Person:Hankerson Read (1)

According to Lulu Almen: ". . . a Captain in the Revolutionary War. . . Arrived in VA in 1730."

Genealogies of Virginia Families, Vol. IV, pp. 271-3; Reade/Reade, Read: "Reade, Read.---It is very probable that the names Hankerson and Hankinson are corruptions of that name Higginson. It is stated in Vol. 4, Va. Mag. of Hist. and Biog. on page 204 that "Lucy Bernard, wife of Dr. Edmund Gwin was the daughter of William Bernard, Esq., who married a daughter of Col. Hickerson of Dublin, who was a relict of Lewis Burwell, Esq., etc." There is a note further on explaining that Hickerson was used for Higginson very often in the early days. Hinkerson was also used and Hinkerson sonds very much like Hankerson, when pronounced hurriedly and carelessly. On page 207 of same vol. is this item-- "Col. William Bernard settled in Nansemond about 1640, member of the Council. The records of York County in 1653, show his wife Lucy, was the widow of Lewis Burwell and heir of Robert Higginson. The epitaph of Lucy Higginson Bernard (who died Nov. 6, 1675) on her tomb at Carter's Creek, Gloucester, only states that she was the widow of Major Lewis Burwell and that she was descended from the ancient family of Higginson and was ye only Daughter of the valient Capt. Robert Higginson, one of the first Commanders that subdued the Country of Virginia from the power of the Heathen." Captain Higginson was a noted Indian fighter. The daughter of Col. William Bernard (Lucy Bernard Gwin, wife of Dr. Edmund Gwin) was the mother-in-law of the two youngest sons of Col. George Reade--Thomas and Benjamin, both of whom are mentioned as being under age in the will of their mother, Elizabeth (Martian) Reade, proved in Jan. 24, 1687. Thomas married Lucy Gwin and Benjamin married Mary Gwin, (also spelled Gwynne, Gwyn, Gwinne). It is very probable that Hankerson Read was the grandson of either Thomas or Benjamin Read, as all of their sons and grandsons have never been definitely accouted for...... ......Hankerson Read is mentioned in Vol. 7 of Hening's Statutes at Large, as being a Sergeant in the Colonial Wars, receiving pay for services in Culpepper County in 1758, having served with Col. Robert Slaughter, Thomas Slaughter and Lieut. William Slaughter. Hankerson Read also served in the American Revolution and there are several references opposite his name in Seventh Annual Report of Virginia State Library. They may have been the same man or they may have been father and son. In the book "Winchester Virginia, Its Beginnings" by K.G. Green, there is the name Harikenson Read, signed as witness to a document on Sept. 6, 1758...."

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 .

   Lulu R. Almen, 1955