Person:Robert Cunningham (26)

Robert Cunningham, a native of north Ireland, settled on a farm called Rock Spring, in Augusta County, about the year 1735. He was one of the first set of justices of the peace appointed in 1745, and afterward a member of the House of Burgesses. His wife was a widow Hamilton, and the mother of several children at the time of her second marriage. One of her daughters, Mary Hamilton, married David Campbell, and was the mother of John and Arthur Campbell, and others. Two of the daughters of Robert Cunningham also married Campbells. He had no son. His daughter, Martha, about the year 1750, married Walter Davis, who became the owner of Rock Spring farm. Mr. Davis never held civil office, but was an elder of Tinkling Spring church, and a man of much influence. His daughter, Margaret, married John Smith, and was the mother of Judge Daniel Smith, of Rockingham. His [Walter Davis'] son, William Davis, born in 1765, married Annie Caldwell, and died about 1851, aged eighty-six. He was a man of high standing in the community, a justice of the peace, high sheriff, etc. Walter Davis, Jr., son of William, born in 1791, was for many years one of the two commissioners of the revenue in Augusta county, and noted for his faithful and intelligent discharge of the duties of his office. His wife was Rebecca Van Lear. William C. Davis, a brother of Walter Davis, Jr., removed to Missouri in 1836 or 1837. Dr. Thomas Parks, of Missouri, is the only surviving grandchild of Walter Davis, Sr.

John Cunningham, believed to have been a brother of Robert, lived in Staunton, his residence being on Lot No. 1, southwest corner of Augusta street and Spring Lane. He had three daughters and one son. His oldest daughter was Mrs. Margaret Reed, who was baptized by Mr. Craig in 1747, and died in 1827. Another daughter, Isabella, married Major Robert Burns, and was the mother of Mrs. Waterman and Mrs. Gambill, of Rockingham. The third daughter of John Cunningham, Elizabeth, married Captain Thomas Smith. The daughters of Capt. Smith were Mrs. Michael Garber, Mrs. Moses McCue, and Mrs. John Jones. Captain Walter Cunningham, only son of John, removed to Kentucky in 1788, and thus the name disappeared from the county.

[edit]

Early Land Acquisition in Augusta County, VA

Robert Cunningham's land (Beverley Manor NE, 482 acres, 1742) as shown on the map meticulously drawn by J.R. Hildebrand, cartographer. This map is copyrighted©, used by permission of John Hildebrand, son of J.R. Hildebrand, April, 2009.'

Acquisition of Land from Orange County, Virginia Records:

Pages 140-43. 24-25 Feb. 1742 [1743]. William Beverley of Essex County, Esq., to Robt. Cunningham of Augusta County, cordwainer. Lease and release; for ₤14.10. - current money. 482 acres on the head of Blake's Creek in Beverley Mannor... corner of the lands of John Darwin and Thomas Black... (signed) W. Beverley. Wit: James Patton, Moses Thompson, Wm. (W) Nutt. 25 Feb. 1742. [1743]. Acknowledged by William Beverley, Esq. [Orange County Virginia Deed Book 7, Dorman, pg. 47].

Disposition of Land from Chalkley's:

Page 448.--9th June, 1753. Robert Coningham, Esq., and Martha to Walter Davis, 328 acres in Beverley Manor on Cedar Spring. Teste: Pat Cunningham, Wm. Johnston, Walter Coningham .

Page 331.--17th April, 1761. Robert Cunningham (Coningham) to Walter Davies, £__, 5 sh., in Beverley Manor, on Cedar Spring Run; cor. Thomas Black and Tames Armstrong. 160 acres. Teste: John Cuningham, William Scot, John Davies. Delivered: W. Davis. 9th April, 1796.

[edit]

Records in Augusta County, VA

From Chalkley's Augusta County Records:

Page 3.--John Wilson qualifies administrator, c. t. a., of above, with sureties, viz: Robert Cunningham and Wm. Henderson, 11th February 1745.

Vol. 1 - December 9, 1745. - (1) County Court formed--First Justices: James Patton, John Buchanan, Peter Scholl, Robert Campbell, Robert Poage, Thomas Lewis, Robert Cunningham, Richard Woods, Robert Craven, Adam Dickinson, John Anderson, John Lewis, George Robinson, James Bell, John Brown, John Pickens, Hugh Thomson, John Finla, John Christian, James Kerr, Andrew Pickens.

Vol. 1 - FEBRUARY 12, 1745/6. - (16) Robert Cunningham fined 5 sh. for being drunk.

Page 28.--20th February, 1746. James Patton qualifies administrator of John Jannet, with sureties Peter Scholl, Robert Cunningham.

Vol. 1 - JULY 16, 1746. - (68) New Court--Commission dated 13 June, 1746: James Patton, George Robinson, Robert Cunningham, James Montgomery, Wm. Jameson, Saml. Gay, John Lewis, Peter Scholl, John Wilson, Silas Hart, Richard Burton, Wm. Thompson, John Buchanan, James Bell, Thomas Lewis, Henry Downs, John Christian.

Vol. 1 - August 23, 1746. - (98) Rob. Cunningham, Gent., in action, ejectment by Beverley, insisted on his privilege as Burgess, setting forth that he was served with the Declaration within the privileged time.

Page 107.--18th February, 1747. Commission to Robert Coningham, John Wilson, and Robert Campbell, to examine Ann, wife of George Brackeridge, who is unable to travel to the Court House. She releases dower in D. B. 1. p. 11, 5th May, 1748.

Page 311.--13th August, 1747. Wm. Beverley to Wm. Henderson, £72.9.0 current money Virginia; 1,415 acres in Beverley Manor on a branch of Black's Creek; corner to Robt. Cunningham; corner to George Caldwell's land; corner to Wm. Thompson's land; on Christian's Creek; George Rutlidge's line; Thomas Black's land. Teste: James Crawford, John Linn John Mitchell. Proved by all, 19th August, 1747.

Vol. 1 - NOVEMBER 19, 1747. - (321) To James Patton and Ro. Cunningham, for expenses in attending the Council and going down. 1670 tithables at 23 lb. tobacco, at 3 farthings per pound == 1 sh. and 5 pence.

Vol. 1 - FEBRUARY 18, 1747/8. - (345) Ro. Cunningham complains that Samuel Gay has indulged Utis Perkins in several things after he had apprehended him; ordered under bond; John and Wm. Anderson securities.

Vol. 1 - MAY, 1748. - Robert Cunningham vs. John Beety.--Trespass A (S) and B. Writ. 1747. Eleanor Rutledge not summoned as a witness because she was where the smallpox was.

Page 628.--28th February, 1749. Same (Wm. Beverley) to George Perry, 360 acres in Beverley Manor. Corner George Vance; James Lockhart's line. Teste: Robert and David Conningham.

Page 665.--28th February, 1749. Same (Wm. Beverley) to James Henderson, 157 acres in Beverley Manor. Corner Mathew Robertson; on Cathey's River; corner Robert Kenny. Teste: William Palmer, Robert Cunningham.

Page 602.--1st March, 1749. Samuel Hughes to William Caldwell, 440 acres in Beverley Manor. Corner to survey made for Pearson and Anderson and another survey for William Russell. Corner William Palmer; corner John Hutchison; the poison (Prison) field. Teste: Robert Cunningham, W. Christian, Israel Christian.

Page 246.--21st April, 1749. William Beverley to James Patton and other justices, John Lewis, John Buchanan, George Robinson, Peter Scholl, James Bell, Robert Campbell, Robert Cunningham, John Wilson, Thomas Lewis, James Mountgomerv, Silas Hart. Henry Downs, William Jameson, Rich. Burton, John Christian, Samuel Gay, William Thompson. Courthouse. 25 acres.

Page 706.--21st May, 1750. Thomas Black to Wm. Johnston, 269 acres in Beverley Manor, on Black's Run of Christian's Creek, Wm. Henderson's line, George Rutlidge's line; corner James Armstrong's iron mine, Margaret, wife of Thomas. Teste: Hugh Martin, George Douglass, Robert Conningham.

Page 19.--2d November, 1750. Andrew Pickins to John McPheeters, 400 acres in Beverley Manor; corner Rob. Campbell. Delivered: Wm. McPheeters, 1752. Signed, Anne Pickings. Teste: Pat Martin, Robt. Wilson.

Vol. 1 - JUNE 11, 1751--AUGUST 27, 1751. - (176) This book begins August 1749, but there are no orders but those of suits and actions until August 27, 1751, when a new Court was organized under a commission from the Hon. Lewis Burwell, President of Virginia, dated 11th June, 1751, directed to James Patton, Peter Scholl,* Robert Cunningham, Wm. Jameson, David Stuart,* John Lynn,* Erwin Patterson,* Thos. English, Benj. Borden,* Joseph Kenady, John Denton, Wm. Christian, Robert Breckinridge, John Lewis,* Silas Hart, Andw. Lewis,* James Rutledge, Alexr. Wright, Ro. McClenahan,* Robert Campbell, John Wilson, Richd. Burton, Patr. Martin, James Lockhart, John Mills, Ro. Ramsey, Richd. Woods, John Anderson, John Ruddle, Thos. Stuart, John Lyle, John Buchanan, Thomas Lewis, Archd. Alexander, John Mathews, Adam Dickenson, Mathias Seltzer, Wm. Harbeson. (Those marked (*) qualified.)

Page 239.--20th May, 1752. Arthur Hammilton and Barbara to James Moffett, 200 acres. In Beverley Manor; corner Wm. Ledgerwood; Col. Patton's, alias James Kerr's, line. Teste: Robt. Cunningham, David Hay.

Page 294.--20th May, 1752. Beverley by Lewis & Madison to Wm. Christian, 180 acres. In Beverley Manor on Christian's Creek; corner Wm. Armstrong; corner Robert Cunningham; Robert Moffett's line.

Vol. 1 - MAY 20, 1752. - (242) New commission to: James Patton, Thos. Lewis, Wm. Jameson,* James Lockhart,* Benj. Borden,* John Lewis,* Robt. Cunningham,* Andrew Lewis, Erwin Patterson, Richd. Woods, Peter Sholl, John Wilson, David Stewart, Ro. McClenachan,* John Mathews.* (Those marked (*) qualified.

Vol. 1 - JUNE 18, 1752. - (265) Robert Cunningham qualified Justice.

Page 465.--No date. George Rutledge's bond to make title to Darby Hanly to 2 tracts in Forks of James. George is about to move to Carolina and appoints Wm. Preston and Ro. Cunningham his attorneys. Witnesses, James Miller, James Moffett. Acknowledged and recorded 16th November, 1752.

Page 32.--5th November, 1753. James Campbell's will--Aged about 71 years: To son Daniel, 200 acres, part of tract testator lives on; to Margaret, a horse running at John McClure's; to grandchild, Elizabeth White, a child, to be cared for by Margret; to grandson, James Steel, a horse until testator's son, Daniel, comes of age; to son, John; to son-in-law, Isaac White; to son-in-law, Saml. Steel and Isaac White, executors. Teste: Robt. Cunningham, Benj. Stewart. Proved, 22d March, 1754, by the witnesses. Executors qualify, with surety Jno. Ramsey.

Page 238.--15th May, 1754. Beveriey to Wm. Scott, 125 acres in Beverley Manor. Cor. Ro. Coningham, John Black's line.

Vol. 1 - AUGUST 19, 1758. - (204) Patrick Hayes petitions for freedom dues against his late master, Thomas Paxton. And, on motion of Patrick Hayes, Robert Cunningham to be summoned to show cause why be has not paid his wife, Eleanor Hayes, her freedom dues. (?)

Page 101.--21st March, 1759. William Henderson and Susanna ( ) to James Henderson, £15, 430 acres, part of 1,415 acres whereon said William now lives, on a branch of Christian's Creek; line of Thos. Black; corner said Black and Robt. Cunningham; George Caldwell's line. Teste: James Mitchell, James Hutchinson. Delivered: James Henderson, November, 1768.

Vol. 1 - MAY AND NOVEMBER, 1759 (A). - David Campbell vs. Robert Cunningham.--Account, 1759, for keeping Robert's wife, Martha, whom Robert had turned out of doors, and burial expenses, &c. (Note: apparently Martha, Robert Campbell's wife had died prior to this date).

Page 120.--2d January, 1761. William Johnston's will, yeoman, aged about forty years--Daughter, Mary Johnston, 2 years old last June. Executor, Walter Davis. Teste: Wm. Scott, Michl. O'Donnell, John Cunningham, Robt. Cunningham, John Sorel. Proved, 18th May, 1762, by Scott, John Cunningham, and Sorel. Executor qualified, with Thomas Rutledge and Wm. Scott.

Page 504.--18th September, 1763. Samuel and Mirian Cloyd and Elisabeth ( ) and Mary ( ), their wives, to William Armstrong, £209, 300 acres in Beverley Manor on Christian's Creek. Teste: Walter Davis, George Rutledge, Samuel Love, Robert Cunningham, James Bell.

Vol. 1 - AUGUST, 1766 (A). - William Blackwood vs. James Callison.--Note by defendant and Richard Morris, 16th September, 1762, to plaintiff. Witnesses: Ro. Cunningham and Samuel Cloyd.

Vol. 1 - AUGUST, 1766 (A). Blackwood vs. Callison.--Know all men, &c., that we, James Callison and Richard Moris, both of Augusta, stand indebted to William Blackwood, &c, &c. 16th September, 1762. Test: Robert Conningham, Samuel Cloyd.