Edward Colston

Edward Colston (December 25, 1786 – April 23, 1852) was a Virginia lawyer, slaveholder and Federalist (and later Whig) politician who served in the Virginia House of Delegates and United States House of Representatives. Early and family life The eldest son born to the former Elizabeth Marshall (1756-1842; sister of future Chief Justice John Marshall), and her husband Raleigh Colston (1749-1823), Edward Colston was born into the First Families of Virginia on his father's estate, "Honeywood," overlooking the Potomac River in what became Berkeley County, West Virginia, about a decade after his death. He would have three younger brothers as well as three sisters, and inherited Honeywood, which he would operate until his death. As was customary for gentleman of his class, Edward Colston received a private education, then was sent to New Jersey for higher studies. He graduated from Princeton College in 1806, then read law. He first married Jane Marshall of Fauquier County, but she died in 1815. In 1825 Colston met and married Jane Brockenbrough of Richmond, and they had three sons and four daughters. After this Edward Colston's death, all their sons (Raleigh T. Colston, Edward Colston Jr. and William Brockenbrough Colston) would become Confederate States Army officers, after recruiting the Hedgesville Blues (which became part of the Stonewall Brigade, 2nd Virginia Infantry). Only Raleigh died in the war (one of the few casualties of the Battle of Mine Run in 1863); William followed his father's path into Berkeley County politics and the junior Edward became a lawyer politician in Cincinnati, Ohio. His nephew Raleigh E. Colston (son of his brother Dr. Raleigh T. Colston) would become a controversial Confederate general and also survived the Civil War. Career