Thomas, Douglas Hamilton 
 
 Genealogical record of the 
 family of Thomas 
 
George Washington Flowers 
 Memorial Collection 
 
 DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 ESTABLISHED BY THE 
 FAMILY OF 
 COLONEL FLOWERS 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2015 
 
 https://archive.org/details/genealogicalreco01thom 
 
COMPILED 
 
 FROM TAPERS IX POSSESSION OF DR. I. HANSON I I f ( ) M AS.. 
 
 3 Y 
 
 BALTIMORE: 
 IIAKLKS HARVEY & CO.. BOOK AXD -JOB PHI N'TKRS, 
 
GENEALOGICAL RECORD 
 
 FAMILY OF THOMAS, 
 
 COMPILED 
 
 FROM PAPERS IN POSSESSION OF DR. J. HANSON THOMAS. 
 
 BY 
 
 DOUGLAS H. THOMAS, 
 
 Baltimore, 1875. 
 
 BALTIMORE: 
 
 CHARLES HARVEY & CO., BOOK AND .JOB PRINTERS, 
 Corner South and German Streets. 
 1875. 
 
ntered, according- to Act of Congress, in the year 1875, by 
 
 DOUGLAS II. THOMAS, 
 11 the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
T>4 3T 
 
 GENEALOGICAL RECORD. 
 
 The first settlers in this country of our family of Thomas, 
 were James and Samuel Thomas ; they were from Wales, 
 and emigrated during the reign of Queen Ann, settling in 
 Kent County, Maryland. The records in our possession 
 show them to have been men of wealth and high standing. 
 
 Samuel died unmarried, leaving his property to two of his 
 nephews. James was twice married ; his first wife being an 
 English lady, who emigrated with him ; his second wife was 
 named Hacket, a respectable family of English origin: they 
 had several children, among whom was James, who married 
 Miss Elizabeth Bellicum, whose ancestors were from Hol- 
 land, and were among the first settlers on the Delaware, in 
 the County of New Castle, at that time in the Pennsylvania 
 Government. 
 
 James and Elizabeth Thomas had issue Philip, William, 
 Sarah and Rebecca. Mrs. Thomas married twice, Farrell 
 being the name of her last husband, by whom she had three 
 sons. 
 
 William Thomas is mentioned as having been a great 
 Latin, Greek and Hebrew scholar. He died at the age of 
 19, being at the time closely engaged on the study of 
 medicine. 
 
 Sarah and Rebecca both died young and unmarried. 
 
 Philip Thomas was born in Chestertown, Kent County, 
 Maryland, June nth, 1747. He was married on the 18th 
 February, 1773, to Miss Jane Contee Hanson, by Rev. 
 
4 
 
 Doctor McKenon of the Episcopal Church, at Frederick- 
 town, Maryland. Philip Thomas studied medicine under 
 Dr. Van Dyke, of Philadelphia, and practiced in Frederick 
 County. He was a very prominent representative man of his 
 times. He was Chairman of the Committee of Safety during 
 the Revolutionary war ; was also one of the Electors of 
 General Washington to the first Presidency, and likewise 
 the first President of the Medical Society of Maryland — 
 besides filling numerous other positions of trust. He died 
 the 25th day of April, 181 5, aged 67, and is buried at Fred- 
 erick, (for copy of epitaph, see page ). His wife, Mrs. 
 Jane Contee Thomas, died 17th day of June, 1781, aged 34 
 years. 
 
 Mrs. Philip Thomas' family on the paternal side (Hanson), 
 although originally English, immigrated from Sweden. 
 About the year 1592 one of the Hansons, whilst taking a 
 tour through Sweden, married a Swedish lady, who was 
 closely connected in friendship, at least, with the Royal 
 Family. She died after giving birth to a son, in 1594. Her 
 family assumed the care of the infant, who in consequence 
 grew up in familiar intimacy with Gustavus Adolphus. He 
 entered the army, and was duly commissioned a Colonel, 
 being specially retained near the Royal Person in action. 
 In the meantime his father died. In 1626 Gustavus Adol- 
 phus contemplated sending a colony to America, but his 
 designs were never accomplished, as the German wars pre- 
 sently engaged all the attention and energies of the King 
 of Sweden. 
 
 Gustavus Adolphus was slain in battle at Lutzen 16th 
 November, 1632, and by his side fell Colonel Hanson, leaving 
 four sons, namely : Andrew, Randel, (or Randolph), William 
 and John Hanson, who were taken under the immediate pro- 
 tection of the Royal Family. 
 
5 
 
 In 1642 Queen Christina placed them in the special care 
 of Lieutenant-Colonel John Printz, Governor of New 
 Sweden, with whom they came to the Delaware, where a 
 colony was formed, occupying the present State of Dela- 
 ware. 
 
 The Swedish colony was invaded and broken up by one 
 of the Dutch Governors of the Xew Xetherland Colony. 
 After the fall of the Colonial Government several of the 
 Swedes took refuge and settled in the neighboring colony 
 of Lord Baltimore. This in the year 1653. 
 
 Among the refugees were the four Hansons. Andrew 
 settled in Kent County, and died in 1655, leaving a widow 
 and four small children. 
 
 Randolph Hanson settled in St. Mary's County, but after- 
 wards removed to Charles, where he died. His will is dated 
 September 28th, 1696, and is preserved, and in the custody 
 of the Register of Wills for Anne Arundel County. He 
 left one child — a girl. 
 
 William Hanson finally settled in Kent County. He died 
 in 1684, leaving a widow, but no children. 
 
 John Hanson settled in Charles County, and died in 17 13, 
 or thereabouts. His will, likewise preserved, is dated 12th 
 December, 1 7 1 3 . He had seven children — Robert, John, 
 Samuel, Benjamin. Mary, Ann and Sarah. 
 
 Samuel Hanson's will is dated 1740. He had the follow- 
 ing children : Walter. John, Samuel, William ( who was Ex- 
 aminer General of Maryland), Elizabeth, Charity. Jane and 
 Chloe. 
 
 Samuel was a member of the Legislature of Maryland, 
 and it is related of him that he presented General Wash- 
 ington 800 pounds sterling silver to cover the bare feet of his 
 soldiers with shoes. Samuel devised to his sons Samuel, John 
 and his wife Elizabeth certain valuable real estate. He held 
 
6 
 
 several posts of high distinction, including the Commissary, 
 and also the Clerk of Charles County, positions at that 
 period considered highly honorable. 
 
 John Hanson, the son of the preceding Samuel, married 
 Jane Contee, daughter of Alexander Contee, and had issue 
 Catharine Contee, Jane Contee, Alexander Contee, Eliza- 
 beth, John, Samuel, Peter Contee, and Grace. 
 
 Jane Contee Hanson married Dr. Philip Thomas. Catha- 
 rine Contee Hanson married Philip Alexander, who prac- 
 ticed law, and was possessed of that valuable property called 
 Alexander's Island, above Alexandria. They died without 
 issue. 
 
 Alexander Contee Hanson, Chancellor of Maryland, mar- 
 ried Miss Rebecca Howard, of Annapolis, and had issue two 
 sons and a daughter, namely: Charles Wallace and Alex- 
 ander Contee. 
 
 Charles Wallace Hanson was Associate Judge for the 6th 
 Judicial District of Maryland from 1817 to 1832. He mar- 
 ried Miss Rebecca Ridgely, of Hampton. He died De- 
 cember 8th, 1853. 
 
 The daughter of the Chancellor married Thomas Peabody 
 Grosvenor, of New York, a distinguished member of the 
 House of Representatives, about 1810-1815. He died in 
 181 5, and his wife in 181 7. 
 
 Alexander Contee Hanson, (Junior), married Miss Pris- 
 cilla Dorsey, and had several children, the only one surviv- 
 ing at this present is Charles Grosvenor Hanson, who mar- 
 ried Miss Annie M. Worthington, by whom he had several 
 children. 
 
 John Hanson, the son of Samuel, was a member of the 
 House of Delegates of Maryland for a number of years, and 
 member of Continental Congress 1781-82. He presented 
 i his credentials 22d February, 1 781, and on the 5th Novem- 
 
/ 
 
 ber^ following was elected President, which position he filled 
 with distinguished credit to himself and marked satisfaction 
 of Congress, receiving the thanks of Congress for his ser- 
 vices November 4th, 1782. 
 
 John Hanson, with Daniel Carroll, under instructions 
 from the Legislature of Maryland, signed the Articles of 
 Confederation March 1st, 1781. 
 
 General Washington was received by Congress on 28th 
 November, 1 78 1 , and was gracefully welcomed by President 
 Hanson in a speech remarkable for dignified modesty, hearti- 
 ness and terseness. The speech and General Washington's 
 reply, together with sundry letters from the same, will be 
 found in Spark's Life of Washington. 
 
 Of the early life of John Hanson but little is now remem- 
 bered, beyond few incidents, which display great decision of 
 character, and moral intrepidity, in a time "which tried 
 men's souls." In the early part of the Revolutionary war 
 some high toned and decided resolutions were proposed in 
 the House of Delegates, of which he was a member, and 
 when the question was put, there was an awful pause, mem- 
 bers hesitating to stake their heads and fortunes by any 
 hasty or overt action, then at the critical moment. John 
 Hanson rose, and said: "Mr. President, these resolutions 
 ought to pass, it is high time.' ; With these few words he 
 sat down, and the resolutions were passed amidst much en- 
 thusiasm. H,e died November, 1783, aged 68, at "Oxen 
 Hill," the residence of his nephew, opposite Alexandria, 
 Virginia, whilst paying him a visit. His Avife, Jane Contee 
 Hanson, died February* 21st, 18 12. aged 85 years. 
 
 Alexander Contee Hanson, son of John, was Assistant 
 Private Secretary to General Washington, from which ill 
 health obliged him to retire after two months service, Alex- 
 ander Hamilton being Secretary at the time. He was like- 
 
8 
 
 wise one of the first Judges of the General Court of Mary- 
 land, under the Constitution of 1776. A visitor of St. 
 John's College, then in its palmy days, was appointed, with 
 Judge Samuel Chase, and perhaps Mr. Pinkney, to compile 
 the laws of Maryland ; they refusing the appointment, he 
 compiled " Hanson's Laws," which were used for years, and 
 I believe are still in use. In 1788 he was a delegate to the 
 Convention for the adoption of the Constitution of the 
 United States. He was offered the appointment of District 
 Judge of Maryland by General Washington, but it was re- 
 fused. (Spark's Life of Washington, vol. x., page 56). In 
 1789 he was made Chancellor of Maryland, which position 
 he held at the time of his death, which occurred in 1806. 
 In 1789 he was appointed by the Legislature to complete a 
 Testamentary System. 
 
 Chancellor Hanson was a writer of great force, and several 
 of the leading questions of his period were most ably han- 
 dled by him, under the sobriquet of " Aristicles," several of 
 which have been carefully preserved by the " Maryland 
 Historical Society," under the name of "Hanson Pamph- 
 lets." 
 
 Samuel Hanson, son of President Hanson, studied medi- 
 cine under Dr. Philip Thomas, and served as surgeon of 
 General Washington's Life Guards. He died after serving 
 one campaign. 
 
 Peter Contee Hanson, at the age of 18 was Lieutenant in 
 1st Battalion Maryland Infantry, Major Otho H.. Williams 
 commanding. He was mortally wounded whilst bravely 
 fighting at Fort Washington. 
 
 Alexander Contee Hanson, son of the Chancellor, was 
 like his father gifted with a fine intellect, highly cultivated 
 by reading. He was also the recipient of numerous posi- 
 tions of trust and honor, including Senator of the United 
 
9 
 
 States 1816, and member of the Maryland Legislature. 
 181 1— 1 5. 
 
 - He was the Editor of the Federal Republican during the 
 war of 1 812-14, and being opposed thereto, he made him- 
 self obnoxious to the democracy, who on the 20th of June, 
 18 12, mobbed his office, situated northwest corner of Gay 
 and Second Streets, and destroyed his presses, types, etc. 
 This caused a temporary suspension of the paper ; but 
 gathering together some kindred spirits, among them Gen- 
 eral James M. Lingan, General Harry Lee, Capt. Richard 
 J. Crabb, Dr. P. Warfield, Charles J. Kilgour, Otho Sprigg, 
 Ephraim Gaither, John Howard Payne, and others, he forti- 
 fied himself in a house belonging to Mr. Wagner, one of the 
 editors, on Charles Street, south of Lombard, and issued 
 his paper simultaneously in Baltimore and Georgetown. 
 
 This so infuriated his opponents that they again mobbed 
 him, but the garrison ably defended themselves, killing one 
 and wounding others of the assailants, one or two mortally. 
 General Strieker, commanding the militia, advised them to 
 retire from their position, offering them military protection. 
 
 Hanson was opposed to any such action, but he was out- 
 voted by his friends, and they retired, under escort, to the 
 City Jail for protection, but were here inhumanly deserted 
 by General Strieker. After the departure of the military, 
 the mob broke into the Jail, being assisted by others within, 
 and made an attack upon the party placed there for protec- 
 tion. The mob was led by a man named Mumma, to whom 
 most of the Hanson party were known, these he pointed 
 out for the fury of the mob, who beat them, threw them 
 down the stairs, where they lay in a heap for three hours. 
 During all this time the mob continued to torture their 
 mangled bodies ; by beating them, sticking pen-knives in 
 their hands and faces, opening their eyes and dropping hot 
 2 
 
10 
 
 .candle greese in them, and also by applying lighted fagots 
 to their wounds. General Lingen was killed ; Hanson after 
 standing all these tests, was left for dead by the Mob, who 
 dispersed to break into the Post Office, where the issue of 
 the Federal Republican was awaiting mailing ; he was se- 
 cretly carried to " Belvidere," Col. John Eager Howard's 
 house, near the Jail, and so soon as he was able to bear it, 
 he was carried under an escort of his friends to Frederick. 
 (For full particulars of the Mob, see " Chronicles of Balti- 
 more," by Scharf.) 
 
 Presentments were found against many individuals of each 
 party, but all were acquitted and discharged. These mobs 
 and outrages contributed not a little to the political revolu- 
 tion, which within three months, gave the Federalists a large 
 majority in the Maryland Assembly, by whom Alex. Contee 
 Hanson was chosen a member of Congress. He continued 
 the publication of his paper in Georgetown for some time 
 after the mob. Alexander Contee Hanson had a duel with 
 Captain Charles Gordon, U. S. N., whom he wounded. 
 
 Mrs. Philip Thomas' family, (on the maternal side Contee,) 
 were originally from Rochelle, France, but being Protestants, 
 emigrated to England during the reign of Louis XlVth. 
 Adolphe de Contee was High Sheriff of London and Mid- 
 dlesex in 1643. The motto under his "Arms" in Guild Hall 
 London, is " Pour Dieu et mon Roi." In the French Her- 
 aldric work, called " La Franco Genealogique," the name is 
 written " De Contee of Rochelle," and has the title of Vis- 
 count attached. It also appears there are three other fami- 
 lies of Contie and Conte in France, all evidently having the 
 same origin, Marquis of Graviers, Count de Noirant of Nor- 
 mandy, and the Baron de Conte of Orange ; they all have 
 the same arms. 
 
 The first Contees of whom we have ancestral record, are 
 
1 1 
 
 Peter Contcc and Catharine his wife, who lived in Barnstable, 
 Devonshire, England. 
 
 Their son Alexander, whom it appears by the Parish Re- 
 cords, was baptized " ye 22d day of April. 1693," accompanied 
 by his Uncle, John Contee, emigrated to America and settled 
 in Prince George's County, Maryland, of which county Alex- 
 ander was Clerk, a position of prominence at that period. 
 
 He married Miss Jane . and had issue, John, Peter, 
 
 Thomas. Alexander, Jane, Katherine and Grace. In his 
 will, dated 1739, he bequeaths a very extensive real and per- 
 sonal estate, also mourning rings of a guinea's value to Dan- 
 iel Dulany, Edward Jennings, eminent lawyers of the Pro- 
 vincial bar, and also to Philip Key, ancestor of Francis Scott 
 Key, author of the " Star Spangled Banner," with the in- 
 scription : " Remember A Contee." In his will he mentions 
 some silver, which at this writing, is possessed in beautiful 
 preservation by Dr. John Hanson Thomas, and consists of 
 a small tea pot, cream jug, a sugar box with a spoon. and 
 stand, and small waiter, they bear the full coat of arms, 
 and have the Tower of London stamp upon them, indi- 
 cating the date of manufacture, 1620. A large punch bowl, 
 part of the same service, is now in possession of Charles S. 
 Contee of Prince George County. The testator desires in 
 his will to be buried according to the services of the " Ensr- 
 lish Church," and gives a guinea apiece to the Rectors of 
 St. Paul's Church, Prince George County, and Port Tobacco 
 Church, Charles County, to preach a funeral Sermon on "Ye 
 Folly and Danger of ye death-bed repentance." 
 
 The will of the Honorable Colonel John Contee, brother 
 of Peter Contee of Barnstable, and one of the first immi- 
 grants, is dated 1706 or 1709 ; the only positions he held, as 
 far as I am aware, were Colonel of the Militia, and member 
 of the Council of State. His will throws so much light up- 
 
12 
 
 on society of that period that especial reference is made 
 thereto. (See page .) 
 
 He bequeaths lands in Maryland to his brother Peter, and 
 also to his mother, Mrs. Grace Contee, and gives 20,000 lbs. 
 of Tobacco, in casks, then a part of the currency of the 
 Province, for the use of the Ministry, also mourning rings 
 to his friends. 
 
 Jane Contee, the daughter of Alexander, married John Han- 
 son ; Jane Contee Hanson, their daughter, married Dr. Philip 
 Thomas, and had issue besides those who died in infancy, 
 Catherine, Rebecca Bellicum, and John Hanson Thomas; 
 Catharine Hanson Thomas married Dr. Ashton Alexander, 
 and had issue Ashton, George and Elizabeth ; George married 
 Miss Levering; Rebecca Bellicum married Judge Alexander 
 Contee Magruder, and had issue, Rebecca Thomas Magruder, 
 who married Major Scott, U. S. A. ; Jane, who married 
 Mr. Byias, John Hanson Thomas Magruder, State Librarian, 
 Annapolis, and Philip Magruder. 
 
 John Hanson Thomas married Miss Mary Isham Colston, 
 daughter of Rawleigh Colston, of Honeywood, Berkeley 
 County, Virginia, on October 5th, 1809. 
 
 Mrs. Thomas' family, (on the Paternal side Colston,) were 
 English, the first immigrant was William, brother of Edward 
 Colston. of Bristol, England, the great Philanthropist; they 
 were descended by a long line of Ancestry, from Robert de 
 Colston of Colston Hall, in the County of Lincoln, living at 
 the time of the Conquest, many of whose descendants were 
 Knights. Rowland de Colston of Colston, married the 
 daughter of Sir Thomas Winterburen, Knight, and had is- 
 sue two sons : Thomas of Colston and James, from the latter 
 through a descent of nine generations this branch of the 
 family, that of Preston Mercer descended. 
 
 Edward and William were sons of William Colston of 
 
13 
 
 Bristol, who was largely engaged in the Spanish and Levan- 
 tine trade, to which his son Edward fell heir, and by it 
 amassed an enormous fortune, which he employed in reliev- 
 ing the afflicted. He founded several Hospitals, Alms 
 Houses, Charity Schools, etc., all of which I had Photo- 
 graphed, through the kindness of the Post Master at Bristol. 
 
 His statue in marble is deposited in All Saints' Church, 
 Bristol, where a sermon is annually preached, accompanied 
 by the sound of muffled bells. 
 
 William migrated to America, and was Clerk of Rap- 
 pahannock County, Virginia ; he had a son named Wil- 
 liam and some daughters; William had two sons: William 
 and Charles ; Charles married Miss Susan Traverse, and had 
 issue Traverse and Susanna, who married Mr. Eustice, and 
 died without issue. Traverse married for his first wife Miss 
 Alice Corbin Griffin, daughter of Colonel Thomas Griffin, of 
 Richmond County, Virginia, by whom he had issue Charles 
 and Elizabeth Griffin Colston ; Charles married Miss Ann 
 Fauntleroy; Elizabeth married Colonel Wm. Peachy of 
 Richmond County, Virginia. 
 
 Traverse- Colston married for his second wife Susanna 
 Opie, then the widow of a Mr. Kenner, and had the follow- 
 ing issue : Traverse, who died under age, William, Razvleigh, 
 and Samuel, who was a Captain during the Revolutionary 
 War, and died unmarried ; William inter-married with Miss 
 Lucy Carter, daughter of Colonel Landon Carter, of Sabine 
 Hall, in the County of Richmond, and had issue William, 
 Traverse, Elizabeth and Susanna. 
 
 Rawleigh Colston married Miss Elizabeth Marshall, daugh- 
 ter of Colonel Thomas Marshall of Fauquier County, Vir- 
 ginia, afterwards of Kentucky. 
 
 The family of Mrs. Mary Isham Thomas, (on the Mater- 
 nal side Marshall,) were from Wales ; they settled in West- 
 
14 
 
 moreland County, Virginia ; the first of whom we have an- 
 cestral record is John Marshall, who mairied Miss Markham; 
 they had issue nine children of whom Thomas ' was the oldest ; 
 he married Miss Mary Keith, daughter of a Clergyman, who 
 migrated from Scotland and intermarried with Miss Ran- 
 dolph of James River. 
 
 Thomas Marshall and Mary, his wife, had fifteen children, 
 John, Thomas, James, William, Charles, Alexander, Lewis, 
 Elizabeth, Anna Maria, Judith, Lucy, Susan, Charlotte, Jane 
 and Nancy, all of whom married. 
 
 John Marshall was the oldest, he was educated at home, 
 under the directions of his father, who was a planter and a 
 surveyor. 
 
 From his infancy John Marshall was destined for the Bar, 
 but the contest between the Mother Country and her Col- 1 
 onies drew him from his studies, and in September 1775 he 
 entered the Continental Service as a subaltern ; he continued 
 in the army until 1781, when being without a command 
 he resigned his commission. In 1782 he was elected to 
 the Virginia Legislature, and in the fall of the year was 
 chosen a member of the Executive Council of State, which 
 he resigned in 1784 and practiced law, at which he continued 
 declining any other public office than a seat in the Legisla- 
 ture, until the year 1797, when he was associated with Gen- 
 eral Pinkney and Mr. Gerry in a mission to France. In 1798 
 he returned to the United States, and in the Spring of 1799 
 he was elected a member of Congress, a candidate for which, 
 much against his inclination, he was induced to become at 
 the request of General Washington. At the close of the 
 first session he was nominated, first to the Department of 
 War, and afterwards to that of State, which last office he ac- 
 cepted and occupied until 1801, when he was made Chief 
 Justice of the United States by President John Adams, 
 
i5 
 
 which position he held at the time of his death. As regards 
 Chief Justice Marshall's legal decisions and purity of char- 
 acter, I say nothing, for they will be ever remembered by the 
 people of this country. 
 
 I have frequently heard my father narrate little anecdotes 
 of the Chief, at whose house he repeatedly staid when in 
 Richmond. Showing his childlike modesty and simplicity, 
 he frequently recalls the time the Chief and himself would 
 pitch quoits together, in which the former took great pleas- 
 ure. He would take off his coat, and would be just as par- 
 ticular in measuring the score, as if weighing- evidence in the 
 most important legal case. 
 
 Chief Justice Marshall married on 3rd January, 1783, Miss 
 Mary Willis Ambler, the second daughter of Jacquilin Amb- 
 ler, then Treasurer of Virginia, who was the third son of Mr. 
 Richard Ambler, who migrated from England, and settled in 
 Yorktown, Virginia. 
 
 Elizabeth, daughter of Col. Thomas Marshall, intermarried 
 with Rawleigh Colston, of "Honeywood," and had issue 
 Edward, Susan, Mary Isham, Thomas Marshall, Rawleigh 
 Traverse, Lucy Ann, and John James Marshall. 
 
 Edward married for his first wife Miss Jane Marshall ; his 
 second, Miss Jane Brockenborough, and had issue by her — 
 Elizabeth, Jane, Maty, Rawleigh, William, Lucy, Judith and 
 Edward. 
 
 Susan Colston married B. Watkins Leigh, and had issue 
 William, who married Miss Mary White Colston, and Mary 
 Susan, who married Conway Robinson. Lucy Ann and 
 John died single. Thomas Marshall Colston married Miss 
 Elizabeth Fisher, and had issue Rawleigh, Nancy and 
 Elizabeth. 
 
 Rawleigh Traverse Colston, son of Rawleigh, married 
 Mrs. Kellerman, the widow of the Duke Valmey, one of 
 
i6 
 
 Napoleon's Marshals, but had no children — although one 
 was claimed by Mrs. Colton as the issue of their marriage. 
 He was named Rawleigh Edward, and was for several years 
 an inmate of Edward Colston's house at Honey wood. His 
 supposed mother on her death-bed made known to her hus- 
 band the fraud she had practiced on him — Rawleigh Edward 
 Colston, as he was named, being some one else's child, and 
 and not hers. He became a State cadet at the Virginia 
 Military Institute, Lexington, by the influence of Edward 
 Colston, and was a General in the Confederate States ser- 
 vice. In 1873 he attached himself to the Egyptian service 
 with other American officers. 
 
 Mary Isham Colston married John Hanson Thomas, October 
 5, 1809, and had issue Philip Hanson, born September 10th, 
 1810, died November nth, 182-1; Rawleigh Colston, born 
 1 2th August, 1 8 1 2, died June 16th, 1826; Charles Edward, 
 born 23d September, 1813, being the only child who reached 
 manhood. His name was subsequently changed by an Act 
 of the Legislature to that of his father, John Hanson 
 Thomas. 
 
 John Hansoji Thomas, the son of Philip, was a most tal- 
 ented man, and a most eloquent speaker. On one occasion 
 he was opposed to Mr. Pinkney in a political contest or j 
 debate, which took place at a meeting by appointment. Of 
 course every one flocked to hear the great Pinkney, 
 and he spoke first, and was followed by John Hanson 
 Thomas, who so completely discomforted Mr. Pinkney, that 
 he left the meeting, although challenged to stand and 
 make his defence. He eagerly sought his horse, and failed 
 to keep the remaining appointments. 
 
 John Hanson Thomas held several positions of trust and 
 honor, among them Chairman of the Committee of Defence 
 1812-14. Was a member of the State Legislature. He was 
 
i7 
 
 the person selected by the Federalists of Maryland, who 
 were in the ascendancy, to be elected to the United States 
 Senate, but dying before the time, Alexander Contee Hanson, 
 his cousin, was elected. He died May 2d, 181 5, being exactly 
 one week after the death of his father, from whom he con- 
 tracted the same disease, whilst faithfully attending him 
 during his sickness. They are both buried in Frederick. 
 (For epitaph, see page .) 
 
 John Hanson Thomas, son of John Hanson Thomas, 
 was born in Frederick, Maryland, and raised in Virginia. 
 He came to Baltimore 23d September, 1834, his 21st 
 birthday, and entered Dr. Alexander's office, where he 
 remained a few months and attended lectures that winter, 
 and was appointed one of the resident students of the 
 Baltimore Infirmary, graduating in March, 1836, but prac- 
 ticed medicine but a short time. 
 
 He was married by the Rev. Dr. Maguire on the 15th 
 November, 1837, to Miss Annie Campbell Gordon, daughter 
 of Bazil, and Anna Campbell Gordon, of Falmouth, Vir- 
 ginia, and had issue Basil Gordon, born April 14, 1839; 
 John Hanson, September 21, 1841 ; Raleigh Colston, Octo- 
 ber 8, 1844; Douglas Hamilton, January 1, 1847; Nannie 
 Gordon, May 20, 1849; Mary Randolph, October 10, 1851, 
 and John Marshall, December 5, 1853. 
 
 Dr. John Hanson Thomas has been identified with the 
 interests of the City of Baltimore since his removal thereto. 
 He was a member of the City Council, State Legislature, 
 and President of the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank for 34 
 years, besides filling other positions of trust and honor, in- 
 cluding directorship in Insurance Companies, and President 
 of the Academy of Music. 
 
 During the war 1861-64, when a member of the Legisla- 
 ture, he with ten others were arrested on 12th September, 
 ' 3 
 
i8 
 
 1861, and confined in various United States Forts for six 
 months. 
 
 John Hanson Thomas, Junior, married Miss Mary Howard 
 Beirne, daughter of Hon. George P. Beirne, of Huntsville, 
 Alabama. His wife died October 7, 1867, leaving a son — 
 Howard Beirne Thomas, born 26th September, 1867. 
 
 Raleigh Colston Thomas married Miss Mary McDonald, 
 daughter of William McDonald of " Guilford," Baltimore 
 County, November 25, 1868, and has issue Mary McDonald, 
 born January 30, 1872; Raleigh Colston, born 5th August, 
 
 IB75- ' . 
 
 Douglas Hamilton Thomas was married by the Rev. Drs. 
 Milo Mahan and Dudley, January 25th, 1870, to Miss Alice 
 Lee, daughter of Dr. John and Catharine C. Whitridge, of 
 Baltimore, and has issue Douglas Hamilton, born 5th 
 March, 1872. 
 
 Mary Randolph married John N. Carroll, of the " Caves," 
 Baltimore County, April 21st, 1870, and has issue John 
 Nicholas, born 4th March, 1871, and Charles, born July 17th, ! 
 1872. 
 
 Mrs. John Hanso.n Thomas' family, (on the Paternal side 
 Gordon,) were from Scotland. 
 
 The first of whom we have Ancestral Record is Samuel 
 Gordon, who was born in 1656. He married Margaret McKin- 
 nell, they lived at " Stockerton," in the Parish of Kirkcud- 
 bright, Scotland ; he was the first of the name on Stockerton 
 farm 4 , where he died 15th of April, 1732, aged 76. His cir- 
 cumstances were comfortable as a respectable farmer, but 
 nothing is positively known as to his parentage, only, that in 
 some way he was related to the families of Lord Kenmuir, 
 and the Gordons of Greenlaw, and was visited by both fam- 
 ilies, especially by Sir Alexander and Lady Gordon of 
 Greenlaw. 
 
19 
 
 John Gordon, son of Samuel, married Miss Grace Newall ; 
 he died August 23d, 1738, aged 56 years. 
 
 Samuel Gordon, the first of Lochdougan, son of John, 
 married Miss Nicholas BroAvn, daughter of John Brown of 
 I Craigen Callie, and Margaret McClamrock of Craigen Bay, 
 ; and was the last person baptized by Rev. James Renwick, 
 I who was beheaded at the Cross of Edinburgh. Mrs. Nicho- 
 las Brown Gordon was from the Carsluth family, her grand- 
 father and Uncle were ministers in the Parish of Kirkina- 
 brook. 
 
 Samuel Gordon and his wife Nicholas Brown Gordon of 
 " Lochdougan/' had a large family, many of whom were born 
 at " Stockerton," before their removal to "Lochdougan." 
 One daughter married Mr. Herron of Kegton, and died, leav- 
 | ing one son John ; the other daughter married John Bell of 
 Gribdae, and died June 3d, 1826, at the age of 77. Samuel 
 Gordon died February 22d, '1799, and his wife November 
 ! 1 8th, 1795, aged 71 years. Their oldest son, John, married 
 Miss Brown, and at his father's death inherited the two 
 " Lochdougans." 
 
 Three younger sons : Samuel, Bazil and Alexander, mi- 
 grated to Virginia, where they engaged in mercantile busi- 
 ; ness. Alexander afterward returned to Scotland, and died 
 j in the year 18 19. 
 
 Samuel Gordon married Miss Susannah Knox. 
 
 Bazil Gordon married her sister, Miss Annie Campbell Knox, 
 and had issue : Douglas Hamilton, Bazil Brown, Annie Camp- 
 bell, Susan, and others, who died young. 
 
 The family of Mrs. John Hanson Thomas, (on the Mater- 
 nal side Knox,) were from Scotland ; the first of whom that 
 came to this country, were William Knox, (Gentleman) 
 Robert and John ; their mother's name was Janet Somerville ; 
 father's name not remembered. Annie Knox, sister of the 
 
20 
 
 Immigrants, married Mr. Campbell and lived and died in 
 Scotland. 
 
 John Knox lived a batchelor at "Orchard Fields," Stafford 
 County, Virginia, were he was murdered by his slaves, whom 
 he had promised to set free by his will, some 150 in number, 
 and which not being made at the time of his death, they 
 were inherited by his brother William. 
 
 Robert Knox settled in Maryland, were he married and 
 had issue, but all traces of them are lost. 
 
 The Knoxes owned large landed property in Virginia, con- 
 sisting of, "Windsor Lodge," Culpepper County, "Berry 
 Hill," Stafford County, " Orchard Fields," Stafford County, 
 " Bellmont," same County, (where most of the old mem- 
 bers of the family are buried,) " Smiths Mount," and " Van- 
 cluse," in Westmoreland County. 
 
 William Knox, of " Windsor Lodge," in 1766, married Miss 
 Susannah, only daughter of Thomas Fitzhugh, Sr., (Gentle- 
 man) of " Boscobel," Stafford County; her mother's name 
 was Sarah Stuart, of King George County, a descendant of 
 the Royal Stuarts. It is a rather remarkable fact that the 
 Knoxes of Virginia, who were of the same Clan as John Knox, 
 the Reformer, should become allied by marriage, and mingle 
 their blood with the Mary Stuart, whom he so bitterly de- 
 tested. 
 
 William and Susannah Knox had issue : Dr. Thomas Fitz- 
 hugh, Susannah Fitzhugh, Agnes, Annie Campbell, Jessie, 
 Sarah Stuart, Caroline, William A., and John Somerville 
 Knox. 
 
 Dr. Thomas Fitzhugh Knox married Miss Mary Reiley, 
 daughter of James Reiley of Winchester, by Miss McBryde 
 of Delaware ; they had issue: Henry Knox, Ann Somerville, 
 Thomas Fitzhugh, William Henry and James McBryde. 
 
 Susannah Knox married Samuel Gordon of " Kenmuir," 
 
21 
 
 and died ioth July, 1869, aged 94: they had issue: William 
 Knox, Samuel, Alexander. John, Bazil and Wellington, Man*, 
 wife of Dr. John H. Wallace of Fredericksburg, Agnes, wife 
 of C. Hughes Armstead of Baltimore, and Susan, widow of 
 Mr. Ryan of Baltimore. 
 
 Agnes Knox married Samuel Gordon, nephew of Samuel 
 and Bazil Gordon : they lived at the old family place," Loch- 
 dougan," for some time, but afterwards settled near Falmouth, 
 Virginia : they had issue : John, Samuel, William, Bazil and 
 Marian, who married Edmund Taylor of Caroline County, 
 Virginia ; Bazil was a very* celebrated Engineer and built the 
 High Bridge, near Farmville, Virginia. He was afterwards 
 killed in St. Louis. Mo., by two deserters from the United 
 States fort ; their object being money, large sums of which he 
 had been collecting* for several weeks, and which he had sent 
 away the night before his murder ; the murderers were after- 
 wards hanged. 
 
 Annie Campbell Knox married Bazil Gordon, of Falmouth. 
 Virginia, and had issue as already stated. 
 
 Jessie Knox married William Edward Voss, and lived in 
 Rappahannock County, Virginia ; they had issue : William, 
 Robert. Benjamin Franklin, and Susan, who married Mr. 
 Richard Xorris, of Baltimore. 
 
 Sarah Stuart Knox and Caroline both died unmarried. 
 
 William A. Knox married Miss Sarah Alexander, and had 
 issue : Agnes Gordon, William, Henry, Man.* Eliza, Jessie, 
 Bolivar, and Annie Bell Knox. Agnes Gordon married Mr. 
 James T. Soutter ; who by right of birth was heir of the 
 Marquisate and Earldom of Annandale. of Scotland, who. 
 although frequently pressed by lawyers from Temple Bar, 
 to apply for his rights, steadfastly refused. 
 
 John Somerville Knox married Miss Elizabeth Selden, 
 and had issue: Churchill, Annie, John. Janet, and Robert. 
 
Douglas Hamilton Gordon, son of Bazil and Annie Camp- 
 bell Gordon, married Miss Mary Ellen Clarke, daughter of 
 Colin Clarke, of Glouchester, Virginia ; had issue : Ellen D. 
 Gordon. 
 
 His second wife was Miss Ann Eliza, daughter of J. 
 Hampden Pleasants of Richmond; have issue, now living : 
 Bazil, Douglas H., Mary, Annie Campbell, and Rose Stanly 
 Gordon. 
 
 Bazil Brown Gordon married Miss Elizabeth Boiling Skip- 
 with, daughter of Henry Skipwith, April 24th, 1840; had 
 issue: Bazil F., born February 10th, 1841, and Henry Skip- 
 with, born October 25th, 1844. Bazil B. Gordon died October 
 9th, 1846, and his son Bazil F., March 9th, 1866. 
 
 Henry Skipwith Gordon married Miss Mary T. Wheeler, 
 of Washington ; and had issue : Bazil, born October 5th, 
 1866, and Henry Skipwith, born August 25th, 1868. Henry 
 Skipwith Gordon was married January 9th, 1866. 
 
 The following account of the Thomas family, was written 
 by Dr. Philip Thomas, in a Family Bible, which is in the 
 possession of Mr. L. Levering, of St. Louis : 
 
 Dr. Phillip Thomas and Miss Jane Contee Hanson were 
 married February 18th, 1773, at Fredericktown, Maryland, 
 by the Rev. Mr. Daniel McKennon, of the Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church ; they being members of that Church, and so 
 were the parents of each. They had the following children : 
 a female child, born August, 1773, four months premature; 
 James Thomas, born August, 1774, two months premature ; 
 was baptized, and died three hours after his birth ; Catha- 
 rine Hanson Thomas, born October 15th, 1775, eleven 
 o'clock at night; Rebecca Bellicum Thomas, born February 
 
23 
 
 8th, 1777 ; John Hanson Thomas, born May 16th, 1779 ; a 
 male child, still born January, 1780, five months premature. 
 
 Mrs. Jane Contee Thomas, born in February 1747, in 
 Charles County, Maryland, departed this life the 17th June, 
 1 78 1, aged 34 years, 5 months. 
 
 Dr. Philip Thomas, born near Chestertown, Kent County, 
 on 11th June, 1747 ; his father, James, and his mother, Eliz- 
 beth Thomas, (her maiden name Bellicum,) were natives. 
 His father was born in Kent County, Maryland, and his 
 mother in Cecil or New Castle County. His grand-father 
 was an Englishman named Thomas, born in Wales or West 
 England : he and his brother, the latter of whom had no 
 children, were among the first settlers in Kent County; they 
 came over in the reign of Queen Ann, and were both pos- 
 sessed of landed property. One of them said to be a Whig, 
 the other a Tory, but lived in fraternal affection and friend- 
 ship, and the property of him, (a Colonel of militia,) who 
 died without children, descended by his will, to two of his 
 nephews, brothers of Philip Thomas' father. 
 
 Philip Thomas' grand-father, Bellicum, was from Holland ; 
 one of the first settlers on the Delaware, and must have 
 been wealthy, leaving a number of children, all of whom 
 possessed landed property in County of Xew Castle, then in 
 the Pennsylvania Government. Philip Thomas' mother and 
 one of her brothers, Christopher Bellicum, held landed prop- 
 erty in Kent County, Maryland. 
 
 Philip Thomas' grand-father, Thomas, whose name was 
 James, (his brother's name Samuel, ) was twice married ; his 
 first wife, an English lady, came in with him, his second wife, 
 grandmother of Philip Thomas, was named Hacket, a re- 
 spectable family of English descent. 
 
 Mrs. Jane Contee Thomas' grandsires on the father's and 
 mother's side, were Englishmen, possessed valuable real 
 
24 
 
 property, and were among the first settlers in Prince George 
 and Charles Counties, Maryland. Her father, John Hanson, 
 was a member of the provincial and State legislatures, more 
 than twenty-five years, and was a member of Congress three 
 years, the last of which he was President, 1782. 
 
 The name of Mrs. Thomas' grand-father on the mother's 
 side, was Alexander Contee, although an Englishman him- 
 self ; his ancestry were from France, (they being Protestants,) 
 went over in the life of Lewis 14th. 
 
 The whole of Philip Thomas' and Jane Contee Thomas' 
 families, as far as he or she had any information, were Pro- 
 testant Episcopalians, and so they continue, trusting there is 
 no other religious profession better calculated in practice to 
 insure happiness here and hereafter, ever yet given to man. 
 
 Philip Thomas had a brother and two sisters (and three 
 half-brothers whose name was Farrell,) his mother having 
 been twice married ; his full brothers and sisters all died 
 single. His brother, whose education was equal to any 
 young man's in that part of the country, (who, after reading 
 the Latin and Greek classics, learned the Hebrew language, 
 and studied mathematics,) died at the age of 19 years, being 
 closely engaged in the study of Physic one year. His genius 
 and manners were such as to give his family and very numer- 
 ous friends the most flattering hopes of his succeeding in 
 his laudable pursuits, to their utmost wishes. His name 
 was William. His memory the more revered, from the great 
 similitude of genius, morals and manners, which appear in 
 his nephew, John Hanson Thomas, to the great comfort and 
 delight of the father of the latter. The uncommon distress 
 suffered by his father, who was possessed of an uncommon 
 strong mind, at the loss of his son, upon whose education 
 he had bestowed great care, at a heavy expense, it was sup- 
 posed, shortened his own life, which happened not long after- 
 wards. 
 
25 
 
 The two sisters named, were Sarah and Rebecca, beloved 
 and amiable, both dying in the bloom of life, unmarried. 
 
 Mrs. Thomas had some brothers and sisters most of whom 
 died very young. She had a sister named Catherine Contee, 
 who married Philip Alexander, of Virginia, who practiced 
 law, and possessed that valuable property called Alexander's 
 Island, above Alexandria. Mrs. Alexander died without 
 issue. 
 
 Mrs. Thomas' eldest brother, Alexander Contee Hanson, 
 studied law, after, serving in the army, as one of General 
 Washington's Secretaries, from which ill health obliged him 
 to retire. He served as one of the Judges of the General 
 Court of Maryland, and afterwards as Chancellor, which of- 
 fice he held at the time of his decease. Her second brother, 
 Dr. Samuel Hanson, who studied under Philip Thomas, died 
 after serving one campaign as Surgeon of General Wash- 
 ington's Guards, and was at the battle of Monmouth. Her 
 third and youngest brother, Peter Contee Hanson, at the 
 age of 19, served as 1st Lieutenant in Captain Thos. Beall's 
 Company, in Rawlin's Battalion of Riflemen; General Otho 
 H. Williams, then Major, which distinguished itself so glo- 
 riously, though unfortunately, at Fort Washington, where 
 Lieutenant Hanson, bravely fighting, was shot through the 
 lungs, and after languishing in a cold out-house, a prisoner, 
 expired a few days aftenvards. 
 
 Mr. John Farrell, half-brother to Dr. Philip Thomas, died 
 at Fredericktown, on Wednesday, 18th November, 2 o'clock, 
 P. M.j 1 8 12, age about 81 years, having lost his wife and 
 five children, all he had. He had lived with Philip Thomas 
 the last twenty-five years of his life. 
 
 I commenced the practice of Physic and Surgery, in Fred- 
 ericktown, on 1st August, 1769; after studying four years 
 under Dr. Thomas Vandyke, whose talent and virtues were 
 4 
 
26 
 
 of sterling worth, and whose instruction and knowledge, 
 with kindness to me, are remembered with grateful respect. 
 
 I also attended the professional lectures, and the hospital, 
 and a bettering house in Philadelphia, under Professors Bond, 
 Shippen and Morgan, from whom I obtained certificates too 
 flattering approbatory, to induce me to stay the next season, 
 long enough to obtain a formal deploma, as the small patri- 
 mony left me by my father required economy. At the same 
 time while attending the medical, I attended Dr. Smith's 
 Lectures on Natural and Experimental Philosophy, and ma- 
 triculated in the College. 
 
 Signed, PHILIP THOMAS. 
 
 Christmas Day, 1812. 
 
 The following account of the Colston family and its 
 branches was written by Rawleigh Colston, of Honeywood, 
 in the Family Bible, which is now in the possession of his 
 son, Rawleigh Traverse Colston of Virginia : 
 
 As my children may desire to receive some information 
 respecting their ancestors since their emigration to Virginia, 
 I will here give them such as I received when I was a young 
 man, about the year 1768 or 69: — 
 
 I resided in the County of Richmond, near an aged rela- 
 tion, the lady of Colonel John Smith ; her maiden name was 
 Colston. She informed me, that the first of that name and 
 family who emigrated to this Country, was William, who had 
 been bred to the profession of the law, and was the Clerk of 
 Rappahannock County — which I believe comprehended the 
 Counties now called Essex and Middlesex, on the south 
 side of the river, and those of Richmond, Lancaster, and 
 Northumberland on the north side. 
 
2 ; 
 
 I have, seen some of the record books of his office, which 
 impressed me with an opinion, that he was well versed in his 
 profession. This gentleman, Mrs. Smith informed me, was 
 the brother of Edward Colston, of the City of Bristol, in 
 Old England, who devoted a large fortune to charities, such 
 as building and endowing Aims-Houses, Hospitals, and 
 Charity-Schools ; two of which for the maintenance and ed- 
 ucation of forty youths of both sexes, .were established in 
 Bristol, the place of his nativity. 
 
 The scholars of this Institution are always dressed in blue 
 clothes, from whence it took the name, " Blue Coat School," 
 or " Hospital." They wear a silver medal, engraved with 
 his Arms. (One of which is in the possession of Douglas H. 
 Thomas, who obtained it in Bristol, through the kindness of 
 his sister ; who was there in 1873, and had the pleasure of 
 viewing the various charities mentioned.) 
 
 I have seen in this Country several highly respectable gen- 
 tlemen who were indebted for their maintenance and educa- 
 tion, to this Institution ; which has, no doubt, contributed 
 to the happiness of thousands, who have been snatched from 
 poverty, ignorance and vice. He was born 1636, I think 
 in the month of November, died on his birthday in 1721. 
 His remains are deposited in " All Saints Church," in Bris- 
 tol, where a sermon is annually preached in honor of his 
 memory, accompanied by the solemn sound of muffled 
 bells. Mention is made of him in a work entitled/' A Tour 
 through England," and in the u Biographical Dictionary." 
 
 Mrs. Smith showed me a Copper plate picture of this gen- 
 tlemen, elegently framed, to which was annexed his charac- 
 ter, and his various charities, printed in letters of gold — to 
 show the respect in which he was held in his native city. 
 
 To return to William Colston, the first immigrant, and 
 Clerk of Rappahannock. Mrs. Smith informed me, he had 
 
28 
 
 a son named William, and, as well as I can recollect, some 
 daughters. This last named William, had two sons, William 
 and Charles ; and, I believe, some daughters. William was 
 the father of Mrs. Smith, and Charles was my grand-father. 
 Charles intermarried with Mrs. Susan Traverse, daughter of 
 Samuel Traverse, (or William,) and Winefred his wife, who, 
 I believe, emigrated from England. The issue of this mar- 
 riage was : Traverse, my father, and Susanna, who married a 
 gentleman by the name of Eustice, and died without issue. 
 
 Traverse, my father, married for his first wife, Miss Alice 
 Corbin Griffin, the daughter of Colonel Thomas Griffin, of 
 Richmond County, by whom he had issue : Charles, and 
 Elizabeth Griffin. Charles intermarried with Miss Ann 
 Fauntleroy, the daughter of Griffin Fauntleroy, of Cherry 
 Point, in Northumberland County, by whom he had issue : 
 Judith Susan, and Alice Griffin. 
 
 Judith married William Grayham, by whom she had a son 
 named Charles, who died under age, and four daughters : 
 Nancy, Fannie, Alice and Sally. 
 
 Alice Griffin Colston married Richard Beall, by whom she 
 had several children ; one of whom married Mr. Peyton of 
 London. 
 
 Elizabeth Griffin Colston, sister of Charles, and my half- 
 sister, intermarried with Colonel William Peachy of Rich- 
 mond County, by whom she had issue : Susanna, the wife of 
 Mr. John Nicholson, Merchant of Baltimore, by whom she 
 had several children ; William Traverse, the father of Eliza- 
 beth Griffin, now living in my family ; Susan, William and 
 Thomas, living with Mrs. Nicholson. 
 
 Traverse, my father, married a second wife, whose maiden 
 name was Susanna Opie, then the widow of a Mr. Kenner, 
 and the mother of Colonel Rodham Kenner, of Kennerly, 
 Northumberland County, and one of the best of men. By 
 f this lady my father had the following children : 
 
2 9 
 
 Traverse, who died under age ; William, Rawleigh, and 
 Samuel, who was a Captain in the Revolutionary War, and 
 died unmarried ; Willian intermarried with Miss Lucy Car- 
 ter, the daughter of Colonel Landon Carter, of Sabine Hall, 
 in the County of Richmond ; by whom he had issue : Wil- 
 liam Traverse, who had several children, and now resides in 
 the County of Frederick ; Elizabeth, who married a Dr. Hall, 
 now living in the town of Falmouth; and Susanna, who 
 married Mr. Turner. 
 
 Rawleigh Colston intermarried with Miss Elizabeth Mar- 
 shall, the daughter of Colonel Thomas Marshall, who re- 
 sided in Fauquier County, but removed to Kentucky. By 
 her he had the following children : Edward, named after 
 Edward Colston, of Bristol, whose memory I highly respect 
 for his many charitable works ; Mary Isham, the wife of 
 John Hanson Thomas, of Fredericktown, Maryland ; Su- 
 sanna, Thomas Marshall, Rawleigh Traverse, Lucy Ann, 
 and John James Marshall Colston. 
 
 The family of Colston, (on the Maternal side,) written by 
 the same as above. 
 
 The first emigrants from England were Samuel or William 
 Traverse, and Winefred, his wife, who had issue : William 
 Samuel and Rawleigh; and, I believe, four daughters : Su- 
 sannah, my grand-mother ; one married a Mr. Beall ; one 
 married a Mr. Tarpley ; and one married Daniel Hornby, of 
 Hornby's Manor, in the County of Richmond, who having 
 no issue or relatives in this Country, bequeathed his estate 
 to William and Rawleigh Colston ; but the law of entail 
 being abolished in the Revolution, it descended, in fee, to 
 the family of William. 
 
3o 
 
 I believe William Traverse, the son, was Speaker of the 
 House of Burgesses, and settled in Jamestown. There is 
 still a family there of that name, and I suppose his posterity. 
 Samuel and Rawleigh, I believe, died without issue. 
 
 I am inclined to think, that William Colston, the first im- 
 migrant, was born about the year 1618, and came to this 
 Country about 1640, and was Clerk of Rappahannock about 
 1645 ; that William, his son, was born about 1665 ; that Wil- 
 liam and Charles, his sons, about 1688 and 1690 ; Traverse, 
 the son of Charles, about 171 2 ; Charles, the son of Traverse, 
 my half-brother, about the year 1736, and myself, on the 
 10th May, 1749. 
 
 My father, I suppose, died about the year 1752. His will, 
 as well as that of his father, I believe, are recorded in the 
 County of Northumberland. I think it probable that my 
 grand-father, Traverse, was born about the year 1665 ; my 
 grand-mother, about the year 1690; at what period they 
 emigrated, I know not. I find from the records in the Land 
 Office, that a grant was issued to Samuel Traverse for land 
 in Northumberland County in 1690. I think it probable my 
 grand-father, William or Samuel, (I am not certain as to the 
 Christian name,) came to this Country between 1685 and 
 1690. If this conjecture be correct, the family of Colston 
 has been in this Country about 170 to ^72 years; that of 
 Traverse, from 127 to 132 years. 
 
 Signed, RAWLEIGH COLSTON. 
 
 Honeywood, March 24th, 181 2. 
 
 Incidents in the life of Rawleigh Colston, of Honeywood, 
 as related by him : 
 
3 1 
 
 Supposing it will be agreeable to my children, to be made 
 acquainted with some few particulars of my life, I have 
 thought proper to state as follows : — 
 
 I was born on ioth May, 1749., at " Exeter Lodge," the 
 seat of my father, on Yocomico river, in the County of 
 Northumberland, in Virginia. Nature bestowed on me a 
 sound and vigorous constitution, which was strengthened by 
 the active pursuits of my youth. Perhaps few persons ever 
 had a more early recollection of events : I think I can ven- 
 ture to affirm, that I still retain a pretty perfect recollection 
 of certain circumstances which took place before I was two 
 years old, which I ascertain in this way : my father had is- 
 sue by my mother four sons, in the following order : Traverse, 
 William, Rawleigh and Samuel. From the register of our 
 births, it appears there were about two years between our 
 births. My mother died in child-birth, with Samuel, con- 
 sequently I was not more than two years old at my mother's 
 death. I well recollect travelling in a carriage with my 
 father and mother, and that she wore stone or paste shoe- 
 buckles. I also recollect my fathers purchasing some Dutch, 
 toys for our amusement. He presented William with a 
 coach and horses, and myself with a trumpet and drum. 
 The coach was attached to a cat, which was turned loose in 
 a spacious passage for our amusement, but making its escape, 
 and attempting to pass through the grafing of a cellar win- 
 dow, demolished the coach. The drum and trumpet, which 
 I remember stained my lips with yellow and red paint, were 
 now transferred to William. Shortly after this my mother 
 died, and the family was removed from " Exeter Lodge," to 
 " Hornby Manor," on Rappahannock river, an estate which 
 had been bequeathed by our good old Uncle, Daniel Hornby, 
 to William and myself : Samuel not being born at the time 
 of the bequest. After our removal to the estate, I recol- 
 
32 
 
 lect a variety of circumstances not worth relating, but which 
 are strongly impressed on my mind at this moment. 
 
 My father died at " Hornby's Manor," I think in 1752 or 
 53 ; if so, I was not more than 3 or 4 years old when he died. 
 I perfectly well recollect seeing my father's corpse ; that I 
 was in pelly-coats, or what was called a Bangan, made of 
 Scotch tartan plaid. I recollect my father frequently rode 
 me out before him on a pillow, and made the servant who 
 attended me, carry his gun to shoot squirrels and crows, 
 the scalps of which were paid in discharge of taxes, as I have 
 understood. After the death of my father, William and 
 myself were sent to live with Charles Beall, Esquire, one of 
 the guardians appointed by my father, in conjunction with 
 Major Traverse Tarpley. 
 
 A Scotch gentleman, by the name of Richardson, was 
 employed as our tutor. He was a most excellent man, and 
 one of the Missionaries of the Scotch Society for propaga- 
 ting the Gospel in America, he distributed a great number of 
 religious books among the poor, and instructed their chil- 
 dren on Holy Days. This good man taught me to read and 
 write, and carried me as far as Eutropius in Latin. He 
 made me read the Scriptures, and catechised me through the 
 principal parts. He was very attentive to my moral conduct, 
 and impressed me with a religious sentiment, which I have 
 never forgotten. I am thoroughly convinced, from experi- 
 ence and observation, through a pretty long life, that parents 
 cannot commence too early, with the religious and moral ed- 
 ucation of their children. 
 
 At the age of fourteen I was considered a pretty good 
 Latin Scholar for my age and opportunities. My guardian, 
 Major Traverse Tarpley. now put me an apprentice to his 
 brother, James, who was a member of an extensive business 
 house in the City of Williamsburg, under the firm of Tarp- 
 
33 
 
 ley, Thompson & Co., the principal partners of which re- 
 sided in Bristol, Old England. Here I remained between 
 two and three years, acquiring but little knowledge in the 
 line of my business. 
 
 My principal friends were the students of William and 
 Mary College, most of whom were, at the time, much more 
 celebrated for their vices than their literary acquirements. 
 I frequently fell into the dissipated habits of my compan- 
 ions ; I read none, my mind was a blank, and no enquiry 
 was made into my conduct by my guardian. 
 
 The concern of Tarpley, Thompson & Co., being dissolved 
 by the death of Tarpley, I now returned to my guardian, re- 
 siding in Richmond County. He was very indulgent, and I 
 was provided with a good horse, and went and came, when 
 and where I pleased. After pursuing this idle dissipated 
 life for twelve or eighteen months, I became perfectly dis- 
 gusted with an idle life, and determined to apply myself. 
 
 There was a gentleman in the neighborhood, who married 
 a relative of mine. He was a man of sense and I boarded 
 myself with him. After pretty close reading for twelve or 
 fifteen months, I determined upon the study of Law. 
 For this purpose I returned to Williamsburg, and placed 
 myself under the patronage of George Wythe, Esquire, to 
 whom I was introduced and recommended by the Honor- 
 able John Tayloe, and Prisby Thornton, the juvenile friends 
 of my father. 
 
 I studied with great attention for three years, and having 
 obtained a license, I commenced practice in Richmond and 
 Northumberland Counties, but having to contend with three 
 or four old practitioners, I got but little business — the fees 
 were too small to engage an active mind, so I became dis- 
 gusted with practice in a short time. An opportunity was 
 afforded me of quitting the practice without reproach — the 
 5 
 
34 
 
 Revolution commenced, and the Courts were shut up. With 
 a view to meeting the event, I sold my patrimonial estate, 
 and intended to enter the army, but having sold on credit, 
 considerable portion of my property was lost by depreciation. 
 
 The dispute between Great Britain and the Colonies hav- 
 ing been fully discussed, the minds of all men were prepared 
 to refer it to the " Ultima ratio regnum." The young men 
 formed themselves into Independent Companies, were well 
 armed, uniformed, and pretty well diciplined, at their own 
 expense. The Immortal Washington was the avowed Pa- 
 tron of the one to which I appertained. It was expected 
 that those young men, who had been most prominent in 
 preparation, would fill the first appointments in the Army. 
 
 Being appointed by the Committee of Safety to proceed 
 to Philadelphia, for the purchase of military accoutrements, 
 I was absent the early part of the time, when Officers were 
 named for the six new regiments, and although on the list 
 of candidates for Lieutenant Colonel, my opponents, who 
 were present, obtained a preference. Determined not to re- 
 main an idle spectator, I received the appointment of Com- 
 mercial Agent for the purpose of collecting military stores, 
 from abroad, and for this purpose, settled at Cape Francois, in 
 St. Domingo, and was connected with a house in Curocoa, 
 where I sometimes resided. I returned to my native country 
 in June, 1784, after having acquired an easy fortune. From 
 that period until October, 1785, I resided in the City of Rich- 
 mond, where I married and returned to the County of Fred- 
 erick, and became a farmer. In 1801 I removed to the 
 county of Berkeley, and established myself at : 'Honeywood," 
 on the banks of the Potomac. 
 
 Signed, RAWLEIGH COLSTON. 
 
George Lynn Lachlan Davis, Esq., was employed by my 
 father to search out the early history of the Hansons and 
 Contees, from the wills in the custody of the Register of 
 Anne Arundel Count}', with the following result : 
 
 Baltimore Bar Library, 
 
 December 27th, 1865. 
 Dr. John Hanson Thomas. Baltimore. 
 
 My dear sir: — At a season distinguished for cordial 
 congratulations, and the most friendly sentiments of regard, 
 when also man}* of us cherish with more than usual interest 
 everything which relates to the memory of our forefathers, 
 you will allow me to offer you this little memorial of your 
 ancestry, on the side of the early Hansons and Contees, 
 embodying the result of researches many years ago, with 
 some additions made during a recent investigation at An- 
 napolis in regard to another subject. 
 
 The provincial history of man}- families can now be barely 
 traced through the medium only of their early land titles, 
 and most of the succeeding facts relating to the honorable 
 family of Hanson, are derived from the old Rent Rolls of 
 the Land Office, and from the tracts named in the wills, 
 which were once preserved among the records of the Pre- 
 rogative Court of the Province, but are now kept by the 
 Register of Wills for Anne Arundel Count}*. 
 
 I have carefully examined all the wills in the Register's 
 office, over the signature of Hanson, without reference to 
 any particular family, from 1750 up to the year 1634: and 
 it may interest you to know that the earliest ancestor of 
 whom there is any trace, the grand-father of the President 
 of the Continental Congress, bore»the honored name of John. 
 In his Will, which is dated the 12th day of December, 171 3, 
 (old style) he is styled "a planter" of Charles County. Your 
 
36 
 
 ancestor, Alexander Contee, was one of the witnesses to the 
 paper. It would seem that the Testator of 171 3 had seven 
 children : Robert, John, Samuel, Benjamin, Mary, Ann and 
 Sarah. It would also appear that he had provided for most 
 of them before the date of his Will. He also mentions his 
 son-in-law, the Rev. Wm. Maconchie, the husband of Mary, 
 and his grandson, Samuel Hanson. 
 
 He bequeaths a large number of feather-beds, an article of 
 luxury at that period. His home plantation is given to his 
 son Robert, who was probably his oldest son. It was either 
 adjacent to " Betty's Delight," or it included that tract. 
 The latter is described in Rent Rolls of Charles County, as 
 beginning " at a bounded oak, standing on the west side of 
 Port Tobacco Creek, near the main road." This plantation, 
 including " Betty's Delight," was devised by his son Robert 
 to Robert, the grandson to John Hanson, testator of 171 3 ; 
 who had also in 1746 a great grandson named Robert. (See 
 Will of John Hanson, 1713, Lib. U. W. B., No. 5, p. 719. 
 Robert Hanson, 1746, Lib. D. D., No. 4, p. 412.) 
 
 The Will of Samuel Hanson, whom I take to be the son 
 of the preceding John, and father to the President of the 
 Continental Congress, is dated (see Lib. D. D., No. 1, p. 
 296,) in the year 1740. In 1734, O. S., (see Lib. T. D., p. 
 271,) he, or another person of the same name, w T as the Com- 
 missary for Charles County, an officer held at that period in 
 much esteem. In 1739, (see Lib. D. D., No. 1, p. 348,) he 
 was undoubtedly clerk of that County, an officer of the 
 highest consideration. 
 
 A mourning ring was bequeathed to him during that year 
 by Alexander Contee, witness to the Will of the preceding 
 John Hanson, and one of your ancestors also, on the side of 
 your great grand-mother Hanson. (See the last named Liber.) 
 One of the witnesses to the Will of Samuel Hanson, was the 
 
37 
 
 Rev. Theophilus Swift. The testator of 1740 names his 
 sons, Walter, probably the oldest, and for whom it seems he 
 had elsewhere provided, John and William, who seems to 
 have been the youngest, his daughters Elizabeth, wife of 
 Benjamin Douglas, Charity, Jane, and Chloe, and his wife 
 Elizabeth. To his son Samuel he gives a " Part of Green's 
 Inheritance," and a " Part of the addition to Hereford " to 
 his son John ; " Hereford," and the remaining part of " The 
 Addition," to his wife Elizabeth; a life estate in the home 
 plantation, with the fee simple to his son William : at all 
 events, an estate in remainder. He also gives his wife a life- 
 estate in his water mill. The home estate of this ancestor 
 was called " Littleworth," and was adjacent to one of his 
 other tracts called " Wilkenson's Throne," given also to his 
 wife for the period of her own life ; the latter having been 
 re-surveyed (see Rent Rolls of Charles County,) in 1734 for 
 Samuel Hanson and Eleanor Wilkenson. 
 
 About the period of Samuel Hanson's death, his son 
 Walter was the Commissary for Charles County ; Walter is 
 also mentioned in terms of great respect by Uncle Robert, 
 the testator 1746, who calls him his "nephew Walter Hanson." 
 
 John Hanson, the son of the testator, 1740, probably his 
 second son, and at that period, if I may judge from your 
 own family Record, about twenty-five years of age, was un- 
 doubtedly the same person as the subsequent President of 
 Continental Congress, and your great grand-father on your 
 grand-mother Thomas' side ; but it is not my design to 
 state the degrees of relationship, or sketch the lives of emi- 
 nent representatives of the family during his generation — 
 and of still lat'er periods — including the Judge of a State 
 Court, a Chancellor of Maryland, a member of the United 
 States Senate, and your own honored father, in my poor 
 judgment, the most gifted of them all. 
 
38 
 
 I have simply attempted to throw some little light upon 
 the history of your earliest ancestors, who were Colonists in 
 the Province of Maryland. 
 
 Of the supposed descent on the side of the Contees from 
 a Prince of France, I say nothing whatever, as I am not ac- 
 quainted with the genealogical Archives of that country. 
 But certain it is, that the early Contees of Maryland were 
 of a highly honorable origin. 
 
 The Will of Alexander Contee, the father of your great 
 grand-mother Hanson, is dated in 1739 and proved in 1741. 
 At the period of its date he was the Clerk of Prince George's 
 County. The Will is a very interesting document. (See 
 Lib. D. D., No. 1, p. 347.) It is also remarkable for the 
 beauty of its style, and for the strongly marked individu- 
 ality of the testator. A very large quantity of silver plate is 
 bequeathed, including a " silver punch bowl." Mention is 
 also made of a vineyard. The testator disposes also of a 
 very extensive real and personal estate, including "negroes," 
 and many pounds sterling; mentions John, Peter, Jane, and 
 several other of his children. Devises to Jane, his daughter, 
 a tract in Baltimore County, called " Buck's Range ;" be- 
 queathes mourning rings of one guinea's value, and with the 
 inscription, " Remember A. Contee," to Daniel Dulany, a 
 great lawyer, Edmund Jennings, another eminent lawyer of 
 the Provincial Bar, Philip Key, ancestor of the late Francis 
 Scott Key, and other intimate friends ; desires to be buried 
 according to the service of the English Church, and gives a 
 guinea respectively to the Rector of St. Paul's, in Prince 
 George's, and Port Tobacco Parish, in Charles County, with 
 the request of them to preach a funeral sermon on " Ye folly 
 and Danger of ye DeatJi-bed m Repeniance" 
 
 It seems from the Will of the Honorable Colonel John 
 Contee, a member of the Council of State, and who was 
 
39 
 
 closely connected with the family of Governor Seymour, as 
 well as with the Honorable Philip Lynes, that Alexander 
 Contee was the nephew of the Councillor, and the son of 
 Peter Contee, of Barnstable, Devonshire, England. (See • 
 will of the Hon. Col. John Contee, and the accompanying 
 deposition in Lib. I. C. W. B., No. 2, 1706 to 1709.) Alex- 
 ander, your lineal ancestor, was at the date of his uncle's 
 death, about seventeen years of age. The Will of the uncle 
 throws so much light upon the state of Society at that 
 period, and is so interesting in other respects, that I will 
 venture to add the following memoranda : If we compare 
 the fortunes of that period with those of the present, we 
 must infer that he was extremely wealthy. He disposes of 
 vast bodies of land, and many rather small ones ; but for 
 nothing is the Will more remarkable than for the tender affec- 
 tion which it breathes for his relations and friends. He de- 
 vises lands in Maryland to his brother Peter Contee, of 
 Barnstable, the father of Alexander, and to his mother, Mrs. 
 Grace Contee, the grand-mother of Alexander. He gives 
 tw r enty thousand pounds of tob acco m ca sk, then a part of 
 the currency of the Province, for the use of the ministry. 
 To his dear and loving Mother, Mrs. Grace Contee, he be- 
 queathes fifty pounds sterling for the purchase of mourning, 
 and mourning rings for his relations and friends in England. 
 And he gives valuable property to his three step-sons, called 
 sons-in-law at that period, but the children of Mrs. Charity 
 Coates, who probably died before his arrival in the Province. 
 
 He devises also to Mary, his last wife, several tracts of 
 land in Maryland, and to his dear and loving wife, he 
 gives a large number of negroes, and all that portion of his 
 estate not otherwise disposed of : such as money in England, 
 tobacco shipped in any ship or ships, sent or to be sent, or 
 now in ships, for any person or persons, also debts due to 
 
40 
 
 him in England, Maryland, Virginia and elsewhere, with 
 plate and other household goods ; and also English servants, 
 a term generally applied to redemptioners, while African 
 servants were invariably known under the simple appella- 
 tion of negroes, there being indeed at that period in our 
 Provincial history, comparatively but little African slavery 
 in Maryland. 
 
 On the 3rd of August, 1708, the testator was helped out 
 of the bed by Doct. Jackson, the Hon. Philip Lynes, Mr. 
 John Rogers, and Madam Contee, and about three-quarters 
 of an hour afterwards he cried out, "my heart strings are 
 broke," and died suddenly upon the seat, in the arms of 
 Doct. Jackson, and of his cousin, the Hon. Philip Lynes, 
 who had drawn up the Will but a few days previous. The 
 will had also been approved by the testator, but unfortun- 
 ately was left without the signature, and upon two occasions 
 it would appear the question of validity was submitted to 
 the Legislature. (See Bacon's laws of Maryland, 1708, ch. 
 13, and 1725, ch. 21.) 
 
 The will of the Honorable Philip Lynes is recorded in 
 Lib. J. C. W. B., No. 2, 1706 to 1709. In it he says: " I 
 give to Madame Seymour, ( Madam Jane Seymour, the 
 daughter I presume of the Governor,^ Mrs. Mary Contee, 
 my brother Capt. Thomas Seymour, and my friend William 
 Bladen, each ten pounds sterling to buy rings and mourn- 
 ing." In several parts of the will he calls Mrs. Mary Contee 
 his cousin. 
 
 The will of Govenor John Seymour is dated 6th August, 
 1709, and recorded in the same Liber. Judging from tradi- 
 tion, and especially from two anecdotes never yet published, 
 but long since reduced to writing, and now in my possession, 
 he was the most haughty of all the early and late Governors of 
 Maryland. "I give and bequeathe," says he, "unto my dear 
 
4i 
 
 cousin, Mrs. Mary Contee, twenty guineas to buy her a 
 ring." 
 
 I have also some extracts sent many years ago to me 
 from the Parish Records of Barnstable, from which it ap- 
 pears that Peter Contee, the father of Alexander, was a 
 chirurgeon, that the mother of Alexander was named Catha- 
 rine, and that Alexander was baptized " ye 22nd day of 
 April, 1693.'' 
 
 I have no doubt the ancestry of Peter Contee could now 
 be easily traced through the medium of the English Records, 
 as the greatest difficulty in writing out a pedigree usually 
 consists in discovering the connecting links between the old 
 and the new world, and that point has already been attained 
 in the case of the Contees. 
 
 The following memorandum I made from an abstract of 
 the Will of Alexander Contee, the Testator of 1739, an< ^ 
 the father of Dr. John Hanson Thomas' great grand-mother 
 Hanson. 
 
 The testator gives his son John several negroes, a feather- 
 bed, bolsters, pillows, quilts, blankets, sheets, a suit of cur- 
 tains and valance with head-cloth and testor, &c. Also his 
 silver punch bowl, coroner, and large spoon, &c. 
 
 To his son Peter, *various negroes, his three silver casters, 
 and eighty pounds sterling, &c. 
 
 To his son Thomas, one of his casters, silver hafted knives 
 and forks, and silver spoons. 
 
 To his son Alexander, one case of silver hafted knives 
 and forks, and silver spoons, with eighty pound sterling, &c. 
 
 To his daughter Catharine, his silver candlesticks and 
 snuffers, &c. 
 
 To his son John, all his books of whatever sort soever. 
 To many of his friends, rings of one guinea's value each, 
 with the inscription, " Remember A. Contee." 
 6 
 
42 
 
 To his daughter Grace, his two silver salvers, a feather- 
 bed, &c. 
 
 I regret the impossibility, during Christmas week, of bind- 
 ing up this naked manuscript, and must therefore beg you 
 to accept it in its present condition, in the hope, however, 
 that you will allow me, upon future occasion, the privilege 
 of binding it in some neat and substantial manner, but \ 
 somewhat after the style of the antique. 
 
 With the kindest compliments of the season, and my best 
 wishes, at all times, for your happiness, 
 
 I beg to remain, my dear Sir, Your friend and Serv't, 
 
 GEORGE LYNN LACHLAN DAVIS. 
 
 The following obituary notices of Dr. Philip Thomas and 
 John Hanson Thomas appeared in the "Federal Republican" 
 May ioth, 1815, on which occasion the paper was issued in 
 mourning. It is supposed the first Obituary was written 
 by Alexander Contee Hanson, Editor. 
 
 A more distressing duty could not devolve upon us, than 
 recording the death of John Hanson Thomas, who died at 
 Frederick Town, Md., of the prevailing epidemic, on Tues- 
 day, the 2nd of May, in the 36th year of his age. 
 
 We are humbled by a sense of our incompetency to do 
 justice to his fair fame and exalted worth. Had the de- 
 ceased left his equal among his friends behind him, there 
 would have been a master pen to delineate the peculiar 
 qualities of his mind, and describe the various virtues that 
 adorned his public and private character. To this faculty, 
 and a general knowledge of mankind, derived from study, re- 
 
43 
 
 flection, and personal observation, is to be ascribed his happy 
 selection of friends. In making them the repository of his 
 wishes and opinions, he knew how far each was to be trusted. 
 Among the host of admirers and friends which a bright 
 career of usefulness and dazzling success had drawn around 
 him, few, very few, were found to deceive him. It is given 
 to none to know with certainty who may not be impelled by 
 ambition, jealousy or envy to abandon and betray a friend. 
 
 Though reserved and austere in his appearance to men 
 generally, among his particular friends his unaffected sim- 
 plicity, playfulness and pleasantry were delightful, and were 
 the genuine effusion of good humor and generous feelings. 
 Without the slightest tincture of malignity, there was a spice 
 of caustic sarcasm in his criticism, which gave a zest to his 
 familiar conversations so exquisite that opportunities were 
 sought to renew the gratification which few were permitted 
 to enjoy. Indeed, there was a rivalry among his friends to 
 engage and appropriate him exclusively to themselves. 
 Such was the ascendancy he acquired over the minds of his 
 associates, and the fast hold he had taken of their hearts, 
 that his will and opinion expressed their wishes. He ruled 
 through the affections, and when reasons were demanded, 
 he led the judgment captive. None distrusted, while all who 
 knew confided in him. It arose from a perfect knowledge 
 that he was disinterested and unambitious. He was for his 
 country and his friends, never for himself. His heart always 
 in his hand, was so well known that his raillery, though it 
 wounded, never offended. But the social gaiety and even- 
 ness of temper, contributed so much to endear his con- 
 versation, was not combined with one frivolous or superficial 
 quality. He was gentle in his nature, but the firmness of 
 his mind and the steadiness of his resolutions were not 
 weakened by the mildness of his disposition. In all his prin- 
 
44 
 
 ciples and doctrines, whether political, moral or religious, 
 he was fixed and immovable. In each vicissitude, in every 
 change of circumstance, 
 
 " He stood an iron pillar strong 
 And steadfast as a wall of brass." 
 
 He was brought to his conclusions by sober inquiry and 
 deep reflection, and therefore clove to his resolution with a 
 steadiness and perseverance which opposition could not 
 shake. 
 
 The cause and circumstances of the death of so beloved 
 and interesting an individual as Mr. Thomas deserve some 
 notice. The dreadful malady which exacted the last debt 
 of nature so prematurely, was contracted by the unwearying 
 assiduity of his attentions to a dear and most exalted father, 
 who died the week preceding. During his sickness, though 
 constantly tortured with the most excruciating pain, he 
 uttered not one repining word, but expressed an entire resig- 
 nation in the will of Heaven, He shed not a tear, nor dis- 
 covered the least agitation or sign of sorrow by his conver-. 
 sation, though surrounded by friends and relatives whose 
 feelings were not to be commanded, and constantly at- 
 tended by a loving and affectionate wife, agonized with 
 grief and bearing in her womb another pledge of conjugal 
 affection. He once expressed a wish to live another day to 
 arrange his worldly concerns, in which he was gratified, and 
 expired a little before the day closed. He once said, while 
 the chief object of his earthly love was weeping by his side, 
 " Don't do so ; you put me on the rack, and make us both 
 act as if we. were ignorant of our duties." Appearing to be 
 restless, a near relative inquired of him, "if his mind was un- 
 easy." He replied quickly, " No ; I am happy, but what 
 must be the condition of the unhappy ? Which course do 
 you mean to take? " 
 
45 
 
 Shortly afterwards he was asked whether he wanted any- 
 thing. He answered in tones of tenderness, " I want my 
 father." He then said he was going, being almost strangled 
 by the mucus, which secreted too fast to be thrown off. 
 The friend who held his hand, burst into tears and said, 
 " You carry with you, Thomas, the hearts and happiness of 
 your friends, and are followed by the tears and regrets of all 
 your acquaintances." 
 
 Among his last words there was not given but an expres- 
 sion of his confidence in the promises of God in the most 
 tender and earnest manner. He gave to two of his friends 
 the advice to be expected from true piety and Christian 
 benevolence. He also exhorted a little niece to devote her 
 life to good works and the active promotion of virtue and the 
 well being of her fellow creatures. Indeed, on the day of his 
 death, after he had made his will, and felt also a perfect con- 
 viction he had made his peace with his Maker, his conduct 
 and conversation discovered the unmixed goodness of his 
 heart and the real greatness of his mind. 
 
 The circumstances attending the death of a great and 
 good man, are so interesting and instructive, that they 
 authorize still more minuteness, if it did not exceed the 
 limits of an obituary notice. We have already been thus 
 particular in recording parts of his conversation, because no 
 death can have made a deeper, more lively, and, we hope, 
 more lasting impression upon those who witnessed it. It 
 was truly a scene of sorrow and affliction, and by drinking 
 of the spirit of the deceased, may those who mourn his loss, 
 improve the awful providence of his sudden removal. For 
 in him was displayed, in his dying moments, that genuine 
 Christian humility which flows from a sense of the love of 
 God, reconciled to man in his beloved Son Jesus, whose 
 wounds for his transgressions, and bruises for his iniquities, 
 purchased his redemption. 
 
4 6 
 
 We cannot omit to mention that our brother, who has 
 thus died in the lively hope of " an inheritance incorruptible, 
 undefiled, and that fadeth not away," but a few short days 
 before he threw off" this mortal coil " to appear before his 
 God in the milk-white robe of immortality, was engaged by 
 the side of a dying father in performing the last sad office of 
 a minister of the Gospel, attending the sick. Delay in the 
 arrival of the minister sent for to administer the sacrament 
 to his father, occasioned uneasiness, lest his intellect should 
 fail him, and it would be too late to partake with him of the 
 Lord's Holy Supper. The son, and victim of filial piety, 
 fell upon his knees by his father's bed-side, and in his own 
 peculiar style of eloquence and religious fervency of zeal, 
 poured out his soul in prayer, wringing the bosoms of all 
 around him, and soothing for a time the bodily anguish of 
 an expiring parent. A sudden flash of paternal love and 
 admiration, for a moment, lighted up the dying countenance 
 by kindling anew the recollection of an offspring's virtues 
 and talents, that promised so much usefulness, but the 
 father sunk into the arms of death, and the son was marked 
 for the same destiny. 
 
 A biographer may do public justice to the public charac- 
 ter of Mr. Thomas which will not now be attempted. In 
 an age so eventful, his loss to his Country, and particularly 
 to his native State, his friends will in vain attempt to esti- 
 mate. They will always remember with admiration and 
 gratitude, the able, distinguished, and intrepid part he acted 
 in stemming the torrent of pernicious theory and a false 
 philosophy. A magnanimous and Christian charity would 
 hope that the fear, rancor, and hatred of his political adver- 
 saries and faithless friends have gone with him to the tomb. 
 Even party rancor and detraction, ever eager to devour the 
 living, disdains to decry the dead. It was so with our be- 
 
47 
 
 loved Hamilton, and may the same remorse of conscience 
 be felt for the deceased. 
 
 " Redeem'd from earth and pain, 
 Oh, when shall we ascend, 
 And all in Jesus' presence reign 
 With our translated friend." 
 
 \From Fredericktow7i Herald. ~\ 
 
 Departed this life on Tuesday last, in the 68th year of his 
 age, Doctor Philip Thomas. 
 
 The various worthy and distinguished merits of this ven- 
 erable and revered character, it cannot be expected, will be 
 portrayed in an obituary notice. He was a native of Kent 
 County, but removed to this place very early in life. Ar- 
 dently attached to liberty and his country, he took a decided 
 and active part in our revolutionary struggle, and was often 
 elected by his fellow-citizens to represent them in the public 
 councils. He was appointed by the great and good Wash- 
 ington to an office under the general government, which he 
 held for a number of years, and shortly after the establish- 
 ment of the Medical Society of Maryland, he was chosen its 
 President, in which situation he continued until his death. 
 These several trusts he discharged with the most strict 
 fidelity and integrity. 
 
 As a physician, no man was more highly and deservedly es- 
 teemed for his skill. No man was ever more beloved for his 
 affectionate tenderness and unwearied attention to the sick. 
 As a member of society, those who have been most inti- 
 mately acquainted with his principles and motives of action, 
 can attest their purity and correctness. 
 
 As a man, and in all the relative duties of life, he was 
 
4 8 
 
 a bright model of excellence, a kind neighbor, a warm stead- 
 fast and immovable friend, an indulgent master, a most 
 affectionate parent, and in all his dealings sternly and un- 
 deviatingly just. In him the poor had always a friend, the 
 oppressed found a protector, and friendless merit, a patron 
 and defender. 
 
 As a christian, his conviction of the truth was the result 
 of careful and candid examination, and was deep and rivetted. 
 Fully persuaded that man was fallen, his nature corrupt, and 
 that but for the salvation purchased for us by the merits 
 and sufferings of a crucified redeemer, and the divine aid 
 graciously afforded to the believing penitent in working out 
 his salvation, his doom must have been eternal misery. 
 
 His faith in all the distinguishing doctrines of the gospel 
 was lively and sincere ; his hopes were founded on its 
 promises, and his entire trust for salvation and happiness 
 was in the mercy of God through the merits of Christ Jesus. 
 
 He was, as his ancestors for ages had been, and as he has 
 often been heard to express his hopes, that his posterity 
 might remain to be members of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church, warmly attached to its doctrines, its government, 
 its pure and evangelical services. He deeply lamented the 
 many difficulties and disadvantages with which the religious 
 denomination of which he was a member, had to struggle 
 in this nation generally, and more especially in the place of 
 his residence ; and after witnessing with joy, and it is fondly 
 hoped with gratitude to the Author of all good, the success 
 of many efforts for its revival, it was the happiness of his 
 declining years to have contributed in no small degree, to- 
 wards the erection and completion of a convenient and 
 elegant building in which its worship maybe performed, and 
 the ordinance of our holy religion administered. But 
 although he gave a decided preference to his own church, 
 
49 
 
 and anxiously wished others to agree with him, yet he never 
 presumed to dictate to any, but desired to live, and did live 
 in peace and charity with all denominations of Christians. 
 
 While he was very young he was deprived of his father, 
 and to the more than parental care of a kind and affection- 
 ate brother, he was indebted for his education and the 
 means of his future usefulness. 
 
 In the pursuit of his studies, and in qualifying himself 
 for the exercise of his profession, he was obliged to exhaust 
 the small patrimony which he received. Without friends, 
 and in very delicate health, he left his native county, and 
 with it the few valuable friends which remained to him, to 
 settle among strangers. Of the kindness with which he 
 was received and treated by many of them, it was his de- 
 light always to speak. His professional merit soon pro- 
 cured him an extensive practice, and although his constitu- 
 tion frequently appeared to be entirely broken, and his 
 friends often feared that they would soon be deprived of 
 him, yet, by a life of most rigid temperance and self-denial 
 and care, he was enabled to persevere in the practice of his 
 profession, and at the advanced age of sixty-six, was in the 
 enjoyment of better health, than in early life. It has now 
 pleased Almighty God to take him from us — to remove him 
 from this world of affliction and trouble — to rest from his 
 labors. 
 
 But few around him have had more of the blessings and 
 comforts of this life ; but few have partaken in a greater de- 
 gree of its bitterest sufferings ; but few have been more great- 
 ful for the blessings which a gracious providence has been 
 pleased to confer, or have submitted with a more pious and 
 humble resignation to the severest chastisements. It will be 
 the comfort and delight of his afflicted friends to remember, 
 and it will be their duty to imitate his shining virtues. The 
 7 
 
5o 
 
 separation, though painful, is but for a time. "In a moment, 
 in the twinkling of an eye," those who followed the remains 
 of the deceased, may, like him, be a lifeless corpse. And 
 the voice of the preacher was a warning from Heaven, even 
 to the most young and healthful, and sounded in their 
 ears the awful words, " Be ye also ready." 
 
 The remains of the deceased were, on Thursday evening, 
 conveyed from his late dwelling to the new Episcopal Church, 
 where the services of the Church were performed, and a very 
 eloquent and most appropriate discourse was delivered by 
 the Rev. Mr. Wyatt, of Baltimore. Afterwards the corpse 
 was carried to the burying-ground, belonging to the congre- 
 gation, attended by an unusually large concourse of friends 
 and citizens. 
 
 [From Fredericktown Herald.'] 
 
 In our last paper the melancholy duty devolved upon us 
 of recording the death of the late Dr. Philip Thomas. 
 Death has again levelled his distructive shaft, and made a 
 still wider breach in the circle of our society. It now be- 
 comes our mournful duty to notice the death of John Han- 
 son Thomas, Esq., who departed this life on Tuesday, the 
 2d instant, in the 35th year of his age. 
 
 Born in this town, and educated under the direction of his ' 
 late most excellent father, his memory will ever be dear to 
 those who have had the best opportunity of marking the 
 progress of his virtues from his infancy, and to them his loss 
 can never be supplied. In him nature seemed to have 
 united the rarest qualities. A strong discriminating mind, 
 improved by an excellent education, and deep reflection, em- 
 inently qualified him for the pursuits of political life. The 
 over-weaning influence, however, of pernicious opinions in 
 
I 
 
 51 
 
 this, his native county, for a long time confined him to the 
 walks of private life, and thus perhaps conferred an invol- 
 untary favor upon him, by giving him leisure for the im- 
 provement of his mind, until that period of life, when 
 maturity of judgment., becoming united to the activity of 
 youth, renders the politician doubly useful. Modest and 
 unassuming in truth, he sought not of choice the paths of 
 ambition, but when the wild career of theory jeopardized 
 the best interests of his country, by the embargo, the ear- 
 nest solicitations of his friends urged him forward to stem 
 the torrent. 
 
 Firm and decisive in his character, the stand he made was 
 manly, nay noble. The fondest anticipations of his friends 
 were surpassed, and his political adversaries cowered beneath 
 his superior talents. The course which he pursued, in the 
 Legislature of this State, is well known, and the State-papers 
 which have proceeded from his pen, are the best documents 
 of the clearness, strength and precision of his mind. The 
 ineffectual efforts which have been made to exclude him 
 from the Legislature of this State, whilst it speaks his worth 
 and the dread entertained of his talents, also prove the in- 
 fluence which eloquence, talents and virtue, gave him over 
 the minds of the people. On him all eyes were fixed ; on 
 him the destiny of his party seemed to hang. The influence 
 he acquired in Maryland has never been equalled by so 
 young a man. The confidence of all seemed centred upon 
 him, because all knew him virtuous, and all believed him un- 
 ambitious. His influence was rapidly extending over the 
 State, and such were the qualities of his heart, that few in- 
 stances occur, of a friend once made, forsaking hirm Had 
 the Federal preponderance continued in this State, he would, 
 the next session of the Legislature, most probably have 
 
52 
 
 been placed in the Senate of the United States, a station 
 upon which his brilliant talents would have reflected lustre, 
 but the ruthless hand of death has taken him from us, and 
 where, oh ! where shall we supply his loss ? 
 
 Removed from this career of splendid usefulness, however, 
 it is not for public virtues, great as they were, for which we 
 chiefly lament him. He has left a chasm in society which 
 cannot be filled. A tender and affectionate son, he attended 
 his father's death-bed with unwearied assiduity, and when 
 an unfortunate delay prevented the arrival of a clergyman, 
 for whom they had sent, fearing that his father might not 
 preserve his faculties unclouded, dropping upon his knees 
 by his bedside, he poured out his soul in prayer to Heaven 
 over his beloved parent in a strain of eloquence, which far 
 surpassed anything which those present had ever conceived 
 of his highest powers. Here he contracted the same dis- 
 ease, in which there was the most striking coincidence. 
 They were siezed on the same day of the week, the symp- 
 toms were the same throughout the whole course of the 
 disease, and at last death put a period to their sufferings on 
 the same day of the week, and within ten minutes of the 
 same hour of the day. The death of his father was.a severe 
 blow to him, but religion fortified his mind, and with a con- 
 solation only known to the sincerely pious, he would have 
 been resigned because it was the will of God. Accustomed 
 to reflect deeply upon every subject, it was impossible that 
 one so important as religion should have escaped him. His 
 opinions an this subject were deeply rooted, and amounted 
 not to what is usually called a deep sense of religion, and 
 consists generally in nothing more than a respect for the 
 opinions of mankind, or a belief in Christianity, founded up- 
 on authority of a superficial enquiry, but, having read much, 
 and reflected more, we can with truth say, his was a deep- 
 
53 
 
 rooted, heart-felt sentiment of piety. Educated by his 
 father in the Protestant Episcopal Church, nothing tempted 
 him from his attention to public worship, or his devotion to 
 his God. These feelings diffused themselves throughout 
 his conduct and tempered all his actions. Hence flowed 
 charity for all whom he believed honestly to differ from him 
 in every opinion, indignation at vice, and an ardent zeal in 
 the discharge of his duties. As a husband and a father, the 
 delicate tenderness of his affection, and his quick perception 
 of the wishes and inclinations of those he most loved, ren- 
 dered him dear. oh. inexpressibly dear, to his family. The 
 mildness of his manners and disposition, united as it was 
 with firmness and decision, nay, intrepidity of character, 
 endeared him to most who knew him. The warmth of his 
 affections drew from his friends unbounded confidence and 
 real love, while such was his intuitive knowledge of men 
 that seldom was he deceived into a misplaced confidence. 
 Rare, indeed, is it to find so much modesty and diffidence 
 united with so much talent as he possessed ; but in familiar 
 intercourse of his friends, when the course of conversation 
 compelled him to speak of himself, and to give any credit 
 whatever to himself, often have we seen the blush of mod- 
 esty suffuse his cheek, and hurrying over the subject, betray 
 in manhood the modesty of youth. Upon his well-balanced 
 soul the love of praise excited only to duty, and preserved 
 him in the paths of virtue, whilst the court and compliments 
 universally paid him, could never excite vanity to his unas- 
 suming mind. Sprightliness and delicate wit pre-eminently 
 distinguished his conversation with his more intimate friends, 
 but his unassuming manners and character always retreated 
 from particular observation, and to the superficial observer, 
 who marked not the rapid changes of his expressive counte- 
 nance, or the vivid flashes of his eye, he always made the 
 
54 
 
 impression of a man either over-rated, of whose mind ranged 
 not beyond the sphere of politics, whilst those who knew 
 him, always considered the reputation he possessed far 
 below his real worth. It was in the last moments of his 
 life, however — in the last trying scene— when mortality is 
 about to pay its last debt to immortality ; when man, about 
 to resign all his earthly prospects, depends only upon that 
 treasure which he had laid up in Heaven ; that his afflicted 
 friends find consolation, nay, cause of triumph. 
 
 His sufferings, from the very commencement of his ill- 
 ness until a few hours before his death, were indeed great ; 
 but borne with uncommon fortitude, and in full reliance upon 
 the mercy of his God, purchased by the blood of our Sa- 
 viour, he was devoutly resigned to the will of Providence. 
 At different times he spoke of his worldly affairs, and gave 
 the necessary directions concerning them with the compo- 
 sure of a man, ■" joyful to live, yet not afraid to die." 
 
 Soon after he became sensible of his illness, he expressed 
 an earnest wish to receive the blessed sacrament of the 
 Lord's Supper, of which he had often before partaken, and 
 for that purpose desired a clergyman of the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church should be sent for. When the opportu- 
 nity was afforded to him, and to his friends around him, he 
 evidenced great joy and thankfulness, and his conversation 
 at the time, though much interrupted by the severity of his 
 sufferings, was full of instruction and comfort. He was fre- 
 quent and most fervent in prayer, and his dying moments 
 evinced the efficacy of that faith which in his early youth 
 he is known to have embraced, and which at no period of 
 his life was shaken. 
 
 The loss of such a man and at such an eventful time may 
 well be expected to produce a general grief. In the midst 
 of our afflictions, however, we must not forget that this sad 
 
55 
 
 event was the dispensation of Him whose goodness and 
 wisdom and mercy, infinite as his power, and to whose will 
 it is our duty to resign our own. 
 
 The Father of all mercies has taken him from us; let us 
 bow with reverential submission to his will. The days of 
 our deceased friend have been numbered, and he is gone to 
 receive the reward of his good deeds. Let us sorrow, but 
 not as one without hope. It is the joy and delight of the 
 pious Christian to remember that those separations, painful 
 as they may be, are but for a short time ; that the severest 
 afflictions with which a righteous God is pleased to visit, 
 will, if used ricrhtlv, conduce to our everlasting- salvation, 
 and that when it shall please our heavenly Father, to re- 
 move us from this world of sin and suffering, we may again 
 enjoy the blessed society of our deceased friends, without 
 those weaknesses and fears and sorrows which in this life 
 disturb our greatest pleasure. 
 
 On Thursday morning his remains were conveyed to the 
 burying-ground of the Protestant Episcopal Church of this 
 place. 
 
 Dr. Philip Thomas and his son John Hanson Thomas are 
 buried in the Xew Episcopal Burying Grounds at Frederick, 
 Maryland. The following epitaphs appear on their tombs : 
 
 South Side. 
 
 Sacred to the memory of Dr. Philip Thomas, who died 
 the 25th April. 181 5, aged 67. 
 
 East Side. 
 
 Tenderly affectionate as a Husband and Father, sincere 
 and ardent as a friend, a devoted patriot of '76. Great and 
 
56 
 
 humane as a physician, just and honorable in all his transac- 
 tions — such was the character of the lamented deceased. 
 
 North Side. 
 
 For more than forty-five years he was laborious and zeal- 
 ous in his profession. 
 
 West Side. 
 
 A Father and friend to the sick; his humanity knew not 
 the distinction between rich and poor. He lived in com- 
 munion with the P. E. Church, of which he was a zealous 
 supporter, and relied for salvation upon the merits of Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 East Side. 
 
 Here lie the mortal remains of John Hanson Thomas, 
 who died on the 2nd of May, 1815, in the 35th year of his 
 age, of a disease contracted from an anxious attendance at 
 the death-bed of his father, who died only six days before 
 him, pouring forth blessings with his latest breath on his 
 beloved son. 
 
 North Side. 
 
 Sincere, ardent and constant in all his affections, which 
 embraced every relation of life, of the mildest manners and 
 purest morals. Generous, just, firm and diligent in the ex- 
 ercise of virtue, he fulfilled all the duties incumbent on man 
 in a private station. 
 
 West Side. 
 
 He also bore a conspicuous part in public affairs, carry- 
 ing to the public service a vigorous and cultivated mind, a 
 
57 
 
 steady, yet temperate zeal, industry guided by prudence and 
 great energy of character and conduct, supported by in- 
 tegrity, chastened by modesty and softened by charity. 
 
 South Side. 
 
 In life and in death firm in Christian faith, he rested his 
 hopes of eternal life on the merits of the Redeemer and the 
 mercy of God. 
 
 This frail monument of her husbands virtues, and of her 
 own devoted love, is placed by his bereaved widow Mary 
 Isham Thomas. 
 
 The following is a certificate of membership of the Gild 
 of Glasgow in favor of John Hanson ; upon the back is a 
 tree with a fish inverted, with the motto : " Let Glasgow 
 flourish." It is executed upon parchment — 
 
 At Glasgow the first day of April Seventeen hundred and 
 fourty Eight years. The which Day In Presence of the Right 
 i Honourable John Murdoch Esqr. Lord Provost of the said City 
 ; George Murdoch. Colin Dunlopand James Clark Baillies thereof 
 John Brozvn Dean of Gild, and sundry of the Gild Council of 
 said City Mr. John Hanson mercht. in Maryland Virginia Is ad- 
 mitted and Received Burgess and Gild Brother of the said City 
 and the whole Liberties Privileges and Immunities belonging to 
 an Burgess and Gild Brother thereof are granted to Him in 
 most ample Form Who gives his Oath of Fidelity as Use is 
 Extracted furth of the Gild Books of the said City By 
 
 Jno. McGilchrist Dpt. Clk. 
 
 The following is from a letter of Chief Justice Marshall 
 upon the loss of his wife : 
 
 8 
 
58 
 
 December 25th, 1832. 
 
 This day of joy and festivity to the whole Christian world 
 is, to my sad heart, the anniversary of the keenest affliction 
 which humanity can sustain. While all around is gladness, 
 my mind dwells on the silent tomb, and cherishes the re- 
 membrance of the beloved object it contains. 
 
 On the 25th of December, 1831, it was the will of Heaven 
 to take to itself the companion who had sweetened the 
 choicest part of my life, had rendered to it a pleasure, had 
 partaken of all my feelings, and was enthroned in the inmost 
 recess of my heart. Never can I cease to feel the loss and i 
 to deplore it. Grief for her is too sacred ever to be pro- 
 faned on this day which shall be, during my existence, de- 
 voted to her memory. 
 
 On the 3rd of January, 1783, I was united by the holiest 
 bonds to the woman I adored. From the hour of our union 
 to that of our separation, I never ceased to thank Heaven 
 for this its best gift. Not a moment passed in which I did 
 not consider her a blessing from which the chief happiness 
 of my life was derived. This never dying sentiment, origi- 
 nating in love, was cherished by a long and close observation 
 of as amiable and estimable qualities as ever adorned the 
 female bosom. 
 
 To a person which, in youth, was very attractive in man- 
 ners, uncommonly pleasing, she added a fine understanding, 
 and the sweetest temper which can accompany a just and 
 modest sense of what was due to herself. 
 
 I saw her first the winter she attained the age of fourteen, 
 and was greatly pleased with her. Girls then came into 
 company much earlier than at present. As my attention, 
 though without any avowed purpose, nor so open or direct 
 as to alarm, soon became ardent and assiduous, her heart 1 
 received an impression which could never be effaced. Hav- 
 
59 
 
 ing felt no prior attachment, she became, at sixteen, a most 
 devoted wife. All my faults, and they were many, could 
 never weaken this sentiment. It formed a part of her ex- 
 istence. 
 
 Her judgment was so sound and so safe, that I have often ' 
 relied upon it in situations of some perplexity. I do not 
 recollect ever to have regretted the adoption of her opinion. 
 I have sometimes regretted its rejection. From native tim- 
 idity, she Was opposed to everything adventurous ; yet few 
 females possessed more firmness. That timidity so influ- 
 enced her manners that I could rarely prevail on her to 
 display in company the talents I knew her to possess. They 
 were reserved for her husband and her select friends. 
 Though serious as well as quiet in her deportment, she pos- 
 sessed a good deal of chaste, delicate and playful wit, and, 
 if she permitted herself to indulge this talent, told her little 
 story with grace, and could mimic very successfully the 
 peculiarities of the person who was its subject. She had a 
 fine taste for belle-lettre reading, which was judiciously ap- 
 I plied in the selection of pieces she admired. This quality, 
 by improving her talents for conversation, contributed not 
 inconsiderably to make her a most desirable and agreeable 
 companion. It beguiled many of those winter evenings, 
 during which her protracted ill health and her feeble nervous 
 system, confined us entirely to each other. I can never 
 cease to look back on them without deep interest and re- 
 gret. Time has not diminished, and will not diminish this 
 interest or this regret. 
 
 In all the relations of life, she was a model which those 
 to whom it was given, cannot imitate too closely. As the 
 wife, the mother, the mistress of a family, and the friend, 
 her life furnished an example to those who could observe it 
 intimately, which will not be forgotten. 
 
6o 
 
 She felt deeply the distress of others, and indulged the 
 feeling liberally on objects she believed to be meritorious. 
 She was educated with a profound reverence for religion, 
 which she preserved to her last moment. This sentiment 
 among her earliest and deepest impressions, gave a color to 
 her whole life. Hers was the religion taught by the Saviour 
 of man : cheerful, mild, benevolent, serious, humane, intent 
 on self-improvement, and on the improvement of those who 
 looked to her for precept or example. She was a firm be- 
 liever in the faith inculcated by the Church in which she 
 was bred, but her soft and gentle temper was incapable of 
 adopting the gloomy and austere dogmas which some of its 
 professors have sought to engraft on it. 
 
 I have lost her, and with her I have lost the solace of my 
 life ; yet she remains still the companion of my retired 
 hours — still occupies my inmost bosom. 
 
 When alone and unemployed, my mind unceasingly re- 
 curs to her. More than a thousand times since the 25th of 
 December, 1831, have I repeated to myself the beautiful 
 lines written by General Burgoyne, under a similar afflic- 
 tion, substituting Mary for Anna : 
 
 Encompassed in an angel's frame 
 
 An angle's virtues lay ; 
 Too soon did Heaven assert its claim, 
 
 And take its own away. 
 My Mary's worth, my Mary's charms, 
 
 Can nevermore return. 
 What now shall fill these widowed arms? 
 
 Ah me ; my Mary's urn ; 
 
 Ah me ; ah me ; my Mary's urn. 
 
6i 
 
 Letter from Daniel Webster to John Hanson Thomas: 
 Washington, December 31st, 18 14. 
 
 Dear Sir: — 
 
 I know you will pardon the liberty I take in addressing 
 you, when I tell you my purpose is to congratulate you on 
 the overthrow of the plan of Conscription, which has been 
 brought forward in Congress. Feeling as if we had received 
 in this event, a renewal of the lease of our liberties, and a 
 prolongation of the old partnership of the United States, 
 I wish to thank all those whose labors have contributed to 
 these desirable ends, and among them I count the Federal- 
 ists in your Legislature, and yourself particularly as the 
 mover of their measures. 
 
 Whatever had been, or could have been said in Congress 
 in opposition to their divers plans of compulsory service, 
 was not likely to produce the necessary effect. It was pub- 
 lic opinion that destroyed the measure. The Bill had been 
 passed in the House of Representatives and sent back to 
 the Senate with amendments, to which the Senate objected, 
 and returned the Bill to the House. The House would not 
 depart from their amendments, and sent the Bill again to 
 the Senate. The thing was thus thrown about from House 
 to House, by votes to insist, and votes to adhere, till, finally, 
 being before the Senate on Wednesday, Mr. King moved its 
 postponement beyond the fourth of March, which was car- 
 ried by a majority of one vote. 
 
 It is understood that there had been for several days a 
 determination of the Party not to pass the Bill, and that the 
 only difficulty was to agree which House should strangle a 
 brat which both had taken so much pains to nurse. You 
 may rely upon it, here is an end of all conscription for the 
 present. Some hot heads may be inclined to bring forward 
 new projects of a similar sort, but a majority will not ven- 
 ture upon them. 
 
62 
 
 All that has been learned of public opinion from one end 
 of the country to the other, has' been warm and decided 
 against these measures. It is time that party attachment 
 had stifled this sentiment in some degree and in some places, 
 but really and truly there seems to have been but one opin- 
 ion among the people. The proceedings of your House of 
 Delegates were calculated to produce as much effect as any 
 thing from without does. It was easy to accuse New Eng- 
 land of a disposition towards schism and disunion, and to 
 ascribe her opposition to measures to that temper. Your 
 situation made it impossible to impute your votes to such 
 designs. 
 
 We are at present busy with the Bank. It will probably 
 pass very much in the shape in which Mr. Dallas originally 
 recommended it. This is not quite certain, but is probable. 
 Our friend Hanson is expected from Baltimore to-morrow. 
 
 I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, 
 
 DAN'L WEBSTER. 
 
 Letter from Mrs. D. P. Madison, franked by President 
 James Madison, to Mrs. John Hanson Thomas : 
 
 Long after its date, dear Mrs. Thomas, I had the pleasure 
 to receive your charming note, containing an emblem of con- 
 stancy, which I have carefully put away with other valuables. 
 I must tell you, however, that this magic flower was not 
 necessary to remind us of one whom we so truly admire and 
 whose visit, with her son, to Montpelier, is a bright gleam 
 in our retrospections. 
 
 I regret that Mrs. Grymes did not send it before she left 
 our neighborhood, or inform me she had met you in Balti- 
 more, in order that I might have made inquiries after you, 
 your estimable mother and your sister, and have learnt from 
 
63 
 
 her whether you had left that place, or where I should ad- 
 dress you. Being now at a loss, I shall commit this to our 
 friend, Doct. Dunglison. 
 
 My dear Husband is better, after several spells of illness 
 during the winter and spring. He is not yet well enough 
 to ride out, but my hopes of his recovery revive, even with 
 this small amendment in the state of his health. 
 
 Will you accept from him, and from me, our united and 
 affectionate salutations? 
 
 May 1st, 1835. D. P. MADISON. 
 
 Letter from Governor Levin Winder to John Hanson 
 Thomas, Chairman of Committee of Defence. 
 
 In Council, January 3d, 1813. 
 
 Sir : — We had the honor to receive your letter of the 20th 
 of December, requesting u a communication of any views 
 which may have occurred to the Executive, applicable to the 
 objects before the Committee," of which you are Chairman. 
 
 We have already observed to the Legislature that this 
 State, with the limited resources which it possesses, is un- 
 equal to any extensive system of defence. At the last ses- 
 sion of the General Assembly, it was found necessary to 
 authorize the Treasurer to borrow a considerable sum of 
 money. The greater part of this is now expended, and 
 further sums can only be had by taxation or loan. With 
 respect to the former mode of raising money, the taxes re- 
 cently laid by the General Government will at this date be 
 found peculiarly burthensome and oppressive, and when all 
 trade is destroyed, and, as necessary consequences, the pro- 
 ducts of their labour are reduced in price, and the necessa- 
 ries of life enormously high, it would seem almost impossible 
 for the people of Maryland to bear any additional burthens. 
 
64 
 
 The money wanted for the defence of the State, we appre- 
 hend, therefore can be obtained only by loan. It is difficult 
 to determine to what extent we can calculate upon this re- 
 source. A great part of that already negotiated is payable 
 in a short time, and to preserve the credit of the State it is 
 essential that some judicious system should be adopted, and 
 ample funds pledged to secure the punctual payment of the 
 interest, as well as the discharge of the principal, when due. 
 
 Immediately after the Resolve of the Legislature, author- 
 izing the borrowing of $450,000 was passed, the Treasurer 
 was directed to inquire of the several Banks of Baltimore, 
 and the Farmer's Bank of Maryland, -upon what terms and 
 to what amount they could loan the State. The whole 
 amount offered was only $425,000, of which the State bor- 
 rowed $300,000. A greater sum might be probably obtained 
 at this time from these institutions, and from private indi- 
 viduals. 
 
 Adequate protection can be afforded only by the General 
 Government, and when immense sums are to be drawn from 
 the pockets of our own Citizens, a hope may be indulged 
 that a portion of it at least will be employed in the defence 
 of our shores. 
 
 ' It will be for the wisdom of the General Assembly to de- 
 cide in what manner the claim of the State to protection 
 from the General Government shall be made. We must be 
 permitted to remark, that to give to our citizens any assur- 
 ances of the ability of the State, without the aid of the 
 National authority, to afford them adequate protection, 
 would be to practice a cruel deception upon them. 
 
 The State itself, so far as it may be compelled to engage 
 in its own defence, must rely principally upon the Militia, 
 and, therefore, every attention should be paid to the laws 
 for its government. In addition to this, we must suggest 
 
65 
 
 the propriety, if found necessary, of authorizing a small 
 number of troops to be raised at the expense, and for the 
 defence of the State. The advantage of having disciplined 
 soldiers to co-operate with the Militia, when embodied, 
 must be obvious. The expense, too, of that description of 
 force would be much less than that incurred by calling out 
 the same number of Militia. 
 
 We have already recommended the encouragement of 
 mounted volunteers. As there are in the State more corps of 
 cavalry than can be employed, it would be proper to author- 
 ize the Executive to accept of their tender of service as 
 mounted Infantry. 
 
 It will be necessary also to procure a sufficient number of 
 tents, and other articles necessary for the accomodation of 
 the Militia when in service. The State at present is misera- 
 bly supplied in these articles, and from the want of them 
 during the past season those of our fellow-citizens who have 
 been upon tours of duty, have suffered greatly. 
 
 We have the honour to be your obedient servant, 
 
 LEV. WINDER. 
 To John Hanson Thomas, Esq., Chairman of the Com- 
 mittee on the defenceless and unprotected situation in 
 which the State has been left by the General Govern- 
 ment, &c, &c. 
 
 Letter from Alexander Contee Hanson to John Hanson 
 Thomas, relative to the re-publication of the "Federal Re- 
 publican' in Baltimore: 
 
 ROCKVILLE, MD., July 14, (l8l2.) 
 
 My dear Friend : — 
 
 # * * # * * * 
 
 My plans are at length arranged, and will be ready for 
 execution on Monday week, but must be kept profoundly 
 9 
 
66 
 
 secret. On Monday week the Federal Republican re-appears 
 at Baltimore and Georgetown at the same time. A brave 
 and trusty friend, of Baltimore, now with me, is to fortify a 
 three-story brick house, surrounded with a brick wall, fifteen 
 feet high, and it is to be garrisoned by a party from Mont- 
 gomery, to be joined by twenty chosen fellows in Baltimore. 
 We will live there a week, all things being prepared for our 
 support, and comfortable entertainment, during which we 
 will put the civil authority and the Washington Society up- 
 on their legs again, or we will win laurels from the mob. 
 We all went out to Anderson's last evening, and finally set- 
 tled our plans of operations. He at once said he was already 
 pledged to go with me, and u was not only willing, but anx- 
 ious." Lingan also declared himself ready, the evening 
 before last. Now this is to beg of you to convey information 
 to Colonel Lynn, to whom I am solemnly pledged to give 
 notice in time for him to join us ; Rockville is to be the rally- 
 ing point, and we all assemble Saturday evening in time to 
 set out Sunday morning. Glory will crown our enterprise, 
 and if we only kill as many of the mob, as they destroyed | 
 type, we shall certainly leave the Federalists of Baltimore in 
 the majority. As soon as we arrive in Baltimore, and get 
 into our Castle, a note will be dispatched to the Mayor, in- 
 forming him of our arrival, of the street and number from 
 which the paper will be issued, and of my determination to 
 defend the house at every extremity. It will be the proudest 
 moment of my life, when I take possession of the house, and 
 each man has his place assigned him. When I see you, all 
 our plans will be unfolded, meantime apprize Lynn and be 
 close. I have pledged myself to the Baltimore party, to be 
 up on the day appointed, if only ten men join me. The 
 standard being once erected in Baltimore, there will be no 
 difficulty in getting men, they will flock to it, when they see 
 
67 
 
 us able and determined to defend ourselves. The main 
 point will be, to keep out of our garrison, men who will 
 come there to preach moderation, and damp our ardor. As 
 I shall take care of the house and shall place it under the 
 direction of Lingan, the discipline and formality of a garri- 
 son shall be observed. 
 
 I am impatient for the hour to arrive ; what a triumph we 
 shall gain over the Democrats ; what an example we shall set 
 the Federalists ; what will Madison and his minions think 
 when they hear that Hanson is issuing his paper from a for- 
 tified and regularly garrisoned house? My bosom is a very 
 furnace. 
 
 Yours ever faithfully and affectionately, 
 
 A. C. HANSON. 
 
 Letter from John Hanson Thomas, to his wife, relative to 
 to the mob and massacre in Baltimore, July 28th, 1812. 
 
 Thursday Evening, (July 30th. 18 12.) 
 
 I have fearful tidings to communicate from Baltimore — 
 yesterday was a day of dreadful intelligence to us. In the 
 morning we heard, and the account was confirmed by two of 
 the party who arrived at Frederick, that Alexander Hanson 
 and his friends, to the number of twenty-two, after having 
 repelled and killed several of the mob, who made an attack 
 on the house on Monday, when the paper was issued, were 
 induced by the treachery of the civil authorities and the 
 weak advise of General Lee, contrary to Hanson's solemn 
 exhortation and prophetic resolution to surrender themselves 
 prisoners ; and were marched to the Jail under the most 
 solemn assurances of the Mayor and General Strieker ; 
 
68 
 
 £ 
 f 
 
 that they should be protected, and that in violation of this 
 sacred pledge, they were left without a guard, and all brutally 
 sacrificed, with the exception of only five, who escaped. 
 
 In the evening my sister and Mary Hanson came in the 
 stage and brought intelligence, that several of those whom 
 the mob believed they had murdered, notwithstanding the 
 most brutal, savage cruelty, exercised on their bodies, were 
 still alive; that the poor, noble, gallant Hanson, was among 
 the number who might live, and that Dr. Alexander was 
 bringing him u-p in a hack. At sunset a party of us left 
 town and came to Dr. Warfield's. At 3 o'clock in the morn- 
 ing we found three of our friends, who had been brought up 
 here, in the most horrid condition, and that Hanson was 
 fifteen miles below, at Judge Ridgely's. 
 
 We had found Mrs. Hanson at the Poplar Springs, in a 
 state of wretched uncertainty, but while we were with her 
 a messenger arrived from Judge Ridgely's, with news from 
 her husband, desiring her to meet him at Dr. Warfield's to- 
 day. We pushed on, collected a military party at Dr. War- 
 field's, and proceeded this morning to Judge Ridgely's, from 
 whence we brought poor Hanson and a mangled friend up 
 to the Doctor's, about an hour ago, where we met his family 
 and four other associates lying here in the most horrible and 
 shocking condition, but they are in the most benevolent 
 quarters, and I pray to God may survive. 
 
 I have not time for particulars, and had intended to go to 
 , Frederick to-night, and go on to Honeywood tomorrow, ap- 
 prehending that intelligence might reach you, which might 
 occasion alarm, but being in a perfectly safe and comfortable 
 place, and not having slept any last night, my friends insist 
 upon it that I ought to take rest, and one of them has un- 
 dertaken to send this letter to-night, for the boys to carry 
 up to-morrow. I have consented reluctantly to stay, though 
 
6g 
 
 I believe if you could direct me, you would insist upon my 
 not venturing out to-night, to endure further fatigue. 
 
 General Lingan has died of his wounds — he was most in- 
 humanly butchered. This moment a letter from Baltimore 
 states that General Lee, who was supposed desperate, may 
 possibly survive ; all of them were brutally, most brutally 
 mangled, in a manner that would not be thought credible 
 in this Country, and which, when I come to relate to you the 
 particulars, as I hope to do in a few days, you will agree with 
 me, perhaps, that it is worse even, then anything you have 
 read of the revolutionary hell-hounds of France. Had 
 Hanson not been overruled by poor Lee, he would have 
 brought off his whole party completely safe and triumphant ; 
 even as it was, when the mob broke into the cell of the 
 prison, such of his friends as escaped, were indebted to his 
 presence of mind and intrepidity in knocking out the light 
 in the mob's hands, and mixing among them. After the 
 ruffians had supposed Hanson entirely dead, they tried the 
 most shocking cruelty upon him to see if he would move ; 
 but here again his wondrous extraordinary fortitude and 
 self-possession, in the midst of excruciating torment, saved 
 him, for he neither supplicated, looked, breathed or moved. 
 His escape, and the escape of others, if under the mercy of 
 God it proves to be an escape from death, is miraculous. 
 
 I enclose you the paper which was issued on Monday, 
 when in the morning near two hundred new subscribers from 
 the neighboring counties, and a list from Massachusetts of 
 five hundred, I am told, were sent to the office. I am told, 
 I say, for the poor fellow can hardly speak himself. 
 
 In this situation, and the wretchedness of his poor wife, 
 I confess I should not know how to leave them this even- 
 ing. Charles Hanson is here, and the house is crowded 
 with friends. This dreadful account will probably prevent 
 
7o 
 
 our Court from sitting long. Frank Key was here to-day, 
 and has gone on in quest of more certain information of 
 Daniel Murray, who is one of the suffering victims. 
 
 * * * Yours affectionately, 
 
 J. HANSON THOMAS. 
 
 The following letter was written by John Hanson, Chair- 
 man of the Committee of Safety, Frederick County, and 
 presented to John Hancock, the President of Continental 
 Congress, by Thos. Johnson, one of the Delegates from the 
 State of Maryland. 
 
 Frederick Town, Frederick Co., Md., 
 
 November 24th, 1775. 
 
 Sir : — I am directed by the Committee of Public Safety, 
 of this county, to transmit to you copies of the examina- 
 tions of Allen Cameron^ John Smith, and John Connelly, 
 and a letter to one John Gibson, of Fort Dunmore, from 
 Connelly, and Lord Dunmore's speech to " White Eyes " 
 (of the Delaware tribe of Indians,) and proposals by Con- 
 nelly and General Gage, of Boston, for the raising of an 
 army for the destruction of the Liberties of the Colonies. 
 Any order relative to the prisoners will be strictly observed. 
 The Committee and inhabitants of this County being de- 
 termined to pursue every measure which the Congress may 
 recommend to them, and necessary for the preservation of 
 these colonies at this time of imminent danger. 
 
 I am, sir, with great respect, 
 
 JOHN HANSON, 
 
 To the Congress. 
 
7i 
 
 From John Hanson to Dr. Philip Thomas. 
 
 Philadelphia, February 28th, 1 7 8 1 . 
 
 Dear Doctor : 
 
 I congratulate you on the important blow given by Count 
 D'Estaing to the British fleet of the Western Islands— an ac- 
 count of which you have in the inclosed paper — the same 
 intelligence comes by a vessel just arrived here from 
 Havana, and I believe the truth of it may be depended upon. 
 Our affairs to the Southward brighten fast ; it is to be hoped 
 a good account will be shortly given of Master Cornwallis, if 
 General Green can avoid coming to a general action for a 
 few days. I think Cornwallis' army must be destroyed. 
 The English ships are blocked up at Portsmouth by a sixty- 
 four and two French frigates. A detachment from the 
 main army of about fifteen hundred men are on the march, 
 commanded by the Marquis de Lafayette, destined for 
 Portsmouth ; their route by way of the head of Elk, and 
 from thence by water. It is to be hoped that the State of 
 Maryland will give all the assistance they can in this enter- 
 prise; they have some armed vessels at Baltimore and An- 
 napolis, and men surely may be had. This expedition has 
 endeavored to be kept secret, but I believe to no purpose ; 
 however, you will be cautious to whom you mention it. I 
 would not choose it should be known you have it from me. 
 
 The extravagant price of goods here, especially white 
 broad cloth, made me hesitate for some time whether you 
 would be willing to have them on such terms or not, but as 
 there is no possibility of their being cheaper, and consider- 
 ing the necessity you may conceive yourself under, of having 
 the cloth, I have sent it with the other articles for Jane, an 
 account of which you have below : 
 
 2y 2 yards superfine white broad-cloth, @ $1200, S3 000 
 ]/ 2 yard blue kersamers, ----- 300 
 
72 
 
 I double thick twist, ----- 56 
 
 2j{ yards blue durants, @ $110, - - - 247^ 
 1% " gauze scotch, @ 60, - - 90 
 
 1 yard silk gauze, ______ 120 
 
 1 hat, - - - - - - - 1200 
 
 $5013^ 
 
 By 30 new dollars @ 75, $2250. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 JOHN HANSON. 
 
 From John Hanson to Dr. Philip Thomas. 
 
 Philadelphia, October 2nd, 1780. 
 
 Dear Doctor : 
 
 # -X- -3* 4f -5f * , * * * 
 
 The following is an extract of General Gates' letter to 
 General Washington, dated 3rd inst. : 
 
 " I had the honor the day before yesterday, to receive 
 your Excellency's letter of date the 8th August, from Orange 
 Town. It gives me infinite satisfaction to find you had 
 baffled Sir Henry Clinton's designs, and was to all appear- 
 ances in so prosperous a condition. Heaven grant you the 
 greatest honor and success. If I can yet render good service 
 to the United States, it will be necessary it should be seen, 
 that I have the support of Congress and your Excellency ; 
 otherwise some men may think they please my superiors by 
 blaming me, and thus recommend themselves to favor. 
 But you, sir, will be too generous to lend your ear to such 
 men. if such there be, and will show your greatness of soul 
 rather by protecting than slighting the unfortunate. If on 
 the contrary, I am not supported, and countenance is given 
 
73 
 
 to every one who will speak disrespectfully of me. it will be 
 better for Congress to remove me at once from a command, 
 where I shall be unable to render them any good service ; 
 this, sir, I submit to your candor and honor, and shall cheer- 
 fully await the decision of my superior. With the warmest 
 wishes for your prosperity, and. the sincerest sentiments of 
 esteem and regard, I am. &c." 
 
 How is the mighty fallen, and the proud humbled ; who 
 could have expected such humiliating language from the 
 man who aspired to be placed at the head of our army, and 
 to the man, too, whom he had endeavored to supplant ? 
 
 The enclosed letters will inform you of the most horrid 
 plot that ever was conceived by the heart of man, and had 
 it succeeded, would have been a most fatal stroke to the 
 liberties of America. The fort at West Point was not only 
 to have been delivered up to the enemy, but our worthy 
 General was also to have been put into their hands. The 
 General that day came to Arnold's quarters, which was at 
 Robinson's house, on the opposite side of the river from the 
 Fort, where he intended to have stayed that night. A 
 number of men who were prepared for the purpose were to 
 have surrounded the house in the night, and carried him off, 
 but thank God, all has been prevented by apprehending the 
 villain Andre, who I hope will shortly be executed. 
 
 Though we were led to believe that the great prepara- 
 tions for a large embarkation of troops at New York, was 
 intended to operate against Rhode Island, or to the South- 
 ward, it now appears their object was West Point. The 
 French fleet is not arrived yet, and as the season is so far 
 advanced, it is not probable, I think, they will come at all ; 
 indeed, I don't see any great good could be expected from 
 them, unless "they were to go to the Southward. I never 
 
 10 
 
74 
 
 was very sanguine in my expectations against New York, 
 and it is now too late to attempt the taking of that place. 
 
 Yours affectionately, 
 
 JOHN HANSON. 
 
 From John Hanson to Dr. Philip Thomas. 
 
 Philadelphia, October ioth, 1780. 
 
 Dear Doctor : 
 
 -St.* 
 
 Andre was hanged on Monday last. He made no discov- 
 eries. He was asked at the gallows if he had anything to 
 say. His answer was, that he was not afraid to die ; that 
 he was prepared for it, but was concerned at the manner ; 
 he would much rather have been shot ; desired that it might 
 be taken notice that his behavior at his execution was such 
 as became a gentleman and a soldier. He was dressed in a 
 new suit of regimentals with his sword by his side. His 
 friend Smith, it is said, will share the same fate in a few 
 days. Old Franks, of this city, is taken upon suspicion of 
 treasonable practices and imprisoned. His son, one of 
 Arnold's aids, it is said, is gone off. 
 
 On the 5th inst., the Commander-in-Chief, by a resolve 
 of Congress, is directed to order a court of inquiry on the 
 conduct of General Gates, and to appoint an officer to take 
 command of the Southern army until such inquiry be made. 
 Some honorable notice will be taken of the Baron de Kalb, 
 who fell so gloriously in the cause of America ; and the 
 thanks of Congress will be returned to Generals Smallwood 
 and Gist, and to the officers and men under their command, 
 for their conduct and bravery in the late action near 
 Camden. 
 
75 
 
 All expectations of the arrival of the French fleet are at 
 an end. Ternay. by erecting fortifications on different parts 
 of Rhode Island, has secured his fleet and the armv against 
 any attempts of the enemy : this being the case, and Clinton 
 having failed in his designs against West Point, it is more 
 than probable his next object will be to the southward : the 
 climate is favorable for a winter campaign, and a considera- 
 ble number of men may be spared from Xew York without 
 hazarding that place, as no attempt can be made by us on 
 that place with any prospect of success, while the enemy is 
 so far superior at sea. 
 
 Please tell Toney to get his horses fat, or I shall be much 
 displeased when I return. 
 
 Yours, 
 
 JOHN HAXSOX. 
 
 From John Jay i formerly Chief Justice of United 
 States,) to Dr. Philip Thomas. 
 
 Bedford, West Chester Co., 
 
 State of Xew York, 2nd Sept., 1807. 
 
 Sir; — I have received from Mr. Coleman, your letter of 
 the 24th of July, enclosing an oration delivered by your son, 
 at the request of the Washington Society, on the anniver- 
 sary of our Independence : it should have been answered 
 immediately, but sickness constrained me to postpone 
 writing. 
 
 Accept my acknowledgements for the marks of esteem 
 and respect with which you honor me. and for the pleasure 
 with which I have read the oration ; it exhibits indications 
 of genius and eloquence, which naturally afford cordial satis- 
 faction to an affectionate parent, and I congratulate you on 
 the prospect of your having similar and repeated gratifica- 
 tions. 
 
;6 
 
 With the best wishes that this prospect may be realized, 
 and that you and your son may be blessed with many years 
 and opportunities to promote and enjoy each others happi- 
 ness, I have the honor to be, 
 
 Sir, your most obedient servant, 
 
 JOHN JAY. 
 
 Obituary of Mrs. Elizabeth Colston. Died at Honey- 
 wood, in the County of Berkeley, Va., on Friday the 24th 
 inst., Mrs. Elizabeth Colston, relict of Rawleigh Colston, 
 Esq., in the 86th year of her age. This lady was the eldest 
 sister of the late Chief Justice Marshall, whom she strongly 
 resembled in many respects, particularly in the directness 
 and perfect simplicity of her character. Of uncommon clear 
 and vigorous mind, she used every faculty, not to magnify 
 herself, but humbly to direct her to the proper discharge of 
 every social and moral virtue. As a wife, parent, mistress, 
 relation, neighbor and friend, she attracted the love and 
 esteem of all who approached her. More especially was 
 her Christian character marked and decisive, seeming to 
 strengthen as her physical powers decayed. From the mid- 
 dle of the preceding month, she had been confined to her 
 bed, and suffered much pain. Throughout the whole she 
 was perfectly resigned to the will of God; yet constantly 
 praying, if it were His will, she might be permitted to depart 
 and go hence. It. was natural that her devoted family 
 should pray for her recovery, but this she requested them 
 not to do, as her strongest desire was to be with her Lord ? 
 in whom she trusted. She retained her self-possession to 
 the last, and although she seldom spoke voluntarily, yet 
 always when addressed, returned direct and appropriate 
 answers. Her surrounding friends, therefore, had from her- 
 
77 
 
 self the comfortable assurance that all her thoughts and all 
 her hopes were placed on Jesus. She was evidently engaged 
 to within a quarter of an hour of her dissolution, in prayer, 
 and passed without a groan or struggle from time into eter- 
 nity, leaving to those who witnessed it, a beautiful example 
 of the peaceful death of the righteous. 
 
 The following is taken from the family Bible of Dr. John 
 Hanson Thomas : 
 
 John Hanson, born 171 5, died 1783, aged 68. 
 
 Mrs. Jane Contee Hanson, died 21st February, 18 12, in 
 the 85th year of her age, being 84 in the September pre- 
 ceding. 
 
 Catharine Contee Hanson, born 16th November, 1744. 
 Jane Contee Hanson, born 23rd February, 1747, died 17th 
 June, 1 78 1. 
 
 Alexander Contee Hanson, born 22nd October, 1749, died 
 1806. 
 
 Elizabeth Flanson, born 9th December, 1 75 1 , died 12th 
 October, 1753. 
 
 John Hanson, born 18th March, 1753, died 6th March, 
 1760. 
 
 Samuel Hanson, born 25th August, 1756, died 29th June, 
 
 1781. 
 
 Peter Contee Hanson, born 9th December, 1758, killed at 
 Fort Washington, November, 1776. 
 
 Grace Hanson, born 19th September, 1762, died 10th 
 August, 1763. 
 
 [The above was written by John Hanson, with the excep- 
 tion of the first two.] 
 
 John Hanson Thomas, born 16th May, 1779, anc * Mary 
 Isham Colston, born 23rd January, 1789; married by the 
 
7? 
 
 Rev. Mr. Belmain, Thursday, 5th October, 1809, and had 
 issue : 
 
 Philip Hanson Thomas, born 10th September, 18 10. 
 
 Rawleigh Colston Thomas, born 12th August, 181 2. 
 
 Charles Edward Thomas, born 23rd September, 181 3. 
 
 [The above was written by John Hanson Thomas.] 
 
 John Hanson Thomas, Junior, born 13th May, 181 5, died 
 July 29th, aged 2 months, 16 days. 
 
 John Hanson Thomas, Senior, died May 2nd, 181 5, aged 
 35 years, 11 months, 16 days. 
 
 Philip Hanson Thomas, died November nth, 1821, aged 
 1 1 years, 2 months and 1 day. 
 
 Rawleigh Colston Thomas, died June 16th, 1826, aged 
 13 years, 10 months and 4 days. 
 
 [The above was written by Mrs. M. J. Thomas.] 
 
 John Hanson Thomas, whose name was changed from 
 Charles Edward, born 23rd September, 181 3 ; and Annie 
 Campbell Gordon, the daughter of Basil Gordon, Esq., of 
 Falmouth, Virginia, born 29th October, 1819; married by 
 Rev. Mr. Maguire, on Wednesday, 15th November, 1837, 
 at Falmouth, and have issue : 
 
 Bazil Gordon, born Sunday, April 14th, 1839. 
 
 John Hanson, born Tuesday, September, 21st 1841. 
 
 A girl, born October 18th, 1843. 
 
 Raleigh Colston, born October 8th, 1844. 
 
 Douglas Hamilton, born January 1st, 1847. 
 
 Annie Gordon, born May 20th, 1849. 
 
 Mary Randolph, born October 10th, 1851. 
 
 John Marshall, born Monday, December 5th, 1853. 
 
 [The above was written by Dr. John Hanson Thomas.] 
 
Heraldic (Description of Coats of Arms : 
 THOMAS. 
 
 ARMS. — Sable, a chevron, ermine, a canton of last. 
 CREST. — A demi-unicorn, ermine, armed and crined, or, 
 supporting a shield of sable. 
 
 Motto. — " Virtus invicta gloriosa." 
 
 GORDON. 
 ARMS. — Azure, three boars' heads, erased, or. 
 CREST. — A boar's head as in the arms. 
 MOTTO. — "Forward without fear." 
 
 [Note. — Our family have always used the motto: "Ammo non 
 astutia," but from certain information, and from a careful examina- 
 tion of the subject, I am convinced it is wrong, and have therefore 
 taken the liberty of correcting it. — Douglas H. Thomas.] 
 
 KNOX. 
 
 Arms. — Gules, a falcon volant, argent, within an orle, 
 wary, argent. 
 
 CREST. — A falcon perched ; supporters: two falcons, wings 
 expanded, ducally gorged, chained, beaked, taloned, or. 
 Motto. — "Moreo et profitior." 
 
 HANSON. 
 
 ARMS. — Azure, a cross battonee (or cross treffles, fr. ), or 
 cantoned by four fleur de lis argent. 
 CREST. — A martlett, proper. 
 MOTTO. — " Sola virtus invicta." 
 
 CONTEE. 
 
 Arms. — Gules and azure, a chevron, ermine between three 
 wolves passant, or. 
 
 COLSTON. 
 
 Arms. — Argent, between two dolphins, haurient respect- 
 | ing each other, an anchor, all proper. 
 
 CREST. — A dolphin, embowed, proper. 
 MOTTO. — " Go and do thou likewise." 
 
 L ... 
 
■ 
 
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 168*1 2-62G