Lt. Col. Darby Lux II was an active patriot of the American Revolution. Darby was the son of Capt. Darby Lux I

Darby Lux I

Capt. Darby Lux I was a mariner, merchant, and Justice of Baltimore County, Maryland.Capt. Lux was the son of an English clergyman. Capt. Lux was born in Kenton Parish, Devonshire, England on June 15, 1695. He was christened on June 30, 1696 in Kenton. Darby immigrated in the early 1720s, and...

 (1695–1750) and Ann Saunders (1700–1785).

Early career

Darby was born in Anne Arundel County in 1737. He resided in Baltimore Town until about 1753. He became a merchant in Barbados

Barbados

Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...

 until about 1764, when he moved back and became a partner in the firm of Ridgely, Howard & Lux, and was involved with the Ridgely family ironworks. Prior to 1773, Darby was a dealer in convict servants from America to the West Indies, and a partner in the rum importing business with William Russell, brother of James Russell (1708–1788) in London. Lux also became involved in a lead mining operation in Baltimore County.

American Revolution

Darby was an active patriot and was of the Gunpowder Battalion of Maryland Militia in 1775. Lt. Col. Lux was a member of the Committee of Observation and Safety in the same year. In November of 1775 he was appointed by the Continental Congress

Continental Congress

The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....

 on a secret Committee to secure arms and ammunition, and he was authorized to sign money. He was a signer of the Maryland Declaration of Independence on July 6, 1776.

Col. Lux inherited "Derbyshire" from his father. It was located on the Reistertown Road, 7 miles (11.3 km) from Baltimore. He resided at "Mt. Airy" near Towson

Towson, Maryland

Towson is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 55,197 at the 2010 census...

, and this estate is now the Sheppard-Pratt Asylum. At the time of his death on April 10, 1795, Darby had accumulated over 2000 acres (8.1 km²) of land in Baltimore County, where he died. His estate was valued at 1,027.19.5 pounds current money, including 24 slaves and 42 oz. plate.

Marriage

Darby married Rachel Ridgely (1734–1813). Rachel was born in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland on December 5, 1734, and died in Baltimore County in 1813.

Rachel, was the daughter of Col. Charles Ridgely II

Charles Ridgely II

Col. Charles Ridgely II, "Charles The Merchant" of "Ridgely’s Whim", a Justice, planter, mechant, ironmaster, and member of the Lower House. Charles II, was the son of Charles Ridgely I, "Charles The Planter" and Deborah Dorsey .Charles was born in Prince George’s County, and still a minor at...

, "Charles The Merchant" (1702–1772) of "Ridgely’s Whim", and his first wife, Rachel Howard

Rachel Howard

Rachel Howard is a British artist.-Early life and career:Rachel Howard grew up in County Durham. She attended a Quaker school from the age of sixteen, and the stories, concerns and questions raised by religion have certainly had a profound effect on her work throughout her career. Howard graduated...

 (ca. 1696-1750).

Children

1. Rachel Ridgely Lux (1762–1810), who married James McCormick, Jr. (1763–1841).
2. Ann Lux (1770–1847), who married 1 George Risteau, Gent. (ca. 1763-1789) 2) Col. Thomas Deye Cockey, Sr., Esq. (1762–1813).
3. William Darby (ca. 1772-1812), who married Mary Nicholson, daughter of Col. Benjamin Nicholson, Sr., Esq. (d. 1792).

Ancestry

Darby II, was the son of Capt. Darby Lux I

Darby Lux I

Capt. Darby Lux I was a mariner, merchant, and Justice of Baltimore County, Maryland.Capt. Lux was the son of an English clergyman. Capt. Lux was born in Kenton Parish, Devonshire, England on June 15, 1695. He was christened on June 30, 1696 in Kenton. Darby immigrated in the early 1720s, and...

 (1695–1750) and Ann Saunders (1700–1785).

Ann was the daughter of Robert Saunders (d. 1755) and Rebeckath Groom (d. 1752).

Capt. Darby Lux I, was the son of William Lux II, Vicar (ca. 1657-1714) and his wife Elizabeth.

William II, was the son of William Lux I and his wife Wilmot ? (d. 1703).