Philip Pendleton

Colonel Philip Pendleton (1752 – 1802) was a Virginia lawyer and military officer active during the late 18th century. He participated in the American Revolutionary War, served in the Virginia House of Delegates representing Berkeley County multiple times, and was involved in the founding of Martinsburg, Virginia.

Family and Ancestry

Philip Pendleton was born in 1752 to Elizabeth Clayton and Nathaniel Pendleton. His family was among the First Families of Virginia, with ancestors who emigrated from England in 1674. His paternal ancestors included Nathaniel and Philip Pendleton, and the family lineage includes Judge Edmund Pendleton, a prominent jurist and political figure in Virginia.

In 1773, Philip Pendleton married Agnes Patterson, daughter of Angus Patterson. They had four sons and three daughters. Their children included Philip Clayton Pendleton, who pursued careers in law, politics, and military service; Elizabeth Pendleton (1774–1822), who married David Hunter; Anne Clayton Pendleton (1778–1854), who married John Kennedy and was the mother of writer and politician John Pendleton Kennedy; Sarah Pendleton (1785–1855), who married Adam Stephen Dandridge; and Maria Pendleton, who married lawyer John R. Cooke. Their descendants included notable figures such as David Hunter Strother, a Union General and artist, and sons Philip Pendleton Cooke and John Esten Cooke, both writers with careers linked to law and literature.

Professional Career

Pendleton was among the early lawyers practicing in Berkeley County. During the American Revolutionary War, he led the county militia and received a military commission on April 3, 1777. In 1778, he was elected as a trustee of the newly chartered town of Martinsburg.

Political Service

He represented Berkeley County in the Virginia House of Delegates, serving initial terms starting in 1776 and returning to the chamber multiple times, including terms beginning in 1785 and lobbying for additional sessions in 1790. In 1801, Pendleton ran as the Federalist candidate for Virginia's 1st congressional district but was defeated by John Smith.

Death and Legacy

Philip Pendleton died in early 1802. His will was admitted to probate on January 26, 1802, with his sons Philip Clayton Pendleton, James Pendleton, and William Henry Pendleton, along with son-in-law David Hunter and Elisha Boyd, named as executors.