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[edit] OverviewRobert Houston was born in Scotland about the year 1730, the youngest of three children. His father, also named Robert Houston, was wealthy, owning a large distillery, together with much other valuable property, and being ambitious for his children he gave each child a liberal education. The eldest son became a captain in the British Army and for distinguished military services was granted, by the King, a large tract of land in Ireland near Belfast. An eminence known as Houston's Hill is supposed to be a portion of this grant. The youngest son, who was my great grandfather and who was named Robert, for his father, went to Ireland when a youth to visit his brother, the captain. While there he made the acquaintance of a sea-captain whose ship traded to America. Thus hearing of our country and its great opportunities, and receiving an offer of free passage, Robert Houston accepted the generous invitation and sailed on the ship of his friend. He landed at Philadelphia in 1747, a stranger and without means of support. But the sea-captain proved himself a true friend. He introduced Robert to some of the leading merchants of the city and, indeed, did all that he could to help him gain a start. The mechanical arts were in great demand and it was on the advice of the ship's master that Robert took up the cooper's trade. He learned it so well and so quickly that he was soon able to set up in business for himself. He had meantime made many acquaintances, also, and when he was about twentyfive years of age—in 1755—he was married to the daughter of a wealthy farmer living near Philadelphia. The young couple, through a gift from the bride's father came into possession of six hundred acres of valuable land lying near the city and worth a fortune even at that day. Robert Houston now left off the coopering business and gave his whole attention to this farm. But here disaster soon after befell him. He was induced to enter as security for some of the very men whom he had thought himself lucky to know on first coming- to America. They were merchants of high standing but a commercial panic came—and Robert Houston was ruined. At that time imprisonment for debt prevailed in all the colonies. For fear of this, or because of wounded pride, his wife, who was a woman of much energy and great strength of character, urged their removal to a new country. Accordingly they left Philadelphia and went to the newly settled state of North Carolina and there found a home in Person county, adjoining Virginia. Having no money Robert Houston bought a farm on credit. There was a peach orchard on the farm and in this he found a way to rebuild his fortune. Brandy was a source of large profit and in great demand, since few knew how to make it. Through his knowledge of distilling, acquired in his father's distillery in Scotland, together with his skill in cooperage learned in Philadelphia, Robert Houston was able to use this peach orchard to the best possible advantage. The farm was soon paid for and a large additional estate was rapidly accumulated. Robert Houston had seven children, George, James, William, Molly, Betsy, and Sally.
in Tennessee.
to Kentucky. References
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