Col. Theodorick Bland [16043]

  General Notes:

Theodorick Bland was a descendant of Pocahontas on his mother's side. He was sent abroad for schooling and in 1763 graduated from the University of Edinburgh as a medical doctor. Bland practiced medicine in Virginia from 1764 until ill-health forced him to give quit in 1771. After his retirement he became an active patriot and in June 1775 Bland, along with 23 others, helped to removed arms from the governor's palace in Williamsburg. In June 1776 Bland became a Captain in the first troop of Virginia Cavalry, going on to become a Colonel in the 1st Continental Dragoons.

At the Battle of Brandywine Bland commanded light cavalry troops. Bland's cavalry were among the few horseman available to Washington for scouting purposes on the day of the battle. Some blamed the American defeat at Brandywine on Bland's poor scouting abilities, especially Light Horse Harry Lee would held Bland responsible. Some accounts of the battle portray Bland as slow in reporting enemy movements to Washington. Bland had responsibilities covering Washington's right flank where Cornwallis crossed the river and captured a small community before Washington was notified.

Henry Lee summed it up, "Colonel Bland was noble, sensible, honorable, and amiable; but never intended for the department of military intelligence."

Nephew of Richard Bland; uncle of John Randolph of Roanoke; served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War; delegate to Congress from Virginia, 1780-83; at large delegate, 1789-90; died in office 1790.
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By the Spring of 1790 many American politicians had cause to worry about the survival of the Union to which they had devoted their careers. Southerners remained angry over their inability to establish the capital on the Potomac and the northern demand that the federal government assume all state debts. Northerners expressed their frustrations openly especially after the House rejected assumption on April 12. This letter was written before that House vote and it should give the reader a feel for the times and concerns of the involved.

Transcript of one of Theodorick Bland's last letters written March 6, 1790 to St. George Tucker.

My dear Sir.
I was yesterday favored with your agreeable letter enclosing two for the Boys which I delivered to them - I have the satisfaction to inform you they are both well - I am myself just risen from a fit of the Gout which attacked me a day or two before the Attorney General left this place, and exerted its utmost violence on my hands, feet and knees and elbows for about ten days it has however spared my head - and I thank God has left that in a Better Situation than it has been for twelve months preceding - so that it is now more than four weeks since I have been obliged to bleed or Cup - thus do I begin to entertain hopes that I shall again enjoy good health - thus much for myself - The federal Councils move with a Slow and Cautious step - but a Politician of no great depth may easily see what it is likely to be the Issue of the Fiscal arrangements of the Present System - Absorption of revenue will Certainly follow Assumption of debt - so that our State governments will have little else to do than to eat drink and be merry - all this I think I foresaw would be the case for how are states to be managed who have not nor ever will make any exertions to pay the debts contracted in a common cause - while the Citizens of others are taxed up to the teeth for that purpose - again Consolidation follows power - power has been given with a liberal hand - how then is consolidation to be with held - some feeble attempts to keeps it back may now be made by those who gave the power - but I see tis in vain it may be a sort of apology for the moments of Liberality but what avails it - I see I must either go with the tide of Power or become again a Rebel - which is the best at my time of life? You wish to have the secretary's budget - it is too large to enclose in a letter - and I have only one which is my Text Book in Congress - But by this time the Atty. Genl & Mr. Blair are arrived and they carried each a copy out to Encompass the Assumption and funding of the State debts of this there were no more copies Struck but sufficient for the members of both houses - it consists of additional Signposts on Pepper Salt Rum Wine Sugar Melasses etc etc. to a little more than one Million - I have enclosed yu the last Paper - tis but a Barren one but may be Interesting to you as you will see the roll of the Regt. of Lawyers enlisted to serve at the federal Bar - I have written an Answer to Mr. Wickham the Lawyer - I wish you wd. ask him to let you look at it - if anything is wanting - I shd be glad you wd point out it to him, which as a party to the Suit I think you may do consistent with yr Character as a Judge - my love to the Boys & Girls and believe me to be yr affect. Friend & Sert.

Theodorick Bland

P.S. we are told her that poor Grayson is so ill on the road that his life despaird of=shd. he die - I mean to become a candidate to be his successor in the Senate - if you can give me a lift with your Honble. Friends in the Executive-Shd. that event take place I shall Esteem it a favor - but do not mention this Subject unless the Event sahd. actually take place.

Theodorick married Martha Dangerfield [16045] [MRIN: 7979]. (Martha Dangerfield [16045] was born in 1742 and died in 1804 in France.)