USA > Virginia > Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume I > Part 21
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to the Duke of Newcastle, Carter defends his own actions in the matter. Carter seems to have been a regular attendant at the meetings of the council until 1741. His death occurred April 30, 1743.
Fitzwilliams, Richard, first appears in the Virginia record's on Aug. 13, 1717, when he petitioned the council for the grant of a lot of land in Hampton. This was doubtless his residence, as in April of the next year he was described as collector of the lower district of the James river. Some years later, probably 1725, he was appointed surveyor general of the colonies in America, and on July 22 of that yvar, the lords justices, the King being then out of England, referred to the board of plan- tations and trade, a petition from Fitzwilliams in which he asks that he may be added to the councils of Virginia and South Carolina. On Dec. 15, 1725, took his seat in the Virginia council, and on Dec. 14, 1727. was appointed by the governor one of the commissioners to settle the dispute regarding the boundary with North Carolina. He appears to have been often absent from Virginia as his duties called him to the other colonies and to England, but the records show him to have been occasion- ally present in council and for the last time in 1730. He probably died in 1732 in England, wlien his successor was appointed, but noth- ing further appears regarding him in the rec- ords.
Grymes, John, of "Brandon," Middlesex county, was a son of John Grymes of "Grym- esby," in the same county and was born in 1692. He was educated at William and Mary College and his first public office was that of justice of the peace for Middlesex, to which office he was appointed at an early age. On Nov. 22, 1716, the governor informed the
council that Mr. John Grymes had presented him with a deputation from Wm. Blathwayt. auditor general of the American colonies, ap- pointing him deputy auditor for Virginia, in the place of Philip Ludwell. This commis- sion did not appear to the governor to be drawn in sufficiently legal form to entitle Mr. Grymes to act, but he stated that he would supply the defects as far as possible, and Grymes took the oath of office. He still held the position in 1719 and in 1721. In 1720. he was a member of the house of burgesses and in 1723, was receiver general. On Nov. I, 1723, Gov. Drysdale recommended John Grymes, the King's receiver general, for ap- pointment to the council, and two years later repeated it. Upon the latter occasion, the ap- pointment was made and, on May 3. 1726, Grymes took his seat. He was a regular at- tendant until 1747. He died November 2, 1748. He married Lucy, daughter of Hon. Philip Ludwell, of "Greenspring," James City county, and left issue.
Blair, James, D. D., president of the coun- cil and acting governor (q. v.).
Dandridge, William, of "Elsing Green," King William county, and his brother, Col. John Dandridge, of New Kent, were the pro- genitors of the Dandridge family in Virginia. The first notice on record of Col. William Dandridge is under date of July 21, 1712, when he chartered his vessel to the governor of North Carolina to carry twenty soldiers to Charleston. At this time he seems to have been a merchant and ship owner at Hamp- ton, Elizabeth City county, as on Jan. 23, 1713, he was allowed to build a wharf opposite to his lots in that town, and in 1717. he is said to have built a house and wharf there. On May 31, 1727, the King appointed William Dand-
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ridge a member of the council, in the place of Philip Ludwell, deceased, and on Dec. 4 of the same year, the governor appointed him one of the commissioners to settle the boun- dary line between Virginia and North Caro- lina. In 1738, Dandridge was given command of his majesty's sloop "Wolf," and in 1741, was transferred to the "South Sea," forty guns, in which he served in Oglethorpe's at- tack on St. Augustine, and Admiral Vernon's (1 Carthagena. In the last mentioned ser- vice he especially distinguished himself. Later he commanded the "Ludlow Castle," man-of- war. Dandridge died in 1743 in Hanover county. His brother, Col. John Dandridge, was the father of Mrs. Martha Washington.
Custis, John, the third of that name to hold the position of councillor, was the son of Col. John Custis of "Wilsonia," and the grandson of Maj. Gen. John Custis, both in their days councillors. He was born in. 1678 and, his grandfather having bequeathed fioo per anum for his education, he went to England for that purpose. Upon returning to Virginia, he ap- p.cars to have resided principally near Wil- liamsburg, where he owned an estate. He was a member of the house of burgesses for the college in 1718 and probably other years. He was recommended for the council in 1727, by the Earl of Orkney, and appointed the same year. He married Frances, the eldest dauglı- ter of Col. Daniel Parke Jr., but being ex- ccedingly eccentric, and his lady of a proud and haughty disposition, the union was a most un- liappy one. His son, Daniel Parke Custis, later married Miss Martha Dandridge, who finally became the wife of Washington. He died November 2, 1749.
Randolph, William, of "Turkey Island," Henrico, was a son of Col. William Randolphi
of the same place, and was born in Nov., 1681. His first public office seems to have been as- sistant to his father as clerk of the house of burgesses, a position to which he finally suc- ceeded, holding it until 1712. In 1720, and probably other years, he was a member of the house of burgesses for Henrico county, and in 1727, he was appointed to the council. In 1737, he made a voyage to England for his hcaltlı, but returned the following year from which time he was a constant attendant at the sessions of the council until his death which occurred Oct. 19, 1742. He married Eliza- beth Beverley, daughter of Hon. Peter Bever- ley, of Gloucester county, Virginia, and had issue.
Harrison, Henry, son of Benjamin Har- rison of "Wakefield," Surry county, was born in 1692. He was a justice of Surry in 1710 and a burgess from that county in 1715, 1718 and perhaps other years. On Nov. 9, 1730, having been recommended as a "man in all respects equal and worthy to fill the vacant place," he was appointed by the King a mem- ber of the council and took his seat the fol- lowing year. He did not live long to enjoy his honors, however, for his death occurred in 1732. He married, but had no issue.
Bray, David, of James City county, a son of Col. David Bray of the same place, and grandson of Councillor Bray, was born in 1699. He was a man of large estate and, in 1631, on the recommendation of Gov. Gooch, appointed a member of the council. He mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter of John Page, of Williamsburg, but died Oct. 5, 1731, without issue.
Phenny, George, was sworn a member of the council on June 4, 1734, pursuant to a warrant dated July 31, 1732, from the "Queen
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as Guardian of the Kingdom," directing that George Pherny Esq., surveyor general of the customs for the southern district of America, should become a member of the council. He seems never to have resided in Virginia.
Tayloe, John, of "Mt. Airy," Richmond county, a son of Col. William Taylor, was born Feb. 15, 1687. From early manhood, he held a prominent place in the affairs of the county and the colony, becoming a justice of Richmond county in 1710, sheriff in 1712 and 1713, colonel of militia in 1713, and repre- senting the county in 1728, 1730 and probably other years. In 1732, he was appointed by the King a member of the council. Col. Tay- loe was a man of influence and large estate and took an active part in promoting the wel- fare of the colony. He was largely in iron mining and manufacture in Virginia and Maryland. He died in 1747. He married Elizabeth Fauntleroy, and had John Taylor, second of that name.
Lee, Thomas, president of the council and acting governor (q. v.).
Lightfoot, Philip, of Yorktown and of "Sandy Point," Charles City county, was a son of Philip Lightfoot of the latter place, and was born in 1689. In 1707, he was ap- pointed clerk of York county and held this office until 1733. During this period and later, hc was extensively engaged in business as a merchant at Yorktown and acquired great wealth. On Jan. 10, 1732-33, the governor appointed him a councillor in the place of Robert Carter, deceased, and this appointment was confirmed by the King April 9, 1733. He appears to have been in constant attendance at the meetings until his death. Lightfoot was one of the wealthiest men of his day and owned a handsome town house in addition to
his country seat. He died May 30, 1748. He married Mary, daughter of William Armis- tead, and widow of James Burwell, and had issue
Dinwiddie, Robert. Governor of Virginia (q. v.).
Dawson, Rev. William, son of William Dawson of Aspatria, Cumberland county, England, was born in 1704. When fifteen years of age, he entered Queen's College, Ox- ford, where he took the degree of bachelor of arts in his twenty-first year, and four years later, that of master of arts. Still later he was made a doctor of divinity. He was ordained to the ministry in 1728 and probably came to Virginia immediately, as in 1729 he was pro- fessor of moral philosophy at William and Mary College. During Blair's lifetime, he had Mr. Dawson read prayers for him, and when he was not well, to preach. Upon Blair's death in 1743, the visitors of the college, "by unanimous consent," chose Mr. Dawson pres- icent. At the same time he became a mem- ber of the council and was appointed com- imissary on the recommendation of Gov. Gooch. He died July 24, 1752, and was buried at Williamsburg.
Fairfax, William, was the second son of Henry Fairfax of Yorkshire, England and was baptized in that county in 1691. He served for a time in the navy under his kins- man, Capt. Fairfax, and afterwards in the army in Spain. His next public service was as chief justice of the Bahamas, but as the climate did not agree with him, he was given, in 1725, the appointment of collector of cis- toms at Salem, Massachusetts. About 1734, he came to Virginia as agent for his cousin, Lord Fairfax, in the management of his great landed estate, the Northern Neck. He lived
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for a time in Westmoreland county, but upon receiving the appointment as collector of cus- toms for South Potomac, removed to Fairfax county, where he built a mansion house. In 1742 he was a member of the house of bur- gesses, and in Nov., 1743, was appointed to the council. Col. Fairfax was a man of abil- ity, and played a prominent part in the French and Indian war. He was an early friend of Washington, and by his introduction of him to Lord Fairfax, procured him his first posi- tion as surveyor. Died August 30, 1757.
Blair, John, president of the council and acting governor (q. v.).
Burwell, Lewis, president of the council and acting governor (q. v.).
Nelson, William, president of the coun- cil and acting governor (q. v.).
Lewis, John, Jr., of "Warner Hall," Glou- cester county, son of the Hon. John Lewis of the same place, was born in 1694. He appears from the journals of the council, to have been a member of that body from Oct. 27, 1648, to Nov. 1, 1753. and perhaps later, as the rec- ords are incomplete. The date of his death is unknown.
Nelson, Thomas, of Yorktown, son of Thomas Nelson, Sr., of the same place, was born in 1716, and died in 1782. He was ap- 1 ointed secretary of state of Virginia in 1742, and was a member of the house of burgesses for York county in 1748 and 1749, and in all probability in preceding years. In 1749 he was appointed a member of the council, and the journals show him to have been a regular attendant at the board until the revolution. In 1775 he was president of the council, hav- ing perhaps acceded to that position on the death of his brother William in 1772. He
was a firmi adherent of the colonial side in the revolution, though he exerted himself to pre- vent any violence on the part of the people to- wards Lord Dunmore. The "Virginia Gazette" of May 6. 1775, has the following :
"The town of York being somewhat alarmed by a letter from Capt. Montague, commander of his majesty's ship, the "Fowey," addressed to the Hon. Thomas Nelson Esq., president of his majesty's honorable council in Virginia, threatening to fire upon the town of York in case a party sent from his ship to the support of Gov. Dunmore, was attacked, the York county committee, taking into consideration the time the letter was sent, which was too late to permit the president to use his influence had the people been disposed to molest or attack the detachment, and further consider- ing that Col. Nelson, who, had the threat been carried into execution, would have been a prin- cipal sufferer, was at that very moment exert- ing his utmost endeavors in behalf of govern- ment and safety of his excellency's person, unanimously passed resolutions" denouncing Capt. Montague.
Though Thomas Nelson, from his long tenure of the office of secretary, was commonly styled Secretary Nelson, he was also the last presi- dent of the colonial council. Some idea of his great popularity may be gathered from the fact that when the convention, on June 29, 1776, ballotted for the first governor of the new state, he was nominated as a candidate for that office (probably by the conservative party) and received forty-five votes to the sixty for Patrick Henry. On the same day he was chosen one of the first privy council of the commonwealth, but declined the ap- pointment "on account of his age and infir- mities." He retired from public life at this time and lived quietly at his home in York-
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town, a retirement which was not interrupted until the occupation of that place by the Brit- ish forces.
Campbell ("History of Virginia") says, "Upon the breaking out of the revolution the secretary had retired from public affairs. He lived at Yorktown, where he had erected a handsome house. Cornwallis made his head- quarters in this house, which stood near the defensive works. It soon attracted the atten- tion of the French artillery, and was almost entirely demolished. Secretary Nelson was in it when the first shot killed one of his negroes at a little distance from him. What increased his solicitude was that he had two sons in the American army; so that every shot, whether fired from the town or from the trenches, might prove equally fatal to him. When a flag was sent in to request that he might be conveyed within the American lines, one of his sons was observed gazing wistfully at the gate of the town by which his father, then dis- abled by the gout, was to come out. Corn- wallis permitted his withdrawal, and he was taken to Washington's headquarters. Upon alighting, with a serene countenance, he re- later to the officers who stood around him what had been the effect of their batteries, and how much his mansion had suffered from the first shot."
Thomas Nelson was married to Lucy Armi- stead.
Corbin, Richard, of "Buckingham House," and "Corbin Hall," Middlesex county, and "Laneville," King and Queen county, was the son of Col. Gawin Corbin of the same place, and was for many years one of the most eminent and influential men of the colony of Virginia. He was educated in William and Mary College and probably also in England, and early in life was appointed a justice in
Middlesex county. He represented this county in the house of burgesses in 1751 (and doubt- less for several years before) and was, during that session of the assembly, appointed to the council, in which body he sat until the revo- lution. Col. Corbin was appointed receiver general of Virginia about 1754, an office which he also held until the close of the colo- nial regime. Through his influence George Washington received his first military com- mission. In 1754, young Washington wrote to Col. Corbin asking a commission in the military service of the colony. A major's commission was obtained and sent him with the following letter :
Dear George:
I enclose your commission. God prosper you with it.
Your Friend, RICHARD CORBIN.
Col. Corbin rendered efficient service in council during the French and Indian war, and received, along with Washington, William Fairfax, Gov. Dinwiddie and some others, a medal, as a sign of royal approbation. In April, 1775, Gov. Dinwiddie secretly removed the powder from the magazine in Williams- burg, and by so doing gave a great impetus to the revolutionary spirit in Virginia. Through- out the colony meetings were held, and armed volunteers offered their services to redress the indignity done to Virginia by the governor. The Hanover county committee of safety re- solved to take immediate steps to recover the powder or to make reprisal for it. "Ensign Parke Goodall with sixteen men, was detached into King and Queen county to Laneville, on the Mattapony, the seat of Richard Corbin, the King's deputy receiver general, to demand of him the estimated value, and in case of refusal to make him a prisoner. The detach- ment reached Laneville about midnight and
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a guard was stationed around the house. At daybreak, Mrs. Corbin assurred Goodall that the King's money was never left there, but at Williamsburg and that Col. Corbin was then In that town. Henry, meanwhile, with 150 men, had marched on Williamsburg and halted at Doncastle's. Ordinary to wait for Goodall. There was intense excitement at the capital, Dunmore made preparation for defence, and even the patriots there were alarmed at the approaching storm. Carter Braxton, Col. Cor- bin's son-in-law, interfered and obtained from the latter a bill of exchange for £330, the estimated value of the powder, which Henry promised to hold subject to the order for a general convention. In this way the disturb- ance in the country was temporarily allayed. It was subsequently ascertained that the pow- der was worth only about £112, and the resi- diue of the money was returned to the receiver general. Though it was well known that Col. Corbin's sympathies and belief were with Eng- land in the contest, yet when he retired at the outbreak of the war, and lived quietly in the country, he received no molestation from the new government. Doubtless his high charac- ter and past services had much to do with this, but it may also have been due to his feeble health." There is an interesting reference to Col. Corbin in a letter written by his son, Francis P. Corbin, in 1813. In it is stated that the King actually sent a commission to Col. Corbin, appointing him governor of Vir- ginia after the abdication of Lord Dunmore, but that it came too late and that Corbin pru- cently hid it in a secret drawer of his escre- toire. No record has been found of the deatlı of Richard Corbin, but it must have been in, or subsequent to, 1787.
Beverley, William, of "Blandfield," Essex county was the son of the historian, Robert
Beverley of "Beverley Park," King and Queen county and was born about 1698. He was clerk of Essex county from 1716 to 1745, burgess from Orange county in 1736 and from Essex in 1741, 1744, 1748, 1751 and doubtless in intervening years. Having large landed interests in the western part of the colony, lie was appointed county lieutenant of Orange and Augusta counties and, in 1751, was made a member of the council. Col. Beverley was one of the commissioners from Virginia to nieet those from other colonies and treat with the six nations at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1744. Beverley was also appointed by Lord Fairfax, one of the commissioners to settle in his behalf, the boundary of Northern Neck. He inherited large estates, including "Bever- ley Park," containing 7,600 acres, with "The Plains," of 1,200 acres adjoining, and "Bland- field" on the Rappahannock, in Essex, where he built the brick mansion which is one of the finest remaining examples of colonial archi- tecture. He also became the possessor of im- mense tracts of land by patent. Besides sev- eral smaller grants of some thousand acres each, he obtained, Sept. 6, 1736, a grant of 118,420 acres lying around the present Staun- ton in Augusta county. This land, which he named "Beverley Manor," now the name of a magisterial district in Augusta, he patented in partnership with several persons, but on the day after the grant was made, they con- veyed their interests to him. This estate he sold to settlers in smaller tracts. His death occurred about March 1, 1756.
Grymes, Philip, of "Brandon," Middlesex county, and son of Hon. John Grymes of the same place, was appointed justice of Middle- sex in 1743, was a member of the house of burgesses in 1748, and, in 1749, was appointed receiver general of Virginia. In 1751, he was
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made a member of the council and was present at its sessions from that year until the close of 1761. His long will, disposing of a very large estate and dated 1756, is on record in Middlesex. He was the father of Philip Ludwell Grymes of "Brandon," burgess for Middlesex county 1769, member of the house of delegates 1778, and appointed to the state council in 1803; who died May 18, 1805.
Carter, Robert Jr., son of Robert Carter of "Nomini Hall," Westmoreland county, Vir- ginia, and grandson of Col. Robert Carter, of "Corotoman," Lancaster county, Virginia, was born in 1728, and inherited large possessions of lands and houses in Virginia and Maryland. He removed in 1761 from Westmoreland to Williamsburg, where he had a fine residence. In 1764 he was made a member of the coun- cil, and in 1772 returned to his country seat at "Nomini Hall." Like a few of the other wealthy men of Virginia, he did not approve of separating from England, but when inde- pendence was declared he threw in his future with his native land. After the revolution, he freed many of his slaves, and changed his religion several times. On this account he has been referred to as the "Eccentric Robert Carter, of "Nomini Hall." But he was a man of great culture, possessed one of the finest libraries in America, and was the author of many noble deeds of kindness. He married Frances Anne Tasker, youngest daughter of Hon. Benjamin Tasker, of Maryland, and left issue.
Ludwell, Philip, the third of that name, of "Green Spring," James City county and son of Hon. Philip Ludwell of the same place, was born about the twenty-ninth of Dec., 1716. He was a member of the house of burgesses for Jamestown in 1748 and at that session was
appointed one of the committee to make a general revision of the laws. He was a mem- ber of the house again in 1749 and probably in other years. The exact date of his appoint- ment to the council does not appear, but the earliest mention of him as present was on March 26, 1752. From this time until 1761, he seems to have been a regular attendant. Soon after he probably went to England and spent the remaining years of his life there, though still retaining his position as councillor for the "Gazette" in speaking of his death calls him "one of his majesty's council in Virginia." He died on March 25, 1767, and was buried at Bow Church near London. With him became extinct, in the male line, the family of Lud- well, which for more than a hundred years had been possessed of large estate and great political influence in the colony, and whose members had so frequently defended the rights of the people and the legislature against the encroachments of the governors. For their own services and as ancestors of so many Virginians of fame, the Ludwells, though ex- tinct, are held in honored memory.
Randolph, Peter, of Chatsworth, Henrico county, and son of Hon. William Randolph of "Turkey Island," was born about 1713. His first public office seems to have been clerk of Albemarle county, which he held only dur- ing the year 1749, and then only by deputy. In 1751, he was a member of the house of bur- gesses for Henrico, and in the next year, was appointed to the council, of which he re- mained a member until his death. Some years after he became a councillor, he was appointed by the King, surveyor general of the customs for the middle district of America. Col. Randolph strongly opposed the measures taken by the more advanced friends of Amer- ican liberty, and Jefferson relates how, on the
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morning . after Henry's famous resolutions were adopted by the house of burgesses, he came to the capitol before the session of the house began, and saw Col. Peter Randolph, of the council, sitting at the clerk's desk and examining the journats to find a precedent for expunging a vote of the house. He died, July 8, 1767, too early to see the result of the revolutionary spirit, which he opposed.
Dawson, Rev. Thomas, was a younger brother of the learned and good Commissary William Dawson, of whom a sketch is given above. He came to Virginia at an early age and was educated at William and Mary Col- lege. In 1738 he was master of the Indian school there and at the same time was study- ing divinity under the guidance of his brother, then a professor at the college. In May, 1740, he went to England to be ordained, carrying with him a letter of introduction to the bishop of London, written by Commissary Blair and describing him as "a young man of sober, regular life" and with "a very good character." Three years later Mr. Dawson was elected to succeed Dr. Blair as rector of Bruton parish. In 1752 he was appointed commissary and member of the council to succeed his brother. He enjoyed a high place in Gov. Dinwiddie's favor. The new commissary at first declined the seat in the council, forseeing trouble in regard to his brother's estate, but his objec- tions were overruled and the records show him to have been a frequent attendant at the ses- sions as long as he held the office of commis- sary. Thomas Dawson presided and preached at the convention of the clergy of Virginia in 1754, and the following year succeeded Stith as president of William and Mary College. His administration fell upon years of religious and political strife, when the professors of the college and the board of visitors were divided
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