Colonel Jacob Williamson Marshall was the son of Joseph Marshall who fought at the Battle of Niagara during the War of 1812 and Hannah Piatt McKinney Marshall. William Marshall, his grandfather, a lawyer, was born on January 31, 1767 at "Oakhill," Fauquier County, Virginia. He was a brother of Chief Justice John Marshall. His great grandfather, Colonel Thomas Marshall, was a a Lieutenant during French and Indian War. He was a Colonel in the 3rd Virginia Regiment and fought at Great Bridge, Germantown and Brandywine during the Revolutionary War. He was also a member of the House of Burgesses in Virginia. He resided at "Oak Hill," in Fauquier County, VA. Colonel Jacob Williamson Marshall was the great grandson of Revolutionary War veteran John Piatt who married Jane Williamson. Jane Williamson Piatt was the daughter of Revolutionary War General Matthias Williamson. Four of Colonel Marshall's great uncles; Abraham Piatt, William Piatt, Daniel Piatt and Jacob Piatt were also veterans of the American Revolution. William, Daniel and Jacob Piatt were all original members of the Society of the Cincinnati. Frances Piatt McKinney, his grandmother, "greeted the eye of General Washigton" as he passed through the arch at Trenton, NJ on his way to NYC for his inauguration in 1789. She was one of the thirteen young maidens. William McKinney, Jr., her husband, Jacob Williamson Marshall's grandfather, was also a veteran of the Revolutionary War. Their son, William McKinney, III, Jacob's uncle, was a veteran of the War of 1812. At the age of 20, Jacob Williamson Marshall sought higher altitudes for the benefit of his health and came to Randolph County. For a time he clerked in the store of William Hamilton and then engaged in the mercantile business on his own account. He later retired to give his exclusive attention to his extensive landed estate. he owned 3000 acres, 1500 improved, of which 750 acres were located on Tygart’s Valley River. His house was situated at Mingo Flats within three miles of the fountain source of Tygart’s Valley River. Jacob Williamson Marshall, in 1855, married Georgiana, daughter of George and Mary See. They were the parents of nine children. Jacob Williamson Marshall served as delegate to the Constitutional Convention for Randolph County in Richmond, Virginia in 1861. For a time he was scout and guide for General Robert E. Lee in his campaign in the Upper Valley. He was with General Lee at Elkwater. He also served under General Albert Gallatin Jenkins. In 1862 Jacob Marshall organized a company and was elected its captain. This company was attached to the Nineteenth Regiment. He served the Confederate States of America during the War Between the States as a Captain in the 19th. Virginia, Company, I, Infantry and Cavalry. He fought at the battles of Winchester, Strasburg, Monocacy, Cold Harbor and Petersburg. At the battle of Fishers Hill, he was severely wounded in the right lung from the effects of which he never fully recovered. In battle he was cool, daring and resourceful with many of the other qualities of the great soldier. He was particularly kind and thoughtful of the poor soldiers in his company, who had families at home and granted them furloughs at every available opportunity. After the war he held the position of deputy collector of internal revenue under the Cleveland administration.
SOURCES: Angelfire.com, Ancestry.com, Bicentennial Biographies, Gilmer County WV, History of Calhoun County WV, History of Randolph County WV.