Bland, Richard, 1710-1776

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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.

Born in Orange County, Virginia, Bland completed preparatory studies and attended the College of William and Mary before completing his education at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Bland served as a justice of the peace in Prince George County and was made a militia officer in 1739. In 1742, he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses, where he served successive terms until it was suppressed during the American Revolution. Bland's thoughtful work made him one of its leaders, although he was not a strong speaker. He frequently served on committees whose role was to negotiate or frame laws and treaties. Sometimes described as a bookish scholar as well as farmer, Bland read law and was admitted to the Virginia bar in 1746. He did not practice before the courts but collected legal documents and became known for his expertise in Virginia and British history and law.

In 1774, the Virginia Burgesses sent Bland to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia. A number of the views he had expressed in An Inquiry into the Rights of the British Colonies found their way into the first session of the Congress and were included in its Declaration of Rights. Bland signed the Continental Association, served as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1774 and 1775. In 1775, as revolution neared in Virginia, the Virginia Convention replaced the Burgesses and the Council as a form of ad-hoc government. That year he met with the Burgesses and with the three sessions of the convention. Though believing that reconciliation with England was still possible and desirable, he was nevertheless named to the committee of safety and re-elected as a delegate to the national Congress. In May, he travelled to Philadelphia for the opening of the Second Continental Congress, but soon returned home, withdrawing because of the poor health and failing eyesight of old age. However, his radicalism had increased, and by the Convention's meeting in July, he proposed hanging Lord Dunmore, the royal governor.

In the first state convention meeting of 1776, Richard Bland declined a re-election to the Third Continental Congress, citing his age and health. However, he played an active role in the remaining conventions. He served on the committee which drafted Virginia's first constitution in 1776. When the House of Delegates for the new state government was elected, he was one of the members. Bland died while serving in the state House on October 26, 1776, at Williamsburg. In November, he was buried in the family cemetery at Jordan's Point in Prince George County.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Randolph, Richard, 1691?-1748. Will, 1742. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Bland, Richard, 1710-1776. Autograph letter signed : Jordans, to Robt. Carter Nicholas, 1768 Thursday, 16th. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Adams family. Papers, 1672-1792. Section 6. Virginia Historical Society Library
creatorOf Bland, Richard, d. 1776. Document signed, 1776 Feb. 9. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Bland, Richard, 1665-1729. Manuscripts regarding Bland family genealogy written in the hands of Richard Bland; his son, Col. Richard Bland; and grand son Capt. Richard Bland [manuscript] ca. 1720-1776. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn College of William and Mary. Bursar's ledger, 1770-1777. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Bland, Lineous Preston, 1900-ca. 1989. Bland Family Papers, 1778-1989. William & Mary Libraries
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Bland, Richard, d. 1776. Autograph letter signed : Jordans, 1775 May 20. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Kibler-Bland Papers, 1671-1776 Special Collections, College of William and Mary
referencedIn Gooch, William, Sir, bart, 1681-1751. Commission of oyer and terminer, 1733 July 4. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Will, 1742. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Fauqier, Francis, 1704?-1768. Commission of Oyer and Terminer, 1758 August 30. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Fauquier, Francis, 1704?-1768. Letter : Williamsburg, to Richard Bland, 1760 July 28. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Kibler, James Luther, 1867-1953. Kibler-Bland papers, 1671-1776. William & Mary Libraries
referencedIn Commission of Oyer and Terminer, 1733 Jul 4 Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Commission of Oyer and Terminer, 1758 Aug 30 Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Letter to Robert Carter, 1770 May 31 Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Fauquier, Francis, Jr., c. 1730- c. 1805. Letter, 1770 May 31, [London], to Robert Carter, Williamsburg, Virginia. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
creatorOf Fauquier, Francis, 1704?-1768. Letter to Richard Bland [manuscript], 1760 July 28. University of Virginia. Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adams family. family
associatedWith Bland, Lineous Preston, 1900-ca. 1989. person
childOf Bland, Richard, 1665-1729. person
auntOrUncleOf Bland, Theodorick, 1742-1790 person
almaMaterOf College of William and Mary. corporateBody
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
associatedWith Fauqier, Francis, 1704?-1768. person
associatedWith Fauquier, Francis, ca. 1730-ca. 1805 person
associatedWith Gooch, William, Sir, bart, 1681-1751. person
relativeOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826 person
associatedWith Kibler, James Luther person
associatedWith Kibler, James Luther, 1867-1953. person
associatedWith Nicholas, Robert Carter, 1728-1780, person
relativeOf Randolph, Peyton, 1721-1775 person
associatedWith Randolph, Richard, 1691?-1748. person
memberOf United States. Continental Congress corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf University of Edinburgh. corporateBody
memberOf Virginia. General Assembly. House of Burgesses corporateBody
memberOf Virginia. General Assembly. House of Delegates corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Williamsburg VA US
Prince George County VA US
Orange County VA US
Edinburgh SCT GB
Subject
Occupation
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Planter
State Representative
Activity

Person

Birth 1710-05-06

Death 1776-10-26

Male

Britons,

Americans

English

Information

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