Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 1.djvu/194

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

Charles Willing, of Philadelphia, tirst cousin ot Peggy Shippen, the famous Philadelphia beauty, who married Benedict Arnold.

Thornton, Presley, son of Col. Anthony Thornton, who was descended from the Thorn- tons of Yorkshire, England, inherited almost all the large estates of the Presley family of Northumberland county, Virginia, through his mother, Winifred, daughter of Col. Peter Presley, of "Northumberland House." He was born in 1721, and at an early age he was elected to the house of burgesses for North- umberland and served continuously from 1748 to 1760, when he was appointed to the council, iie married twice: (First) Eliza- beth, (second) Charlotte Belson, an

English lady, and left issue. He died Dec. 8. 1769. Washington spoke of him as "a man of great worth."

Robinson, Rev. William, >ou of Col. Chris- topher Robinson, of Middlesex county, Vir- gmia, was born March 5, 17 16, was sent to school in England at ten years of age and ma- triculated at Oriel College, Oxford, April 2, 1737. He took his P^. A. degree in 1740. After enjoying for three years one of the "London exhibitions" established by his great-uncle. Dr. John Robinson, bishop of London, he was or- dained priest by Dr. Gibson, the then bishop. In Oct., 1744, he returned to his native country and was made rector of Stratton Major Parish, King and Queen county, where he continued rector till his death. He was one of the lead- ing clergymen in opposing the Two Penny Act, and incurred the enmity of Gov. Fau- quier, who was in favor of it. Despite the latter's opposition he was appointed, in 1761, commissary of the bishop of London, and be- came, as usual in such cases, member of the colonial council. He died in 1767 or 1768,

leaving issue several children by his wife .Mice, daughter of Benjamin Needier, of King and (Jueen county, \'irginia.

Fitzhugh, William, son of Col. William Fitzhugh, of Staitord county, X'irginia, and giandson of Heury Fitzhugh, of Bedfordshire, England, inherueu, unaer his father's will iJ:;,723 acres :u IstaflFord and Westmoreland counties, and was residuary legatee of ^11 lands not becjueathed in Maryland, Virginia and England. He was appointed clerk of Stafford county July 18, 1701, and was a member of the liouse of burgesses for that county in 1700, 1 70 1, 1702. He was appointed to the council on Dec. 19, 1712, and Fitzhugh took the oaths in \'irginia Oct. 15, 1712. His tenure of office was short, for his last appearance in council v,as on Nov. 8, 1713, and on Jan. 27, 17 14, tl.ere is an entry on the council journal that he was dead. He married Anne, daughter of Richard Lee, of W'estmoreland county, and left issue: i. Henry (q. v.). 2. Lettice, mar- ried George Turberville, of "Hickory Grove," \W\stmorelan(l county. 3. Sarah, married Ed- ward Darradall, attorney-general of Virginia. His residence in Stafford county (now King George county) is known as "Eagle's Nest."

Lee, Philip Ludwell, was the eldest son of } 'resident Thomas Lee that survived him. He was JKjrn I'Y-b. 24, 1726-27, and like many other young gentlemen of the day was sent to Eng- land to be educated, studying law in London al the Inner Temple. \\'hen Thomas Lee and William Beverley went to Pennsylvania to treat with the Iroquois in 1744, Philip Lud- well Lee, then a youth of eighteen, was one of the gallant ])arty of gentlemen that accom- l)anied them. Fie represented Westmoreland in the house of burgesses in 1756 and was p/resent in council in 1758 and the year follow-