History of Vaucluse, (Frederick County) Virginia United States of America

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James Craik, physician, was born at Arbigland, Scotland, in 1730. He pursued a medical course for the purpose of becoming a surgeon in the British army, came to America in 1750 and located in Virginia. He was commissioned surgeon in Colonel Fry's Virginia regiment, March 7, 1754, and served in the provisional army during the French and Indian wars. In 1755 he was present at Braddock's defeat, and dressed the wounds of that officer. In 1770 he accompanied Washington to the Ohio, and later settled at Port Tobacco, Md., but was persuaded by Washington to remove to Alexandria, Va. In 1777 he was appointed assistant director-general in the hospital department of the army and served throughout the war, receiving from Virginia 6000 acres of land for his services. In 1779, while on an exploring expedition in western Virginia, he heard from the lips of an old Indian chief the story of Washington's marvellous escape in the battle of Monongahela. The Indian assured Dr. Craik that he had fired his rifle fifteen times at Washington, and had directed his young men to fire also. Dr. Craik was instrumental in detecting and giving warning of the conspiracy of 1777 at Newburg, and was director-general of the hospital at Yorktown at the time of the surrender of Cornwallis. He was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati of Maryland. He lived in Alexandria, the friend and physician of Washington whom he attended in his last illness until age compelled him to retire from practice, and he removed to Vaucluse, a part of the Ravensworth estate. In President Washington's will he left "To my compatriot in arms and old and intimate friend, Doctor Craik, I give my Bureau and the circular chair, an appendage of my study." The former, known as the Tambeur secretary, was still in the possession of the family in 1899. Dr. Craik was married, Nov. 13, 1760, to Marianne, daughter of Capt. Charles and Sarah (Ball) Ewell, and granddaughter of Charles Ewell, who came from England to Virginia in 1690 under contract to build the state capitol at Williamsburg. Sarah (Ball) Ewell was a cousin of General Washington. Their son, William Craik, was a representative from Virginia in the 4th, 5th and 6th congresses. Another son, George Washington Craik (born Aug. 22, 1774; died in 1808), was for a time Washington's private secretary, and married Maria Dorcas, daughter of John and Catherine Tucker. Dr. Craik died at Vaucluse, Fairfax county, Va., Feb. 6, 1814.

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

History of Vaucluse, (Frederick County) Virginia

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