Fought in a duel

 

The Duel by Marcellus Laroon III. 1768.

While looking for information in the Richmond County, Virginia records on the Armistead family, I stumbled onto the will of Joseph Russell the youngest, son of Sarah Armistead Russell and Joseph Russell Sr, dated 15 August 1748. A little further down the page of Will Book 5 is the testimony of John McDonald to magistrate justice Landon Carter. McDonald testified that he had discovered that Joseph Russell was to fight a duel with a Captain Edward (or Ewart). Russell had prepared his will prior to the duel, and then read the contents to McDonald. It appears young Russell may not have survived the duel with Captain Edward, which may have occurred in September 1748.

Richmond County Will Book 5, p. 560.