Newsletter 2 1978.pdf - The Grayson Family

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Page 263
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Encyclopedia of Va, Z.iography, Vol, 2. pge 1G.
William C~ayson, was born in Prince kiilliam Co. Va. in 1736, son of
Benjaininf and Asannah (Konroe) Gray soil. tiiv father 5ud enidrat sd from Scotland
to Ddries, Prince ;rilllam Co. VB. and his mother ms an Aunt of President
James honrcs. fie graduated from the college of Philadelphia, and studied
law at tk:e Temple Lcndon, and began pra.ctice in Va,
Cn Nov. 11, 1774, a company formed in Prince killim Co. called the Independent
Campany of Cadets, chose dilllam Grayson for Captain, and adopted zs their
motto; - Aut iiber -- kut Rulas. -
rjn August 24, 1776, he das zppolnted Aide-de-camp
to General itarshington; and Jacuary 1, 1777 became Colonel of Grayson's
additional Contanental Regiment, organized by him. His brot, her Rev, Spence
Graysor., uas Chaplair.. Colonel Grayson distin;iisY,ed kir,self t the b~ttle of
t!~mouth, wt~cn he coraanded his Iiegiment in the advance corps, displaying great
valor, Ctiring 1760 -PI, he was Cdssioner on the Gwrd of iiar; and 8t
Valley Forge he was appoir~ted a Commissioner to trebt with Zir Xilliam Hode
res:-ectirq prisicners. kt the close of the 'vkr he was elected a n~emter of the
Continor,tal Cc~~ress in 1784, servicg three years with distirig~l~hcd skility.
In UFt be was eent to the Virginia Convention, called to consider t;Le Constitution
of tine I!ni.ted States: and with Patrick lienr7 p0serft~1l.y opposad the instrumsnt,
and in a letter sl~ortly after, declared that the ~011th was distitled to become the
Itmllch ccu cf tb,e union". kie was chosen a $enator to the firat Congress, which
met 3arcy 4, 1709, tool: his Seat May 21st and AII~~. 7th. was pranted leave of
absence in order to recurerate his health, hilt died at Dmfries, VA, 1:arcy 12, 1790
He as regarded as a man of the first order of talent, and wtis one of the leaders
of Con~~ess,
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