USA > Virginia > Loudoun County > Loudoun County > History and comprehensive description of Loudoun County, Virginia > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14
Convention of 1850-'51 .- Met at the Capitol in the city of Richmond, on Monday, October 14, 1850. Adjourned sine die, August 1, 1851. District of Loudoun delegates: John Janney, John A. Carter, and Robert J. T. White.
Convention of 1861 .- Met February 13, 1861. Adjourned sine die, December 6, 1861. Loudoun delegates: John Janney and John A. Carter. The former was elected President of the Convention. Both voted against the ordinance of seces- sion, April 17, 1861. Mr. Janney's resignation as President of the Convention was tendered on November 14, 1861.
Convention of 1864 .- (Restored Government of Virginia. ) Met February 13, 1864. Adjourned sine die, April 11, 1864. Loudoun delegates: John J. Henshaw, James M. Downey, and E. R. Gover.
Convention of 1867-'68 .- Met at Richmond, Tuesday, De- cember 3, 1867. 'Adjourned April 17, 1868. Loudoun dele- gates: Norborne Berkeley and George E. Plaster.
127
LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA.
Convention of 1901-'02 .- Met June 12, 1901. Adjourned sine die, June 26, 1902. Loudoun and Fauquier district delegates: Henry Fairfax and Albert Fletcher.
THE REVOLUTION.
Loudoun's Loyalty.
The story of the Revolution and the causes which led to that great event are properly treated in a more general history than this purports to be. If, in the few succeeding pages, it can be shown that Loudoun County was most forward in re- sisting the arbitrary aggressions of the British government and that the valor and patriotism she evinced during the Revolution was equal to that of her sister counties, who had suffered with her under the yoke of British oppression, then the primary object of this sketch will be accomplished. Her blood and treasure were freely dedicated to the cause of liberty, and, having once entered the Revolution, she deter- mined to persevere in the struggle until every resource was exhausted.
Armed with flint-lock muskets of small bore and with long- barreled rifles which they loaded from the muzzle by the use of the ramrod; equipped with powder horn, charges made of cane for loading, bullet molds and wadding, but bravely arrayed in homespun of blue, and belted with cutlass and broadsword by the side, cockade on the hat and courage in the heart, her revolutionary soldiers marched to the music of fife and drum into battle for freedom against the power and might of the mother country.
Resolutions of Loudoun County.
In 1877, the following article appeared in a Leesburg newspaper under the caption "Loudoun County a Hundred Years Ago:"
"Major B. P. Nolan, grandson of Burr Powell, has just put us in pos- session of a verified copy of the proceedings of a public meeting held at
125
HISTORY OF
Leesburg. Lowions County, on the 14th of jene. 1 ;: 4. pearly oze bon- dred and Eve years ago. I: is interesting, not merely for its antiquity. br: as showing the spirit of independence tha: animated the breasts of our liberty-loving countrymes, two years before the Declaration of American Independence in 1776. The original document was found among the papers of Col. Levez Powell, at one time member of Congress from this district, who died in 1810. His son. Barr Powell, forwarded & copy to R. H. Lee, Esq., who in :525 was about to publish a second edition of his . Memoirs of the Life of R. H. Lee.' of Revolutionary isme. "
The proceedings or resolutions follow:
.. PUBLIC MEETING IN LOUDOUN IN IT;4."
"At a meeting of the Freeholders and other inhabitants of the County of Lomioma, in the Colony of Virginia, held at the Court-House in Lees- burg the 14th of Jame. 1174. F. Peyton, Esq .. in the Chair, to consider the most effectual method to preserve the rights and liberties of North America, and relieve our brethren of Boston, suffering under the mos: oppressive and tyrannical Act of the British Parliament, made in the 14th year of his present Majesty's reign. whereby their Harbor is blocked up. their commerce totally obstructed, their property rendered useless-
"Resolved, That we will always cheerfully submit to such prerogatives as his Majesty has s right, by law, to exercise, as Sovereign of the British Dominioss, and to zo others.
".Resoltes. That it is beneath the dignity of freemen to submit to any tax no: imposed on them in the aszal manmer, by representatives of their owy choosing.
"Reseller. That the Act of the British Parliament, above mentioned, is =tterly repugnant to the fundamental laws of justice, in praishing persons without ever the form of a trial; but & despotie exertice cf na- constitutional power designedly calculated to enslave a free and loyal people.
"Resolved. That the enforcing the execution of the said Act of Parlia- meat by a military power. must have a necessary tendency to raise a civil war. and that we will, with our lives and fortunes, assist and sup- port our suffering brethren. of Boston, and every part of North America that may fall under the immediate hand of oppression, until a redress of all our grievances shall be procured, and ce: common liberties estab- lished on a permanent foundation.
6. Rescised, That the East India Company, by exporting their tea from England to America, whilst subject to a tax imposed thereon by the British Parliament, have evidently designed to fx on the Americans
129
LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA.
those chains forged for them by a venal ministry, and have thereby rendered themselves odious and detestable throughout all America. It is, therefore, the unanimous opinion of this meeting not to purchase any tea or other East India commodity whatever, imported after the first of this Month.
"Resolved, That we will have no commercial intercourse with Great Britain until the above mentioned act of Parliament shall be totally repealed, and the right of regulating the internal policy of North America by a British Parliament shall be absolutely and positively given up.
"Resolved, That Thompson Mason and Francis Peyton, Esqs., be ap- pointed to represent the County at a general meeting to be held at Williamsburg on the 1st day of Angust next, to take the sense of this Colony at large on the subject of the preceding resolves, and that they, together with Leven Powell, William Ellzey, John Thornton, George Johnston, and Samuel Levi, or any three of them, be a committee to correspond with the several committees appointed for this purpose.
" Signed by-
" John Morton,
James Nolan,
Thomas Ray,
Samuel Peugh,
Thomas Drake,
William Nornail,
William Booram,
Thomas Luttrell,
Benj. Isaac Humphrey,
James Brair,
Samuel Mills,
Poins Awsley,
Joshua Singleton,
John Kendrick,
Jonathan Drake,
Edward O'Neal,
Matthew Rust,
Francis Triplett,
Barney Sims,
Joseph Combs, John Peyton Harrison,
Samuel Butler,
Robert Conibs,
Thomas Chinn,
Stephen Combs,
Appollos Cooper,
Samuel Henderson,
Lina Hanconk,
Benjamin Overfield,
John McVicker.
Adanı Sangster,
Simon Triplett,
Bazzell Roads,
John Wildey,
James Graydey,
Joseph Bayley,
Thomas Awsley,
Isaac Sanders,
Thos. Williams,
John Reardon, Henry Awsley,
John Williams,
Edward Miller,
William Finnekin,
Richard Hirst,
Richard Hanson, John Dunker,
James Davis,
Thomas Williams,
Jasper Grant."
John Sims,
130
HISTORY OF
Revolutionary Committees.
The County Committee of Loudoun for 1774-'75 was com- posed of the following members:
Francis Peyton,
Leven Powell,
Josias Clapham,
William Smith,
Thomas Lewis,
Robert Jamison,
Anthony Russell,
Hardage Lane,
John Thomas, John Lewis.
George Johnston,
James Lane,
Thomas Shore,
George Johnston,
Jacob Reed, Clerk.
The appended findings of this as well as a later committee exemplify the work of these Revolutionary bodies.
"At a meeting of the Committee of Loudoun County, held at Lees- burg on Friday, May 26, 1775.
"The Committee, taking into consideration the conduct of the Gover- nour relative to the powder which was, by his express orders, taken secretly out of the publick Magazine belonging to this Colony, in the night of the twentieth ult., and carried on board the Magdaline schooner.
"Resolved, nemine contra dicente, That his Lordship, by this and other parts of his conduct which have lately transpired, has not only forfeited the confidence of the good people of this Colony, but that he may be justly esteemed an enemy to America; and that as well his excuse pub- lished in his Proclamation of the fourth instant, as his verbal answer to the address presented him on that occasion by the city of Williams- burgh, are unsatisfactory and evasive, and reflect, in our opinion, great dishonour on the General Assembly and inhabitants of this Colony, as from the latter a suspicion may be easily deduced, that the Representa- tives of the people are not competent judges of the place wherein arms and ammunition, intended for the defense of the Colony, may be safely lodged, and that the inhabitants (unlike other subjects) can not, in pru- dence, be trusted with the means necessary for their protection from insurrection, or even evasion; so in the former a very heavy charge is exhibited against the best men among us, of seducing their fellow-sub- jects from their duty and allegiance; a charge, we are confident, not founded in reality, and which, we believe, is construed out of the dis- charge of that duty which every good man is under, to point out to his weaker countrymen, in the day of publick trial, the part they should act, and explain, on constitutional principles, the nature of their allegiance, the ground of which we fervently pray may never be removed, whose force we desire may never with reason be relaxed, but yet may be sub- servient to considerations of superior regard.
131
LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA.
"The Committee being informed by some of the officers who com- manded the Troops of this County that marched on the above occasion, that the reason of their marching no farther than Fredericksburgh was, their having received repeated requests from the Honourable Peyton Randolph, Esq., to return home, assuring them that the peaceable citi- zens of Williamsburgh were under no apprehensions of danger, either in their persons or properties; that the publick treasury and records were perfectly safe, and that there was no necessity for their proceeding any further; three of the other Delegates appointed to the Continental Con- gress, the only civil power we know of in this great struggle for liberty, being of the same opinion.
"Resolved, nemine contra dicente, That under such circumstances we approve the conduct of the said Officers and Troops.
"Resolved, nemine contra dicente, That we cordially approve the con- duct of our countrymen, Captain Patrick Henry, and the other volun- teers of Hanover County, who marched under him, in making reprisals on the King's property for the trespass committed as aforesaid, and that we are determined to hazard all the blessings of this life rather than suffer the smallest injury offered to their persons or estates, on this account, to pass unrewarded with its equal punishment.
"Resolved, nemine contra dicente, That it be recommended to the Representatives of this County, as the opinion of this Committee, that they by no means agree to the reprisals, taken as aforesaid, being returned.
"Ordered, That the clerk transmit immediately a copy of the preced- ing resolves to the Printers of the Virginia and Pennsylvania gazettes, to be published.
"By order of the Committee.
"GEORGE JOHNSTON, Clerk."
In session in Loudoun, May 14, 1776:
"Richard Morlan being summoned to appear before this Committee, for speaking words inimical to the liberties of America, and tending to discourage a Minute-man from returning to his duty; and also publickly declaring he would not muster, and if fined would oppose the collection of the fine with his gun: The charge being proved against him, and he heard in his defense, the Committee think proper to hold the said Morlan up to the publick as an enemy to their rights and liberties; and have ordered that this resolution be published in the Virginia Gazette.
"CHRISTOPHER GREENUP, Clerk."
Soldiery.
Loudoun, at the time of the Revolution, was one of the most densely populated counties in the State. Her militia, according to the returns of 1780 and 1781, numbered 1,746,
132
HISTORY OF
which number was far in excess of that reported by any other Virginia county.
It is probable that a few Loudoun patriots served in Captain Daniel Morgan's celebrated "Company of Virgina Riflemen," thus described by a line officer of the Continental Army: "They are remarkably stout and hardy men; many of them exceeding six feet in height. They are dressed in white frocks, or rifle shirts, and round hats. These men are re- markable for the accuracy of their aim; striking a mark with great certainty at two hundred yards distance. At a review, a company of them, while on a quick advance, fired their balls into objects of seven inches diameter at the distance of two hundred and fifty yards. They are now stationed on our lines, and their shot have frequently proved fatal to British officers and soldiers, who expose themselves to view even at more than double the distance of common musket shot."
The Germans of Loudoun were intensely loyal to the cause of freedom, many serving in Armand's Legion, recruited by authority of Congress during the summer of 1777, and com- posed of men who could not speak English.
Quaker Non-Participation.
During the period preceding the Revolution, important offices had been bestowed on the Friends or Quakers of Loudoun and they exercised a decided influence in the govern- ment of the County. They, however, withdrew participation in public affairs on the approach of war; and, to the deter- mination of the American patriots to throw off the yoke of British tyranny, they opposed their principles of non-resistance, not only refusing to perform military duty, but also to pay the taxes levied on them, as on all other citizens, for the prosecution of the War of Independence.
This non-conformity to the military laws of the State from conscientious motives, brought them into difficulty, as will be seen in the annexed extract from Kercheval's History of the Shenandoah Valley:
"At the beginning of the war, attempts were made to compel them to bear arms and serve in the militia; but it was soon found unavailing.
133
LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA.
They would not perform any military duty required of them, not even the scourge would compel them to submit to discipline. The practice of coercion was therefore abandoned, and the legislature enacted a law to levy a tax upon their property, to hire substitutes to perform militia duty in their stead. This, with other taxes, bore peculiarly heavy upon them. Their personal property was sold under the hammer to raise the public demands; and before the war was over, many of them were reduced to great distress in their pecuniary circumstances.
"This selling of Quakers' property afforded great opportunity for de- signing individuals to make profitable speculations. They continued to refuse to pay taxes for several years after the war, holding it unlawful to contribute their money towards discharging the war debt. This being at length adjusted, no part of our citizens pay their public demands with more punctuality (except their muster fines, which they still refuse to pay)."
Loudoun's Revolutionary Hero.
John Champe, the tall and saturnine sergeant-major of Lee's celebrated partisan legion, was a resident of Loudoun County. Readers of Lee's "Memoirs of the War" will recall the account of Champe's pretended desertion from the Continental armies. This perilous adventure was undertaken for the threefold purpose of capturing the traitor Arnold, saving the life of the unfortunate André, and establishing the innocence of General Gates, who had been charged with complicity in Arnold's nefarious intrigue. His investigations secured the complete vindication of Gates; but, failing in his other attempts, he drifted with the Red Coats to North Carolina, where he de- serted their ranks and rejoined the American forces under General Greene.
That officer provided him with a good horse and money for his journey, and sent him to General Washington. The commander-in-chief " munificently anticipated every desire of the sergeant, and presented him with a discharge from fur- ther service, lest he might, in the vicissitudes of war, fall into the enemy's hands; when, if recognized, he was sure to die on a gibbet." His connection with the army thus abruptly, though honorably, severed, with no little regret we are to sup- pose, he straightway repaired to his home near Leesburg.
In after years, when General Washington was called by
134
HISTORY OF
President Adams to the command of the army organized to defend the country from French hostility, he inquired for Champe, with the avowed purpose of placing him at the head of a company of infantry. Lieutenant-Colonel Lee, through whom the inquiry had been made, dispatched a courier to Loudoun County in search of Champe. There he learned that the intrepid soldier and daring adventurer had removed to Kentucky, where he soon afterward died.
Some interesting anecdotes concerning Champe are related in a portion of Captain Cameron's private journal, published in the British United Service Journal. Champe was assigned to his company, a part of Arnold's British legion, upon his arrival in New York.
Army Recommendations.
The following list of militia officers were "recommended by the gentlemen justices of the county Court for Loudoun County, Virginia, to the Governor for appointments from March, 1778, to December, 1782:"
*"March, 1778: James Whaley, Jr., second lieutenant; William Car- nan, ensign;' Daniel Lewis, second lieutenant; Josias Miles and Thomas King, lieutenants; Hugh Douglass, ensign; Isaac Vandevanter, lieuten- ant; John Dodd, ensign. May, 1778: George Summers and Charles G. Eskridge, colonels; William McClellan, Robert McClain and John Henry, captains; Samuel Cox, major; Frans Russell, James Beavers, Scarlet Burkley, Moses Thomas, Henry Farnsworth, John Russell, Gus- tavus Elgin, John Miller, Samuel Butcher, Joshua Botts, John Williams,' George Tyler, Nathaniel Adams and George Mason, lieutenants; Isaac Grant, John Thatcher, William Elliott, Richard Shore and Peter Ben- ham, ensigns. 1778, August: Thomas Marks, William Robison, Joseph Butler and John Linton, lieutenants; Joseph Wildman and George Asbury, ensigns. 1778, September: Francis Russell, lieutenant, and George Shrieve, ensign. 1779, May: Joseph Wildman, lieutenant, and Francis Elgin, Jr., ensign. 1779, June 14: George Kilgour, lieutenant, and Jacob Caton, ensign. 1779, July 12: John Debell, lieutenant, and William Hutchison, ensign. 1779, October 11: Francis Russell, captain. 1779, November 8: James Cleveland, captain; Thomas Millan, ensign. 1780, February 14: Thomas Williams, ensign. 1780, March: John Benham, ensign. 1780, June: Wethers Smith and William
*Abstract from Court Order Book G., pages 517-522.
135
LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA.
Debell, second lieutenants; Francis Adams and Joel White, ensigns. 1780, August: Robert Russell, ensign. 1780, October: John Spitzfathem, first lieutenant; Thomas Thomas and Matthew Rust, second lieu- tenants; Nicholas Minor, Jr., David Hopkins, William McGeath and Samuel Oliphant, ensigns; Charles Bennett, captain. 1780, Novem- ber: James Coleman, Esq., colonel ;. George West, lieutenant-colonel; James McLlhaney, major. 1781, February: Simon Triplett, colonel; John Alexander, lieutenant-colonel; Jacob Reed, major; John Linton, captain; William Debell and Joel White, lieutenants; Thomas Minor, ensign; Thomas Shores, captain; John Tayler and Thomas Beaty, lieu- tenants; John McClain, ensign. 1781, March: John McGeath, captain; Ignatius Burnes, captain; Hugh Douglass, first lieutenant; John Corne- lison, second lieutenant; Joseph Butler and Conn Oneale, lieutenants; John Jones, Jr., ensign; William Taylor, major first battalion; James Coleman, colonel; George West, lieutenant colonel; Josiah Maffett, captain; John Binns, first lieutenant; Charles Binns, Jr., second lieu- tenant, and Joseph Hough, ensign. 1781, April: Samson Trammell, captain; Spence Wiggington and Smith King, lieutenants. 1781, May: Thomas Respass, Esq., major; Hugh Douglass, Gent, captain; Thomas King, lieutenant; William T. Mason, ensign; Samuel Noland, captain; Abraham Dehaven and Enoch Thomas, lieutenants; Isaac Dehaven and Thomas Vince, ensigns; James McLlhaney, captain; Thomas Kennan, captain; John Bagley, first lieutenant. 1781, June: Enoch Furr and George Rust, lieutenants; Withers Berry and William Hutchison (son of Benjamin), ensign. 1781, September: Gustavus Elgin, captain; John Littleton, ensign. 1782, January: William McClellan, captain. Feb- ruary, 1782: William George, Timothy Hixon, and Joseph Butler, cap- tains. 1782, March: James McLlhaney, captain; George West, colonel; Thomas Respass, lieutenant-colonel. 1782, July: Samuel Noland, major; James Lewin Gibbs, second lieutenant, and Giles Turley, ensign. 1782, August: Enoch Thomas, captain; Samuel Smith, lieutenant; Matthias Smitley, first lieutenant; Charles Tyler and David Beaty, ensigns. 1782, December: Thomas King, captain; William Mason, first lieuten- ant, and Silas Gilbert, ensign."
Court Orders and Reimbursements.
Needy families of the Revolutionary soldiers of Loudoun were supplied with the necessaries of life as per the following orders:
"1778, November 9th: John Alexander to furnish Elizabeth Welch, her husband being in the army.
"1778, Nov. 15th: George Emrey to furnish the child of Jacob
136
HISTORY OF
Rhodes, said Jacob being in the Continental army. William Douglass to furnish Mary Rhodes, her husband being in the army. George Summers to furnish William Gilmore, his son being in the army.
"1778, Dec. 14: Leven Powell to furnish Andrew Laswell.
"1779, Feb. 8th: Samuel Triplett to furnish the wife of Hugh Hen- derson. Josias Clapham to furnish Ann Philips.
"1779, March 8th: Farling Ball to furnish the widow of Joseph Col- lens and the wife of William Eaton. William Stanhope to furnish Ann Barton.
"1779, April: John Lewis, Gent, to furnish the wife of Shadrack Reeder. Hardage Lane to furnish Sarah Gilmore, wife of William, whose son is in the army. William Ellzey to furnish wife of Shadrack Reeder. Josias Clapham appointed to apply to the Treasurer for 500 pounds to be placed in the hands of John Lewis, Gent, to supply the necessaries of life for those who have husbands or children in the Con- tinental army.
"1779, May: Farling Ball to furnish Edward McGinnis and William Means. John Alexander to furnish Ann Bartan. (William Stanhope to furnish Ann Barton, July 1779.)
"1779, August: Robert Jamison to furnish Conard Shanks, whose son is in the army. Jonathan Davis to furnish Mary Stoker. Pierce Bayly do. wife of Joel Coleman.
"1780, March: John Tyler do. Jemima Coleman.
"1780, July: Simon Triplett to furnish Jemima Coleman, wife of Joel, not exceeding two barrels of flour and 200 pounds of Pork.
"1780, September: John Alexander to furnish Ann Barton one barrel of corn and fifty pounds of Pork. Josias Clapham do. Catherine Hen- derson, widow of Adam Henderson. William Cavans to furnish Ann Richards, her husband being in the army, and Isabella Collens, widow of Joseph.
"1780, November: Wtn. Bronough do. Sarah Russell, wife of Samuel.
"1781, April: William Owsley to supply Hannah Rice & two chil- dren, the family of James Rice, who died in the Continental army.
"1781, May: Adam Vincel to supply Mary Tritipoe, wife of Conrad, her husband being in the army.
"1781, Sept .: Joseph Thomas to supply the widow of David Hamilton (a soldier who was killed in the Continental army).
"1782, Jan .: John Tyler, Gent, to furnish the family of Cornelius Slacht (he being an 18 months' draft).
"1782, Feb .: John Lewis, Gent, to furnish Eleanor Wilcox (a soldier's wife).
"1782, March: William Douglass to furnish Eleanor Wilcox, agree- able to an order of the last Court directed to John Lewis, Gent, the said Lewis declining."
137
LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA.
"Treasurer to pay sundry persons for furnishing supplies as per their several accounts:
"1778, May 12: William Ellzey, Esq., {3 8s. 9d., on account of wife of John Stoker and {2 10s. ditto for wife of Shadrack Reeder. Wmn. Douglass, £50 14s. 6d. as per acct.
"1778, June 9: Andrew Adam, {13 5d., for Margaret Hill (service).
"1778, Aug. 10: Farling Ball. {4 16s. 9d. John Alexander, 65.
"1778, Sept. 14: Leven Powell, Gent, {6, 1s. William Douglass, Gent, {47 7s. John Tyler, £3 19s. 6d.
"1778, Sept. 15: Farling Ball, Gent, {1 17s. 6d.
"1778, Nov. 9: Andrew Adam, £16 15s.
"1778, Nov. 15: Daniel Losh, {24 6s. 9d. Geo. West, Gent, £3 10s. Farling Ball, ditto, {2.
"1778, Dec. 14: Joshua Daniel, Gent, {9 15s. John Orr, £7, 16s.
"1779, Feb. 9, Farling Ball, £18 13s. 9d. Wm. Douglass, £53 9s. 1d. Chas. Binns, {3 on acct. of widow of Hamilton.
"1779, April: John Alexander, {68 15s. Daniel Losh, {10 37s. Will- iam Douglass, Gent, {28 16s. Andrew Adam, {17 13s. Wm. Ellzey, £24 2s.
"1779, May: Geo. West, Gent, {42 14s.
"1779, June: Andrew Adam, {12 3s. 6d. John Orr, 643 16s. Wm. Douglass, {18 16s. Farling Ball, Gent, {175 5s.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.