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486 But the latter shortly afterward found himself in financial straits, and was obliged to make an as- signment for the benefit of his creditors. The trustees effected sales of land to two companies of Friends, one of which founded Burlington in 1677. The estate, in its divisions, was long known as " The Byllynge tenths." In 1681 Byllynge was among the twenty-four proprietaries to whom the Duke of York confirmed the sale of the province ; and in 1677 he was elected by the land-owners governor of the province of West Jersey, and, after the manner of such officials, named deputies and never visited his domain in person. He was never in harmony with his people, who vainly sought to have him removed from office shortly be- fore his death.

BYLOT, or BYLOR, Robert, British navigator, lived in the 17th century. He was commanding officer of the exploring expeditions that William Baffin accompanied as pilot. His name is often spelled Bylor in ancient and modern prints. To Baffin is properly ascribed the credit of the fa- mous voyages of 1615-'6 ; but prior to this Bylot had made three voyages of exploration to the northwest in the " Discovery," a ship of fifty-five tons. To him was apparently intrusted the ad- ministrative and executive responsibilities of the voyage, while Baffin was in a sense the expert re- garding signs of sea, sky, and coast-lines.

BYRD, Harvey Leonidas, physician and army surgeon, b. in Salem, Sumter co., S. C. 8 Aug., 1820 ; d. 29 Nov., 1884. He was descended from the earliest settlers of the Carolinas, and his family has always been prominent in the state. His grand- father was a member of Marion's brigade in the revolutionary war. After acquiring a classical edu- cation in his native state. Dr. Byrd went to Phila- delphia and entered the famous medical schools — Jefferson college, Pennsylvania college, and the University of Pennsylvania, took degrees from all of them, and in 1840 began practice in his native town, but soon removed to Georgetown, and after- ward to Savannah, where he became a professor in the Medical college and in Oglethorpe medical col- lege. In 1844 he married Adelaide Dazier, daugh- ter of John Dazier, of Williamsburg, S. C. At the beginning of the civil war he entered the Confed- erate army as a surgeon, and served until the sur- render, wiien he settled in Baltimore and began a movement for the reopening of Washington uni- versity, which had been suspended during the war. He was cordially seconded by others of the profes- sion, was nominated dean of the faculty, and the college entered almost at once on a career of suc- cess. After several years of service, he withdrew, and established the College of physicians and sur- geons of Baltimore. He contributed largely to medical periodicals, edited the " Oglethorpe Medi- cal and Surgical J ournal " for three years, and was a member of the leading medical societies, of the Aryan order, and of various historical societies.

BYRD, William, colonial official, b. in London in 1650; d. in Westover, Va., 4 Dec, 1704. He was the son of John and Grace Stegge Byrd, of the family of Brexton, Cheshire, England. He came to America in 1674 as the heir of his uncle, Capt. Thomas Stegge, "gent." The inherited estate in- cluded the present site of Richmond, and some of the best land in Virginia. He married Mary, daughter of Warham Horsemanden, Esq., of Len- ham, Kent. Col. Byrd settled near the falls of the James, taking at once a prominent part in the affairs of the colony, and acquiring large wealth before the end of the century. He was a member of the council ; of the house of burgesses, and was commissioned " receiver-general of his majesty's revenues for the colony," an office which he retained until his death. He was also, according to the Latin inscription on his monument, " armiger," or sword- bearer, which has been freely rendered "armor- bearer to the king" in some translations of the inscription. His wife died 9 Nov., 1699. The accompanying illustration is a view of the Byrd

mansion, known as "Westover," on James river, which is still in the possession of his descendants. This mansion — one of the finest in historic Virgin- ia — was built by Thodorick Bland, and purchased by the head of the Byrd family. The house is substantially constructed of red brick, and fortu- nately escaped serious damage during the civil war. The gate-posts bear the ancient arms of the family, and the interior of the house is elaborately decorated with wood-carvings in the early colonial style. Westover was for many years the county seat of Charles City county, and the court-house stood near the residence. In 1677, according to the historian Stith, Col. Byrd, being in England, was present at the sale of the effects of the Earl of Southampton, and purchased for sixty guineas a folio copy in manuscript of the " Records of the Virginia Company," from 28 April, 1619, till 7 June, 1624. It is the only record known to exist, the originals having been seized when the charter of the company was annulled in 1624. The manu- script descended from father to son, and was event- ually found among Thomas Jefferson's books after his death, and so came into the possession of the L^. S. government, which purchased Jefferson's li- brary. A considerable part of the original collec- tion was sold after the death of the third Col. William Byrd, and it is probable that Jefferson may have been the purchaser. It has been inti- mated, however, that Jefferson borrowed the manu- script for consultation, and died before returning it to its rightful owner. — His son, William, b. in Westover, Va.. 16 March, 1674; d. there, 26 Aug., 1744, was educated in England, and read law in the Middle Temple. Returning to his American estate, he took such an intelligent interest in the affairs of the colony that he became one of the most trusted and influential men of the time. He was thrice agent for the colony in England, succeeded his father as receiver of its revenues, and in due time was confirmed in the office by the crown. For thirty-seven years he was a member of the " king's council," as it was called, and eventually became its president. As wealth accumulated from his estate, he lived in princely style, adding to his father's collection, and acquiring the most valuable library then in the state. It comprised 3,438 vol- umes, a catalogue of which is still in existence. He was a wit, and something of a poet, as is proved by manuscripts in the possession of R. A. Brock, Esq., of the Virginia historical society. Col. Byrd