Militia 1698

1698 

An Abstract of The Militia Within The Several Counties of Virginia As They Were Returned By The Respective Officers

New Kent - Col. Wm Byrd

                                                Capt Wm Bassett     a troop 47

                                                Capt Jos Foster        a troop         44

                                                Capt Jno Liddal a troop         102

                                                Capt Lancelot Bathurst         78

                                                Capt Fr Burnell *                 76

                                                                        347

                                                                       

-'Virginia Militia Officers, 1698', The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 49, No. 4 (Oct., 1941),

New Kent at that time would have included Hanover and Louisa to the west and on the east the York River coast of James City. It would have lacked the Chickahominy River area from Providence Forge to Lanexa. William Byrd did not live in New Kent but commanded the militia units of Henrico and New Kent.

* Could very well be 'Burrell'

"Consideration the Proper Arrangement of Minute Men, to be Enlisted in this District"

The resolutions of the meeting September 11-12, 1775 of the deputies from counties of the Williamsburg military district.

Then the committee proceeded to the choice of officers in the regular service for this district, and nominated the following Gentlemen: 

George Nicholas, Esq; Captain; Mr. Beverley Dickson, 1st Lieutenant; Mr. Thomas Russell, 2d Lieutenant; and Mr. Merritt Moore, Ensign. 

Resolved, that it be recommended to the officers so appointed to proceed with the utmost expedition to inlist within this destrict [sic] one company of regulars, to consist of 68 men, rank and file; that they rendezvous with the said company in the city of Williamsburg, when enlisted, until further orders of the committee of safety.
Tuesday, Sept. 12, 1775. 

The committee proceeded to take under their consideration the proper arrangement of minute men, to be enlisted in this district, pursuant to an ordinance of the General Convention, and came to the following resolution. 

Resolved, that there be enlisted, in the county of Elizabeth City one company of 50 men, rank and file; in the county of Warwick one other company of 50; in the county of York two companies of 50 each; in the county of James City one company of 50; in the county of New Kent two companies of 50 each; in the county of Charles City two companies of 50 each; and in the city of Williamsburg one company of 50, to be commanded by their proper officers. The following Gentlemen were then appointed officers. 

Champion Travis, Esq; Colonel of the battalion; Hugh Nelson, Esq; Lieutenant Colonel; and Samuel Harwood, Esq; Major. Mr. John Cary, Captain of the company to be raised in Elizabeth City; Mr. John King, Lieutenant; and Mr. Joseph Selden, jun. Ensign. Mr. Richard Cary, Captain of the company to be raised in Warwick county; Mr. Thomas Haynes, Lieutenant; and Mr. Josiah Massenburg, Ensign. Mr. William S. Sclater, Captain of one of the companies to be raised in York county; Mr. Callohill Minnis, jun. Lieutenant; and Mr. Edward Howard, Ensign. Mr. William Goosley, Captain of the other company to be raised in York county; Mr. Thomas Harwood, Lieutenant; and Mr. Frederick Bryan, Ensign. Mr. John Walker, Captain of the company to be raised in James City; Mr. William Johnson, Lieutenant; and Mr. Henry Brown, Ensign. Mr. Furnea Southall, Captain of one of the companies to be raised in Charles City; Mr. Edward Marrable, Lieutenant; and Mr. John Bell, Ensign. John Tyler, Esq.; Captain of the other company for Charles City; Mr. Stith Hardyman, Lieutenant; and Peter Dunn, Ensign. Mr. Thomas Massie, Captain of one of the companies to be raised in New Kent; Mr. Henry Finch, Lieutenant; and Mr. Samuel Manning, Ensign. Mr. Andrew Anderson, Captain of the other company to be raised in New Kent; Mr. Walter Hopkins, Lieutenant; and Mr. William Armistead, jun. Ensign. Mr. Robert Anderson, Captain of the company to be raised in the city of Williamsburg; Mr. Humphrey Harwood, Lieutenant; and Mr. William Rowsay, Ensign. 

Resolved, that James Bray Johnson, Gentleman, be appointed Commissary of Musters for this district. Resolved, that the place of general rendezvous for the battalion of this district be in the neighbourhood of the city of Williamsburg. 

Resolved, that public notice be given, to such persons as may be willing to contract for supplying the battalion of this district with necessary provisions, to give in their proposals to the Chairman of this committee, in writing; and that the said Chairman, together with members of James City, York, and Williamsburg, or any six of them, do, in the mean time, as occasion may require, contract with proper persons to supply any company or detachment of minute men, who may, upon any emergency, be called out to actual service. 

It being represented to this committee, that a number of field-pieces have been lately brought to the city of Williamsburg; and the committee being of opinion, that it is necessary the same should be properly mounted and taken care of, offer it, as their opinion, to the Committee of Safety, that a proper person be appointed for that purpose; and take the liberty of recommending Mr. William Finnie, as a Gentleman who hath distinguished himself by his activity and zeal in the cause of the country."

 - The Virginia Gazette, September 16, 1775

Coming to a Road Near You . . .

This newly (OK, OK, 2010) approved State Highway Historical Marker is to go up in the vicinity of the fire tower on Williamsburg Road, perhaps at the intersection of Old Williamsburg Road or the crossover of  I-295. Commemorating events of the War of 1812(whose Bicentennial we are in the middle of ), the text reads . . .

"During the War of 1812, Virginia established three militia posts on the outskirts of Richmond to guard against possible British Invasion. Within a mile of this point was built Camp Carter (Sept. 1814-Feb.1815) under the command of Gen. John H. Cocke. Camp Holly Springs (April 1813-Feb.1814) was located five miles southwest at Route 5 near Newmarket Road, under Gen. Robert Porterfield. Camp Bottoms' Bridge (Sept-Nov.1814) under the command of Gen. William Chamberlayne, was two miles east at Bottoms Bridge. These posts were never threatened by British forces during the war."

The threat to the approaches to Richmond seemed very real after the British military moves in Hampton Roads over the summer of 1813, culminating in the Sack of Hampton in the middle of June. Militia from all over Virginia as well as North Carolina encamped on and behind the line of the Chickahominy to defend the capital of Virginia. I assume Camp Bottoms' Bridge would be on the high ground in Quinton to protect the approaches to the bridge. The information sheet on the marker principally relates to Camp Carter, but I believe there is more information to be found in the records, specifically in the Virginia Legislative Petitions. Some of the petitions from New Kent asking for state reimbursement, relate tales of losses from militia encamping on private land.

 "The Virginia highway marker program, which began in 1927 with the erection of the first historical markers along U.S. Rte. 1, is considered the oldest such program in the nation. Currently there are more than 2,400official state markers, most of which are maintained by Virginia Department of Transportation, a key partner with the Department of Historic Resources in the historical marker program."

Reaction in New Kent to the Harpers Ferry Raid

More Volunteers.- Capt. Vaiden(Melville Vaiden) of the New Kent Troop, with Lieut. (Telemachus)Taylor and Surgeon Tyler(Tazewell Tyler??), arrived in this city yesterday afternoon, to tender the services of that company, 60 strong. to Gov. Wise, to go to Charlestown and aid in repelling any invaders who might attempt to release from prison the famous land pirate, incendiary and murderer, John Brown. News reached New Kent yesterday morning that 5,000 armed men were marching upon Charlestown, and the Troop of that county determined at once to join their brother soldiers in repelling the invaders. Of course they were very much surprised to hear that there was no truth in the report, and that their services were not needed. For their promptness and patriotism, however, they deserve all praise, and will doubtless receive the thanks of the Commander-in-Chief on his return to the capital.

- Daily Dispatch, November 22, 1859