Little is known of John since his family papers and those of Buckingham County have been lost or destroyed. He served as sheriff and county lieutenant of Buckingham County and represented his County in the General Assembly of Virginia during the 1780’s.

At a glance

  • Born: 1735 in Licking Hole Creek in Goochland County, VA prior to his family’s migration up the James River to Swan Creek.
  • Married: Paulina Jordan Cabell, Elizabeth Brereton and Frances Johnson
  • Died: 1815 in Buckingham County, VA.

Revolutionary Era Leadership

Family and Legacy

He married Paulina Jordan when he was twenty-seven years old and settled in Buckingham County on the Green Hill estate directly across the river from the Forkfield estate.

Paulina Jordan Cabell died in 1781 leaving 7 children ages 1-21 years of age. John Cabell then married Elizabeth Brereton in 1787 and adopted her 6 year old son, Robert Jones. She died in 1802. John Cabell’s last partner was Frances Johnson (1788-1823) who he likely never married but had 3 children by her in his 70’s. John Cabell died in 1815 at the age of 80.

John Cabell and Paulina Jordan’s children, spouses, and homeplace

  • John Cabell (1763-1771)
  • George Cabell born and died in 1765
  • Dr. George Cabell (1766-1823) and Sarah Winston (1770-1826) lived in Lynchburg
  • Frederick Cabell (1768-1841) and Alice Winston (1770-1814) lived at Struman, Buckingham, Virginia
  • William Cabell born and died in 1771
  • Dr. John Jordan Cabell (1772-1834) and Henrianne Davies (1780-1843) lived in Lynchburg, Virginia
  • Elizabeth Cabell (1774-1798)
  • Samuel Jordan Cabell (1777-1854) and Susanna Ewing (1774-1831) lived first in Monroe, West Virginia then moved to Casey County, Kentucky
  • Judith Scott Cabell (1779-1801)
  • Paulina Jordan Cabell (1780-1840) and Hector Cabell (died 1807) and William Daniel, Sr. lived in Lynchburg, Virginia

John Cabell and Elizabeth Brereton’s children, spouses, and homeplace

  • Robert Jones Cabell (1776-1823)- adopted son of John Cabell

John Cabell and Frances Johnson’s children, spouses, and homeplace

  • Napoleon Bonaparte Cabell (1812-1888) and Catherine Wells (died 1858) and Lavinia Wood lived in Kanawha County, West Virginia.
  • Alexander Cabell (1813-1875) and Athaliah Miller (1826-1910) lived in Logan County, West Virginia.
  • Elizabeth Burks Cabell (1814-1889) and Alfred Terrill Dillard (1798-1853) lived in Roanoke County, Virginia.

Notable Descendants of John Cabell

18th century

  • Dr. George Cabell (1766-1823) – Surgeon in Lynchburg, Virginia, friend of Patrick Henry.

19th century (Chronological Order)

  • Samuel Jones Cabell or Samuel I. Cabell (1802-1865) – Wealthy plantation owner in Kanawha County, West Virginia who married one of his slaves, Mary Barnes (1815-1900). He sent his children to Ohio to receive and education and ensured Mary and his children as recipients of his estate in his will. Part of his plantation was sold by his daughter to establish the beginnings of West Virginia State University.
  • Frederick Ernest Cabell (1844-1914) and John Breckinridge Cabell (1850-1901). Silver miners and founders of Cabell City, Oregon.
  • Ella Floyd Mosby (1846-1896) – Author. The Ideal Life.
  • Wirt Robinson (1864-1929) – Author and Professor of Chemistry, Minerology and Geology, West Point from 1911-1928.
  • Samuel Cabell Lackey (1866-1951) – Lawyer, served in Texas legislature 1918-1923
  • Burger Brosius Dillard (1871-1909) – Civic leader and whiskey dealer in Roanoke Virginia.
  • Thomas Bowyer Campbell (1887-1986) – Author, and Episcopal minister who became a Catholic priest.

Works Consulted

  • Brown, Alexander. The Cabells and their Kin: A Memorial Volume of History, Biography, and Genealogy. Richmond, Va.: Garrett and Massie, Inc., 1939. First published 1895.
  • Cabell, Randolph W. 20th Century Cabells and their Kin. Franklin, N.C.: Genealogy Pub. Service, 1993
  • Cabell Family Papers, 1727-1875, Accession # 5084, Albert H. and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.
  • Croye, Marcia Bell Christy. The Cabells and related families of West Virginia. Marcia B. Croye, 1998.