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Facts and Events
Robert Henry was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
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Early Land Acquisition in Augusta County, VA
Location of Robert Henry's early survey (Borden Tract NE, 408 acres, surveyed prior to 1755 and subsequently acquired by his probable son James Henry in 1757) 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.
Analysis of Robert Henry's land in Augusta County, VA
Robert Henry had an early survey in Augusta County, VA prior to 8 May, 1755, when his survey was mentioned in the following land transaction between Benjamin Borden's executors and Andrew Steele:
- Page 68.--8th May, 1755. Same (From Borden’s executors) to Andrew Steel, plantationer, 40 acres adjoining said Andrew Steel; corner John Lowry's new survey; Andrew Steel's old line; corner survey made for Robert Henry. Delivered to James McDowell, August, 1758.
Unfortunately, Robert Henry died before he was able to complete the acquisition of this land, and it appears to have been subsequently acquired by his probable eldest son, James Henry. This survey is further identified as 408 acres in the Borden Grant that was sold by James Henry (Robert Henry's probable son) to Robert Telford in 1759:
- Page 77.--21st March, 1759. James Henery, blacksmith, to Robert Telford (Tedford), joiner, £50, 200 acres, part of 408 acres in Borden's tract surveyed for Robt. Henery, deceased; corner James Henery. Teste: Andrew Hays, Alexander Miller. Delivered: Andrew Hays, January, 1760.
- (Note: since there is no mention of a will or administration for Robert Henry in Augusta County records, it is assumed that he probably died in a nearby county in Virginia.)
Robert Henry's dire situation in 1750
From Chalkley's:
The following record details the dire financial situation of Robert Henry, who apparently came to Augusta County from Pennsylvania, prior to 1750:
- Vol. 1, (undated, appears to be in 1750) Robert Henry's petition in bankruptcy. He built a mill in Pennsylvania, but by misfortune lost everything. His wife died. He had eight children. He came to Virginia, bringing only one child, leaving the rest, and only one piece of money. His creditors show him no mercy, and he prays for relief. (Note: the one child that apparently came with Robert Henry to Augusta County appears to be his probable eldest son, James Henry, who ended up acquiring the 408-acre tract in the Borden Grant in 1757. His other children apparently followed a few years later).
Death of "Sergeant Henry" at Fort Dinwiddie in 1757
Perhaps it is a co-incidence, but in Chalkley's, the following record lists a "Sergeant Henry" that was killed by "the enemy" (at the time the Pontiac Indians, with the support of the French, were conducting raids and murdering many early settlers in Virginia) in July, 1757, about the same time that Robert Henry has died and is listed as being deceased in Augusta County records. It is somewhat doubtful that this is Robert Henry, since there is no mention of any military service in the Augusta County records:
- 1757 - July 25th, Robert Renick, at Forks of James River, killed; Thomas Moor, at Forks of James River, killed; Mrs Renick and 7 children, at Forks of James River, prisoners; Mrs. Denis, at Forks of James River, prisoner; John Crawford, Jr., at Craig's Creek, killed; John Alex. Crawford, at Craig's Creek, wounded; Sergeant Henry, at Fort Dinwiddie, killed; James Stuart, at Cowpasture, killed; James Stuart, Jr., at Cowpasture, prisoner; James McClung and 2 children named Cantwell at Cowpasture, prisoner. October, James McFerrin, at Catowba, killed; Wm. McFerrin, at Catowba, prisoner. November, 3 Dutch people, at Brooks Gap, 2 prisoners, 1 killed.
Records of Robert Henry in Augusta County, VA
From Chalkley's:
- Page 146.--13th March, 1753. Borden, etc., to Wm. McCandless, 37 acres of 92100. Robert Dunlap's line; said McCandless's old corner. Teste: Archibald Reoack, Wm. Reoarck, Robert Henry, Ro. Lowry.
- Page 363.--15th June, 1754. George Henderson to John Roseman, £60. Bill sale conveys all horses and cows, sheep and hogs, all movable goods and chattels. Teste: Wm. Wardlaw, Robert Henry. Acknowledged, 17th November, 1756.
- An act of assembly, passed March 1758, the 31st year of the reign of King George II, some of the militia were called out for service in the early days of the French and Indian War, Annexed to this act, was a schedule of the names of the militia officers and soldiers, and the citizens who furnished provisions to that militia. (Note: these provisions were furnished prior to the act in 1758).
- This is the schedule pertaining to Augusta County.
- To the Militia of the County of Augusta, and for Provisions furnished by sundry Inhabitants of the said County, viz.:
- To Robert Henry, James Wilson, John Mayes, 6s. each, 00 18 00
- Page 68.--8th May, 1755. Same (From Borden’s executors) to Andrew Steel, plantationer, 40 acres adjoining said Andrew Steel; corner John Lowry's new survey; Andrew Steel's old line; corner survey made for Robert Henry. Delivered to James McDowell, August, 1758.
- Page 410.--13th March. 1757. Borden's executors to Jno. Lowrey (delivered Wm. Bowyer, August, 1758), £3, 170 acres, part of 92100, said Lowrey's cor. Steel's old line; Steel's new survey; cor. survey made for Robert Henry; cor. Ro. Lowrey; cor. Wm. McCanless, Ro. Dunlop's line.
- :Page 496.--12th November, 1757. Andrew Steel to his son, Samuel Steel, £60, 240 acres, part of the tract where Andrew now lives, containing 463 acres, conveyed to Andrew by Borden; cor. Ro. Henry and Andrew Steel, Wilsons line; cor. Andrew Duncan; cor. Joseph Kennedy. Teste: Jno. Tat. Delivered: Samuel Steel, August, 1770,
- Page 77.--21st March, 1759. James Henery, blacksmith, to Robert Telford (Tedford), joiner, £50, 200 acres, part of 408 acres in Borden's tract surveyed for Robt. Henery, deceased; corner James Henery. Teste: Andrew Hays, Alexander Miller. Delivered: Andrew Hays, January, 1760.
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