I98357: ARCHIBALD "The Red" BOYD of Bonshaw (ABT 1454

Notes

"William Fitzhugh d. in 1701. He left five sons, among whom at his death, he divided his immense estate--situated mostly in King George, Stafford, Essex, and Fairfax counties. Their names were William, Henry, Thomas, George and John: and they inherited the estates of "Eagles Next," "Bedford," "Bell Aire," "Bosobell," and "Marmion." ...From the above marriages have sprung all the families of Fitzhughs in Virginia, Maryland, and New York." Son of Henry Fitzhugh. Genealogies of VA Families, Vol 2

"I cannot furnish you with a clearer idea of the history of the Fitzhugh family than by giving you some extracts from a letter by my uncle Augustine, of King George Co., Va. (who was a dear brother of my mother's). This letter was written to my cousin, Gen. William Henry Fitzhugh Payne, in answer to some inquiries about the family of his mother, who was a sister of your grandmother's (our Aunt Mary). Uncle Augustine alludes to an article on the Fitzhugh family written by our Cousin George Fitzhugh, of Port Royal, Va., which was published in De Bow's Review of February, 1859, and also refers to Bishop Meade's book, "Old Churches and Families of Virginia," where you will find a brief account of the family in Vol. II, page 192: You will see that ours is a very ancient and noble family, which has been in England ever since the Norman Conquest, and is of high soul and standing at the present day, and is connected by marriage with the nobility of England.

George Fitzhugh (see De Bow's Review) thinks the family were of Danish descent. Their castle was named "Ravensworth," and the Raven was the standard of the Danes. Besides, William the Conqueror, himself of Danish descent, did not disturb Bardolf, then Lord of Ravensworth, in his vast possessions, but I am convinced they were Normans, for two of them joined the Norman Barons in signing Magna Charta. When Richard I, C£ur de Lion, made a crusade to the Holy Land, he was accompanied by the Norman Barons, and among them was one of our family.At Runnymede none but Norman Barons were assembled, and among them were two of our name, who signed Magna Charta, and as late as Edward II, when preparations were made for the invasion of Scotland, all the Norman Barons with their followers were called out, and Sir Walter Scott says that "Henry Fitzhugh, Baron of Ravensworth, was taken prisoner at the battle of Bannockburn, in which Edward was defeated by Bruce."

All the Fitzhughs in America are descended from William Fitzhugh, the son of Henry Fitzhugh, of Bedfordshire, England. He was born in 1650, came to this country in 1670. He was a lawyer, and distinguished himself in the profession, being considered the ablest and most successful lawyer of his day. He settled in the "Northern Neck" of Virginia, in Westmoreland County. He amassed a princely fortune and lived in magnificent style, which none of his descendants have been able to reach. He lived at his seat of "Eagle's Nest." He married (in 1673) Sarah Tucker, of Westmoreland, at that time only eleven years of age. She was born August 2, 1663. It is said that her husband sent her to England immediately after the marriage to complete her education.

His oldest son, William((2)), married Miss Mary Lee. His second son, Henry((2)) (our immediate ancestor. This is Mrs. S. F. Morris's ancestor. She was Fitzhugh.-N. F. M.), was educated at the University of Cambridge, England. On his return to this country he married Miss Cooke, of Gloucester Co., Va. From William Fitzhugh((1)) have sprung all the families of Fitzhughs in Virginia, Maryland and western New York.

The Rev. Robert Rose married Ann, the daughter of Henry Fitzhugh, of "Eagle Nest," in the year 1740. She lived to the year 1789, surviving her husband thirty-five years.

There are some things in the life and character of the father of this large family of Fitzhughs worthy to be mentioned for the benefit and satisfaction of his posterity. I draw them from his pious and carefully written will, and from a large manuscript volume of his letters, a copy of which was some years ago gotten from the library of Cambridge, Massachusetts, by one of his descendants, and which is now in the rooms of the Historical Society of Virginia. It appears that he was, during the period that he exercised his profession, an eminent and most successful lawyer, and published in England a work on the laws of Virginia. He was much engaged in the management of land causes for the great land holders, whether residing in England or America. He was counsellor for the celebrated Robert Beverley, the first of the name, and who was persecuted and imprisoned for too much independence. He transacted business for, and purchased lands from, Lord Culpepper, when he held a grant from King Charles for all Virginia. In all these transactions he appears to have acted with uprightness and without covetousness, for in his private letters to his friends he speaks of being neither in want nor abundance, but being content and happy; though before he died he acquired large tracts of lands at a cheap rate. The true cause of this was his being a sincere Christian. This appears from his letters to his mother and sister, to whom he remitted pecuniary assistance according to his ability, increasing it as his ability increased. The following brief letter to his mother in the year 1694 will exhibit his filial and pious disposition:

Dear Mother:-I heartily condole with you in your present sickness and indisposition, which your age now every day contracts. God's grace will make you bear it patiently, to your comfort, his glory, and your everlasting salvation. I cannot enough thank you for the present of your choice Bible. The money that you say you had present occasion for I have ordered Mr. Cooper to enlarge, and you will see by his letter that it is doubled. Before I was ten years old, as I am sure you will remember, I looked upon this life here as but going to an inn, and no permanent being. By God's grace I continue the same good thoughts and notions, therefore am always prepared for my dissolution, which I can't be persuaded to prolong by a wish. Now, dear mother, if you should be necessary for eight or ten pounds extraordinary, please to apply to Mr. Cooper, and he upon sight of this letter will furnish it to you. He adds a postscript to the letter saying: "My sister died a true penitent of the Church of England." His sister had come over to America at his instance some years before and married here, but died without children. Other letters to his mother, who it seems was much afflicted with some troubles, which are not mentioned, he writes in a very consoling manner, bidding her regard her sorrows as from Heaven, and thanks her for pious instruction of him. His habits were strictly temperate. In writing to a friend who was much afflicted with the gout, he tells him the secret of his freedom from it, viz.: That he never was addicted to the orgies of Bacchus, or to the adoration of Ceres or Venus, never courted unlawful pleasures, avoided feasting and the surfeit thereof, and bids him tell the physician this. Mr. Fitzhugh was not merely a moral man, but a sincerely religious man, beyond the measure of that day. He is not ashamed in one of his legal opinions to quote Scripture as the highest authority. He was a leading member of the Episcopal Church in his parish. Through him presents of communion plate and other things from English friends were made to the parish. Referring to the unworthiness of many of the ministers who came over from England, he communicated with his friends and with the Bishop of London, asking that sober, reputable, and educated men might be sent over instead of such that did come. All this appears from passages in his letters to England. But, were there none of these letters extant, the following extract from his will would testify to his sound and evangelical views of our blessed religion:

(Extract from the will of Colonel William Fitzhugh, of Stafford County, Va., who died in October, 1701. He was the parent of the Fitzhugh family in Virginia, and the patentee of Ravensworth.) At a court held for Stafford County, December 10, 1701, present her Majesty's Justices for said county. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Trinity in Unity, Unity in Trinity, Three Persons and One God, blessed forever, Amen. I, William Fitzhugh, of Stafford County, in Virginia, being by God's grace bound for England, and knowing the frailty and uncertainty of men's lives, and being at present in perfect health and memory, do now ordain, constitute, and appoint, this my last will and testament, revoking all other and former, or other wills, this 5th day of April, 1701. Imprimis: I commend my soul into the hands of God, through the mediation and intercession of my blessed Saviour and Redeemer, hoping by the merits of his death to have my sins washed away in his blood, nailed to his cross, and buried in his grave, and by his merits and passion to obtain everlasting life; therefore, now do bequeath and dispose such estate as it has pleased God to bestow in his mercy upon me, after this manner following: After they have disposed of my body to decent interment, without noise, feasting and drinking, or tumult, which I not only leave to, but enjoin, my executors, hereafter named to see decently performed.

Item: I give and bequeath to my eldest son, William Fitzhugh, all these tracts of land following, etc., etc. Then follow the bequests to the various members of the family. William Fitzhugh((1)) d. in 1701. He left five sons, among whom, at his death, he divided his immense estate-situated mostly in King George, Stafford, Essex, and Fairfax counties.

Their names were William, Henry, Thomas, George, and John; and they inherited the estates of "Eagle's Nest," "Bedford," "Bell Aire," "Boscobell," and "Marmion."

I. William Fitzhugh((2)). Married Miss Lee.
II. Henry Fitzhugh((2)). Married Miss Cooke.
III. Thomas Fitzhugh((2)). Married Miss Mason.
IV. George Fitzhugh((2)). Married Miss Mason.
V. John Fitzhugh((2)). Married Miss McCarty.

From above marriages have sprung all the families of Fitzhughs in Virginia, Maryland, and New York. Image Not Shown Chatham-Home of William Fitzhugh."

FitzhughP, Card 60-16.

An Account of the Fitzhugh Family; Especially of the First Ancestor, William Fitzhugh. Old Churches Ministers, and Families of Virginia. Article LXIII

The Fitzhugh family is a very ancient and honourable one in England. Some of its members were high in office and favour during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The name is a combination of the two names Fitz and Hugh. Sometimes one, sometimes the other, would precede, until at length they were united in Fitzhugh. The first who settled in this country was William Fitzhugh. His father was a lawyer in London, and himself of that profession. He settled in Westmoreland county, Virginia, when a young man, and married a Miss Tucker, of that county. He was born in the year 1650, and died in 1701. He left five sons,--William, Henry, Thomas, George, and John,--between whom, at his death, he divided 54,054 acres of land in King George, Stafford, and perhaps Essex. His sons and their descendants owned the seats called Eagle-nest and Bedford in King George, and Bellaire and Boscobel in Stafford. He had one daughter named Rosamond, who married Colonel Oberton, of Westmoreland, but died without issue. His son William married Miss Lee, of Westmoreland. Henry married Miss Cooke, of Gloucester. Thomas and George married daughters of Colonel George Mason, of Stafford, and John, Miss McCarty, of Westmoreland. From these have sprung all the families of Fitzhughs in Virginia, Maryland, and Western New York. The Rev. Robert Rose married Ann, the daughter of Henry Fitzhugh, of Eagle-nest, in the year 1740. She lived to the year 1789, surviving her husband thirty-five years. There are some things in the life and character of the father of this large family of Fitzhughs worthy to be mentioned for the benefit and satisfaction of his posterity. I draw them from his pious and carefullywritten will, and from a large manuscript volume of his letters, a copy of which was some years since gotten from the library of Cambridge, Massachusetts, by one of his descendants, and which is now in the rooms of the Historical Society of Virginia.

It appears that he was, during the period that he exercised his profession, an eminent and most successful lawyer, and published in England a work on the laws of Virginia. He was much engaged in the management of land-causes for the great landholders, whether residing in England or America. He was counsellor for the celebrated Robert Beverley, the first of the name, and who was persecuted and imprisoned for too much independence. He transacted business for, and purchased lands from, Lord Culpepper, when he held a grant from King Charles for all Virginia. In all these transactions he appears to have acted with uprightness and without covetousness, for in his private letters to his friends he speaks of being neither in want nor abundance, but being content and happy; though before he died he acquired large tracts of lands at a cheap rate. The true cause of this was his being a sincere Christian. This appears from his letters to his mother and sister, to whom he remitted pecuniary assistance according to his ability, increasing it as his ability increased. The following brief letter to his mother in the year 1694 will exhibit his filial and pious disposition:--

Dear Mother:--I heartily condole with you in your present sickness and indisposition, which your age now every day contracts. God's grace will make you bear it patiently, to your comfort, his glory, and your everlasting salvation. I cannot enough thank you for the present of your choice Bible. The money that you say you had present occasion for I have ordered Mr. Cooper to enlarge, and you will see by his letter that it is doubled. Before I was ten years old, as I am sure you will remember, I looked upon this life here as but going to an inn, and no permanent being. By God's grace I continue the same good thoughts and notions, therefore am always prepared for my dissolution, which I can't be persuaded to prolong by a wish. Now, dear mother, if you should be necessitated for eight or ten pound extraordinary, please to apply to Mr. Cooper, and he upon sight of this letter will furnish it to you."

He adds a postcript to the letter, saying, "My sister died a true penitent of the Church of England."

His sister had come over to America at his instance some years before and married here, but died without children. Other letters to his mother, who it seems was much afflicted with some troubles, which are not mentioned, he writes in a very consoling manner, bidding her regard her sorrows as from Heaven, and thanks her for pious instruction of him. His habits were strictly temperate. In writing to a friend who was much afflicted with the gout, he tells him the secret of his freedom from it,--viz.: that he never was addicted to the orgies of Bacchus, or to the adoration of Ceres or Venus, never courted unlawful pleasures, avoided feasting and the surfeit thereof, and bids him tell the physician this.

Mr. Fitzhugh was not merely a moral man, but a sincerely religious man, beyond the measure of that day. He is not ashamed in one of his legal opinions to quote Scripture as the highest authority. He was a leading member of the Episcopal Church in his parish. Through him presents of Communion-plate and other things from English friends were made to the parish. Referring to the unworthiness of many of the ministers who came over from England, he communicated with his friends and with the Bishop of London, asking that sober, reputable, and educated men might be sent over instead of such as did come. All this appears from passages in his letters to England. But, were there none of these letters extant, the following extract from his will would testify to his sound and evangelical views of our blessed religion.

Extract from the will of Colonel William Fitzhugh, of Stafford county, Virginia, who died in October, 1701. He was the parent of the Fitzhugh family in Virginia, and the patentee of Ravensworth:--

"At a court held for Stafford county, December 10, 1701. Present her Majesty's Justices for said county.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Trinity in Unity, Unity in Trinity, Three Persons and One God, blessed forever. Amen. I, William Fitzhugh, of Stafford county, in Virginia, being by God's grace bound for England, and knowing the frailty and uncertainty of men's lives, and being at present in perfect health and memory, do now ordain, constitute, and appoint this my last will and testament, revoking all other and former, or other wills, this 5th day of April, 1701.

"Imprimis: I recommend my soul into the hands of God, through the mediation and intercession of my blessed Saviour and Redeemer, hoping by the merits of his death to have my sins washed away in his blood, nailed to his cross, and buried in his grave, and by his merits and passion to obtain everlasting life; therefore, now do bequeath and dispose such estate as it hath pleased God to bestow in his mercy upon me, after this manner following,

"After they have disposed of my body to decent interment, without noise, feasting and drink, or tumult, which I not only leave to, but enjoin, my executors, hereafter named, to see decently performed.

"Item: I give and bequeath to my eldest son, William Fitzhugh, all these tracts of land following," &c. &c.

(Then follow the bequests to the various members of the family.)

It is evident that in the foregoing will there is much more than the usual formal recognition of a God and future state. Here is to be seen a true acknowledgment of the Holy Trinity, and an entire reliance on the merits of the Saviour's death and the cleansing of his blood, such as no orthodox divine could better express.

None can doubt but that the recorded sentiments and the consistent life of this father of a numerous family must have had its effect upon many of his posterity. I have known many, and heard of others, who imbibed his excellent spirit, and not in Virginia only, but in other States, to which they have emigrated. One there was, too well known to the writer of these lines, and to whom for Christian nurture and example he was too much indebted, ever to be forgotten. A beloved mother was a lineal descendant of this good man, born and nurtured on the soil which his economy and diligence had bequeathed to a numerous posterity. To her example and tuition, under God, am I indebted for having escaped the snares laid for the youth of our land and for having embraced the blessed religion of Christ. And if I may be permitted to single out one from the numerous families of the name, it must needs be that one which was nearest to me, and with which I have been most intimately acquainted from my childhood up. The name of Mr. William Fitzhugh, of Chatham, in the county of Stafford, as a perfect gentleman, as a most hospitable entertainer, and a true son of Virginia in her Councils, will not soon be forgotten. His name is not only on the journals of our civil Legislature, but may be seen on the ecclesiastical records of our Church, among those who were the last to give up her regular assemblies and the hope of her prosperity in her darkened days. Nor is it unlawful to proceed to some brief notice of the two children who survived him. His son, William Henry Fitzhugh, my associate at college, entered life with as fair a prospect for honour and usefulness as any young man in Virginia. Twice only, I believe, did he appear in the legislative hall of our State, and once in a Convention of the same; but such a promise of political distinction was there given, that it could not but be felt that a few years would find him in the higher Councils of the land. It pleased Providence to interfere, and by a sudden and early death to remove him from this earthly scene. Before this decree of Heaven was executed, as if admonished of its coming, he had, after pleading by his pen and voice for the American Colonization Society, directed that all his slaves--amounting, I believe, to about two hundred--should be prepared for, and allowed to choose, Africa as their home.

But I must not lay down my pen, though the heart bleed at its further use, without the tribute of affection, of gratitude, and reverence to one who was to me as sister, mother, and faithful monitor. Mrs. Mary Custis, of Arlington, the wife of Mr. Washington Custis, grandson of Mrs. General Washington, was the daughter of Mr. William Fitzhugh, of Chatham. Scarcely is there a Christian lady in our land more honoured than she was, and none more loved and esteemed. For good sense, prudence, sincerity, benevolence, unaffected piety, disinterested zeal in every good work, deep humility and retiring modesty,--for all the virtues which adorn the wife, the mother, and the friend,--I never knew her superior. A husband yet lives to feel her loss. An only daughter, with a numerous family of children, also survive, to imitate, I trust, her blessed example.

^[S2097] ^[S2802] ^[S2719]

My Southern Family

ARCHIBALD "The Red" BOYD of Bonshaw

ABT 1454 - BEF 4 May 1507

ID Number: I98357

Sources

Mary DANDRIDGE

24 Jun 1693 - ____

ID Number: I102089

Sources

Col. William FITZHUGH I "the immigrant"

10 Jan 1650 - Oct 1701

ID Number: I48008

Notes

Sources

Sarah Ellen FULTZ

5 Jul 1872 - ____

ID Number: I85753

Notes

Sources

Carter Dupuy KNIGHT

ABT 1840 - ____

ID Number: I41690

Sources

Mary Smith LEE

ABT 1790 - ____

ID Number: I37774

Notes

Sources

James MORGAN

ABT 1790 - by 1821

ID Number: I60608

Sources

AGNES MORTIMER

ABT 1313 - ABT 1368

ID Number: I35404

Sources

Martha PENDLETON

1640 - 1687

ID Number: I62978

Sources

Jacob M. Knibbe SALEEN

Lucretia SMITH

14 May 1808 - Mar 1879

ID Number: I89074

Notes

Sources