University of Virginia Library

William Archer, Col.-commandant of the county, made himself so conspicuous by
his zeal in the revolutionary cause, that he was made prisoner by Tarleton, on his return

from his excursion to New London. He was conveyed to one of the prison-ships at Norfolk,
so well known for the sufferings of which they were the scenes. There he was retained
until he became a victim of the small-pox. He was finally permitted to land,
but in so advanced a stage of the disease that he died in a few days, without restoration
to his family. One of his sons, Lieut. Joseph Archer, was killed at the battle of
Brandywine. Another of his sons, Major John Archer—the father of the present member
of the U. S. Senate, the Hon. Wm. S. Archer—was an aid to one of the American
generals. He was sent to remove public stores, when a detachment from the army of
Lord Cornwallis made the celebrated dash on Charlottesville. Delaying too long in the
discharge of his duty, he was overtaken in the rapid advance of the enemy. The English
officer to whom he surrendered his sword, received and passed it entirely through his
body. The speedy retreat of the enemy permitting immediate assistance, he had the
good fortune to recover, and lived many years.

Major Joseph Eggleston was a native of Amelia. He was a highly meritorious officer
of Lee's legion, and served through the whole of the southern campaigns. At the
conclusion of the war he turned his attention to literature. He was a member of Congress
in 1798-9, where he served with credit. He was cut off in the flower of his age,
by the effects of an amputation of a disordered limb.

"He resigned his seat in the Senate, in 1815. He was governor of Virginia from
1826 to 1829, and died in 1830, at an advanced age. He published a speech on the
embargo laws in 1808; political letters to the people of Virginia, in 1813; a series of
letters, signed a Constituent, in the Richmond Enquirer of Jan. 1818, against the plan
for a general education; in April, 1824, a letter of invective against President Monroe
and Henry Clay, for their `hobbies,' the South American cause, the Greek cause, Internal
Improvements, and the Tariff in Nov. 1825; he addressed a letter to Judge
Marshall, disclaiming the expressions, not the general sentiments in regard to Washington,
ascribed to him in the Life of Washington. He has also appeared before the public
as the correspondent of John Quincy Adams." Mr. Giles was also one of the most distinguished
members of the convention that revised the constitution of Virginia, in 1830.

In 1843, there died in this county, at an advanced age, a negro preacher of considerable
local celebrity, who went by the name of Uncle Jack. He was kidnapped, and
brought from Africa at seven years of age, and landed at Osborne's, on James River,
from what it is supposed was the last slave-ship which deposited its cargo in Virginia.
Such was his worth of character, that, on the death of his master, several benevolent
individuals by their contributions purchased his freedom. One, who knew him well,
said, "I regard this old African as a burning light, raised up by Christian principles
alone, to a degree of moral purity seldom equalled and never exceeded in any country."
The late Rev. Dr. Rice also remarked, "The old man's acquaintance with the scriptures
is wonderful. Many of his interpretations of obscure passages of scripture are singularly
just and striking. In many respects, indeed, he is the most remarkable man I ever knew."

His views of the leading doctrines of Christianity were thorough and evangelical.
His preaching abounded with quotations surprisingly minute, and his illustrations were
vivid and correct. His knowledge of human nature was profound; and hence his
extensive usefulness among the African population, as well as an extensive circle of
whites. His language was pure English, without the vulgarities of the blacks. In his
intercourse with all classes he was governed by Christian humility, and he abhorred cant
and grimace. "He uniformly opposed, both in public and private, every thing like noise
and disorder in the house of God. His colored audience were very prone to indulge
themselves in this way. But, whenever they did, he uniformly suspended the exercises
until they became silent. On one of these occasions, he rebuked his hearers substantially,
as follows: `You noisy Christians remind me of the little branches after a heavy
rain. They are soon full—then noisy—and as soon empty. I had a great deal rather
see you like the broad, deep river, which is quite because it is broad and deep.' "

Of this worthy and strong-minded old man, we take the liberty of annexing a few

anecdotes, drawn from his memoir in the Watchman of the South. In speaking of the
excitement and noise at a protracted meeting, he remarked, "I was reminded of what
I have noticed in the woods: when the wind blows hard, the dry leaves make a great
deal more noise than the green ones." When persons scoffed at his religion, his usual
diffidence and reserve would give way to a firm and dignified defence, and most happily
would he "answer a fool according to his folly." A person addicted to horse-racing and
card-playing stopped him one day on the road, and said—"Old man, you Christians say
a great deal about the way to heaven being very narrow. Now, if this be so, a great
many who profess to be travelling it will not find it half wide enough." "That's very
true," was the reply, "of all who have merely a name to live, and all like you." "Why
refer to me?" asked the man; "if the road is wide enough for any, it is for me." "By
no means," replied Uncle Jack; "when you set out you will want to take along a
card-table, and a race-horse or two. Now, there's no room along this way for such
things, and what would you do, even in heaven, without them?" An individual accustomed
to treat religion rather sportively, and who prided himself upon his morality, said
to him, "Old man, I am as good as I need be; I can't help thinking so, because God
blesses me as much as he does you Christians, and I don't know what more I want than
he gives me." To this the old preacher replied, with great seriousness, "Just so with
the hogs. I have often looked at them, rooting among the leaves in the woods, and
finding just as many acorns as they needed; and yet I never saw one of them look up
to the tree from whence the acorns fell." In speaking of the low state of religion, he
said, "there seems to be great coldness and deadness on the subject of religion everywhere;
the fire has almost gone out, and nothing is left but a few smoking chumps,
lying about in places."

The laws of Virginia prohibit religious as well as other assemblies of slaves, unless
at least two white persons are present. Such, however, was the universally acknowledged
happy influence of Uncle Jack's meetings, that in his case it was not deemed
necessary to enforce the law. On one occasion, some mischievous persons undertook to
arrest and whip him and several of his hearers. After the arrest, one of the number
thus accosted Uncle Jack: "Well, old fellow, you are the ringleader of all these meetings,
and we have been anxious to catch you; now, what have you got to say for yourself?"
"Nothing at all, master," was the reply. "What! nothing to say against
being whipped! how is that?" "I have been wondering for a long time," said he,
"how it was that so good a man as the Apostle Paul should have been whipped three
times for preaching the gospel, while such an unworthy man as I am should have been
permitted to preach for 20 years, without ever getting a lick." It is hardly necessary
to add, that these young men immediately released him.

His influence over the members of his church was almost unbounded. As evidence
of the fact, take the following:—

A gentleman who resided in the neighborhood, on walking out over his farm, detected
one of his servants, who belonged to Uncle Jack's flock, in some very improper conduct.
The only notice he took of it, was to threaten that he would inform that spiritual man.
When he arose on the following morning and came to the door, he found this servant
waiting and anxious to see him. "Why, Tom," said he, "what is the matter; why
don't you go to your work?" "Why, master," replied the servant, "if you would
please whip me yourself, and don't tell Uncle Jack."

We would like to extend this notice, but want of space forbids. Uncle Jack died at
the age of nearly 100 years. He was one of those characters, that, under propitious
circumstances, might have left an undying name. But in the limited sphere of his influence,
his humble and consistent life won for him the affections of the best people
in the community