Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/694

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

known as "John of the Forest," born 1700, died in April, 1752. He had a plantation of twelve hundred acres known as "The For- est," on the Appomattox river, in Washing- ton parish, of Westmoreland county, and was captain of a militia company. His will mentions daughters, Sarah Lovell, Ann Smith, Lizzie Smith, Mary and Peggy ; and sons, Thomas, John, William and Abraham. He married, about 1722, Elizabeth ?klark- ham, born about 1704, at Alexandria, Vir- ginia, died September, 1775, in Fauquier county, Virginia, daughter of John Mark- ham, of Curl's Neck.

Colonel Thomas Marshall, eldest son of John and Elizabeth (Markham) Marshall, was born April 2, 1730, in W'ashington par- ish, died June 22, 1802, in Washington, Mason county, Kentucky. He was a man of remarkably strong intellect and forceful character, a schoolmate of George Wash- ington, whom he was wont to assist in sur- veying expeditions. He was co-executor with his mother of his father's will, and re- ceived two slaves by that will. Soon after his father's death he removed to Fauquier county, settling near Germantown, and lie-' came agent for Lord Fairfax in handling the latter's immense property in that vicin- ity. In 1765 he purchased three hundred and fifty acres of land on Goose creek, whidi he sold in 1773, and purchased the plantation known as "Oakhill" or "The Oaks." Here he built a fine house, and in 1767 was sheriff' of the county. He raised a company of Cnlpeper minute-men at the beginning of the revolution, and became major of a reghnent commanded by Colonel Woodford, distinguishing himself at the battle of Great P>ridge, the first of the revo- lution on Virginia soil. He was at Valley Forge, and commanded the regiment at Germantown, Pennsylvania ; and received from the Virginia house of delegates a handsome sword in recognition of his gal- lant service at Brandywine, where his horse was killed under him. In 1779 his command was sent to South Carolina, and was cap- tured at Charleston in that state. Colonel Marshall was released on parole and in 1780 visited Kentucky, at which time he located his beautiful estate, "Buckpond," near Versailles. He was frequently a member of the Virginia house of delegates, and was a member of the convention which declared the

independence of the colony. About 1780 he was appointed surveyor-general of Kentucky, which was then a single county attached to the colony of Virginia, and when the county of Fayette was detached in 1781, he became surveyor of that county. He purchased land in Lexington in 1783, and in 1785 removed his family to Kentucky, by flatboats float- ing down the Ohio river. In 1787 he repre- sented Fayette county in the Virginia legis- lature, and in 1788 was a member of the convention that framed the Virginia state constitution. His last years were spent with his son, Thomas, at Washington, Kentucky. His will mentions sons: John (chief jus- tice, previously mentioned, the subject of an extended biography in this work), Thomas, James M., Charles, William, Alex- ander K., Lewis, and daughters: Eliza- beth Colston, Mary Anne Marshall, Judith lirook and Nancy Marshall. A daughter, Lucy Ambler, died before her father. He married, in 1754, Mary Randolph Keith, born April 28, 1737, in Fauquier county, died September 19, 1809, in Mason county, Kentucky, daughter of Parson James and Mary Isham (Randolph) Keith, descend- ant of George Keith, born in Kincardine, Scotland, in 1685.

Charles Marshall, twin brother of Wil- liam, and son of Colonel Thomas and Mary R. (Keith) Marshall, was born January 31, 1767, at "Oakhill," and died in 1805, in War- renton, Virginia, where he long practiced law and was known as a learned, profound and eloquent advocate. He married, Sep- tember 13. 1787, Lucy Pickett, born May 12, 1767, died 1825, daughter of Martin Pickett. Both are buried in the Old Turkey church- yard at \\'arrenton.

Alexander J. Marshall, son of Charles and Lucy ( Pickett) Marshall, was born Feb- ruary 21, 1803, in Warrenton, and died Feb- ruary 21, 1882, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was educated for the law, but was early elected clerk of Fauquier county and filled that position many years. During the Civil war he was a member of the Confederate States senate, and after that struggle moved to Baltimore. His generous nature led him to acts which cost him much of his inher- ited fortune. He was witty and popular among his fellows. He married (first) De- cember 6. 1827, Maria R. Taylor, born No- vember 30, 1808, daughter of Robert John-