Spencer Roane
Encyclopedia
Spencer Roane was a Virginia
lawyer and politician who served in the Virginia House of Delegates
and as a judge of the state's highest court.
Roane was born in Essex County, Virginia
, on April 4, 1762. His father was William Roane, a Scotsman's son who had emigrated from Ireland
in 1741 and served in the House of Burgesses
before the American Revolutionary War
.
He attended private schools and entered the College of William and Mary
about 1777. In 1780, Roane studied law under Chancellor George Wythe
. After several years of practicing law, he entered the House of Delegates. In 1789, he was made a judge of the general court where he continued until 1794 when he was appointed a judge of the Court of Appeals
. He remained a judge on the high court until his death on September 4, 1822. Twice in his lifetime Judge Roane was one of the people appointed to revise the laws of the state. There is a record of correspondence between former president Thomas Jefferson and Judge Roane.
Spencer Roane was named for Col. Nicholas Spencer
, acting Governor of the state of Virginia
in 1683-1684, although Roane wasn't descended from Spencer, who was a family relation. (Col. John Mottrom, first member of the Virginia House of Burgesses
for Northumberland County, had a son John Mottrom, who in turn had a son named Spencer Mottrom, named for Gov. Nicholas Spencer, who was married to John Mottrom Jr.'s sister. Capt. Spencer Mottrom's daughter Mary, in turn, was married to Joseph Ball, whose son Spencer Ball had a son Spencer Mottrom Ball, whose daughter married William Roane, father of Justice Spencer Roane.)
Spencer Roane was married to Anne Henry, the daughter of Patrick Henry
, Virginia governor and patriot. His son, William H. Roane
, was a U.S. Senator
from Virginia.
Roane County
, West Virginia
and Spencer
, the county seat, are both named for Judge Roane. (Roane County, Tennessee, is named for a cousin, Archibald Roane
.)
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
lawyer and politician who served in the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
and as a judge of the state's highest court.
Roane was born in Essex County, Virginia
Essex County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,989 people, 3,995 households, and 2,740 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile . There were 4,926 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile...
, on April 4, 1762. His father was William Roane, a Scotsman's son who had emigrated from Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1741 and served in the House of Burgesses
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...
before the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
He attended private schools and entered the College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
about 1777. In 1780, Roane studied law under Chancellor George Wythe
George Wythe
George Wythe was an American lawyer, a judge, a prominent law professor and "Virginia's foremost classical scholar." He was a teacher and mentor of Thomas Jefferson. Wythe's signature is positioned at the head of the list of seven Virginia signatories on the United States Declaration of Independence...
. After several years of practicing law, he entered the House of Delegates. In 1789, he was made a judge of the general court where he continued until 1794 when he was appointed a judge of the Court of Appeals
Supreme Court of Virginia
The Supreme Court of Virginia is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It primarily hears appeals from the trial-level city and county Circuit Courts, as well as the criminal law, family law and administrative law cases that go through the Court of Appeals of Virginia. It is one of...
. He remained a judge on the high court until his death on September 4, 1822. Twice in his lifetime Judge Roane was one of the people appointed to revise the laws of the state. There is a record of correspondence between former president Thomas Jefferson and Judge Roane.
Spencer Roane was named for Col. Nicholas Spencer
Nicholas Spencer
Col. Nicholas Spencer was a London merchant who emigrated to Westmoreland County, Virginia, where he became a planter and which he represented in the Virginia House of Burgesses...
, acting Governor of the state of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in 1683-1684, although Roane wasn't descended from Spencer, who was a family relation. (Col. John Mottrom, first member of the Virginia House of Burgesses
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...
for Northumberland County, had a son John Mottrom, who in turn had a son named Spencer Mottrom, named for Gov. Nicholas Spencer, who was married to John Mottrom Jr.'s sister. Capt. Spencer Mottrom's daughter Mary, in turn, was married to Joseph Ball, whose son Spencer Ball had a son Spencer Mottrom Ball, whose daughter married William Roane, father of Justice Spencer Roane.)
Spencer Roane was married to Anne Henry, the daughter of Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry was an orator and politician who led the movement for independence in Virginia in the 1770s. A Founding Father, he served as the first and sixth post-colonial Governor of Virginia from 1776 to 1779 and subsequently, from 1784 to 1786...
, Virginia governor and patriot. His son, William H. Roane
William H. Roane
William Henry Roane was a politician from Virginia. He was the son of Judge Spencer Roane and the grandson of founding father Patrick Henry.Born in Virginia, Roane pursued in preparatory studies as a young man...
, was a U.S. Senator
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...
from Virginia.
Roane County
Roane County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,446 people, 6,161 households, and 4,479 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 7,360 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
and Spencer
Spencer, West Virginia
Spencer is a city in Roane County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,352 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Roane County. Spencer is the home of the annual West Virginia Black Walnut Festival. Points of interest include Charles Fork Lake, Chrystal Water and Power...
, the county seat, are both named for Judge Roane. (Roane County, Tennessee, is named for a cousin, Archibald Roane
Archibald Roane
Archibald Roane was the second Governor of Tennessee, serving from 1801 to 1803.-Biography:Roane was born in 1759 or 1760 in Derry Township, Pennsylvania, then a part of Lancaster County. He was the son of Andrew and Margaret Walker Roane...
.)