Person:Nicholas Henshaw (1)

Nicholas Henshaw B: 1705 D: 1777 M: Rebecca Smith

  +-- John Hancher,  1734-1793
  +-- William Henshaw,  1736-1799
  +-- Elenor Henshaw,  1737-?
  +-- Mary Henshaw,  1739-?
  +-- Hannah Henshaw,  1746-<1777

Nicholas Henshaw [ID 00302]

(Nicholas Henshaw)1,70,132,133,129 (John Nicholas Henshaw)165,173 (Nicholas Hancher)a,b (Nicholas Hanshaw)c Born 1705, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.1,78,132,133,145,129,a (or born 1705 in Massachusetts).165

He married Rebecca Smith, Nov 3 1726, Christ Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.1,70,78,145,a,d (Rebecca (Boulware) Smith)129 Rebecca was born c1707, Virginia.a,78

Nicholas and Rebecca and family moved with Nicholas' father to Virginia c1766.132,133 [Note: the move must have actually occured before 1755].

On 6 Mo. 26 1755 at Hopewell Friends MM (Virginia), Rebeckah Handshaw witnessed and signed the marriage certificate of John Lupton and Sarah Frost at Opeckan.e

On Jul 24 1758, Nicholas Hanshaw was named as a voter in Frederick County, Virginia. He was listed in a poll of the election of the candidate George Washington for the House of Burgesses, 1758-1765.c

On 11 Mo. 27 1760 at Hopewell Friends MM, Rebeckah Hancher witnessed and signed the marriage certificate of Andrew M'Coy and Jane Ridgeway.f

Nicholas fought in the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774, and served as a Lieutenant in Captain (HNC: Colonel) Hugh Stephens' Regiment at the first call for troops in 1775. He was in the battle of Point Pleasant in 1774.145

Nicholas Henshaw died Aug 19 1777, Bunker Hill, Berkeley County, Virginia.145,78,a

In his will, executed September 21, 1774 (recorded as the will of Nicholas Hancher), named executors were Morgan Morgan and Morris Rees. Heirs named were: son William Hancher, daughter Elenor Brownfield, daughter Mary Stonebridge, son-in-law Thomas Berry,b and son John.g His will reads:g

Will Book #1 - Berkeley County Clerk's Office, Martinsburg, West Virginia p109/110 Nicholas HANCHER Will dated 2 Sep 1774 Will proven 19 Aug 1777 and further proved 16 Sep 1777 names no wife, sons John and William HANCHER, daughters Elenor BROWNFIELD, Mary STONEBRIDGE and Son-in-law Thomas BERRY:

I, Nicholas Hancher of Frederick County in the colony of Virigina being aged and calling to mind the mortality of the Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in form and manner following (Viz) First, I recommend my soul into my Saviours hand for all is his and my Body to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named and as touching what temporal estate it hath pleased the Almight to bless me with in this life I dispose thereof in manner and form following Viz

Second, to my son John Hancher the sum of One Hundred pounds current money to be paid to my said son by his brother William the sum of Sixty pounds to be paid within the space of six months after my decease and the remainder of the said one hundred pounds to be paid within two years after the first payment becomes due.

Thirdly I give to my son William Hancher all my Land and Plantation lying and being in the said County of Frederick in the Colony of Virginia for and during his natural life and after his decease the said Land and Plantation to be and remain the sole and only property the Lawful Heirs to his Body and their Heirs forever. In consideration of which my said son William is to pay the legacies herein mentioned. I also Will that my son John Hancher shall have my rideing mare and year old colt and all her increase from the date hereof saddle and bridel with all my wearing apparel. I likewise give to my daughter Elenor Brownfield all the pewter I now possess. I also give to my daughter Mary Stonebridge one Feather Bed and furniture, one chest and arm chair. I also give to my son in law Thomas Berry the sum of five shillings sterling.

And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my trust friend Morgan Morgan and my trusty friend Morris Presjoint Executors of this my last Will and Testament revoking and declaring void all former and other wills, Testaments, Legacies, and Executors ratifying and confirming this and this only to be my last Will and Testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Twenty first day of September 1774.

       Nicholas Hancher
       X - his mark

Signed sealed and acknowledged by the Testator to be his last Will and Testament in presence of

       William Gray
       Catherine Durneen (x - her mark)
       Mary M. Morgan (x - her mark)

At a Court held for Berkeley County in the 19 day of August, 1777 This last Will and Testament of Nicholas Hancher, Deceased was proved by the oath of William Gray and Ordered to lie for further proof. And at a Court held for Berkeley County the 16th day of September, 1777 the said last Will and Testament of the said Nicholas Hancher, deceased, was further proved by the oath of Mary Morgan and ordered to be Recorded.

       Teste - Will Drew
       County Clerk

Rebecca died Bunker Hill, Berkeley County, Virginia.a,78 Note that Rebecca was not mentioned in Nicholas' will so she had apparently died before Sep 21 1774.

Note that Nicholas is very often shown by Henshaw researchers to be the son of John Henshaw. However John's will makes no mention of Nicholas, nor does it mention any wife, making it questionable if John ever married and if Nicholas really was his son.

Also, a Nicholas Henshaw was transported from Surry, England in Oct 1720 on the ship Gilbert.h It is possible that it was this Nicholas, and if so then he was not actually the son of John.

This person's ancestry is unknown If you know who the parents were, please contribute information

SOURCES 1. "The Hinshaw and Henshaw Families", by William Hinshaw; edited by Milo Custer; private printing, Bloomington, Illinois, 1911; Frank I. Miller Co., printers. LDS microfilm number 1402822.

70. The Church Of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) International Genealogical Index (IGI) - Virginia.

78. The Church Of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) computerized Ancestral File.

129. "Family Tree Maker, Family Archives, World Family Tree", Vol. 3, by Broderbund Software, a collection of individual family group submissions.

132. "The West Virginia Historical Magazine Quarterly", Vol. 4, No. 2, April 1904. The West Virginia Historical and Antiquarian Society, Charleston, W.VA. Article "The Henshaw Family" by Valley Virginia Henshaw. Contributed by David H. Henshaw ([email protected]).

133. "Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County Pennsylvania", Volume II. John W. Jordan & James Hadden, editors. Lewis Historical Publishing Company, New York, 1912. Contributed by David H. Henshaw ([email protected]).

145. Family group sheets created by Frances G. Brumley, citing Henshaw family bible records, Greene County, TN court & cemetery records, and several secondary sources. Contributed by Ruth Jenkins ([email protected]).

165. "History of Henshaws in Scotland, in England and in America to the Present Time", Edith Henshaw Kuntz, 1956; contributed by Don Henshaw.

173. Henshaw genealogical chart, author unknown; Contributed by Donald Craig Henshaw.

(a) Contribution from Ed Arntzen ([email protected]).

(b) Contribution from Tommy Karns ([email protected]) citing: Berkeley County VA Will Book 1, page 109, Martinsburg, Berkeley County, WVA.

(c) Contribution from Helen Austin ([email protected]) citing: "Virginia Historical Magazine"; 6V:164; Richmond, Virginia.

(d) Contribution from Tommy Karns ([email protected]) citing: Marriage records of Christ Church, Philadelphia, PA.

(e) "Hopewell Friends History, 1734-1934, Frederick Co., Virginia", Genealogy Publishing Co. Inc., Baltimore, 1975.

(f) "Hopewell Friends History, 1734-1934, Frederick Co., Virginia", Shenandoah Publishing House, Strasburg VA, 1936. (www.ancestry.com).

(g) Contribution from Betty Carson ([email protected]).

(h) Contribution from Tom Henshaw citing: "The Complete Book of Emigrants in Bondage 1614-1775" by Peter Wilson Coldham, Genealogy Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD, 1988.

NAME: (Hanshaw)