George Washington Papers

[Diary entry: 24 October 1768]

24. Dined at Josh. Valentine’s sent Chair’s & Horses over James River & lodgd in Wmsburg. ourselves.

Lower down the James River the 50-gun ship of the line of the Royal Navy, H.M.S. Rippon, was dropping anchor. On board was Virginia’s new governor, whose pedigree had been printed earlier that month for the elucidation of all interested Virginians: “norborne berkeley, Lord Botetourt, Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of the county of Gloucester, Lord Lieutenant of the cities of Bristol and Gloucester, Constable of St. Briavel’s castle, Colonel of the South battalion of the Gloucestershire militia, L.L.D. . . . His Lordship claiming the barony of Botetourt from the Lord Botetourt, High Admiral of England, and constable of St. Briavel’s castle, in the time of Edward I, and III, after a solemn hearing of his claim in the House of Peers, had the title adjudged and confirmed to him in 1764, and accordingly took his seat in the House, next to Lord Dacre, being the 5th Baron of England. . . . His Majesty has since appointed him one of the Lords of the Bedchamber” (Va. Gaz., P&D, 6 Oct. 1768).

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