Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/294

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several years, and was during his later life and to his death, clerk of the chancery court for the Richmpnd district. He was an indus- trious writer, and compiled "Hening's Jus- tice,*' a book of procedure for magistrates ; edited Francis' "Maxims of Equity/' and collaborated with William Munford sev- eral volumes of Virginia court of appeals reports. His monumental work was "Stat- utes at Large of Virginia," thirteen volumes, containing the laws from the colonial period, together with a great mass of state papers necessary to a proper understanding of the legislation and political history of the state. This work he performed under authority of the Virginia assembly, beginning it in 1809, and completing it in 1823. He died in Rich- mond, April 7, 1828. (For his marriage and descendants, see "William and Mary Col- lege Quarterly/' xxii, 297).

McCuUoch, Major Samuel, was born on Short Creek, Augusta county, Virginia, now northwestern West Virginia, about 1752. At a very early age he distinguished him- self as a bold and efficient borderer. As an Indian hunter, he had few superiors. He seemed to track the wily red men with a sagacity as remarkable as his efforts were successful. In consideration of his services, he was commissioned major in 1775, and in 1777 he performed a remarkable feat. Dur- ing the siege of Wheeling, the Indians drove Major McCulloch to the summit of a lofty hill, which overhangs the present city. Knowing their relentless hostility toward himself, he strained every muscle of his noble steed to gain the summit, and then escaped along the brow in the direction of Van Meter's fort. As he gained a point on the hill near where the road passes, what

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should he suddenly encounter but a con- siderable body of Indians, who were just returning from a plundering excursion among the settlements. In an instant the bold soldier, preferring death among the rocks and brambles to captivity and torture by the savages, without a moment's hesita- tion, firmly adjusted himself in the saddle, grasped securely the bridle in his left hand, and supporting his rifle in the right, pushed his unfaltering horse over a precipice three hundred feet deep. The Indians greatly re- joiced that their most inveterate enemy was at length beyond the power of doing fur- ther injury. But, lo ! ere a single savage had recovered from his amazement, what should they see but the invulnerable major, on his white steed, galloping across the peninsula. Such was the feat of Samuel McCulloch, certainly one of the most daring and suc- cessful ever attempted. The place has be- come memorable as "McCulloch's Leap." At a later date on July 30, 1782, he was scouting with his brother near Girty's Point, when the Indians waylaid them and fired, killing Major McCulloch instantly. His brother escaped, but his horse was killed. This brother. Major John McCulloch, was a trusted officer in the revolutionary war, and filled many important positions.

Gamble, Robert, born in Augusta county, Virginia, September 3, 1754, son of James Gamble. He was educated at Liberty Hall. On attaining his majority he took up a mer- cantile business, but the revolutionary war began and he aided in recruiting a military company, of which he was made first lieu- tenant, later becoming captain. He served throughout the war, and took part in many battles, including Princeton and Monmouth.

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