Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/194

 PROMINENT PERSONS

149

and while he was bearing a flag, of truce near Shawneetown, his fine horse and equip- ments attracted the cupidity of the chiefs, who treacherously shot him to obtain these spoils; this occurred on the Ohio river, in April, 1792; the county of Hardin, Virginia, which was formed in 1792, was named in his honor.

Innes, James, was born in 1754, in Vir- ginia, son of the Rev. Robert Innes, a Scotchman, and a graduate of Oxford. He was a graduate of William and Mary Col- lege, and usher of the grammar school. At the beginning of the troubles with the mother country, he rallied a band of stu- dents and secured some stores about to be secreted by Dunmore, and he was dismissed from college, the faculty being yet loyal to the crown. In February, 1776, as captain of the Williamsburg volunteers, he marched against the enemy at Hampton. In Novem- ber following, as lieutenant-colonel, he be- came an aide to Washington, and served at Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, German- town and Monmouth. In October, 1778, he was appointed a navy commissioner. In 1780 he entered the house of delegates. At the solicitation of Washington, he raised a regiment for home defense, and commanded ii at the siege of Yorktown. He was a member of the convention of 1788, and elo- quently supported the constitution. He then engaged in law practice and attained high rank at the bar, and later succeeded Edmund Randolph as attorney-general. Governor Tazewell pronounced him "the most classical, the most elegant and the most eloquent orator" to whom he ever lis- tened. Washington held him in highest esteem, and tendered him the attorney-gen- eralship, which his state of health obliged

him to decline. He died August 2, 1798, be- fore completing his forty-fourth year, in Philadelphia, while discharging his duties as commissioner under Jay's treaty, and was buried in that city, in Christ Church burial ground, not far from the grave of Franklin. He was a brother of Henry Innes, attorney-general of Kentucky (q. v., vol. 1, 263).

Williamson, Andrew, born in Virginia; married Betty, daughter of John Tyler, of Essex county; removed to South Carolina. In 1775 he was major of South Carolina militia, and served in the battle of Ninety- six; afterwards fought the Cherokee In- dians, and suffered defeat ; made colonel, he retrieved his ill fortune and devastated the Indian country, and was made brigadier- general. He served at the siege of Savan- nah, ultimately went to Charleston and was taken under British protection.

Cropper, John, was born in Accomac county, V^irginia, December 23, 1755, son of Sebastian Cropper, Jr., and Sabra Corbin, daughter of Col. Coventon Corbin. He was a captain in the Ninth Virginia Regi- ment of the revolutionary forces in 1775, was promoted to be major of the Fifth, en- gaging in the battle of the Brandywine, where his regiment suffered severely. He became colonel of the Seventh, taking part in the battles of Germantown and Mon- mouth. May 15, 1778, he was made lieu- tenant-colonel of the Eleventh Regiment, and afterwards promoted to be colonel of this regiment. In August, 1779. he with- drew to his farm, and remained there till the war closed. In 1781 he was appointed county lieutenant, and rendered much as- sistance in supplying provisions and equip-

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