Volume 7 , Issue 14

The CAMERON Family of Virginia...

THE CAMERON FAMILY -- Written By Maria Boys Cochran Sterrett who died October 31, 1920

The first of this family, who came to America, was Dr. John Cameron who was a son of Cameron of Fassifern, a grandson of Sir Evan Dhu Cameron, and a nephew of Lochiel, the last chief of the Cameron Clan. One of Campbell's best poems "Lochiel" describes Sir Lockiel just before his defeat at the battle of Culloden.

The Camerons were Catholics, and embraced with eagerness the cause of the Pretender. The Pretender was a son of James II, of England, he was born after his father was dethroned. After his father's death in 1701, he was declared by the French King, the rightful King of England, and was called in France the "Chevalier St. George," in England the Pretender.

Some people in England and particularly in Scotland took up the Pretender's cause from time to time, and many lies were sacrificed, and much misery occasioned. It was in the reign of George the Second that the Pretender made his last appearance. Being an old man by that time, he and the Jacobites (as his friends were called) put forward his son Charles Edward, known as the young Pretender. He was called the young chevalier.

The Highlanders of Scotland espoused his cause, he joined them, and there was a Scottish rebellion, to make him King, in which many noble and gallant men lost their lives. The battle of Culloden was fought April 1746, and the Scotch were terribly defeated. It was a hard matter for the Pretender to escape abroad again, with a high price on his head, but the Scottish people were very faithful to him, and after under going many romantic adventures he escaped to France.

Dr. John Cameron carried the colors of his clan at the battle of Culloden. After the defeat of the Scotch, a number of his relations, with many other prominent persons who were engaged in the rebellion, were taken to London and executed. Dr. Cameron made his escape on a Spanish vessel to Spain. He soon went to the West Indies, and was there a short while before going to New York City.

In New York he met Mrs. Murry and married her. She was a widow, Mrs. Margaret Murry, whose maiden name was Margaret McBarron. Her first husband was a wealthy merchant who had come from Liverpool to New York. She had two daughters by her first marriage, Sarah and Mary Murry. She was a native of Ireland of Scotch descent, and a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Dr. Cameron came to Norfolk, Virginia, soon after his marriage, and there his two children were born. Charles Edward, his eldest son, was born February 22, 1753, and his second son, George Hugh, was several years younger. Charles Cameron was named for the Young Pretender. He was first named George Hugh; when he was several years old, his father gave a dinner to some Scotch gentlemen who had fought for the Pretender and they became so excited over their wine, that his father sent for a Catholic Priest, and had him baptized the second time, and named him, for their beloved Prince, Charles Edward, who was the last of the Stuarts who claimed the crown of Scotland.

Dr. John Cameron lived in Norfolk until his son Charles was six years of age and then moved his family to Staunton, Virginia.

After the rebellious Scotch subjects were pardoned they could return to Scotland, and take possession of their property. Dr. Cameron sailed for Scotland expecting to recover his property and planned to return and live in Virginia, but he was lost at sea. His son Charles knew that his father had a large estate in Scotland, that he had inherited and that his father's uncle, and so many relations were executed, and that if his father had lived to recover his property, he Charles, would have owned an immense estate that went to the English crown.

Charles Cameron was a child at his father's death and had nothing to prove that he had a right to the estate in Scotland. He clerked in a store in Staunton when he was a boy, and a few years later went to the Mossy Creek Iron Works, to keep store and to book-keep for Henry Miller, who owned and built the first Iron Works in the Valley of Virginia. When he was a very young he married Mr. Miller's daughter Nancy Miller. She died about six months after their marriage.

In 1774, he and his brother George were at the battle of Point Pleasants, and just before the battle, as the battle was not expected so soon, he and some other soldiers were ordered to hunt to get meat for the soldiers.

When they returned the battle was over, and his brother, George, and his brother-in-law, Col Charles Lewis, were killed. Col Charles Lewis wife was Sarah Murry a half sister of Charles and George Cameron.

George Cameron was very tall and dark, with dark hair and eyes, and a very prominent forehead, he was strikingly like his father. When he was a child his playmates would tell him that if an Indian would shoot him, he would be shot in the forehead, as it was so prominent. When his brother, Charles, found him among the slain, he did have a bullet hole in his forehead. Col. Charles Lewis was a brother of General Andrew Lewis who was a commander at Point Pleasants. Charles Cameron served in the Revolution form December 3, 1776 to January 3, 1776 as a lieutenant in the Tenth Va. Regt and later in the Va. Militia.

In Peyton's History of Augusta County, Charles Cameron is mentioned as one of the "gentlemen Justices" of Augusta County in 1790.

On December 14, 1790, the counties of Bath and Pendleton were formed form Augusta County. Charles received a grant of land in Bath County for services in the Revolution, and must have gone to Bath to live about the time the county was formed. He added to the grant, and had a magnificent estate, he built a stone house, one of the handsomest in the county. He was elected clerk at the first court held for Bath County on May 10, 1791, and faithfully performed its duties until April 1814, when he resigned and was succeeded by Charles Lewis Francisco. Mr. Cameron's office was over a stone spring house near his residence, where he first kept the legal records until the courthouse was built at Warm Springs.

The spring house is still in a good state of preservation. He became a militia Colonel soon after the Revolution. When General Lafayette visited America, Col. Cameron went to Norfolk with the old soldiers to welcome him. General Lafayette presented Col. Cameron with a gold-headed cane, as a token of friendship and esteem, which he used until his death. Col. Cameron married his second wife Rachel Primrose Warwick when he was 40 years of age in 1793.

Primrose was born March 13, 1772. Her father was Jacob Warwick and her mother's maiden name was Mary Vance. She was named for her mother's mother, whose maiden name was Rachel Primrose. She was born in what is now Pocahontas County, West Virginia and at that time Augusta County, Virginia. Her parents were among the earliest settlers of that part of the country and may be regarded as the founders of the Presbyterian church in that region. They owned a fine estate, which they appropriated generously to the support of the Gospel.

She was the mother of three children, two died in infancy, and her son Col. A. W. Cameron was the only child, of her own, that she raised. After the death of their two little children, for some years they were childless. Col. Cameron and his wife adopted two nephews, Andrew Gatewood, a son of Mrs. Cameron's sister, and Charles Francisco, who was the son of Col. Cameron's half sister, Mary Murry, who had married Mr. Francisco. They intended to give their nephews their property, but when these boys had lived with them ten years, their son Andrew Warwick Cameron was born - the date June 6th 1806. They provided liberally for their nephews. They gave them a good education, and Mrs. Cameron gave her nephew Andrew Gatewood, who was a physician, a farm in Pocahontas County. Col. Cameron gave his nephew, Charles Francisco, a farm in Bath County.

Mr. Charles Franciso used to say of his Aunt, Mrs. Cameron, "Her affectionate heart speared to embrace all the children of want around her, and her house was as open as her heart was, for the accommodation of all who needed and desired her help." They raised no less than five or six nephews or nieces, besides several other children who were in no way related to them. Col. Cameron died at his home "Fassifern" in Bath County on July 14th, 1829. He always said that he was like his mother in personal appearance. He was about middle height, his eyes blue, his complexion fair, and his hair brown until touched with years. In old age he was quite bald, but his teeth were sound until his dying day. He was a citizen without reproach, a brave soldier, one of the best husbands and fathers, and well may his descendents cherish the memory of this noble ancestor. His wife, who was much younger, lived many years after her husband's death. She was thrown from a horse when she was thirty-six years old and her hip was broken. She was always lame afterwards and had to use a cane. After her husband's death, she always used his cane - the gift of General LaFayette.

Co. Cameron's son, Andrew Warwick Cameron, was a man of liberal education and a great reader. He went to school at Warm Springs to Mr. Cutchfield, who was a fine teacher, and then to the Rev. John Hendren of Augusta County, who was one of the best teachers of his day. He then finished his education at the University of Virginia. When he was at Rev. Hendren's school, he met his first wife. She was Margaret Gratten Miller, daughter of Capt. Samuel Miller who owned the Mossy Creek Iron Works. She was a niece of his father's first wife, and a strong friendship had always existed between Col. Charles Cameron and his first wife's family. Samuel Miller was one of the wealthiest and most prominent businessmen of his day. He was Presidential Elector on the Clay ticket in 1832.

Margaret's mother's name was Margaret Grattan, daughter of John Grattan who was one of the first trustees of Washington College. Mr. Cameron's first wife died April 13th 1829 at the age of 19 years. She was a devoted, gentle, Christian woman and was remarkable for her beautiful person, as well as her lovely character. She is described as being medium in height with brilliant clack eyes and hair. She had a brilliant color and a fair brunette complexion. She left an infant daughter, Margaret Grattan Miller Cameron. Mr. Cameron married the second time in May 1832. His wife was Ellen McCue Hyde, daughter of Mr. John Hyde was the high Sheriff of Rockbridge County and her mother was from Augusta County with the maiden name of Sallie Crawford. Mr. Cameron became a militia Colonel, when he was a young man and was always called "Col. Cameron." He represented his county in the Virginia Legislature a number of times. In 1840 he moved his family to Rockbridge County where he owned a fine estate.

His mother, Mrs. Rachel Primrose Cameron, moved with them and lived in a small house adjacent to the large house until her death. For many months prior to her death, she was closely confined to her bed and suffered much pain, but a more uncomplaining sufferer was never seen. She retained her mental powers to the last and spoke frequently and peacefully of her approaching end. She had a remarkable knowledge of the scripture and quoted them with great fluency and accuracy. She was wholly free from bigotry, but loved her own church with sacred tenderness. She died on December 6th 1858 at the age of 86 years. She raised her son's eldest daughter, Margaret, who always spoke of her grandmother with the greatest tenderness and veneration.

She always thought her grandmother was the best, truest Christian with the noblest and most perfect character she had ever know.

When the Civil War commenced, Col. Cameron has passed the age for service. He had four sons in the Confederate army and was always anxious about his boys. He would say that so many of his Scotch ancestors had died in battle that he always has a presentiment that he would not die a natural death himself and felt that his sons might meet death on the battle field.

Just after the battle of Manassas, he rode to Lexington to hear the news from the battle.

A large number of persons had collected in front of the hotel, all eagerly waiting for the mail. When the stage came up, one of the passengers in the act of taking from it a Minnie Rifle - struck it in some way against the seat causing it to discharge. The bullet hit three person - Co. Cameron who was killed instantly, Mr. William Smith of the V.M.I. who was slightly wounded in the wrist and Mr. William McClung who was mortally wounded and died several days later. Col. Cameron died on July 18th 1861 in the 55th year of his age.

Col. Cameron was one of the largest land and slave owners in Virginia. He had splendid property in Rockbridge, Bath, Pocahontas, and Webster Counties. He was a loving, thoughtful, devoted husband, a wise and affectionate father, a true friend and a kind and considerate master. He thought it wrong to buy or see Negroes but thought it his duty to take care of the slaves he had inherited.

He was a man of great family pride. He did not boast to strangers, but instilled it into his children that it was a privilege and blessing to have a gentle and honorable ancestry.

He was a tall man, over six feet tall. His features regular, his hair brown, and his eyes dark. He was a little bald, but had a lovely set of teeth. His hands and feet were remarkable small.

His wife, Ellen, Survived him, and lived to a great old age. She was born April 22, 1814 and died September 20, 1878. She was a great beauty in her youth and was always admired and loved for her sweet, gentle disposition, and her lovely Christian character. It can be said of her, "That her children rise up and call her blessed."   |  View or Add Comments (3 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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