Colonel Samuel McDowell

Notes:

Samuel McDowell was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta Co. Va.

BIOGRAPHY

From Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_McDowell

He was a soldier and early political leader in Kentucky. He was the son of Captain John McDowell and grandson of Ephraim McDowell, a Scots-Irish patriot in the English Revolution of 1688. Captain McDowell relocated his family to Virginia in 1737.

He was the father of Dr. Ephraim McDowell, the first physician in the world to successfully remove an ovarian tumor.

Samuel McDowell participated in three major wars. He served under George Washington in the French and Indian War, served as an aide-de-camp to Isaac Shelby in Lord Dunmore's War, and was part of Nathanael Greene's campaign in the Revolutionary War. Following the Revolutionary War, he relocated to Kentucky and became a surveyor. Later, he was appointed one of the first district court judges in what would become the state of Kentucky. He became a leader of the movement to separate Kentucky from Virginia, presiding over nine of the state's ten constitutional conventions.

Samuel McDowell was well-educated in his youth, at one time studying under Archibald Alexander. In 1743, his father died and he inherited the entire estate, according to the tradition of primogeniture, but chose to divide the estate with his brother and sister.

At age twenty, McDowell participated in the French and Indian War. He was captain of a company, serving under George Washington at Braddock's Defeat at the Battle of the Monongahela. Later, he served in Lord Dunmore's War, participating in the Battle of Point Pleasant with future Kentucky governor Isaac Shelby. Shelby later appointed McDowell as his aide-de-camp. For his service in the war, he was awarded a large tract of land in Fayette County, Kentucky in 1775.

At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, McDowell was commissioned a colonel over a regiment from Augusta County. He participated in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse while serving under General Nathanael Greene. His son John also participated in this battle. The elder McDowell was present at Charles Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown.

Following the war, McDowell presided over a 1782 convention that framed a constitution for the independent territory of Kentucky. He presided over nine of the ten conventions that drafted the first Kentucky Constitution.

OBITURARY

Washington Review and Examiner (Pa.) Nov. 5, 1817

Another Revolutionary Patriot gone.

Died near Danville (Ken.) on the 25th Sept. last, Col. Samuel McDowell, in the 85th year of his age. He was distinguished as a most active Whig during the Revolutionary War--was one of the first settlers of Kentucky--a member of the convention which adopted our constitution--was a judge under the district court system, and afterwards a circuit judge. He has left more than one hundred descendants; and was distinguished for his piety, unsullied integrity, practical patriotism and industrious habits. He lived long and usefully, died serene and happy.--Argus

from Find A Grave
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=mcdowell&GSfn=samuel&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=19&GScnty=999&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=36872445&df=all&

Buried:
Grave location and portrait photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=mcdowell&GSfn=samuel&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=19&GScnty=999&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=36872445&df=all&

Samuel married Mary MCCLUNG 17 Jan 1754, Augusta Co. VA. Mary (daughter of William MCCLUNG and Jean Dun) was born 28 Oct 1735, Coleraine, Londonderry, Ireland; died Oct 1827, Mercer Co. KY; was buried , Bellevue Cemetery Danville Boyle Co. KY. [Group Sheet]

1. Sarah McDowell was born 09 Oct 1755, Virginia.
2. Magdalena McDowell
3. Major John McDowell was born 12 Dec 1757, Charles City Co. VA; died 18 Jul 1835, Fayette Co. VA; was buried , McDowell Family Plot, Fayette Co. KY.
4. James McDowell was born 29 Apr 1760, Virginia.
5. William McDowell was born 19 Mar 1762, Virginia.
6. Samuel McDowell was born 08 Mar 1764, Rockbridge Co. VA; died 20 Jun 1831, Mercer Co. KY; was buried , Bellevue Cemetery, Danville, Boyle Co. KY.
7. Martha McDowell was born 26 Jun 1766, Rockbridge Co. VA.
8. Col. Joseph McDowell was born 13 Sep 1768, Rockbridge Co. VA; died 22 Jun 1856, Danville, Boyle Co. KY; was buried , Bellevue Cemetery, Danville, Boyle Co. KY.
9. Dr. Ephriam McDowell was born 11 Nov 1771, Augusta Co. VA; died 25 June, 1830, Danville, Mercer Co. KY; was buried , McDowell Park Danville Boyle Co. KY.
10. Mary McDowell was born 11 Jan 1774, Augusta Co. VA.
11. Caleb Wallace McDowell was born 17 Apr 1776, Augusta Co. VA.
12. Andrew Reid McDowell