History of Frederick County Virginia United States of America

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Charles Porterfield, soldier, was born in Frederick county, Va., in 1750; son of William Porterfield, who emigrated from England and settled in Pennsylvania early in the eighteenth century. He enlisted in the first military company organized in 1775 in Frederick county to defend the patriot cause, Daniel Morgan being captain; joined Washington's army at Cambridge, Mass., and was with Colonel Arnold in the expedition against Quebec. In the disastrous assault on that city he was taken prisoner inside the fort Dec. 31, 1775, but was exchanged and again joined the army Feb. 3, 1777, serving as captain in Morgan's Rifles, 1777-78. He was made major, July 13, 1778, serving in Woodford's brigade; was transferred to the 7th Virginia regiment, Sept. 14, 1778, and resigned from the service, July 2, 1779. On Aug. 14, 1779, he was appointed by Governor Jefferson lieutenant-colonel of a Virginia state regiment organized largely through his own efforts, and proceeded to Charleston, S.C., in the spring of 1780. At the battle near Camden, S.C., Aug. 16, 1780, where he commanded a part of the advance guard of General Gates's army, he was severely wounded, taken prisoner, and after ten days, having meanwhile received no medical attention, submitted to the amputation of his leg, and was paroled. His death, resulting from the effects of his injury, occurred on the Santee river, S.C., in October, 1780.

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

Samuel Earle, representative, was born in Frederick county, Va., Nov. 28, 1760; son of Baylis and Mary (Prince) Earle; and grandson of Samuel and Anna (Sorrell) Earle. With his father he migrated to South Carolina in 1774. He was ensign in Bowie's company, 5th S.C. continentals, June 11, 1777, and was promoted 2d and 1st lieutenant at the battle of Stono, June 20, 1779. He was paroled by the British June 11, 1780; again took up arms in October, 1780, "acting generally as a volunteer, in different offices and with different corps," and engaging in "many battles, sieges and skirmishes"; was with Sumter at Blackstocks, November 20, and declined a captaincy with him, 1781; was with Roebuck at Bush River, with Greene on the retreat into Virginia, with Lee's legion and Hammond's cavalry at the siege of Augusta, and on Pickens's staff in the Cherokee invasion, whence detached in the spring of 1782, he raised a company of rangers which he commanded to the close of the war. He was a representative in the state legislature for Union and Spartanburg, 1784-88, a delegate to the state convention which ratified the Federal constitution, voting for that instrument, May 12, 1788, and a delegate to the state convention which framed and established the constitution of South Carolina, 1790, that instrument not having been submitted to the people. He refused a brigadier-generalship of militia in 1794. He was a representative in the 4th congress, 1795-1807. He was married March 12, 1793, to Harriet, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Hampton) Harrison, and had eight sons and five daughters. He died in Pendleton district, S.C., Nov. 24, 1833.

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

Robert Porterfield, soldier, was born in Frederick county, Va., Feb. 22, 1752; brother of Charles Porterfield . He was appointed 2d lieutenant in the 11th Virginia regiment, Dec. 24, 1776; served in Colonel Daniel Morgan's company through the campaigns of 1777-79; was promoted 1st lieutenant June 1, 1777; adjutant April 19, 1778; was transferred to the 7th Virginia regiment Sept. 14, 1778, and served as aide to General William Woodford, 1778-79, taking part in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth. He was promoted captain-lieutenant, July 2, 1779; captain, Aug. 16, 1779, and in December, 1779, accompanied General William Woodford to Charleston, S.C., where he took part in the defence of that city, and on its fall surrendered as a prisoner of war, May 12, 1780. He was exchanged and transferred to the 2d Virginia regiment Feb. 12, 1781, where he served until the end of the war. He was married to Rebecca Farrer of Amelia county; removed to Augusta county, Va., in 1783, and settled on a farm which he called "Soldier's Retreat." He was a brigadier-general in the Virginia militia during the war of 1812. He was justice of the peace for half a century, and served as high sheriff for two terms. He died in Augusta county, Va., Feb. 13, 1843.

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

John Adam Kern, educator, was born in Frederick county, Va., April 23, 1846; son of Nimrod and Eliza (Bentley) Kern and grandson of Adam and Margaret Kern. He was prepared for college at Winchester, Va., 1855-61, and was graduated from the University of Virginia in 1870. He entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, in 1866, and was professor of moral philosophy and the English Bible in Randolph-Macon college, Ashland, Va., 1885-99; vice-president of the college, 1893-96, and president of the same as successor to Dr. William Waugh Smith, who became chancellor of the Randolph-Macon system, 1897-99. In 1899 he was elected professor of practical theology in Vanderbilt university. He received the degree of D.D. from Washington and Lee university in 1886. He is the author of: Ministry to the Congregation (1897).

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

History of Frederick County Virginia

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