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Virginia Public Guard — 1847

The Virginia Public Guard was organized in 1802 as the Commonwealth’s standing army. It was authorized to have 69 enlisted men, 14 non-commissioned officers and musicians and three officers. Their principal duties were ceremonial, to guard the public property and state officials in Richmond and to guard the Commonwealth penitentiary.

The Public Guard was also charged with maintenance of the Public Armory and the weapons contained therein. Barracks were built near the Armory to house the men and their families.

The Virginia Public Guard continued in existence until 1869, when it was abolished. The functions of the Guard were assumed by the Virginia State Police.

Roster of the Virginia Public Guard, September 30, 1847

Virginia Public Guard — 1847
Name Rank Age Place of Birth Complexion Eyes Hair Height Occupation
Dimmock, Charles Captain              
Brown, Elijah Lieutenant              
Gay, Edward S. Lieutenant              
Evans, William Sergeant 43 Baltimore MD fair grey light 5’9″ soldier
Hill, William N. Sergeant 38 Richmond VA fair blue sandy 5′ 7 3/4″ soldier
Thomas, Joseph Sergeant 37 Wales fair blue auburn 5’6″ Soldier
Ford, John Sergeant 26 Henrico Co. VA. fair blue brown 6′ Soldier
Garbar, Michael Sergeant 31 Lancaster Co. PA. dark black black 5’6″ Soldier
Irvin, William Sergeant 27 PA. florid gray sandy 5’11” Soldier
Wilsford, John T. Corporal 28 Richmond Va. dark blue dakr 5’11” Soldier
Boze, William Corporal 32 Richmond Va. fair blue light 5’8″ Soldier
Gregory, Gallitan Corporal 39 Richmond Va. dark hazel black 6′ Soldier
Cousins, Augustus Corporal 22 Petersburg Va. fair blue light 5’11” Soldier
Wicks, Wesley Corporal 44 Chesterfield Co. Va. fair dark sandy 6’1″ Soldier
Scott, William H. Corporal 25 Chesterfield Co. Va. dark dark black 5’5″ Soldier
Edwards, James Musician 48 Richmond Va. fair   gray 5’5″ Soldier
Hayes, Elias W. Musician 25 Essex Mass. ruddy hazle brown 5’7″ Soldier
Adams, Fleming Private 30 Hanover Co. VA light blue light 5’6″ Laborer
Adams, Joel W. Private 23 Norfolk Mass. fair gray brown 5’11” Musician
Adams, William Private 22 Henrico Co. VA. dark black black 5’9″ Laborer
Andrews, Vincent Private 28 Petersburg Va. Dark gray black 5’7″ Laborer
Archer, Branch Private 27 Chesterfield Co. VA. dark black black 5’10” Tailor
Bailey, Thomas Private 21 Henrico Co. VA fair blue light 5’6″ Shoemaker
Bailey, William W. Private 26 Henrico Co. VA fair blue light 5’10” Laborer
Bastin, Richard Private 35 Chesterfield Co. VA fair blue dark 5’5″ Farmer
Batkin, Moses Private 22 Hanover Co. VA dark blue dark 5’9″ Farmer
Beach, John Private 30 Nottoway Co. VA. fair hazle brown 5’11” Soldier
Beach, Richard Private 34 Nottoway Co. VA. fair black light 6’2″ Soldier
Belcher, John Private 21 Chesterfield Co. VA fair blue sandy 5’10” Saddler
Bell, Solomon Private 27 Albany N.Y. fair gray brown 5’7″ Soldier
Blackburn, James Private 21 Henrico Co. VA. dark dark gray brown 5’8 1/4″ Laborer
Bleylock, Jeremiah Private 21 Goochland Co. VA fair gray light 5’9″ Laborer
Brockwell, Benjamin Private 25 Prince George Co. VA fair black light 5’8″ Carpenter
Clark, Henry Private 29 New Kent Co. VA dark hazle black 5’10” Soldier
Clark, Jackson Private 23 Spotsylvania Co. VA light blue dark 5’10” Farmer
Clark, Theodore Private 21 Essex Co. VA fair gray light 6’1″ Laborer
Coughlin, Jeremiah Private 25 Richmond VA. dark hazle black 5’8″ Laborer
Cowperthwait, Stacy Private 28 Philadelphia PA. light hazle light 5’6″ Plasterer
Crafts, Jacob Private 49 Onslow Co. NC dark gray gray 5’7″ Soldier
Felvy, Edward Private 24 Dublin Ireland ruddy blue black 5’6″ Musician
Frazier, Prushin Private 32 Surry Co. VA dark blue dark 5’10” Shoemaker
Garnett, James Private 22 Caroline Co. VA dark black dark 5′ 6 3/4″ Farmer
Gill, James Private 22 Chesterfield Co. VA fair blue light 5’10” Farmer
Green, George Private 25 Wiltshire England dark blue brown 5’7″ Musician
Hardin, William H. Private 33 Norfolk Mass. light blue light 5’10” Musician
Harris, William Private 30 Henrico Co. VA dark hazle black 5’7″ Soldier
Hefferon, Alexander Private 40 Mackinaw Mich. light grey sandy 5’10” Soldier
Hope, Giles B. Private 37 Caroline Co. VA. dark hazle dark 5′ 9 3/4″ Soldier
Hope, Oliver Private 27 Caroline Co. Va. light hazle brown 5’10” Soldier
Hoy, Patrick H. Private 25 Dinwiddie Co. VA. fair black light 5’9″ Farmer
Hunley, William J. Private 22 Chesterfield Co. VA dark grey light 5’7″ Farmer
Johnson, William B. Private 22 New York N.Y. dark black black 5’6″ Musician
Kelly, John Private 29 West Mead Ireland dark blue dark 5’8″ Soldier
Kidd, Stith J. Private 23 Dinwiddie Co. VA fair black light 5’11” Carpenter
Lipscomb, Thomas Private 40 Nottoway Co. VA dark hazle black 5’6″ Soldier
Longest, Hugh Private 23 Caroline Co. VA dark gray dark 5’11 1/2″ Coach Maker
Loving, John Private 25 Caroline Co. VA. fair blue light 5’6″ Farmer
Lunay, Henry Private 22 Hanover Co. VA. Dark blue dark 5’10” Laborer
Madison, Henry Private 23 King & Queen Co. VA. dark gray black 5’9″ Laborer
Marshall, James Private 27 Chesterfield Co. VA. dark grey dark 6′ 1/4″ Soldier
Mathews, John Private 38 Henrico Co. VA. dark hazle dark 5’8″ Carpenter
Mitchell, Christopher Private 19 VA. light blue light 5’5″ Farmer
Mitchell, George W. Private 26 King and Queen Co. VA. light blue light 5′ 5 3/4″ Laborer
Moore, Joseph Private 23 Germany florid hazle brown 5’5″ Tailor
Parker, John Private 26 Caroline Co. VA. dark blue dark 5′ 7″ Farmer
Pepp, Nicholas Private 45 Hanover Co. VA. dark black black 5′ 7 3/4″ Soldier
Preyear, John A. Private 31 Hanover Co. VA. dark hazle dark 6′ Farmer
Rouse, John Private 26 Caroline Co. VA. fair blue light 5’10” Farmer
Salmon, John Private 39 Dutchess Co. N.Y. fair blue sandy 5’10” Soldier
Simmons, Wesley C. Private 26 St. Mary’s Co. MD dark black black 5’8″ Soldier
Sizer, James Private 23 Caroline Co. VA. dark blue dark 5’10” Laborer
Smith, James B. Private 27 New York N.Y. fair. blue light 5’9″ Gardener
Snead, Benjamin Private 23 Hanover Co. VA. dark blue dark 5’7″ Farmer
Snell, Charles Private 29 Germany dark hazle dark 5′ 6 1/4″ Tailor
Straughn, Richard Private 26 Richmond VA fair blue light 6′ Farmer
Tate, Christopher Private 28 Caroline Co. VA dark black black 5’11” Soldier
Tate, Elijah Private 24 Caroline Co. VA. light brown brown 6’2″ Soldier
Tate, Matthew Private 18 Caroline Co. VA dark black dark 5’11” Laborer
Vaughan, Henry Private 27 Essex Co. VA fair blue sandy 5’8″ Laborer
Vickinson, Benjamin Private 22 Caroline Co. VA light blue sandy 5′ 9 1/4″ Laborer
Webb, James Private 24 King William Co. VA. fair blue light 5’10” Shoemaker
Wells, Edward Private 32 Dinwiddie Co. VA dark dark black 5’7″ Laborer
White, Miles Private 22 Hanover CO. VA fair blue brown 5’6″ Farmer
Williams, John Private 23 Dinwiddie Co. VA fair black sandy 5’7″ Laborer
Worth, Dow Private 21 Buckingham Co. VA. fair black brown 5′ 8″ Laborer

Members of the Public Guard who died in the year ending September 30, 1847

Dance, Edward R.,
Freeman, David G.
Leonard, James T.
Rouse, Tazwell A.

Members of the Public Guard Discharged during the year ending September 30, 1847

Discharged Members of Virginia Public Guard — 1847
Name Rank Place of Birth Comments
Applegate, John C. Private New York  
Baber, Joseph H. Private North Carolina  
Blandley, Damascus L. Private Virginia  
Bottom, Pleasant Private Virginia Volunteer for Mexico
Bowen, Alexander Private Virginia Volunteer for Mexico
Branch, John W. Private Virginia  
Broadus, Henry F. Private Virginia  
Clark, James L. Private Virginia Volunteer for Mexico
Clay, Sidney C. Private Virginia  
Deacon, George Sergeant London England Volunteer for Mexico
Delong, Jacob Private New York  
Dickinson, Elisha L. Private Virginia  
Edwards, Robert D. Private Virginia  
Eubanks, John L. Private Virginia  
Francis, William T. Private Virginia Volunteer for Mexico
Goosby, Thomas Private Virgina  
Gregory, Robert Private Virginia  
Guthrow, William Private Virginia Volunteer for Mexico
Happe, Harman Private Germany Volunteer for Mexico
Harris, James Private Virginia  
Heislop, Rice B. Private Virginia  
Hubbard, George W. Private Virginia Volunteer for Mexico
Kent, John Private Pennsylvania Volunteer for Mexico
Kidd, William Private Virginia Volunteer for Mexico
Littleford, John S. S. Private Virginia  
Martin, Henry Private Virginia  
Martin, John Private Virginia  
McAdams, James Private Delaware  
McCallum, John Private Ireland  
Mills, John Private New York Volunteer for Mexico
Morgan, Calvin Private Virginia  
Nuckels, William B. Private Virginia  
Parsons, William Private Massachusetts  
Rice, William Private Virginia  
Rollison, John Private Virginia  
Russel, Elyson Private Virginia Volunteer for Mexico
Smithers, Robert Private Virginia  
Stark, Richard Private Virginia Volunteer for Mexico
Taylor, William S. Private Virginia Volunteer for Mexico
Wilson, Robert Private New York Volunteer for Mexico
Winn, James Private New York Volunteer for Mexico
Wyckoff, Abram A. Private New York  

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