Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-02-26
VOL. 3.---NO III.
DAILY VIRGINIAN.
BENEDICT ARNOLD,s FAMILY.

BENEDICT ARNOLDS FAMILY.
Lieut.. General Robertson Arnold died in Lon
don December 9th. He was second son of Ben
cdct Arnold by Margaret his wife, daughter of
Chief Justice Shippcn, of Pennsylvania He en-
tered the corps of Royal Engineers in 1898, and
served more than half century. He married Vir-
ginia daughter of Bartlett Goodrich, Esq, of the
Isle of Wight and for his military services was
created Knight of Hanover was appointed Aid
de camp to William ~, and was presented with
n costly sword
The aboye-namcd officer was the oldest Of four
children which Arnod's second wife, Miss Ship
pen OF Philadelphia, bore lin, viz Jas. Robert
son, Edward George and Sophia. His first wife
bore three sons viz; Benedict. Richard and Hen
ry. Benedict the eldest, an officer of ar
tllery III the British army-and, it is believed,
was compelled toqut the servioe he died young
in tho West Indies. Henry entered the Kings
service after his fathers detection, and a
lieutenant of cavalry in the American legion
llo accompanied his father to st. Johns, and was
employed in his business. He slept in the ware
house near the lower Cove in that city, and lodg-
ed there the night the building was burned. He
lived afterwards at Troy. New York, with his
aunt llannahand was engaged in mercantile pur-
suits AT n subsequent period he removed to
Canada, whore he is now man of property. He
received halt pay and grant of lands from the
British government. Riohard--in 1882, he WAS
also n Lieutenant Of cavalry in the American Le-
Epll, ny MS futner. In most every
particular his history is identical with that of his
brother Henry. Persons are still living at St.
Johns, who resided there when Gen. Arnol2s
store was burned The impression was at the
momenL and still is, that the fire was caused by
design Md FOR the purpose of delraudinga com
pany in England, that had underwritten upon the
merchandise which il contained to nn amolnt far
exceeding its worth These persons differ ms TO
the fact whether Arnold himself was in st. John
or absent in England at the time Of the fire; and
hence the degree of blame which may bc attach
cd to tho two sons may be uncertain. Tint both
Henry and Richard slept in tho store on the night
of the oonhagration, aud that neither could give
II satisfactory account ofits cause, seems, howev.
cr, to be certain.
James Robertson whose recent death is men.
toned above was the only one the four children
which the traitors second wife bore him. thnt was
born IN America. At the time of the treason he
was child, and had just reached West Point from
Ihilndon; with his mother. lie entered the Brit
sh army in 1893 and rose 10 the rank of Colonel
of Engineers He was stationed at Bermuda
from 1916 to 1919, aud from the last named year
until 1929, was at Halifax. and the commanding
officer of engineers in NoyaSootia and New lruns-
wick. While thus III command he at St.
Johns, and on going into the house built by his
father, in King street which is still standing, he
wopt like child. lie was small mnn; his eyes
were of "A remarkable sharpness, and in features
bore Striking resemblance To MS fhihcr. y gem
tleman, who had been in service with him, aud
was intimately acquainted with him, speaks of
him in terms of high Communications and relates
that he has often heard him express a strong de
sire to visit tho United States. Since the acoes
sion of Queen Victoria, he has been one of her
majesty's aids de camp In ls4l, he was trans
fcrred from the engineers corps, and appointed
Major General, and Knight of the Royal IIano-
verian Guelphin Order.
Edward, the next son. was some years ago in a
banking house in England. George. in 1916,
was AN officer of Dragons. Sophia-of her fate
nothing is known. 1t may be added that the
first General Arnold's mother had six chrildrcn,
of whom he and his sister Hannah alone lived TO
the years of maturity. This sister adhered to her
brother Benedict throughout his eyeutfu aud
guilty career, and was true to him in the darkest
periods of his history. She died at Montague, in
Upper Canada. in 1903, and was as is uniformly
suited, a lady of excellent qualities of charac
ter.