USA > Virginia > City of Norfolk > City of Norfolk > History of Norfolk County, Virginia and representative citizens, V.1 > Part 71
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They are laid out in drives and promen- ades. In the cemetery attached to the hospital are buried the remains of many officers, sail- ors and marines. Conspicuous among the graves are those of some 50 or 60 Confederate soldiers and sailors, each with a head-board in- scribed with the name of the person buried be- neath. Several Russians and quite a number
of the victims of the "Huron" disaster are buried here.
Among the prominent monuments is one to the memory of Lieut. John H. Marshall, U. S. Navy, born in Caroline County, Virginia, in the year 1800 and died June 1, 1850; and Dr. Lewis W. Minor, a distinguished naval sur- geon.
In front of the Hospital is a monument to the memory of Maj. John Saunders, born in Virginia in 1771 and died in 1810.
The Hospital was built in 1833-36. Four medical officers, including a medical director. are stationed at the Hospital. where everything goes on as regularly, smoothly and systemati- cally as if operated by machinery. The sur- geons know their duties and perform them faithfully and ably. The sick of the navy from ISIT were treated in a private house known as the Galt house which stood not very far from the place where the "Galena" was built in the Navy Yard. The present grounds were turned over to the U. S. Navy in 1827 and the sick were brought to the Hospital, only one wing of which was completed, July 17, 1830.
On the ground in front of the Naval Hos- pital was located Fort Nelson, of Revolution- ary fame.
There are many interesting war relics in the Navy Yard, as shown by the following :
MEMORANDUM OF TROPHIES IN NAVY YARD PARK.
I bronze gun and carriage from the Spanish fort on Cayo del Toro. Guantanamo Bay. Cuba. captured July 3, 189S. 2 torpedoes from the Spanish cruiser "Reina Mer- cedes." captured July 3, 189S.
2 It-inch shell from the Spanish cruiser "Maria Teresa." captured July 3. 1898.
2 14 c. m. rapid fire guns : 2 14 c. m. cartridges. from the Spanish cruiser "Almirante Oquendo." De- stroyed in the battle of Santiago. July 3. 1898. 2 torpedo-tubes,-Santiago, July 3. 1898.
2 range-finders,-Santiago. July 3, 1898.
2 revolving cannons and stands .- i revolving can- non stand .- Santiago. July 3. 1898.
3 Spanish mines,-picked up by the U. S. S. "Marblehead," at Guantanamo Bay. July, 1808.
1 57 m. m. Hotchkiss gun and mount .- Santiago, July 3. 1898.
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
I Chinese gun and carriage,-captured by U. S. Marines at Tien Tsin. June, 1900.
I cannon, captured from the British on the Lakes, --- War of 1812.
[ cannon, captured in the British frigate "Java," by the U. S. frigate "Constellation," December 29, 1812. 2 cannon,-War of Revolution.
3 carronades, captured during the Mexican War, 1816. I Turkish stone-shot from Constantinople.
2 cannon from the U. S. frigate "United States," IS45.
4 pieces of armor from the deck of the "Merri-
mac." (C. S. S. "Virginia.") 2 broken cannon from the U. S. line-of-battleship "Pennsylvania," destroyed. 1861.
2 iron stands from the wreck of the U. S. frigate "Cumberland."
Melted bell metal from the wreck of the U. S. frigate "Raritan," destroyed, 1864.
Armor from the wreck of the C. S. ram "Albe- marle."
Armor from the C. S. ram "Texas."
6 cannon, smooth bore. War of 1812.
2 20-pounders, smooth bore. 1862.
2 60-pounders, smooth bore, 1865.
2 100-pounders. smooth bore, 1863.
I S-inch rifle, 1876.
2 9-inch rifles. 1864.
2 12-pounders boat howitzers and mounts (bronze). I865. I 12-pounder boat howitzer and carriage (bronze). 1870.
I 12-pounder boat howitzer and carriage (bronze), 1863.
, COMMANDANTS OF THE NAVY YARD.
A list of the officers who have been in command of the Navy Yard, is given here- with :
Capt. Richard Dale, Superintendent, 1794 to 1795. Capt. Thomas Williams, Superintendent, 1798 to July 16, 1799.
Commodore Samuel Barron, Superintendent, July 16, 1799. to August --. 1799.
On June 15. 1801. the Navy Yard. which up to that time belonged to the State of Virginia, was deeded to the United States.
William Pennock, Navy Agent and Superintendent, June 15, ISO1, to .April 26, 1802.
Daniel Bedinger, Navy Agent and Superintendent, April 26, 1802, to February 10, 180S.
Theodore Armistead, Navy Agent and Superin- tendent, February 10. 1808, to February 7. 1810. Commodore Samuel Barron. Commandant, Feb- ruary 7, 1801. to October 29, 1810.
Lieut. Robert Henley. Commandant. November 10. ISI0, to May, 18II.
Capt. Samuel Evans, Commandant, May, 1811, to August 10, 1812.
Capt. John Cassin, Commandant, August 10, 1812, to June -, 1821. Capt. Lewis Warrington, Commandant, Junc -- , 1821. to December --. 1824. Master Commandant James Renshaw, Command- ant, December -, 1824. to May 25, 1825.
Commodore James Barron, Commandant, May 25, 1825. to May 26, 1831. Commodore Lewis Warrington, Commandant, May 26, IS31, to October 7, 1840.
Commodore W. B. Shubrick, Commandant, October 1840, to October --. 1843. Commodore Jesse Wilkinson, Commandant, Octo- ber -, 1843. to June I. 1847. Commodore Laurence Kearney, Commandant, June I, 1847, to January 19, 1848. Commodore John D. Sloat. Commandant, January 19. 1848, to February 17. 1851. Capt. Silas H. Stringham, Commandant, February 17. I851, to April 1, 1852. Capt. Samuel Breese, Commandant, April 1, 1852, to May 10, 1855. Commodore Isaac Mckeever. Commandant. May IO, 1855, to April 1, 1856. Capt. Thomas A. Dornin. Commandant, May 6, 1856. to April 30. 1859. Capt. Charles H. Bell, Commandant, April 30, 1859, to August 1, 1860.
Commodore Charles S. McCauley. Commandant, August 1, 1860, to April 21, 1861.
Capt. Robert B. Pegram, Commandant, April 21, 1861. to April 22. 1861 ( Virginia Navy).
Capt. French Forrest, Commandant, April 22, 1861, to April -, 1862 ( Confederate States Navy).
Capt. Sidney Smith Lee, Commandant. April -, (862, to May: 10, 1862 ( Confederate States Navy ).
Capt. John W. Livingston, Commandant, May 20, 1862. to November 16, 1864
Capt. John M. Berrien, Commandant, November I,, 1864, to October 7, 1865.
Commodore Robert B. Hitchcock, Commandant, October 31, 1865, to August 7. 1866.
Rear-Admiral S. C. Rowan, Commandant, August 7, 1866, to July 23, 1867.
Commodore A. H. Kilty, Commandant, August 15, 1867. to October 1, 1870.
Rear-Admiral Charles H. Davis, Commandant, Oc- tober I. IS70, to July 1. 1873. Commodore T. H. Stevens, Commandant, July 1, 1873, to July 1, 1876. Commodore J. B. Creighton, Commandant, July I, IS75. to July 1, 1879. Commodore A. K. Hughes. Commandant, July I, 1879. to July 3. 1882. Capt. W. K. Mayo. Commandant, July 3. 1882, to April 10, 1885.
Commodore W. T. Truxton, Commandant, April IO. 1885. to March Ir. 1886.
Capt. George Brown, Commandant, March 11, ISS6, to December 31, ISS9.
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. Commodore A. W. Weaver. Commandant, January
14. 1890, to January 16, 1893. Capt. E. E. Potter, Commandant, January 16, 1893, to July 29, 1893. Commodore George Brown, Commandant, July 29. 1893, to June 1, 1897.
to September 30. 1899. Capt. A. S. Barker, Commandant, October 5, 1899, to July 16. 1900. : Rear-Admiral C. S. Cotton. Commandant, July 16, ICOO. Capt. N. H. Farquhar, Commandant, June 1, 1897,
CHAPTER XXVIII
SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE PROMINENT MEN WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY
CAPT. ADAM THOROGOOD-COMMODORE RICHARD DALE -- COMMODORE JAMES BARRON-HON. LITTLETON W. TAZEWELL -- COMMODORE THOMAS ALOYSIUS DORNIN-CHARLES REID -HUGH BLAIR GRIGSBY, LL. D .- GEN. RICHARD LUCIAN PAGE-CAPT. ROBERT BAKER PEGRAM --- CAPT. CHARLES FENTON MERCER SPOTTSWOOD-CAPT. JAMES WAL- LACE COOKE -- HON. GEORGE BLOW-CAPT. JOHN JULIUS GUTHRIE-CAPT. CARTER BRAXTON POINDEXTER-COL. WILLIAM WHITE-CAPT. WILLIAM H. MURDAUGH --- LIEUT. DULANY A. FORREST --- CAPT. JAMES BARRON HOPE-CAPT. WILLIAM C. WHEELER-NAVAL CONSTRUCTOR GEORGE R. BOUSH -- CAPT. WALTER R. BUTT- LIEUT .- COL. WILLIAM FREDERICK NIEMEYER -- NAVAL CONSTRUCTOR SAMUEL WILSON ARMISTEAD.
CAPT. ADAMI THOROGOOD.
One of the first settlers, was the wealthiest and most prominent citizens of his day in Lower Norfolk County. He belonged to a good family in England and was the youngest brother of Sir John Thorogood. Knight. At the age of 19 in 1621, he left his home and crossed the ocean to seek his fortune in Vir- ginia, leaving his sweetheart behind him. He settled in Elizabethi City Shire. He was a landed proprietor in Elizabeth City County in 1626 and returned to England to marry his affiance. Upon the occasion of their marriage his brother, Sir John, gave the bride two hand- some silver bowls as a bridal present, which afterward became subjects of litigation in Vir- ginia. After the death of Captain Thorogood, one of the appraisers of his estate insisted that they be returned with his personal property, but the widow claimed them and the Governor and Council at James City, to whom the con- tention was referred, decided in her favor.
Captain Thorogood represented Elizabeth City' County in the House of Burgesses at the ses- sions of 1629, 1630 and 1632, and in 1635 10- cated a patent for 600 acres of land on the Lynnhaven River and removed there. He was commander of the county in 1637 and first pre- siding officer of the County Court. He was the only owner of horses in the county for sev- cral years probably the first owner of slaves. From an inventory of his estate it appears that he had on his Lynnhaven plantation seven head of horses, 94 head of cattle and 140 "goates."
On one occasion when he paid a visit to his neighbor, Capt. Thomas Willoughby, he re- quested the servants to give his horses a feed of corn; they told him it was a shame to give horses corn when they themselves might need it before the next crop. He promised to return the corn the horses consumed and that satis- fied the servants. Just outside the bounds of Captain Thorogood's plantation was a small cove called Oyster Creek with beds of delight-
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ful bivalves. They were on another man's demesne but the Captain claimed the right to take them. He thought that "as commander of the county he was entitled to more priv- ileges than other people," as he wanted the oysters "to send an occasional dish to Sir John Harvie," who was Governor of the colony, and he contested the right of the owner to interfere with him. He was not sustained, which showed that there was law even in that day for the lowly as well as the rich and high- born citizen. This was the first oyster war in America. Captain Thorogood died in the be- ginning of 1640, the owner of nearly 7,000 acres of land. His widow, within less than a year. married John Gookin.
COMMODORE RICHARD DALE.
The family of Dale was one of the ancient and respected families of Norfolk County. The homestead of the Dale family was on Swim- ming Point, now embraced in the limits of the city of Portsmouth. Commodore Richard Dale was born in this county in the year 1756. The County Court records show that on the 19th day of February. 1773,-"Richard Dale this day came into Court and chose Isaac Luke his guardian." It appears that at the early age of 12 years he decided to be a seaman and fol- lowed that life until he retired from the navy. He was five times taken prisoner by the British during the Revolution. He was in Mill Prison at Liverpool, but escaped, and was seized by a press-gang, carried back, and thrown into a ncisome dungeon for 40 days. Being released. he was again thrown into the Black Hole for singing rebellious songs. Again escaping. he fled to France, and was appointed ist lieuten- ant in the "Bon Homme Richard." in the fleet of John Paul Jones, which spread such terror along the Western Coast of Scotland. In the desperate action with the "Serapis," he dis- tinguished himself, and was wounded in the head. Being appointed captain of an armed merchantman in the American service, he con-
tinued to command her to the end of the war. In 1794 he was made captain in the United States Navy; and in 1801 he commanded the Mediterranean Squadron. He retired in 1802 . to private life, and spent the remainder of his days in Philadelphia, where he died in 1826, aged 70 years, loved and honored by all who knew him. i
The will of Wingfield Dale of Portsmouth Parish, dated October 7. 1766, is recorded in the County Court of Norfolk County :
"Item. I give and bequeath unto my son. Richard Dale, at the marriage of my above-mentioned wife. one negro man Pero to him and his heirs forever, also my cane and silver shoe buckles."
After certain other legacies he directed the remainder of his property to be sold and one- third of proceeds to be paid to his wife Ann Dale,-the balance to be equally divided be- tween his children Richard, Elizabeth, David, Sarah, "and a child not yet born."
COMMODORE JAMES BARRON
Was born September 15, 1768, in Hampton, Virginia, and died April 21, 1851, at his home in Norfolk. Virginia. He went to sea early in life and served with his father in the marine service of Virginia, commanding the "Patriot." He entered the U. S. Navy as lieutenant March 9. 1798, and cruised under Barry in the "Uni- ted States" in the West Indies and afterwards to France.
He was promoted to captain May 22, 1799, and commanded the 44-gun ship "President" in Dale's squadron in the expedition to Tripoli, and was transferred in 1802 to the 36-gun ship "New York," of Morris' squadron and afterward to the "Chesapeake," 38 guns, and returned home in her. He went to the Med- iterranean in the "Essex." 32 guns, under the flag of his brother Samuel Barron and was again put in command of the "President" in 1805. He was the sixth captain on the new navy list and on returning home in 1806 he was given command of the "Chesapeake" and
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hoisted a broad pennant on her in June, 1807. He put to sea on June 22nd and was followed out of the Chesapeake Bay by the "Leopard" of 50 guns, an English frigate. and, while inpre- pared to fight, was fired into from that ship, after some parley concerning search, and com- pelled to surrender, having been wounded. He was tried on several charges. found guilty of two and suspended from rank and pay for five years until 1813. During the period of his suspension he was absent from the United States, and on his return became involved in a controversy with Commodore Stephen Deca- tur, a commissioner of the navy, who opposed Barron's having a command, and killed that officer in a duel at Bladensburg on March 22, 1820, himself being seriously wounded. He resided in Norfolk until 1825. commanded the Philadelphia Navy Yard. 1825-27; Gosport Navy Yard, 1827-32; Philadelphia Navy Yard, 1833-37: on waiting orders, 1838-42. He became the senior officer of the navy in 1839, continued on waiting orders until his death, having been in the navy 53 years. Com- modore Barron in the latter part of his life built a large house on the left side of Fen- church street. Norfolk, immediately opposite to Falkland street, and resided there until his death. In person he was a very commanding figure with a fine appearance; but was near- sighted. When Commodore Barron fought the unfortunate duel at Bladensburg he was 5 years old and Decatur, who died on the day he was shot, was 41 years old. Commodore Barron's tomb is in Trinity Churchyard, Ports- mouth .*
HON. LITTLETON W. TAZEWELL,
Of Norfolk, was a member of the House of Delegates of Virginia from 1796 to 1800, a
Congressman from ISoo to ISO1. He was ap- pointed a commissioner to Spain in 1819, un- der the treaty for the purchase of Florida. He represented Virginia in the United States Sen- ate as a Democrat from 1825 to 1833. He was a prominent member of the convention to re- vise the Virginia Constitution in 1829, and was Governor of Virginia from 1834 to 1836. In 1840 he received 11 electoral votes for Vice- president of the United States. He was born December 17, 1774, and died May 6, 1860.
CAPT. HUGH N. PAGE
Was born in Virginia in the year 1788. and a large share of his long and useful life was spent in Portsmouth.
He distinguished himself at the battle of Lake Erie with Perry, and in many subsequent engagements. In so many ways did he prove his bravery and his ability that he won for himself the plaudits of a nation, and Congress presented him with a sword soon after the battle of Lake Erie. Some years later the State of Virginia presented him with another. He died at the ripe old age of 84 years, June 3. 1871, loved and honored by all.
COMMODORE THOMAS ALOYSIUS DORNIN.
On April 22, 1874, Commodore Thomas Aloysius Dornin, a citizen of Norfolk, died in the 74th year of his age in Savannah, Georgia. He entered the United States Navy as midship- man in 1815 from the State of Maryland. In 1856 he was made commandant of the Gosport Navy Yard and remained three years. He was next in command of the "San Jacinto" on the coast of Africa, where he remained until the Confederate War began, when he was ordered home in command of the "Constellation" and was assigned to the command of the naval sta- tion at Baltimore, where he remained during the entire war. Commodore Dornin was a native of Ireland, and his father was exiled in 1803 on account of his friendship for Robert Emmett. the Irish patriot.
*Another tomb in Trinity Churchyard is that of an English officer. who was killed in a duel: the inscrip- tion reads: "Edward Ottley. Esq .. Lieut. in His Brit- tanic Majesty's Royal Navy, who was killed in a duel October 28. 1806, aged 56 years."
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CHARLES REID,
The eldest son of George Reid and Elizabeth Taylor, his wife, was born in Forfar, Scotland, on the 4th day of April, 1800, and dying at his residence, No. 524 East Main street, Nor- folk, Virginia. Tuesday morning, January 17, 1899, was the last living link in Norfolk County which connected the eighteenth century with the nineteenth. and the last person who had lived in Norfolk County continuously from the first year of the nineteenth century. He came with his parents in 1801 to Virginia, where they settled first in Portsmouth, and afterward in Norfolk. His parents returned to Scotland temporarily in 1816, and left him with his uncle, Robert Soutter, a Scotch mer- chant, who entrusted him with the settling of his father's business. At the age of 21 years, after he had received the best education to be obtained in this section, he, with the assist- ance of his uncle, Mr. Soutter, went into the grocery and commission business in Water street. near Commercial Place. On the 17th day of March, 1825, he married Lucretia Nash of Portsmouth, who died in 1868. A short time after his marriage he formed a partner- ship with his brother George, and did business on Commercial Row, near the ferry wharf. The firm prospered, and for fifteen years they transacted a large commission and stave ex- porting business. George then withdrew from the firm and Charles retired from the grocery business and with Robert Soutter, Jr., estab- lished the stave exporting commission and guano business on Nivison's wharf under the name of Reid & Soutter, and continued the business until Mr. Soutter withdrew to accept a position in New York. After the close of the Confederate War he "associated with himself his two sons, George C. and James T. S. Reid. under the firm name of Charles Reid & Sons," and was the senior member of the firm at the time of his death. He was for a number of years magistrate. chairman of the Common
Council, president of the School Board, a mem- ber and president of the Board of Harbor Com- missioners, president of the Norfolk Savings Institution, director of the old Farmers' Bank of Virginia, and a member of the board of directors of the Marine Bank. He was for many years a leading member and treasurer of the First Presbyterian Church of Norfolk. also vice-president of the Seamen's Friend Society. For many years past he made it a custom to have a family reunion on his birthday. He was the father of eight children (one dead at the time of his death ), and he left IOS descend- ants, children, grandchildren and great-grand- children : of whom 44 were grandchildren and 57 great-grandchildren.
-From L. N. C. Antiquary.
HUGH BLAIR GRIGSBY, LL. D.,
Was born in the city of Norfolk. Virginia. on November 22, 1806, and died at his country seat "Edgehill," Charlotte County, Virginia, April 28, 1881.
He was the son of Benjamin Grigsby, who was born in Orange County, Virginia, Sep- tember 18, 1770, and was a pupil of Rev. Will- iam Graham, at old Liberty Hall Academy, the precursor of the present Washington and Lee University. Among his fellow students was Archibald Alexander, the subsequently eminent divine, who was his companion when in early manhood they sought their life work in a horseback journey to Southside, Virginia. Leaving his companion in Petersburg, Grigsby, "with his sole personal possessions in a pair of saddle-bags," continued his solitary ride to Norfolk where he located, and was the first pastor of the first Presbyterian Church in the borough. Here he married Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Hugh and Lilias ( Blair) MePherson, and providentially and faithfully labored until. as is recorded on the handsome marble obelisk erected to his memory in Trinity Churchyard. Portsmouth, Virginia, "in the faithful dis- charge of his calling, he fell a martyr to yellow
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fever on the 6th of October. 1810." His widow married, secondly. January 16, 1817. Dr. Na- than Colgate Whitehead who, although edu- cated as a physician. relinquished practice and was for 27 years the honored president of the Farmers' Bank of Virginia, in Norfolk. He died in 1856. Hon. John B. Whitehead. ex- mayor of Norfolk, is the issue of this mar- riage.
----
Hugh Blair Grigsby left two children : Hugh Carrington, born in Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania, February 13, 1857, and Mary Blair. born in Norfolk. Virginia, July 9. 1861, who married December 1. 1882, W. R. Galt. Pay- master United States Navy. son of Prof. W. R. Galt of Norfolk and nephew of Alexander Galt, the sculptor.
Hugh Blair Grigsby was a member of the Virginia Convention, 1829-30, president of the Virginia Historical Society and chancellor of William and Mary College.
GEN. RICHARD LUCIAN PAGE
Died August 9. 1901. He was the most con- spicuous figure in Norfolk. He had won dis- tinction in the old navy and had also achieved high honors in the Confederate Army. In personal appearance General Page was tall and commanding and for many years his resem- blance to his illustrious kinsman. Gen. Robert E. Lee, was subject of remark by those who were familiar with the personality of the two soldiers.
While General Page was a man of great dignity, and in a marked degree, "a gentle- man of the Old School," he was always urbane and considerate in manner and never lost his interest and sympathy for the young. This beautiful trait of his character especially en- deared him to young people. This characteris- tic led him to take a deep interest in matters of educating and training the young. For four years he was superintendent of the public schools of Norfolk, and although it had been
many years since he retired from that position. he took an active interest in public-school edu- cation, even after he had arrived at an age when the majority of men can no longer find pleasure in public affairs.
General Page was an carnest and consistent member of the church, and for many years was the senior warden of Christ Protestant Epis- copal Church of Norfolk, and to the end of his life was a regular attendant upon the church services.
General Page, who had gained renown for his distinguished service in the naval and mili- tary annals of the Confederate States, was born in Clarke County, Virginia, in 1807. and was in his 94th year at the time of his death. He was a descendant of John Page, who came to Virginia from England in the early days. Gen- eral Page was a son of William Byrd and Anne Page and the grandson of Henry Lee. the father of Gen. Henry Lee, the famous "Light- horse Harry," who was the father of Gen. Robert E. Lee.
He entered the United States Navy as a midshipman in 1824, serving on the sloop-of- war "John Adams," of the West India Squad- ron, under Commodore Porter, with whom he made two cruises. In 1825 he was transferred to the frigate "Brandywine" under Commodore Morris and helped to carry Gen- eral La Fayette back to France. From 1842 to 1843 he was ordnance officer at the Norfolk Navy Yard. Afterward he acted as executive officer and lieutenant commander of the frigate "Independence." flagship of Commodore Shu- brick during the Mexican War.
Following this war, he returned to the Nor- folk Navy Yard and did ordnance duty for two years. From 1852 to 1854 he served with the African Squadron, after which he was pro- moted to commander in September. 1855 : then he returned to ordnance duty at the Navy Yard, and became a member of the Retiring Board. At the outbreak of the Confederate War. he was on duty at the Navy Yard here
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to which he had been recalled a year previous, and on the secesion of Virginia. he resigned his rank and office and was appointed aide-de- camp to Governor Letcher with special duties in the organization of the State Navy.
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