VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY
l-FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION
FROM THE TWOPENNY ACT (1767) TO THE FEDERAL CONVENTION OF PHILADELPHIA (1787).
Adams, Thomas, son of Ebenezer Adams,
ct Xew Kent county, Virginia, and Tabitha
Cocke, his wife, and grandson of Richard
Adams, of Abridge, county Essex, England,
citizen and merchant tailor of London, was
born in New Kent county, Virginia, about
1730. and was clerk of Henrico county. He
had large business interests with England,
and went there in 1762 and remained till
1774. when he returned, and was one of the
citizens to sign the association entered into
by the "late members of the house of bur-
gesses." May 27, 1774. He was chairman
of the Xew Kent county committee of safety
in 1774. member of the old congress. 1778,
and signed the articles of confederation be-
tween the states, removed to Augusta
county. Virginia, and represented that dis-
trict from 1784 to 1788. He married Eliza-
beth Fauntleroy. widow of his first cousin.
Howler Cocke, Jr.. and left no issue. His
will, dated October 12, 1785, was proved in
Augusta county, Virginia, October 22. 1788.
Banister, John, was a son of John Banis- ter, and grandson of Rev. John Banister, an eminent botanist, who was born in England, and emigrated about the latter quarter of the seventeenth century from the West In- dies to Virginia. He was educated in Eng- land, and studied law at the Temple. He was burgess from Dinwiddie in the assem-
blies of 1765, 1766-1768. 1769-1771, 1772-
1774 and 1775. a distinguished member of
the conventions of 1775 and 1776, and of the
assembly of 1777. member of the Continental
Congress. 1777- 1779. and one of the framers
and a signer of the articles of confederation.
In 1 78 1 he was lieutenant-colonel of cavalry
under General Robert Lawson, and during
the invasion of Virginia was active in re-
pelling the enemy. Proprietor of a large
estate, he suffered repeated and heavy losses
from the depredations of the British. At
one time, it is said, he supplied a body of
troops with blankets at his own expense. A
number of his letters published in the
- 'Rland Papers.*' and in Sparks' "Revolu-
tionary Correspondence." show him as one of the best writers of his day. He resided at " r»attersea," near Petersburg, and died in 1787. He married (first) Patsey. daughter of Colonel Thtodorick Bland, of "Cawsons," and (second) Anne, daughter of John Blair, ot Williamsburg, president of the Virginia council.
Blair, John, Sr. (q. v.. i-66).
Blair, John, Jr., born at Williamsburg, Virginia. 1732, son of Hon. John Blair, pres- ident of the Virginia council. After gradu- ating from William and Mary he studied law at the Temple in London. England, and commenced practice at Williamsburg. He
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