History of Dover Run, (Goochland County) Virginia United States of America

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Biographies:

Joseph Cabell, surgeon, was born near Dover, on Licking-Hole Creek, Goochland county, Va., Sept. 19, 1732; the second son of Dr. William and Elizabeth (Burks) Cabell. He received a thorough medical education from his father, and established a wide reputation as a skilful physician and surgeon. At the age of twenty he married Mary, daughter of Dr. Arthur Hopkins. On Sept. 20, 1751, he became a deputy sheriff, was a justice of Albemarle county probably as early as 1755, and held the office for many years. He was appointed to the house of burgesses about 1764, and in this position he represented Buckingham county until 1771, signing the non-importation articles of 1769 and of June 22, 1770. In 1771, he removed to Amherst county, and in December of that year was elected a representative from there to the house of burgesses, where he remained until the body was finally dissolved in 1775. Immediately after this began the revolutionary conventions, to all of which he was elected, and was one of the most prominent and active delegates. In 1776 he acted as paymaster to the troops commanded by Gen. Andrew Lewis. From 1776 to 1779 he was a member of the house of delegates from Andover, and in 1778 was made county lieutenant or chief commander of Amherst county. In 1779 he removed to his estate in Buckingham, representing that county in the house of delegates during 1780 and 1781. He commanded a regiment at the siege of Yorktown, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis. A company of students of William and Mary college were attached to his regiment. Throughout the revolution he gave his services and also large contributions of provisions, horses, and money to the patriot cause. He was state senator probably continuously from 1781 to 1785, and a member of the house of delegates from 1788 to 1790. Soon after this he removed to Sion Hill, Va., where he died, March 1, 1798.

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

William Cabell, soldier, was born near Dover, on Licking-Hole creek, Goochland county, Va., March 13, 1730; son of William and Elizabeth (Burks) Cabell. It is probable that his education was finished at William and Mary college. In December, 1749, he began to assist his father in surveying, and continued to do so until 1753. In 1751 he became a vestryman of St. Ann's parish, Albemarle county, and held this office for ten years. In February, 1754, at the beginning of the French and Indian war, he raised a troop of horse, of which he was made captain. About 1755 he became a lieutenant-colonel of the Albemarle militia, and on Oct. 11, 1760, was promoted colonel. He was also a justice of the peace. From 1757 to 1761 he was a member of the house of burgesses. In 1760 he subscribed with others to a premium to be given for the purpose of encouraging the production of wine and silk in the colony. In 1761, at the first Amherst court, he qualified as the first presiding magistrate, the first county lieutenant, the first county surveyor, and the first county coroner, holding the offices until 1775. He also held the offices of burgess from Amherst county, of vestryman, and of surveyor by appointment of William and Mary college, thus holding all of the leading offices of Amherst county during the colonial era. On May 2, 1763, he received, from his father, a deed to 1,785 acres of land in Amherst county, which, with the 460 acres already patented, an addition of 579 acres in 1764, and many subsequent additions, made a large and valuable estate. Colonel Cabell was one of the original subscribers to the stock of the first James river canal company, and was prominent in all plans for the improvement of the country. From 1774 to 1776 he was chairman of the Amherst county committee, and from September, 1776, to March, 1781, he served as state senator, when he was appointed a member of the council of state. He was elected to the house of delegates, in 1782, in 1783, and again in 1787, being one of the few members to oppose the adoption of the Federal constitution. In 1788 he was again in the house of delegates, and in 1789 was made presidential elector, voting for George Washington. His wife was Margaret, daughter of Colonel Samuel Jordan, by whom be had seven children. At his death he left an estate of about thirty thousand acres of land, many slaves, and personal property, although he had given several of his children fair estates. His death occurred March 23, 1798.

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