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Col. Eastham Fought
French And Indians
Rappahannock’s oldest soldiers collaborated with the Brittish in defending the colonial frontier against the French invaders and their Indian allies.
Col. Robert Eastham, a gentleman justice of Orange County (when that county included what is now Rappahannock), served with Col. George Washington, then at Winchester, in the French and Indian Wars.
Robert Eastham of Flint Hill, Col. Eastham’s great-, great-great-great grandson, isn’t sure exactly where his ancestor resided but thinks it was somewhere in the northern end of the county. He noted that the colonel’s home is certainly no longer standing, pointing out that the modest structures of those frontier days were all built of wood.
The senior officers of the militia were responsible for raisinjg their own troops to combat the French and Indian enemies. The colonial government supplied ammunition and pay but apparently, that support was not always dependable.
The present day Robert Eastham has a copy of a letter dated November 29, 1755, from Governor Dinwiddie in Williamsburg to the colonel in the frontier militia. The text reads:
“I rec’d Y’r L’r of the 24th. I am sorry there is occasion to call for drafts from the militia, but it’s necessary for the Protec’n of the Front’rs, and, in course, the whole Co’ty; they will be p’d. Therefore I hope they will chearfully comply with what’s now order’d, as I observe it’s to relieve some former Detachm’ts. If i c’d properly convey You a supply of powder, I w’d, but for the pres’t apply again to Colo. Spotswood, and let him know it’s by my orders, and if Colo. Washington is nece’ry, you write to him on Y’r Affair. I shall soon appoint Officers for the Militia of Your Co’ty...”.
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