Charles Willing Byrd
Encyclopedia
Charles Willing Byrd was an early Ohio
political leader and jurist. He was the son of Colonel
William Byrd III
and Mary Willing Byrd
. He was also the grandson of William Byrd II
, who is considered the founder of Richmond, Virginia
.
, Charles City County, Virginia
to the wealthy and powerful Byrd family of Virginia founded by William Byrd I
(Charles William Byrd's great-grandfather) who received a 1200 acres (4.9 km²) grant on October 27, 1673 on an area of the James River
that would later become the site of Richmond, Virginia
. Charles' mother made sure that her son received a good education after his father, William Byrd III, committed suicide in January 1777 when Charles was only seven years-old. Charles was sent to live in Philadelphia with his uncle, Thomas Powell, who was a member of the Society of Friends and a professor at The College of William & Mary. He read law under Gouverneur Morris
while in Philadelphia to become a lawyer. He was accepted into the bar after completing his schooling in Philadelphia in 1794.
land agent for financier Robert Morris (most famous for financing the revolution), where he was responsible for maintaining, selling, and acquiring real estate for Morris. While in Kentucky, he met and married Sarah Waters Meade, who was the daughter of his father's friend Col. David Meade on April 6, 1797. After completing his remaining business, he returned to Philadelphia to open a law practice that same year. In 1799, Charles moved to the Northwest Territory
, where due to his legal background, he quickly became involved in government affairs.
resigned his seat as Secretary of Northwest Territory after the territorial legislature sent Harrison to the House of Representatives
as a non-voting delegate, Byrd was appointed by President John Adams
on October 3, 1799, and took his oath of office before Governor St. Clair
on February 26, 1800. During the time Charles was acting as secretary of the Northwest Territory, he also served as a Hamilton county
delegate to the 1802 Ohio Constitutional Convention
.
removed Arthur St. Clair
from the office of Territorial Governor, Charles became acting governor as well as secretary of the territory on November 22, 1802. Charles stayed as Secretary of the Northwest Territory intil Ohio became a state on March 1, 1803 and stayed as Territorial Governor until Edward Tiffin
was duly elected governor of the state of Ohio on March 3, 1803.
nominated him to be the first Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Ohio, a new seat created by . Byrd was confirmed by the United States Senate
, and received his commission, on March 3, 1803. The first Court sat in the statehouse at Chillicothe, Ohio
on June 6, 1803. The court in its first session participated in the aftermath of the trial of Aaron Burr
. The indictment charged Burr and Harman Blennerhassett
, with commencing an expedition to wage war against Spain
via Mexico
, but the charges were eventually dropped in 1819. Another of the notable cases of this court was Osborn v. Bank of the United States
, which arose out of the attempt of the Ohio Legislature to tax out of existence the bank's branches in Cincinnati and Chillicothe by imposing an annual $50,000 tax on each. The case reached the United States Supreme Court and the tax was held invalid following the case of McCulloch v. Maryland
. Charles remained on the court until the day of his death on August 25, 1828.
Nathaniel Massie
, a tract of 600 acres (2.4 km²) in Monroe Township, Adams County, Ohio
, known as Buckeye Station and Hurricane Hill. The Byrds' home sat on a ridge overlooking Kentucky and the Ohio River. After Sarah's death on February 21, 1815, Judge Byrd moved to Chillicothe where he lived and worked for a year before moving to West Union, Ohio
.
While residing in West Union, he met and married Hannah Miles (died August 14, 1839)on March 8, 1818. From his diary, Judge Byrd showed an extreme consciousness on matters of physical health and religion. Charles purchased an area called "Sinking Spring
" in Highland County
because he believed the waters there possessed medicinal properties conducive to health and longevity. He guarded the diets of his family and himself. By his place at the dining table, Byrd kept a small silver scale, upon which he weighed every article of food allowing a certain quantity of fat, sugar and phosphates with each portion given to himself and his family. Charles along with at least one of his sons had a deep interest in the Shakers
movement, giving them significant amounts of money.
The children of Byrd's first marriage were Mary Powell Byrd, Kidder Meade Byrd, William Silonwee Byrd, Evalyn Harrison Byrd. The children of his second marriage were Jane Byrd and Samuel Otway Byrd. Judge Byrd died on August 25, 1828 at the age of fifty-eight and was interred at the old rural cemetery, Sinking Spring
, Highland County, Ohio
.
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
political leader and jurist. He was the son of Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
William Byrd III
William Byrd III
William Byrd III was the son of William Byrd II and the grandson of William Byrd I. He inherited his family's land in Virginia and continued their planter prestige as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses.He chose to fight in the French and Indian War rather than spend much time in Richmond...
and Mary Willing Byrd
Mary Willing Byrd
thumb|Mary Willing Byrd . Portrait by [[John Wollaston |John Wollaston]]; original in the collection of the Virginia Historical Society, Richmond...
. He was also the grandson of William Byrd II
William Byrd II
Colonel William Byrd II was a planter, slave-owner and author from Charles City County, Virginia. He is considered the founder of Richmond, Virginia.-Biography:...
, who is considered the founder of Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
.
Early life
Charles Willing Byrd was born on July 26, 1770 in WestoverWestover Plantation
Westover Plantation is located on the north bank of the James River in Charles City County, Virginia. It is located south of State Route 5, a scenic byway which runs between the independent cities of Richmond and Williamsburg...
, Charles City County, Virginia
Charles City County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,926 people, 2,670 households, and 1,975 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 2,895 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
to the wealthy and powerful Byrd family of Virginia founded by William Byrd I
William Byrd I
William Byrd I was a native of Shadwell, London, England. His father, John Byrd was a London goldsmith with ancestral roots in Cheshire, England....
(Charles William Byrd's great-grandfather) who received a 1200 acres (4.9 km²) grant on October 27, 1673 on an area of the James River
James River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
that would later become the site of Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. Charles' mother made sure that her son received a good education after his father, William Byrd III, committed suicide in January 1777 when Charles was only seven years-old. Charles was sent to live in Philadelphia with his uncle, Thomas Powell, who was a member of the Society of Friends and a professor at The College of William & Mary. He read law under Gouverneur Morris
Gouverneur Morris
Gouverneur Morris , was an American statesman, a Founding Father of the United States, and a native of New York City who represented Pennsylvania in the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He was a signatory to the Articles of Confederation. Morris was also an author of large sections of the...
while in Philadelphia to become a lawyer. He was accepted into the bar after completing his schooling in Philadelphia in 1794.
Legal and political career
After being accepted by the bar, Charles then became the KentuckyKentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
land agent for financier Robert Morris (most famous for financing the revolution), where he was responsible for maintaining, selling, and acquiring real estate for Morris. While in Kentucky, he met and married Sarah Waters Meade, who was the daughter of his father's friend Col. David Meade on April 6, 1797. After completing his remaining business, he returned to Philadelphia to open a law practice that same year. In 1799, Charles moved to the Northwest Territory
Northwest Territory
The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, more commonly known as the Northwest Territory, was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 13, 1787, until March 1, 1803, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Ohio...
, where due to his legal background, he quickly became involved in government affairs.
Secretary of Northwest Territory
When Captain William Henry HarrisonWilliam Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
resigned his seat as Secretary of Northwest Territory after the territorial legislature sent Harrison to the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
as a non-voting delegate, Byrd was appointed by President John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
on October 3, 1799, and took his oath of office before Governor St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair was an American soldier and politician. Born in Scotland, he served in the British Army during the French and Indian War before settling in Pennsylvania, where he held local office...
on February 26, 1800. During the time Charles was acting as secretary of the Northwest Territory, he also served as a Hamilton county
Hamilton County, Ohio
As of 2000, there were 845,303 people, 346,790 households, and 212,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,075 people per square mile . There were 373,393 housing units at an average density of 917 per square mile...
delegate to the 1802 Ohio Constitutional Convention
Ohio Constitutional Convention (1802)
The Enabling Act of 1802 was passed on April 30, 1802 by the Seventh Congress of the United States. This act authorized the residents of the eastern portion of the Northwest Territory to form the state of Ohio and join the U.S. on an equal footing with the other states...
.
Territorial Governor
When President Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
removed Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair was an American soldier and politician. Born in Scotland, he served in the British Army during the French and Indian War before settling in Pennsylvania, where he held local office...
from the office of Territorial Governor, Charles became acting governor as well as secretary of the territory on November 22, 1802. Charles stayed as Secretary of the Northwest Territory intil Ohio became a state on March 1, 1803 and stayed as Territorial Governor until Edward Tiffin
Edward Tiffin
Edward Tiffin was a Democratic-Republican politician from Ohio, and first Governor of the state.-Biography:Sources indicate that he was born in Carlisle; however he may have been born in or near Workington — also in the then county of Cumberland, England...
was duly elected governor of the state of Ohio on March 3, 1803.
Federal Judge
On March 1, 1803, President Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
nominated him to be the first Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Ohio, a new seat created by . Byrd was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, and received his commission, on March 3, 1803. The first Court sat in the statehouse at Chillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe is a city in and the county seat of Ross County, Ohio, United States.Chillicothe was the first and third capital of Ohio and is located in southern Ohio along the Scioto River. The name comes from the Shawnee name Chalahgawtha, meaning "principal town", as it was a major settlement of...
on June 6, 1803. The court in its first session participated in the aftermath of the trial of Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
. The indictment charged Burr and Harman Blennerhassett
Harman Blennerhassett
Harman Blennerhassett was an Irish-American lawyer, born in Castle Conway in County Kerry, Ireland to Conway Blennerhassett and Elizabeth Lacy. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and in 1790 was called to the Irish bar...
, with commencing an expedition to wage war against Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
via Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, but the charges were eventually dropped in 1819. Another of the notable cases of this court was Osborn v. Bank of the United States
Osborn v. Bank of the United States
Osborn v. Bank of the United States, 22 U.S. 738 , was a case set in the Banking Crisis of 1819, during which many banks, including the Second Bank of the United States, demanded repayment for loans which they had issued on credit that they did not have. This led to an economic downturn and a...
, which arose out of the attempt of the Ohio Legislature to tax out of existence the bank's branches in Cincinnati and Chillicothe by imposing an annual $50,000 tax on each. The case reached the United States Supreme Court and the tax was held invalid following the case of McCulloch v. Maryland
McCulloch v. Maryland
McCulloch v. Maryland, , was a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of the United States. The state of Maryland had attempted to impede operation of a branch of the Second Bank of the United States by imposing a tax on all notes of banks not chartered in Maryland...
. Charles remained on the court until the day of his death on August 25, 1828.
Family life
On June 8, 1807, the Charles and his wife purchased from their brother-in-law, GeneralGeneral
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Nathaniel Massie
Nathaniel Massie
Nathaniel Massie was a frontier surveyor in the Ohio Country who became a prominent land owner, politician, and soldier. He founded fifteen early towns in what became the State of Ohio, including its first capital, Chillicothe...
, a tract of 600 acres (2.4 km²) in Monroe Township, Adams County, Ohio
Monroe Township, Adams County, Ohio
Monroe Township is one of the fifteen townships of Adams County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 735 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the southern part of the county along the Ohio River, it borders the following townships:...
, known as Buckeye Station and Hurricane Hill. The Byrds' home sat on a ridge overlooking Kentucky and the Ohio River. After Sarah's death on February 21, 1815, Judge Byrd moved to Chillicothe where he lived and worked for a year before moving to West Union, Ohio
West Union, Ohio
West Union is a village in Adams County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,903 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Adams County....
.
While residing in West Union, he met and married Hannah Miles (died August 14, 1839)on March 8, 1818. From his diary, Judge Byrd showed an extreme consciousness on matters of physical health and religion. Charles purchased an area called "Sinking Spring
Sinking Spring, Ohio
Sinking Spring is a village in Highland County, Ohio, United States. The population was 158 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sinking Spring is located at ....
" in Highland County
Highland County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 40,875 people, 15,587 households, and 11,394 families residing in the county. The population density was 74 people per square mile . There were 17,583 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
because he believed the waters there possessed medicinal properties conducive to health and longevity. He guarded the diets of his family and himself. By his place at the dining table, Byrd kept a small silver scale, upon which he weighed every article of food allowing a certain quantity of fat, sugar and phosphates with each portion given to himself and his family. Charles along with at least one of his sons had a deep interest in the Shakers
Shakers
The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, known as the Shakers, is a religious sect originally thought to be a development of the Religious Society of Friends...
movement, giving them significant amounts of money.
The children of Byrd's first marriage were Mary Powell Byrd, Kidder Meade Byrd, William Silonwee Byrd, Evalyn Harrison Byrd. The children of his second marriage were Jane Byrd and Samuel Otway Byrd. Judge Byrd died on August 25, 1828 at the age of fifty-eight and was interred at the old rural cemetery, Sinking Spring
Sinking Spring, Ohio
Sinking Spring is a village in Highland County, Ohio, United States. The population was 158 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sinking Spring is located at ....
, Highland County, Ohio
Highland County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 40,875 people, 15,587 households, and 11,394 families residing in the county. The population density was 74 people per square mile . There were 17,583 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
.