University of Virginia Library

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OBITUARY.

Below are obituary notices, drawn from the Obituary in the American Almanac,
of public individuals, natives and residents of Virginia and the District of Columbia,
who have died within the last ten or twelve years. The perusal will create retrospections,
too often lost amid the engrossing scenes of the present, and the demands of the
future.

1832.

Oct. 13.—At Norfolk, John E. Holt, nearly twenty years mayor of that borough.

Nov. 19.—At Washington city, aged 60, Philip Doddridge, a member of Congress, a distinguished
lawyer, and one of the ablest men in the body of which he was a member.

1833.

Jan. 29.—At Warrenton, N. C., in his 64th year, John Hall, recently judge of the Supreme Court of
N. Carolina. He was born in Staunton, Va., and when a young man removed to N. C. His life was
pure, and his integrity unspotted.

May 24.—At Philadelphia, aged 60, John Randolph of Roanoke.

Nov. 17.—At Columbus, S. C., aged about 90, Colonel Thomas Taylor. He was born in Amelia co.,
Va., in 1743. He has been styled "the patriarch of the states-right party of South Carolina."

Dec. 21.—At Twiford, in Westmoreland co., Va., in his 74th year, John P. Hungerford. He was an
officer in the revolutionary war, and afterwards a member of Congress.

1834.

Feb. 11.—In the Capitol at Washington, Thomas Tyler Bouldin, M. C. Before he was elected a member
of Congress, he had been a lawyer of high rank, an able and upright judge; and he was highly
respected for his integrity.

Feb. 18.—At Washington city, in his 62d year, the Hon. William Wirt, the author of the Life of
Patrick Henry, and of the British Spy.

April 13.—At Norfolk, Gen. Robert B. Taylor, an eminent lawyer, and a judge of the General or
District Court of Va.; a man greatly respected, and much lamented.

Oct.—At Petersburg, of cholera, aged about 48, Gen. William H. Brodnax, of Dinwiddie Co., Va.,
distinguished as a lawyer and a philanthropist, and for several years a very prominent member of the
House of Delegates. He signalized himself in the debates on the abolition of slavery in 1831, advocating
a gradual and cautious abolition; and also, in opposition to the doctrines of President Jackson's Proclamation
of Dec., 1832.

Near Monongahela, Va., aged 97, Col. John Evans; a commander of a regiment of militia in the
revolution, and a member of the convention that formed the first constitution.

1835.

March 2.—In Bath co., Va., aged about 77, Gen. Samuel Blackburn, a soldier of the revolution, an
eminent lawyer, and for many years a conspicuous member of the legislature. At his death he liberated
his slaves, forty-six in number, charging his estate with the expense of transporting them to Liberia.

April 7.—At Philadelphia, in his 73d year, James Brown, who was born in Virginia in Oct. 1766. In
1812, he was elected a member of the U. S. Senate from Louisiana, and in 1823 appointed minister to
France. He was distinguished as a lawyer and a statesman.

April 25.—Aged about 40, Jonathan P. Cushing, President of Hampden-Sidney College, which office
he had held for fourteen years. He was born in New Hampshire. The institution over which he presided
was greatly indebted to his well-directed zeal, talents, and influence, and he was highly esteemed
for his virtues. By his will he emancipated his slaves, sixty in number, providing amply for their
removal to Liberia; and also gave about $40,000 to establish schools in Albemarle, and the adjoining
county.

May 13.—In Brunswick county, in his 84th year, Rev. Edward Dromgoole, father of the Hon. George
C. Dromgoole; a minister of the gospel sixty-three years, and a magistrate and member of the county
court forty-five years.

July 1.—At Richmond, in his 77th year, Maj. James Gibbon, collector of customs of the port of Richmond,
and a gallant officer of the revolutionary army, known as "the hero of Stony-Point." Col. Gibbon,
on the 16th of July, 1779, then a lieutenant, led one of the two "forlorn hopes," of twenty men,
when Gen. Wayne carried the fortress of Stony-Point by storm. Of his twenty men, seventeen were
killed or wounded. He was greatly respected and esteemed, and his remains were interred with the
highest honors.

July 6.—At Philadelphia, in his 80th year, John Marshall, Chief-Justice of the United States.

June 28.—At Baltimore, Md., aged about 50, of a fractured skull, from the fall of a chimney, Thomas
Marshall, of Fauquier Co., the eldest son of Chief-Justice Marshall, being on a journey to attend the
death-bed of his father. He graduated in Princeton in 1803; was distinguished as a scholar, a lawyer,
and a member of the legislature; and was highly esteemed for his talents, his many virtues, and his
exemplary and useful life.

May 26.—At Columbia, S. C., aged 70, Gen. Francis Preston, of Washington Co., Va., a member of
Congress from 1793 to 1797, and father of the Hon. William C. Preston.

Nov.—At Lexington, Va., George Baxter, a distinguished lawyer.

Nov.—In Caroline co., aged about 48, John Dickenson, an eminent lawyer.

Oct. 7.—In Alabama, Charles Tait, in his 68th year. He was born in Louisa county, but removed at an
early age to Georgia, where he was, for several years, a judge of the Superior Court, and a senator in
Congress, from 1809 to 1819.

Dec. 3.—At Washington city, aged 47, Richard Wallack, a distinguished lawyer.

1836.

March 22.—At Washington, D. C., in his 82d year, Gen. Mountjoy Baily, an officer of the revolution.

Jan. 28.—At Abingdon, John H. Fulton, a respected member of the 23d Congress.

April 29.—In Logan co., Ohio, Gen. Simon Kenton, aged 82, a native of Virginia. He was a companion
of Col. Boone, in exploring the west, and in commencing its settlement, and he endured many hardships.

March 25.—At Belmont, Loudon co., Va., aged 76, Ludwell Lee, second son of Richard Henry Lee, a
gentleman highly respected.

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Nov. 9.—At his residence, in Goochland co., Va., aged 67, James Pleasants, M. C. from 1811 to 1819;
U. S. Senator from 1819 to 1822: governor of Virginia from 1822 to 1825, and a member of the convention
for 1829-30, for amending the state constitution. He was twice appointed to the bench, but declined,
from a distrust of his own qualifications. He was a man of rare modesty, greatly respected and
esteemed for public and private virtues.

Oct. 10.—In Albemarle co., Va., aged upwards of 70, Mrs. Martha Randolph, widow of Gov. Thomas
M. Randolph, and the last surviving daughter of Thomas Jefferson; a lady distinguished for her talents
and virtues.

1837.

Jan. 8.—At his seat in Culpeper co., aged 63, Dabney Carr, a judge of the Virginia Court of Appeals;
a man much respected and esteemed for his amiable character, his talents, learning, industry,
solidity of mind, and uncommonly fine colloquial powers.

Aug. 16.—At the Sweet Springs, John Floyd, M. C. from 1817 to 1819, and governor of Virginia from
1829 to 1834.

April 12.—In Beaver co., Penn., Gen. Abner Lacock, in his 67th year. He was born in Virginia, removed
early in life to Pennsylvania, and was, from 1813 to 1819, a member of the U. S. Senate.

June 28, 1836.-At Montpelier, Orange co. Va. in his 86th year, James Madison, the 4th President of the
United States.

March 18, 1836.—In Albemarle, Va, Hugh Nelson, formerly speaker of the House of Delegates, a judge
of the General Court, a member of Congress from 1811 to 1823, and afterwards U. S. Minister to Spain.

June 3.—In Virginia, in his 53d year, Allen Taylor, judge of the General Court, 17th Circuit.

Jan. 7.—At Needham, in his 70th year, Creed Taylor, late chancellor of the Richmond and Lynchburg
District.

Nov. 5.—Aged 57, David Briggs, an eminent attorney, formerly mayor of Fredericksburg, and counsellor
of state.

Nov. 20.—At his father's residence, in Bedford co., John Thompson Brown, of Petersburg, Va., aged
36. He was for several years a very distinguished member of the legislature, was rising rapidly at the
bar, and was regarded as one of the most eminent men of his age in the state.

Oct. 7.—At Yorktown, aged 64, Major Thomas Griffin, second in command at the battle of Hampton,
and M. C. in 1803-5.

Nov. 30, 1836.—At Bellegrove, Major Isaac Hite, an officer in the revolutionary war.

Dec. 15.—At Gosport, in his 85th year, Capt. John Cox, who, early in the revolution, was commissioned
as a captain in the naval service of Virginia, and was one of the most distinguished and efficient patriots
in the contest.

Dec. 2.—In Goochland co., aged 62, Dr. Andrew Kean, one of the most eminent physicians of Virginia.

Sept. 8.—In Albemarie co., aged 85, Mrs. Lucy Marks, the mother of Meriwether Lewis, who, with
William Clarke, explored the Rocky Mountains; a woman of uncommon energy and strength of mind.

Sept. 19.—At Clinton, Fauquier co., aged 83, Capt. William Payne, who commanded the Falmouth
Blues for several years in the early part of the revolution; and a company of volunteers at the siege
of Yorktown.

July 22.—In Kanawha co., aged 71, Philip R. Thompson, M. C. from Virginia in 1801-7.

1838.

March 26.—In Missouri, Gen. William H. Ashley, first lieutenant-governor of that state, and a native
of Powhatan co., Va.

May 7.—At Washington, D. C., Abraham Bradley, for many years assistant postmaster-general.

Feb. 2.—In Stafford co., John Coulter, formerly a judge of the Circuit Court and Court of Appeals.

Jan. 9.—At Staunton, aged 36, John J. Cruig, a man much respected; distinguished for his talents as
a lawyer, and a member of the legislature.

Feb. 6.—At Charlotte, C. H., aged 40, Nash Le Grand, for several years a member of the state
council.

Jan. 6.—At Richmond, Va., suddenly, aged about 35, Edward V. Sparhawk, editor of the Petersburg
Intelligencer; a gentleman of fine talents, extensive acquirements, and a highly respectable and useful
member of society.

Dec.—At Richmond, aged 60, John Brockenbrough, judge of the Court of Appeals.

Sept. 1.—At St. Louis, in his 69th year, William Clarke, a native of Virginia, companion of Meriwether
Lewis in the expedition across the Rocky Mountains, and governor of Missouri Territory, from
1813 to 1820.

Sept. 15.—At Huntsville, Ala., Col. William Lindsay, a native of Va., and a highly respectable man
and officer of the U. S. army.

Dec. 21.—At Alexandria, D. C., Thompson F. Mason, judge of the Criminal Court of the District of
Columbia.

1839.

April 8.—At Wheeling, Alexander Caldwell, judge of the U. S. Court in the Western District of Va.

Nov. 3.—In Hanover co., in his 72d year, suddenly, while feeling the pulse of a dying patient, Dr.
Carter Berkeley, a lineal descendant of Sir William Berkeley, a graduate of the Edinburgh Medical
School, a distinguished physician, and much respected for his upright, benevolent, and religious
character.

Nov. 20.—At Lynchburg, in his 69th year, William Daniel, a conspicuous member of the legislature
in 1798-99; and, for the last twenty-three years, a judge of the General and Circuit Courts; a man
much respected for his talents and legal knowledge.

Nov.—At New Orleans, Capt. Gilbert T. Francis, a native of Va. His life was romantic and eventful,
and he passed through surprising adventures in foreign countries. Though of defective education, his
great energy of character and extensive travels made him the most entertaining of companions.

Oct. 2.—In Culpeper co., in his 88th year, Col. David Jameson, an active militia officer of the revolution;
afterwards a member of the House of Delegates, a respected magistrate, and a member of the
county court.

1840.

May 20.—At Richmond, aged about 75, Daniel Call, brother-in-law to Chief-Justice Marshall, an able
and eminent lawyer, author of 6 vols. of law reports, known as "Call's Reports."

Jan.—At Richmond, aged about 88, Chas. Shirley Carter, an eminent lawyer and advocate, attorney
of the state in the Circuit Court of Henrico co.; formerly a distinguished member of the legislature.

Oct.—At the University of Virginia, aged about 48, Chas. Bonnycastle, Prof. of Mathematics. He was

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Nov. 14.—At the University of Va., (of a pistol-shot discharged by a disguised student,) aged 39, John
A. G. Davis, Prof. of Law in the University. He was a man of a high order of intellect, of untiring industry,
of amiable and philanthropic character, and he was an exemplary member of the Episcopal
church. He published, in 1838, a valuable law-book—"A Treatise on Criminal Law, and a Guide to
Justices of the Peace." As a successful instructor, he could hardly be surpassed; and it is thought,
since graduates of his law-school have taken their places at the bar, the profession in Virginia has
breathed a more enlarged spirit. and displayed a wider and a higher tone.

Dec.—At Nashville, Tenn., Felix Grundy, a native of Berkeley co., Va., and a distinguished member of
the U. S. Senate from Tennessee.

Nov.—In Va., aged about 63, Richard E. Parker, a judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals.

Jan. 19.—At Morven, Loudon co., in his 75th year, Thomas Swan, an eminent lawyer, and formerly
attorney of the U. S. for the Dist. of Columbia. "He attained the highest rank in his profession, uniting
to the most extensive learning the most effective eloquence as a pleader. His influence over juries, arising
from this cause, and partly from the universal confidence in the purity of his character, is believed to
have been seldom, if ever, surpassed, in the instance of any other American advocate."

1841.

Feb. 25.—At Washington, D. C., aged about 60, Philip P. Barbour, of Orange co., an associate judge of
the Supreme Court of the U. S.

April 24.—In Va., aged 77, George Baxter, D.D., Prof. in the Union Theo. Sem. in Prince Edward co.;
formerly president of Wash. College, at Lexington, and one of the most eminent and respected Presbyterian
clergymen in Virginia.

Oct. 22.—At Washington, D. C., (of bilious fever,) aged 61, John Forsyth, of Georgia, a man of talents
and eloquence, and secretary of state in Mr. Van Buren's administration. He was born in Fredericksburg,
Va., in 1781.

April 4.—At Washington city, in his 69th year, William Henry Harrison, President of the U. States.
He was born in Charles City co., Va., on the 9th of Feb. 1773.

June 10.—At Washington city, in his 92d year, Richard Harrison, late auditor of the treasury, and a
man highly respected.

April 27.—At Washington city, aged about 80, Rev. Andrew T. McCornish, a respected clergyman, for
23 years minister of the first Episcopal church formed in Washington.

June.—At Washington city, George Washington Montgomery, who was born in Valencia, in Spain, of
a distinguished Irish family, and a man of superior talents and education. He came in early life to this
country, and was long employed in the department of State. He was the author of Bernardo del Carpio,
"an exquisite historical novel of the 8th century, and the translation of Irving's Conquest of Granada."

Sept. 1.—Near Georgetown, D. C., in his 88th year, Joseph Nourse, register of the U. S. Treasury from
1789 to 1829, and one of the vice-presidents of the American Bible Society, and a man much respected.
He was born in London in 1754; emigrated with his family to Virginia, and entered the revolutionary
army in 1776, and served in different departments connected with it till the close of the war.

1842.

Feb. 24.—In Madison co., Hon. Linn Banks, from 1818 to 1838 speaker of the House of Delegates.

June 8.—In Orange co., Hon. James Barbour, ex-governor of Virginia, aged 66.

Aug. 13.—John P. Emmett, Esq., Prof. of Chem. in the University of Va. He was the son of the late
Thomas Addis Emmett, and a man of talents and learning.

Jan. 5.—At Savannah, Ga., Col. Thomas Haynes, aged 55, who was born in Va. He was treasurer of
Georgia, and commanded respect and great public influence.

1843.

Nov. 23.—In Fauquier co., Thomas Fitzhugh, aged 81. He was a highly respected citizen, and had been
for many years presiding judge of the County Court.

Dec. 14.—In Washington city, Chas. W. Goldsborough, chief of the bureau of provisions and clothing
of the navy department, and author of a naval history of the U. S. He was one of the oldest and most
respected inhabitants of the city.

Nov. 30.—In Rappahannock co., Maj. John Roberts, aged 85. He served in the revolutionary army,
and negotiated the exchange for the prisoners obtained by the convention at Saratoga in 1777. Afterwards
he was a member of the legislature for 13 successive years, and had great influence in its deliberations.

Aug. 27.—At the White Sulphur Springs, Hon. Lewis Summers, of Kanawha, aged 65, for 24 years one
of the judges of the General Court of Va.

1844.

Feb. 10.—At Fredericksburg, Carter Beverley, Esq., aged 72.

Feb. 28.—By the accident on board the U. S. steamer Princeton, Thomas W. Gilmer, of Charlottesville,
secretary of the navy. His various public trusts he discharged with great ability. He was respected in
public, and beloved in private life.

March 29.—At Norfolk, Com. E. Pendleton Kennedy, of the U. S. N., aged 65. At the time of his death,
he was commander of the line-of-battle ship Pennsylvania.

Feb. 28.—By the accident on board the steamer Princeton, Com. Beverley Kennon, chief of the bureau
of construction, repairs, and equipment, in the navy department. He had long been attached to the naval
service, in which he had attained a distinguished reputation.

Feb. 28.—By the accident on board the Princeton, Hon. A. P. Upshur, secretary of state, aged 54. He
was born in Northampton co. in 1790.