This page is about Leedstown, Virginia and the Leedstown Resolves which was the forerunner to the Declaration of Independence
This is where by 1678, Edward Bray had built a brick church, an ordinary, ferry, and wharf at the present Leedstown. Up to this date the site was known as Rappahannock.
After 1678, it was known as Bray's Wharf or Bray's Church. By 1742, it was known as Leeds. Later it was known as Leedstown.
Leedstown is located on the Rappahannock River in Westmoreland County, Virginia. From this now sleepy community on the Rappahannock River began the spark of independence from England and a revolution not seen since against taxation. The revolt was against the Stamp Act formulated by Sovereign George the Third, King of Great Britain.
In 1608, when Captain John Smith and his party first explored the Rappahannock River Leedstown was a thriving Indian village, the home of King Passassack, of the Rappahannock tribe. Captain Smiths' party was attacked by these Rappahannocks, and Richard Featherstone was killed. He was buried on the southside of the Rappahannock river near the waters edge, a few miles below Leedstown.
Leedstown was created a town by an act of the Burgesses in 1742. Though little evidence remains now, Leedstown was a thriving port in colonial days.
Leedstown's claim to fame comes, however, from the Leedstown Resolutions. The historic event is immortalized with a tablet on the walls of the Courthouse at Montross, the county seat of Westmoreland County. It has been said by a Northern Neck historian, that "here in the clerks office are recorded writings of ancestors of more statesmen that we can find in all county clerk's offices of any state outside of Virginia. On the walls of the courtroom hang portraits of more men of national fame--native sons of the county--than we can find at any other county seat in America."
In 1765, the British Parlament, to raise revenues for the King, passed the Stamp Act. This act laid a stamp duty on all papers used for legal documents, liquor licenses, academic degrees, newspapers, pamphlets and almanacs, and it met with immediate opposition in the Colonies because it ws direct taxation without representation in Parlament.
Arthur Ritchie, a Tappahannock merchant, announced he had stamped paper he'd use to clear his own ship with a cargo of grain to be shipped to the West Indies. There was quick response from the gentlemen of the surrounding counties. Thomas Ludwell Lee invited the planters to meet at Leedstown to make plans to stop Ritchie. One hundred and fifteen patriots responded to Lee's call and signed the resolutions, drafted by Richard Henry Lee, on February 27, 1766. The Church or tavern, depending on which story you believe, in which they met stood until ca. 1932. The Leedstown Resolves was the first of its kind to declare independence from England. This document antedated a similar paper signed at Mecklenburg, N.C., by more than nine years, and the national Declaration of Independence by more than ten years. The original manuscript, believed to be in Richard Henry Lee's handwriting, is preserved by the Virginia Historical Society.
General George Washington often visited Leedstown. He and his bride dined here in May, 1759. Their occasion was on their return to Williamsburg, following Marthas first sojourn at Mount Vernon. Washington spent the night of June 2, 1763, at Leedstown, and dined here July 13, 1771.
From a point below Leedstown a ferry operated to Laytons, on the south side of the river in Essex County, in Colonial days--it operated until about 1927 when the Downings Bridge to Tappahannock opened.
Following the Revolutionary War shipping at Leedstown began to decline as many planters moved west into the Kentucky and Ohio territories. In less than one hundred years since its beginning the colonial port had disappeared.
Late in the 19th century, Leedstown had a slight revival steaming from visits of the Rappahannock River Steamboat Line.
Today there is little left of the town save a few houses.
"Secondly. As we know it to be the Birth-Right Privilege of every British Subject (and of the people of Virginia, as being such), founded on Reason, Law and Compact, that he cannot be Taxed but by Consent of a Parliment in which he is Represented by Persons of his own Chusing(sic), who themselves pay a Part of the Tax they impose on others. If therefore, any Person shall attempt by any Action or Proceeding, to deprive this Colony of these fundamental Rights, We will immediately regard him as the most dangerous Enemy of the Community, and We will go to any extremity, not only to prevent the Success of such Attempts, but to Stigmatise and Punish the Offender.
"Thirdly. As the Stamp Act does absolutly direct the Property of the People to be taken away from them without their Consent express'd(sic)by their Representatives, and as in many Cases it deprives the British American Subject of his Right to Trial by Juries, We do determine, at every Hazard, paying no Regard to Danger, or to Death, that we will exert every Facility to prevent the Execution of the said Stamp Act, in any Instances whatever within this Colony; and that if any abandon'd(sic) Wretch, shall be so lost to Virtue and public Good, as wickedly to contribute to the Introduction or Fixture of the Stamp Act in this Colony, by using Stamped Paper, or by any other Means, we will with the utmost Expedition, convince every such Profligate, that immediate Danger and Disgrace shall attend their prostitute Purpose."
Richard Henry Lee * Will. Robinson * Lewis Willis * Thos. Lud. Lee * Saml. Washington * Chas. Washington * Moore Fauntleroy * Francis Lightfoot Lee * Thomas Jones * Rodham Kenner * Spencer M. Ball * Richard Mitchell * Joseph Murdock * Richd. Parker * Spence Monroe * John Watts * Robt. Lovell * John Blagge * Charles Weeks * Willm. Booth * Geo. Turbeville * Alvin Moxley * Wm. Flood * John Ballatine, Jr. * William Lee * Thos. Chilton * Richard Buckner * Jos. Pierce * Will. Chilton * John Williams * William Sydnor * John Monroe * William Cocke * Willm. Grayson * Wm. Brockenbrough * Saml. Selden * Richd. Lee * Daniel Tibbs * Francis Thornton,Jr. * Peter Rust * John Lee Jr. * Francis Waring * John Upshau * Meriwether Smith * Thos. Roane * Jas. Edmondson * Jas. Webb. Jr. * John Edmondson * Jas. Banks * Smith Young * Laur. Washington * W . Roane * Richd. Hodges * Jas. Upshau * Jas. Booker * A . Montague * Richd. Jeffries * John Suggett * John S. Woodcock * Robt. Wormeley Carter * John Blackwell * Winder S. Kenner * Wm. Bronaugh * Wm. Peirce * John Berryman * John Dickson * John Browne * Edwd. Sanford * Charles Chilton * Edward Sanford * Jos. Lane * John Beale, Jr. * John Newton * Will. Beale, Jr. * Chs. Mortimer * Wm. Pierce * John Berryman * John Dickson * John Broone * Edwd, Sanford * Charles Chilton * Edward Sanford * Daniel McCarty * Jer. Rush * Edwd. Ransdell * Townshend Dade * John Ashton * W . Brent * Francis Foushee * John Smith, Jr. * Wm. Ball * Thos. Barnes * Jos. Blackwell * Reuben Meriwether * Edw. Mountjoy * Wm. J. Mountjoy * Thos. Mountjoy * Gilbt. Campbell * John Edmondsen, Jr. * Charles Beale * Peter Grant * Thompson Mason * Jona. Beckwith * Jas. Samford * John Belfield * W . Smith * John Augt. Washington * Thos. Belfield * Edgcomb Suggett * Henry Francks * John Bland, Jr. * Jas. Emerson * Thos. Logan * Jo. Milliken * Ebenezer Fisher * Hancock Eustace * John Richards * Thos. Jett * Thos. Douglas * Max Robinson * John Orr
click above for the forecast | | | | Williams to appeal guilty ruling of military jury Betsy Ficklin The Journa Wed, Aug 04, 2004 The former Sgt. 1st Class James H. Williams, of Westmoreland County, has been found guilty of robbery and dereliction of duty by a military jury in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, but last week's court martial trial may not be the end of the road for the decorated Westmoreland County native. Following the four day proceeding and several hours' deliberation, the military jury delivered a sentence that stripped the career-enlisted man of his rank, bumping him down to a Private E 1. No jail time was imposed, but Williams received a bad conduct discharge. The Leedstown native who planned to retire in two and a half years rejoins the civilian population with no job and no employment benefits. Aside from satisfaction gleaned from the service to his country and an assortment of combat decorations, Williams has little to show for his life's work besides the family's two young children and the mortgage on his home. A fighter to the end, Jim Williams continues to maintain his innocence. His attorneys argued throughout last week's court martial proceeding that the enlisted man merely attempted to abide by the rules of engagement while executing the orders handed down from the platoon's commanding officer. Like Jim, the platoon Humvees dispatched to Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom had seen duty in Operation Desert Storm. By the time Williams' group reached Mosul in March and April 2003, half of the vehicles were inoperable, and Williams group was in need of cars. Williams and his men received orders to commandeer a suitable replacement vehicle but ran into difficulty when the SUV they seized with its Republican Guard identification and loaded AK-47 magazine was purported to belong to a warlord friend of the company's commanding general. The U.S. Army later paid the warlord $32,000 in American currency to satisfy the claim. Following the conclusion of last week's Fort Campbell military court proceeding, Williams' civilian counsel, Bernard Casey of Reed Smith LLP described his client as "a proud veteran who will continue fighting to restore his military career and reputation." "Sgt. Williams was facing a possible term in military prison of more than fifteen years and a dishonorable discharge, so walking away from the trial as a free man without being dishonorably discharged is a huge relief to Jim and his family," related Casey. "Jim is a real soldier, through and through. A bad conduct discharge is a blow to his pride in the years of faithful service to his country. He wants to appeal, and we think he has a strong case to do so." Casey also explained that last week's verdict will automatically be appealed to the Commanding General. If the result is unfavorable, a second automatic appeal to an intermediary appellate court in Washington, D.C. will follow. Williams military co-counsel, Captain Ryan Rousauer, will spearhead the first appeal, with assistance from the Reed Smith attorneys. "If we are not successful in the first two rounds of appeal, the verdict can be appealed to the Court of Appeals, a civilian court in Washington," Casey commented. "The Court of Appeals can decide whether it wants to hear the case or not. Military counsel from the Defense Appellate Division in D.C. will be appointed to represent Jim Williams, with our assistance, as the appeals move forward." With the conclusion of last week's proceedings at Fort Campbell, Jim Williams is a free man with car payments, a home mortgage and a family to support. He will need a job and he will need support from friends and members of the community if he is to continue the fight to restore his reputation and the benefits he feels his years of service earned. Despite the pro bono work which Stratford Harbour homeowner Kevin Barry caused the Reed Smith law office to provide, money must be raised from private donations in order to cover costs associated with those attorneys' privately engaged investigations and other expenditures associated with a convoluted process of appeals. Jim Williams' brother and sisters applaud the outpouring of community support that preceded last week's military trial. Contributions were made to the Justice for Jim account which the Williams family established at the Bank of Lancaster. Those wishing to assist with Williams' appeals effort are invited to send donations to the Bank of Lancaster, Post Office Box 1869, Kilmarnock, Virginia 22482-1869, attention Montross Office. Checks can be made out to Justice for Jim. Williams' Reed Smith attorneys additionally have created an internet web page devoted to the local soldier's plight. The web page with the www.justiceforjim.com address tells provides as complete as possible a narrative of Jim's story, along with live links for accessing published newspaper accounts and communicating with the decorated veteran and his immediate relatives. In addition to providing financial contributions, friends can provide assistance by writing letters during the first phase of the appeal requesting clemency. The letters can be sent to Williams' military counsel, CPT Ryan Rosauer, Trial Defense Service, Building 200, Pattan Hall, Fort Riley, Kansas, 66442.
