Militia Court Martial 1755
This story is brought to you by courtesy of Mike Robinson, author of Winchester Tales and who recently started a series on Ghost Tales. He forwarded this tip to me months ago. I am remiss among other projects detaining me from finding second and third sources to this tip. He found this story in the Handley Archives to me to look over. The archives contain a book of Colonial Soldiers of Frederick County, Virginia, author Wayland, John Walter,printed maybe 1939-1940.
From this tip, I found another book, Virginia's Colonial Soldiers, compiled by Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck, published 1988, that not only contains documents on this court martial but also of many others.
So, here's the story. A court martial of the Militia was held 2 Sept 1755 at the Frederick County Courthouse. That courthouse was on the site of today's Civl War Museum in the 1840 Courthouse on the Loudoun Street walking mall. This was a court martial of the militia. Not of the Rangers. Nor of the Virginia Regiment.
There are a number of familiar names. Some of the militia joined the Rangers and the Virginia Regiment.
Who presided at this court martial?
Lord Fairfax, County Lieutenant.
(he owns a proprietorship of land that is 1.25 million acreas more than the size of Connecticut and is equal to the size of Massachussetts. This proprietorship was like a colony within a colony. )
George William Fairfax, Colonel.
(he married Sara Carey - a woman George Washington adored in existing letters)
Thomas Bryan Martin, Lt Colonel
(who Martinsburg is named after in 1777, a town created by Adam Stephen)
Merdith Helm, Major
(related to the first woman Mayor of Winchester VA?)
Captains
Richard Morgan (Of the Morgan Morgan family?)
Jeremiah Smith (the old Pioneer, battle of Lost River)
John Hardin (High Sheriff)
Lewis Stephen (A town named after him in 1758 called Stephenson, and for a time Newtown and then Stephen City)
William Vance (related to artist?)
Robert Rutherford Clerk of Court of the Court Marital
Captain William Vance return his list of delinquents
Captain Jeremiah Smith returned his list of delinquents
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Mike Robinson, author of the Winchester Tales series, found reference to this court martial in the Handley Archives
Source 1 in the Handley Archives
Colonial Soldiers of Frederick County, Virginia,
Other Sources for this court martial can be found in the book, Colonial Soldiers of Frederick County, Virginia, author Wayland, John Walter, 1872-1962
Date 1939-1940
Description
This book contains copies of court martial records of the French and Indian War period compiled by John Walter Wayland from the back pages of Frederick County, Virginia Deed Book 18. An index is available on pages 115 to 126
Biographical Note
Dr. John Walter Wayland was born on Dec. 8, 1872 to John Wesley and Anna Kagey Wayland in Shenandoah County, Virginia. From 1890 to 1893, he was a teacher in the public schools. He received a B.S. degree from Bridgewater College in Virginia and a Ph.D. in history from the University of Virginia in 1907. From 1899 to 1931, he taught at several institutions including the University of Virginia and Madison College in VA, now known as James Madison University. In 1931, Wayland retired to do more writing and research. During his life he wrote over 40 books and hundreds of articles concerning Virginia history. His major focus was the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Wayland died in 1962.
Source 2
Pages 344 to 346 covers just this 3 Sept 1755 courtmartial in Virginia's Colonial Soldiers, compiled by Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck, published 1988.
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