John Early (Virginia politician)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Early | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Franklin County | |
| In office October 18, 1790 – October 20, 1793 Serving with Joshua Rentfro, Ashford Napier, Swinfield Hill | |
| Preceded by | Samuel Hairston |
| Succeeded by | Moses Greer |
| In office October 16, 1786 – October 18, 1789 | |
| Preceded by | position created |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Hairston |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 15, 1757 |
| Died | July, 1804 |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Cheatham |
| Children | 4 sons, 3 daughters |
| Parents |
|
| Occupation | military officer, farmer, politician |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | Virginia Militia |
John Early (September 15, 1757—July __, 1804) was a Virginia military officer, planter, businessman and politician who served six terms in the Virginia House of Delegates representing Franklin County, which he also represented in the Virginia Ratifying Convention of 1788, during which he voted against ratification of the U.S. Constitution.[1]
The son of Jeremiah Early (1730- 1779) and his wife, the former Sarah Anderson (d. 1770), he had at least two brothers (Joseph and Jubal) and two sisters. Virginia not having public schools in this era, he received a private education appropriate for his class.[1]
Early married Elizabeth Cheatham in 1792 and they had four sons (of whom Samuel, Jubal and Melchizedech reached adulthood and were mentioned in his will), and three daughters.[1][2]
Planter and businessman
Shortly before Jeremiah Early died in 1779, he and his son-in-law (this man's brother-in-law) James Callaway (1736-1809)(a burgess and militia colonel who operated Oxford ironworks in nearby Campbell County, as well as the Chiswell lead mine to the southwest in what became Wythe County) purchased an ironworks from John Donelson who moved to Tennessee. The new owners renamed it Washington Iron Forge to honor the Patriot Commander-in-chief. Jeremiah Early bequeathed his share to this man and his two brothers. Although John Early soon sold his share to James Callaway, soon his brother Joseph died and bequeathed his share to his two remaining brothers, then Jubal Early died by 1793 (leaving his share to his infant sons Joab and Henry, for whom Col. Samuel Hairston became guardian.[3] While John Early never operated the forge (which used enslaved labor), he retained that 1/6th ownership interest for the rest of his life.[1]
By 1782, Early owned 950 acres of land in the part of Bedford County which became Franklin County, and in 1791 bought 650 acres in Henry County. He operated both plantations using enslaved labor, also hiring an overseer for the Henry County farm. Early owned 2,773 acres in Franklin County by the time of his death, and another 1,242½ acres jointly with a brother. He also held at least thirty-four slaves at the time of his death. Furthermore, his will acknowledged that one woman he acquired in 1781 was freeborn and explicitly named and freed her six children.[1][4]
Militia officer
His participation in the Revolutionary War is unclear because of the common name in the family, though the Washington Iron Forge clearly assisted the patriot cause.[5] This John Early clearly became a lieutenant in the Bedford County militia in 1783 and a captain the following year. Upon the creation of Franklin County in 1785, he retained that captain's rank. In August 1793, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel commandant, and held that rank at the time of his death.[1]
