 | A history of Caroline county, Virginia |  |
THE GLASSEL FAMILY
The Glassel family is said to be of French descent. Tradition
has it that the first of the name went from Poisters, France, to
Scotland with Mary, Queen of Scots, on her return to her native
land in 1550. The name is supposed to have been "Glassele"
originally.
John and Andrew Glassel, brothers, were born in Galloway,
Scotland, at the beginning of the eighteenth century and emigrated
to Virginia in 1738. John settled near Fredericksburg,
of Culpeper which in 1792, became Madison county. Here he
built "Torthowald" after the pattern of the old home in Scotland.
The workmen who erected the house were brought from Scotland.
John Glassel, son of Andrew, of "Torthowald" was born at
"Torthowald" October 29, 1780, and m. (1) Louisa Richie Brown,
of Prince Edward county, on September 11, 1806, and had issue
as follows: Andrew McMillan, Fanny, Louisa and Marion; (2)
to Mrs. Margaret Scott Lee by whom he had two children, the
Rev. John Glassel and Mildred; (3) to Sarah Ashton by whom
he had no children. There is a true story touching the religious
life of John Glassel to the effect that he traveled from "Torthowald"
to Fredericksburg—a distance of sixty miles—four times
annually to attend the communion services in the Presbyterian
church. He was educated in Scotland.
The Rev. John Glassel, son of John by his second marriage,
was born August 16, 1828, and educated in Princeton. He
received the Degrees of M. A. and M. D., and practiced medicine
for a short time. He was an officer in the Confederate Army and
was prominent as a clergyman. His descendants are prominent
in Louisiana
Andrew McMillan Glassel, son of John Glassel, by his first
marriage, was born in 1807 and was educated in the University
of Pennsylvania. He removed to Bowling Green in 1834 and
practiced medicine there until his death in 1888. He was m. to
Miss Frances A. Downing, of Caroline county shortly after his
removal to Bowling Green and had issue as follows: John, Fannie,
Eugenia, Ada, Andrew, William, Robert, Louisa and Marion.
Dr. Robert T. Glassel, son of Dr. Andrew, was born in Bowling
Green and educated in Baltimore, and succeeded to his father's
practice. He was m. to Miss Russell Williams, of Essex, and
had issue as follows: Frances, Louisa and Marion Walker. Frances
was m. to Col. R. L. Beale, of Bowling Green, attorney-at-law
and former representative in the House of Delegates, and has one
son, R. L., Jr.
A prominent member of the Glassel family was Commander
William T. Glassel, U. S. Navy, 1845-1861, C. S. N., 1861-1864.
He designed and constructed the first submarine—"The David"
and commanded it in the attack on the "New Tromider" Both
ships were disabled—"The David" so seriously that the crew
had to swim for safety Commander Glassell was captured
exchanged. He commanded "The Fredericksburg" until he had
to blow it up to prevent capture. His descendants are numerous
and prominent in California.
| A history of Caroline county, Virginia | |