Person:Jacob Kent (5)

Jacob Kent was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia

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Will Abstract

Kent, Jacob. Will probate Feb. 1, 1777.

Names wife, Mary, and children: John, Joseph, Robert, Jacob, Jane and Nancy.

[Source: Early Marriages, Wills and some Revolutionary War Records, Botetourt County, Virginia, Compiled by Anne Lowry Worrell, pg. 58].

Estate Records

At a court held for Botetourt Court the 11th of February, 1777.

A writing was presented in court as and for the last will & testament of Jacob Kine [sic], decd., by Mary Kine and Hugh Crockett, two of the Exors. therein named, and was proved by the oaths of John Madison, William Walton & James Brown, witnesses thereto, and is ord. to be reed. And on the motion of the said Exors., who made oath accdg. to law, certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate. Whereupon they entered into bond in the sum of £5000, with John Madison and William Preston securities according to law, and leave is reserved to the other Exors. to join in the probate.

Ord. that James Barnett, William Madison, John Reaburn and Henry Waterson or any three of them being first sworn do appraise in current money the slaves (if any) and personal estate of Jacob Kent and return an account thereof to the court.

USGenWeb Archives

Notes

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cramsey/KENTRA-1.html

Book: Log Cabin Heritage, Cap XVIII, The Kent Family: (this is the exact chapter):

The Kent Family of Southwestern Virginia played a prominent role in community affairs during the settlement period. They were large landowners and leaders in both political and militia activities. Many of the early settlers were employed by them to farm their large plantations.

The first Kents came to America from Southern England during the Seventeenth Century. The progenitor of Southwestern Virginia Kents was Jacob Kent from Bedford County. He was born circa 1730 and died at Shawsville, Virginia in 1776. On April 5, 1760, he made a marriage to Mary Crockett of Bedford County. The bond was cosigned by Joseph Crockett, a grandfather of Davy Crockett. Their children were: John Kent who married a Barnett; Joseph Kent who married Margaret McGavock; Jacob Kent, Jr. who never married; Jane Kent who first married Major Thomas Quirk. He was a wife abuser, so,

Captain Jacob Kent had him horsewhipped and sent on his way. Her second marriage was to a Buford. Nancy Kent who married Hugh McGavock and resided at Max Meadows; and Robert Kent,who died as a child.

Captain Jacob Kent, Sr., acquired 1,260 acres of the Vause track at Shawsville, Virginia. He was a commander of the area militia company, and was active in protecting the new frontier settlements. His first home was built north of Ft. Vause near a large free-running spring, and he named the place, "Edge Hill." It was a sturdy four room log home, with gun ports and fortifications to be used in the event of Indian attack. His son, Jacob Jr, remained at the homeplace and was never married. Upon his father's death, the estate passed to him. This property remained in the Kent family for four generations, passing next to Jacob, III, then lastly to Sarah Kent. John Vaughn bought the property from Sarah's estate and built the first large mansion. This home burned about 1930 and was replaced by another large home. Jacob III was a son of Colonel Joseph Kent and a grandson of Jacob Kent, Sr. Sarah Kent was a daughter of James Randall Kent who was a son of Colonel Joseph Kent of Reed Creek. Joseph Kent, son of Jacob, Sr. and Mary, born November 7, 1765, died October 20, 1843, married Margaret McGavock, born December 10, 1769, died February 17, 1827. Joseph and Margaret were married in 1787.

After the Indian attacks and massacre drove the Calhoun family to move to South Carolina, Joseph acquired their property on Reed Creek in Wythe County, Virginia. Here he raised his family and built a beautiful mansion called "Kenton." Where the Kents lived for over one hundred years. Joseph was active in civic affairs and became colonel of Militia. Their children were: Polly Kent, b Dec 28, 1788, and Jacob Kent III, born Apr 22, 1790. D. April 24, 1858; Jane Kent b July 19, 1791; James Randal Kent, b Oct. 23, 1792, d. May 29, 1867: Sally Kent, b June 26, 1784 (never married); Robert Kent, b Jan 1, 1796; Cynthia Kent, b June 28, 1797; Hugh McGavock Kent, b Apr 12, 1800, md. Ann Cloyd (he was a physician in Christiansburg); Joseph Karoloman Kent, b May 2, 1803, md. Margaret Crockett; Nancy Kent, b January 2, 1805; Gordon Cloyd Kent, b June 29, 1806, d September 18, 1869; David Fenton Kent, b. December 24, 1807; Margaret Eliza Kent, b October 6, 1809 (never married); Lucinda E. Kent, b March 1, 1811 (never married).

James Randal Kent, son of Joseph and Margaret, married Mary Cloyd in 1818, daughter of Major General Gordon Cloyd. She was born February 17, 1800 and died February 5, 1858. Joseph and Mary are buried in the family plot near New River. James acquired the large Buchanan Bottom Farm along New River through the Cloyd family, where he built a large mansion. This farm, plus a mountain tract, totaled over 3,000 acres and was valued at $116,000.00 in the 1850 Census. This would translate to about two million of today's dollars.

James elected to build his mansion on bench-land about one-half mile north of the Adam Harmon ford on New River. The site was heavily timbered by virgin hardwoods, and had once been the site of the Adam Harmon Cabin. In clearing the land for building, he left a few selected trees surrounding the home. One giant oak is still standing in front of the mansion today. The tree's age has been calculated at more than two hundred years, having started growth about the time the first white man settled the area.

Almost all of the mansion's construction was accomplished with black slave labor. Each brick was hand molded and baked near the site. The lumber was cut from the trees growing nearby, using only the very best hardwoods. The home interior was divided into rooms by brick walls approximately ten inches thick. This helped the home to remain cool in the summer, warmer in the winter, and to withstand the ravages of time.

There were two cemeteries located upon the J. R. Kent plantation. One was the Kent family cemetery placed high upon a knoll, and the other was the slave burial ground located northeast of the mansion. The Kent family cemetery is enclosed with a stone fence and is still maintained, while the slave burial site has been neglected by the many subsequent owners, and is now nearly obliterated.

James and Mary Kent had the following children; Elizabeth Cloyd Kent, b February 26, 1818, d February 9 1884 (never married); Sarah Kent, b 1824, md. George Anderson (she acquired "Edge Hill" estate upon the death of her uncle Jacob III): Louisa Kent, b 1828; Margaret Gordon Kent, b Dec 27, 1840 d. Oct 4, 1924, Margaret Kent inherited the homeplace and married "Major" John Thomas Cowan shortly after the Civil War. John was born June 13, 19840, died October 8, 1929. He was the son of Arthur and Elizabeth (Floyd) Cowan.

Jacob Kent, III, son of Joseph and Margaret, married Mary Howe. She was born in 1795. Their known issue were: Elizabeth L. Kent, b 1824; Ann E. Kent, b 1830; Virginia Kent, b 1833; Mary L. Kent, b 1837. Jacob owned a farm along New River near his brother James, then he acquired "Edge Hill" after the death of Jacob Kent, Jr.

Margaret Kent, daughter of James and Mary, married John T. Cowan and lived at her homeplace on New River. Their issue: James R. K. Cowan; Mary Cowan (never married); Elizabeth Cowan, m. _____ Adams.

James R. K. Cowan married Maude Battle and received the Kent homeplace on New River. He was active in civic and political affairs within the state. He served as Montgomery County Treasurer for many years. Their issue: William Cowan; James Cowan; Margaret Cowan; John Cowan.

The historic Adam Harmon Ford of New River, was located on the James R. Kent farm about one mile west of what is now Whitethorne, Virginia. It was named for Adam Harmon, one of the original settlers, who once owned the Buchanan Bottoms. The use of the ford predates the first arrival of the white man. It was already used as a main fording place for the various Indian tribes traveling through the area. It was part of the "Great Warpath" network used by the Indians to make war upon each other. When the first Europeans arrived, it was till used by buffalo in their feeding migration, a pattern dating back to antiquity.

As Southwestern Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky began to be settled, it was heavily used by immigrant families in their trek westward. Later, a great deal of goods, travel, and commerce would flow through the ford in support of the newly settled West. Use of the ford continued until the latter part of the eighteen hundreds. Passenger stages and fright wagons used the ford until the New River Division of the N&W Railroad was completed in 1883. After this, it was lightly used by local people to gain access to the railroad at Cowan's Siding. Since fording depended upon low water, Brown's Ferry about one mile farther west came into being. Later, a ferry was established at Whitethorne and remain in operation until about 1940. It was last operated by Harvey "Cal" Albert, Sr.

A local legend passed own stated that during the very early settlement period, a fort was built upon a knoll several hundred yards to the north of the ford. The older generations always referred to the place as Ft Maynard Knob. The exact use for the fort has not been preserved in history. It probably was used for protection of the early settlers during troubled times; and also, as a guard post to protect the ford since Indian war parties frequently crossed the river there. It must have been used as a place for travelers and freighters to make a safe night camp, and to spend time while waiting for high water to recede before crossing.