Edmund Pendleton Turner- From Harvard to Texas by Way of the Peninsula Pt. I

Death of Captain E. P. Turner 

Captain Edmund Pendleton Turner, for a long time of Houston Texas, died last Wednesday in Sewanee, Tenn., from the effects of a severe stroke of paralysis which he suffered more than a year ago. His remains were brought to Virginia by his son Pendleton Turner, and interred in the family burying ground at Oropaz*(sic), New Kent county.  

Captain Turner was born in New Kent County, Virginia, 71 years ago, was therefore, of the right age to serve the South in her great struggle of which found him the captain of his company.  

He attended the University of Virginia for several sessions as an academic student, and later graduated in law from one of the Northern institutions. Like many others of his time he went South, and practiced his profession in the city of Houston, Texas, for many years. He is survived by a widow, two children, one brother, Dr. John D. Turner, of Lenexa(sic), Virginia and one sister, Mrs. L.T. Huflman, of the same place.

-Virginia Gazette, 10 August 1907

Edmund Pendleton Turner the son of John Pendleton Turner (1801-1870 buried in New Kent).

His educational career was rather more varied than mentioned here. He attended first Richmond College, than later the University of Virginia receiving his AB from that institution in 1859. The "Northern institution," is Harvard Law where he received his LLB in 1861.

He returned to Virginia in the summer of 1861 and enlisted at Brick House in Captain Melville Vaiden's company of New Kent cavalry.

*Orapax plantation which is now essentially Chickahominy Shores subdivision

More to come . . .

James R. Hockaday

A biographical sketch of John F. Hockaday of New Kent from 1891 when he was President the Roanoke Real Estate Exchange.

J.H. HOCKADAY.

John Ratcliffe Hockaday, the president of the Roanoke Real Estate Exchange, was born in New Kent county, March 8, 1830. He attended the old time log cabin schools till he was eighteen years old, after which he removed to Richmond and worked at the house joiners' trade until the breaking out of the war. when he identified himself with a volunteer company of his native county, the Barhamsville Grays, afterwards Company B, 53d Virginia Regiment, Armistead's bridge, Pickett's division, in which he served as orderly sergeant throughout the war, twice refusing promotion to the captaincy of his company. He was twice wounded, though slightly both times. Among the hottest fights he recalls are Seven Pines, Malvern Hill, Second Manassas, Fredericksburg, the Wilderness, the capture of Harper's Ferry, and Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg, where he went with his company through the breastworks.  

Being transferred to the navy, Mr. Hockaday served on the gunboat "Raleigh," and also in the navy yard at Wilmington. He was captured in February, but was released in July and in the fall of the year went into the mercantile business at Richmond with Richard Cauthorn.  

He married Miss Bettie Thomas Gregory, daughter of Rev. James Gregory, of Chesterfield County, in February. 1868. Two years after he engaged in the produce commission business on his own account, and built up a large trade, which he closed out in '72 to come to Roanoke. He started in tho real estate business here January 10, '83, and is the pioneer of the real estate men. 

-Roanoke Times, 22 January 1891




And his obituary from the Times-Dispatch . .

DEATHS IN VIRGINIA 

            John Ratcliffe Hockaday

The funeral of John Ratclliffe Hockday. who died last Saturday at the home of his daughter Mrs. R. C. Cridlin of Woodland. Heights, was held on Monday morning. Rev. H. D. C. Maclachlan, D.D. officiated, assisted by Rev. R. D. White. Interment was in Hollywood.  

Mr. Hockaday was born March 8, 1839, in New Kent County. He was a veteran of the War Between the States, having served in Company B, FiftyThird Virginia Infantry, of which he was the last survivor. Only twelve members of the company survived the famous Pickett's charge at Gettysburg. He was in the first battle of the war at Big Bethel Church, and remained in active service until December, 1863 when he transferred to the Confederate Navy. As a volunteer with several others he attempted to fire the Confederate ironclad "Virginia" then building at Wilmington, when that city was evacuated.He was captured and remained a prisoner until the end of the war.  

Following the war Mr. Hockaday engaged in the wholesale commission business and look an active part In the affairs of the city until 1890, when he moved to Roanoke, and entered the real estate business. He was a member of Lee Camp and many of his comrades attended the funeral.  

Mr. Hockaday married Mrs. Bettie Gregory Weisiger, daughter of Rev. James Gregory, of Chesterfield, shortly after the War. He is survived by one son, W. Gregory Hockaday, and seven daughters, Mrs. A. P. Bowles, Mrs. B.M. Edwards, Mrs. J. E. Norvell, Mrs. R. C. Cridlin, Miss Nalle Hockaday, of Richmond; Mrs. J. W. Boswell, of Roanoke, and Mrs J. H. Montague, of Charlottesville.

-Richmond Times-Dispatch, 3 December 1916

A Reposting: The New Kent Resolves of 1774

New Kent's response to the crisis of 1774 . . .

At a Meeting of the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the County of New Kent, at the Courthouse of the said County, on Tuesday the 12th of July 1774, Thomas Adams, Esquire, being first chosen Moderator, and William Clayton, Esquire, Clerk, the present State of America being seriously and duly considered, the following Resolutions were proposed and agreed to, as an Instruction to our Deputies hereafter named:

Resolved, that our Sovereign Lord King, George III, is lawful and rightful King of Great Britain and all his Dominions in America, to whose Royal Person and Government we protest all due Subjection, Obedience, and Fidelity; and that we will, at all Times, defend and protect the just Rights of his Majesty with our Lives and Fortunes.

Resolved, that the Inhabitants of the British Colonies in America are entitled to all the Rights, Liberties, and Privileges, of free born English Subjects.

Resolved, that the Right to impose Taxes or Duties to be paid by the Inhabitants of this Dominion for any Purpose whatever, is peculiar and essential to the General Assembly, in whom the legislative Authority of the Colony is vested, and that Taxation and Representation are inseparable.

Resolved, that the Trial by Jury of the Vicinage is the Glory of the English Law, and the best Security for the Life, Liberty, and Property of the Subject, and is the undoubted Birthright of all his Majesty's free born American Subjects.

Resolved, that the several Acts and Resolutions of the Parliament of Great Britain made during his present Majesty's Reign, imposing Taxes or Duties on the Inhabitants of America, for the express Purpose of raising a Revenue, and for altering the Nature or Punishment of Offences committed in American, or the Method of Trial of such Offences, are unconstitutional, arbitrary, and unjust, and destructive of the Rights of America, and that we are not bound to yield Obedience to any such Acts.

Resolved, that the late cruel, unjust, and sanguinary Acts of Parliament, to be executed by military Force and Ships of War upon our Sister colony of the Massachusetts Bay, and Town of Boston, is strong Evidence of the corrupt Influence obtained by the British Ministry in Parliament, and a convincing Proof of their fixed Intention to deprive the Colonies of their constitutional Rights, and Liberties.

Resolved, that the Cause of the Town of Boston is the common Cause of all the American Colonies.

Resolved, that it is the Duty and Interest of all American Colonies firmly to unite in an indissoluble Union and Association, to oppose, by every just and proper Means, the infringements of their Rights and Liberties.

Resolved, that we do heartily approve of the Resolutions and Proceedings of our sever late Assemblies for affecting and supporting the just Rights and Liberties of America, from their patriotick Resolves in 1765 this Time.

Resolved, that we will most firmly unite with the other Counties in this Colony, in such Measures as shall be approved of by Majority as the best and most proper Means of preserving our Rights and Liberties, and opposing the said unconstitutional Acts of Parliament.

Resolved, that the most effectual Method of opposing the said several Acts of Parliament will be to break off all commercial Intercourse with Great Britain, until the said Acts shall be repealed.

Resolved, that the several counties within this colony ought to nominate and appoint, for every County, proper Deputies to meet upon the first Day of August next, in the City of Williamsburg, then and there to consult and agree upon the best and most proper Means for carrying into Execution these or any other Resolutions which shall be best calculated to answer the Purposes aforesaid.

Resolved, that it is earnestly recommended to the Deputies at the said general Convention to nominate and appoint fit and proper Persons, on Behalf of this Colony, to meet such Deputies as shall be appointed by the other Colonies in General Congress, to consult and agree upon a firm and indissoluble Union and Association, for preserving, by the best and most proper Means, their common Rights and Liberties.

Resolved, that BURWELL BASSETT and BARTHOLOMEW DANDRIDGE, Esquires, our late and present worthy Representatives, be and they are hereby nominated and appointed Deputies, on the Part and Behalf of the Freeholders and Inhabitants of this County, to meet such Deputies as shall be appointed by the other Counties within this Colony, in the City of Williamsburg, on the first Day of August next, or at any other Time or Place, for the Purpose aforesaid.

Resolved further, that our said Deputies agree to join in any proper Means that shall be adopted for the Immediate Relief of the present Necessities of the Inhabitants of the Town of Boston.

Resolved, that the Clerk transmit the foregoing Resolutions and Instructions to the Printers, to be Published.

                                            WILLIAM CLAYTON, Clerk of the Meeting



- The Virginia Gazette(Williamsburg), July 21, 1774