Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/69

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well, traced through his grandfather to a distinguished line of Scotch ancestors. Gov- ernor Spottswood was a great-grandson of John Spottswood, Archbishop of "St. An- drews" and author of the "History of the Church of Scotland," grandson of Robert Spottswood, lord president of the College ot Justice and author of the "Practecks of the Laws of Scotland" and was one of the eight eminent lawyers executed by the Par- liament of Scotland, then composed almost entirely of Covenanters ; only son of Dr. Robert Spottswood. physician to the gov- ernor of Tangier, an English colony in Africa, who married a widow. Catherine Elliott.

The first settlement of \'irginia was made in 1609 and tradition states that Edward Burwell was one of those to whom land was granted under the charter granted by King James in 1607 and that he settled near Rur- well Bay. in Isle of Wight county, \'irginia. Major Lewis Burwell, believed to have been a son of Edward Burwell, married Lucy, daughter of Captain Higginson, one of the first commanders that subdued the Vir- ginia Indians. Major Lewis Burwell died November 19, 1658. The epitaph on his tombstone at Carter's Creek in Gloucester, which bears his coat-of-arms, states that he was descended from the ancient and honor- able family of Burwells of Bedford and Northampton, England. He left two sons, Lewis and Nathaniel. The homestead of the family was built on the north side of York river, afterwards removed to the west side then to King's Mill on the James river. Lewis Burwell, of King's Mill, built a large house, worthy of the first born son to live in and the first born son was obliged to petition the legislature for leave to break the entail and sell a large tract of land in King William county to pay for it. Na- thaniel, the other son of Lewis Burwell, married Elizabeth Carter, of the "King" Carter family, who survived him and mar- ried I second ) President Nelson and was the mother of Thomas Nelson, of the revolu- tion. Her picture was hanging in the old Nelson- House at Yorktown in i860, but was later destroyed by Northern soldiers.

At the breaking out of the revolution, the family was very rich in land and slaves and held high official positions. About 1750 Lewis Burwell was president of council and in 1775 Colonel Lewis Burwell (head of the family was always named Lewis as long as the law of primogeniture prevailed) was a naval officer (or collector) of the ports along the James river. Much of the fam- ily property was destroyed by the British and a large number of slaves carried away. Almost all of the Virginia Burwells fought in the Army of Independence, some losing their lives. In the war of 1812 all were zealous patriots and soldiers. William A. Burwell. then a member of Congress, ad- vocated a war with France as well as Eng- land, and several Burwells held commis- sions in the army. During the war of 1861- 65. always loyal to Virginia, every member ot the family, within the legal years of ser- vice and some beyond and under it, were in the Confederate army and valiantly sup- ported the Confederate cause.

John Spottswood Burwell, son of Colonel I.ewis Burwell. and great-grandson of Gov- ernor Alexander Spottswood, also a farmer of Lranklin county, Virginia, married and had issue, including a son, Armistead Lewis Burw-ell.

Armistead Lewis Burwell was born in I'ranklin coun.ty, \'irginia. in 1809. died in 1S80. a farmer and tobacco factor. He mar- ried Alary Hicks, born in Franklin county in 1819, died in 1904, daughter of William Hicks and aunt of General Jubal Early, of the Confederate army. Children: i. Wil- liam Armistead. born in Franklin county, in 1840. died in 1909; he was a private of the .Second Regiment \'irginia Cavalry. Con- federate States army, and was engaged in many battles including first and second Manassas (Bull Run), having a horse shot from under him but escaped serious injury. 2. Edwin, died in 1859. 3. John Spotts- wood. born in 1844. in Franklin county, a farmer, served four years in a Confederate cavalry regiment, was wounded in battle, taken prisoner and for a time confined in Port Delaware. 4. Blair Randolph, now living retired in Roanoke City. Virginia; he was a student at \'irginia Military Institute at the time the war was in progress and with his fellow students, mere boys, marched out of the academy and fought at the battle of Newmarket. 5. Henry Lewis, of further mention. Three of Dr. Burwell's brothers, it is seen, served in the Confeder- ate army and at the same time their father and his three brothers. James Henry, Wil- liam Armistead and Wilev Burwell. were