Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/196

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

Norfolk contains many reminders of her honored husband, among them a flag, care- fully framed, made by her own hands and carried at the head of his troops. This was partially destroyed by fire ; the bullet holes proclaim the important part it bore in many battles. There are many pictures and statues of General Stuart, and Monument avenue, Richmond, is graced with an ex- ceedingly fine equestrian figure, erected by the city and his many friends.

John Herbert Claiborne, physician and surgeon, was born at Louisburg, North Carolina, June 29, 1861. He belongs to the Claibornes of Virginia, one of the best known families of the south, founded by William Claiborne, who played a prominent part in the early affairs of Virginia. The family from which he derived his name was seated in the manor of Cleburne or Cliborne in Westmoreland, England. The manor is named in the Doomsday Book (A. D. 1086), and the family for many generations pos- sessed this as well as Bampton, Cundale, Kyse, Bampton Patric and Knyfe Patric.

Cleburne Hall, Westmoreland, which still remains, somewhat altered and modernized, was built by Richard Cleburne in 1567 on the site of the old castle, or "pele" of Cle- burne. An inscription over the entrance still gives the name of the builder and the date. Views of part of the house still standing and of Cleborne Church are given in the "Magazine of American History." In the church are now memorial tablets to William Claiborne, the emigrant to Vir- ginia, and of General Patrick R. Claiborne. Confederate States of America, who was of the Irish branch.

(1) William Claiborne, immigrant ances- tor of the Claiborne family, was born about 1587, and is first noticed in June, 1621, when the Virginia Company engaged him to go to Virginia as surveyor with a salary of thirty pounds sterling a year and a house. He came to Virginia with Governor Wyatt in the same year, 162 1. In 1625 Governor Yeardley appointed him secretary of state for the colony and member of the council, and he held the latter place in 1627-29-31- 32, and so on until 1660. Richard Kemp was appointed secretary in 1637, and after him Richard Lee; but in April, 1652, the house of burgesses restored Claiborne to the place which he held until the Restoration.

On April 6. 1642, he was made treasurer of Virginia for life. How long he held this office does not appear. In 1629 he com- manded an expedition against the Indians, and defeated them under their king, Can- diack, near the present West Point, and he led another force against them in 1644, as in a grant to him of 5,000 acres on the north side of Pamunkey river, the land is de- scribed as "running westerly to a point of land where the said Coll. Clayborne landed with an army under his command, anna 1644." There is also a grant to Richard Lee in 1648 in which the land "about six or seven miles up the narrows of the Chicka- hominy River adj. York or Pamunkey" is stated to be a neck "where the foot com- pany met with the boats when they w-ent Pamunkey march under ye command of Captain William Claybourne." He was ap- pointed a justice and of the quorum of Ac- comac county, February, 1631-32, was a justice of York. 1633. and of Northumber- land in 1653. He probably lived much in the latter county during his contest with the Indians. In 1631 Claiborne made a trading settlement on Kent Island in the Chesa- peake, and was associated in business \vith various persons in London. Kent Island he named after the river Kent, which flows through Levins Castle, the seat of the Bell- inghams in Westmoreland. The proprie- tors of Maryland claimed that the island was included in their grant ; a long struggle followed in which force was used on both sides. Several of Claiborne's men were killed and captured, two of his vessels w^ere taken, and he was expelled from the island in- curring a heavy loss. But on September 26, 165 1, he Avas appointed one of the par- liamentary commissioners to subdue Vir- ginia and Maryland, and in the next year expelled Lord Baltimore's governor, and obtained control after a dispute of twenty years. In 1654 the Claiborne party totally defeated the Baltimore party, led by Gov- ernor Stone, wdio had again returned, and remained in undisputed control until Balti- more had made his peace with the parlia- mentary party in 1658, when Claiborne dis- appears from active participation in Mary- land affairs. In. the Northampton records (April, 1653) is an order referring to the "Worshipfull Coll. William Claiborne, Esq., Deputy Governor" — an office which has not been elsewhere noticed, but must have been