Theodorick Bland of Cawsons
Encyclopedia
Theodorick Bland also known as Theodorick Bland, Sr. or Theodorick Bland of Cawsons, was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, a clerk of the court of Prince George County, Virginia
, and the father of Congressman Theodorick Bland
.
and Elizabeth Randolph, the daughter of William Randolph I. He has been described as "a plain practical man, with but slender advantages of education, of an ample fortune and respectable character", and "a respected member of Virginia's glittering planter
aristocracy". Reported to be "magnificent", "spacious", and "a hospitable seat of taste and elegance", Bland's plantation
, Cawsons, was located on a promontory where the Appomattox River
turned north to meet the James River
.
Around 1738, Bland married Frances Bolling, the daughter of Drury Bolling. They had six children:
Bland later married Elizabeth Randolph the daughter of Edward Randolph
, the grand-daughter of William Randolph I, and the widow of William Yates
.
On November 15, 1758, Francis Fauquier
, the Lieutenant Governor
of Virginia Colony, appointed Bland colonel of the militia
for Prince George County. Before the American Revolution
, the Bland and Randolph families of Virginia frequently cooperated with each other to manage their plantations. After the Gunpowder Incident
at the beginning of the war, Bland, along with his son, Theodorick Bland Jr, and his son-in-law, John Randolph, offered 40 slaves for sale to raise funds to replace the gunpowder seized by Lord Dunmore
from the magazine
in Williamsburg, Virginia
. Around January 1781, St. George Tucker assisted Bland, his father-in-law, in escaping the advancing British Army commanded by Benedict Arnold
. A few months later, the British Major-General William Phillips ordered that his troops in Prince George County not harm Bland's property.
In 1775, Bland owned a sorrel
mare that had been imported from England by William Byrd III
. Quaker-Lass was described in one stud book as "the finest looking mare in Virginia, of her day".
Bland's paternal uncle was the surveyor
Theodorick Bland.
Prince George County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,047 people, 10,159 households, and 8,096 families residing in the county. The population density was 124 people per square mile . There were 10,726 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile...
, and the father of Congressman Theodorick Bland
Theodorick Bland (congressman)
Theodorick Bland , also known as Theodorick Bland, Jr., was a physician, soldier, and statesman from Prince George County, Virginia...
.
Biography
Bland was the son of Richard BlandRichard Bland (burgess)
Richard Bland , sometimes known as Richard Bland of Jordan's Point, was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, the father of Richard Bland, the son of Theodorick Bland of Westover, and the grandson of Richard Bennett, an English Governor of the Colony of Virginia...
and Elizabeth Randolph, the daughter of William Randolph I. He has been described as "a plain practical man, with but slender advantages of education, of an ample fortune and respectable character", and "a respected member of Virginia's glittering planter
Plantations in the American South
Plantations were an important aspect of the history of the American South, particularly the antebellum .-Planter :The owner of a plantation was called a planter...
aristocracy". Reported to be "magnificent", "spacious", and "a hospitable seat of taste and elegance", Bland's plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
, Cawsons, was located on a promontory where the Appomattox River
Appomattox River
The Appomattox River is a tributary of the James River, approximately long, in central and eastern Virginia in the United States, named for the Appomattocs Indian tribe who lived along its lower banks in the 17th century...
turned north to meet the James River
James River
The James River may refer to:Rivers in the United States and their namesakes* James River * James River , North Dakota, South Dakota* James River * James River * James River...
.
Around 1738, Bland married Frances Bolling, the daughter of Drury Bolling. They had six children:
- Elizabeth "Patsy" Bland (born January 4, 1739) married John Banister and had three sons.
- Theodorick BlandTheodorick Bland (congressman)Theodorick Bland , also known as Theodorick Bland, Jr., was a physician, soldier, and statesman from Prince George County, Virginia...
(March 21, 1741/42) - Mary Bland (born August 22, 1745)
- Ann Bland (born September 5, 1747)
- Jane Bland (born September 30, 1749)
- Frances Bland (born September 24, 1752) first married John Randolph, the son of Richard RandolphRichard RandolphRichard Randolph , sometimes referred to as Richard Randolph of Curles Neck, was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and a Treasurer for the Colony of Virginia...
, and had four children (including John Randolph of RoanokeJohn Randolph of RoanokeJohn Randolph , known as John Randolph of Roanoke, was a planter and a Congressman from Virginia, serving in the House of Representatives , the Senate , and also as Minister to Russia...
); then later married St. George TuckerSt. George TuckerSt. George Tucker was a lawyer, professor of law at the College of William and Mary, and judge of Virginia's highest court. In 1813, upon the nomination of President James Madison, he became the United States district judge for Virginia.-Early life:Born in St. George, Bermuda, near Port Royal...
and had five children.
Bland later married Elizabeth Randolph the daughter of Edward Randolph
Edward Randolph
Edward Randolph , sometimes referred to as Edward Randolph of Bremo, was a ship captain, a London tobacco merchant, and the seventh and youngest son of William Randolph and Mary Isham.-Biography:...
, the grand-daughter of William Randolph I, and the widow of William Yates
William Yates (college president)
William Yates, was a clergyman in the Church of England, educator, fifth president of William and Mary College and is the namesake for Yates Hall on the College's campus-Biography:...
.
On November 15, 1758, Francis Fauquier
Francis Fauquier
Francis Fauquier was a Lieutenant Governor of Virginia Colony , and served as acting governor from 1758 until his death in 1768. He was married to Catherine Dalston....
, the Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
The Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years along with the Governor and Attorney General. The office is currently held by Republican William T. Bolling. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected...
of Virginia Colony, appointed Bland colonel of the militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
for Prince George County. Before the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, the Bland and Randolph families of Virginia frequently cooperated with each other to manage their plantations. After the Gunpowder Incident
Gunpowder Incident
The Gunpowder Incident was a conflict early in the American Revolutionary War between Lord Dunmore, the Royal Governor of the Colony of Virginia, and militia led by Patrick Henry...
at the beginning of the war, Bland, along with his son, Theodorick Bland Jr, and his son-in-law, John Randolph, offered 40 slaves for sale to raise funds to replace the gunpowder seized by Lord Dunmore
John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore
John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore was a British peer and colonial governor. He was the son of William Murray, 3rd Earl of Dunmore, and his wife Catherine . He is best remembered as the last royal governor of the Colony of Virginia.John was the eldest son of William and Catherine Murray, and nephew...
from the magazine
Gunpowder magazine
A gunpowder magazine is a magazine designed to store the explosive gunpowder in wooden barrels for safety. Gunpowder, until superseded, was a universal explosive used in the military and for civil engineering: both applications required storage magazines...
in Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
. Around January 1781, St. George Tucker assisted Bland, his father-in-law, in escaping the advancing British Army commanded by Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
. A few months later, the British Major-General William Phillips ordered that his troops in Prince George County not harm Bland's property.
In 1775, Bland owned a sorrel
Sorrel (horse)
Sorrel is an alternative word for one of the most common equine coat colors in horses. While the term is usually used to refer to a copper-red shade of chestnut, in some places it is used generically in place of "chestnut" to refer to any reddish horse with a same-color or lighter mane and tail,...
mare that had been imported from England by 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...
. Quaker-Lass was described in one stud book as "the finest looking mare in Virginia, of her day".
Ancestry
Bland's paternal uncle was the surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
Theodorick Bland.