Individual Details

“Amherst Oounty, Virginia, in the Revolution” by Lenora Higinbotham Sweeny
Page 9

The First Rifle Company
In January, 1 1776, the Convention of Virginia for the better protection of the Colony passed an ordinance for raising an additional number of forces, under which Amherst was required to furnish one company of expert riflemen, to act as light infantry, consisting of one captain, two lieutenants, one ensign and seventy four non-commissioned officers and privates, to be ready for marching orders by the 25th of March, 1776. Colonel William Cabell, of "Union Hill," then serving on the Committee of Safety in Williamsburg, sent at once for his eldest son, Samuel Jordan Cabell, a student at William and Mary College, for assistance in recruiting the required company, which was duly completed, and on March 4th, the officers who had been selected by the county committee February 5th were commissioned and the company received into service by Colonel John Rose, of "Rose Isle," and Lucas Powell, of the Amherst County Committee. 29

Samuel Jordan Cabell was commissioned captain, Alexander Rose 30 first lieutenant, Benjamin Taliaferro 31 second lieutenant, and James Barnett ensign; Matthew Snooks * and James Weeks, fifer and drummer; James Dillard, Jr., Samuel Ayres, 32 Ralph Jopling and William Coffee, sergeants; and John Jordan 33 cadet.
The company rendezvoused at old Key's Church, later known as Fairmount Church, in the present county of Nelson, and marched to Williamsburg, arriving March 24, 1776, after a march of twelve days. They were assigned to the Sixth Virginia Regiment, General
29 Hening’s Statutes, IX, 82; Brown’s The OabeUs and Their Kin, p. 177.
30 “Son of Col. John Rose, of “Rose Isle,” Amherst Co.; promoted Captain, Sept. 17, 1776; retired with the rank of Major, Sept. 14, 1778.
31 Son of Capt. Zachariah Taliaferro; married, April 8, 1782, Martha, daughter of David and Mary (Harvie) Meriwether, of Amherst Co.; removed to Wilkes Co., Ga., 1784, where he became a leading citizen. He died Sept. 3, 1821, leaving many descendants. Saunders’ Early Settlers of A’labama, p. 250.
* Matthew Snooks was an indentured servant of Gabriel Penn, from whom he was purchased jointly by the commissioned officers of the com¬pany at £20. Hardesty’s Historical cE Geographical Encyclopedia, p. 408.
32 “Son of Thomas Ayres of Essex Co.; married in Amherst Co., Nov. 9, 1772, Rachel Morrison, widow of William Morrison, who died in Albemarle Co., 1761, and daughter of John and Frances (Riley) Higginbotham.
33 “Son of Matthew Jordan, will proved in Albemarle Co., Nov., 1769, and nephew of Co1. Samuel Jordan, of “Seven Islands,” Buckingham Co., and grandson of Co1. Charles Fleming, of New Kent County.

Marriage	9 Nov 1772	RACHEL Higginbotham
Death	1784

Spouse

RACHEL Higginbotham ( - 1809)