History of Richmond County Virginia United States of America

Our database does not include an historic photo for Richmond County Virginia, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us!

Biographies:

Thomas Turner Fauntleroy, soldier, was born in Richmond county, Va., Oct. 6, 1796. He was a lieutenant in the U.S. army during the war of 1812, and soon after its close was admitted to the Virginia bar and established a practice in Warrenton, representing that town in the state legislature in 1823. In 1836 he was commissioned major of dragoons in the U.S. army and served through the Seminole war. In 1845 he was ordered to the Texas frontier to hold the Indians in check, then joined General Taylor and afterward commanded General Scott's cavalry in Mexico. He was raised to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and again sent to the Texas frontier, 1849; was commissioned colonel, 1850; led a winter campaign against the Indians in the Rocky mountains, 1854-55; and against the Indians in New Mexico, in 1858. At the opening of the civil war he joined the Confederate army, was commissioned brigadier-general by the Virginia convention and given the military command of Richmond, but when the Confederate government made that city the capital it refused to recognize his commission. He died in Leesburg, Va., Sept. 12, 1883.

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

Samuel Hammond, representative, was born in Richmond county, Va., Sept. 21, 1757; son of Charles Hammond. He was a volnteer in the partisan warfare between the Whigs and Tories in North and South Carolina, 1776-82, on the Whig side, and operated against the Indians under Governor Dunmore; distinguished himself at the battle of Kanawha; led a company of patriots in the battle of Long Bridge. Va., in 1776; served under General Lincoln at the battle of Stono, S.C., in 1779; was assistant quartermaster at the siege of Savannah, Ga.; was a member of the council of capitulation at Charleston, S.C., and refused British protection. With thirty-three chosen men he made his escape to North Carolina and joined in the battles of Cedar Springs, Musgrove's Mills and Enoree River. In the battles of King's Mountain, Oct. 7, 1780, and Cowpens he lost many of his men. He then fought at Blackstocks where he was wounded; in the siege of Augusta, Ga., and on Sept. 8, 1781, at Eutaw, S.C., at which last place he was severely wounded. He was made colonel of cavalry, Sept. 17, 1781, and was with General Greene's army up to the close of the war for independence. In 1783 he was married to Mrs. Rebecca Rae, widow of Col. John Rae of Augusta, Ga. He then settled in Savannah, Ga.; was appointed surveyor general of the state; was elected to the state legislature and again entered the military service during the time of the Creek war of 1793. Upon the death of his wife in 1798 he retired to Rae's Hall. On May 25, 1802, he married Eliza Amelia O'Keefe. He was a representative in the 8th congress, 1803-05; military and civil commandant of upper Louisiana, and receiver of public moneys of Missouri, 1805-24. He was again a representative in the Georgia state legislature, 1824, surveyor-general of the state, 1825-31, and secretary of the state, 1831-35. He died at Varello Farm near Augusta, Ga., Sept. 11, 1842.

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

Thomas Lyell, clergyman, was born in Richmond county, Va., May 13, 1775; the fifth son of John and Sarah Lyell. His parents, members of the Protestant Episcopal church, were isolated from the privileges of that church and He became a Methodist. In 1790 he began to exhort and in 1792 to preach in Virginia and subsequently in Providence, R.I. He was chaplain of the U.S. house of representatives, 1797-1804; was admitted to the diaconate in the Protestant Episcopal church by Bishop Claggett in 1804, and advanced to the priesthood by Bishop Moore in 1805. He was rector of Christ church, New York city, 1805-48; secretary of the diocesan conventions, 1811-16; member of the standing committee, 1813-48; deputy to the general convention, 1818-44; trustee of the General Theological seminary, 1822-48; and senior member of the board of trustees of the Protestant Episcopal society for promoting learning and religion in the state of New York at the time of his death. He was married three times, his first wife being a daughter of the Rev. Dr. Abraham Beach, rector of Trinity parish. He received the honorary degree of A.M. from Brown in 1803, and that of D.D. from Columbia in 1822. He died in New York city, March 4, 1848.

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

History of Richmond County Virginia

Biographies:

Local History and Genealogy Links: