Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 1.djvu/190

 town, a retirement which was not interrupted until the occupation of that place by the British forces.

Campbell ("History of Virginia") says, "Upon the breaking out of the revolution the secretary had retired from public affairs. He lived at Yorktown, where he had erected a handsome house. Cornwallis made his head- quarters in this house, which stood near the defensive works. It soon attracted the attention of the French artillery, and was almost entirely demolished. Secretary Nelson was in it when the first shot killed one of his negroes at a, little distance from him. What inci eased his solicitude was that he had two sons m the American army ; so that every shot, whether fired from the town or from the trenches. might prove equally fatal tu him. When a flag was sent in to request that he might be conveyed within the American lines, one of his sons was observed gazing w'istfully at the gate of the town by which his father, then disabled by the gout, was to come out. Cornwallis permitted his withdrawal, and he was taken to Washington's headquarters. Cpon alighting, with a serene countenance, he re-later to the officers who stood around him what had been the effect of their batteries, and how much his mansion had suffered -from the first shot."

Thomas Xelson was married to Lucy Armistead.

Corbin, Richard, of "Buckingham House." and "Corbin Hall," Middlesex county, and "Laneville," King and Queen county, was the son of Col. Gawin Corbin of the same place, and was for many years one of the most eminent and influential men of the colony of "irginia. He was educated in William and Mary College and probably also in England, and early in life was appointed a justice in ^liddlesex county. He represented this county in the house of burgesses in 1751 (and doubt- less for several years before) and was, during that session of the assembly, appointed to the council, in which body he sat' until the revo- lution. Col. Corbin was appointed receiver !.ieneral of 'irginia about 1754, an office which he also held until the close of the colo- nial regime. Through his influence George Washington received his first military com- mission. In 1754, young Washington wrote to Col. Corbin asking a commission in the n.ilitary service of the colony. A major's cf)mmission was obtained and sent him with tl;e following letter:

Dear George: I enclose your commission. God prosper you with it.

Your Friend, RICHARD CORBIN.

Col. Corbin rendered efficient service in council during the French and Indian war, and received, along with Washington, William Fairfax, Gov. Dinwiddle and some others, a medal, as a sign of royal approbali(ni. In April. 1775. Gov. Dinwiddie secretly removed the powder from the magazine in Williams- burg, and by so doing gave a great impetus to the revolutionary spirit in 'irginia. Through- out the colony meetings were held, and armed olunteers offered their services to redress the indignity done to Virginia by the governor. The Hanover county committee of safety re- solved to take immediate steps to recover the powder or to make reprisal for it. "Ensign Parke Goodall with sixteen men, was detached into King and Oueen county to Laneville, on tlie Mattajoony. the seat of Richard Corbin, the King's deputy receiver general, to demand of him the estimated value, and in case of refusal to make him a prisoner. The detach' nunt reached Laneville about midnight and