USA > Virginia > Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V > Part 8
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well, traced through his grandfather to a distinguished line of Scotch ancestors. Gov- ernor Spottswood was a great-grandson of John Spottswood, Archbishop of "St. An- drews" and author of the "History of the Church of Scotland," grandson of Robert Spottswood, lord president of the College of Justice and author of the "Practecks of the Laws of Scotland" and was one of the eight eminent lawyers executed by the Par- liament of Scotland, then composed almost entirely of Covenanters; only son of Dr. Robert Spottswood, physician to the gov- ernor of Tangier, an English colony in Africa, who married a widow, Catherine Elliott.
The first settlement of Virginia was made in 1609 and tradition states that Edward Burwell was one of those to whom land was granted under the charter granted by King James in 1607 and that he settled near Bur- well Bay, in Isle of Wight county, Virginia. Major Lewis Burwell, believed to have been a son of Edward Burwell, married Lucy, daughter of Captain Higginson, one of the first commanders that subdued the Vir- ginia Indians. Major Lewis Burwell died November 19, 1658. The epitaph on his tombstone at Carter's Creek in Gloucester, which bears his coat-of-arms, states that he was descended from the ancient and honor- able family of Burwells of Bedford and Northampton, England. He left two sons, Lewis and Nathaniel. The homestead of the family was built on the north side of York river, afterwards removed to the west side then to King's Mill on the James river. Lewis Burwell, of King's Mill, built a large house, worthy of the first born son to live in and the first born son was obliged to petition the legislature for leave to break the entail and sell a large tract of land in King William county to pay for it. Na- thaniel, the other son of Lewis Burwell, married Elizabeth Carter, of the "King" C'arter family, who survived him and mar- ried ( second) President Nelson and was the mother of Thomas Nelson, of the revolu- tion. Her picture was hanging in the old Nelson House at Yorktown in 1860, but was later destroyed by Northern soldiers.
At the breaking out of the revolution, the family was very rich in land and slaves and held high official positions. About 1750 Lewis Burwell was president of council and in 1775 Colonel Lewis Burwell (head of the
family was always named Lewis as long as the law of primogeniture prevailed) was a naval officer (or collector) of the ports along the James river. Much of the fam- ily property was destroyed by the British and a large number of slaves carried away. Almost all of the Virginia Burwells fought in the Army of Independence, some losing their lives. In the war of 1812 all were zealous patriots and soldiers. William A. Lurwell, then a member of Congress, ad- vocated a war with France as well as Eng- land, and several Burwells held commis- sions in the army. During the war of 1861- 65, always loyal to Virginia, every member of the family, within the legal years of ser- vice and some beyond and under it. were in the Confederate army and valiantly sup- ported the Confederate cause.
John Spottswood Burwell, son of Colonel Lewis Burwell, and great-grandson of Gov- ernor Alexander Spottswood, also a farmer of Franklin county, Virginia, married and had issue, including a son. Armistead Lewis Burwell.
Armistead Lewis Burwell was born in Franklin county, Virginia, in 1809, died in 1880, a farmer and tobacco factor. He mar- ried Mary Hicks, born in Franklin county in 1819, died in 1904, daughter of William Hicks and aunt of General Jubal Early, of the Confederate army. Children: 1. Wil- liam Armistead, born in Franklin county, in 1840, died in 1909 ; he was a private of the Second Regiment Virginia Cavalry. Con- federate States army, and was engaged in many battles including first and second Manassas (Bull Run), having a horse shot from under him but escaped serious injury. 2. Edwin, died in 1859. 3. John Spotts- wood, born in 1844. in Franklin county, a farmer, served four years in a Confederate cavalry regiment, was wounded in battle, taken prisoner and for a time confined in Port Delaware. 4. Blair Randolph, now living retired in Roanoke City, Virginia : he was a student at Virginia Military Institute at the time the war was in progress and with his fellow students, mere boys. marched out of the academy and fought at the battle of Newmarket. 5. Henry Lewis, of further mention. Three of Dr. Burwell's brothers, it is seen, served in the Confeder- ate army and at the same time their father and his three brothers, James Henry, Wil- liam Armistead and Wiley Burwell. were
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also in the same army, with many other of their relations, paternal and maternal. Armi- stead Lewis and Mary (Hicks) Burwell also had daughters: Mary Randolph, married Captain James. Wade, of Montgomery county, Virginia ; Lucy, died in 1914, mar- ried C. F. Ferrell, of New Orleans; Alice, married Russell Hill, of Culpeper county, Virginia ; Nellie, married her cousin, Lewis Burwell; Rosa, married Dr. E. B. Ilyus, of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.
Henry Lewis Burwell, youngest son of Armistead Lewis and Mary (Hicks) Bur- well, was born in Franklin county, Virginia, September 2, 1856. He pursued courses of study under private tutors until 1874, then spent three years in Roanoke College. After leaving college, he entered private school in Baltimore, Maryland, and in 1875 began medical study at the Kentucky College of Medicine, at Louisville, whence he was graduated M. D., class of 1879. After a term of service as interne in a Louisville hospital, he located at Mountvale, Virginia, where he practiced his profession for seven years. During the years, 1886-88, he prac- ticed at Brooksville, Florida, returning in the latter year to Virginia and locating in Chase City, Mecklenburg county, where for over a quarter of a century he has been continuously . engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery. He has attracted a large clientele in town and country and has won high standing as an able practitioner. skillful surgeon, good friend, neighbor and citizen. He is a member of the Virginia State Medical Association and keeps fully abreast of all modern medical and surgical advance. He is a member of the Masonic order in Chase City, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is an elder of the Presby- terian church, and in politics a Democrat, serving in the county board of health, using his medical skill in behalf of the public health by prevention as well as treatment.
Dr. Burwell married Eleanor Shepherd Fry, born December 27, 1862. daughter of Colonel William Henry and Jane Margaret (Watson) Fry, a descendant of Colonel Joshua Fry, the Virginia patriot and sol- dier, who while leading his troops to the fort at the junction of the Alleghany and Monongahela rivers, was stricken down, May 31. 1754. George Washington was the lieutenant-colonel of Colonel Fry's regiment and at the latter's burial, at Fort Cumber-
land, May 31, 1754, attended with the army, and on a large oak, which stood as a tomb and a monument to his memory, cut the following inscription: "Under this oak lies the body of the Good, the Just and the noble Fry."
Family tradition states that Colonel Joshua Fry was born in Somersetshire, England, and educated at Oxford. But there were Frys in Virginia as early as 1623. Joshua Fry patented land in Spott- sylvania county, Virginia, in 1726, the estate now, however, being in Madison county. Prior to that date he is found recorded as vestryman, and in court records as com- missioner (or magistrate) of Essex county. between the years 1710 and 1720. He there married Mary (Micou) Hill, daughter of Dr. Paul Micou, physician and surgeon, a Huguenot exile from France, and widow of Colonel Hill, a large landed proprietor on the Rappahannock river. Colonel Fry rose to eminence in the Colonial government, held many important assignments from the government, made valuable surveys and maps, was one of the commissioners who negotiated the "Treaty of Logstown" with the Indians of the Shawnee, Mingo and Delaware tribes, June 13, 1752, and when England and France fought for supremacy in the Ohio country was commissioned by Governor Dinwiddie to command the Vir- ginia troops. The copy of his commission is yet preserved by his descendants. It
appoints him "Colonel and Commander-in- chief of the troops now raising to be called the Virginia regiment, with which and the artillery, arms, ammunition, necessary pro- visions and stores, you are, with all possible dispatch, to proceed to the said Fort of Monongahela and there act according to your instructions." Washington was lieu- tenant-colonel of the regiment and went in advance to clear a road for the artillery, which was to follow with Colonel Fry, who left Alexandria, April 27, 1754, but on May 31, following, having reached Mills Creek ( Fort Cumberland) on the Potomac river, was suddenly taken ill and died. Had he lived none can tell what he would have achieved by his engineering, skill, experi- ence and knowledge of the country, which he before traversed. After the burial of Colonel Fry, on the same day of his death, Washington succeeded to the command of the regiment and led it westward. By will
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Colonel Fry devised land and slaves to his widow, three sons and two daughters. His widow died August 20, 1772. Children : John, Henry, Martha William, died young. and Margaret
Rev. Henry Fry, born October 30, 1738, son of Colonel Joshua Fry, became a min- ister of the Methodist Episcopal church. lived a troubled life, but with a degree of firmness and fortitude unsurpassed among men put down in succession all his way- ward passions and almost established for himself the character of a saint among men. He was a member of the house of burgesses. clerk of Albemarle county, delegate to the general assembly from Virginia in 1785 and was the mover of a general Emancipation Bill. He died at the house of his son, Wes- ley Fry, of Madison, Virginia, aged eighty- five years. His wife, a daughter of Dr. Thomas Walker, born in June, 1764, died February 19, 1808.
Joshua Fry, son of Rev. Henry Fry, was born May 17. 1769. died October 17, 1838. He married, November 24, 1793, Catherine (Kitty ) Walker, born July 1, 1772, died 1814.
Ilugh Walker Fry, son of Joshua and Kitty (Walker) Fry, was born January 22, 1796. He married, December 26, 1820. Maria White, born July 1, 1801.
Lieutenant-Colonel William Henry Fry, son of Hugh Walker and Maria ( White) Fry, was born October 8, 1821, married. May 8, 1844, Jane Margaret Watson, born August 29, 1825, and had fourteen children : Infant, Hugh Walker, Anna Maria, Richard Watson, William Henry, Jane Margaret, Peter Merriwether, Charles Nelson, Eleanor Shepherd, married Dr. Henry Lewis Bur- well, of previous mention, Edward Scott. Douglass Bland, M. Douglass, Mary Vir- ginia, Susan Harris.
Lieutenant-Colonel William It. Fry, prior to the war of 1861-64, was captain of the Richmond Light Infantry, Blues, and prior to Virginia's seceding from the Union, became lieutenant-colonel of the Eighteenth Regi- ment Virginia Infantry. Within thirty min- utes after it was known that Virginia had seceded, he tendered the services of his regi- ment to the governor of the state, his being the first offer of troops for service. He led his regiment at Manassas, the first real battle of the war, and continued in field service for one year, then by special order
of the secretary of war, was detached from his command and placed in charge of a camp of military instruction at Charlottesville. Three months later he was recalled to Richmond and made chief of the Bureau of Conscription, and as adjutant of the post was in charge of the exchange of prisoners. At the time of the evacuation of Richmond. acting under orders from the government. he was engaged in destroying the archives of his office, and tarrying too long at his duty was made prisoner by the Federals.
His son, Hugh Walker Fry, was a student at Virginia Military Institute when the battle of Newmarket was fought and it is inscribed in the records of that institution that on that day the cadets of the institute marched out in military order and took active part in the battle, Cadet Fry bearing an honorable part. Hle enlisted in the Con- federate army in April. 1861. Company E, First Regiment Virginia Infantry, although under fifteen years of age. After a year of service he left the army and entered Vir- ginia Military Institute, fought with the cadets at Newmarket, and was in active service until the war closed. Two brothers of Lieutenant-Colonel Fry also served in the Confederate army, Major Hugh W. Fry and John J. Fry.
Dr. Burwell has one daughter, Mary Douglas Burwell, born at Cayneys Springs. Virginia, January 9, 1886, educated at Hol- lins Institute, married in 1913, John Paul Graff. Mrs. Burwell is a member of the Daughters of the Confederacy and through her illustrious ancestry is eligible to the patriotic orders of the United States, as is Dr. Burwell. She was a charter member of Armistead Goode Chapter, of Chase City. and is its historian.
Colonel Thomas Smith, of Warrenton. Virginia, is a son of the late Governor Wil- ham Smith, whose biography forms a part of this work. one of the most eminent citi- zens of the state. Thomas Smith was born August 26, 1836, in Culpeper county. Vir- ginia, and was six years of age when his parents removed to Warrenton. Virginia. There he attended the local public schools, and was subsequently a student at the College of William and Mary, after which he pursued the law course at the Univer- sity of Virginia, and was admitted to the bar. After a short time in practice at
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Warrenton, he went to Charleston, West Virginia, and there continued in practice until the opening of the civil war, when he joined the company known as Kanawha Riflemen, a part of the Thirty-sixth Regi- mient. He soon won promotion to the rank oi major, and subsequently to the colonelcy. At the battle of Cloyd's Farm he was se- verely wounded and as he lay on the field he was taken up by the enemy and made a prisoner, and afterward paroled and re- ported to Camp Chase. He was so danger- ously wounded that it was not thought he would recover but he did and returned to his command and did valuable service on the field of battle for nearly one year before the war closed.
After the war he returned to Warrenton, and there continued in the active practice of his profession until he was made judge of the county court. In this position he served with great satisfaction to the bar and the people of the county but declined a re-election subsequent to which he served as United States attorney for New Mexico. After a term as chief justice of New Mexico, he retired from active life and returned to Warrenton, where he now resides, among the most respected and highly esteemed citi- zens. Colonel Smith is an Episcopalian in religion, and is affiliated with no other or- ganizations than the church. His indus- trious life and upright course have earned for him a peaceful old age, in which he may justly contemplate a life well spent. He married, at Warrenton, Virginia, Elizabeth Fairfax Gaines, born in Fauquier county, Virginia, who has been his life-long com- panion. She is a daughter of William H. and Mary (Foster) Gaines, of Fauquier county.
Archibald Osborne, M. D. A medical graduate from two colleges, Richmond (Virginia ) and Tulane (New Orleans), and with hospital experience in Washington, D. C., Dr. Osborne brought to his work in Berryville both well proven theory and actual practice. He has been successful in practice, and as physician and citizen has gained high standing in his native county of Clarke. He is a son of Fayette Osborne, born in Loudoun county, Virginia, in 1834, and now a retired farmer of Lou- doun county. He served as a cavalryman in the Confederate army for one year, fur-
nishing a representative who filled his place in the ranks during the remainder of the war. He married Sarah, daughter of Joseph Worthington; she was born in Loudoun county, in 1842. Sons: William F .; Mar- shall Worthington, deceased ; Wade Hamp- ton, married Elsie Humphries; Archibald, of further mention; daughters: Vienna, Mary, Gertrude M., Estelle, Nelly and Beulah Benton.
Dr. Archibald Osborne, son of Fayette ard Sarah (Worthington) Osborne, was born in Clarke county, Virginia, November 2, 1874. He attended public and private schools in Clarke county until he was twelve years of age, then studied in Georgia schools and at Charles Young Institute, Washington, D. C. In 1896 he entered Richmond College, medical department, and was graduated M. D., class of 1899. He later took a post-graduate course at Tulane Medical College at New Orleans, and was connected with the hospitals at Washing- ton, D. C. In 1902 he located at Berryville, where he is now well established and suc- cessful. Dr. Osborne has made a special study of anti-toxins and has contributed several timely and valuable articles to the medical journals on their worth and use. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the Virginia State Medical and the Shenandoah Valley Medical societies, keeping in closest touch with all that is valuable in modern medical or surgical dis- covery. He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, also of Treadwell Lodge, No. 213, Ancient Free and Accepted Ma- sons, and in political faith is a Democrat.
Dr. Osborne married, October 1, 1901, Fannie Meade, born in Loudoun county, Virginia, daughter of George E. and Sarah (Taliaferro) Pfaster. Children: George Hunter, born in Berryville, Virginia, Octo- ber 5. 1902 ; Archibald Francis, born Febru- ary 10, 1904.
Foster Fowler Vance Staples. Although largely self-educated in the law, no great in- stitution of learning standing as his spon- sor, and a member of the bar but ten years, Mr. Staples has won high position in his profession and as a consulting lawyer has no superior at the Norfolk-Portsmouth bar. This fact is testified to daily, not only by his clients but by members of the profes- sion who avail themselves of his learning
Poster I.V. Staples Foster
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and knowledge of the intricacies of the law, by seeking his advice.
Foster F. V. Staples was born in Ports- mouth, April 7, 1883, son of Robert Griffin and Anna Maria Kumble ( Fowler ) Staples, and grandson of Samuel Staples, a descend- ant of the early Staples family that settled in Portsmouth late in the eighteenth cen- tury. Robert Griffin Staples was born in 1833. He was assistant quartermaster of the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment, ranking as captain and also won the brevet rank of major. From 1865 to 1876 he was chief clerk at the Portsmouth United States navy yard, and there his wonderful capacity for organization and detailed system was em- ployed with excellent results. From 1876 to 1883 he was postmaster of Portsmouth ; from 1883 until his retirement he was en- gaged in a mercantile business. He was a fine musician, a devoted Baptist, a mem- ber of Farragut Post, Grand Army of the Republic, Sons of Temperance and the Hep- tasophs. He married, in 1852, Anna M. K. Fowler. Children : 1. Eliza Raymond. 2. Samuel Alexander, married Mary E. Ellis; children : Rev. Raymond Fowler, Griffin Ellis, Mary E., Margaret, Samuel Alexander (2), Kenneth. 3. 1da 1., married James Cuthriell ; children : Ellen Raymond, Robert Griffin, Helen Maria, Charles McLean, James King, Norman Farquahar. 4. Rob- ert Griffin (2), married Mattie Lumber ; children : Lillian, Mattie, Fanny, William, Robert, Eudora, Edwin, Harry, Robert, Everett, Lee. 5. William Hook, married Ruth Bayton. 6. Edwin Ludlow, married Alice Virginia Leigh ; children : Edwin Lud- low (2), Griffin Leigh, Sue Leigh and Frank Foster. 7. Annie Grant, married William P. Cotton ; children: Annie Estelle, Sarah Robert, Lucille, William P. (2), Robert. 8. Charles B., married Phoche Seifert ; chil- dren : Margaret, Clifford, Paulina, Britton. 9. Louise P., married Walter Briggs; chil- dren : Walter, Annie, Louise. 10. Foster F. V.
Foster F. V. Staples obtained his English education in the public schools of Ports- mouth and during his earlier manhood was variously employed, but during that same period was privately pursuing an extended course of legal study. This meant courage and determination of the highest order and with him "burning the midnight oil" was not a fanciful expression, but an ever pres-
ent fact. He was fortunate in his choice of a preceptor, the late Colonel William H. Stewart not only acting in that capacity but furthering the ambition of the young man in every way possible. In 1904 at the age of twenty-one years, Mr. Staples pre- sented himself for examination, was passed with honor and at once admitted to the Norfolk county bar. When legally qualified for practice he was admitted to a partner- ship with Colonel Stewart, his preceptor, and as junior of the law firm, Stewart & Staples, he practiced until 1908. In that year he withdrew and since then has been in practice alone. He is learned in the law, most skillful in its application and has won an honorable position in the profession he honors in turn. He is a member of the Nor- folk and Portsmouth Bar Association, be- longs to the Baptist church and in politics is a Democrat.
Mr. Staples married, in 1911, Leila Alice Gatling, born in Murfreesboro, North Caro- lina, in 1890, daughter of Jefferson Davis and Georgie Jeanette Payne Gatling. Chil- dren : Foster Gatling, born September 18, 1912 ; George Raymond, January 1, 1914.
Lucien Keith. The family of Keith was among the most ancient in Europe and dated in Scotland from the tenth century, springing in that country from the Catti, a warlike people who came to Scotland in the tenth century, the Keiths springing from Getty Chattan Moir, Prince of the Catti. At the battle of Panbridge in 1006, Robert, a chieftain of the Catti, slew with his own hands Camus, general of the Danes, and King Malcolm witnessing the combat dipped his fingers in the blood of Camus and drew red strokes or pales on the top of Robert's shield. Since that time these pales have been the armorial bearings of his descendants. In 1010 Robert was made hereditary marischal of Scotland and was rewarded with a barony in East Lothian, which was called Keith Marischal, after his own name. llis descendant, Sir William. married a daughter of the Earl of Craw- ford and had a son William, created Earl Marischal in 1458. A descendant, George, the fifth earl, founded Marischal College. Aberdeen. Scotland, 1593. The tenth earl was colonel in the guards under Queen Anne. but joining the rebellion of 1715 was attainted and joined the service of the King
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of Prussia. He died without issue. His younger brother, James, became a field marshal in the service of Peter the Great of Prussia, afterwards serving with the same rank in the Prussian army. After many signal services he was killed at Hoch- kirch in a battle with the Austrians under Marshall Daun in 1759. A superb monu- nient was erected to his memory in Berlin by order of the King of Prussia. This field marshal, James Keith, never married but the coming of Rev. James Keith to Virginia, also the latter's connection with the Pre- tender's cause coincides with the flight of James Keith from his native land to the ser . vice of the Russian Czar, leading to a sup- position that they were closely related. The Scottish family bore arms: "Argent ou a chief three pallets or gules." Crest: "On a wreath, a stag's head erased, proper and attired with ten tynes." Supporters: "Two stags proper attired as crest. Motto: Ver- itas vincit. (Truth Conquers).
The founder of this branch of the Keith family in Virginia was Rev. James Keith, a native of Scotland, who, involved in the rebellion in favor of the Pretender, was forced to flee from the country. He came to Virginia but later returned to England for orders. He again came to Virginia. settling over Hamilton parish in Fauquier county, continuing over that parish until 1758. He was also minister over the Epis- copal church of Williamsburg. He married Mary Isham Randolph, a descendant of William Randolph, of Turkey Island, the founder of the famous Randolph family of Virginia. A daughter of Rev. James Keith married Colonel Thomas Marshall, of "Oak Hill," Fauquier county, Virginia, the family seat of the Marshalls for many generations. Chief Justice Marshall was a son of Colonel Thomas Marshall and both father and son were soldiers of the revolution. After the division of the parish of Hamilton, Rev. Keith served until his death all that region now embraced in Fauquier county. He left many descendants, one of his sons was for many years clerk of courts for Fairfax county, Virginia, another, Thomas Keith, married Judith Blackwell and had a son, Isham Keith, grandfather of Lucien Keith, of Warrenton, Virginia. Isham Keith was a cousin of Chief Justice John Marshall. Thomas Keith, father of Isham Keith, was a soldier of the revolution. Isham Keith mar-
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