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that body and he is recorded as being present on April 20 of that year. His death probably occurred in 1698, his will having been made then, on April 8. Col. Johnson came from Bilsby, county Lincoln, England. By a wife in England he had a daughter Judith, who married Sir Hardoff Wastnays. By a wife in Virginia he had several sons, one of whom was ancestor of the distinguished Virginia lawyer, Chapman Johnson.
Harrison, Benjamin, of "Wakefield," Surry county, a son of Benjamin Harrison, of the same place, was born Sept. 20, 1645. He was a minor at the time of his father's death, and in 1663, was under the guardianship of Capt. Thomas Flood, of Surry. On June 15, 1677, his name appears for the first time as a jus- tice and he continued for many years to be a member of the county court. On June 16, 1679, he took the oath as sheriff. He was a member of the house of burgesses in 1681, 1692, 1696, 1697 and 1698, and in the latter year was promoted to the council, of which he was a regular attendant until his death. In the charter of William and Mary College, 1692, Benjamin Harrison was ap- pointed one of the first trustees. Gov. Nichol- son was not on friendly terms with Harrison and his friends and wrote to the lords of trades and plantations in 1703 that the family of Harrisons had endeavored to engross the major part of the land on the south side of Blackwater Swamp, but that, for his majesty's interest, he had put a stop to their proceed- ings. Col. Harrison died Jan. 30, 1712-13.
Jenings, Edmund, president of the council and acting governor (q. v.).
Digges, Dudley, of York county, son of Edward Digges, governor of Virginia, was born about 1665. Sometime in 1698 Gov.
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Andros appointed him a member of the coun- cil, but for some reason he was not continued in office by Gov. Nicholson, and on Jan. 4, 1699-1700, the lords of trade and plantations wrote to Nicholson that they approved of his action in not admitting Col. Digges. What- ever the objection may have been it was re- moved in a few years, for on Feb. 23, 1703- 04, the Queen appointed Col. Dudley Digges to the council, as had been recommended by Gov. Nicholson. He was also included in a new commission dated Feb. 23, 1709-10. In 1705 Digges was appointed auditor and sur- veyor-general of Virginia, offices which he held until his death, Jan. 18, 1710-II.
Carter, Robert, president of the council and acting governor of Virginia (q. v.).
Custis, John, son of Maj-Gen. John Custis, of "Arlington," Northampton county, was born in 1653. He was a justice of Northamp- ton in 1680, a member of the house of bur- gesses from that county in 1685, 1692, 1696, and in 1699, when he is styled "Colonel John Custis," he was escheator, naval officer and receiver of Virginia for the eastern shore. He was appointed to the council Dec. 14, 1699, and later on Oct. 15, 1705. He was a constant attendant at the sessions during the remainder of his life, his name appearing for the last time on Oct. 15, 1712, just three months be- fore his death. He died January 26, 1713, and was buried at "Wilsonia," Northampton county.
Page, Matthew, of "Rosewell." Gloucester county, was a son of Col. John Page, and was born in 1659. He was a member of the house of burgesses and a charter trustee of William and Mary College in 1692, and escheator for the district between the York and Rappahan- nock rivers from 1699 to 1702. He was ap-
pointed to the council in 1700, probably to fill a vacancy, and the appointment confirmed in 1702 by the Queen. He remained a member until his death in 1703. He married Mary Mann, of Gloucester county, Virginia.
Burwell, Lewis, of "Carter's Creek," Glou- cester, and of "King's Creek," York, was a son of Maj. Lewis Burwell and Lucy Higgin- son, his wife. He was a justice of Gloucester in 1680 and a trustee of William and Mary College in 1692. He was probably appointed to the council by the governor in 1700. Such appointments were always provisional and had to be ratified by the English authorities and on Dec. 4, 1700, the lords of trade wrote to Gov. Nicholson that he had been appointed to the council. On Oct. 13, 1701, Maj. Bur- well wrote to the lords of trade that he had received his majesty's command requiring his service as one of the council of the colony. It was his very great misfortune that upon this occasion it was not in his power to pay the respect of duty and obedience which he had always been ambitious to do, and therefore he prayed their lordships' intercession with his majesty not to insist upon his commands. Sickness and lameness, with which he was very often afflicted, made it impossible for him to attend. Accordingly, on May 7. 1702, the lords of trade recommended to the Queen that Lewis Burwell be discharged from the council, which was done. It was with one of this Maj. Burwell's daughters that Gov. Nicholson became infatuated, as Dr. Blair reports. He died Dec. 19, 1710. He married (first) Abi- gail Smith, niece of Hon. Nathaniel Bacon, Esq., and (second) Martha, widow of Col. William Cole, formerly secretary of state, and daughter of Councillor Col. John Lear.
Ludwell, Philip, Jr., of Greenspring," James City county, was a son of the Philip Ludwell.
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who was so long a prominent figure in the isters to the Virginia churches. In this matter colony, and was born at "Carter's Creek," they were entirely successful in their opposi- tion to him, though this and other disputes continued for sometime. These differences were finally composed in 1720, after which date there is scarcely any record of Ludwell's public life save the reports of his constant attendance at the council. He died Jan. II, 1726-27. Gloucester county, Feb. 4, 1672. His father's influence and large estate brought the son into public life at an early age and he was chosen speaker of the house of burgesses in 1695, being probably the most youthful occupant of that chair. On May 14, 1702, on the recom- mendation of the governor, the Queen ap- pointed him a member of the council. Though Quarry, Robert, was appointed a member of the council in the commission of Oct. 16, 1702, and on Dec. 17, wrote the lords of trade that he had arrived in the colony about the middle of October. He made a visit to Eng- land the following year, but was again in Vir- ginia in Sept., 1703, and in October of the same year was appointed surveyor-general of the customs in America, in which office he played an active part in the affairs of the colony. Like his predecessors in this office, lic was so frequently absent in England that he can hardly be said to have been a citizen of Virginia at all. He sat as councillor in 1707 and 1709-10, and, under a new commission, was present and took the oaths as councillor, July 21, 1712. The colonial records contain no further information concerning him. recommended by Nicholson, Ludwell was one of the party who opposed him and finally suc- ceeded in having ยท him removed from office. Ludwell's official life appears to have con- tinued to run smoothly, he sat regularly at the meetings of the council, was appointed one of the trustees of the new college at Williams- burg in 1706, and 1709 was made a commis- sioner on the part of Virginia for establishing the boundary line with North Carolina. In 17II he was appointed auditor of Virginia by Gov. Spotswood, who seems at first to have been favorably impressed with him. The good will between them did not last, however. The Ludwells, always on the side of the people, did not hesitate to oppose the governor in what they considered usurpations of the popu- lar rights, and accordingly, when the clash be- tween the house of burgesses and Spotswood occurred, the colonel sided with the former. So highly was the governor incensed that he suspended Ludwell from the office of auditor and accused him of mismanagement of the finances. There was a considerable dispute over this order, but the English authorities finally upheld Spotswood and appointed an- other in Ludwell's place. This did not, how- ever, discourage that gentleman in his resist- ence to the governor, and in 1718 he sided with Commissary Blair in his dispute with Spotswood relative to the appointment of min-
Duke, Henry, of James City county, was a justice of that county in 1680, sheriff in 1699 and member of the house of burgesses in 1692, 1696, 1699, 1700, and probably in the follow- ing year. In 1700 he was a member of the committee appointed to review the laws and, on May 14, 1702, was appointed by the Queen, a member of the council. He continued a member and a regular attendant at the sessions of that body until his death, the last record of his attendance being in 1713. It appears that he was also commander of the militia in James City county in 1710, for on Aug.
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24 of that year, Gov. Spotswood made a mem- orandum, in the receipt of a letter from Col. Duke, giving an account of some negroes going away with arms, directing him, in case of a like happening, to raise the militia and go in pursuit. On Jan. 27, 1713, Spotswood wrote to the English authorities that there was a vacancy in the council on account of the death of Henty Duke, which had occurred during the winter.
Bassett, William, of "Eltham," New Kent county, was a son of Capt. William Bassett of the same county and was born in 1670. He was a member of the house of burgesses from New Kent in 1692, 1696, 1702 and probably in the intervening years. On May 22, 1702, Edmund Jenings and John Lightfoot cer- tified that Col. William Bassett, who was elected burgess for New Kent, "was tendered the oaths for burgess and returned the fol- lowing answer, 'I have already in several qualifications testified my allegiance to King William's government by taking the oaths &c .; but I am now informed, and fully satisfied that he is dead, and therefore I think myself obliged both in prudence and concience to de- cline taking ye oaths to him at this time.'" On May 14, 1702, the Queen appointed him a member of the council of Virginia and he was present at sessions of that body until April 15, 1708. Within a few years Bassett desired to retire from the council and wrote to Eng- land to that effect, stating that neither his health nor his private affairs would permit him to attend. This, after some delay, was granted, but Bassett seems to have made too high a record as an official to be allowed to remain long in retirement, and in 1711, he was returned to the council, but declined to accept as he was not restored to his former position in that body. On March II, 1714-15, he was
again included in a commission to the coun- cillors and this time took his seat, attending regularly the sessions until his death in 1723.
Smith, John, of Gloucester county, a son of Col. Lawrence Smith of the same place, was appointed to the council in the spring of 1704 by Gov. Nicholson, but in the next com- inission to the council the names of Smith and John Lewis were omitted and they made application for restoration to the lords of trade. In Dec., 1705, the board ordered that Mr. Smith be reinstated, taking the place of William Byrd deceased, and the following year he took the oaths of office. He was among those councillors who opposed Gov. Spotswood and whom the latter petitioned the English authorities to have removed in 1718, a petition not granted. Besides being in the council, Smith was appointed by Nicholson to be quartermaster general of Virginia in 1704- 05, and in 1707, he was made commander-in- chief of the militia in King and Queen county in place of Col. John Lightfoot deceased. His death occurred sometime prior to March, 1719-20. He married Arabella Cox, a de- scendant of William Strachey, secretary to Lord Delaware in 1611.
Lewis, John, Sr., of "Warner Hall," Glou- cester county, was a son of John and Isabella Lewis of the same county and was born Nov. 30, 1699. Towards the close of Gov. Nichol- son's administration, probably in the spring of 1704, he was appointed to the council, but in some way his name was omitted from the commission to that body under Nicholson's successor. Lewis and John Smith, who was in the same case, wrote to the lords of trade expressing surprise that they should have been left out as they were sensible of never having acted contrary to their duty to the Queen, her
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representatives or the welfare of the colony. The enemies of Nicholson strove to keep them excluded, but as nothing could be urged against them, they were successful in their efforts to be admitted and on June 26, 1707, they were finally sworn as members. Col. Lewis was a regular attendant at the sessions of the coun- cil until his death. On Sept. 2, 1707, he was appointed commander of King and Queen county. He died Nov. 14, 1725. He married Elizabeth Warner, daughter of Col. Augus- tine Warner and Mildred Reade, daughter of Col. George Reade, and left issue.
Churchill, William, of "Bushy Park" and "Wilton," Middlesex county, was born in Ox- fordshire, England about 1650 and came to Virginia prior to 1687, when he was a justice of Middlesex. He became a man of large wealth and prominence in the colony and owned two estates in his county, entirely across which his lands were stated to extend. He was a member of the house of burgesses for Middlesex in 1704 and probably other years, and on April 20, 1705, was appointed by the English government a member of the council. He continued a regular attendant until his death in 1710. He married Elizabeth Armistead, daughter of Col. John Armistead, and widow of Ralph Wormeley, secretary of state, and left issue.
Cocke, Dr. William, a native of Suffolk, England, was born in 1671, matriculated in Queen's College, Cambridge, in 1688, and was elected fellow of the college in 1694. The exact date of his immigration to Virginia does not appear, but in the latter part of 1711 or early in 1712, upon the resignation of Ed- mund Jenings, he was appointed secretary of state of Virginia. There seems to have been some arrangement between Jenings and
Cocke in regard to the profits of the office and there was some little delay before the lat- ter came into full possession of the place. Gov. Spotswood wrote on Feb. 11, 1712-13 to the authorities in England that there was a vancancy in the council and recommended, as a fit person to fill it "the gentleman who was last year by her majesty's favor promoted to the office of Secretary, Mr. William Cocke." On July 23, 1713, the board of trade and plan- tations made a representation to the Queen recommending Secretary Cocke for the coun- cil, and on Aug. 18 the appointment was made. Dr. Cocke was present at the various sessions of the council until the spring of 1716, when he made a visit to England. He was a bearer 011 that occasion of a letter from Gov. Spots- wood, in which he gives the highest praise to Cocke and recommends him to the Queen's favor. Dr. Cocke returned to Virginia prior to March 11, 1718, on which date he was pres- ent in council. He died Oct. 20, 1720. He married Elizabeth, sister of the celebrated naturalist Mark Catesby, and left descend- ants.
Berkeley, Edmund, of Middlesex county, was a son of Edmund and Mary Berkeley and was born sometime prior to 1674. On July 22, 1713, the board of trade and plantations made a representation to the Queen, recom- mending him for appointment to the council, and on Aug. 8 the appointment was made. There seems to have been a vigorous dispute between him and Gov. Spotswood regarding precedence in the council, Berkeley claiming that he should take precedence over the coun- cillors appointed by the governor after the date of his letter from the Queen, but sworn before him. The dispute lasted for some time, Berkeley in the meantime refusing to take his seat, but at length a new commission
COL. WM. BYRD Founder of Richmond
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arrived in March, 1714-15, in which his name was again included and he seems after this to have been a regular attendant until his death in 1718, at his residence "Barn Elms" in Middlesex county. He married Lucy, daughter of Maj. Lewis Burwell and his wife Abigail Smith descended from the illustrious house of the Bacons in England.
Byrd, William, of Westover, a son of Coun- cillor William Byrd, of the same place, was born March 28, 1674. He may truly be said to have been born under a lucky star, for his father had already made the name of Byrd distinguished in Virginia, and bequeathed to tlie son, besides worldly wealth and position, many admirable gifts of character and mind. He was sent to England as a mere lad for his education and placed under the direction of Sir Robert Southwell. Later he read law in the Middle Temple, and, in recognition of his gifts and scholarship, was made a fellow of the Royal Society of Great Britain. A trip to the continent and a visit to the court of France served as finishing touches to this edu- cation before his return to Virginia. Soon after reaching the colony, he was made a bur- gess and, in Oct., 1696, was sent as the official agent of that body to England, where lie re- mained at least as late as 1702, though the cate of liis visit's termination is not definitely known. Upon his return, he entered cagerly into the affairs of the colony and soon came to be looked upon as the leading man of his tume. In Sept., 1705. Gov. Nott, upon the advice of the council, appointed him receiver general of Virginia to fill the vacancy occa- sioned by the death of his father, and in De- cumber, of the same year, he succeeded to his father's place in the council. In the conflict that arose between the assembly and Gov. Spotswood, Col. Byrd took part with the for-
mer, and the governor's displeasure was fur- thier increased by a long visit Byrd made in England. He consequently wrote to England advising the authorities there to remove Byrd and a number of his other enemies from the council. In the case of Byrd there was a long dispute with varying success, but in the end he retained his seat. This quarrel was finally ended and Byrd and Spotswood became cor- cial friends after the latter's retirement from public life. In 1727, Byrd was appointed by Gov. Gooch, one of the commission to confer with North Carolina upon the boundary line between the two colonies. The Virginia com- mission consisted of Col. Byrd, Richard Fitz- william and William Dandridge. These gen- tlemen not only succeeded in fixing the posi- tion of the line but accompanied the engineers that drew it on their difficult and painful sur- vey through the wilderness. Col. Byrd kept a diary of the expedition which has been preserved for us, and which, along with other similar writings by him. afford a vivid picture of colonial life in that period. Col. Byrd built the famous brick mansion which stands to this day at Westover, and collected the largest library of the day in America. This library boasted 3,625 volumes, among which was the "Records of the London Company," which the Earl of Southampton caused to be made, and which Byrd's father had purchased in London. Col. Byrd's death occurred Ang. 26, 1744, and he was buried in the garden at Westover.
It was fit that a man of his eminent char- acter should have been founder of the city of Richmond, the present capital of Virginia.
Porteus, Robert, of "New Bottle," Glou- cester county, was born in 1679. His father was Edward Porteus of the same county, who, in 1693, was recommended by the governor as
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one of the "gentlemen of estate and standing" suitable for appointment to the council. He was, however, never given the office. Robert Porteus was appointed sheriff of Gloucester in: 1709, but declined the office. On March I, 1713, he was sworn as member of the council and remained a member until 1719, when he went to England, dying at Ripon, Yorkshire, August 8, 1758. He was the father of Beilby Porteus, Bishop of London.
Harrison, Nathaniel, of "Wakefield," Sur- ry county, was a son of Councillor Benjamin Harrison and was born in Surry county, Aug. 8. 1677. He was, for a number of years a very prominent and influential figure in the colony. Beginning his public life as a justice of Surry in 1698, he was later a member of the house of burgesses for that county from 1700 to 1706 inclusive. In 1702, he was naval officer for the upper district of James river ; in: 1704, he was appointed by the commission- ers of the prize office in England, the agent for prizes in Virginia; in 1710, appointed by Spotswood, naval officer and receiver of Vir- ginia duties ; and on April 10 of the same year was made one of the commissioners on the part of Virginia to settle, with North Carolina, the question of their boundary. On Jan. 9, 1713-14, he became a councillor on Spots- wood's appointment, this being confirmed by tlie English authorities the following year. On Dec. 8, 1715, he was appointed county lieuten- ant of Surry and Prince George, and appears at this time to have been receiver general of Virginia, the deputy in Virginia for the audi- tor and receiver general of all the colonies, who lived in England. He was a reguiar at- tendant at sessions of the council until his death, Nov. 30, 1727. He married Mary Cary, daughter of John Cary, merchant of London,
by his wife Jane, daughter of Col. John Flood, of Surry county, Virginia, and had issue.
Page, Mann, of "Rosewell," Gloucester county, was a son of Matthew Page of the same place and was born in 1691. His grand- son, Gov. Page, stated that he was educated at Eaton, and Foster's "Oxford Matricula- tions" shows that he was entered at St. John's College at that university in July, 1709. Early in 1714, a vacancy occurring in the council, Gov. Spotswood appointed him a member of that body, and on March 11, 1714-15, the Eng- lish government confirmed his appointment. l'age was a regular attendant at the sessions of the council until his death. Mann Page was the builder of the present house at "Rose- well," which was begun in 1725 and barely completed at the time of his death, Jan. 24, 1730. He married Judith, daughter of Sec- retary Ralph Wormeley, and had issue.
Digges, Cole, of "Bellfield," York county, was a son of Councillor Dudley Digges of the same place and was born in 1692. He was a member of the house of burgesses for York in 1718 and probably other years, and was first mentioned in 1718 as a candidate for the council, being recommended for that body by Gov. Spotswood in his letter of Sept. 17 of that year. There was some delay in the mat- ter of his appointment due to politics but, in Sept., 1720, he finally received his commission and was sworn to office. He remained a mem- ber, and was a frequent attendant for many years, the last record of his appearance being on Sept. 4, 1744, in which year his death occurred. He married Elizabeth Power. daughter of Dr. Henry Power, son of John Power, "a Spanish merchant," and left issue.
Beverley, Peter, of Gloucester county, eld- est son of Maj. Robert Beverley of Middle-
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sex county, the councillor and patriot, was born probably about the year 1668. In 1691, soon after his coming of age, he was appointed cierk of the house of burgesses and held that . office until the year 1700, when he was elected a member of the house from Gloucester county. He evidently soon attained promi- nence, for from 1702 to 1714, he was speaker of the assembly, and in the former year, the house, as a token of their esteem and gratitude voted him an annuity of 10,000 pounds of tobacco. From 1710 to 1723, he was treas- urer of Virginia, elected by the house of bur- gesses. On May 23, 1716, Gov. Spotswood recommended for the position of auditor gen- etal, John Robinson or Peter Beverley, the latter of whom had been for several years speaker, and was then the country's treasurer. Writing again on July 3, Spotswood said that he intended to appoint as auditor pro tem Col. Peter Beverley. On April 9, 1719, the lords of trade recommended to the King that "Peter Beverley, a gentleman of good estate and abili- ties, of fair character and well affected to his majesty's person and government," should be appointed a member of the Virginia council. On June 20, 1720, the appointment was made. Col. Beverley remained a member until nis death, his last appearance, as noted in the journal, being June 13, 1728, in which year he died. Besides the offices already mentioned as held by him, were those of visitor of Wil- liam and Mary College and surveyor general of Virginia. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Maj. Robert Peyton, who was grandson of Sir Edward Peyton, of Isleham, county Kent, England, and left issue.
Robinson, John, president of the council and acting governor (q. v.).
Carter, John, was the eldest son of Robert Carter of "Corotoman," Lancaster county. He
was a student at the Middle Temple and, in 1722, was a barrister at law at the Inns of Court. On June 23, 1722, Spotswood wrote to the lords of trade recommending "Mr. John Car- ter, eldest son of one of the council, and bar- rister at law in the Middle Temple, and a native of Virginia" for the position of solici- tor of Virginia affairs in England. This posi- tion was obtained by Mr. Carter and held by him until the next year, when, being appointed to the office of secretary of state of Virginia, he returned there. On Nov. 1, 1723, Gov. Drysdale recommends the then secretary to fill a vacancy in the council. His father was al- leady a councillor and if the affinity of father and son was too close to be allowed, he then recommended John Grymes, the King's re- ceiver general, though his own inclinations were for Mr. Carter. On Jan. 17, 1723-24, Lord Orkney, governor of Virginia, recom- mended to the lords of trade that John Carter Esq. be appointed to the council to succeed Wm. Bassett, deceased. On Jan. 23, the King made the appointment and on April 25, 1724. Carter took his seat. Not long after this Car- ter obtained the position of secretary, for which, as was frequently done, he is said to have paid a large price. The great power attaching to this office came under discussion during Carter's incumbency and Gov. Drys- dale laid before the lords of trade the fact that the secretary had the appointment of the several county clerks and, in virtue of their membership in the house of burgesses, the virtual appointment of one half of that body which would be thus largely devoted to his interests. He expressly stipulated that he was rot reflecting upon the actions of the present secretary, but merely desired to lay before then this great change from the ancient con- stitution. In a letter dated Jan. 22, 1726-27,
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