not only the 
attention of that great man, but to have 
procured from him, for the orator, a present 
of several law books." He was graduated 
at the Litchfield, Connecticut, Law School, 
and settled in Savannah, where he acquired 
a fortune at the bar before attaining the age 
of thirty-three. He was retained in the set- 
tlement of the estate of Gen. Xathai Ael 
Greene, near Savannah, and it is a curious 
coincidence that a quotation from one of 
the law books presented to Mr. Bacon by 
Gen. Washington enabled him to gain a 
mooted point for the succession to the estate 
or the second general of the revolution. Ow- 
ing to ill health, he removed in search of a 
more healthful location to Edgefield, where 
he soon became a leading practitioner. He 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 




HENRY CLAY 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



191 



is the "Ned Drace'* of Judge Longstreet's 
"Georgia Scenes," and as a wit and humorist 
was conspicuous among his contemporaries. 
He displayed a lavish hospitality, and was 
the acknowledged autocrat of the table, in- 
somuch that on a certain occasion, when the 
learned Dr. Jonathan Maxcy, president of 
South Carolina College, was present as a 
guest, no sooner had Dr. Bacon left the 
room than Dr. Maxcy enthusiastically ex- 
claimed, "A perfect Garrick, Sir! A living, 
breathing, acting Garrick!" 

Clay, Henry, was born in Hanover county, 
Virginia, April 12, 1777. His father, John 
Clay, was a Baptist minister, a man of ex- 
cellent character, **remarkable for his fine 
voice and delivery;" his mother was a 
daughter of George Hudson, a woman of 
sterling character. Henry attended a school 
where the teacher was able to teach little 
but reading, writing and arithmetic. Henry 
worked on the farm, and his riding to and 
from mill to have grain ground, won for 
him the sobriquet of "the mill-boy of the 
Slashes." His widowed mother became the 
wife of Captain Henry Watkins, of Rich- 
mond, who procured for him a clerkship in 
a store in that city, and afterwards a posi- 
tion as copyist in the chancery clerk's office. 
Here he attracted the attention of Chancel- 
lor George Wythe, who made him his sec- 
retary and for four years directed his read- 
ing and by his conversation shaped his 
thoughts. At the end of four years young 
Clay became a law student in the office ot 
.Attorney-General Robert Brooke, and after 
a year was admitted to practice. In his 
twenty-first year he joined his parents in 
Kentucky, whither they had removed, set- 
tling in Lexington, where he practiced law. 



and made himself conspicuous by his ora- 
tory in a debating society. For a time he 
was commonwealth's attorney, resigning in 
favor of a friend. In 1799 he married Lu- 
cretia Hart, by whom he had eleven chil- 
dren, and purchased **Ashland," an estate of 
some six hundred acres. He now actively 
entered into politics as a Democratic Re- 
publican. He was a slave owner through- 
out life but was favorable to slave emanci- 
pation, which for a time affected his popu- 
larity. In 1803 he was elected to the Ken- 
tucky legislature, and distinguished himself 
by his oratory and a duel with Colonel Jo- 
seph H. Davies. In 1806 he was appointed 
tc the United States senate to fill out an 
unfinished term, though constitutionally 
under age. On leaving the senate he was 
elected to the legislature, and was chosen 
speaker. He procured the defeat of a bill 
forbidding that any decision of a British 
court or British work of law should be read 
a.« authority before any Kentucky court. 
His early interest in domestic manufactures 
was manifested by his introduction of a 
resolution that the members of the legisla- 
ture should wear clothes made in this coun- 
try, and this led to an altercation with Hum- 
phrey Marshall which resulted in a duel. In 
18 10 he was appointed to the national senate 
tc fill a vacancy. On the expiration of his 
term he was elected in 181 1 to the house of 
representatives and was made speaker. Here 
he opposed the recharter of the bank and 
favored domestic manufacturing for govern- 
ment purposes. He strongly advocated war 
measures against Great Britain. In 1813 he 
was reelected speaker, but resigned to be- 
come a member of the commission which 
negotiated peace at Ghent in 1814. He re- 
turned home in 1815, was reelected to con- 



Digitized by 



Google 



192 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



gress, and declined the mission to Russia 
and the secretaryship of war. He was again 
chosen speaker, and with Calhoun opposed 
the reduction of taxes, and laid the founda- 
tion of a protective tariff system. In 1817 
his vote to pay congressmen $1,500 a year 
instead of six dollars a day nearly cost him 
his seat. In 1817 President Monroe offered 
him the secretaryship of war and the mission 
to England, both of which he declined. He 
was again chosen speaker. He labored for 
internal improvements, was the champion 
of South American independence, denounced 
Jackson's conduct in the Seminole war, and 
favored the Missouri compromise. In 1824 
he was a presidential candidate; the elec- 
tion was thrown into the house, resulting 
in the choice of Adams, who made Clay sec- 
retary of state. There was much acrimoni- 
ous feeling resulting in a duel between Clay 
and John Randolph, which was harmless to 
both. In 1828 the National Republican 
party was formed, composed of the Adams 
and Clay elements of the old Democratic 
Republican party and a high tariff was 
passed. In 1831 he was elected to the 
United States senate, and in 1832, was the 
unsuccessful candidate of the National Re- 
publican party. He did not approve of 
Jp.ckson's proclamation against South Caro- 
lina, and introduced his compromise tariff 
bill, which became a law, whereupon South 
Carolina repealed her nullification ordinance, 
and Clay having virtually abandoned his 
tariff doctrines again came to be known as 
**the pacificator." This made him popular 
in the South, and put him at the head of the 
new combination Whig party. In 1834 he 
denounced the President for removing the 
public deposits from the United States 
Bank, and his resolutions were adopted by 



the senate. Jackson sent in an earnest pro- 
test, demanding that it be entered upon the 
journal, which was refused, Mr. Clay using 
his greatest power in condemning the Presi- 
dent's course. In 1835-36 the great anti- 
slavery contest began. Petitions praying 
for abolition came to congress from various 
northern states; Mr. Calhoun moved that 
tliey be rejected without consideration. Mr. 
Clay opposed any curtailment of the right 
of petition, and voted "yea" on a motion to 
receive. President Jackson suggested a law 
prohibiting the circulation in the Southern 
States, through the mails, of "incendiary 
publications intended to instigate the slaves 
to insurrection," and Mr. Calhoun offered 
a bill to carry such proposed law into effect. 
Mr. Clay, while denouncing the abolition- 
ists for treasonable conduct, opposed Cal- 
roun's bill as inexpedient and it was de- 
feated. As chairman of the senate commit- 
tee on foreign affairs. Clay advocated delay 
hi admitting Texas into the Union. During 
Van Buren's administration Clay opposed 
with such vigor the sub-treasury system ad- 
vocated by Van Buren that it failed in three 
successive congressional sessions. The con- 
tests in regard to it broke up the alliance 
between Clay and Calhoun. Meantime, peti- 
tions protesting against slavery, in the Dis- 
trict of Columbia and elsewhere, poured in 
from the northern states, and Mr. Clay 
moved in the senate that the petitions be 
received, and referred to the committee on 
the District of Columbia. Calhoun started 
discussion by offering resolutions setting 
forth his thoughts on the relations between 
slavery and the union of the states. Mr. 
Clay proposed substitutes, offering among 
other things, that the abolition of slavery in 
the District of Columbia would be a viola- 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



193 



tion of the good faith "implied in the cession 
of the District," accompanying it with re- 
marks in which he was understood to de- 
plore the attacks on slavery no less, if not 
more, than the existence of slavery itself. 

During the canvass of 1840, Clay declared 
all the old questions of Bank, tariff and 
internal improvement "obsolete questions,'* 
but on the accession of Harrison as Presi- 
dent, Clay rallied the Whigs in favor of 
these measures, and brought about a breach 
in the Whig party by running counter to 
the known views of President Tyler. On 
March 31, 1842, Clay left the senate, as he 
said, "forever/' On May i, 1844, he was a 
third time nominated for President by the 
Whig national convention without any bal- 
lot. Polk became president, the annexation 
of Texas followed, as well as the war with 
Mexico. Clay protested against the Mex- 
ican war, referring to the declaration of 
congress that "war existed by the act of 
Mexico," and said that no earthly considera- 
tion could ever have tempted or provoked 
him to vote for a bill with such a palpable 
falsehood stamped upon its face. Later on 
he contemplated selling "Ashland," to sat- 
isfy pressing pecuniary obligations, but the 
president of the bank at Lexington, to 
whom he was offering a payment, informed 
him that sums of money had arrived from 
various parts of the country to pay his 
debts, and every note and mortgage of his 
was canceled. Clay was deeply moved, but 
to his inquiries the answer given was that 
the names of the donors were unknown. Mr. 
Clay took no part in the canvass that elected 
President Taylor, but in December, 1848, 
he was unanimously reelected to the senate, 
and took his seat December, 1849. He took 
an active part in framing the bill for the 
vot-u 



admission of California, for territorial gov- 
ernment in New Mexico and Utah, the set- 
tlement of the western boundary of Texas, 
the provision of new laws for the return of 
fugitive slaves to their masters, the aboli- 
tion of slavery in the District of Columbia, 
and in the decision that congress had no 
power to prohibit or obstruct the trade in 
slaves between slaveholding states. This 
was the famous compromise of 1850, the last 
plan of the kind to which he gave his mind 
and energies. When congress adjourned 
Clay went to Cuba for his health, and re- 
turned to Ashland. In December, 185 1. he 
was again in Washington, but appeared 
only once in the senate. He lived to see the 
substance of his celebrated compromise 
measure on the subject of slavery pass into 
the political platforms of the Whig and 
Democratic parties at the national conven- 
tion of June, 1852. After appropriate funeral 
services in the senate chamber his remains 
were removed to Kentucky, the people as- 
sembling by thousands in the cities through 
which the funeral train passed, to do honor 
to his memory. He died June 29, 1852, and 
on July 10, he was buried at Lexington, 
Kentucky, where an imposing monument 
has been erected. Nine months before his 
death his friends in New York caused to be 
made a gold medal in commemoration of 
his public services. Mr. Qay said: "If any- 
one desires to know the leading and para- 
mount object of my public life, the preser- 
vation of the Union will furnish him with 
the key." Mr. Clay died June 29, 1852. 

Gnindy, Felix, born in Berkeley county, 
Virginia, September 11, 1777. His father, 
an Englishman, removed to Pennsylvania, 
and then to Kentucky. His first instruction 



Digitized by 



Google 



194 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



vas {rom his mother, and he later attended 
Dr. James Priestley's Academy at Bards- 
town, Kentucky. He became a lawyer; in 
1/99 ^'2is elected to the constitutional con- 
vention, and also to the legislature, ol which 
he was a member till 1806. In i8d6 he be 
tame a judge of the state supreme court, and 
afterwards chief justice. In 1807 he resign- 
ed and removed to Nashville, Tennessee, 
where he achieved a great reputation as a 
criminal lawyer. He was elected to con- 
gress in 181 1 and 1813. In 1819 he was 
elected to the legislature. In 1829 he was 
elected to the United States senate. In 1838 
he became attorney-general in President 
Van Buren's cabinet, resigning to reenter 
the senate. He opposed all protection ex- 
cept that which is incidental to a tariff 
levied for revenue, favored the compromise 
bill of 1833, and suggested and was a mem- 
ber of the committee that revised it ; his last 
political act was to speak in Tennessee for 
Van Buren against Harrison; he was an 
orator of note, and his most finished ora- 
tion was that delivered on the death of Jef- 
ferson and Adams; he died in Nashville, 
Tennessee, December 19, 1840, his remains 
were interred in the Nashville City Ceme- 
tery, where a monument has been erected to 
his memory. 

Gaines, Edmund Pendleton, was born in 
Culpeper county, Virginia, March 20, 1777, 
died in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 6, 
1849. He ^^s son of James Gaines, who 
commanded a company in the revolutionary 
war, was a member of the North Carolina 
legislature, and took part in the convention 
which ratified the Federal constitution. He 
was a grandson of William H. Gaines and 
Isabella Pendleton, sister of. Hon. Edmund 



Pendleton. Edmund early showed a pref- 
erence for a military life. Having joined the 
United States army, he was appointed sec- 
ond lieutenant of the Sixth Infantry, Janu- 
ary 10, 1799, and in April, 1802, was pro- 
moted to first lieutenant. He was for many 
years actively employed on the frontier, and 
was instrumental in procuring the arrest of 
Aaron Burr. He was collector of the port of 
Mobile in 1805, ^^^ ^<^s promoted to cap- 
tain in 1807. About 181 1 he resigned from 
the army, intending to become a lawyer, 
but at the beginning of the war of 1812 re- 
turned, and became major on March 24. He 
became colonel in 1813, and at Chrysler's 
Field, on November 11, covered with his 
rtgiment the retreat of the American forces. 
Later in the same year he was made adju- 
tant general, with the rank of colonel. He 
was promoted to brigadier-general March 9, 
1S14, and for gallant conduct in the defence 
of Fort Erie, in August, 1814, when he was 
severely wounded ''repelling with great 
slaughter the attack of a British veteran 
army superior in number," he was brevetted 
major-general, and received the thanks of 
congress, with a gold medal. Similar honor 
was done him by the states of Virginia, 
Tennessee and New York. He was appoint- 
ed, in 1816, one of the commissioners to treat 
with the Creek Indians. He was in com- 
mand of the southern military district in 
1817, when the Creeks and Seminoles began 
to commit depredations on the frontier of 
Georgia and Alabama, and having moved 
against them, was in desperate straits when 
he was joined by Gen. Jackson — a circum- 
stance which may be regarded as the initia- 
tive of those measures which in 1820 added 
Florida to the United States. In the troubles 
which arose with the Seminoles in 1836, and 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



195 



which cost Gen. Thompson his life, he was 
again engaged, and was severely wounded 
at Ouithlacoochie. When the Mexican war 
began, some ten years later, he made him- 
self trouble with the government by assum- 
ing the liberty of calling out a number of 
the southern militia without orders, and was 
tried by court-martial, but not censured. He 
was a man of simplicity and integrity of 
character. 

Rice, John Holt, was born at New Lon- 
don, November 23, 1777, grandson of David 
Rice, the pioneer Presbyterian preacher, 
who organized the first religious congrega- 
tion in Kentucky, and was principal founder 
of the Transylvania Academy, which de- 
veloped into the Transylvania University. 
John Holt Rice was educated at Liberty 
Hall and first studied medicine, but took up 
theology, and in 1801 became a tutor in 
Hampden-Sidney College. Mr. Rice was 
licensed to preach September 12, 1803. and 
the following year assumed charge of his 
first pastorate, the Cub Creek Presbyterian 
Church, in Charlotte county, Virginia. In 
181 2 he became pastor of the first separate 
Presbyterian church in Richmond. In 1819 
Mr. Rice was moderator of the general as- 
sembly, and the same year received the de- 
gree of Doctor of Divinity. Three years 
later he was president of Princeton College, 
and was offered the chair of theology in 
Hampden-Sidney College; he accepted the 
latter, which he held until his death. He 
began the publication of the "Christian 
Monitor," which he conducted until 1818. 
when he became editor of the Virginia 
"Evangelical Literary Magazine," of which 
he had charge until 1829. He published 
"Historical and Philosophical Considera- 



tions on Religion," and was the author of 
various controversial and review articles, 
sermons and memoirs, which were publish- 
ed in pamphlet form. His death occurred 
at Hampden-Sidney, September 3, 1831. 

Cabell, Joseph Carrington, son of Col. 
Nicholas Cabell and Hannah Carrington, his 
wife, daughter of Col. George Carrington, 
was born December 26,1778, and was a mem- 
ber of the well known Cabell family of Vir- 
ginia, so distinguished for the number of its 
brilliant men, and whose reputation he him- 
self did so much to maintain ; educated by 
private tutors at home, later entered Wil- 
liam and Mary College, from which he was 
graduated with the degree of Bachelor of 
Arts; educated for the bar, but never a 
practitioner of the law; went to Europe in 
1802, returned June i, 1806; upon the forma- 
tion of the new county of Nelson, Mr. Ca- 
bell was one of its first justices, 1808 ; mem- 
ber of the house of delegates or of the sen- 
ate, for about thirty years — of the house 
1808-09-10, and again from 1831 to 1835, 
from Nelson county, and of the senate from 
1810 to 1829, inclusive; aided in the found- 
ing of the University of Virginia, and from 
1S19, the year of the founding, until 1856, 
was a member of the board of visitors, and 
at two periods of that time was rector of 
the board, his last term of service as such 
extending from 1845 ^^ ^856, the year of his 
death; was frequently solicited to become 
a candidate for congress, was offered hon- 
orable positions in the diplomatic services 
abroad, but in all cases declined, preferring 
to devote himself entirely to the service of 
his state; was one of the original incor- 
porators of the James River and Kanawha 
Canal Company, chartered March 16, 1832, 



Digitized by 



Google 



196 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



was its first president, served as such until 
February or March, 1846, and ever after- 
wards maintained an active interest in its 
affairs; after his retirement from public 
affairs, he devoted himself to the manage- 
ment of his large estates, but never ceased 
to keep in touch with the institutions and 
public works with which he had been active- 
ly identified ; he became a life member of the 
Virginia Historical Society in 1848; he mar- 
ried, January i, 1807, in Williamsburg, Vir- 
ginia, Mary Walker Carter, daughter of 
George Carter, Esq., of Lancaster, Virginia, 
and his wife Lclia, daughter of Peyton Skip- 
v;ith, Esq. ; Mr. Cabell died in 1856; on Feb- 
ruary 8, 1856, Governor Henry A. Wise 
submitted to the legislature of Virginia a 
special message announcing that 'Joseph C. 
Cabell, late Rector of the University of Vir- 
ginia, is no more," and of him said: **One 
with Mr. Jefferson in founding the Univer- 
sity, a pioneer in the state improvements, 
a gentleman, a scholar, a devoted patriot 
and Virginian, a venerable, good man, de- 
parting from a high public place which he 
filled with ability and fidelity, I commend 
his example while living, and submit that 
his memory is deserving of the honor I pay 

him now that he is dead." 

i 

Ritchie* Thomas, was born at Tappahan- 
nock, Essex county, November 5, 1778, son 
of Archibald and Mary (Roane) Ritchie. 
He studied law in the office of his uncle, and 
attended medical lectures in Philadelphia, 
but took up teaching, and had charge of a 
school in Fredericksburg until 1803, when 
he opened a book store in Richmond, Vir- 
ginia. On May 9, 1804, with W. W. Wors- 
Icy, he founded the Richmond "Enquirer," 
and a year later became sole editor and pro- 



prietor. In 1807, following the affair be- 
tween the Leopard and Chesapeake, Ritchie 
v^as elected secretary of the Richmond 
meeting to protest against British "right of 
search," and when the blockade of Norfolk 
was threatened he became ensign of the 
Republican blues, a company raised for the 
defence of that town. He also engaged in 
a brief service during the war of 1812. He 
was state printer from 181 4 to 1834, and 
from 1835 to 1839, and was elected congres- 
sional printer in 1845. ^or some time he 
conducted the Richmond "Compiler," neu- 
tral in politics, and during Van Buren's ad- 
ministration, the "Crisis." To the manage- 
ment of the "Enquirer" he admitted his sons 
in 1843, ^^^ i" 1845* ^t the request of Presi- 
dent Polk, relinquished it entirely to them, 
in order to found the Washington "Union," 
which he conducted until the election of 
President Pierce. So pure were his tastes as 
a political journalist that President Jefferson 
once spoke of him as "culling what is good 
from every paper as the bee from every 
flower." He was married to a daughter of 
Dr. Foushee, of Richmond, February 11, 
1807, and had four daughters and three sons. 
He died in Washington, D. C., July 2, 1854. 

Hay, George, born December 15, 1765, 
distinguished both as a lawyer and a poli- 
tician, was a prominent member of the 
Virginia legislature, and many years United 
States district attorney, in which capac- 
ity he prosecuted Aaron Burr. Later he 
became judge of the United States court 
for the eastern district of Virginia. He 
was married to Eliza, daughter of Presi- 
dent Monroe. A number of exceedingly 
clever political articles were published by 
him under the pen-name "Hortensius," and 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



197 



he was the author of a ^Treatise on Expa- 
triation" (1814); a "Treatise against the 
Usury Laws," and the **Life of John Thomp- 
son." He died in Richmond, Virginia. Sep-* 
tcmber 21, 1830. He was a son of Anthony 
Hay. keeper of the Raleigh tavern in Wil- 
hamsburg. 

Johnson, Chapman, was born in Louisa 
county, Virginia, March 12, 1779. His col- 
legiate education was received at the Col- 
lege of William and Mary, where he gradu- 
ated in 1802. Under 'St. George Tucker he 
followed law study until admitted to the 
Virginia bar, and then established a practice 
in Staunton, V^irginia, where he soon be- 
came well known for his legal ability, and 
for striking eloquence as an orator. His 
practice was after 1824 conducted in Rich- 
mond, and there became one of the most 
extensive in the state. Mr. Johnson enlisted 
in the war of 1812, as captain of a volunteer 
company, becoming later an aide on the 
staff of General James Breckinridge. He 
was a member of the Virginia senate from 
1815 to 1831, and a member of the Virginia 
convention of 1829. He was one of the 
board of visitors of the University of Vir- 
ginia from 1819 to 1845. He died in Rich- 
mond. July 12, 1849. He was a son of 
Thomas Johnson, of Louisa county, and 
Jane Chapman, his wife. 

Bibb, William Wyatt, born in Virginia, 
October i, 1780, died near Fort Jackson, 
Alabama, July 9, 1820. He was the son of 
Captain William Bibb, was graduated at 
William and Mary College, and studied 
medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 
receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine 
in 1801. Removing to Georgia, he was a 
member successively of the two branches 



of the legislature. He was a member of 
congress from 1S07 till 1813, when he was 
chosen to the United States senate, and re- 
tained his seat there until 1816. He re- 
moved to Alabama, then a territory, and 
was governor in 1817-19, when it was ad- 
mitted as a state, and he was elected as its 
first executive. He died while in office, and 
his son, Thomas Bibb, succeeded him as 
governor, 1820-21. 

Armistead, George, born at "Newmarket," 
Caroline county, \'irginia, April 10, 1780, son 
of John Armistead and Lucy Baylor, his 
wife, died in Baltimore, April 25, 1818. Five 
brothers took part in the war of 1812 — three 
in the regular army, and two in the militia. 
George was appointed second lieutenant Jan- 
uary 8, 1779, promoted first lieutenant in 
.April, captain November 6, 1806, and major 
of the Third Artillery, March 3, 1813. He 
distinguished himself at the capture of Fort 
George from the British, near the mouth of 
Niagara River in Canada, May 2^, 181 3, and 
was brevetted lieutenant-colonel for his suc- 
cessful defence of Fort McHenry, near Bal- 
timore, against the British fleet, under Ad- 
miral Cochrane, September 14, 1814. His 
steadfast bravery on this occasion no doubt 
saved Baltimore from capture, and the citi- 
zens presented him with a handsome service 
O' silver, the centre-piece being in the form 
of a bomb shell. 

Cocke, John Hartwell, who for a third of 
a century was a member of the board of 
visitors of the University of Virginia, was 
born in Surry county, Virginia, September 
19, 1780, son of John Hartwell Cocke and 
Elizabeth Kennon. his wife; he attended 
William and Mary College, graduated with 
the class of 1798; joined the .American forces 



Digitized by 



Google 



198 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



during the second war with England, in de- 
fense o{ the city of Richmond, in 1812-13, 
and was the general in command of the Vir- 
ginia troops at Camp Carter and Camp 
Holly; he was prominent as a promoter of 
the temperance cause, held the office of vice- 
president of the American Temperance Soci- 
ety, and was recognized as one of the dis- 
tinguished leaders in the movement in the 
country; he was also vice-president of the 
American Colonization Society; he was a 
member of the original board of visitors of 
the University of Virginia, and held a posi- 
tion in that body from 1819 until 1832; took 
great pride in the University as one of the 
institutions of the state, and his influence 
was a factor in its development and sub- 
stantial growth ; he died in Fluvanna coun- 
ty, Virginia, July I, 1866. 

Lomax, John TayIoe» LL. D., who dis- 
played high abilities as a professor of law, 
in the University of Virginia, and who con- 
tributed substantially to the development 
of jurisprudence in Virginia, in the capacity 
of jurist and author, was born at Port 
Tobago, Caroline county, Virginia, January 
19, 1781, son of Thomas and Anne Corbin 
Tayloe, his wife; he was a student at St. 
John's College, Annapolis, Maryland, grad- 
uated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts 
at sixteen years, studied law in the same 
institution, was admitted to the bar, and 
commenced practice in Port Royal, Vir- 
ginia ; removed to Fredericksburg, Virginia, 
in 1805, from there to Menokin, in 1809, 
from there returned to Fredericksburg in 
1818, and there engaged in the practice of 
bis profession until 1826, when he was called 
tc*. the chair of law in the University of Vir- 
ginia, the first appointment to that professor- 
ship; in 1830 was appointed by unanimous 



vote of the legislature of Virginia to a posi- 
tion on the bench of the circuit court, and 
at once resigned his professorship to enter 
upon his judicial duties; was reelected by 
vote of the people of the circuit in 1851, not- 
withstanding the fact that, under a provi- 
sion of the constitution adopted that year, 
he was disqualified by reason of age, having 
exceeded the prescribed age limit of sev- 
enty years; his service upon the bench had 
been so conspicuously useful, however, and 
his powers showing no impairment, his re- 
tention was so generally demanded that the 
constitutional inhibition was removed at the 
concerted request of the practitioners at the 
bar ; he completed his full term of six years, 
acquitting himself with great ability, and 
then at the advanced age of sevenr>'-six 
years, retired to private life; Judge Lomax 
was a well known writer upon legal sub- 
jects, and his works were* regarded with 
great favor, being frequently quoted as au- 
thority in court proceedings; his most im- 
portant work, and one to the preparation of 
which his leisure hours were devoted for 
several years, was his "Digest of the Laws 
Respecting Real Property," generally adopt- 
ed and in use throughout the United States ; 
this work appeared in three volumes, pub- 
lished in Philadelphia in 1839, and a second 
edition, revised and enlarged, was brought 
out in Richmond in 1856 ; he also published a 
"Treatise on the Laws of Executors and Ad- 
ministrators," generally in use in the United 
States, two volumes, in 1841, and a second 
edition was published at Richmond, in 1856; 
Judge Lomax died in Fredericksburg, Vir- 
ginia, October 10, 1862. 

Henley, John Dandridge, born in Wil- 
liamsburg, Virginia, February 25, 1781 ; son 
of Leonard Henley and his wife, Elizabeth 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



199 



Dandridge, sister of Mrs. Washington ; was 
a student in a military academy, and on Oc- 
tober 14, 1799, in his nineteenth year, was 
appointed a midshipman by President Wash- 
ington, who was his maternal uncle by mar- 
riage; on January 3, 1807, was promoted to 
the rank of lieutenant, and July 24, 1813. 
was made a commander, and was promoted 
to a captaincy, March 5, 1817; at the battle 
of New Orleans he commanded the 
schooner, Carolina, and won the approba- 
tion of Gen. Jackson for the part that he 
contributed toward the victory of January 
8, 1815 ; at the time of his death, which oc- 
curred in Havana, Cuba, May 23, 1835, at 
the age of fifty-four years, he was com^ 
manding the West India squadron. 

Breckinridge, John, born in Augusta 
county, Virginia. December 2, 1760, son of 
Col. Robert Breckinridge and Lettice Pres- 
ton, his wife. He was a student at William 
and Mary College. Williamsburg, when he 
was twice elected to the legislature, but, 
being still a minor, was not seated. He 
studied law, and in 1785 was admitted to 
the bar at Charlottesville. He enjoyed the 
personal friendship of both Jefferson and 
Madison. He was elected to congress in 
1793, but did not take his seat, removing to 
Kentucky, where he established his seat, 
"Cabell's Dale," and engaged in law prac- 
tice. He became attorney-general of the 
state in 1795, and was a member of the 
legislature. 1797 to 1800. In 1798 he visited 
Monticello, Virginia, and united with 
Thomas Jefferson and Wilson C. Nicholas 
in drafting the famous Kentucky resolu-" 
tions of that year, which protested against 
the alien and sedition laws, and were in prac- 
tical effect a declaration of states sovereign- 



ty principles. While their drafting is gener- 
ally ascribed to Jefferson, there are strong 
reasons favoring Breckinridge as their 
author. This historic document was pre- 
sented to the Kentucky legislature by Mr. 
Breckinridge, and was adopted. He was 
elected to the United States senate in 1805, 
and resigned in 1805 to accept appointment 
as attorney-general in the cabinet of Presi- 
dent Jefferson. He died at Lexington, Ken- 
tucky, December 14, 1806, at the early age 
of forty-six years. He left a remarkable 
family of sons — Cabell, a distinguished law- 
yer, whose son, John C. Breckinridge, be- 
came Vice-President of the United States 
and a major-general in the Confederate 
army ; James, lawyer and congressman ; and 
three whu became leading divines — ^John, 
Robert J. and William L. 

Scott, John, was born in Hanover county, 
Virginia, in 1782. He removed with his 
parents to Indian territory in 1802, and later 
to Missouri territory, where he practiced 
hiw, 1806-61. He was a delegate from Mis- 
souri territory to the fourteenth congress as 
successor to Rufus Easton, and to the fif- 
teenth and sixteenth congresses, serving 
1816-21. Missouri was admitted to the 
Union in 1821, and he was the Missouri 
representative in the seventeenth and nine- 
teenth congresses, 1821-27. He died at St. 
Genevieve, Missouri, October i, 1861. 

Wilson, Samuel B., born in 1782, in South 
Carolina. He was a graduate of Washing- 
ton College. He was made successor to Dr. 
Baxter in the chair of systematic theology 
a*. Hampden-Sidney Seminary, and was 
made president pro tern, when Dr. Baxter 
died. He later became professor emeritus 
and died in .August, 1869, 



Digitized by 



Google 



200 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Wilmer» William Holland, born in Kent 
county, Maryland, October 29, 1782, son of 
Simon and Ann Wilmer. He was educated 
at Washington (Maryland) College, and 
was ordained by Bishop Claggett, in 1808. 
After clerical service at Chester, Maryland, 
in 181 2 he took charge of St. Paul's Church, 
Alexandria, Virginia. In 1816 he declined a 
call to St. John's Church, Washington City. 
He was one of the originators and presi- 
dent of the Education Society of the Dis- 
trict of Columbia. In 1819 he commenced 
the publication of the Washington "Theo- 
logical Repertory," and furnished many of 
its leading articles until his death. After 
coming to Virginia he was a delegate to 
ever}- general convention while he lived, and 
president in three different years. In 1820 
he received the degree of Doctor of Divin- 
ity from Brown University. In 1823 he was 
leading professor in the Theological Semi- 
nary near Alexandria. In 1826 he became 
president of William and Mary College, and 
rector of Bruton parish church, Williams- 
burg, but died August 24 of the following 
year, and was buried under the chancel of 
his church. He left various published works. 
A son, Richard H., became bishop of Ala- 
bama, and another, George T., was for some 
time a distinguished professor at William 
and Mary College. 

Johnson, David, was born in Louisa coun- 
ty, Virginia, October 3, 1782; in early life 
his parents removed from Virginia to Ches- 
ter district, South Carolina, and there David 
Johnson was reared and educated, choosing 
the law for his life work; he was admitted 
to the bar in 1803, and practiced at Union 
Court House, South Carolina: he served in 
the following offices : Representative in the 



state legislature, 1812; circuit judge, from 
1815 to 1824; judge of the court of appeals, 
from 1824 to 1835; chancellor, from 1835 to 
1849; governor of South Carolina, from 
1846 to 1848; served in all capacities faith- 
fully and well; died at Limestone Springs, 
South Carolina, January 7, 1855. 

Lumpkin, Wilson, born in Pittsylvania 
county, Virginia, January 14, 1783, son of 
John and Lucy (Hobson) Lumpkin, natives 
of Virginia, and a descendant of English 
ancestors; when he was one year old, his 
parents removed to the Wilderness, which 
later formed Oglethorpe county, Georgia, 
and there he received a meagre education, 
there being no established schools at that 
time; when fourteen years of age he was 
employed as a copyist in the superior court 
of Oglethorpe county, of which his father 
was clerk, and later he studied law, was 
admitted to the bar and settled in practice 
at Athens, Georgia; he represented Ogle- 
thorpe county in the state legislature, and 
at various times, Jl>etween the years 1804 
and 1815, was state senator; was a repre- 
sentative from Georgia in the fourteenth 
congress, 1815-17, and in the twentieth and 
twenty-first congresses, 1827-31, and was 
governor of Georgia for two terms, 1831-35, 
and during his administration the Cherokee 
Indians were removed beyond the Chatta- 
hoochee river and the territory they had 
occupied was made into thirteen counties, 
and the town and county of Lumpkin was 
named in his honor; was elected United 
States senator to fill the vacancy caused by 
the resignation of John P. King, and served 
from December 13, 1837. to March 3, 1841 ; 
in 1823 he was commissioned by President 
Monroe to ascertain and mark the boundary 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



20I 



line between Georgia and Florida, and in 
1^35 was appointed one of the first com- 
missioners under the Cherokee treaty by 
President Jackson ; he served as a member 
of the first board of public works of Georgia, 
and as state surveyor laid out nearly all the 
early lines of railway in Georgia; he was a 
delegate to the southern commercial con- 
vention in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1858; 
his death occurred in Athens, Georgia, De- 
cember 28, 1870. 

Nicholson, John B., was bom in Rich- 
mond, Virginia, in 1783. He was appointed 
a midshipman in the United States navy, 
July 4, 1800; was promoted lieutenant May 
20, 181 2, and was fourth lieutenant on the 
frigate United States, when that vessel cap- 
tured the British frigate Macedonian, near 
the Island of Madeira, October 25, 181 2. He 
was first lieutenant of the Peacock, under 
Captain Warrington, in the engagement 
with the brig Epervier, April 29, 18 14, and 
was given command of the captured Eper- 
vier, taking her safely into port. He com- 
manded the brig Flambeau, under Commo- 
dore Decatur, on the declaration of war 
with the Barbary powers, February 23, 181 5. 
He was promoted commander, March 5, 
1817; captain, April 24, 1828, and was sub- 
sequently commissioned a commodore. He 
d«ed in Washington, D. C, November 9, 
1846. 

Massie, Thomas, son of Major Thomas 
Massie and Sarah Cocke, his wife, was born 
ill 1783; chose medicine as his profession; 
studied under James Drew McCaw, of Rich- 
mond : graduated in Philadelphia ; went - 
abroad and studied in the schools of Edin- 
burgh. London and Paris; practiced in 
Chillicothe, Ohio, where his father and rela- 



tives, Gen. Nathaniel Massie and Henry 
Massie, owned large landed interests; re- 
turned to X'irginia; was surgeon in the war 
of 1812; member of the house of delegates, 
1824-1827 and 1829-30; member of the Vir- 
ginia convention of 1829-30; a trustee of 
Washington College; died at "Blue Rock," 
Nelson county, Virginia, May 7, 1864 — ^**a 
most polished, literary and interesting man." 

Gushing, Jonathan Peter, born in Roches- 
ter, New Hampshire, March 12, 1783. He 
graduated from Dartmouth College in 1817, 
and at once came south, and while in Rich- 
mond agreed to temporarily take the place 
of a sick tutor at Hampden-Sidney College. 
He was soon made a professor, and when 
Dr. Hoge died in 1820 he succeeded him in 
the presidency. With his accession ended 
the formative period of the institution, 
which now began its rapid growth into the 
proper functions and domain of a college. 
He secured an endowment, and built the 
present college edifice and the president's 
residence. He graduated an unusually large 
number of men who became famous. He ^ 
became vice-president of the Virginia His- 
torical and Philosophical Society at its in- 
corporation in 1831, with Chief Justice Mar- 
shall as president. Dr. Cushings health 
was shattered by an accidental discharge 
from an electric battery, while he was ex- 
perimenting before his class. He died April 
25. 1835. 

Bankhead, James, was born in Virginia. 
1783, son of James Bankhead, a revolution- 
ary officer. His tastes pointed to a military 
life and he joined the army as captain of the 
Fifth Infantry, June 18. 1808, and rose by 
successive steps to the rank of lieutenant- 
colonel of the Third Artillery, April 26, 



Digitized by 



Google 



202 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



1832. He saw active service and won brevet 
rank as colonel for distinguished bravery 
in the Florida campaign, and afterwards in 
the Mexican war received a like honor for 
conspicuous gallantry at Vera Cruz in com- 
mand of the Second Artillery, when he re- 
ceived the brevet rank of brigadier-general, 
March 29, 1847. ^^ the following year he 
was commander of Orizaba, a department 
in Mexico, and at the time of his death had 
charge of the military department of the 
east. His son, John Pine Bankhead, was a 
United States naval officer during the civil 
war. Gen. Bankhead died in Baltimore, 
Maryland, November 11, 1856. 

Maxwell, William, born of English par- 
ents in Norfolk, Virginia, February 27, 1784. 
He was graduated from Yale College in 
1802, studied law in Richmond, and prac- 
ticed in Norfolk. In 1830 he was elected 
to the lower house of the legislature, and 
was a state senator, 1832-38. In the latter 
year he accepted the presidency of Hamp- 
den-Sidney College, and continued in that 
position until 1844, when he resigned, and 
engaged in law practice in Richmond, and 
for a time conducted a law school. He was 
active in resurrecting the Virginia Histor- 
ical Society, which had been suspended, be- 
came its librarian, and for six years (1848- 
1853) was editor of its organ, the ^'Virginia 
Historical Register and Literary Adver- 
tiser." He was an active member of the 
Bible and Colonization Society. He died 
June 9, 1857. 

Tucker, Nathaniel Beverley, born at Wil- 
liamsburg, Virginia, September 6, 1784, son 
of Judge St. George Tucker. He was gradu- 
ated from William and Mary College in 1801. 
studied law, and practiced until 181 5, when 



he moved to Missouri, where he was a circuit 
judge till 1830. Returning to Virginia, in 
1834, he was made professor of law in Wil- 
liam and Mary College, which post he filled 
with signal ability till his death. As a 
writer he excelled any of his Virginia con- 
temporaries. His "Partisan Leader" (2 vols., 
1836) was printed secretly, bearing the fic- 
titious date 1856, and purported to be a his- 
toric novel of the events between 1836 and 
that date, and in the light of the 1856-1865 
period seems almost prophetic. It was re- 
printed with the title, "A Key to the Dis- 
union Conspiracy," and was followed by 
numerous other works. He took great in- 
terest in politics, had a large correspond- 
ence, and advocated strong states rights 
views. He left an unfinished life of his half- 
brother, John Randolph, of Roanoke. He 
wrote many political and miscellaneous 
essays, and was a frequent contributor to the 
"Southern Literary Messenger" of Rich- 
mond. He died in Winchester, Virginia, 
August 26, 1 85 1. 

Mayo, Robert, born in Powhatan county, 
Virginia, April 25, 1784, grandson of Wil- 
liam Mayo, a pioneer surveyor, who served 
in that capacity in the Barbadoes, from 1717 
to 1721, in Virginia, from 1723 to 1744, ran 
the boundary line between Virginia and 
North Carolina, in 1728, surveyed the dis- 
puted land claimed by Lord Fairfax and the 
crown, in 1737, laid out the city of Rich- 
mond the same year, became chief civil 
engineer of Virginia, and died in Rich- 
mond, October 20, 1744; after completing 
his classical studies, Robert Mayo entered 
the University of Pennsylvania, graduating 
therefrom in 1808 with the degree of Doctor 
of Medicine, and from the year of his gradu- 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



203 



ation until 1830, a period of twenty-two 
years, practiced his profession in the city 
o( Richmond ; in addition to his professional 
duties he edited the "Jackson Democrat'' in 
tlie presidential canvass of 1828; in 1830 he 
accepted a position in the treasury depart- 
ment, Washington, D. C, and served until 
1864, the year of his death; he was the 
author of: ''View of Ancient Geography 
and History" (1813);. "New System of 
Mythology" (4 vols., 1815-19) ; "Pension 
Laws of the United States, 1775-1833" 
(1833;; "Political Sketches of Eight Years 
in Washington;'* "Commercial and Revenue 
System of the United States" (2 vols., 1S47) ; 
"The Treasury Department; its Origin, Or- 
ganization and Operations" (1847); ^^ ^^e 
time of his death he was preparing a gene- 
alogical history of the Mayo family of Vir- 
ginia ; he died in Washington, D. C, Octo- 
ber 31, 1864. 

Duval, Waiiam P., was born in Virginia, 
in 1784, died in Washington, D. C, March 
19, 1854. His great-grandfather was a 
Huguenot, who settled in Virginia, his 
grandfather Samuel a member of the house 
of burgesses, and his father, Major William, 
an officer of the revolution, who possessed a 
high reputation as a chancery lawyer, spent 
a large fortune fn helping the poor, and en- 
joyed the friendship of Washington. The 
son removed to Kentucky when a boy, stud- 
ied law there, and was admitted to the bar. 
He commanded a company of mounted vol- 
unteers against the Indians in 1812, and was 
elected to congress in that year, serving 
from March 24, 1813, until March 2, 1815. 
After his return to Kentucky he practiced 
law at Bards town till 1822, when he was ap- 
pointed governor of the territory of Florida 



by President Monroe. He was continued in 
that office by Presidents Adams and Jack- 
son, serving till 1834. He removed in 1848 
to Texas and died of a paralytic shock while 
visiting Washington. His life and char- 
acter have been celebrated in fiction by 
James K. Paulding, who portrayed him in 
'*Nimrod Wildfire," and by Washington 
Irving, who drew from him the character of 
** Ralph Ringwood." 

Early, John, was born in Bedford county, 
Virginia, in 1785, died in Lynchburg, Vir- 
ginia, November 5, 1873. He joined the 
Methodist conference of his state in the 
great revival of 1801-02, and became an 
itinerant preacher about 1807. He soon at- 
tracted attention by the fervor and elo- 
quence of his sermons, and was especially 
successful in conducting religious exercises 
in a revival. He successively filled the offices 
of secretary of the conference and presiding 
elder, and was repeatedly a delegate to the 
quadrennial general conference. In the agi- 
tation that resulted, in 1844, in the division 
of his denomination into the Methodist 
church north and south, Mr. Early took an 
active part, and was elected the first book 
agent of the latter. Though sixty-nine 
years of age, he was elected bishop in 1854, 
and served his church with great zeal and 
fidelity for nineteen years. He was largely 
instrumental in founding Randolph-Macon 
College, Virginia. Bishop Early, though a 
vigorous writer, published only a few ser- 
mons, addresses, and occasional pamphlets, 
some of them relating to the disruption con- 
troversy. He received the degree of Doctor 
of Divinity. 

Armistead, Walker Keith, was born in 
Virginia, about 1785. brother of George 



Digitized by 



Google 



204 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Armistead (q. v.). He was graduated from 
West Point in 1803, his class being the sec- 
ond to be graduated from the academy, and 
was promoted to second lieutenant of engi- 
neers. In 1805 he was promoted first lieu- 
tenant, and in 1806 captain. From 1808 to 

181 1, he served as superintending engineer 
of the Norfolk (Va.) defences, being ad- 
vanced to a major's commission on July 23, 
1810. The following year he was at the 
military academy, remaining there until the 
outbreak of the war of 181 2, when he was 
assigned to duty on the Niagara frontier as 
chief engineer of the army. On July 31, 

181 2, he was promoted lieutenant-colonel, 
was engaged at Fort Niagara during its 
bombardment in November, 1812, and in 

181 3, as engineer of the forces for the de- 
fence of the mouth of the Chesapeake bay, 
including Norfolk and Craney Island. From 
1814 to 1818 he served as superintending 
etigineer of the defences of Chesapeake bay 
and its tributary waters, being promoted 
colonel and chief engineer of the United 
States army on November 12, 1818. For 
three years following he was in command of 
a corps of engineers, in charge of the engi- 
neer bureau at Washington, and inspector 
of the military academy. On June i, 1821, 
the army being reorganized, he was pro- 
moted colonel, and from 1821 to 1827 was 
stationed at the headquarters of the Third 
Artillery, established at Fort Washington, 
Maryland, Boston, Massachusetts, New 
London, Connecticut, Upperville, Virginia, 
and Fort Monroe, Virginia, and served in 
the Florida war against the Seminole In- 
dians from 1836 to 1838. For two years he 
was on court martial duty, and from May, 
1840. to May, 1841, was in command of the 
Florida army serving against the Seminoles. 



For two years following this he was on the 
board to select a site for a western armory, 
and in 1843 ^^^^ ^^44 commanded his regi- 
ment at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina. In 
the latter part of 1844 he went to Upper- 
ville, Virginia, on sick leave, and died there 
October 13, 1845. 

Coles* Edward, was born in Albemarle 
county, Virginia, December 15, 1786, son of 
Col. John Coles and Rebecca (Tucker) 
Coles, his wife. He was educated at Hamp- 
den-Sidney and W'illiam and Mary Colleges. 
From 1809 to 1815 he was private secretary 
to President Madison. He inherited a plan- 
tation and a number of negroes. He bitterly 
disliked slavery, and in corresponding with 
Jefferson urged its extinguishment. In 1816 
he was sent on a mission to Russia. In 1818 
he settled in Illinois, and in the convention 
which framed the state constitution he used 
his influence to prevent recognition of slav- 
ery. In 1819 he was appointed registrar of 
the Illinois land office. He now freed his 
slaves, and gave one hundred and sixty 
acres of land to each head of a family. He 
was elected governor (the second) of Illi- 
nois in 1822. He persistently opposed slav- 
ery through the press and by personal cor- 
respondence, and was instrumental in form- 
ing anti-slavery societies in fifteen counties 
in Illinois. He suffered much annoyance on 
account of his strong anti-slavery views, and 
before his gubernatorial term had expired, 
he <vas tried for failure to give bonds that 
his emancipated slaves should not become 
public charges. He was heavily fined, but 
the supreme court of the state subsequently 
overruled the decision of the lower court. 
In 1833 ^^ settled in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- 
vania, where he died, July 7, 1868. 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



205 



Grymcs, John Randolph, Jr., born in 
Orange county, Virginia, in 1786, son of 
Benjamin Grymes; was reared and cdu- 
cuated in his native state, removing from 
there to Louisiana in the year 1808; was 
an eminent practitioner of the law, en- 
gaged in almost every case of importance in 
the courts of New Orleans and the surround- 
ing counties, acted in the capacity of counsel 
for Gen. Jackson in the United States bank 
case, and opposed Daniel Webster in the city 
of New Orleans against Mrs. Myra Clark 
Gaines; he held at different periods the 
offices of United States district attorney and 
attorney-general of Louisiana, served in the 
legislature several terms, and was a mem- 
ber of the state constitutional convention; 
at the battle of New Orleans he volunteered 
as aide to Gen. Jackson, and was compli- 
mented in the despatches of the commander 
to the war department ; he fought two duels, 
in one of which he received severe wounds ; 
he died in New Orleans, Louisiana, Decem- 
ber 4, 1854. 

Carroll^ David Ljmn, born in Fayette 
county, Pennsylvania, May 10, 1787; gradu- 
ated from Jefferson (Pennsylvania) College 
in 1823. He took a full and graduate course 
at Princeton Theological Seminary, and was 
pastor of a Congregational church at Litch- 
field, Connecticut, in 1827. In 1829 he was 
pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in 
Brooklyn, New York, and resigned in 1835 
en account of a throat ailment. He then be- 
came president of Hampden-Sidney College, 
resigning at the end of three years, resum- 
ing ministerial work. During his adminis- 
tration Dr. John \V. Draper was the pro- 
fessor of physical science, and it was at the 
college that he took his first sun-pictures 



and announced his discoveries as to the 
physical properties of the sun's light. 

Dabncy, Richard, was born in Louisa 
county, Virginia, in 1787, died there in No- 
vember, 1825. His name was originally the 
same as that of the historian D'Aubigne. 
He applied himself to the acquisition of 
Latin, Greek and Italian, reaching a remark- 
able degree of proficiency in those lan- 
guages, following the vocation of teaching 
in a school in Richmond. He was severely 
burned at the conflagration which destroyed 
the theatre in Richmond, in December, 181 1. 
In 1812 he published a volume of *Toems, 
Original and Translated," of which an im- 
proved edition was printed in Philadelphia 
in 1815. The collection contained spirited 
translations from Euripides, Alcaeus, Sap- 
pho, Martial, Seneca and Petrarch. The 
second edition was published by Matthew 
Carey, who employed Dabney for a few 
years. Carey's political tract, called *The 
Olive Branch, or Faults on both Sides," is 
supposed to have been in great part written 
by Dabney. In a few years he returned to 
Virginia and taught a class of boys. He 
died as stated above, at the early age of 
thirty-eight. 

Parker, Foxhall Alexander, born in 1788, 
at **Rock Spring," Westmoreland county, 
Virginia, son of William Harwar Parker 
and Mary (Sturman) Parker, his wife. At 
sn early age he entered the United States 
navy, and rose to the rank of commodore. 
He was placed in command of the Boston 
navy -yard ; in 1848-49 was sent to Europe to 
advise the government as to the construc- 
tion of a navy ; on his return he was placed 
in command of the home squadron. He 



Digitized by 



Google 



20b 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



married Sarah, daughter of Gen. Robert Bo- 
gardus, of New York. His son, of the same 
name, also became a commodore in the navy. 

Abert, John James, born in Shepherds- 
tcnvn, Virginia, September 17, 1788, died in 
Washington, D. C, September 27, 1863. He 
was the son of John Abert, who came to 
this country with Rochambeau in 1780. 
Young Abert was graduated at West Point 
in 181 1, but at once resigned, and was then 
employed in the war office. Meanwhile he 
studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 
the District of Columbia in 1813. In the 
war of 1 81 2 he volunteered as a private sol- 
dier in the defence of the capital. He was 
reappointed to the army in 18 14 as topo- 
graphical engineer, with a rank of major. 
In 1829 he succeeded to the charge of the 
topographical bureau at Washington, and 
in 1838 became colonel in command of that 
branch of engineers. He was retired in 
1861 after "long and faithful ser\'ice." Col. 
Abert was associated in the supervision of 
many of the earlier national works of engi- 
neering, and his reports prepared for the 
government are standards of authority. He 
was a member of several scientific societies, 
and was one of the organizers of the Na- 
tional Institute of Science, which was sub- 
sequently merged into the Smithsonian In- 
stitute. His sons served with distinction in 
the United States army during the civil war. 

Jesup, Thomas Sidney, born in Virginia, 
in 1788; received preparatory education; in 
1808 joined the United States army as lieu- 
tenant ot infantry, and during the war of 
1812 served un Gen. William Hull's staff as 
adjutant-general ; he was appointed, succes- 
sively, captain, January, 181 3, major, April 
6, 1813, lieutenant-colonel, April 30, 1817; 



was brevetted lieutenant-colonel for bravery 
ai the battle of Chippewa, July 5, 1814; colo- 
nel, April, 1817, for gallant and meritorious 
services at the battle of Niagara, where he 
was severely wounded, and major-general, 
May 8, 1828, for ten years' faithful services 
in the same rank; was appointed adjutant- 
general with the rank of colonel, March 27, 
1818, and quartermaster-general with the 
rank of brigadier-general. May 8, 1818; he 
assumed command of the army in the Creek 
nation. May 20, 1836, and he succeeded Gov. 
Richard Keith Call in command of the army 
in Florida, December 8, 1836; was wounded 
during a fight with the Seminoles at Jupiter 
Inlet, January 24, 1838, and was relieved by 
Col. Zachary Taylor; he died in Washing- 
ton, D. C, June 10, i860. 

Jones, Thomas ap Catesby, born in Vir- 
ginia, in 1789, son of Major Catesby Jones 
and Lettice (Turberville) Jones, his wife. 
He entered the navy in 1805, became lieu- 
tenant in 1812, commander in 1820, and cap- 
tain in 1829. From 1808 to 1812 he was 
engaged in suppressing the slave trade on 
the Gulf of Mexico. In 1814, with a small 
flotilla, he opposed a British squadron of 
forty vessels at the entrance to Lake Borgne. 
Although he was wounded and obliged to 
surrender, his conduct was much praised. 
While commanding a squadron on the Pa- 
cific, he took possession of Monterey, hav- 
ing been informed of a condition of war be- 
tween the United States and Mexico, but 
withdrew when he learned that he had been 
misinformed. He died in Georgetown, D. 
C, May 30, 1858. 

Mettauer, John Peter, of Prince Edward 
county, Virginia, received a classical educa- 
tion at Hampden-Sidney College, and was 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



207 



g»-aduated from the medical department of 
the University of Pennsylvania in 1809. He 
practiced at Prince Edward Court House, 
and was an instructor of a group of private 
students until 1837, when they were organ- 
ized as a medical institute, which later be- 
came the medical department of Randolph- 
Macon College. He was the first on this 
continent to operate for cleft palate, and also 
first in a number of important major opera- 
tions. 

RuflFner, Henry, born in Page county, Vir- 
ginia, January 19, 1789, son of Col. David 
Ruflfner. He was graduated from Washing- 
ton College in 1817; for two years taught 
in Mercer Academy, at Charlestown, Vir- 
ginia. He studied theology under Rev. Dr. 
G. A. Baxter, at that time president of 
Washington College, was licensed to preach 
by the Presbytery of Lexington in 1819, and 
the same year was appointed to a professor- 
ship in Washington College, and for thirty 
years was connected with the institution, 
filling in succession every chair to the presi- 
dency, to which he was appointed in 1836, 
and sefving therein until 1848, when ill 
health obliged him to resign. His adminis- 
tration was eminently successful. During 
his connection with the college he preached 
for several years at Tinker Ridge and Fair- 
field. In 1849 ^^ Icf^ Lexington and retired 
to his farm in Kanawha county ; after a few 
years he became pastor of the church at 
Maiden, and gave up ministerial work about 
a year before his death, December 17, 1861. 
He received the degree of Doctor of Divin- 
ity from Princeton College, and Doctor of 
Laws from Washington College. He con- 
tributed freely to the religious press. 

Lawson, Thomas, bom in Virginia, Au- 



gust 29, 1789, son of Thomas and Sarah 
(Robinson) Lawson, grandson of Col. An- 
thony and Mary (Calvert) Lawson, and of 
Tully Robinson, great-grandson of Thomas 
and Frances (Sayer) Lawson, and of Wil- 
liam Robinson, and a descendant of Thomas 
Lawson, who settled at an early date in 
Virginia; after completing his preparatory 
education, he studied for the profession of 
physician and surgeon, and on March i, 
1809, was commissioned surgeon's mate in 
the United States navy, but resigned on 
being appointed to the United States army 
by President Madison, February 11, 181 1; 
was transferred to the Seventh Infantry, 
May 17, 181 5, and was appointed surgeon in 
the Sixth Infantry, September 7, 1816, to 
rank as such from May 21, 1817; was pro- 
moted to the rank of major, June i, 1821 ; 
appointed surgeon-general with the rank of 
colonel by President Jackson, February i, 
1837, to date from November 30, 1836, and 
served as lieutenant-colonel of volunteers* 
in Florida in 1837-38 ; he was brevetted brig- 
adier-general, March 3, 1849, for distin- 
guished and meritorious services in the field 
before and during the Mexican war, and 
ranked as such from May 30, 1848; he was 
the author of: "lieport on Sickness and 
Mortality, United States Army. 1819-39" 
(1840); "Meteorological Register, 1826-30" 
(1830) ; *• Appendix for 1822-25" (1840) ; his 
death occurred at the residence of Dr. Dan- 
iel Cary Barraud, in Norfolk, Virginia, May 
14, 1861. 

Lane, John, born in Virginia, April 8, 
1789, but in boyhood removed from his na- 
tive state, his parents locating in Georgia, 
where he was reared, obtaining his educa- 
tion at Franklin College, Athens; in 1814, 



Digitized by 



Google 



208 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



at the age of twenty-five years, he was ad- 
mitted to the South Carolina conference of 
the Methodist Episcopal church, in the fol- 
lowing year was appointed to the Natchez 
circuit, and thus became the pioneer Meth- 
odist preacher in Mississippi Territory and 
the first of that denomination to labor among 
the Cherokee and Creek Indians; in 1820 he 
was made presiding elder of the Mississippi 
circuit, and the ministry was his chosen 
field of labor, but he also engaged in busi- 
ness, in which he achieved a certain degree 
of success, and in addition served as judge 
of the private court of Warren county; his 
prominence in affairs led to his appointment 
as president of the board of trustees of Cen- 
tenary College, Johnson, Louisiana, in which 
capacity he served for several years, and he 
was also president of the Conference Mis- 
sionary Society; he married a daughter of 
the Rev. Newit Vick, and in 1820 settled in 
Mississippi on Mr. Vick's estate, and there 
founded Vicksburg, which he named in 
honoi'of his father-in-law. Rev. Mr. Vick; 
his death occurred in Vicksburg, Missis- 
sippi, October 10, 1855. 

Jones, Roger, born in Westmoreland 
county, Virginia, in 1789, son of Major 
Catesby and Lettice Corbin (Turberville) 
Jones ; in young manhood he was appointed 
to the military service of the United States 
a? second lieutenant of marines, January 29, 
1809, and was promoted captain and assign- 
ed to the artillery, July 12, 1812; he was 
actively engaged at Chippewa, Lundy's Lane 
and Fort Erie, and for meritorious conduct 
at the first named places was brevetted 
major, and lieutenant-colonel for a suc- 
cessful sortie at the last named place: 
was promoted major, August 16, 1818, 



and made adjutant-general, and brevetted 
colonel, September 17, 1824; was promoted 
lieutenant-colonel, March 7, 1825, and ap- 
pointed adjutant-general of the army, and 
received brevets as brigadier-general, June, 
1832, and major-general. May, 1848; mar- 
ried Mary Anne Mason Page, born about 
1796, died at Washington, D. C, in Decem- 
ber, 1873 ; he also died in Washington, D. C, 
July 15, 1852. 

Aulick, Jc^in H., was born at Winchester, 
Virginia, in 1789, and joined the United 
States navy as midshipman in 1809. He 
was assigned to serv^'ce on the Enterprise 
and in 18 1 2 he was present at the capture 
of the British privateers Mars and Fly, and 
the ship Boxer. He was subsequently in 
service on the Saranac, the BrandyiiHne, the 
Constitution and other well known vessels, 
and in 1843 was appointed commander of 
the navy-yard in Washington, holding the 
position for three years. In 1847 ^^ ^^^ 
placed in command of the Vincennes, and 
later of the East India squadron. He was 
retired in 1861, and in the following year 
was placed on the retired list with the rank 
of commodore. He died April 27, 1873. 

Sparrow, Patrick J., born in Lincoln 
county. North Carolina, in 1802. He was 
educated by the Rev. Samuel Williamson, 
in upper South Carolina. He was engaged 
in preaching in Salisbury, North Carolina, 
and assisted in raising funds for the estab- 
lishment of Davidson (North Carolina) Col- 
lege, and at its organization was made pro- 
fessor of ancient languages. In 1841 he be- 
came pastor of the Hampden-Sidney Col- 
lege Church, and in 1844 succeeded Dr. 
Maxwell in the presidency. After occupy- 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMLNENT PERSONS 



209 



iiig the position two years he removed to 
Alabama, and ill health marked* his later 
years. He died in 1867. 

Junkin, George, born near Carlisle, Penn- 
sylvania, November i, 1790, son of an officer 
in the revolutionary army. He was gradu- 
ated from Jefferson (Pennsylvania) College, 
in 18 13, and studied theology in New York. 
He entered the Presbyterian ministry; or- 
ganized the first temperance societies and 
Sunday schools in central Pennsylvania; 
founded Lafayette College at Easton, Penn- 
sylvania, and became its first president, de- 
voting the fortunes of himself and wife to 
the establishment of the institution. In 
184 1 he became president of Miami (Ohio) 
University, but left after three years, the 
abolition sentiment there being too strong. 
In 1848 he was called to the presidency of 
Washington College, and served until 1861, 
when he resigned. He was a prolific author, 
and published many religious volumes. One 
of his daughters married Gen. Thomas J. 
(Stonewall) Jackson. He died May 20, 
1868. 

Upshur, Abel Parker, son of Col. Little- 
ton Upshur and Anne Parker, his wife, 
daughter of George Parker, was born in 
Northampton county, Virginia, June 17, 
1790. He attended Princeton and Yale Col- 
leges and studied law under William Wirt. 
He was admitted to the bar in 1810 and 
practiced in Richmond. He was for some 
time, commonwealth's attorney of the city, 
but returned to Northampton and lived at 
"X'aucluse," in that county. In 1824-26 he 
was a member of the house of delegates, 
and in a very able speech opposed the re- 
moval of William and Mary College. He 
was made a judge of the general court and 

VW— 14 



served from 1826 till 1841. He was a mem- 
ber of the constitutional convention of 1829, 
and advocated the interest of the eastern 
section with great ability. He made a pro- 
found study of the constitution and under- 
took a review of Judge Joseph Story's "Com- 
mentaries on the Constitution," 1840. In 
this work he exposed the errors of Judge 
Story and set forth in reply the states rights 
construction of the constitution. It was ap- 
plauded throughout the South as a complete 
answer to the nationalists, and was long a 
text book in the colleges and schools. Mr. 
Upshur, who had been a Federalist in his 
early youth, as were most of the leading 
men on the eastern shore of Virginia, 
changed his views about 1816, and became 
an ardent states rights man. He sympa- 
thized with the doctrines of South Carolina 
in 1832, and when Jackson issued his proc- 
lamation, he severed his connection with the 
Democratic party and was a Whig, voting 
for Gen. Harrison in 1840. In 1841 Presi- 
dent Tyler made him secretary of the navy, 
and in this department he reorganized the 
work and established system and order. On 
the resignation of Daniel Webster, Tyler 
made him secretary of state, and he was a 
strong advocate of the annexation of Texas. 
Under directions of the President he pre- 
pared a treaty for that purpose, but was cut 
off from completing the work by death. On 
February 26, 1842, he was killed by an ex- 
plosion on the steam war vessel Princeton^ 
near the mouth of the Potomac river, while 
on a pleasure trip with the President and 
other members of his cabinet to witness the 
trial of the Princeton s guns. 

Archer, Branch T., son of Peter F. Archer, 
of Powhatan county, was born December 13, 



Digitized by 



Google 



210 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



1790. He attended William and Mary Col- 
lege, studied medicine and practiced success- 
fully in Virginia. He served in the house of 
delegates in 1819-20. In 1831 he went to 
Texas, where he took an active interest in 
the politics of that revolutionary period. In 
1835 ^ convention of the American settlers 
was called for the consideration of Texan 
independence, over which Archer presided, 
and he was selected with Stephen Austin 
and N. H. Wharton, commissioner to Wash- 
ington to obtain aid from the United States 
government. He became a very prominent 
figure in Texan politics, being a member of 
the first Texan congress, speaker of the 
house of representatives of the republic, and 
its secretary of war from 1839 to 1842. He 
died in Brazoria county, Texas, September 
22. 1856. 

Randolph^ Thomas Jefferson, born in 
Monticello, Albeijiarle county, Virginia, 
September 12, 1792, son of Governor Thomas 
Mann and Martha (Jefferson) Randolph, 
and grandson of Thomas Jefferson; edu- 
cz^itd in the schools of Philadelphia, Penn- 
sylvania, and Charlottesville, Virginia; one 
of the first acts of his business life was to 
discharge a debt of $40,000 remaining 
against his Grandfather Jefferson's estate; 
another work performed in loyal regard for 
the memory of his Grandfather Jefferson 
was his preparation, as literary executor, of 
the large four-volume **Biography, Life and 
Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson," 
which was published in Boston in 1829; as 
a member of the legislature, he effected, 
among other measures, the passage of a bill 
for the adjustment of the tax question, 
whereby the finances of the state were ma- 
terially strengthened; his knowledge of 



finance was also expressed in a pamphlet 
entitled "Sixty Years* Reminiscences of the 
Currency of the United States," of which 
each member of the legislature received a 
copy; in the convention of 1850-51, when 
the Virginia constitution was revised, he 
was an active member; after the secession 
of the Southern States, he gave his support 
to the Confederacy, and after the war he 
was equally zealous in the movements to 
restore the well-being of his native state; 
his last appearance in public office was as 
chairman of the Democratic national con- 
vention which was convened in Baltimore. 
Maryland, in 1872; for seven years he was 
rector of the University of Virginia, and for 
thirty-one years a member of its board of 
visitors : he died at "Edgehill," N'irginia. Oc- 
itber 8, 1875. 

Vethake, Henry, born in British Guiana 
in 1792, came to America in his childhood 
with his parents. He was graduated from 
Columbia College in 1808, and studied law. 
He held professorships in Columbia and 
Queens (now Butler), Dickinson (Pennsyl- 
vania) colleges, and the University of New 
York. In 1835 ^^ ^^as elected president of 
Washington College (now Washington and 
Lee University), which position he held a 
year, at the same time filling the chair of 
intellectual and moral philosophy, retaining 
the latter until 1859, when he became asso- 
ciated with the Philadelphia Polytechnic 
College. He died December 16, 1866. 

Garland, John, was born in Virginia, in 
1792, died in New York City, June 5, 1861. 
He was appointed first lieutenant of infan- 
try on March 31, 1813, served through the 
war with Great Britain, became a captain 
on May 7, 1817, and was made major by 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



211 



brevet in 1827, attained the full rank of 
major on October 30, 1836, and that of lieu- 
tenant-colonel on November 27, 1839. He 
won distinction in the Florida war under 
Gen. Worth, and served through the Mexi- 
can war, distinguished himself in six battles, 
and commanding a brigade at Monterey and 
through Gen. Scott's subsequent campaign. 
He was severely wounded at the taking of 
the City of Mexico. He was brevetted colo- 
nel for gallantry at Palo Alto and Resaca 
de la Palma. and brigadier-general for meri- 
torious and gallant conduct at Contreras and 
Churubusco. He was promoted colonel on 
May 9. 1861, 

Fickett, James Chambcrlayne, was born 
in Fauquier county, Virginia, February 6, 
1793- son of Colonel John and Elizabeth 
(Chamberlayne) Pickett; grandson of Cap- 
tain William S. and Elizabeth (Metcalfe) 
Pickett, and a descendant of William and 
Anne Pickett. In i"*/) removed with his par- 
ents to Mason county, Kentucky, where his 
father served in both branches of the state 
legislature. He was appointed from Ohio 
third lieutenant in the Second United States 
Artillery, August 4, 1S13: was promoted 
second lieutenant. April 19. iS 14, transferred 
tr. the corps of artillery. May 12. 1814, and 
left the service at the close of the war in 
18 1 5. He edited the "Eagle" at Maysville. 
Kentucky, in 1815 ; studied law, and on June 
16. I? 18. entered the United States army as 
captain and assistant quartermaster-general, 
serving until June. 1821. He settled in the 
practice of law in Mason county in 1821 ; was 
representative in the Kentucky legislature in 
1822, and secretary of the state. 1825-28. By 
appointment of President Jackson, he was 
secretary of the United States legation to 



Columbia, 1829-33, acting for a time as 
charge d'affaires. He was a commissioner 
01 the United States patent office in 1835; 
fourth auditor of the United States treas- 
ury, 1835-38; United States minister to 
Ecuador in 1838, and charge d'affaires to 
Peru, 1838-45. In 1845 he removed to Wash- 
ington, D. C, where he was editor of the 
"Congressional Globe'' for several years. 
He was married, October 6, 1818, to Ellen, 
daughter of Governor Joseph Desha, of Ken- 
tucky. Their son, Joseph Desha Pickett, 
was a minister of the Christian church, pro- 
fessor in Bethany College, Virginia, chap- 
lain in the Confederate army, and professor 
of English literature and sacred history in 
Kentucky University. Another son. Col. 
John T. Pickett, was United States consul 
at Vera Cruz. 1853-61, special envoy extra- 
ordinary of the Confederate states to Mex- 
ico in 1865, and in 1870 sold the diplomatic 
correspondence of the Confederate States, 
known as the "Pickett Papers,'' to the 
United States government for $75,000. James 
Chamberlayne Pickett died in Washington, 
D. C, July 10, 1872. 

Horner, William Edmonds, born in War- 
re nton, Virginia. June 3, 1793, grandson of 
Robert Horner, who emigrated from Eng- 
land to Maryland prior to the revolutionary 
war; he was educated at a private school, 
then pursued a course of study in medicine, 
and received his degree from the University 
of Pennsylvania in 18 14: he had been com- 
missioned surgeon's mate in the army m 
18 1 2. and served through the war with Eng- 
land on the Canadian frontier: after his 
resignation, in 1S15. he practiced his pro- 
fession at Warrenton, but in the follow- 
ing year removed to Philadelphia, and in 



Digitized by 



Google 



212 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



1817 became dissector to Dr. Casper Wis- 
tar, who was then professor of anatomy in 
the University of Pennsylvania, and in 1819 
was made adjunct professor of anatomy 
under Dr. Philip S. Physick; in 1824 he dis- 
covered the Musculus Hornerii, an impor- 
tant muscle of the eye, which he described 
in a series of articles in the "American 
Journal of Medical Science" of that year; 
in 183 1 he was appointed to the chair of 
anatomy in the University of Pennsylvania, 
in which capacity he served until his death ; 
was an active member of the city sanitarj' 
board during the cholera epidemic of 1832; 
united with the Roman Catholic church in 
1839; in 1847 founded St. Joseph's Hospital; 
in 1848 visited Europe, and was well re- 
ceived by scientific men ; he published **Spe- 
cial Anatomy and Histolog}*" (Philadelphia, 
1826; 8th ed., 2 vols., 185 1) ; "United States 
Dissector" (5th ed., revised by Dr. Henry 
H. Smith, 1856) ; "Anatomical Atlas," and 
numerous contributions to medical period- 
icals, and at his death in Philadelphia, 
March 13, 1853, left manuscripts on theolog- 
ical and literary subjects; he left his fine 
anatomical collections, valued at $10,000, to 
the University of Pennsylvania, and his 
large library to St. Joseph's Hospital. 

Houston, Samuel, born in Rockbridge 
county, Virginia, March 2, 1793, son of Sam- 
uel Houston and Elizabeth Paxton, his wife. 
Left fatherless in his boyhood, he was rear- 
ed in Tennessee, and was adopted by an 
Indian, and received little education. At 
the age of twenty he enlisted in the United 
States army and soon rose to a sergeantcy. 
His courage at the battle of Horseshoe 
Bend, where he is said to have received nu- 
merous wounds, attracted the attention of 



Gen. Jackson. He was promoted to second 
lieutenant, then to first lieutenant, but re- 
signed on account of criticism by the war 
department. In 1818 he began to study law 
in Nashville; engaged in practice, and was 
elected district attorney. He was also made 
adjutant-general, and later major-general. 
He was elected to congress in 1823 and 1823, 
and governor of Tennessee in 1827. In 1829 
he married a Miss Allen, whom a few weeks 
later he left without explanation. He left 
the state under a cloud, and returned to his 
former Indian foster-father. In 1832 he 
went to Texas, was a member of the con- 
vention, and later was made commander-in- 
chief of the Texas army by the convention 
which declared independence, and defeated 
the Mexicans at San Jacinto, where he was 
wounded. He was treated with coolness 
by the civil authorities and retired to New 
Orleans. Later he returned to Texas, and 
was elected its first president, and was re- 
elected in 1841. In 1838 he had favored the 
annexation of Texas to the United States, 
but in 1845 ^^ wanted Texas to be inde- 
pendent and opposed annexation. In 1846 
Houston was elected United States senator, 
and served there until 1859, when he was 
again elected governor. In 1861 Texas se- 
ceded from the Union, Houston, a staunch 
Unionist, refused to take the oath of alle- 
giance to the Confederate government, and 
was deposed. He was offered United States 
troops to maintain himself, but declined their 
aid. He took no further part in public life, 
and died in Huntsville. Texas, July 25, 1863. 

Austin, Stephen F., was born in Virginia, 
November 3, 1793, son of Moses Austin. He 
was graduated with distinction at Transyl- 
vania University, Kentucky: was elected to 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



213 



the territorial legislature of Missouri in 
1813, and annually reelected until iSig.vvhen 
he removed to Arkansas, where he was ap- 
pointed circuit judge. His father had re- 
ceived from Mexico a large grant of land 
near the boundary of Texas, for colonization 
purposes, conditional on his locating three 
hundred families. At his death, in 1820, 
Stephen, in pursuance of his father's request 
proceeded immediately to colonize the tract. 
After many delays and much difficulty, he 
finally had the grant confirmed and planted 
on the present site of Austin a colony of 
some two hundred families. He was con- 
stituted governor by Mexico, and as such 
possessed dictatorial powers: but he gov- 
erned with justice and clemency. In 1833 
the American settlers became discontented, 
and Austin was appointed by the colony as 
a commissioner to carry a petition for the 
separation of Texas and Coahuila, which 
then constituted one state. The Mexi- 
can government, however, failing to con- 
'sider the petition, Austin wrote to his peo- 
ple in October to form themselves into a 
separate colony, without awaiting Mexico's 
consent. This letter being intercepted, Aus- 
tin was thrown into prison for many months. 
President Santa Anna, in May, 1834, called 
a council to hear the petition. Austin ap- 
peared before it, and by his eloquence won a 
promise of the repeal forbidding citizens of 
the United States from immigrating into 
Texas. The council also promised to estab- 
lish a postal system and to station four 
thousand soldiers at Bexar to protect the 
frontier; but declined the prayer for separa- 
tion. Austin was detained as a prisoner. 
but at the end of two years was allowed to 
return to his colony. At their first consul- 
tation, in 1835, Austin advised that any at- 



tempt by the Mexican government to dis- 
arm the colonists should be met by armed 
resistance. To this the colonists gladly ac- 
ceded. Austin endeavored to effect a re- 
conciliation, but all terms were haughtily 
rejected by the Mexicans ; he determined to 
make no further overtures for peace, hos- 
tilities followed, the revolutionists were vic- 
torious at Gonzales, Conception and San 
Antonio, and Austin was made commander- 
in-chief of the army by acclamation, and 
forthwith sent to Gen. Sam Houston for aid 
in carrying on the revolution. Austin was 
sent as commissioner to Washington in No- 
vember, 1835, to appeal to the United States 
government for aid, and made a favorable 
impression at the national capital. In 1836 
the independence of Texas was declared, 
Sam Houston was elected first president of 
the republic, and he appointed Austin secre- 
tary of state. He died December 27, 1836. 

Hunt, Thomas Poagc, born in Charlotte 
county. \'irginia, in 1794: was graduated at 
Hampden-Sidney College in 18 13, then took 
a course in theology, and in 1824 was licensed 
to preach the Gospel ; for a number of years 
he was pastor of churches in Virginia and 
North Carolina, after which he changed his 
line of work, becoming a temperance lec- 
turer, in which capacity he attained a wide 
reputation; in 1836 he took up his residence 
in the city of Philadelphia, remaining there 
for three years, at the expiration of which 
time he removed to the Wyoming Valley 
and there spent the remainder of his days ; 
in addition to the work above mentioned, he 
served as agent for Lafayette College dur- 
ing the years 1840-41-42-43-44-45, and was 
the author of the following articles which 
he published: "History of Jesse Johnson 



Digitized by 



Google 



214 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



and His Times," "It Will Not Injure Me," 
••Death by Measure," *'\Vedding-Days of 
Former Times," and "Liquor-Selling a His- 
tory of Fraud;" died in Wyoming Valley, 
Pennsylvania, December 5, 1876. 

Maury, John Minor, born in Fredericks- 
burg, \'irginia, 1795, son of Richard and 
Diana (Minor) Maury. He became mid- 
shipman in the navy at the age of fourteen, 
and served on the Essex Jr. in the Pacific, 
which brought home the survivors of the 
Fssex. with Captain Porter. Promoted to 
first lieutenant. 181 1; made flag captain to 
Commodore David Porter's fleet engaged in 
suppressing West Indian pirates, 1824, and 
on return voyage was seized with yellow 
fever, and died at sea, near Norfolk, June 
23, 1825. He married Eliza Maurj-. of 
Franklin, Tennessee. ^ 

Johns, John, born in New Castle, Dela- 
ware, July 10, 1796, son of Kensey Johns and 
Ann (Van Dyke) Johns, his wife. He was 
^aduated from Princeton College in 1806, 
and entered the Episcopal ministry. He 
held charges in Frederick and Baltimore, 
Maryland. In 1842 he was elected assistant 
bishop of Virginia, and the same year was 
made president of William and Mary Col- 
lege, Williamsburg. In 1854 he retired from 
the presidency, stating in his letter of leave 
taking that he could retire "without solici- 
tude as to the future of the college;" the 
number of students had increased under his 
administration from twenty-one to eighty- 
two. He received the degree of S. T. D. 
from Columbia College in 1834, and of Doc- 
tor of Laws from William and Mar>' Col- 
lege in 1855; retired to his residence near 
Alexandria; in 1862 succeeded Bishop 



Meade (deceased) in the bishopric, and died 
April 6, 1876, in his eightieth year. 

Fauntleroy, Thomas Turner, son of Jo- 
seph Fauntleroy and Elizabeth Fauntleroy, 
daughter of Col. Bushrod Fauntleroy, was 
born in Richmond county, Virginia, Octo- 
ber 6, 1796, died in Leesburg, Virginia, Sep- 
tember 12, 1883. He was commissioned a 
lieutenant in the war of 1812, when but 
seventeen years old. He studied law in 
Winchester, practiced in Warrenton, and in 
1823 was elected to the legislature. In 1836 
he was commissioned a major of dragoons 
in the regular army, and served in the Semi- 
nole war. In September, 1845, ^^ ^"^'^^ ^^' 
tached from Gen. Taylor's army to hold in 
check the Indians on the frontier of Texas. 
From this duty he was ordered to join Gen. 
Taylor, and subsequently, in Mexico, he 
commanded the cavalry of Gen. Scott's 
army. In 1849 he was promoted to the lieu- 
tenant-colonelcy of the First Dragoons, and 
commanded the troops on frontier duty in 
Texas. In 1850 he was promoted colonel. 
In the winter of 1854-53 he conducted a 
campaign against the hostile Indian tribes 
of the Rocky mountains, and in 1858 he 
made another midwinter campaign against 
the Indians in New Mexico. In May, 1861, 
he entered the Confederate ser\-ice. He was 
commissioned a brigadier-general by the 
convention of Virginia, and placed in com- 
mand of Richmond and its defences. But 
after the organization of the Confederate 
government it refused to confirm his com- 
mission, although he ranked all the officers 
but one that had resigned from the United 
States army to serve the Confederacy. He 
married Ann, daughter of Col. Charles 
Magill, of Winchester, Virginia. 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



215 



Janney, Asa Moore, born in. Loudoun 
county, Virginia, September 18, 1802; was 
reared and educated in his native county, 
removed from there to Richmond in 1836, 
accompanying his family, and for a number 
of years assumed charge of Gallego Mills, 
one of the most extensive flouring mills in 
the South; returned to Loudoun county in 
i860 and resided there until 1869, in which 
year he was appointed agent for the Santee 
Sioux Indians in Nebraska, to which work 
he devoted himself assiduously, being 
largely instrumental in improving their 
moral and physical condition, and his wife 
and daughters also labored among the 
women of the tribe, their efforts proving 
of great benefit, alleviating the burdens and 
hardships they were called upon to bear; 
while there, he had a saw mill and flouring 
mill erected, lands were allotted to the In- 
dians in severalty, and about one hundred 
log houses erected; owing to impaired 
htalth. he resigned his commission and re- 
turned to Virginia; was a member of the 
Society of Friends, in which he held the 
office of elder; his death occurred in Lou- 
doun county. Virginia, April 30, 1880. 

Beckwourth, James P., was bom at Fred- 
ericksburg, Virginia, April 26, 1798. His 
father was a major in the revolutionary 
army, and his mother a negro slave. About 
the year 1805 he removed to St. Louis, Mis- 
souri, and settled on the spot afterwards 
known as "Beckwourth's Settlement." When 
young Beckwourth was about ten years old 
he was sent to St. Louis, where he attended 
school for four years, and was then appren- 
ticed to a blacksmith in that city. At the 
age of nineteen he joined an expedition of 
about one hundred men to go up the Fever 
river and negotiate a treaty with the Sac 



Indians; and that being done, he remained 
in the vicinity for more than a year. He 
next became connected with General Ash- 
ley's Rocky Mountain Fur Company. In 
1823 he carried important despatches to the 
mountains for Gen. Ashley. After terrible 
sufferings and many years spent among the 
Indians during which time he was made a 
chief of the Crows, he returned to his fam- 
ily at St. Louis, and later went to Florida, 
where he carried despatches for the United 
States, and was engaged in fighting the In- 
dians. He went to Mexico, and in 1844 ac- 
companied a trading expedition to Califor- 
nia. At the breaking out of the California 
revolution against Gov. Micheltorena, in 
1845, he took an active part. He was en- 
gaged by the United States government to 
convey despatches to Chihuahua, and after- 
v/ards from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to 
California. Some time after 1849 he dis- 
covered a pass through the Sierra Nevada 
mountains, which was named **Beckwourth's 
Pass/* and in 1852 he became a trader in 
Bcckwourth's Valley. He died in 1867. 

Greenhow, Robert, was born in Rich- 
mond, Virginia, in 1800, died in San Fran- 
cisco, California, in 1854. His father, Robert, 
was at one time mayor of Richmond. His 
mother, Mary Ann Wills, perished at the 
burning of the Richmond theatre in 181 1, 
and the son barely escaped with his life. He 
was graduated from William and Mary Col- 
lege in i8r6, and finished his education in 
New York, studying medicine with Dr. 
David Hosack and Dr. John W. Francis, 
and taking his degree at the College of Phy- 
sicians and Surgeons in 1821. He then 
visited Europe where he met Byron and 
other distinguished men, and on his return 
delivered lectures on chemistry before the 



Digitized by 



Google 



2l6 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



New York Literary and Philosophical So- 
ciety. He became translator to the depart- 
ment of state in Washington in 1828, and in 
1850 removed to California, where in 1853 
he was associate law-agent to the United 
States land commission. He published **A 
History of Tripoli" (1835), and a "Report 
on the Discovery of the Northwest Coast 
ot North America," prepared by order of 
congress in 1837 (New York. 1840), and 
afterward enlarged into a "History of Ore- 
gon and California/* a work of high author- 
ity (1846). Dr. Greenhow also read before 
the New York Historical Society, in 1848, 
a paper in relation to the supposed mission- 
ary labors of Archbishop Fenelon, since 
fc'und to have been those of a brother, 
among the Iroquois of New York. His 
grandfather, John Greenhow, a prominent 
merchant of Williamsburg, was born in 
Stanton, near Kendall, county Westmore- 
land. England, November 12, 1724, and died 
August 29. 1787. He married three times 
(first) Judith Davenport, (second) Eliza- 
beth Tyler, sister of Gov. John Tyler, and 
(third) Rebecca Harman, daughter of Ben- 
skin Harman. Robert Greenhow was de- 
scended from the first marriage. 

Alexander, James Waddell, was born in 
Louisa county, Virginia, March 13, 1804, 
son of Archibald and Janetta Waddell Alex- 
ander, and maternal grandson of James 
Waddell, the blind preacher, made famous 
by William Wirt. He was educated in the 
academy at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 
entered Princeton College, and was gradu- 
ated in 1820, following with a four years' 
course at the theological seminary. In 1824 
he was a tutor in that institution, and was 
licensed to preach by the presbytery of New 



Brunswick, New Jersey. For three years 
following he was pastor in Charlotte coun- 
ty, \^irginia. From 1828 to 1832 he had 
charge of the First Presbyterian Church in 
Trenton, New Jersey. He gave up preach- 
ing on account of failing health, and took 
charge of the "Presbyterian,'' of Philadel- 
phia, as editor. From 1834 to 1S44 he was 
professor of belles Icttrcs and rhetoric at 
Princeton College, and for the next five 
years he served the congregation of the 
Duane Street Presbyterian Church of New 
York City. At the end of his pastorate he 
returned to Princeton to take the chair of 
ecclesiastical history and church govern- 
ment in the theological seminary. In 1S51 
he returned to New York to accept a call 
to the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, 
where he exerted a great power in the pul- 
pit and with his pen. In preaching and 
writing he aimed at being practical rather 
than scholarly, and in the pulpit was in- 
tensely spiritual. He wrote many transla- 
tions of popular German hymns, one of 
which found rts way into many hymn books 
— Gerhardt's passion hymn, **0, Sacred 
Head now Wounded." His published works 
include: "Consolation," "Family Worship," 
"Plain Words to a Young Communicant," 
"Discourses on Christian Faith and Prac- 
tice," "Gift to the Afflicted," "A Biography 
o^ Dr. Archibald Alexander," and over 
thirty volumes prepared for the American 
Sunday School Union. He contributed to 
the "Princeton Review" and the "Biblical 
Repertory." Rev. Dr. John Hall published 
in 1880, in two volumes "Forty Years' Fa- 
miliar Letters of James W. Alexander." He 
died at Red Sweet Springs, Virginia, July 
3h 1859. 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXENT PERSONS 



217 



Saunders, Robert, born in Williamsburg, 
Virginia, January 25, 1805, son of Robert 
Saunders, entered the University of Vir-* 
ginia in its first year, and took the law 
course of lectures. In 1833 he was made 
professor of mathematics in William and 
Mary College, Williamsburg, and continued 
as such after his appointment as president 
pro tcuL in 1847. Dissensions arose in the 
faculty, and all resigned in 1848. Mr. Saun- 
ders then traveled in Europe, and was a 
guest of Lafayette. For a long time he was 
at the head of the Eastern Lunatic Asylum, 
and just before the civil war was president 
of the York River railroad. Throughout his 
life, until disfranchised in reconstruction 
times, he was a member of the legislature; 
mayor, magistrate and councilman of Wil- 
liamsburg, and a vestryman of Bruton par- 
ish. In- the civil war he was offered the 
colonelcy of a regiment, but feeling himself 
unfitted for field service, took a position in 
the Confederate quartermasters depart- 
ment, where he proved himself an efficient 
officer. He married Lucy, a daughter of 
Governor John Page. He died September 
II. 1868. 

HoUaday, Albert Lewis, born in Spotsyl- 
vania county, Virginia, April 16, 1805. He 
was educated at the University of Virginia, 
and taught for a time there and in Rich- 
mond. He then took the presidency of 
Hampden-Sidney College, relinquishing it 
in 1833, when he took up the study of the- 
ology. For eleven years he was a mission- 
ary in Persia, and achieved eminence as a 
scholar in Oriental literature; among his 
works was a Syriac grammar. Returning 
home, he became pastor at Charlottesville, 
Virginia. He was in ill health, when he 



was informed of his election (the second) 
to the presidency of Hampden-Sidney Col- 
lege, and was never well again, and did not 
reach the place. lie died a month later, 
October 18, 1856. 

Burk, John D., born in Ireland, died near 
Campbell's Bridge, Virginia, April 11, 1808. 
He was expelled from Trinity College, Dub- 
Im, for writing and printing deistical and re- 
publican sentiments, also became obnoxious 
to the government, and came to America in 
1796. In Boston he edited the *'Polar Star,'* 
v/hich did not long exist. Coming to New 
^'ork. he edited a paper and was arrested 
for perpetrating a libel under the alien and 
sedition law. He removed to Petersburg, 
V'irginia. where he gave himself to the 
law and literature. He wrote "History of 
Virginia from its first settlement to 1740," 
(3 vols.), printed in Petersburg, 1804. He 
engaged in a political dispute with Felix 
Coquebert, which resulted in a duel, in 
which he met his death. 

Dew, Thomas R., was born in King and 
Queen county, December 5, 1802, son of 
Thomas R. Dew and Lucy Gatewood. his 
wife. His father served a short time in the 
war of 181 2. Thomas R. Dew, the son, 
graduated from William and Mary College 
in 1820. after which he traveled two years 
in Europe. On October 16, 1826, he was 
elected professor of history and political 
law in William and Mary College. The 
chair of history, which was established 
under Rev. Robert Keith, was developed 
by Mr. Dew into one of first importance. 
At that time history and political science 
were scarcely known among the studies of 
American colleges. In 1836 Mr. Dew be- 



Digitized by 



Google 



2l8 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



came president, and the college achieved a 
degree of prosperity never previously 
known. In 1840 the number of students in 
attendance was one hundred and forty. His 
"Lectures on the Restrictive System," de- 
picting the evils of the tariff system, were 
very popular, not only with his students, 
but with the Southern public, and had much 
weight in shaping opposition to the tariff 
laws of 1828 and 1832. His essay in favor 
of slavery had a marked effect. His great- 
est work was his "Digest of the Laws, Cus- 
toms. Manners, and Institutions of Ancient 
and Modern Nations," embracing lectures 
delivered to his class. Dr. Dew contributed 
largely to the "Southern Review." In 1845 
he married Natilia Hay, daughter of Dr. 
Hay. of Clarke county, Virginia' and died 
suddenly on his wedding trip. The faculty 
formally bore testimony in their minutes 
that it was difficult to decide whether "his 
wisdom as president, his ability as a pro- 
fessor, or his excellence as a man was most 
to be admired." He died in Paris, France, 
August 6, 1846. 

Foe, Edgar Allan, was born in Boston, 
Massachusetts, January 19, 1809, son of 
David and Elizabeth (Arnold) Poe. His 
grandfather, David Poe, fought in the revo- 
lutionary and 181 2 wars, and his father, who 
had been educated for the law, had become 
an actor, married an actress, and was play-, 
ing in Boston, when Edgar Allan, his sec- 
ond son, was born. His parents died when 
he was but two years old, and John Allan, 
a wealthy merchant of Richmond, adopted 
him. He attended school at Stoke Newing- 
ton, England, and a private school in Rich- 
mond, Virginia, and entered the University 
of Virginia. February 14, 1826. He remain- 



ed there but one year, worked in Mr. Allan's 
counting room a few months, and in 1827 
went to Boston, where at the age of eighteen 
he published his first volume of poems, 
which he later attempted to destroy. When 
his money was gone, he enlisted in the 
army, May 6, 1828, as Edgar A. Perr>% He 
was advanced from private to the rank of 
sergeant-major in less than nine months, 
and when Mr. Allan learned where he was 
he furnished a substitute and had Poe ap- 
pointed to the United States Military Acad- 
emy. July I, 1830. Poe found the life dis- 
tJisteful to him. and Mr. Allan, refusing to 
allow him to resign, he succeeded in being 
cashiered in 1831. In 1829 he had published 
a second edition of his poems under a new 
title, and in 1831 he published a third vol- 
ume, dedicated to his fellow students. Mr. 
Allan's anger at the Military Academy dis- 
grace caused Poe to leave his home and go 
to Baltimore, where he took up literature 
as a profession, turning his attention to 
prose. His first story, published in the 
"Saturday Visitor," in 1833, won him the 
$100 prize offered by that paper. He be- 
came editor of the '^Southern Literary Mes- 
senger" of Richmond in 1835, and here he 
began to show the peculiar, mystical side of 
his writings and his ability and fearlessness 
as a critic. He became editor of "Graham's 
Magazine" in 1836 and in the same year 
was married to his young cousin, Virginia 
Clemm. He was made associate editor of 
the "Gentleman's Magazine" in 1839, and 
in 1841, when this was merged into "Gra- 
ham's Magazine," became editor. It was at 
this time that he published his theories in 
regard to cryptography, and demonstrated 
them by solving a hundred miscellaneous 
specimens that were sent to him by his con- 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



219 



tributors. This same year he won a luin- 
dred dollar prize with his story "The 
Gold- Bug." In 1842 he left "Graham's 
Magazine'' and in 1844 became editorial as- 
sistant on the "Evening Mirror," then con- 
ducted by X. P. Willis, and in its columns 
in 1845 first published "The Raven." In 

1846. after an unsuccessful attempt to con- 
duct the "Broadway Journal," he withdrew 
to Fordham, Xew York, where on January 
30, 1847, his wife died, and he became a 
complete recluse. Poe's works include: 
"Tamerlane and Other Poems" (1827) ; "Al 
Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems" 
(1829); "Poems" (1831); **A Manuscript 
Found in a Bottle" ("Saturday Visitor," 
^^33^ '* "Berenice" ("Southern Literary Mes- 
senger," 1834) ; "The Fall of the House of 
Usher" ("Gentleman's Magazine.'* 1840); 
*The Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque" 
(iJ^40) ; "The Murders in the Rue Morgue'' 
("Gentleman's Magazine," 1841 ) : "The 
Gold-Bug" ("Dollar Magazine," 1842) : "The 
Raven'' (1845) ; "The Literati of Xew York'' 
("Godey's Lady's Book.'* 1846); "Eureka, 
a Prose Poem" (1847); "Ulalume," "The 
Bells" and "Annabel Lee." written after 

1847. Rufus \V. Griswold prepared a 
memoir of Poe which he published in 1880. 
Mrs. Sarah Helen Whitman wrote "Edgar 
A. Poe and His Critics" (1859); William 
Fearing Gill (q. v.) refuted certain state- 
ments of Griswold in **The Life of Edgar 
Allan Poe" (1876), and George F. Wood- 
bury wrote "Edgar Allan Poe," for the 
"American Men of Letters" (1885). The 
Baltimore school teachers erected a monu- 
ment to Poe, 1875, ^^^ the actors of the 
L'nited States placed a memorial in the 
Metropolitan Museum in 1885. Edwin Booth 
and William Winter officiating. The Poe 



Memorial Association unveiled a bust of 
Foe by Zolnay at the University of Vir- 
ginia, October, 1899, William Fearing Gill, 
Hamilton W. Mabie and Robert Burns Wil- 
son assisting, and a cenotaph erected in his 
memory was unveiled in Baltimore, Mary- 
land, October, 1899. He is recognized as 
the father of the "Short Story," and he was 
probably the most original American poet. 
The sale of his works surpasses that of any 
other on the market. He died in Baltimore, 
Maryland, October 7, 1849. 

Broaddus, Andrew, born in Caroline 
county. Virginia, Xovember 4, 1770. He 
united with the Baptist church in 1788. and 
soon afterwards became a preacher. In 
182 1 he was assistant pastor of a church in 
Richmond, and in 1832 was chosen modera- 
tor of the Dover Baptist Association. He re- 
ceived many calls from important churches 
ill Xorthern as well as Southern cities, but 
could not be induced to leave the country, 
and labored incessantly until his death, at 
Salem. Virginia. December i. 1848. With 
Tmitcd education, his fine natural abilities 
and impressive oratorical powers made him 
a powerful pulpiteer. He published a "His- 
tory of the Bible." **A Catechism," "A Form 
of Church Discipline," and the Dover and 
X'irginia selections of hymns. As late as 
1852 Dr. Jeter published his memoirs and 
some of his sermons. 

Blair, Francis Preston, born at Abingdon, 
\'irginia, April 12. 1791. He was of Scotch 
descent, and a great grandson of John Pres- 
ton (q. V. i. 308). He was educated at Tran- 
sylvania (Kentucky) University, and stud- 
ied law. but never engaged in practice, 
entering almost immediately upon a public 
and political career. Soon after leaving the 



Digitized by 



Google 



220 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



university he became clerk of the Kentucky 
iupreme court. In 1828 the legislature 
elected him. to the presidency of the Bank 
of Kentucky. During this time he had 
made considerable reputation as a political 
writer in a controversy which had arisen 
in Kentucky over the attempt on the part 
of the state to cripple the Dank of the 
United States by taxing its branches within 
it.** jurisdiction. This contest lasted for ten 
years, and involved the right of the state to 
alter its laws enforcing contracts, its right 
U: abolish imprisonment for debt, to extend 
the replevin laws, and other important ques- 
tions. It resulted in the triumph of the 
bank party, but a new direction was given 
ti» the controversy — the conflict became 
national, and resulted in the downfall of the 
United States Dank, and its overthrow was 
followed by a reform in Kentucky on the 
l.rinciples which had been sustained by Mr. 
r.lair. Up to this time he had been a Clay 
man. but he now attracted the attention of 
President Jackson, who in 1830 induced him 
to go to Washington City and assume the 
editorial management of **The Globe'* news- 
paper, which was to be made the official 
organ of the administration. Mr. Blair dis- 
played excellent journalistic powers in this 
new field. He gave warm support to the 
Jackson and Van Buren administrations, but 
by his opposition to the annexation of 
Texas lost his hold upon the Democratic 
party, and a new newspaper, entitled **The 
Union." edited by Thomas Ritchie, received 
the support of President Polk, and Blair 
retired to private life. His leanings were 
toward the nationalistic wing of the Dem- 
ocratic party, and during Mr. Polk's ad- 
ministration, when the states rights wing 
was in the ascendant, he allied himself 



with the Free Soil party, and was chairman 
Of the first national Republican convention, 
in 1856. which nominated John C. Fremont 
for the presidency. He was a delegate to 
tlic next national convention of the party, 
in i8rx), which nominated Mr. Lincoln, with 
whom he ever after maintained a close and 
influential intimacy. In 1864 he visited 
Richmond, by permission of President Lin- 
coln, and brought about the peace confer- 
ence which took place in Hampton Roads 
ii' the fall of that year, and which was un- 
productive of results because of the refusal 
of Mr. Lincoln to negotiate except upon the 
basis of complete submission of the South- 
ern states. Ho could not approve the recon- 
struction methods following after the war, 
and returned to the Democratic party, but 
took no part in public affairs. He was the 
father of two distinguished sons — Mont- 
gojiiery Blair, who became postmaster-gen- 
eral in President Lincoln's cabinet, and 
Francis P. Blair, Jr., who was prominent in 
Missouri in 1861, and became a major-gen- 
eral in the Union army. Blair was an able 
man, a versatile writer and a strong nation- 
alist, but had no scruples in changing his 
support of men and measures whenever, in 
his opinions, it was expedient to do so in 
the interest of party. 

Janney, Samuel Macpherson, born in 
Loudoun county, Virginia, January 11, 
1801 ; was a minister of the Society of 
Friends, and travelled extensively in this 
capacity ; in 1869 he was appointed by Presi- 
dent Grant superintendent of Indian affairs 
in the northern superintendency : he was 
the author of a prize poem entitled *'The 
Country School-House'' (1825); "Conver- 
sations on Religious Subjects" (1835; 3rd 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



221 



c(l., Phil., 1843) ; "The Last of the Lenape, 
and Other Poems" (1839); "The Teacher's 
Gift," essays in prose and verse (1840) ; "An 
Historical Sketch of the Christian Church 
during the Middle Ages" (1847); **Life of 
William Penn" (1852; 3rd ed., 1856) ; **Life 
of George Fox" (1853) » 2tnd a "History of 
the Religious Society of Friends, from its 
Rise to the year 1828" (4 vols., 1860-67) ; 
died in Loudoun county, Virginia, April 30, 
1880. 

Mann, Ambrose Dudley, born at Hanover 
Court House, Virginia, April 26, 1801 ; after 
preparatory studies he became a cadet at 
the United States Military Academy, but 
deciding upon the legal profession for his 
life work, resigned from that institution ; in 
1842 he received the appointment of United 
States consul to Bremen, Germany, from 
President Tyler, three years later negotiated 
commercial treaties with Hanover, Olden- 
burg and Mecklenburg, and in 1847 with all 
the other German provinces except Prussia ; 
in 1849 he was appointed United States 
commissioner to Hungary, from 1850 to 
1854 served as United States minister to 
Switzerland by appointment of President 
Fillmore, and he negotiated a reciprocal 
treaty with that republic ; from 1854 to 1836 
he served in the capacity of assistant secre- 
tary of the state of Virginia, and was sent 
to Europe by the Confederate government 
on a special mission to England and France 
for the accomplishment of which he was 
soon after joined by James ^L Mason and 
John Slidell : he made his home in France 
after the fall of the Confederacy, and he de- 
voted the remaining years of his life to the 
preparation of his "Memoirs." which were 
published after his death, which occurred in 
Paris, France, November 20, 1889. 



Munford, George Wythe, born in Rich- 
mond, Virginia, January 8, 1803, son of Wil- 
liam Munford, Esq. (q. v.) ; was named in 
honor of the distinguished chancellor, 
George Wythe, the intimate friend of his 
father. He inherited from his distinguished 
father that strength of mind and fondness 
for intellectual labor, which were his life- 
long characteristics. He completed his 
classical education at the College of Wil- 
liam and Mary, and, after his graduation, 
entered upon the study of the law. How- 
ever, he was called to another sphere of 
usefulness. He was employed by his father, 
at that time clerk of the house of delegates, 
as an assistant, and whom, by election, he 
succeeded at his death. For more than 
twenty-five years he kept the journal in a 
manner which reflected much credit upon 
him. and when the convention of 1829 con- 
vened his reputation secured his election as 
secretary of that body. In that capacity he 
was thrown into daily contact with James 
Monroe, James Madison, John Marshall, 
John Randolph, Abel P. Upshur, and other 
distingfuished men, and was more thor- 
oughly acquainted with the public men of 
Virginia than any other man of his genera- 
tion. After his long service as clerk, he was 
elected secretary of the commonwealth, and 
he served as such with marked ability until 
the fall of the Confederacy. For several 
years after the war he lived in Gloucester 
county. After the reestablishment of civil 
government, he was appointed clerk of the 
committee of the house of delegates for 
courts of justice, and his services in that 
capacity were eminently valuable. Subse- 
quently he occupied a position in the office 
of the first auditor of the United States 
treasury, and more recently a place in the 



Digitized by 



Google 



222 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



government census bureau. While most 
capably discharging his official duties, he 
accomplished other painstaking tasks, 
among them the compiling and editing of 
the code of Virginia of i860, and afterwards 
in publishing the code of 1873 — works which 
will be a witness to his ability and informa- 
tion. He was one of the most active mem- 
bers of the Southern Historical Society, of 
which he became secretary at its reorganiza- 
tion in 1873, ^^^ which position he filled 
with marked ability until the winter of 1874, 
when other pressing duties compelled him 
to resign. He was author of "The Two 
Parsons" and "Jewels of X'irginia" (Rich- 
mond. 1884), and numerous monographs. 
He died suddenly at his residence in Rich- 
mond, January 9. 1882. 

Rogers, William Barton, was born in 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 7, 
1804, son of Patrick Kerr and Hannah 
(Ely the) Rogers. His father having pub- 
lished articles in the Dublin newspapers 
during the Irish rebellion hostile to the gov- 
ernment, sailed for America to escape ar- 
rest, and arrived in Philadelphia in August, 
1798. He graduated from the medical school 
of the University of Pennsylvania, 1802; 
piacticed in Philadelphia and Baltimore, 
and was professor of natural philosophy and 
chemistry in William and Mary College, 
1819-28. William Barton Rogers removed 
with his parents to Baltimore, Maryland, in 
1812, where he attended the common schools 
and was temporarily employed in a mercan- 
tile house ; was graduated from William and 
Mary, 1822, delivering an oration at the 
third **Virginiad,*' Jamestown, in May, 1822; 
continued at the college as acting professor 
of mathematics and as a post-graduate stu- 



dent of the classics until October, I825, and 
in the fall of 1826 opened a school at Wind- 
sor, Maryland, with his brother James. He 
delivered two courses of lectures before the 
Maryland Institute at Baltimore, 1827, and 
in October, 1828. succeeded to his father's 
professorship at William and Mary. He 
made a study of the geolog}- of eastern \'ir- 
ginia. and taught the value of green marl as 
a fertilizer. He was made state geologist in 
1835. and in the same year was made pro- 
fessor of natural philosophy in the Univer- 
sity of \'irginia, and also chairman of the 
faculty in 1844. In the latter capacity he 
prepared a memorial to the legislature in 
defence of the university and its annual ap- 
propriation, and also the "Report'' of the 
committee of the house of delegates on 
.<rhix)ls and colleges, a report of much im- 
portance in the histor>- of American educa- 
tion. His administration included the ardu- 
ous period of *'rioting ' among the students, 
which was suppressed by civil authority. 
He served as state geologist, 1835-42. He 
was married. June 20. 1849, to Emma, 
daughter of James Savage and Elizabeth 
(Stillman-Lincoln) Savage, of Boston, Mas- 
sachusetts; visited England and Scotland, 
Ji'ne-October, 1849; delivered a course of 
lectures on "phases of the atmosphere'' be- 
fore the Smithsonian Institution, 1852; re- 
signed from the University of Virginia in 
1853, and removed to his wife's* former 
home, ''Sunny Hill," Lunenburg, Mas.sachu- 
setts. He delivered lectures on the ele- 
mentary laws of physics before the Lowell 
Institute. 1856-57, and devoted much time 
to geological investigations. As early as 
1846 he had conceived a definite idea for a 
polytechnic school in Boston, and in Sep- 
tember, i860, he submitted the plan which 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



223 



later became the basis of the Massachusetts 
Institute of Technology. Professor Rogers 
was chairman of the **committee of twenty,*' 
appointed to frame a constitution and by- 
laws for the institute, and on April 19, 1862, 
was elected the first president of the insti- 
tute. Meanwhile he served as state inspector 
ot gas meters and gas, 1861-64, and delivered 
a second course of lectures before the 
Lowell Institute in 1862. In 1864 he visited 
Europe to collect machinery and apparatus 
for the school which opened for the pre- 
hminary course, February 20, 1865, and for 
regular courses, October 2, 1865, with about 
seventy students and a faculty of ten mem- 
bers. In addition to his duties as president, 
Professor Rogers also held the chair of 
physics and geology until June 10. 1S68. 
In December, 1868. he was granted leave of 
absence for one year on account of failing 
health, and removed to Philadelphia, Penn- 
sylvania. His improvement not being as- 
sured, he resigned from the presidency of 
the institute, May 3, 1870, and was suc- 
ceeded by .Acting President John D. Runkle. 
In i«'^74, after residence in various places, 
he returned to Boston, and upon the resig- 
nation of Dr. Runkle again assumed the 
presidency of the institute until Gen. Francis 
A. Walker was appointed his successor. May 
20. i8Sr. The honorary degree of Doctor 
of Laws was conferred upon him by Hamp- 
dcn-Sidney College in 1848. by William and 
Mary, 1857. and by Harvard in 1866. He 
was chairman of the Association of Amer- 
ican Geologists and Naturalists in 1847, ^"d 
ill 1848 chairman and joint president, with 
W. C. Redfield, of its succes.sor, the Amer- 
ican .Association for the .\dvancemcnt of 
Science, serving a second time as president 
in 1876: corresponding secretary of the 



American Academy of .Arts and Sciences, 
1863-69; founder and first president of the 
American .Association for the Promotion of 
Social Science, 1865 1 Massachusetts com- 
missioner to the Paris E.xposition of 1867; 
president of the National Academy of 
Sciences, 1878; elected a foreign member of 
the Geographical Society of London, and of 
the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries, 
1844. and was a corresponding member of 
the British .Association for the Advance- 
ment of Science. In addition to his many 
important addresses, his publications in- 
clude numerous scientific articles in the 
''Farmers' Register*' and Silliman's Jour- 
nal :" reports for the "Geology of the Vir- 
ginias" (1836-41) : contributions to the pro- 
ceedings and transactions of various learned 
societies, and documents relating to the 
Massachusetts Institute of Technofogy. Dr. 
Pogers and his brothers, James B., Henry 
D. and Robert E., all attained distinction in 
science and were known as the "brothers 
Rogers." William Barton Rogers died 
while delivering the diplomas to the gradu- 
ating class at the Massachusetts Institute of 
Technology, Boston, Massachusetts. May 
3u, 1882. 

Green, Lewis W., was born in Boyle 
county, Kentucky,. January 28, 1806, son of 
Willis Green and Sar.ih Reed, his wife, of 
Culpeper county, Virginia. He was gradu- 
ated from Center College, and took a course 
at Princeton Theological Seminary. For 
two years he was a professor in Center Col- 
lege, then spent two years abroad, engaged 
in study, and on his return was made vice- 
president of the college and professor of 
belle-lettres. From 1840 to 1847 he wns a 
professor in the Western Theological Semi- 



Digitized by 



Google 



224 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



nary at Allegheny, Pennsylvania; the fol- 
lowing year was pastor of the Second Pres- 
byterian Church in Baltimore. In 1848 he 
accepted the presidency of Hampden-Sidney 
College. He left in 1856, to take the presi- 
dency of Transylvania (Kentucky) Univer- 
sity, but his expectations of a liberal support 
were not realized, and a year later he be- 
came president of Center College. He wrote 
several volumes. He died in Kentucky in 
May. 1863. 

Grigsby, Hugh Blair, born at Norfolk, 
Virginia. November 22, 1806. son of Benja- 
min Grigsby and Elizabeth McPherson, his 
wife. He began his education in Prince Ed- 
ward county, and for two years was a stu- 
dent at Yale College, at the same time taking 
work in law, but was obliged to dismiss 
the idea of becoming a lawyer on account of 
a growing deafness. He then became owner 
and editor of the Norfolk **Beacon," from 
which he retired with a competency six years 
later. His health was yet uncertain, and to 
build himself up he boxed and walked per- 
sistently. On one occasion he made a jour- 
ney on foot to Massachusetts, through 
much of New England and the lower Can- 
ada, and back to Virginia. In 1828 he rep- 
resented Norfolk in the legislature and was 
a member of the state convention of 1829- 
30. In 1840 he married Mary Venable, 
daughter of Col. Clement Carrington, of 
**Edgehill/' Charlotte county. After a tem- 
porary removal to Norfolk he took up his 
residence at "Edgehill," where he remained 
until his death, busying himself with his 
library of six thousand volumes and the 
care of his estate. Of ample means, it has 
been said that some of his efforts in im- 
provement "were fanciful or Utopian; but 



the results showed method and skill; the 
process was necessarily laborious, but the 
effect was grand." His biographer has said : 
"Very few \'irginia planters have used their 
leisure to such advantage, and Mr. Grigsby 
affords the only parallel in the country at 
large." He took much interest in the Col- 
lege of William and Mary and succeeded 
John Tyler as third and last chancellor in 
1871. There has been preserved a manu- 
script volume which he put together in his 
eighteenth year. His work was almost 
wholly biographical, the chief of it done dur- 
ing the last thirty years of his life, and the 
greater portion has been preserved in 
printed form. These writings include : "Ad- 
dress on the Mecklenburg Declaration of 
Independence,'' delivered before the Rich- 
mond Atheiiceum in 1848: "Discourse on 
the \'irginia Convention of 1829-30," before 
the \'irginia Historical Society, December 
15. 1853; "Discourse on the Virginia Con- 
vention of 1776." delivered before the Phi 
Beta Kappa Society of the College of Wil- 
liam and Mary, July 3, 1855 ; '^Discourse on 
the Virginia Convention of 1788," before 
the Virginia Historical Society, February 
23, 1858; "Disccurse on the Character of 
Jefferson," at the unveiling of his statue in 
the library of the University of Virginia, 
i860; "Discourse on the Life and Character 
ot Littleton Waller Tazewell," before the 
bar of Norfolk, June 29, i860; '*Some of 
C)ur Past Historic Periods bearing on the 
Present," before the \'irginia Historical 
Society, 1870: address on the "Founders of 
Washington College," at Lexington, 1870; 
"Centennial Address," before Hampden- 
Sidney College, 1876. Mr. Grigsby died at 
his seat, "Edgehill," April 28, 1886. Among 
his correspondents was Robert C. Win- 



Digitized by 



Google 




CHARLES CAMPBELL 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMTXEXT PERSOXS 



225 



throp, of Massachusetts, and their letters to 
one another are the prized possession of the 
Virginia Historical Society. 

Jacobs, John Adamson, born in i-eesburg, 
Virginia, August 19, 1806; he was reared 
and educated in Kentucky, whither he was 
taken by his parents in infancy, being a stu- 
dent in Centre College, after which he en- 
tered the deafmute institution in Hartford, 
Connecticut, and there pursued a course for 
eighteen months in order to qualify himself 
for the position offered him, that of superin- 
tendent and teacher of the deaf and mute 
in the institution that had been recently 
established under state auspices in Danville, 
and for the long period of forty-five years 
was connected with that institution; until 
the year 1854 he was allowed any profits 
that might accrue on the boarding .depart- 
ment proceeds, but in that year he volun- 
tarily gave it up, thus saving $2,500 per 
annum to the state; he published a manual 
of lessons for his pupils (1834) and "Pri- 
mary Lessons for Deaf-Mutes*' (2 vols., 
1859). which received many commendations 
on both sides of the Atlantic; he died in 
Danville, Kentucky. November 27, 1869. 

Alexander, William C, was born in Vir- 
ginia, January 4, 1806, second son of Archi- 
bald and Janetta (Waddel) Alexander. He 
was educated at Philadelphia and at Prince- 
ton College, where he was graduated in 
1824. He then studied law and was admit- 
ted to the bar on arriving at his majority in 
1827. He gained distinction as an advocate 
and orator, and took active part in political 
life. As lieutenant-governor of the state of 
X'ew Jersey, he presided over the state 
senate for several years. In 185 1 he was a 
candidate for governor, but was defeated 

VIA-15 



by a few votes. He was a member of the 
peace congress in 1861 and presided over 
many of its sessions. In 1859 he helped to 
organize the Equitable Life Assurance 
Society and was its first president, which 
office he held until his death, which occurred 
in Xew York City, August 23, 1874. 

Campbell, Charles, was born in Peters- 
burg, Virginia. May i, 1807, son of John 
Wilson Campbell, the historian, who, in 
1813. published a "History of Virginia to 
1781.'' He was educated at Princeton, and 
upon his graduation in 1825, commenced 
teaching. From 1842 to 1855 ^^ conducted 
a classical school, which he had established 
at Petersburg, and in the latter year became 
principal of the Anderson Seminary in that 
city. He was the editor of the famous 
•* Bland Papers'* (1840-43), and of the 
"Orderly Book of Gen. Andrew Lewis'* 
(Richmond, i860); and he was the author 
of **An Introduction to the History of the 
Colony and Ancient Dominion of Virginia" 
(Richmond. 1847; Philadelphia. 1859); 
**Some Materials for a Memoir of John Daly 
Burke" (Albany, 1868). He was a contrib- 
utor to the "Historical Register" and to the 
"Southern Literary Messenger." He died 
in Staunton. Virginia, July 11, 1876. 

Harrison, Gessner, born at Harrisonburg, 
Virginia, June 26. 1807, died April 7, 1862. 
He was one of the very first students to 
enter the newly founded University of Vir- 
ginia, where he pursued a medical course, 
and in 1828 graduated from that institution, 
and at the same time was one of three 
graduates in Greek, having pursued his lan- 
guage studies under Professor George Long, 
who was shortly afterward recalled to Eng- 
land, and was asked to name his successor 



Digitized by 



Google 



226 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



ii: the chair of ancient languages, his choice 
being Gessner Harrison, then barely twenty- 
one years of age, and he held the appoint- 
ment for one year, but during that time he 
gave such abundant evidence of his talent 
and unusual attainments in scholarship, that 
in the following year his installation was 
made permanent, and his service was 
destined to cover the long period of thirty- 
one years, only ending then at his own voli- 
tion. He was probably the first in the 
United States to employ the methods of 
comparative grammar in teaching Latin and 
Greek. He was insistent upon an ample 
knowledge of history and geography in 
studying the classics, and, for want of text- 
books, himself prepared a pamphlet to meet 
the needs of his students. For seven years 
Professor Harrison occupied the position 
of chairman of the faculty, finally declinbig 
reelection. In 1859, overburdened by the 
pressure of work, he resigned and removed 
t(/ Albemarle county, where he opened a 
classical school for boys, which was subse- 
quently removed to Xelson county, and was 
an institution of greatest influence through- 
out the South. Professor Harrison was the 
author of two works of approved merit: 
*'Greek Prepositions," Philadelphia, 1848, 
and ** Exposition of Some of the Laws of 
Latin Grammar," New York, 1852. He also 
wrote for Duyckinck's "Cyclopedia of Amer- 
ican Literature," a historical sketch of the 
University of Virginia. 

Emmet, John Patten, M. D., born at Dub- 
lin, Ireland, April 8, 1796, son of Thomas 
Addis Emmet, the distinguished Irish pa- 
triot, who emigrated to this country in 1804, 
settling in New York City, where he be- 
came a lawyer of note, and was elected 



attorney -general of the state in 1812. John 
P. Emmet accompanied his father to the 
United States, and attended a private school 
in Flatbush. Long Island, New York. In 
1814 he entered the United States Military 
Academy at West Point, and after gradua- 
tion was detailed as acting assistant pro- 
fessor of mathematics, which position he 
held until his resignation early in 1817, 
owing to ill health. In 1819, upon his re- 
turn to New York from Naples, whither he 
had gone in order to recuperate, he began 
the study of medicine under the preceptor- 
ship of Dr. William J. Macneven, after 
which he matriculated in the New York 
College of Physicians and Surgeons, from 
which he received his medical degree in 
1822. He at once located for active practice 
in Charleston, South Carolina, remaining 
until 1825, and while so engaged gained a 
reputation as a popular lecturer on Chem- 
istry, his lectures attracting the attention of 
the founders of the University of Vifginia, 
and when the first professors of that insti- 
tution were appointed, in 1825, Dr. Emmet 
was called to the chair of chemistry, and his 
warrant, written and signed by Thomas 
Jefferson, is yet preserved. Dr. Emmet 
served in that capacity until 1842, a period 
of seventeen years, and during a portion of 
that time delivered a regular course of lec- 
tures upon materia medica as well as on 
chemistry. In addition to his capability as 
a lecturer, he was a skilled draughtsman, a 
sculptor of no mean ability, a musician, a 
composer, skillful in the composition of 
English verse, and was a careful writer, 
chiefly upon chemical and kindred topics. 
The more notable of his papers are con- 
tained in "Silliman's Journal ;'* these include 
*• Iodide of Potassium as a Test for Arsenic," 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



227 



1S30; "Solidification of Gypsum," 1833; and 
"Formic Acid," 1837. To these are to be 
added others touching upon a line of investi- 
gation in which he was among the earliest 
and ablest — "A Description of a New Mode 
01 Producing Electro-Magnetic Currents," 
1833, and **An Inquiry into the Probable 
Cause of Electro-Magnetic Currents," 1835. 
He attained a profound knowledge of Latin 
and Greek, spoke fluently French and 
Italian, and had some knowledge of Ger- 
man. He was by nature a skillful mechanic, 
and possessed an unusual inventive turn of 
mind. Dr. Emmet married, in 1827, Mary 
F.yrd Tucker, a native of Bermuda. He 
died in New York City, August 12, 1842. 

Johnston, Peter, son of Peter and Martha 
Johnston, of "Long\vood," Prince Edward 
county, Virginia. He was educated at 
Hampden-Sidney College, receiving a class- 
ical education. At the age of seventeen he 
left home and joined Lee's Legion, and was 
made a lieutenant. In 1782 he resigned and 
joined the light corps formed by Gen. 
Greene, as adjutant, with the rank of cap- 
tain. At the close of the revolutionary war 
he returned home, studied law. and prac- 
ticed his profession in Prince Edward and 
adjoining counties. He was elected a mem- 
ber of the Virginia house of delegates sev- 
eral times, and was a member at the time 
of the celebrated resolutions of 1798-1799, 
and the speech that he made upon this occa- 
sion was considered so able that it was pub- 
li.<hcd in full in the "Register." then the 
leading paper in the United States. In 181 1 
he was elected a judge of the general court, 
and assigned to the Prince Edward circuit, 
but he cxchancfed with Judge William 
nrockenbrough. who had been assigned to 



the southwest Virginia circuit, and came to 
Abingdon to live, and for twenty-one years 
lived at **Panicello," east of Abingdon, and 
presided over the superior court of law for 
this district with distinguished ability for 
more than twenty years. He died Decem- 
ber 8, 1831, and was buried near his home, 
in this county. He was commissioned a 
brigadier-general by the legislature in early 
life. His wife, Mary Johnston, was the 
daughter of Valentine Wood and Lucy 
Henry, his wife, a sister of Patrick Henry, 
and a woman of distinguished ability. 
Some of his descendants were John W. 
Johnston, Peter Carr Johnston, Edward 
Johnston, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, Bever- 
ley Randolph Johnston. Charles C. John- 
ston, Benjamin Johnston, Mrs. Jane C. 
Mitchell and Algernon Sidney Johnston. 

Minor, Lucian, born in Louisa county, 
Virginia, in 1802, son of Launcelot Minor 
and Mary O. Tompkins, his wife, and 
grandson of John and Elizabeth (Cosby) 
Minor, of "Topping Castle," Caroline 
county, Virginia ; after preparatory educa- 
tion, he became a student in the law depart- 
ment of the College of William and Mary, 
from which he was graduated in 1823 ; from 
1828 to 1852, almost a quarter of a century, 
he served as commonwealth's attorney for 
Louisa county. Virginia, then removed to 
Charlottesville and edited a paper there; in 
1855 he was appointed professor of law at 
William and Mary College and served until 
1858: he contributed extensively to the 
"Southern Literary Messenger.** in which 
paper his notes of travel on foot in New 
England were revised and published in 1834, 
and he was the author of a part of John A. 
G. Davis's "Guide to Justices'* (1838); 



Digitized by 



Google 



228 



VIRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY 



added notes to Daniel Call's 'Virginia Re- 
ports;" revised and condensed the four 
volumes of Heming and Munford's reports 
into one, and wrote a tract on the "Reasons 
for Abolishing the Liquor Traffic;" he de- 
livered before the alumni of the University 
of \'irginia a eulogy on Professor John A. 
G. Davis; he was an earnest advocate of 
temperance; he married Lavinia Price, of 
Hanover county, \'irginia; he died in Wil- 
liamsburg, \'irginia, in 1858, and the 
Sons of Temperance erected in the col- 
lege burial ground a monument to his 
memory. 

Davis, John A. G., born in Middlesex 
county, \'irginia, in March, 1802; studied 
ai W illiam and Mary College in 1819-20, 
and two years later commenced practice in 
iliddlesex county ; at the opening session of 
the University of Virginia he removed to 
Charlottesville, and was a student at the 
university during one year; followed his 
profession before the Virginia bar for five 
years ; in 1830, upon the resignation of Pro- 
fessor Lomax, he was chosen professor of 
law at the university; on the night of No- 
vember 12, 1840, while attempting, by vir- 
tue of the authority vested in him as 
chairman of the faculty, to disperse a dis- 
orderly assemblage of rebellious students, 
he was shot by a student from Georgia, and 
died from the wound three days later; the 
murderer escaped justice by forfeiting bail ; 
Professor Davis was an eminent man in his 
profession, a distinguished writer on legal 
subjects, and a notably capable teacher, and 
his sudden death was a serious loss to the 
university ; Professor Davis was the author 
of a large amount of legal writing, his more 
important publications being: "Estates 



Tail, Executory Devises, and Contingent 
Remainders, under the Virginia Statutes 
Modifying the Common Law;" "Treatise on 
Criminal Law, and Guide to Justices of the 
Peace," 1838; and "Against the Constitu- 
tional Right of Congress to Pass Laws Ex- 
pressly and Especially for the Protection of 
Domestic Manufacturers." 

Atkinson, Thomas, born in Dinwiddie 
county, Virginia, August 6, 1807, son of 
Robert Atkinson and Mary Tabb, his wife. 
1:1 e entered Vale College at the age of six- 
teen, but finished his education at Hampden- 
Sidney College, from which he graduated 
v.-ith the distini(uished class of 1825. He 
studied law, and made a successful begin- 
ning in practice, but soon turned to the 
church, and after proper preparation was 
ordained deacon in the Protestant Episco- 
pal church, at the hands of Right Rev. Wil- 
liam Meade, bishop of Virginia, November 
i8r 1836. He was assistant at Christ Church, 
Norfolk, for some months, and then, being 
ordained priest, was make rector of St. 
Paul's Church, in the same city. In 1839 
he was called to St. Paul's Church, Lynch- 
burg, then, in succession, to the rectorship 
of churches at Wilmington, North Carolina, 
and Baltimore, Maryland. On November 
I3» ^853, he was consecrated bishop of 
North Carolina, and continued as such until 
his death, at Wilmington, North Carolina, 
January 4, 1881. When he became bishop, 
he found the church in North Carolina sadly 
disorganized, his predecessor having gone 
over to Rome. The restoration under Bishop 
Atkinson was rapid and substantial. He re- 
ceived the degree of D. D. from Trinity 
College in 1846; and that of LL. D. from 
the University of North Carolina in 1862. 
and from Cambridge University in 1867. 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSON'S 



229 



Fitzhugh, George, son of Dr. George Fitz- 
hugh. of King George county, and his wife, 
Lucy Stuart, \va-' born in Prince William 
county, X'irginia. July 2. 1807, died in Hunts- 
ville. Walker county, Texas, July 30, 18S1. 
He was largely self taught, the only edu- 
cation he received as a child being gained 
in what were known as the "field schools" 
of his native county. That the amount of 
knowledge thus acquired was probably not 
great may be inferred from the fact that 
Fitzhugh, when only nine years old, was 
frequently left in sole charge of the other 
pupils during the extended absence of the 
teacher. In spite of these early disadvan- 
tages he succeeded in securing a good edu- 
cation, studied law and practiced his pro- 
fession for many years in Port Royal, Vir- 
ginia, making a specialty of criminal cases. 
During President Buchanan's administra- 
tion Mr. Fitzhugh was employed in the 
office of Attorney-General Black, in the land 
claim department. About this time he made 
his only visit to the northern states, lectur- 
ing in Boston, and visiting his relative by 
marriage. Gerrit Smith. At the house of 
the latter he met Mrs. Harriet Beecher 
Stowe. These acquaintanceships derive 
their significance from his peculiar political 
opinions. Mr. Fitzhugh was a frequent con- 
tributor to the press, writing for the "New 
York Day Book,*' ** Richmond Examiner." 
*'De Bow's Review," and other journals and 
periodicals. He was **an eccentric and ex- 
treme thinker," claiming that slavery is the 
natural and rightful condition of society, 
which when not founded on human servi- 
tude, tends to cannibalism. Mr. Fitzhugh 
published *'Sociology for the South, or the 
Failure of Free Society," (Richmond, 1S54), 



and "Cannibals All, or Slaves without Mas- 
ters,' (1856). 

Maupin, Socrates, born in Albemarle 
county, Virginia, November 12, 1808, a de- 
scendant of Gabriel Maupin, who came to 
Virginia in the French Huguenot emigration 
in 1700; after preparatory studies, he ma- 
triculated at Washington College, Lexing- 
ton, Virginia, from which institution he was 
graduated in 1828, and then entered the 
medical department of the University of 
\'irginia, from which he was graduated in 
the class of 1830, after which he pursued a 
general literary and scientific course in the 
sr.me university, receiving the degree of 
Master of Arts in 1833: his first position 
was as professor of ancient languages and 
mathematics at Hampden-Sidney College, 
which he filled for two years, from 1833 to 
1835, *^"d ^^^^ became principal of Rich- 
mond Academy, serving as such until 1838; 
then established a private school which he 
conducted until 1853. ^ period of fifteen 
years, and he was also one of the founders 
01 the Richmond Medical School, in 1838, 
serving therein in the capacity of professor 
of chemistry and later as dean: was ap- 
pointed professor of chemistry and phar- 
macy in the University of Virginia, in 1853, 
and became chairman of the faculty the fol- 
lowing year, continuing as such until his 
death, which occurred in Lynchburg, Vir- 
ginia. October 19, 187 1 : he was an active 
member and promoter of the \'irginia His- 
torical Society. 

Radford, William, was born at Fincastle, 
\*irginia. March i, 1808.. son of Harriet 
Kennerly Radford and stepson of Gen. Wil- 
liam Clark (q. v.). He was warranted mid- 



Digitized by 



Google 



230 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



shipman in the United States navy, March 
I, 1825; served on the Brandyicitvc^ when 
that frigate carried the Marquis de Lafay- 
ette to France ; was attached to the Mediter- 
ranean squadron, 1827-28, and to the sloop 
Eric of the West Indian squadron, 1830-31. 
He was promoted passed midshipman, June 
4. 1831 ; served on the John Adauis of the 
Mediterranean squadron in 1835; was pro- 
moted lieutenant, February 9, 1837, and 
served on the Warren of the Pacific squad- 
ron. 1845-47. He was stationed on the west- 
ern coast of Mexico, 1847-48; commanded 
the party that cut out a Mexican war vessel 
at Mazatlan in 1847. ^tnd was attached to 
the store ship Lexington, 1852-53. He was 
promoted commander, September 14, 1855; 
commanded the Dacotah of the East India 
squadron, 1S60-61 ; was promoted captain, 
July 16, 1862, and commodore, April 24, 
1863. He commanded the Cumberland in 
1861, and was on court martial duty at Old 
Point Comfort, when that ship was attacked 
by the ram Mcrrimae. He made every eiffort 
to reach his ship before the fighting was 
over, but did not arrive at Newport News 
until the Cumberland was sinking. He was 
executive officer of the Brooklyn navy 
yard, 1862-64; commanded the New Iron- 
sides, and the iron-clad division of Admiral 
Porter's squadron at Fort Fisher in Decem- 
ber, 1864, and January, 1865. His ability 
and services in these two attacks were rec- 
ognized and praised by Admiral Porter in 
his report to the secretary of the navy. He 
commanded the navyyard at Washington, 
D. C, 1866-68; was promoted rear admiral, 
July 25, 1868; commanded the Mediterran- 
ean squadron, 1869-70, and was retired 
March i, 1870. He was on special duty in 



Washington, D. C, 1871-72, and died in that 
city, January 8, 1890. 

Slaughter, Philip, clergjman, was born in 
Springfield, Virginia, October 26, 1808; son 
of Capt. Philip Slaughter, of the Eleventh 
Continental Regiment, army of the revolu- 
tion. He was the cousin of William Dank 
Slaughter, who organized the state of Wis- 
consin. Philip was educated privately and 
at the academy at Winchester, Virginia; 
studied law at the University of Virginia, 
1825-28.. and was admitted to the bar. He 
entered the Episcopal Theological Seminary, 
Alexandria, Virginia, 1833; was ordamed 
deacon in Trinity Church, Staunton, 1834, 
and priest in St. Paul's Church, Alexandria, 
1835. He was rector at Dettingen, \*ir- 
ginia; of Christ Church, Georgetown, Dis- 
trict of Columbia, 1836-40: of the parishes 
of Meade and Johns, 1840-43, and St. Paul's 
Church. Petersburg, Virginia, 1843-48. On 
account of ill health he spent 1848-49 in for- 
eign travel. In 1856 he erected a church on 
his own land in Culpeper county, and offi- 
ciated there without remuneration until the 
Federal army destroyed it in 1862. He then 
preached in his own house, in camps and 
hospitals. In 1874 he received the degree 
of D. D. from William and Mary College. 
The church convention made him historio- 
grapher of the diocese of Virginia- He 
edited **The Virginia Colonizationist," 
(1850) ; "The Army and Navy Messenger"; 
"The Southern Church" (1865) ; and is the 
author of: "St. George's Parish History," 
(1847); "Man and Woman," (i860); "Life 
of Randolph Fairfax," (1862) ; "Life of Col. 
Joshua Fry," (1880) ; "Historic Churches of 
Virginia," (1882); "Life of Hon. William' 
Green," (1883) ; "Views from Cedar Mcun- 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



231 



tains," (1884); "The Colonial Qiurch of 
Virginia/' (1885) ; "Christianity the Key to 
the Character and Career of Washington," 
(1886); and an "Address to the Minute- 
Men of Culpeper," (1887). He died in Cul- 
peper county, Virginia, June 12, 1890. 

McCormick, Cyrus Hall, son of Robert 
^icCormick and Mary McChesney, his wife, 
was born at "Walnut Grove," Rockbridge 
county, Virginia, February 15, 1809. His 
father was a farmer and machinist of me- 
chanical genius. He attempted to perfect 
a grain-cutting machine, but it failed to 
^^ork. His son Cyrus, who had alread> 
shown much inventive talent in fashioning 
a side hill plow and other tools for farm 
use, then took up the idea and invented a 
machine on entirely different principles, 
which did work. The new machine made 
by Cyrus H. McCormick was put m a field 
ot wheat on the home farm and in a field of 
oat$ on the farm of John Steele and proved 
successful. The essential features of the im- 
. plement were a reciprocating knife moving 
through fixed fingers, a revolving reel, a 
receiving platform and a divider, piloting 
the standing grain to the cutting bar. These 
features are found in all the modern grain- 
cutting machines. He took out a patent in 
1834 and in 1840 began a manufacture of 
them at his shop in Rockbridge. In 1846, 
after the death of his father, Cyrus H. en- 
gaged a firm in Chicago to manufacture 100 
reapers for the harvest of 1847. ^"d obtained 
a new patent covering some improvements. 
He exhibited his machine at the World's 
Fair in London in 185 1, at the Paris Expo- 
sition in 1855. *'^nd at Hamburg in 1863, and 
won the grand prize each time. Mr. Mc- 
Cormick located in Chicago, and though his 



patent was constantly infringed upon, built 
up an enormous business. The reaper had 
an immense effect upon increasing the wheat 
crop of the country, which rose from 40,- 
000,000 bushels in 1850 to 200,000,000 in 
i860. The returns from the sales of his im- 
plements were largely invested in Chicago 
real estate and Chicago enterprises. He 
educated his employees and cared for their 
moral, physical and mental welfare. He 
made many gifts of an educational char- 
acter to Washington and Lee University; 
University of X'irginia, the Union Theolog- 
ical Seminary at Hampden-Sidney, and the 
McCormick Theological Seminary in Chi- 
cago. In 1872 he took upon himself the 
burden of a religious paper, the "Interior," 
which became the organ of United Pres- 
byterianism over the whole northwest. In 
1876 his name was urged for a second place 
on the Democratic national ticket, but he 
withdrew in behalf of Thomas A. Hend- 
ricks. ^ He was chairman of the Democratic 
state central committee of Illinois, and con- 
demned the reconstruction measures. His 
invention has been recognized as probably 
the most important of the nineteenth cen- 
tury. He died at his home in Chicago, May 
I3» 1884. 

Doggett, Daniel Scth, was born in Vir- 
ginia, in 18 10. His father was a lawyer and 
the son began the study of that profession, 
but changed to the ministry. He was edu- 
cated at the University of Virginia, and be- 
came an itinerant minister in 1829, traveling 
through the southern states. In 1866 he 
accepted a professorship in Randolph-Macon 
College, and in 1873 was made a Methodist 
bishop. He was about to take charge of the 
California conference, when he was seized 



Digitized by 



Google 



2^2 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



with the iUness which resulted in his death. 
He was the author of "The War and Its 
Close" ( Richmond. 18^)4 ». He died in Rich- 
mond, X'irginia, October 2/, 1880. 

Bittlc, David Frederick, born near Myers- 
viile. Frederick county, Maryland, in Janu- 
ary, ic<ii, son of Thomas and Mary Dittle. 
lie was graduated from Pennsylvania Col- 
lege at Gettysburg, and studied for two 
years in the Theological Seminary at that 
place. After occupying several pastorates, 
in 1842, at Mt. Tabor, Augusta county, X'ir- 
ginia. he aided in establishing the \irginia 
Collegiate Institute. Removed to Salem, 
Roanoke county, in 1847, i^ ^^'^^ erected into 
Roanoke College, with Dr. Uitlle as the tirst 
president. In 1861, of its one hundred and 
eighteen students, all except seventeen en- 
tered the Confederate army, but Ur. Dittle 
kept the institution open. During the twen- 
ty-three years of his presidency, he placed 
the institution on a substantial basis. He 
died September 25. 1876. 

Coleman, Frederick W., well known to the 
past generation as "Old Fred," was born in 
Caroline county. X'irginia, in 181 1, son of 
Thomas I). Coleman and Elizabeth Coghill, 
his wife; attended common schools, then 
entered University of Virginia, was a stu- 
dent from 1832 to 1834, receiving the degree 
of Master of Arts; founded the Concord 
Academy, in Caroline county, Virginia, this 
being among the best ot the private high 
schools of Virginia, and to this came many 
representative youths from the South ; the 
knowledge of the ancient classics was taught 
to the fullest degree, and from it went forth 
some of the most notable scholars which the 
South has produced: there were but few 
rules in the school, except that every pupil 



was expected to be a gentleman and to know 
his lesson, and there was no excuse for any 
breach of these rules; the result was that 
its scholars took high rank wherever they 
went, and not since Dr. Arnold, at Rugby, 
was there greater interest and pride shown 
between master and scholars than existed 
between the head of this academy and the 
men whom he taught; many stories arc told 
ol the rare method of teaching in this 
school ; the principal was for years a mem- 
ber of the stale senate, and he would return 
liome unexpectedly, at night or in the day, 
and the schoi.»l we>uld be brought up, and 
every member oi it had to give an account 
ot what had been done in his absence, how 
much Latin and Greek had been construed, 
generally with the result of mutual satis- 
faction on the part of all concerned. After 
fifteen years Coleman closed his school and 
retired to his home, where he died in iS(»8; 
the school was continued by his nephew, 
Col. Lewis Minor Coleman, and Col. Hilary 
l\ Jones, having been moved to the adjoin- 
ing county of Hanover, where its name was 
changed to that of the Hanover Academy. 

Gamett, Theodore S., Sr., who occupied a 
I»rominent position in the South as a rail- 
road man and civil engineer, was born at 
*'Elmwood.'* Essex county. Virginia, No- 
vember 12, 1812, son of James Mercer and 
Mary Eleanor Dick (Mercer) Garnett; was 
educated under private tutors, in Rumford 
Academy, King William county, and the 
I'niversity of Virginia, which he entered in 
1S28. but was compelled to leave during the 
session of 1829 on account of the illness of 
bis brother Charles: after devoting himself 
to farming in Mason county, near Point 
Pleasant, for a few years, he began the study 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSON'S 



233 



of civil engineering, and received a position 
with the Philadelphia, Reading & Pottsville 
railroad, and subsequently with the Rich- 
mond c^ Petersburg railroad ; after a visit 
to Texas in the interests of the land claims 
of the Texas Association, he became the 
chief engineer of the Columbia & Charlotte 
railroad; in 1852, after service as an engi- 
neer in Kentucky, he became assistant to 
Gen. Gwynn, on the North Carolina rail- 
road, of which he afterwards became super- 
intendent ; in 1857 he was elected chief engi- 
neer of the railroad from Tallahassee to 
Fernandina: in 185S he retired to his estate 
at Cedar Hill, Hanover county, Virginia, 
where he lived until 1S77. when he removed 
to Norfolk to spend the last years of his life 
with his son in that city: during the civil 
war he was an ardent supporter of the Con- 
ftr-deracy. and though too old for active serv- 
ice served on the field at Seven Pines : he 
n.arried, April i8. 1839, at Pensacola, Flor- 
ida. Florintina I. Moreno, who was living 
in 1904: children: James Mercer, Theodore 
S.. Ella Isidora: he died May 28, 1885. 

Hcrndon, William Lewis, born in I'red- 
ericksburg, Virginia. October 25, 1813, son 
of Dabney Herndon. cashier of the Farmers* 
P.ank, and Elizabeth Hull, his wife; after 
preparatory education, he entered the navy 
a> midshipman in 1828, and was promoted 
})asscd midshipman in 1834 and lieutenant 
in 1841 : served en various cruising stations 
and was actively employed during the Mexi- 
can war: after three years of duty at the 
naval observatory- he was sent to the South 
Pacific station, where in 185 1 he received 
orders detaching him from his ship, and 
directing him to explore the valley of the 
Amazon to ascertain its commercial re- 



sources and capabilities: he started from 
Lima, and crossed the Cordilleras in com- 
pany with Lieut. Lardner Gibbon, who sepa- 
rated from him to explore the llolivian trib- 
utaries, while Lieut. Herndon followed the 
m.ain trunk of the Amazon to its mouth, re- 
turning to the United States in 1852 ; the re- 
port of this expedition was published by the 
government in two volumes, of which Lieut. 
Herndon wrote \'ol. L "Explorations of the 
\'alley of the River Amazon'' (Washington, 
1853) : this work was extensively circulated, 
and is still cited in works on ethnology and 
natural history: he was made commander 
ii! 1855 : he took service in the line of mail 
steamers plying between New York and the 
Isthmus of Panama: on September 8. 1857, 
he left Havana in command of the Central 
.iwcricL furmerly the Gconjc Lai<\ carry- 
ing a large number of passengers returning 
from California and gold amounting to $2,- 
000.000; the ship encountered a cyclone in 
the edge of the Gulf Stream, which destroy- 
ed it. Commander Herndon and four hun- 
dred and twenty-six others losing their lives, 
September 12, 1857, Commander Herndon 
rcrmaining on his ship to the last ; his devo- 
tion to duty excited general admiration, and 
led his brother officers to erect a fine monu- 
ment to his memory at the naval academy in 
Annapolis : a daughter of Commander Hern- 
don became the wife of Chester A. Arthur, 
who was afterward President of the United 
States. 

Boyd, Andrew Hunter Holmes, born in 
Boydsville. Virginia, in 1814. died there De- 
cember 16. 1865. He was graduated at Jef- 
ferson College in 1830. studied theology in 
Scotland, was ordained by the presbytery 
of Winchester, and passed his life in the 



Digitized by 



Google 



234 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



pastorate of the Presbyterian church in that 
section. He was connected with the new- 
school Presbyterian body until 1S59; but at 
the session of the general assenibly at Cleve- 
land in that year the discussion of the slav- 
ery question developed irreconcilable dif- 
firences, and Dr. Boyd, with other commis- 
sioners from the slave holding states, se- 
ceded from the assembly and organized the 
"United Synod of the Presbyterian Church," 
composed of those presbyteries in the slave 
holding states which had belonged to the 
new-school general assembly, but were dis- 
satisfied with its course on the subject of 
slaver}'. At the beginning of the war he 
tc»ok decided ground in favor of secession. 

Blackburn^ William, born in \'irginia, in 
1814, died in California in 1867. He went 
to California in 1845, took part as volunteer 
in the conquest of that country in 1846-47, 
and was appointed alcalde at Santa Cruz im- 
mediately thereafter. In this office he served 
two years, and in 1850 was elected county 
judge of Santa Cruz county. He was one 
oi the best representatives of the large class 
of early popular alcaldes in the new terri- 
tory, legally untrained but socially impor- 
tant men, who administered justice after a 
manner less accurate in a technical sense 
than useful for the needs of the singular 
community of those days. His decisions 
were in some cases widely discussed, and 
are often quoted in historical sketches. 

Freeman, William Grigsby» was born in 
Virginia in 181 5, died in Cornwall, Penn- 
sylvania, November 12, 1866. He was grad- 
uated at the United States Military Acad- 
emy in 1834, and assigned to the Fourth 
Artillery. He served in the Florida war, 
and was made first lieutenant for gallantry 



on several occasions. In 1840 he became 
instructor of infantry and artillery tactics at 
West Point, and in the following year served 
on the northern frontier at Buffalo, during 
the Canada border disturbances. From 1841 
until 1849 he served as assistant in the ad- 
jutant-general's office in Washington, D. C. 
He was afterward chief of staff to Gen. 
Scott, commanding the army headquarters 
at New York. He was brevetted major in 
1847, and lieutenant-colonel in 1848, "for 
meritorious conduct, particularly in the per- 
formance of his duty in the prosecution of 
the war with Mexico." He made a tour of 
inspection of the department of Texas in 
1853, and served as assistant adjutant-gen- 
eral from 1853 ^^^' ^^5(>t when he resigned 
on account of failing health, which prevent- 
ed his taking part in the civil war.. 

Brooke, George Mercer» a descendant of 
Robert Brooke, who settled in Virginia 
about 1680, entered the army in 1808 as first 
lieutenant in the Fifth Infantry, was made 
captain May i, 18 10, and became major in 
the Twenty-third Infantry in 1814, On Au- 
gust 15, 1814, he was brevetted lieutenant- 
colonel for gallant conduct in defence of 
Fort Erie, and on September 17 was brevet- 
ted colonel. He was made a brevet briga- 
dier-general September 17, 1824, and in July, 
1 83 1, served as colonel of the Fifth Infantry. 
He fought in the war with Mexico, and was 
brevetted major-general for his services 
May 30, 1848. At the time of his death he 
was in command of the Eighth Military De- 
partment. He died in San Antonio, Texas, 
March 9, 185 1. Fort Brooke, at the head 
of Tampa Bay, Florida, received its name 
from him. 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



235 



Pasteur, William, son of Jean Pasteur, a 
surgeon of Geneva, who came to Virginia 
in 1700, and settled in Williamsburg. The 
sen was a prominent surgeon and apothe- 
cary in Williamsburg. He was a justice of 
the peace of York county and mayor of the 
city in 1775. He was prominent at the time 
Lord Dunmore removed the powder from 
the magazine. He married Elizabeth, daugh- 
ter of Dr. William Stith, president of Wil- 
liam and Mary College. His brother James 
was a minister of St. Bride's parish, Nor- 
fulk county, and died in 1774. 

Mossom, David, son of Thomas Mossom, 
chandler of (jreenwich, Kent county, Eng- 
land, was born March 25, 1690, matriculated 
at St. John's College, Cambridge, in 1705, 
came to X'irginia in 1718 and was minister 
of St. Peter's Parish Church in New Kent 
county from 1727 to January 4, 1767, when 
h( died. He was the minister that married 
George Washington to the Widow Martha 
Custis. at the "White House'' on the Pa- 
munkey river. He was the first American 
admitted to the office of Presbyter in the 
church. His daughter Elizabeth, born 1722, 
married Capt. William Reynolds, owner of 
a vessel plying in the tobacco trade. Their 
caughter Elizabeth married Richard Chap- 
man, whose son. Reynolds Chapman, suc- 
ceeded George C. Taylor as clerk of Orange 
county in 1802. 

Van Braam, Jacob, a native of Holland. 
He had served in the Carthagena expedition, 
under the P.ritish Admiral Vernon, in the 
same department with Major Lawrence 
Washington. He came to Virginia and 
taught military tactics. He was a Mason, 
and he and Washington were members of 
the Fredericksburg lodge. When Washing- 



ton, then a major, went on his journey in 
the fall of 1753 ^o deliver Gov. Dinwiddie's 
message to the French commander on the 
Ohio, he took Van Braam with him as an 
attendant. In 1754 he served as a lieutenant 
under Washington, in the expedition to the 
Ohio ; was promoted to captain. When Fort 
Necessity capitulated. Van Braam and Cap- 
tain Stobo were held by the French as host- 
ages, and taken to Canada; the latter es- 
caped, and Van Braam was liberated when 
Montreal fell. Van Braam received nine 
thousand acres of land under the Dinwiddie 
pioclamation. He was made major of a 
battalion of the Sixtieth Foot Royal Amer- 
icans on duty in the West Indies in 1777. 

Muse, George, had served in the Cartha- 
gena expedition, in the Virginia regiment 
commanded by Col. Spotswood, under Ad- 
miral Vernon. He returned to Virginia, and 
it is said that at one time he instructed 
George Washington in military tactics. He 
was made one of the four adjutant majors 
ot" the provincial militia. In the spring of 
1754 Goveruor Dinwiddie appointed him 
major of the Virginia regiment, and he was 
promoted to lieutenant-colonel June 4, to 
succeed Col. Joshua Fry, deceased. He 
joined Washington, but for some reason his 
name was omitted from the list of officers 
\\ ho received the thanks of the house of bur- 
gesses for good conduct in the battle of 
Great Meadows. He received, however, a 
land grant, but the small quantity allotted 
him (thirty-five hundred acres) moved him 
to address a rude protest to Washingfton. 
who answered, **as he is not very agreeable 
lo the other officers, I am well pleased at his 
resignation.** 



Digitized by 



Google 



236 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Croghan, George, a native of Ireland, was 
eoucated in Dublin, came to America, set- 
tling on the Juniata river, above where is 
v.uw llarrisburg. and as early as 174^) was 
trading with the Indians. He acquired the 
Indian language, was possessed of character 
ard good business ability. Gov. Dinwiddie 
engaged him as an interpreter, and sent him 
to Washington, but his service was not en- 
tirely satisfactory. Gen. Uraddock commis- 
sioned him captain in 1755 for service 
against the Indians. In 1756 he was made 
Indian agent by Sir William Johnson, who 
in I7^>3 sent him to England to confer with 
the ministry. In 1766 he settled above Fort 
I'itt. and until 1776 rendered excellent serv- 
ice in conciliating the Indians. He remain- 
ed on his farm during the revolution. He is 
tc be distinguished from George Croghan 
(son of Major William Croghan). who was 
born in Kentucky, near Louisville. Novem- 
ber 15. 1791. graduatedat William and Mary 
in 1810. and distinguished himself in the 
war of 1812 and in the war with Mexico. 
He was inspector-general, with the rank of- 
colonel. 

Hog (Hogg), Peter, born at Edinburgh, 
Scotland, in 1703. son of James Hog, and 
believed to be a near relative of the famous 
James Hogg, the "Ettrick shepherd." With 
his brothers James and Thomas he came to 
America about 1745. and settled in Augusta 
county, Virginia. As a captain he served 
under Washington in the expedition of 1754, 
was at the surrender of Fort Necessity, and 
was among those who received the thanks 
of the Virginia assembly for their good con- 
duct. In 1756 he was engaged in construct- 
ing frontier forts, and he served in the Vir- 
ginia regiment until the fall of Fort Du- 



quesne. After his military service ended he 
studied law. was admitted to the bar in 
1759. and in 1772 Lord Dunmore appointed 
him deputy to the attorney-general for Dun- 
more (later Shenandoah) county, X'irginia. 
He received two thousand acres of land 
under the Dinwiddie proclamation, and 
owned eight thousand acres near Point 
Pleasant, on the Ohio river, and another 
large tract in Mason county. Kentucky. He 
married Elizabeth Taylor, and has many 
descendants of the names ot Hoge. Hog, 
Hall. Itlair. lUackley. Hawkins. Macpherson 
and others. One of these descendants was 
Hon. James W. Hoge. member of the \'ir- 
ginia convention of i8^»i. Arista Hoge. a 
great-grandson, was living in Staunton. \'ir- 
ginia. in 1S83. Thomas Hcg. a brother of 
Lapt. Peter Hog was killed in 1774. while 
01: his way to Kentucky to establish salt 
works there. Capt. Peter Hog died April 
20. 1782. 

Trent, William, born at Lancaster, Penn- 
sylvania, about 1715. In 1746 he entered the 
military service of Pennsylvania under a 
commission from Gov. Thomas, served in 
Canada under Gov. Clinton, and was honor- 
ably discharged with the thanks of the as- 
sembly. In 1749 Gov. Hamilton appointed 
him justice of the courts of common pleas 
and general sessions for Cumberland coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania. The same year he was 
confidential agent sent to the Ohio Indians 
with peace offerings and messages of good 
will. In 1750, with his brother-in-law, 
George Croghan, and others, he was en- 
gaged in trade with the Indians on the Ohio 
river: it was said that Benjamin Franklin 
was a member of the company. Trent was 
employed by the governor of \'irginia to at- 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



237 



tend his commissioners at a treaty with the 
Indians in 1752, below the forks of the Ohio, 
but before this was accomplished, he was 
sent with messages and presents to the 
Miami Indians. In 1753 Gov. Dinwiddie sent 
him to the forks of the Ohio, to examine a 
site for a fort. In September of the same 
year he was present at a treaty with the 
Indians at Winchester, Virginia, Early in 
1754 Gov. Dinwiddie authorized him to raise 
a company of a hundred men to erect a fort 
at the forks of the Ohio. After work was 
begun, the French and Indians appeared, 
and compelled the Americans to depart; 
1 rent was absent at the time, and for his 
absence Gov. Dinwiddie ordered him to be 
court-martialed, but he was never brought 
to trial. He was unfortunate in his Indian 
trading, and died poor. He was a major at 
Fort Pitt in July, 1776. In 1778, while on 
his way from Fort Pitt, he was taken sick 
at his home in Cumberland county, Penn- 
sylvania, and died. He was buried at "Sil- 
ver Spring church." 

Stobo, Robert, born in Glasgow, Scotland, 
in 17J7. son of William Stobo, merchant. He 
attended a Latin school, and then the Uni- 
versity of Glasgow. In 1742 his friends sent 
him to Virginia to serve in a store conducted 
l.y Glasgow merchants. Later he went into 
business for himself. He was held in esteem 
by Gov. Dinwiddie, who appointed him cap- 
tain in a regiment raised in 1754 to oppose 
the French. He proved an efficient officer in 
the campaign, and superintended the con- 
struction of the fortification at Fort Neces- 
sity, and bore a gallant part in the battle of 
Great Meadows. He was one of the host- 
ages delivered to the French when Fort 
Necessity capitulated. While in confinement 



at Fort Duquesne, he drew plans of the fort 
and its approaches, and wrote suggestions 
for its successful assault. This paper was 
conveyed by a friendly Indian to the com- 
manding officer at Wills' Creek, but fell into 
the hands of the enemy in the battle of Mo- 
nongahela, and he was closely confined in 
the fortress at Quebec. He escaped, was 
retaken, and after a year's confinement again 
regained his freedom and joined Gen. Wolfe 
at Louisburg. He was made a confidential 
messenger to Gen. Amherst, who sent him 
to the governor of Virginia, by whom he 
was well received. He received the thanks 
of the house of burgesses, and was awarded 
£1,000 as a reward for his zeal and the great 
hardships he had endured as a hostage. He 
went to England in 1760, and in June of 
that year was commissioned captain in Am- 
herst's regiment, and served in the West 
Indies. He left the army in 1770, and died 
soon afterwards. In the yard of the Epis- 
copal church at Portsmouth, Virginia, is the 
tombstone of "Capt. Jacob Stobo, late of 
Philadelphia, who departed this life January 
30. 1794." 

Craiky James, born at Abigland, Scotland, 
in 1730; educated at Edinburgh University, 
and graduated in both letters and medicine. 
On leaving college he took service as sur- 
geon with the British troops in the West 
Indies, soon afterwards resigned, and went 
to X'irginia. engaging in practice in Norfolk. 
In 1754 he was appointed surgeon to the 
\irginia regiment, and his name appears in 
the list of officers thanked by the Virginia 
assembly for their bravery in the battle of 
Great Meadows, and he received a land 
grant under the Dinwiddie proclamation. 
.\fter the surrender of Fort Necessitv he 



Digitized by 



Google 



238 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



engaged in medical practice at Winchester, 
\irginia. The next year, he accompanied 
the X'irginia regiment in the Draddock ex- 
pedition. Returning to Winchester he re- 
moved to a plantation in Maryland, below 
Alexandria, and later took up his residence 
in that town, on the advice of Washington, 
witii whom he was on closest terms of 
friendship. He was a surgeon in the revo- 
lution : in 1777 was active in exposing a con- 
spiracy to remove Washington from com- 
mand: and in 1781 was made director-in- 
cliief of the military hospitals at Yorktown. 
In iji'k) he married Marianna, daughter of 
Col. Charles Ewell. He passed his latter 
years on his plantation. "Vaucluse/' about 
five miles from Mt. X'ernon. His son, 
George Washington, studied medicine, but 
became secretary to Washington in his sec- 
ond presidential term. Washington, in his 
will, referred to Dr. Craik as his "old and 
intimate friend/' and gave him a desk and 
chair. He died at his home. February 6, 
18 14. 

Cresap, Thomas, born in Skipton, Y'ork- 
shire, England, was founder of the Cresap 
family in America. At the age of fifteen he 
came to America, and when about thirty, 
married a Miss Johnson, where now is 
Havre de Grace, Maryland. He visited Vir- 
ginia, and was about to rent farming land 
from tlie Washington family, but eventually 
settled in Washington county, Maryland. 
He engaged in trading with the Indians, but 
the ship containing furs in which was in- 
vested his entire fortune was captured by 
the French. He now settled at *'01d Town," 
Maryland, calling it "Skipton," for his Eng- 
lish home town, and again engaged in fur 
trading, being a great favorite with the In- 



dians, with whom he could converse in their 
own tongue. He was also a surveyor, and 
under the authority of the Ohio Company, 
of which he was a member, he made exten- 
sive surveyings. He was frequently a mem- 
ber of the legislature. His second marriage 
was when he was eighty years old, and he 
lived to the remarkable age of one hundred 
and five years. 

Gist, Christopher, was a native of Mary- 
land. He explored the country from the 
headwaters of the Ohio river down to the 
falls (now at Louisville, Kentucky) in 1750, 
ill the interests of the Ohio Company. The 
following year he traversed the valley of the 
Ohio on both sides of the river; and in 1752 
erected a cabin where is now Mount Brad- 
clock, Pennsylvania. Two years later, eleven 
families joined him. and they were among 
the first, if not the first, settlers in western 
Pennsylvania. He acted as scout for Wash- 
ington in the journey to what is now Pitts- 
burgh, Pennsylvania. He was captain in 
the Virginia forces in 1755, and in 1757 was 
appointed deputy Indian agent, on the strong 
recommendation of Washington. Nothing 
is known of his last years. He left three 
sons — Nathaniel, Thomas and Richard. 

Andrews, Robert, descended from Antony 
Andrews, of Alexton, Leicestershire, Eng- 
land, and son of Moses Andrews, of Penn- 
sylvania. He was educated at the College 
ot Philadelphia; came to Virginia about 
1770 as a tutor in the family of Mann Page. 
During the American revolution he was pri- 
v.'.te secretary to Gen. Thomas Nelson, and 
in 1779 was made professor of moral philos- 
ophy in William and Mary College, and in 
1784 was tranferred to the chair of mathe- 
matics. He was afterwards joined with 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



239 



James Madison, president of the college, 
to run the Virginia and Pennsylvania 
boundary lines. He was a member of the 
legislature in 1798-99, and died in 1805. 
He married (first) Elizabeth Ballard, by 
whom he had Anne Andrews, who married 
William Randolph, of Wilton, and (second) 
Mary Blair, daughter of Judge John Blair, 
or Williamsburg. 

Hamilton, Andrew, born in Augusta coun- 
ty. X'irginia, in 1741, son of Irish emigrants 
— Archibald Hamilton and Frances Cal- 
houn, his wife. He is said to have been a 
descendant of James Hamilton. Earl of Ar- 
ran. regent of Scotland during the infancy 
of Mary Stuart. He removed to South Car- 
olina, and served in the revolution as cap- 
tain and major under Gen. Pickens, taking 
part in all the important battles in Georgia. 
After the war he was elected to the South 
Carolina legislature, where he served until 
eld age obliged him to ask for a successor. 
He married Jane Magill. a native of Penn- 
sylvania, who died in her eighty-sixth year, 
ho dying January 19, 1835, in his ninety- 
STXth year. They left many descendants. 

Campbell, Arthur, born in Augusta coun- 
t}. \'irginia. November 3. 1743. When four- 
teen years old, he volunteered to aid in pro- 
tccting the frontier against the Indians. He 
was stationed in a fort on the Cowpasture 
river, near where the road crosses leading 
from Staunton to the Warm Springs. He 
was captured by the Indians, who loaded him 
with their packs, and marched him into the 
forests. At the end of seven days, he was 
unable to travel, and was treated by the 
Indians with great severity. An old chief, 
taking compassion on him. protected him 
from further injury, and on reaching the 



lakes adopted him, and the young man re- 
mained with him during his three years* 
captivity. Campbell made himself familiar 
with the Indian language, manners and cus- 
toms, and gained the confidence of the old 
chief, who took him on all his hunting ex- 
cursions over Michigan and the northern 
parts of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. In 1759, 
a British force marched towards the Upper 
Lakes, and Campbell determined to escape. 
While out hunting, he left the Indians, and 
after a fortnight's tramp, reached the Brit- 
ish. The British commander was much in- 
terested in Campbeirs account of his cap- 
tivity and escape, and engaged him to pilot 
the army, which he did with success. Short- 
ly after, he returned to Augusta, after an 
absence of more than three years. For his 
services in piloting the army he received a 
grant of one thousand acres of land near 
Louisville, Kentucky. In 1769, his father 
and family removed to the "Royal Oak." on 
Holstein river, and in I77'">. Arthur Camp- 
bell was appointed major in the Fincastle 
militia, and elected to the general assembly, 
lie was a member of the convention for 
framing the constitution. When Washing- 
ton county was formed, he was commission- 
ed colonel, and commanded several expedi- 
tions, particularly that against the Chero- 
kccs. In 1785 he took part in a plan of 
Separating the county of Washington from 
Virginia and uniting ii with the proposed 
commonwealth of Frankland. constituting 
the western part of N'orth Carolina, where- 
upon the general assembly passed an act 
tlrawn by John Tyler denouncing any at- 
tempt nf this kind as high treason. He was 
lall. with a dignified air. an extensive reader, 
and a good talker. He married a sister of 
Ccn. William Campbell, and left issue at 



Digitized by 



Google 



240 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



his death, at Middleborough, Kentucky, Au- 
gust 8. iSii. 

Zane, Col. Ebenezcr, was born October, 
1747, in that part of Augusta county. \*ir- 
ginia. which is now Ohio county, West Vir- 
ginia. This family is of Danish origin, but at 
an early day removed to England and thence 
in the seventeenth century to America. In 
1770 he wandered to the west with his 
brothers Silas and Jonathan, and settled at 
Wheeling. In 1772 his family and a few 
friends removed to his new abode on the 
Ohio. There was not at the time a perma- 
nent Anglo-Saxon settlement from the 
source to the mouth of the Ohio. The little 
band at Wheeling stood alone in the im- 
mense solitude. In 1773 many families join- 
ed the settlement. Zane's intercourse with 
tlie Indians was marked by mildness and 
honorable dealing — hence his hamlet es- 
caped the fur>- of the savages until 1777. 
All three brothers were men of enterprise, 
piudence and sound judgment, and the 
Wheeling settlement was mainly due to 
them for its security and preservation dur- 
ing the revolution. He was conspicuous dur- 
ing the siege of Fort Henry, and brought 
himself so prominently before the public that 
he received various marks of distinction 
from the colonial state and Federal govern- 
ments. He was a disbursing officer under 
Dunmore. and enjoyed under the common- 
wealth numerous civil and military distinc- 
tions. Col. Zane's fearlessness was exempli- 
fied by his almost single-handed defence of 
his own dwelling, in the fall of 1782. The 
government of the United States, duly ap- 
' preciating his capacity, energy and influence, 
employed him by an act of congress, May, 
1796. to open a road from Wheeling to Lime- 



stone (Maysville). This duty he performed 
in the following year, assisted by his brother 
Jonathan, and son-in-law, John Mclntyre, 
aided by an Indian guide, Tomepomehala, 
whose knowledge of the country enabled 
him to render valuable suggestions. The 
road was marked through under the eye of 
Colonel Zane and then committed to his as- 
sistants to cut out. As a compensation for 
opening this road, congress granted Col. 
Zane the privilege of locating military war- 
rr.nts upon three sections of land ; the first 
to be at the crossing of the Muskingum, the 
second at Hock-hocking, and the third at 
Scioto. Col. Zane thought of crossing the 
Muskingum at Duncan's falls, but fore- 
seeing the great value of the hydraulic power 
created by the falls, determined to cross at 
the point where Zanesville has since been 
established, and thus secure this important 
power. The second section was located 
where Lancaster now stands, and the third 
en the east side of the Scioto opposite ChilH- 
cothe. The first he gave, principally, to his 
two assistants for services rendered. In ad- 
dition to these fine possessions, Col. Zane 
acquired large bodies of land throughout 
western Virginia, by locating patents for 
those persons whose fear of the Indians de- 
terred them undertaking personally so haz- 
ardous an enterprise. Mr. Zane married a 
sister of the daring borderer, McCulloch, by 
whom he had eleven children. He died in 
iSii, at the age of sixty-four. 

Hening, William Walter, born in Virginia 
about 1750. He was for many years a suc- 
cessful lawyer. In 1804 he represented Albe- 
marle county in the house of delegates, and 
two years later was made a member of the 
executive council, serving in that station for 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



241 



several years, and was during his later life 
and to his death, clerk of the chancery court 
for the Richmpnd district. He was an indus- 
trious writer, and compiled "Hening's Jus- 
tice,*' a book of procedure for magistrates ; 
edited Francis' "Maxims of Equity/' and 
collaborated with William Munford sev- 
eral volumes of Virginia court of appeals 
reports. His monumental work was "Stat- 
utes at Large of Virginia," thirteen volumes, 
containing the laws from the colonial period, 
together with a great mass of state papers 
necessary to a proper understanding of the 
legislation and political history of the state. 
This work he performed under authority of 
the Virginia assembly, beginning it in 1809, 
and completing it in 1823. He died in Rich- 
mond, April 7, 1828. (For his marriage and 
descendants, see "William and Mary Col- 
lege Quarterly/' xxii, 297). 

McCuUoch, Major Samuel, was born on 
Short Creek, Augusta county, Virginia, now 
northwestern West Virginia, about 1752. 
At a very early age he distinguished him- 
self as a bold and efficient borderer. As an 
Indian hunter, he had few superiors. He 
seemed to track the wily red men with a 
sagacity as remarkable as his efforts were 
successful. In consideration of his services, 
he was commissioned major in 1775, and in 
1777 he performed a remarkable feat. Dur- 
ing the siege of Wheeling, the Indians drove 
Major McCulloch to the summit of a lofty 
hill, which overhangs the present city. 
Knowing their relentless hostility toward 
himself, he strained every muscle of his 
noble steed to gain the summit, and then 
escaped along the brow in the direction of 
Van Meter's fort. As he gained a point on 
the hill near where the road passes, what 

V1A-1« 



should he suddenly encounter but a con- 
siderable body of Indians, who were just 
returning from a plundering excursion 
among the settlements. In an instant the 
bold soldier, preferring death among the 
rocks and brambles to captivity and torture 
by the savages, without a moment's hesita- 
tion, firmly adjusted himself in the saddle, 
grasped securely the bridle in his left hand, 
and supporting his rifle in the right, pushed 
his unfaltering horse over a precipice three 
hundred feet deep. The Indians greatly re- 
joiced that their most inveterate enemy was 
at length beyond the power of doing fur- 
ther injury. But, lo ! ere a single savage had 
recovered from his amazement, what should 
they see but the invulnerable major, on his 
white steed, galloping across the peninsula. 
Such was the feat of Samuel McCulloch, 
certainly one of the most daring and suc- 
cessful ever attempted. The place has be- 
come memorable as "McCulloch's Leap." 
At a later date on July 30, 1782, he was 
scouting with his brother near Girty's Point, 
when the Indians waylaid them and fired, 
killing Major McCulloch instantly. His 
brother escaped, but his horse was killed. 
This brother. Major John McCulloch, was a 
trusted officer in the revolutionary war, and 
filled many important positions. 

Gamble, Robert, born in Augusta county, 
Virginia, September 3, 1754, son of James 
Gamble. He was educated at Liberty Hall. 
On attaining his majority he took up a mer- 
cantile business, but the revolutionary war 
began and he aided in recruiting a military 
company, of which he was made first lieu- 
tenant, later becoming captain. He served 
throughout the war, and took part in many 
battles, including Princeton and Monmouth. 



Digitized by 



Google 



242 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



He led one of the assaulting parties at Stony 
Point, and was permanently deafened by a 
discharge from one of the enemy's cannon, 
which was fired just as he reached it. In 
the latter part of the war he served under 
Gen. Greene, and for a time was on the staff 
of Baron De Kalb. He was taken prisoner 
in South Carolina, and confined on a British 
vessel in Charleston harbor. After the war 
he engaged in a mercantile business in 
Staunton, and while there was lieutenant- 
colonel of militia. In 1792 he removed to 
Richmond, where he became a prosperous 
business man. He married Catharine, 
daughter of John Grattan, of Mt. Crawford. 
His sons, Colonels John G. and Robert 
Gamble, were officers in the war of 1812. 
One of his daughters was wife of the famous 
William Wirt, and another was wife of 
Judge and Governor William H. Cabell 

Montour, Andrew, son of Madam Mon- 
tour, daughter of a Frenchman of that name, 
and a Huron Indian woman. Madam Mon- 
tour was a woman of great strength of char- 
acter, and some education; she was very 
friendly to the EftgHsh and devoted to the 
interests of the whites, to whom her services 
were so important that the commissioner of 
Indian aflFairs for New York allowed her *'a 
man's pay." Her husband was an Oneida 
chief, Corondawana, alias Robert Hunter. 
Andrew Montour was a man of intelligence 
and some education. As captain, he was 
sent by Governor Dinwiddie to join Wash- 
ington, to command some friendly Indians 
a.s scouts, and served with him until 1756-57. 
Parkman says of him: "His face is like that 
of a European, but marked with a broad 
Indian ring of bear's grease and paint drawn 
completely around it. He wears a coat of 



fine cloth of cinnamon color, a black neck- 
tie with silver spangles, a red waistcoat, 
trousers, over which hangs his shirt; shoes 
and stockings; a hat and brass ornaments, 
something like the handle of a basket, sus- 
pended from his ears." 

Waggoner, Thomas, was a lieutenant with 
Washington in his expedition to the Ohio 
in 1754, and was slightly wounded in the 
skirmish of May 28, that year, when Jumon- 
ville was killed. His name appears in the 
list of those who received the thanks of the 
X'irginia house of burgesses, August 30, 
1754, for "gallant and brave conduct in the 
campaign." 

Moffett, George, born in Augusta county, 
Virginia, in 1735, son of John MoflFett and 
Mary Christian, his wife. He lived at Mt. 
Pleasant; was prominent in the Indian wars 
and the revolution. After the war he was 
a justice of the peace, one of the first trus- 
tees of Washington College at Lexington, 
and an elder in the Presbyterian church. He 
married a sister of Colonel Samuel Mc- 
Dowell. He died in 181 1. 

Peyronie, William Chevalier, a native of 
France, of excellent family and well edu- 
cated. He came to Williamsburg, Virginia, 
about 1750, where he taught fencing. He 
had a military training and was commission- 
ed ensign in the Virginia regiment under 
Washington in 1754. He was a gallant offi- 
cer, and was desperately wounded in the bat- 
tle of Great Meadows, but finally recovered 
and woo the favor of Washington; was 
among the officers who received the thanks 
of the assembly, and was made captain Au- 
gust 25, 1754, on Washington's recommenda- 
tion. He was engaged in the Braddock ex- 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



243 



pedition, and was killed in the battle of the 
Monongahela. 

Russell, William, was iieuienant-colonel 
of the militia of Culpeper county in 1754, 
from which he removed and settled on the 
Clinch river, south of Castle's hoods, about 
1770. Commanded a company of frontiers- 
men at the battle of Point Pleasant in the 
fall of 1774; member of the convention of 
May, 1776, from Fincastle county; commis- 
sioned captain in the Continental army, and 
in 1776 was in Col. William Christian's ex- 
pedition against the Cherokee Indians. He 
v/as a delegate to the house of delegates in 
1786. and Russell county was created and 
named for him. Made brigadier-general of 
Virginia militia. He resided for many years 
at Saltville, Virginia, and died in 1794 at 
the home of his son, Robert S. Russell, in 
Shenandoah county. He was father of Wil- 
liam Russell (q. v.). 

Brady, Samuel, called the *' Marion of the 
West/' was born at Shippensburg, Penn- 
sylvania, 1756, and was the son of John 
Brady, who was made a captain in the Colo- 
nial army for his services in the old French 
and Indian war. In 1776 Samuel joined the 
American army, was commissioned lieuten- 
ant and marched to Boston. He continued 
with the army, and was in all the principal 
battles until after that of Monmouth, when 
he was ordered to the west and joined Gen. 
Broadhead. Broadhead employed Brady as 
a spy to ascertain the streng^th, resources, 
ttc, of the savages. Disguised as savages, 
Brady, Williamson and Wetzel reached the 
Indian towns on the upper Sandusky. They 
entered the Indian village at night and made 
a thorough reconnoissance, and then re- 



treated, traveling all night. In the morning 
they discovered the savages in pursuit, but 
finally escaped, having killed one of the 
enemy. Satisfied with the information 
brought by Brady and his companions, 
Broadhead's army moved onward. During 
all the Indian wars up to 1794, Brady took 
an active part and no braver or bolder man 
ever drew a sword or fired a rifle. He mar- 
ried a daughter of Capt. Van Swearingen, 
of Ohio county, and left descendants. 

Clay, Green, born in Powhatan county, 
Virginia, August 14, 1757, was of an ambi- 
tious and enterprising nature. Before he 
had attained the age of twenty years, he 
had realized that better oportunities were 
to be found elsewhere than in his native 
region, and he removed to Kentucky, where 
he became a man of great wealth and promi- 
nence, having realized the value of land and 
followed the avocation of surveying. He 
represented Kentucky interests in the Vir- 
ginia legislature; was a leader in the Ken- 
tucky constitutional convention of 1799; and 
was a member of the convention which rati- 
fied the Federal constitution. For many 
years he was a member of either one or the 
other branch of the legislature, and served 
for a time as speaker of the senate. When 
Gen. Harrison was besieged by the British 
ill Fort Meigs in 1813, he went to his assist- 
ance with three thousand volunteers and 
completely routed the enemy. Having been 
left in command at this fort, he defended it 
with ability against the combined attacks 
of the British under Gen. Proctor, and the 
Indians under Tecumseh. He retired to his 
plantation at the conclusion of this war, and 
devoted his time and attention to its culti- 
vation, passing away to his last rest Octo- 



Digitized by 



Google 



^44 



VIRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY 



ber 31, 1826. The famous Henry Clay was 
a cousin. 

Wetzel, Lewis, was one of the pioneers of 
West \'irginia and a great Indian hunter. 
During the career of this man of indomit* 
able courage, energy and skill he killed 
twenty-seven Indian warriors. He died in 
1808. He was five feet ten inches high, 
erect, broad across the shoulders, deep chest, 
and limbs denoting great muscular strength. 
His complexion was dark, eyes black, wild 
and rolling. His black hair was luxuriant, 
and when combed out fell below his knees — 
a rare scalp for the savages could they have 
secured it. He loved his friends and hated 
his enemies. He was a rude, blunt man of 
few words. His name and fame will long 
survive among the backwoodsmen. 

Crawford, William Harris, son of Joel 
Crawford and Fanny Harris, his wife, and 
descended from David Crawford, who came 
from Scotland to Virginia about 1654, was 
born in Amherst county, Virginia, Febru- 
ary 24, 1772. His father, who was in re- 
duced circumstances, removed first to South 
Carolina, and then to Columbia county, 
Georgia. After the completion of his early 
education, Mr. Crawford taught for a time 
in the schools of Augusta, and then studied 
law, commencing the practice of this profes- 
sion at Lexington, in 1799, and became one 
of the compilers of the first digest of the 
laws of Georgia. In 1802 he became a mem- 
ber of the state senate, and in 1807 a mem- 
ber of the United States senate to fill a 
vacancy. The political excitement of the 
period led him to engage in two duels, in 
one of which his opponent fell, and in the 
%econd of which he was wounded himself. 
In 181 1 he was reelected, acquiesced in the 



policy of a United States Bank, and in 1812 
was chosen president pro tan. of the senate. 
At first he was oposed to the war with Great 
Britain, but finally gave it his support. In 
181 3, having declined the post of secretary 
of war, he accepted that of minister to 
France, where he formed a personal friend- 
ship with Lafayette. Upon the retirement 
of Mr. Dallas in 1816, Mr. Crawford was 
appointed secretary of the treasury. He 
v/as prominently urged as candidate for the 
presidency, but remained at the head of the 
treasury department, where he adhered to 
the views of Mr. Jefferson, and opposed the 
Federal policy in regard to internal improve- 
ments, then supported by a considerable sec- 
tion of his own party. This position on the" 
great question of the time subjected him to 
virulent hostility from opponents of his own 
party, and Mr. Calhoun, who was one of 
these opponents, became a dangerous rival 
for the Democratic nomination for the presi- 
dency to succeed Monroe. Mr. Crawford, 
however, as the choice of the Virginia party, 
and the representative of the views of Jef- 
ferson, secured the nomination of a congres- 
sional caucus in February, 1824, and in the 
election that followed he received the elec- 
toral votes of Virginia and Georgia, with 
scattering votes from New York, Maryland 
and Delaware, in all forty-one. No choice 
having been made by the electoral college, 
the election reverted to the house of repre- 
sentatives, where John Quincy Adams was 
elected over Jackson and Crawford, through 
the influence of Henry Clay, the fourth can- 
didate before the people, who brought his 
friends to the support of Adams. This re- 
sult was also partly due to the ill health of 
Mr. Crawford, and perhaps to imputations 
brought against his conduct of the treasury 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXENT PERSONS 



245 



department. These charges he promptly re- 
futed, and a committee that included Daniel 
Webster and John Randolph unanimously 
declared them to be unfounded. But his 
health rendered it impossible for him to con- 
tinue in public life, and although he partially 
regained his strength, he abstained from par- 
ticipation in politics from that time. Upon 
his return to Georgia he became circuit 
judge, an office he continued to fill with 
great efficiency, by successive elections in 
1828 and 1831, almost until his death. He 
opposed nullification, and his last days were 
spent in retirement. Personally he was a 
man of conspicuous social gifts, an admir- 
able conversationalist, religious in his views 
and feelings, and a supporter of Baptist con- 
victions. At his home he dispensed a hearty 
hospitality, and his name is eminent among 
the illustrious citizens of Georgia. He died 
in Elbert county, Georgia. September 15, 
1S34. 

Claiborne, William Charles Cole, was born 
in Sussex county, Virginia, in 1775, son of 
Col. William Claiborne, of King William 
county, Virginia, and Mary Leigh, his wife, 
daughter of Ferdinand Leigh. His educa- 
tion was a liberal one and he was well pre- 
pared for entrance to the legal profession. 
Having been duly admitted to the bar, he 
took up his residence in Nashville, Tennes- 
see, where he followed his profession with 
an extraordinary amount of success. He 
was soon appointed territorial judge, and 
assisted in the framing of the state consti- 
tution in 1796. As a representative of the 
Republican party he was elected to con- 
gress in 1797, serving from March 23, 1797, 
to March 3, 1801. He was appointed gov- 
ernor of Mississippi in 1802, and in the fol- 



lowing year, in association with Gen. James 
Wilkinson, became a commissioner to take 
possession of Louisiana when it was pur- 
chased from the French. After the new gov- 
ernment had been well established he was 
made governor in 1804, and when the prov- 
ince became a state he was elected to the 
same office by the people. The Republican 
party of the new state chose him as their 
representative in the United States senate, 
but he died in New Orleans, Louisiana, No- 
vember 2^, 1817, before taking his seat in 
this body. He was brother of Gen. Ferdi- 
nand Leigh Claiborne (q. v.). 

Morgan, William, born in Culpeper coun- 
ty, Virginia, in 1775. He served under Gen. 
Jackson at the battle of Xew Orleans. He 
moved to Batavia, Xew York, and in 1826 
it was rumored that he was about to publish 
an exposure of the secrets of freemasonry. 
He was taken by a party of men to Canan- 
daigua. on a criminal charge, was acquitted, 
and rearrested and lodged in jail, from which 
he was secretly taken. It was charged that 
he was drowned in Lake Ontario, Septem- 
ber 19. 1826. Based upon the feeling thus 
engendered, the political Anti-Masonic party 
was formed, which in 183 1 nominated Wil- 
liam Wirt for the presidency. The party 
was finally merged into the Whig party. 

Campbell, Richard, was born in the Val- 
ley of Virginia. He was commissioned cap- 
tain in 1776, later became major, served in 
Gibson's regiment at Pittsburgh, and on 
Mcintosh's expedition against the Ohio In- 
dians in 1778. He led a relief party to Fort 
Laurens in June, 1779, and for a time was 
commander of that garrison. He was pro- 
moted lieutenant-colonel, and commanded a 
Virginia regiment at Guilford, Hobkirk's 



Digitized by 



Google 



246 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Hill, Xinety-six, and Eutaw Springs, where 
he was mortally wounded while leading the 
charge that drove the Dritish from the field. 
Some hours later, hearing that the enemy 
were in full retreat, he died, exclaiming, **I 
die contented." Many writers have con- 
founded him with Gen. William Campbell, 
one of the leaders at King's Mountain. See 
Drapers "King's Mountain and its Heroes." 
Richard Campbell died at Eutaw Springs, 
South Carolina, September 8, 1781. 

Thomson, John, son of John Thomson, a 
merchant of Petersburg, Virginia, was born 
in 1777 and studied at William and Mary 
College. He practiced law and his speeches 
and letters to the newspapers over the sig- 
nature of Casca Gracchus and Curtius. at- 
tacking the policy of the Federalist party, 
in an.<wer to John Marshall, were much ap- 
plauded. He died in 175^9. when not more 
than twenty-two. A sketch of his life was 
written by his friend, George Hay, the law- 
yer, who is unbounded in praise of his elo- 
quence and talents. 

Cummings, Charles, a native of Ireland, 
came to Lancaster county, Virginia, where 
he taught school and studied for the minis- 
try under Rev. James Waddell. He was 
licensed to preach by Hanover Presbytery 
in 1766, and was pastor of Brown's meeting 
house the next year. In 1773 he was min- 
if ter to the congregations on the Holston. 
and settled at Abingdon. The country was 
infested by Indians, and he carried his rifle 
into his pulpit ; on one occasion he was en- 
gaged in a deadly conflict. In 1776 he ac- 
companied Col. Christian's troops in an ex- 
pedition against the Cherokees, and was the 
first preacher in Tennessee. He died in 
1812. 



Blackburn, Samuel, was born in Virginia, 
probably in Augusta county, about 1758. 
His parents removed to the Holston region, 
and he was educated at Washington College 
and in 1785, after he had left college, it con- 
ferred upon him the Bachelor of Arts de- 
gree. He was a soldier in the revolution 
and was in the battle of Guilford Court 
House. After the war he was principal 
teacher in an academy at Washington, 
Georgia, and while thus engaged studied 
law. In 1795 he was a member of the Georgia 
legislature, and was several times a candi- 
date for congress, but never elected. He 
removed to Bath county, Virginia, and was 
several times a member of the legislature, 
and was author of the anti-dueling law — 
said to be the first law of the kind ever en- 
acted in the United States. He was one of 
the most brilliant orators and successful 
criminal lawyers of his time. By will, he 
liberated his slaves, some forty in number, 
on condition that they would go to Liberia, 
whither they were taken at the expense of 
his estate. He was a general in the state 
militia. He married the oldest daughter of 
Governor Mathews. 

Butler, William, was born in Prince Wil- 
liam county, Virginia, in 1759, a son of 
James Butler, who was captured and mur- 
dered by the notorious Cunningham. Mr. 
Butler was a student at South Carolina Col- 
lege, from which he was graduated with the 
degree of Doctor of Medicine. In 1779 he 
became a lieutenant in Lincoln's army, was 
active at Stono, and sensed in the noted 
corps of Pulaski. He next served in the 
command of Gen. Pickens, then with Gen. 
Lee under Greene, being an active partici- 
pant in the siege of Xinety-Six, and was de- 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



247 



tached on a number of separate services, 
which required celerity, courage and vigi- 
lance. He was advanced to a command of 
mounted rangers and took part in many 
affairs with the Tories. He was in com- 
mand of a body of cavalry when, in associa- 
tion with Michael Watson, he attacked and, 
with the aid of Gen. Sumter and others, 
dispersed double the number of the enemy 
in Dean's Swamp, but Watson was killed 
in this encounter. Soon after the termina- 
tion of the war he was made a brigadier- 
general, and in 1796, major-general of the 
militia. He was a member of the conven- 
tion of 1787 to consider the adoption of the 
P'ederal constitution, and voted against it. 
Subsequently he was a member of the con- 
vention that passed the present constitution 
of South Carolina, was for some time a 
member of the legislature, sheriff in 1794, 
and also served as a magistrate. He was a 
member of congress from 1801 until 1813, 
resigning his seat in the last mentioned year 
in order to make way for John C. Calhoun. 
He was again a candidate for congress in 
18 18, but was defeated by Eldred Simkins. 
During the war of 1812 he was in command 
of the South Carolina troops for state de- 
fence. He died in Columbia, South Caro- 
lina, November 15, 1821. 

Speece, Conrad, born in Campbell county, 
Virginia. He attended the New London 
Academy, then went to Washington Col- 
lege, Lexington, Virginia, where he gradu- 
ated in 1796, and was a tutor for more than 
a year. He studied theology, and was 
licensed to preach by Hanover Presbytery. 
He was pastor of the Augusta church from 
1813 to 1836. He cultivated general litera- 
ture, and wrote in both prose and verse. 



He wrote the hymn, "Blest Jesus, when Thy 
Cross I \'iew.'' Princeton College conferred 
upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. 

Hughes, Jesse, born at the headwaters of 
the Monongahela, Virginia, about 1768, early 
became skilled in the use of the rifle and 
tomahawk, and was one of the most active, 
daring and successful Indian hunters in the 
mountain region of Virginia — sometimes 
styled the Wetzel of his portion of the state. 
He was a man of iron constitution, could 
endure extraordinary privations and fatigue, 
and many anecdotes are told of his encoun- 
ters with the red men and of the invaluable 
services he rendered to the white settle- 
ments on the Monongahela. He was more 
than a match at any time for the most wary 
savage; in his ability to anticipate all their 
artifices, he had few equals and no superiors. 
He was a great favorite, and no scouting 
party could be complete unless Jesse 
Hughes had something to do with it. 

Claiborne, Ferdinand Leigh, was born in 
Sussex county, Virginia, in 1772, son of Col. 
William Claiborne, of King William county, 
and Mary Leigh, his wife, daughter of Ferdi- 
nand Leigh. In 1793 he entered the military 
service of the United States as ensign of 
infantry, became lieutenant the following 
year, and rose to the rank of captain in 1799. 
He resigned this office in 1802 ; became brig- 
adier-general of the militia in Mississippi, 
February 5, 181 1, and subsequently com- 
manded a regiment of volunteers from that 
territory. He was made brigadier-general 
of United States volunteers in 18 13, and 
was in command at the time of the engage- 
ment with the Creek Indians at the Holy 
Ground, in December of that year. He then 



Digitized by 



Google 



248 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



settled in Mississippi, became legislative 
councillor, February 4, 1815, and later pre- 
sided over the deliberations of the legisla- 
ture. He died in Natchez, Mississippi, in 
181 5. He was a brother of William Charles 
Cole Claiborne, governor of the Mississippi 
territory in 1802 (q. v.). 

Custis, George Washington Parke, was 
born at Mount Airy, Maryland, April 30, 
1781. a son of Col. John Parke Custis, who 
was a son of Mrs. Washington by her first 
husband, Daniel Parke Custis, and who was 
aide-de-camp to Washington at the siege of 
Yorktown, and died November 5, 1781, at 
the age of twenty-eight years. The early 
years of Mr. Cu>tis were spent at Mount 
\'ernon. he pursued his classical studies at 
St. John's College and at Princeton, and was 
a member of Washington's family until the 
oeath of Mrs. Washington in 1802, when he 
built the .-\rlington House on an estate of 
one thousand acres near Washington, which 
he had inherited from his father. In 1852, 
after the death of his sister, Eleanor Parke 
Custis, wife of Maj. Lawrence Lewis, he 
was the sole surviving member <jf Wash- 
ington's lamily, and his residence was for 
many years a favorite resort, owing to the 
relics of that family which it contained. Mr. 
Custis married in early life, Mary Lee Fitz- 
hugh, of Virginia, and left a daughter, Mary 
Randolph, who married Robert E. Lee. The 
Arlington estate was confiscated during the 
civil war, and is now held as national prop- 
erty, and is the site of a national soldiers* 
cemetery. Mr. Custis was an eloquent and 
effective speaker in his early days ; he wrote 
orations and plays, and during his latter 
years executed a number of large paintings 
of revolutionary battles. His ** Recollections 



of Washington.'' originally contributed to 
the "National Intelligencer," was published 
in book form, with a memoir by his daugh- 
ter and notes by Denson J. Lossing, New 
^ork. 1S60. He died at Arlington House, 
Fairfax county. \'irginia. 

Daniel, Peter Vivian, was born in Stafford 
county, X'irginia, April 24, 1784, a son of 
Travers Daniel, and a grandson of Peter 
Daniel, who married a daughter of Raleigh 
Travers. of the X'irginia house of burgesses. 
The residence of Travers Daniel, "Crow's 
Nest." near the mouth of Potomac Creek, 
was celebrated for its hospitalities, and the 
family bore an important part in public af- 
fairs. Peter \'ivian Daniel was graduated 
from Princeton in the class of 1805, and 
read law in the office of Edmund Randolph 
(of Washington's cabinet), whose daughter, 
Lucy Nelson Randolph, he married in iSii. 
He was chosen a member of the privy coun- 
cil of Virginia in 1812, and served part of 
the time as lieutenant-governor of the state 
until 1835. I" 1836 President Van Buren 
appointed him judge of the district circuit 
court of Virginia, and he was raised to the 
supreme court of the United States, March 
3. 1841, to succeed Mr. Justice Barbour. 
Judge Daniel was a Democrat, and a per- 
sonal as well as political friend of Presi- 
dent Jackson. He was a man of fine taste 
in literature, a highly accomplished musi- 
cian, and his judicial opinions are marked 
by care and clearness. He died at Rich- 
mond. Virginia. June 30, i860. 

Cooke, John Rogers, was born in Ber- 
muda, in 1788. For more than forty years 
he was engaged in legal practice in Virginia, 
earning distinction, and during that period 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



249 



was connected with almost all the cases of 
importance which were carried to the higher 
courts of the state. In 1807 he held a com- 
mission in the Frederick township troop that 
marched to the seaboard when the Chcsa- 
l^cake was fired upon, and he was a member 
or the legislature in 18 14. In 1829 he was a 
member of the convention that framed the 
constitution of Virginia, and served, with 
Chief Justice Marshall, ex-President Madi- 
son and John Randolph, on the committee 
of seven that drafted that instrument. He 
possessed a vigorous and penetrating mind, 
j.nd has been called "the model of lofty cour- 
tesy, chivalry and generosity." He died at 
Richmond. Virginia, Decembei 10, 1S54. 

Duval, John Pope, was born at Richmond, 
Virginia, June 3, 1790. His great-grand- 
frther Daniel was a French Huguenot, who 
settled in \'irginia in 1700: his grandfather 
Samuel was a member of the house of bur- 
gesses: and his father, Maj. William Duval, 
was an officer of the revolution, of high repu- 
tation as a chancery lawyer, who spent a 
large fortune in assisting the poor, and en- 
joyed the friendship of Washington. John 
Pope Duval received a liberal education at 
Washington College and at William and 
Mary, then studied law in Richmond, being 
admitted to the bar in 181 1. On April 9, 
1S12, he became first lieutenant intheTwen- 
tieth United States Infantry, served on the 
Canadian frontier, and was promoted to the 
rank of captain, serving in Virginia. After 
the war had been terminated he resigned 
his commission, and engaged in the practice 
of law. He did not, however, meet with 
the success he had anticipated, so he sold 
his property and migrated to Florida, where 
his brother was governor, arriving at Talla- 



hassee in June, 1827. He obtained an ex- 
cellent practice there, but. owing to the un- 
hcalthfulness of the climate, removed to 
Bardstown, Kentucky, in 1832, and resided 
there until 1836, during this time organ- 
izing volunteer forces during the war be- 
tween Texas and Mexico, and held the rank 
ot brigadier-general in the Texan service. 
Just as he was about to depart for the scene 
of hostilities, the war was terminated by 
the capture of Santa Anna. He then re- 
turned to Florida as secretary of the terri- 
tory, gained a high reputation as a lawyer 
there, and was commissioned by Gov. Call 
to make a "Digest of the Laws of Florida," 
1840. While acting as governor, he secured 
the capture of a large body of Indians on the 
Appalachicola river. After the admission of 
Florida to the Union, he gained prominence 
as a Democratic politician, but was a firm 
supporter of the Union during the seces- 
sionist agitation of 1851-52. Mr. Duval 
died in Washington, D. C March 19, 1854. 

Gilmer, Francis Walker, youngest son of 
Dr. George Gilmer, of *Pen Parke," Albe- 
marle county, and Elizabeth Hudson, his 
wife, daughter of Capt. Christopher Hudson, 
a soldier in the revolution, was born Octo- 
ber 9. 1790 at his father's residence. He lost 
both his parents when he was still a child, 
so that he lacked direction in his studies, 
which were for the most part pursued pri- 
vately. In 1807 he attended William and 
Mary College and with such success that at 
seventeen he was offered by Mr. Madison, 
president of that institution, the ushership 
of the grammar school in the college. His 
'reading was very extensive and in point 
cf learning he was already deemed a pro- 
digy. After leaving college he studied law 



Digitized by 



Google 



250 



VIRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY 



in the office of William Wirt, who had 
married his sister Mildred; practiced with 
success at Winchester and in the neighbor- 
ing counties, and in 1818 removed to Rich- 
mond as a more enlarged and ambitious 
field. Here he worked laboriously and was 
one of the leading lawyers. But he was 
essentially a student and he loved dearly 
literature and the finer arts. It was about 
this time that he wrote his "Sketches of 
American Orators," in which he touched oflE 
with very happy eflFect the eloquence of 
William Pinkney. Littleton Waller Taze- 
well. William Wirt and others. In 1820 he 
wrote a short treatise on "Usury," which re- 
ceived high commendation from Jeficrson, 
Madison and John Randolph. He took much 
interest in the establishment of the Univer- 
sity of Virginia and was offered by Mr. Jef- 
ferson the post of professor of law. This 
he declined, but he was subsequently pre- 
vailed upon by him to go to England and 
select the first professors. This mission he 
executed in a manner most honorable to 
himself and the university. On his return 
he was again tendered the chair of law, 
and on account of his health, which unfitted 
him for the strenuous work of practicing, he 
accepted. He never delivered a lecture, but 
died on February 25. 1826, in the thirty- 
sixth year of his age, at the home of his 
uncle, George Divers, in Albemarle county 
His letters, written in England during his 
mission, were published by William P. 
Trent, under the title of "English Culture in 
Virginia/' in the Johns Hopkins University 
publications on historical and political 
science. There also exist in MSS. some of 
his letters to his nephew. Governor Thomas 
Walker Gilmer, in whose education he took 
much interest. 



Taylor, Edward Thompson, born in Rich- 
mond, Virginia, December 25, 1793. He fol- 
Iciwed the sea in early life ; was captured on 
the privateer Black Hawk in 1S12, taken to 
England, and while in prison at Dartmouth 
acted as chaplain to his fellow prisoners. 
In 1819 he was ordained to the Methodist 
ministry. In 1828 he was a missionary to 
the Seaman's Bethel in Boston, Massachu- 
setts. He was familiarly known as "Father 
Taylor," and his discourses commanded 
wide attention by reason of his remarkably 
vivid use of nautical terms, and his wonder- 
ful descriptive powers. In 1832 he visited 
Lurope. Palestine in 1842. and in 1840 was 
chaplain on the United States frigate Mace- 
douian, on its voyage to Ireland with provi- 
sions for its famine-stricken people. His elo- 
quence commanded the admiring attention 
01 such writers as Miss Martineau, Charles 
Dickens and Miss Bremer. He died in Bos- 
ton, Massachusetts, April 6, 1871. 

Collier, Henry Watkins» bom in Lunen- 
burg county, Virginia, January 17, 1801, and 
was less than a year old when his father re- 
moved with his family to the Abbeville Dis- 
trict, South Carolina, where he received his 
preparatory education. They removed to 
Madison county, Alabama, in 1818, and he 
studied law at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and 
at Huntsville, Alabama, being admitted to 
legal practice in the latter city. He became 
a resident of Tuscaloosa in 1823, and was 
there elected district judge in 1827. Hav- 
ing been appointed associate justice of the 
supreme court of Alabama in 1836, he was 
made chief justice the following year, and 
remained the incumbent of this office until 
1849, when, without opposition, he was 
elected governor of the state. His support 



Digitized by 



Dy Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



251 



was sought both by the southern rights and 
the Union party ; but he favored neither side 
of the question that then agitated the south- 
ern states, and in 1851 was renominated and 
elected without a regular nomination. At 
the expiration of his second term of office 
ho retired to private life, and died at Bailey's 
Springs, Lauderdale county, Alabama, Au- 
gust 28. 1855. 

Jeter, Jeremiah, born in Bedford county, 
Virginia. July 18, 1802. He commenced 
preaching when he was twenty years old, 
and was ordained a Baptist minister in 1824, 
r.nd, in turn, served churches in Bedford, 
Sussex and Campbell counties, in the city 
of Richmond and in St. Louis, Missouri. 
He was made president and a trustee of 
Richmond (Virginia) College, at its organ- 
ization in 1840, and was first president of 
the foreign missions board of his church, 
and later was president of the board of trus- 
tees of the Louisville Theological Seminary. 
Under the board of missions he went to 
Italy to superintend mission work in 1865, 
and established a chapel in Rome. He was 
chief editor of the Richmond "Religious 
Herald,'' and author of numerous biograph- 
ical and other works. He was a principal 
compiler of 'The Psalmist,'' which was gen- 
erally adopted by the churches of the United 
States. Canada and England. He died Feb- 
ruary 25. 1880. 

Mason, Clement R., born in Chesterfield 
county. Virginia, about 1803, of poor par- 
ents; he was early thrown upon his own 
resources, and without the advantages of 
education. In 1861 he recruited a company 
for the Fifty-second Virginia Regiment, but 
his services were called for in another'capac- 
ity. He was commissioned quartermaster, 



with the rank of captain; was employed by 
Gen. "Stonewair* Jackson in constructing 
roads and bridges, in which work he dis- 
played masterly ability, and was promoted 
t(* lieutenant-colonel. After the war he 
turned his attention to railroad construction, 
and built a large part of the Chesapeake & 
Ohio road. By a mental process peculiar to 
himself, he made the most intricate calcula- 
tions in mensuration. He accumulated sev- 
eral fortunes, and lost nearly all through his 
generosity. He died in January, 1885, ^ged 
about eighty-two years. 

Dupuy, Eliza Ann, born at Petersburg, 
\'irginia, about 1814. descended from 
Abraham Dupuy, who settled with other 
French Huguenots at Manakintown, above 
Richmond, in 1700, and of Col. Joel Stur- 
devant, of the revolution. Her father, a mer- 
chant and ship owner of Norfolk, Virginia, 
moved to Kentucky, where she wrote her 
first novel, "Meeton. a Tale of the Revolu- 
tion." She became governess in a family at 
Natchez, Mississippi, and while there wrote 
her story of Aaron Burr, under title of 'The 
Conspirator," and its success impelled her 
to give herself entirely to literary work, and 
she produced many volumes, among them 
•The Planter's Daughter,*' *The Separa- 
tion.'' *The Divorce,'' ** Florence, or the 
Fatal Vow." "Ashleigh. a Tale of the Revo- 
lution," *The Huguenot Refugees." Most of 
her work was of the sensational order, and 
included writings under contract for the 
"New York Ledger." She died at New Or- 
leans, Louisiana, in January, 1881. 

Baldwin, Joseph Glover, born near Win- 
chester, Virginia, in January, 1815. He had 
little opportunity for education, and was in 
large degree self-taught. He did secretarial 



Digitized by 



Google 



252 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



work, meantime studying law. He moved 
tc Macon, Mississippi, and thence to Liv- 
ingston, Alabama, where he began to achieve 
success in literature as well as in his profes- 
sion. In 1844 he was a member of the Ala- 
bama legislature, and in 1849 ^^'^^ ^^ ^^' 
successful candidate for congress. He re- 
moved to California, and was a judge of the 
supreme court from 1857 to 1862, and was 
chief justice from 1863 to January, 1864, 
when he resigned to engage in law practice. 
In 1853 ^^ wrote "Flush Times in Alabama 
and Mississippi/' which was regarded as 
containing the best delineations of southern 
character in the days prior to the war, 
abounding in quaint humor ; and in the same 
year he produced "Party Leaders," being 
judicial estimates of political celebrities; 
and "Humorous Legal Sketches," a work of 
surpassing humor and quaint philosophy. 
His biographer spoke of him as "an able 
lawyer, an eloquent advocate, a learned jur- 
ist, a sparkling wit." He married a daugh- 
ter of Hon. John White, of California. He 
died in 1866, leaving, among other children, 
a son, Alexander W. Baldwin, a well known 
jurist, who was killed in a railway accident 
in Nevada in 1869. 

a 

Carruthers» William A., was born in Vir- 
ginia about 1800. He was a student at 
Washington College, Virginia, about 1818, 
being educated there for the profession of 
medicine. He was the author of romances, 
full of spirit and animation, and based 
mainly on American historical facts, and 
these enjoyed great popularity at the time. 
Upon his removal to Savannah, he engaged 
ir. medical practice, and also contributed to 
the "Magnolia" and other southern maga- 
zines. In 1838 he gave an account, in the 



"Knickerbocker Magazine." of a hazardous 
ascent of the natural bridge in Virginia. 
His published works are: 'The Cavaliers 
of \'irginia, or the Recluse of Jamestown, an 
Historical Romance of the Old Dominion," 
depicting the scenes of Bacon's Rebellion 
and the conflict between Royalists and 
Cromwellians in Virginia (Xew York, 1832) ; 
"The Kentuckian in Xew York, or the Ad- 
ventures of Three Southerners," a volume 
oi descriptive sketches with romantic inci- 
dents; "The Knights of the Horse-Shoe, a 
Traditionary Tale of the Cocked Hat Gentry 
ill the Old Dominion," the scene of which 
is laid in Virginia in the time of Gov. Sp)Ots- 
wood (Wetumpka. Alabama, 1845) ; and a 
"Life of Dr. Caldwell." He died at Savan- 
nah. Georgia, about 1850. 

Chapman, John Gadsby, was born in Alex- 
andria. Virginia, in 1808. From his earliest 
years he displayed remarkable talent for art, 
and was sent to Italy to study under the best 
masters. Upon his return to America he 
settled in New York, and there was elected 
a member of the National Academy in 1836. 
He was especially successful as an etcher 
and wood engraver, being engaged to make 
illustrations for many books. Among the 
best known of his works of this kind are 
"Harper's Illustrated Bible," and a "Draw- 
ing-Book," which passed through many edi- 
tions in this country and in England. He 
returned to Italy in 1848, and from that time 
made his studio in Rome. la 1839 and in 
1878 he visited this country. In 1888 he 
was one of the three survivors of the orig- 
inal members of the "Sketch Club," estab- 
lished in New York about 1830, the others 
being a sister of Robert C. Sands, and Prof. 
Robert W. Weir. The paintings of Mr. 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



^53 



Chapman were also justly celebrated, among 
the most popular being: "Baptism of Poca- 
hontas." in the Capitol at Washington; 
"Etruscan Girl;" "Sunset on the Cam- 
pagna;'* "Vintage Scene;*' **Stone Pines in 
the Barberini Valley ;" and ** Valley of Mex- 
ico. 

Cooke, Philip Pendleton, was born at Mar- 
tinsburg, Virginia. October 26, 1816, a son 
o( John Rogers Cooke. He was graduated 
al Princeton in the class of 1834, then took 
up the study of law with his father, and was 
engaged in the practice of his profession be- 
fore he had attained his majority. He had, 
however, little love for legal ^ork, prefer- 
ring literature and field sports, to both of 
which he was devoted. Prior to his death 
he had become famous as the greatest hunts- 
man in the Shenandoah Valley. His repu- 
tation as a poet is a most creditable one ; at 
an early period he published a number of 
poems* in the "Knickerbocker Magazine," 
and was also a frequent contributor to the 
"Southern Literary Messenger." He was 
stately and impressive in manner and a bril- 
liant conversationalist. His only publica- 
tion in book form was "Froissart Ballads, 
and other Poems," Philadelphia, 1847. -^t 
the time of his death he was publishing 
serially a romance entitled **Chevalier Mer- 
lin." His short lyrics, "Florence Vane," 
"To My Daughter. Lily," and "Rosa Lee," 
were very popular. The first named has 
been translated into many languages, and 
has been set to music by celebrated com- 
posers. Among his tales are "John Carpe," 
"The Crime of Andrew Blair," and "The 
Cregories of Hackwood." Mr. Cooke died 
January 20, 1850. 



Tyler, John Webb, was descended from 
Charles Tyler, who was living in West- 
moreland county as early as 1690, and prob- 
ably came from Maryland. He was a son 
of William Tyler, of Prince William county, 
who married his cousin, Mary Tyler, daugh- 
ter of George G. Tyler. He served in the 
senate of Virginia, and in 1850 was elected 
judge of the circuit court to succeed John 
Scott. In 1858 he was appointed a judge of 
the special court of appeals, created for the 
relief of the docket of the regular court. 
John Randolph Tucker says in his "Remi- 
niscences of V'irginia Judges and Jurists" 
that "while he did not pretend to extensive 
learning he had a strong common sense, a 
quickness of perception and a promptness 
of decision which made him an admirable 
judge." 

Dupuy, Bartholomew, came to Virginia 
in the French Huguenot emigration of 1700. 
His family was very ancient in France, and 
Bartholomew was an officer in the g^iards 
of Louis XIV. After the revocation of the 
edict of Xantes in 1685, he fled to Germany, 
where he remained with his wife, the Coun- 
tess Susanne Lavillon, fourteen years. He 
then went to England, and in 1700 came to 
Virginia and settled at Manakintown, in 
what is now Goochland county. During the 
American revolution three of his grandsons, 
Capts. James and John Dupuy and Lieu- 
tenant Peter Dupuy, served in the Ameri- 
can army; and in the Confederate army he 
was represented, to say nothing of many 
other gallant descendants, by Dr. John J. 
Dupuy, afterwards of Davidson College, 
Xorth Carolina. 

Buchanan, John, was born in Scotland in 
the year 1743. He was a Master of Arts of 



Digitized by 



Google 



254 



VIRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY 



the University of Edinburgh and first stud- 
ied law. He came to Virginia and joined 
his elder brother in Richmond — Mr. James 
Buchanan, a prominent merchant of that 
place. Xot finding his turn of mind either 
fitted for law or mercantile pursuits, he re- 
turned to Great Britain and was invested 
with holy orders in 1775. He taught as 
tutor in several private families, and finally 
returned to Virginia, where he was minister 
or Lexington parish in Amherst county in 
1780. He removed to Richmond about 1782, 
where he resided in the family of Jaqueline 
Ambler, treasurer of the state, and was min- 
ister of St. John's Church, and also preach- 
ed in the capitol, alternately sharing his 
congregation with John D. Blair (q. v.), 
the Presbyterian minister. No churches had 
then been built in Richmond. He died in 
his eightieth year. December 22, 1822. He 
never married. 

Latane, Rev. Lewis, came to Virginia in 
the French Huguenot emigration in 1700, 
with his wife, four children and one servant 
He was rector of South Farnham parish, 
Essex county, from 1700 till his death, in 
1734. One of his descendants was the gal- 
lant Capt. Latane, who was killed in 1862, 
at **01d Church," Hanover county, in one 
of Gen. J. E. B. Stuart's raids, and whose 
romantic burial at the hands of Virginia 
ladies, assisted by their servants, was per- 
petuated on canvas by Washington, a Vir- 
ginia artist, and engraved. Another de- 
scendant was Bishop James A. Latane, of 
the Reformed Episcopal church. 

Rose, Rev. Robert, was born in Scotland 
ii« 1705, was ordained for the ministry, and 
came to Virginia in 1725, where he was 
given charge of St. Anne's parish, Essex 



county. In 1746 he had charge of St. Anne's 
parish. Nelson county. He was a remark- 
ably active and zealous preacher and man 
o^ affairs. His journal shows that he was a 
kind of universal genius. When the city of 
Richmond was to be laid out, he was invited 
to lend his counsel. While thus engaged he 
sickened and died, and was buried in the 
\ard of St. John's Church. He died June 
30, 1751, in his forty-seventh year, and his 
tombstone testifies to "his extraordinary 
genius and capacity in all the polite and 
useful arts of life." He had four brothers 
in Virginia, one of whom was Rev. Charles 
Rose, of Cople parish, Westmoreland coun- 
t\. He had four sons — Hugh, Patrick, 
Henry and Charles — who have left numer- 
ous descendants. 

West, William, bom in Fairfax county, 
Virginia, in 1739, son of Hugh West, who 
died in 1754, in Loudoun county. His birth- 
place was near Mount Vernon, and he be- 
came intimate with Washington. He went 
to England for orders, which he received 
from the bishop of London, November 24. 
i;'6i. He served two years in his native prov- 
ince, in 1761-63; was incumbent of St. Mar- 
garet's, Westminster parish, Ann Arundel 
county, Maryland, 1763-67; of St. Andrew's, 
St. Mary's county, in 1767-72; of St. George's 
parish. Harford county, in 1772-79; and of 
St. Paul's, Baltimore coiinty. in 1779-91, 
officiating in connection therewith in St. 
Thomas's parish, ten miles distant. He re- 
ceived the degree of Doctor of Divinity from 
Washington College. Maryland, in 1785; 
was active in the work of settling church 
affairs, directly after the revolution, and was 
a correspondent of Bishop White, who 
valued his sound judgment and accurate ac- 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



253 



quaintance with the important subject of 
organizing the Protestant Episcopal church 
and in revising the liturgy. He was secre- 
tary of the convention of Maryland, in June, 
1784, and president in May, 1790; and was 
a delegate to the general convention. He 
died near Baltimore, Maryland, March 30, 
1791. His brother John, known as Capt. 
John West, Jr., of Fairfax county, married 
Catherine, daughter of Major Thomas Col- 
ville, first cousin of Lady Bennett, countess 
of Tankerville (see West Family in ''Wil- 
liam and Mary College Quarterly,*' x, p. 65). 

Douglass, Rev. William, came from Scot- 
land in the year 1748, and was a teacher in 
the family of Col. Spence Monroe, father of 
President James Monroe. In 1749 he re- 
turned to Great Britain, and was ordained 
a minister, and returning to Virginia was 
given charge of St. James' Northam parish, 
in Goochland county. Here he remained 
till 1787, and was extraordinarily active as 
a minister and a man of affairs. He kept a 
very full register of births and deaths in his 
parish, which is still preserved. His daugh- 
ter Margaret married Mr. Nicholas Meri- 
wether, of Albemarle, and they were the an- 
cestors of many of that name in America. 

Mark, John, an emigrant from Ulster, Ire- 
land. He was an ardent Whig in the revo- 
lution. He purchased a splendid estate in 
Berkeley county, called "Travellers' Rest," 
from Gen. Gates, with whom he maintamed 
a familiar correspondence. He removed to 
Fredericksburg, and was a leading member 
of the first Presbyterian church. He mar- 
ried Ellen Morrow, a relative of James Rum- 
sey. His daughter Ann married John Baker, 
Jr., congressman from 181 1 to 1813; she was 



a passenger on James Rumsey's boat at 
Shepherds town in 1786. 

Blair, John Durbarrow, son of Rev. John 
Blair, principal of Fogg's Manor, Chester 
county, Pennsylvania, was born at Fogg's 
Manor, October 15, 1759. He was educated 
as a Presbyterian minister under his father's 
care, and at an early date came to Virginia. 
He presided over Washington-Henry Acad- 
emy in Hanover, and assumed control of 
Pole Green Church, founded by Samuel 
Davies. This church he continued to serve 
till his removal to Richmond. For many 
years he officiated in the capitol alternately 
v/ith Rev. John Buchanan, an Episcopal 
minister, preaching to the same congrega- 
tion. He was first pastor of the Grace Street 
Presbyterian Church in Richmond. He died 
January 10, 1823. George Wythe Munford 
made Blair and Buchanan the subject of a 
work called "The Two Parsons," to weave 
around them a charming account of the 
early days of Richmond. Mr. Lewis H. 
Blair (q. v.) is one of his descendants. 

Rind, William, was an apprentice of Jonas 
Green, editor of the "Maryland Gazette." 
In 1766 he was invited to Virginia by 
Thomas Jefferson and other leading patriots 
to set up an opposition "Gazette" to the one 
published by Joseph Royle. which was too 
much under royal control. He was appoint- 
ed public printer by the house of bur- 
gesses. The motto of his paper was "open 
to all parties, but influenced by none." He 
died August 19, 1773, ^^^ his paper was 
carried on for two years by his widow. 
Clementina Rind, a native of Maryland. She 
died two years after her husband, when 
John Pinkney succeeded her. William Rind 
left two sons, James, a clever letter writer 



Digitized by 



Google 



256 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



and lawyer in Richmond about 1804, and 
William, and a daughter Maria, first wife of 
Judge John Coalter. 

Paradise, John, son of Peter Paradise, 
was born at Thessalonica, where his father, 
a Greek, was British consul. He removed 
to London, where he was a friend of Sam- 
uel Johnson, and member of the ''Literary 
Club." He is mentioned by Boswell in his 
"Life of Johnson." He came to Virginia 
about 1783, and became a citizen of that 
state and was a member of the board of 
visitors of William and Mary College. 
After 1788 he returned with his wife to 
London, where he died in 1795. His wife 
v/as Lucy Ludwell, youngest daughter of 
Hon. Philip Ludwell, and she returned from 
London to V'irginia in 1805. Paradise had 
two daughters, Portia and Lucy, which last 
married Count Philip J. Barziza, of Venice, 
whose son of the same name settled in Wil- 
liamsburg, married Cecilia Belette, and had 
ten children. The last was named Decimus 
Ultimus Barziza. When Mrs. Paradise re- 
turned to Virginia, after the death of her 
husband, she brought among other house- 
hold treasures, her dining table, around 
which the Literary Club had so often been 
entertained. This table is now the property 
of Miss Mary J. Gait, of Williamsburg. 

Rumsey, James, born at Bohemia Manor, 
Cecil county, Maryland, about 1743; he was 
a machinist and boat builder, and his 
most notable invention, the steamboat, was 
constructed at Shepherdstown, Virginia, and 
was used upon the Potomac river, at that 
place. In 1784 he exhibited to Washington 
the model of a boat for stemming the cur- 
rent of rivers, by the force of the stream 
acting upon setting poles. This he patented 



in several states, and in March, 1785, he ob- 
tained from the Pennsylvania assembly an 
exclusive ten years' right **to navigate and 
build boats to work with greater care and 
rapidity." Later he launched upon the Po- 
tomac river a boat provided with a steam 
engine and machinery of his own construc- 
tion that propelled the vessel by the force 
of a stream of water thrown out by a pump 
at the stern. He made a successful trial 
trip in December, 1787, which was witness- 
ed by a large concourse of people, and he 
was granted the rights of so navigating the 
streams of Xew York, Maryland and Vir- 
ginia. The Rumsey Society, of which Ben- 
jamin Franklin was a principal member, was 
founded in Philadelphia in 1788, for the pur- 
pose of furthering his enterprise. He then 
went to England, where a similar society 
v.as organized, and he obtained patents for 
his inventions in Great Britain, France and 
Holland. At London, a boat and" machinery 
were built for him, and a successful trial trip 
v/as made on the Thames in December, 1792, 
and he died while preparing for a second 
experiment, December 23, same year. He 
rose to address a large audience in London 
and fell dead. He published "A Short 
Treatise on the Application of Steam," 
which involved him in a controversy with 
John Fitch. In 1839 the Kentucky legisla- 
ture presented to his son a gold medal, 
"commemorative of his father's services and 
high agency in giving to the world the bene- 
fits of the steamboat." 

Braidwood* John, son of John Braidwood. 
of Edinburgh and London. His father was 
founder of a school in London, for the in- 
struction of the deaf and dumb. The son 
came to "Cobb's," Goochland county, Vir- 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



257 



ginia, to teach afflicted children in the fam- 
ily of William Boiling, and, as a result, Mr. 
Boiling established the first institution in 
America for the education of the deaf and 
dumb. The school had six or seven scholars 
and was under the charge of Braidwood, 
and, after several years, was abandoned on 
account of his bad habits, from which Mr. 
Boiling found it impossible to retrieve him. 
He died in 1819 or 1820. a victim of intem- 
perance. 

Davies, William, a native of Delaware, 
sen of Rev. Samuel Davies, who succeeded 
Rev. Jonathan Edwards in the presidency 
oi Princeton College ; his mother, before her 
marriage, was Mary Holt, of Williamsburg, 
Virginia, sister of William Holt, mayor of 
that city. He graduated at Princeton Col- 
lege, and afterwards was a teacher there. 
Richard Stockton (a signer of the Declara- 
tion of Independence) became his guardian 
and law preceptor. He served through the 
revolutionary war, was engaged in various 
battles, and was made colonel. After the 
war. President Washington appointed him 
United States collector at Norfolk, an office 
which he held until the incoming of the Jef- 
ferson administration. Later he was ap- 
pointed to settle the war accounts between 
Virginia and the Federal government, which 
kept him for several years in New York and 
Philadelphia. He married Mary Murray 
Gordon, daughter of James Murray, and 
widow of Alexander Gordon, merchant of 
Petersburg. 

Thornton, Anthony, born at **Ormsby," 
Caroline county, Virginia, February i, 1748, 
son of Anthony Thornton and Sarah Talia- 
ferro, his wife; was a member of the Caro- 

VIA^l? 



line county committee of safety in 1775- 
1776, and during the revolution he was ap- 
pointed lieutenant-colonel of the militia in 
1777; county lieutenant from 1779 to 1789. 
He commanded the Caroline militia. He 
was at the siege of Yorktown, and his force 
took part in the attack on Gloucester Point. 
In 1868 Col. Thornton removed with his 
family to Kentucky, where one of his de- 
scendants has in possession the sword which 
he carried during the war for independence. 
He died at Paris, Bourbon county, Ken- 
tucky, December 21, 1828. His brother, 
Presley, commanded a cavalry company, 
another brother was an aide to Washington, 
in the same war. 

Thornton, James Bankhcad, born at 
"Mount Zephyr," Caroline county, Virginia, 
August 28, 1806, son of James B. Thornton, 
and grandson of Col. Anthony Thornton 
(q. v.). He was educated at William and 
Mary College and studied law. He was a 
member of the Virginia senate in 1838-40. 
He was one of the principal movers in the 
founding of the Virginia Militarj- Institute 
at Lexington. He practiced his profession 
at Warrenton, Fauquier county and sub- 
sequently at Bowling Green, Caroline coun- 
ty, \'irginia. In 1847 he removed to Mem- 
phis, Tennessee, where he continued to prac- 
tice law. He was author of a "Digest of 
the Conveyancing, Testamentary and Reg- 
istry Laws of the States of the Union" 
(Philadelphia, 1847), and a work on "As- 
signments,** the manuscript of which was 
burned by accident before it could be pub- 
lished. During the civil war he was identi- 
fied with the cause of the Southern Con- 
federacy. He died at Memphis, Tennessee, 
October 12, 1867. 



Digitized by 



Google 



258 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Minor, Thomas, bom at '* Locust Gr^'e," 
Spotsylvania county, Virginia, in 1751, son 
of Captain Thomas Minor and Alice 
Thomas, his wife. He was in military serv- 
ice during the entire war of the revolution, 
holding commissions in turn as second and 
first lieutenant, adjutant, and as captain and 
aide-de-camp to Gen. Edward Stevens, at 
the siege and surrender of Yorktown. After 
the war he was colonel of militia, justice of 
the peace, and twice high sheriff. Twice he 
v.as called upon to do public honor to the 
Marquis de Lafayette — first in 1824, when 
that illustrious soldier and friend to Amer- 
ica was given a public reception. Col. Minor 
acting as master of ceremonies; and a de- 
cade later (July 11. 1834), when at a memo- 
rial service in honor of Lafayette, then 
ktely deceased, Col. Minor acted as chief 
pall-bearer, and though in his eighty-third 
year, marched on foot. The old veteran be- 
came overheated and took a cold which re- 
sulted in pneumonia, and ended in his death, 
on the 2 1 St of the same month. On the 
previous Fourth of July he had entertained 
a host of neighbors and friends with a bar- 
becue and out-of-door entertainments on a 
very liberal scale. He was fond of dogs 
and horses, and is mentioned in the "Vir- 
ginia Historical Magazine" as one of the 
principal improvers of the blooded horses 
or the state, by imputation and systematic 
breeding. He rode his favorite horse, 
**Gentle Kitty" to Washington City, to pay 
his respects to Gen. Jackson, then just elect- 
ed to the presidency, and was received with 
distinguished friendship and appreciation. 
He married, in 1781, Elizabeth, daughter of 
Col. James Taylor, of "Midway," Caroline 
county, Virginia. 



Tatham, William, born in Hutton, Eng- 
land, in 1752. He came to America in 1769, 
and engaged in a mercantile business on 
the James river, \'irginia. He served as ad- 
jutant in the operations against the Indians, 
with whom he came into familiar contact, 
and from the knowledge of their history 
which he gained he wrote excellent bio- 
graphical accounts of Atakullakulla, Oconis- 
toto, Cornstalk and other distinguished 
chiefs. During the revolutionary war he 
was a colonel of \*irginia cavalry under 
Gen. Thomas Nelson, and was of the party 
that stormed the Yorktown redoubt. With 
Col. John Todd, in 1780, he compiled the 
first trustworthy account of the western 
country. After the revolutionary war. he 
studied law; in 1784 was admitted to the 
bar, and in 1786 removed to North Carolina, 
where he founded the settlement of Lum- 
berton, and was a member of the legislature 
in 1787. In 1796 he returned to England, 
and became superintendent of the London 
docks. He came back to Virginia in 1805. 
He was impoverished in his old age, and 
was made military storekeeper in the Rich- 
mond arsenal. While so engaged, on Feb- 
ruary 22. 1819, he committed suicide by 
springing in front of a cannon at the instant 
of its firing in a salute in honor of Wash- 
ington's birthday. He was one of the most 
remarkable men of his day, and in his many 
published works anticipated by more than 
a half century all others in calculating the 
agricultural and commercial possibilities of 
the new nation, and making suggestions for 
their development, as witness: "An Ana- 
lysis of the State of Virginia" (1790) ; **Two 
Tracts relating to the Canal between Nor- 
folk and North Carolina" (1797) ; "Remarks 
on Inland Canals" (1798) ; "Political Econ- 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSON'S 



259 



cmy of Inland Navigation, Irrigation and 
Drainage" (1799) ; "Communications on the 
Agriculture and Commerce of the United 
States" (,1800); "Historical and Practical 
Essay on the Culture and Commerce of 
Tobacco'* (1800); "National Irrigation" 
(1801); "Oxen for Tillage" (1801). 

Hunter, Andrew, born in Virginia in 1752, 
the son of a British officer, and was licensed 
to preach by the first Presbytery of Phila- 
delphia in 1773. immediately after which he 
m.ade a missionary tour through Virginia 
and Pennsylvania. In 1775 he was appoint- 
ed a brigade chaplain, served throughout 
the revolutionary war, and received the pub- 
lic thanks of Gen. Washington for the valu- 
able services he had rendered at the battle 
of Monmouth. He was principal of a school 
near Trenton, New Jersey, in 1794, and in 
1804 he was elected professor of mathe- 
matics and astronomy at Princeton. He re- 
signed from this office in 1808 to take charge 
or the Dordentown Academy, and in 1810 
became a chaplain in the navy. He married 
a daughter of Richard Stockton, the singer. 
He died in Washington, D. C, February 24, 
18J3. 

Kcnnon, Richard, of "Finewood." Meck- 
lenburg county, \irginia. son of Robert 
Kennon and Sarah Skipwith. his wife, 
daughter of Sir William Skipwith, baronet. 
He entered the revolutionary war as lieu- 
tenant in the Fifth Virginia Regiment, and 
served with distinction. He was made brig- 
adier-general of state troops: was county 
lieutenant of Mecklenburg county in 1789: 
member of house of delegates: state sena- 
tor, and speaker of senate, 1801. He was 
the first governor of the territory of Louisi- 
ana, under President Jefferson, and he died 



while holding that office, in New Orleans, 
at the age of forty-four. He married Eliza- 
beth, daughter of Col. Robert Munford, of 
"Richland," Mecklenburg county, Virginia. 
Commodore Beverley Kennon (q. v.;, of 
the United States navy, was his son. 

Bellini, Charles, doubtless came to Vir- 
ginia with Philip Mazzel, in 1773; his name 
is found in the roll of Albemarle volunteers 
in 1775, ^"J o" 1779 to 1783 on the Masonic 
rolls at Williamsburg. In 1779 he became 
the first professor of modern languages in 
William and Mary College — the first insti- 
tution of learning in the United States to 
establish such a professorship. When the 
college was temporarily closed, in 178 1, the 
Abbe Robin states that he saw "this soli- 
tary professor of Italian extraction" at Wil- 
liamsburg, and that "his conversation and 
abilities appeared to be such that after what 
he told us of his brethren, we could not help 
regretting their absence." He died in 1803. 

Henkel, Paul, born in Rowan county, 
North Carolina, December 15, 1754, a de- 
scendant of Gerhardt. a court preacher in 
Germany, and one of the earliest Lutheran 
ministers to come to America, who settled 
in Germantown, Pennsylvania, about 1740. 
Nearly all the male descendants have been 
Lutheran clergymen. Paul's father settled 
in North Carolina, but in 1760 the family 
were driven by the Catawba Indians to take 
refuge in western Virginia. The son grew 
up an expert hunter and familiar with In- 
dian warfare. About 1776 he listened to 
the preaching of Whitefield. and determined 
to enter the ministry. After receiving a 
brief classical and theological training from 
the Lutheran clergj-man in Fredericktown, 
Maryland, he was licensed to preach by the 



Digitized by 



Google 



26o 



VIRGINIA DIOGRAPHY 



synod, settled at Xew Market, Virginia, and 
was ordained in Philadelphia, June 6, 1792. 
He established several churches in the vicin- 
ity of Xew Market and in Augusta county. 
Virginia, and Rowan county. North Caro- 
lina, where he labored subsequently. While 
in Xorth Carolina he helped to form the 
synod there. He returned to Xew Market 
ir. 1S05, and made missionary tours through 
western X'irginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, In- 
diana and Ohio. He was a fervent speaker 
and writer, both in English and German, a 
man of earnest convictions, who roused much 
oi)position by his insistance on the conserva- 
tion of the original confessions and rites of 
the church. He published a work in Ger- 
man on "Baptism and the Lord's Supper," 
1S09, which was afterward translated into 
English ; a German hymn book, 1810 ; and 
one in the English language, 1816, in each 
of which were included many hymns com- 
posed by himself. He also issued a German 
Catechism, 1814, followed by one in Eng- 
lish, and was the author of a German sa- 
tirical poem entitled "Zeitvcrtreib." He 
died at Xew Market, Virginia, November 
17, 1825. 

Wccms, Mason Locke» born in Anne Arun- 
dell county, Maryland, about 1760. He stud- 
ied theology in Edinburgh, took orders in 
the Protestant Episcopal church, and for 
some years was rector of Pohick Church, 
Truro parish, Virginia, at which Washing- 
ton was an attendant. About 1790 neces- 
sities of his family obliged him to resign 
this charge, and he became a book agent 
for Mathew Carey, the Philadelphia pub- 
lisher. He was remarkably successful in 
that employment, "travelling throughout the 
south with his books in his saddle-bags, 



equally ready for a stump, a fair or a pul- 
pit." He was eccentric in mind and man- 
ner, and whenever he heard of a public 
meeting he would attend it, and, collecting 
a crowd about him, urge on his hearers the 
merits of his books, interspersing his re- 
marks with anecdotes and humorous sallies. 
With his temperance pamphlet, entitled 
"The Drunkard's Glass,*' illustrated with 
cuts, he would enter taverns and, by mimick- 
ing the extravagances of the drunkard, so 
amuse and delight his audiences that he had 
no trouble in selling his wares. He was an 
expert violin player, on which he performed 
for young people to dance, thereby causing 
much scandal in pious communities. On 
one occasion he had promised to assist at a 
merrymaking, but fearing for his clerical 
character, he decided to play behind a screen. 
In the course of the evening it was over- 
turned, disclosing the parson to the jeers 
jO^ the company. On another occasion he 
was obliged to pass through a dangerous 
district of South Carolina, which at that 
time was infested with robbers. Just at 
nightfall his wagon sank into a quagmire; 
two ruffians appeared and were about to 
sieze him, when he took out his violin and 
so charmed them by his music that they 
lifted his wheels out of the mud and let him 
go. "I took precious care," said Weems, 
"to say nothing of my name. When they 
pressed the question my fiddle drowned 
their words and mine too." Of his temper- 
ance tracts Bishop William Meade says in 
his "Old Churches and Old Families of Vir- 
ginia:" "They would be most admirable in 
their effects but for the fact that you know 
not what to believe of the narrative. There 
are passages of deep pathos and great elo- 
quence in them." This charge of a want of 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



261 



veracity is brought against all of Weems' 
writings, but there is no improbability ap- 
parent in any of them, and indeed, there is 
too much tendency to hypercritism with 
many modern writers. Several of the most 
widely circulated anecdotes of the youth of 
Washington, especially the famous one of 
the hatchet, rest on his authority. An 
entertaining sketch of W'eems' early pas- 
torate is given in the "Travels in America" 
of John Davis, London, 1802. In this narra- 
tive he figures as a pious and devout preach- 
er, devoted to good works. One of his pam- 
phlets, "The Philanthropist,'" was com- 
mended by Washington in an autograph 
letter to the author, who prefixed it to 
subsequent editions of the tract. His prin- 
cipal works are: "Life of George Wash- 
ington," which is still largely sold in the 
rural districts of many parts of the country, 
and is the most popular biography of that 
general in existence, Philadelphia, Pennsyl- 
vania, 1800; eleventh edition, with additions, 
ir iSti: "Life of General Francis Marion/' 
1805: "Life of Benjamin Franklin, with Es- 
sr.ys," 1817; and "Life of William Penn,'* 
1S19. Mr. Weems died in Beaufort, South 
Carolina. 18 19. 

Harper, Robert Goodloe, born near Fred- 
ericksburg, Virginia, in 1765, a son of Jesse 
Harper and Diana Goodloe. his wife, who in 
his childhood removed to Granville, North 
Carolina. At the age of fifteen he served 
under Gen. Greene, in a troop of horse com- 
posed of the youth of the neighborhood, dur- 
ing the closing scenes of the southern cam- 
paign of the revolution. He graduated 
from Princeton in 1785, studied law in 
Charleston. South Carolina, and was admit- 
ted to the bar in 1786. Shortly afterward 



he removed to the interior of the state, 
where he became well known through a 
series of articles on a proposed change in 
the constitution. He was elected to the 
legislature, and later to congress, serving 
from February 9, 1795, ^"^^^ March 3, 1801, 
warmly supporting the administrations of 
Washington and Adams. During his active 
service in the war of 18 12, he was promoted 
from the rank of colonel to that of major- 
general. Soon after the defeat of the Fed- 
eralists, he married the daughter of Charles 
Carroll, of Carrollton, removed to Balti- 
more, Maryland, where he attained emi- 
nence at the bar. In association with Joseph 
Hopkinson he was employed as counsel for 
Judge Samuel Chase, of the United States 
supreme court, in his impeachment trial. 
At a dinner given at Georgetown. D. C, 
June 5, 1813, in honor of the Russian vic- 
tories, he gave as a toast "Alexander, the 
Deliverer.*' following it with a speech eulo- 
gizing the Russians. Upon the publication 
of the speech. Robert Walsh addressed the 
author a letter in which he expressed the 
opinion that the orator underrated the mili- 
tary character of Napoleon, and failed to 
point out the danger of Russian ascendency. 
To this letter Harper made an elaborate re- 
ply. Walsh responded, and the correspond- 
ence was then published in a volume (1814). 
Harper was elected to the United States 
senate from Maryland to serve from Janu- 
ary 29, 1816, to March 3, 1821, but resigned 
h" the first mentioned year to become one of 
the Federalist candidates for vice-president. 
In 1819-20 he visited Europe with his fam- 
ily, and upon his return employed himself 
chiefly in the promotion of schemes for in- 
ternal improvements. He was an active 
member of the American Colonization Soci- 



Digitized by 



Google 



262 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



ely, and the town of Harper, near Cape 
Palmas, Africa, was named in his honor. 
His pamphlet entitled "Observations on the 
Dispute Between the United States and 
France," 1797, acquired great celebrity. He 
also printed *'An Address on the British 
Treaty,*' 1796; "Letters on the Proceedings 
of Congress;" and "Letters to His Consti- 
tuents," 1801. A collection of his various 
letters, addresses and pamphlets was pub- 
lished with the title "Select Works," Balti- 
more. 1814. Mr. Harper died in Baltimore, 
Maryland, January 15, 1825. 

Bibby George M., born in Prince Edward 
county. Virginia. October 30, 1776, son of 
Rev. Richard Bibb. He graduated at Prince- 
ton College in 1792. studied law at William 
and Mary College, and settled in Kentucky. 
There he became a member of the legisla- 
ture, was three times chief justice, a state 
senator two years, and a United States Sen- 
ator from 1829 to 1835. President Tyler ap- 
pointed him secretary of the treasury in 
1844. After the close of the Tyler admin- 
istration, he practiced law in Washington 
City, and was an assistant in the office of 
the attorney-general. He was author of 
'■Reports of Cases at Common Law and in 
Chancery in the Kentucky Court of Ap- 
peals'* (1808-11). He died in Georgetown, 
D. C, April 14, 1859. 

Pope, John, born in Prince William coun- 
ty, Virginia, in 1770, son of William Pope, 
captain in the revolution and colonel of 
militia, and Penelope Edwards, his wife. 
He lost an arm by accident when a boy. 
He removed to Kentucky, and was a United 
States senator from that state; from 1829 
to. 1837 was territorial governor of Arkan- 
sas ; died at Springfield, Kentucky, July 12. 



1845. He had a son Nathaniel, who was a 
United States judge in Illinois, and father 
of Major-General John Pope. U. S. A. The 
Pope family had its origin in Nathaniel 
Pope, who settled in Maryland as early as 
1637, and removed to Virginia (see vol. i. p. 
3C6). 

Ravenscroft,John Stark, born near Bland- 
ford, Prince George county, Virginia, May 
17, 1772, son of Dr. John Ravenscroft and 
Lillias Miller, his wife. His parents re- 
moved to Scotland, and he was educated at 
excellent schools there and in England. In 
January, 1789. he returned to Virginia on 
family business, and entered William and 
Mary College with the intention of studying 
law, but soon returned to Scotland, settled 
his father's disordered estate, again return- 
ing to \'irginia and taking up with a coun- 
try life in Lunenburg county. His religious 
principles were unfixed until 1810, when he 
connected himself with the "Republican 
Methodists/' This connection did not last 
long, and he later connected himself with the 
Protestant Episcopal church, in which he 
was licensed as a lay reader, in February, 
18 1 6. He was invited to the rectorate of St. 
James' Church, in Mecklenburg county, be- 
fore he was received into- the ministry, and 
he was ordained deacon by Bishop Richard 
C. Moore, in April, 1817, and priest by the 
same prelate, a month later. The same 
\ear he declined a call to Norfolk, and to 
become assistant of Bishop Moore, in the 
ilonumental Church, Richmond. At this 
time he was elected first bishop of North 
Carolina, and was consecrated in St. Paul's 
Church, Philadelphia, May 22, 1823. In 
crder to supplement his salary, he was also 
rector of Christ Church, Raleigh, for five 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



263 



years. He attended the general convention 
in Philadelphia in August, 1829, and on his 
return home, gradually declined, and died, 
in Raleigh, North Carolina, March 5, 1830. 
He received the degree of D. D. from Wil- 
liam and Mary College, Williamsburg, \*ir- 
ginia. 

Robertson, Thomas Boiling, born near 
Petersburg, Virginia, in 1773, son of Wil- 
liam Robertson, of the council of state (born 
1750, died 1829), and Elizabeth Boiling, his 
wife, a descendant of Pocahontas. He 
graduated at William and Mary College in 
1807, became a lawyer, and engaged in prac- 
tice in his native place. In 1807 he received 
from President Jefferson the appointment 
of secretary for the new territory of Louis- 
iana, and, after its admission to the Union 
as a state, was its first member of congress, 
and was three times re-elected, serving 
from December 28, 1812, to 1818, when he 
resigned, on account of ill-health and an in- 
creased dislike for a congressional life. Soon 
afterwards he was elected governor of 
Louisiana, and after serving the constitu- 
tional term, resumed the practice of his pro- 
fession in New Orleans, but was soon made 
attorney-general of the state, and, shortly 
afterwards. United States district judge for 
Louisiana. His health was now greatly 
broken, and he returned to his Virginia 
home, to pass his remaining days. He was 
in France during the last days of the empire, 
and. while there, wrote remarkably inter- 
esting letters to his family, which were 
published in the Richmond "Enquirer," and 
afterwards reprinted in book form. He died, 
at White Sulphur Springs. Virginia, No- 
vember 5, 1828. He was brother of Wynd- 
ham Robertson, lieutenant and acting gov- 
ernor (q. v.). 



Warrock, John, born in Richmond, Vir- 
ginia. November 4, 1774. He received a 
common-school education, became a printer, 
and for forty years issued annually "War- 
rock's Almanac." He was chosen to the office 
of printer to the Virginia senate, and held 
that place for more than forty years. He 
died March 8, 1858. 

Allen, Robert, born in Augusta county, 
Virginia, in 1777. He was a merchant, and 
after settling in Carthage, Tennessee, about 
1804, became clerk of the county court. In 
the war of 1812 he served with distinction 
as a colonel under Jackson. From 18 19 till 
1827 he was a member of congress. He 
died near Carthage, Tennessee, August 19, 
1844. 

Turner, Edward, born in Fairfax county, 
Virginia, November 25. 1778. He was edu- 
cated at Transylvania University and stud- 
ied law. In 1802 he emigrated to Missis- 
sippi and settled in Natch'ez, where he be- 
gan the practice of his profession. The 
governor of the territory appointed Turner 
his aide-de-camp, and soon afterward he be- 
came clerk of the territorial house of repre- 
sentatives, also acting as the governor's 
private secretary. In 1S03 he was appointed 
register of the land-office, and in 181 1 he 
was elected to the legislature from Warren 
county. He was chosen city magistrate of 
Natchez and president of the board of 
select-men in 1813, and after 1815 was sent 
for several terms to the legislature as a rep- 
resentative from Adams county. In 1818 
he was elected to the first legislature that 
assembled under the state government, and, 
except for one year, when he was attorney- 
general of the state, during which time he 
was twice elected speaker. He was ap- 



Digitized by 



Google 



264 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



pointed judge of the criminal court of 
Adams county in 1822. in 1824 judge of the 
supreme court of Mississippi, and in 1829 
chief justice, which place he held until he 
was superseded by the amended constitu- 
tion of 1832. He was chancellor of the state 
from 1834 till 1839, in 1840 was again elected 
judge of the supreme court, and at the ex- 
piration of his term in 1843 ^^*^s chosen to 
the state senate. Judge Turner was ap- 
pointed in 1815 by the legislature to prepare 
a digest of the statute laws of the territory, 
which was completed and adopted in 181 6. 
This digest contains all the statutes in force 
a: that period, and is entitled "Statutes of 
the Mississippi Territory" (Xatchez. 181^)). 
He died in Xatchez. Mississippi, May 2^, 
i860. 

Ashley, William H., born in Powhatan 
county. Virginia, about 1778. He received 
a public school education, and in 1808 
located in Upper Louisiana (now Missouri), 
where he became brigadier-general of 
militia. He was an enterprising fur trader, 
and in 1822 organized a company of three 
hundred men which went to the Rocky 
Mountains, and made trading relations with 
the Indians, and he realized a handsome 
fortune therefrom. He was lieutenant-gov- 
ernor of Illinois in 1820, and a congress- 
man from Missouri, from 1831 to 1837. He 
died near Booneville, Missouri, March 26, 
1838. 

Brodnax, WUliam H., descended from 
Robert Brodnax, a goldsmith of London and 
a native of Godmersham, county Kent, 
England, and son of William Brodnax, who 
was a student at William and Mary College 
in 1761. He studied at Hampden-Sidney 
College, from which he received the honor- 



ary degree of A. M. in 1830: studied law 
under Judge Sterling RuflSn, of Xorth 
Carolina; settled in Dinwiddie county, Vir- 
ginia, and practiced in the counties of 
Brunswick, Greensville. Dinwiddie and the 
city of Petersburg. He was brigadier-gen- 
eral of Virginia militia, and chief marshal 
it Vorktown. when La Fayette visited there 
in 1824; member of the Virginia legislature 
for many years, and of the state conven- 
tion of 1829-1830, favoring a bill in 1832 for 
the gradual abolition of slavery: an active 
member of the \'irginia African Coloniza- 
tion Society: presidential elector in 1S25. 
He died in Dinwiddie county. October 23. 
1834. He married Ann Eliza, daughter of 
Thomas Withers. 

Forsyth, John, born in Frederick county, 
\'irginia, October 22. 1780, a son of an Eng- 
lishman who fought in the American army 
during the war of the revolution. He was 
four years of age when the family removed 
to Georgia, and after proper preparation 
was sent to Princeton, from which he was 
graduated in the class of 1799. He then 
took up the study of law, and was admitted 
to the bar at Augusta. Georgia, in 1802. In 
1808 he was elected attorney-general, and 
was subsequently elected^to a seat in con- 
gress as a representative of the Democratic 
party, serving from 1813 until 1818. in 
which year he became United States sena- 
tor. He resigned this office in 1819, having 
been appointed minister to Spain, and con- 
ducted the negotiations which resulted in 
the cession of Florida to the United States. 
From 1823 to 1827 he again served in con- 
gress, was then elected governor of Georgia, , 
and in 1829 was again chosen United States 
senator to fill the vacancy caused by the re- 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



265 



signation of J. ^I. Berrien. He opposed 
nullification, voted for the Compromise Act 
of Henry Clay in 1833, and supported Jack- 
son in the debate regarding the removal of 
deposits from the United States bank. In 
1832 he was a delegate to the Anti-Tariff 
Convention, held in Milledgeville, Georgia, 
but withdrew on the ground that it did not 
fairly represent the people of Georgia. June 
27, 1834, he resigned from the United States 
senate, to become secretary of state under 
President Jackson, and continued to serve 
under Van Buren until March 3. 1841. He 
died in Washington, D. C, October 21, 1841. 

Walker, Freeman, born in Charles City 
county. Virginia, October 25. 1780, sou of 
Freeman Walker and Sarah Minge, daugh- 
ter of George Minge. He removed to 
Georgia in 1797, was admitted to the bar, 
and began practice in 1802 in Augusta, soon 
becoming eminent in his profession. In 
1807 he was a member of the legislature, 
and in 1819 he was elected United States 
senator from Georgia, but in 1821 he re- 
signed. His speech on the Missouri com- 
promise question attracted general atten- 
tion. He died in Richmond county. Georgia, 
September 23, 1827. He was brother of 
Wyatt Walker, clerk of Charles City county, 
Virginia, from 1800 to 1817. 

Vawter, John, born in Orange county 
(now Madison), Virginia, January 8, 1782. 
He was licensed as a Baptist minister in 
1804, and in 1807, with his father, removed 
t(» the sparsely inhabited territory of In- 
diana, and settled in Madison, of which he 
uas the first magistrate. He was soon after- 
ward elected sheriff of Jefferson and Clarke 
counties, and in 1810 was appointed United 
States marshal for the state. * He served as 



a frontier ranger during the Indian cam- 
paign of 1811-13. was elected colonel of 
militia of Jennings county in 18 17, and 
fijunded Vernon, the county-seat. He was 
pastor of the Baptist church in Vernon in 
i-i2i-48, a member of the legislature in 
1831-35, and in 1836 of the senate, where he 
was instrumental in securing the adoption 
ci a policy of internal improvement by the 
state. He removed to Morgan county in 
1848, founded Morgantown, and presented a 
brick church to the Baptist congregation of 
that place. He died in Morgantown, In- 
diana, August 17. 1862. 

Barry, William Taylor, born in Lunen- 
burg county, \'irginia, February 5, 1785. 
He graduated at Transylvania University 
and coming to William and Mary College 
studied law under Judge St. George Tucker, 
and natural philosophy under President 
James Madison. He was admitted to the 
bar. and practiced at Lexington, Kentucky, 
where his eloquence soon brought him into 
notice. He served in both branches of the 
Kentucky legislature, and in December, 
18 10, was elected to congress to fill a va- 
cancy, serving until March 3, 1811. In the 
war of 1812 he was aide to Gov. Shelby, and 
v.as present at the battle of the Thames, 
October 5, 181 3. He was appointed to the 
United States senate in February, 1815, to fill 
a vacancy, and resigned in 1816 to become a 
judge of the Kentucky supreme court. He 
was afterwards lieutenant-governor, state 
secretary, and chief justice of the state. On 
March 9. 1829. he was appointed postmaster- 
general. The incumbent of this office was 
not then a cabinet minister. President 
Jackson elevated him to gratify his friend 
Maj. Barry. Much dissatisfaction was ex- 



Digitized by 



Google 



266 



VIRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY 



pressed with his management of the depart- 
ment, and he was severely denounced on the 
floor of the house by William Cost John- 
son, of Maryland, and others. A son of 
Maj. Barry, then a lieutenant in the army, 
challenged Johnson, but the challenge was 
withdrawn after its acceptance. On April 
10, 1835, he resigned to accept the office of 
minister to Spain, and died on his way to 
that country. His remains were brought 
home by order of the Kentucky legislature, 
and buried at Frankfort, November 8, 1854. 

Breathitt, John» bom near New London, 
Virginia, September 9, 1786. He removed 
with his father to Kentucky in 1800, was a 
surveyor and teacher, studied law, and was 
admitted to the bar in 1810. He was an 
earnest Jacksonian Democrat, and for sev- 
eral years was a member of the legislature. 
He was lieutenant-governor of Kentucky in 
1828-32, and governor in 1832-34. He died 
in Frankfort, Kentucky, in 1834. 

Cabell» Joseph Megginson, born at ** Rep- 
ton/' across the James river from the pres- 
ent Midway Station, Albemarle county, Vir- 
ginia, in 1788, son of Joseph Cabell and Po- 
cahontas Rebecca Boiling, his wife. He was 
a student at Washington College, later 
read law under Gov. William H. Cabell 
and Hon. William Wirt. For some reasoi: 
he changed his name to Charles Joseph 
Cabell. He removed to New Orleans. 
I^uisiana, and took front rank at the bar. 
He was three times "called to" the field of 
honor — first with Gen. Benjamin Jones, 
then of Amelia county, Virginia, afterwards 
of Alabama; second, with Dr. Upshaw, of 
New Orleans, formerly of King and Queen • 
county, Virginia; and third, with a Mr. 
Nicholson, also of New Orleans. He died, 



unmarried, November 2^, 1810, in New Or- 
leans, of yellow fever. 

Joynes, Thomas R., born in Accomac' 
county, Virginia, in 1789. After attending 
a country school, he served as clerk in a 
village store, and later was a student at the 
Margaret Academy. He read law with 
Maj. John Wise, father of Gov. Henry A. 
Wise, in 1810 was admitted to the bar, and 
soon obtained a commanding practice. 
Among his professional competitors was 
his intimate personal friend, Judge (after- 
wards secretary of state) Upshur. In 181 1 
he was elected to the house of delegates. 
He was in the Richmond Theatre on the 
night of its memorable destruction by fire. 
During the war with Great Britain in 181 2- 
14, he was lieutenant and captain of militia. 
He was successively commissioner in chan- 
cery, county surveyor and commonwealth 
attorney. In 1828 he was appointed clerk 
of the- county and superior courts — at that 
time an office of great dignity and consider- 
ation. In 1829-30 he was a member of the 
constitutional convention, and in that 
notable body, though speaking rarely, he 
took a prominent and influential part, es- 
pecially in support of the "mixed basis'* of 
representation. His remarkable powers of 
mathematical analysis enabled him to pre- 
sent statistical statements of which John 
Randolph said that **his irresistible array of 
figures set all figures of speech at defiance." 
After the constitutional convention, though 
often solicited, he declined further political 
service, except that in 1840 he was a presi- 
dential elector on the Whig ticket. His old 
personal friend. President John Tyler, more 
than once offered him a prominent Federal 
office, but he invariably declined it. In 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



26; 



1848 he resigned his clerkship, and after- 
wards devoted himself to the care of his 
large estates. He was an enthusiastic and 
successful planter, whose information and 
experience were widely influential. He 
reared, and educated in the best schools of 
that day, a large family of children ; was a 
devoted friend of education, and often 
helped boys and young men to go to school. 
He died at his home, "Montpelier," Septem- 
ber 12, 1858. 

Wilkinson, Jesse, born in \'irginia, about 
1790. He entered the navy as a midshipman 
hi 1805, and in 1810 had risen to the rank 
of lieutenant. During the war of 1812-14, 
he commanded the schooner Hornet^ which 
was principally used as a dispatch boat on 
the Potomac river, carrying dispatches be- 
tween the seat of government and the 
American fleet. He was stationed at the 
Norfolk navy yard, 1816-18, and 1820-21, in 
the interim commanding the Hornet^ on 
coast survey duty. In 1818 he was promoted 
to master, and commanded the brig Spark, 
of Commodore David Porters flotilla., en- 
gaged in the suppression of piracy in the 
West Indies, and was so engaged until 1823, 
from which time he was on duty at the Nor- 
folk navy yard until 1825. and at the Boston 
navy yard in 1826. In 1827-28 he commanded 
the J n lilt Adanis^ in the operations against 
the West Indies pirates, in 1829 was pro- 
moted to captain, and from that year until 
1833 was agz*in stationed at the Norfolk 
navy yard. From 1835 to 1840 he com- 
manded the frigate United Staies, in the 
ilediteranean squadron ; served on the flag- 
ship Macedonian in 1840-42, and from 1843 
t.-> 1847 was commandant of the Norfolk 
navy yard. He was made commodore, and 



in 1848-49 commanded the West Indies 
squadron, with the Raritan as his flag-ship. 
He passed many years on court martial 
duty and on leave, until he died. May 23, 
1S61. 

Anderson, David, a native of Scotland; a 
Blandford tombstone has the following in- 
scription : **Sacred to the memory of David 
Anderson, a native of Scotland, and for 
many years a respectable merchant of this 
place, who departed this life June the i8th, 
1S12, aged 52 years. He was long a mem- 
ber of the Common Hall and Chamberlain 
of the Town of Petersburg. Upright, hon- 
orable, kind and benevolent and the muni- 
ficent founder of the Anderson Seminary. 
The Corporation of Petersburg have inscrib- 
ed this record rather to mark their gratitude 
for his beneficence than to commemorate his 
virtues. Believing that when this stone shall 
have mouldered into dust the institution 
which he founded will still preserve his 
nr.me as a benefactor of Petersburg and a 
friend of man.*' 

Adams, Robert H., born in Rockbridge 
cc'unty, Virginia, in 1792. He graduated at 
Washington College, Lexington, Kentucky, 
was admitted to the bar, and practiced in 
Knoxville. Tennessee, and afterwards in 
Natchez, Mississippi, where he settled in 
18 19. He was a member of the Mississippi 
legislature in 1828, and in 1830 was elected 
to the United States senate to fill a vacancy. 
He died at Natchez, Mississippi, July 2. of 
the same year. 

Walton, William Claiborne, born in Han- 
over county, Virginia, November 4, 1793. 
He was the son of a blacksmith, and re- 
ceived but few advantages of early educa- 



Digitized by 



Google 



268 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



tion, but afterward studied at Hampden- 
Sidney College, and was licensed as a 
preacher of the Presbyterian church, Octo- 
ber 22, 1814, at Fredericksburg. He after- 
ward preached at Smithfield and r.err}ville, 
\'irginia, at Washington, D. C, for a short 
period in 1821. and in February, 1823, be- 
cr.me pastor of the Third Presbyterian 
Church, Daltimore. In May, 1827, he wa? 
installed as pastor of the Second Presby- 
terian Church at Alexandria, which charge 
h<: retained till 1832. In November, 1830. 
he was deputed by the Presbytery of the 
District of Columbia to attend the annual 
meeting of the synod of Virginia, and in 
1832 he was chosen missionary agent and 
evangelist for the Presbyteries of East and 
West Hanover. Subsequently he became 
pastor of the Free church, Hartford, Con- 
necticut. He was remarkably successful as 
an evangelist, and contributed in a consider- 
able degree to the revival of religion in the 
Presbyterian, Congregational, and other 
churches during 1861, whereby more than 
100,000 persons were brought into church 
communion. He published a small volume 
of sermons, besides separate discourses, and 
a sketch of the life of his daughter Mar- 
garet Ann. A poem commemorative of him 
was written by Mrs. Lydia H. Sigourney 
after his death, and his life was published 
by Joshua N. Danforth (New York, 1837). 
He died in Hartford, Connecticut. February 
18, 1834. 

Dabney, Charles William, born at Alex- 
andria. Virginia, March 19, 1794. He be- 
came United States consul at Fayal, Azores, 
in 1826, and won the affection of the Island- 
ers in a remarkable degree by his efforts for 
their welfare. In the famines that visited 



the island from time to time during his 
residence, some of which were very severe, 
he furnished the inhabitants with food, as- 
sisted them to replant their fields, advised 
€ind suggested the culture of new and more 
varied crops, encouraged the despondent, 
and restrained the over-sanguine. During 
the whole of his residence in the island he 
acted the part of a wise and judicious father 
to the people, and wherever he went, their 
blessings and gratitude were manifested. 
He died in Fayal, March 12, 1871. 

Ellis, Powhatan, son of Josiah Ellis and 
Jane Shelton, his wife, born in Amherst 
county. \'irginia, about 1794. and graduated 
from William and Mary College in 1813. 
Mississippi was a territory when he set- 
tled in it: he obtained a high reputation 
there as a lawyer, and in 181 8 was elevated 
to the supreme court of the state, being one 
Gi the first judges to be so distinguished. He 
remained in oflSce until 1825, when he was 
appointed by the governor to serve out the 
unexpired term of David Holmes in the 
United States senate. The legislature 
elected Thomas B. Reed for this office, who 
displaced Mr. Ellis after he had served four 
months. At the next election, however, he 
was chosen senator for the full term, but 
only ser\'ed from December 3, 1827. to July 
16. 1832, when he resigned to take his seat 
on the bench as United States judge for the 
district of Mississippi. While in the senate 
he joined Thomas H. Benton and William 
Smith in opposing the ratification of the 
treaty of 1828 with Mexico, which estab- 
lished a boundary line intersecting the Red 
and Arkansas rivers, thus leaving only 
Florida and Arkansas for the expansion of 
slavery. While on the bench he delivered 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



269 



more opinions than any contemporary 
judge. President Jackson appointed him 
charge d'affaires in Mexico, January 5. 
1836. and on December 28, he closed the 
American legation. President Van Buren 
appointed him minister to Mexico, Fcbru- 
j'.ry 15, 1839, m which office he was super- 
seded by Waddy Thompson, April 21, 1842. 
L'pon his return he took up his residence 
in \'irginia, where he died at Richmond, 
March 18, 1863. 

Christian, John B., son of Robert Chris- 
tian and ^lary Browne, his wife, born in Xew 
Kent county, Virginia, about 1794, studied 
at William and Mary College in 1816. Was 
a member of the legislature and in 1832 
was judge of the general court of \'ir- 
ginia. He married Martha Semple, daugh- 
ter of Judge James Semple by his first wife, 
Anne Contesse Tyler, sister of President 
Tyler. He was a brother of Letitia Chris- 
tian, first wife of President John Tyler. 
He was buried at **Oak Grove," Xew Kent 
county, February 23, 1856. 

Semple» James, descended from Rev. 
James Semple, minister of Long Dreghorn, 
Ayrshire, Scotland, and son of Rev. James 
Semple, minister of St. Peter's Church, 
Xew Kent county, Virginia, was born in 
Xew Kent county, September 7, 1768; stud- 
ird law, was a member of the legislature 
and a judge of the general court. In 1819 
he became professor of law in William and 
Mary College, and held the office till his 
death in 1831. He married (first) Anne 
Contesse Tyler, sister of President Tyler; 
(second) Joanna McKenzie, daughter of 
Dr. William McKenzie and Joanna, his 
wife, aunt of President Tyler. By his 
second marriage Judge Semple was father 



oi Dr. George William Semple, of Hampton, 
Virginia, and Maj. Henry Churchill Semple, 
of .Alabama. 

Brown, Aaron Venable, born in Bruns- 
wick county, Virginia, August 15, 1795. He 
graduated at Chapel Hill University, North 
Carolina, in 1814; removed with his parents 
to Tennessee in 1815 ; studied law, and when 
admitted to practice became the partner of 
James K. Polk. From 1821 till 1832 he was 
almost continuously a member of the state 
legislature. He was elected to congress in 
1839, and re-elected in 1841 and 1843. ^^ 
retiring from congress, in 1845, he was 
elected governor of Tennessee, serving until 
1847. He was a delegate to the southern 
convention at Xashville in 1850, and was the 
author of "the Tennessee platform," brought 
forward at that time, a document that 
aioused much comment. In 1852 he was a 
delegate to the Democratic national conven- 
tion in Baltimore, and reported the platform 
that was adopted. The last office he held 
v.^as that of postmaster-general in President 
Buchanan's cabinet. Among the measures 
adopted during his administration of this 
office was the establishment of a new and 
shorter oceanic and mail-route to California, 
by way of Tehauntepec, and of the trans- 
continental mail-routes from St. Louis west- 
ward, prior to the construction of the rail- 
roads. He was for twenty years one of the 
most trusted leaders of the Democratic 
party. A volume of his speeches was pub- 
lished in Xashville in 1854. He died in 
Washington, D. C, March 8, 1859. 

Weaver, William Augiistus, born in Dum- 
fries. Virginia, in 1797. He entered the navy 
as a midshipman, February 4, 181 1, and 
made his first cruise in the Chesapeake, 



Digitized by 



Google 



270 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



which was captured by the frigate Sliaitfiofif 
after a short engagement off Boston. June 
I 1813. Midshipman Weaver was severely 
wounded in this battle and was taken to 
Halifax as a prisoner with the rest of the 
officers and crew who survived. He was 
promoted to lieutenant after the war and 
commanded the schooner Tom Bozclin in 
1816 and the schooner Spark, in 1817, in the 
Mediterranean squadron. He served on the 
ship f-raulclin, in 1818-24, in the Mediterran- 
ean and the Pacific squadrons. By a mis- 
understanding as to his leave of absence, he 
was obliged to abandon the naval service, 
November 27. 1824. after which he was em- 
ployed by the government in the state de- 
partment, where his knowledge of modern 
languages made his services specially valu- 
able. He was secretary of the commission 
to adjust the claims of the Spanish citizens, 
was commissioner to Mexico in 1834, and 
superintendent of the census of 1840. He 
died at Dumfries. \*irg^nia, in 1846. 

Arnold, Thomas Dickens, born in Spot- 
sylvania county, \'irginia, May 3, 1798. He 
was a farmer boy, and his education was 
obtained almost entirely by his own efforts, 
and to aid himself, he taught the farmer's 
children. When war was declared in 1812, 
his strong physique and sturdy appearance 
permitted his enlistment, although he was 
but fourteen years of age. During the march 
to Mobile a young soldier, the only son of 
a poor widow, was tried by court-martial 
for straggling and was shot by order of 
Gen. Jackson. The circumstance made a 
deep impression upon young Arnold's mind. 
He denounced the act as unwarranted ty- 
ranny, and in after years showed his hos- 
tility to President Jackson. He was ad- 



mitted to the bar in Knoxville, Tennessee, 
in March, 1822, quickly attaining distinc- 
tion in his profession. He was elected to 
congress in 1831 on the Whig ticket, after 
he had been twice defeated. Taking a 
partisan stand on the political issues of 
tl»e day, he was reckless in his criticism, and 
generally opposed the administration. On 
May 14, 1832. he made a speech against 
Senator Houston, and Maj. Morgan A. 
Heard, who had had some connection with 
the western army. In this speech he used 
this expression "capable of any crime." and 
indulged in severe personalities. On leaving 
the capitol. Heard fired upon him with a 
horse pistol, wounding him in the arm. and 
then struck him with a cane. Arnold 
knocked his assailant down, wrenched away 
tl:e pistol, and carried it off as a trophy, 
while Heard was left for several hours 
where he fell. The admirers of Mr. Arnold 
presented him the next day with a highly 
wrought sword-cane with the inscription, 
"Presented to Thomas D. Arnold for his 
brave defense against the attack of Morgan 
A. Heard." In 1836 he was elected briga- 
dier-general of Tennessee militia, and in 
1841 was returned to congress, serving from 
May 31, 1841, till March 3, 1843, ^vhen he 
retired from political life and devoted him- 
srlf to the practice of law. He had a notable 
controversy with William G. Brownlow. 
He died in Jonesboro, Tennessee, May 26, 
1870. 

Poindexter, George, son of Thomas Poin- 
dtxter. born in Louisa county, \'irginia, 
in 1799. of Huguenot descent, was early 
orphaned, and became a lawyer. In 1S02 
he removed to Mississippi territory, and 
became a leader of the Jefferson party. 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



271 



fie was appointed attorney-general of the 
ttrritory in 1803, and conducted the prose- 
cution of Aaron Burr. His violent denun- 
ciations of the Federalists resulted in a 
challenge from Abijah Hunt, whom he 
killed in the duel that ensued. He was 
elected to the legislature in 1805, and in 1807 
was a delegate to congress, serving until 
18 1 3, when he was appointed United States 
judge for the territory of Mississippi, and 
he so administered the law as to settle many 
conflicting land grant titles, and repress the 
criminal classes. He aided in the prepara- 
tions for the war of 1812, and joined Gen. 
Jackson, to whom he served as an aide at 
the battle of New Orleans. In the Missis- 
sippi constitutional convention of 1817 he 
was chairman of the committee to draft a 
state constitution, and when Mississippi 
was received into the Union, he was its first 
representative in congress, and proved an 
able defender of President Jackson. After 
serving one term in congress, he was elected 
governor of Mississippi, and, under auth- 
ority of the legislature, he completed and 
published the "Revised Code of the Laws of 
Mississippi," (Natchez. 1824). In 1821 he 
returned to the bar, and continued practice 
until 1830. when he was appointed to the 
United States senate to fill a vacancy, then 
being elected, and serving until 1835. Dur- 
ing his senatorial service, became estranged 
from Jackson, occupying ground midway 
between Clay and Calhoun, but leaning to- 
wards the latter. He strenuously opposed 
the appointment of the president's personal 
friends to office in Mississippi, and voted for 
Clay's resolution of censure. In 1835 he 
located in Louisville. Kentucky, but subse- 
quently returned to Mississippi, and died 
at Jackson, that state, September 5, 1853. 



Bowlin, James Butler, born in Spottsyl- 
vania county, Virginia, in 1804. He was 
early apprenticed to a trade, but abandoned 
it, and taught school while acquiring a 
classical education. In 1825 he settled in 
Greenbrier county, where he studied law, 
v/as admitted to the bar, and began prac- 
tice. He removed to St. Louis, Missouri, in 
1833, ^"d there followed his profession, also 
establishing the ''Farmers* and Mechanics' 
Advocate." In 1836 he was a member of 
the state legislature, and for some time its 
chief clerk. A year later he became district 
attorney for St. Louis, and in 1839 was 
elected judge of the criminal court. Atter- 
w ard he was elected to congress as a Demo- 
crat, and served from December i, 1843, to 
March 3, 1S51. From 1854 till 1857 he was 
minister resident in Colombia, and from 
1858 till 1859 commissioner to Paraguay. 

Webb, Thomas T., born in Virginia, about 
1806. He entered the navy as a midship- 
man. Januarv i, 1808, and was promoted to 
lieutenant, December 19, 1814. He served 
in the navy during the war of 1812, cruised 
in the frigate Macedonian^ of the Mediter- 
ranean station in 1815-18 during the Alger- 
ine war, was attached to the Norfolk navy 
yard in 1818-21. cruised in the sloop John 
Adams^ in the West Indies in 1821-24, served 
in the receiving-ship Alert, at Norfolk in 
1825-26. and at the navy-yard, Pensacola. 
1828-29. He commanded the schooner 
Shark in the West Indies in 1836-32, was 
promoted to master-commandant, March 8, 
1831. and commanded the sloop Vandalia, 
on the coast of Florida, in 1835-36. In 1837 
he was on leave, and in 1838-41 he com- 
manded the receiving-ship at Norfolk. He 
was promoted to captain. March 8, 1841, and 



Digitized by 



Google 



2-2 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



was on waiting orders until his death at 
Xorfolk, Virginia. April ii, 1853. 

Kennon, Beverley, commodore m the 
United States navy, son of Col. Richard 
Kennon (q. v.), and Elizabeth Beverley 
Munford. his wife: he was killed by the ex- 
plosion of a gun on the United States ship 
Princeton, February 2S, 1844, when Secre- 
taries Upshur and Gilmer, of President 
Tyler's cabinet, also lost their lives. He 
married (first) Elizabeth, daughter of Wil- 
liam Dandridge Claiborne, of "Liberty 
Hall." King William county ; and (second) 
Brittania Wellington Peter, of Georgetown, 
D. C. 

Alexander, Thomas Ludwell, born in 
Prince William county, Virginia, October 
26. 1807, son of Gerard Alexander and 
Elinor Brent Lee, his wife. He entered the 
United States Military Academy in 1826, 
and graduated in 1830. He joined the Sixth 
United States Infantry Regiment as brevet 
second lieutenant, was promoted to second 
lieutenant and first lieutenant in 1837, and 
to captain in 1838, in same regiment; in 
1853 promoted to major, in Eighth Regi- 
ment, and in 1861 to lieutenant-colonel. 
Fifth Regiment. The earlier years of his 
service were passed in what was then the 
extreme western frontier, in Missouri and 
Iowa. After two years of active service he 
became aide-de-camp to Brig.-Gen. Atkin- 
son, and was with him at the battle of Bad 
Ax, August 2, 1832, and was selected by the 
general to conduct Black Hawk (the leader 
of the Sacs and Fox Indians) to Washing- 
ton City, after his capture. He was in ser- 
vice against the Seminoles in Florida, from 
1839 to 1842. At the end of the campaign, 
he superintended the removal of Tiger Tail, 



the Seminole chief, and his band, to the 
west, and was stationed in their midst, at 
I urt Towson, to hold them in subjection, 
lie afterwards joined Gen. Scott in Mexico.. 
i«nd moved from the lower Rio Grande to 
the rendezvous near \'era Cruz, and in the 
landing at that place, his colors were the 
first displayed on the beach. He bore a dis- 
tinguished part in the siege of Vera Cruz, 
the battles of Cerro Gordo and Cherubusco, 
and the capture of the City of Mexico. He 
received the rank of brevet major "for gal- 
lant and meritorious conduct in the battles 
of Contreras and Cherubusco.'' After the 
war, he was on duty in Kansas and Minne- 
sota until 1854. when he organized the 
Military Asylum at Harrodsburg, Kentucky, 
and remained there until he was appointed 
lieutenant-governor of the Soldiers* Home, 
near Washington City, in which position he 
remained until March 8, 1864, when he was 
retired on account of age. He died, in 
Louisville, Kentucky, March 11, 1881. He 
married (first) Ann Clark Bullitt, of Louis- 
ville, Kentucky ; and (second) Maria Brooke 
Kelly, of New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Seawell, John Tyler, son of John B. Sea- 
well, and Maria Henry Tyler, his wife, 
daughter of Governor John Tyler, was born 
ill Williamsburg in December, 1808. He was 
eminent for his oratorical powers and legal 
attainments ; and bore a strong resemblance 
to his uncle. President John Tyler. He served 
often in the legislature and was a strong 
states rights man. He was father of the 
authoress, Molly Elliot Seawell. His brother, 
Machen Boswell, studied at William and 
Mary College in 1839-40, studied law and 
was regarded as one of the best chancery 
lawyers in the state. An uncle was Gen. 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



27i 



Washington Seawell of the Federal army. 
(Sec Seawell Family in William and Mary 
College Quarterly, Vol. VI II, 54). 

Shuck (Shook), John Lewis, born in Alex- 
andria, Virginia, September 4, 1812. He 
was educated at the Virginia Baptist Semi- 
nary (now Richmond College), and Sep- 
tember 22, 1835, embarked with his bride 
for China. He baptized the first Chinese 
converts at Macao, laboring there with suc- 
cess, also ai Hong Kong, whither he re- 
moved in 1842, and subsequently settled at 
Canton. In 1844 he came to the United 
States with his Chinese assistant, and vis- 
ited various parts of the country in the in- 
terest of the missions. He returned to 
China in 1846 and settled at Shanghai, 
where he preached for years, having com- 
pletely mastered the Chinese idioms. When 
many Chinese were attracted to California 
after the discovery of gold, the missionary 
board selected Mr. Shuck for that field, and 
he labored there for seven years, retiring in 
1^61 to Barnwell, where he preached to the 
licighboring churches during the remainder 
of his life. He published "Portfolio Chin- 
cnsis, or a Collection of Authentic Chinese 
State Papers" (Macao, 1840). He died Au- 
gust 20, 1863. His wife, Henrietta Hall, 
born in Kilmarnock, Virginia. October 28, 
1S17, was the daughter of a Baptist minister. 
She soon learned Chinese after reaching 
China, and was an earnest teacher of Chris- 
tianity among the heathen until her death. 
She was the author of "Scenes in China, or 
Sketches of the Country. Religion, and Cus- 
toms of the Chinese" (Philadelphia, 1852). 
Jeremiah B. Jeter, published her *'Life" 
(Boston, 1848). She died in Hong Kong, 
November 27, 1844. 
VIA-.I8 



Waller, John, born in Spottsylvania 
county, \irginia, December 23, 1741, was 
a lawyer and man of education. By reason 
of his worldly character in early life, he was 
slyled "Swearing Jack Waller," and "The 
Devil's Adjutant." He was especially hos- 
tile to the Baptists, and was one of the 
grand jury that prosecuted the Rev. Lewis 
Craig, of that denomination, for preaching 
without a license. Craig's address to the 
jury deeply impressed him, and was the 
means of his conversion. He soon became 
a Baptist preacher, traveling extensively, 
and attracting crowds of hearers to his zeal- 
ous ministrations. He preached regardless 
of the requirement of the law and was re- 
peatedly arrested. He lay one hundred and 
thirteen days in four different jails of Vir- 
ginia, and was repeatedly punished for his 
contempt of the authorities. He was one of 
the most laborious and successful of the 
pioneer Baptist preachers of the south, be- 
cause of his superior education. His death 
occurred in Abbeville, South Carolina, July 
4, 1802. 

Brooke, Dr. Lawrence, son of Richard 
Brooke, of "Smithfield," near Fredericks- 
burg, was born about 1753, and was sent, 
with his brother Robert, afterwards gov- 
ernor of Virginia, to the University of 
Edinburg, where in 1776 he took courses in 
anatomy, surgery and chemistry. During 
the American revolution, he went to Paris, 
and in 1779 was accepted by John Paul 
Jones as surgeon of the Bon Homme Richard. 
He returned to Fredericksburg in 1783 and 
practiced medicine. He died about 1803. 

Walker, George, born in Culpeper county. 
Virginia, in 1768. He was an early settler 
in Kentucky, where he held a leading place 



Digitized by 



Google 



2/4 



VIRGINIA BIOGR.\rHY 



Li the bar, and was a member of the legis- 
lature. He was appointed United States 
senator from Kentucky, in place of George 
M. Bibb, resigned, serving from October lo, 
1S14, till February 2, 1815. He died in 
Xicholasville. Kentucky, in 1819. 

DunglisoD, Robley, born in Keswick, 
Cumberland, England. January 4, 1798. He 
leceived the degree of Doctor of Medicine 
in London in 1819, and again, after further 
study, at the University of Erlangen, Ger- 
many, in 1823. He settled in London in the 
practice of his profession, engaging in medi- 
cal writing as editor of the "London Medical 
Repository" and of the "Medical Intelli- 
j;encer," but after two years he was sum- 
moned to America by Thomas Jefferson to 
take the professorship of medicine in th^ 
University of Virginia, in which he also 
became the first secretary of the faculty, 
and its second chairman. He remained un- 
til 1833, when he removed to the Univer- 
sity of Maryland, in Baltimore, the incum- 
bent of the chair of materia medica and 
therapeutics, which, in turn, he resigned in 
1836 to become professor of the institutes 
of medicine in Jeflferson Medical College of 
Philadelphia. Here he continued until his 
death, more than thirty years later, during 
a great part of the time being dean of the 
faculty. Under his management the institu- 
tion made notable progress, and probably 
then received the impetus which resulted in 
its later success. He was an eminent 
scholar in several branches of learning; a 
benevolent, public-spirited character ; and an 
active supporter of charitable institutions. 
Much of his time was spent in the service 
of the Philadelphia Institution for the 
Blind, of which he was vice-president, and 



he will long be remembered for his efforts 
i'l promoting the printing of books in em- 
bossed letters for the use of the blind. He 
was president of the Musical Fund Society 
of Philadelphia, and vice-president of the 
American Philosophical Society. In 1825 
he received the degree of Doctor of Medi- 
cine as a mark of honor from Yale, and was 
granted the degree of Doctor of Laws else- 
where. P»esides translating and editing a 
large number of works in foreign languages, 
he published many original works which 
have been widely popular. His bibliography 
hicludes: "Commentaries on Diseases of 
the Stomach and Bowels in Children," Lon- 
don. 1824; "Introduction to the Study of 
Grecian and Roman Geography," in asso- 
ciation with George Long, Charlottesville, 
1829; "Dictionary of Medical Science and 
Literature," Boston. 1833, fifteenth edition, 
1858; "Elements of Hygiene," Philadelphia, 
1835 ; second edition entitled "Human 
Health," 1844; "General Therapeutics," 
1836; sixth edition, 1857; *The Medical 
Student, or Aids to the Study of Medicine," 
Philadelphia, 1837; "New Remedies," 1839; 
The Practice of Medicine," 1842. His 
most monumental work, however, was his 
"Human Physiology," of which is extant 
copies of the third edition, Philadelphia, 
1838, and which first appeared in 1832. This 
work held a most important position in the 
history of American medical science. It 
was first published before the author had 
left the University of Virginia, being de- 
signed as a text-book for his students. It 
v/as dedicated to ex-President Madison, who 
v.-as rector of the institution during a por- 
tion of Professor Dunglison's service. It 
elicited fervent approbation from foreign as 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



275 



well as American professional and scientific 
journali. Dr. Dunglison died in Philadel- 
phia, April I, 1869. 

French, Benjamin franklin, born at Rich- 
mond, Virginia, June 8, 1799, studied law, 
but was obliged lo abandon it by reason of 
impaired health. From his early manhood 
he contributed to newspapers and maga- 
zines. In 1830 he removed to Louisiana, 
there engaghig in planting and commerce; 
he continued his literary work and collected 
an extensive library, presenting this subse- 
quently to the Fiske Free Library of New 
Orleans. He removed to New York in 1853, 
retiring from business, and devoted himself 
to historical writing. He published "Bio- 
graphia Americana," New York, 1825; 
"Memoirs of Eminent Female Writers," 
Philadelphia, 1827; **Beauties of Byron, 
Scott and Moore," New York, 1828; *'His- 
torical Collections of Louisiana," 1846-58; 
**History and Progress of the Iron Trade of 
tl-e United States." 1858; and "Historical 
Annals of North America," 1861. He died 
a\ New York City. May 30, 1877. 

McGuffey, William Holmes, born in 
Washington county. Pennsylvania, Septem- 
ber 23. 1800. He received his education at 
Washington College, in that state, at the 
time when that institution was distinct from 
Jefferson College, with which it became 
amalgamated at a later time. In his young 
manhood his parents removed to Trumbull 
county, Ohio, and immediately after his 
graduation, in 1826, he went to that state, 
and was at once appointed professor of an- 
cient languages m Miami Lniversity, at 

Oxford. .After a period of six years he was 
transferred to the chair of moral philosophy. 
In 1829 he became a regularly licensed min- 



ister of the Presbyterian church, and 
throughout his life he frequently engaged 
in preaching in different churches. In 1836 
he was chosen president of Cincinnati Col- 
lege, and three years later (in 1839) he was 
called to the same position in the Ohio Uni- 
versity. In 1843 he became a professor in 
the Woodward high school in Cincinnati. 
In 1845 he came to the chair of moral phil- 
osophy and political economy in the Uni- 
viTsity of Virginia, which he occupied until 
his death at Charlottesville, May 4, 1873. 
Professor McGuffey came to his widest 
fame through his series of Eclectic Readers 
and Spellers, which were for many years 
the most popular works in their department 
throughout the country, and which passed 
through several revised and expanded edi- 
tions from time to time. 

Foote, Henry Stuart, born in Fauquier 
county. Virginia, September 20, 1800, son 01 
Richard Helm Foote and Jane Stuart, his 
wife, daughter of Rev. William Stuart. He 
was graduated from Washington College, 
Lexington. Virginia, in the class of 1819, 
where he had studied law, was admitted to 
the bar in 1822. and two years later went to 
Tuscumbia, Alabama, where he became the 
editor of a Democratic newspaper. In 1826 
he removed to Jackson. Mississippi, where 
his legal practice became an extended one, 
was prominent in political affairs, and was 
chosen a presidential elector in 1844. I" 
1847 he was chosen a United States senator, 
as a Conservative, acted in favor of the com- 
promise measures of 1850. and was chair- 
man of the committee on foreign relations. 
In the fall of 1852 he resigned his seat in the 
senate, in order to canvass his state as a 
candidate of the Whig party for the office 



Digitized by 



Google 



276 



VIRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY 



of governor, having as his opponent Jeffer- 
son Davis, who had been persuaded to take 
the place of Gen. John A. Quitman on the 
Dcnunrratic ticket, when it became a seh' evi- 
dent fact that the latter would be defeated. 
Mr. Foote was elected, served one term 
until 1S54. th;;n removed to California, but 
returned to Mississippi in 1858, and re- 
sumed the practice of law. at \'icksburg. In 
the southern convention at Knoxville, Ten- 
nessee, in May, 1859, he strongly opposed 
secession, and when the question was ser- 
iously agitated in Mississippi he removed 
to Tennessee. Subsequently he was elected 
tc the Confederate congress, in which he 
v.as noted for his hostility toward Jefferson 
Davis, and finally for his opposition to the 
continuance of the war. He was in favor of 
accepting the terms offered by President 
Lincoln in 1863 and 1864. After the close 
of the war he resided for a time in Wash- 
ington. D. Cv supporting the administra- 
tion of Gen. Grant, who appointed him su- 
perintendent of the United States mint at 
New Orleans. A short time prior to his 
death impaired health obliged him to resign 
this office and return to his home near 
Nashville. Gov. Foote was an able criminal 
lawyer, an astute politician and a popular 
orator, but he had a violent temper, and 
several times in the course of his political 
career he fought duels; two of these were 
with Sargent S. Prentiss, one with John A. 
Winston, and one with John F. H. Clai- 
borne. He also had a personal encounter 
with Thomas H. Benton, on the floor of the 
United States senate. He published "Texas 
and the Tcxans," two volumes, Philadelphia, 
1841 ; 'The War of the Rebellion, or Scylla 
and Charybdis," New York, 1866; "Bench 
and Bir of the South and Southwest." St. 



Louis, 1876; und "Personal Reminiscences." 
He died in Nashville. Tennessee, May 20. 
18S0. He was descended from Richard 
1-oote, who came to \'irginia about 1052. as 
the agent of his father-in-law, Nicholas Hay- 
ward, a prominent notary of London. 

Seawell, Washington, born in Giouce.-ter 
county, \*irginia, in 1802. son of John Sea- 
well and Fanny Hobday, his wife H^ 
graduated from the United States Military 
Academy in 1825. and as lieutenant was as- 
>igned to the Se\cnth Infantry. From 1832 
to 1834 he was disbursing agent for Indian 
affairs, and was then assigned to duty as 
adjutant-general and aide-de-camp on the 
staff of Gen. Matthew Arbuckle. In 1836 
he was promoted to captain, and saw ser- 
vice against the Indians. He served \n the 
Mexican war, and was promoted 10 mijor 
of the Second Infantry, in 1847, ^^ith which 
regiment he was on duty at Monterey, in 
1849. He. was promoted to lieutenant-colo- 
!-el in 1852, and to colonel in i860. He was 
retired from active service February 20, 
1862, on account of disability resulting 
from exposure in the line of duty. He was 
chief mustering and disbursing officer of the 
state of Kentucky, from March, 1862, to 
September, 1863, ^"^ then of the depart- 
ment of the Pacific. He was acting assistant 
provost-marshal at San Francisco from No- 
vember, 1865, to June, 1866. In 1865 he 
was brevetted brigadier-general, for long 
and faithful service. He had lived on the 
Pacific coast since 1864, and owned one of 
the largest ranches in the state of California, 
ill Sonoma county. He died in San Fran- 
cisco. January 9. 1888, being at that time 
next fo the oldest general officer on the re- 
tired list of the army. His brother, John B. 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



-// 



Siawrll. was a distinguished lawyer of \'ir- 
ginia. and married Maria Henry Tyler, sis- 
ter of President Tyler. 

Cocke, William, born in Amelia county, 
\irginia. ab'.)Ut 1740, son of Abraham 
Cocke. He received an English education, 
and began the practice of law. After serv- 
ing in the Virginia legislature and as colonel 
ot militia, he went to Tennessee, where he 
became brigadier-general of militia. When 
Tennessee was admitted into the Union in 
1796, he and William Blunt were elected as 
its first United States senators, Cocke serv- 
ing from December 5, 1796, till 1797, and 
again from 1799 till March 3, 1805. He was 
a member of the legislature in 1813, a judge 
o: the circuit court, and in 1814 was ap- 
pointed by President Madison as Indian 
agent for the Chickasaw nation. He died 
in Columbus. Mississippi, August 22, 1828, 
in the eighty-first year of his age. 

Darkc, William, born in Philadelphia 
county, Pennsylvania, in 1736; he was 
reared and educated in Virginia, his parents 
removing thither when he was four years 
cf age. and when he attained the age of 
nineteen years he joined the army, and was 
with Gen. Braddock at his defeat in 1755. 
During the early part of the revolutionary 
war. he was promoted to the rank of cap- 
tain, and later became colonel, commanding 
the Hampshire and Berkeley regiments at 
the capture of Cornwallis, and at the battle 
of Germantown, while serving as captain, 
was taken prisoner. He was commissioned 
lieutenant-colonel in a regiment of levies, in 
1 79 1, commanded the left wing of St. Clair's 
army at its defeat by the Miami Indians on 
November 4. 1791, being severely wounded, 
narrowly escaping death, and was subse- 



quently appointed major-general of \*irgin!a 
militia. He was frequently chosen as a 
member of the Virginia legislature, and in 
the convention of 1788 voted for the Federal 
constitution. He died in Jefferson county, 
Virginia, November 26, 1801. 

Dickins, John, born in London, England. 
August 24, 1747; he acquired an excellent 
education, being a student for a portion of 
the time at Eton, and prior to the revolu- 
tionary war he emigrated to the Xew World, 
locating in Virginia, where he united with 
the Methodist church in the year 1774, and 
two years later preached there as an evan- 
gelist, was admitted into the itinerant min- 
istry in 1777, and labored in North Carolina. 
In 1780 he suggested to Bishop Asbury the 
plan of Cokesbury College, Xew Abingdon, 
Maryland, the first Methodist academic in- 
stitution in this country. During the years 
1783-85-86-89, he resided in Xew York City, 
then removed to the city of Philadelphia, 
where he published a ^lethodist hymn-book, 
printing the greater part of it with his own 
hands, and shortly afterward the conference 
assumed the publication, and appointed him 
book-steward, and in this office he founded 
the Methodist book concern. He issued the 
"Arminian Magazine" in Philadelphia in 
[789-90, and the "Methodist Magazine" 
trom 1797 until his death, which occurred in 
Philadelphia, September 27, 1798. Mr. Dick- 
ins was the first American preacher to re- 
ceive Thomas Coke and approve his scheme 
for organizing the Methodist denomination, 
and he was a member of the **Christmas con- 
ference" of 1784, and suggested the name 
**Methodist Episcopal Church" which it 
adopted. Mr. Dickins was a powerful 
preacher and one of the best scholars of his 



Digitized by 



Google 



278 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



church at the time of his ministry, and a ser- 
mon in his memory was delivered by the 
Rtv. Ezekiel Cooper and afterward publish- 
ed (Philadelphia, 1799). During the yellow 
fever epidemics in Philadelphia during the 
years 1793, 1797, 1798. he remained at his 
post, in the latter named year falling a vic- 
tim to the disease. 

Francisco, Peter, was brought to \'irginia 
as a child, by a sea captain, who left him 
upon the wharf at City Point, friendless and 
alone. After some days he was taken in 
charge by the parish authorities, who bound 
him out to Anthony Winston (an uncle of 
Patrick Henr}')» ^^ho resided on his estate 
"Hunting Tower," in Buckingham county. 
His name and dark complexion led the com- 
mon surmise that he was of Portugese 
origin. His immense physical strength, 
even as a boy, attracted attention, and his 
honesty and frankness won the respect and 
confidence of his master. In the fall of 1776, 
at the age of sixteen, he joined the Tenth 
Virginia Regiment. He was now a sturdy 
youth, six feet one inch in height, two hun- 
dred and sixty pounds in weight, and ex- 
ceedingly muscular and active. His son 
said of him: *'He could take with his two 
arms two men weighing one hundred and 
sixty pounds each, by their legs, and at 
arm's-length raise them to the ceiling; and 
he told me that he had shouldered a cannon 
weighing eleven hundred pounds. An ordi- 
nary sword being too short and light for 
him. Gen. Washington ordered one to be 
made for him at a blacksmith shop — six feet 
from hilt to point, which he could wield as 
a feather." He was passionately devoted to 
the cause which he had made his own, and 
there is no such picturesque figure in the 



whole continental line as Peter Francisco. 
He fought in the battles of Brandywine. 
Germantown and Monmouth. At the storm-, 
ing of Stony Point, he was the second man 
to enter the fort, only preceded by Lieut. 
James Gibbons, of Virginia. He was 
wounded several times, and killed several 
British soldiers. After his term of service 
had ended, he returned to Virginia, and en- 
listed in a cavalry troop, and fought under 
Gates and Greene, and was at the surrender 
uf Lord Cornwallis, at Yorktown. After the 
war, he kept a tavern at "New Store." Buck- 
ingham county, Virginia, and for many years 
v/as sergeant-at-arms of the house of dele- 
gates. He married (first) Mary Anderson; 
(second) Catherine Fauntleroy Brooke; 
And (third) Mary B. (Gr}'mesj West, a 
widow. He died, in Richmond, Virgmia, 
in January, 1831, and the house of delegates 
paid him the honor of a public funeral. His 
portrait hangs in the State Library in Rich- 
mond. 

Stuart, John, son of David Stuart and 
Margaret Lynn, his wife. He was engaged 
by John Lewis in locating land in West Vir- 
ginia, and settled on the Greenbrier river. 
He was frequently engaged in the Indian 
wars. He was a member of the house of 
delegates during the revolutionary war, and 
for more than a quarter of a century was 
county clerk. He was also county lieuten- 
ant of Greenbrier county, and in 1788 was 
a member of the state convention called to 
pass upon the Federal constitution, and 
voted for its adoption. He married Agatha, 
widow of John Frogg, of Augusta, and 
daughter of Thomas Lewis, son of John 
Lewis. 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



279 



Washington, William, born in Stafford 
county, Virginia, February 28, 1752, son of 
rJailey Washington and Catherine Storke, 
his wife. He was intended for the church, 
and received a much more careful education 
than his great kinsman, George Washing- 
ton. At the outbreak of the revolution he 
was a young man of twenty-four. If he had 
intended to be a clergyman, he soon aban- 
doned that idea, and early in the war was 
commissioned captain in the Third Regi- 
ment Virginia line, and had under him as a 
lieutenant, James Monroe, a future Presi- 
dent of the United States. He was with 
Washington at New York, and was severely 
wounded at the battle of Long Island. He 
was with the army in the retreat through 
New Jersey, and at the battle of Trenton led 
a daring charge upon a battery, capturing 
the guns, but receiving a severe wound. 
Later he was transferred to the dragoons, 
and promoted to major. Joining Gen. Lin- 
coln's army in the South, he was given com- 
mand of a regiment. He defeated the Brit- 
ish cavalry leader, Tarleton, and was sur- 
prised by him in turn. At the Cowpens he 
led a daring charge at a critical moment, 
and worsted Tarleton in a hand to hand en- 
counter. For his gallantry he received the 
congressional medal. At the battle of Eu- 
taw Springs in 1781 he was unhorsed, 
wounded and taken prisoner. After the war 
he married a Miss Elliott, of Charleston, 
South Carolina, and removed to that city; 
was elected to the legislature, and put for- 
ward as a candidate for governor: he de- 
clined the latter nomination because, as he 
declared, he "could not make a speech.*' 
When Gen. George Washington accepted 
the position of commander-in-chief of the 
army under President Adams, he called Col. 



Washington to his staff as an aide, with the 
rank of brigadier-general. Gen. William 
Washington died July 19, 1798, *ieaving be- 
hind him an unsullied reputation, an amia- 
ble temper, lively manner, a hospitable dis- 
position, and a truly benevolent heart." 

Deuxponts, William, born June 18, 1754; 
became lieutenant-colonel of the regiment 
commanded by his brother, Christian Deux- 
ponts, October 2, 1779. and was wounded 
in the attack on the redoubt at Yorktown, 
October 14, 1781, and for his services there 
was made by the King of France a^ cheva- 
lier of the military order of St. Louis, and 
was mentioned particularly in Baron 
Viomesnil's report to Gen. Rochambeau. 
He afterward held the honorable post of 
commander of the palace guard at the Ba- 
varian court. Col. Trumbull's painting of 
the surrender of Gen. Cornwallis, in the 
rotunda of the capitol at Washington. D. 
C. contains a portrait of Count des Deux- 
ponts. He left in manuscript **Mes cam- 
pagnes d' Amerique," which was found on 
a Paris book-stall in 1867 by Dr. Samuel 
Abbott Green, and published by him, with 
an English translation and notes (Boston, 
1868). 

Todd, Thomas, born in King and Queen 
county. Virginia, January 23, 1765, son of 
Richard Todd and Elizabeth Richards, his 
wife. He was orphaned in childhood and 
gained an education with difficulty. In 
1 78 1, at the age of sixteen, he joined the 
army, at the time of the British invasion by 
Gens. Phillips and .Arnold, serving six 
months. He then entered Liberty Hall 
.Academy, and graduated when eighteen 
years old. in 1783. In the summer of that 
year he went to Bedford county, Virginia, 



Digitized by 



Google 



28o 



\IRGIXIA r.IOGRAPHY 



and lived in the family of his cousin, Judge 
Harry Innes, and in the following spring 
went to Kentucky and engaged in law prac- 
tice at Danville. He was secretary of the 
ten conventions, from 1784 to 1792. looking 
tc the formation of the state of Kentucky; 
was clerk of the Federal court for the dis- 
trict of Kentucky ; was the first clerk of its 
court of appeals; judge of the court of 
appeals in 1801 ; and chief justice in 1806. 
In 1807 he was appointed a judge of the 
United States supreme court, holding court 
twice a year each in Nashville. Frankfort 
and Chillicothe. and six winter months in 
Washington City, occupying that position 
until his death, at his home in Frankfort, 
Kentucky. February 9, 1826. His chief 
judicial labors were in adjudications under 
the land laws, involving many disputes as 
to title. He was father of Charles S. Todd, 
appointed minister to Russia in 1841. (For 
Todd family see "\'irginia Magazine of His- 
tory and Biography," vol. lii. p. 80, and 
**\Villiam and Mar>' Quarterly," xxi, 203). 

Daviess, Joseph Hamilton, born in Red- 
ford county, Virginia, March 4, 1774, son- of 
Joseph and Jean Daviess; his parents re- 
moved to Lincoln county, Kentucky, when 
he was five years of age, subsequently re- 
moved to the vicinity of Danville, and Jo- 
seph H. received his education in an acad- 
emy at Harrodsburg, this knowledge being 
supplemented by a wide course of reading. 
For six months during the year 1793 he 
served as a volunteer in the Indian cam- 
paign, after which he studied at law, and 
two years later was admitted to the bar. 
He began the active practice of his profes- 
sion in Danville, and gained a high position 
at the bar. usually appearing in court in a 



hunting costume. In 1799 he acted as sec- 
ond to John Rowan in a duel in which 
Rowan's antagonist was killed, when both 
principals and seconds fled to avoid prose- 
cution ; after being a fugitive for some time, 
hearing that Rowan had been arrested, Mr. 
Daviess returned and appeared in court as 
liis counsel, secured his acquittal. Later he 
became United States attorney for Ken- 
tucky, in which capacity, on November 3, 
1806. he moved for an order requiring Aaron 
Durr to appear and answer to a charge of 
levying war against a nation with which the 
United States was at peace. Burr boldly 
courted investigation, but the witnesses 
upon whom the prosecution relied could not 
l.c brought into court, and it was impossible 
to sustain the charges. This event almost 
entirely destroyed the popularity of Mr. 
Daviess, which even the subsequent revela- 
tion of Aaron Burr's plot could not fully re- 
store. He* joined the army of Gen. William 
H. Harrison as major of Kentucky volun- 
teer dragoons, in 181 1, served in the cam- 
paign against the Northwestern Indians, 
and led a cavalry charge against the sav- 
ages at the battle of Tippecanoe, November 
7, 181 1, which was successful, but he fell, 
shot through the breast. Counties in the 
states of Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and 
Missouri have been named in his honor. He 
published "A View of the President's Con- 
duct Concerning the Conspiracy of 1806" 
(1807). Mr. Daviess married a sister of 
Chief Justice Marshall. 

Clayton, Augustine Smith, born in Fred- 
ericksburg, November 27, 1783, son of Philip 
Clayton, of Culpeper county. Virginia. Soon 
after his birth his parents removed to 
Georgia, and he graduated at the University 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



281 



or Georgia in 1804. He was admitted to 
the bar, was elected to the state legislature, 
and in 1810 appointed to compile the stat- 
utes of Georgia from 1800. In 1819 he was 
elected judge of the superior court of the 
western circuit, an office which he retained 
until 1825, and again from 1828 till 1831. 
During his last term occurred the difficul- 
ties between the state of Georgia and the 
Cherokee Indians, resulting in the expa- 
triation of the latter. In 1829 the legisla- 
ture brought the Cherokee territory within 
the jurisdiction of Georgia, and this action 
of the state authorities was sustained by 
Judge Clayton, though eventually the 
United States supreme court decided against 
its legality, and ruled that the Cherokee 
nation was not subject to the state laws that 
had been imposed upon it. Judge Clayton, 
however, was not in perfect accord with the 
legislature as to Indian rights, holding that 
they were entitled to dig gold on lands to 
which their stipulated title had not been 
extinguished; and for thus opposing the 
policy of the state he was removed from 
bis judicial office. In 183 1 he was elected 
to congress, where he took a leading part 
in debates on the tariff and the United States 
bank, both of which he opposed. He served 
two terms in congress, and after his retire- 
ment in 1835 held no public office excepting 
the trusteeship of the University of Georgia. 
He was a presidential elector in 1829. His 
attitude towards Christianity for many 
years was one of doubt, but at the time of 
bis death he was a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. He was reputed to be 
the author of the political pamphlet called 
"Crockett's Life of Van Buren." He died 
at Athens, Georgia, June 21, 1839. 



WarrcU, James, was an Englishman. In 
1804 he taught dancing in Petersburg. At 
one time he was proprietor of the Richmond 
Museum. He painted portraits, and prob- 
ably landscapes. Among portraits painted 
by him are those of John Tyler (father of 
President John Tyler), now in the library 
or William and Mary College, Williams- 
burg; and of Washington and Lafayette, 
hanging in the council chamber at Rich- 
mond. 

Cleland, Thomas, born in Fairfax county, 
\'irginia, May 22, 1778; removed to Marion 
county, Kentucky, in 1789. He was an ex- 
horter during the revival of 1801, and being 
urged to become a preacher by the presby- 
tery of Transylvania, was licensed April 14, 
1803, and became pastor of a church in 
Washington county. In 1813 he was settled 
over the churches of New Providence and 
Cane Run, now Harrodsburg. He publish- 
ed a hymn-book for prayer meetings and re- 
vivals, and tracts directed against the Camp- 
bellites and New-lights, entitled "Letters 
on Campbellism," "The Socini-Arian De- 
tected" (1815), and "Unitarianism Un- 
masked" (1825). He died January 31, 1858. 

Dagg, John L., born at Middleburg, Lou- 
doun county, Virginia, February 13, 1794; 
was ordained to the Baptist ministry in 1817, 
preached for a number of years in his native 
state, removing to Philadelphia, Pennsyl- 
vania, in the year 1825, where he was ap- 
pointed pastor of the Fifth Baptist Church 
and so served for eight years, at the expira- 
tion of which time he resigned from the 
ministry owing to trouble with his throat. 
He then turned his attention to the profes- 
sion of teaching and to authorship, in 1836 
accepting charge of the Alabama Female 



Digitized by 



Google 



282 



VIRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY 



Athenaeum in Tuscaloosa, and eight years 
later was appointed president of Mercer 
University at Penfield, Georgia, where for 
a period of twelve years he performed his 
duties satisfactorily and in addition gave 
instruction in theology, resigning from the 
presidency in 1856. His published \<'orks 
are: "Manual of Theolog}*;" 'Treatise of 
Church Order;" 'Elements of Moral 
Science;" "Evidences of Christianity;" and 
several pamphlets including "The More Ex- 
cellent Way;" "An Interpretation of John 
iii. :5 ;" "An Essay in Defence of Strict Com- 
munion," and "A Decisive Argument against 
Infant Baptism, furnished by One of its 
Own Proof-Texts." 

CobbSy Nicholas Hamner, born in Bed- 
ford county, Virginia, February 5, 1796, son 
of John Lewis Cobbs and Susanna Hamner, 
his wife, daughter of Nicholas Hamner, of 
Albemarle county, \'irginia. While study- 
ing for the ministry in the Episcopal church 
he was engaged in teaching for several 
years. He was ordained deacon in Staun- 
ton, \'irginia, in May, 1824, by the Rt. Rev. 
R. C. Moore. D. D., and priest the next 
year, in Richmond, Virginia, by the same 
bishop. He performed pastoral work in his 
native county for fifteen years. In 1839 he 
became rector of St. Paul's church, Peters- 
burg, Virginia, and in 1843 accepted a call 
to the rectorship of St. Paul's Church, Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio. In 1844 he was elected bishop 
cf Alabama — the first to preside over that 
diocese, and was consecrated in Philadel- 
phia. October 20, 1844. He was a faithful 
overseer of the work committed to him. and 
his memory is preserved in a noble charity 
in Montgomery, bearing the name of the 
Bishop Cobbs Homes for Orphans. He pub- 



hshed a few sermons and addresses. He 
died at Montgomery, Alabama, January 11, 
1861. He was descended from Ambrose 
Cobbs. of York county, Virginia, who pat- 
ented lands in 1639. 

Chandler, Reuben» born in Randolph 
county, \'irginia, July 15, 1799. He received 
an academic education in Virginia, and then 
removed to Alabama, settling in Somerville, 
Morgan county, where he practiced law. 
I'or many years he was a member of the 
state legislature, and subsequently was 
elected as a Democrat to congress, serving 
from December 7, 1835, till March 3, 1847. 
He was then elected governor of his state, 
and held that office until 1849, after which 
he retired to private life in Huntsville. For 
many years he continued to be consulted on 
matters of political importance, and was a 
delegate to the national Democratic conven- 
tions of Cincinnati in 1856, of Charleston in 
i860, and of Xew York in 1868. He died in 
Huntsville, Alabama, May 17, 1882. 

Colquitt, Walter T., born in Halifax coun- 
ty. Virginia, December 27, 1799; he removed 
with his parents to Georgia. He entered 
Princeton college, but was not graduated; 
studied law in Millcdgeville, Georgia, was 
admitted to the bar in 1820, and began prac- 
tice at Sparta, afterwards removing to Cow- 
pens. When twenty-one years old he was 
elected brigadier-general of militia. He be- 
came prominent in 1826 by contesting the 
district as the Troup candidate for congress 
against Lumpkin, the Clark candidate, who 
was elected by thirty-two majority. The 
same year he was elected judge of the 
Chattahoochee circuit, and was reelected in 
1829. In 1834 and 1837 he was a state sena- 
tor. In 1838 he was elected to congress as 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROM I NEXT PERSONS 



283 



a states rights Whig, and took his seat De- 
cember 2. 1839, but, having left the party 
with two colleague;? after the nomination of 
Harrison for President, he resigned, July 21, 
1840. He was again elected to congress as 
a Van Buren Democrat, serving from Feb- 
ruary I, 1842, till March 3, 1843, and was 
then elected to the United States senate, 
serving from December 4, 1843, ^^^1 ^^ ^^' 
signed in 1848. He supported President 
Polk in the Oregon controversy, and 
throughout the Mexican war was a promi- 
nent opponent of the Wilmot proviso. He 
was an earnest speaker in the Nashville con- 
vention in 1850 in defence of the rights of 
the South. He was licensed as a Methodist 
preacher in 1827, and even during the tur- 
moil of a most exciting political career, was 
iii the habit of officiating at the Methodist 
churches. He was one of the most success- 
ful lawyers in the state, and in criminal 
practice had no rival. He died in Macon, 
Georgia, May 7, 1855. 

Fleming, Thomas, born in Goochland 
county, \'irginia. in 1727, son of Col. John 
Fleming and Mary Boiling, his wife. He 
was in command of two hundred back- 
woodsmen in the battle of Point Pleasant 
against the Indians in 1774. He concealed 
his men behind trees and had them hold out 
their hats. As the Indians fired, the hats 
were dropped, and the Indians rushed for- 
ward to scalp their supposed victims, who 
tomahawked their assailants. After lead- 
ing his men gallantly in two onrushes, 
Fleming was severely wounded, one ball 
passing through his arm and another 
through his breast. In March, 1776, he was 
commissioned colonel of the Ninth Virginia 
Regiment, but died from his former ex- 
posures in August of the same year. 



Henderson, Richard, born in Hanover 
county, Virginia, in 1734. His parents were 
poor and unable to give him an education, 
and he could neither read nor write until he 
was grown to manhood, but served as con- 
stable and under sheriff. In 1762 he went to 
North Carolina, where he studied law, was 
admitted to the bar, and in 1769 was made 
an associate judge of the superior court. In 
1770 public feeling ran high on account of 
the excessive taxation enforced under Gov. 
Tryon, and a mob assailed him in the court 
room and forced him from the bench. After 
the revolutionary war, and when order was 
restored, Henderson was reelected judge, 
but would not qualify, having formed the 
Transylvania Land Company, for the pur- 
pose of acquiring large tracts of the public 
domain. In effecting this purpose he nego- 
tiated **the Watoga Treaty" with the chiefs 
of the Cherokee Indians, by which the com- 
pany came into possession of all the lands 
lying between the Cumberland river, the 
Cumberland mountains, and the Kentucky 
river — a territory larger than the present 
state of Kentucky — and was named Tran- 
sylvania, with Boonesborough as its capital. 
.•\mong the members of the company were 
Daniel Boone, Richard Calloway, John 
Floyd, James Harrod and Thomas Slaugh- 
ter, and they formed a most comprehensive 
and equitable system of government. How- 
ever, Henderson's purchase was subse- 
quently annulled by Virginia, as an infringe- 
n'ent of her chartered rights; but, to com- 
pensate the settlers, the legislature granted 
to them a tract twelve miles square on the 
Ohio river, below the mouth of Greene 
river. In 1779 Judge Henderson and four 
others were appointed commissioners to run 
the boundary line between Virginia and 



Digitized by 



Google 



284 



VIRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY 



North Carolina, into Powell's valley. He 
now removed to Tennessee, and engaged in 
law practice in Nashville. In 1780 he re- 
tr.rned to North Carolina, and settled down 
upon hi.< farm. He died in Hillsborough, 
North Carolina, January 30, 1785. A son, 
Archibald, became a distinguished lawyer in 
North Carolina, and a member of congress 
from that state: another son, Leonard, be- 
c«ime chief justice of North Carolina. 

Henderson^ Pleasant, born in Hanover 
county. Virginia. January 9, 1756, brother 
oi Richard Henderson (q. v.». He served 
in the revolution army, and at the close of 
the war was major of Col. Malmedy's 
mounted corps. He studied law, and in 
1789 became clerk of the house of commons 
of North Carolina. He finally removed to 
'lennessee. and died at Huntington, that 
state. December 10, 1842. 

Farrow, Samuel, born in \'irginia, about 
1759. He was a youth when his parents re- 
moved to Spartanburg district, South Caro- 
lina. He was one of a company of scouts in 
the revolutionary war, was wounded in a 
skirmish and took part in the battle of Mus- 
grove's Mills. He was captured by the Brit- 
ish, with his two brothers, and they regained 
their freedom by their mother (a daughter 
of Col. Philemon Waters), delivering to 
their captors six British prisoners ; she took 
great pleasure in this achievement, boasting 
that she had made a good bargain, having 
beat the British four to one. After the war, 
Farrow studied law, was admitted to the 
bar, and practiced in Spartanburgh. In 
iSio he was elected lieutenant-governor of 
South Carolina, and later was elected to 
congress as a Republican, serving in the 
session of 1813-15. He was reelected, but 



soon resigned, preferring service in the 
house of representatives of his state, of 
v/hich he was a lAember from 181O to 1821, 
when he retired to private life. The estab- 
lishment of the South Carolina lunatic and 
dtaf and dumb asylums was chiefly due to 
I. is efforts. He died in Columbia, South Car- 
olina, in November, 1824. 

Franklin, Jesse, born in Orange county, 
\irginia. March 24, 1760. When he was fif- 
teen years old his family removed to North 
Carolina. He served in the revolutionary 
war. rising to the rank of major; was a 
member of the house of delegates three 
terms, and a state senator one term ; mem- 
ber of congress. 1795-97: United States sen- 
ator, 1 799- 1 805. and again, 1807-13. a part 
ui the time acting as president pro tcm. of 
that body. In 1816 the President appointed 
him a commissioner to treat with the Chick- 
asaw Indians. In 1820 he was elected gov- 
ernor of North Carolina. He died in Surr>' 
county. North Carolina, in September, 1823. 

Peyton, John Howe, was born in Stafford 
county. Virginia, April 3, 1778, son of John 
N. Peyton, who was descended from Henry 
Peyton, of Lincoln's Inn, London, whose 
son \'alentine came to Westmoreland coun- 
ty, about 1650. He graduated at Princeton 
in 1797, admitted to the bar in 1709, and 
established a reputation as a criminal law- 
yer. He served many years in the legisla- 
ture, and was the author of a series of reso- 
lutions upon the attitude of the state of 
Pennsylvania with reference to an amend- 
ment of the constitution of the United 
States that provided a tribunal for settling 
disputes between the state and the Federal 
judiciary, of which resolutions Daniel Web- 
ster said: "They are so conclusive of the 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



285 



question that they admit of no further dis- 
cussion." He was prosecuting attorney for 
the Augusta district in 1808-09. During the 
war of 1812 he was major of militia, and 
served till 1815. He then became deputy 
United States attorney for the western dis- 
trict of Virginia, and declined a nomination 
to congress in 1820 and a judgeship in 1824. 
He was in the state senate in 1836-44, at 
which date he fell from his horse and re- 
ceived an injury that compelled his retire- 
ment from public life. In 1840 he was ap- 
pointed a visitor to the United States Mili- 
tary Academy, and he wrote the report of 
that year. For ten years he was president 
of the board of directors of the Western 
Virginia Lunatic Asylum. Mr. Peyton was 
an active member of the Whig party, op- 
posed nullification and secession, and fav- 
ored all schemes for internal improvements 
and public education. He won a brilliant 
reputation at the bar. He died in Staunton, 
Virginia, April 3. 1847. 

Clark, James, born in Bedford county, 
Virginia, in 1779. He removed with his 
father to Clark county, Kentucky, was edu- 
cated by a private tutor, studied law in Vir- 
ginia, was admitted to the bar, and began 
practice in Winchester, Kentucky, in 1797. 
He was several times a member of the legis- 
lature, became judge of the court of appeals 
in 18 10, and was elected to congress as a 
Clay Democrat, serving from May 24, 18 13, 
till 1816. when he resigned. He was judge 
of the circuit court from 181 7 till 1824, and 
was again elected to congress as a Whig, 
serving from December 5, 1825, till March 
3, 183 1. He was elected to the state senate 
in 1832. becoming its speaker, and in 1826 
was chosen governor, and served till his 



death at Frankfort, Kentucky, August 27, 
1839. 

Gary, Lett, born in Charles City county, 
X'irginia, in 1780. He was a negro slave, and 
at the age of twenty-four was sent to Rich- 
mond and hired out as a laborer. He was 
highly intelligent, and with little assistance 
karned to read and write, and in time came 
to be a most capable shipping clerk in a 
tobacco warehouse. In 1807 he became a 
religious convert, joined a Baptist church, 
ar.d thenceforward was a leader among his 
people in religious matters. In 1813 he pur- 
chased freedom for himself and his two 
children, paying eight hundred and fifty 
dollars, a remarkably low price, his master 
having a deep sympathy for him. In 1822 
he went out to Liberia as a member of the 
colony sent to that country that year 
through the efforts of William Crane (q. 
v.), but insisted on paying his own ex- 
penses. He was an officer of the coloniza- 
tion society, and in Liberia rendered invalu- 
able service as pastor, physician, and gen- 
eral counsellor. On November 8, 1828, 
while making cartridges for use in an ex- 
l-tcted foray by slave-traders, he died from 
?n accidental explosion. 

Cartwright, Peter, born in Amherst coun- 
ty, Virginia, September i, 1785, son of Peter 
Cartwright, a revolutionary soldier, who 
moved his family to Kentucky while the 
son was a youth. The son lived a wild life 
to the age of sixteen, when he "came under 
conviction of sin,'' while attending a camp 
meeting. He sold a favorite racing horse, 
gave up gambling, and after three months' 
struggle professed conversion. He was soon 
licensed as a local preacher; in 1803, at the 
age of eighteen, was received into the regu- 



Digitized by 



Google 



286 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



lar ministry, and was ordained an elder by 
Bishop Asbury three years later. In 1823 
he removed to Sangamon county, Illinois. 
He attended all the various conferences and 
camp meetings, and in the latter was a most 
powerful and successful worker. He was 
opposed to slavery, and was greatly re- 
joiced when the Methodist Episcopal church 
of the North placed its seal of condemna- 
tion upon it. He was an earnest Democrat, 
was elected to the Illinois legislature, and 
in 1846 was a congressional candidate 
against Abraham Lincoln, who defeated 
him. He was a presiding elder of his church 
for upwards of fifty years. He was an un- 
polished but logical and forceful speaker, 
and wielded a powerful influence in relig- 
ious meetings. He published several pam- 
phlets, of which the most famous is his 
"Controversy with the Devil" (1853), His 
"Autobiography," edited by William P. 
Strickland, abounds in humorous incidents 
relating to the experiences of Mr. Cart- 
wright at his many camp meetings. He 
died in Sangamon county, Illinois, Septem- 
ber 25, 1872, 

Crane, William, born in Newark, New 
Jersey, May 6, 1790. He was a resident of 
Richmond. Virginia, from 181 1 to 1834, and 
was distinguished for his zeal in promoting 
the religious welfare of the colored people. 
He was teacher of the first school for blacks 
ii) that city, and was founder of the Rich- 
mond African Baptist Missionary Society, 
which sent Lott Gary out to Liberia. He 
was one of the founders of Richmond Col- 
lege, to which he gave one thousand dollars, 
and he made large benefactions to other 
educational and religious objects. He died 
in Baltimore, Maryland, September 28, 



1866. His son, William Carey Crane, born 
in Richmond, Virginia, March 17, 1816, was 
a Baptist minister, and at various times pas- 
tor of churches and president of colleges in 
Mississippi and Texas. 

Fendall, Philip Ricard, born in Alexan- 
dria. Virginia, in 1794. He was educated at 
Princeton College, graduating in 1815, and 
was admitted to the bar at Alexandria in 
1820. soon afterwards removing to Wash- 
ington City, where he served as district 
attorney. 1841-45. and 1849-53. ^^^ many 
years he ranked as the leading advocate of 
the capital city. He was a brilliant writer 
and frequently contributed to the press on 
political and literary topics. He died in 
Washington City. February 16, 1868. 

Finlcy, John, born at Brownsburg, Rock- 
bridge county. Virginia, January 11, 1797. 
He was educated at his neighborhood 
schools, and in 1818 removed to Cincinnati, 
Ohio, and thence to Richmond, Indiana. 
From 1 83 1 to 1834 he was one of the editors 
and proprietors of the Richmond (Indi- 
ana) "Palladium." For three years he was 
a member of the legislature, and enrolling 
clerk of the state senate for another three 
years. From 1838 to 1845 ^^ was clerk of 
the Wayne county courts, and mayor of 
Richmond (Indiana) from 1852 until his 
death, in that city, December 23, 1866. He 
was a graceful writer of verse, and his 
poems were collected in a volume entitled 
"The Hoosier's Nest, and Other Poems," 
published the year before his death. The 
best poem in the work is the well known 
"Bachelors' Hall." 

Stuart^ Ferdinand Campbell, was born in 
Williamsburg, Virginia, August 10, 1815. 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



287 



He was descended from Rev. Archibald 
Campbell, of Argyleshire, Scotland, who 
was minister of Washington parish, West- 
moreland county, and of "Round Hill 
Church," King George county, from 1754 
to 1774. Archibald Campbell had a son 
Archibald, who was the father of Ferdinand 
Stuart Campbell, professor of mathematics 
in William and Mary College about 1826 
and later. This latter, the father of the sub- 
ject of this sketch, inherited a fortune from 
the Stuarts of Scotland, and adding Stuart 
to his name called himself Ferdinand Stuart 
Campbell Stuart. His son, Ferdinand Camp- 
bell Stuart, studied at William and Mary, 
and afterwards took medicine at the Uni- 
versity of Pennsylvania, from which he 
graduated in 1837, and for five years pur- 
sued professional studies in Edinburgh and 
P'aris. On his return, he engaged in prac- 
tice in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he 
was family physician to President John 
Tyler, and who proffered him various ap- 
pointments, which his devotion to his pro- 
fession obliged him to decline. He soon re- 
moved to New York City, where he was 
placed in charge of the medical and surgical 
wards of Bellevue Hospital, and also gave 
instructions to students in his office, as well 
2L?. at clinics in 1844-45. I" 1847-48, during 
an epidemic of typhus fever, he cared for 
two hundred patients daily. When the 
Siaten Island Marine Hospital was estab- 
lished, in connection with the quarantine 
station, he was made its first physician. In 
1855 he visited England, to obtain prop- 
erly left him at the death of his father. He 
was a member of various professional soci- 
eties in Europe, as well as in the United 
States. The founding of the New York 
Academy of Medicine was largely due to his 



effort ; he was its secretary until he removed 
from New York, was vice-president three 
years, and on several occasions was the 
anniversary orator. He was a leader in the 
movements leading to the establishment of 
the American Medical Association, in 1847, 
and a member* of the committee that drafted 
its constitution. He was the inventor of 
various instruments used in genito-urinary 
diseases. His contributions to professional 
literature were numerous. 

Catesby, Mark, born in England, about 
1680. A taste for natural science led him, 
after studying in London, to come to Vir- 
ginia, where he arrived April 23, 1712, and 
occupied himself in collecting its various 
productions. He returned to England in 
1719, with a rich collection of plants, but, 
at the suggestion of Sir Hans Sloane and 
other eminent naturalists, re-embarked for 
America with the purpose of collecting and 
describing its most curious natural objects. 
He arrived May 23, 1722. explored the lower 
part of South Carolina, and afterward lived 
for some time among the Indians at Fort 
Moore, on Savannah river, three hundred 
miles from the sea. He made excursions 
into Georgia and Florida, and, after spend- 
ing three years in this country, visited the 
Bahama islands. He returned to England 
in 1726. and published in numbers "The 
Natural History of Carolina, Florida and 
the Hahama Islands." This work contained 
the first descriptions of several plants now 
cultivated in all European gardens. The 
figures were etched by himself from his own 
paintings, and the colored copies executed 
under his inspection. Catesby was a fellow 
of the Royal Society, to whose transactions 
he contributed a paper on '* Birds of Pas- 



Digitized by 



Google 



288 



\1RGIX1A BIOGRAPHY 



sage'* (1747), giving accounts of their mi- 
gration from his own observations. He 
wrote "Hortus Europae Americans" (pub- 
lished posthumously, 1767), and other works 
have been attributed to him. A plant of the 
tctrandrous class has been called after him, 
Catesbea, by Gronovius. He died at Lon- 
don. England, December 24, 1749. His sister, 
Elizabeth, married Dr. William Cocke, sec- 
retary of state of \'irginia under Alexander 
Spotswood, and has numerous descendants 
in X'irginia and the United States. 

Bailey, Ann, was reputed to have been 
born in Liverpool, England, about 1723, to 
have been kidnapped at the age of nineteen., 
carried otT to Virginia and sold, and to have 
married a man named Trotter when thirty 
years of age. Trotter was a soldier in Col. 
Lewis's regiment, and was killed by the 
Indians in the battle of Point Pleasant, Oc- 
tober 10., 1774. His widow, moved by re- 
venge, assumed male clothing and adopted 
the life of a scout and spy, and was often 
employed to convey information to the com- 
mandants of forts. In 1790 she married a 
soldier named John Bailey, stationed at Fort 
Clendenin, on Kanawha river. She was ex- 
pert with the rifle, rode a black horse of re- 
markable intelligence, and made many 
perilous journeys from the settlements on 
the James and Potomac rivers to Fort Clen- 
denin and other distant outposts. On one 
occasion she saved the garrison of a fort 
by bringing ammunition from Fort Union, 
new Lewisburg. After the Indian war, 
during which her second husband was 
killed, she lived with her son, William Trot- 
ter, on Kanawha river, and removed with 
him in 1818 to Ohio, where in old age, she 
taught school, displaying great mental and 



physical vigor. She died in Harrison town- 
ship, Gallia county, Ohio, November 23, 
1825. 

Champe, John, born in Loudoun county, 
X'irginia, was sergeant-major of Henry 
Lee's cavalry legion. After Arnold's treason 
he was sent by Lee to Xew York, at W ash- 
ington's request, to discover whether an- 
other American officer (supposed to have 
been General Gates) was also a traitor, and 
to capture Arnold, if possible, and bring 
him before Washington. Champe departed 
from the American camp at Tappan, laie at 
night, was pursued, and gained the British 
vessels at Paulus Hook. Taken to Xew 
York, he was examined by Sir Henry Clin- 
ton, who sent him to Arnold, who made him 
sergeant-major in a legion he was raising. 
Champe was able to send to Washington 
complete proof of the suspected general's 
innocence, but he was not so successful in 
the other part of his mission. Discovering 
that Arnold walked in his garden every 
night, he formed a plan with a comrade to 
seize and gag him, and drag him to a boat 
on the Hudson, and deliver him to a party 
ot horsemen on the New Jersey shore. On 
the appointed night, however, Arnold moved 
his quarters, and the legion to which Champe 
belonged was sent to Virginia. Champe 
afterward escaped from the British army, 
and joined Greene's troops in North Caro- 
lina. Washington discharged him from fur- 
ther service, lest he should fall into the 
hands of the British and be hanged. In 
1798 Washington wished to make him cap- 
tain of an infantry company, but learned 
that he had died in Kentucky some time be- 
fore. 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



289 



Caldwell, John, born in Prince Edward 
county, Virginia. He removed to Kentucky 
in 1781, served against the Indians, and be- 
came a major-general of militia. He was a 
member of the Kentucky state conventions 
of 1787 and 1788, and of the state senate in 
1792 and 1793. He was lieutenant-governor 
ai the time of his death at Frankfort, Ken- 
tucky, November 9, 1804. 

Caldwell, James, born in Charlotte coun- 
ty, \'irginia, in April, 1734. He graduated 
at Princeton College, New Jersey, in 1759, 
and became pastor of the church in Eliza- 
bethtown. During the agitations preceding 
the revolution, he took an active part in 
arousing the spirit of rebellion, thereby in- 
curring bitter hatred on the part of his Tory 
neighbors. As chaplain in the New Jersey 
brigade, he earned the nickname of the 
"soldier parson," and suffered for his pa- 
triotic zeal by having his church burned in 
1780 by a party of British marauders and 
lories. His family sought refuge in thfe 
village of Connecticut Farms (now Union), 
New Jersey, but before the close of the war 
a reconnoitering force from the British 
camps on Staten Island pillaged the place, 
and Mrs. Caldwell was killed by a stray 
bullet, while in a room praying with her 
two children. Her husband was at the 
time on duty with the army at Morristown. 
Shortly after (June 23, 1780), he distin- 
guished himself in the successful defense of 
Springfield, New Jersey, which was at- 
tacked by a heavy British force. During the 
engagement he supplied the men with hymn- 
books from a neighboring church, to use as 
wadding, with the exhortation, *'Now put 
Watts into them, boys!" He was shot by 
an American sentry during an altercation 
vu-ii 



concerning a package, which the sentry 
thought it his duty to examine. The soldier 
was delivered to the civil authorities, tried 
for murder, and hanged January 29, 1782. 
It was commonly believed at that time that 
the sentry had been bribed by the British 
to kill the chaplain. A handsome monu- 
ment commemorating the life and services 
or Mr. Caldwell and his wife was erected 
at Elizabethtown in 1846, on the sixty- 
fourth anniversary of his untimely death. 

Boucher, Jonathan, born in Blencogo, 
Cumberland, England, March 12, 1738. He 
came to America at the age of sixteen, and 
was for some time a private teacher, in 1762 
took orders in the Anglican church, and was 
appointed rector of Hanover parish. King 
George county, and two years later of St. 
Mary's parish, Caroline county, Virginia. 
Gov. Eden gave him in 1771 the rectory of 
St. Anne, Annapolis, and that of Queen 
Anne, in St. George county. He was tutor 
to John Parke Custis, but opposed the 
measures looking to independence, and gave 
such offence to his congregation that he was 
obliged to return to England in 1775. He 
was appointed vicar of Epsom, and during 
the last fourteen years of his life was en- 
gaged in compiling a glossary of provincial 
and obsolete words. This was purchased 
from his family in 183 1 by the proprietors 
of the English edition of Webster's "Dic- 
tionary," for use as an appendix to that 
work. He published in 1799 "A View of the 
Causes and Consequences of the American 
Revolution," dedicated to Gen. Washington, * 
consisting of fifteen discourses delivered in 
North America between 1763 and 1775, ^^^ 
containing many anecdotes illustrating the 



Digitized by 



Google 



2i/} 



MRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



political condition of the colonies of that 
time. He died in Epsom, England, April 
27. 1804. 

Burke» Thomas, born in Ireland, about 
1747, came to Virginia about 1764, and lived 
some years in Accomac county, where he 
practiced medicine. He then studied law, be- 
gan practice in Norfolk, and in 1774 removed 
tc Hillsborough, North Carolina, where he 
became one of the leading spirits in the 
revolutionary contest. While he was in 
Virginia, his writings in opposition to the 
stamp Lct had brought him into notice ; and 
he had a large share in the formation of 
the constitution of North Carolina. He was 
a member of the provincial congress at Hali- 
fax in 1776, and a volunteer at the battle 
of Brandywine. He was a member of con- 
gress from December, 1776, until 1781, when 
he was chosen first governor of North Caro- 
lina under the new constitution. In Sep- 
tember of that year he was taken by the 
Tories, and held as a prisoner on parole at 
James Island. South Carolina. He was in 
daily fear of assassination, and after unsuc- 
cessful efforts to obtain an exchange to some 
other state, he escaped on the night of Jan- 
uary 16, 1782, after an imprisonment of four 
months. In a letter to Gen. Leslie, Burke 
gave his reasons for withdrawing, and said 
that he still considered himself subject to 
the disposal of the British authorities. He 
v.'as regularly exchanged soon afterward, 
and resumed his duties as governor, but 
was defeated the following year, when a 
•candidate for re-election, it being urged that 
he had violated his parole. He died in 
Hillsborough, North Carolina, December 2. 
1783. 



Baynham, William, born in Caroline 
county, Virginia, in December, 1749. He 
studied medicine under Dr. Thomas Walker, 
and in 1769 went to London, where he be- 
came proficient in anatomy and surgery, and 
for several years was assistant demonstrator 
in St. Thomas's Hospital, London. After 
sixteen years' residence in England he re- 
turned to the United States and settled in 
Lssex. He was very successful as a sur- 
geon, and as an anatomist he had no supe- 
rior. The best preparations in the museums 
of Cline and Cooper, in London, were made 
by him. He contributed to the medical 
journals. He died at his residence in Essex 
county, Virginia, December 8, 1814. 

Butler, James, bom in Prince William 
county. X'lrginia, removed to South Caro- 
lina about 1/72. settling in what was then 
a frontier region. He took part in Gen. 
Richardson's "snow-camp expedition," and 
aften^^ard in a similar expedition under Gen. 
Williamson, in 1776. Butler joined Gen. 
Lincoln near Augusta in 1779, and after the 
fall of Charleston, in 1780, he was one of 
those who refused to swear allegiance to 
the British crown, and was lodged in the 
/ail at Ninety-Six. He was afterward taken 
to the provost of Charleston, then to the 
prison-ship, and was kept in close confine- 
ment for eighteen months. After his re- 
hase, he was summoned to repel a foray 
of the Tories of his precinct, and was killed 
.^t Cloud's creek. South Carolina, in 1781. 

Bullitt, Alexander Scott, son of Hon. 
Cuthbert bullitt and Helen Scott, his wife, 
daughter of Rev. James Scott, born in 
Prince William county, Virginia, in 1761 ; 
settled m bheiby county. Virginia (now 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



291 



Kentucky), in 1784. The continual depre- 
dations of the Indians caused him to remove 
to Jefferson county, and he settled near 
Sturgus' Station. He was a delegate to the 
convention that met at Danville in 1792 to 
frame the constitution of Kentucky. After 
its adoption, represented his county in the 
jitaie senate, and was the first speaker, serv- 
ing from 1792 till 1804. In 1799 he was a 
delegate to the constitutional convention at 
Frankfort, and presided at its meetings. In 
I'^^oo he became the first lieutenant-governor 
ct Kentucky. He retired from politics in 
1808, and passed the latter portion of his 
life on the farm in Jefferson county, where 
he died April 13, 1816. 

Campbell, Thomas, born February i, 1763, 
in Ireland. He was trained in scholarship 
at Glasgow Cniversity, and for the ministry 
under the Scottish establishment. He was 
descended from the Campbells of Argyle. 
Entering the ministry in 1798, he soon be- 
came identified with the "Seceders/' and 
came to the United States in 1807, joined 
the associate synod of Xorth America at 
Philadelphia, and ministered to destitute 
congregations in western Pennsylvania. In 
1809 he was joined by his son Alexander. 
On June 12, 1812, in company with his son 
and their joint congregations, they were 
immersed by Elder Luse, of the Baptists, 
but with a stipulation in writing that no 
term of union or communion should be re- 
quired other than the holy scriptures. The 
son soon assumed the leadership, which 
finally resulted in the formation of the sect 
tl at is inseparably connected with the fam- 
ily name. Thomas Campbell labored zeal- 
ously until age, and at last total blindness. 
cc»mpelled him to desist. He died January 
4. 1854. at Bethany, West Virginia. 



Callendcr, James Thomas, born in Scot 
land, came to Philadelphia, 1790, as a poli- 
tical refugee from England, because of the 
publication of a pamphlet entitled 'The 
Political Progress of Britain." Shortly 
after his arrival, he published "The Political 
Register," and the ^'American Register." 
He subsequently became editor of the 
"Richmond Recorder," and denounced the 
administrations of Washington and Adams 
most violently. He was at first a supporter 
of Jefferson, but became his opponent. "The 
Prospect Before Us" and "Sketches of 
American History" are among his literary 
productions. He was drowned in James 
river, near Richmond, Virginia, in 1813. 

Catron, John, born in Wythe county, Vir- 
ginia, in 1778. He was educated in the 
common schools, and early developed a 
fondness for history. He removed to Ten- 
nessee in 1812, and took up the study of 
the law, giving to it sixteen hours a day, for 
nearly four years. After serving in the Xew 
Orleans campaign under Gen. Jackson, he 
was elected state attorney by the Tennes- 
see legislature. He removed to Nashville 
in 1818, attained high rank as a chancery 
lawyer, and was especially famous for en- 
forcing the seven years act of limitations in 
real actions. In December, 1824, he was 
chosen one of the supreme judges of the 
state, and was chief justice trom 1830 till 
1836, when he was retired under the state 
constitution. While on the bench, he did 
his utmost to suppress the practice of duel- 
ling, although he had been himself a noted 
c'uelli.st. He was made an associate justice 
ui the United States supreme court in 
March, 1837. and held the office till his 
death. He was noted for his familiarity 
vvith the laws applicable to cases involving 



Digitized by 



Google 



2C)2 



\IRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY 



titles to western and southern lands, Judge 
Citron was a Democrat, but strongly op- 
posed secession in 1861, and used his in- 
fluence with members of congress and others 
to prevent the civil war. When it came, he 
was virtually banished from his state for 
his opinions, but returned and reopened 
c<.»urt in 1862. He died in Xashville, Ten- 
nessee, May 30, 1865. 

Campbell, John Poage, born in Augusta 
county, \'irginia, in 1767, removed to Ken- 
tucky with his father in 1781. Receiving a 
good education, when nineteen years old he 
became preceptor of an academy at Wil- 
liamsburg, North Carolina. Here he adopted 
atheistic views, but was converted by read- 
ing Jenyns*s "Treatise on the Internal Evi- 
dence of Christianity," and, giving up the 
study of medicine, in which he had been en- 
gaged, resolved to become a clergyman. He 
was graduated at Hampdcn-Sidney in 1790, 
was licensed to preach in May, 1792, and 
settled in Kentucky in 1795, preaching in 
various places. In 181 1 he was chaplain to 
the legislature. As his salary was insuffi- 
cient for the support of his family, he was 
obliged to practice medicine. Dr. Camp- 
bell was a graceful preacher and an accom- 
plished scholar. He published "The Pas- 
senger" (1804); ''Strictures on Stone's Let- 
ters on the Atonement" (1805); "Vindex" 
(1806); "Letters to the Rev. Mr. Craig- 
head" (1810); "The Pelagian Detected" 
(i8ii) ; "An Answer to Jones" (181 2) ; and 
many sermons. He left a manuscript his- 
tory of the western country. He died from 
exposure while preaching on November 4, 
1814, near Chillicothe, Ohio. 

Campbell, John Wilson, born in Augusta 
county, Virginia, February 23, 1782; his 



parents removed to Kentucky, and after- 
ward to Ohio. He received a common- 
school education : studied law, was admitted 
to the bar in 1808, and began practice in 
West Union, Ohio. He held several local 
offices, was prosecuting attorney for Adams 
and Highland counties, and a member of 
the Ohio legislature. He was elected to con- 
gress as a Republican, served from Decem- 
ber 1, 1817, till March 3, 1827, and was 
L'nited States judge for the district of Ohio 
from 1829 until his death. He died Septem- 
ber 24, 1833, at Delaware, Ohio. 

Carleton, Henry, (originally named Henry 
Larleton Coxe), born in Virginia, in 1785. 
He graduated at Yale in 1806, removed to 
Mississippi, and finally to New Orleans, in 
1814. He was a lieutenant of infantry under 
Gen. Jackson in the campaign that termi- 
nated January 8, 1815. He engaged in the 
profession of law, and soon afterward, with 
Mr. L. Moreau, began the translation of 
those portions of "Las Siete Partidas," a 
Spanish code of laws, that were observed in 
Louisiana. He became United States attor- 
ney for the eastern district of Louisiana, 
in 1832, and was. subsequently appointed 
a judge of the supreme court of the state, 
but resigned in 1839 on account of ill 
health. After extended travel in Europe 
and this country, he settled in Phila- 
delphia, where he devoted much attention 
to Biblical, theological and metaphysical 
studies. Notwithstanding his early life in 
the south and the exposure of his property 
to confiscation by the Confederates, he ad- 
hered steadfastly to the Union during the 
civil war. He published "Liberty and Ne- 
cessity" (Philadelphia, 1857), and read an 
* Essay on the Will," before the American 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



293 



Philosophical Society a few days befcjro his 
I'cath. on March 28, 1863, at Philadelphia. 
Pennsylvania. 

Chambers, Henry, born in Lunenburg 
county, Virginia, about 1785. He gradu- 
ated at William and Mary College in i8c8, 
itudied medicine, and settled in Alabama, 
where he practiced until the war of 1812. 
when he served as surgeon on Gen. Jack- 
son's staff. Later he settled in Huntsville, 
and in 181 9 was a member of the consti- 
tutional convention of Alabama. He was 
elected United States senator, and served 
from December 5, 1825, until his death, at 
ihe residence of his brother, Judge Edward 
Chambers, of the superior court of Virginia, 
while on his way to Washington. He died 
in MecklenDurg county, Virginia, January 
25. 1826. 

Cartwright, Samuel Adolphus, born in 
Fairfax county, Virginia, November 30, 
^793- He studied medicine at the L'niver- 
:iity of Pennsylvania, and began practice in 
Huntsville, Alabama, but removed to Nat- 
chez. Mississippi, where he labored for more 
than a quarter of a century, and ser\'ed at 
one time under Gen. Jackson as surgeon. 
He removed to New Orleans in 1848, and in 
1862 was appointed to improve the sanitary 
condition of the Confederate soldiers near 
Port Hudson and Vicksburg, and while dis- 
charging this duty he contracted ^he disease 
that caused his death. He contributed 
largely to medical literature, and received 
several medals and prizes for his investiga- 
tions, especially those on yellow fever, chol- 
era infantum and Asiatic cholera. Some of 
the metho«!s of his treatment are now in u.se 
in the army and in hospitals. He died May 
2, 1863, at Jackson, Mississippi. 



Chalmers, Joseph W., born in Halifax 
county. Virginia, in 1807. son of a wealthy 
planter who came from Scotland, and was 
related to Thomas Chalmers, the celebrated 
divine. He was trained to mercantile pur- 
suits, but after the death of his father, de- 
termined to be a lawyer, and, after spend- 
ing two years at the University of Virginia, 
studied law in the olifice of Benjamin W. 
i-eigh, in Richmond. In 1835 he removed 
to Jackson, Tennessee, and in 1840 to Holly 
Springs, Mississippi. In 1842-43 he was 
vice-chancellor. In 1846 he was appointed 
to the United States senate to fill vacancy 
caused by the appointment of Senator Rob- 
ert J. Walker to the head of the treasury 
department, and was subsequently elected 
for the remainder of the term, but at its 
close he declined re-election and resumed 
the practice of law, being succeeded by Jeff- 
erson Davis. He served in the senate from 
December 7, 1845, ^iH March 3, 1847. He 
was a steadfast States Right Democrat, and 
w.irmly supported Gen. Cass for president 
in T848. and John A. Quitman and Jefferson 
O.ivis in their contests with Henry S. Foote 
in 185 1. He died at Holly Springs, Miss- 
issippi, in June, 1853. 

Robinson, Beverley, born in Virginia, in 
1723; son of John Robinson, president of 
the council of Virginia in 1734, and speaker 
of the house of burgesses. He served under 
Wolfe a.s a major at the storming of Quebec 
in 1759, and became wealthy by his mar- 
riage with Susanna, daughter of Frederick 
Ph:liipse. of New York. He opposed the 
Eri<"ish measures that led to the revolu- 
tion, but joined the loyalists, went to 
New York, and raised the Loyal American 
rcf^iment, of which he was colonel, and also 



Digitized by 



Google 



294 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



commanded the corps called "the guards ard 
pioneers." He was employed in matters of 
importance on behalf of the Royalists. He 
opened a correspondence with the Whi^j 
leaders, relative to their return to their alleg- 
iance, and was concerned in Arnold's 
trei'son. His country mansion was Arnold'.s 
hcatlquariers while the latter was arrang- 
ing his plan. After the conviction of An- 
dre, Col. Robinson, as a witness, accom- 
panied Sir Henry Clinton's commission to 
Washington' headquarters to plead for An- 
dre's life. He had previously addressed 
Washington on the subject, and in his letter 
reminded him of their former friendship. 
After the war. he went to New Brunswick, 
and was a member of the first council of that 
colony, but did not take his seat. He subse- 
quently went to England with part of his 
family, and resided near Bath, till his death. 
His wife was included in the confiscation act 
oi New York, and the estate derived from her 
father pas.«ed from the family. As a com- 
pensation for the loss, the British govern- 
ment granted her husband £17,010 sterhng. 
She died at Thornbury in 1822, aged nine- 
*v-four years. He had five sons in the Brit- 
t>h army, all of whom attained distinction, 
Beverley was a member of the council oi 
New Brunswick; Morris was a lieutenant- 
colonel ; John was a member of the council, 
deputy paymaster and treasurer; Frederick 
was a lieutenant-general and knighted, and 
William Henry was commissary-general and 
was also knighted. 

Thomas, Isaac, born in Virginia, about 
1735. He was an early Indian trader, and 
about 1755 located among the Cherokees, 
•^ear Fort Loudoun. His immense strength 
and courage commanded great respect from 



the Indians. On one occasion he interfered 
in a feud between two Cherokee braves who 
had drawn tomahawks upon each other, 
and tore the weapons from their hands, 
when they both attacked him. He lifted 
6ne after the other into the air, and threw 
ilum into the Tellico river. One ty' the 
Indians subsequently saved his life .'-.t the 
J-ort Loudoun massacre, of which it is said 
that he and two others were the .sole sur- 
vivors. After peace was restored, he a.iL^ain 
.<;eitled among the Cherokees, making his 
home at their capital, Echota. where, in a 
leg-cabin, he kept the trader's usual stc^ck. 
Me was on very friendly terms with Nancy 
Ward, the Cherokee prophetess, who early 
in 1776 told him of the hostile design.s of 
the Indians. He at once sent a trusty mes- 
senger to John Sevier and James Rcbert- 
.^on at Watauga, but remained behind till 
the actual outbreak of hostilities. Ai mid- 
night on July 7, 1776, Nancy Ward again 
<?me to his cabin and urged him to leave 
V\t settlements. At great risk he mide the 
journey, and a few days later was with the 
ittle garrison of forty that repelled the at- 
tack of Oconostota on the fort at Watauga. 
Sevier probably could not have held out if 
he had not received the warning. >oon 
afterward he piloted the expedition that laid 
waste ihe Indian country, and, for iwenty 
years afterwards he acted as guide to Gen. 
Sevier in nearly all of his campaigns against 
the Creeks and Cherokees. Soon after the 
revolution he relinquished trade wi^.h the 
IndiaiiS, and settled upon an extensive farm 
in .Se\*ier county. He called his settlement 
Sevi<?r\-rile, in honor of his general, and the 
place is now one of the most beautiful locali- 
ties in the state of Tennessee. He died in 
Sevicrvrlle, Tennessee, in 1819. 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



295 



Waddcl, JameSy born in Xewry, Ireland, 
in Jul}, »739. He was an infant when his 
parents timgrated to this country, settling 
in scviith western Pennsylvania. He was 
educated under Rev. Samuel Finley. b«icanic 
an assistant teacher in Rev. Robert Smith's 
academy in Pequea, Lancaster county. .:ftcr- 
ward cniig:rated to Virginia, and, under the 
influence of Samuel Davies, studiea for the 
ministry, and was licensed to preach in i/6i. 
The next year he became pastor of Pres- 
byterian churches in the northern neck of 
Virginia; removed to the Tinkling Spring 
church, Augusta county, in 1775, *^lso 
preached in Staunton, and in 1785 settled on 
an estate in Louisa county, where he sup- 
plied vacant pulpits and was principal of a 
classical school. He became blind about 
1787, but continued his labors without in- 
terruption, writing as well as preaching 
with great industry. Before his death, he 
ordered that all his manuscripts be burned, 
?nd his eloquence has become a matter of 
tradition. The sketch of Dr. Waddel as "the 
Mind preacher" in William Wirt's "British 
Spy." was written in 1803, when Dr. Wad- 
del was old and infirm, has been been ac- 
cepted as almost authentic, though it has 
been questioned how far the author gave 
himself the license of fiction in his descrip- 
tion. Dr. Waddel's biographer, Dr. James 
W. Alexander, says: "Mr. Wirt stated to 
me, so far from adding colors to the picture 
o' Dr. Waddel's eloquence, he had fallen 
below the truth. In person he was tall and 
erect, his mien was unusually dignified, and 
his manners graceful and eloquent. Under 
his preaching, audiences were irresistibly 
and simultaneously moved, like the wind- 
shaken forest." James Madison, who had 
been his pupil, said: "He has spoiled me 



for all other preaching," and Patrick Henry 
classed him with Samuel Davies as one of 
the two greatest orators he had ever heard. 
Dickinson College gave him the degree of 
D. D. in 1792. One of his daughters mar- 
ried the Kev. Archibald Alexander. He 

died in Louisa county, Virginia, .September 
1;. 1805. 

Trimble, James, son of John Trimble, was 
one of the early pioneers of Augusta county. 
His father lived on Middle river, not far 
from Churchville, and seven miles from 
Staunton. Here, in 1764, they were attacked 
by Indians headed by a white man named 
Dickson, who had fled from Virginia to 
escape punishment for crime. John Trimble 
was killed, his home burned, four horses 
v.'ere taken and loaded with the plunder of 
the dwelling: and young James, who was 
only eight years, and his half-sister, Mrs. 
Estill, were carried oflF into captivity. Capt. 
George Moffett, brother of Mrs. EstiH, 
started oflf in pursuit with eighteen white 
men, overtook the savages, killed six of 
them, and rescued his kins-people. James 
Trimble figured extensively afterwards as a 
pioneer, and was father of the late John A. 
Trimble, of Ohio. 

Robertson, James, born in Brunswick 
county. Virginia. June 28, 1742, of Scotch- 
Irish descent. His parents removed to 
North Carolina when he was a youth, and 
he received little or no education. When he 
was seventeen, he went with Daniel Boone's 
third expedition to the west. He discovered 
the Watauga river valley, planted some 
corn, and then returned to North Carolina, 
after losing his way, and being saved from 
death, by hunters. The next spring he led 
sixteen families to the valley, and they 



Digitized by 



Google 



296 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



raised crops for four years, unmolested by 
the surrounding Indians. They believed 
themselves to be within the limits of Vir- 
ginia, but when the lines were run in 1772, 
ir was found that they were on land belong- 
ing to the Cherokees. They made a lease 
with the Indians, but in the merry-making 
which followed, a warrior was killed by one 
of the whites, and trouble was only avoided 
by Robertson's efforts, and Indians and 
whites remained at peace until 1776. In 
July, of that year, the Indians attacked 
the fort, and were beaten off by Robert- 
son and Sevier, with forty men, after 
twenty days' fighting. In the spring of 
1779. Robertson explored the Cumberland 
valley, to which he emigrated with a party, 
leaving Sevier at Watauga. One of his par- 
ties made a settlement at what became 
Nashville, Tennessee, where Robertson's 
other people joined them. They were soon 
attacked by the Cherokees, and in a few 
months had lost sixty-seven of their two 
hundred and fifty-six men. Their crops were 
swept away by a flood, and they faced star- 
vation, and many of the settlers went back 
east, reducing the settlement to one hundred 
and thirty-four persons, while most of those 
who remained, urged Robertson to leave 
also. This he refused, saying, **Here I shall 
stay, if every man of you deserts me." With 
his eldest son. Isaac Bledsoe, and a negro, 
be made his way to Boone, in Kentucky, 
from whence he procured ammunition, and 
returned to Nashville. He successfully re- 
sisted an attack by one thousand Indians in 
April. 1781. After the revolutionary war. 
he made friends with the Choctaws and 
Chickasaws, drawing them away from their 
connection with the British, and also made 
peace with the Cherokees. Later, the half- 



breed Creek chief. Alexander McGillwray, 
made a treaty with the Spanish governor of 
Louisiana, under which he was to drive out 
the .\mericans. and he warred upon them 
at intervals for a period of twelve years. 
Robertson frequently rejected overtures 
from the Spanish governor, who offered him 
peace and free navigation on the Mississippi, 
if he would establish Watauga and Ken- 
tucky as a government separate from the 
Union. In 1790 Washington made him 
brigadier-general, and his militar\' services 
continued six years longer. He shared with 
Sevier the honor and affection of the Ten- 
ncsseeans. He was made Indian commis- 
sioner, and held that office until his death. 
Mis wife, Charlotte Reeves, born in Vir- 
ginia, accompanied him to Watauga on its 
first settlement, and participated in all his 
dangers, at times using the rifle against the 
indians, with unerring skill. He died m the 
Chickasaw country. Tennessee. September 
I, 1814. 

Todd, John, born in Montgomery county, 
Pennsylvania, in 1750. He took part in the 
tattle of Point Pleasant. Virginia, in 1774, 
as adjutant-general to Gen. Andrew Lewis. 
He settled as a lawyer in Fincastle, Vir- 
ginia, in 1775, with his brothers, he emigrated 
to Kentucky, and took part in the organiza- 
tion of the Transylvania colonial legislature, 
with Daniel Boone, and made an expedition 
southwest as far as Bowling Green, Ken- 
tucky. He settled near Lexington in 1776, 
and was elected a burgess to the Virginia 
legislature, being one of the first two repre- 
sentatives from Kentucky county, where he 
.«erved as county lieutenant and colonel of 
militia. He accompanied Gen. George 
Rogers Clark to \'incennes and Kaskaskia, 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



297 



and was given command at the latter place. 
In 1777 he was commissioned by Gov. Pat- 
rick Henry, of Virginia, as colonel and com- 
mandant of the Illinois country, and served 
two years, organizing its civil government. 
Col. Todd went to Virginia in 1779, and was 
next year a member of the legislature, 
where he procured land-grants for public 
schools, and introduced a bill for negro 
emancipation. He returned to Kentucky, 
and while there, as senior colonel, com- 
manded the forces against the Indians in the 
battle of the Blue Licks, where he was 
killed, .August 19, 1782. Levi, brother of 
John, was a lieutenant under George Rogers 
Clark in the expedition of 1778. and one of 
ih(. few survivors of the Blue Licks; Levi's 
son. Robert S.. was the father of Mrs. Ab- 
raham Lincoln. 

Taylor, John, born in Fauquier county, 
Virginia, in 1752. He became an itinerant 
missionary of the Baptist church in western 
\'irginia at the age of twenty, and in 1783 
removed to Kentucky. He lived at Gear 
Creek, and was pastor of the church, till 
V95, when he settled in Boone county. He 
preached and took part in revival- while 
clearing and cultivating land, and in his last 
years, though he declined the pastoral re- 
lation, he officiated in a church that he had 
assisted in organizing at Forks of Elkhcrn. 
He published an account of his religious 
labors and of the churches that he had aided 
in founding, under the title of "A History 
of Ten Baptist Missions.'* He dic:d in Forks 
of Elkhorn, Franklin countv, Kentuckv, in 

Kobinson, Robert, son of John and Fran- 
ces Robinson, of Middlesex countv, Vir- 



ginia, was born April 29, 1758. and with hi.« 
tutor. Francis Hargreaves, ran away irom 
home and joined the English army in 1778, 
aid was lieutenant in the King's "Lo)a. 
Americans." After the war, he settle! in 
Nova Scotia and married Dorothea Budd.of 
Digby, in that province, and died about 
1814. His grandson, Thomas Robinson, of 
St. Johns, New Brunswick, was president 
of the Western Union Telegraph Company 
in 1880. 

Robinson, Christopher, born in W'estmorc- 
land county. Virginia, in 1760, a desceiuiant 
of Christopher Robinson (1645-92), elder 
brother of Ur. John Robinson, bishop of 
Bristol and London, who came to .\merica 
in 1660 and was secretary of the colony of 
Virginia. He was educated at William and 
Mj-y College, and early in the revolution 
went to New York, where he received a 
commission in the Loyal American regin.enl 
under his relative, Beverley Robinson. He 
served in the south, was wounded, and ?fter 
the war went to Nova Scotia and received 
a grant of land. He later removed to Upper 
Canada. He was father of Sir John Bev- 
erley Robinson, baronet. K. C. B., chief jus- 
tice of Upper Canada. He died in York 
(now Toronto), Upper Canada, in 1798. 

Trotter, George, born in \'irginia, in 177Q. 
son of Lieut.-Col. James Trotter, a soldier 
in the revolution. He entered the army at 
the beginning of the second war with Great 
Britain, as a captain in a volunteer company 
of dragoons, was wounded in action with 
the Indians under Col. John B. Campbell, 
on December 18 of that year: became lieu- 
tenant-colonel of Kentucky volunteers in 
18 13: as brigadier-general he led a brigade 



Digitized by 



Google 



298 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



:'rom his state, at the battle of the Thames. 
0;tober 5, 1813. He died in Lexingtmi, 
Kentucky. October 13. 18 15. 

Tarbell, Joseph, born about 1780: entered 
the United States navy as a midshipnMu. 
December 5, 1798; was promoted to lieu- 
tenant, August 25. 1800: served in Preble's 
squadron during the Tripolitan war. He 
was included in the vote of thanks to Prc])lc 
and his officers by act of congress. March 3. 
1805 ; W.1S promoted to master-commandant, 
April 25. 1808. and commanded the frigate 
Jchn Adams in 181 1-14; he was commis- 
sioned captain. July 24, 1813, and ser\'ed in 
the defense of Craney Island and Jaincs 
river in June. 1813, capturing three barges 
an.l forty prisoners. He was then sl.Tiioned 
at Norfolk, X'irginia. where he died. No- 
vember 24. 1815. 

Trimble, David, born in Frederick county, 
Virginia, about 17S2; educated at William 
and -Mary College, studied law, and rcm<»ved 
10 Kentucky in 1804. He served iu tne war 
of 1812. and during two campaigns under 
Gen. William Henry Harrison. In 1817 he 
was elected to congress, where he served 
wiihout interruption till 1827. After rclir- 
iiig from congress he engaged in agricul- 
ture and iron manufacture, and did much 
tu develop the resources of the state. He 
died at Trimble's Furnace, Kentucky, < »c- 
tober 26, 1842. 

Taylor, Waller, born in Lunenburg 
county, \'irginia. before 1786; received a 
common-school education, studied law, 
served one or two terms in the Virginia 
legislature as the representative of Lunen- 
burg county, and settled in Vincem!es, In- 
diana, in 1805. as a territorial judge. He was 



aide-de-camp to Gen. William H. Harrison 
at the battle of Tippecanoe, and in the war 
of 1812-15. On the admission of Indiana 
as a state, iu was elected United States 
senator, and re-elected, serving from De- 
cember 12. 1816, till March 3, 1825. He died 
in Lunenburg. \*irginia, August 26, 1826. 

Waugh, Beverley, born in Fairfax county, 
\'irginia, October 28, 1789, a descendant of 
Rev. John W'augh (q. v. \'ol. I.. 354). At 
the age of fifteen he became a member of 
the Methodist church at Alexandria, \'ir- 
ginia. From the age of eighteen, until 
shortly before his death, he kept a journal 
which made several manuscript vohuncs. 
in 1808 he entered the ministry, and at the 
end of three years he was stationed iu 
Washington City. He was elected by the 
r»alt:more conferences to the general con- 
lerenoes of 1816 and 1820. In 1824. on ac- 
count of his favoring the election of presid- 
ing; cHers. which the majority of hi» con- 
lerence did not approve, he was not a 
representative. In 1828 he was again elected 
a member, and chosen assistant editor and 
Inok-agent. and removed to New York City. 
In 2832 he was made principal agent, and 
in 1836 he was made bishop, in which post 
he continued, traveling almost constantly, 
until 1852, when he became senior bishop. 
After that, his health gradually failed until 
he died, in Baltimore, Maryland, February 
% 1858. 

Thornton, Thomas C^ born in Dumfries, 
X'irginia, October 12, 1794. He became .in 
exhorter in the Methodist Episcopal chuich 
at the age of sixteen, and was received into 
the Baltimore conference at the age of pine- 
teen. He was made president of a college 
in Mississippi in 1841. He left the Methc- 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



299 



(list church in 1845, ^"^ attached himself 
to the Protestant Episcopal church, hut re- 
turned to his former connection in 1850. J le 
was the author of "Inquiry into the History 
of S^rvery in the United States," a reply 
t. :ho anti-slavery arguments of William E. 
Charning. He died in Mississippi, March 
-?3, t36o. 

Turner, Nat, born in Southampton 
county, Virginia, October 2, 1800, was a 
negro, the property of Mr. Benjamin 
Turner, of pure African type and consider- 
able mental ability. He had been taught ti) 
read and write, and had been highly favored 
by white people. In 1831 he was living in 
the family of Mr. Joseph Travis, who, ac- 
cording to his own statement, was a kind 
and indulgent master. Reading of the Bible 
and about the prophets aroused in hini a 
spirit of enthusiasm and after a time he be- 
gan to regard himself as a kind of prophet 
sent to his people. This was the time when 
the abolitionists were beginning t9 flood the 
south with incendiary documents teaching 
slaughter and rebellion, and Turner's mind 
influenced by what he read was finally 
turned to thoughts of mastery and libera- 
tion. He got together a band of negroes 
and on August 21, 183 1, began an indis- 
criminate massacre of white people, not 
even sparing his master's family and bab). 
In forty-eight hours fifty-five white persons 
men, women and children were surprised 
?nd killed, and the insurgents, increased to 
sixty, and flushed with blood and brandy, 
inarched to Jerusalem, the county-seat, to 
which place many families had fled in terror. 
hxxt before reaching there they were con- 
fronted by a small body of county militia 
who attacked them and the negroes dis- 



persed. Turner escaped to the woods and 
after spending nearly two months in hiding, 
was captured, taken to Jerusalem, brought to 
trial and hanged. The suddenness and 
ferocity of the attack naturally spread alarm 
throughout the south, and militia under 
command of Gen. William H. Brodnax, as- 
sembled under arms to the number of 3,000. 
This outbreak known as the •*Southampton 
Insurrection'* was the most serious that 
ever occurred in the south and was really 
contemptible in its dimensions, though much 
was made out of it by the abolitionists. It 
resulted in the trial of fifty-three negroes, 
ot whom seventeen were hanged, and some 
others suspected of complicity were shot. 
As might be expected at such a time some 
of the guilty escaped and some of the inno- 
cent were destroyed. He died in Jerusalem, 
Virginia, November 11, 1831. 

Turner, Charles Coche, born in Virginia, 
about 1805 ; entered the United States navy 
a.*- a midshipman, May 10, 1820; was com- 
missioned lieutenant. May 17, 1828, and 
st-rved in the sloop Vandalia, suppressing 
piracy, and in the Seminole war in 1834-35. 
He was in the sloop Peacock, in the East 
Indies, 1836-38, and had a narrow escape on 
a reef in the Persian gulf, making it neces- 
sary, to throw the guns overboard to save 
the ship. He commanded the store-ship 
Eric, 1844-47, visited the Mediterranean, 
African, and Pacific squadrons, and assisted 
in operations for the conquest of California 
during the Mexican war. He was promoted 
if, master-commandant, March 22, 1847; 
served on ordnance duty in Washington in 
1849-51; was fleet-captain in the Mediter- 
ranean squadron, 1852-53: and commanded 
the sloop Levant, on the coast of Africa, 



Digitized by 



Google 



300 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



1853-56. He was on waiting orders in 1857, 
and served at the Washington navy yard, 
1857-60. He died in Baltimore, Maryland, 
March 4. 1861. 

Thornton, Scth Barton, born near Fred- 
ericksburg. Virginia, in 1814 ; was educated 
in the common schools. After a narrow 
escape from death by shipwreck he was ap- 
pointed second lieutenant in the Second 
United States Dragoons, in June. 1836, and 
served in Florida against the Seminoles : he 
was promoted to first lieutenant in 1837, 
and to captain in 1841. In command of his 
S(;uadron. he exchanged the first shots with 
the enemy in the Mexican war at Le Rosia, 
April 25. 1846. was severely wounded, and 
captured, with the greater part of his force, 
after a gallant fight by forty dragoons 
against five hundred lancers. At the close 
of the campaign, while at the head of his 
st|uadron in advance of Worth's division at 
St'U Augustine, near the city of Mexico, 
Thornton was struck in the breast by a round 
shot and instantly killed. June 18, 1847- 

Morris, Samuel, bom in Hanover county, 
Virginia, about 1700, came to be known as 
the **Father of Presbyterianism in Virginia." 
Between 1740 and 1743 a few families who 
had withdrawn from the services of the 
Established Church met from time to time 
at his house for worship. Morris, as de- 
scribed in Campbell's ''Virginia," was "an 
obscure man, a bricklayer, of singular sim- 
plicity of character, sincere, devout and 
earnest." He read to his neighbors from his 
favorite religious works, among them Lu- 
ther's **On the Galatians," and 'Table Talk." 
He also obtained a volume of Whitefield's 
sermons, delivered in Glasgow, and read 



these to his friends on Sundays and at other 
times, with such effect some "cried out. and 
wept bitterly." Morris* house became in- 
sufficient for the increasing number of wor- 
shippers, and with their aid he built what 
come to be called "Morris' Reading Room." 
Their exercises were reading only, none 
daring to attempt extemporaneous prayer 
^lorris was invited to read sermons in other 
communities, r.nd thus other reading houses 
were established. The authorities imposed 
fines upon those, Morris among them, who 
absented themselves from the Established 
Church. When required by the court to de- 
clare to what denomination they belonged, 
they, in their ignorance of such distinctions, 
not knowing what else to call themselves, 
gave the name of Lutherans; they were un- 
aware that this name had been taken by a 
distinct sect, and they afterwards aban- 
doned it. At length Morris and his asso- 
ciates were summoned to appear before the 
governor and council in Williamsburg. One 
of them, on his way to obey the summons, 
stopped at a house where he saw a Scotch 
"Confession of Faith," in which he recog- 
nized doctrines to which he could readily 
subscribe. The book was given to him. he 
and his friends agreed to adopt it, and when 
they appeared before the governor and 
council, they exhibited the book as setting 
forth their creed, and the governor (Gooch), 
v^ho had been reared a Presbyterian, said, 
'These men are Presbyterians," and recog- 
nized their right to the privileges of the 
toleration act. The proceedings were inter- 
rupted by a thunder storm of unusual sever- 
ity ; the council was softened ; and this was 
one of a chain of incidents which Morris 
and his friends regarded as providentially 
instrumental in bringing about the favor- 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEN r rEKifOXS 



301 



able issue of their affair. Morris died in 
Hanover county, Virginia, in 1770. 

Maury, James, was born April 18, 1718, 
son of Matthew Maury, a French Huguenot, 
who came shortly after his birth to Virginia 
from Castel Mauron, in Gascony. His 
mother was Mary Anne Fontaine, daughter 
of Rev. James Fontaine and Anne Elizabeth 
Boursiquot, his wife. He attended William 
and Mary College, and on July 31, 1742, was 
appointed usher of the grammar school. In 
February-, 1742, he went to England and 
was ordained a minister. Returning to Vir- 
ginia he became minister for one year of a 
parish in King William county and then 
went to Louisa to Fredericksville parish, 
which was afterwards in Albemarle county. 
As a minister he was highly regarded for his 
piety and learning. He opposed the two 
penny act of 1757 and brought suit against 
the collectors of the parish for the full 
amount of his salary in tobacco. This suit, 
involving the question of taxation, became 
historical. It was defended by Peter Lyons, 
afterwards president of the state supreme 
court, and opposed by Patrick Henry, who 
denounced the interference of the King in 
setting aside the law as treason to the 
people of Virginia. Mr. Maury lost his suit, 
but continued to hold the esteem of the 
people of Virginia. He was still minister 
of his parish when he died, June 9, 1769. 
He married Mary Walker, daughter of Cap- 
tain James Walker and Annel^nir wife. 

Nash, Francis, brother of Governor Ab- 
ner Xash, of Xorth Carolina, born in Prince 
Edward county. Virginia. May 10, 1720. He 
moved to Orange county, Xorth Carolina, 
a: an early age; was clerk of the superior 
Ci'urt; held a captain's commission under 



the English crown, and commanded his 
company in a battle at Alamance in 1771. 
He was a delegate to the provincial con- 
gress that met in Hillsborough, Xorth 
Carolina, in August, 1775, received a lieu- 
tenant-colonel's commission, and was as- 
signed to one of the two regiments then 
forming for the continental service. In 
February, 1777, he was commissioned briga- 
dier-general by the continental congress, 
joined Washington, and commanded a bri- 
gade at the battle of Germantown, there re- 
ceiving a mortal wound, his death occurring 
October 7, 1777. The following November 
congress passed a resolution that a monu- 
ment costing five hundred dollars be erected 
t(» his memory, but the resolution was never 
carried into effect. 

Patillo, Henry, born in Scotland, in 1726. 
came to America at nine years of age, set- 
tled in Virginia, and became a merchant's 
clerk. He studied for the ministry, was 
ordained in 1758, and removed to Xorth 
Carolina, where he had charge of Presby- 
terian churches until his death. He was a 
member of the Xorth Carolina provincial 
congress in 1775. ^"^ chaplain to that body, 
and chairman of the committee of the whole. 
He also taught for many years. His minis- 
try among the negroes was particularly suc- 
cessful. Hampden-Sidney College gave him 
the degree of Master of Arts in 1787. He 
published in that year a collection of ser- 
mons, edited John Leland's "Deistical 
Writers," and left in manuscript a cate- 
chism, several essays, and a geography. He 
died in 1801, in Dinwiddie county, Virginia. 

Jarratt, Dcvcrcux, born in Xew Kent 
county, Virginia, January 6, 1733, son of 
Robert Jarratt, a carpenter, and Sarah Brad- 



Digitized by 



Google 



302 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



ley, his wife. His grandfather had a great 
admiration for Robert Devereux, Earl of 
Essex, hence the name Devereux. He began 
preparation for the Presbyterian ministry, 
but in 1762 determined to take orders in 
the Protestant Episcopal church, sold his 
patrimony, and went to England, where he 
was ordained. He returned to Virginia the 
next year, and took charge of the Bath par- 
ish, in Dinwiddie county, there introducing 
a system which was regarded as uncanonical 
and brought upon him much reproach. He 
denounced gaming and cock fighting, and 
he was regarded as a Methodist. His first 
sermon was delivered in the old Saponey 
church and he soon attracted large audi- 
ences by his warm and impassioned ad- 
dresses. He published three volumes of ser- 
mons (1793-94), and a series of letters to a 
friend, entitled "Thoughts on Some Impor- 
tant Subjects in Divinity" (1791). He died 
January 29, 1801. 

Woods, William, son of Michael Woods 
and grandson of Michael Woods, a Scotch- 
Irish Presbyterian who emigrated first to 
I'ennsylvania and then to Virginia and ob- 
tained large tracts of land in Albemarle 
county about 1737, was born in 1738. He 
became a Baptist when that denomination 
was struggling against great opposition. In 
1780 he was ordained, and founded the old 
Albemarle Baptist church, near the Univer- 
sity of Virginia. Thomas JeflFerson fre- 
quently attended his church, and wrote that 
*'it was a model for a republic." At the re- 
quest of JeflFerson he resigned in 1799 to go 
to the legislature, and served during the 
agitation of 1800 over the Virginia resolu- 
tions of 1798-99, his name heading the list 
ot states rights Republican voters. During 



his term a bill was passed to increase the 
pay of the members, but he refused to ac- 
cept its privileges. He died in Albemarle 
county, Virginia, in 1819. He married 
Joanna, daughter of Christopher Shepherd, 
and his son Micajah, was father of John R. 
Woods (q. v.). 

Smith, Daniel, born in Fauquier county, 
\'irgfinia, about 1740, was one of the first 
settlers of Tennessee. He filled many pub- 
lic oflSces; was a major-general of militia; 
was appointed by Washington as secretary 
of the territory south of the Ohio river in 
1790; was in the convention that formed 
the constitution of Tennessee, and was 
L'nited States senator from that state in 
1798-99, succeeding Andrew Jackson, re- 
signed; and again from 1803 until his own 
resignation in 1809. He published the first 
map of Tennessee and a geography of the 
state. He died in Sumner county, Tennes- 
see, June 16, 1818. 

Fenn, John, born in Caroline county, Vir- 
ginia, May 17, 1741, only child of Moses 
Penn and Catherine, his wife, daughter of 
John Taylor. He was largely self-educated, 
and studied law with his relative, Edmund 
Pendleton, and w.as admitted to the bar in 
1762. In 1774 he removed to Greenville 
county, North Carolina, and on September 
8. 1775, was chosen to the continental con- 
gress to supply a vacancy, taking his seat 
on October 12. He signed the Declaration 
of Independence in 1776. and was reelected 
in 1777 and in 1779. When Cornwallis in- 
vaded North Carolina, Penn was given 
charge of state aflFairs. with almost dicta- 
torial powers. In March, 1784, he was ap- 
pointed receiver of taxes for North Caro- 
lina, and resigned in the following April, for 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINEXT PERSONS 



303 



the reason that the state, while maintaining 
the cause of independence by resolutions 
and declaration, refused to furnish the 
means to secure it. He died in North Caro- 
lina, September, 1788. 

McDowell, Charles, born in Winchester,' 
Virginia, in 1743, son of Joseph McDowell, 
who emigrated from Ireland about 1730, and 
after a residence of several years in Penn- 
sylvania settled first in Winchester, Vir- 
ginia, and subsequently at Quaker Meadows, 
on Catawba river. North Carolina. His 
family is distinguished from that of his 
cousin John by the name of the "Quaker 
Meadow McDowells/' At the beginning of 
the revolution he was g^ven command of a 
large district in western North Carolina. 
C>n the British invasion in 1780 he organ- 
ized troops, fortified posts, and in June at- 
tacked the enemy on Pacolet river and com- 
pelled their surrender; subsequently gained 
victories at Musgrove Mill and Cace Creek, 
but after the reverses of the colonists at 
Savannah, Charleston and Fishing Creek, his 
army was disbanded, and he resigned his 
command previous to the battle of King's 
Mountain. He was state senator in 1782- 
88, and a member of the lower house in 
1809-11. He died in Burke county. North 
Carolina, March 21, 1815. His wife, Grace 
Greenlee, was noted for her prudence and 
daring. Her first husband. Captain Bow- 
man, of the patriot army, was killed at the 
battle of Ramson's Mill. After her mar- 
riage with McDowell, she aided him in all 
his patriotic schemes, and while he was 
secretly manufacturing in a cave the pow- 
der that was afterward used at King s Moun- 
tain, she made the charcoal in her fireplace, 
carr>*ing it to him at night to prevent detec- 



tion. After the battle she nursed the sol- 
diers. A party of marauders having plun- 
dered her house in the ab.sence of her hus- 
band, she and some of her neighbors, 
pursued, and captured them, and at the 
muzzle of her gun she compelled them to re- 
turn her property. She was the mother of a 
large family. Charles' brother Joseph, born 
in Winchester, Virginia, in 1756, was 
familiarly known as **Quaker Meadows Joe,** 
to distinguish him from his cousin of the 
same name. He served against the frontier 
Indians previous to the revolution, and 
under his brother Charles in all the battles 
in western North Carolina before that of 
Kings Mountain, where he commanded the 
North Carolina militia, with the rank of 
major. He was in the state house of com- 
mons in 1787-92, was a member of the North 
Carolina constitutional convention in 1788. 
and was instrumental in its rejection of the 
United States constitution. He was elect- 
ed to congress in 1792, served until 1799, 
and was active in opposition to the Federal 
party. He was boundary commissioner in 
1797 for running the line between Tennes- 
see and North Carolina ; a general of militia ; 
and the recognized leader of the Republican 
party in the western counties. He died in 
Burke county. North Carolina. 

Oldham, William, born in Berkeley coun- 
t}, Virginia, about 1745; was a captain in 
the continental army. He resigned in 1779 
and settled on the Ohio river, where he be- 
came a leader against the Indians ; served in 
Gen. Arthur St. Clair's expedition, as com- 
mander of a regiment of Kentucky militia, 
and was killed on the Maumee river, near 
the present site of Greenville. Ohio, Novem- 
ber 4, 1791. 



Digitized by 



Google 



304 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Winston, Joseph, born in Louisa county, 
Virginia, June 17, 1746; his ancestor being 
one of five brothers, it is said, who came 
from Yorkshire. England, to Hanover coun- 
ty. \'irginia. in the seventeenth century. He 
received a fair education, and at the age of 
seventeen joined a company of rangers. 
While in pursuit of Indians, they were 
ambuscaded, and young Winston was twice 
wounded, one of the balls remaining in his 
body till his death. The Indians drove away 
the rangers, but Winston escaped and was 
carried on a comrade's back for three days, 
till they reached a frontier cabin. He was 
pensioned by the legislature, and in 1766 
removed to Surry county, North Carolina. 
In 1775 he was a member of the Hills- 
borough convention, and in February, 1776, 
he was in the expedition against the Scotch 
Tories. He was made ranger of Surry 
county and major of militia, serving against 
the Cherokees. and in 1777 he was a mem- 
ber of the legislature and of the commis- 
sion that made a treaty with that tribe on 
Hoist on river. In 1780 he was engaged 
against the Tories, and at King s Mountain 
he led the right wing, and contributed 
greatly toward the victory, for which the 
legislature gave him a sword. After defeat- 
ing a party of loyalists in February, 1781, 
he took part in the battle of Guilford in 
March. He represented Surry county in 
the state senate for three terms, and when 
Stokes county was formed was its first sen- 
ator, and served five times between 1790 
and 1812. In 1793-95, and again in 1803- 
17, he was a member of congress. The 
county seat of Forsyth county. North Caro- 
lina, is named for him. He died near Ger- 
mantown. North Carolina, April 21, 1815. 



Wjmn, Richard, born in eastern \'irginia, 
about 1750. He enlisted in the revolution- 
ary army, and in 1775 was a lieutenant of 
South Carolina rangers, and took part in 
the battle on Sullivan's island. He was 
given command of Fort Mcintosh, Georgia, 
promoted to colonel, and placed in charge 
of the militia in Fairfield district, South 
Carolina. He fought at Hanging Rock, 
where he was wounded, and was actively en- 
gaged during the remainder of the war. At 
its close he became brigadier-general of 
militia, and then major-general. He after- 
ward settled in South Carolina* served in 
the third congress, and by reelection from 
1809 till 1813. He died in Tennessee, in 
1813. 

Long, Gabriel, born in 175 1, was an ofii- 
cer in the revolutionary army, fought at 
Hampton and Norfolk in 1775, served as 
captain in Morgan's rifle regiment in 1776, 
and ultimately rose to the rank of major. 
He led the advance at Saratoga, and began 
the battle. He was also at Yorktown, and 
took part in eighteen engagements. He 
died in Culpepcr county, Virginia, February 
3. 1827. 

Maury, Walker, son of Rev. James Maury 
(q. V.) and Mary Walker, his wife, bom in 
Fredericksville parish, Louisa county, July 
21, 1752. In 1770 he entered the William 
and Mary College grammar school on the 
Nottoway scholarship, and December 12, 
1772, was promoted by the faculty to the 
philosophy schools, from which he gradu- 
ated in May, 1775, receiving in May, 1774* 
the Botetourt gold medal for the encourage- 
ment of classical learning. He taught school 
in Orange county, where John Randolph, of 
Roanoke, was one of his scholars, and as 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



30s 



the grammar school at William and Mary 
was discontinued in 1779, he removed to 
Williamsburg, where he conducted a gram- 
mar school of his own. This school had, in 
addition to the principal, four ushers and an 
attendance of one hundred scholars; and 
among them besides John Randolph and his 
brothers Richard, Theodorick and John, 
who followed him to Williamsburg, was the 
celebrated Littleton Waller Tazewell, after- 
wards senator and governor. In 1786 Mr. 
Maury removed to Norfolk, where he was 
principal of the academy, and made a 
profit of two hundred pounds annually, but 
he did not sur\ive long, dying October 11, 
1788. He married Mary Grymes, daughter 
o. Benjamin Grymes and Mary Dawson, his 
wife, daughter of Rev. Musgrave Dawson. 
He left issue ten children. 

Marques, Thomas, born near Winchester, 
Virginia, in 1753, settled in Washington 
county, Pennsylvania, in 1775. He left home 
at the age of thirty-six to prepare himself 
for the ministry, was ordained pastor of a 
Presbyterian church at Cross Creek in 1794* 
and active as a missionary among the In- 
dians. The manifestations known as "fall- 
ing work" first appeared during a revival in 
his church in 1802, and spread thence to 
other districts. He died near Bellefontaine, 
Ohio, September 29, 1827. 

Ellicott, Andrew, born in Bucks county, 
Pennsylvania, January 24, 1754. His father 
and uncle, who were Quakers, purchased a 
large tract of wild land on the Patapsco 
river in 1770. and founded the town of Elli- 
cott's Mills (now Ellicott City). Andrew 
was a close student of science and practical 
mechanics, and soon attracted attention, 
even of Washington, Franklin and Ritten- 
viA-20 



house. He was commissioner for marking 
tlie boundaries of X'irginia, Pennsylvania 
and New York. About 1785 he removed to 
Baltimore, where he was elected to the legis- 
lature. In 17S9 Washington appointed him 
to survey the land lying between Pennsyl- 
vania and Lake Erie, and he made the first 
accurate measurement of the Niagara river 
from lake to lake, with the height of the 
falls and the descent of the rapids. He .sur- 
veyed and laid out the city of Washington 
in 1790, and in 1792 was made United States 
surveyor-general. He superintended the 
construction of Fort Erie, at Presque Isle 
(now Erie, Pennsylvania), in 1795, ^"^ ^*^d 
out the towns of Erie, Warren and Frank- 
Im. In 1796 he was appointed by Washing- 
ton as United States commissioner under 
the treaty of San Lorenzo el Real, to deter- 
mine the boundary between the United 
States and the Spanish possessions, and the 
results of his service, embracing a period of 
nearly five years, appear in his "Journal" 
of 1803. Upon its completion he was ap- 
pointed by Gov. McKean. of Pennsylvania, 
secretary of the state land office. He re- 
signed in 180S. and in 1812 became pro- 
fessor of mathematics at West Point, where 
he remained until his death. He went to 
Montreal in 181 7, by order of the govern- 
ment, to make astronomical observations for 
carrying into effect some of the articles of 
the treaty of Ghent. He was an active mem- 
ber of the American Philosophical Society, 
contributed to its transactions, and corre- 
si»onded with many of the learned societies 
of Europe. He died at West Point. New 
York, August 29, 1820. 

McEUigott, James N., born in Richmond, 
Virginia, October 13, 1812, of Scotch-Irish 



Digitized by 



Google 



3o6 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



ancestry. He entered in due course the 
New York University, which he left to be- 
come instructor, later vice-principal, and 
finally principal of the Mechanics' Society 
Institute. In 1853 he opened a classical 
school, which he conducted with much suc- 
cess until his death. He published "Mc- 
Elligott's Manual, Analytical and Synthe- 
tical, of Orthography and Definition" 
(1845) ; -The Young Analyzer'' (1849) ; the 
"Humorous Speaker'* (1853); "The Amer- 
ican Debater" (1855). During this time he 
was also editor of the ^Teacher's Advo- 
cate'* (1848). The series known as **Pro- 
fessor Sanders's" also owes largely its suc- 
cess to his assistance. His last literary work 
was an introduction to "Hailman's Object 
Teaching." At the time of his death he was 
engaged upon a Latin grammar. He spoke 
French and German fluently and had also 
made deep researches in Sanskrit lore. In 
1840 Yale conferred upon him the degree of 
Master of Arts, in recognition of his "Man- 
ual," and in 1852 Harrodsburg College, Ken- 
tucky, conferred Doctor of Laws for his 
"Analyzer." In 1837 he became a candidate 
for orders in the Protestant Episcopal 
church, but was not ordained. He labored 
actively among the poor, and was interested 
in the Epiphany Mission Church, raising a 
fund for its future support. He was presi- 
dent of the State Teachers* Association. He 
died in New York City, October 22, 1866. 

RicCt David, born in Hanover county^ 
Virginia, December 29, 1733; graduated at 
Princeton College in 1761, studied theology, 
was licensed to preach in 1762, and was in- 
stalled as pastor of the Presbyterian church 
at Hanover, Virginia, in December, 1763. 
After five years he resigned on account of 
dissensions among his people, and three 



years later took charge of three congrega- 
tions in the new settlements of Bedford 
county, X'irginia. where he labored usefully 
during the revolution. When Kentucky 
was opened to settlement, he went there 
with his family, and organized in Mercer 
county (in 1784) the first religious congre- 
gation in Kentucky, and opened in his house 
the earliest school. He was the organizer 
ard chairman of a meeting held in 1785 to 
institute a regular Presbyterian church 
organization, and was the principal founder 
of the Transylvania Academy, which de- 
veloped into Transylvania University. He 
was a member of the convention that framed 
a state constitution in 1792. In 1798 he re- 
moved to Green county. His wife, Mary, 
v.-as a daughter of Rev. Samuel Blair. He 
published an "Essay on Baptism;" a *'Lec- 
ture on Divine Decrees;" "Slavery Incon- 
sistent with Justice and Policy;" "An 
Epistle to the Citizens of Kentucky Profess- 
ing Christianity, those that Are or Have 
Been Denominated Presbyterians;" and "A 
Second Epistle to the Presbyterians of Ken- 
tucky," warning them against the errors of 
the day ; also "A Kentucky Protest against 
Slaver>\" He died in Green county. Ken- 
tucky, June 18, 1816. 

Craig, Lewis, born in Orange county, \'ir- 
ginia, in 1737. There being lio ordained 
minister near to baptize him, he began 
preaching before his baptism, and without 
a license as required by law, and was in- 
dicted "for preaching the gospel contrary to 
the law." One of the jurors, John Waller, 
was so impressed by his conduct during the 
trial, that he became a convert to the Bap- 
tist church and afterwards one of its most 
zealous preachers. On June 4, 1768, while 
conducting worship, he was arrested and 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



307 



required by the court to give security not 
to preach in the county within twelve 
months. On his refusal he was committed 
to the Fredericksburg jail, and held for a 
month, during which time he preached 
through the prison bars to large crowds. 
Later he was ordained, and became pastor 
of a Baptist church. In 1771 he was again 
imprisoned for three months in Caroline 
county. In 1781 he removed to Kentucky, 
where he labored with great success. He 
died in Kentucky, in 1828. 

Saimders, John, born in Virginia, in 1754; 
his grandfather emigrated to Virginia from 
England, and acquired large landed estates. 
He received a liberal education, and studied 
law. In 1776 he raised a troop of horse at 
his own expense, and joined the royal forces, 
was subsequently captain of cavalry in the 
Queen's Rangers, was often in engage- 
ments, and was twice wounded. After the 
v/ar he went to England and practiced law. 
In 1790 he became a judge of the supreme 
court of New Brunswick, and was after- 
ward appointed to the council of that colony. 
In 1822 he became chief justice. He pos- 
sessed two estates in Virginia, both of 
which were confiscated. He died in Fred- 
crickston, New Brunswick, in 1834. 

Semple, Robert Baylor, born in King and 
Queen county, Virginia, January 20, 1769, 
son of John Semple and Elizabeth Walker, 
his wife. After receiving a good education, 
he taught in a private family and then be- 
g?n to study law, but abandoned it and 
entered the ministry. In 1790 he became 
pastor of the Bruington Baptist church, in 
which relation he continued until his death. 
He made frequent and long preaching tours, 
and the interests of missions and education 



found in him a powerful friend. He was 
financial agent of Columbian College, and 
president of its board of trustees. He de- 
clined the presidency of Transylvania Uni- 
versity in 1805, and in 1820 was elected 
president of the Baptist triennial conven- 
tion, continuing to hold this office until his 
death. He received the honorary degree of 
Doctor of Divinity from Brown College in 
1816. He died at Fredericksburg, Virginia, 
December 25, 1831. 

Sm3rth, John Ferdinand D., a British sol- 
dier, who came to Virginia, and afterwards 
settled in Maryland. While visiting the 
sons of Colonel Andrew Lewis in Virginia, 
he joined Governor Dunmore's troops, and 
went with Major Thomas Lewis, in 1774, 
to the Kanawha, taking part in the battle 
against the Indians, in which Major Lewis 
was killed. Returning to Maryland he sup- 
ported the British government against the 
patriots so zealously that his house was sur- 
rounded by men who threatened his cap- 
ture. Escaping twice, he fled to Virginia, 
hiding in the Dismal Swamp, passed the 
guards at Suffolk, and enlisted in the 
Queen's Royal Regiment in Norfolk. He 
and his companion were seized by riflemen 
a!- Hagerstown and taken to Frederick, 
Maryland. Smyth escaped, but was recap- 
tured and imprisoned in Philadelphia, and 
afterward in Baltimore. Escaping again, 
he reached a British ship oflf Cape May, New 
Jersey, and went to New York and New 
England. He published "A Tour in the 
United States of America," in London and 
Dublin, and in Paris, France. John Ran- 
dolph, of Roanoke, said: "This book, al- 
though replete with falsehood and calumny, 
contains the truest picture of the state of 



Digitized by 



Google 



308 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



society and manners in Virginia, such as it 
was half a centur\- ago, extant/' 

Spence, John, born in Scotland, in 1766; 
was educated at the University of Edin- 
burgh, but owing to ill health, could not 
stay to graduate. He came to this country 
in 1788. settling in Dumfries, Virginia, as a 
private tutor. Later he engaged in the prac- 
tice of medicine. He was active in intro- 
ducing vaccination into the United States. 
The University of Pennsylvania gave him 
the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1828. 
His correspondence with Dr. Benjamin 
Rush was published in the "Medical Mu- 
seum of Philadelphia.'' He also contributed 
to the "Medical Repository" and the ".Amer- 
ican Journal of the Medical Sciences," and 
left several manuscripts on medical sub- 
jects. He died in Dumfries, Virginia, May 
iS, 1829. 

Royall, Amie, wife of William Royall, of 
Virginia, was born in Mar>-land, June 11, 
1769. She was the daughter of William 
Newport, who went with his family from 
Maryland to Virginia in 1772, and from 
thence, in company with other Virginians, 
to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 
1775. Here in the wild woods little Anne 
grew up an uncommonly bright and intelli- 
gent child and was taught to read and write 
by her mother. She married Captain Wil- 
liam Royall, who lived at Sweet Springs, 
Monroe county, Virginia, an elderly gentle- 
man, who had a fine librar>% and Anne read 
all the books and became the most learned 
woman in all that region. She knew Shake- 
speare, Goldsmith and Addison by heart. 
After sixteen years of contented happy mar- 
ried life. Captain William Royall died, and 
Anne soon after began that active career of 



travelling and writing which she continued 
till her death. She spent some time in .Ala- 
bama and then performed a northern tour, 
and was a keen observer. Then she began 
to write. She established in Washington a 
weekly sheet called the "Paul Pry" and 
afterwards "The Huntress." She expressed 
herself freely upon religion, and was prose- 
cuted by a small Presbyterian congregation 
before Judge Cranch, who sentenced her to 
be ducked as a common scold, but she was 
released with a fine. She denounced the 
anti-Mason craze, and incurred enemies. 
She retorted upon them in her books, and 
scandals were spread against her. Never- 
theless, she accomplished a most valuable 
work, perpetuating the description of count- 
less places visited by her and the almost 
countless people met in her travels. These 
accounts, except when influenced by per- 
sonal favor or antipathy, are sensible, 
shrewd and even eloquent. She was the 
author of **Sketches of History, Life and 
Manners in the United States by a Travel- 
ler;'' "The Tennessean. a Novel founded on 
Facts ;" "The Black Book, or a Continuation 
or Travels in the United States;" "The 
Black Book, or Sketches of Histor\-, Life, 
and Manners in the United States," (three 
volumes) ; "A Southern Tour, or a Second 
Series of the Black Book" (two volumes) ; 
and "Letters from Alabama." She died in 
Washington City, October i, 1854. Sarah 
Harvey Porter, in 'The Life and Times of 
Anne Royall." 1909, has given an interest- 
ing analysis of her character. 

Schmucker, John George, a native of Ger- 
m.any. born August 18, 1771. His parents 
came to Pennsylvania in 1785, and in 1787 
settled near Woodstock, Virginia. In 1789 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSON'S 



309 



he began to study for the ministry, a year 
Liter went to Philadelphia to continue his 
studies, and was ordained in 1792. After 
holding several pastorates, he was called to 
York. Pennsylvania, 1809, and remained 
until failing health compelled him to retire 
in 1842. He then went to Williamsburg. 
Pennsylvania, where several of his children 
lived, and remained there the rest of his life. 
In 1825 he received the degree of Doctor of 
Divinity from the University of Pennsyl- 
vania. He was one of the founders of the 
general synod of the Lutheran church in the 
United States, in 1821 : an active supporter 
ot the theological seminary at Gettysburg. 
Pennsylvania, and for many years president 
of its board of directors. He was also active 
in the establishment of Pennsylvania Col- 
lege, and for more than twenty-one years 
was one of its trustees. For more than 
thirty years he was leader of the Lutheran 
church in this country, and actively engaged 
in all its important operations. He was a 
frequent contributor to periodicals, and a 
poet of merit. He died in Williamsburg. 
Pennsylvania. October 7, 1854. 

Shields^ Patrick Henry, born in Prince 
Edward county, \'irginia. May 16. 1773, son 
or James Shields, whose will was proved 
in that county. November 28, 1776. In 
accordance with his father's will, he was 
given a collegiate education at Hampden- 
Sidney and William and Mary colleges. He 
inherited a large tract of land near Lexing- 
tr n. Kentucky, and removed to that state in 
1801. but found the title to the estate defec- 
tive. In 1805 he went to Indiana territory, 
and joined his classmate and friend, Wil- 
liam Henry Harrison. He was made the 
first judge of Harrison county in 1808. It is 



said that he fought in the battle of Tippe- 
canoe. His house was often the headquar- 
ters of the territorial authorities. He was 
a member of the constitutional convention 
at Corydon in 1816, and filled judicial offices 
until his death. As one of the founders of 
the state, he took an active part in reform- 
ing the territorial courts, in organizing the 
school system, and in maintaining the con- 
gressional ordinance of 1787, which pro- 
hibited the indefinite continuance of slavery, 
though he was at the time himself a slave- 
holder. According to family tradition, he 
was the author of the constitutional article 
which confirmed Indiana as a free state. He 
died in Xew Albany, Indiana, June 6, 1848. 

Wood, John, born in Scotland, about 1775. 
He was living in Switzerland in 1798, at the 
time of the French invasion. On returning 
home, he became master of the Edinburgh 
Academy for the improvement of arts in 
Scotland. About 1800 he emigrated to the 
United States. In 1806 he edited the "West- 
ern World" in Kentucky, and in 18 17 he had 
charge of *The Atlantic World,'' a paper 
published at Washington, D. C. He after- 
wards lived in Richmond, Virginia, where 
he made county maps. Besides other works, 
he published "General View of the History 
of Switzerland ;" "Letter to A. Addison. Esq., 
in Answer to his *Rise and Progress of Rev- 
olution f "History of the Administration 
or John Adams." which was suppressed by 
Aaron Burr, and republished with notes and 
appendix by John Henry Sherburne: "Nar- 
rative of the Suppression by Col. Burr of 
the 'History of the Administration of John 
Adams,' with a biography of Jefferson and 
Hamilton:'' *Tull Statement of the Trial 
Acquittal of Aaron Burr.*' He died in Rich- 
mond, \'irginia, in May. 1822. 



Digitized by 



Google 



310 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Seaton, William Winston, bom in King 
William county, \'irginia, a descendant of 
Henry Seaton, who came to \'irginia at the 
end of the seventeenth century. His mother, 
whose maiden name was Winston, was a 
cousin of Patrick Henr>'. He was educated 
by Rev. James Ogilvie, the Earl of Finlater, 
a Scotchman, who conducted an academy 
in Richmond. When eighteen years of age 
he engaged in politics, and became assistant 
editor of a Richmond paper. He next edited 
the Petersburg "Republican," but soon pur- 
chased the **Xorth Carolina Journal," pub- 
lished at Halifax, then the capital of the 
state. When Raleigh became the capital, 
he removed thither and connected himself 
with the "Register," edited by Joseph Gales, 
Sr., whose daughter he married. In 1812 he 
moved to Washington and joined the "Na- 
tional Intelligencer," in company with his 
brother-in-law, Joseph Gales, Jr., which 
partnership lasted till the death of the latter 
in i860. From 1812 till 1820 Messrs. Seaton 
and Gales were the exclusive congressional 
reporters as well as editors of their journal, 
one taking charge of the proceedings in the 
senate and the other in the house of repre- 
sentatives. The "Register of Debates" was 
considered a standard authority. After the 
death of Mr. Gales, Mr. Seaton was sole 
editor and manager of the "National Intelli- 
gencer" until it was sold, a short time be- 
fore his death. In 1840 he was elected 
mayor of Washington, and held that office 
twelve successive years. With Mr. Gales, 
he published "Annals of Congress : Debates 
and Proceedings in the Congress of the 
United States from March 3, 1798, till May 
2^, 1824" (forty-two volumes, Washington, 
1834-56) ; "Register of Debates in Congress 
from 1824-1837," (fourteen volumes in 



twenty-nine, 1827-37) ; and "American State 
Papers, selected and edited by Walter 
Lowne and M. St. Clair Clarke" (^twenty- 
one volumes, 1832-34). 

Rogers, James Blythc, born in Philadel- 
phia, Pennsylvania, February 11, 1802, son 
of Patrick Kerr Rogers, who was a gradu- 
ate of the University of Pennsylvania in 
1802, and in 1819 was elected professor of 
natural philosophy and mathematics at Wil- 
liam and Mary, where he remained until his 
death. James Blythe Rogers was educated 
ai William and Mar>' College, and, after 
siudpng medicine with Dr. Thomas E. 
r»ond, received the degree of Doctor of Med- 
icine from the University of Maryland in 
1822. He subsequently taught in Baltimore, 
but soon afterward settled in Little Britain, 
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and there 
practiced medicine. Later l>e returned to 
Baltimore and became superintendent of a 
chemical factory, devoted himself to the 
study of pure and applied chemistry-, and 
became professor of that branch in Wash- 
ington Medical College, Baltimore, also lec- 
turing on the same subject at the Mechanics* 
Institute. In 1835 he was called to the same 
chair in the medical department of Cincin- 
nati College, where he remained until 1839, 
spending his vacations in field work and 
chemical investigations in connection with 
the geological survey of Virginia, then 
under the charge of his brother William. 
In 1840 he settled in Philadelphia, and be- 
came an assistant to his brother Henry, then 
slate geologist of Pennsylvania. In 1841 he 
was appointed lecturer on chemistry in the 
Philadelphia Medical Institute. He was 
elected professor of general chemistry at the 
Franklin Institute in 1844, and in 1847 suc- 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



3" 



ceeded Robert Hare as professor of chemis- 
try in the University of Pennsylvania. He 
was a representative at the national medical 
cr;nvention in 1847, ^ind a delegate to the 
national convention for the revision of the 
United States Pharmacopoeia in 1850, and 
a member of various learned societies. He 
contributed papers to scientific journals, and 
with his brother Robert prepared the sev- 
enth edition of Edward Turner's "Elements 
of Chemistry" and William Gregory's **Out- 
lines of Organic Chemistry." 

Barclay, James Turner, born in Hanover 
county, Virginia, in 1807, of Quaker descent 
from Barclay of Ury, in Scotland ; friend of 
Washington and Jefferson. He was a stu- 
dent at the Staunton Academy and the Uni- 
versity of Virginia, and took his medical 
degree at the University of Pennsylvania. 
Iv 1830 he married Mrs. Julia A. Sowers, 
of Staunton, Virginia, and bought Monti- 
cdlo, Jefferson's old home, which he occu- 
pied for a time, but finally sold. He adopt- 
ed the religious tenets of Alexander Camp- 
bell, and was sent by his sect to Jerusalem 
as a missionary. He returned after three 
years, and later made a second journey to 
Palestine. After the civil war, he was a 
teacher at Bethany College, and later went 
to Alabama, where he remained until his 
death, preaching, writing and teaching. His 
'•City of the Great King" is regarded as the 
most authentic work relating to Jerusalem. 
He frequently contributed to the "Millenial 
Harbinger," the organ of his sect. His 
daughter Sarah was in Palestine with him, 
and was a great aid as a sketch artist. It is 
said that, disguised as a Mohammedan, she 
gained access to the tomb of David, of 
which she made an illustration for her 



father's book. She married J. Augustus 
Johnson, consul-general to Syria. She pub- 
lished *The Howadji in Syria." 

Robinson, Fayette, born in Virginia, was 
author of "Mexico and her Military Chief- 
tains" (Philadelphia, 1847); "Account of 
the Organization of the Army of the United 
States, with Biographies of Distinguished 
Officers" (1848); "California and the Gold 
Regions" (New York, 1849) J "Grammar of 
the Spanish Lang^iage" (Philadelphia., 
1850) ; a romance entitled "Wizard of the 
Wave" (Xew York, 1853) ; a translation of 
Anthelme Brillat-Savarin's "Physiologie du 
Gout" (Philadelphia, 1854) ; and novels from 
the French. He died in New York City, 
March 26, 1859. 

Shrcve, Thomas H., born in Alexandria, 
Virginia, in 1808; was educated in the acad- 
emy there. He engaged in mercantile pur- 
suits, settled in Cincinnati in 1830, and in 
1834 purchased a share in the "Mirror," a 
weekly literary journal. In 1838 he became 
a merchant in Louisville and later was one 
or the editors of the Louisville "Journals." 
He published "Drayton, an American Tale." 
Some of his verses are reprinted in William 
T. Coggeshall's "Poets and Poetry of the 
West." He died at Louisville, Kentucky, 
December 23, 1853. 

Scott, WiUiam Cowper, born in Martins- 
burg, (West) Virginia, January 13, 1817. 
His father and grandfather were Presby- 
terian ministers. He graduated at South 
Hanover College, Indiana, in 1837, and at 
l/nion Theological Seminary, Virginia, in 
1840; became a clergyman of the same de- 
nomination, and was pastor of several 
churches in his native state until his death. 



Digitized by 



Google 



312 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



except during two years, when poor health 
compelled him to cease preaching, and occu- 
pied himself with teaching and writing for 
periodicals. He was author of a work on 
"Genius and Faith, or Poetry and Religion 
iu their Mutual Relations." He died in 
Bethesda. (West) Virginia, October 2^, 
1S54. 

Craig, Lewis S., born in \'irginia ; entered 
the army as second lieutenant of the Second 
Dragoons. October 14, 1837: transferred to 
Third Infantry. August, 1838, and in March. 
1840. made assistant commissary of sub- 
sistence. He was promoted to first lieuten- 
nant in June. 1840: to captain in June. 1846; 
served with distinction in the Mexican war. 
and was brevetted major for gallant con- 
duct at Monterey, and lieutenant-colonel for 
Contreras and Cherubusco, where he was 
wounded. He was killed by deserters while 
hi the performance of his duty, near Xew 
River, California. June 6, 1852* 

Jordan^ Robert, a Quaker, bom in Nanse- 
mond, Virginia. October 27, 1693; he began 
to preach in 1718; visited Virginia, Mary- 
land, and Carolina, and Xew England in 
1722. and suffered imprisonment. He trav- 
elled in Great Britain and the West Indies 
hi 1728-30; made a journey to Barbadoes in 
1740; and was in Boston in 1741, returning 
to Philadelphia, where he died August 5, 
1742. 

McNutt, Alexander, a Scotch-Irishman, 
who settled in Rockbridge county and served 
in the French and Indian war as lieutenant. 
He kept a journal of the campaign which 
he presented to Governor Fauquier. For 
some years he resided in Nova Scotia. Dur- 
ing the revolutionary war he joined the 



American army at Saratoga, and was after- 
wards an office under Baron de Kalb in the 
South. He died in 181 1, and was buried in 
the Falling Spring churchyard, Rockbridge 
county. \'irginia. 

Hallam, Lewis, son of Adam Hallam, 
actor, was born in England about 1714. and 
was. like his father, an actor by profession. 
He was sent by his brother, William Hal- 
Um, manager of the new theatre in Good- 
inanfields. London, to conduct the first com- 
pany of English professionals to America. 
They arrived at Yorktewn, Virginia, in 
1752, and gave their first performance in 
Williamsburg, then the capital of the colony, 
hiring a large wooden structure erected for 
a theatre by another company from Xew 
York, which had left not long before. Their 
opening performance was "The Merchant 
of Venice," and the music was furnished by 
a single player on the harpsichord. They 
remained in Virginia about eleven months, 
playing at difierent places, and then went 
tu Annapolis and Philadelphia, and in 1754 
performed in Xew York. Two years later 
they went to the British West Indies, and 
in that year Lewis Hallam died in Jamaica. 
His wife, who was an actress at the Good- 
manfields Theatre, was bom in London, and 
after the death of Mr. Hallam married 
David Douglas, his successor in the man- 
agement. She retired from the stage in 
1769 and died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 
ill 1773. Lewis Hallam's son, Lewis, made 
his first appearance on the stage in Wil- 
liamsburg at the time of his father's first 
coming to this country. He was a boy of 
twelve years of age, and, having only one 
line to say. was so frightened that he re- 
mained speechless till bursting into tears 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



313 



he rushed off the stage. Nineteen years 
bter he came again to Williamsburg and 
v/as at his best. His main support was his 
cousin, the beautiful Miss Sarah Hallam, 
whose portrait in her role of "Imogene" had 
been painted by Charles Wilson Peale. 

Jones, Catlet, born in Virginia, about 
1750. accompanied Daniel Boone to Ken- 
tucky, and was one of the twelve settlers 
who rescued Boone's daughter, who had 
been captured by the Indians, and while 
guarding the "corn-patch'* with Boone was 
severely wounded. After serving through- 
out the revolution, he joined the Society of 
Friends, became a preacher, and in 1801 
emigrated to Ohio. He died in Columbiana 
county. Ohio, in 1829. 

Hopkins, Samuel, son of Samuel Hopkins 
t.nd grandson of Dr. Arthur Hopkins, of 
Cloochland county, Virginia, and Elizabeth 
I'ettus, his wife, born in Albemarle county, 
\'irginii, about 1750; was an officer in the 
Continental army, and fought at Princeton, 
Trenton. Monmouth, and Brandywine. At 
the battle of German town his battalion of 
light infantry was nearly annihilated, and 
he was severely wounded. He was lieu- 
tenant-colonel of the Tenth Virginia Regi- 
ment at the siege of Charleston, and after 
the death of Col. Richard Parker became its 
colonel, serving as such until the end of the 
war. He was taken prisoner with other 
officers, at the surrender of Charleston, May 
20, 1780. While they were being taken in a 
British vessel to Virginia, he complained to 
the captain of harsh treatment and want of 
food, and threatened to raise a mutiny un- 
less they were treated as officers and gentle- 
men, which bold language secured proper 
care during the rest of the voj-age. In 1797 



he settled on Green river. Kentucky, and 
served for several sessions in the legisla- 
ture of that state. In 1812 he led two thou- 
sand mounted volunteers against the Kicka- 
poo villages on the Illinois river, but the 
party was misled by the guides, and re- 
turned, after wandering for several days 
about the prairie. In November he led a 
body of infantry up the Wabash, and de- 
stroyed several deserted villages, but lost 
a part of his force by ambuscade. He re- 
turned to Vincennes, after destroying a 
town on Wildcat creek. He was elected to 
congress from Kentucky, and took his seat 
June 26, 18 1 3. After the end of his term, 
March 2. 1815, he retired to his farm in 
Hopkins county, which was named for him. 
He died in Henderson, Kentucky, in Octo- 
ber, 1819. 

Lenoir, William, born in Brunswick coun- 
ty, Virginia, April 20, 1751 ; removed to Tar- 
borough, North Carolina, and settled near 
Wilkesborough. At the outbreak of the 
revolution he was clerk of the Surrj- county 
committee of safety. He was lieutenant in 
Gen. Griffith Rutherford's campaign against 
the Indians in 1776, and was afterwards a 
captain in Benjamin Cleveland's regiment 
against the Tories. At King s Mountain he 
was wounded in the arm and side, and at 
the defeat of Col. Pylc, near Haw river, a 
horse was shot under him. After the war 
he was made a justice by congress and 
afterward by the state assembly. He was 
a member of the assembly, and from 1781 
till 1795 a state senator, and presiding offi- 
cer for five years. He took an active part 
in the Hillsborough convention for the adop- 
tion of the constitution of the United States. 
At the organization of the state university 



Digitized by 



Google 



314 



VIRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY 



of North Carolina in 1790 he was chosen 
president of the board. For the last eighteen 
years of his life he was major-general of 
militia. A town and county in North Caro- 
lina were named in his honor. He died in 
Fort Defiance, Wilkes county, North Caro- 
hna, May 6, 1839. 

Meriwether, David, born in Albemarle 
county, Virginia, in 1754. son of Col. James 
Meriwether and Judith Hardenia Burnley, 
his wife: served in the revolutionary war 
as a lieutenant under Washington, and was 
present with the \'irginia troops at the last 
siege of Savannah, Georgia: brigadier-gen- 
eral of state militia, September 21, 1797; 
located in Wilkes county, Georgia, in 1785, 
and represented that county in the Georgia 
legislature for several terms, and was 
speaker of the house, 1797-1800: elected as 
a Republican to the. seventh congress to fill 
vacancy caused by the resignation of Benja- 
min Taliaferro; reelected to the eighth and 
ninth congresses and served from Decem- 
ber, 1802, to March 3. 1807; retired to his 
plantation near Athens, Georgia; appointed 
a commissioner to the Creek Indians in 
1804, and repeatedly appointed to treat with 
other tribes; presidential elector in 1817 and 
182 1 ; died near Athens, Georgia, November 
16, 1822. 

Nicholas, George, born in Hanover, Vir- 
ginia, about 1755, son of Robert Carter Nich- 
olas, lawyer, jurist, and statesman, and 
grandson of Dr. George Nicholas, who 
immigrated to Virginia about 1700. In 1772 
he graduated from William and Mary Col- 
lege. He was major of the Second Virginia 
Regiment in 1777. later colonel, promoted 
for meritorious service. He was a member 
of the Virginia convention that ratified the 



Federal constitution, was active in the con- 
vention, and as a member of the Virginia 
house of assembly was influential in shap- 
ing legislation. In 1790 he moved to Ken- 
tucky, and was a member of the convention 
that met in Danville in 1792, to frame a state 
constitution. The constitution as adopted 
was largely his work. He was the first 
attorney-general elected under its provi- 
sions. He died in Kentucky in 1799. 

McKendree, William, born in King Wil- 
liam county, Virginia, July 6, 1757. Soon 
after his birth, the family removed to Green- 
ville county, and in 1810 to Sumner county, 
Tennessee. At the begfinning of the revo- 
lution. William, then twenty years of age, 
joined a company of volunteers, was for 
some time adjutant, and was at Yorktown 
at the surrender of Cornwallis. After the 
war he would never accept a pension. After 
leaving the army he was a school teacher. 
Before leaving home he had become con- 
nected with the Methodist church, and soon 
after 1787, when he was living in Brunswick 
county, Virginia, he was licensed to preach, 
and in 1788 Bishop Asbury appointed him 
as junior preacher to Mecklenburg circuit. 
After this he served upon neighboring cir- 
cuits, and in 1793 was sent to South Caro- 
lina, but returned the next year. For three 
years he had charge of a large district ex- 
tending from Chesapeake Bay to the Blue 
Ridge and Alleghany mountains. In 1800 
he went with Bishop Asbury and Bishop 
Whatcoat to the western conference at 
Bethel, Kentucky. He was appointed to 
superintend a district embracing a large 
part of the partially settled territory beyond 
the Alleghany mountains, and so passed the 
next eight years with a yearly pittance of 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMfNENT PERSONS 



3^5 



from twenty to less than fifty .dollars. In 
the great revival of those years, out of 
which grew the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, he was a directing spirit, and it is 
claimed that he, more than any other man, 
saved that g^eat work from degenerating 
into a wild and ruinous fanaticism. He con- 
tinued to preside over this work till the 
spring of 1808, when he was elected and 
ordained bishop. His first episcopal tour of 
fifteen hundred miles extended through Vir- 
ginia. Tennessee. Missouri and Illinois. At 
the general conference of 1816 he found him- 
self left, by th*e death of Bishop Asbury, the 
only bishop of the church, but two addi- 
tional bishops were then chosen. He con- 
tinued to labor till 1835, when his health 
failed. He was never married, never re- 
ceived a collegiate diploma, nor left even a 
brief record of his eventful life. He died in 
Sumner county, Tennessee, March 5. 1835. 

Lcc, Jesse, born in Prince George county, 
Virginia, March 12. 1758; at the age of 
nineteen he removed to North Carolina, en- 
tered the ministry of the Methodist church, 
and preached his first sermon in 1779. In 
1780 he was drafted into the militia to repel 
the British in South Carolina, and, refusing 
to do military duty, was made to serve as a 
chaplain. His first pastoral appointment 
was near Edenton, North Carolina; in 1783 
he was received into the conference ; was ap- 
pointed to the Salisbury circuit in 1784, and 
accompanied Bishop Asbury on a tour ex- 
tending from Norfolk, \'irginia. to the ex- 
treme southwest of North Carolina. To- 
gether they reorganized the various circuits 
that nearly had been destroyed by the war. 
After three years in North Carolina, Vir- 
ginia. New Jersey, and Maryland, he went 



to Stamford circuit, Connecticut, visiting 
and establishing classes in Norwalk, New 
Haven, and elsewhere. He reached Bos- 
ton in 1790, and preached his first sermon 
en the common. For six years he traveled 
throughout New England, preaching in 
barns, private houses, and on the highway, 
forming new circuits and directing the labors 
of his assistants. He became an assistant to 
Bishop Asbury in 1796, and held confer- 
ences and superintended churches. His 
later life was passed in the South as pastor 
and presiding elder. In 1808 he advocated 
a delegate general conference plan that 
he had urged fourteen years before, and on 
its adoption the general conference became 
the supreme authority of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. He was chaplain of the 
United States house of representatives in 
1S07-12-13, and from 1814 until his death 
was chaplain of the United States senate. 
His labors earned him the title of the 
**Apostle of Methodism.-' He published **A 
History of Methodism," which was the first 
work on the subject. He died in Baltimore, 
Maryland, September 12. 1816. The will of 
John Lee, dated June 17, 1800, and proved 
a^ Petersburg, December 7. 1801. mentions 
his brother, Jesse Lee, to whom he gives all 
"my library of books.'* and his brothers, Ed- 
ward. Nathaniel and Abraham Lee, and his 
sister. Nancy Perkins. 

Leftwich, Joel, son of Augustine Left- 
wich, who died in Bedford county, Virgfinia, 
about 1795. »^0''" i^ 5^'d county, Virginia, 
'" ^759- During the revolutionary war he 
fought at Germantown and at Camden, and 
was wounded at Guilford Court House. In 
the war of 1S12 he commanded a brigade 
under Gen. Harrison. He was afterward 



Digitized by 



Google 



3i6 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



iriajor-general of militia, a member of the 
\'irginia legislature, and a justice of the 
peace of Bedford county. He died in Bed- 
ford county. \'irginia. April 20. 1846. He 
v.as a brother of Jabez Leftwich, member 
of congress (q. v.). 

Leake, Walter, son of Mask Leake, a 
Presbyterian elder, was born in Albemarle 
C(»unty. \'irginia, about 1760. He was a 
soldier in the revolution, was deputy sur- 
veyor of Albemarle county in 1784, was ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1793, ^^'^s appointed by 
Jcffer.Non one of the United States judges 
for the territory of Mississippi, and moved 
to Hinds county. Mississippi: elected to the 
United States senate and served from Octo- 
ber 9. 1817. until his resignation in 1820; 
governor of Mississippi, 1821-1825; died at 
Mount Salus. Hinds county, Mississippi, 
November 11, 1825. 

Holcombe, Henry, born in Prince Edward 
county. \'irginia, September 22, 1762. After 
serving as a captain in the revolutionary 
army, he began to preach, and was ordamed 
pastor of a Baptist church in Pike Creek, 
South Carolina. He was a delegate to the 
South Carolina convention that ratified the 
constitution of the United States. In 1791 
he became pastor of the Baptist churches in 
Blutah, May River, and St. Helena, was 
afterward in Beaufort, South Carolina, and 
in 1799 ^^^^ called to Savannah, Georgia, 
where he organized the Savannah Female 
Seminary, and conducted the ^'Georgia Ana- 
lytical Repository." He was instrumental 
iv. establishing Mount Enon Academy in 
1804. and a missionary society in 1806. From 
1812 till his death he was pastor of the First 
Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- 
vania. He received the degree of Doctor of 



Divinity from Brown College in 1810. He 
published a "Funeral Discourse on the 
death of Washington." and a volume of 
"Lectures on Primitive Theology." He died 
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. May 22. 1826. 

Madison, William, brother of James Madi- 
son. President of the United States, was 
born in Orange county. May i, 1762: stud- 
ied at Hampden-Sidney College, and while 
a student enlisted in the militia in 1778, 
afterwards a lieutenant in the state legion 
of X'irginia. and was employed in the re- 
cruiting service ; on the invasipn of the state 
was a volunteer in the state cavalry, and 
afterwards a lieutenant in the Virginia regi- 
ment of artillery. Continental line, com- 
manded by Col. Harrison, and later, after 
the surrender of Cornwallis. was furloughed 
on account of sickness. He studied law in 
1782 under Thomas Jelterson. and in 1804 
v.as a representative for Madison county in 
the house of delegates, and later became 
brigadier-general of militia. He was living 
in 1838. 

Madison, George, brother of James Madi- 
son, president of William and Mary College, 
born in Rockingham county, \''irginia, in 
1763: removed to Kentucky at an early age, 
and was a soldier on the frontier when 
seventeen years old. taking part in several 
engagements with the Indians. During the 
campaigns in. the northwest he commanded 
a company under General Arthur St. Clair, 
and later was lieutenant of a company of 
mounted volunteer cavalry under Major 
John Adair, and was wounded in the action 
with the Indians near Fort St. Clair, No- 
vember 6, 1792. Later he became major of 
Kentucky volunteers, attached to the north- 
western army under General James Win- 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



317 



Chester, and was in the battle with the Brit- 
ish and Indians near Frenchtown, January 
18, 1813. He was taken prisoner in the de- 
feat on the river Raisin, January 22, 1813, 
and was sent to Quebec, but he was released 
ill 1814. For more than twenty years he 
was auditor of public accounts in Kentucky, 
and in 1816 he was nominated for governor. 
He was so popular that his opponent with- 
drew and he was elected for four years, but 
before entering on the duties of his office 
died at Paris, Kentucky, October 14, 1816. 

Payne, Dcvall, born in Fairfax county, 
Virginia, January i, 1764, son of William 
Payne, whose paternal ancestor came to 
this country at any early date. He removed 
to Kentucky in 1789, settling near Lexing- 
t(»n. He joined Captain Kenneth McCoy's 
cavalry, and served under General Charles 
Scott against the Indians in 1791. In 1792 
he removed to Mason county, where he 
lived until his death. He was active against 
the Indians. He was a surveyor, and also 
a county magistrate. He was major in Colo- 
nel Richard M. Johnson's mounted cavalry 
in 1813. and fought at the battle of the 
Thames, October 5, 1813, where he made a 
gallant charge. He served several years in 
the legislature. He died in Mason county, 
Kentucky, June 21, 1830. 

Weakley, Robert, born in Halifax county, 
Virginia, July 20, 1764. He entered the 
revolutionary army at the age of sixteen, 
and served till the end of the war, then went 
beyond the Alleghanies, having only a 
horse, saddle and bridle, and one dollar and 
seventy-five cents in money. He was a 
colonel of the riflemen with whom James 
Robertson defeated the Creeks and Chero- 
kees. When but twenty-two years of age. 



hf was elected to the North Carolina con- 
vention that ratified the Federal constitu- 
tion, and afterwards was a member of the 
Tennessee house of representatives. In 
1809 he was elected to congress, and in 181 1 
to the state senate, of which he was speaker, 
1819-21, and again 1823-25. His last office 
was that of member of the convention to re- 
vise the constitution of Tennessee in 1834. 
In early life he was a Methodist, but, marry- 
ing a woman who was not a church mem- 
ber, he was called to account, and told that 
it he expressed regret no further action 
v/ould be taken; this he refused to do, and 
thenceforward he was connected with no 
religious body. He died near Nashville, 
Tennessee, February 4, 1845. 

Lewis, William, born in Virginia in 1765. 
He served in the Indian war in 1791, and 
was captain under Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 
resigning in 1797. He was lieutenant-colo- 
nel of Kentucky, volunteers in the war of 
1812. and commander in the action with the 
British and Indians at Frenchtown, on the 
liver Raisin, January 8, 1813. He also 
served under Gen. James Winchester at his 
defeat there in the same month, where he 
v.as captured and held a prisoner two years 
in Quebec. He died in Little Rock, Arkan- 
sas, January 17, 1825. 

Lylc, John, born in Rockbridge county, 
Virginia, October 20, 1769, was distinguish- 
ed as being the first person to establish 
.schools exclusively for young women, also 
was the first to suggest the dissemination 
cf the Scriptures through the agency of col- 
porteurs. He graduated from Liberty Hall 
in 1794, studied divinity, and was licensed 
as a Presbyterian preacher in 1797. He was 
ordained in 1797, and from then until 1810 



Digitized by 



Google 



3i8 



VIRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY 



continued active in ministerial work. In 
1800 he was placed in charge of the churches 
at Salem and Sugar Ridge,. Clark county, 
remaining several years, and established a 
school. In ^lay. 1807, he established an 
academy in Paris. Kentucky, which he con- 
ducted, at the same time preaching at Cane 
Ridge and Concord. About 1810 he with- 
drew from the academy and from the two 
churches, but soon afterward resumed 
preaching near Cynthia, Harrison county. 
Not long afterward he retired from pastoral 
work and devoted himself entirely to mis- 
sionarj* labor. During the religious excite- 
ment that began in the southwest in 1800, 
accompanied by violent physical manifesta- 
tions, he did all in his power to restrain the 
extravagances of the revival. He died in 
Paris, Kentucky, July 22, 1825. 

Knox, James, lived in western Virginia, 
and in 1769, led a party ot forty-two men 
from southwest Virginia and Xorth Caro- 
lina to Reedy creek, and crossed through 
Cumberland gap westward to hunt and trap. 
Fach man had one or more horses, with 
s^rms and camp equipage. Fording the 
south fork of the Cumberland river, they 
came to what is now known as Price's 
meadow, six miles from Monticello, W ayne 
county, Kentucky, and there made a camp. 
They hunted during the year over the Upper 
Green and Barren rivers country, and found 
much open prairie covered with high grass. 
In October, 1769. with nine men, he sought 
fresher hunting grounds northward, and 
met a band of friendly Cherokee Indians, 
whose leader. Captain Dick, directed them 
to the blue grass region, south of the Ken- 
tucky river. Following this direction, they 
came to a stream in a region abundant with 



game, and gave it the name of Dicks river, 
which it bears to this day. They were 
on the borders of the country that was 
ranged over by Daniel Boone and his com- 
panions during the same two years, neither 
party, knowing of the other's proximity. In 
1774 Knox led his men one hundred miles 
farther west, and built a camp and fur sta- 
tion nine miles east of Greensburg, on Green 
river, where they killed many thousands of 
bears, panthers, otters, beavers, deer, and 
other game. After over three years' ab- 
sence, most of the party returned home, and 
v.ere known for long afterwards as the "long 
hunters," from their prolonged absence. 
Drake's pond and lick, Bledsoe's lick, and 
Manseo's lick, were discovered and marked 
on this expedition, each being named after 
its finder. Knox returned to Kentucky in 
1775, and for years afterward figured promi- 
nently in the civil and military events of the 
state. From 1795 ^^ 1800 he was state sen- 
ator for Lincoln county. 

Kemper, Reuben, born in Fauquier coun- 
ty. Virginia, in 1770, emigrated to Ohio in 
1800 with his father, who was a Baptist 
preacher. He and his two brothers went 
later to the Mississippi territory, engaged 
in land surveying, and were leaders in the 
movement to rid western Florida of Spanish 
rule. In 1808 they organized an expedition 
to Baton Rouge, from the adjacent counties 
o^ Mississippi, and were captured by the 
Spaniards. They were rescued by the 
United States troops at Pointe Coupe, and 
afterwards severely punished the Spaniards 
v.ho had been engaged in their capture. 
Kemper was engaged in an unsuccessful at- 
tempt to capture Mobile: was one of the 
organizers of the expedition of Gutierrez 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



319 



and Toledo against the Spanish in Mexico; 
and in 18 12, as major, and subsequently as 
colonel, commanded a force of about six 
hundred Americans who cooperated with 
the Mexican insurgents. The expedition 
advanced into Texas, and several success- 
ful battles were fought, but the dissensions 
that followed between the Mexicans and 
Americans enabled the Spaniards to defeat 
the divided forces, and the Americans, re- 
turned home. Kemper then joined the 
United States army as a volunteer, served 
under Andrew Jackson at the defence of 
New Orleans, and performed important 
duties. At the end of the war, he settled in 
Mississippi. He died in Natchez, Missis- 
sippi. October 10, 1826. 

Early, Peter, born in Madison county, 
Virginia, in June, 1773 J graduated at Prince- 
ton in 1792, and settled in Georgia with his 
father. He studied law in Philadelphia, and 
practiced at the Georgia bar. He served in 
cctngress. 1803-07, where he opposed the 
African slave trade. He became judge of the 
state supreme court in 1807, and in 1813 
was elected governor of Georgia, serving 
two years. Later he was a state senator. 
He died in Greene county. Georgia, August 
15. i3i7- 

Johnson, James, born in Orange county, . 
A'irginia, January i, 1774, son of Robert 
Johnson, who emigrated to Kentucky dur- 
ing the revolutionary war. He took an 
active part in the war of 1812. in which he 
served as lieutenant-colonel in his brother's 
regiment. In th^ battle of the Thames he 
commanded the right wing of the United 
States forces. After the war he was a con- 
tractor for supplying the troops on the Mis- 
sissippi and Missouri rivers, in 1819-20. He 



was elected to congress as a Democrat, serv- 
ing from December 5, 1825, until his death, 
at Great Crossings, Scott county, Kentucky, 
August 14, 1826. 

Rclf, Samuel, born in Mrginia, March 22, 
1776, was brought to Philadelphia, when a 
child, by his mother. He early became con- 
nected with the ^'National Gazette," of 
which he was for many years editor and its 
owner, until he became financially involved 
through friends. His writings were highly 
esteemed. He was the author of a novel 
entitled "Infidelity, or the Victims of Senti- 
ment." He died in Virginia, February 14, 
1823. 

Morris, Thomas, born in Augusta county. 
Virginia, January 3, 1776, son of a Baptist 
clergyman of Welsh descent. He went to 
Columbia, Ohio, in 1795, and became a 
farm hand for Rev. John Smith, first United 
States senator from Ohio. In 1800 he set- 
tled in Clermont county. While engaged in 
farming, he studied law. and was admitted 
to the bar in 1804. He was elected to the 
legislature in 1806, and was continuously a 
'm.ember for twenty-four years; was a judge 
of the supreme court; and elected United 
States in 1832. An ardent opponent of slav- 
ery, he earnestly debated against John C 
Calhoun and Henry Clay in favor of receiv- 
ing the petitions for the abolition of slavery. 
On account of his anti-slavery sentiments, 
he was not returned to the senate. He was 
nominated for vice-president by the Liberal 
party in August, 1844. His "Life and Let- 
ters" were edited by his son, Benjamin F. 
Morris. He died at Bethel, Ohio, Decem- 
ber 7, 1844. 

Emmerson, Arthur, born in Brunswick 
(now Greensville) county, Virginia, in 1778, 



Digitized by 



Google 



320 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



^on of the Rev. Arthur Enimerson rq. v.) 
and Anne Nivison Tazewell, his wife, 
daughter of William Tazewell. In 1785 he 
was in Portsmouth, with his father. He 
was educated for the church, later studied 
law, and finally took to the sea, which he 
lollowed for twenty years. In 1798 his ship 
was captured by the French, and he was 
held prisoner for a year, during which time 
he learned the language of his captors. In 
1809 he busied himself as a surveyor. He 
organized an artillery company in Ports- 
mouth, and commanded it during the war 
of 181 2. At various times he filled all im- 
portant local offices, and at his death was 
clerk of the county court. He married Mary 
A., daughter of Thomas Herbert, of Nor- 
folk county. He died January 7, 1842. 

Underwood, William Henderson^ born in 
Culpeper county, Virginia, September 13, 
1779. At an early age he was taken to El- 
bert county, Georgia, by his parents, and 
there obtained an education. He taught for 
several years, at the same time studying 
law; in 1810 was admitted to the Georgia 
bar ; practiced until the war of 1812, then ' 
joined the army and rose to the rank of 
captain. After the war he resumed practice. 
In 1825 he was elected judge of the western 
circuit of Georgia. During their contro- 
versy with the state of Georgia, he was lead- 
ing counsel for the Cherokee Indians, and 
won commendation from the supreme court 
ot the United States for the able manner in 
which he conducted their case. He died in 
Marietta, Georg^'a. August 4, 1859. 

Millington, John, was born in London, 
May II, 1779: commenced lecturing at the 
Royal Institution. London, in 1815, and was 
appointed professor of mechanics there in 



181 7. He gave annual courses of lectures 
on natural philosophy, mechanics and as- 
tronomy until 1820. He was one of the 
original fellows of the .Astronomical Soci- 
ety of London and he held the or'hce of 
.secretary from February 14, 1823. 10 Teb- 
ruary 10, 1826. He was also a teacher 
in Guy's Hospital, and also vice-president 
of Dr. r»erbeck*s London Mechanics' Insti- 
tution. He left England about 1829 to be- 
come chief engineer of Silver Mines :ind 
chief superintendent of a mint in Mexico. 
In 1834-35 he was resident in Philadelphia 
and in 1837 became professor of chemistry 
and natural philosophy in William and 
Mary College, a position held by him until 
1849. when he resigned to become state 
geologist of Mississippi. He died in Rich- 
mond. July 10, 1868. and was buried in Eru- 
ton parish churchyard. Williamsburg, where 
there is a tombstone with a long inscription 
to his memory. A list of his works is given 
in the "Dictionary of National Biography." 
His son, Thomas Ch : Millington, made a 
drawing of the College of William and 
Mary, which was lithographed by the steam 
press of Charles L. Ludwig, Richmond, Vir- 
ginia. 

Lauderdale* James, born in Virginia about 
1780, removed to west Tennessee. He be- 
come major in Gen. John Coffee's cavalry 
regiment of volunteers in 1813, and later 
lieutenant-colonel. While serving under 
Gen. Andrew Jackson in the battle of Talla- 
dega, Alabama, against the Creek Indians, 
he was wounded. In 1814 he was promoted 
tr colonel, and was killed in the first battle 
of New Orleans. Several counties and 
towns in the southern states are named in 
his honor. He died near New Orleans, 
Louisiana, December 23, 1814. 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



321 



Metcalf, Thomas, born in Fauquier coun- 
ty, Virginia, March 20, 1780, the son of poor 
parents who emigrated to Kentucky and set- 
tled in Fayette county. After a few months 
in a country school, he worked with a stone- 
cutter, devoting his leisure to study. He 
served in the war of 1812, and in 1813 com- 
manded a company at the battle of Fort 
Meigs. While absent on this campaign, he 
was elected to the legislature, and served 
three years; was afterward elected to con- 
gress as a Henry Clay Democrat, serving 
from December 6, 1819, till June i, 1828, 
when he resigned. From 1829 till 1833 ^^ 
was governor of Kentucky. He was a mem- 
ber of the state senate in 1834, and presi- 
dent of the board of internal improvement 
in 1840. He was appointed United States 
senator in place of John J. Crittenden, re- 
signed, serving from July 3, 1848, till March 
3. 1849, when he retired to his farm between 
^^aysville and Lexington. He was a friend 
and follower of Henry Clay, and often 
boasted of his early labors as a stonemason, 
delighting in being called the "Old Stone 
Hammer." He died in Nicholas county, 
Kentucky. August 18, 1855. 

Nettleton« AshaeU born in North Killing- 
worth. Connecticut, April 21. 1783. After 
his graduation from Yale College in 1809 he 
studied theology, was licensed to preach in 
181 1, and was ordained in 1817, choosing 
the evangelistic field, intending to become 
a missionary to foreign lands. From 18 12 
to 1822 he was engaged in revival work in 
Connecticut. Massachusetts, and New York. 
His health failing in 1827. he came to Vir- 
ginia. Two years restored his health, and 
from 1829 until 183 1 he was preaching as 
a revivalist in New York and Connecticut. 
In 183 1 he went to Great Britain, return- 
viR— 21 



ing in 1832. In that year he was appointed 
professor of pastoral duty in the seminary 
at East Windsor, Connecticut, and although 
he did not accept, he settled in East Wind- 
sor and lectured occasionally to the stu- 
dents. Hampden-Sidney College conferred 
the degree Doctor of Divinity upon him 
in 1839, as did Jefferson College, Pennsyl- 
vania. He compiled a collection of hymns 
under the title "Village Hymns." His **Re- 
mains and Sermons" were edited by Rev. 
iJennett Tyler, who also published a 
"Memoir" which was reprinted with addi- 
tions by Rev. Andrew A. Bonar and pub- 
liifhed in Edinburgh in 1854 under the title 
"Nettleton and His Labors." He died in 
East Windsor. Connecticut, May 16, 1844. 

Lewis* William Berkeley* born in Lou- 
doun county, Virginia, in 1784, removed to 
Tennessee early in life and settled near 
Nashville. He was quartermaster under 
Gen. Andrew Jackson in the war of 18 12, 
iierving through the Creek campaign. After 
the election of Jackson to the presidency, 
Lewis accompanied him to Washington, 
aided him in the preparation of his in- 
augural address, and became a member of 
his family, also holding the office of auditor 
of the treasurj'. Lewis assisted in establish- 
ing the "Globe" in 1830, and prepared ac- 
counts of the difficulty between Jackson and 
Calhoun, for which, with Amos Kendall, he 
was partially responsible. After leaving 
Washington in 1845. he lived near Nash- 
ville, Tennessee, until shortly after the civil 
war, when he served one term in the legis- 
lature. He was a Republican, and after the 
occupation of Nashville by the Federal 
troops exerted a pacific influence there. He 
died near Nashville, Tennessee, November 
14, 1866. 



Digitized by 



Google 



322 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



McFcrrin, James, born in Washington 
county. \'irginia, March 25, 1784. was of 
Irish Presbyterian extraction, was brought 
up as a farmer, and, after marrying at the 
age of twenty, settled in Rutherford county. 
Tennessee, where he was often engaged in 
combats with the Indians. After the dec- 
laration of war with England he became 
captain of a company of volunteers, and 
marched under General Andrew Jackson 
against the Creeks, was present at Talla- 
dega, and suffered great privations during 
the campaign. He was elected colonel on 
his return, and for several years took pride 
in leading the best trained regiment of the 
state troops. At the age of thirty-six he 
united with the Methodist Episcopal church, 
and on Xovember 25, 1823, was received into 
the Tennessee conference as an itinerant 
preacher. His ministry, which was in Ala- 
bama after 1828, and in western Tennessee 
after 1834, was attended with great success. 

Henderson, Archibald, born in Virginia in 
1785: was appointed lieutenant of marines, 
June 4, 1806; captain, in April, 181 1 ; brevet 
major, in 1814; lieutenant-colonel, October 
17. 1820; and colonel, July i, 1834. During 
the Florida war he commanded a battery; 
was engaged in the skirmish on the Hatche- 
luskee, January 27, 1837, and was brevetted 
brigadier-general for gallant and meritori- 
ous service while in command of the marines 
in Florida, Alabama, and in Tennessee, 
against the Indians. He died in Washing- 
ton. D. C. January 6. 1859. 

Weightman, Roger C, born in Alexan- 
dria, Virginia, in 1786. He was a printer, 
settled in Washington, D. C, and at one 
time was congressional printer. During the 
war of 1812-14 he was an officer of cavalry, 



and subsequently became a general of Dis- 
trict of Columbia militia. He was mayor 
of Washington in 1824-27. became cashier 
of the Washington Bank, and was for many 
years librarian of the patent office. He 
commanded the troops that were quartered 
in that building during the civil war. He 
died near Wilson's creek, Missouri, August 
10, 1861. 

Eustis, Abraham, born at Petersburg. 
\'irginia. March 28. 178^); was graduated 
from Harvard in 1804. He studied law in 
the office of his relative. Chief Justice 
Parker, was admitted to the bar in 1807, and 
engaged in practice in Boston. He was cap- 
tain of artillery in 1808, and became major 
in 1810. Dunng the war of 1812 he com- 
manded a regiment in the capture of York, 
Upper Canada; was brevetted lieutenant- 
colonel for meritorious service in 1813; be- 
came lieutenant-colonel of the Fourth Ar- 
tillery in 1822, brigadier-general in 1834, and 
colonel of the First Artillery. He died at 
Portland, Maine, June 27, 1843. 

Dundas, James, born at Alexandria, Vir- 
ginia, in 1788; he settled in Philadelphia, 
fud became president of the Pennsylvania 
Bank. He was prominent in many local 
enterprises, and at the time of his death was 
president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural 
Society. He died in Philadelphia. July 4, 
1865. 

Wharey, James, born in Rutherford 
county, Xortli Carolina. June 15, 1789; was 
a student at Hampden-Sidney College five 
years, teaching to obtain means to pursue 
his education. He was licensed to preach in 
1818, and began his ministry in Amherst and 
Xelson counties, spending a part of his time 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



3^3 



tm principal of an academy. In 18191 he made 
a missionary tour in Virginia, and was chap- 
lain of Hampden-Sidney for a year. In 
182J he held a charge in Cartersville, Vir- 
ginia, and 1824 was made pastor ol the 
churches of Bird and Providence, in Gooch- 
land county, Virginia, where he served un- 
til his death. He published a series of 
articles in the "Southern Religious Tele- 
graph"' on "Baptism," and "Sketches of 
Church History from the Birth of Christ to 
the Nineteenth Century," both of which 
afterward appeared in book-form. He died 
in Goochland county, Virginia, April 29, 
1842. 

Noble, James, born in Battletown, Fred- 
erick county, Virginia, about 1790. In 
youth he moved to Kentucky, but finally 
located in Indiana, where he acquired a 
good education through self-study and read- 
ing. He was one of the first United States 
senators sent from Indiana, serving from 
December 12, 18 16, until his death in Wash- 
ington. D. C. February 26, 1831. 

Spencer, Pitman Curtius, born in Char- 
lotte county. Virginia, in 1790: graduated 
at the medical department of the University 
cl Pennsylvania in 1818, and settling in Not- 
tcway county. Virginia, practiced there for 
fifteen years, after which he went to Eu- 
rope to pursue his studies. On his return he 
settled in Petersburg, and devoted himself 
to surgery. He was a successful litho- 
tomist. and claimed to be the first to practice 
this branch of surgery in this country. He 
died in Petersburg. Virginia, in February, 
1S61. 

MacRea, William, born in 1767; in 1791 
was apix>inted from Virginia lieutenant of 



levies, and was wounded at Gen. Arthur St. 
Clair's defeat by the Miami Indians, No- 
vember 4, 1791. He became captain in De- 
cember, 1794, was transferred to the artil- 
lery in June, 1798; and promoted to major, 
Second Regiment of artillerists and engi- 
neers, July 31, 1800, and lieutenant-colonel, 
April 19, 1814. He was brevetted colonel 
"for ten years* faithful service,'* April 19, 
1824. He died near Shawneetown, Illinois, 
November 3, 1832. * 

Mosby, Mary Webster, bom in Henrico 
county, Virginia, in April, 1791. Left an 
orphan, she was adopted by her paternal 
grandfather, Robert Pleasants, a Quaker 
planter who had set free more than a hun- 
dred slaves. She was educated at a Friends' 
school, and married John Garland Mosby. 
She wrote for magazines over the signa- 
ture of "M. M. Webster," and published 
"Pocahontas,'' treating of the legend of the 
Indian heroine, from whom, through her 
maternal grandfather, Thomas Mann Ran- 
dolph, she was a lineal descendant. She 
died at Richmond, Virginia, November 19, 

Underwood, Joseph Rogers, born in 
Goochland county, Virginia, October 24, 
1791. He was adopted by his maternal 
uncle, Edward Rogers, a revolutionary sol- 
dier who had settled in Kentucky in 1783. 
He attended different schools, and graduated 
from Transylvania College, in 181 1. He 
pursued legal study in Lexington, Ken- 
tucky. In the war of 1812-14, he was the 
first volunteer in Col. William Dudley's 
regiment for service on the Canadian bor- 
der. He was promoted to lieutenant, and 
when the cajftain of his campany was killed, 
the command devolved upon him. Later in 



Digitized by 



Google 



324 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



the fight he was wounded, and, with the 
remnant of vhe regiment, forced to surren- 
der. He was cruelly treated by the Indians, 
but finally was released on parole. He was 
admitted to the Kentucky bar in 1813. set- 
tled in Glasgow, and served as town trustee 
and county attorney. In 1823 he moved to 
r.owling Green. He was a member of the 
Kentucky legislature in 1816-17-18-19-23-26; 
was a candidate for lieutenant-governor in 
1828, and from 1828 until 1835 was judge of 
the Kentucky court of appeals. He was 
elected to congress as a Whig, and served 
from December 7, 1835, ^^ March 3, 1S43. 
In 1S45 he was chosen to represent Warren 
county in the legislature, and was elected 
speaker of the house. He was the success- 
ful Whig candidate for United States sena- 
tor, and served from December 6, 1847, until 
March 3, 1853. In 1824 and 1844 he was 
presidential, elector on the Clay ticket, and 
in 1864 was a delegate to the National 
Democratic Convention held in Chicago. 
He died at Bowling Green, Kentucky, Au- 
gust 23, 1873. 

Marmaduke» Meredith Miles» born in 
Westmoreland county, Virginia, August 28, 
1 791. He was educated in the public schools, 
and at the age of twenty-two was commis- 
sioned colonel of a regiment raised in his 
county for defensive service in the war of 
1812. Afterwards he was appointed United 
States marshal for the eastern district of 
\*irginia, served for several years in ihat 
office, and was then elected clerk of the cir- 
cuit court. He removed to Missouri in 
1824, was engaged in the Santa Fe trade 
for six years at Franklin, Howard county; 
and then settled near Arrow Rx)ck. He was 
the originator and president of the first state 



fair. He served as surveyor, and county 
judge; in 1840 was elected lieutenant-gov- 
ernor, and in 1844 became acting governor 
by the death of Thomas Reynolds. In 1847 
he was a member of the state constitutional 
convention. In 1860-61. though his sons 
embraced the Confederate cause, he was 
opposed to secession, without upholding the 
violent acts of the Federal authorities in 
Missouri. He died near Arrow Rock, Saline 
county, Missouri, March 26. 1862. 

Monroe, Andrew, born in Hampshire 
county, \'irginia, October 20, 1792, youngest 
of eleven children, four of whom became 
ministers of the Methodist I-.piscopal church. 
He was licensttd to preach in March. 1^15, 
by the Ohio conference, and sent to labor 
on the Fairfield circuit. He was a pioneer 
worker in Kentucky. Tennessee, and Mis- 
souri, a member during his life of eleven 
general conferences, and known as the pa- 
triach of Missouri Methodism. His name 
has become historic in the annals of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. South. He 
died in Mexico, Audrain county, Missouri, 
November 18, 1871. He was of the same 
family as President Monroe. 

Newton, John Thomas, son of William 
Xewton and Jane Darr Stuart, his wife, of 
Cameron. Fairfax county, \'irginia. was ]»orn 
ill Alexandria, \'irginia. May 26, 1793. He 
was educated at Xantes, in France, entered 
the United States as midshipman January 16. 
1.S69; served in the war of 1812, was acting 
lieutenant of the Hornet in her fight with the 
Peacock f February 24, 191 3: promoted first 
lieutenant of the Hornet, and was in the en- 
gagement with the Penguin. He was pre- 
sented with an elegant sword by the citizens 
of Alexandria for gallant conduct ; promoted 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



325 



commander, March 3, 1827, and captain, 
February 9. 1837. He was in command of 
the Pensacola and Brooklyn navy yards, and 
c: the home squadron, and of the steamers 
Fulton and Missouri until 1848. He ranked 
as commodore from 1852 until March, 1855, 
and during the last two years of his life, 
was commandant of the navy yard at 
Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He died in 
Washington, July 28. 1857. He married 
(first) Amelia, daughter of Thomas Kirk, 
of lirooklyn. New York. He married (sec- 
ond) Adele. daughter of Gov. Ralph Izzard, 
of South Carolina. 

Watkins, Samuel, born in Campbell 
county, Virginia, in 1794. In his orphanage 
he was bound to a Scotch family, where he 
was treated cruelly, and the county court 
placed him with James Robertson, a planter. 
He joined the United States army, served 
«ngainst the Creeks under Gen. Andrew Jack- 
son, and at the battle of New Orleans. After 
peace was declared he returned to Na.shville 
and became a brick-mason and contractor. 
Among the houses built by him was the 
First Uaptist Church and the Second Pres- 
byterian Church in Nashville. He acquired 
a large fortune but during the civil war his 
farm near Nashville was a battle-field, his 
city buildings were destroyed, his house was 
sacked, his loss amounting to $300,000. 
Afterwards he engaged in banking, manu- 
facturing, and building, and dealt m real 
estate, was president of the Nashville Gas- 
Light Company, and acquired a second for- 
tune. He bequeathed $130,000 for the es- 
tablishment of a polytechnic institution in 
Nashville, which was erected there in 1882. 
He made liberal provision for free public 
lectures, and instruction for such as could 



not attend colleges and schools. He died in 
Nashville. Tennessee. October 16. 1880. 

Morris, Thomas Asbury, born near 
Charlestown. Virginia. April 28. 1794, son 
of John and Margaret Morris. He attended 
the common schools, and later pursued spe- 
cial studies. He served three years as an 
assistant in the office of his brother Edmund, 
clerk of the county. At the age of eighteen 
he was drafted to serve six months in the 
war of 1812. but his family procured a sub- 
stitute. For some years he was a skeptic, 
but in 1813 was converted, and united with 
the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1814 
he entered the ministry, connecting himself 
with the Ohio conference. In two years he 
traveled 5.500 miles on horseback, preached 
five hundred times, and during the first 
twelve years of his ministry he received but 
two thousand dollars. In 1856 he sustained 
an attack of paralysis. In 1834 he became 
editor of the "Western Christian Advocate." 
in Cincinnati. In 1836 he was elected 
bishop. As early as 1835 he was an advo- 
cate of total abstinence. In 1844. when the 
church was divided, he remained in connec- 
tion with the Methodist Episcopal chuich, 
though he was a native of Virginia and re- 
gretted the separation. For sixteen years he 
was senior bishop of his church. McKendree 
College gave him the degree of D. D. in 
1841. He published a work on "Church 
Polity.*' a volume of sermons; one entitled 
'* Essays.*' bi<igraphical sketches, and "Notes 
of Travel." and "Sketches of Western Meth- 
odism.*' He died in Springfield. Ohio, Sep- 
tember 2, 1874. 

Kerr, John, born in Pittsylvania county, 
Virginia, son of Rev. John Kerr, was edu- 
cated in Richmond, Virginia, studied law 



Digitized by 



Google 



326 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



with Judge John S. Pearson, of North Caro- 
lina, and practiced at Vanceyville. North 
Carolina. He was the defeated Whig can- 
didate for governor in 1852; was elected to 
congress the same year, and served from 
December 5. 1853. till March 3. 1855. He 
was a member uf the legislature, 185S-O0. 
Luring the reconstruction times he was ar- 
rested by the military authorities. Chief 
Justice Pearson refused to issue an attach- 
ment against Col. George Kirk, who held 
Kerr and other prisoners in custody under 
order of Gov. William W. Holden, on the 
ground that the powers of the judiciary were 
exhausted: but Judge George W. Urooks 
issued a writ of habeas corpus, and on its re- 
turn ordered the release of the prisoners. 
Kerr's arrest and imprisonment brought him 
into notice, and led to his election, by the 
legislature of 1874. to the bench of the su- 
perior court. He died in Reidsville, North 
Carolina, September 5, 1879. 

Morton, Jackson, was born in Spottsyl- 
\ania county, Virginia, August 10, 1794, 
sen of Jeremiah Morton and Mildred Garnett 
Jackson, his wife. He graduated at William 
and Mary College, Virginia, 1815; removed 
U Florida: was president territorial council 
of Florida many years; member Florida 
constitutional convention and Florida leg- 
islature; general of volunteer forces in the 
Indian wars; United States navy agent at 
Pensacola; presidential elector in 1849, cast- 
ing his ballot for Gen. Taylor; elected to 
the United States senate for the term from 
1849-55 » member Florida convention of 
1S61. In 1855 he retired from politics and 
became extensively engaged in the lumber 
trade. In 1861 he represented Florida in the 
provisional congress of the Confederate 



States; a member of the Confederate con- 
gress, 1862-65. He was a brother of Hon. 
Jeremiah Morton (q. v.). 

Henkel, Moses Montgomery, born in 
Pendleton county, Virginia. March 23. 179S, 
became an itinerant minister of the Metho- 
dist Epi.scopal church in Ohio in 1819. was 
for some time a missionary to the Wyan- 
dotte Indians, and preached in that state 
and in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Kentucky, 
and Alabama. He established a religious 
magazine, and associated himself in 1845 
with Dr. McFerrin in the editorship of the 
"Christian Advocate" at Nashville. In 1847 
he established the "Southern Ladies' Com- 
panion," which he conducted for eight years. 
He taught in Philadelphia and other places, 
and was thus engaged in Baltimore, Mary- 
land, during the civil war, but was sent 
within the Confederate lines. He died in 
Richmond, Virginia, in 1S64. 

Mctcalf, Samuel L., born near Winchester, 
V irgmia, September 21, 1798. With his 

parents he went to Shelby county, Ken- 
tucky, and in 1819 he entered Transylvania 
University, Lexington, where in 1823 he re- 
ceived the degree of M. D. He practiced in 
New Albany, Indiana, and later in Missis- 
sippi. In 1831 went to England, and on his 
return made a geological tour through 
eastern Tennessee, North Carolina, and Vir- 
ginia. For several years he lived in New 
York City, writing scientific books, and to 
the **Knickerbockcr Magazine." In 1835 he 
again visited England in order to make 
scientific research, and while there was so- 
licited to become a candidate for the Gre- 
gorian chair in the University of Edinburgh, 
but declined. Returning to the United 
States, he published his various books: 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



327 



**Narratives of Indian Warfare in the 
West;" **Ne\v Theory of Terrestrial Mag- 
netism;*' and **Caloric: its Agencies in the 
Phenomena of Nature." He died at Cape 
May, New Jersey, July 17, 1856. 

Paschall, Edwin, born in Mecklenburg 
county, Virginia, in 1799. He became a 
lawyer, went to Tennessee in 1833, and was 
a teacher in Murfreesborough, Huntington, 
Brownsville, and for some time at Franklin, 
Williamson county, where he edited the 
"Western Weekly Review." Afterwards he 
taught a classical school near Nashville. 
During the civil war he was editorial writer 
for the Nashville "Press," and in 1865-66 for 
the Nashville •^Gazette." He published 
*'01d Times, or Tennessee History." He 
died near Nolensville, Tennessee, June 5, 
1869. 

Upshur, George Parker, born in North- 
ampton county, Virginia, March 8, 1799. 
He entered the L'nited States navy as mid- 
shipman, April 2^, 1818; was promoted to 
lieutenant. March 3. 1827. and served in the 
Lexington, on the Brazil station, 1832-34, 
against the pirates infesting the Falkland 
Islands. He commanded the brig Truxton 
CP her first cruise in the Mediterranean in 
1843-44, and from 1844 until 1847 served in 
the receiving ship at Norfolk. Virginia. He 
v/as commissioned commander, February 
2^, 1847, and itom that year until 1850 was 
superintendent of the United States Naval 
Academy at Annapolis. On July 13, 1852, 
he took command of the sloop-of-war Levant, 
at Norfolk, joined the United States squad- 
ron in the Mediterranean, and died on board 
his ship, in the harbor of Spezzia. Italy. No- 
vember 3, 1852. 



Meriwether, David, son of William Meri- 
wether and Elizabeth Winslow, his wife, 
and grandson of James Meriwether and 
Judith Hardenia Burnley, his wife, was 
born in Louisa county, Virginia, October 
30, 1800, attended private schools, engaged 
in fur trading near Council Bluffs, Iowa; 
settled in Kentucky, studied law, was ad- 
mitted to the bar and practiced in Kentucky ; 
in 1832 he was elected a member of the 
house of delegates of Kentucky, and served 
for thirteen terms; delegate to the state 
constitutional convention of 1849; appointed 
in 185 1 by Gov. Powell secretary of state of 
Kentucky; and upon the death of Mr. Clay 
appointed to fill his unexpired term in the 
United States senate, serving from July 6, 
1852, to September i, 1852; appointed by 
President Pierce governor of the territory of 
New Mexico, serving from May 6, 1853. to 
January 5, 1855 ; representative in the Ken- 
tucky legislature from 1858 to 1865, and 
served as speaker of the house in 1859; died 
near Louisville, Kentucky. April 4, 1893. ^^ 
married, in 1824, Sarah Leonard, of Massa- 
chusetts. He was nephew of David Meri- 
v.-ether, of Georgia (q. v.). 

McNutt, Alexander Gallatin, born in 
Rockbridge county, Virginia, September 12, 
1801 ; he was educated at Washington Col- 
lege, Virginia; emigrated to Mississippi in 
1S28, and settled in Vicksburg in the prac- 
tice of law. He was in the legislature for 
several years, speaker of the senate in 1837, 
and governor the next year. While in the 
legislature, he secured the right of reyre- 
f.entation to the counties formed out of the 
Chickasaw and Choctaw cessions. Sergeant 
S. Prentiss opposed this measure, and subse- 
ducntly attacked him in a series of speeches 



Digitized by 



Google 



3-^8 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



in 1838. during Prentiss's canvass for con- 
gress, McXuti's slovenly dress and intem- 
perate habits forminj^ a target for his wit. 
>1cXuit subsequenily reformed, and ac- 
cimiuhited a large fortune from his prac- 
tice, ile was a Democrat in politics, and 
yielded in debate to none but Prentiss, 
whom, after the canvass of 1838. he reso- 
lutely refused ever to meet on the "stump " 
He died in Do Soto county. Mississippi. Oc- 
tober 22. 184S. 

Madison, James, born near Port Republic. 
Rockingham county ( formerly Augusta 
county I. August 27. 1749. son of John Madi- 
son, first clerk of Augusta county. His 
f::ther and Ambrose Madison, the grand- 
father i)f James Madison. President of the 
United States, were brothers. He went first 
to an academy in Maryland, thence in I7f>8 
to William and Mary College, where on 
July 29. 1772. he received the gold medal 
awarded as a prize by Lord Botetourt for 
classical learning. He was writing master 
at the college until May. 1773. when he was 
appointed professor of natural philosophy. 
He studied law under George Wythe, but 
abandoned the profession after a single case, 
and aided by fifty pounds from the board of 
visitors, visited England in 1775, and took 
orders. In November, 1775, he again at- 
tended as professor of natural philosophy 
at the college, and in October, 1777. suc- 
ceeded John Camm as president of the insti- 
tution, being then only twenty-eight years 
of age. Mr. Madison supported with great 
zeal the cause of the revolution, and in con- 
nection with Thomas Jefferson, a mem- 
ber of the college visitors, procured an en- 
tire reform of the course pursufcd at Wil- 
liam and Mary College. Under their aus- 



pices the elective system of study was in- 
troduced, the honor system established, and 
by the addition of the chairs of medicine, 
law and modern languages, the college was 
made a university. Dr. James McClurg was 
called to the medical chair. George Wythe 
to the law chair, and Charles IJellini to the 
chair of modern languages. Thus the col- 
lege became the first in America to practice 
the elective system, and to support chairs 
for the study of municipal law and the 
modern languages. It was second only to 
the College of Philadelphia in establishing 
a medical chair, which was. however, con- 
tinued only fur a very few years. In 1785 
he presided over the first convention of the 
Episcopal church in X'irginia. and in 1790 
was elected first bishop of the diocese, and 
he was consecrated in the chapel of Lam- 
beth palace on September 19. of that year, 
by Archbishop Moore, of Canterbury^ being 
the last prelate of the American church to 
receive consecration from the bishops of the 
Anglican church. Bishop Madison pub- 
lished a "Eulogy on Washington** (1800). 
He was married, in 1779. to Sarah Tate, of 
Williamsburg, a granddaughter of William 
Cocke, formerly secretary of the colony. 
She died August 20. 1815, leaving one son, 
John Catcsby Madison, and one daughter, 
who married Robert G. Scott, a distinguish- 
ed lawyer of X'irginia. A brother of Bishop 
Madison. George Madison, became governor 
of Kentucky. Bishop Madison died March 
6, 1812. His remains lie interred in the 
chapel of the College of William and Mary. 

Jameson, David, born August 19. 1752, in 
Culpeper county ( then Orange), son of Cap- 
tain Thomas Jameson: served in the revolu- 
tion, fought at Great Bridge. Norfolk coun- 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



329 



ty, December 9, 1775, ^"d was in Stevens* 
brigade in 1780 and 1781. In 1790-91 he 
was a member of the Virginia legislature, 
and afterwards magistrate and high sheriff 
of Culpeper coimty. He married, in 1792, 
Mary Mennis, daughter of Charles Mennis. 
He died October 2, 1839. He was a brother 
of Lieut.-Col. John Jameson (q. v.). 

Jameson, David, son of James Jameson, 
of Essex county, Virginia, was a prominent 
merchant of Yorktown, Virginia ; was treas- 
urer of the "Society for the Promotion of 
Useful Knowledge," organized at Williams- 
burg in May, 1773, with John Clayton, the 
botanist, as president, and there is a letter 
of John Page, who succeeded Clayton as 
president, giving the result of some experi- 
ments made by him and David Jameson 
with an instrument of their own invention 
on the fall of dew and rain — these experi- 
ments being the first that ever were made 
of their kind in America, indeed, as Page 
says, "the first with such an instrument in 
the world." In 1777 he became a member 
of Patrick Henry's privy council. In 1781 
he was lieutenant governor, under Governor 
Thomas Nelson, and in 1783 a member of 
the state senate. His will, dated October 
14, 1792, was proved July 22, 1793. He was 
uncle of David Jameson (q. v.) and John 
Jameson (q. v.). 

Bowycr, Henry, born in 1761. Early in 
the revolution, as a lad, he was left in charge 
of a store at Fincastle, belonging to his uncle, 
Michael P»owyer. who went to the army. 
Shortly after his uncle was gone, he sold the 
goods for what they would bring, and joined 
a company of cavalry . under Washington. 
At Buford's defeat, he was an aide to that 
officer. He was a superb horseman, and 



performed various startling feats during his 
army service. After the war, he was elected 
clerk of the county court of Botetourt coun- 
ty, and held the office for a period of about 
forty years, being succeeded by his son, 
Henry W. Bowyer. He died in 1833. He 
married a daughter of Thomas Madison, of 
Botetourt county ; she was a niece of Bishop 
James Madison, and her mother was a sister 
of Patrick Henry. 

Moore, Richard Channing, born in New 
York City, August 21, 1762. His grand- 
father, John Moore (1658-1732), an eminent 
lawyer, was attorney-general and register- 
general of Pennsylvania under William 
Pcnn, and from 1704 until his death royal 
collector of customs for that colony. His 
father, John Moore (1686-1749), was a mer- 
chant in New York City and for some time 
a member of the provincial assembly. One 
of his uncles, Daniel Moore, served in the 
English parliament, and another, William 
(1699-1783), was a member of the Pennsyl- 
vania assembly, being also from 1741 until 
1 78 1 president judge of the court of Chester 
county. He was a colonel of the militia, 
and so vigorously opposed some of the acts 
of the assembly that in 1758 an unsuccess- 
ful attempt was made to remove him from 
office. His residence, "Moore Hall,** near 
Valley Forge, is still a landmark. Richard 
Channing Moore was prepared for King s 
(now Columbia) College, but was prevented 
by the revolution from pursuing a collegiate 
course. Subsequently he studied medicine, 
received a degree and practiced for some 
time, but following an inclination for the 
ministry, he began theological study under 
Bishop Provost. Being ordained deacon 
and priest in 1787, he served for two years 



Digitized by 



Google 



330 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



at Rye, New York, and was then called to 
the rectorship of St. Andrew's Church, Rich- 
mond, Siatcn Island, where he remained 
11 mil 1809. In iSof^ he attended the general 
convention of the Episcopal church in l>al- 
timurc, and from 1^*09 until 1S14 was rector 
01 St. Stephen's Church. New York City, 
lie was chosen bishop of X'irginia in 1814 
and was consecrated in Philadelphia in May 
01 that year. In addition to his duties as 
bishop he also served until his death as rec- 
tor of the Monumental Church, Richmond, 
X'irginia. A man of great ability and energy, 
he rendered notable service in reviving the 
drcMiping fortunes of the church in Virginia. 
Besides a number of sermons and addresses, 
he published "The Doctrines of the Church," 
a discourse delivered before the general con- 
vention in 1S20. The degree of Doctor of 
Divinity was conferred on him by Dart- 
mouth College in 1805. A memoir of his 
life, written by Rev. T. P. K. llenshaw, was 
published in 1842. His son, David (1787- 
1856). was graduated at Columbia in 1806, 
was ordained priest in 1808, and, succeeding 
his father, was from 1809 until his death 
rector of St. Andrew's Church, Richmond, 
Staten Island. Union College gave him the 
degree of Doctor of Divinity in 184 1. Bishop 
Moore died at Lynchburg. Virginia, No- 
vember II, 1841. 

Alexander, William, born in Delaware, in 
1763, was six years old when his parents 
removed to Botetourt county, Virginia. At 
the age of sixteen years he entered the revo- 
lutionary- army and marched under Gen. 
Greene to North Carolina, was at the battle 
of the Cowpens under Morgan, and made 
the memorable march across North Caro- 
lina. In the war of 181 2, as colonel, he 



marched his regiment of militia to the sea- 
board. For about fifty years he was county 
surveyor, for a long time a magistrate, a 
James river commissioner, occasionally engi- 
neer of public improvements, and a member 
o: the legislature. He became an exemplary 
member of the Presbyterian church of Fin- 
castle. He died September 13. 1839. 

Logan, Robert, born at Bethel congrega- 
tion, .\ugiista county, in September, 1769. 
He received literary and theological instruc- 
tion at Liberty Hall, under the care of Rev. 
\\'illiam Graham. He was licensed as a 
Presbyterian preacher, and made mission- 
ary excursions t(» New England, and finally 
srttled at I'incastle. Bmetourt county. \'ir- 
ginia. where he taui^ht ordinary and class- 
ical schools, besides preaching. After some 
thirty years oi such occupation, he died in 
October. 182S. 

Haxall, Philip, son of William Haxall and 
Catherine, his wife, was born at Exning, 
county Suffolk, England, April 10, 1770, 
emigrated to Petersburg, Virginia, in 1786; 
he was vestryman of Bristol parish; was 
partner with his two brothers, William and 
Henry, in the milling business of the Peters- 
burg mills; removed to Richmond in June, 
1809, and, in partnership with his brother 
William, bought the Columbian mills, which 
became known as the Haxall mills. He 
married Clara Walker, daughter of Robert 
Walker, of "Kingston." Dinwiddie county, 
and died December 26. 1831. He was suc- 
ceeded in the milling business by his sons, 
Richard Barton Haxall, William Henry 
Haxall and Boiling Walker Haxall. The 
Haxall mills were one of the great enter- 
prises of Richmond, and shipped immense 
quantities of flour to all parts of the world. 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



331 



Lawson, Robert. On February 13. 1776, 
he was commissioned major in the Fourth 
Virginia Regiment, and he was promoted to 
colonel the following year. He is said to 
have commanded a brigade of Virginia 
militia under Gen. Greene at the battle of 
Guilford Court House. He died at Rich- 
mond in April, 1805. 

Riley, Bennett, born at Alexandria, Vir- 
ginia, November 27, 1787. He received an 
ordinary English education, and after en- 
gaging for a time in clerical pursuits in 
Maryland was on January i. 1813, appointed 
b\ President Madison an ensign of rifles in 
the regular army. He was promoted to be 
lieutenant on March 12, 1813, and served 
with great gallantry during the war of 18 12. 
He was raised to the rank of captain on Au- 
gust 6. 18 18. He was engaged in the oper- 
ations against the Arickaree Indians in 
1823 ; was promoted to be major on Septem- 
ber 26. 1837, and lieutenant-colonel on De- 
cember I. 1839, and was brevet ted colonel, 
for his services against the Seminoles in 
Ilorida. on June 2, 1840. During the Mex- 
ican war in 1846-47 he commanded the Sec- 
ond Infantry under Gen. Winfield Scott, and 
later the Second Brigade of Gen. D. E. 
Twiggs' division in the operations against 
the City of Mexico. He participated with 
conspicuous bravery in all of the most im- 
portant battles of the war and was repeat- 
edly commended by Gen. Scott. He was 
hrevetted brigadier-general .\pril 16, 1847. 
and major-general August 20. 1847. I" 1^4^ 
he was assigned to the command of the de- 
partment of the Pacific and served as mili- 
tary governor of California, until the organ- 
ization of the state government, which he 
hastened by all the means in his power. On 



January 31, 1850, he was promoted to be 
colonel and commanded the First Infantry 
until his death. General Riley was a splen- 
did soldier, and his firmness and discretion 
proved of the greatest value in the most 
turbulent period of the history of California. 
He died at ButTalo, New York, June 9, 1853. 

Hoge, John Blair, born in Jefferson coun- 
ty, \'irginia, in 1790, son of Rev. Moses 
Hoge, president of Hampden-Sidney Col- 
lege. He was educated in part in his father's 
private school at Shephcrdstown, and in 
p.'.rt at Hampden-Sidney College, under the 
presidency of his father. He was for a time 
a tutor in the college, and then studied law 
under Henry E. Watkins, of Prince Edward 
cc»unty. He, however, came to prefer theol- 
ogy before the law, was pre])ared by his 
fiither for the ministry, and in 1810 was 
licensed as a preacher by the Hanover pres- 
bytery. The next year he was transferred 
to Winchester presbytery, was ordained at 
Tuscarora meeting house, and became pas- 
tor of the churches there and at Falling 
Waters. His preaching was impressive, 
both in matter and manner. In 1814 he went 
to Europe to restore his failing health, and 
n turned in 18 16. much improved. He re- 
moved to Richmond, where he performed 
ministerial labors, and compiled a volume 
or his father's sermons, and when his health 
finally failed he was compiling a memoir of 
his father. He was active in establishing 
the theological seminar}' in Prince Edward, 
holding a foremost place in the synod. He 
married Ann K. Hunter, of Martinsburg, 
Virginia. He died March 31, 1826. 

Jameson, William, born in Virginia in 
1 791. died in Alexandria. Virginia, October 
7» 1873 ; was appointed midshipman in the 



Digitized by 



Google 



S32 



VIRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY 



United States navy from the District of 
Columbia in 1811. and during the second 
war with Great liritain was in several naval 
e!ij;ragenients. In 1S17 he was commission- 
ed lieutenant: in 1837. commander: and in 
1844 was promoted to captain. When the 
civil war broke out he took sides with the 
Xortli. and remained in service until July 
1(1, 1862. was then commissioned commo- 
dore, placed upon the invalid list, and after 
the war closed was placed upon the retired 
list. 

Jameson, John, son of Captain Thomas 
Jameson, of Orange county, X'irginia. served 
in the revolution : was captain of the \'ir- 
ginia regiment of dragoons. June 16, I77<">; 
major. First Continental Dragoons, March 
I. 1777: transferred to the Second Conti- 
nental Dragoons. April 7, 1777: wounded 
near Valley Forge. January 21, 1778: lieu- 
tenant-colonel. August 1, 1779, and served 
to the close of the war. He was the officer 
to whom the unfortunate Major John An- 
dre was delivered in 1780, after concerting 
with Benedict Arnold for the surrender of 
West Point. 

Fitzgerald, James H,, born in Cumber- 
land county, \'irginia. He was liberally 
educated, and inherited an ample estate. 
Early in life he represented his county in 
the house of delegates. He married a daugh- 
of Francis Thornton, and took up his resi- 
dence at the falls of the Rappahannock 
river, near Fredericksburg. He was an 
elder in the Presbyterian church, a trustee 
of Hampden-Sidney College, a director of 
Union Theological Seminary, president of 
the central board of foreign missions, and a 
helper in all good works. The church at 
Fredericksburg attained to a place of com- 



manding importance, largely through his 
instrumentality, and in him the church at 
Warrenton ever had a firm friend and gen- 
erous helper. Failing health induced him 
to visit France, with his wife, in 185 1, and 
on May 6, 1852. he passed away in Paris. 

Leavenworth, Abncr Johnson, born in 
Waterbury, Connecticut. July 2, 1803: grad- 
uated at Amherst College in 1825 : studied 
theology at Andover, Massachusetts, and 
was licensed as a Congregationalist preach- 
er. After holding charges at Orange and 
Bristol. Connecticut, he became pastor of 
the Young Ladies* Seminary at Charlotte, 
Xorth Carolina. In 1838 he removed to 
Warrenton, \irginia. where he took charge 
of a school until he was called to a Presby- 
terian church at Petersburg, \'irginia. in 
1840. Resigning in 1844. he became prin- 
cipal and proprietor of the Leavenworth 
.Academy and Collegiate Seminary for 
Young Ladies. He was corresponding sec- 
retary of the Virginia Education Associa- 
tion, which he was largely instrumental in 
founding. He died in Petersburg, Virginia. 
February 12, 1869. 

Gholson, William Yates, born in Bruns- 
wick county, Virginia, December 25, 1807, 
son of Thomas and Ann (Yates) Gholson, 
and a cousin of Judge Samuel J. Gholson. 
He was graduated at the College of Xew 
Jersey in 1825, studied law, was admitted 
to the bar and practiced his profession in 
Mississippi. He removed to Cincinnati, 
Ohio, in 1845, 2md at once took a leading 
place at the bar. With Bellamy Storer, Sr., 
and Oliver ^L Spencer he was appointed 
judge of the superior court, and the three 
probably were never surpassed. He was 
afterward supreme judge of the state for 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



333 



four years. He wrote a "Digest of .the Laws 
of Ohio/* and also published addresses on 
•'Payment of Bonds of the United States f' 
"Reconstruction of the Southern States," 
and "Payment of the Principal of the Pub- 
lic Debt/' He married Elvira Wright, of 
Missouri. He died in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sep- 
tember 20, 1870. 

Cowardin, James Andrew, born near Hot 
Springs. Virginia, October 6, 181 1, the son 
01 John Lewis and Polly (Rhodes) Cowar- 
din. and grandson of Abraham Cowardin, 
who married Miss Lewis, daughter of Mrs. 
Lewis (who at one time owned the famous 
Warm Springs in Bath county), and who 
was of the numerous family of Lewises of 
Virginia, of which Gen. Charles and Meri- 
wether Lewis, of the Lewis and Clarke 
Rocky Mountain explorers, were members. 
At the age of thirteen years James entered 
the oriike of the Roanoke "Sentinel," Dan- 
ville, \'irginia, to serve his time at the "art 
preservative of arts.'* In 18J7 or 1828 he 
removed to Lynchburg, Virginia, and at 
iwcnty-one became foreman of the "Jeffer- 
sonian Republican," and occasionally wrote 
for it. He held this position until 1834. 
when he removed to Richmond, Virginia, 
where he became chief and confidential clerk 
Oi Thomas Ritchie, editor and owner of the 
"Daily Enquirer," and the Nestor of South- 
ern journalism. Politically they were far 
aj.art, but Ritchie's heart was won by the 
cheerful and willing spirit, the active and 
oMiging disposition of young Cowardin. 
Letters which passed between them when 
ti.ey stood in good relation of employer and 
employee, and after they had separated, 
siiow Mr. Ritchie's high estimate of his 
vimng clerk, and his sincere desire to see 



him advance in life. Mr. Cowardin held his 
clerkship in the "Enquirer" office until 
1838, when he bought out the interest of 
John S. Gallegher in the "Times and Com- 
piler,'* W. H. Davis being the remaining 
partner, the firm becoming Cowardin & 
Davis. Later, desiring to engage in finan- 
cial pursuits, he disposed of his interest in 
the "Times and Compiler," to W. C. Car- 
rington, and embarked with his brother-in- 
law, Charles \V. Purcell, in the banking and 
brokerage business. Of this he soon tired, 
and on October 19, 1859, in connection with 
William H. Davis, Mr. Cowardin started 
the "Daily Dispatch," which was independ- 
ent in politics, and the first penny paper 
ever published south of Baltimore, Mary- 
land, and after years of toil he established 
it upon a firm foundation, and made it one 
of the most progressive and prosperous 
papers in the Southern states. At the close 
of the civil war, Mr. Cowardin associated 
with himself H. K. Ellyson, who became 
half-owner in the "Dispatch." In the Whig 
campaign of 1853 Mr. Cowardin was nomi- 
nated by the old Whig party as one of the 
candidates to represent the city of Rich- 
mond in the house of delegates of Virginia, 
and was elected. In the g^eat struggle of 
1869. when Virginia was seeking to release 
herself from military rule and secure read- 
mission to the Union, he again consented to 
take an active part in politics and helped to 
organize the committee of nine, and went 
with it to Washington in the interest of the 
"Walker movement." His letters from 
Washington to the "Dispatch" measurably 
prepared the \'irginia mind for the accept- 
ance of "the new depanure.'* and finally to 
its success. He was a great friend of in- 
ternal improvements, and wrote well upon 



Digitized by 



Google 



334 



VJRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY 



this and all other public questions, and was 
thoroughly loyal to the history and traditions 
ot his state. His sanguine temperament 
and cheerful disposition, shown in his writ- 
ings, and in hi:> daily life, were of inestima- 
ble service to X'irginia in the dark forbid- 
ding days following the burning of Rich- 
mond and the surrender of Lee. He was a 
charming newspaper correspondent, graphic 
and humorous. His editorials on the "Old 
Virginia Ham/' "Old Virginia Fiddlers,'* 
etc. < in which he would pen life portraits 
of JcfTerson. William Wirt, Governor Gil- 
mer. Governor Cabell, Whitwell Tunstall, 
and others, who delighted in a "concord of 
sweet sounds." and were accomplished per- 
formers of the violin, as he was himself), 
are well remembered. Mr. Cowardin was 
married, in 1840. to Annie Marie Purcell, 
daughter of Charles and Sarah Purcell. He 
died at Richmond, Virginia, November 21, 
1882. 

Haxall, Robert William, born in Peters- 
burg. X'irginia. August i. 1802, son of Philip 
Haxall. a merchant of Petersburg, Virginia, 
who came from Exning. county Suffolk, 
England, in 1786, and Clara, his wife, 
daughter of Robert Walker, of "Kingston," 
Dinwiddie county, Virginia; graduated at 
Vale in 1823. attended medical lectures at 
the University of Pennsylvania, and re- 
ceived his medical degree from the Univer- 
sity of Maryland in 1826. After studying in 
Europe, he settled in Richmond. He was 
several times president of the Medical 
Society of Virginia, and was one of the 
founders of the American Medical Asso- 
ciation. He obtained two Boylston prizes 
for essays, and was a frequent contributor 
to the **Stethoscope." He died in Rich- 



mond. Virginia, March 26. 1872. He mar- 
ried Jane, daughter of David Higginbotham, 
of Albemarle county, and widow of W. D. 
McMurdo. 

Ellison, Matthew, born in Monroe county, 
X'irginia. November 10, 1804. He became 
a Iiaptist minister in Virginia, traveling 
over wide districts, and organized twenty- 
Pve churches. When seventy-five years of 
age he gave up preaching and settled at 
Raleigh. West Virginia. He is the author 
of "Dunkerism. a Plea for the Union of 
laptists." and other controversial works on 
the subject of baptism. 

Inglis, Mary, said to have been the first 
white woman in Kentucky, was born in 
1729, died in 1813. In 1756 one of the fron- 
tier settlements of X'irginia on Alleghany 
Ridge (now in Montgomery county. \'ir- 
ginia) was attacked by a party of Shawnee 
Indians, who killed some of the inhabitants, 
making others captive. Mrs. Inglis, her 
two sons, and her sister-in-law, Mrs. Draper, 
were carried by the Indians down the Kana- 
wha to their towns at the mouth of the 
Scioto, where she was separated from her 
children. Mrs. Inglis won the favor of the 
Indians by making shirts out of the colored 
goods purchased from the French traders, 
but the separation from her children and 
the hard life she led, moved her to escape. 
She induced an old Dutch woman to join 
her. and having obtained permission to pick 
grapes, set out down the Ohio valley, one 
hundred and forty miles, to a point opposite 
the Scioto towns. There they found an old 
horse on the Kentucky side, procured corn 
and wheat, then followed on to the Virginia 
line, where they found the Big Sandy im- 
passable. Going up the river, they found a 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



335 



raft of trees and logs on which they crossed 
iii safety, but lost their horse. They wan- 
dered on toward the Kanawha, but suffered 
so much from hunger and exposure that the 
Dutch woman became crazed, finally mak- 
ing a deadly assault upon Mrs. Inglis, who 
went on alone, reached the banks of the 
Kanawha, and there finding an old Indian 
canoe, crossed over. The Dutch woman 
reached the same point, and begged to be 
carried over, but Mrs. Inglis dared not 
again trust herself within reach of the de- 
mented woman. She traveled up the Kana- 
wha, soon found a clearing and white set- 
tlers, who went back and brought in the 
Dutch woman. Mrs. Inglis had been over 
forty days on her journey through the wil- 
derness, and had traveled more than four 
hundred miles. One of her sons died in 
captivity, the other was ransomed after 
being held by the Indians for thirteen years. 
She was the mother of daughters who mar- 
ried men who became distinguished in the 
history of Virginia and Kentucky. 

Gary, Mary, daughter of Col. Wilson 
Gary, of **Ceeleys," Elizabeth City county, 
Virginia, was born 1731-1738, married Ed- 
ward .Ambler (q. v.), of Jamestown, in 1754. 
She survived her husband, who died in 1768, 
thirteen years. A beautiful portrait of her 
is preserved. There was a very current 
story that she was once Washington's sweet- 
heart, but this is entirely discredited by the 
eminent antiquarian, Wilson Miles Cary. of 
Baltimore, who shows conclusively that the 
object of Washington's attachment was her 
elder sister, Sally Cary, who married George 
William Fairfax. Mrs. Ambler removed, 
when the revolutionary war broke out. from 
Jamestown to the "Cottage." in Hanover 
county, where she died in May, 1781. 



Ambler, Jaquclin, son of Richard Ambler 
(q. v.), of Yorktown and Jamestown, Vir- 
ginia, was born in .\ugust, 1742. He was 
educated at William and Mary College 
from 1753 ^^ '760, and entered into business 
with his father at Yorktown ; he was coun- 
cillor of state during the revolution, and 
later was treasurer of the commonwealth, 
a position which he held till his death, Feb- 
ruary 20, 1798. He married Rebecca Bur- 
well, daughter of Lewis Burwell (q. v.), 
president of the council and acting governor. 
She was the young lady whom Thomas Jef- 
ferson called his "Belinda." 

Irvine, William, born in Virginia, about 
1750, died in 1820. He grew to manhood in 
Virginia, then, with his brother Christopher, 
went to Kentucky, and was among the earli- 
est pioneers of that state. They built and 
occupied Irvine station, in Madison county, 
in 1778, and took part in most of the fight- 
ing with the Indians. William Irvine was 
at Little Mountain, where Captain Estill 
and eighteen riflemen fought twenty-five 
Wyandottes, and he received a severe 
wound. In 1876 Christopher Inglis led a 
company under Col. Ben Logan against the 
Indians of northern Ohio, and was killed 
by a .savage he was pursuing, who in turn 
was killed by Irvine's men. William Irvine 
became clerk of the quarter sessions and 
county courts of Madison county ; later was 
clerk of the circuit court: was elected a 
member of the Virginia house of delegates 
from the district of Kentucky; was a dele- 
gate to the several conventions at Danville, 
looking to the establishment of Kentucky 
as a state, and was a member of the conven- 
tion which framed the second constitution 
of Kentucky. He was several times chosen 
presidential elector. 



Digitized by 



Google 



336 



VIRGIXIA DIOGRAPIJY 



Hall, John, born in Augusta county, \'ir- 
ginia. May 31, 1767. He was graduated at 
\\ illiam and Mary College, and studied law 
with his kinsman. Judge Stuart, the father 
of A. H. H. Stuart. He removed to W'ar- 
r<.ntown. North Carolina, in 1792; was made 
a judge of the superior court in 1800. which 
uas then the highest court in the state. On 
the organization of the present superior 
court system in i8or» he rode the circuits in 
rotation, and. in 1818. on the organization 
of the present supreme court, was elected 
along with John Lewis Taylor and Leonard 
Henderson, to form its judiciary. Although 
the senior in years, he did not insist on be- 
aming the chief justice on the death of 
1 aylur in 1829. He was a presidential elec- 
t(»r on the Jackson ticket in 1829.. and re- 
signed his judgeship in December, 1832. He 
was not brilliant nor showy, but was a safe 
judge, being thoroughly impartial and un- 
biased. He died at Warrentown. North 
Carolina. January 29, 1833. 

James, Benjamin, born in Stafford county, 
Virginia, in April. 1768, died in Laurens dis- 
trict. South Carolina, November 15, 1825. 
He was educated in Virginia, and prepared 
lor the law in Charleston, South Carolina, 
where he was admitted to the bar and prac- 
ticed until 1796. He then returned to Staf- 
ford county, Virginia, and there practiced 
utitil 1808. when he abandoned his profes- 
sion. He was the author of a "Digest of 
th*? Statute and Common Law of Carolina," 
published in Columbia in 1814. In 1808 he 
moved to the Laurens district. South Caro- 
lina, and was elected state senator. 

Ambler, John, born September 25, 1762. 
son of Edward Ambler, of Jamestown, Vir- 
ginia, went to Philadelphia to school, and 



ii» 1782 fell heir to Jamestown Island and all 
the other great estates of his parents. He 
served in the legislature at twenty-one and 
was the captain of a cavalry troop of James 
City county. He removed to Richmond in 
1807 and was made major of the Nineteenth 
Regiment of Virginia militia, commanding 
the troops which were sent to Norfolk at 
the time of the attack on the Chcsaf'cakc: 
afterwards was made colonel of the Nine- 
teenth Regiment of state troops and served 
m the war of 1812. He was one of the jury 
that tried Aaron Burr for treastm. He died 
April 8. 183C1. and was buried in Shockoe 
Cemetery. Richmond. 

Harvie,Jaquelin Burwcll, son of Col. John 
Harvie, a delegate from X'irginia to the con- 
tinental congress, 177S-1779. wa> born in 
Richmond. October 9. 1788. He was pre- 
pared for the navy and served as a midsr.ip- 
n^an ; he resigned to assist his mother in the 
management of her estate. He was a state 
senator and major-general of militia for the 
eastern district of \'irginia. He had large 
business interests in Richmond in the dock 
and water works and the Belle Isle nail fac- 
tory. He married Mary Marshall, daugh- 
ter of Chief Justice John Marshall. 

Wirt, William, born at Bladensburg, 
Prince George county, Maryland. Novem- 
ber 8, 1772, son of Jacob Wirt, a tavern 
keeper and native of Switzerland. He was 
sent to a school at Georgetown, D. C, and 
then to that of the Rev. James Hunt, in 
Montgomery county, Maryland, where he 
remained until he was nearly fifteen, and 
made rapid progress. While acting as a 
private tutor he kept up his studies and his 
practice in writing. He was admitted to the 
bar in 1792 and opened an office at Culpeper 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



337 



Court House, Virginia. His person and ad- 
aress were attractive, his abilities shining 
and precocious; fortune smiled upon him 
from the start. After two years in Culpeper, 
he removed to Albemarle county, where his 
practice increased. He married the daugh- 
ter of Dr. George Gilmer, of "Pen Park," 
v/ho introduced him to Mr. Jefferson and 
the leading men of the state. Being natur- 
ally of a vivacious disposition and an agree- 
able personality, he was gladly welcomed. 
He obtained the reputation of a ban vivant 
among his professional brethren, and was 
somewhat wild. Before it was too late Wirt 
saw the error of his course, and breaking 
away from the temptations to which he had 
been exposed, settled down to a sober life, 
and a course of reading, which in great 
measure supplied the deficiencies of his early 
education which, especially in law, was ex- 
ceedingly meagre for one who had to meet 
•^uch opponents as Thomas Jefferson and 
James Monroe. In 1799 he went to Rich- 
mond, was presently made clerk of the 
house of delegates, and in 1802 chancellor 
el the eastern district, and moved to Wil- 
liamsburg. In 1803 his "Letters of a British 
Spy" appeared in the Richmond "Argus" 
and as a volume, added much to his repu- 
tation; the tenth edition (1832) had a sketch 
of the author by P. H. Cruse. After six 
months in Williamsburg he went to Nor- 
folk, where he staid till 1806, when he re- 
turned to Richmond. In 1807, by President 
Jfiferson*s appointment, he was a counsel 
in the trial of Aaron Burr; one of his 
speeches, which lasted four hours, was 
vastly admired and was among the finest 
el^orts of his life. The speech greatly ex- 
tended his fame, and is perhaps the one 
which has made him best known to succeed- 

VTA-22 



ing generations, as its florid periods and its 
occasional pathos made it a prime favorite 
for academic declamation, and although it 
may be said to be worn to shreds by the 
constant repetition, it yet has the power to 
charm even a critical reader. His essays 
collected as '*The Rainbow," were first print- 
ed in 1808 in the Richmond ''Enquirer," as 
was, two years later, "The Old Bachelor," 
gathered in two volumes (1812). To the 
latter several writers of less fame contrib- 
uted; J. P. Kennedy called it Wirt's best 
book, but other critics were not of that 
opinion. His **Life of Patrick Henry" 
(1817) was widely circulated; it had all the 
gorgeousness of his earlier oratory. His 
cnly experience as a legislator was in 1808. 
In 1816 he was appointed by President Mad- 
ihon United States district attorney for Vir- 
ginia, and in 1817, by President Monroe, 
United States attorney-general. This post 
he held with great repute until 1829, resid- 
ing at Washington. Judge Story ranked 
him "among the ablest and most eloquent 
of the bar of the supreme court." He took 
part in many leading cases, among them 
that of Dartmouth College, 1819; in this he 
was not at his best, and the honors went 
to Webster, who won the case. His most 
noted extra legal addresses were — that of 
October 19, 1826, on the deaths of Jefferson 
and Adams, and one at Rutgers College in 
1830, which was reproduced in England, 
Germany and France. In 1829 he removed 
to Baltimore. In 1831 appeared his letters 
and those of J. Q. Adams on the anti-Ma- 
sonic movement; the next year he was the 
candidate of that party for the presidency 
and received a popular vote of 33.108, and 
the electoral vote of Vermont only. Har- 
vard g^ve him the degree of Doctor of Laws 



Digitized by 



Google 



338 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



in 1824. He was president of the Mary- 
land I'ible Society, and a devout and con- 
sistent Presbyterian. See his life by J. P. 
Kennedy (2 vols.), 1849. Extracts from his 
speeches and .sketches (e. g "The Blind 
Preacher") were long and widely diffused 
through the medium of "Readers and Speak- 
ers." He married (first) Mildred Gilmer, 
daughter of Dr. George Gilmer, of Albe- 
marle county, Virginia; (second) Elizabeth 
Washington Gamble, daughter of Colonel 
Robert Gamble. Mr. Wirt died at Washing- 
ton. February 18, 1834. 

Doak, John Whitcficld, born in Rock- 
bridge county. Virginia, October 17. 1778. 
eldest son of Rev. Samuel and Esther H 
(Montgomery) Doak. He was educated by 
his father, and was graduated in the first 
class at Washington College in 1796; his 
only classmate being James Witherspoon, 
a relative of the president of Princeton Col- 
lege. Two years later, at the early age of 
twenty years, he was licensed to preach by 
the Abingdon presbytery, and held various 
charges through Virginia and Tennessee 
until he was elected financial agent for the 
college in 1808. While traveling in the 
eastern states in quest of funds for the in- 
stitution, he accepted a call from the Pres- 
byterian church of Frankfort, near Phila- 
delphia, Pennsylvania, and was duly in- 
stalled in 1809. After a few years of ener- 
getic pastoral work, however, his health 
failed, and leaving the pulpit, he applied him- 
self to the study of medicine. In 1817 he re- 
turned to east Tennessee, and upon the res- 
ignation of his father in the following year, 
was elected to succeed him in the presidency 
of Washington College. At the same time 
he assumed charge of the Salem and Lees- 



burg churches, exerting himself so earnestly 
as preacher, instructor and executive, that 
his feeble constitution speedily succumbed 
to the ravages of consumption. His friend. 
Rev. Stephen Bovell, of Washington coun- 
ty, \'irginia, says of him : "His genius was 
much above mediocrity, his understanding 
clear, his invention quick, his judgment 
penetrating and accurate, his conception of 
religious truths sublime, and his manner of 
expression elegant, solemn and impressive." 
Dr. Doak was married, in 1809. to Jane H. 
.\lexander (a half sister of Dr. Archibald 
Alexander's father), of Rockbridge county. 
Virginia, and had eight children ; his third 
son. Rev. Archibald Alexander Doak, sub- 
.*^cquently succeeding to the presidency of 
the college. While on his way to attend a 
meeting of the Abingdon presbytery, he died 
suddenly at Green Spring, X'irginia, October 
6, 1820. 

Lucas, Robert, bom in Shepherdstown, 
Virginia, April I, 1781, a descendant of Wil- 
liam Penn, and son of a captain in the colo- 
nial army in the revolution. He resided in 
Virginia until 1800, then moved to Ohio. 
He was a major-general of militia, and 
when the second war with Great Britain 
broke out was commissioned, March 14, 

1812, captain in the Nineteenth Regiment. 
United States Infantry, and lieutenant-colo- 
nel for distinguished service. February 20, 

1813. He resigned from the army in June. 
181 3, and as brigadier-general of Ohio 
militia was engaged in frontier defence from 
July 25 until September 19 that year. In 
1814 he was elected to the Ohio legislature. 
In 1832 he presided over the Democratic 
niitional convention that nominated Andrew 
Jackson for the presidency a second time. 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



339 



In 1832 he was elected governor of Ohio, 
serving four years, and in 1838 was appoint- 
ed the first governor of the territory of 
Iowa. He died at Iowa City, Iowa, Febru- 
ary 7, 1853. 

Gamble, Elizabeth Washington, born at 
Richmond, Virginia, January 30, 1785, 
daughter of Col. Robert Gamble (q. v.). 
She was well educated, and early showed 
a fondness for literature. She was the 
author of "Flora's Dictionary" (1829), a 
quarto remarkable in its day, combining 
botany with an epistolary guide and a dic- 
tionary of quotations. She married, in 1802, 
William Wirt. 

Johnson, Frank W., bom in Virginia, Oc- 
tober. 1799. He emigrated to Texas in 1826, 
and engaged in surveying land until 183 1, 
\\ hen he was elected alcalde of the jurisdic- 
tion of Austin. In 1832 he led an expedi- 
tion against the Mexican post of Annahuac. 
The same year he was appointed chief sur- 
vtyor of Austin's colony. He entered the 
army as a volunteer in F835, and was ap- 
H^inted adjutant and inspector-general suc- 
cessively by Generals Austin and Burleson. 
In December. 1835. ^^ 1^^ ^"^ ^^ ^^e col- 
umns which so gallantly stormed and took 
the post and city of San Antonio de Bexar, 
and on the fall of Colonel Benjamin R. 
Milam, the command devolved upon him. In 
1836 he made a raid through the country 
between the Xueces river and the Rio 
Grande, but was surprised by the Mexicans, 
and lost most of his command. This was 
his last public service. He died in 1885, on 
a visit to the famed hot springs, Aguas 
Calientes, Mexico. 

Ambler, John Jaquelin, eldest son of Col. 
John Ambler and Catherine Bush, his wife, 



daughter of Philip Bush, of Winchester, 
was born at Williamsburg, Virginia, March 
9, 1801. He was educated at William and 
Mary College, which he left in 1817; attend- 
ed medical lectures at the University of 
Pennsylvania, and studied law with George 
Hay, in Richmond; in 1823-26 he toured 
Europe. He was a prominent planter. He 
lived for many years at "Glen Ambler," in 
Amherst county; and afterwards moved to 
another of his fine estates, ^J^^^^l*" Hall," 
in Madison county, where he died Novem- 
ber 18, 1854. He married Elizabeth Bar- 
bour, daughter of Judge Philip Pendleton 
P.arbour, of the United States supreme 
court. 

Harris, Chapman, born in Nelson county, 
Virginia, in 1802. His mother was a free 
negress. and consequently he had no diffi- 
culty, when he grew to man's estate, in 
emigrating to Indiana. He settled at Madi- 
son, and united with the Baptist church of 
th.at place. Before this time he had become 
actively engaged in the operations of the 
underground railroad. The Ohio river being 
the dividing line between Kentucky and 
Indiana, fugitive slaves frequently fled to 
the northern shore, and were piloted by 
Harris and his associates through the city 
01 Madison, and from station to station on 
the "underground routes" to Canada. Har- 
lis and his four sons, Elijah, William. 
George and John, were the principal colored 
workers on this railfoad, but they had allies 
in some of the leading white residents of 
the district. Near the mouth of Eagle hol- 
low, above Madison, stood a gigantic syca- 
more tree, the hollow trunk of which Har- 
ris called his depot. .At this point, on solid 
reck, he had placed an iron plate weighing 
twelve pounds, on which he used to strike 



Digitized by 



Google 



340 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



bis \v*II-known signal, using as a hammer 
a great hickory cane with a spike in the end. 
When expecting a party of fugitives, mes- 
sengers were despatched along the line of 
the underground road, to put all men on the 
alert, and as the fugitives landed they were 
spirited on to their sought-for haven. He 
was over six feet high, and a man of great 
strength. He died February lo, 1890. 

Irvin, William W., born in Albemarle 
county, Virginia, in 1778, son of Rev. Wil- 
liam Irv'in, a Presbyterian minister, and 
Elizabeth Holt, his wife. He studied law 
rnd after admission to the bar located in 
Lancaster. Ohio. He held various local 
offices — member of the state general assem- 
bly, 1806-08; justice of the state supreme 
court. 1808-15; representative in the state 
general assembly. 1825-28, and served as 
speaker, 1825-26 ; elected as -a Democrat to 
the twenty-first and twenty-second con- 
gresses (March 4, !829-March 3, 1833) ; de- 
feated for re-election to the twenty-third 
congress. He died in Lancaster, Ohio, 
April 19, 1842. 

Page, Hugh Nelson, was born at ** North 
End," Gloucester (now Mathews) county, 
\'irginia. in September, 1788, youngest child 
of John Page, of Caroline county, Virginia, 
and Elizabeth (called Betty) Burwell, his 
wife. In September, 181 1, he entered the 
United States navy as midshipman. In 
June, 1812, he was ordered to the gunboat 
squadron at Norfolk, Virginia, stationed 
there for harbor protection. In August of 
the same year he was assigned to Commo- 
dore Chauncey's squadron on Lake Ontario. 
Later, when volunteers were called for to 
serve under Commodore Perry, on Lake 
Erie, he proferred his services, and was 



placed on duty under Lieut. Calkin, on the 
schooner Tigress, He behaved with gal- 
lantry in the famous battle of Lake Erie, 
and was wounded in the hand. He was 
placed in charge of the prisoners taken, and 
had the distinguished honor of bearing to 
Gen. Harrison, who was posted at the mouth 
ot the Sandusky river. Commodore Perry's 
immortal message, "We have met the 
enemy, and they are ours." For his con- 
duct in the engagement, Page was presented 
with two beautiful swords— one from the 
United States congress, and one from the 
state of \'irginia. Ordered to the Siaijara, 
he aided in conveying Gen. Harrison's army 
to Maiden, to attack the British general 
Proctor, who, however, retreated before the 
arrival of the fleet. In 1814, Page served 
under Commodore Sinclair in the expedition 
to Detroit, to convey Maj. Crogan's troops 
to Mackinaw, and where Crogan was de- 
feated, his men again going aboard the ships 
of the fleet. Page served in the subsequent 
operations — the destruction of a British fort 
on the Saginaw river, and the winterquarter- 
iiig at Erie. He was then given leave of 
absence for three years, and in 1818 was 
made lieutenant, and assigned to the John 
Adants, the flagship of Commodore Perry, 
under whom he sailed to South .\merica, 
and an incident of this voyage was the death 
of Commodore Perry, during a stay at 
Trinidad. In 1834, Lieut. Page, in command 
of the Boxer, conveyed the United States 
ehargc d'affaires to Valparaiso, Chile. In 
1838 he was promoted to commander. In 
1843 ^^ was ordered to the Lez*an!, and con- 
veyed Hon. Henry .A. Wise. L'nited States 
minister to Brazil, from Norfolk, Vir- 
ginia, to Rio. Thereafter Commander Page 
crui.-ed in the Pacific until the breaking 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



341 



out of the Mexican war, when he was 
ordered to Monterey, which was taken pos- 
session of by the fleet. In October, 1847, he 
was assigned to the command of the re- 
ceiving ship Pennsylvania, at Norfolk, Vir- 
ginia; in 1849 was promoted to captain, 
ordered to the command of the flagship 
Sdzannah, in Pacific waters. In 1855 he was 
retired, with leave-pay. He married (first) 
Imogen, daughter of Guy Wheeler, of 
Xansemond county. Virginia ; and (second) 
Elizabeth P., daughter of Holt Wilson, of 
Portsmouth, Virginia. He died at Norfolk, 

J 



une 3, 1S71. 



FoUard, Richard, born in King and Queen 
county, \'irguiia, in 1790. In 181 1 he grad- 
uated at William and Mary College, as 
r.achelor of Civil Law. He was appointed 
captain in the Twentieth Regiment, United 
S^tates Infantry, April 14, 18 12, for the war 
with Great Britain; was engaged in the 
battle of Craney Island, promoted to major, 
and assigned to the Twenty-first United 
States Infantry ; resigned at end of the war. 
He located at Lynchburg. Virginia, and en- 
gaged in a mercantile business, but met 
with heavy losses on account of depreciation 
of real estate, and practiced at the bar as a 
lawyer. In 1835 he was appointed by Pres- 
ident Jackson as charge d'affaires for the 
United States to the republic of Chili; was 
reappointed by President Tyler, his diplo- 
matic service extending from 1835 to 1843, 
and after his return from his mission, made 
his home at "Alta Vista," Albemarle county, 
which (says his biographer), "his courtly 
address, distinguished manners and genial 
hospitality rendered elegant and charming 
to all whom he received there." He died in 
Washington City, February 19, 1851. He 



married, March 11, 1796, at "Oakridge," 
Virginia, Paulina Cabell Rives. Among their 
children were: John Pollard, who joined 
the Texan army, and was killed in battle, 
in his twenty-third year; James Rives Pol- 
lard, M. D., surgeon of Hampton's Legion, 
Confederate States army ; and Henry Rives 
Pollard, journalist (q. v.). 

rage, John E., born at "Pagebrook," 
Clarke county, Virginia, March 11, 1795. son 
of John Page, of the same place, and Maria 
ll. Hyrd, his wife. He was for many years 
circuit court judge for the counties of 
Clarke and Warren, and was holding that 
office at the time of his death. In 1863 he 
removed with his family to Albemarle 
county, Virginia, and for about a year re- 
sided at "Cobham Park," the country resi- 
dence of William C. Rives, of Newport, 
Rhode Island. He married, in 1823, Emily, 
daughter of Col. William H. McGuire. of 
Harper's Ferry, Virginia, an officer of dis- 
tinction in the United States army. 

Lee, Edmund Jenings» bom at Alex- 
andria, then in the District of Columbia, 
May 3, 1797. eldest son of Edmund Jcnings 
Lee and Sarah Lee, his wife. He received 
his early education at Rev. Mr. Maffet's 
school in Fairfax — ^an institution of high re- 
pute in that day — ^and subsequently gradu- 
ated from Princeton College, the alnui uiatcr 
(.i his father. He studied law under his 
father, and on being admitted to the bar, 
i»ngaged in practice at Wheeling, Virginia, 
where he remained until his marriage, then 
removing to Shepherdstown, where he re- 
sided the remainder of his life. He was 
frequently solicited to enter upon a public 
career, but steadfastly refused. Like others 
of his family and friends, he was originally 



Digitized by 



Google 



342 



\1RGIX1A BIOGRAPHY 



opposed to secession, but went with his 
state when she seceded. He was too far ad- 
vanced in years to enter the army. During 
a temporary absence both his own residence 
and thai oi his wire, nearby, were burned 
by ihc l-'edcT.ils. He married (tirst) Eliza, 
ciaughier of Capt. Abraham Shepherd, of 
licrkcley conniy; and (second* Henrietta, 
daughter of Daniel Dedingcr, of "Cedford," 
hear Shepherdstown, Virginia, lie died at 
bib home "Lecland/* near Shepherdstown, 
August 10. 1877. 

Fagc, Francis Nelson, born at "Green- 
land." Gloucester county, X'irginia, October 
28. 1820, eldest son of Mann Page and Judith 
Kelson, his wife. He was graduated from 
the United States Military .-\cademy at West 
J'oint. in 1S41. was commissioned lieutenant 
of infantry*, and served in the Florida war. 
Prom 1845 to 1847 he was on duty as adju- 
tant. He saw service in the Mexican war; 
received brevet of first lieutenant for gallant 
conduct in defense of Fort Brown, and of 
brevet major for gallant and meritorious 
conduct in the battles of Contreras and 
Cherubusco. He distinguished himself in 
the battle of Chapultepec, in which he was 
wounded. In recognition of his excellent 
conduct throughout the war, the Virginia 
legislature presented to him a handsome 
sword, which, with his pistols, came into the 
possession of his eldest son, Francis Nelson 
Page, Jr. He married, February 25, 1851, 
Susan, daughter of Col. William Duval, of 
Florida. He died at Fort Smith, Arkansas, 
March 25. 1S60, at the early age of forty 
years. 

Shepherd, Thomas, emigrated from Eng- 
land, and settled first at Annapolis, Mary- 
land, whence he removed to the neighbor- 



hood of Mecklenburg (now Shepherdstown) 
\'irginia, which town received its last name 
from his family, he having there acquired a 
large tract of land from Lord Fairfax. 
Thomas Shepherd laid out the town in 1762, 
and in his will, executed in 1776, directed the 
deeding of a lot of two acres **on which the 
Knglish church stood," for church purj)oscs. 

Shepherd, Abraham, son of Thomas Shep- 
herd, the founder of Shepherdstown, \*ir- 
ginia. He marched in 1775 with a company 
from Shepherdstown, to join Washington's 
army at Dosion. At the battle of King's 
r.ridge, in November. 1776, when his super- 
ior officers had been killed or wounded, he 
Commanded the regiment, with credit to 
himself, r.ishop Meade wrote of him: 
"Without detracting from the praise due to 
many others, who have contributed funds 
and efforts to the last two churches, we must 
ascribe the first of them chiefly to the zeal, 
perseverance and liberality of that true 
friend of the church in her darkest days, 
Abraham Shepherd.'* Capt. Shepherd mar- 
ried Eleanor Strode, and their daughter, 
Eliza Shepherd, became the wife of Edmund 
Jenings Lee. Capt. Shepherd died Septem- 
ber 7, 1822, in his sixty-ninth year. 

Custis, John Parke, born at the "White 
House," on the Pamunkey river, Xew Kent 
county, Virginia, in 1755, son of Daniel 
Parke Custis and Martha Dandridgc, and 
£tep.<on of Gen. George W'ashington. He 
was tutored by Rev. Jonathan Bucher at 
Annapolis, and in May, 1773, was entered 
at Kings College, New York City. He re- 
niained till December, and on February 3, 
1774, married Eleanor, daughter of Bene- 
dict Calvert, of "Mt. Airy," Prince George 
county, Maryland, a son of Charles Calvert, 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



34a 



bixth Lord Baltimore. Custis had not yet 
reached his twentieth year at the time of 
his marriage, and his bride was only six- 
teen. Washington had protested against the 
union, in a note written to Mr. Calvert, at 
the same time stating that the young man's 
estate embraced about 15,000 acres of land. 
a good part adjoining the city of Williams- 
burg, between two and three hundred ne- 
groes, and eight to ten thousand pounds in 
bonds. His protest was unavailing; the 
marriage took place as above stated, Wash- 
ington was readily reconciled. Custis was 
aide to Washington during the revolu- 
tion, and while serving at Yorktown, con- 
tracted camp fever and retired to "Eltham" 
in New Kent county, the home of his ma- 
ternal uncle, Burwell Bassett, where he died 
November 5, 1781. He was a member of 
the house of delegates at the time. He !elt 
four children : Elizabeth Parke Custis, who 
married Thomas Law; Martha Parke Cus- 
tis. who married Thomas Peter: Eleanor 
Parke Custis, who married Lawrence Lewis 
(Washington's nephew), and George Wash- 
ington Parke Custis. After Custis* death 
his widow married (secondly) Dr. David 
Stuart, of Prince George county, Maryland. 

Robinson, John, born in York county, Vir- 
ginia, February 13, 1773, son of Anthony 
Robinson and Frances Reade, his wife. In 
1787 he went to Richmond and entered the 
office of Adam Craig, clerk of the county 
and of the hustings court of Henrico county, 
and under which he served as assistant for 
many years. He was afterwards an assist- 
ant to John Brown, clerk of the Richmond 
district court, and succeeded to the office 
when Mr. Brown went as secretary to Hon. 
John Marshall. United States minister to the 



French Republic. Mr. Robinson continued 
as clerk until the district court was abol- 
ished in 1809, and was for a time clerk of 
the committee for the courts of justice of 
the Virginia house of delegates, and clerk 
of the circuit court of Henrico county. 
From 1812 to 1827 he was in business with 
his brother-in-law, William Moncure, and 
Frederick Pleasants; and in 1827 resumed 
his clerkship, which he held until his death, 
at Richmond, April 26, 1850. He joined the 
militia, May 9, 1793, and was made a lieu- 
tenant the following year. In 1798 he pub- 
lished a "Book of Forms," which in 1826 
was enlarged and republished by his son, 
Conway Robinson, who was his deputy. 
Hon. Henry Clay, as a youth, was also in 
his office as a deputy. He married, in 1801, 
Agnes Conway, daughter of John Moncure 
and Ann Conway, his wife. 

Jouett, John, son of Matthew Jouett, was 
born in Albemarle county, Virginia, and 
kept the Swan Tavern in Charlottesville. 
On June 3, 1781, he was in the Cuckoo 
Tavern at Louisa, when Tarleton's troops 
swept by. intending to surprise the legis- 
lature then holding its session at Char- 
U^ttesville. Suspecting their design. Jouett 
mounted his horse — a very fleet Virginia 
blood horse — and rode on at full speed by 
a shorter and disused road and arrived in 
Charlottesville in time to give notice to 
the members, who thereupon dispersed to 
meet in Staunton. On his way to Char- 
lottesville Jouett stopped at Monticello and 
gave information of Tarleton's approach to 
Governor Jefferson. Without this timely 
notice it is probable that the whole govern- 
ment of Virginia would have been captured. 
.After providing for the public safety Jonett 



Digitized by 



Google 



344 



VIRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY 



mounted his horse and went leisurely along 
and was pursued by some of Tarleton's 
troopers. He let them come quite close to 
him, when giving his fleet horse the spur he 
was speedily out of sight. He owned con- 
siderable land in Albemarle and many lots 
in Charlottesville. He kept the Swan Tav- 
ern till he died in 1802. He married Mourn- 
ing, daughter of Robert Harris, of "Brown's 
Cove/' Albemarle county. His son Mat- 
thew was a captain in the revolutionary 
army and fell in the battle of Brandywine. 
His son John succeeded him in conducting 
the Swan, but later moved to Kentucky. 
His son Robert was also a captain in the 
revolution and was afterwards a lawyer. . 
He died in 1796, leaving a daughter Alice, 
who became the wife of James \V. Bouldin, 
of Charlotte county. 

Hoge, Samuel Davies, born at Shepherds- 
town, Jefferson county. West Virginia, 
probably on April 16, 1792. second son of 
Rev. Moses Hoge and Elizabeth Poage, his 
wife. He was fitted for college by his 
father and at a classical school taught by his 
brother James, and graduated at Hampden- 
Sidney College in 1810. He had early shown 
great interest in religion, and when only 
nine years of age attended a camp-meeting, 
where, under the influence of strong excite- 
ment, he "prayed and exhorted with aston- 
ishing fervor and eflFect." He studied theol- 
ogy under his father, and at the same time 
was employed as a tutor in the college. On 
May 8, 1813, he was licensed to preach by 
the Presbytery of Hanover; in 1813 was 
installed pastor of the churches at Culpeper. 
Madison and Germanna; in 181 5 was trans- 
ferred to the Winchester presbytery, and 
was ordained to the ministry and installed 



pastor of the Bethesda church at Culpeper, 
April 15. The church was unable to sup- 
port him, however, and in October, 1817, he 
was dismissed. He was active in the Win- 
chester presbytery, and represented it in the 
general assembly in 1816. After the disso 
lution of his pastoral relations, Mr. Hoge 
remained at Hampden-Sidney College, as 
professor, and for a time was vice-president 
of the college. In July, 1820, his father hav- 
ing died, he resigned, and, influenced by his 
brother James, removed to Ohio. He was 
pastor of the Presbyterian churches at 
Hillsborough and Rocky Spring, Highland 
county, until October, 1823, when owing to 
imj)aircd health he resigned and became 
professor of mathematics and natural phil- 
osophy in Ohio University, Ohio, preaching 
occasionally in the Athens church. His 
brother James wrote of him : "As a pulpit 
orator he lacked only voice and physical 
strength to have ranked with the first 
preachers of the age. His style was pure, 
simple and energetic, expressing with great 
exactness the nicest shades of thought, and 
his subject matter was always evangelical 
truth, presented in such a way as to in- 
struct, and at the same time deeply affect 
his hearers." As an instructor, he was 
highly popular. He married at Hampden- 
Sidney, Virginia, in February, 1817, Eliz- 
abeth Rice, eldest daughter of Rev. Drury 
Lacy, "of the silver tongue," and Anne, 
daughter of William Smith, of Montrose, 
Powhatan county. She was a beautiful 
woman, gifted in many ways; but especially 
as a singer and conversationalist. Mr. Hoge 
died at Athens. Ohio. December 10. 1826; 
his wife at Gallatin, Tennessee. November 
20, 1840. 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



345 



Ball, Burgess, born July 28, 1749, son of 
Jeduthan Ball and Elizabeth Burgess, his 
wife. He was a member of the Lancaster 
county (Virginia) American Association, 
and was by it appointed one of th^e twenty- 
live "guardians of the county/* Early in 
the revolutionary war he was a volunteer 
aide to Washington. By his own prefer- 
ence, he subsequently accepted a captaincy 
in the Fifth Virginia Regiment. In 1776 he 
was unsuccessful in saving a stranded ship 
from the British, at Willoughby's Point; was 
court-martialed for the seeming negligence, 
and was honorably acquitted. In 1776, at 
his own expense, he recruited, clothed and' 
equipped a regiment for the Continental 
line, and was subsequently reimbursed. In 
1777 he was made lieutenant-colonel of the 
First Virginia Infantry Regiment. He was 
in active service until taken prisoner at 
Charleston, in 1780, and after being ex- 
changed, busied himself with fitting out pri- 
vateers for Virginia waters. After the war. 
he retired to his homestead. "Travelers' 
Rest." near Fredericksburg. Through his 
boundless generosity and hospitality, he be- 
came impoverished, and late in life became 
almost a recluse in a rustic cabin. He mar- 
ried Mary Chichester, who died in 1775. He 
married fsecond) Frances Washington. He 
died in Virginia. March 7, 1800. 

Grinnan, Daniel, Jr., born in Accomac 
county. Virginia, April 19, 1771, son of Dan- 
iel Grinnan, Sr., and Mary Cotton, his wife. 
The father, bom in the same county, in 
^739» removed to Culpeper county, and 
lived on a handsome estate lying on Cedar 
Run, near the present Mitchell's Station, on 
the Virginia Midland railroad : he served in 
the revolutionary war. under General Ed- 



ward Stevens, in a Virginia brigade, in 
which his oldest son John was a quarter- 
master; and was at the battle of Guilford 
Court House. Daniel Grinnan, Jr., removed 
to Fredericksburg, about 1792, and became 
a clerk for James Somerville, who at his 
death, about 1798, made Grinnan his execu- 
tor, and who succeeded to the business. 
About 1800, Mr. Grinnan became a member 
of the firm of Murray, Grinnan & Mundell, 
with counting houses and warehouses in 
Fredericksburg and Norfolk; the firm had 
an extensive foreign trade, and were agents 
for the Argentine Confederation in their 
war with Spain. Mr. Grinnan married 
(first) Eliza Richards Green, daughter of 
Timothy Green, who in 1787 established the 
"Virginia Herald," for many years the only 
newspaper in Fredericksburg. Mr. Grinnan 
died March 25, 1830; married (second) 
Helen Buchan Glassell. daughter of Andrew 
Glassell. of 'Torthorwald.*' Madison county, 
Virginia. 

Lewis, John, born in Spotsylvania county. 
Virginia. February 25, 1784, son of Col. 
Zachary Lewis, of the revolutionary army, 
and Ann Overton Terrell, his wife. That 
he was a man of ample knowledge is 
attested by his recoid as a teacher of law 
as well as of the ordinary branches. He 
taught the "Llangolen'' school, near the 
North Anna river, not far from Lewis' store, 
in Spotsylvania county, where he had 
among his pupils Gen. R. T. Daniel (who 
became attorney-general), and William 
Green and William Robertson, who became 
jurists of much ability. In 1832 he moved 
to Kentucky, and in 1834 located in Frank- 
lin county, that state, where he settled near 
his brother Addison, naming his place 



Digitized by 



Google 



34^ 



VIRGIXIA niOGRAPHY 



"Llangolen," after his former Virginia 
home. He wrote a novel. "Young Kate, or 
the Rescue : a Tale of the Great Kanawha," 
two volumes, published by Harper Bros.. 
New York City, and published *' Flowers 
and Weeds of the Old Dominion," a compil- 
ation of poems by himself, his son. John 
Moncure Lewis, and Mrs. Gov. Wood and 
Mrs. Huldah (Lewis) Scott. He married 
Jean Wood Daniel. He died in Franklin 
county, Kentucky, August 15, 1858. 

Glassell, James McMillan, born at "Tor- 
thorwald." Madison county. Virginia, Janu- 
ary I, 1790. son of .Andrew Glassell. who 
came from Scotland, and Elizabeth Taylor, 
his wife, daughter of Erasmus Taylor, who 
was a brother of Zachary Taylor, who was 
grandfather of President Zachary Taylor. 
During the war of 181 2, he entered the United 
States army as ensign in the Twentieth In- 
fantry, and was given recruiting duty, and 
later was made second and then first lieu- 
tenant, and was on duty on Lake Ontario 
during the war. He then asked promotion 
to a captaincy at the hands of President 
Madison, who refused him, saying that his 
services merited it, but being a relative, he 
would not thus advance him. Ordered to 
Georgia, he served on the staff of Gen. 
Gaines, and afterwards was sent to Florida, 
and was called to the staff of Gen. Andrew 
Jackson. While in Florida, he superin- 
tended the construction of Fort King and 
the fortifications at Key West. He was pro- 
moted to captain in 1818. He was a mem- 
ber of the board convened to revise the mili- 
tary code. He was for some time in Europe 
on leave, and after his return was stationed 
at Philadelphia until 1828, where he was 
brevet ted major for ten years faithful serv- 



ice in one grade, and ordered to Baton 
Rouge, Louisiana, under Gen. Zachary Tay- 
lor. He was made full major, September 6. 
1837. He married Eudora Swartwout. of 
Xew York City. He died at Fortress Mon- 
roe, November 3, 1838. 

Forrest, French, born in Maryland, Octo- 
ber 4. 1796. was appointed midshipman^ 
United States navy, June 9. 181 1 ; promoted 
to lieutenant, March 5, 1817; to commander, 
February 9, 1837; to captain, March 30, 
1844. He fought bravely in the war of 
1812, distinguishing himself in the battle on 
Lake Erie when he was but seventeen years 
old ; and in the engagement between the 
Hornet and Peacock, February 24. 1813. In 
the Mexican war he was adjutant-general of 
the land forces, and held the same relation 
to the navy — a somewhat anomalous posi- 
tion, and he landed General Scott's troops at 
Vera Cruz, twelve thousand men, in five 
hours — a remarkable feat. At different 
times he commanded the United States Bra- 
zil squadron, the Wa.shington Navy Yard, 
and the rear squadron of Commodore 
Shubrick's fleet in the Paraguay expedition. 
At the outbreak of the civil war he resigned, 
and tendered his services to Virginia, and 
was placed in charge of the Norfolk Navy 
Yard, and bore a principal part in the naval 
battle in Hampton Roads, he being on board 
the Mcrrimac. Later he was placed in com- 
mand of the James river squadron. He bore 
the rank of captain, the highest grade pro- 
vided in the Confederate navy establish- 
ment. He married, in 1830, Emily Douglas, 
daughter of Hon. John Douglas Simmes. 
He died November 2, 1866. 

Cleveland, Benjamin, born near Bull 
Run. in Orange county. Virginia, March 26. 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMIXEXT PERSONS 



347 



1738. son of John Cleveland. He came of an 
old and fine English family, whose tract, 
named Cleveland, lay in North Riding of 
Yorkshire. England. His grandfather, Alex- 
ander, migrated to the famous Bull Run, 
Virginia. His father. John Cleveland, mar- 
ried Martha Coffee. Averse to farm work, 
Benjamin became a hunter for pelts, and 
was fond of horse-racing. He married Mary 
Graves, of a well-to-do family, and fought 
in the French and Indian war. About 1769 
he removed with his wife's father to North 
Carolina, near the Blue Ridge, on Roaring 
Creek, an arm of the Yadkin, in Rowan, then 
Surry (now Wilkes) county, and later re- 
moved to **Round-About," fifteen miles be- 
low Wilkesboro. From Daniel Boone he 
learned of the Kentucky hunting grounds, 
and in 1771 went there, but the Cherokees 
drove him back without horses, and he ate 
dog meat to escape starving. When the rev- 
olution began in 1775. refusing to be ensign, 
he served in the militia. In February, 1776, 
as Capt. Cleveland, with riflemen he broke 
up the Highland tories, and did good service 
against them and the Indians, In 1777 he 
was active in forming the new Wilkes 
county, and in 1778 was head of the justices' 
commission, militia colonel, commissioner 
of confiscated estates, election superintend- 
ent, county ranger, or stray master, and 
member of the house of commons. In 1778- 
79 his regiment shared in the campaign in 
Georgia, and on his return he was elected 
state senator. In 1780 he fought tories con- 
stantly. His next service, now historic, as 
settling the revolution in the South in spite 
of English successes, was his vital part in 
the fateful victory of King's Mountain. The 
British had 1.103 men under Ferguson, and 
the Americans 923, mostly Scotch-Irish 



Presbyterians. The ground of the battle is 
600 yards long, 250 wide at base, 60 to 120 
wide on top, and 60 feet above the country 
level. The English held the eminence. The 
Americans were in two columns, two men 
deep on the right of the mountain, under 
Campbell and Servier. and two on the left 
under Cleveland and Shelby. Cleveland 
made a ringing appeal, and the attack was 
begun with yells. The battle raged all 
around the mountain ; Cleveland's horse was 
disabled, but he fought on foot until re- 
mounted. Several times the Americans were 
forced down the ascent, only to rally and 
gamely retrace their steps. Ferguson tried 
to break through, but fell with eight wounds. 
The British finally surrendered, having lost 
157 killed, 153 wounded and 706 prisoners, 
and over 1,200 arms. The Americans had 
28 killed and 62 wounded. It was a com- 
plete victory, and crushed the English cause 
in the South. It withdrew the Carolinas 
from Tory domination, and was the fore- 
runner of Cowpens, Guilford, Eutaw, York- 
town and Independence. For this, his great- 
est life service. Cleveland has been immor- 
talized. One of Ferguson's war horses was 
assigned him by common consent, and he 
treasured a drum as a trophy. His riflemen 
became famous as "Cleveland's Heroes," 
"Cleveland's Bull Dogs." and by the tories 
as "Cleveland's Devils." He was called "Old 
Round About" and was noted for his warm 
heart, sound sense and firm will. Gov. Perrj- 
says he was a great man by nature. At the 
close of the war, losing his "Round-About" 
plantation, he moved to the Tugalo valley. 
He was many years judge in old Pendleton 
county. 

His weight increased to 450 pounds, and 
he died from dropsy, in his sixty-ninth year. 



Digitized by 



Google 



348 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



The Clevelands have become illustrious. 
One of Den's granddaughters married Sen- 
ator Thomas J. Rusk, and another Gov. C. J. 
McDonald of Georgia, and a great-niece, 
Judge Underwood of Rome, Georgia. His 
sister's son was Gov. Franklin, of North 
Carolina. His brother's son, Jerry, was the 
patriarch of Greenville, and another, Jesse, 
of Spartanburg. North Carolina named a 
county after him, and a monument to the 
niemory of him and the other heroes stands 
on the historic King's Mountain, conse- 
crated by patriotic valor, while his family 
have erected one at Ben Cleveland, Oconee 
county. South Carolina. He died in Tugalo 
valley. Oconee. South Carolina, October, 
1806.' 

Martin, Joseph, born in Albemarle county, 
Virginia, in 1740, son of Joseph Martin. The 
father, born in Bristol, England, of a wealthy 
family, was sent out by his father, as super- 
cargo of the Brict% and, on coming to Vir- 
ginia, married Susannah Chiles, daughter of 
a respectable and well-to-do planter. This 
marriage offended the pride of the father, 
who disinherited the son, believing with 
many other Englishmen, that the colonists 
were "an inferior, degraded set;'' the son 
never returned to England, and in Virginia 
he reared five sons and six daughters, "all 
of unusually large stature, and in other re- 
spects above mediocrity," and from whom 
descended a large and widely dispersed line 
of Wallers, Carrs, Lewises, Marks, Over- 
tons. Minors. Chiles, and others. Joseph 
Martin, whose name begins this narrative, 
was the third son of this family, and became 
a man of fine ability and commanding pres- 
ence. Impetuous in his youth, he gave little 
attention to schooling, and his education 



was limited. He was bound out to a carpen- 
ter, but his ardent temperament would not 
admit of his being confined to such a call- 
ing, and he left his master and joined the 
army at Fort Pitt, in his sixteenth year. 
While in the ranks, he met, as a fellow sol- 
dier, Thomas (afterward General Sumter, 
whom, after a separation of thirty years, he 
was destined to meet again, he being a mem- 
ber of the Virginia legislature, and Sumter a 
member of congress. After his return from 
the army, he went to the West, about 1768. 
with a party of fur trappers and traders, and 
on this journey he discovered the famous 
"Powell's \'alley." At a place which came 
to be known as **Martin's Station," in \'ir- 
gfinia. on the west thoroughfare to Ken- 
tucky, they cleared land and planted corn, 
but in the summer the Indians broke up the 
settlement, and the party returned home. 
Martin now became overseer for one Minor, 
and after a time removed to Pittsylvania 
county, where he bought a tract of land. In 
year of 1776 he recruited a company and 
took part in the war against the Cherokees, 
and he was connected with the peace treaty 
commission in the following year, and was 
designated by the government to reside on 
the "Island of Peace," now in Sullivan coun- 
ty, Tennessee, and he so remained until 
1789. He was elected to the North Carolina 
legislature, was brigadier-general of militia, 
and frequently campaigned against the In- 
dians. In 1785 he was one of the commis- 
sioners to organize a new county in Georgia, 
and in 1788 he was a member of the North 
Carolina convention called to act upon the 
new United States constitution, which he 
favored, though the convention rejected it; 
he was also a member of the convention the 
next year, and which ratified that instru- 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



349 



ment. Soon afterwards he returned to his 
old home in Henry county, Virginia, was 
elected to the legislature, and was Mr. Madi- 
son's principal supporter of the famous reso- 
lutions in 1798-99. He married (first) 

who bore him seven children ; and (second) 
Susanna Graves, who became the mother 
of eleven children. He died in 1808, on his 
estate, "Leatherwood," Henry county, Vir- 
ginia, in his sixty-eighth year, and was in- 
terred with Masonic and military honors. 

Somerville, James, born in Glasgow, Scot- 
land. February 23, 1742. He located at Fred- 
ericksburg, Virginia, and acquired a large 
fortune from a mercantile business. He died 
at Port Royal, Virginia, April 25, 1798. 
Having no children, he left his large estate 
to his nephew James, son of Walter and 
Mary (Gray) Somerville, of Scotland. 
James came to Virginia in 1795 and took 
possession of the estate, which included the 
forest lands which were the scene of the bat- 
tles of the Wilderness in the civil war. He 
made his home at "Somerville," Culpeper 
county. He married Mary Atwill, of Fau- 
quier county. 

Burwell, Nathaniel, of King William 
county, Virginia, born 1750, son of Lewis 
Burwell of "Kingsmill," James City county, 
and Frances, his wife, daughter of Ed- 
win Thacker, and widow of James Bray. 
He entered the revolutionary army as 
ensign in 1775; was captain of artillery, 
1776; major and aide-de-camp to Gen. 
Howe, 1779; retired from service in 1783. 
He was an original member of the Society 
of the Cincinnati. He married Martha 
Digges. daughter of Hon. Dudley and Mar- 
tha (Armistead) Digges; she was a member 
of the sewing society formed by Martha 



Washington to make clothing for revolu- 
tionary soldiers. He died in 1801. 

Lightfoot, Philip, born at Yorktown, Vir- 
ginia, about 1752, son of Hon. William 
Lightfoot, of *Tcddington," Charles City 
county, and Yorktown, Virginia, high sher- 
iff of York county, and Mildred Howell, his 
wife. He served with distinction in the rev- 
olutionary war, as lieutenant in Harrison's 
artillery, and received two grants of land for 
his services. He married (first) Mary 
Warner, daughter of Col. Charles and Lucy 
(Taliaferro) Lewis, of Port Royal, Caroline 
county, Virginia. He married (second) 
Sally S. Bernard, daughter of William Ber- 
nard, Esq. He died in 1786. 

Blackwell, Joseph, bom in Fauquier coun- 
ty, Virginia, in 1755, son of William Black- 
well, high sheriflF, and Elizabeth Crump, his 
wife. He served in the revolutionary war 
in the Tenth Virginia Regiment (afterwards 
Sixth), as second lieutenant and cap- 
tain, and was in the battles of Harlem 
Heights, Princeton, Trenton, Brandywinc 
and Charleston. At Charleston he was 
taken prisoner, May 12, 1780, and exchanged 
in June, 1781. He received 5,333 acres of 
land for his services, and 7,000 acres from 
his father s estate. He married (first) Ann 
Grayson, daughter of Col. John Gibson and 
Mary Brent, his wife: and (second) Mary 
Waddy, daughter of Capt. William Brent 
and Hannah Ncale, his wife. He died in 
1823. 

Sumter, Thomas, wa> born in Orange 
county, Virginia, but there is no informa- 
tion as to his parentage or training. He 
served against the French in 1755, and 
was in Braddock*s defeat. He settled in 



Digitized by 



Google 



350 



VIRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY 



the upper part of South Carolina, fought 
against the Cherokees, and accompanied 
Oconostotah, their chief, on a visit to 
King George, in England. After his re- 
turn, he was a leader in the revolutionary 
movements, and in March, 1776. was made 
lieutenant-colonel of the Third South Caro- 
lina Regiment, raised to overcome the In- 
dians and Tories, and was promoted to colo- 
nel. When Charleston was taken by the 
British, he took refuge in the swamps, and 
after his estate had been ravaged, went to 
North Carolina. He there raised a large 
force, and became one of the most active 
partisan leaders. On July 12. 1780. he dis- 
persed a large British force, and was made 
brigadier-general by Gov. Rutledge, of 
South Carolina. This success brought him 
reinforcements, and in August he attacked 
the fort at Hanging Rock. South Carolina, 
but was driven off, the enemy sustaining 
such loss that they were unable to pursue. 
It is said that Andrew Jackson, then thirteen 
years old, took part in the battle. On Au- 
guest 15, Sumter captured Lord Cornwallis* 
supply train and guard, between Charleston 
and Camden. On the i8th he was surpri.sed 
by Tarleton, and lost fifty killed: many of 
his men were taken, also most of their cap- 
tured supplies and British prisoners, Sumter 
barely escaping. Having reassembled his 
men, he again harassed the British on the 
Broad and Tiger rivers, and defeated and 
captured Major Wemyss. who had been 
sent against him. On November 20th he 
was attacked by Tarleton, at Blackstock 
Hill, and whom he defeated, with a loss of 
three killed and four wounded, the enemy's 
loss being two hundred killed and wounded, 
but in the action Sumter was wounded, and 
for three months was unable to do field 



service. In March, 1781, he raised three 
new regiments, and in concert with Marion, 
Pickens and others, harassed the enemy 
until the end of the war. Tarleton gave him 
the name of *'The South Carolina Game 
Cock." In February. Sumter destroyed the 
British supplies at Fort Ganby, and two 
days later captured a British supply train on 
its way to Camden. His closing exploits 
were as brilliant. He repulsed a strong 
attack by Major Fraser, on Broad river: and 
captured the posts of Orangeburg, Dorches- 
ter and Marks' Corners, but his health failed 
before the end of the war, and he retired, re- 
ceiving the thanks of congfress. After the 
war, he took a hearty interest in politics. 
He was a member of the South Carolina 
convention that ratified the federal consti- 
tution; as a Federalist served in congress, 
1 789- 1 793. and voted for locating the seat 
of the United States government on the 
Potomac river; was United States senator, 
1801-09; in 181 1 was made minister to Bra- 
zil, and after his return was again elected to 
the United States senate. He outlived all 
other general officers of the revolution. His 
name is commemorated in the famous fort 
in Charleston harbor, which was the scene 
of the opening acts of the civil war. He died 
at Camden. South Carolina, June i. 1832. 

Johnston, Charles, son of Hon. Peter 
Johnston, of "Chiny Grove." Prince Edward 
county, Virginia, and Martha, his wife, 
widow of Capt. Thomas Rogers, and daugh- 
ter of John Butler. He was a merchant in 
Richmond, of the firm of Pickett. Pollard & 
Johnston. Soon after the revolution he was 
sent to Ohio by the government on a com- 
mission, and was captured by the Indians. 
After a year he was rescued by Dr. Shuget, 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



351 



a French Canadian, who came to his rescue 
just as the Indians had bound him to a stake 
and fired the fagots. He was afterwards 
sent to France on government business, and 
sailed on the same vessel which was returning 
Lafayette to France. At the request of Lafay- 
ette he prepared an account of his experi- 
ence while in the hands of the Indians, and 
which was published in French newspapers. 
When Lafayette again came to this country, 
he visited Mr. Johnston at "Botetourt 
Springs" (now Hollins Institute), in Roa- 
noke county, where he also met Dr. Shuget, 
who had rescued Johnston from the Indians. 
Mr. Johnston held many offices of honor and 
trust. He married (first) Letitia Pickett, 
daughter of Col. Martin and Ann (Black- 
well) Pickett; and (second) Elizabeth, 
daughter of Hon. James and Frances (Cal- 
loway) Steptoe, of Bedford county. 

Wallace, Caleb, a native of Charlotte coun- 
ty, Virginia ; graduated at Princeton College 
in 1770; in 1774 became minister of Cub 
Creek and Little Falling River congrega- 
tions in Virginia. In 1779 he removed to 
Botetourt county, and in 1783 to Kentucky. 
He abandoned the ministry for the law, in 
which he became eminent, and was a judge 
of the supreme court of Kentucky. 

Wallace, Gustavus Brown, born at "El- 
Icrslie," King George county. Virginia, No- 
vember 9, 1 75 1, son of Dr. Michael Wallace 
and Elizabeth Brown, his wife. He beg^n 
the study of law in 1774, but was interrupt- 
ed by being called to Scotland, to inherit 
property from an aunt. On his return he 
entered the revolutionary army, and is re- 
corded as a captain in the Third Virginia 
Regiment, but his name is erroneously re- 
corded as Gustavus Baron Wallace, and was 



later major and lieutenant-colonel. He was 
taken prisoner, with his brother Thomas, at 
Charleston, .South Carolina, in 1780. After 
the war he applied for command of the post 
at Detroit, but the same was not open. In 
1802 he again went to Scotland on business, 
and on the return voyage contracted a fever 
from which he died a few days after (Au- 
gust 17, 1802), at "Crow's Nest," Fredericks- 
burg, the home of his cousin, Mrs. Travers 
Daniel. He was unmarried. 

Dandridge, John, son of Bartholomew 
Dandridge and Mary Burbidge, daughter of 
Julius King Burbidge and Lucy, his wife, 
was born in New Kent county in 1758. He 
studied law and practiced in New Kent 
county. He removed to Brandon in 1797 
and died in 1799. He married Rebecca Jones 
Minge. daughter of David Minge, of Charles 
City county, and had Lucy, who married 
James Walke Murdaugh, of Williamsburg, 
Virginia. 

Skyren, John Spotswood, second son of 
Rev. Henry Skyren and Lucy Moore, his 
wife, daughter of Col. Bernard Moore, was 
born in King William county about the lat- 
ter part of the revolution. He was for many 
years commander of a cavalry regiment 
composed of troops from King and Queen, 
King William, Caroline and other adjoin- 
ing counties. He had an eagle nose, grayish 
blue flashing eye, and a light springy tread. 
He died about .August, 1855. 

Randolph, Robert Beverley, son of Rich- 
ard and Maria Beverley Randolph, entered 
the United States navy in 1810. and became 
lieutenant. In 1828 he was appointed purser 
and some charges were made public in re- 
gard to his accounts. He demanded an in- 



Digitized by 



Google 



352 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



quiry, which was ordered by the Secretary 
c«' the Treasury, and he was acquitted by 
the examining board of any intention to de- 
fiaud the government. President Jackson 
disavowed this return, and, declaring that 
he did believe Randolph intended to defraud 
the government, dismissed him from the 
navy. In May, 1833, Jackson went to be pres- 
ent at the unveiling of the cornerstone of 
the monument in Fredericksburg, Virginia, 
to Mary, mother of Washington, and on his 
return stopped at Alexandria, where Ran- 
dolph sought the presidential presence and 
pulled Jackson's nose. It was attempted to 
arrest him, but nothing was done. He mar- 
ried Eglantine, daughter of Peter Beverley, 
and left issue. 

Ball, Fayette, born April 20, 1791, son of 
Bu-rgess Ball and Frances Washington, his 
wife, daughter of Col. Charles Washington 
and Mildred Thornton, his wife. His god- 
fathers were President George Washington 
(by proxy, and who named him after his 
friend, the Marquis Lafayette) and Col. 
Gustavus B. Wallace; his godmothers were 
Martha Washington, wife of the President, 
and Mrs. Sarah Roane. He served in the 
war of 1812 as corporal, under his brother, 
Captain George Washington Ball. In 1825, 
while Lafayette was visiting in this coun- 
try. Mr. Ball met him at Aldie and conveyed 
him in his own carriage to Leesburg, a dis- 
tance of fourteen miles, where a great ova- 
tion was accorded the distinguished guest. 
At parting, the Marquis gave to his name- 
sake a papier mache snuflF box, containing 
his likeness, telling him to keep it, and he 
would redeem it with one more valuable. 
After returning to France, the Marquis sent 
him a very handsome box of gold and tor- 



toise shell, suitably inscribed. Fayette Ball 
married (first) Frances Williams, daughter 
of Major-General James Williams, of the 
\'irginia line: and (second) Mary Thomson 
Mason, daughter of Gen. Thomson Mason, 

Carter, Thomas, eldest son of Peter and 
Judith Norris Carter, was born in Fauquier 
county, April 24, 1731. He removed to Rye 
Cove, Clinch river, in what is now Scott 
county, Virginia, in 1773. with his first cous- 
ins. Dale and John Carter, sons of Charles 
Carter, of Amherst. On March 26, 1774, 
they all had surveys of land, Thomas for 
one hundred and ninety-seven acres in Rye 
Cove, and on March 31. 1783, he had an- 
other survey for fourteen hundred and 
twenty acres, to include his improvements. 
From 1774 to 1784 he was a road overseer 
in Washington county ; and when his home 
fell into the new county of Russell, he was 
a justice of the first court of that county, 
May 9, 1786, and a lieutenant of militia. He 
represented Russell county in the constitu- 
tional convention of 1788, and is said to 
have served in the legislature several times. 
His will was probated in Russell county, 
October 25, 1803. 

Ruffner, David, born in Page county, Vir- 
ginia, in 1767, son of Joseph and Anna 
(Heistand) Ruffjier, and grandson of Peter 
Ruffner, who emigrated from the German- 
Swiss border to Pennsylvania in 1739, and 
later settled in Page county, Virginia, where 
he became owner of an immense tract of 
land. Joseph Ruffner, in 1795, sold his 
Shenandoah estate, purchased five hundred 
and two acres in the Kanawha valley (now 
in West Virginia), and removed there with 
his family. This property included the salt 
spring on the Kanawha river, at which a 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



353 



band of Indians had camped in 1753, while 
returning from a raid with their white pris- 
oners. One of these, Mrs. Mary Inglis, 
made her escape afterward and described 
the spring where the Indians had supplied 
themselves with salt by boiling down the 
water. Although Ruffner realized the po- 
tential value of this spring, he died in 1803 
without developing it, willing it to his sons, 
David and Joseph. Before 1803 the spring 
was producing one hundred and fifty pounds 
per day, by simple methods, and the salt was 
noted for its superior quality, but desiring to 
obtain a larger supply, the brothers began to 
look for the source. They traced it to the 
"Great Buffalo Lick" just at the river's edge 
six miles above Charleston ; this was twelve 
or fifteen rods in extent. In order to reach 
the bottom of the quicksand through which 
the brine flowed, they set a platform on the 
top of a hollow sycamore tree about fom 
feet in diameter, and by means of a pole 
with its fulcrum on a forked stick, a bucket 
made of half a whiskey barrel could be filled 
by one man armed with pick and shovel, 
and emptied by two men standing on the 
platform. Rigging up a long iron drill with 
a two-and-a-half-inch chisel, they attached 
the upper end to a spring pole by a rope, 
and with this primitive instrument finally 
bored forty feet through solid rock, reach- 
ing several cavities filled with strong salt 
water. This was brought to the surface 
undiluted, through wooden tubes, joined to- 
gether and wound with twine. Thus was 
bored, tubed, rigged and worked the first 
drilled salt well west of the Alleghanies, if 
not in the United States. Considering the 
Ruffners' lack of preliminary study or ex- 
perience, working in a newly settled coun- 
try, without steam power, machine shops. 

VIA.-23 



materials, or skilled mechanics, this is a 
wonderful engineering feat. In a crude way 
they invented nearly every appliance that 
has since made artesian boring possible. In 
February, 1808, the first salt was taken from 
the furnace, and the price reduced to four 
cents a pound. Ruffner Brothers were the 
pioneers of salt manufacture in the Kana- 
wha valley, an industry that as early as 1817 
comprised thirty furnaces and twenty wells, 
producing seven hundred thousand bushels 
yearly. David Ruffner, the leader, was edu- 
cated in the Page county schools, and en- 
gaged in farming until he began the manu- 
facture of salt. Subsequently he made many 
improvements in drilling appliances, some 
of which are still in use. He became the 
leading man in Kanawha county, which he 
repeatedly represented in the Virginia legis- 
lature and he was for many years presiding 
judge of the county court. He was married, 
i:» 1789, to Ann, daughter of Henry Brum- 
bach, of Rockingham county, Virginia, and 
had by her four children: Henry, who be- 
came a Presbyterian minister and was presi- 
dent of Washington College, Lexington, 
Virginia; Anne E., Susan B., and Lewis 
Ruffner. His brother Joseph (bom Feb- 
ruary 14, 1769, died 1837) sold his interest 
in the salt works and went to Ohio, where 
he bought land which eventually became a 
part of Cincinnati. Judge Ruffner died in 
Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1837. 

Newman, James, of "Hilton," born in 
1806. He was a noted agriculturist and a 
man of broad information. He was for 
years president of the Virginia State Agri- 
cultural Society, and did much to promote 
the improvement of stock in Orange county, 
introducing and long maintaining the noted 



Digitized by 



Google 



354 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Cotsw'old breed of sheep. He published in 
a local newspaper a lengthy series of 
sketches relating to the early history and 
traditions of Orange county. He died in 
1866. 

Deane, Simeon, born at Wethersfield. 
Connecticut. In 1776 he accompanied his 
brother. Silas Deane. to the French court. 
In 1778 he returned with the treaty of alli- 
ance between France and the United States, 
coming over in the French frigate Sensible, 
of thirty-six guns, which was sent by the 
French King for that express purpose, and 
arriving at Falmouth (now Portland), 
Maine, April 13, 1778. He arrived at York- 
town, Virginia. May 2. He afterwards set- 
tled in Williamsburg, where he joined the 
Masonic lodge, in 1782. He died in June. 
1788, and was buried in Bruton churchyard, 
Williamsburg. Rev. Dr. James Madison, 
president of William and Mary College, de- 
livered the funeral sermon. 

Banks, William Bruce, born October 2, 
I/76, at '*Green Bank," on the Rappahan- 
liock river, near Banks* Ford, son of Gerard 
Banks, of Stafford county, Virginia, and 
Fanny Bruce, his wife. He was educated 
at William and Mary College, and graduated 
hi 1796. The alumni catalogue, issued be- 
fore the war, erroneously mentions him as 
having- been judge of the superior court. 
He was admitted to the bar, and located in 
Lynchburg, and after several years resi- 
dence there, removed to Halifax county, 
where he practiced successfully, and was 
for many years commonwealth's attorney 
in the superior courts of Halifax, Charlotte, 
Mecklenburg, Franklin. Patrick. Henry and 
Pittsylvania. He died August 4, 1852. 



Beckwith, Sir Jennings, baronet, son of 
Jonathan and grandson of Sir Marmaduke 
Heckwith (q. v.). was born in Richmond 
county, Virginia, the "Leather Stocking" of 
the Northern Xeck. Much of his life was 
spent in the far west, on hunting excursions 
with the Indians, and in later years he 
would live with men who would fish with 
him in summer and fox hunt in winter. Dur- 
ii:g his last twelve months, he had slept on 
the Rappahannock river shore in the sturgeon 
season. He had insuperable objections to 
spending time profitably ; consequently, he 
lived poor, but was highly respected. He 
d:ed at the age of seventy-two. November 
I3» 1835. 

Marshall, Edward Carrington, son of 
Chief Justice John Marshall, was born at 
Richmond, Virginia. January 13, 1805. He 
graduated at Harvard College in 1826 and 
settled at Carrington, Fauquier county, Vir- 
ginia, and engaged in agriculture. He rep- 
resented Fauquier county in the Virginia 
legislature for four successive terms, from 
1834 to 1838. He was the main instrument 
in the establishment of the Manassas Gap 
Railroad Company and was its president. 
Though he strongly sympathized with the 
South in the war in 1861-65, he was too old 
to give it his personal aid and held a place 
in the pension office in Washington during 
the war. He was fond of the classics and 
of science. He died at Innis, Fauquier 
county, Virginia, February 8, 1882. He 
married. February 12. 1829, Rebecca Court- 
ney Peyton. 

Selden, William, son of John Selden, and 
grandson of Samuel Selden, the immigrant, 
was educated at William and Mary College, 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



355 



entering in 1753. He practiced law for a 
few years, then studied theology, and was 
ordained into the ministry, in London, 
March 10, 1771. He was rector of Hamp- 
ton church from 1771 until his death, June 
25» 1783. He married. May 29, 1767, Mary 
Ann Hancock, of Princess county, Virginia. 
He was father of William B. Selden (q. v.). 

Selden, Miles, bom in 1726, son of Joseph 
Selden, and Mary Gary, his wife, daugh- 
ter of Miles and Mary (Wilson) Gary, of 
"Ceeleys." He was ordained in the Church 
of England, in London, and in 1752 was 
elected rector of Henrico parish, Virginia. 
He was the last colonial rector of old St. 
John's Church in Richmond, and in his con- 
gregation were many of the notable men of 
that period. He was clerk of Warwick, and 
a member of the committee of safety, 1774- 
76. He was chosen chaplain of the Virginia 
convention at its assembling in 1775, and 
was popularly known as "the Patriot Par- 
son." He married Rebecca, daughter of 
Miles Gary and Hannah Armistead, his wife. 

Stuartt William, born at St. Paul's parish, 
King George county, Virginia, about 1723- 
24, son of Rev. David Stuart. He was edu- 
cated in England, studied theology in Lon- 
don, and was there ordained to the Episco- 
pal pries^jyood by Bishop Edmonds in 1745. 
On his return to Virginia he became assist- 
ant to his father, whom he eventually suc- 
ceeded in the rectorship of St. Paul's parish. 
He was a man of noble character, and noted 
for his eloquence. .As "Parson Stuart," he 
was greatly beloved by his parishioners, and 
was widely known as one of the ablest 
divines of the colonial church. He married, 
in 1750, Sarah Foote. heiress to the fine old 



"Cedar Grove" estate, on the Potomac river, 
in King George county. He died in 1796. 

Selden, Miles, son of Rev. Miles Selden, 
He was educated at William and Mary Col- 
lege, and entered the old general court office, 
which was the school in which the county 
court clerks were generally trained. He 
became clerk of Henrico county, and held 
the office several years. He represented the 
county in the general assembly for many 
years, and was also magistrate for a long 
term. In 1785 he was a member of the 
council. He married, March 27, 1774, Eliz- 
abeth, daughter of Col. Gill Armistead, at 
the home of her stepfather, John Lewis, in 
Williamsburg. His residence on James river 
was known as "Tree Hill" and was famous 
for its race track. He died May 18, 181 1. 

Clayton, Philip, born in South Farnham 
parish, Essex county, Virginia, in 1746-47, 
son of Samuel Clayton. He was an ensign 
in the Third Virginia Regiment, July 4, 
1779; lieutenant. May 10, 1780; and trans- 
ferred February 12, 1781. to the Seventh 
Virginia Regiment, in which he served to 
the close of the revolutionary war. About 
1784 he went to Georgia, settling either in 
Richard or Jefferson counties, and became 
prominent in state affairs, being state treas- 
urer in 1794. and a representative in the 
Georgia constitutional convention of 1795. 
He married (first) at Stevensburg (now 
Stevens City), Frederick county, Virginia, 
in 1777. Mildred, daughter of Roger Dixon, 
a wealthy merchant of Fredericksburg, 
member of Virginia house of burgesses, 
and first clerk of Culpeper county ; he mar- 
ried (second) Elizabeth, relict of Peter 
Games, Esq., and sister of Hon. William 



Digitized by 



Google 



356 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Wirt, attorney-general of the United States. 
Philip Clayton died in Richmond county, 
Georgia, September 13, 1807. 

Gibson, George, bom in Lancaster county, 
Pennsylvania, in 1747. He lived in that part 
of the colony that was claimed by Virginia, 
and for whom he long ser\'ed. At the be- 
ginning of the revolution he raised a com- 
pany near Fort Pitt, with which he joined 
the Virginia line. In May, 1776, an expe- 
dition commanded by Gibson and William 
Linn went to New Orleans for gunpowder. 
After many difficulties, 10,000 pounds were 
obtained, part of which Linn brought up the 
Mississippi and Ohio rivers, and Gibson 
took the rest to Virginia. He was commis- 
sioned major in the Fourth Virginia regi- 
ment, March 22, 1777; and colonel of the 
First Virginia Regiment, June 5, 1777, to 
January, 1782. After the revolution he re- 
turned to his home in Cumberland county, 
Pennsylvania. He was mortally wounded 
at St. Clair's defeat, November 4, 1791. 

Goodrich, John, bom in England. At the 
beginning of the revolution he was an active 
and enterprising man in Nansemond county, 
Virginia, owner of large plantations in Isle 
of Wight and Nansemond counties. He was 
a merchant, with his sons John, Jr., Wil- 
liam and Bartlett, (the latter sometimes 
erroneously called Bartholomew), trading 
as John Goodrich & Company, merchants 
and owner of vessels. In July, 1775, the 
colonial committee of safety gave him bills 
of exchange with which to buy powder in 
the West Indies. This dr^w upon him the 
resentment of Lord Dunmore, who had John 
Goodrich and two of his sons imprisoned, 
but later released them on parole, under 
promise to discontinue their activities, and 



the committee of safety exculpated them. 
John Goodrich, Jr., later sided with Lord 
Dunmore, and was charged by the commit- 
tee of safety with being in command of an 
armed sloop which had captured a vessel 
belonging to North Carolina merchants, and 
also that he had three boats in Dunmore's 
service, committing depredations. After 
examining into the case, the convention 
adopted resolutions declaring that John 
Goodrich, Jr., was guilty of bearing arms 
against the colony and of aiding and assist- 
ing the enemy ; that he should be held pris- 
oner at Charlotteville until further order; 
and that the committee "should take action 
in regard to his estate," after allowing rea- 
sonable provision for his wife and small 
children. Later, he was released under bond 
of £1000. and on taking the oath required of 
suspected persons. John Goodrich, Sr., went 
to England, and died at Topsham, Devon- 
shire, in 1785, aged sixty-three years, and 
where his wife also died. 

Blanchard, Thomas, a citizen of Norfolk, 
was a ripe scholar, a fine classic writer and 
gifted poet. His "Ode on the Death of 
Washington," written January i, 1800, was 
very popular at the time. 

Balfour, George, a native of Elizabeth 
City county, was a member of the medical 
staff of the United States army; made sur- 
geon's mate April 11, 1792, senior surgeon 
in 1798. In 1804 he retired to private prac- 
tice in Norfolk. He died September 8, 1823, 
and was buried at Hampton, Virginia. 

Dandridge, Alexander Spottswood, born 
August I, 1753, son of Captain Nathaniel 
West Dandridge. of the British navy, and 
Dorothea, his wife, daughter of Alexander 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



357 



Spotswood, governor of Virginia. In 1775, 
probably through the influence of his broth- 
er-in-law, Patrick Henry, he became asso- 
ciated with the Hendersons, Boones, and 
others, in the settlement of Kentucky, and 
was one of the eighteen men who met near 
the fort at Boonesborough, in May, 1775, ^^ 
set up a government. News came of the 
battle of Lexington, however, and most of 
the men came back to the defence of the 
colonies. Family letters indicate that Dan- 
dridge was for a time attached to Washing- 
ton's staff; his name does not appear on 
any staff list, however, and the inference is 
that he was only temporarily with Wash- 
ington, he being a cousin of Mrs. Washing- 
ton. He was made lieutenant in the Fourth 
Virginia Dragoons, June 13, 1776; captain 
of Virginia Artillery, November 30, 1776; 
captain of the First Continental Dragoons, 
March 15, 1777; and resigned April 14, 1780. 
After the war, he settled in what is now 
Jefferson county. West Virginia, about eight 
miles from Martinsburg. He married about 
June, 1779, Anne, daughter of Gen. Adam 
Stephen, of **the Bower," Jefferson county. 
Virginia. He died at his estate, in April, 
1785, leaving an only child. Adam Stephen 
Dandridge. His widow married Moses 
Hunter, and reared a large family. 

Stuart, David, son of Rev. William Stuart, 
was born in King George county, Virginia, 
August 3, 1753, educated at William and 
Mary College, and studied medicine at Edin- 
burgh and Paris. He served in the Virginia 
legislature. He later removed to Alexan- 
dria, where he practiced his profession of 
medicine with great success. He was a 
Federalist and strong friend of Washing- 
ton. He married Eleanor Calvert Custis, 



diiughter of Washington's adopted son John 
Parke Custis. He was father of Charles 
Calvert Stuart, of Chantilly, Fairfax county, 
Virginia. 

Selden, William Bos well, born August 31, 
1772, son of Rev. William Selden and Mary 
Ann Hancock, his wife. He was educated 
as a physician in Philadelphia, Pennsylva- 
nia, and in Scotland, settled in Norfolk, Vir- 
ginia, about 1798, and practiced there many 
years. He married, in 1802, Charlotte Col- 
gate, born in Kent. England, daughter of 
Robert Colgate, a university graduate and a 
friend of William Penn. Dr. Selden died 
July 18, 1849. 

Selden, Wilson Gary, born in 1761, son of 
Cary Selden, of "Buckroe," in Elizabeth City 
county, colonel of Elizabeth City county 
militia. 1767, and magistrate of the county 
court, and Elizabeth Jennings, his wife. 
He was educated as a physician by his 
brother-in-law. Dr. James McClurg, and 
1779 was appointed mate in the Marine Hos- 
pital at Hampton. In June of the following 
year he became surgeon of a Virginia artil- 
lery regiment, with which he marched to 
South Carolina, and was present at the de- 
feat of Gen. Gates. Having been taken with 
a dangerous illness, he was ordered by med- 
ical and other officers of the army to take a 
sea voyage, and he sailed on a letter-of- 
marque owned by his brother, and which 
was captured off the Island of St. Eustatia. 
He was carried to Antigua, where he was 
held prisoner until 1782, when he was 
paroled, but he had not been exchanged 
when the war terminated. In the records of 
the War Department in Washington City 
he is credited with two months' service in 
the Virginia artillery, on the southern expe- 



Digitized by 



Google 



358 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



dition. and three years' service as surgeon in 
the Virginia state line. In 1790 he bought 
"Buckroe" from his father; in 1793 was a 
member of the assembly. He left Hampton, 
and lived in Gloucester county, and after- 
wards at "Exeter," in Loudoun county. He 
married (first) Mary Mason Selden, his first 
cousin, widow of Mann Page, and daughter 
of Samuel Selden; (second) Eleanor Love, 
daughter of Samuel Love, of Salisbury, 
Fairfax county; and (third) Mary Bowles 
Armistead. widow of Charles Alexander, 
and daughter of Bowles and Mary (Fon- 
taine! Armistead. Dr. Selden died at his 
home. '*Exeter," in Loudoun county, March 
14. 1835. in the seventy-fourth year of his 
age. 

Phripp, Matthew, of Norfolk, Virginia, 
was a merchant, and at the outset an active 
supporter of the revolutionary cause. He 
was twice elected chairman of the Norfolk 
committee of safety, and was also colonel 
of the militia there. When Lord Dunmore 
landed armed men and seized the press of 
the Norfolk newspaper. Phripp took up arms 
and made an endeavor to organize a force 
for resistance, but had little support from 
the people, and afterwards he would not act 
as colonel. He would not aid Dunmore in 
any way. but as he was liable to imprison- 
ment and seizure of his considerable prop- 
erty, he took the oath of allegiance to the 
British king and left Norfolk, but re- 
turned later at the urgent request of his 
aged and infirm father. When the Virginia 
forces occupied Norfolk, Col. Woodford sent 
Phripp to Williamsburg for examination 
before the convention, but there was delay, 
and on December 19, 1775, Phripp petitioned 
that body, asking for a speedy hearing, and 



convention ordered him to be held in con- 
finement in his room in Williamsburg. Later 
that body adopted a resolution exonerating 
him from all blame and released him. He 
was a prominent Free Mason, past master 
of St. John's Lodge, at Norfolk, and acted 
as president of a Masonic convention held in 
Williamsburg in 1777. 

Gregory, John, son of James Gregory, 
lived in Nansemond county, Virginia. He 
was chairman of the county committee of 
safety in 1776; and captain in the Fifteenth 
Virginia Regiment, Continental Line. He is 
mentioned in the letter of Gen. Lafayette, 
May 17, 1781. to Col. Josiah Parker, Isle of 
Wight county, then commanding militia on 
the lower south side of James river, whom 
he directs to call on Captain Gregory for 
needed assistance. 

Graham, John, born at Dumfries, Prince 
William county, Virginia, in 1774. brother of 
George Graham, acting secretar>' of war 
under Madison and Monroe. He was gradu- 
ated at Columbian University in 1790. and 
emigrated to Kentucky, where he repre- 
sented Lewis county in the legislature. 
President Jefferson sent him to the territory 
of Orleans as secretary, and he subsequently 
occupied a similar position in the American 
legation at Spain. When Madison was sec- 
retary of state, Mr. Graham was chief clerk 
under him. In 1818 he went with a commis- 
sion to Buenos Ayres, where he obtained 
political information which he embodied in 
an exhaustive report, which was printed by 
the state department. In 1819 he was ap- 
pointed minister plenipotentiary to the 
court of Brazil. The climate proved too 
severe, and he returned to Washington, 
where he died, August 6, 1820. 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



359 



Gabriel, a neg^o slave of Thomas Pros- 
ser, of Henrico county, was born in 1776. 
He was tall and strong, and combined in 
August, 1800, with another slave, Jack 
Bowler, to attack the town of Richmond. 
They were incited to this by the news of the 
success of the slaves in San Domingo. The 
plot was supposed to embrace one thousand 
negroes. They were to make their attack at 
night, when the white people were asleep, 
kill the while males and divide the women 
among themselves. They assembled in the 
country towards the latter part of the month, 
but a great rain came on, and while it was 
yet raging, a slave' named Pharoah. the 
property of William Mosby, hastened to 
Richmond and communicated the secret of 
the plot to Governor James Monroe. The 
militia was called out and preparations were 
made to repel the attack. In the meantime, 
the negroes, despite the storm, began their 
march to the town and every flash of light- 
ning glanced from the bright scythes with 
which they were chiefly armed. In attempt- 
ing to cross an intervening creek, the waters 
were so high that several were drowned. 
There they learned of the discovery of their 
plot, and the whole body broke up and dis- 
persed. Many were arrested, and tried. 
Gabriel was tried on October 6, 1800, and 
executed. One of the results of the insur- 
rection was the establishment on regular 
pay of the public guard at Richmond, con- 
sisting of sixty men, a captain, a lieutenant, 
and an ensign. 

Summers, Lewis, born in Fairfax county. 
Virginia, November 9, 1778. He entered 
upon the duties of active life during the 
presidency of the elder Adams. With the 
ardor which distinguished the Virginia 



youth of that period, he was a warm sup- 
porter of Jefferson for the presidency. In 
1808 he removed to Ohio, and served several 
years as representative and senator in the 
state legislature. In 1814 he settled perma- 
nently in Kanawha county, Virginia ; was a 
member of the state legislature, 1817-18; in 
1819 was chosen a judge of the general 
court, of which he was a member for more 
than twenty-four years ; and a judge of the 
Kanawha judicial circuit. For some time he 
was a member of the Virginia board of pub- 
lic works and took a deep interest in advanc- 
ing public improvements. He was one of 
the most useful members of the state consti- 
tutional convention of 1829-30. He died at 
White Sulphur Springs, Virginia, August 
27, 1843. He was father of Hon. George W. 
Summers (q. v.). 

Brent, Thomas Ludwell Lee, was bom in 
Virginia, August 9, 1784, son of Col. Daniel 
Carroll and Ann Fenton (Lee) Brent. On 
May 8, 1822, he was appointed secretary 
of legation to Portugal, acted as charge 
d'affaires ad interim from June 30, 1824, un- 
til he was appointed as such, June 24, 1825, 
and he filled this post until November 25, 
1834, when at his request, he received his 
passports and returned to the United States. 

White, Thomas Wyllis, was born at York- 
town, Virginia, in 1788, had few school ad- 
vantages, but improved his knowledge as 
a printer; he served some part of his time 
in Boston, and. while not pretending to be a 
literary character, wrote a very correct and 
diplomatic letter, well calculated to obtain 
what he desired. He set up as printer in 
Richmond and in 1834 founded the ''Southern 
Literary Messenger," a magazine destined 
to hold an honorable position not only in the 



Digitized by 



Google 



360 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



South but in the Union at large. He was 
aided in the printing by William Macfar- 
lane. his foreman, and John \V. Ferguson, 
one of his typesetters, which last afterwards 
was a prominent printer of Richmond both 
before and after the civil war. The first edi- 
tor was James E. Heath, the efficient first 
auditor of the state. After living to see the 
magazine placed on a successful and stable 
foundation. Mr. White died suddenly, when 
on a visit to Boston. January 19, 1843. 

Smith, Thomas, son of Captain Thomas 
Smith, of Gloucester county, was educated 
at William and Mary College,. 1776-1778; 
was first secretary of the Phi Beta Kappa 
Society and its second president : he was a 
member of the legislature in 1784, and a 
member of the state convention in 1788. and 
voted for the Federal Constitution ; he was 
uncle of Thomas Smith (q. v.). 

Smith, Thomas, son of Rev. Armistead of 
Kingston parish. Mathews county, Virginia, 
was born March 5. 1785 ; was captain of 
militia and a member of the legislature for 
Gloucester county in 1834 and other years. 
He died, unmarried, April 13. 1841. 

Clay, Clement Comer, bom in Halifax 
county, Virginia, December 17, 1789, son of 
William Clay and Rebecca Comer, his wife. 
The father enlisted in the revolutionary 
army at the age of sixteen, and was in sev- 
eral battles, at the siege of Yorktown, and 
surrender of Cornwallis. Clement C. Clay 
went to Tennessee when a child, studied in 
private schools and was graduated from 
East Tennessee University in 1807 ; studied 
law and was admitted to the bar in 181 1 and 
later he removed to Alabama, took part in 
the wars with the Creek Indians. He was 



.elected to the Alabama territorial legisla- 
ture; was a delegate to the first constitu- 
tional convention, and chairman of the com- 
mittee of fifteen which drafted the constitu- 
tion, and which was adopted as he reported 
it. After a term as circuit judge, he was 
elected to the legislature, and chosen 
speaker. In 1829 he was elected to con- 
gress, and secured the passage of an act for 
the relief of sorely distressed purchasers of 
public lands in . Alabama. In 1835. as a 
Democrat, he was elected governor. His 
administration was disturbed by difficulties 
with the Creek Indians, which he settled: 
and by the financial panic of 1837. • In that 
year he was elected to the United States 
Senate, from which he resigned in 1841 on 
account of the invalidism of his wife. Later 
he was appointed to make a digest of the 
laws of Alabama, and he also served a brief 
time on the supreme court bench of the 
state. In 1861 he favored secession, his 
property was taken by the Federals, and he 
was for some time kept in military custody. 
He took no further part in public affairs. 
He married Susanna Claiborne, daughter of 
John Withers, a native of Dinwiddie county. 
Virginia. He died at Huntsville, Alabama, 
September 9, 1866. 

Cobbs, Robert Lewis, born in Louisa 
county. Virginia, December 25. 1789. son of 
Robert Cobbs. revolutionary soldier and 
member of the legislature, and Anne Poin- 
dexter, his wife. He graduated at Hamp- 
den-Sidney College with distinction in 1809. 
and from Jeflferson Medical College, Phila- 
delphia, in 181 1. He practiced his profes- 
sion with his brother. Dr. John P. Cobbs. in 
Amherst county, Virginia. In January, 
181 3. he rode on horseback across the moun- 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



361 



tains to join General Jackson at Nashville, 
Tennessee, and was a surgeon in the army 
in all the campaigns until the close of the 
war, at New Orleans. He returned to Nash- 
ville and studied law with his relative. Gen. 
William White, and practiced for twenty- 
five years. He was a member of the Tennes- 
see constitutional convention of 1834, and 
subsequently attorney-general. He retired 
from practice in 1843, ^ind, unmarried, 
passed the remainder of his life with his 
sister, Mrs. Sarah White McAllister, in Vir- 
ginia. He died in 1856, on the presidential 
election day ; his last words were : "I must 
get up and vote for Fillmore." 

Taylor, George Keith, son of Captain Rich- 
ard Taylor, of Petersburg, clerk of the vestry 
of Blandford, was bom in Prince George 
county, Virginia, attended William and 
Mary College in 1793 ^"^ studied law and 
became eminent at the bar. He was a mem- 
ber of the legislature of 1798-99, and a warm 
defender of the alien and sedition laws. He 
was a leader of the Federal party, and an 
ally of John Marshall, whose sister he mar- 
ried. He was a most able advocate at the 
bar in criminal cases, and as an orator was 
regarded as little inferior to Patrick Henry. 
Gilmer said of him: "He was one of the 
most eminent lawyers of his state, — acute, 
profound, logical and persuasive : of fine wit, 
exquisite humor, brilliant fancy, and most 
amiable disposition." To Mr. Taylor's 
eflForts in the legislature was due Virginia's 
penitentiary system, and his success in se- 
curing an amelioration of the criminal code 
of the state made him a public benefactor. 
He died in Petersburg, November 9, 1815. 
His grandmother. Anne Keith, who married 
George Walker, gunner of Point Comfort 



Fort and pilot of James river, was a daugh- 
ter of George Keith, the celebrated Quaker 
divine. 

Dabney, Thomas Gregory Smith, son of 
Benjamin Dabney and Sarah Smith, daugh- 
ter of Rev. Thomas Smith of Cople parish, 
Westmoreland county, Virginia, was bom 
in King and Queen county, Virginia, Janu- 
ary 4, 1798; was under the guardianship of 
his uncle John Augustine Smith, president 
of William and Mary College; went to 
school in Elizabeth, New Jersey; attended 
William and Mary College. In .1835 he 
moved to Mississippi, where he became a 
successful cotton planter. He was a strong 
admirer of Henry Clay, and like other Old 
Line Whigs of the South were led by that 
statesman into strong nationalistic views in- 
consistent with their early states rights pro- 
fessions. But when the war broke out in 
1861, he cast his lot with the South, and 
three of his sons joined the Confederate 
army. He married (first) Mary Adelaide, 
daughter of Samuel Tyler, chancellor of the 
Williamsburg district. Virginia. He mar- 
ried (second) Sophia Hill, daughter of 
Charles Hill, of King and Queen county. 
By the last marriage he was father of Vir- 
ginius Dabney (q. v.). author of "Don 
Miff," and Susan D. Dabney (who married 
Rev. Lyell Smedes, of Raleigh, North Caro- 
lina), whose work "Memorials of a Southern 
Planter," depicting the character and life of 
her father, elicited a letter from Mr. Glad- 
stone of England, in which he said that he 
found in Mr. Dabney "one of the very 
noblest of human characters," 

Conyers, Sarah, resided in Richmond, Vir- 
ginia, and perished in the burning of the 



Digitized by 



Google 



362 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



Richmond Theatre, December 26, 181 1. She 
was a celebrated beauty, engaged to Lieu- 
tenant (libbon. who perished with her. Her 
portrait in profile was taken by St. Memin 
in 1808. 

Winston, Edmund, son of William Win- 
ston, and grandson of Isaac Winston and 
Mary Dabney. his wife. The father, with 
Isaac and James Winston, emigrated from 
Yorkshire, England, in 1704. and settled 
near Richmond, Virginia. Edmund Win- 
ston was a first cousin of Patrick Henry, 
whose widow he married. He was a judge 
of the general court of Virginia, and a mem- 
ber of the convention of 1788. He died in 
1 81 3, at upwards of eighty years of age. 

Patteson, Charles, of the same lineage as 
David Patteson, of Chesterfield county, Vir- 
ginia, (q. v.), was a member of the Bucking- 
ham county committee of safety in 1775-76, 
the convention of 1776, the house of dele- 
gates of 1787-88, and of the convention of 
the latter year. 

Patteson, David, was a descendant of 
David Patteson, who received a grant of 
land in Henrico county (then including 
Chesterfield county), in 1714. He was colo- 
nel commandant of Chesterfield county in 
1785, a member of the convention of 1788, 
and of the house of delegates from 1791 to 
1793- 

Allen, John, son of Col. William .-Mien, of 
"Clermont," and a descendant of Major Ar- 
thur Allen, who patented lands in Surry 
county in 1649. He was educated at Wil- 
liam and Mary College, where he was a 
member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society: a 
member of the house of delegates in 1784-86- 



87-88-91 ; of the council in 1789; and of the 
convention of 1788. He died before May, 
1793. He was half brother of William Allen 
of '^Claremont,'* Surry county, (born March 
7, 1768, died November 2, 1831), who left his 
large estates to his nephew William Griffin 
Orgain on his taking the name of William 
Allen. This the latter did, was the owner 
of Jamestown Island, and in the war be- 
tween the states armed and fed a company 
of troops in the Confederate service at his 
own expense. 

Stith, Buckner, of Brunswick county, Vir- 
ginia, son of Colonel Drury Stith : qualified 
as a justice of his county, September 2^^ 
1784; took the oath as major of militia Sep- 
tember 28. 1789; and as lieutenant-colonel, 
September 26, 1794. He married Anne 
Dade, sister of Major Langhorne Dade, of 
Litchfield. King George county. 

Goodall, Parke, son of Richard Goodall, 
of Caroline county, a British subject whose 
estate was vested in the son by statute. He 
was an ensign in the company of Captain 
Samuel Meredith, of Hanover county, which 
marched under Patrick Henry (to whom 
the command was assigned) to Williams- 
burg in 1775, to demand restitution of the 
powder removed from the magazine by Lord 
Dunmore. He was a justice of the peace for 
Hanover county in 1782; member of the 
house of delegates 1786-89; member of the 
convention of 1788; and sheriflF in 1809. He 
was afterwards proprietor of the Indian 
Queen tavern in Richmond. His daughters, 
Martha Perkins and Eliza, married respec- 
tively Parke and Anthony Street, brothers. 
A son. Col. Charles Parke Goodall, (married 
Elizabeth, daughter of Isaac Winston, and 
died at "Mayfield," Hanover county, Octo- 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



363 



ber 5, 1855), and a grandson, Dr. Charles 
Parke Goodall, frequently represented Han- 
over county in the Virginia assembly. 

Barron, James, born at Old Point Com- 
fort, Elizabeth City county, Virginia, in Oc- 
tober, 1740. son of Captain Samuel Barron, 
who then was commander of Fort George, at 
that place. Captain Barron removed to Mill 
Creek. Left fatherless in 1750, the son, then 
ten years old, was taken in charge by Col. 
Hunter, his father's friend, then "navy 
agent victualler," who sent him to sea under 
Captain Barrington, trading in a ship be- 
tween London and the James river. In due 
time young Barron was given command of a 
small vessel belonging to Col. Hunter, and 
soon after was made master of a regular 
ship. ^ American sailors were then habitually 
derided and treated with arrogance by the 
British naval officers whom they frequently 
met at sea, and Captain Barron, in 1774, 
resenting such treatment, sailed his ship 
outside Cape Henry, then turned her over to 
his first mate, to deliver to her owners in 
England, and returned home. He soon re- 
ceived letters offering him command of a 
fine ship in the British transport service, 
but. his patriotism would not allow of his 
acceptance. He became captain of a com- 
pany of minute men. which he headed in 
skirmishes with the British, at the Edward 
Cooper place on James river, and at Hamp- 
ton. Virginia was now providing a navy of 
her own. and soon had in service some fifty 
vessels of various descriptions, and Captain 
Barron cruised with small squadrons, har- 
rassing British commerce. On July 3. 1780. 
he was given command of the state navy, 
with the rank of Commodore, also serving 
at times as a member of the board of war 



of the young nation. After peace was re- 
stored in 1783, he was continued in com- 
mand of the only two vessels retained in 
service for the protection of the revenue, 
and he was so occupied until his death, in 
1787. He was father of Commodore James 
Barron (q. v.). 

Ruffin, Edmund, born January 2, 1744-45, 
son of Edmund Ruffin by his first marriage 
with Mrs. Edmunds, ncc Simmons. He was 
fourth in descent from William Ruffin, who 
was seated in Isle of Wight county, Vir- 
ginia, in 1666, and died in 1693. He was a 
member of the house of delegates, 1777-84- 
86-87; o^ ^^^ convention of 1788; county 
lieutenant in 1789; sheriff in 1797. He mar- 
ried Jane, daughter of Sir William Skipwith, 
baronet, of "Prestwould," Mecklenburg 
county. He was grandfather of Edmund 
Ruffin, the distinguished agriculturist (q. 
v.). He died in 1807. 

Strother, French, son of James Strother 
and Margaret French, his wife, was a ves- 
tryman and church warden of St. Mark's 
parish, Culpeper county, Virginia. He was 
a member of the convention of 1788. He 
represented his county in the general assem- 
bly for nearly thirty years ; was a member of 
the convention of 1776 and of that of 1788 
and voted against the proposed Federal Con- 
stitution; in 1799 he voted for the resolu- 
tions against the alien and sedition laws. 
He was solicited to oppose James Madison 
for congress, but James Monroe became the 
candidate and was defeated. He married 
Lucy, daughter of Robert Coleman. 

King, Miles, son of Charles King and 
Elizabeth Tabb, his wife, was born in Eliz- 
abeth City county, November 2, 1747. He 



Digitized by 



Google 



3^4 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



was a surgeon's mate in the First Virginia 
Regiment, October 26, 1775, but retired in 
September, 1778. He was of much assist- 
ance to the French fleet and soldiers in 1781, 
and received their warm commendations; 
member of the house of delegates 1784, 1791- 
93-98. He resigned the last year to accept 
the county clerkship. He was a member 
of the state convention in 1788. and voted 
for the Federal Constitution ; removed to 
Norfolk, where he was mayor of the city 
in 1804, 1810. He married (first) Barbara 
Jones: married (second) Martha Kerby. 
daughter of Thomas Kerby. He died in 
Norfolk, June 19. 1814. 

Stith, John, born March 24, 1755, son of 

Captain Buckncr Stith, and Susanna . 

his wife ; was lieutenant in the revolutionary 
army, and major, taking part in the bat- 
tles of Trenton. Princeton, Brandywine, 
Germantown and Monmouth. He was taken 
prisoner at Charlotte, in 1780, was ex- 
changed, and returned to his command. He 
IS usually styled Colonel, probably a brevet 
rank. He married Ann, daughter of Law- 
rence Washington, of Chotank, King 
George county. He died in 1808. 

Matthews, James M., son of William B. 
Matthews, clerk of Essex county, Virgftnia, 
who died in 1830, and Mary Jameson Gar- 
nett Wood, his wife, was bom in Essex 
county. He was educated at William and 
Mary College, and was a well known lawyer 
and law writer of Richmond, Virginia. He 
was reporter of the supreme court of appeals 
of Virginia, and author of "Civil and Crim- 
inal Digest of the Laws of Virginia." and 
"Guide to Commissioners in Chancery." He 
married Ellen A. Bagby. of Richmond, sis- 
ter of the well known Dr. George W. Bag- 



by. He was father of William B. Mat- 
thews, late of Washington, author of "Forms 
of Pleading" and other books, and of the 
artist George B. Matthews, ako of Washing- 
ton. 

Mallory, Francis, eldest son of Johnson 
Mallory and Diana Tabb, his wife, was born 
in Elizabeth City county, Virginia. He was 
appointed lieutenant-colonel of the Elizabeth 
City county militia in June. 1776. and later 
was promoted to be colonel. After participat- 
ing in various engagements with the British, 
he was killed, while commanding a small 
force of militia in an action with a largely 
superior force of British tnx^ps commanded 
by Lieut.-Col. Dundas.'near Newport News. 
(See account of this affair in "Virginia His- 
torical Register." vol. iv. 185 1, page 24. ct 
scq„ and in "Virginia Magazine of History 
and Biography." xiv. 324, 431, ct scq,). He 
died March 8. 1781. 

Callis, William Overton, born near "Ur- 
banna," Virginia, March 4, 1756, son of Wil- 
liam Callis and Mary Cosby, his wife. His 
mother was third in descent from William 
Overton, born December 2, 1638. in Eng- 
land, settled in Hanover county, Virginia, in 
1682, married Mary Waters. Callis served 
in the revolution more than seven years as 
lieutenant and captain, and at the battle of 
Monmouth was badly wounded. In 1781 he 
served as major on the staflF of Gen. Thomas 
Nelson, and was at the surrender of Com- 
wallis at Yorktown. He served in the Vir- 
ginia assembly seventeen years, and voted 
for the resolutions of 1798-99, and was a 
member of the convention of 1788. He mar- 
ried (first) a daughter of John Winston, and 
(second) a daughter of Captain Thomas 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 



365 



Price, of Hanover county. He .died at 
"Cuckoo," Louisa county, Virginia, March 
14, 1814, 

Marshall, Humphrey, born in Virginia, 
about 1756, probably of the Marshall family 
of Isle of Wight county, in which the name 
Humphrey was frequent. In 1783 he was a 
pioneer to Kentucky, where he was a mem- 
ber of the convention at Danville in 1787, 
preliminary to the formation of the state 
constitution ; a member of the legislature for 
many years; and United States senator, 
1795-81. He fought a duel with Henry Clay, 
in which the latter was wounded. He was 
the author of the first history of Kentucky, 
published in one volume in 1822, and en- 
larged to two volumes in 1824. He married, 
in 1784, Mary Marshall, of Virginia, sister 
of Chief Justice John Marshall, and was the 
father of John J. Marshall and the brilliant 
orator Thomas A. Marshall. He died at the 
home of the last named, July i, 1841. 

Fleet, William, son of William Fleet, of 
King and Queen county, Virginia, was bom 
December 18, 1757. He was a descendant of 
Captain Henry Fleet, of colonial fame (q. 
v.). He was a member of the convention of 
1788, and voted for the adoption of the con- 
stitution. He married Mrs. Sarah Browne 
Tomlin, daughter of Barret Browne, of Es- 
sex county, Virginia. He died at "Goshen," 
King and Queen county, April 11, 1833. 

Walke, Anthony, a descendant of Thomas 
Walke (q. v.), came to Virginia at an early 
date. He was a member of the convention 
of 1788; was a worthy citizen and pious 
churchman, and built "Old Donation 
Church/* near Norfolk. He married (first) 
Jane, daughter of Richard Randolph; and 



(second) Mary Moseley, daughter of Ed- 
ward Hacket Moseley. He died in 1794. 

Ivy, William, was born at "Sycamore 
View," on Tanner's creek, Norfolk county, 
Virginia, which he inherited from his father. 
He was brought up to the sea, and built 
vessels at his own cost. He suffered from 
British depredations, the houses on both his 
estates being plundered and burned, and 
his slaves carried away. He joined the Vir- 
ginia navy, and September 20, 1776, was 
second lieutenant on the sloop Scorpion, 
under Captain Wright Westcott, in which 
he cruised until January, 1777, when he was 
>made first lieutenant of the Liberty, and later 
was promoted to captain, and placed on duty 
to recruit men for the navy. He was sub- 
sequently appointed to the command of the 
Liberty, with which he did good service until 
late in 1777 or early in 1778, when he died. 

Guerrant, John^ son of John Guerrant and 
grandson of Pierre Guerrant, who came to 
Virginia in the French Huguenot emigra- 
tion in 1700, was bom March 23, 1760. He 
was a member of the house of delegates in 
1787-93, and probably later; member of the 
convention of 1788, of the state council and 
for a time its president, and as such lieu- 
tenant-governor in 1805. He married Mary 
Heath, daughter of Robert and Winifred 
(Jones) Povall, and had issue. 

Booth* Edwin Gilliam, son of Gilliam 
Booth and Rebecca Hicks, his wife, was 
bom at "Shenstone," Nottoway county, Vir- 
ginia, May II, 1810. As a boy he attended 
the old Wingfield Academy in Dinwiddie 
county, named after General Winfield Scott^ 
and after studying a short time at Oxford, 
North Carolina, he entered the University 



Digitized by 



Google 



366 



VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY 



of North Carolina and graduated at eighteen 
years of age. He then became a member of 
the famous law school of Judge Lomax at 
Fredericksburg. \'irginia. He practiced law, 
and acquired the largest practice in his part 
of the state. In 1848-49 he served in the 
Virginia legislature, and was made one of 
the revisors of the Virginia Code of Laws. 
Judge R. C. L. Moncure. Judge Robert E. 
Scott and Hon. John M. Patton were asso- 
ciated with him in the work. He married 
(first) Sally Tanner Jones, of Nottoway 
county. Virginia, and several years after 
her death and burial at '* Doth well," Dinwid- 
die county, Virginia, he married Henrietta 
Chauncey, of Philadelphia, and went there 
to reside. True to his .southern sympathies, 
he spent much money in the relief of Con- 
federate soldiers confined in Northern prison 
houses. He was the author of a volume of 
personal reminiscences. He died in Phila- 
delphia, in 1886, and was interred in the 
Chauncey burying ground at Burlington, 
New Jersey, by the side of his second wife, 
where a handsome sarcophagus rests over 
husband and wife. 

Farkcr, John A., was born in Westmore- 
land county. February 20. 1804. In 1836 he 
was sent on a mission to Texas by President 
Jackson, and in 185 1 he was librarian of Con- 
gress. He was removed in 1853 ^Y John \V. 
Forney, clerk of the house of representa- 
tives, in whom at that time was vested the 
appointment of librarian. The action of 
Mr. Forney caused indignation, and a reso- 
lution to deprive the clerk of his power to 
appoint the librarian was lost by only four 
votes. In 1856 he was appointed register 
ot the land office for Nebraska. About this 
time he was appointed one of the agents of 



the states to procure a settlement of the 
accounts between the commonwealth and 
the United States. 

Meredith, John Alexander, son of Rot)ert 
Meredith and Mary Anderson, his wife, was 
born in New Kent county, March 4. 1814. 
He was an able lawyer and held the office 
of judge. He married Sarah Anne Bernard, 
daughter of William Bernard and Sarah 
Dykes, his wife, and had three brilliant sons : 
William Bernard Meredith, who was ad- 
jutant on the staff of Gen. Pendleton. C. S. 
A., and died in 1862: Charles Vivian Mere- 
dith (born September 12. 1850). formerly 
city attorney of Richmond, and Wyndham 
R. Meredith (born .April 6, 1859) — the last 
two still living in Richmond. 

Taylor, Tazewell, born in Norfolk. \*ir- 
ginia, January 30, 1810, son of James Taylor 
and Sarah Newton, his wife. He was edu- 
cated at Georgetown College and the Uni- 
versity of \'irginia. receiving from the latter 
institution the Bachelor of Law degree. He 
was a distinguished lawyer for forty years, 
and for a long time was bursar of Wil- 
lii«m and Mary College. 

Davison, John Smith Bull, born July 2. 
1802, eldest son of Major William Davison 
and Martha Maria Smith, his wife. He was 
a student at Winchester Academy, and en- 
tered William and Mary College, but in his 
second year there his father died and he 
was obliged to return home. He attended 
the law school of Judges Tucker and 
Holmes, at Winchester, and was admitted 
u the bar. He was made justice of the 
peace in 1829. and. with the exception of 
the civil war period, served as such until 
his death. From 1849 to 1851 he was high 



Digitized by 



Google 



PROMINENT PERSONS 367 

sheriff; represented Frederick county in the his wife. Soon after his marriage he re- 
legislature, 1836-37, and Warren county, moved to a farm on the north branch of the 
1842-43 and 1866-67. He was one of the Shenandoah river, and named it *'The For- 
founders of St. Thomas' Protestant Epis- est." The farm, comprising about a thou- 
ccpal Church, and drew the plans for its sand acres, was given to his wife by her 
church edifice. He married, in 1826, Mary fcither, at the time of her marriage, and was 
Eltinge Hite, daughter of Major Isaac Hite, part of the original **Yost-Hites" grant 
of **Belle Grove," and Anne Tunstall Maury, which was taken up by Major Hite in 1831. 




Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



INDEX 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



INDEX 



Abert. John. Jo6 

John J.. 20f) 
Adams, Robert H., 267 

Thomas, 3 
Alexander, Archibald, 184 

James \V., 216 

Mark, 97 

Thomas L.. 272 

William, 330 

William C., 225 
Allen, James, 64 

John, 362 

John J., 64 

Robert, 97. 263 
Ambler, Jaquelin, 335 

John. 336 

John J., 339 
Anderson. David. 267 

Richard C. 175 
Andrews. Robert. 238 
Arbuckle. Matthew, 189 
Archer. Branch T., 209 

William S., 93 
Armistead. George, 197 

Walker K.. 203 
Armstrong. Wiliiam, 97 
Arnr»ld. Thomas D., 270 
Ashley. William H.. 264 
Atkinson, Archibald. 97 

Thomas. 228^ 
Aulick, John H., 208 
Austin, Archibald. 97 

Moses, 212 

Stephen F., 212 
Averett. Thomas H., 97 
Bacon, Rdmund. 190 
Bailey. Ann. 288 
Baker. John, 97 
Baldwin. Briscoe G., 65 

Cornelius. 65 

Joseph G.. 251 
Balfour. George, 356 
Ball. Burgess. 345 

Fayette, 352 

William L.. 98 
Ballard. Bland, 155 
Banister, John. 3 



Bankhead, James, 201 
Banks. Linn. 98 

William P... 354 
Barbour, James, 48 

John S.. 98 

Philip P., 83- 
Barclay, James T., 311 
Barron, James, 182, ^6t^ 
Barry, William T., 265 
Barton, Richard W., 98 
Bassett, Burwell, 98 
Baxter, George A., 184 
Bayley, Thomas M., 99 
Baylor, George, 176 
Baynham. William, 290 
Beale, James M. H.. 99 
Beckwith, Sir Jennings, 354 
Beckwourth. James P.. 215 
Bedinger, George M., 145 

Henry, 99 
Beirne, Andrew, 100 
Bellini. Charles, 259 
Bibb, George M., 262 

William W.. 197 
Bittle. David F.. 232 
F^lackburn, Gideon. 185 

l^amuel. 246 

William, 234 
Blackwcll, Joseph. 349 
r»lair. Francis P.. 219 

John. Ir.. 3 

John b.. 255 
nianchard. Thomas, 356 
Bland, Richard, 4 

Theodorick, 5 
Bledsoe, Jesse, 189 
Bonnycastlc. Charles, 163 
l!ooth, Edwin G.. 365 
Botts, John M., 100 
Boucher, Jonathan. 289 
Bonldin. James W., loi 

Thomas T., loi 
Bowlin. James B.. 271 
Bowyer. Henry. 329 
Boyd. Andrew H. H., 233 
Bracken, John. 185 
Bradford, John, 143 



Brady, Samuel, 243 
Braidwood, John, 256 
I'raxton, Carter, 5 
Breathitt, John, 266 
Breckcnridge, James, loi 

John. 199 
Brent, Richard, 89 

Thomas L. L., 359 
Broaddus, Andrew, 219 
Brockcnbrough, William, 64 
Brodnax. William H., 264 
Brooke, Francis T., 62 

George M., 234 

Lawrence, 273 

Robert, 46 
Brown, Aaron V., 269 

John, 6 

Samuel, 180 

William G., loi 
Buchanan, John, 253 
Buckingham, James S., 179 
Buford, Abraham, 176 
Bullitt, Alexander S., 290 

Cuthbert, 6 
Burk. John D., 217 
Burke. Thomas. 290 
Burwell, Nathaniel, 349 

William A., 102 
Butler, James. 290 . 

William, 246 
Cabell, Joseph, 156 

Joseph C 195 

Joseph M., 266 

Landon. 157 

Samuel J., 102 

William H., 47 
Caldwell. James. 289 

John. 289 
Call. Daniel. 178 

Richard K., 179 
Callender. Tames T., 29 r 
Callis, William O., 364 
Camm. John, 164 
Campbell, Alexander, 165 

Arthur, 239 

Charles, 225 

David, 52 



Digitized by 



Google 



37' 



INDEX 



John P., 292 

John \V.. 292 

Richard. 245 

Robert. 180 

Thonicis, 291 

William. 173 
Caperton. Hugh. 102 
Carleton. Henry. 292 
Carlile. John S.. 102 
Carr. Dabncy. 6. 63 
Carring^ton. Kdward. 7 

Paul. 7 
Carroll. David L.. 203 
Carruthers, William A.. 252 
Carter. Landon. 7 

Thomas. 352 
Cartwright. Peter. 285 

Samuel A.. 293 
Catron. John, 291 
Cary. Archibald. 8 

(ieorge B.. 102 

I-ott. 285 

^lary. 335 

Richard. 8 
Caskie, John S.. 102 
Catesby. Mark, 2S>/ 
Chalmers. Joseph W., 293 
Chambers. Henry, 293 
Champe. John, 288 
Chandler. Reuben. 282 
Chapman. Augustus A., 103 

John G.. 252 

Nathaniel. 159 
Chilton. Samuel, 103 
Chinn, Joseph W.. 103 
Christian, John B., 269 
Claiborne, Ferdinand L., 247 

John, 103 

Nathaniel H.. 103 

William C. C 245 
Clark, Christopher, 104 

George R., 145 

James, 285 

William, 182 
Clay. Clement C, 360 

Green. 243 

Henry, 191 

Matthew. 104 
Clayton, Augustus, 280 

I'hilip, 355 
Cleland, Thomas, 281 
Clemens, Sherrard, 104 
Cleveland, Benjamin, 346 



Clopton, John,- 104 
Coalter. John, 62 
Cobbs, Nicholas H.. 282 

Robert L., j^(o 
Cixke, Hartwdl. 136 

John H., 197 

William. 2J7 
Coke. Richard. 104 
Coleman. Frederick W.. 232 
Coles. I -d ward. J04 

Isaac. 105 

Walter. 105 
Collier. Henrv W.. 250 
Colquitt. Walter T.. 2S2 
Colston, Edward. 105 
C onyers. Sarah. 3f>i 
Cooke. John R.. 248 

Philip P.. 2S^ 

Philip S.. 2\j 
C«»oper. Thomas. 154 
Copeland. Charles. 158 
Cowardin. James A.. 333 
Craig. Lewis. 30^) 

Lewis S.. 312 

Robert, 105 
Craik, James. 237 
Crane. William. 286 
Crawford. William. 136 

William H.. 244 
Cresap, Thomas. 238 
Crrighan. George. 236 
Cropper. John. 149 
Crump. George W.. 105 
Cummings. Charles. 246 
Curie, William R. W., 8 
Gushing. Jonathan P., 201 
Custis, George W. P., 248 

John P., 342 
Dabney, Charles W., 268 

Richard, 205 

Thomas G. S., 361 
Dade, Francis I-.. 178 
^^^^S* John L.. 281 
Dale: Richard. 151 

Samuel, 185 
Dandridge. Alexander S., 356 

John. 351 
Daniel, Peter V., 248 

William. r)6 
Darke, William, 277 
Davenport, Thomas, 106 
Davies, William. 257 
Daviess, Joseph H., 280 



Davis, John A. G.. 228 
Davison, John S. !».. 366 
Dawson, John. 106 
Deane, .*^inieon. 354 
Deckley. John J.. 152 
De Jarnette. Daniel C. 106 
Deuxponts. William, 279 
Dew. Th<imas R., 217 
Dickins. John. 27/ 
Digges. Dudlev, 9 
l)/>nk. John W'.. 338 

Samuel. 143 
Doddridge. Philip. 106 
Doggett. Daniel S.. 231 
Douglass. Rev. William. 255 
Draper. Joseph, 106 
Dromgoole, George C. 106 
Dudley. P.enjamin W.. 160 
Dundas, James. 322 
Dunglison. Robley. 274 
Dupuy. llartholomew. 253 

Eliza A.. 251 
Duval, John P.. 249 

William P.. 203 
Early, John. 203 

Peter. 319 
Edmundson. Henry A.. 107 
Edwards. Benjamin. 181 

John. 180 
Eggleston, Joseph, 107 
Ellicott, Andrew, 305 
Ellis, Powhatan, 268 
Ellison, Matthew. 334 
Emmerson, Arthur, 319 
Emmet. John P., 226 
Empie. Adam. 189 
Eppes, John W., 90 
Estill, Benjamin, 107 
Eustis. Abraham, 322 
Ewing. Finis, 187 
Farrow. Samuel, 284 
Faulkner, Charles J.. 107 
Fauntleroy. Thomas T., 214 
Febiger, Christian, 173 
Fendall, Philip R.. 286 
Finley, John. 286 
Fitzgerald, James H., 332 
Fitzhugh, George, 229 

William. 9 
Fleming. Thomas. 283 

William (acting Gov.), 45 

William (Father), 9 
Fleet, William, 365 



Digitized by 



Google 



INDEX 



373 



Flournoy. Thomas S., io8 
Floyd, John. 50 

John B.. 55 
Fuote. Henry S.. 275 
Forrest, French. 346 
Forsyth. John. 264 
Francisco. Peter. 278 
Franklin, Jesse, 284 
Freeman. William G.. 234 
French, Benjamin F.. 275 
Fulton, Andrew S., 108 

John H., 108 
C.abriel, 359 

Gaines. Edmund P.. 194 
Gait. Alexander D.. 178 
Gamble, Elizabeth \V., 339 

Robert. 241 
Garland. David S., 108 

James, 108 

John. 210 
Garnett, James M.. 108 

Muscoe R. H.. 109 

Robert S.. 109 

Theodore S.. Sr.. 2^2 
Garrard. James. 142 
Gates, Horatio. 166 
George. Enoch. 157 
Gholson. James H., 109 

Thomas. Jr.. 109 

William Y.. ^32 
(libson, George, 356 
(liles, William B.. 50 
(lilmer. Francis W.. 249 

< George. 9 

Thomas W.. 53 
Girardin. Louis H.. 1.^9 
Gist. Christopher, 238 
Glassell, James M.. 346 
^^^grgin. William L.. 109 
Goodall. Parke. 362 
GocKle. Samuel, no 

William O.. 110 
( K)odrich. John. 356 
(ioodvvin. Peterson, no 
Gordon. William F.. no 
Graham, (jeorge. 180 

John. 358 

William, 174 

William M.. 164 
Gray. Edwin, in 

John C n r 
Grayson. William, 10 



Green. John W.. 63 

Lewis W.. 223 
Grcenhow. Robert. 215 
Gregory. John, 358 

John M.. 54 
Griflfin. Cyrus. 10 

Samuel, in 

Thomas, in 
Grigsby. Hugh R., 224 
Grinnan, Daniel, Jr.. 345 
(irundy. Felix. 193 
C^rymes. John R., 139, 205 
Guerrant, John, 365 
Hall, John, 336 

Thomas, 177 

William, 188 
Hallan, Lewis, 312 
Hamilton. Andrew. 239 
Hammond. Le Roy, 138 

Samuel, 152 
Hancock. George, in 
Hardin. John. 148 
Hardy. Samuel, 10 
Harper. Robert G., 261 
Harris. Chapman, 339 

John T.. 112 

Samuel. 135 

William A.. 112 
Flarrison. Henjamin, n 

Carter B.. 112 

Carter H.. n 

Charles. 145 

(jessner. 225 

William H., 71 
Harrod. James. 140 
Harvie. Jaquelin B.. 336 

John, 12 
Hawes, Aylett, 113 

Richard, 163 
Hawkins. Philemon, 135 
Haxall. Philip. 330 

Robert W., 334 
Hay, George. 196 
Hayes, Samuel L., 113 
Haymond, Thomas S., 1 13 
Heath, John, 113 
Henderson. Archibald. 322 

Pleasant. 284 

Richard. 283 
Hening. William W.. 240 
Henkel, Moses M., 326 

Paul, 259 



Henley, John D., 198 
Henry, James, 12 

Patrick, 12 

William, 155 
Hcrndon. William L., 233 
Heth, William, 172 
Hickman, William, 141 
Hill, John, 113 

William, 158 
Hite, Lsaac, 155 
Hog (Hogg), Peter, 236 
Hoge, John B., 331 

Moses, 176 

Samuel D.. 344 
Holcombe. Henry, 316 
Holladay, Albert' L.. 217 

Alexander R., 113 
Holleman, Joel, 113 
Holmes, David, 113 
Holt, William, 14 
Hopkins, George W.. 114 

Samuel, 313 
Horner, William E., 211 
Houston, Samuel, 212 
Howard, Benjamin. 155 
Hubard, Edmund W., 1 14 

William. 137 
Hughes. Jesse. 247 
Hungerford, John P.. 114 
Hunt. Thomas P., 213 
Hunter, Andrew. 259 
fnglis, Mary, 334 
Junes. James. 149 
Irvin. William W., 340 
Irvine, William, 335 
Ivy, William. 365 
Jackson. Edward B., 114 

George, 114 

John G., 114 
Jacobs, John A., 225 
James, Benjamin, 336 
Jameson. David. 328. 329 

John. 332 

William. 331 
Janney, Asa M.. 215 

Samuel ^L. 220 
Jarratt. Devereux. 301' 
Jefferson, Thomas, 15 
Jesup. Thomas S.. 206 
Jeter, Jeremiah. 251 
Johns. John. 214 
Johnson, Chapman, 197 



Digitized by 



Google 



374 



INDEX 



David. 200 I 

Frank W.. 339 

James. 115. 319 

Joseph. 5^* 
Johnston. Charles. 350 

Charles C, 1 15 

Peter, iz"; 
J<mes. Catlet. 313 

James, 1 15 

J<»hn P.. 141 

John \V.. 115 

Joseph. 17. 143 

Roger. 20S 

Thomas ap C. 206 

Walter. 18 
Jordan. Robert. 312 
Jouett. John. 343 
Joynes. Thomas R.. 266 
Jiinkin. Cfeorge. 209 
Keith. Richard. 178 
Kemper. Reuben, 318 
Kennon. Reverley. 272 

Richard. 259 
Kenton. Simon. 150 
Kerr. John, 115, 325 
Kidwell. Zedekiah. 115 
King. Miles. 363 
Knox. James. 318 
Lacy, Drury. 152 
Lane. John, 207 
Latane. Rev. Lewis, 234 
Lauderdale, James. 320 
Lawson. Robert. 331 

Thomas. 207 
Leake. Shclton F., 116 

Walter. 316 
Leavenworth. Abner J.. 332 
Lee. Arthur, 18 

Charles. 167 

Edmund J., 341 

Francis L., 19 

George H.. 67 

FTenry, 19 

Jesse, 315 

Richard B., 116 

Richard H., 21 

Thomas L., 22 

William, 22 
Leffler. Isaac, 116 
Lcftwich, Jabez, 117 

Joel, 315 
Leigh, Benjamin W., 92 
Lenoir, William, 313 



Lewis. Charles S., 117 

John, 345 

Joseph. Jr., 117 

Lawrence, 157 

Meriwether. 187 

Thomas. 117 

William. 317 

William R.. 321 

William J., 117 
Lightfoot. Philip. 349 
Littlepage, Louis. 156 
Logan. Benjamin. 138 

Robert. 330 
Lomax. John T., 198 
Long. Gabriel, 304 
Love. John, 117 
Loyall. George. 117 
Lucas. Edward. 117 

Robert. 338 

William. 117 
Lumpkin. Wilson. 200 
Lyell. Thomas. 1.^*9 
Lyle, John. 317 
Lynch. Charles. 138 
Lvons. Peter. 23 
M'cCarty, William ^L. 118 
McClurg. James. 25 
McComas, William. 119 
McCormick. Cyrus H., 231 
McCoy. William. 119 
McCulloch. ^Llj. .^amuel, 241 
McDowell. Charles, 303 

Ephraim, 183 

James, 54 
McElligott. James N., 305 
McFcrrin. James. 322 
McGuffey, William H.. 275 
McKendrec. William, 314 
McKinlcy. William, 119 
McNutt, Alexander, 312 

Alexander G.. 327 
MacRhea, William, 323 
Macaulay, Alexander, 181 
Machir. James, 118 
Madison, George, 316 

James, 23, 328 
William, 316 
Mallory, Francis. 118. 364 
Nfann. .Ambrose D., 221 
Mark, John. 255 
Marmaduke, Meredith M., 

324 
Marques. Thomas. 305 



Marshall. Edward C, 354 

Humphrev. 365 

John. 8r ' 

Louis. 186 
Martin. Elbert S.. 118 

Joseph. 348 
Mason. Armistead T.. 89 

Clement R.. 251 

George. 24 

lames M.. 93 

John Y.. 118 

Stevens T.. 87 
Massie. Nathaniel. 156 

Thomas. 142, 201 
Mathews. George. 137 
Matthews. James .\L, 364 
Maupin. Socrates. 229 
Maury. James, 301 

John !\L. 214 

Walker. 304 
Maxwell. Lewis. 1 18 

William. 202 
Mayo. Roben. 202 

William. 202 
Meade. David. 174 

Richard K.. 119. 174 

William. 162 
Mercer. Charles F., 119 

James. 26 , 

John F.. 26 
Meredith. John A.. 3^/) 
Meriwether. David, 314 
Metcalf, Samuel L., 326 

Thomas. 321 
Mettauer. John P., 206 
Millington. John, 320 
Milbon, John S.. 120 
Minor, Lucian. 227 

Thomas, 258 
Moffctt, George, 242 
Moncure, lames. 26 

Richard" C. L., 66 
Monroe, Andrew, 324 
Montour, Andrew, 242 
Moore, Richard C, 329 

Samuel ^L, 120 

Thomas L., 120 
Morgan, Daniel. 120. 170 

William. 245 

William S.. 121 
Morris. Samuel, 300 

Thomas, 319 

Thomas A., 325 



Digitized by 



Google 



INDEX 



375 



Morrow, John, 121 
Morton, Jackson, 326 

Jeremiah, 121 
Mosby. Mary \V., 323 
Mossom. David. 235 
Muhlenberg. John F. G.. 140 
Munford, George W.. 221 

William, 158 
Muse, George, 235 
Nash, Francis, 301 
Nelson, Hugh, 121 

Thomas, 28 

Thomas M.. 121 
Xettlcton, Ashael, 321 
Neville, John, 170 

Joseph, 121 
New, Anthony, 122 
Newman, Alexander, 122 

James, 353 
Newton, John T., 324 

Thomas J. R., 122 
Nicholas, George, 314 

John. 122 

Robert C, 29 

Wilson C. 48 
Nicholson. John B., 201 
Noble, James. ^2^ 
Oldham, William, 303 
Owen, Goronwy, 165 
Page. Francis N., 342 

Hugh N., 340 

John, 29 

John E., 341 

Mann, 30 

Robert, 122 
Paradise, John. 256 
Pa&hall, Edwin, 327 
Parker, Foxhall A., 205 

John A., 366 

Josiah, 123 

Richard. 30, 123 

Richard E., 65 

Severn E., 123 

Thomas. 156 

William H.. 147 
Parmale. Elisha, 150 
Pasteur, William. 235 
Patillo, Henry, 301 
Patteson. Charles, t^C)2 

David, 362 
Patton, John M., 53 
Payne, Derail, 3 [7 



Pcgram, John, 186 
Pendleton, Edmund, 30 

John S., 123 

Nathaniel, 151 
Pcnn, John, 302 
Pennybacker, Isaac S., 93 
Peticolas, Phillippe S., 178 
Peyronie, William C., 242 
l*eyton, John H., 284 
Phripp, Matthew, 358 
Pickett, James C., 211 
Pindall, James, 124 
Pleasants, James, Jr., 49 

John H.. 163 
Poe. David, 218 

Edgar A., 218 
Poindexter, George, 270 
Pollard, Richard, 341 
Pope, John, 262 
Porterfield, Charles, 144 

Robert. 147 
Posey, Thomas, 144 
Powell. Alfred H., 124 

Cuthbert, 124 

Leven, 124 

Paulus, 124 
Prentis, Joseph, 31 
Preston, Francis, 124 

James P., 48 

William B.. 125 
Pry or, Roger A., 125 
Radford, William. 229 
Randolph. Beverley, 45 

Edmund. 31 

John. 90 

Peyton, 32 

Peyton (Act. Gov.), 47 

Robert B., 351 

Thomas J., 210 

Thomas M., 49 
Ravenscroft, John S., 262 
Read. Thomas, 33 
Relf, Samuel, 319 
Rice, David, 306 

John H., 195 
Richardson, Richard, 135 
Riley, Bennett, 331 
Rind, William, 255 
Ritchie, Thomas, 196 
Rives, Francis E., 126 

William C, 91 
Roane, John, 126 



Spencer, 61 

William H., 93 
Robertson, James, 295 

John, 126 

Thomas B., 263 

William J., 67 

Wyndham, 52 
Robinson, Beverley, 293 

Christopher, 297 

Fayette, 311 

John, 343 

Robert, 297 
Rochester, Nathaniel, 148 
Rogers, James B., 310 

William B.. 222 
Ronald, William, 33 
Rose, Rev. Robert, 254 

Royall, Anne, 308 
Ruffin, Edmund, 363 
Ruffner, David, 352 

Henry, 207 
Rumsey, James, 256 
Russell, William, 181, 243 
Rutherford, John, 53 

Robert, 126 
Samuels, Green B., 66 
Saunders, John, 307 

Robert, 217 
Schmucker, John G., 308 
Scott, Charles, 170 

John, 199 

William C, 311 

Winfield, 161 
Seaton, William W., 310 
Seawell, John T., 272 

Washington, 276 
Selden, Miles, 355 

William, 354 

William B., 357 

Wilson C, 357 
Semple, James. 269 

Robert B., 307 
Sevier, John, 139 
Sheffey, Daniel. 126 
Shepherd, Abraham, 342 

Thomas, 342 
Shields. Patrick H., 309 
Short, William, 153 
Shreve, Thomas H., 311 
Shuck (Shook). John L.. 273 
Skyren. John S.. 351 
Slaughter, Philip, 230 



Digitized by 



Google 



376 



INDEX 



Smitis Artliur. 127 

( ieorgrf^ W .. 47 
John, I -'7 
John A., 160 
Meriwether. 33 
Samuel S . 175 
Thomas. 3(0 
Smiih. William, 127 

William. King (icorge Co.. 

55 
Smyth, Alexander. 127 

Jolin F D.. 307 
Sno<lgrai>. John F.. 127 
Somerville. James. 349 
Sparrow. Patrick J.. 208 
Speece, Conrad. 247 
Spencer. John. 308 

Pitman C, 32^ 
Stanard, Robert, 65 

^Villiam, 65 

Stecnrod. Lewis. 127 
Stephen, Adam, 130 
Stephenson. James. 127 
Stevens. Edward, 172 
Stevenson, Andrew. 128 
Stith, Uuckner, 302 

John. 364 
Stobo. Robf»rt, 237 
Stratton, John, 128 
.S;rother. Trench. 363 

George F., i?8 

James F., 128 
Stuart, Alexander H. H., 128 

Archibald, 129, 153 

Ferdinand C, 286 

David, 357 

John, 278 

W illiam, 355 
Summers, Lewis, 359 
Sumner, Jethro, 167 
. Sumter, T om«?s. 349 
Swcarvigen Thomas V. 129 
Tabb, John, 33 
Taiiafcro, John, 129 
Tarbeli, Jo .'^^.h, ^98 
Tate, Ma^^nus, 1.50 
Tatham, Wiili.-iTn. 258 
Taylof, Edward T.. v;o 

George K , 361 



John. 88. 297 

Richard. 139 

Robert. I ^o 

Robert b!. 188 

Tazewell. V** 

Waller. 298 

William. 130 

William P.. 130 

Zachary. 75 
Tazewell, Henry. 34 

Littleton W.. 51 
Thomas. Isaac. 2<>4 
ThompsiMi. Philip R., 130 

Robert A.. 130 
Thomson, John. 246 
Thornt(»n. Anthony. 257 

James B.. 237 

Seth B., 300 

Thomas C. 298 
Todd. John. 296 

Thomas. 279 
Tread way. William ^L, 130 
Trent. William. 2^^ 
Trezvant, James. 131 
Trigg. Abram. 131 

John. 131 
Trimble. David. 298 

• James. 295 
Trotter, George, 297 
Tucker. George, 131 

Henry St. (i., 63 

Nathaniel B.. 202 

St. George. 34 
Turbervillc. George L.. 154 
Turner, Charles C, 299 

Edward, 263 

Nat, 299 
Tyler, John, 73 

John (Father), 35 

John W., 253 

Samuel, 190 
Underwood. Joseph R., 323 

William H., jjq 
Upshur, Abel PT 209 

George P., 327 

Col. Littleton, 209 
Van Braam. Jacob, 235 
Vawter, John, 265 
Venable, Abraham B., 88 
Vethake. Henry. 210 
W u.'del, James, 295 



Waggoner. Thomas. 242 
Walke. Anthony. 3^)5 
Walker, Francis. 131 

Freeman. 205 

Cieorge. 273 

John, S/ 
Wallace, Caleb. 351 

(justavus B., 351 
Waller. John. 273 
Walton. William C. 267 
Warden. John. 136 
Warrell, James. 281 
Warrington. Lewis, 159 
Warrock. John, 263 
Washington. Bushrod. 83 

George. 36 

William. 279 
\\'atkins. Samuel. 325 
Waugh. Beverley. 298 
Weakley, Robert. 317 
Weaver. William A.. 269 
Webb. Thomas T., 271 
Weedon, George. 1O7 
Weems. Mason L.. 260 
Weightman. Roger C. 322 
West. William. 254 
Wetzel. Lewis. 244 
Wharey. James. 322 
White, Alexander, 132 

Francis. 132 

Thomas W.. 359 
Wickham. John. 181 
Wilkinson, Jesse, 267 
William, Jared. 132 
Williamson. Andrew, 149 
Wilmer. William H., 200 
Wilson. Alexander, 132 

Edgar C. 132 

Samuel B.. 199 

Thomas. 132 
Winston. Edmund, 362 

Joseph. 304 
Wirt, William. 336 
Wise, Henry A., 56 
Wood, Janie.>, 46 

John, 309 
W(x>dford, William, 172 
Woods. William, 302 
Wynn, Richard. 304 
Wythe. George, 40 
Zane, Col. Ebenezer, 240 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



Digitized by 



Google 



»X 001 203 bSl 



HECKMAN 

BINDERY INC. 

MAR 87 



W 



N. MANCHESTER, 
INDIANA 46962 



o 

id 
r- ~ 
U! 

«M - 

c5 • 

*^r ■ 

o 

I— ' 'J 

^, CO 



iij 



o 



UJ 



PLEASE RETURN TO 
ALDERMAN LIBRARY 



DUE 






DUE 



Digitized by 



Google