William Russell Sr. (1735 - 1793)

Born 6 Mar 1735 in Orange, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Tabitha (Adams) Russell — married 1755 in Culpeper, Virginia

Husband of Elizabeth Anne (Henry) Russell — married about 1783 (to 14 Jan 1793) in Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died 14 Jan 1793 at age 57 in Rockingham, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Brigadier General William Russell Sr. served with 5th Virginia Regiment (1776), Continental Army during the American Revolution.

William Russell Sr. is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A098535.

William Russell Sr. is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: 283287
Rank: Brigadier General / Patriotic Service

William was born in 1735 in Culpepper County in the Colony of Virginia. He is the son of William Russell and Mary Henly (or Martha Henly).

William Russell was educated at William and Mary College. He led the first attempt to settle Kentucky in September, 1773. The party was ambushed by Indians and his eldest son and the eldest son of Daniel Boone were killed. The party became discouraged and turned back.

He was a Justice of Fincastle County, Virginia. He participated in the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1775. He was promoted to Colonel in 1776. He was captured by the British and held prisoner after the fall of Charleston in 1780. He was exchanged and rejoined the Continental Line. He was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781. Col. Russell was brevetted to the rank of Brigadier General. He was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati and was serving in the Virginia legislature at the time of his death. Russell County, Virginia is named for him.

To William Russell on October 27, 1732 was granted 20,000 acres in and about the forks of the Shenandoah, near Front Royal and Riverton in lieu of what he had claimed from the Van Meter grants (Virginia Magazine Vol. XIII. No. 3, pp. 288-9).

US Continental Army Brigadier General. At the start of the Revolutionary War, he was a Virginia colonist when he enlisted as a Private in the Virginia Militia. He rose through the ranks to Colonel of the 5th Virginia Regiment and fought at the Battle of Point Pleasant. He commanded a substantial part of the American forces at the Battle of Kings Mountain and was brevetted Brigadier General for his service. After the war, he produced salt in Saltville and served in the Virginia State Senate. Russell County, Virginia is named after him. (bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith)

William Russell's first wife was Tabitha Adams, who died in 1776. His second wife, Elizabeth Henry survived him by more than thirty years. General William Russell, after the death of Tabitha Adams, married second Elizabeth Henry Campbell, a sister of Patrick Henry, and the widow of General William Campbell, the victorious commander at the battle of Kings Mountain. Her sister, Susanna Henry, married Thomas Madison (Captain, Colonel, General) who was a first cousin of James Madison, Sr, the father of James Madison, the fourth President of the United States.^[1]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

William Russell (1735 – January 14, 1793) was an army officer and a prominent settler of the southwestern region of the Virginia Colony. He led an early attempt to settle the "Kentuckee Territory" (then part of Virginia).

Russell aided in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. During the American Revolutionary War he fought in the Battle of Point Pleasant (1774) and the Battle of Yorktown (1781). While a representative in the Virginia House of Delegates, Russell was noted for his stance opposing the 1785 State of Franklin petition for admittance into the United States.

William Russell was educated at the College of William & Mary.

Russell's first wife was Tabitha Adams, who died in 1776. His second wife, Elizabeth Henry a sister of Patrick Henry —survived him by more than thirty years.

Elizabeth Henry Russell was important in the early history of the Methodist Church in America. Many descendants of Russell lived in Russell and Scott Counties in Virginia.

He was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati.

Russell led a early attempt to settle the area that would become Kentucky then part of Fincastle County, Virginia in September 1773. The party of frontiersmen was ambushed by Native Americans and Russell's eldest son, along with the eldest son of Daniel Boone, was killed. After the battle, the party became discouraged and turned back.

Russell was elected a justice of Fincastle County, Virginia. As a Virginia representative to the Continental Congress, he aided in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. Russell was serving in the Virginia House of Delegates at the time of his death.

In the American Revolutionary War, he participated in the 1774 Battle of Point Pleasant. He was promoted to Colonel in 1776. After the fall of Charleston in 1780, Russell was captured by the British and held prisoner. He was subsequently exchanged, and rejoined the Continental Line. Russell was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781. During this time, he was brevetted to the rank of Brigadier General, commanding the 5th Virginia Regiment, until it was disbanded on 15 November 1783.

Russell County, Virginia, and Russellville, Kentucky, are named for him.

Russell County, Kentucky, is named for his son William Russell (III).

He rose through the ranks to Colonel of the 5th Virginia Regiment and fought at the Battle of Point Pleasant. He commanded a substantial part of the American forces at the Battle of Kings Mountain and was brevetted Brigadier General for his service.^[2]

Burial: He was first buried in the Allen Family Cemetery but family members had his body moved to the: Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA Plot: Sec. 1, Lot 314-A, Grid MN-34/35 ^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ William Russell and his Descendants by Anna Russell des Cognets ... Des Cognets, Anna Russell, p 268
2. ↑ https://wiki2.org/en/William_Russell_(Virginia_politician)
3. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9893/william-russell

Research Notes

From my notes, collected many years ago. If we stay with the actual documents it will be easier to build a lineage. Adding unproven descendants creates a great deal of confusion in this line. William Russell2 (Ancestor1) died probably York Co., VA before 26 Jan 1668.3 He emigrated From England to MD in 1670. He died probably in Anne Arundel Co, MD before 7 Jun 1679. His probate. [William and Sarah Russell Descendants by Judith Ancell.FTW] www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/stagser/s1500/s1527/html/ssi1527c.html Maryland Indexes, Marriage References,MSA S 1527 C "Coates, Leonard, of Anne Arundel Co., m. by 7 June 1679, Martha, admx of William Russell (ARMD[Archives of MD] 68:208; INAC [Inventories and Accounts 6:232, 362; &A:258)." http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/megafile/msa/speccol/sc2900/sc2908/000001/000051/html/am51--539.html "Proceedings of the Court of Chancery February 16, 1668/69 to October 16, 1679 Volume 51, Page 539 Att a Court of Chancery held att the Citty of Saint Maryes the sixteenth day of Octo.r Anno Domini One thousand six hundred seaventy nine, in a Cause there depending between John Larkin, Nathaniell Heathcott, Murreine Devall, John Beamónt Gabriel Parrot, Leonard Coates and Martha his wife adm:x of the goods and Cattells of Willm Russell deceased all of Ann Arundell County as well for themselves as other the Credittors of Joseph Moorely of the same County deceased Comp.lts against Robert Proctor and John Gater Ex.rs of the last Will and Testament of the said Joseph Moorely Defend.ts 540 Chancery Court Proceedings, 1679. Liber P C Present

[Note: I do not have a marriage for Martha and Leonard Coates/Courts. Martha is the widow of William Russell? Is she then the wife of Leonard Coates or is she the daughter of William Russell. We NEED documentation on this data] In addition I would submit the following references contained in my research. Endnotes 24 December 2021 14 1. Benjamin B. Weiseger, III, York County, Virginia Records 1665-1672, 99. "Mr. Peter Temple, about 5 years since, gave to Peter Russell, son of William Russell, a heifer, and ordered same to be recorded for the child's use.".

2. Judith (Weeks) Ancell, 759 Fif th Avenue, Hammond, Oregon, 97121 (n.p: Notes and information developed from personal research and/or experience., n.d). NOTE: This is simply a conjecture and needs much much further research considering our William, husband of Sarah, to be the same William Russell as the son of William and Martha Russell. Judith.

3. Benjamin B. Weiseger, III, York County, Virginia Records 1665-1672, 126 Jan 26 1667/68. "William Hassell(sic) is ordered to give bond on 10,000 lbs of tob. security for a cow belonging to Peter Russell, ORPHAN of William Russell,dece'd, to deliver same April next, and to exhibit account yearly at orphans court." [Note: could this actually be William Russell who is ordered to give bond? ja].

4. Maryland Calender of Wills, Vol. 1 & 2. Volume 2 Page 46 Coates, Leonard, A. A. Co., 20th Mch., 1690; 27th June, 1691. To John Gibbs, personalty. “son-in-law (step-son), William Russell, at 21 yrs. of age, and hrs., residue of estate, real and personal, including plantation on Herring Ck., which is to pass to Florence Gott, eld. dau. of Kobert Gott, in event of death of sd. William without issue Exs., Robt. Gott, Rich’d Wells. Test: Hugh Gill, Jno. Gibbs, Jno. Thompson. 2. 211 Vol I Page 129 Henly, Robert, Pyckywaxen, Chas. Co., 15th Feb., 1683; 31st Mch., 1684. To Bethsheba and Mary, daus. of Thomas Harris, Eliza: Nichols and grandddau. Charity, dau. of John and Charity Courts, personalty. “ son-in-law John Courts, Charity, his wife, and hrs., residue of estate, real and personal. Ex. Son�in-law John Courts afsd. Test: Edward Lee, Richd. Gent, Cleborne Lomax, Margaret Maystis. 4. 31. . 5. St. James Parish Record 1682-1896, Anne Arundel Co., MD, 307.

6. Benjamin B. Weiseger, III, York County, Virginia Records 1665-1672, 91.

7. Benjamin B. Weiseger, III, York County, Virginia Records 1665-1672, 91. "Mr. Peter Temple, about 5 years since, gave to Peter Russell, son of William Russell, a heifer, and ordered same to be recorded for the child's use.".

8. Benjamin B. Weiseger, III, York County, Virginia Records 1665-1672, 126. "William Hassell is ordered to give bond on 10,000 lbs of tob. security for a cow belonging to Peter Russell, orphan of William Russell, dece'd, to deliver same April next, and to exhibit account yearly at orphans court." [Note: could this actually be William Russell who is ordered to give bond? ja].

9. Anna Russell des Cognets, William Russell And His Descendants (Lexington, Kentucky:Printed for the family by Samuel F. Wilson, December 1884), 200. "In 1725 - "On the motion of William Beverley, Gent., Peter Russell is appointed overseer of the new road at Mountain Run (Spotsylvania Court Order Book 1724-1730, 07 Sep 1725)......."Motion of William Beverly - Peter Russell to be Overseer lower part of Mountain Run Road, and Robert Slaughter , Gent., to be overseer of the upper part (Spotsylvania Court Order Book 1724-1730, p 92.".

10. Compiled by Louis des Cognets, Jr., English Duplicates of Lost Virginia Records (n.p:Princeton, New Jersey; 1958; Genealogical Publishing Company, Blatimore, MD (1990 Reprint), n.d), 121- A List of Patents Granted in the Forks of Rappahanock River and Westwood of Serrando River Since October 1735. "Wm. & Peter Russell, 70 acres, In the Great Fork, Surveyed Jan 13, 1736..... J. Wood; A true copy examined by us, Ch. Carter, Wm. Beverly, W. Fairfax.".

11. Information extracted by Earl W. Estes, Orange County, Virginia Deed Books. On 24 Mar 1742/43, Gerrard Banks, G. Hume and Peter Russell were witnesses to the deed of Thomas Stanton of Orange Co. to John Deleny and Joseph Rosson of Orange Co.(Orange Co., VA Deed Bk 7, p 197-201, quoted in Orange County, Virginia, Deed Books 5,6,7 and 8, 1741-1743, J.F. Dorman, 1971).

12. Compiled by Clayton Torrence, Virginia Will and Administrations 1632-1800 , Baltimore, Maryland:Genealogical Publishing Company, 1930(Reprint), 369. "Peter Russell, Orange Co., (Intestate) 1746." 1746: March 27, Orange County - Sarah Russell, widow, was appointed administratrix of the estate of Peter Russell (Book 11, page 461).

13. Anna Russell des Cognets, William Russell And His Descendants, 270. "On 10 Feb 1779 William (General) Russell assigned a tract of land in the Great Forks of the Rappahannock to: John Russell only son of Peter deceas'd" to carry out the death bed request of his father, William (Sheriff) Russell, that it be given to one of his brother Peter Russell's sons.". What caused the delay of twenty-one years in transferring the land is a matter of conjecture, as the instruction to do so may have been made contigent upon circumstances not mentioned in the deed. From the wording it appears that Peter (Orange) Russell had two or more sons alive in 1758, but whether John is the sole survivor in 1779 is . At any rate this is conclusive proof that Peter (Orange) Russell was the brother of William (Sheriff) Russell, and not his father; an erroneous belief which received wide circulation.".

14. Compiled by Louis des Cognets, Jr., English Duplicates of Lost Virginia Records, 121. A List of Patents Granted in the Forks of Rappahanock River and Westwood of Serrando River Since October 1735, "Wm. & Peter Russell, 70 acres, In the Great Fork, Surveyed Jan 13, 1736..... J. Wood; A true copy examined by us, Ch. Carter, Wm. Beverly, W. Fairfax.".

15. Anna Russell des Cognets, William Russell And His Descendants. "On 10 Feb 1779 William (General) Russell assigned a tract of land in the Great Forks of the Rappahannock to: John Russell only son of Peter deceas'd" to carry out the death bed request of his father, William (Sheriff) Russell, that it be given to one of his brother Peter Russell's sons.".

16. M. J. Clark, Colonial Soldiers of the South, 1732-1744. "Henry Russel signed with many others, Address of the Officers of the VA Regiment, Fort Loudoun, 31Dec 1758.".

17. John Frederick Dorman, Culpeper County, Virginia Deeds, Volume 1, 1749-1755, 52. . "Pages 362-65. 19 June 1760. William Russell of Culpeper County, only surviving executor of the last will and testament of William Russell late of said county, Gent., and eldest son and heir at law of said testator…and Mary Russell and Henry Russell, two of the executors, are both since dead.".

18. Louis K. Koontz, Ph. D, The Virginia Frontier 1754-1763 (n.p:Baltimore, MD 1925, n.d). , "Fort Loudouns was erected at Winchester, the key of that region, under his (Washington's) superintendence. It was a square with four bastions; the batteries mounted twenty-four guns; a well was sunk, mostly through a bed of limestone;the barracks were sufficient for four hundred and fifty men. Vestiges of this fortification still remain. Winchester, after the erection of Fort Loudoun, increased rapidly, owing to its being the rendevous of the Virginia troops;in 1759 it contained two hundred house..

Research Notes

The Draper Papers - Upper New River Valley References [1]