Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/360

 PROMINENT PERSONS

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required by the court to give security not to preach in the county within twelve months. On his refusal he was committed to the Fredericksburg jail, and held for a month, during which time he preached through the prison bars to large crowds. Later he was ordained, and became pastor of a Baptist church. In 1771 he was again imprisoned for three months in Caroline county. In 1781 he removed to Kentucky, where he labored with great success. He died in Kentucky, in 1828.

Saimders, John, born in Virginia, in 1754; his grandfather emigrated to Virginia from England, and acquired large landed estates. He received a liberal education, and studied law. In 1776 he raised a troop of horse at his own expense, and joined the royal forces, was subsequently captain of cavalry in the Queen's Rangers, was often in engage- ments, and was twice wounded. After the v/ar he went to England and practiced law. In 1790 he became a judge of the supreme court of New Brunswick, and was after- ward appointed to the council of that colony. In 1822 he became chief justice. He pos- sessed two estates in Virginia, both of which were confiscated. He died in Fred- crickston, New Brunswick, in 1834.

Semple, Robert Baylor, born in King and Queen county, Virginia, January 20, 1769, son of John Semple and Elizabeth Walker, his wife. After receiving a good education, he taught in a private family and then be- g?n to study law, but abandoned it and entered the ministry. In 1790 he became pastor of the Bruington Baptist church, in which relation he continued until his death. He made frequent and long preaching tours, and the interests of missions and education

found in him a powerful friend. He was financial agent of Columbian College, and president of its board of trustees. He de- clined the presidency of Transylvania Uni- versity in 1805, and in 1820 was elected president of the Baptist triennial conven- tion, continuing to hold this office until his death. He received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Brown College in 1816. He died at Fredericksburg, Virginia, December 25, 1831.

Sm3rth, John Ferdinand D., a British sol- dier, who came to Virginia, and afterwards settled in Maryland. While visiting the sons of Colonel Andrew Lewis in Virginia, he joined Governor Dunmore's troops, and went with Major Thomas Lewis, in 1774, to the Kanawha, taking part in the battle against the Indians, in which Major Lewis was killed. Returning to Maryland he sup- ported the British government against the patriots so zealously that his house was sur- rounded by men who threatened his cap- ture. Escaping twice, he fled to Virginia, hiding in the Dismal Swamp, passed the guards at Suffolk, and enlisted in the Queen's Royal Regiment in Norfolk. He and his companion were seized by riflemen a!- Hagerstown and taken to Frederick, Maryland. Smyth escaped, but was recap- tured and imprisoned in Philadelphia, and afterward in Baltimore. Escaping again, he reached a British ship oflf Cape May, New Jersey, and went to New York and New England. He published "A Tour in the United States of America," in London and Dublin, and in Paris, France. John Ran- dolph, of Roanoke, said: "This book, al- though replete with falsehood and calumny, contains the truest picture of the state of

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