Bland, Richard, 1710-1776

BLAND, Richard, (Uncle of Theodorick Bland), a Delegate from Virginia; born in Orange County, Va., May 6, 1710; completed preparatory studies; attended the College of William and Mary; member of the Virginia House of Burgesses 1742-1775; member of the Virginia committee of correspondence in 1773; Member of the Continental Congress in 1774 and 1775; again chosen, but declined to serve; member of the Virginia Revolutionary conventions of 1775 and 1776; elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1776; died in Williamsburg, Va., October 26, 1776; interment in a private cemetery on the Jordan Point plantation, on the James River.

<p>Richard Bland (May 6, 1710 – October 26, 1776), sometimes referred to as Richard Bland II or Richard Bland of Jordan's Point, was an American Founding Father, planter, and statesman from Virginia and a cousin of Thomas Jefferson. He served for many terms in the House of Burgesses, was a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1774 and 1775, and signed the Continental Association.</p>

<p>His father, Richard Bland, was a member of one of the patriarchal First Families of Virginia and was related to many of the others. This branch of the Bland family first came to Virginia in 1654, when Theodorick Bland of Westover, emigrated from London and Spain. After the death of his older brother Edward Bland in 1653, Theodorick moved to Virginia to take over management of the family mercantile and shipping enterprises there. Theodorick established Berkeley Plantation and Westover Plantation, both properties survive still, side by side, as working plantations on the banks of the James River. Theodorick served several terms in the House of Burgesses and was its speaker in 1660 when he married Anna Bennett, the daughter of Virginia Governor Richard Bennett. Before he died in 1671 Theodorick and Anna had three sons: Theodorick, Richard, and John.</p>

<p>Being the second son, Richard Bland moved further up river and started his own plantation, on land purchased by his father in 1656. This property became known as Jordan's Point Plantation near the current Jordan Point in Prince George County, Virginia. The land was originally the location of Jordan's Journey Plantation, settled by Samuel Jordan in 1620. Richard married first Mary Swann, they had seven children but none of them survived their mother who died in 1700. In 1702, Richard married Elizabeth Randolph (1680–1720), daughter of William Randolph.</p>

<ul><b>RACES</b>
<li>12/31/1774 VA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>08/01/1774 VA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
</ul>