USA > Virginia > Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume I > Part 22
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into factions. Dawson became very unpopu- lar with the faculty, but retained the friend- ship of Gov. Dinwiddie and his successor, Francis Fauquier. At the last he fell into habits of intemperance and confessed the fact before the whole board of the college man- agers, at which time he had the honor of hav- ing an excuse made for him by his friend, Gov. Fauquier, who said that it was no won- der that he had resorted to drink since he had been teased to desperation by persons of his own cloth. He did not long survive, dying Dec. 5, 1761, leaving issue.
Byrd, William, the third of that name, of Westover, Charles City county, was the son of Col. William Byrd, of the same place. His collegiate education is believed to have begun at William and Mary College, and to have been completed in England. When he reached manhood he inherited what was probably the greatest estate in Virginia, and the prestige attached to one of the most distinguished names. He at once entered public life, becom- ing a member of the house of burgesses in 1753 and 1754, and in the latter year a mem- ber of the council, an office he held until the end of the colonial government. In 1758 the exigencies of the French and Indian war re- quired that another regiment be raised in Vir- ginia, and William Byrd was appointed its colonel, going at once into service. Some thought that he showed even greater talents as a military man than Col. Washington. Al- though, so far as the records show, Col. Byrd filled his various public offices in a satisfactory manner, he was sadly imprudent in his private concerns and dissipated to a large extent the splendid estate he had inherited. He died Jan. 1, 1777. He married twice : (First) Eliz- abeth Hill, only daughter of John Carter, of "Shirley," and (second) Mary, daughter of
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Charles Willing, of Philadelphia, first cousin of Peggy Shippen, the famous Philadelphia beauty, who married Benedict Arnold.
Thornton, Presley, son of Col. Anthony Thornton, who was descended from the Thorn- tons of Yorkshire, England, inherited almost all the large estates of the Presley family of Northumberland county, Virginia, through his mother, Winifred, daughter of Col. Peter Presley, of "Northumberland House." He was born in 1721, and at an early age he was elected to the house of burgesses for North- umberland and served continuously from 1748 to 1760, when he was appointed to the council. He married twice: (First) Eliza- beth -, (second) Charlotte Belson, an English lady, and left issue. He died Dec. 8, 1769. Washington spoke of him as "a man of great worth."
Robinson, Rev. William, son of Col. Chris- topher Robinson, of Middlesex county, Vir- ginia, was born March 5, 1716, was sent to school in England at ten years of age and ma- triculated at Oriel College, Oxford, April 2, 1737. He took his B. A. degree in 1740. After enjoying for three years one of the "London exhibitions" established by his great-uncle, Dr. . John Robinson, bishop of London, he was or- Lee, Philip Ludwell, was the eldest son of President Thomas Lee that survived him. He was born Feb. 24, 1726-27, and like many other young gentlemen of the day was sent to Eng- land to be educated, studying law in London at the Inner Temple. When Thomas Lee and William Beverley went to Pennsylvania to treat with the Iroquois in 1744, Philip Lud- well Lee, then a youth of eighteen, was one of the gallant party of gentlemen that accom- panied them. He represented Westmoreland in the house of burgesses in 1756 and was dained priest by Dr. Gibson, the then bishop. In Oct., 1744, he returned to his native country and was made rector of Stratton Major Parish, King and Queen county, where he continued rector till his death. He was one of the lead- ing clergymen in opposing the Two Penny Act, and incurred the enmity of Gov. Fau- quier, who was in favor of it. Despite the latter's opposition he was appointed, in 1761, commissary of the bishop of London, and be- came, as usual in such cases, member of the colonial council. He died in 1767 or 1768, present in council in 1758 and the year follow-
leaving issue several children by his wife .Alice, daughter of Benjamin Needler, of King and Queen county, Virginia.
Fitzhugh, William, son of Col. William Fitzhugh, of Stafford county, Virginia, and grandson of Henry Fitzhugh, of Bedfordshire, England, inheriteu, under his father's will 18,723 acres in Stafford and Westmoreland counties, and was residuary legatee of all lands not bequeathed in Maryland, Virginia and England. He was appointed clerk of Stafford county July 18, 1701, and was a member of the house of burgesses for that county in 1700, 1701, 1702. He was appointed to the council on Dec. 19, 1712, and Fitzhugh took the oaths in Virginia Oct. 15, 1712. His tenure of office was short, for his last appearance in council was on Nov. 8, 1713, and on Jan. 27, 1714, there is an entry on the council journal that he was dead. He married Anne, daughter of Richard Lee, of Westmoreland county, and left issue: 1. Henry (q. v.). 2. Lettice, mar- ried George Turberville, of "Hickory Grove," Westmoreland county. 3. Sarah, married Ed- ward Barradall, attorney-general of Virginia. His residence in Stafford county (now King George county ) is known as "Eagle's Nest."
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ing. Upon the death of his father in 1750 Philip Ludwell fell heir to the larger part of his estate, and was also entrusted with the guardianship and education of his younger brothers. Perhaps it was these responsibilities that kept him a bachelor until he was about thirty-five years of age, when Elizabeth Step- toe, daughter of James Steptoe, of Westmore- land, became his wife. He seems to have been secretary of the council in 1770, as on the eighteenth of June of that year he made out a "list of Books necessary for the Council Cham- ber." Such books as reports of parliament, histories, philosophical transactions, the ora- tions of Demosthenes, etc., were named in the list. Philip Ludwell Lee died Feb. 23, 1775, and was buried the next day, his forty-ninth birthday.
Horrocks, Rev. James, is chiefly known through his connection with William and Mary College. In 1764 Commissary Robinson wrote "Mr. Horrocks, a young clergyman, after hav- ing been master of the Grammar School two on three years, has found means of carrying the Presidentship of the college against Mr. Gra- ham a clergyman of unexceptionable character and generally esteemed, who has been Pro- fessor of Mathematics in the college near twenty years." In the same letter Robinson charged that Horrocks had gained this promo- tion through time-serving. Besides being president of the college Horrocks, upon the death of Robinson a little later in the same year, was made commissary and was rector of Bruton Parish Church. His name is on record as present in the council in 1758 and 1759, and he remained a member until his death. He took an active part in the controversies which agitated Virginia while the revolution was brewing, especially in the disputes regarding the salaries of the clergy, the establishment of a bishopric in America and the stamp act. He
expressed belief in the iniquity of the act of the house of burgesses providing that the ciergy should be paid in paper money instead of tobacco, but opposed John Camm's plan of repeated appeal to England, believing it to be useless. His health failing in 1771 he sailed for England, accompanied by his wife, leaving Camm in his chair as president of William and Mary, the Rev. Mr. Willie as commissary and the Rev. Mr. Henley to fill the pulpit at Bruton. He died March 20, 1772. In spite of the stormy times Horrock's administration was a palmy time for William and Mary Col- lege. Harvard at the time was still under the charge of a president and tutors, with but two professors, while the younger sister in Vir- ginia had for years enjoyed the advantages of a corps of professors, alumni of the great uni- versities of England and Scotland.
Fairfax, George William, of "Belvoir," Fairfax county, Virginia, and of "Toulston," Yorkshire, England, was the son of Col. Wil- liam Fairfax, of "Belvoir," and was born in the Bahamas in 1724. His education was ob- tained in England and, on his return to Vir- ginia, in early manhood, he at once began to play an active part in the affairs of the colony. In his twenty-first year, he was appointed .a justice in Fairfax county, and from 1748 to 1758 was a member of the house of burgesses. The companion of Washington on his first surveying expedition, he remained through life one of his most attached and valued friends. During the French and Indian war, as a colonel of militia, he actively assisted Washington in the defence of the frontier. He became a member of the council in April, 1768, and remained an active participant in its proceedings until 1773, when he went to Eng- land to take possession of Toulston, in York- shire, an estate which had descended to him through the death of his father's elder brother,
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Henry Fairfax. He was also actuated in his return to England by the fact that Virginia had ceased to be an attractive place of resi- dence for one so loyal as he. It is said that on his arrival, while sailing up the Thames, he actually passed the fateful tea, which was to prove the occasion of hostilities between the colonies and the mother country. Fairfax died at Bath, England, April 3, 1787, and appointed Washington one of his executors.
Burwell, Robert Carter, of Isle of Wight county, a son of Nathaniel Burwell, of Car- ter's Creek, Gloucester, was educated at Wil- liam and Mary College. He settled in Isle of Wight county, on Burwell's Bay, and repre- sented the county in the house of burgesses in 1752, and the same year was one of the first trustees of Smithfield. In 1764 he was elevated to the council, which he held till the revolution. His will, dated Jan. 10, 1777, was proved Oct. 13. 1777. He had a son Nathaniel, who was clerk of Isle of Wight court from 1772 to 1787, and a daughter Frances, who was first wife of Gov. John Page.
Tayloe, John, Jr., of "Mt. Airy," Richmond county, a son of Hon. John Taylor, was born May 28, 1721. He is stated to have been edu- cated in England at the University of Cam- bridge and to have inherited a very large estate from his father, who died when he was sixteen years of age. As soon as he reached his majority he was appointed a justice for Richmond county, and in a short time became one of the most influential, as he was probably the wealthiest man in the region. The exact date upon which he was commissioned a coun- cillor does not appear from the extant records, but he sat as a member April 21, 1757, and held his office until the outbreak of the revo- lution. Though a supporter of American lib- erty and a friend of Gen. Washington, it
seems probable that he was not in favor of an entire separation from Great Britain, for, though he was elected by the convention of 1776, a member of the first republican council of state, he declined to accept the office. In 1758 Col. Tayloe completed the fine house at "Mt. Airy," on the Rappahannock river, which, with its gardens and parks, remains such an interesting example of the home of the wealthy colonial planter. He had also a town house at Williamsburg for his winter residence, and "here and at Mt. Airy he was renowned for his hospitality." Col. Tayloe died April 18, 1779. He married Rebecca Plater, eldest daughter of George Plater, Esq., of St. Mary's county, Maryland, and had a son John and eight daughters who each married a man of distinction. "Mt. Airy" still remains in the Tayloe family.
Page, John, of "North End," on North river, Gloucester (now Matthews) county, was the son of Hon. Mann Page, of "Rose- well," Gloucester, and was born about 1720. According to the short autobiography of his nephew, Gov. Page, John Page, of "North End," was educated as a lawyer. The cata- lcgue of William and Mary College shows that he was a student there. He was a mem- ber of the house of burgesses, representing Gloucester from 1754 to 1764, and was ap- pointed to the council in 1768. The "Virginia Gazette" of June 16 in that year announces the appointment, and a later edition states that he was sworn and took his seat on June 30. He was also. one of the visitors of William and Mary College. His tenure of office did not last long, for the "Gazette" of Oct. 6, 1774, records his death.
Wormeley, Ralph, the third of that name, of "Rosegill," Middlesex county, was the son of Ralph Wormeley, of the same place, and
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was born in 1744. He was educated at Eaton and the University of Cambridge, and became a finished scholar with tastes which ran rather to literature than to public life. From the great wealth and political influence of his family, however, it was almost a matter of course that he be called to a high office in the government of the colony, and accordingly we find him shortly before the revolution occupy- ing a seat in the council to which he was ap- pointed in June, 1771. Though apparently op- posed to the measures of the English govern- ment in taxing Americans, he was yet stead- fastly loyal, and throughout the revolutionary period suffered the consequences of his devo- tion to the crown. He wrote, unfortunately for himself a letter expressing disapproval of the steps which the patriots were taking and was obliged to give bond not to leave his father's estate until permitted. After the war, notwithstanding the strong feeling against British sympathizers existing in Virginia, the high character and large estate of Ralph Wormeley soon restored his influence. He was a member of the convention of 1788, was sheriff in 1794 and 1795 and a member of the house of delegates in 1787, 1789, 1790 and 1793. His death occurred Jan. 19, 1806.
Camm, John, the last colonial president of William and Mary College, was the son of Thomas Camm, of Hornsea, England, and was born there in 1718. When a boy he went to school in Beverley, Yorkshire, England, and at twenty years of age, matriculated at Trin- ity College, Cambridge. Eleven years later we find him in Virginia, professor of divinity in William and Mary College, upon which office he entered August 24, 1749. On Oct. 30, 1754. a convention of the clergy of Virginia met at William and Mary College and Camm took a leading part in it. He was appointed one of
a committee to prepare "an humble address" from the convention to the bishop of London, and on several other committees. He took part in the controversy between the clergy and gov- ernment of Virginia over the Two Penny Act, regarding the payment of salaries, and made a violent enemy of Gov. Fauquier. It was against the sentiment of the time for any member of the faculty of a college, except the president, to marry and Camm broke this con- vention at the age of fifty-seven and lost his professorship in consequence, but later, upon the death of Horrocks, in 1771, he was chosen president of the college and head of the church in Virginia as well. He became a member of the council in 1775, but in 1777 he was re- moved from the presidency of the college be- cause, ardent tory that he was, he would not acknowledge the United States government. Two years later death ended the checkered career of "Old Parson," as he was familiarly called. He married Betsey Hansford, and has many descendants in Virginia.
Corbin, Gawin, Jr., of "Buckingham House," Middlesex county, eldest son of Hon. Richard Corbin, of "Laneville," was educated abroad and returned to Virginia about 1761. In Nov., 1758, ex-Gov. Dinwiddie, in a letter from Lon- don to Col. Richard Corbin, says: "Your son dined with me before he went to Cambridge. He is truly a sober well-bred young gentle- man." After his return to Virginia, Corbin was a member of the house of burgesses for Middlesex and was appointed to the council in 1775, remaining a member until the end of the royal government. The "Virginia Gazette," March 6, 1775, says: "We are informed that Gawin Corbin, Esq., of Middlesex, is ap- pointed one of his Majesty's honorable Coun- ci! of this colony, in the room of the late John Page deceased."
BURGESSES AND OTHER PROMINENT PERSONS
IV-BURGESSES AND OTHER PROMINENT PERSONS
Abrahall, Robert, came to Virginia about 1650 and settled in New Kent county, which he represented in the house of burgesses in 1654 and 1660. In the first year he was cap- tain in the New Kent militia, and in the last he was lieutenant-colonel. He used a seal hav- ing the arms of Abrahall of Herefordshire.
Abbott, Jeffrey, came to Virginia in the "Food Supply" in 1608; he had served as a soldier in Ireland and the Netherlands, and according to Smith was an excellent colonist. But rebelling against the tyranny of Sir Thomas Dale, he was executed in 1611.
Acrill, William, was a member of the house of burgesses from Charles City county in 1736, and died in November, 1738. He married Anne Cocke, of Surry, sister of Richard Cocke and Benjamin Cocke. He left a son, William Acrill, Jr.
Acrill, William, Jr., was a member of the house of burgesses for Charles City county from 1766 to 1775, and of the conventions of 1774, 1775 and 1776.
Ackiss, John, burgess for Princess Anne county in the assembly of May, 176g, and 1769-1771.
Adams, Richard, son of Ebenezer Adams, of New Kent county, Virginia, and grandson of Richard Adams, of Abridge, county Essex, England, citizen and merchant tailor of Lon- don, was born in New Kent county, May 17, 1726; member of the house of burgesses from New Kent and Henrico from 1752 to 1775; Henrico county committee, 1774-75; Virginia
convention in 1775; house of delegates, 1776- 1778; Virginia senate, 1779-1782. Died in Richmond, Aug. 2, 1800. He married Eliza- beth, daughter of Leroy and Mary Anne Grif- fi1.
Adams (Addams), Robert, was a member of the house of burgesses, 1623-24.
Aitchison, William, was burgess from Nor- folk borough in the assembly of 1758-1761. He was a prominent merchant of Norfolk, and died Nov. 15, 1776. His tombstone, with a coat-of-arms upon it, is still standing. He left a son William.
Alexander, Gerard (Gerrard), was burgess from Fairfax county, session of 1752-1755. He was a great-grandson of John Alexander, the immigrant, and son of Robert Alexander, of Stafford county, and his wife, Anne Fowke, daughter of Col. Gerard Fowke, of Alexan- dria. At one time he resided at Holm's Island, Prince William county. In 1753 he docked the entail of a tract of 6,000 acres left him by his father, and settled other lands in Frederic and Fairfax counties to the same uses. His will was proved in Fairfax, Sept. 16, 1761. It names wife, Mary (Dent?), and six children, and disposes of houses and lots in Alexandria, chairs and horses, and land in Loudoun county.
Alexander, John, son of Capt. Philip Alex- ander, of King George county, was born Nov. 15. 1730, was burgess for Stafford county in the assemblies of Oct., 1765, 1766-1768, May, 1769, 1769-1772, 1772-1774. He married Lucy Thornton, daughter of William Thornton, and died about 1775.
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Allen, Maj. Arthur, was the son and heir of Arthur Allen, of Surry county, and of his wife, Alice Tucker. Maj. Allen's father, in 1649, patented 200 acres between Lawne's creek and Lower Chippoakes creek. Maj. Allen was burgess from Surry county in 1682, in 1685-86 and in 1688. In the last-named session he was speaker of the assembly. He married Katherine, daughter and heiress of Capt. Laurence Baker, of Surry. On July 3. 1677. Mr. Arthur Allen sued Mr. Robert Bur- gess for that "during the late most Horrid Rebellion ( Bacon's rebellion ) he with others did seize and keep garrison in the plts' house neare fower months." This ancient brick man- sion is still standing, one of the oldest houses in Virginia, and is known as "Bacon's Castle" (1914). Maj. Allen's will was proved in Surry court, Sept. 5. 1710.
Allen, Edmund, was burgess from Acco- mac in the session of Feb. 5, 1752. He re- signed to accept the place of sheriff, and for the remainder of that assembly his place was supplied by Ralph Justice. He also repre- sented Accomac in the assemblies of 1756- 1758 and 1758-1761.
Allen, Edward, was burgess from Accomac in the session of May 22, 1740. in the place of Henry Scarburgh, deceased. He also repre- sented Accomac in the assembly of 1748-1749.
Allen, William, came in 1622; burgess for Henry Throckmorton's Plantation in 1629.
Allen, William, son of Joseph Allen and grandson of Maj. Arthur Allen, who was bur- gess and speaker, was educated at William and Mary College, was burgess for Surry county in the assemblies of 1758-1761, colonel of the militia, etc. He married (first) Clara Walker, and (second ) Mary Lightfoot, daugli-
ter of William Lightfoot, of "Sandy Point," Charles City county, and by the last had Col. William Allen, of "Claremont." James river ( 1768-1831 ).
Allerton, Willoughby, son of Col. Isaac Allerton, of the council, and Elizabeth Wil- loughby, daughter of Capt. Thomas Wil- loughby, was a burgess for Westmoreland county in 1699, 1710, 1712 and 1712-1714; collector of customs for Potomac river in 1711. He married Hannah, daughter of Wil- liam Keene, of Northumberland county, and widow of John Bushrod. He died in 1723- 24. leaving issue-Elizabeth and Isaac.
Allington, Lieut. Giles, of Kecoughtan, gentleman ; member of the London Company in 1620 and was probably of the family of Allington of Horschester, Cambridgeshire : he was an "ancient planter," but the year in which lie came to Virginia is not known.
Ambler, Edward, son of Richard Ambler, was born in 1733: was, like his brother John, schooled at Wakefield and Cambridge, and finished his education by making "the grand tour" of Europe. On his return to Virginia he was made collector of the port of York- tewn, and in 1766 succeeded his brother John as the representative for Jamestown in the assembly. He died Oct. 30, 1768. He mar- ried Mary, daughter of Col. Wilson Miles Cary.
Ambler, John, eldest son of Richard Am- bier, merchant of Jamestown and Yorktown, was born at Yorktown, Dec. 31. 1765; edu- cated at Leeds Academy, near Wakefield, in Yorktown, and at the University of Cam- bridge and the Middle Temple, from which last he graduated as barrister at law. He represented Jamestown in the house of bur-
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gesses in 1760, and was elected to that of 1766, but died before he took his seat, May 27, 1766.
Ambler, Richard, son of John Ambler, sheriff of Yorkshire, England, in 1721, and Elizabeth Bickadike, his wife. The son came to Virginia in the early part of the eighteenth century and settled at Yorktown. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Jaquelin, and succeeded to the Jaquelin estates at James- town. He was also largely engaged as a mer- chant at Yorktown, at which place he died in 1766, leaving three sons-John, Edward and Jaquelin.
Anderson, Rev. Charles, was minister for twenty-four years of Westover parish, Charles City county. His tombstone at Westover states that he died April 7, 1718. He left a son Charles, and daughters-Frances, who married Thomas Pinkard; Elizabeth, who married John Stith; Charlotte, who married Henry Taylor, and Jane, who married Ellyson Armistead.
Anderson, Charles, was burgess from Prince Edward in the sessions of Feb. 14, 1754, Aug. 22, 1754, Oct. 17, 1754, May I, 1755, Oct. 27, 1755, and in the assemblies of 1756-1758 and 1758-1761.
Anderson, David, a native of Scotland, was born in 1760, came to Petersburg, Va., was long a member of the Common Hall of the town, and chamberlain of the same. He founded the Anderson Seminary for the cor- poration of Petersburg. He died June 18. 1812.
Anderson, George, burgess for Stafford county in 1715.
Anderson, Matthew, succeeded, on the death of John Syme, as a burgess from Han-
over county in 1732, and continued till the end of the assembly ( 1734).
Anderson, Richard, burgess for Louisa county in 1765, 1766-1768, 1769. 1769-1772 and 1772-1774. He was colonel of the county militia, and in 1780 married Catherine Fox.
Anderson, Robert, burgess for Louisa county in 1752-1755, in the place of Thomas Walker, who accepted the office of coroner. He was son of Robert Anderson, of "Gold Mine," and Mary Overton, his wife, was born Jan. 1, 1712, and died 1792. He was grandfather of Robert Anderson, who com- manded at Fort Sumter in 1861.
Anderson, William, was a merchant of Accomac county, and served as burgess at the assembly of 1695-1696. His eldest daughter, Naomi, married Francis Makemie, the founder of the Presbyterian church in America. His will was proved Oct. 4, 1698. He was proba- bly from the county of Sussex, England, as he left money due him there to his sister, Com- fort Scott.
Andrews, Rev. Robert, was the son of Moses Andrews, of Pennsylvania, and great- grandson of John Andrews, who emigrated in 1654 from Leicestershire, England, to Mary- land. He was educated at the College of Phil- adelphia, and was tutor for several years in the family of Mann Page, of "Rosewell," Va., and in 1772 went to England for ordination ; professor of moral philosophy in William and Mary College, 1779; transferred to the mathe- matical chair in 1784; in 1781 was private secretary of Gen. Nelson ; in 1788 represented Williamsburg in the state convention of 1788, and in 1798 was a member of the legislature and voted against the celebrated resolutions
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