Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/180

 PROMINENT PERSONS

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the Delaware, and in the battles of Trenton and Princeton, and afterward was engaged around Philadelphia. In 1778 he was as- signed to frontier duty and for years follow- ing was occupied in suppressing the Indian attacks on the settlers. After his resigna- tion he retired to his farm, hoping to spend the remainder of his days with his family, after having given nearly twenty-five years of his life to the service of his country ; but in May, 1782, at the urgent request of Gens. Washington and William Irvine, he reluc- tr.ntly accepted the command of an expedi- tion against the Wyandot and Delaware In- dians on the banks of the Muskingum. The Indians were discovered on June 4, and an engagement ensued in which Crawford's troops were surrounded in a grove called Battle Island by a force much larger than his own. The fight lasted two days, when finding themselves hemmed in, they decided to cut their way out. In the retreat that followed the soldiers were separated, and Col. Crawford fell into the hands of the In- dians. After several days of cruel experi- ence, during which he was subjected to hor- rible torture, he was burned to death. The story is told by N. N. Hill, Jr., in the '*Maga- zine of Western History" for May, 1885, under the title of "Crawford's Campaign."

Mathews, George, born in Augusta coun- ty. V'irginia. in 1739, son of John Mathews, a native of Ireland, from whence he emi- grated to this country in 1737; at the age of eighteen years, in 1757, he commanded a volunteer company against the Indians, and he also participated in the battle of Point Pleasant, October 10, 1774; at the outbreak ot the revolution, he was commissioned colonel of the Ninth Virginia Regiment, was actively engaged in the battle of

Brandywine and at Germantown, was wounded in action, was confined on the prison ship Xcw Jersey until December, 1 77 1, when he was exchanged, and he then joined Gen. Greene's army as colonel of the Third Virginia Regiment; in 1785 he removed to the state of Georgia, locating at Goose Pond, Oglethorpe county; from 1789 to 1791 was a representative from Georgia in the first congress, and from 1793 to 1796 was governor of Georgia, and during his term of office the famous Yazoo act was passed and approved by him, which resulted in his political downfall, he losing the nomi- nation, by President Adams, for governor of Mississippi territory, on that account: and in 181 1 President Madison appointed him United States commissioner to nego- tiate for the annexation of Florida, but the following year the President disavowed the treaty, which act so incensed Gov. Mathews that it is said he started for Washington to chastise President Madison, but on his way was taken ill at Augusta. Georgia, where his death occurred, August 30, 1812.

Hubard, William, born in York county, Virginia, son of James Hubard, was gradu- ated at William and Mary College, 1760, ordained deacon by the bishop of London. 1773, and priest. 1776: was in charge of Warwick parish. Virginia, from 1773 to 1776, and in the latter year became rector of St. Luke's Church. Newport parish, Isle of Wight county, Virginia, where he re- mained until his death: this church was erected in 1632, and it was often called "Old Smithfield Church" or the "Old Brick Church:" Mr. Hubard was a leader in the community, and served many years as a magistrate; died near Smithfield, Virginia, in 1802.

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