USA > Virginia > Culpeper County > Culpeper County > Genealogical and historical notes on Culpeper County, Virginia > Part 19
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Hon. John S. Barbour, half a mile west of the village of Fairfax. An old oak marked the spot. These were the first Minute Men raised in Virginia. They formed themselves into a regiment, choosing Lawrence Taliaferro of Orange, colonel; Edward Stevens of Culpeper, lieutenant colonel; and Thomas Mar- 'shall of Fauquier-father of Chief Justice John Marshall-major. The flag used by the Culpeper men bore in its center the figure of a rattlesnake coiled and in the act of striking-above which was inseribed "The Culpeper Minute Men," on either side "Liberty or Death," and beneath "Don't Tread on Me " 'The corps were dressed in green hunting shirts with the words "Liberty or 'Death" in large letters on their bosoms. A wag on seeing this, remarked it was too severe for him; but that he was willing to enlist if the words were al- tered to "Liberty or Be Crippled " .
They wore in their hats buck-tails, and in their belts tomahawks and scalp- ing knives. 'Their savage, war-like appearance excited the terror of the in- habitants as they marched through the country to Williamsburg Shortly after their arrival at that place, about 150 of them-those armed with rifles- marched into Norfolk county, and were engaged in the battle of the Great Bridge. Among them were Chief Justice Marshall, then a lieutenant, and Gen- eral Edward Stephens. In the course of the war, eight companies of eighty- 'four men each were formed in Culpeper for the Continental service. They -were raised by the following captains: John Green (subsequently promoted to colonel, and wounded in the shoulder and crippled for life while storming a breast work. He was grandfather of Judge John Williams Green, of the court of appeals of Virginia, and great-grandfather of several distinguished jurists -- the 'learned brothers, the late William Green, LL. D., of Richmond, the late Major .James.W. Green of Culpeper. and the fate Thomas C. Green, judge of the su- preme court of the State of West Virginia, being among them): John Thorn- ton, George Slaughter, Gabriel Long (promoted major), Jno. Gillison, (who white gallantly leading his men to attack the enemy at Brandywine to prevent them making prisoners of the company of Captain Long, was struck in the forehead by a mnsket ball; the surgeon examined the wound, and then, lifting up his hands, exclaimed "Oh, captain! it is a noble wound, right in the middle of the forehead, and no harm done!" the wound soon healed and left a scar, of which any soldier might be proud) .- MeClannahan (Captain McClannahan was a Baptist clergyman, and at first preached to his men regularly; his re- ernits were principally from his own denomination and in conformity with the wishes of the legislature, who invited the members of particular religious so- cieties, especially Baptists and Methodists, to organize themselves into sepa- rate companies, under officers of their own faith; the Baptists were among the most strennons supporters of liberty.) and Abraham Buford. (Abraham Buford, promoted colonel, was defeated by Tarleton, May 29, 1780, at the Wax- hams, near the borders of North Carolina). John Jameson who was clerk of Culpeper county at the beginning of the Revolution, promptly joined the cause of his fellow colonists, and commanded a company that marched to Williams- burg. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. John Paulding, David Wil- liams and Isaac van Wart, the three immunortal patriots who captured Andre, were in the command of Lient. Col. Jameson, who, in turn, informed General Washington of the capture.
Among other heroes of the Revolution from Culpeper, may be named Cap- tain Philip Slaughter, who entered the Culpeper Minute Men at the age of sev- enteen as a private, and marched with them to Williamsburg shortly after the seizure of the powder in March, 1775, by Dunmore. Having received a com- mission of lieutenant he marched to the North in the fall of 1776, with the
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Eleventh Virginia Continental Regiment. Daniel Morgan then commanded this corps, and also a volunteer rifle regiment. There Slaughter remained un- til the commencement of the year 1780, and was in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth and at the storming of Stony Point. He spent the winter of 1777-8 at Valley Forge. His messmates were Lieutenant Robert (af- terwards General) Porterfield, Captain Charles Porterfield, Captain Jameson and Lieutenant (afterwards Chief Justice) Marshall. There they were all re- duced to great privation in the want of food and clothing. They bore their sufferings without murmur, being fortified by an undaunted patriotism. Most of the officers gave to their almost naked soldiers nearly the whole of their clothing, reserving only what they themselves had on. Slaughter was reduced to a single shirt. While this was being washed he wrapped himself in a blan- ket. From the breast of his only shirt he had wristbands and a collar made to complete his uniform for parade. Many of his brother officers were still worse off, having no undergarments at all; and not one soldier in five had a blanket. They all lived in rude huts, and the snow was knee deep the whole winter. Washington daily invited the officers in rotation to dine with him at his pri- vate table, but for want of decent clothing few were enabled to attend. Slaugh- ter being so much better provided, frequently went in the place of the others, that, as he said, "his regiment might be represented." While in this starving condition, the country people brought food to camp. Often the Dutch women were seen riding in, sitting on bags on their horses' back, holding two or three bushels each of apple pies, baked sufficiently hard to be thrown across the room without breaking. These were purchased eagerly, eaten with avidity, and considered a great luxury. Slaughter performed the duties of paymaster and clothier in addition to those of a captain of the line. He was promoted to a captaincy in 1778, he being then not twenty years of age. Captain Slaughter held various civil offices, among which was that of high sheriff of Culpeper county. He married twice, first a daughter of Colonel French Strother, and secondly a daughter of Colonel Thomas Towles, having issue by the two mar- riages nineteen children who intermarried with the Maconickie, Conroy, Dade, Smith, Madison, Chapman, Bradford, Thompson and Semmes families, and their descendants now include many additional honored names. He died in 1849 at the advanced age of ninety-one. His ninth child the venerable and widely beloved Rev. Philip Slaughter, D. D., historiographer of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, an eloquent pulpit orator and a glowing and prolific writ- er, whose delightsome pen was tireless, before his death celebrated at his home near Mitchell's, two touching anniversaries, the semi-centennial of his ordi- nation as a minister and his golden wedding. He had in his possession a brief journal of his honored father giving an account of the movements of the troops during the time the latter was in service, together with certificates of the faith- ful service of Captain Slaughter, given by Chief Justice Marshall, General Robert Porterfield and Colonel Jameson.
To the list of Culpeper worthies should be added the names of Colonel Gillison, Colonel Gabriel Jones, Colonel William Green, Colonel John Thorn- ton, Colonel James Slaughter, Colonel John Slaughter, Colonel John Jameson, Major John Roberts, Colonel David Jameson and Colonel Philip Clayton (sub- sequently State Judge and member of congress from Georgia) of the Revo- lution; Colonel John Field, who was in the battle of Point Pleasant, October 10th, 1774; Colonel French Strother, member of Virginia assembly in 1776; his son George French Strother, member of congress, 1817-20; Philip Rootes Thompson, member of congress, 1806; John Strother Pendleton, member of congress and United States minister to Beunos Ayres; Colonel James Pendle-
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ton, Colonel Nathaniel Pendleton (who was the second of Alexander Hamilton in his lamentable duel with Aaron Burr); John Strode Barbour, sr., member of Congress; Hon. Richard W. Thompson, member of congress and secretary of the navy; Major General Edmund Pendleton Gaines. United States army, and Rev. John A. Broadus, D. D., of the Baptist Church, pulpit orator, author and educator. The distinguished William Wirt, the author of the "British Spy," was once a resident of Culpeper, having commenced the practice of law here in 1792, when only twenty years of age.
In his family burying-ground (which is now the Masonic Cemetery) half a mile north of Culpeper, the countyseat, is the tomb of a revolutionary hero with the following inscription:
"IN MEMORY OF GENERAL EDWARD STEVENS
WHO DIED
AUGUST THE 17TH, 1820, At his seat in Culpeper, in his 76th year of age.
This gallant officer and upright man had served his country with reputation in the field and Senate of his native State. He took an active part and had a principal share in the war of the Revolution, and acquired great dis- tinction at the battles of Great Bridge, "Brandywine, Germantown, Cam- den, Guilford Court House and the siege of York; and although zealous in the cause of American Freedom, his conduct was not marked with the least degree of malevolence or party spirit. Those who honestly differed with him in opinion he always treated with singular tenderness. In strict integrity, honest patriotism and immovable courage, he was surpassed by none and had few equals."
There may be added of General Stevens the following detail of services : At the commencement of the Revolution he commanded with distinction a battalion of riflemen at the battle of Great Bridge, near Norfolk, Virginia; was soon after made colonel of the 10th Virginia Regiment with which he joined Washington; and at the battle of Brandywine (September 11th, 1777,) by his gallant exertion saved a part of the army from capture, checked the enemy and secured the retreat. He also distinguished himself at Germantown, and being made a brigadier-general of Virginia militia, fought at Camden, also at Guilford Court House, where his skillful dispositions were extremely servicea- ble to the army, and where, though severely wounded in the thigh, he brought off his troops in good order. General Greene bestowed on him marked com- mendation. At Yorktown he performed important duties, and throughout the revolution possessed a large share of the respect and confidence of General Washington. He was a member of the senate of Virginia from the adoption of the State constitution until the year 1790.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, SURVEYOR.
In one of the books in the clerk's office of Culpeper is the annexed entry: 20th July, 1749 (O. S.)-GEORGE WASHINGTON GENT., pro- duced a commission from the President and Master of Wil- liam & Mary College, appointing him to be surveyor of this county, which was read, and thereupon he took the usual oaths to his maj- esty's person and government, and took and subscribed the abjura- tion oath and test, and thereupon took the oath of surveyor, accor- ding to law.
THE CULPEPER COMMITTEE OF SAFETY OF 1775.
Upon these committees were devolved the appointment of officers and other
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local executive functions. They were elected by the freeholders. In 1775, the committee was composed of John Jamesom, Henry Pendleton, James Slaugh- ter, John Slaughter, and others, not certainly known to the writer. They probably were some of the following justices of the peace of that day, to-wit: Henry Field, Win. Ball, Wmn. Green, Ben. Roberts, Joseph Wood, Jno. Stroth- er, Sam. Clayton and James Pendleton. Col. James Barbour and Henry Field represented the county in 1765, &c .- Henry Field and French Strother in "74- 75-76, &c.
"CATALPA."
This name has become historical from having been the scene of the first encampment of the Minute Men and by being applied to a district in the coun- ty. It may be well, therefore, to record its origin.
The place now owned by Mr. J. C. Bell was the seat of Major Philip Clay- ton, in colonial times, and was named from a catalpa tree (the first in the coun- ty), transplanted by him from Essex. He married the sister of Robert Cole- man, on whose land Culpeper was established in 1759, and called Fairfax, which was its legal title before the Civil war. The first trustees of the town were Nat. Pendleton, Wm. Green, Wm. Williams, Thomas Slaughter and Philip Clayton. Ben Davis had leased the land from Coleman and hence the names Davis and Coleman streets. One of the daughters of P. Clayton married Nat. Pendleton, whose son Nat. was a Minute Man of Culpeper, afterwards aid to Gen. Greene, and was the second of Alexander Hamilton in his duel with Aaron Burr. He was the ancestor of Geo. H. Pendleton, who was minister to Berlin. His brother Henry was an eminent jurist in South Carolina, after whoin the Pendleton District was called. Another daughter of Clayton married Win. Williams, the father of Gen. James, Maj. John, Philip and Wm. Clayton Wil- liams, from whom a numerous progeny has descended. Another daughter married Col. James Slaughter, the father of Captain P. Slaughter, who was born at Catalpa, Dec. 1758. He was living with his grandfather and going to school here to Adam Goodlet, master of the first classical school ever in Cul- peper to that date, when the Minute Men met in Clayton's old field (Catalpa) in 1775. Hence he had the best opportunity of knowing the facts recorded in his journal. The Minute Man, Gen. Stevens, who cast the electoral vote of this district for Washington, also married the daughter of Robert Coleman.
Hon. Thos. L. Thompson, who was once elected to Congress from Califor- nia, is a lineal descendant of Philip Clayton and Philip Slaughter. The first colonel of the Minute Men of Culpeper, Laurence Taliaferro, has descendants here in the children of the late Dr. Alfred Taliaferro and Mrs. Alcocke.
FAIRFAX LODGE, NO. 43, A. F. & A. M.
The publishers are much indebted to Mr. George Dabney Gray, of the Cul- peper bar, for the following extracts of an address which he delivered before the members of Fairfax Lodge on the occasion of their Centennial Anniversary, which was the 27th. day of December, 1894. The address was published in pamphlet form, at the request of the Lodge:
"At the request of Fairfax Lodge, which came to me with the force of an order, it was my pleasure to obey. I am here to speak to you on this Centen- nial Anniversary of our Lodge, which we meet to celebrate to-night. We meet as a band of brothers to retrim our altar fires and renew our devotion to the sacred principles of our order.
"The day itself is a proud Masonic Jubilee, hallowed by associations of the past and by traditions of the most thrilling interest to every Mason. For many hundred years our order has celebrated the 24th of June, and the 27th. of December, in honor of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist,
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two eminent church Patrons in Masonry. But this 27th of December, 1894, is of especial interest to the members of this Lodge.
"One hundred years ago to to-day Fairfax Lodge, No. 43, was organized at this place, under a charter from the Grand Lodge of Virginia, which was sign- ed by Chief Justice John Marshall, then Grand Master.
"The Grand Lodge of Virginia was organized 1778, with John Blair, Mas- ter and with only five Lodges Increased rapidly so that in 1794, 16 years af- terwards when this Lodge was organized there were 42 Lodges in Virginia In 1822, there were 123 Lodges
James Mercer was Second Grand Master.
Ed. Randolph, Third Grand Master.
Alex. Montgomery, Fourth Grand Master.
Thomas Mathews, Fifth Grand Master.
John Marshall, Sixth Grand Master.
"The present number of Lodges in Virginia is over 300. On the 9th of De- cember, 1794, a charter was issued by the Grand Lodge of Virginia for the for- mation of Fairfax Lodge No. 43, at this place, then known as Fairfax. It was signed by Chief Justice of the U. S., John Marshall, and named the follow- ing as officers of the new Lodge: Philip Rootes Thompson, Master; Birket Da- venport, S. W. and Philip Lightfoot, Jr., Warden, and at the same time a com- mittee of three members of the Grand Lodge were appointed to install the said officers.
"On the 27th day of December, 1794, at the house of Benjamin Shackelford, in the town of Fairfax, the said officers were duly installed and the first meet- ing of the new Lodge was held and the following additional officers were elect- ed and installed : Thomas Knox. Treas., John Shackelford, Secty., Thomas Jameson, S. D., Ed. Pendleton, J. D., John Hawkins, Tyler. The new Lodge and the members repaired in procession to the Court House where a sermon was preached by Rev John Woodville, Chaplain. He was the Rector of the Episcopal church at that time.
"There were twenty members at the first meeting. The little town of Fair- fax was then in its infancy, having been laid out in 1734; indeed the Republic was then in its infancy. It had only been 13 years since the battle of York- town, which secured the independence of the American Colonies, 7 years from the adoption of the Constitution of the United States, and five years froin the election of the first President, George Washington, and he was still President in 1794, having been elected for the second term in 1792. George III was still on the throne of England.
"Philip Rootes Thompson was the son of Rev. John Thompson, who was Rector of St. Mark's Parish, and in 1801-7 represented this district in Congress. Birket Davenport was the great grandfather of P. L. Jameson. Major P. Lightfoot is well known to many of you: an old bachelor whose white cravat and linen bosom were always spotless-the only man ever known who could walk from his residence to the court house without getting a stain on his shining shoes. Benj. Shackelford kept the house known as the old Bell Tav- ern which wasa large frame building situated on the corner of the lot on which B. C. Macoy now lives. He was the father of John Shackelford, our old attorney for the Commonwealth and grand-father of the late Judge Henry Shackelford. This hotel was afterwards kept by Jerre Strother and it was burned down in the year 1845. Thomas Knox was the father of the old merchant, Thos. F. Knox, of Fredericksburg. Thomas Jameson was a nephew of Col. John Jame- son an officer of the Revolution. John Jameson is the grand-father of Phillip Jameson and was Clerk of the County from 1772 to 1810. Ed. Pendleton was the son of Col. James Pendleton.
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"Among the friends of this infant Lodge there was a distinguished General of the Revolutionary army. He had gained great distinction at the battle of Great Bridge and Brandywine, Germantown, Camden, Guilford C. H. and Yorktown. He had been severely wounded at Guilford. He lived in the house afterwards owned by F. T. Lightfoot (burned down). Soon after the Lodge was formed he donated to them a lot of ground for the erection of a building to be used as a Lodge room, and the Lodge by private subscription soon raised money enough to erect a building for their meetings. Gen. Stevens also de- vised by his wiil one acre of land near his own family burying ground to be used as a cemetery for the members of the Lodge and their families. He died in 1820.
"The new Lodge continued to hoid its meetings at the house of Benj. Shackelford until they moved into their own Hall built upon the lot donated to them by Gen. Ed. Stevens. The last meeting heid at the house of Benjamin Shackelford was June 3rd. 1797. The first meeting held in their new Hail was on July 7th. 1797. The dedication was Aug. 1st. 1797, with appropriate cere- monies. At their March meeting in 1798, a committee was appointed to wait on Geni. Stevens and express the thanks of the Lodge for his great liberality. At the meeting Dec. 27th. 1799, the following resolution was passed: Resoived, that this Lodge show a testimony of their deep regret at the decease of our late and worthy brother, Genl. George Washington, Grand Master of America, by wearing crape for the day and that the Treasurer procure the same." Washington died December 14th. 1799.
"Among the members of the old Lodge from 1820, 1836, were the following: Judge R. H. Fieid, distinguished Judge of the Circuit Court. Robt. G. Ward, Clerk of Circuit Court tili 1851. John C. Williams, known as Capt. Jack. Jer- emian Strother, grand-father of Rev. John Hansbrough and great grand-father of Mrs. Macoy; at one time kept oid Beli Tavern. Wm. M. Thompson, father of Hon. R. W. Thompson, member of Congress from Ind., and Sect. of Navy under President Hays. Jonathan C. Gibson, father of Coi. J. C. Gibson, and a great lawyer. Wm. Foushee, father of Mrs. Fayette Latham, and the late Mrs. Cole. John Strother, cousin of Jeremiah Strother and law partner of Fayette Mauzy. Andrew Giassell, grand-father of Dr. A. G. Grinnan. Wm. Emison, long Commissioner of Court, &c. J. W. Denton, father of Mrs. Robert Williams. Isham B. Mason, father of Mrs. Jessie L. Burrows (built old C H. and St. Ste- phens church.) Rev. Herbert Marshall, father of the late George E. Marshail. Samei A. Starrow, Col. in U. S. Army, father of Mrs. Judge Beii and Mrs. Dr. Thompson. Hon. John S. Pendieton, member of Congress and Minister to Chili. Major Philip Williams, father of George M. Williams. Jeremiah Latham. St. Pierre Shackelford. Win. G. Allan, father of J. M. and A. M. Allan. Richard Jeffries, grand-father of W. L and J. L. Jeffries. Martin Slaughter who built brick house (now jaii). James B. Ciayton. Thomas Beli. Thomas W. Light- foot, Clerk from 1816 to 1831, father of Frank Lightfoot. Col. David Jameson, father of David and Washington Jameson. Col. John Thorn, of Berry Hill. Robt. N. Norris, father of Miss Bell Norris. Thos. Knox, father of the oid mer- chant Thomas F. Knox, of Fredericksburg. Wm. Clayton Williams, father of Lewis B. Williams of Orange; was an eminent lawyer. Thos. Hall, old mer- . chant, lived at old Hall farm. Robt. Green, son of Coi. John Green, of the Revolution and brother of Genl. Moses Green. Reuben Fry, son of Rev. Hen- ry Fry, built the house where Ed. Lightfoot died, was father of Judge Fry of West Virginia and Philip S. Fry, Clerk of Orange. Maj. John Roberts offi- cer of Revolution and grand-father of John Strother and Dr. Johnson Strother, Past Master of this Lodge. Win. Broadus, Clerk from 1811 to 1816. Zephaniah
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Turner, and John Turner. Robert Lovell, Win. Hurt, Jones Green, Geo. Fick- len, Win. Conner, Nimrod Popham, Thos. Porter, Wm. Ward and Moses Samuel. "A ball was given in this Lodge room and by the Lodge to the Marquis De La Fayette, upon his visit to this country in 1822. La Fayette was a great Ma- son as well as a distinguished General and was the bosom friend of George Washington.
"Culpeper was as famous then, as she has always been, for her beautiful women, and La Fayette is said to have remarked on that occasion that he had never seen prettier women.
"The Lodge continued to work under this charter of 1794 till the year 1847. But we have no record of their meetings after January, 1801. Their building was burned in the year 1846 or '47. In 1855, the Lodge was reorganized under a new charter but with the same name and number and met in the Verandah Building. The officers were F. Mauzy, Master, Dr. P. C. Slaughter, Sr. War- den, J. L. Burrows, Jr. Warden. In the year 1858 the present building was erected by the subscriptions of the members of the Lodge with such aid as could be obtained from other Masons.
"During the war between the States the work of the Lodge was suspended from 1861 to 1865. During the occupation of the town by the Federal army in the summer of 1862, under Gen. Pope, the Lodge room was broken open and the Hall was greatly damaged, the furniture all destroyed and the charter, regalia, jewels and books of the Lodge carried away. These books contained all the minutes and proceedings of the Lodge from its organization down to the year 1861. Only one of these books has been recovered and fortunately that is the one containing the minutes from the organization down to 1801, together with a copy of the charter issued by Grand Master John Marshall. This old book was sent by one Wm. J. Jenks, in 1884, just ten years ago to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and by that Lodge ordered to be sent to the Grand Lodge of Virginia, which was done and that Lodge sent it to this Lodge. No more in- excusable act of vandalism was perpetrated during the war. The damages were assessed in August, 1835, at $1,169.05 and certified to by the Federal offi- cer then in command of what was then termed the "Sub District of Culpeper." It is hoped that the time will come when these damages will be paid by the U. S. Government as well as all other damages done to other Masonic property and to churches.
"On the 30th of August, 1865, the Lodge held its first meeting after the war under dispensation from the Grand Lodge dated 24th. of Aug. 1865. The meet- ing was held in the office of Dr. R. S. Lewis over Alcocke's store. The officers then were G. D. Gray, W. M., who had been Master since 1838, C. T. Crittenden, S. W., R. S. Lewis, J. W., L. C Turner, Secty., Wm. M. Thompson, S. D., F. D. Johnson, J. D., J. L. Burrows, Tyler. The Lodge met in their Hall the 26th. of January, 1866, and G. D. Gray was requested to visit Baltimore and other places to solicit aid to purchase carpet, jewels, &c .; under this resolution he visited Baltimore and obtained money sufficient for these purposes and the Lodge passed resolutions of thanks to these Lodges on the 23rd. of Feb. 1866. The Hall had then been papered and carpeted &c ..
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