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Mathews-Williams Family Genealogy
Notes
Edward Burwell, of Harlington, Bedford, England.
William Bernard, of Mansfield, near Fredericksburg, VA.
Edward Burwell, of Harlington, Bedfordshire, England.
Colonel Austin Brockenbrough, of "Bloomsbury", Westmoreland County, Virginia, and Richmond County, Virginia. He was a Colonel in the First Virginia Regiment with Washington during the French/Indian Wars. He served under General Braddock. He owned an estate called "Crowley's", and Mulberry Island. It was said that the name of his home, "Bloomsbury", came from his grandmother's family which at one time, lived at Queen's Square, Bloomsbury, London.
With the outbreak of the Revolutionary War he took a diffferent view of his obligation to the Crown from General Washington. He, like some of the old clergy, thought that he was perpetually bound by his oath of allegiance to the King. He wished, however, to remain in America, as he had a father, brother, children and property here. He was intent to be passive and obey our laws, but could not unite in what he considered rebellion. This, however, did not suit the times and Virginia, especially the Northern Neck. In the year 1775, he sent a petition to the Assembly, asking leave to remain in Virginia on the terms mentioned above, which was rejected. Not only this, but not less than five companies of men from Richmond, Caroline, and Westmoreland Counties came to his house, determined on signal punishment, if not the taking of his life, which he avoided by fleeing to England on a vessel about to sail from Hobb's Hole. His father and brother, though respecting his motives for adhering to theCrown, joined themselves to the American Party. I (Christopher F. Hutcins) have had access to a diary kept by this Austin Brockenbrough from the time he set sail in 1775 to the time of his return at the close of the war, and also to letters of the family. Although the diary is much mutilated, enough remains to enable us to form a just estimate of his character and a correct view of himself and companions in England during the war. some of them had been officers in the army with him, but most were gentlemen from Virginia who sympathized with him. From his diary it would seem that they had a merry time of it while in England, especially London, their chief place of rendezvous. but, in order to relieve the tedium of such a state of idleness and suspense, the American loyalists determined to form themselves into a company and offer their services to the King in case of a threatened invasion from France. When the time for selecting officers arrived, a Lord Pepperell and John Randolph of Virginia, brother of Speaker Randolph, were the candidates for the captaincy. The former gained it by two votes. Major Grymes, who married Mr. Randolph's daughter, was made ensign of the company. The king most graciously accepted their offer. There was, however, no need of their services. Mr. Randolph, it is said, died of a broken heart, and made it his last request that his remains should be brought back to Williamsburg and deposited in the College chapel, which request was granted. Mr. Grymes also returned to Virginia. While in London the American loyalists seemed to have had a merry time of it, dinning and supping together at various inns, and have more private lodgings. Those who approved their principles and conduct were not wanting in hospitality to them, especially Lord Dunmore, who either lived in London or was oftern there. Among those who consorted torgether I find the names not only of Randoph, Grymes, and Brockenbrough... All of them appear to have been Americans, most of them Virginians. Whether they were all disaffected to the American cause, or whether other considerations may not have carried them thither, I know not. Mr. Brockenbrough seems to have been intimate with them all. In 1872 he returned to Virginia, where some of his family still resided, but it seems that he did not resettle in Virginia, but went to South Carolina.