7. Col. James GORDON.[1],[2],[10],[5] Born on 2 Aug 1750 in Lancaster Co, VA.[1],[2],[9] [Bible entry: James Gordon was born 2 August 1750 at Col. Armistead Churchill's about 2 in the afternoon.]. James died in Lancaster Co, VA on 29 Sep 1796; he was 46.[1]

Colonel James Gordon, second, of Lancaster, inherited the family plantation known as Gordonsville from his father. James later gave it to a son who moved away. Gordonsville (Verville) was sold in 1800 to the Curries. He represented Lancaster County in the Virginia House of Delegates in 1781. He was a member from Lancaster of the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1776, which sat at Williamsburg, the Colonial Capital, and framed the first written Constitution. He wal also a member of the Virginia Convention which ratified in 1788 the Constitution of the United States. He was Colonel of the Lancaster County militia and was also Clerk of the Courts from 1787 to 1794. [1], [2]

Entries in the Journal of Col. James Gordon in which James refers to his son as Jamey:
Feb. 25, 1759: Mr. Hodge and Capt. Payne went to White Chapel Ch.--Jamey rode Turk there and home.
April 23, 1759: My wife, Jamey, Molly & Betty went over to Col. Churchill's, & I went on board the Johnston, Capt. Ganrith, where met a large Company. Then I went over to Urbana, dined with my brother, who was setting off to Wmsburg. There I came on board again & got well on shore & home at night.
Aug 14, 1759: Very busy about our apples. They came on us very fast! Mr. Chichester much disordered with his hip & a cold. Jamey very ill with the whoopingcough, & we are afraid of Molly & Betty getting it.
October 2, 1759: Went to the C. H. Store with my wife. Posted my pocket book. Got off cloths for Jamey & myself.
October 20, 1759: Went with my wife to Bell's, where I fell off my horse, but thanks be to God, was not much hurt. Jamey behind, but he did not fall.
Feb 24, 1760: Mr. Spann & his wife went to White Chapel Ch. but broke our chair near Mr. Chichester's & c'd not get any further. God was very gracious--none was much hurt. Jamey & Molly were with them. Judith (the maid), who was in behind, was most hurt.
Sept. 2, 1760: Jamey Gordon not well. Very sickly time.
Sept. 3, 1760: Jamey took a vomit which worked him 16 times before my wife c'd stop it. He had an ague & a small fever after.
Sept. 5, 1760: Poor Jamey very sick, but in the eve'g. blessed be God, he recovered very much; but in the forepart of the day he had a severe vomiting. His mother gave him some Bateman's Drops, which seemed to stop it.
Sept. 7, 1760: Finished Harvey's Dialogues. A ship went up to-day. No company with us. Jamey very ill again.
Sept. 30, 1760: Several of the family sick. Jamey was taken after he came from school.
October 29, 1760: Abel came to let us know his master is much worse; his pain is returned in the old place. Jamey better, I believe, by taking bitters with bark, camomile flowers & snake-root.
March 11, 1761: Maj. Campbell here; he bled Jamey, who is in a very bad state of health.
June 14, 1761: Jamey has a crick in his neck, which is very uneasy to him. Our pleasant hours are very few in this life. O Lord, prepare us for the next, where true pleasures are only found.
January 31, 1762: At home with my family. Molly said all the Shorter Catechism, Jamey 56 of the Larger, & Molly Hening 106.
May 4, 1763:...Barbee lost Jamey Gordon's mare, so that we have many trials.
May 5, 1763: Sent Billy Boatman after Jamey's mare.
May 9, 1763: Last night Billy Boatman brought home Jamey's mare that was lost.
May 18, 1763: Jamey's mare got away from my brother's.
May 31, 1763: Billy Boatman brought home Jamey's mare, & soon returned to let me know that Spen. Currel had broke out of prison. I went to Mr. Dale Carter, & got an escape warrant, & sent it to Mr. Mitchell, the gaoler, to secure him.
June 14, 1763: Jamey was in the chair with me near the Mill, when the horse was frighted by the swivel-tree coming out of the crossbars & broke the harness.
June 29, 1763: Thos. Tapley came to let me know that Jamey was taken with a fit, so I rode to the School-house immediately to see him. But blessed be God, he was much recovered. Mr. Waddel came in the chair for him, & we got him home.
June 30, 1763: Set out with Jamey about 8 o'clock, & got to Dr. Flood's about 12 o'clock. Dined with the Dr., & let him know I wanted his advice for Jamey. He told me if I would send on Saturday, he would make up some medicine for him.
Sept. 18, 1763: Mr. Waddel & I went to the upper meeting, where he preached two fine sermons (see my notes of them). Jamey Gordon not well.[5]

On 30 Jun 1774 when James was 23, he married Anne PAYNE[1],[2],[10], daughter of Col. John PAYNE.[1],[10]

They had the following children:

		i.	Mary Smith[1],[2]. Born on 17 Sep 1776 in Lancaster Co, VA.[1] Mary Smith died on 10 Mar 1796; she was 19.[1] On 6 Jun 1795 when Mary Smith was 18, she married Nathaniel WADDELL[1],[2], son of Rev. James WADDELL D. D. (1739-1805) & Mary (Molly) GORDON (8) (1752-1813).[1] Born in 1767.[2] Nathaniel died in 1796; he was 29.[2]
		ii.	James Harrison[1]. Born on 17 Jan 1779 in Lancaster Co, VA.[1] James Harrison died ? .
	21	iii.	John Matthews (1781-1840)
		iv.	Samuel Baldwin[1] (Died as Infant). Born on 23 Jul 1784.[1] Samuel Baldwin died on 29 Oct 1784.[1]
		v.	Ann Smith[1]. Born on 26 Jul 1786.[1] Ann Smith died ? .
		vi.	Addison[1] (Died as Child). Born on 14 Feb 1789.[1] Addison died on 15 Sep 1792; he was 3.[1]
		vii.	Janetta[1] (Died as Child). Born on 4 Apr 1795.[1] Janetta died on 28 Aug 179?[1]

8. Mary (Molly) GORDON.[1],[2],[5] Born on 17 Jul 1752 in Lancaster Co, VA.[1],[10],[2],[9],[5] [Bible entry: Mary Gordon, born 17 July 1752 between 11 and 12 in the day.]. Mary (Molly) died in VA on 13 Feb 1813; she was 60.[1],[2] Buried in Trinity Churchyard, Staunton, VA.[1]

Entries in the Journal of Col. James Gordon in which James refers to his daughter as Molly:
Jan. 16, 1759: Began to plant the Peach orchard. Warm, open weather. Sent Molly and her maid Judith to school to Mr. Criswell.
April 23, 1759: My wife, Jamey, Molly & Betty went over to Col. Churchill's, & I went on board the Johnston, Capt. Ganrith, where met a large Company. Then I went over to Urbana, dined with my brother, who was setting off to Wmsburg. There I came on board again & got well on shore & home at night.
June 12, 1759: Dr. F. [Flood] came about 9 o'clock & stayed all day. Poor little Betty very ill with the measles. Molly is likewise taken.
June 16, 1759: Nancy, Molly & Betty have the measles, & about ten of the negroes.
June 23 1759: Sent to Dr. Flood. Poor Molly's mouth is very ill; but Scipio returned with medicine for her. Near 20 of our people (negroes) down with the measles. I trust in God they may all do well.
Aug 14, 1759: Very busy about our apples. They came on us very fast! Mr. Chichester much disordered with his hip & a cold. Jamey very ill with the whoopingcough, & we are afraid of Molly & Betty getting it.
Feb 24, 1760: Mr. Spann & his wife went to White Chapel Ch. but broke our chair near Mr. Chichester's & c'd not get any further. God was very gracious--none was much hurt. Jamey & Molly were with them. Judith (the maid), who was in behind, was most hurt.
Aug 13, 1760: Nancy Chichester here. Went down with her to the landing with my wife. Molly went home with her.
Aug. 24, 1760: My wife & Jamey went to Church and brought home Molly from Mr. Chichester's.
January 31, 1762: At home with my family. Molly said all the Shorter Catechism, Jamey 56 of the Larger, & Molly Hening 106.
March 28, 1762: Poor little Betty very sick last night--Molly not much better.
April 3, 1763: This day Mr. Waddel spoke to me about Molly.[5]

On 7 Oct 1767 when Mary (Molly) was 15, she married Rev. James WADDELL D. D.[1],[2],[10],[4],[5], son of Thomas WADDELL & Janet UNKNOWN, in VA.[1],[2],[15] Born in 1739 in Atlantic Ocean.[2],[1] [When his parents emigrated to America.]. James died in Louisa Co, VA on 17 Sep 1805; he was 66.[2] Occupation: Preacher.[1],[2] Religion: Presbyterian.[1],[2]

The part of Colonel James Gordon's Journal which was preserved deals largely with the Rev. James Waddell, who married Colonel Gordon's daughter, Mary, and whose ministrations in Lancaster County, Virginia, were notable. Rev. James Waddell in later years was immortalized by William Wirt as "The Blind Preacher" in "The British Spy." [1], [8]

Entries in the Journal of Col. James Gordon in which James refers to Rev. James Waddell:
Aug. 7, 1761: Yesterday Mr. Criswell wrote to Mr. Tod about Mr. Waddell. Our apples begin to drop fast now.
Aug. 10, 1761: I went for some of the neighbors, viz.: Dale & Thos. Carter, John Mitchell &c, & after we got breakfast I told Mr. Hunt I had done this, which I hoped he w'd not take amiss, being in my own house, just to let him see that I am not the only person that desires a longer trial of him, & likewise to hear Mr. Waddell--that the more I thought about him, the more I thought it was necessary to be careful in the choice of a minister, that those who are most ready in receiving a minister may be the most ready to despise him & religion too; that a minister sh'd like a people who are rather nice in these affairs; besides it might be a matter of conscience with us to desire to hear others; we had not only ourselves to please but our families & our nieghbors who depended upon us; that the objections we had to him we kept to ourselves, & did not consult with others, to expose him & religion, &c. He answered he could not be kept in suspense, therefore he must leave us, if we w'd not accept of him now.
Aug. 30, 1761: Went to meeting with my wife & family. Mr. Hunt, by his text, gave some of us uneasiness--2 Peter 2:8, but his sermon was not according to what we expected. He bid us farewell, & gave notice that there is a prospect of Mr. Todd or Mr. Waddell preaching the Lord's day after next, which seemed to make the people pretty easy that were displeased about his going away. He will leave us in great confusion, but the Lord is able to quiet & calm us again, which I hope He will do in His own good time. I am very much reflected on--in short the whole of Mr. Hunt's going away is laid upon me, but I trust that God will give me the strength to bear up under such a trial.
Aug. 31, 1761: Writing to Mr. Todd as we proposed & send Mr. Mitchell off to-morrow to get him to come & quiet us, & make up the difference among us. I have reason to think Mr. Hunt will endeavor to stop his coming, as well as Mr. Waddel's. Waited at home for Mr. Hunt's coming to bid us farewell, but he did not come.
September 3, 1761: Mr. Hunt bid us farewell. We talked a great deal, but I still insisted on hearing Mr. Waddel & that Mr. Tod sh'd come & calm the differences among us.
September 9, 1761: A very busy day with me. J. Mitchell returned from Mr. Todd with a letter for me & one for Mr. Hunt. I have the pleasure to know that Mr. Todd approves of all our conduct in respect to Mr. Hunt, & greatly condemns those that oppose us. Mr. Todd & Mr. Waddell are both expected the 25th of next month. Great reflection about Mr. C____ll__ that gives Col. Selden great uneasiness. Blessed be God for directing us in this critical affair! for it has appeared a very dangerous affair & so few to assist me. But I trust God is my strength so that I may not fear what man can do unto me.
September 11, 1761: Had a long conversation with Mrs. Selden about Mr. Hunt, who seems now pretty well reconciled, & so is Col. Selden, so that I hope Mr. Waddel's way may be clear to him.
October 22, 1761: Went to meeting with my wife, where we had the great comfort of hearing our dear friend, Mr. Todd, from Luke 13:24. We have reason to expect Mr. Waddel, but not before Xmas, he being gone to the Nor'ward. Blessed be God for sending Mr. Todd & giving us such a prospect of Mr. Waddel who has a great character in the divine life.
December 13, 1761: No news of Mr. Waddel.
December 17, 1761: Mr. Criswell set off this morning to see about Mr. Waddell. I detained him from setting off yesterday, expecting to send the lottery-tickets with him to Mr. Todd's, &c.
December 24, 1761: Mr. Criswell got home. Mr. Waddel is not returned to Virginia, nor no account of him. Therefore we must exercise our patience longer.
March 4, 1762: Col. Selden & I signed a letter to Mr. Waddel & I wrote to Mr. Todd & delivered all to Mr. Mitchell, who intends, God willing, to set off in the morning in search of Mr. Waddel.
March 13, 1762: Jno. Mitchell came with letters from Mr. Todd, which contained bad news. No word of Mr. Waddel, & 120 of our lottery tickets lost that Mr. Todd sent up the country.
April 10, 1762: Mr. Criswell returned & brought us the comfortable news that Mr. Waddel intends to visit us the Sabbath after next. Mr. Criswell has conducted this affair with great prudence & judgment. Thanks be to God for this delightful prospect.
April 16, 1762: Heard the comfortable news that Mr. Waddel was arrived at Col. Selden's. Mrs. Miller came to-day to wait on my wife.
April 18, 1762: May the Lord be praised, I at last have had the comfort of going with my family to meeting, where Mr. Waddel performed to admiration! and to a very great number of people. I'm not the least doubtful that he will give general satisfaction. He came home with us.
April 19, 1762: Mr. Waddel & I went to see Mrs. Hill, who is very sick. Mr. W. spoke to her & prayed with her--much to my satisfaction.
April 20, 1762: Went with Mr. Waddel to Dale Carter's burial. Mr. W. prayed, read & gave us a fine exhortation, much to the satisfaction of all present.
April 22, 1762: Mr. Waddel went with Mr. Cr. to school.
April 23, 1762: Mr. Waddel went to visit Wm. Rawson who is in a very poor state of health. A large ship went past to-day up the river.
April 24, 1762: Went with Mr. Waddel & Mr. Criswell & Dr. Criswell to draw the seine. Had good diversion.
April 25, 1762: Went to the upper meeting, Mr. Waddel gave us two excellent sermons. The people seem much delighted with him.
April 29, 1762: We went to Mr. Thos. Carter's to Mrs. Whale's funeral, where Mr. Waddel preached an excellent sermon to a large number of people, who seemed much pleased. The Lord has been unspeakably kind in sending him among us.
May 2, 1762: Rained most all day. Went to meeting, where I was surprised to see so many people such weather, which is a strong proof how well they approve Mr. Waddel.
May 15, 1762: Mr. Waddel gave us two fine sermons to a vast number of people. He is so universally liked that the people flock to hear him.
May 23, 1762: Went with my brother to the upper meeting. My bro. much taken with Mr. Waddel's preaching. Sent Scipio after Mr. Waddel's horse that ran away.
May 30, 1762: This day a call was signed for Mr. Waddel.
June 4, 1762: Went to meeting. Had the comfort of Mr. Todd's presence--but Mr. Waddel preached--a delightful sermon. Both ministers came home with us.
June 6, 1762: This day the Lord's Supper was administered to about 103 communicants & a very crowded house. We had two comfortable sermons by Mr. Todd & Mr. Waddell.
June 7, 1762: I offered Mr. Waddel the call, but he would not accept of it. But he promised to return to us. May the gracious God grant us that comfort. Mr. Boyd has acted a double part. O, the corruption of man is great! He & Dr. Robertson w'd not sign the call, which has given our dear Mr. Waddel some concern.
July 4, 1762: Went with Mr. Waddel in our chair to the upper meeting, where we had two excellent sermons--many more people than I expected, as it was Mr. W's first since his return from the Committee.
July 18, 1762: Went with my wife to the upper meeting. Mr. Waddell preached two very agreeable sermons. When we got home we found one Mr. Cornell here, a gentleman that came from New York & lives in N. Carolina.
August 8, 1762: Mr. Waddel is to preach in Westmoreland to-day. At home, reading & instructing my family according to my weak ability.
August 22, 1762: Went with my wife to the upper meeting; a great number of people there. Some idle person wrote something very wicked on the board before Mr. Waddel. I offered a pistol reward to find him out.
September 8, 1762: Mr. Waddel advised Mr. Mitchell from going to the races at Mr. Chin's, & discouraged Col. Selden from going. O, what reason we have to be thankful that we have a minister who will watch over his flock that they may not go astray.
Oct. 3, 1762: Went to the upper meeting. A little before we went in, Mr. Hammon & Miss Williams, coming to meeting in a chair, the horse was frightened & ran away with them. They both fell out, or jumped out, & were much hurt. We got Mr. H. blooded, & they both seemed to recover pretty well. The chair was broke all to pieces. We had a fine discourse from Mr. Waddell, & he left us there & went on his journey to the Presbytery, & from there to visit his father & mother to the Nor'ward. I trust the Lord will be his God, & preserve him in safety to us.
February 13, 1763: Went with my wife & family to meeting. As we went, we found Mr. Ewell & his wife on the road walking, as they could not get their horses over, the wind blowed so hard. We had a full house. Mr. Waddel proposed ten persons for elders: Col. Selden, Dr. Robertson, Mr. Chichester, Dr. Watson, Mr. Thos. Carter, Dale Carter, Mr. Jno. Mitchell, Mr. Belvard, Mr. Wright & myself, & desired the people if they knew anything against their character to acquaint him with it before this day fortnight.
February 27, 1763: This day Mr. Waddell ordained six elders. Dr. Robertson refused serving; his behavior very remarkable.
March 17, 1763: Last night my brother & sister & three of the children with Han. Churchill came here. This day Mr. Criswell set off for the Nor'ward. Mr. Waddell not very well; he is to take charge of the school till Mr. C. returns.
March 21, 1763: Mr. Waddel began to keep school.
April 1, 1763: Went with my wife & Mr. Waddel to Wmco. Church. Called at Col. Conway's, who invited us all to dine with him. Mr. Leland gave us a very short sermon & less instruction. O, the blind guides that poor Virginia is invested with! But blessed be Almighty God, who has afforded us so good a Pastor as Mr. Waddel, by whom we can hear the Gospel in its purity! Dined at Col. C's, who seemed to use us better than we expected. He seems much impaired, & will allow anybody to speak very little in his presence.
April 11, 1763: Mr. Waddel set off to Williamsburg to take the oaths agreeable to law.
August 7, 1763: Mr. W. preached two sermons to the greatest number of people I ever saw in the house.
October 17, 1763: Mr. Waddel has got 600 pds in bonds for the maintenance of a Presbyterian minister.[5]

The Rev. James and Mary Gordon Waddell lived in Gordon's Merrypoint home until 1778. Failing health, inroads of the Revulution and emigration of leading families prompted his removal to the Shenandoah. By this time they had several children, and Mary had taken in her youngest brother, John Gordon, born in 1765, who had lost his father at less than three years of age and his mother a few years later.The influence on young John Gordon, brought up in the home of the Rev. James Waddell, is of special interest. The Waddell children were surely companions of young John Gordon. James Waddell's last home was in his residence called Hopewell located in the corner of Louisa, Orange and Albemarle Counties. Here he received his degree of Doctor of Divinity from Dickinson College and often took pupils into his own house. He built a small brick church about a mile and a half north of Gordonsville on the road to Orange. After some years of blindness his sight was partially restored by a cataract removal. His death was recorded as 17 September 1805 at a Presbytery meeting, and his last words were, "Let me die. Take the pillow from beneath my head. Lord Jesus receive my spirit." [2]


Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Volume I
IV--Burgesses and Other Prominent Persons
Name: JAMES WADDELL
was born in Ulster, Ireland, July, 1739, of Scotch parentage. Shortly after his birth, his parents emigrated to Pennsylvania. He was schooled under Dr. Finley of Nottingham and was a tutor in the school at fifteen. At nineteen years he came to Hanover county, Virginia, where he met Rev. Samuel Davies, and was licensed to preach by the Hanover Presbytery in 1761. He had charge of a church in Lancaster county till 1778; then removed to his estate of "Spring Hill" near Waynesborough, where he remained for seven years, acting continuously as minister of Tinkling Spring and sometimes at Staunton. In 1785 he moved to Louisa county where he resided till his death in 1805. Besides preaching in various churches in the neighborhood, he taught school. William Wirt immortalized him as "The Blind Preacher," in the essays of the "Old Bachelor." [16]


In the Lancaster County Courthouse in Virginia there is a large brass plaque with the following words engraved on it:
In Memoriam
The Rev. James Waddell, D. D.
Blind preacher and teacher and orator
Son of Thomas and Janet Waddell of Co. Down, Ire.
born on the Atlantic Ocean in 1739
when his parents emigrated to America
died in Louisa County, Virginia, 1805
Licenced probationer, April 2, 1761 by the old
Presbytery of Hanover
Resided on the Corotoman, 1762, and had three
preaching services - Lancaster, Forest Meeting House and
the Northumberland Meeting House.
In 1768 he married Mary Gordon, daughter of
Col. James Gordon an elder and member of Court and
maternal grandfather of Gen. Wm. Fitzhugh Gordon of Albemarle.
Rev. Waddell taught Meriwether Lewis and Gov. James Barbour.
He was at one time at Tinkling Springs Church at Augusta.
He was a patriot on the Revolution
He took care of Tate County at Midway and Rockbridge, Va.
He was immortalized in Wirt's The British Spy when in a
sermon of thrilling oratory and magic eloquence on the passion
of Our Savior, he electrified his hearers by the beautiful and
sublime quotation from Rousseau, "Socrates died like a philosopher,
but Jesus Christ died like a God." [2]

They had the following children:

		i.	Nathaniel[1],[2]. Born in 1767.[2] Nathaniel died in 1796; he was 29.[2] On 6 Jun 1795 when Nathaniel was 28, he married Mary Smith GORDON[1],[2], daughter of Col. James GORDON (7) (1750-1796) & Anne PAYNE.[1] Born on 17 Sep 1776 in Lancaster Co, VA.[1] Mary Smith died on 10 Mar 1796; she was 19.[1]
	22	ii.	James Gordon (1770-1857)
	23	iii.	Elizabeth (1777-1851)
	24	iv.	Janetta (1782-1832)
		v.	Ann Harrison[2]. Born in 1783.[2] Ann Harrison died in 1852; she was 69.[2] Of Staunton, Virginia. [2]
	25	vi.	Addison (1785-1855)
		vii.	Sallie[2]. Born in 1789.[2] Sallie died in 1865; she was 76.[2] Of Staunton, Virginia. [2]
	26	viii.	Lyttelton (1790-1869)
		ix.	Harrington[2] (Died as Child). Born in Louisa Co, VA.[2]

9. Elizabeth (Betty) GORDON.[1],[2],[6],[3],[4],[5] Born on 6 Aug 1758 in Lancaster Co, VA.[9],[2],[1],[10],[4] [Bible entry: Elizabeth Gordon, born 6 August 1758 between 1 and 2 in the morning. Note that GORDONS IN VIRGINIA and THE HARRISON FAMILY OF VIRGINIA gives the date as 24 August 1758.]. Elizabeth (Betty) died ? .

Entries in the Journal of Col. James Gordon in which James refers to his daughter as Betty:
April 1, 1759: Went with my wife & all my children but Betty, to Christ Ch.
April 3, 1759: Mr. Carter set off for Wmsburg & we came home after breakfast--had Betty with us.
April 23, 1759: My wife, Jamey, Molly & Betty went over to Col. Churchill's, & I went on board the Johnston, Capt. Ganrith, where met a large Company. Then I went over to Urbana, dined with my brother, who was setting off to Wmsburg. There I came on board again & got well on shore & home at night.
June 12, 1759: Dr. F. [Flood] came about 9 o'clock & stayed all day. Poor little Betty very ill with the measles. Molly is likewise taken.
June 16, 1759: Nancy, Molly & Betty have the measles, & about ten of the negroes.
Aug 14, 1759: Very busy about our apples. They came on us very fast! Mr. Chichester much disordered with his hip & a cold. Jamey very ill with the whoopingcough, & we are afraid of Molly & Betty getting it.
October 10, 1759: Poor little Betty very ill with whoopingcough & fever & ague. Mr. Chichester recovers very slow.
October 12, 1759: My dear little Betty very ill, & several of our family are now sick. The great God who made us must know what is best for us. Therefore we sh'd endeavor to submit to His will in all things.
June 25, 1760: ...Poor little Betty very unwell. How uncertain are our comforts in this life!...
June 27, 1760: Mr. C. continues to recover, but Betty's gums are very sore.
April 30, 1761: Went with my wife & Betty to the store. Then went to Col. Selden's to dinner. Coming back the horse ran down the hill with us. We had but one horse in the chair & I drove myself, so that we were much surprised. But it pleased God to enable me to get him turned round & up the hill so that he stopped. O God, give us grace to be thankful for this deliverance, which indeed was very great, to my dear wife & little tender infant, as well as to myself.
December 31, 1761: My dear little Betty unwell.
New Year's Day, 1762: I thank God my dear little child is much better. Agreed for two negroes. We had a large company.
March 28, 1762: Poor little Betty very sick last night--Molly not much better.
September 26, 1762: My dear little Betty has been unwell since Thursday: but to-day she seemed not very sick, so we went to meeting where we had an excellent sermon from Mr. Waddel,--condemned racing. When we got home, Betty was not as well, & soon grew very ill, so that we dispaired of her recovery. But blessed be the Great Physician, who was pleased to recover her very much, before we went to bed.
September 27, 1762: Intended to go to Richmond, but did not incline to leave my dear little child.
September 28, 1762: Betty being better, set off on my journey about 8 o'clock. Got near Richmond glebe about 4 o'clock; dined there, & got to my brother's about 7, where I found great confusion, my sister being ill, & Mrs. Churchill, her mother, not coming according to expectation, made great uneasiness. About 9 o'clock my sister was happily delivered of a son, which gave great comfort to us all.[5]

On 13 Aug 1777 when Elizabeth (Betty) was 19, she married James GORDON (13) [1],[2],[10],[6],[3],[4], son of John GORDON (4) (~1720-1780) & Lucy CHURCHILL (1737-?), in VA.[1],[2],[7],[10],[4] James Gordon and Elizabeth Gordon were first cousins. Born in 1759 in VA.[1],[2],[10],[4] James died in Germanna, Orange Co, VA on 14 Dec 1799; he was 40.[1],[4] Buried in Gordon family burying ground, Germanna, Orange Co, VA.[1] Occupation: Planter.[1],[3]

James was known as "James Gordon of Orange." He was a planter of Germanna, Orange County, Virginia. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Richmond County in 1781. James Gordon along with James Madison, who later became President of the United States, represented Orange County in the Virginia Convention of 1788 which ratified the Federal Constitution of the United States. [1], [3], [4]

They had the following children:

		i.	Lucy Harrison[1],[4].
	27	ii.	John Churchill
	28	iii.	William Fitzhugh (1787-1858)
		iv.	Elizabeth[1],[4]. Born abt 1789 in VA.[17] Elizabeth died ? . Elizabeth died unmarried. [1], [4]
		v.	Armistead Churchill[1],[4]. Born abt 1792 in VA.[18] Armistead Churchill died ? . Occupation: Planter of Germanna, Orange County, Virginia.[1] Armistead died unmarried. [1] 1850 Census, Orange Co, VA: Armistead C. Gordon, age 58, farmer, real estate: 4,000, born VA Elizabeth Gordon, age 61, real estate: 6,500, born VA [Note: Elizabeth was Armistead's sister.]
		vi.	Thomas Churchill[1],[4]. Occupation: Lawyer of Pendleton County, West Virginia.[1] Thomas Churchill married Unknown KEYES[1],[4]. Of West Virginia. [1]
		vii.	Mary[1]. Mary died unmarried. [1]

10. Nathaniel GORDON.[1],[2],[10],[4],[5] Born on 28 Aug 1763 in Lancaster Co, VA.[1],[10],[2],[9],[5] [Bible entry: Nathaniel Gordon, born 28 August 1763.]. Nathaniel was baptized in Lancaster Co, VA on 13 Sep 1763.[5] [Baptized by Rev. James Waddell.]. Nathaniel died in Orange Co, VA on 28 Feb 1820; he was 56.[1],[10],[2]

Nathaniel Gordon was born at his father's residence on the Corotoman River in Lancaster County, Virginia, August 28, 1763, during a visit of the English evangelist, Whitefield, to his father's house. On that day Nathaniel's father, Col. Gordon, wrote in his journal after recording the birth of his son, "a fine child. . . Mr. Whitefield preached a most affecting sermon to a great number of people." On September 13, 1763, Col. Gordon writes, "This day our son, Nathaniel was baptized by Mr. Waddel. . . O! may the Lord grant that he be a Nathaniel, indeed, and his name written in the Book of Life!" [1]

Entries in the Journal of Col. James Gordon in which James refers to his son:
Aug 28, 1763: Mr. Whitefield preached a most affecting sermon to a great number of people. My wife would venture out, tho' in such a condition. It pleased the Almighty Father to give her strength to return, but about six o'clock in the evening she was happily delivered of a son, a fine child.
Aug. 30, 1763: My wife seems to recover; the child is very well.
Sept. 13, 1763: Mr. Waddel much better. This day our son Nathaniel was baptized by Mr. Waddel. No company but Mr. Chichester & Nancy, Molly Chichr., with Mr. Carter & their girls. O, may the Lord grant that he be a Nathaniel, indeed; the gift of God, & his name written in the Book of Life.[5]

Nathaniel owned lands in Orange County, Virginia, on which he founded the present town of Gordonsville. [1], [2]



On 20 Oct 1785 when Nathaniel was 22, he married Mary GORDON (15) [1],[2],[10],[4], daughter of John GORDON (4) (~1720-1780) & Lucy CHURCHILL (1737-?), in VA.[1],[10] Nathaniel Gordon married his first cousin, Mary Gordon, daughter of John Gordon and Lucy Churchill. Born on 14 Mar 1768 in VA.[1],[10],[2],[4] Mary died in VA on 29 Jun 1808; she was 40.[10],[4]

They had the following children:

		i.	James[1],[2],[19]. Born on 22 Jul 1787 in VA.[1],[19] James died in VA on 13 Jun 1825; he was 37.[1],[19] Buried in Maplewood Cemetery, Orange Co, VA.[19] James was of Botetourt County, Virginia. [1] James first married Margaret ANDERSON[1]. Margaret Anderson was of Botetourt County, Virginia. She was a sister of Judge Francis T. Anderson of the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia and an aunt of the Honorable William A. Anderson, former Attorney General of Virginia. [1] James second married Eliza L. GORDON[1],[2],[14], daughter of Churchill GORDON (14) (1761-1802) & Ann SPARK. Eliza was the second wife of James Gordon of Botetourt County, Virginia. [2], [1]
		ii.	Lucy[1],[20]. Born on 14 Feb 1789 in VA.[1],[21] Lucy died on 12 Jan 1871; she was 81.[1] Lucy died unmarried. [1]
		iii.	John[1] (Died as Child). Born on 6 Mar 1791 in VA.[1] John died in VA on 14 Dec 1802; he was 11.[1]
	29	iv.	John Newton (1793-1870)
		v.	Nathaniel[1]. Born on 5 Apr 1795 in VA.[1] Nathaniel died in 1869; he was 73.[1] Nathaniel died unmarried. [1]
	30	vi.	Samuel Harrington (1797-1852)
	31	vii.	Mary Harrison (1798-1887)
		viii.	Priscilla Churchill[1]. Born on 13 Jul 1801 in VA.[1],[22] Priscilla Churchill died ? . Priscilla Churchill married Robert KING[1]. Born abt 1779 in VA.[23] Robert died ? . 1850 Census, Orange Co, VA: Robert King, age 71, farmer, real estate: 11,950, born VA Priscilla C. King, age 47, born Va Margaret Davis, age 18, born VA
		ix.	Sarah Ann[1],[20]. Born on 8 Aug 1803 in VA.[1],[24] Sarah Ann died in Nov 1875; she was 72.[1] Sarah died unmarried. [1]
		x.	Marcia Armistead[1]. Born on 13 Feb 1807 in VA.[1] Marcia Armistead died on 23 Jul 1832; she was 25.[1] Marcia died unmarried. [1]

11. John GORDON.[1] Born on 9 Oct 1765 in Lancaster Co, VA.[1],[10],[2],[9] [Bible entry: John Gordon, born 9 October 1765 between 6 and 7 in the morning.]. John died in Piqua, Miami Co, OH on 7 May 1842; he was 76.[1],[10],[2],[12] Buried in Piqua, Miami Co, OH.[2] [Note: When the cemetery was being torn up, John was removed with others of the family to the Gordon plot in St. Marys, Auglaize Co, Ohio.]. Occupation: Gentleman.[2],[12] Religion: Presbyterian.[2],[12]

John Gordon was named for his uncle, the immigrant John Gordon, who settled at Urbana in Middlesex County, Virginia. John Gordon's father died when John was less than three years of age, and his mother died when he was five. John's oldest sister, Mary, had married the Rev. James Waddell a few months before their father's death. James and Mary Waddell were living at the Merrypoint residence. The Waddells took young John to live with them at Merrypoint and were a great influence on his life. The Revolutionary War was during this time, and Lancaster County suffered much at the hands of the British. As a result the Waddells moved to Orange County. John received a generous education; and when he came of age, he took possession of one of the plantations of his father's estate on Cedar Creek, Frederick County, Virginia, about twenty miles above Winchester in the Shenandoah Valley. John raised a family of five sons and five daughters. He was a model Virginia gentleman, courteous and benevolent to a fault and very strong intellectually. After his family was grown he sold his plantation and manumitted his slaves. Many of them were devoted to him and to his children to the end of his days. John moved to Piqua, Miami County, Ohio, in 1835, where he took a house near his son, John Willison Gordon, and family.[1] [2] [12]

AFFIDAVIT - JOHN GORDON JR.
The deposition of John Gordon Jr. of Frederick County Virginia aged seventy years taken this 19th day of December 1834. This deponent being first sworn, deposeth and saith that he well acquainted with Churchill Gordon, decd. who served in the revolution war in the naval service as a midshipman, that the said Churchill Gordon was his kinsman, say first cousin, that this deponent well remembers while he was a school boy about the age of 14 or 15 years and went to school in the neighborhood of the Father of said Churchill Gordon at whose house he was in the habit of visiting every friday evening and returning to school on Monday morning, that the said Churchill Gordon was then in the naval service and this deponent has no recollection of ever seeing the said Churchill Gordon from that time untill the proclamation of Peace, and that he ___ believes that the said Churchill Gordon was serving as a midshipman and this deponent well remembers that when the said Churchill Gordon first entered into the naval service he went into one of the Row galleys, as a private, but do not recollect how long he served in that capacity or do he remember in what time he was promoted to the office of midshipman. This deponent further saith, that the said Churchill Gordon died and left the following children viz. James A. Gordon, John H. Gordon, William S. Gordon, Eliza L. Gordon, Sarah L. Gordon & Ann S. Gordon and further this deponent saith not.
John Gordon Jr. [14]

On 1 Nov 1787 when John was 22, he married Betty Lee BALL[1], daughter of Col. Jesse BALL & Agatha CONWAY.[1],[2] [Note: The license was taken out at the Lancaster County Courthouse with Betty's Conway grandfather consenting.]. Born ? . Betty Lee died in 1812 in Frederick Co, VA.[2]

Betty Lee Ball was a near kinswoman of Mary Ball, the mother of General George Washington. [1]

They had the following children:

	32	i.	James Harrison (1790-1819)
	33	ii.	John Willison (1792-?)
	34	iii.	Smith Waddell (1794-?)
	35	iv.	Matilda Ann (1797-1815)
	36	v.	Nash LeGrand (1800-1835)
		vi.	Mary Agatha[1],[2],[25]. Born on 28 Apr 1802 in VA.[1],[2],[26] Mary Agatha died in OH abt 1864; she was 61.[1],[2] Mary was unmarried and later made her home with her father in Piqua, Ohio. [1], [2] On the 1850 Census, Piqua, Washington Twp, Miami Co, Ohio, Mary Gordon, age 47, was enumerated in the household of her brother, John Willison Gordon. [25]
		vii.	Janetta Waddell[1],[2]. Born on 23 Sep 1803 in VA.[1],[2] Janetta Waddell died on 6 Jul 1830; she was 26.[1],[2] In 1826 when Janetta Waddell was 22, she married Benjamin WELLS[1],[2].[1] Of Louisiana. [1], [2]
		viii.	Elizabeth Lee[1],[2]. Born on 29 Aug 1804 in VA.[1],[2] Elizabeth Lee died in 1846; she was 41.[1],[2] On 20 Jan 1842 when Elizabeth Lee was 37, she married Jonathan ELDRIDGE[1],[2].[1],[2] Of Ohio. [1]
	37	ix.	Penelope Virginia (-1836)
	38	x.	Archibald Alexander (1811-?)