Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-01-24
A CLOSE FRIEND
OF WASHINGTON.
The Revolutionary Patriot and
Statesman, Lieut.. Dol. Thomas
Blackburn, of the Second vir-
glnia Continental Regiment of
Infantry.
baltimore Americana

which accompanied the remains from
Mt. Vernon down the hill to the
vault, on the banks of the Potomac.
| refer to Colonel Thomas Blackburn.
of Ripon Lodge, Prince William
county, Va. In the official account
drawn up at the time by Mr.. Tobias
Lear, WashingtOn's secretary and su-
perintendent of his estate, and which
has always served as the authority
upon this event, it is said that "Col.
Blackburn preceded thecorpse." See
Sparks History of Washington. Col.
Blackburn was so we'll known that it
was not thought necessary to give his
Christian name. a few details with
regard to this revolutionary patriot,
who deserves a better fate than OBJ
livion at the hands of his country
men, may not be amiss.
He was the son of Col. Richard
Blackburn, who was born at Ripon,
Yorkshire, England, in 17O6, was ed
ncated in Scotland, emigrated to
America in early manhood aud set
tied near Dumfries, Va. He gave to
his seat there the name of Ripon
Lodge, name, doubtless, of ances-
trail origin. He was colonel of the
Virginia forces in the Indian wars,
and was for many years a member of
the Virginia House of Burgesses, be-
ing highly esteemed for his virtues
and integrity. He was a contractor,
employing large number of work
men, and, among other buildings, he
erected for Lawrence Washington,
Georges brother, the mansion at Mt.
Vernon. By industry and ability he
amassed a large fortune, and he dis
pensed a generous hospitality. char
acteristic of the Virginia home of
that period.
Thomas Blackburn was born in
1743, and was educated in home
schools. He was member of the
Committee of Safety of Prince Will
liam county in IVA, Of the Virginia
conventions of July and December,
1775, and of the House of Burgesses
of 1774-76. He was one of the COM
missioners appointed by the House to
settle the accounts of the Indian war
IN l775. He was member of the
Virginia Association to support the
Constitutional Liberties of America.
May q, 1774. He sat in the coun-
ellis of the State with Washington,
Jefferson, Madison, Mason, Patrick
Henry, Tazewell, Pendleton, Lee,
Randolph, Nelson and others, and
was their intimate associate. In17SO
he was member of the Privy Coun-
Gil Of the State. On the goth of De-
cember, l776, he was elected lieuten-
ant-colonel of the Second Continental
Regiment of Virginia Infantry by the
House of Burgesses, on joint ballot
with the Senate. During the ensu-
ing winter he kept this regiment on
his place, feeding and clothing the
men and returning them to Washing.
toms army in the spring without any
charge to the government. At the
Battle of Germantown, October, 1777.
while serving as volunteer aide-d de-
camp on the staff of Washing ton, he
was severely wounded in the attack
of the Virginia troops on the Chew
storehouse, where Washington's army
was checked on that memorable dav.
He received ball in bis thigh, which
was not extracted until 1888, and
which famed him for life. He held
no public position after the Revolu
tionary War, but, like all Virginians
of his time, he took deep interest in
public affairs. He was a Federalist
in politics.
A letter written by him in 1901 on
the Jefferson-Burr crisis was publish
cd a short time ago in the William
and Mary Quarterly which shows
that his zeal was tempered with judg-
ment and true love of country. His
services to his country were recognized
by the Society of Cincinnati of Vir-
ginia, which elected him an honorary
member of their organization, dis
tinction, according to Colonel Asa b.
Gardner, of New York, conferred
only on those who had been conspic-
nous in military affairs.
Ripon Lodge was but twelve miles