The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-19
IN MEN0RIAN.

Away back in the Colonial days from
l66Ol6S7 when this grand old STATE
of ours was in its infancy-when the
struggle was on for both civil and reli
gious liberty-when mercenarv harpies
would sap the honest toiler Of his living
when the sarcedotal fends of Roman
ism would deprive the hungering soul of
its peace-when the brave began to fear
the power of man and the weak almost
To doubt the favor OF God-then IL was
that for principle and truth there stepped
forth one to viudicate and defend IA,
right-one known in history now as q
Martyr in the cause of liberty" Such
was Robert Beverley the first Of the list
in America. Born and reared in the Moth
er Country. versed in law and equity. he
was n man qualified to cope with the
| questions Of his times-recognized and
placed by his countrymen in a position
of trust. and for his iaithfulness
incarcerated in prison by his enc
mies-yet steadiastly adhering to-
even the rack moved him not to re.
linguish his hold upon-that trust. pre-
ierring to hide his Charter in the oak"
and to langnish in the dungeon for two
long years or more, although the House
Of Burgesses convened and demanded
the release of Beverley. His enemies werp
beaten and he was freed aud returned to
the assembly. Ii would elect him again
but the polite King James being i'm
pressed by his noble conduct, said, elect
him7 No. Beverley shall be and Is rein
stated. Thus honor was given to the
most worthy. Little wonder that his
son, inheriting the fathers morals and
brain should become an historian whose
work was read and credited 10y all-lit-
tie wonder that the whole line Of his pos
terity should honor his memory by emu
lating his w tues.
Standing ever among the first families
of Virginia, the Beverleys have preserved
and handed down an untarnished name
and in none of them is that more marked
than in the subject of this memoriam-
Capt. Francis Corbin Beverley. His par
ents were Mackensie and Isabella Gray
Beverley, educated at Rappahannock
Academy and Fredericksburg-ente
the mercantile business at Port Royal.
Finally went to add cheer and comfort
to the declining days OF his father and
mother at old Whig- Hill. Being popular
with the young men of his county they
made him Captain of their company and
when the Gray and the Blue met in the
field tie Spotsylvania boys were there
Tearing himself from the embrace of his
family he would perform, the patriots
part-true and brave-a Southerner to
the last. The battle of Spotsylvania c.
H., May 1864, forced him 20 carry his
family off through the enemies lines at
night to place of safety, and returning
to the old home after the war found it
ruin-splintered by shot and shell He
repaired it, leaving few of the scars as
trophies of the fray.
few years ago it was the writer's
pleasure TO be in that home and thus
have the opportunity to know him and
his. lie had chosen wisely in the person
of his consort-Margaret Gayle--and
they with love ruled that home well-as
evidenced by the effect Of their childrens
reflex influence around them. On Aug.
9TH, 1888, Rev. Andrew Broaddus, Jr.
baptized him with one of his little girls
Subsequently he said that he was sor-
ry he had not acknowledged his Savior
earlier in life, bat by His grace he would
strive to redeem the time he had lest
And il it is within the scope of the hu-
man to exhibit the Divine characters
tics, surely love, submission and pa
tience manifested themselves in his life
In faith, ripe and full, be laid him down
in peace to sleep and to awake on the
eternal shore.
Three months ago he left us-today
with little Fanni., his angel babe, nest
led in his bosom he stands 10 welcome
home bis loved ones. Space forbids any
thing more than this brief sketch oI
Capt Beverley's life, but in closing he
would have me to say to. his soldier
brothers that they he his Christian
brothers G. II.