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[Page 346]
      Forrest, French, born in Maryland, October 4, 1796, was appointed midshipman, United States navy, June 9, 1811; promoted to lieutenant, March 5, 1817; to commander, February 9, 1837; to captain, March 30, 1844. He fought bravely in the war of 1812, distinguishing himself in the battle on Lake Erie when he was but seventeen years old; and in the engagement between the Hornet and Peacock, February 24, 1813. In the Mexican war he was adjutant-general of the land forces, and held the same relation to the navy — a somewhat anomalous position, and he landed General Scott's troops at Vera Cruz, twelve thousand men, in five hours — a remarkable feat. At different times he commanded the United States Brazil squadron, the Washington Navy Yard, and the rear squadron of Commodore Shubrick's fleet in the Paraguay expedition. At the outbreak of the civil war he resigned, and tendered his services to Virginia, and was placed in charge of the Norfolk Navy Yard, and bore a principal part in the naval battle in Hampton Roads, he being on board the Merrimac. Later he was placed in command of the James river squadron. He bore the rank of captain, the highest grade provided in the Confederate navy establishment. He married, in 1830, Emily Douglas, daughter of Hon. John Douglas Simmes. He died February, 1866.

[Pages 346-348]
      Cleveland, Benjamin, born near Bull Run, in Orange county, Virginia, March 26, 1738, son of John Cleveland. He came of an old and fine English family, whose tract, named Cleveland, lay in North Riding of Yorkshire, England. His grandfather, Alexander, migrated to the famous bull Run, Virginia. His father, John Cleveland, married Martha Coffee. Averse to farm work, Benjamin became a hunter for pelts, and was fond of horse-racing. He married Mary Graves, of a well-to-do family, and fought in the French and Indian war. About 1769 he removed with his wife's father to North Carolina, near the Blue Ridge, on Roaring Creek, an arm of the Yadkin, in Rowan, then Surry (now Wilkes) county, and later removed to "Round-About," fifteen miles below Wilkesboro. From Daniel Boone he learned of the Kentucky hunting grounds, and in 1771 went there, but the Cherokees drove him back without horses, and he ate dog meat to escape starving. When the revolution began in 1775, refusing to be ensign, he served in the militia. In February, 1776, as Capt. Cleveland, with riflemen he broke up the Highland tories, and did good service against them and the Indians. In 1777 he was active in forming the new Wilkes county,, and in 1778 was head of the justices' commission, militia colonel, commissioner of confiscated estates, election superintendent, county ranger, or stray master, and member of the house of commons. In 1778-79 his regiment shared in the campaign in Georgia, and on his return he was elected state senator. In 1780 he fought tories constantly. His next service, now historic, as settling the revolution in the South in spite of English successes, was his vital part in the fateful victory of King's Mountain. The British had 1,103 men under Ferguson, and the Americans 923, mostly Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. The ground of the battle is 600 yards long, 250 wide at base, 60 to 120 wide on top, and 60 feet above the country level. The English held the eminence. The Americans were in two columns, two men deep on the right of the mountain, under Campbell and Servier, and two on the left under Cleveland and Shelby. Cleveland made a ringing appeal, and the attack was begun with yells. The battle raged all around the mountain; Cleveland's horse was disabled, but he fought on foot until remounted. Several times the Americans were forced down the ascent, only to rally and gamely retrace their steps. Ferguson tried to break through, but fell with eight wounds. The British finally surrendered, having lost 157 killed, 153 wounded and 706 prisoners, and over 1,200 arms. The Americans had 28 killed and 62 wounded. It was a complete victory, and crushed the English cause in the South. It withdrew the Carolinas from Tory domination, and was the forerunner of Cowpens, Guilford, Eutaw, Yorktown and Independence. For t his, his greatest life service, Cleveland has been immortalized. One of Ferguson's war horses was assigned him by common consent, and he treasured a drum as a trophy. His riflemen became famous as "Cleveland's Heroes," "Cleveland's Bull Dogs," and by the tories as "Cleveland's Devils." He was called "Old Round About" and was noted for his warm heart, sound sense and firm will. Gov. Perry says he was a great man by nature. At the close of the war, losing his "Round-About" plantation, he moved to the Tulago valley. He was many years judge in old Pendleton county.
      His weight increased to 450 pounds, and he died from dropsy, in his sixty-ninth year. The Clevelands have become illustrious. One of Ben's granddaughters married Senator Thomas J. Rusk, and another Gov. C. J. McDonald of Georgia, and a great-niece, Judge Underwood of Rome, Georgia. His sister's son was Gov. Franklin, of North Carolina. His brother's son, Jerry, was the patriarch of Greenville, and another, Jesse, of Spartanburg. North Carolina named a county after him, and a monument to the memory of him and the other heroes stands on the historic King's Mountain, consecrated by patriotic valor, while his family have erected one at Ben Cleveland, Oconee county, South Carolina. He died in Tugalo valley, Oconee, South Carolina, October, 1860.

[Pages 348-349]
      Martin, Joseph, born in Albemarle county, Virginia, in 1740, son of Joseph Martin. The father, born in Bristol, England, of a wealthy family, was sent out by his father, as supercargo of the Brice, and, on coming to Virginia, married Susannah Chiles, daughter of a respectable and well-to-do planter. This marriage offended the pride of the father, who disinherited the son, believing with many other Englishmen, that the colonists were "an inferior, degraded set;" the son never returned to England, and in Virginia he reared five sons and six daughters, "all of unusually large stature, and in other respects above mediocrity," and from whom descended a large and widely dispersed line of Wallers, Carrs, Lewises, Marks, Overtons, Minors, Chiles, and others. Joseph Martin, whose name begins this narrative, was the third son of this family, and became a man of fine ability and commanding presence. Impetuous in his youth, he gave little attention to schooling, and his education was limited. he was bound out to a carpenter, but his ardent temperature would not admit of his being confined to such a calling, and he left his master and joined the army at Fort Pitt, in his sixteenth year. While in the ranks, he met, as a fellow soldier, Thomas (afterward General Sumter, whom, after a separation of thirty years, he was destined to meet again, he being a member of the Virginia legislature, and Sumter, whom, after a separation of thirty years, he was destined to meet again, he being a member of the Virginia legislature, and Sumter a member of congress. After his return from the army, he went to the West, about 1768, with a party of fur trappers and traders, and on this journey he discovered the famous "Powell's Valley." At a place which came to be known as "Martin's Station," in Virginia, on the west thoroughfare to Kentucky, they cleared land and planted corn, but in the summer the Indians broke up the settlement, and the party returned home. Martin now became overseer for one Minor, and after a time removed to Pittsylvania county, where he bought a tract of land. In year of 1776 he recruited a company and took part in the war against the Cherokees, and he was connected with the peace treaty commission in the following year, and was designated by the government to reside on the "Island of Peace," now in Sullivan county, Tennessee, and he so remained until 1789. He was elected to the North Carolina legislature, was brigadier-general of militia, and frequently campaigned against the Indians. In 1785 he was one of the commissioners to organize a new county in Georgia, and in 1788 he was a member of the North Carolina convention called to act upon the new United States constitution, which he favored, though the convention rejected it; he was also a member of the convention the next year, and which ratified that instrument. Soon afterwards he returned to his old home in Henry county, Virginia, was elected to the legislature, and was Mr. Madison's principal supporter of the famous resolutions in 1798-99. He married (first) ——— who bore him seven children; and (second) Susanna Graves, who became the mother of eleven children. He died in 1808, on his estate, "Leatherwood," Henry county, Virginia, in his sixty-eighth year, and was interred with Masonic and military honors.

[Page 349]
      Somerville, James, born in Glasgow, Scotland, February 23, 1742. He located at Fredericksburg, Virginia, and acquired a large fortune from a mercantile business. He died at Port Royal, Virginia, April 25, 1798. Having no children, he left his large estate to his nephew James, son of Walter and Mary (Gray) Somerville, of Scotland. James came to Virginia in 1795 and took possession of the estate, which included the forest lands which were the scene of the battles of the Wilderness in the civil war. He made his home at "Somerville," Culpeper county. He married Mary Atwill, of Fauquier county.

[Page 349]
      Burwell, Nathaniel, of King William county, Virginia, born 1750, son of Lewis Burwell of "Kingsmill," James City county, and Frances, his wife, daughter of Edwin Thacker, and widow of James Bray. He entered the revolutionary army as ensign in 1775; was captain of artillery, 1776; major and aide-de-camp to Gen. Howe, 1779; retired from service in 1783. He was an original member of the Society of Cincinnati. He married Martha Digges, daughter of Hon. Dudley and Martha (Armistead) Digges; she was a member of the sewing society formed by Martha Washington to make clothing for revolutionary soldiers. He died in 1801.

[Page 349]
      Lightfoot, Philip, born at Yorktown, Virginia, about 1752, son of Hon. William Lightfoot, of "Teddington," Charles City county, and Yorktown, Virginia, high sheriff of York county, and Mildred Howell, his wife. He served with distinction in the revolutionary war, as lieutenant in Harrison's artillery, and received two grants of land for his services. He married (first) Mary Warner, daughter of Col. Charles and Lucy (Taliaferro) Lewis, of Port Royal, Caroline county, Virginia. He married (second) Sally S. Bernard, daughter of William Bernard, Esq. He died in 1786.

[Page 349]
      Blackwell, Joseph, born in Fauquier county, Virginia, in 1755, son of William Blackwell, high sheriff, and Elizabeth Crump, his wife. He served in the revolutionary war in the Tenth Virginia Regiment (afterwards Sixth), as second lieutenant and captain, and was in the battles of Harlem Heights, Princeton, Trenton, Brandywine and Charleston. At Charleston he was taken prisoner, May 12, 1780, and exchanged in June, 1781. He received 5,333 acres of land for his services, and 7,000 acres from his father's estate. He married (first) Ann Grayson, daughter of Col. John Gibson and Mary Brent, his wife; and (second) Mary Waddy, daughter of Capt. William Brent and Hannah Neale, his wife. He died in 1823.

[Pages 349-350]
      Sumter, Thomas, was born in Orange county, Virginia, but there is no information as to his parentage or training. He served against the French in 1755, and was in Braddock's defeat. He settled in the upper part of South Carolina, fought against the Cherokees, and accompanied Oconostotah, their chief, on a visit to King George, in ?England. After his return, he was a leader in the revolutionary movements, and im March, 1776, was made lieutenant-colonel of the Third South Carolina Regiment, raised to overcome the Indians and Tories, and was promoted to colonel. When Charleston was taken by the British, he took refuge in the swamps, and after his estate had been ravaged, went to North Carolina. He there raised a large force, and became one of the most active partisan leaders. On July 12, 1780, he dispersed a large British force, and was made brigadier-general by Gov. Rutledge, of South Carolina, but was driven off, the enemy sustaining such loss that they were unable to pursue. It is said that Andrew Jackson, then thirteen years old, took part in the battle. On Auguest 15, Sumter captured Lord Cornwallis' supply train and guard, between Charleston and Camden. On the 18th he was surprised by Tarleton, and lost fifty killed; many of his men were taken, also most of their captured supplies and British prisoners, Sumter barely escaping. Having reassembled his men, he again harassed the British on the Broad and Tiger rivers, and defeated and captured Major Wemyss, who had been sent against him. On November 20th he was attacked by Tarleton, at Blackstock Hill, and whom he defeated, with a loss of three killed and four wounded, the enemy's loss being two hundred killed and wounded., but in the action Sumter was wounded, and for three months was unable to do field service. In March, 1781, he raised three new regiments, and in concert with Marion, Pickens and others, harassed the enemy until the end of the war. Tarleton gave him the name of "The South Carolina Game Cock." In February, Sumter destroyed the British supplies at Fort Ganby, and two days later captured a British supply train on its way to Camden. His closing exploits were as brilliant. He repulsed a strong attack by Major Fraser, on Broad river; and captured the posts of Orangeburg, Dorchester and Marks' Corners, but his health failed before the end of the war, and he retired, receiving the thanks of congress. After the war, he took a hearty interest in politics. He was a member of the South Carolina convention that ratified the federal constitution; as a Federalist served in congress, 1789-1793, and voted for locating the seat of the United States government on the Potomac river; was United States senator, 1801-09; in 1811 was made minister to Brazil, and after his return was again elected to the United States senate. He outlived all other general officers of the revolution. His name is commemorated in the famous fort in Charleston harbor, which was the scene of the opening acts of the civil war. He died at Camden, South Carolina, June 1, 1832.

[Pages 350-351]
      Johnston, Charles, son of Hon. Peter Johnston, of "Chiny Grove," Prince Edward county, Virginia, and Martha, his wife, widow of Capt. Thomas Rogers, and daughter of John Butler. He was a merchant in Richmond, of the firm of Pickett, Pollard & Johnston. Soon after the revolution he was sent to Ohio by the government on a commission, and was captured by the Indians. After a year he was rescued by Dr. Shuget, a French Canadian, who came to his rescue just as the Indians had bound him to a stake and fired the fagots. He was afterwards sent to France on government business, and sailed on the same vessel which was returning Lafayette to France. At the request of Lafayette he prepared an account of his experience while in the hands of the Indians, and which was published in French newspapers. When Lafayette again came to this country, he visited Mr. Johnston at "Botetourt Springs" (now Hollins Institute) in Roanoke county, where he also met Dr. Shuget, who had rescued Johnston from the Indians. Mr. Johnston held many offices of honor and trust. He married (first) Letitia Pickett, daughter of Col. Martin and Ann (Blackwell) Pickett; and (second) Elizabeth, daughter of Hon. James and Frances (Calloway) Steptoe, of Bedford county.

[Page 351]
      Wallace, Caleb, a native of Charlotte county, Virginia; graduated at Princeton College in 1770; in 1774 became minister of Cub Creek and Little Falling River congregations in Virginia. In 1779 he removed to Botetourt county, and in 1783 to Kentucky. He abandoned the ministry for the law, in which he became eminent, and was a judge of the supreme court of Kentucky.

[Page 351]
      Wallace, Gustavus Brown, born at "Ellerslie," King George county, Virginia, November 9, 1751, son of Dr. Michael Wallace and Elizabeth Brown, his wife. He began the study of law in 1774, but was interrupted by being called to Scotland, to inherit property from an aunt. ON his return he entered the revolutionary army, and is recorded as a captain in the Third Virginia Regiment, but his name is erroneously recorded as Gustavus Baron Wallace, and was later major and lieutenant-colonel. He was taken prisoner, with his brother Thomas, at Charleston, South Carolina, in 1780. After the war he applied for command of the post at Detroit, but the same was not open. IN 1802 he again went to Scotland on business, and on the return voyage contracted a fever from which he died a few days after (August 17, 1802), at "Crow's Nest," Fredericksburg, the home of his cousin, Mrs. Travers Daniel. He was unmarried.

[Page 351]
      Dandridge, John, son of Bartholomew Dandridge and Mary Burbidge, daughter of Julius King Burbidge and Lucy, his wife, was born in New Kent county in 1758. He studied law and practiced in New Kent county. He removed to Brandon in 1797 and died in 1799. He married Rebecca Jones Minge, daughter of David Minge, of Charles City county, and had Lucy, who married James Walke Murdaugh, of Williamsburg Virginia.

[Page 351]
      Skyren, John Spotswood, second son of Rev. Henry Skyren and Lucy Moore, his wife, daughter of Col. Bernard Moore, was born in King William county about the latter part of the revolution. He was for many years commander of a cavalry regiment composed of troops from King and Queen, King William, Caroline and other adjoining counties. He had an eagle nose, grayish blue flashing eye, and a light springy tread. He died about August, 1855.

[Pages 351-352]
      Randolph, Robert Beverley, son of Richard and Maria Beverley Randolph, entered the s United States navy in 1810, and became lieutenant. In 1828 he was appointed purser and some charges were made public in regard to his accounts. He demanded an inquiry, which was ordered by the Secretary of the Treasury, and he was acquitted by the examining board of any intention to defraud the government. President Jackson disavowed this return, and, declaring that he did believe Randolph intended to defraud the government, dismissed him from the navy. In May, 1833, Jackson went to be present at the unveiling of the cornerstone of the monument in Fredericksburg, Virginia, to Mary, mother of Washington, and on his return stopped at Alexandria, where Randolph sought the presidential presence and pulled Jackson's nose. It was attempted to arrest him, but nothing was done. He married Eglantine, daughter of Peter Beverley, and left issue.

[Page 352]
      Ball, Fayette, born April 20, 1791, son of Burgess Ball and Frances Washington, his wife, daughter of Col. Charles Washington and Mildred Thornton, his wife. His godfathers were President George Washington (by proxy, and who named him after his friend, the Marquis Lafayette) and Col. Gustavus B. Wallace; his godmothers were Martha Washington, wife of the President, and Mrs. Sarah Roane. He served in the war of 1812 as corporal, under his brother, Captain George Washington Ball. In 1825, while Lafayette was visiting in this country, Mr. Ball met him at Aldie and conveyed him in his own carriage to Leesburg, a distance of fourteen miles, where a great ovation was accorded the distinguished guest. At parting, the Marquis gave to his namesake a papier maché snuff box, containing his likeness, telling him to keep it, and he would redeem it with one more valuable. After returning to France, the Marquis sent him a very handsome box of gold and tortoise shell, suitably inscribed. Fayette Ball married (first) Frances Williams, daughter of Major-General James Williams, of the Virginia line; and (second) Mary Thomson Mason, daughter of Gen. Thomson Mason.

[Page 352]
      Carter, Thomas, eldest son of Peter and Judith Norris Carter, was born in Fauquier county, April 24, 1731. He removed to Rye Cove, Clinch river, in what is now Scott county, Virginia, in 1773, with his first cousins, Dale and John Carter, sons of Charles Carter, of Amherst. On March 26, 1774, they all had surveys of land, Thomas for one hundred and ninety-seven acres in Rye Cove, and on March 31, 1783, he had another survey for fourteen hundred and twenty acres, to include his improvements. From 1774 to 1784 he was a road overseer in Washington county; and when his home fell into the new county of Russell, he was a justice of the first court of that county, May 9, 1786, and a lieutenant of militia. He represented Russell county in the constitutional convention of 1788, and is said to have served in the legislature several times. His will was probated in Russell county, October 25, 1803.

[Pages 352-353]
      Ruffner, David, born in Page county, Virginia, in 1767, son of Joseph and Anna (Heistand) Ruffner, and grandson of Peter Ruffner, who emigrated from the German-Swiss border to Pennsylvania in 1739, and later settled in Page county, Virginia, where he became owner of an immense tract of land. Joseph Ruffner, in 1795, sold his Shenandoah estate, purchased five hundred and two acres in the Kanawha valley (now in West Virginia), and removed there with his family. This property included the salt spring on the Kanawha river, at which a band of Indians had camped in 1753, while returning from a raid with their white prisoners. One of these, Mrs. Mary Inglis, made her escape afterward and described the spring where the Indians had supplied themselves with salt by boiling down the water. Although Ruffner realized the potential value of this spring, he died in 1803 without developing it, willing it to his sons, David and Joseph. Before 1803 the spring was producing one hundred and fifty pounds per day, by simple methods, and the salt was noted for its superior quality, but desiring to obtain a larger supply, the brothers began to look for the source. They traced it to the "Great Buffalo Lick" just at the river's edge six miles above Charleston; this was twelve or fifteen rods in extent. In order to reach the bottom of the quicksand through which the brine flowed, they set a platform on the top of a hollow sycamore tree about four feet in diameter, and by means of a pole with its fulcrum on a forked stick, a bucket made of half a whiskey barrel could be filled by one man armed with pick and shovel, and emptied by two men standing on the platform. Rigging up a long iron drill with a two-and-a-half-inch chisel, they attached the upper end to a spring pole by a rope, and with this primitive instrument finally bored forty feet through solid rock, reaching several cavities filled with strong salt water. This was brought to the surface undiluted, through wooden tubes, joined together and wound with twine. Thus was bored, tubed, rigged and worked the first drilled salt well west of the Alleghanies, if not in the United States. Considering the Ruffner's lack of preliminary study or experience, working in a newly settled country, without steam power, machine shops, materials, or skilled mechanics, this is a wonderful engineering feat. In a crude way they invented nearly every appliance that has since made artesian boring possible. In February, 1808, the first salt was taken from the furnace, and the price reduced to four cents a pound. Ruffner Brothers were the pioneers of salt manufacture in the Kanawha valley, and industry that as early as 1817 comprised thirty furnaces and twenty wells, producing seven hundred thousand bushels yearly. David Ruffner, the leader, was educated in the Page county schools, and engaged in farming until he began the manufacture of salt. Subsequently he made many improvements in drilling appliances, some of which are still in use. He became the leading man in Kanawha county, which he repeatedly represented in the Virginia legislature and he was for many years presiding judge of the county court. He was married, in 1789, to Ann, daughter of Henry Brumbach, of Rockingham county, Virginia, and had by her four children: Henry, who became a Presbyterian minister and was president of Washington College, Lexington, Virginia; Anne E., Susan B., and Lewis Ruffner. His brother Joseph (born February 14, 1769, died 1837) sold his interest in the salt works and went to Ohio, where he bought land which eventually became a part of Cincinnati. Judge Ruffner died in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1837.

[Pages 353-354]
      Newman, James, of "Hilton," born in 1806. He was a noted agriculturist and a man of broad information. He was for years president of the Virginia State Agricultural Society, and did much to promote the improvement of stock in Orange county, introducing and long maintaining the noted Cotswold breed of sheep. He published in a local newspaper a lengthy series of sketches relating to the early history and traditions of Orange county. He died in 1866.

[Page 354]
      Deane, Simeon, born at Wethersfield, Connecticut. In 1776 he accompanied his brother, Silas Deane, to the French court. In 1778 he returned with the treaty of alliance between France and the United States, coming over in the French frigate Sensible, of thirty six guns, which was sent by the French King for that express purpose, and arriving at Falmouth (now Portland), Maine, April 13, 1778. He arrived at Yorktown, Virginia, May 2. He afterwards settled in Williamsburg, where he joined the masonic lodge, in 1782. He died in June, 1788, and was buried in Bruton churchyard, Williamsburg. Rev. Dr. James Madison, president of William and Mary College, delivered the funeral sermon.

[Page 354]
      Banks, William Bruce, born October 2, 1776, at "Green Bank," on the Rappahannock river, near Banks' Ford, son of Gerard Banks, of Stafford county, Virginia, and Fanny Bruce, his wife. He was educated at William and Mary College, and graduated in 1796. the alumni catalogue, issued before the war, erroneously mentions him as having been judge of the superior court. He was admitted to the bar, and located in Lynchburg, and after several years residence there, removed to Halifax county, where he practiced successfully, and was for many years commonwealth's attorney in the superior courts of Halifax, Charlotte, Mecklenburg, Franklin, Patrick, Henry and PIttsylvania. He died August 4, 1852.

[Page 354]
      Beckwith, Sir Jennings, baronet, son of Jonathan and grandson of Sir Marmaduke Beckwith (q. v.), was born in Richmond county, Virginia, the "Leather Stocking" of the Northern Neck. Much of his life was spent in the far west, on hunting excursions with the Indians, and in later years he would live with men who would fish with him in summer and fox hunt in winter. During his last twelve months, he had slept on the Rappahannock river shore in the sturgeon season. He had insuperable objections to spending time profitably; consequently, he lived poor, but was highly respected. He died at the age of seventy-two, November 13 ,1835.

[Page 354]
      Marshall, Edward Carrington, son of Chief Justice John Marshall, was born at Richmond, Virginia, January 13, 1805. He graduated at Harvard College in 1826 and settled at Carrington, Fauquier county, Virginia, and engaged in agriculture. He represented Fauquier county in the Virginia legislature for four successive terms, from 1834 to 1838. He was the main instrument in the establishment of the Manassas Gap Railroad Company and was its president. Though he strongly sympathized with the south in the war in 1861-65, he was too old to give it his personal aid and held a place in the pension office in Washington during the war. He was fond of the classics and of science. He died at Innis, Fauquier county, Virginia, February 8, 1882. He married, 12, 1829, Rebecca Courtney Peyton.

[Pages 354-355]
      Selden, William, son of John Selden, and grandson of Samuel Selden, the immigrant, was educated at William and Mary College, entering in 1753. He practiced law for a few years, then studied theology, and was ordained into the ministry, in London, March 10, 1771. He was rector of Hampton church from 1771 until his death, June 25, 1783. He married, May 19, 1767, Mary Ann Hancock, of Princess county, Virginia. He was father of William B. Selden (q. v.).

[Page 355]
      Selden, Miles, born in 1726, son of Joseph Selden, and Mary Cary, his wife, daughter of Miles and Mary (Wilson) Cary, of "Ceeleys." he was ordained in the Church of England, in London, and in 1752 was elected rector of Henrico parish, Virginia. He was the last colonial rector of old St. John's Church in Richmond, and in his congregation were many of the notable men of that period. He was clerk of Warwick, and a member of the committee of safety, 1774-76. He was chosen chaplain of the Virginia convention at its assembling in 1775, and was popularly known as "the Patriot Parson." He married Rebecca, daughter of Miles Cary and Hannah Armistead, his wife.

[Page 355]
      Stuart, William, born at St. Paul's parish, King George county, Virginia, about 1723-24, son of Rev. David Stuart. He was educated in England, studied theology in London, and was there ordained to the Episcopal priesthood by Bishop Edmonds in 1745. On his return to Virginia he became assistant to his father, whom he eventually succeeded in the rectorship of St. Paul's parish. He was a man of noble character, and noted for his eloquence. As "Parson Stuart," he was greatly beloved by his parishioners, and was widely known as one of the ablest divines of the colonial church. He married, in 1750, Sarah Foote, heiress to the fine old "Cedar Grove" estate, on the Potomac river, in King George county. He died in 1796.

[Page 355]
      Selden, Miles, son of Rev. Miles Selden, He was educated at William and Mary College, and entered the old general court office, which was the school in which the county court clerks were generally trained. He became clerk of Henrico county, and held the office several years. He represented the county in the general assembly for many years, and was also magistrate for a long term. In 1785 he was a member of the council. He married, March 25, 1774, Elizabeth, daughter of Col. Gill Armistead, at the home of her stepfather, John Lewis, in Williamsburg. His residence on James river was known as "Tree Hill" and was famous for its race track. He died May 18, 1811.

[Pages 355-356]
      Clayton, Philip, born in South Farnham parish, Essex county, Virginia, in 1746-47, son of Samuel Clayton. He was an ensign in the Third Virginia Regiment, July 4, 1779; lieutenant, May 10, 1780; and transferred February 12, 1781, to the Seventh Virginia Regiment, in which he served to the close of the revolutionary war. About 1784 he went to Georgia, settling either in Richard or Jefferson counties, and became prominent in state affairs, being state treasurer in 1794, and a representative in the Georgia constitutional convention of 1795. He married (first) at Stevensburg (now Stevens City), Frederick county, Virginia, in 1777, Mildred, daughter of Roger Dixon, a wealthy merchant of Fredericksburg, member of Virginia house of burgesses, and first clerk of Culpeper county; he married (second) Elizabeth, relict of Peter Carnes, Esq., and sister of Hon. William Wirt, attorney-general of the United States. Philip Clayton died in Richmond county, Georgia, September 13, 1807.