Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/347

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

commanded the corps called "the guards ard pioneers." He was employed in matters of importance on behalf of the Royalists. He opened a correspondence with the Whi^j leaders, relative to their return to their alleg- iance, and was concerned in Arnold's trei'son. His country mansion was Arnold'.s hcatlquariers while the latter was arrang- ing his plan. After the conviction of An- dre, Col. Robinson, as a witness, accom- panied Sir Henry Clinton's commission to Washington' headquarters to plead for An- dre's life. He had previously addressed Washington on the subject, and in his letter reminded him of their former friendship. After the war. he went to New Brunswick, and was a member of the first council of that colony, but did not take his seat. He subse- quently went to England with part of his family, and resided near Bath, till his death. His wife was included in the confiscation act oi New York, and the estate derived from her father pas.«ed from the family. As a com- pensation for the loss, the British govern- ment granted her husband £17,010 sterhng. She died at Thornbury in 1822, aged nine- t>h army, all of whom attained distinction, Beverley was a member of the council oi New Brunswick; Morris was a lieutenant- colonel ; John was a member of the council, deputy paymaster and treasurer; Frederick was a lieutenant-general and knighted, and William Henry was commissary-general and was also knighted.
 * v-four years. He had five sons in the Brit-

Thomas, Isaac, born in Virginia, about 1735. He was an early Indian trader, and about 1755 located among the Cherokees, •^ear Fort Loudoun. His immense strength and courage commanded great respect from

the Indians. On one occasion he interfered in a feud between two Cherokee braves who had drawn tomahawks upon each other, and tore the weapons from their hands, when they both attacked him. He lifted 6ne after the other into the air, and threw ilum into the Tellico river. One ty' the Indians subsequently saved his life .'-.t the J-ort Loudoun massacre, of which it is said that he and two others were the .sole sur- vivors. After peace was restored, he a.iL^ain .<;eitled among the Cherokees, making his home at their capital, Echota. where, in a leg-cabin, he kept the trader's usual stc^ck. Me was on very friendly terms with Nancy Ward, the Cherokee prophetess, who early in 1776 told him of the hostile design.s of the Indians. He at once sent a trusty mes- senger to John Sevier and James Rcbert- .^on at Watauga, but remained behind till the actual outbreak of hostilities. Ai mid- night on July 7, 1776, Nancy Ward again <?me to his cabin and urged him to leave V\t settlements. At great risk he mide the journey, and a few days later was with the ittle garrison of forty that repelled the at- tack of Oconostota on the fort at Watauga. Sevier probably could not have held out if he had not received the warning. >oon afterward he piloted the expedition that laid waste ihe Indian country, and, for iwenty years afterwards he acted as guide to Gen. Sevier in nearly all of his campaigns against the Creeks and Cherokees. Soon after the revolution he relinquished trade wi^.h the IndiaiiS, and settled upon an extensive farm in .Se\*ier county. He called his settlement Sevi<?r\-rile, in honor of his general, and the place is now one of the most beautiful locali- ties in the state of Tennessee. He died in Sevicrvrlle, Tennessee, in 1819.

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