Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/105

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estates which were celebrated all over Vir- ginia and Kentucky ; to him the preserva- tion of the early family history of the Meades is due. 2. Richard Kidder, born about 1750; married (first) at age of nine- teen years, Jane Randolph, sister of Richard Randolph and aunt of John Randolph, of Roanoke, a lady much older than himself; he early entered the revolutionary service, fought at Great Bridge, the first battle of the revolution fought in Virginia, became captain of the Second Virginia Regiment and aide-de-camp to General Washington from March 12, 1775, until the war closed; he was with Washington in all the great battles of the revolution and to him was committed the superintendence of the execution of Major Andre ; when Washing- ton was taking leave of some of his aides, he gave each a parting word of advice ; to Colonel Meade he said: "Friend Dick, you must go to a plantation in Virginia ; you will make a good farmer and honest fore- man of the grand jury of the county where you live;"' and so it proved; he settled permanently in Frederick county, Virginia, became a successful farmer and as long as health lasted was foreman of the grand jury of the old district court of the county ; he married (second) Mary, daughter of Ben- jamin Grymes ; among his children was the celebrated Bishop William Meade. 3. Ever- ard, of further mention. 4. Andrew, married Susanna Stith. 5. John, died aged seven- teen years. 6. Alary, married Colonel George Walker. 7. Anne, married Richard Randolph, of Curls.

(III) Everard Meade, third son of David and Susannah (Everard) Meade, was born October i, 1748. He spent a large part of his minor years at school in England, re- turning to Virginia about 1764. He was a soldier of the revolution, captain in the Sec- ond Virginia Regiment, major and from 1778 to the close of the war aide-de-camp on the staff of General Lincoln. He was a member of the Virginia convention of 1788 and one of the notable men of his day. He married (first) when but eighteen years of age, Mary Thornton, a young lady of about his own age, who bore him three children, all preceding their father to the grave. He married (second) Maria, widow of Benja- min Ward, who survived him.

(IV) Benjamin Lincoln Meade, son of Everard and Maria (Ward) Meade, was

born December 17, 1793, died August 25, 185 1. He married Eliza Hardaway, of Pow- hatan county, Virginia, February 10, 1819, and had issue : Richard Hardaway, of whom further ; Everard Benjamin, born in April, 1839, died in April, 1896; Hodijah, born in May, 1842, died in April, 1902; Marianne, married Dr. John G. Skelton ; Charlotte Ran- dolph, married General James H. Lane.

(V) Richard Hardaway Meade, son of Benjamin Lincoln and Eliza (Hardaway) Meade, was i^orn in Powhatan county, Vir- ginia, in January, 1831, died in September, 1880. He was reared in the locality of his birth, as a boy taking up the business of life in Richmond, employed as clerk in a drug store. This early association determined his future activity, for with the knowledge and experience thus gained as a founda- tion, he formed the firm of Meade & Baker, dealers in drugs, and continued the leading member thereof until his death. His life w-as short, forty-nine years, but because of the early age at which he assumed man's duties and responsibilities, his useful activ- ities covered the average period of time and he played well his part in life. During the war between the states he was a member of the "House Guard." He married Jane Cath- erine Fontaine, born in Hanover county, Virginia, daughter of Colonel Edmund Fon- taine and Louisa Shackleford, his wife, ma- ternal granddaughter of James and Eliza- beth (Dabney) Shackleford, and paternal granddaughter of Colonel William Fontaine and Anna Morris, his wife. Colonel Wil- liam Fontaine was a member of Washing- ton's staff and witnessed the surrender at Yorktown ; he was a descendant of John de la Fontaine, the French martyr. Colonel Edmund Fontaine gained his military rank of colonel in the Confederate States army, and became a citizen of note, being first president and founder of a railroad from Richmond to Charlotteville, now embraced in the Chesapeake & Ohio railroad. Chil- dren of Richard Hardaway and Jane Cath- erine (Fontaine) Meade: Lila, married Ben- jamin B. Valentine, and is president of the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia ; Richard Hardaway (2), of whom further; Louise Fontaine, married Clarence P. Cadot, of Richmond, Virginia; Kate Fontaine, unmar- ried, resides in Richmond. Virginia ; Mari- anne Everard. unmarried, lives in Rich- mond, Virginia.