Richard Bland: Virginia Statesman and Champion of Public Rights

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Brief Chronology | Writings by Richard Bland | Selected Bibliography of Resources on Richard Bland | Portrait of Richard Bland | Richard Bland Gravesite | Descendants of Richard Bland | List of Persons Buried in the Bland Cemetery

Brief Chronology of Richard Bland's life:

• Born May 6, 1710
• Son of Richard Bland I of Berkeley and Jordan's Point, Virginia and Elizabeth Randolph, daughter of William Randolph of Turkey Island
• Orphaned in 1720 and later raised by uncles, William & Richard Randolph
• Educated by tutors, largely self taught
• Attended College of William & Mary and possibly the University of Edinburgh
• Married 3 times, 12 children by first wife Anne Poythress
• Served as Justice of the Peace
• Entered the militia in 1739
• Studied law, admitted to the Virginia bar in 1746
• 1742-1775 member of the House of Burgesses from Prince George County
• 1773 appointed to Committee of Correspondence
• 1750s to 1770s involved in many issues pertaining to the rights of citizens and taxation
• 1760 wrote "A Letter to the Clergy on the Two-penny Act"
• 1764 wrote "The Colonel Dismounted: or the Rector Vindicated"
• Part of Virginia delegation to First Continental Congress
• 1775 elected to Second Continental Congress
• 1775-1776 member of Virginia Committee of Public Safety - helped to write the first constitution of Virginia
• 1776 wrote "An Inquiry into the Rights of the British Colonies
• Died October 26, 1776, in Williamsburg, Virginia
• Buried at Bland family graveyard at Jordan's Point, Prince George County, Virginia
• Posthumous recognition includes the naming of Bland County in Southwest Virginia and Richard Bland College after this important colonial leader

Writings by Richard Bland:

Pamphlets and letters by Richard Bland located at Swem Library at The College of William & Mary. Photocopies of these materials are available at Richard Bland College.

• Bland, Richard. A letter to the clergy of Virginia, in which the conduct of the General-assembly is vindicated, against the reflexions contained in a letter to the Lords of trade and plantations, from the Lord-bishop of London. Williamsburg, Va.: William Hunter, 1760.
  
  
• Common sense, pseud. The Colonel dismounted: or, The rector vindicated. In a letter addressed to His Reverence: containing a dissertation upon the constitution of the colony. (1764?)
  
  
• Bland, Richard. A fragment on the pistole fee, claimed by the governor of Virginia, 1753. Edited by Worthington Chauncey Ford. Brooklyn, N.Y.: Historical Printing Club, 1891.
  
  
• Bland, Richard. An inquiry into the rights of the British colonies, intended as an answer to The regulations lately made concerning the colonies, and the taxes imposed upon them considered. Williamsburg, Va.: Alexander Purdie, 1766. (Copy at Williams & Mary is a 1922 reprint). Click here to access PDF version of document, obtained with permission from New River Valley Historical Notes web site: http://www.ls.net/~newriver/va/rbland.htm]

Selected Bibliography of Resources on Richard Bland:

• Bland, Theodorick. The Bland papers: being a selection from the manuscripts of Colonel Theodoric Bland, Jr. ... To which are prefixed an introduction, and a memoir of Colonel Bland. Ed. by Charles Campbell. Petersburg, Va.: E. & J. Ruffin, 1840-1843.
  
  
• Campbell, Charles. Colony and Ancient Dominion of Virginia. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott and Co., 1860, p. 670.
  
  
• "College Finds Likeness of Namesake." Bon Homme Richard 29 Aug. 1974: 3.
  
  
• Daetweiler, Robert Chester. Richard Bland: Conservator of Self- Government in Eighteenth-Century Virginia. Diss. University of Washington, 1968. Ann Arbor: UMI, 1969.
  
  
• Detweiler, Robert. Richard Bland and the Origins of the Revolution in Virginia. Yorktown, Va.: Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission, 1981.
  
  
• Henderson, William D. "The History Behind Richard Bland College." Hopewell News 21 Apr. 1977.
  
  
• Kibler, James Luther. Kibler-Bland Papers, 1671-1776. Manuscripts and Rare Books Department, Swem Library, College of William and Mary. (Typescripts of material collected by J. Luther Kibler of Williamsburg concerning Richard Bland (1710-1776), mainly biographical and genealogical information about Bland and his family.)
  
  
• Rossiter, Clinton. "Richard Bland: The Whig in America." Six Characters in Search of a Republic. New York: Harcourt, 1964. 150-205.
  
  
• Scribner, Robert L., ed. Revolutionary Virginia, the Road to Independence. Vol. VI & Vol. VII. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 1973.

Portrait of Richard Bland:

This portrait of Richard Bland was painted by Richard Bland College art professor, Susan Griswold Brown. This painting was commissioned by the Bland family in 1974. The 4 x 5 foot portrait, done by Susan Brown of the Richard Bland College art department, was unveiled at a special Convocation on the 200^th anniversary of the subject’s death. Read the Richard Bland College press release regarding Richard Bland's life and the unveiling of Susan Brown's portrait in 1994.

The question remains as to whether or not this is a real likeness of Richard Bland.

Marge Solenberger, former Director of Public Relations for the College and former member of the RBC Foundation Board of Directors, conducted extensive research trying to locate an original portrait of Bland. A portrait of Bland and one of his wife were mutilated by British soldiers during the revolutionary war. Charles Campbell, a Petersburg historian, reported seeing this mutilated portrait of Richard Bland at Jordan's Point. Supposedly this portrait was destroyed or taken by a soldier during the Civil War. According to a letter written by Mrs. William Taylor (Sallie Bland) in 1886, a portrait of Richard Bland was given by her grandfather, Dr. Theodore Bland, to the Historical Society of Virginia in Richmond, but during the Civil War, portraits at the Society were given to private citizens for safe keeping. Bland's portrait never reappeared after the War and is thought to have been destroyed during the evacuation of Richmond.

In 1850 Peter Frederick Rothermel, 1817-1895, painted a scene titled "Patrick Henry Before the House of Burgesses May 30, 1765." Rothermel was a history painter and Director of the Pennsylvania Academy. This painting is now located at Red Hill Shrine, Patrick Henry's last home and burial place. Note that this painting was made 85 years after the actual event.

In 1852 Alfred Jones made a 3 foot by 2 foot engraving of the Rothermel painting. Included with the engraving was a guide that was a key to the identity of the figures in the painting. The seated figure in the lower left hand corner of the engraving (and therefore the painting) is identified as that of Richard Bland. "In the painting he is shown seated in the House of Burgesses just after the news of the enactment of the Stamp Act reached Virginia and Patrick Henry, a young man of 29 "offered Resolutions opposing the right of the Crown to override the self government of Virginia with a rush of eloquence that startled and swept the House."" (Bon Homme Richard 29 Aug. 1974)

It is this seated figure in the engraving that Susan Brown used as the model for her painting of Richard Bland. In 1985, Edward A. Wyatt of Fairfax County donated one of the etchings by Alfred Jones to Richard Bland College, given in memory of the late Edward A Wyatt IV, former historian and editor of The Progress-Index.

The engraving by Alfred Jones hangs in the President's Office. The original painting by Susan Brown hangs in Maze Hall.

Richard Bland Gravesite:

The Bland Family Cemetery is located at Jordan's Point in Prince George County. In 1960 when Richard Bland College opened, the gravesite was cleared. In 1972 the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution placed a marker on the site. In 1985 many volunteers both from the college and from the community again cleared the site and an archaeological team excavated the site in 1987. Many artifacts were found. Among those artifacts were a wine bottle with the seal of Richard Bland, belt buckles, buttons, game pieces, fishhooks, ceramics of European origin, and mathematical aids used by merchants. Approximately 25 gravesites have been mapped so far. On October 26, 1985 a reconsecration of the Bland family cemetery took place at the gravesite. Gravesite photos from 1985 are availabe as both a PowerPoint presentation and a PDF document.

The property at Jordan's Point was first owned by Samuel Jordan in 1619. It was acquired by Theodorick Bland in 1656. In 1671 Richard Bland I inherited the plantation, then Richard Bland II in 1720. As of 1987 the property was part of the Hopewell Airport Property. It is now part of the Jordan on the James housing development.

Literary Landmark funded by The Friends of the RBC Library in honor of Richard Bland

Additional photographs of the October 23, 2005 ceremony are available online.

A Special Thank You from the DAR....

The book, Old Homes in Surry & Sussex by Mary A. Stephenson, was given to Library Director Dr. Virginia Cherry by the Frances Bland Randolph Chapter of the DAR for the Richard Bland College Library. It was presented to the library in recognition of Dr. Cherry's work on the Richard Bland Cemetery Dedication October 23, 2005. 

Left to right: Mrs. Curly Moore who presented the book, Dr. Virginia Cherry, and Mrs. Faye Savedge

Fence Surrounds Bland Family Cemetery Due to Generosity of Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Wood

Waterside at Jordan Point is the newest condominum community located at Waterside Drive and Jordan Point Road. The community is being developed by J.A. Wood Corporation and is located on the former site of historic Jordan Plantation and the Hopewell Airport which operated from the 1930s until the late 1960s.

When the Woods planned Waterside, they became interested in the cemetery located adjacent to the development. They recognized the historical signifance of the cemetery and took an active role in its preservation. They donated the labor and most of the materials for erecting a four foot high black ornamental aluminum fence at a cost of almost $15,000.

Directions to Bland Family Cemetery

To locate the Bland Family Gravesite located in the Jordan on the James subdivision, follow these directions:

• From I-95:

  Take Exit 61A toward Hopewell onto Route 10 East . Stay on Route 10 East through the city into Prince George County; take a left onto Route 106/Jordan Point Road at convenience store. Pass Jordan Point Country Club, and take first entrance into Jordan on the James subdivision on right.

• From I-295:

  Take Exit 9A to Route 36 East toward Hopewell. Stay straight to go onto Route 156/Winston Churchill Drive. Take a right at the intersection of Route 10 and Route 156, and stay on Route 10 through the city into Prince George County; take a left onto Route 106/Jordan Point Road at convenience store. Pass Jordan Point Country Club, and take first entrance into Jordan on the James subdivision on right.

After turning into Jordan on the James subdivision entrance,

• Take an immediate right into Waterside at Jordan Point, a new condominum community under development.
• Park in designated areas. The cemetery is located at the far end of the development.

Descendants of Richard Bland:

Dr. McNeer, President of Richard Bland College, meets with Amanda Baird Schwartz, a direct descendant of Richard Bland. Miss Schwartz and her family reside in Los Angeles, California. They made a special trip to visit Richard Bland College on their way to Williamsburg.

List of Persons Believed to be Buried in the Bland Cemetery:

• Richard Bland (1665-1720)
  Mary Swan (1st wife) and her 7 infants
  Elizabeth Randolph Bland (2nd wife)
  
  
• Richard Bland (1710-1776)
  Anne Poythress Bland (1712-1758) (1st wife)
  Elizabeth Blair Bolling Bland (3rd wife)
  
  
• Frances Bolling Bland, wife of Theodorick of "Cawsons"
  
  
• Richard Bland (1731-)
  Mary Bolling Bland wife
  John B. Bland (1767-1777)
  
  
• Richard Bland (1762-1806)
  Susannah Poythress Bland, wife
  Mary Burton Bolling Bland (1788) lived 4 months
  Elizabeth Bland (1790-1790)
  
  
• John Bolling Bland (1792)
  Mary Epes (1st wife)
  Racheal Reed (1841) (2nd wife)
  Elizabeth Cargill (3rd wife)
  
  
• John Theodorick Bland (1826)
  Priscilla Watkins Bland (wife)
  
  
• Robert E. Bland (1836)
  Hettie Rives Bland (wife)
  
  
• William Epes Bland (1828-1877)
  Sarah Russell Bland (wife)
  William Epes Bland (1864-1866)
  John Theodorick Bland (1866-1868)
  William Epes Bland (1877-1877)
  
  
• Dr. Theodorick Bland, M.D. (1804-1859)
  Mary Brooke Harrison Bland (1809-1860)
  Susannah Poythress Bland (1837-died young)
  Infant daughter (1848-1848)
  
  
• Theodorick Bland Armistead (1874-1877) son of George Ajax Armistead
  Ann Harrison Armistead (1880-1882) daughter of George Ajax Armistead
  Unnamed infant (1882-1882) daughter of George Ajax Armistead
  Unnamed infant (1884-1884) daughter of George Ajax Armistead
  Unnamed infant (1884-1884) daughter of George Ajax Armistead
  Jeannie Banister Armistead (1888-1888) daughter of George Ajax Armistead
  
  
• Theodorick Bland (June 21, 1846-May 30, 1899) never married (Taken from Dr. Theodorick Bland's Papers)
  
  
• We think that Theodorick Bland of "Cawsons" and his second wife, the widow of William Yates may be buried in Amelia County where they last lived.
  
  
• George Ajax Armistead and his wife Mary Susannah Bland Armistead were buried in Blandford Cemetery.
  
  
• Martha Macon Massie Bland, the second wife of Richard Bland (1710) is buried besider her first husband, William Massie in New Kent County between Black's Store and Qunton. (Tyler's Quarterly, Volume 1, page 58). Richard and Martha were married January 1, 1759 and she lived only eight months after they were married. She had two sons by the former husband and they were responsible for her being buried by their father.

Information pertaining to "List of Persons Believed to be Buried in the Bland Cemetery" from:

Richard Jeffrey Alfriend, III, Norfolk, Virginia
Miss Anne Armistead, Roanoke, Virginia
L.P. Bland, Jr., Wakefield, Virginia

March 18, 1986

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