Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/86

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

and of James Markham Marshall, the revo- lutionary officer. James Markham Marshall, of Front Royal, four times elected sheriff of Warren county, and now in office, bears one of the most honored of Virginia names.

While tradition is the only authority for claiming descent for the Marshall family from William C. Mareschal who came to Mngland with William the Conqueror, there i.-^ abundant proof of an ancestry, dating to 1558. In that year Captain John Marshall distinguished himself and was severely wounded at the fall of Calais. From him de- scended Captain John Marshall, who fought at Edgehill in the reign of Charles I. and in 1650 came to Virginia, settling first at Jamestown, then moving to Westmoreland county, where he fought with valor in the Indian wars. His son Thomas died in 1704, the father of John known as John Marshall, of the "Forest." Captain John Marshall, of the "Forest," was born in Westmoreland county, Virginia, about 1700, and died in .\pril, 1752. He was a farmer, owner of twelve hundred acres on Appomattox creek, in Washington parish, a captain of militia, a man of reputation and influence. Me mar- ried Elizabeth Markham. born about 1704. and died in Fauquier county, Virginia, in 1775. daughter of John Markham. Tradi- tion has run the gamut in locating this Markham. He has been described as peer, pirate, and the buccaneer Blackbeard, but all the authorities agree that he was a hand- some, dashing and fascinating gentleman and a daring, cruel and adroit villain. The will of Captain John Marshall, of the "For- est" was probated May 26, 1752, his wife, and sons, Thomas and John, being charged with executing its provisions.

Colonel Thomas Marshall, son of Cap- tain John Marshall, of the "Forest," was born in Washington parish, Westmoreland county, Virginia, April 2, 1730, and died in Washington, Mason county, Kentucky, June 22, 1802. The friendship that existed be- tween Colonel Marshall and Chief Justice Washington began when they were school- m.ates at school, taught by Rev. Archibald Campbell, rector of Washington parish. They both learned and practiced surveying together, and for their services received sev- eral thousand acres of wild land in Henry county, now West Virginia. Colonel Mar- shall was a lieutenant of volunteers during the French and Indian war, but was not at

I'raddock's defeat, having been left behind to build "Fort Necessity." After the death of his father in 1752 the Marshalls moved to near (lermantown, Fauquier county, \'ir- ginia, where Thomas was superintendent of the immense estate of Lord Fairfax. In 1765 he bought three hundred and fifty acrer on Goose creek, lived there until 1773 when he sold it and purchased "Oak Hill," men- tioned in his will as "The Oaks." When the war broke out he joined in forming the Culpeper minute-men and when a regiment was formed, was made major. He fought at "Great liridge," the first battle of the revo- lution, fought on Virginia soil, was at Val- ley Forge, and after the death of General Mercer at the battle of Germantown, suc- ceeded to the command of the Third Vir- ginia Regiment, and has been credited with saving the patriot army trom destruction. For his gallant service, the Virginia house of burgesses presented him with a sword that is yet preserved in the Maysville, Ken- tucky, Historical Society. In 1799 Colonel Marshall with the Third Virginia Regiment was sent to reinforce General Lincoln in South Carolina. He joined Lincoln just in time to be shut up with him in Charleston, and to share in the surrender of that city to the British. After being paroled. Colonel }iJarshall with other officers visited Ken- tucky in 1780, journeying the entire distance on horseback, through the wilderness. On that trip he located his beautiful farm "Buckpond." near Versailles.

About that time he was appointed sur- veyor-general of the lands in Kentucky, ap- portioned to the officers and soldiers of the \ irginia state line. The territory first known as the county of Kentucky was on November i, 1781, divided into three coun- ties, Fayette, Lincoln and JefTerson, Colo- nel Marshall being appointed surveyor of Fayette county. In 1783 he purchased lands, and in 1785 returned to \'irginia for his frmily. In 1787 he represented Fayette county in the Virginia legislature, and in 1788 was elected as delegate to the state constitutional convention. He was a zeal- ous Federalist and held the office of L'nited States collector of revenue. He resided at his fine farm, "Buckpond," Kentucky, until 1800. then gave "Buckpond" to his youngesc son Louis and went to live with his son Thomas at Washington. Mason county, Kentucky, where he died June 22. 1S02.