A Virginia Hero; Wm. and Mary Qrtly.; Vol. 7, No. 1

Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project

************************************************************************
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE:  These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in
any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons.  Persons or organizations desiring to use this material,
must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal
representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb
archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission
to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.

http://www.usgwarchives.net
***********************************************************************


A Virginia Hero

   William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 7, No. 1.
   (Jul., 1898), pp 42-43.

   Francis Jerdone, son of John Jerdone, of Jedburgh in Scotland, was, before the Revolution,
a leading merchant at Yorktown, Virginia.  (QUARTERLY V., pages 22, 70; VI., page 37).  His
daughter Elizabeth married Alexander Macaulay, a near kinsman of Lord Macaulay, whom he is
said to have visited in England.  Among  his children were three sons - Francis Macaulay, a
graduate of William and Mary in 1811; died a few months later; Dr. Patrick Macaulay, of
Baltimore; and Alexander Macaulay, Jr.  This last young man, being of an adventurous turn,
visited Colombia in 1811, and took an important part in the wars for South American in-
dependence.  His brilliant success at the city of Popayan in surprising the royalists' camp
obtained for him the title of Lieutenant-Colonel.  He was sent against the city of Pasto, which
had taken the side of the royalists; but soon an armistice was patched up, and Macaulay set out
to Popayan by way of the city of Quito.  But on the way he was treacherously attacked near
Cotambuco by the royalists, and his forces were routed.  Macaulay escaped, and, directing his
course through the woods to Popayan, he was taken two days afterwards by the Indians of the
town of Bucsaco, who carried him prisoner to Pasto.  At this place he remained till the year
1813, until the provinces of Quito were occupied by the Spanish President, Don Toribes Montes,
who gave orders to the royalist chiefs of Pasto immediately to shoot the President of Popayan
(who had also been captured), Juayquise Caicedo, and "the commandant of the insurgents", as he
styled Macaulay.  This sentence was executed in the city of Pasto, in the month of January or
the beginning of February, 1813.

   This account is derived from a letter of Gen. Carlos Soubletto, Minister of War and of 
Marine for the Republic of Colombia, to Beaufort T. Watts, at one time minister of the United
States, resident at Bogota.  He concludes with the statement that "the gallant patriot in
prison, as in the last moments of his life, showed great firmness, and rebuked the Pastusos
for their ignorance and barbarism".  A writer in the Washington National Intelligencer, in
1816, refers to Macaulay as "the idol of the people of Venezuela and New Grenada", who, when
led out among others to execution, advanced before them, and, addressing his brethren in
misfortune, said to them:  "Let me be the first to receive death, in order that I may show my
fellow-patriots how a republican can die".

Page 43.

   Mr. Watts also writes that he was informed by Gen. Mosquero, of Popayan, that the cabildo of
that city "had the names of Macaulay and Bolivar inscribed in golden letters in the saloon".

   The following is a copy of a letter evidencing the official sympathy of General Simon
Bolivar in the death of the brave Virginian:

                         REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA.

                                    BUREAU OF STATE OF THE
                              DEPARTMENT OF EXTERIOR RELATIONS,
                                          BOGATA, DECEMBER 20TH, 1828.
DOCTOR MACAULAY,
        Dear Sir:

   By order of the Liberator, I have the honor to say to you, in answer to your letter of the
5th of May, 1828, inclosing a copy of another dated 15th of November, 1825, which you were
pleased to direct to his Excellency, that the services of Col. Macaulay in the cause of
Independence are ever preserved in the memory of the inhabitants of Colombia, to whose liberty
he consecrated his talents and his life.  This act of heroism is remembered with pride and
gratitude by the nation; and the historian of Colombia, in presenting to posterity the horrible
picture of the sufferings which their fathers endured to secure to their children the liberties
they enjoy, has not forgotten to give a distinguished place to the name of Col. Macaulay -- of
the generous stranger who was among the first to acknowledge the justice of our cause, and who
assisted personally in the consummation of our enterprise.

   His Exclcy has always given due homage to the heroism, valor, and the deeds of your late
brother, and regrets that the honors conferred upon him by the nation do not permit him to
give some decided proof of the high opinion which he entertains of the estimable qualities for
which he was distinguished.  It is the duty of the Legislative body to grant honors and rewards
to such as have distinguished themselves in the cause of Independence; but until the present
time nothing has been conceded either to relations or friends of these.  I should have been
much pleased to have been able to secure the wishes of his Excellency in this respect.  I will
add that I have particular satisfaction in being the organ through which the Liberator has
been pleased to express his sentiments of respect toward the memory of Col. Macaulay.


        I have the honor to be
                              Your very obedient Servant,
                                                STANISLAUS NIVARA.