PATRIOT Col. Theodorick Bland^{[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]}

1742 - 1790  (48 years)

• Name	Theodorick Bland
  Title	PATRIOT
  Prefix	Col.
  Born	21 Mar 1742	Cawsons, Prince George City County, Virginia
  Gender	Male
  Died	2 Jun 1790	New York City, New York
  Buried	Trinity Churchyard, New York/Reinternment Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D. C.
  Person ID	I5945	My Reynolds Line
  Last Modified	3 Mar 2015

  
  

  Father	Theodorick Bland,   b. 2 Dec 1719, Prince George Co., Virginia ,   d. 16 Jul 1783, Amelia, Virginia  (Age 63 years)
  Mother	Frances Elizabeth Bolling,   b. 1724, Prince Georges Co., Virginia ,   d. 1774  (Age 50 years)
  Family ID	F2024	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Susan Fitzhugh,   b. Est 1745, Colonial Virginia ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	15 Feb 2015
  Family ID	F2301	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Major Theodorick Bland Portrait 5945 MajTheodorick Bland.jpg

  
  

  Documents » Slide Show		Martha, wife of Theodorick Bland 5945Martha Dangerfield Bland (neequestion).jpg
  		THE VIRGINIA MAGAZINE OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY Volume 4 For the Year Ending June 1897 Captain James Crews, of Turkey Island, Henrico County; Will Bequests to Various member of the Giles Carter Family. Henry Isham, Sr. Notes. VaMagazine-jun-1997.pdf
  		Theo Bland Stands Security for Thomas North 1772 5945TheoBland037_1794_002_0027.pdf

  
  

  Histories

  Virginia Heraldica - A Registry of Virginia Gentry Entitled to Coat Armor with Genealogical Notes of the Families Edited by William Armstrong Crozier, F.R.S., F.G.S.A. Virginia County Record Series Volume V. 1908 virginiaheraldic00croz.pdf

  
  

• Sources

  [S3] Mary Frances Reynolds Eggleston, http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-06-02-0007. Martha Dangerfield (Daingerfield), daughter of Apphia Fauntleroy and William Daingerfield, married Dr. Theodorick Bland, who served under George Washington during the Revolutionary War as colonel of the 1st regiment of Continental light dragoons. Mrs. Bland socialized extensively with the Washingtons at their Morristown, N.J., headquarters in 1777. After the Revolution Washington continued his acquaintance with the Blands despite Theodorick?s Anti-federalist leanings. Two years after his death on 1 June 1790 Martha Bland married Nathan Blodget, who died sometime before 1795. She took as her third and final husband a sea captain named Corran and died in France probably after the turn of the century. There is much more interesting material at this address: -mfe [S3] Mary Frances Reynolds Eggleston, https://books.google.com/books?id=_BiqdpZ9hlcC&pg=PA224&lpg=PA224&dq=Col+Theodorick+Bland+%2B+Martha+Dangerfield&source=bl&ots=L_EByzlLy1&sig=D46x4m9XT4cHVxJQ9vrtqYT6kH8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5DjhVPsNwqqCBIWYgIgK&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Col%20Theodorick%20Bland%20%2B%20Martha%20Dangerfield&f=false. Theodorick Bland married Martha Dangerfield, a 2nd marriage for them both. [S3] Mary Frances Reynolds Eggleston, VIRGINIA COUNTY RECORDS p.38 Virginia Revolutionary Soldiers . VIRGINIA REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS. There is deposited at the Land Office, Richmond, a record of the name and services of over 12,000 officers and men, who served on land or sea from the State of Virginia, during the Revolutionary War. By permission of Col. Richardson, their custodian, we are now placing in print these valuable records. ?(Editor). In the House of Delegates, 30 Dec, 1784. Resolved, that any person who has served in the armies of the United States from the first day of May, 1779, until the close of the late war between America and Great Britain, and who is possessed of a land warrant in his own right, or by assignment before the first day of May, 1779, issued agreeable to the Proclamation made by the King of Great Britain in the year 1763, may exchange the same with the Register of the land office for a warrant agreeable to this resolution, which warrant he shall be permitted to locate on any vacant lands reserved by an act of this Assembly on the eastern side of the VIRGINIA COUNTY RECORDS 33 River Ohio, for the officers and soldiers of this Commonwealth on continental establishment. (Test) JOHN BECKLEY, C. H. D. 1785, Jan. 1st. Agreed to by the Senate, WILL DREW, C. S. Entitled to Land Warrants. Bland, Theodorick, Col., Va. Cavalry, from June, 1776, to Jan., 1780. See Documents [S3] Mary Frances Reynolds Eggleston, http://www.livelyroots.com/gerald/16043.htm. Col. Theodorick Bland Born: Mar 21, 1742, Cawsons, Prince George City County, Virginia Marriage: Martha Dangerfield Died: Jun 2, 1790, New York City, New York Buried: Trinity Churchyard, New York Reinternment Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D. C. Theodorick Bland was a descendant of Pocahontas on his mother's side. He was sent abroad for schooling and in 1763 graduated from the University of Edinburgh as a medical doctor. Bland practiced medicine in Virginia from 1764 until ill-health forced him to give quit in 1771. After his retirement he became an active patriot and in June 1775 Bland, along with 23 others, helped to removed arms from the governor's palace in Williamsburg. In June 1776 Bland became a Captain in the first troop of Virginia Cavalry, going on to become a Colonel in the 1st Continental Dragoons. At the Battle of Brandywine Bland commanded light cavalry troops. Bland's cavalry were among the few horseman available to Washington for scouting purposes on the day of the battle. Some blamed the American defeat at Brandywine on Bland's poor scouting abilities, especially Light Horse Harry Lee held Bland responsible. Some accounts of the battle portray Bland as slow in reporting enemy movements to Washington. Bland had responsibilities covering Washington's right flank where Cornwallis crossed the river and captured a small community before Washington was notified. Henry Lee summed it up, "Colonel Bland was noble, sensible, honorable, and amiable; but never intended for the department of military intelligence." Nephew of Richard Bland; uncle of John Randolph of Roanoke; served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War; delegate to Congress from Virginia, 1780-83; at large delegate, 1789-90; died in office 1790. ------------ By the Spring of 1790 many American politicians had cause to worry about the survival of the Union to which they had devoted their careers. Southerners remained angry over their inability to establish the capital on the Potomac and the northern demand that the federal government assume all state debts. Northerners expressed their frustrations openly especially after the House rejected assumption on April 12. This letter was written before that House vote and it should give the reader a feel for the times and concerns of the involved. Transcript of one of Theodorick Bland's last letters written March 6, 1790 to St. George Tucker. My dear Sir. I was yesterday favored with your agreeable letter enclosing two for the Boys which I delivered to them - I have the satisfaction to inform you they are both well - I am myself just risen from a fit of the Gout which attacked me a day or two before the Attorney General left this place, and exerted its utmost violence on my hands, feet and knees and elbows for about ten days it has however spared my head - and I thank God has left that in a Better Situation than it has been for twelve months preceding - so that it is now more than four weeks since I have been obliged to bleed or Cup - thus do I begin to entertain hopes that I shall again enjoy good health - thus much for myself - The federal Councils move with a Slow and Cautious step - but a Politician of no great depth may easily see what it is likely to be the Issue of the Fiscal arrangements of the Present System - Absorption of revenue will Certainly follow Assumption of debt - so that our State governments will have little else to do than to eat drink and be merry - all this I think I foresaw would be the case for how are states to be managed who have not nor ever will make any exertions to pay the debts contracted in a common cause - while the Citizens of others are taxed up to the teeth for that purpose - again Consolidation follows power - power has been given with a liberal hand - how then is consolidation to be with held - some feeble attempts to keeps it back may now be made by those who gave the power - but I see tis in vain it may be a sort of apology for the moments of Liberality but what avails it - I see I must either go with the tide of Power or become again a Rebel - which is the best at my time of life? You wish to have the secretary's budget - it is too large to enclose in a letter - and I have only one which is my Text Book in Congress - But by this time the Atty. Genl & Mr. Blair are arrived and they carried each a copy out to Encompass the Assumption and funding of the State debts of this there were no more copies Struck but sufficient for the members of both houses - it consists of additional Signposts on Pepper Salt Rum Wine Sugar Melasses etc etc. to a little more than one Million - I have enclosed yu the last Paper - tis but a Barren one but may be Interesting to you as you will see the roll of the Regt. of Lawyers enlisted to serve at the federal Bar - I have written an Answer to Mr. Wickham the Lawyer - I wish you wd. ask him to let you look at it - if anything is wanting - I shd be glad you wd point out it to him, which as a party to the Suit I think you may do consistent with yr Character as a Judge - my love to the Boys & Girls and believe me to be yr affect. Friend & Sert. Theodorick Bland P.S. we are told her that poor Grayson is so ill on the road that his life despaird of=shd. he die - I mean to become a candidate to be his successor in the Senate - if you can give me a lift with your Honble. Friends in the Executive-Shd. that event take place I shall Esteem it a favor - but do not mention this Subject unless the Event sahd. actually take place. [S3] Mary Frances Reynolds Eggleston, http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=ripetime&id=I694. From "Extracts on the Bland Family from Bishop Meade," published 1858: "His son (Theodoric) received a complete English education, being in England eleven years, and returning a thorough-bred physician. But, not liking that profession, and engaging warmly in the dispute with England, he entered the army and signalized himself. He attained the rank of colonel, and stood high in the esteem of Washington. His letters to Lord Dinsmore, at the opening of the war, have not a little of the spirit and genius of Junius in them. In the year 1769, while living at Blandford, or Petersburg, and practicing medicine, we find his name on the list of vestrymen, thus following his father's footsteps." From the same source, vol. I, p. 148: "I have a pamphlet in my possession, in which his name (Gov. Page) is in connection with those of Rob't C. Nicholas and Col. Bland (Dr. Theodoric Bland, son of Theodoric 3rd), as charging one of the clergy in or about Williamsburg with false views on the subject of the Trinity and the eternity of the punishment of the damned." From the same source, vol. I, p. 152: "Is it not wonderful, therefore, that we find the same men who took the lead in the councils and armies of the Revolution most active in the recorded proceedings of the vestries. Examine the vestry books and you will find prominent there the names of Washington, Peyton Randolph, Edmund Pendleton, General Nelson, Governor Page, Col. (Theodoric) Bland, Richard Henry Lee, General Wood, Col. Harrison, George Mason, and hundreds of others who might be named as patriots of the Revolution." From the same source, vol. I, pp. 294-295: "He (Bishop Meade's father) entered into the Revolutionary War, being one of twenty-four persons -- among whom were James Monroe, George Wythe, Benj. Harrison, Col. (Theod.) Bland, etc. -- who, in June 1775, seized upon the arms and ammunition in Dunmore's house, in Williamsburg, carrying the powder to the magazine, and dividing the arms among themselves for safe-keeping and the service of the country." From the same source, vol. II, p. 49, it states that Col. Theodoric Bland was in charge of British prisoners in the barracks in Williamsburg. There is an excellent discussion of Theodorick Bland's actions in the Revolutionary War in Daniel, "The Randolphs of Virginia," pages 95-110, where it is described in detail how the Colonel did not distinguish himself as a military strategist, however brave and honorable. His posting to guard the prisoner's barracks was apparently a reflection of the regard in which General Washington held him. From Charles L. Bland, "Among Cousins - The Bland Family Newsletter," Vol. 5, No. 1 (Jan-June 1987), pp. 10-11: "The only son, Theodorick (1740-1790) appears to have died without issue (A Vision of Unity, pp. 180-181). Theodorick has excited interest among researchers outside the James River family because he owned large tracts of land in what became Nelson County, Kentucky, causing researchers to search for a connection between Theodorick and John Bland, who married Margaret Osborne. It is instructive prehaps that John and Margaret moved their family into Nelson County about 1781, while Theodorick sold at least some of his Kentucky land by October 1779 (Virginia Land Office Warrant 12, Survey Grant 8987, 5650 acres). There is no known connection between Theodorick and John Bland (1725-1795) other than a shared surname." From Charles L. Bland, "A Vision of Unity," p. 180: "Theodorick Bland spent the last ten years of his life in politics. In 1780, he was appointed by the Virginia assembly to be a delegate in Congress and continued in the post for three years, his term being limited by the Articles of Confederation. In 1785, Governor Henry appointed him lieutenant of Prince George County. Subsequently, he was a member of the Virginia Convention that convened to consider the Federal Constitution. In this role, he was on the losing side, joining those who voted against it. After its ratification, however, he was elected to represent Virginia at the first Congress and while in that capacity, he died in New York on June 1, 1790." From the Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Vol. II, "Fathers of the Revolution," Lyon Gardiner Tyler, Ed., 1915, p. 5: "Bland, Theodorick, son of Colonel Theodorick Bland, of "Cawson's," Prince George county, was born March 21, 1751. [TGE note: this date is certainly in error] At the age of eleven he was sent to England and studied at Wakefield, in Yorkshire, afterwards pursuing a medical course at the University of Edinburgh, and in 1764 returned to America. He was among the first in Virginia who opposed the practice of medicine without a license. When Lord Dunmore's seizure of the colony's arms and amunition occurred, Bland is said to have been one of those who succeeded in regaining some of this property. Bland continued to practice his profession until the outbreak of the war of the revolution, when he volunteered and was appointed captain of the first troop of cavalry raised in Virginia. As soon as a regiment had been completed he was made a lieutenant-colonel, and afterward colonel. He distinguished himself at the battle of Brandywine, and at Saratoga was placed in charge of the British prisoners sent to Charlottesville, Virginia. In 1779, Colonel Bland was in command of the troops stationed at Albermarle barracks, Virginia. In 1780 he was elected to Congress, and continued in that body three years. He then returned to Virginia, and was a member of the state legislature. In 1788 he opposed the adoption of the Federal constitution, being of the opinion that it was repugnant to the interests of his country. He was, however, chosen to represent the district in which he lived, in the (first) Congress under this same instrument. When the assumption of the state debt was under consideration in March 1790, Colonel Bland spoke in favor of such assumption, in this respect differing from the opinion of all his colleagues. He is accredited with considerable talent for poetical writing. He died in New York City, June 1, 1790, at the time of the session of Congress. He was buried in Trinity churchyard. He married (first) Susan Fitzhugh; (second) Mary Daingerfield."