Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/24

 FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION

Diggcs, Dudley, third son of Colonel Cole l^igg<?s, Esq.. of the council, and Elizabeth Power, his wife, was born in 1718, was edu- cated, it is believed, at William and Mary College, practiced law, and was a member of the house of burgesses from York county from 1 752- 1 776. He was a member of all the revolutionary conventions, and a mem- ber of the committee of correspondence in 1773, 2i"d of the committee of safety for the colony in 1775. He was appointed in 1749, colonel of horse and foot for York, and re- ceiver of military fines. During the revolu- tion he was state examiner of claims, and for many years after a member of the board of the Eastern State Hospital, of which hoard he was president at the time of his death ill Williamsburg, June 3, 1790. He mar- lied Martha Armistead, and left issue.

Fitzhugh, William, son of Henry Fitz- hugh, of "Eagle's Nest," King George county, and Lucy Carter, his wife, daughter of Hon. Robert Carter, of *'Corotoman.'* Lancaster county, was born August 24, (741. He pursued classical studies under private tutors, and resided at "Chatham," near Fredericksburg. He was a member of the house of burgesses from King George county in the assemblies of 1772- 1774 and 1775, and of the conventions of March, July anjl December. 1775, and May, 1776; mem- ber of the county committee of safety, 1774- 1773. oi the Continental Congress, 1779-1780, and of the house of delegates 1780-1787. He was a great patron of the turf, and had a very large estate. He spent the latter years of his life at "Ravens worth," Fairfax county, where he died July 6. 1809. He married Ann, daughter of Peter Randolph, of "Chats- worth." Henrico county.

Fleming, William, son of John and Mary (Boiling) Fleming, of Cumberland county, was born July 6, 1736, was educated at Wil- liam and Mary College, and practiced law. He was a member of the house of burgesses lor Cumberland in 1772-1775. and of the revolutionary conventions of 1775 and 1776, and in the last served on the committee of independence. He afterwards served in the house of delegates, and in 1788 he was made a judge of the general court, and by virtue of his office was a member of the first su- preme court of appeals. In 1789. when the new court was organized to consist of five judges, he was elected one of them, a posi- tion he held during the remainder of his lite. In 1804. when the court was engaged in the celebrated glebe case. Judge Fleming re- fused to preside, as he was personally inter- ested. He was a man of excellent judg- ment, sterling integrity, and conscientious convictions. His decisions were broad and designeid to do full justice to the contestants, without favor or partiality. In 1809 he be- came president of the court. He married. October 5. 1766. Elizabeth, daughter of Colonel John Champe. and died February 15. 1824. leaving several daughters.

Gilmer» George, was a son of George Gil- mer, a graduate of the University of Edin- burgh, who migrated to Virginia early in the eighteenth century and settled in Williams- burg, where he successfully combined the vocations of physician, surgeon and druggist for fifty years. His mother was Mary Peachey Walker, sister of Dr. Thomas Walker, the distinguished explorer. George Gilmer, the son. went to William and Mary College and afterwards studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, and after

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