Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-08-08
Shepherdstown News.

Miss Rebecca Peterkin, daughter
of Rev. DR.. Peterkin and sister of
Bishop Peterkin, of West Virginia,
died at Cumberland, Md, last Sun
day night.
Benjamin F., the infant son Of Rev.
and Mrs. b. r. Bausnann, formerly
of this place, died of cholera infantum
al the home Of his parents in Arendts-
vile, Pa, last Thursday, aged is
months. The body was inferred at
Lancaster.
M,. Robert NJ. BillDyer, we'll
known youug merchant of Shepherds
town, aud son Of Capt. Nj. j. Bill
myer, Gied 4, the home of his father,
pear this plage, last Thursday after
noon. after al Illness of less than a
week.
ANOTHER LIVING DAUGHTER.-
As quite a nuhl6er of interesting no
tees have recently appeared in your
columns Of the living sons and daugh-
tiers Of Revolutionary heroes, allow
me to add one more name to that
rapidly diminishing roll of honor,
viz, that Of Mrs. Henrietta b. Lee,
of Shepherdstown, Jefferson county,
West Virginia. Mrs. Lee is the last
surviving child Of Major Daniel Bed
niger, who entered Captain, after
wards generall Hugh Stephenson's
company, which organized one hun
dred strong at Shepherdstown on a
days notice, it is said, and marched
to the relief of Boston. Young Bed
niger was not sixteen years old at the
time, and his parents opposing his de-
sire TO enter the service so young, he
ran away from home and joined the
company en- route. He was in the
battle of the Brandywine, captured,
and for long time confined in the
British prison hulks in New York
harbor, where from sickness and neg
lect he nearly died When exchang-
ed he rejoined the army and served
continuously throughout the war,
having been participant in many
engagements, and was mustered out
of service with his command at Char.
lesion, S. c.. in 1888.
Lieut.. Daniel Bedinger, of the
Virginia line on continental establish
ment, entered the service in July,
l776, and continued in active service
until the dismission of the army in
South Carolina in 1883" See Stat
felPs records Of the revolutionary
war.
Major Bedinger was appointed by
President Jefferson naval agent at the
Gosport navy yard, at Norfolk, Va,
in which position he served many
years, and, as the official records
show, with honor and efficiency.
After retiring from that position,
about 1910, he returned to his home at
Shepherdstown, where he erected a
handsome and commodious mansion,
just outside Of the town, and COM
handing a magnificent view of it and
the historic Potomac. 1t may not
inappropriately be stated here that
this mansion had on its front portico
four large pillars, the bases and caps
of which were made from the masts
of the famous revolutionary frigate,
" Constitution" During the civil
war this honored mansion was burned
by order Of Gen. David Hunter, U.
S. A., while commanding in the
Shenandoah Valley. Mrs. Lee is the
widow of the late venerable Edmund
l. Lee, who although first cousin of
Gen. Robert f. Lee, and also neph-
ew of the celebrated "Light Horse
Harry" was a strong union man and
bitterly opposed to secession. He
was a grandson of the patriot, orator
and statesman, Richard Henry Lee,
and at the time of the burning was
absent from home.
Mrs. Lee Is now in her eighty-sec-
ond year, in full possession Of her
faculties, and the last Of large fami-
ly OF children, all Of whom were like
their distinguished father, character
lied by brilliancy Of intellect and
great versatility Of talent. Major
Bedinger was lieutenant in the rev.
dictionary army, and the title of ma
jor was only complimentary soubri-
quet conferred upon him by the COM
munity in which he lived. He died
in the year 1918, greatly honored and
respected.
THORNTON A. WASHINGTON.
% Washington, June 13.-Register.