PROMINENT PERSONS
U7
the Delaware, and in the battles of Trenton
and Princeton, and afterward was engaged
around Philadelphia. In 1778 he was as-
signed to frontier duty and for years follow-
ing was occupied in suppressing the Indian
attacks on the settlers. After his resigna-
tion he retired to his farm, hoping to spend
the remainder of his days with his family,
after having given nearly twenty-five years
of his life to the service of his country ; but
in May, 1782, at the urgent request of Gens.
Washington and William Irvine, he reluc-
tr.ntly accepted the command of an expedi-
tion against the Wyandot and Delaware In-
dians on the banks of the Muskingum. The
Indians were discovered on June 4, and an
engagement ensued in which Crawford's
troops were surrounded in a grove called
Battle Island by a force much larger than
his own. The fight lasted two days, when
finding themselves hemmed in, they decided
to cut their way out. In the retreat that
followed the soldiers were separated, and
Col. Crawford fell into the hands of the In-
dians. After several days of cruel experi-
ence, during which he was subjected to hor-
rible torture, he was burned to death. The
story is told by N. N. Hill, Jr., in the '*Maga-
zine of Western History" for May, 1885,
under the title of "Crawford's Campaign."
Mathews, George, born in Augusta coun- ty. V'irginia. in 1739, son of John Mathews, a native of Ireland, from whence he emi- grated to this country in 1737; at the age of eighteen years, in 1757, he commanded a volunteer company against the Indians, and he also participated in the battle of Point Pleasant, October 10, 1774; at the outbreak ot the revolution, he was commissioned colonel of the Ninth Virginia Regiment, was actively engaged in the battle of
Brandywine and at Germantown, was
wounded in action, was confined on the
prison ship Xcw Jersey until December,
1 77 1, when he was exchanged, and he then
joined Gen. Greene's army as colonel of
the Third Virginia Regiment; in 1785 he
removed to the state of Georgia, locating at
Goose Pond, Oglethorpe county; from 1789
to 1791 was a representative from Georgia
in the first congress, and from 1793 to 1796
was governor of Georgia, and during his
term of office the famous Yazoo act was
passed and approved by him, which resulted
in his political downfall, he losing the nomi-
nation, by President Adams, for governor
of Mississippi territory, on that account:
and in 181 1 President Madison appointed
him United States commissioner to nego-
tiate for the annexation of Florida, but the
following year the President disavowed the
treaty, which act so incensed Gov. Mathews
that it is said he started for Washington to
chastise President Madison, but on his way
was taken ill at Augusta. Georgia, where
his death occurred, August 30, 1812.
Hubard, William, born in York county, Virginia, son of James Hubard, was gradu- ated at William and Mary College, 1760, ordained deacon by the bishop of London. 1773, and priest. 1776: was in charge of Warwick parish. Virginia, from 1773 to 1776, and in the latter year became rector of St. Luke's Church. Newport parish, Isle of Wight county, Virginia, where he re- mained until his death: this church was erected in 1632, and it was often called "Old Smithfield Church" or the "Old Brick Church:" Mr. Hubard was a leader in the community, and served many years as a magistrate; died near Smithfield, Virginia, in 1802.
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