The Origin ami History of Lynch Law. "Life of Greene," p. 186; Lee's "Memoirs of the War," third edition, p. 276), and, according to Howe, " behaved with much gallantry." Lee also extols the " noble" conduct of this command, while, along with other Virginia troops, " contending for the victory against the best officers in the British army, at the head of two regiments distin guished for intrepidity and discipline." (Lee's " Memoirs," p. 278.) After the surrender of Cornwallis in the fall of 1781, he returned home, and, it seems, disbanded his regiment; for the records of the Camp bell county court show that at the first term of that court, which was held at the house of Micajah Terrell (a connection of the Lynch family), on Feb. 7, 1/82, by virtue of a " commission of the peace and oyer and terminer " directed to Charles Lynch and several other prominent men of that time, Colonel Lynch was recommended by his associate justices to " His Excellency the Governor, as a suitable person to execute the office of a colonel of the militia of this county." Quite a number of orders also appear making various allowances to per sons for supplies (thirty gallons of whiskey being mentioned among the lot) furnished "to Colonel Charles Lynch's volunteers on their march to the southward to join General Greene's army." These orders, of course, relate back to the volunteer regiment which he had commanded in the war. He re tained command of the county militia until peace with Great Britain was fully estab lished, and did not assume his duties as a justice of the county court until Feb. 5, 1784, on which date he took the oath of office. Says Wirt's " Life of Henry " : — "There were many suits on the south side of the James river for inflicting Lynch's law "; and in order to protect the valued patriot defendants, the Virginia legislature found it necessary to pass for their benefit a special act of indemnification. This remark able legislative enactment, rendering legal
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the erstwhile illegal, may be seen in Henning's "Statutes at Large," vol. u, p. 134. It is as follows : — "i. Whereas, divers evil disposed persons, in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty, formed a conspiracy and did actually attempt to levy war against the Commonwealth; and it is represented to the present general assembly that William laway, and Preston, Charles Robert Lynch, Adams, and Jr.,other James faithful Calcitizens, aided by detachments of volunteers from different parts of the State, did, by timely and effectual measures, suppress such conspiracy; and whereas, the measures taken for that pur1 pose may not be strictly warranted by law, al though justifiable from the imminence of the danger. "2. Beit therefore enacted, that the said William Preston, Robert Adams, Jr., James Callaway, and Charles Lynch, and all other persons whatsoever, concerned in suppressing the said conspiracy, or ! in advising, issuing, or executing any orders, or measures taken for that purpose, stand indemni fied and exonerated of and from all pains, penal ties, prosecutions, actions, suits, and damages, on account thereof. And that if any indictment, prosecution, action, or suit shall be laid or brought against them, or any of them, for any act or thing done therein, the defendant or defendants may plead in bar, or the general issue, and give this act in evidence." There is a trace of quaint humor discern ible in the preamble to the above act in the delicate admissipn on the part of the legis lature that "the means taken for that pur pose may not be strictly warranted by law." It is notable, however, that the methods em ployed were declared " justifiable, from the imminence of the danger." Not long after the close of the war, Col onel Lynch departed this life an honored and respected citizen, " leaving a large estate and the savor of a good name to his family." He was laid to rest in the family burying ground on his homestead plantation, and his tombstone "In memory bearsofthisColonel simpleCharles inscription Lynch,
- —a
zealous and active patriot. 1796; aged 60 years."
Died, October 29,
