History of Chesterfield County Virginia United States of America

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Biographies:

Benjamin Watkins Leigh, senator, was born in Chesterfield county, Va., June 18, 1781. He was graduated from William and Mary college in 1802; was admitted to the bar and practised in Petersburg, Va., 1802-13. He was a representative in the state legislature from Petersburg, and presented resolutions, asserting the right of the legislature to instruct the U.S. senators from Virginia. He removed to Richmond, Va., where he continued his law practice; was one of the commissioners to revise the statutes of Virginia; was sent to Kentucky as a commissioner to consult with Henry Clay, representing that state, concerning the "occupying claimants" law, which resulted in an agreement that threatened to annul the title held by Virginia to lands in Kentucky. He was a member of the state constitutional convention of 1829-30, was a reporter of the court of appeals of the state, 1829-41 and in 1833 was appointed to the U.S. senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of William C. Rives. He was elected in 1835 for a full senatorial term, but resigned in July, 1836. The degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by the College of William and Mary in 1835. He published Reports of Cases in the Court of Appeals and in the General Court of Virginia (1830-44). He died in Richmond, Va., Feb. 2, 1849.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Samuel Goode, representative, was born at "Whiby," Chesterfield county, Va., March 21, 1756; son of Robert and Mary (Turpin) Goode; grandson of Robert and Elizabeth (Curd) Goode, and great-grandson of John and Anne (Bennet) Geede. He was a lieutenant in the Chesterfield troop of horse during the Revolution and afterward colonel of militia for Mecklenburg. He was a member of the Virginia house of burgesses, 1779-83, and a representative in the 6th U.S. congress, 1799-1801. He was married in 1786, to Mary Armistead, daughter of Col. Lewis Burwell, and a great-granddaughter of Gov. Alexander Spotswood. He died in Mecklenburg county, Va., Nov. 14, 1822.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Drury Lacy, educator, was born in Chesterfield county, Va., Oct. 5, 1758; son of William and Elizabeth (Rice) Lacy, and grandson of Thomas and Ann (Burnley) Lacy and of James and Margaret (House) Rice. His grandfather, Thomas Lacy, came to America from England about 1685. His early education was meagre, but being debarred from manual labor by the loss of his left hand from the explosion of a gun, he acquired sufficient knowledge of the classical languages to be appointed tutor in Hampden-Sidney college in 1781. He studied theology under Dr. John Blair Smith, president of Hampden-Sidney college, and was licensed to preach in September, 1787, and ordained in October, 1788. In 1788 he was elected vice-president of the college, and in 1791. On Dr. Smith's resignation, succeeded to the presidency. He was married, Dec. 25, 1789, to Anne Smith, and became the father of three sons: William and Drury, who entered the ministry, and Horace, who was a physician; and two daughters: Elizabeth Rice, wire married Samuel Davies Hoge and became the mother of Moses Drury and William James Hoge; and Judith, who married the Rev. James Brookes and became the mother of the Rev. James H. Brookes, D.D., of St. Louis, Mo. Sir. Lacy resigned from the presidency of Hampden-Sidney college in 1796, and during the rest of his life supplied neighboring churches and taught a classical school. He was moderator of the general assembly of the Presbyterian church in 1809, and served as clerk of the Hanover Presbytery during a large part of his ministry. The loss of his hand was supplied by one of silver, and this fact, together with his clear and musical voice, gained for him the name of "Lacy with the silver hand and silver tongue." He died in Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 6, 1815.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Robert Goode, patriot, was born at "Whitby," Chesterfield county, Va., Feb. 8, 1743; son of Robert and Mary (Tnrpin) Goode. He was an elder brother of Samuel Goode, representative in the 6th U.S. congress, 1799-1801. He served as major and colonel in the Chesterfield militia in scouting service along the James river during the Revolutionary war and served as president of numerous courts-martial for the trial of spies and tories. He was an incorporator of "Academy of Arts and Sciences of the United States of America" projected in 1786 at Richmond, Va., under the patronage of the French academy of sciences. He was state director of public buildings and had charge of the completion of the state capitol at Richmond, Va. He was married to Sallie, daughter of Col. Richard Bland, delegate to the Continental congress, 1774-75, the "Cato of the American Revolution." Colonel Goode died at "Whitby," Va., April 2, 1809.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Chesterfield County Virginia

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