U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Colston, Edward (1788-1851) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Aler's History of Martinsburg and Berkeley County, West Virginia by F. Vernon Aler, 1888 Printed for the Author by The Mail Publishing Company, Hagerstown, MD. CHAPTER VIII. Historical Pen Sketches of the Early Residents of Berkeley County by the late Hon. Chas. James Faulkner. Pages 164-168, EDWARD COLSTON Was born at Honeywood in the County of Berkeley, in 1788. He graduated with distinction at Princeton College, New Jersey, in 1806. He passed through a regular course of legal studies, municipal and international, with no view to the practice of the profession, but to qualify himself for the intelligent discharge of any public duty which in a Republic like this, the people might devolve upon him. He was an ardent Federalist, in perfect accord with the predominant sentiment of this county, and as a young man of talent and high promise, was cordially welcomed as an important accession to the party. At twenty-five years of age he was elected a member of the House of Delegates; and when but twenty nine years old, elected a member of the United States Congress from the district composed of the counties of Berkeley, Jefferson, Hampshire and Hardy. In June, 1814, he was married to Jane Marshall, daughter of Charles Marshall, of Fauquier County. She died on the 5th of March, 1815, in giving birth to a child, ten months after marriage, and in the 21st year of her age. The papers of that day are full of tributes to her many virtues and entrancing loveliness. The child was buried in the same grave with the mother. When Mr. Colston took his seat in the 15th Congress (1st Monday of December, 1817), he found himself associated in his legislative labors with many distinguished men, among whom were Henry Clay, General Harrison, subsequently President; Henry Baldwin, John Sergeant, Philip P. Barbour, John Floyd, R. M. Johnson, subsequently Vice-President; Henry St. George Tucker, Charles Fenton Mercer, etc. Although but a young man and a young member, he took an active and prominent part in the proceedings of that body. His speeches on the "Commutation of soldiers' pay," for relief to the "Surviving Revolutionary soldiers," in favor of "the Internal Improvement powers of Congress," upon "the Migration of Slaves," upon "the Reduction of the Staff of the Army," and especially his elaborate speech on the resolution of the Military Committee condemning the conduct of General Jackson, for the execution of Arbutnot and Ambrester in the Seminole war, show not only his ability and self reliance, but the extent of his information, and his capacity to take a leading part in any deliberative assembly. He seems to have participated in all the discussions of that body; to have grappled in debate with the foremost intellects, and to have maintained his opinions with firmness and ability. Alter the close of his most creditable service in Congress, Mr. Colston found it necessary, in consequence of the increasing age and infirmities of his father, to give his attention to the Honey wood estate in this county and also to the extensive landed possessions of his father, in Virginia and Kentucky. Mr. Colston was elected to the House of Delegates from this county in 1823 and 1824, and was again a candidate for Congress in 1825. In this contest lie was defeated by Wm. Armstrong of Hampshire. The Martinsburg Gazette of the 28th of April, 1825, in referring to the defeat of Mr. Colston: "We were present on Monday last and heard Mr. Colston address the voters. He exposed in a concise, eloquent and convincing manner the glaring calumnies that had been industriously circulated against him, and left a deep impression on the minds of the people of the gross injustice which had been done him by those slanders and which had resulted in his defeat." No doubt Mr. Colston was grossly caluminated in that canvass, but the real cause of his defeat was the disorganization and disruption of the party of which he had been so conspicuous a member. The Federalists ceased to exist as a National party after the close of the war with Great Britain, and whilst that may not have been the direct issue involved, yet he had been too distinguished in its history, not to be made to share the consequences of its fall. Some amend, however, was made to his disappointed ambition by his unanimous election to the House of Delegates, in 1826, by the voters of Berkeley. He was again re-elected in 1827, 1833 and 1834. Whilst in Richmond he formed the acquaintance of Miss Sarah Jane Brockenbrough, the intelligent and accomplished daughter of Judge William Brockenbrough, to whom he was married — from which marriage has resulted a highly educated and interesting family of sons and daughters. Mr. Colston was commissioned a magistrate of the County Court in 1818, and no one could have taken a more lively interest in the performance of its important and responsible duties than he did. His intelligence, his knowledge of law, his integrity, his high sense of justice, gave to all his decisions, whether on the Bench or in pais, a weight and authority accorded to but few of his brethren. He was also commissioned High Sheriff of Berkeley Comity and acted as such in 1844 and 1845. Although a Federalist and concurring with his party in opposition to the declaration of war against Great Britain, yet when war was declared by the constituted authorities, he volunteered as a member of Captain Faulkner's Artillery Company, soon reached the rank of Lieu- tenant and was present, near Norfolk, when the combined military and naval attack was made by the British upon the defences of that important city. He bore the reputation of a brave and conscientious soldier. Mr. Colston was a member of the Episcopal church — a sincere and practical Christian and an ardent promoter of all institutions and enterprises looking to the advancement of religion, and to the spread of the life saving doctrines of the Redeemer of the world. Mr. Colston died suddenly — unexpectedly, in the twinkling of an eye — from some affection of the heart, on the 23d of April, 1851. He left a will, devising his whole property, subject to the payment of his debts, to his estimable widow, Sarah Jane Colston, and appointing her, Chas. J. Faulkner and his brother-in-law, Willoughby Newton, of AVestmoreland County, Va, executors of his will. An intelligent gentleman from Eastern Virginia, who had just come from spending two weeks at Honeywood, thus speaks to the writer of this sketch, of Mr. Colston, in 1838: "I consider Edward Colston, the finest specimen of a country gentleman whom I have yet met in Virginia. His manners are courteous, polite and dignified; his conversation highly instructive and interesting, and his hospitality free and cordial, without being oppressive. He is fond of agriculture, history and general literature. He has a noble inheritance and a magnificent library. He is loved by all his neighbors, for his kindness and charities and they look up to him as a friend, adviser and counsellor. He has a charming family and a delightful residence. What more need any man want to ensure his happiness in this world?" It is deeply to be regretted that Mr. Colston did not himself cherish the views expressed by this intelligent visitor. He was unhappily not content with the rich blessings Which then surrounded him. The activity of his mind led him to engage in milling enterprises and speculations. He became, in the honesty and unsuspecting integrity of his heart, the sport of fortune, and the victim of accomplished villains, and that "noble inheritance" has thus passed from his widow and children, to discharge forged obligations and unfortunate speculations in trade. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Berkeley County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/berkeley/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------