CAMPBELL COUNTY, VA - HISTORY - Campbell Chronicles and Family Sketches Family Sketches - Lynch ----¤¤¤---- CAMPBELL CHRONICLES and FAMILY SKETCHES Embracing the History of CAMPBELL COUNTY, VIRGINIA 1782-1926 By R. H. EARLY With Illustrations J. P. BELL COMPANY LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 1927 Lynch Charles Lynch, founder of the family in Campbell, which became prominently associated with James and Staunton river sections, came to Virginia from Galway, Ireland, between 1715-2O, when a lad of 15 years. He was apprenticed by the captain of the vessel, in which he had sailed, for payment of his passage, to Christopher Clark, a wealthy tobacco planter of Louisa county and seems quickly to have won favor for he •was received into Clark's household as a member of the family, wooed, won and married his daughter, Sarah, in 1733. He changed his residence several times; in 1741 he was a justice in Goochland; held the same office in Albemarle in 1745; that year he was appointed captain of militia and in August •was given leave to keep a ferry from his land across North river (Rivanna) to the opposite side: he represented Albemarle in the House of Burgesses. There is a tendency in biography to confuse the records of these Lynchs, father and sons, Charles and John, yet in character and career they were distinctly different. Charles, Sr., lived only two or three years after settling in Bedford on his James river property. His sons were still under age, though Charles, Jr., married not long afterwards, entered official life, and later was a soldier in the Revolution. John was of a religious turn, developed poor health which continued through life, though he outlived his brother twenty-four years. His claim to distinction is through his having been the founder of Lynchburg and promoter of its advancement. Colonel Charles Lynch, oldest son of the emigrant, married in 1755, Anna, the daughter of Henry and Anna Chiles-Terrell, a sister of Micajah Terrell, who later married Sarah Lynch. Lynch represented Bedford in the House of Burgesses in 1769-74-75; he was one of the signers of the non-importation agreement and advocated that taxation of the colony be in the hands of the Burgesses. He was present when Henry delivered his "Liberty" speech. During the Revolution Lynch served on General Greene's staff in the southern campaign. He raised a regiment of riflemen and at Guilford C. H. held a position on Greene's right flank and won laurels for his gallantry there. His young son, Anselm, 16 years old, slipped away from home and reached Guilford on the eve of battle and took part there. Lynch's name is perhaps most notably connected with "Lynch law," as he was constituted judge of the court which administered it. He was appointed in 1782 colonel of Campbell county militia: made justice of the peace 1784.; died Oct. 29, 1796, aged 6O years, and was buried in the cemetery at his home, Avoca, near Alta Vista, his tombstone gives his name and dates of birth and death, and tells that he was a patriot in the Revolution. His sons,—John, born 1767 and known as "Staunton John," married a Miss Terrell, emigrated to Tennessee where he died in 184O, aged 73 years; has descendants at Jackson, Tennessee.-Anselm m. Susan Miller, of Lynchburg; their dau., Mary Anna, m. James G. Dearing, whose son was General James Dearing of the C. S. army; his son, Charles Henry Lynch, never married; was a member of Virginia Legislature; Lynch (now Clarion) Station, was named for him:—Charles, (3rd of name) m. Sallie, dau. of Charles Lynch Adams and moved to Kentucky: his son, Charles, became governor of Mississippi. In 1756 Col. Lynch patented 20O acres on Reedy creek adjoining his own land. In 1759 he patented 81 acres on Otter and 3344 acres on Staunton and Otter; also 4 patents same year of 58, 40O, 185 and 121 acres respectively, lying on Bolling's creek, Burnt bridge branch, Blackwater and Beaver creeks; patented with Christopher, John and Edward Lynch 384 acres on Bolling's creek north side of Fluvanna and 343 acres south side of Lynch's creek; in 1793 patented 23OO acres on the west side of Otter river. Anselm patented, in 18O6, 2OO acres on Pocket creek and, in 181O, 695 acres on Beaver creek. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com ___________________________________________________________________ File size: 4.4 Kb