Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/14

 FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION

in bringing about the adoption of the pro- test of May 8, 1769, and was the first person tv. sign the non-importation agreement en- tered into at that time. Although new loaders after this sprang to the front, in the persons of Patrick Henry, Richard Henry I.ec, Thomas Jefferson and George Mason, Bland continued an able support of the cause of American liberty. In 1773 he was appointed one of the committee of corre- spondence, and in August, 1774. he was ap- pointed a delegate to the first Congress which met at Philadelphia, and was re- elected till August. 1775, when he declined. He was a member of the Virginia conven- tion of March, 1775, ^"^ ^^ ^^^ organization o^ the committee of safety, in July, 1775, he was appointed one of its members. In De- cember of that year he was a member of the convention which sat at Richmond, and in May, 1776. he was a member of the conven- tion which declared for independence and adopted the first state constitution. Thus he held continued public service throughout the whole revolutionary period — from the Two Penny Act to the Declaration of Independ- ence. He died in Williamsburg, October 28. 1776. He married twice, (first) Anne, daughter of Peter Poythress; (second) Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin Harrison.

Bland, Theodorick« son of Colonel Theo- dorick Bland, of "Cawsons,*' Prince George county, was born March 21, 175 1. At the age of eleven he was sent to England and studied at Wakefield, in Yorkshire, after- wards pursuing a medical course at the Uni- versity of Edinburgh, and in 1764 returned to America. He was among the first in Vir- ginia who opposed the practice of medicine without a license. When Lord Dunmore's

seizure of the colony's arms and ammuni- tion occurred, Bland is said to have been one of those who- succeeded in regaining some of this property. Bland continued to practice his profession until the outbreak of the war of the revolution, when he volun- teered and was appointed captain of the first troop of cavalry raised in Virginia. As soon a? a regiment had been completed he was made lieutenant-colonel, and afterward colo- nel. He distinguished himself at the battle or Brandywine. and at Saratoga was placed in charge of the British prisoners sent to Charlottesville, Virginia. In 1779, Colonel Bland was in command of the tr6ops sta- tioned at Albemarle barracks. Virginia. In 1780 he was elected to Congress, and con- tinued in that body three years. He then returned to Virginia, and was a member of the state legislature. In 1788 he opposed the adoption ot the Federal constitution, be- ing of the opinion that it was repugnant to the interests of his country*. He was. how- ever, chosen 10 represent the district in which he lived, in the (first) Congress under this same instrument. When the a.ssunip- tion of the state debt was under consi-ler- ation in March. 1790. Colonel Bland spoke in favor of such assumption, in this respect differing from the opinion of all his col- le.igues. He is accredited with considerable talent for poetical writing. He died in New York City, June i, 1790. at the time of the session of Congress. He was buried in Trinity churchyard. He married (first) Susan Fitzhugh: (second) Mary Dainger- f^eld.

Braxton, Carter, son of George Braxton, a wealthy planter, and Mary Carter, his wife, daughter of Hon. Robert Carter, presi-

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