USA > Virginia > Orange County > Orange County > A History of Orange County, Virginia > Part 4
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The records in the Land Office at Richmond show that the following Orange people received bounty land for service in these wars. Their names are also listed
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FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS.
in Crozier's "Virginia Colonial Militia:" Jacob Cros- thwait, Francis Gibbs, William Smith, William Brock, William Rogers, Richard Bullard, James Gaines, Michael Rice, John Lamb, Richard Lamb, William Cave, James Riddle, Thomas Morris, John Furnace, David -- -Thompson, Isaac Crosthwait, William Vaughan, Am- brose Powell, Littleberry Lane, Henry Shackleford, Patrick Fisher, Charles Watts, Simon Powell, David Watts.
Francis Cowherd, long known as Major Cowherd, who was a justice of the peace and high sheriff of Orange after the Revolution and who attained the rank of captain in the Revolutionary army, was a sol- dier in Colonel Field's regiment at the battle of Point Pleasant. His home, "Oak Hill," is about two miles northeast of Gordonsville, and is still owned by his descendants. Just before the battle he and a comrade named Clay were out hunting, a little distance apart, and came near to where two Indians were concealed. Seeing Clay only, and supposing him to be alone, one of them fired at him; and running up to scalp him as he fell, was himself shot by Cowherd, who was about a hun- dred yards off. The other Indian ran off. (Withers's Chronicles.)
Another anecdote related by his cotemporaries is, that in the battle of Point Pleasant Cowherd was behind a tree, fighting in Indian warfare fashion, when Colonel Field ran up to the same tree. He offered to seek another, but the Colonel commanded him to remain where he was, saying it was his tree, and that he would go to another. In making his way to it he was
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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY
killed by the Indians, greatly lamented by the army. He was of the Culpeper family of Field, was a lieutenant of a company from that county at Brad- dock's defeat, and was greatly distinguished as an Indian fighter. (See again Withers's Chronicles.)
Mention is made of the Chew brothers, distinguished in these wars, in the Biographical Sketches.
Hancock Taylor, a brother of Colonel Richard, father of the President, was killed by the Indians in Kentucky in 1774.
There is a so-called "patriotic" association, known as the "Society of Colonial Wars, " and descendants of those who participated in the French and Indian wars are eligible to membership therein.
CHAPTER IX.
Orange in the Revolution.
The part the County took in the Revolution must be exhibited rather in details than by a connected narra- tive.
The royalist Governor, Lord Dunmore, often pro- rogued-that is, dissolved-the Burgesses from 1773 to 1776, for what he considered their contumacious atti- tude towards the Crown. The Burgesses, instead of going to their several homes, as he expected, began in 1774 to assemble at the Raleigh Tavern, at Williamsburg, then the capital, and form themselves into revolution- ary conventions-one or more in 1774, two in 1775, in all of which Orange was represented by Thomas Bar- bour and James Taylor; and finally into the world- famous Convention of 1776, in which James Madison, Jr., and William Moore were the delegates from the County. So odious did the name of Dunmore become that a county named for him, once in the domain of Orange, lost its identity under that name, and was re-christened Shenandoah.
While these conventions were being held the people at home became greatly aroused and began to organize for a conflict that seemed inevitable, by choosing committees of safety, putting the militia on a war
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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY
footing and selecting from them, for regular training and discipline, the more active and resolute, called "Minute Men."
By an ordinance of the Convention of 1775, the colony was divided into eighteen districts, one of which con- sisted of the counties of Orange, Culpeper, and Fau- quier ; each district was required to enlist a battalion of 500 men in 10 companies of 50 each, with the requisite officers, a colonel, lieutenant-colonel, and major, 10 captains and lieutenants, a chaplain, surgeon, etc.
The first organization from this district appears to have been designated "The Culpeper Minute Men," supposedly because Culpeper was the middle county ; for it is certain that Lawrence Taliaferro of Orange, was its first colonel.
It participated in the battle of Great Bridge, the first battle of the Revolution fought on Virginia soil, in December, 1775, and was then commanded by Stevens, afterwards General Stevens, of Culpeper.
The committees of safety were very great factors in the war, and really constituted a sort of military execu- tive in each county.
It is not to be doubted that each committee kept a formal record of its proceedings, which would furnish invaluable historical data; but very few complete records have been found in any of the counties, and practically all that are preserved are in the fourth series of Peter Force's American Archives, published by order of Congress, and now become quite rare.
The following extracts, copied from these Archives, are believed to be the whole record of the Orange com- mittee that has been preserved :
SOMERSET
Page 212
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ORANGE IN THE REVOLUTION
ORANGE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.
*At a meeting of the Freeholders of the County of Orange, Virginia, on Thursday the 22nd day of Decem- ber, 1774, the following gentlemen were elected a Com- mittee for the said County, viz:
James Madison, James Taylor, William Bell, Thomas Barbour, Zachariah Burnley, Rowland Thomas, Wil- liam Moore, Johnny Scott, James Walker, William Pan- nill, Francis Moore, James Madison, Jun., Lawrence Taliaferro, Thomas Bell, and Vivian Daniel.
And at a meeting of the said Committee at the Court House, on Monday, the 2nd day of January, 1775, James Madison, Esquire, was elected Chairman, and Francis Taylor, Clerk of said Committee.
Published by order of the Committee.
FRANCIS TAYLOR, Clerk.
March II, 1775.
tAn accusation being lodged with the Committee of Orange County against Francis Moore, Jun., of his having violated the Eighth Article of the Continental Association by gaming: the said Moore was cited, and appeared before the Committee convened Feby. 23, 1775. The testimony of a witness, as well as the con- fession of the accused, convinced the Committee that the charge was well founded; but Mr. Moore gave such evidence of his penitence, and intention to observe the Association strictly for the future, and alleging, moreover, that he was not thoroughly aware of the extent of the prohibition contained in that Article, that the Committee think it proper to readmit him into the number of friends to the public cause, till a second transgression.
*Peter Force's American Archives, Fourth Series, Vol. I., p. 1056. ¡Ibid : Vol. II. p. 126.
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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY
It need scarcely be added, that this mitigation of the punishment prescribed in the Eleventh Article, proceeds from a desire to distinguish penitent and submissive, from refractory and obstinate offenders. FRANCIS TAYLOR, Clerk.
March 27, 1775.
*The Committee of Orange County being informed that the Reverend Mr. John Wingate had in his posses- sion several pamphlets containing very obnoxious reflections on the Continental Congress and their pro- ceedings, and calculated to impose on the unwary ; and being desirous to manifest their contempt and resentment of such writings and their authors, assem- bled on Saturday, the 25th of March, 1775, at the Court House of the said County. The Committee were the rather induced to meet for this purpose, as it had also been reported that there were a consider- able number of these performances in the Country, introduced amongst us in all probability to promote the infamous ends for which they were written; that they were to be sold indiscriminately at Purdie's office in Williamsburgh, and that unfavorable impressions had been made on some people's minds by the confident assertions of falsehoods and insidious misrepresenta- tions of facts contained in them. The intentions of this Committee were made known to Mr. Wingate, and a delivery of the pamphlets requested in the most respectful manner, without the least suspicion that Mr. Wingate had procured them with a design to make an ill use of them, or that he would hesitate a moment as to a compliance; but to their great surprise, he absolutely refused, urging that they belonged to Mr. Henry Mitchell of Fredericksburgh, and he could do nothing without his express permission. The Com-
*Peter Force's American Archives, Fourth Series, Vol I. p. 234-5.
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ORANGE IN THE REVOLUTION
mittee then proceeded to expostulate with him on the subject, and to insist upon him that as he regarded his association engagements, the favour of the Committee or the good of the publick, he would not deny so rea- sonable a request. They told him they would engage to make ample satisfaction to Mr. Mitchell for any damage he might sustain and that there would not be the least reason to fear that Mr. Mitchell would be displeased, who was well known to be an associator, and acknowledged by himself to be a hearty friend to the cause which these pamphlets were intended to disparage and counteract; and that if Mr. Mitchell was not this hearty friend we hoped him to be, it must be an additional argument for the Committee to press their request, and for him to comply with it. Mr. Wingate still persisted in his refusal to deliver them up, but added that he would let the Committee have a sight of them, if they would promise to return them unhurt. This could by no means be agreed to, as they were justly apprehensive that it would be their duty to dispose of the pamphlets in a manner inconsistent with such a promise. At length the Committee, finding there was no prospect of working on Mr. Wingate by arguments or entreaties, perempt- orily demanded the pamphlets, with a determination not to be defeated in their intentions. In consequence of which they were produced to the Committee who deferred the full examination and final disposal of them till the Monday following.
On Monday, the 27th instant, they again met at the same place, according to adjournment, and after a sufficient inquiry into the contents of five pamphlets under the following titles, viz: Ist, "The Congress Canvassed, etc.," by A. W. Farmer; 2nd, "A View of the Controversey between Great Britain and her Col- onies," by the same; 3d, "Free Thoughts on the Proceedings of the Continental Congress, etc.," by
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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY
A. Farmer; 4th, "Short Advice to the Counties of New York," by a Country Gentleman ; 5th, "An Alarm to the Legislature of the Province of New York, etc .; " most of them printed by Rivington of New York;
Resolved, That as a collection of the most audacious insults on that august body (the Grand Continental Congress) and their proceedings, and also on the sev- eral Colonies from which they were deputed, particu- larly New England and Virginia, of the most slavish doctrines of Provincial Government, the most impu- dent falsehoods and malicious artifices to excite divi- sions among the friends of America, they deserved to be publicly burnt, as a testimony of the Committee's detestation and abhorrence of the writers and their principles.
Which sentence was speedily executed in the pres- ence of the Independent Company and other respectable inhabitants of the said County, all of whom joined in ex- pressing a noble indignation against such execrable publications, and their ardent wishes for an oppor- tunity of inflicting on the authors, publishers, and their abbettors, the punishment due to their insuffer- able arrogance and atrocious crimes.
Published by order of the Committee,
FRANCIS TAYLOR, Clerk.
May 9, 1775.
*The Committee for Orange County met on Tuesday, the 9th of May. Taking into their consideration the removal of the powder from the public magazine, and the compensation obtained by the Independent Com- pany of Hanover; and observing also that the receipt given by Captain Patrick Henry to his Majesty's Re- ceiver General refers the final disposal of the money to the next Colony Convention, came to the following Resolutions :
*Peter Force's American Archives, Fourth Series, Voi. I, p. 339-40.
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ORANGE IN THE REVOLUTION
I. That the Governour's removal of the Powder lodged in the Magazine, and set apart for the defence of the Country, was fraudulent, unnecessary, and extremely provoking to the people of this Colony.
2. That the resentment shown by the Hanover Vol- unteers, and the reprisal they have made on the King's property, highly merit the approbation of the publick, and the thanks of this Committee.
3. That if any attempt should be made, at the ensu- ing Convention, to have the Money returned to His Majesty's Receiver General, our Delegates be, and they are hereby instructed, to exert all their influence in opposing such attempt, and in having the Money laid out in Gunpowder for the use of the Colony.
4. That the following Address be presented to Cap- tain Patrick Henry, and the gentlemen Independents of Hanover:
*GENTLEMEN: We, the Committee for the County of Orange, having been fully informed of your seasonable and spirited proceed- ings in procuring a compensation for the Powder fraudulently taken from the County Magazine by command of Lord Dunmore, and which it evidently appears his Lordship. notwithstanding his assurances had no intention to restore, entreat you to accept their cordial thanks for this testimony of your zeal for the honour and interest of your Country. We take this occasion also to give it as our opinion, that the blow struck in the Massachusetts Government is a hostile attack on this and every other Colony, and a sufficient warrant to use violence and reprisal, in all cases where it may be expedient for our security and welfare.
This address is signed by all the members of the committee except Messrs. Wm. Bell, Pannill, Francis Moore and V. Daniel, and was prepared by James Madison, Jr., according to Mr. Wm. C. Rives's "Life of Madison." As he was then only about twenty-three and at no time much of a warrior, the statement seems improbable; nor does his fame need bolstering by mere conjecture.
*Peter Force's American Archives, Fourth Series. Vol. I, p. 339-40 .
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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY
It will be observed that this record ends on May 9, only a few days after the "Embattled farmers" of Massachusetts had "fired the shot heard round the world," the opening gun of the Revolution at Concord, April 19, 1775.
Membership of the Committee was quite a badge of distinction, and descent from a Committeeman con- stitutes a clear title to membership in the societies known as "The Sons" and "The Daughters of the Revolution."
Recurring to the order books, the first record of impending disorder is in 1775, when nine patrolmen are paid 1,679 pounds of tobacco for patrolling the county the preceding year.
In March, 1776, Thomas Barbour is appointed sheriff "agreeable to an order of the Convention," the first official recognition by the Court of existing Revolution. In July of that year the justices take the oath prescribed by the Convention, "to be faithful and true to the Com- monwealth of Virginia, and to the utmost of their power support, maintain and defend the constitution thereof as settled by the General Convention, and do equal right and justice to all men." A noble oath! It was first administered to Francis Moore who then administered it to the other justices, to James Taylor, clerk, and to John Walker, "King's Attorney."
Virginia had declared her independence of the Crown on the 29th of June, 1776, five days before the general Declaration in July. The public officers appear to have simply held over by taking the Convention oath. But in May, 1777, commissions from Patrick Henry, the
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ORANGE IN THE REVOLUTION
first governor of the new "Commonwealth," directed to James Madison, Francis Moore, William Bell, Row- land Thomas, Reuben Daniel, Zachary Burnley, Thomas Bell, William Moore, Andrew Shepherd, Thomas Barbour, Johnny Scott, Benjamin Grymes, James Madison, Jr., Uriel Mallory, Catlett Conway, and Jeremiah White, were received : and they constituted the first bench of justices under the new regime. It does not appear that James Madison, Jr., ever qualified.
Richard Adams was ordered to deliver to Johnny Scott 60 bushels of salt belonging to the County, agree- able to an order of his Excellency, the Governor.
These companies are named in current orders : Johnny Scott's, Captain Bruce's, Captain Craig's, Captain Conway's, Francis Moore's, Captain Smith's, Captain Mills', and Captain Conney's. Captain seems to have distinguished sufficiently without the Christian name.
William Bell was appointed to administer the pre- scribed oath, "to oblige all the inhabitants to give assurance of allegiance to the State," and certain dis- senting ministers, John Price, Elijah Craig, Nathaniel Sanders, Bartlett Bennett, and Richard Cave, took the oaths of allegiance and fidelity.
In 1778 allowances of money were ordered to Peter Mountague, Jere Chandler, and Joseph Edmondson, soldiers in service; to Sarah Staves, a poor woman having two sons in service; to Usley McClarney, widow of Francis who had died in service ; to Margaret Douglas, a poor woman, son in Continental army; and to Solo- mon Garrett's family, he being in Continental service.
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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY
Thirty-six pounds were allowed Mountague's family. Zachary Burnley becomes county lieutenant in place of James Madison, resigned. He resigns in 1781, and is succeeded by James Madison, Jr. Jane Hensley, having son in Continental Army, is allowed 25 pounds.
In 1781, Ordered, agreeably to Act of Assembly for supplying army with clothes, provisions, and wagons, that each tithable person pay the sheriff seven pounds, current money, to purchase a wagon and team and hire a driver. This tax realized about $50,000, and the purchase was made and the outfit delivered to Benja- min Winslow, deputy commissioner.
The sheriff was ordered to pay James Madison $6,500 for repairing public wagons, Benjamin Head $36,000 to purchase a wagon and team for the public, and Edmund Singleton $800 for collars for the team. John Coleman is named as an ensign in Continental service.
In 1782 the companies in the County were commanded by Captains Miller, Burton, Buckner, Herndon, Háw- kins, Lindsay, Waugh, Graves, Stubblefield, and Webb.
A special term of the court was held for several days in April, 1782, to adjust claims for property impressed or furnished for the public service. These claims cover nearly forty full pages of the order book, and only a few of the more notable ones can be inserted here. They were mostly for provisions, horses, brandy, guns, etc .; a great many supplies having been furnished when the "Convention Troops," as the prisoners taken at Saratoga were called, subsequently confined in bar- racks near Charlottesville, were marched through the County.
SOLDIER'S REST
Page 211
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ORANGE IN THE REVOLUTION
A guard was constantly kept at Brock's Bridge, quite a detachment to judge from the quantity of sup- plies furnished it.
James Madison's name often appears. He owned quite a blacksmith's shop, and appears to have got good prices for all his supplies, which generally are rated as something extra. He furnished supplies to Halifax and Pittsylvania militia returning from Nol- and's Ferry where they had escorted prisoners taken at York; Indian meal to Convention troops marching from the barracks to Winchester in 1781 ; was paid $35 "for a gun, one of the best, imported, " impressed for the Orange militia, and for "a well fixed wagon, the naves (hubs) of the wheels boxed with iron, " impressed at Richmond by Stephen Southall, assistant quarter- master general.
Robert Thomas's gun was impressed for the Orange militia guarding the Convention prisoners in 1778. Moses Hase was paid for two bushels of " country-made salt," impressed by George Morton, commissary, Orange militia.
There is incontestible evidence that the Orange militia were several times in actual service in the field, a fact that no history of the Revolution discloses, cer- tainly not so as to identify them. How long and on what occasions they served can not now be ascertained, but these selected entries prove the fact :
William Hawkins furnishes supplies to Prettyman Merry, lieutenant Orange militia for 18-months men marching from Orange to Fredericksburg; allowances to William Webb, for beef for Orange militia on march
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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY
to camp; to James Coleman, for supplies impressed by William Thomas, commanding officer of guard at Brock's Bridge; to William Morton, for wagon impressed for Orange militia from August 17 to October 31, 1781, and for a wagon impressed at Guilford courthouse, North Carolina, October, 1781, by order of General Stevens ; to Zachary Herndon, for wagon with Orange militia 27 days, October and November, 1781, and to same in May, June, and July, 1781, 75 days; to George Morton, for wagons impressed for Orange militia 135 days, John Taylor, colonel commanding.
In a cotemporaneous official manuscript volume labeled, "Virginia Militia" in the State library, pub- lished in full in the "Virginia Magazine of History and Biography," see volume 14, page 80, are to be found these entries :
"1777, Sept. 29. Scott, Captain John, for pay of his company of Orange Militia to 28 inst, and 9 days to return, £211. 5S. 3d.
September 30. Ditto for ditto. For one day detained, per account, £8. 7s. 5d."
These examples must suffice. They seem to indicate that certainly part of the service was at the seige of York, as Yorktown was then called. Other items of general interest are these: Benjamin Johnson, sup- plies for prisoners and militia marching from Freder- icksburg to Charlottesville or Staunton, and for oats for wagon horses with the "Flying Hospital."
Charles Porter, for use of his house taken for quarters for Marquis de Lafayette by C. Jones, assistant quar- termaster general, June, 1781, 3 days. Daniel Thornton, for guarding the Marquis on his march through Orange.
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ORANGE IN THE REVOLUTION
It has been impossible to locate with exactness Charles Porter's house, thus rendered historic, but it is believed to have been near the old Raccoon Ford, some distance above the present ford, it being known that the Marquis was delayed some days there awaiting reën- forcements. In an order of March, 1786, laying off the County into districts for overseers of the Poor, Middle District begins "at Charles Porter's and runs along the Marquis's road to Brockman's Bridge," which almost identifies the house as being on the river where this road crossed it.
Mary Bell, for entertaining William Clark, express rider and his horse, stationed at her house by H. Young, quartermaster general, State volunteers.
This Mary Bell was afterwards County jailer for several years.
Andrew Shepherd, for a mare rode express, by order of the County Lieutenant, to give notice to captains of militia to assemble their companies, May, 1781, by order of the Executive.
Other items pertaining to the Revolution, and giving names of Orange people who participated in it will be found in condensed form in an appendix. The curious reader is referred to the order book for 1782, April Special Terms, for further information.
In order to verify the statement heretofore made as to the Orange soldiers being designated at first as "Culpeper Minute Men," the following petition, from the original, now on file in the State library, is pub- lished at length. It is endorsed, "The Petition of
.
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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY
Philip Ballard praying for a pension, December 28th, 1829, referred to Revolutionary claims, and is in the words following :
THE PETITION OF PHILIP BALLARD, AN OLD SOLDIER :
To the Senate and House of Representatives of Virginia- Your petitioner begs leave to represent that he enlisted in the serv- ice of the State of Virginia as early as 1775 in what was then called the Minute Service in Captain Joseph Spencer's Company from Orange County, Va., who was attached to Col. Tolerver's (Talia- ferro), of said County, Regiment, and was from thence marched to Culpeper C. H. and thence to what was called the Great Bridge, at which place your petitoner was engaged in the Battle that took place between the British and General Wolford, after which your petitioner was discharged. Your petitioner then enlisted in the service for two years in Captain Burley's (Burnley) Company who was commanded by Major Robert and Col. Francis Taylor. After the expiration of that time your petitioner enlisted two years more and was attached to Captain Chapman's Company who was com- manded by Major Wails (?) and Colonel Crocket. etc.
The affidavit of G. Stallings was filed in verification of this petition.
CHAPTER X.
Germanna and the First Settlers.
Who were the first English settlers may be best ascertained from the family names mentioned in the earlier court proceedings as narrated in other chapters. In most instances these were the people who resided in the County before and at the time of its formation, though some that are oftenest named, and appear to have been of the most conspicuous of the landed gentry, never became actual residents. The great Baylor and Beverley grants, and other very large ones, appear to have been speculative only, for the grantees never lived in the County. Their lands were under the man- agement of bailiffs, as they were then called, who had large numbers of servants under their control. Thus the census of 1782 (Appendix) shows that on the Baylor estate there were 84 blacks and not one white person. The real owners of the land attended court regularly, to acknowledge their many deeds of bargain and sale, and then returned to their homes in Tidewater.
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