Ethelbert Algernon Coleman received his A.B. degree from Hampden-Sydney College in 1830, after which he studied medicine at the University of Virginia and the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1833. He was first married to Mary Elizabeth Sims at “Black Walnut.” She died at their home, “Rose Hill” and is buried at “Black Walnut.” Both homes being in Halifax County, Virginia. He was married secondly at “Riverside” to Martha Frances Ragsdale. She was the daughter of Nathaniel and Ann Boswell Ragsdale of “Riverside.” Dr and Mrs Coleman, parents of 12 children, made their home at “Rose Hill” until 1841, when it was replaced by the mansion they called “Creekside.” Mrs Coleman is buried with her husband at Grace Episcopal Church Cemetery, News Ferry, Halifax County, Virginia. Mr Coleman attended Hampden-Sydney College with his friend, George W Dame, who later became the first rector of The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Danville, Virginia.

From The Magazine of Albermarle County History - Volume 44 - 1986
Ethelbert Algernon Coleman was born at Woodlawn in Halifax County, Virginia on 12-Feb-1812, ninth child of the twelve children of Colonel Henry Embry Coleman and Anne Gordon. In contrast to most of his siblings who bore more commonly used names like John, Thomas, Henry, Sarah, and Charles, he was christened Ethelbert Algernon, partly no doubt, in honor of the great English patriot Algernon Sydney, for whom Hampden-Sydney College was named. He must have diliked his fancy name, for he usually signed his name in books and documents merely as “E A Coleman” and was called Algernon or Alger by family and friends. On his mother’s side, Algernon was descended from the Reverend Alexander Gordon of Galloway, Scotland, who had come to Halifax County in 1763 and served as rector of Antrim Parish until the eve of the Revolution, when, “being disaffected toward the new order of things, he retired and spent his remaining days near Petersburg.” His maternal grandmother, Margaret Murray, herself of Scottish descent, was also a descendent of John Rolfe and Pocahontas. In his later years, Colonel Coleman devoted his energies more to his family and the management of his estates. As the sons married, their father set each of them up on a plantation tract, and left the home place, Woodlawn, to Charles, the youngest son. His wife died in 1824. The census of 1830, shows only five members living at home -- the colonel, Maria, Algernon, Charles, and the ten-year-old Jane. The year 1833 was an eventful one, which saw the graduation of the new physician, the marriages of both Maria and Algernon, and the painting of the colonel`s portrait by the artist George Cooke.