The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-11


BY special request. We give this noted
Virginia family OF Byrd. of whom there
we're none to enter the colony in the new
world with more vim and spirit, and to
whom is attributed the rapid krowth
md advance of the colony.
Colonel William Byrd. the first of his
name and family in Virginia, was the
son of John Byrd, OF London, an old
family OF Broxton. County Chester, time
pt Richard III. He was born about 1852,
Ind came to Virginia when quite a youth,
as the legatee of his natanal uncle.
Captain Thomas Stegge a merchant, land
proprietor and member Of the Council
in Virginia
This Colonel Byrd patented large tracts
pf land. including the present site OF
Richmond and settled himself on his fine
estate at Westover. His son. Colonel
William Byrd, of Westover. was we'll
SHOWN as a writer. philanthropist and
mn active public man He 1t was who
rounded the city of Richmond. being as
ISOLATED with Major William Mayo In
he enterprise in 1887. The first William
Byrd brought over the arms. which we
give, and which are thus described in
the American Heraldica:
.Arms-argent; a cross fory. between
four martletts, gules: on a canton, azure,
crescent of the field for difference.
Crest--A bird rising, gues.
Motto-Nulla pallescere culpa- Cro turn
pale at no crime).
Bishop Meade says: There were three
Of the name of Byrd, each called Col
mel" The first was father of the family.
and owned the lands where Richmond
now stands. He lived at Belvidere, and
between the years 1900 and 100 be con-
tracted for and had built a part of the
William and Mary College buildings"
Of . h. t,,,i-
grant. The English history of the Byrds
Is not fully known, but that they were
of noble blood Is shown by their arms
and motto, which has been held in the
family for many generations. The first
Colonel Byrd married first, Lucy, daugh-
ter of Colonel Daniel Parker, the British
officer who brought the news of the vic.
tory at Blenheim to Queen Anne. A po-
trait of this officer was to be seen ut
Lower Brandon on the James. There
Were no sons by this marriage. and only
TWO daughters, one of whom was the
beautiful Evelyn Byrd who. while IN
England. was presented to William Pitt
Q1ord Cathari>, who remarked that, he
no longer wondered why young gentle
men were so fond of going to Virginia
to study ornithology. since such beauti-
ful Byrds We're there -
The second wife of Colonel Byrd, was
Mrs. Maria Taylor. daughter of Thomas
Taylor. of Kensington. England. who
came TO the colony in 17ej. She was horn
in England, 1898. and died 1771, They
were married May 9th. 1891, and had one
son and three daughters. from whom the
BIRDS of Virginia are descended. Nor
.dicai, in his Richmond in By-gone
Days" calls this William Byrd, captain,
who he says. obtained 4 grant for T.
81 acres of land. beginning at the mouth
of Shocco's Creek and running up the
,.fN- tf..s-" .
William Berkeley. Governor, on March
18th. 1675-6. in consideration of the in
production OF 122 persons into the colony"
In 1857, 1t seems a patent was granted to
the same gentlemen. for 956 acres be-
ginning on the east side of the creek ~
It's mouth, extenSing mp. the creek and
down the river. in. 1888 Colonel Byrd
laid out this land for a town which he
called Richmond. as resembling Rich
lnond on the Thames in England. in
1T42. reign of George the H., the General
Assembly Of Virginia established 1t as
a town. building there the first public
Warehouses and retaining the name OF
Richmond, which in lTa became the seat
OF government, being removed from Will
liamsburg. Colonel William Byrd Madi-
ly sold the most of his land. which had
been surveyed into town lots, retaining a
largo tract on the outskirts of the town,
where the fine old mansion Beyidere was
afterwards built BY his son. Colonel Byrd,
who lived there about 1853.
In the same year that he founded
Richmond, 1888. Colonel Byrd, with his
friend, Peter Jones, a great trader, laiL
OF the town OF Petersburg on tbs Appo
liaattox, which was named for the lat
Ter.
s Let US now turn TO the second Colone
Byrd. mentioned by Bp. Meade. VIII,
took up large body of land in Charles
yy IN i1r vt
mansion, Wcstover, on the James, which
the Marquis Chastellux. In his visit Their
in 1is2 described as Surprising all III
Feats In the country in the maSnfcenc
of the buildings and its beauty of situa
ton and pleasures of society" This Col
onel Byrd was an experienced surveyor
and as soon as he landed his professiona
services was quickly enlisted by the Gov
error of the Colony In establishing It
many lines. Colonel Byr,4 was one OF tn
{comrnittee of surveyors to run the boun
dairy line between North Carolina an
Virginia In l72S. Colonel Byrd wrote a
Interesting account of this expedition
which !s preserved with his other literar
works.
Colonel Byrd was for 81 years a memoe
sSof the Virginia Assembly, and at las
became President OF the Colonial Council
sic died in 17i+ and was buried at West
over. Jane, the youngest daughter Dor
j
;1146, the Hon. John Page. of Glouceste
county, Va. By whom were 10 chldre,
Another OF his daughters married III
aslnls euos sc QUA lpqund uuor .Ae,
had been engaged in a duel. Another {
sthe daughters married Benjamin Harr
sson, of Brandon, son of Nathaniel Harr
son. and grandson OF Benjamin Harriso,
the emigrant. The Byrds We're all zealo,
supporters OF the Episcopal Church. III
old church building situated on the Wes
over estate, IN the Westoyor parish W.
built by Mrs. Byrd upon her land, aftt
the death of Colonel byrd, and MAS H.
ally supported by all the descendant
Colonel Byrd's son William, also eall,
.R5'tCol.,' was the last owner of IVES
over. He was with Washington, a,
3isIcommanded one of the two regiments Sc
10, repel ths French and Indians. a,
IN that disastrous expedition showed h
energy and enthusiasm. II IS pretty ce
tain that had he lived he would have be-
me OF the most brilliant commanders
.-1... -