PROMINENT PERSONS
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tend his commissioners at a treaty with the
Indians in 1752, below the forks of the Ohio,
but before this was accomplished, he was
sent with messages and presents to the
Miami Indians. In 1753 Gov. Dinwiddie sent
him to the forks of the Ohio, to examine a
site for a fort. In September of the same
year he was present at a treaty with the
Indians at Winchester, Virginia, Early in
1754 Gov. Dinwiddie authorized him to raise
a company of a hundred men to erect a fort
at the forks of the Ohio. After work was
begun, the French and Indians appeared,
and compelled the Americans to depart;
1 rent was absent at the time, and for his
absence Gov. Dinwiddie ordered him to be
court-martialed, but he was never brought
to trial. He was unfortunate in his Indian
trading, and died poor. He was a major at
Fort Pitt in July, 1776. In 1778, while on
his way from Fort Pitt, he was taken sick
at his home in Cumberland county, Penn-
sylvania, and died. He was buried at "Sil-
ver Spring church."
Stobo, Robert, born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 17J7. son of William Stobo, merchant. He attended a Latin school, and then the Uni- versity of Glasgow. In 1742 his friends sent him to Virginia to serve in a store conducted l.y Glasgow merchants. Later he went into business for himself. He was held in esteem by Gov. Dinwiddie, who appointed him cap- tain in a regiment raised in 1754 to oppose the French. He proved an efficient officer in the campaign, and superintended the con- struction of the fortification at Fort Neces- sity, and bore a gallant part in the battle of Great Meadows. He was one of the host- ages delivered to the French when Fort Necessity capitulated. While in confinement
at Fort Duquesne, he drew plans of the fort
and its approaches, and wrote suggestions
for its successful assault. This paper was
conveyed by a friendly Indian to the com-
manding officer at Wills' Creek, but fell into
the hands of the enemy in the battle of Mo-
nongahela, and he was closely confined in
the fortress at Quebec. He escaped, was
retaken, and after a year's confinement again
regained his freedom and joined Gen. Wolfe
at Louisburg. He was made a confidential
messenger to Gen. Amherst, who sent him
to the governor of Virginia, by whom he
was well received. He received the thanks
of the house of burgesses, and was awarded
£1,000 as a reward for his zeal and the great
hardships he had endured as a hostage. He
went to England in 1760, and in June of
that year was commissioned captain in Am-
herst's regiment, and served in the West
Indies. He left the army in 1770, and died
soon afterwards. In the yard of the Epis-
copal church at Portsmouth, Virginia, is the
tombstone of "Capt. Jacob Stobo, late of
Philadelphia, who departed this life January
30. 1794."
Craiky James, born at Abigland, Scotland, in 1730; educated at Edinburgh University, and graduated in both letters and medicine. On leaving college he took service as sur- geon with the British troops in the West Indies, soon afterwards resigned, and went to X'irginia. engaging in practice in Norfolk. In 1754 he was appointed surgeon to the \irginia regiment, and his name appears in the list of officers thanked by the Virginia assembly for their bravery in the battle of Great Meadows, and he received a land grant under the Dinwiddie proclamation. .\fter the surrender of Fort Necessitv he
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