Gen. William Russell

General William Russell

• A Patriot of the American Revolution for VIRGINIA, with the rank of BRIGADIER GENERAL. DAR Ancestor # A098535
• "Brig. General William Russell was born in Virginia and received his education at William and Mary College in Williamsburg, Virginia. He was married twice, 1st to Tabitha Adams of Culpeper County, Va., they had 16 children, his 2nd wife was Elizabeth Henry Campbell sister of Patrick Henry, they had 4 children. His eldest son Henry was killed by Indian's at Powell's Mountain 10/10/1773 along with Daniel Boone's eldest son. He was serving in the Virginia Legislature at the time of his death, Russell County, Virginia is named for him."
• Find A Grave Memorial # 9893
• For additional birth, marriage, and biographical information also see Des Cognets, Anna Russell, William Russell and His Descendants. Printed for the Family by Samuel F. Wilson, Lexington, KY., December 1884, pages 1 to 42, available online at https://books.google.com/books?id=rMROAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA123&dq=Gen.+Wil...
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Russell_(Virginia)

William Russell (1735 – January 14, 1793) was an army officer and a prominent settler of the southwestern region of the Virginia Colony. He led an early attempt to settle the "Kentuckee Territory" (then part of Virginia). He was a justice of Fincastle County, Virginia. Russell aided in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. During the American Revolutionary War he fought in the Battle of Point Pleasant (1774) and the Battle of Yorktown (1781). While a representative in the Virginia House of Delegates, Russell was noted for his stance opposing the 1785 State of Franklin petition for admittance into the United States.

Personal life

William Russell was educated at the College of William & Mary. Russell's first wife was Tabitha Adams, who died in 1776. His second wife, Elizabeth Henry —a sister of Patrick Henry —survived him by more than thirty years. Elizabeth was important in the early history of the Methodist Church in America. Many descendants of Russell lived in Russell and Scott Counties in Virginia.

Frontiersman

Russell led an early attempt to settle the area that would become Kentucky —then part of Fincastle County, Virginia —in September 1773. The party of frontiersmen was ambushed by Native Americans and Russell's eldest son, along with the eldest son of Daniel Boone, was killed. After the battle, the party became discouraged and turned back.

Civic and military life

Russell was elected a justice of Fincastle County, Virginia. As a Virginia representative to the Continental Congress, he aided in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. Russell was serving in the Virginia House of Delegates at the time of his death.

In the American Revolutionary War, he participated in the 1774 Battle of Point Pleasant. He was promoted to Colonel in 1776. After the fall of Charleston in 1780, Russell was captured by the British and held prisoner. He was subsequently exchanged, and rejoined the Continental Line. Russell was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781. During this time, he was brevetted to the rank of Brigadier General, commanding the 5th Virginia Regiment, until it was disbanded on 15 November 1783.

Legacy

Russell County, Virginia, and Russellville, Kentucky, are named for him.

Russell County, Kentucky, is named for his son William Russell (III).

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• Name Prefix: General
• Name Suffix: Jr.

The following transcribed from: WILLIAM RUSSELL and HIS DESCENDANTS by Anna Russell des Cognets; printed for the family by Samuel F. Wilson, Lexington, KY December 1884.

"William, the eldest son of William and Mary Henley Russell, was born in 1735. He received a classical and scientific education at William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Va., the oldest seat of learning in the United States except Harvard University. He had decided to adopt the profession of law, and was ready to enter upon his studies to carry out that design when he returned home from college in the spring of 1755. That intention was interrupted by his marriage, which took place during the summer, and while he was still one year from completing his majority. In consequence of this, he entirely abandoned the study of law, and settled upon a plantation in the northwest portion of Culpeper county, on the north branch of Hedgman river, about 12 or 15 miles from the courthouse.

The maiden name of his wife was Tabitha Adams (in the family, the name Ta-bi-tha, was always pronounced with the accent on the second syllable, and not according to the more modern pronunciation). She was the daughter of Samuel Adams of Culpeper county. Her mother's name was Charity Coates. After the death of Mr. Adams, she married Mr. Moore, and their son, William Moore (half brother of Tabitha Adams) was the father of William, Wharton, Thomas, Henley, John, Charles, Chilton, and Samuel Moore; also of Mrs Mary Coates Gray, Mrs Elizabeth Bright, and Mrs Nancy Young; all of whom settled in Kentucky and Missouri........

The Rev. Phillip Slaughter Found an old document which he inserts in his History of St. Mark's Parish, from which the following extract is made:

"The names of the following persons appear in a record before me, as having served in a campaign against the French and Indians, about this date (1757), viz: ....Col. Wiliam Russell,....."

What special campaign is referred to in the record is not known . It is found also, that "William Russell was Captain of a company of Rangers under Gen. Bradock," which must have been in 1755......

In 1765, Captain Russell was sent by the British authorities on some mission among the Indians, in the section of country about where Chattanooga is situated; and was employed nearly twelve months in executing this trust, during which time he endured great hardships among the Creek Indians. While on this tour he kept a journal, which was long preserved, but has unfortunately been lost.

In 1770 he emigrated wit h his family to southwestern Virginia, and settled temporarily on New river. Hi s design was to go on to Kentucky, where he had valuable lands.

In the fall of 1773, with the intention of executing this purpose, he proceeded with his family to Castle Woods, on Clinch river; but from information received, he considered it too dangerous to pass the Wilderness of the Cumberland with his family at that time; so he halted with them, and sent forward his eldest son Henry, with some negroes, to make a settlement preparatory to the removal of his family afterwards......(Henry was killed by Indians).

From some old records it appears that Captain Russell must have been immediately notified of the causalty in Powell's Valley, for he is mentioned as being there, and assisting in burying the dead.

The death of his oldest son was a terrible blow, and caused him to relinquish all idea of emigration to Kentucky. He owned a tract of 2,400 acres of land on Clinch river, which had been granted to him by the king of England, through the government and council of Virginia. Upon this he established his home, near a settlement called Clinch. It was about 12 miles from Castle Woods Ford on Clinch river, and immediately on the line of travel from Virginia to the Wilderness in Kentucky. That locality is now in Russell county, Virginia.

Captain Russell was soon called into active...

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From Brigadier General William Russell of Virginia, Revolutionary Soldier and Statesman Reburied in Arlington Cemetery, by Elizabeth Yarrington Russell:

https://www.jstor.org/stable/4245319?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

William Russell (II) was born in Orange County, Virginia, in 1735, son of Lt. Colonel William Russell (I) and his wife Mary Henley Russell, and grandson of Peter Russell and his wife Sarah. He died Jan. 14, 1793, near Front Royal, Virginia, and was buried in the Millar-Allen Family Cemetery one mile west of Front Royal. He married first, in 1755, Tabitha Adams, daughter of Samuel and Charity Courts Adams. Mrs. Tabitha Adams Russell died in December 1776. William Russell (II) married second in 1783 Mrs. Elizabeth (Henry) Campbell, sister of Patrick Henry and widow of Colonel William Campbell. Mrs. Elizabeth Henry Russell died Mar. 18, 1825.

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1774; Col. William Flemmings's Rgt of troops camped at Pt. Pleasant. List of wounded ...from Capt. Russells Company.......The Battle of Point Pleasant took place Oct. 10, 1774 in what is now Mason Co., WVA and was the decisive battle between the Virginia colonists and the Indians lead by Cornstalk in 'Lord Dunmore's War'. There were many casualties on both sides. This battle was said to have demonstrated to the colonial militias that they could mount effective military campaigns; and the confidence to take on the Crown. Participation in this battle confers descendants with eligibility for membership in the DAR etc.

General William Russell rose through the ranks of the Virginia militia with combat service in the Indian Wars, including the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774 where he appears on a list of wounded officers; and where a Wm. R., Jr. is listed as a private in his company. During the Revolution he was probably a colonel of militia and may have been brevetted brigadier general. Some sources state he commanded a substantial part of the American forces at the Battle of Kings Mountain, but Draper's history cites only Lt. Russell, who was probably his son. Russell County, Virginia is named after him or possibly his son - "the hero of Kings Mountain". After the war he lived on bounty land grants along the Clinch River in Washington Co., VA. In 1788 he moved his family to Saltville, VA where he produced salt. This is the William Russell who probably married the Widow of Gen. Wm. Campbell, who commanded American forces at Kings Mountain; and who died in 1781. The widow probably inherited the salt property from Campbell.

• Frontiersman
• Friend of Daniel Boone.
• Trailblazer into "Kentuckee Territory" with tragic consequences.

(According to the account, William Russell's eldest son Henry and Daniel Boone's son James were captured and tortured to death in what is now Kentucky by a band of Delaware, Shawnee and Cherokee while hunting in disputed territory on Oct 09 1773.)

• A Justice in Virginia
• Was a Virginia Representative to the Continental Congress
• Helped draft the Declaration of Independence
• Fought in the Revolutionary war in the battles of Point Pleasant (1774) and Yorktown (1781)
• Was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781.
• Was brevetted to Brigadier General of the 5th Virginia Regiment until it disbanded on November 15 1783
• His first wife was Tabitha Adams -- after her death, he married Elizabeth Henry (sister of Patrick Henry)
• Russell County, Virginia, and Russellville, Kentucky, are named for him.

Here is William Russell's Wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Russell_%28Virginia%29

• Occupation: Colonel 7th Infantry Regiment of Virginia, War of 1812
• Occupation: Colonel Kentucky State Militia - Northwest Indian Wars
• Occupation: Captain Virginia Militia - Battle of King's Mountain, Aide to Colonel William Campbell

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• Residence: United States
• Residence: VA, United States
  • Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Apr 7 2017, 4:52:52 UTC

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Rev. War Virginia Militia .
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His son William Russell, Jr.

During the Revolutionary War, William Russell Jr. fought as a captain in the Virginia militia, taking part in the Battle of Kings Mountain as an aide to Colonel William Campbell. After the war he relocated to Kentucky, settling in 1783 in Fayette County on land that had been granted to his father for military service.

He served as a colonel of Kentucky militia in the Northwest Indian War, and was a colonel in the 7th Infantry Regiment during the War of 1812, taking part in the Peoria War.

He served in the Virginia state House of Representatives in 1790 and 1791 and in Kentucky house in 1792, 1796-1780, 1802, and 1823.

Russell County, Kentucky is named for him, but Russellville, Kentucky and Russell County, Virginia are named for his father.

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National Guard History Museum:

Russell County, 81st county of Kentucky, established in 1792, named in honor of Colonel William Russell, A Revoluntionary War officer who fought at the Battle of Kings Mountain.

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Wikipedia: Battle of Kings Mountain: The Battle of Kings Mountain, October 7, 1780, was an important Patriot victory in the Southern Campaign of the American Revolutionary War. Frontier militia loyal to the United States overwhelmed the Loyalist American militia led by British Major Patrick Ferguson of the 71st Foot. In The Winning of the West, Theodore Roosevelt wrote of Kings Mountain, "This brilliant victory marked the turning point of the American Revolution."

American settlers of largely Scotch-Irish descent settled west of, or "over", the Appalachians, and were thus so known as the "Overmountain Men." They united into a semi-autonomous government called the Watauga Association in 1772, about four years before the United States Declaration of Independence.

These Scotch-Irish Patriots (Whigs) were entirely volunteer forces who fought under men that they chose to follow: William Campbell, John Sevier, Frederick Hambright, Joseph McDowell, Benjamin Cleveland, James Williams, John McKissack, Isaac Shelby and Colonel James Johnston who was in command of the rear guard, led their militia units as Colonels, while Captain Joseph Winston and Edward Lacey commanded the other mostly autonomous units. Captain Epsey, and Captain John Mattocks were both killed during the battle while leading their units. Also Major William Chronicle was also killed leading his men, during hand to hand combat.

After the defeat of Horatio Gates's army at the Battle of Camden, British General Cornwallis was convinced that Georgia and South Carolina were under British control, and he began plans to move into North Carolina. However, a brutal civil war between colonists continued to rage in South Carolina. The Whig frontiersmen, led by a group of self-proclaimed colonels of the rebellion -- Isaac Shelby, Elijah Clarke, and Charles McDowell -- conducted hit-and-run raids on Loyalists outposts. To Protect his western flank, Cornwallis gave Major Patrick Ferguson command of the Loyalist militia.

Cornwallis invaded North Carolina on September 9, 1780, and reached Charlotte on September 26. Ferguson followed and established a base camp at Gilberttown and issued a challenge to the Patriot leaders to lay down their arms or he would, "lay waste to their country with fire and sword." The words outraged the Appalachian frontiersmen who rallied at Sycamore Shoals and acted to bring the battle to Ferguson rather than wait for him to come to them.

Having learned of the Colonial approach from a captured deserter, Ferguson withdrew eastwards towards Cornwallis's main body at Charlotte, but at King's Mountain, he turned to face his pursuers. King's Mountain was one of many rocky forested hills in the upper Piedmont near the border between North and South Carolina. It is shaped like a footprint with the highest point at the heel, a narrow instep, and a broad rounded toe.

With the exception of Major Ferguson all of the participants of the battle were Colonists, as the forces under his command were composed entirely of Loyalists. Ferguson commanded over 1,000 Loyalist militia. The Patriot militia force, about 900 strong, were under the command of Patriot colonels.

Unlike most British officers, Ferguson was convinced that Loyalist militia could be trained to be as effective as British regulars. Years earlier, Ferguson personally invented, patented, and successfully field-tested a breech-lpading musket which he called 'the Ferguson Rifle' which could fire faster and with greater accuracy than the British Brown Bess muzzle-loading musket. More importantly, it could be loaded and fired while the soldier was lying down on the ground and not standing up, being exposed to enemy fire. Ferguson commanded an 80-man loyalist unit earlier at the Battle of Brandywine where his men were armed with the Ferguson Rifle, and took advantage of it to contain Patriot sorties and attacks. But despite its obvious utility, the British hierarchy saw that it threatened the traditional, time-tested way of warfare and refused to sanction its use. Disappointed by this endeavor, Ferguson became determined to prove his other theory. He drilled his men and produced a tightly knit and well-disciplined unit which he was eager to test against the Revolutionary militia.

The battle oped on October 7, 1780, when 900 Patriots (including John Crockett, the father of Davy Crockett), approached the steep base of King's Mountain at dawn. The rebels formed eight groups of 100 to 200 men. Two parties, led by Colonels John Sevier and William Campbell, assaulted the 'high heel' of the wooded mountain, the smallest area but highest point, while the other seven groups, led by Colonels Shelby, Williams, Lacey, Cleveland, Hambright, Winston and McDowell attacked the main Loyalist position by surrounding the 'ball' base beside the 'heel' crest of the mountain.

The Patriots crept up the hill and fired on the Loyalist from behind rocks and trees. Ferguson rallied his troops and launched a bayonet charge against Campbell and Sevier's men. With no bayonets of their own, the rebels retreated down the hill and into the woods. Campbell rallied his troops, returned to the base of the hill, and resumed firing. Ferguson launched two more bayonet charges during the course of the battle. During one of the charges, Colonel Williams was killed and Colonel McDowell wounded. However, after each charge the Patriots returned to the base of the hill and resumed firing. It was hard for the Loyalists to find a target because the Patriots were constantly moving using cover and concealment.

After several hours of combat, Loyalist casualties were heavy. Ferguson rode back and forth across the hill, blowing a silver whistle he used to signal charges. Growing desperate, he slipped on a plaid shirt to cover his officer's coat. A soldier on one side or the other saw this and alerted his comrades immediately. At the crest, as the Patriots overran the Loyalists position, Ferguson fell dead from his saddle with eight rifle balls in his body.

Seeing their leader fall, the Loyalists began to surrender. Eager to avenge defeats at the Waxhaw Massacre and elsewhere, the rebels did not initially want to take prisoners. Rebels continued firing and shouted, "Give 'em Tarleton's Quarter!" After a few more minutes of bloodletting, the Colonists asserted control and gave quarter to around 700 Loyalists.

The Battle of the King's Mountain lasted 65 minutes. The Loyalists suffered 225 killed, 163 wounded, and 716 taken prisoner. The Patriot militia suffered 28 killed and 62 wounded. Loyalist prisoners well enough to walk were herded to camps several miles from the battlefield. The dead and wounded were left on the field. Of the captured, the Patriots hung as many as nine Loyalists who had changed sides. Other accounts say the Tories were tried before North Carolina judges for violation of the state's criminal laws for crimes (such as pillaging). The battle, evidencing fiercer than anticipated colonial resistance, made Cornwallis abandon his plan to take North Carolina. He retreated to the south.

After the battle, Joseph Greer of the Watauga Association at Sycamore Shoals (located at what is today the city of Elizabethtown, Tennessee) set off on a 600 mile (950 km), month-long expedition to notify the Continental Congress of the British defeat at the battle; he arrived in Philadelphia on November 7, 1780. Greer's report of the American Patriot victory at Kings Mountain "re-energized a downtrodden Continental Congress."

In 1931, the Congress of the United States created the Kings Mountain National Military Park on the site of the battle. The park headquarters is in Blacksburg, South Carolina, and hosts hundreds of thousands of people each year.

Burial: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA

• Plot: Sec. 1, Lot 314-A, Grid MN-34/35

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category = American Revolution

Biography

General William Russell
<ref>Entered by Marie Mills, Jan 26, 2012</ref>
William Russell was educated at William and Mary College. He led the first attempt to settle Kentucky in September, 1773. The party was ambushed by Indians and his eldest son and the eldest son of Daniel Boone were killed. The party became discouraged and turned back. He was a Justice of Fincastle County, Virginia. He participated in the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1775. He was promoted to Colonel in 1776. He was captured by the British and held prisoner after the fall of Charleston in 1780. He was exchanged and rejoined the Continental Line. He was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781. Col. Russell was brevetted to the rank of Brigadier General. He was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati and was serving in the Virginia legislature at the time of his death. Russell County, Virginia is named for him. To William Russell on October 27, 1732 was granted 20,000 acres in and about the forks of the Shenandoah, near Front Royal and Riverton in lieu of what he had claimed from the Van Meter grants (Virginia Magazine Vol. XIII. No. 3, pp. 288-9). US Continental Army Brigadier General. At the start of the Revolutionary War, he was a Virginia colonist when he enlisted as a Private in the Virginia Militia. He rose through the ranks to Colonel of the 5th Virginia Regiment and fought at the Battle of Point Pleasant. He commanded a substantial part of the American forces at the Battle of Kings Mountain and was brevetted Brigadier General for his service. After the war, he produced salt in Saltville and served in the Virginia State Senate. Russell County, Virginia is named after him. (bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith)

Sources

<references /> From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia William Russell (1735 – January 14, 1793) was an army officer and a prominent settler of the southwestern region of the Virginia Colony. He led an early attempt to settle the "Kentuckee Territory" (then part of Virginia). Russell aided in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. During the American Revolutionary War he fought in the Battle of Point Pleasant (1774) and the Battle of Yorktown (1781). While a representative in the Virginia House of Delegates, Russell was noted for his stance opposing the 1785 State of Franklin petition for admittance into the United States.

William Russell was educated at the College of William & Mary. Russell's first wife was Tabitha Adams, who died in 1776. His second wife, Elizabeth Henry a sister of Patrick Henry —survived him by more than thirty years. Elizabeth was important in the early history of the Methodist Church in America. Many descendants of Russell lived in Russell and Scott Counties in Virginia.

He was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati. Russell led a early attempt to settle the area that would become Kentucky then part of Fincastle County, Virginia in September 1773. The party of frontiersmen was ambushed by Native Americans and Russell's eldest son, along with the eldest son of Daniel Boone, was killed. After the battle, the party became discouraged and turned back. Russell was elected a justice of Fincastle County, Virginia. As a Virginia representative to the Continental Congress, he aided in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. Russell was serving in the Virginia House of Delegates at the time of his death. In the American Revolutionary War, he participated in the 1774 Battle of Point Pleasant. He was promoted to Colonel in 1776. After the fall of Charleston in 1780, Russell was captured by the British and held prisoner. He was subsequently exchanged, and rejoined the Continental Line. Russell was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781. During this time, he was brevetted to the rank of Brigadier General, commanding the 5th Virginia Regiment, until it was disbanded on 15 November 1783. Russell County, Virginia, and Russellville, Kentucky, are named for him.

Russell County, Kentucky, is named for his son William Russell (III).

References des Cognets, Anna Russell, Space:William_Russell_and_his_Descendants|William Russell and his Descendants,(Lexington, Ky. : Samuel F. Wilson, 1884.) Page 7ff William Russell: a Revolutionary patriot of the Clinch Valley by Mary Katherine Thorp, Master's Thesis, University of Virginia, 1936. He rose through the ranks to Colonel of the 5th Virginia Regiment and fought at the Battle of Point Pleasant. He commanded a substantial part of the American forces at the Battle of Kings Mountain and was brevetted Brigadier General for his service.

Burial:He was first buried in the Allen Family Cemetery but family members had his body moved to the: Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA Plot: Sec. 1, Lot 314-A, Grid MN-34/35

[http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9893] Author: Judith Weeks Respectfully, I wish to let you know that I will be removing Thomas E. Russell 12247 from the family of Brevet Brigidier General William Russell 1269. There is no paper trail connection these two individuals at this time and according to des Cognets Russell never had a son Thomas E. Russell 12247.<p><a href="https://archive.org/stream/williamrussella00cogngoog#page/n60/mode/2up" class="external autonumber" title="https://archive.org/stream/williamrussella00cogngoog#page/n60/mode/2up" rel="nofollow">[1]</a> </p> Author: Judith Weeks According to my 50 years of research William Russell never had a son named Thomas E. Russell. I would like to see documentation on this individual prior to identifying him as a member of this family.

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@R-1794034849@ North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,61157::0

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Book Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 087 : 1911 1,61157::2591089

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@R-1794034849@ North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,61157::0

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Book Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 087 : 1911 1,61157::2591089

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@R-1794034849@ Historical sketches of the Campbell, Pilcher and kindred families Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations Inc 1,16029::0

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@R-1794034849@ Historical sketches of the Campbell, Pilcher and kindred families Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations Inc 1,16029::0

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@R-1794034849@ North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,61157::0

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Book Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 087 : 1911 1,61157::2591089

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@R-1794034849@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created.

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category = American Revolution

Biography

General William Russell
<ref>Entered by Marie Mills, Jan 26, 2012</ref>
William Russell was educated at William and Mary College. He led the first attempt to settle Kentucky in September, 1773. The party was ambushed by Indians and his eldest son and the eldest son of Daniel Boone were killed. The party became discouraged and turned back. He was a Justice of Fincastle County, Virginia. He participated in theBattle of Point Pleasant in 1775. He was promoted to Colonel in 1776.He was captured by the British and held prisoner after the fall of Charleston in 1780. He was exchanged and rejoined the Continental Line. He was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781. Col. Russell was brevetted to the rank of Brigadier General. He was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati and was serving in the Virginia legislature at the time of his death. Russell County, Virginia is named for him. To William Russell on October 27, 1732 was granted 20,000 acres in andabout the forks of the Shenandoah, near Front Royal and Riverton in lieu of what he had claimed from the Van Meter grants (Virginia Magazine Vol. XIII. No. 3, pp. 288-9). US Continental Army Brigadier General. At the start of the Revolutionary War, he was a Virginia colonist when he enlisted as a Private in the Virginia Militia. He rose through the ranks to Colonel of the 5th Virginia Regiment and fought at the Battle of Point Pleasant. He commanded a substantial part of the American forces at the Battle of Kings Mountain and was brevetted Brigadier General for his service. After the war, he produced salt in Saltville and served in the Virginia State Senate. Russell County, Virginia is named after him. (bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith)

Sources

<references /> From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia William Russell (1735 – January 14, 1793) was an army officer and a prominent settler of the southwestern region of the Virginia Colony. He led an early attempt to settle the "Kentuckee Territory" (then part of Virginia). Russell aided in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. During the American Revolutionary War he fought in the Battle of Point Pleasant (1774) and the Battle of Yorktown (1781). While a representativein the Virginia House of Delegates, Russell was noted for his stance opposing the 1785 State of Franklin petition for admittance into the United States.

William Russell was educated at the College of William & Mary. Russell's first wife was Tabitha Adams, who died in 1776. His second wife, Elizabeth Henry a sister of Patrick Henry —survived him by morethan thirty years. Elizabeth was important in the early history of the Methodist Church in America. Many descendants of Russell lived in Russell and Scott Counties in Virginia.

He was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati. Russell led a early attempt to settle the area that would become Kentucky then part of Fincastle County, Virginia in September 1773. The party of frontiersmen was ambushed by Native Americans and Russell's eldest son, along with the eldest son of Daniel Boone, was killed. After the battle, the party became discouraged and turned back. Russell was elected a justice of Fincastle County, Virginia. As a Virginia representative to the Continental Congress, he aided in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. Russell was serving in the Virginia House of Delegates at the time of his death. In the American Revolutionary War, he participated in the 1774 Battle of Point Pleasant. He was promoted to Colonel in 1776. After the fall of Charleston in 1780, Russell was captured by the British and held prisoner. He was subsequently exchanged, and rejoined the Continental Line. Russell was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781. During this time, he was brevetted to the rank of Brigadier General, commanding the 5th Virginia Regiment, until it was disbanded on 15 November 1783. Russell County, Virginia, and Russellville, Kentucky, are named for him.

Russell County, Kentucky, is named for his son William Russell (III).

References des Cognets, Anna Russell, William Russell and his Descendants,(Lexington, Ky. : Samuel F. Wilson, 1884.) Page 7ff William Russell: a Revolutionary patriot of the Clinch Valley by Mary Katherine Thorp, Master's Thesis, University of Virginia, 1936. He rose through the ranks to Colonel of the 5th Virginia Regiment and fought at the Battle of Point Pleasant. He commanded a substantial part of the American forces at the Battle of Kings Mountain and was brevetted Brigadier General for his service.

Burial:He was first buried in the Allen Family Cemetery but family members had his body moved to the: Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA Plot: Sec. 1, Lot 314-A, Grid MN-34/35

[http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9893]

Name: General William Russell
Birth Date: Mar 1735
Birth Place: Orange, Virginia
Death Date: 14 Jan 1793
Death Place: Virginia
SAR Membership: 21249
Role: Ancestor
Application Date: 12 Sep 1910
Spouse:
Tabitha Adams
Children:
Chloe Russell

William Russell
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Name: William Russell
Death Year: 1793
Has Photo: No
Source: Encyclopedia of the American Revolution. First edition. By Mark Mayo Boatner, III. New York: David McKay Co., 1966. (EncAR 1)