Fellow Virginia Researchers: I am hoping that this post will ferret out some experts/interested parties/colonial military buffs regarding the French/Indian War that can either corroborate information or lead me in the right direction. I woke up Saturday morning to a most interesting post from one of my distant cousins with whom I correspond frequently as we have a most entertaining set of joint ancestors (excerpts from the article on Gen. Braddock are found at the end). Note: this was an email passed around three times: To wit it said that an article appeared (in 1938,unnamed publication) saying a Virginia militia man, one Thomas Fassit (and my "cousin") from the Eastern Shore of VA/MD fired the shot that four days later killed Gen Braddock during the ambush in 1755 during the campaign to secure Fort Duquesne in the French-Indian War Thomas fired the shot in revenge after said General killed his brother with his saber, who like Thomas and other Virginia militia men had taken cover in the trees like the French and the Indians (who albeit were at their backs). Braddock wanted them back on the road as sitting ducks not in the trees. (I realize that Braddock had no experience in this situation.) It goes on to say that the circumstances of Braddock's actual killing were kept quiet, by Virginians but later came out the article says. I have since looked at probably only a small percentage of the information on the ambush of on the internet (hundreds of hits)...several of which agree he took his sword to beat the nonsuicidal Virginia milita men out of the bushes. I have also gone to my library and looked at several books on military history of the time, although the only book devoted to the French -Indian War was not available. I have found nothing to corroborate the story. They all say he took a bullet in his back at his shoulder. He was basically abandoned on the field and George Washington (only aide-de-camp due to some "cutbacks" in military rank for the colonials) saw that he was taken off the field...it's really an interesting story. Daniel Boone was there too. (This is an aside, but I was reading and following up on this email at the same time I was listening to the always amusing, entertaining "Cartalk" show on WAMU (NPR) in Washington DC, which I awake religiously for every Saturday morning at 8:00, and my children know they can get good breakfasts from me because I pretend to give the kitchen a once over during the program and the news show that follows it with Daniel Schoor. On the show this past Saturday, they had Martha Stewart as a guest advising about (a) how to cook chicken on manifolds between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and (b) why you are endangering birds and wildlife when you attach balloons to cars after weddings and throw anything at the happy couple but "puffed rice", ie not any dried, uncooked rice. I think there were also discussions of dyes in crepe paper, but I missed it. I was then looking at George Washington helping General Braddock and all I could think of was a segment of a multipart series "Our Founding Fathers" on the History Channel, noting Geo Washington's retreated to Mt. Vernon after Cornwallis surrnder...and his total absorption in the estate and compared him to being the "Martha Stewart" of the day, as he was interested in everything about bettering his estate, new methods, etc.). So my question is whether any of you have heard this story, have seen any articles written, etc. I'd be happy for any direction. From a genealogy perspective, these Fassits are of Virginian ancestry. They are without a doubt the descendants of John Fawcett/Fassit and Rhoda Lamberton who were in Accomac Co VA 1660s/1670s. John Fassit was a sheriff in Accomac until he quit in the 1660s, (via friends who were at a court session when he wasn't) who said the job was more trouble than it was worth (ie, his pay was based on his ability to collect taxes, court judgments, etc.). He then resumed his lawyering, and as far as I can see, for a real small community a more litigious group of folks has never existed, and so he probably was able to supplment his farm income with representing folks in their One researcher, FYI, thinks both of their parents were from New Kent, or York, etc., but this is new info for me and I haven't followed up yet. John Fassit died in the early 1670s. His wife Rhoda, soon after lived openly with her much-married neighbor John Cropper (wife, a Bowman, daughter of a justice, etc., etc.). They were run out of Accomac (court affadavits on servants seeing them "naked in bed" raises questions??, and the foreman of their "cattle drive" up to Maryland testified too). John Cropper and Rhoda settled in Somerset (later Worcestor...as noted below) and they had several children...also according to Accomac court records they EACH had a bastard soon after John Fassit's death....John Cropper dies and his wife sues on the will because he left his best land to Rhoda...Rhoda then marries John Cropper's wife's attorney...all in all an entertaining story...and for everybody with ancestors in the 1600s in VA makes you think and cry about just how much information went up in flames at some point. My thanks in advance, and best regards, Janet (Baugh) Hunter...text of exert follows: We think this is a quote from the article: " "Modern American histories overlook the fact that a Worcester County soldier shot and killed General Edward Braddock, English Army Officer who was slain during the French and Indian War. But a few of the older history books do not mention the cause of General Braddock's death and family records recently found down in Virginia further substantiate the incident. General Braddock in command of a mixed force of British Regulars and Virginia Militia led his army against Fort Duquesne one summer day back in 1755 twenty-one years before the American Revolution. in Braddock's forces were two Worcester County natives: Thomas Fossitt (Fassett) and his brother. The Fassitt brothers born on Synepuxent Neck Section of Worcester County were members of the Virginia Militia. A few miles from Fort Duquesne, Indians and the French ambushed General Braddock's forces. The English General, used to fighting in the open, ordered his troops to charge the hidden foe. The Virginia Militia men hid behind trees fighting Indian fashion. In an effort to rally his forces General Braddock spied one of the Fassitt brothers firing his rifle from behind a nearby tree. Braddock ordered the men in the open and when Fassitt refused to obey the command, pointing out that such needless exposure would be suicide the English general drew his saber and killed him. A few feet distant Thomas Fassitt also engaged in firing at the enemy from behind a tree witnessed the ruthless killing of his brother by Generals Braddock. Quickly turning his loaded rifle Thomas Fassitt fired on charge at the mounted figure of the English officer. The ball struck Braddock in the back mortally wounding him. Fellow soldiers of the Virginia Militia that survived the ambush and who also witnessed the killing of General Braddock sealed their lips until years after the conflict ended. They knew that Thomas Fassitt had killed the general to avenge his brother's death. Thomas Fassitt survived the French and Indian War and returned to his family at Synepuxent Neck. A few years later he removed to the Eastern Shore of Virginia" Footnote: The Fassits had land inVA and Maryland. It was all family land. We haven't been able to place Thomas or his brother..but think he was maybe a grandson of Wm Fassitt & Elizabeth Whittington (mine). To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html