Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/290

 PROMINENT PERSONS

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tend his commissioners at a treaty with the Indians in 1752, below the forks of the Ohio, but before this was accomplished, he was sent with messages and presents to the Miami Indians. In 1753 Gov. Dinwiddie sent him to the forks of the Ohio, to examine a site for a fort. In September of the same year he was present at a treaty with the Indians at Winchester, Virginia, Early in 1754 Gov. Dinwiddie authorized him to raise a company of a hundred men to erect a fort at the forks of the Ohio. After work was begun, the French and Indians appeared, and compelled the Americans to depart; 1 rent was absent at the time, and for his absence Gov. Dinwiddie ordered him to be court-martialed, but he was never brought to trial. He was unfortunate in his Indian trading, and died poor. He was a major at Fort Pitt in July, 1776. In 1778, while on his way from Fort Pitt, he was taken sick at his home in Cumberland county, Penn- sylvania, and died. He was buried at "Sil- ver Spring church."

Stobo, Robert, born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 17J7. son of William Stobo, merchant. He attended a Latin school, and then the Uni- versity of Glasgow. In 1742 his friends sent him to Virginia to serve in a store conducted l.y Glasgow merchants. Later he went into business for himself. He was held in esteem by Gov. Dinwiddie, who appointed him cap- tain in a regiment raised in 1754 to oppose the French. He proved an efficient officer in the campaign, and superintended the con- struction of the fortification at Fort Neces- sity, and bore a gallant part in the battle of Great Meadows. He was one of the host- ages delivered to the French when Fort Necessity capitulated. While in confinement

at Fort Duquesne, he drew plans of the fort and its approaches, and wrote suggestions for its successful assault. This paper was conveyed by a friendly Indian to the com- manding officer at Wills' Creek, but fell into the hands of the enemy in the battle of Mo- nongahela, and he was closely confined in the fortress at Quebec. He escaped, was retaken, and after a year's confinement again regained his freedom and joined Gen. Wolfe at Louisburg. He was made a confidential messenger to Gen. Amherst, who sent him to the governor of Virginia, by whom he was well received. He received the thanks of the house of burgesses, and was awarded £1,000 as a reward for his zeal and the great hardships he had endured as a hostage. He went to England in 1760, and in June of that year was commissioned captain in Am- herst's regiment, and served in the West Indies. He left the army in 1770, and died soon afterwards. In the yard of the Epis- copal church at Portsmouth, Virginia, is the tombstone of "Capt. Jacob Stobo, late of Philadelphia, who departed this life January 30. 1794."

Craiky James, born at Abigland, Scotland, in 1730; educated at Edinburgh University, and graduated in both letters and medicine. On leaving college he took service as sur- geon with the British troops in the West Indies, soon afterwards resigned, and went to X'irginia. engaging in practice in Norfolk. In 1754 he was appointed surgeon to the \irginia regiment, and his name appears in the list of officers thanked by the Virginia assembly for their bravery in the battle of Great Meadows, and he received a land grant under the Dinwiddie proclamation. .\fter the surrender of Fort Necessitv he

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