Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/355

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

ley, his wife. His grandfather had a great admiration for Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, hence the name Devereux. He began preparation for the Presbyterian ministry, but in 1762 determined to take orders in the Protestant Episcopal church, sold his patrimony, and went to England, where he was ordained. He returned to Virginia the next year, and took charge of the Bath par- ish, in Dinwiddie county, there introducing a system which was regarded as uncanonical and brought upon him much reproach. He denounced gaming and cock fighting, and he was regarded as a Methodist. His first sermon was delivered in the old Saponey church and he soon attracted large audi- ences by his warm and impassioned ad- dresses. He published three volumes of ser- mons (1793-94), and a series of letters to a friend, entitled "Thoughts on Some Impor- tant Subjects in Divinity" (1791). He died January 29, 1801.

Woods, William, son of Michael Woods and grandson of Michael Woods, a Scotch- Irish Presbyterian who emigrated first to I'ennsylvania and then to Virginia and ob- tained large tracts of land in Albemarle county about 1737, was born in 1738. He became a Baptist when that denomination was struggling against great opposition. In 1780 he was ordained, and founded the old Albemarle Baptist church, near the Univer- sity of Virginia. Thomas JeflFerson fre- quently attended his church, and wrote that quest of JeflFerson he resigned in 1799 to go to the legislature, and served during the agitation of 1800 over the Virginia resolu- tions of 1798-99, his name heading the list ot states rights Republican voters. During
 * 'it was a model for a republic." At the re-

his term a bill was passed to increase the pay of the members, but he refused to ac- cept its privileges. He died in Albemarle county, Virginia, in 1819. He married Joanna, daughter of Christopher Shepherd, and his son Micajah, was father of John R. Woods (q. v.).

Smith, Daniel, born in Fauquier county, \'irgfinia, about 1740, was one of the first settlers of Tennessee. He filled many pub- lic oflSces; was a major-general of militia; was appointed by Washington as secretary of the territory south of the Ohio river in 1790; was in the convention that formed the constitution of Tennessee, and was L'nited States senator from that state in 1798-99, succeeding Andrew Jackson, re- signed; and again from 1803 until his own resignation in 1809. He published the first map of Tennessee and a geography of the state. He died in Sumner county, Tennes- see, June 16, 1818.

Fenn, John, born in Caroline county, Vir- ginia, May 17, 1741, only child of Moses Penn and Catherine, his wife, daughter of John Taylor. He was largely self-educated, and studied law with his relative, Edmund Pendleton, and w.as admitted to the bar in 1762. In 1774 he removed to Greenville county, North Carolina, and on September 8. 1775, was chosen to the continental con- gress to supply a vacancy, taking his seat on October 12. He signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. and was reelected in 1777 and in 1779. When Cornwallis in- vaded North Carolina, Penn was given charge of state aflFairs. with almost dicta- torial powers. In March, 1784, he was ap- pointed receiver of taxes for North Caro- lina, and resigned in the following April, for

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