Person:Thomas Hart (44)

About Thomas Hart

Will Dated 31 August 1807, Recorded July, 1808. Fayette County, Kentucky Will book A., Page 480. Filed at: 2001-2-25 Executor: Thomas Hart and Henry Clay Witnesses: John W. Hunt, Thomas C. Graves, & Samuel Wilkinson Named: Sons; Nathaniel, John, & Thomas. Daughters: Susanna Price, wife of Samuel Price; Heirs of Elizabeth Pindell; Anne, wife of James Brown; & Lucretia, wife of Henry Clay. Barbara Martin says he was born about 1724. Barbara Johnson gives the date as 1730.

The following is from a report written by George Stephens, filed at: 2000-12-17. According to a monograph by Mrs Sarah S. Young, dated 1882 gives the following about Thomas III. Thomas, first son of Thomas and Susannah (Rice) Hart was a Colonel during the Revolution and served in the N. C. Provintial Congress in 1774. Thomas III married Susannah Grey of N.C. and resided with her at his County Seat of Hartford, N.C., until 1780 when he moved to Hagerstown in Washington County, Maryland. From MD he moved to Lexington, Kentucky in 1794 and remained there until his death on 23 June 1808, his wife surviving until 1832. Thomas III was a member of the Transylvania Company to which the N.C. Legislature donated 200,000 acres of land in what is today Henderson County, KY., as compensation for services provided by members of the Transylvania Company in "opening the wilderness and paving the way for civilization in that state". Children of Thomas III and Susannah included: Thomas IV, Nathaniel G, John, Eliza, Susannah, Nancy, & Lucretia.

The following information comes from "The Hartford Mill Complex During the Revolution", by Mary Claire Engstrom. Filed: 2001-2-16. This article is from a larger paper called "Eno", volume 7, special issue. It is a collection of papers from the seminar on waterwheels & windmills held in Durham, N. C., July 1978, in the bicentennial year of West Point on the Eno River. There is a lot of good information in this article so it should be read by anyone interested in this time period. John Maddock, a Quaker Miller, built a grist mill on the Eno river, not far below the mouth of McGowan's creek, by August 4, 1755. In 1766, Mr. Maddock was linked to the Regularors, and he feared that his mill and the rest of his North Carolina Property would be confiscated by Governor William Tryon. He and other Quakers entered for new lands in Eastern Georgia, and in November 1767 conveyed his 20 acre mill site to Governor Tryon's friend, Captain Thomas Hart. The article goes on to tell about Thomas Harts sale of his mill complex to a Rev. James Fraser, who later defaulted and fled to Nova Scotia when Lord Cornwallis came to Hartford to establish his headquarters. According to the "Dictionary of N. C. Biography", by William S. Powell: Thomas was a merchant, public official, and militia officer, the son of Thomas and Susannah Rice Hart, was born in Hanover Co, Va, on a plantation settled in 1690 by his English born grandfather, also named Thomas. The family moved to Orange Co, N.C., in 1755, after their father died. By 1779, Thomas had received a total of 2282 acres of land in grants and erected his home, Hartford, near Hillsborough. In addition to farming, he built a grist mill on the nearby Eno River. He later became a partner with Nathaniel Rochester and James Brown in a mercantile establishment in Hillsborough. After establishing himself financially, Hart married Susannah Gray, the daughter of the wealthy and politically prominent Col. John Gray. At his death in 1775, Col. Gray left his entire estate, including his large plantation Grayfields, to his son-in-law Thomas. As a wealthy landowner, Hart was politically active, and was appointed a vestryman of St. Matthews Parish, as well as County Sheriff in 1766 for a two year term, re-elected in 1768. He was also made a Captain in the Orange County Militia. Throughout his term as Sheriff, he was in constant battle with the Regulators over money to run the office. In 1768, Governor Tryon decided to arraign Herman Husband in court for his activities with the Regulators. Sheriff Hart served the warrant and took the accused into custody. The Regulators were increasingly angry with the actions of the Royal Government, and Sheriff Hart was one of a group of officials who was severely whipped in 1770. Captain Hart served as quartermaster for Governor Tryon when he dispersed the Regulators at the battle of Alamance. After the war of the Regulators, Hart became one of the partners in Richard Henderson's Louisa Company to buy and develop lands in what later became Tennessee and Kentucky. He met with the Cherokee Indians in the Wataugh section of Tennessee as one of the company representatives at a meeting arranged by Daniel Boone. The Indians ceeded a large area of land to the company and it was re-organized as the Transylvania Company, with Thomas Hart, his brother Nathaniel Hart, David Hart, and Richard Henderson, William Johnston, James Hogg, John Luttrell, John Williams, and Leonard Henly Bullock as shareholders. Thomas visited the Wataugh area again in 1775, and his brother Nathaniel, who became a resident agent for the company, was killed there in 1782. After the American Revolution, the company found that its purchase of lands there were illegal, but were given a tract of land to compensate them for their loss. Hart traded part of his share for land in Kentucky, and eventually settled on it. He continued his political activities, and served as a member of the Colonial Assembly from Orange County in 1773, then served as a representative in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd provisional congresses. At the beginning of the Revolution, he was appointed Commissary for the Sixth North Carolina Regiment with the rank of Colonel. He was also elected a Senator in the N.C. General Assembly, where he became so active he had to resign his commission. Although as an appointed official with the Royal Government, he had to keep the Regulators in line, he became an ardent Patriot in the American Revolution when independence was declared. He was so hated by the loyal Tories, he moved his family to Hagerstown, Maryland, to protect his wife and daughters. He and a partner who travelled with him, Nathaniel Rochester, established a mill and a nail and rope factory, which prospered. He gradually sold his N.C. property and never returned. He sold the homeplace, Hartford, to Jesse Benton, husband of his niece, Nancy, and father of Thomas Hart Benton. He was never fully paid for the land, but when he died, he left them more of his estate. In 1794, Thomas Hart moved to Lexington, Ky, where he lived out his life. He built up his nail and rope business into a highly profitable enterprise. He soon became one of the most prominent men in Kentucky. His daughter Ann (Nancy) married James Brown, who became U.S. minister to France. Another daughter, Lucretia, married Henry Clay. A niece married Isaac Shelby. In Kentucky he joined an Episcopal society which eventually became Christ Church in Lexington. He was buried in the Old Episcopal Graveyard in Lexington. Colonel Thomas Hart was the son of Thomas Hart and Susanna Rice Hart and the brother to John, Benjamin, David, Nathaniel and Ann.

"The mother of Lucretia Hart was Susanna, daughter of John Gray, Colonel in the Royal Army. Tradition says he opposed his daughter's marriage on the grounds that Thomas Hart, her intended, was a rebel. He was, indeed, a bold and active rebel, a member of two Provincial Congresses of North America, a Colonel in the Revolutionary Army, and one of the principals of that daring and romantic enterprise, the Transylvania Land Company. In spite of her father's disapproval the wedding of Susanna Gray and Thomas Hart, parents of Lucretia Hart, went off as planned." (Simpson, Letters to)

In 1780 Thomas Hart moved from North Carolina to Hagerstown, Maryland, where his two older daughters, Eliza and Susan, were married and where Lucretia was born.

"In the spring of 1794 Thomas Hart wrote to Governor Blount of Tennessee, who had married his wife's niece, 'You will be surprised to hear I am going to Kentucky. Mrs. Hart, who for eighteen years has opposed this measure, has now given her consent and so we go, an old fellow of 63 years of age seeking a new country to make a fortune in...

Another letter, written by Thomas Hart, dated Lexington, Kentucky 1795 says, 'Oh, if my old friend Uncle Jacob Blount were here! What a pleasure we would have in raking up money and spending it with our friends -This is really one of the finest countries in the world -The society is equal to that of any interior town in the United States'. He did, indeed prosper." (Simpson, Letters to)

"The fact that at a time when sailing vessels and clipper ships ruled the seas, Colonel Hart supplied all the rope used by the navy, proving that his cordage business was both extensive and successful. He rapidly laid the foundation of an immense fortune, comparable to the Vanderbilt wealth in New York". (Schwartz)

The following information is from Hugh. HFTHusma@@aol.com. Filed at: 2002-6-11. Transylvania Company Petitions to the Virginia Convention. FORT BOONESBOROUGH: This fort was established in 1775 in current day Madison County, on the south bank of the Kentucky River. In February of this year, Captain William Twitty, James Coburn, James Bridges, Thomas Johnson, John Hart, William Hicks, James Peeke, and Felix Walker, came from Rutherford County, Kentucky. They traveled on to the Wataugh (Tennessee) River awaiting the signing of the treaty with the Cherokee Indians. Daniel Boone was then sent into the area as an agent for the Transylvania Company. The men mentioned above under Captain Twitty and Boone united and proceeded into Kentucky. Those with the Transylvania Company included Thomas Hart, Nathaniel Hart, David Hart, John Luttrell, William Johnson, and James Hogg from Orange County, Virginia, as well as John Williams, Leonard Hendley Bullock, and Colonel Richard Henderson from Granville, North Carolina.

Records in Augusta County, VA

From Chalkley's:

• Vol. 1 - page 231. Paul vs. Hite--O. S. 310; N. S. 110--Bill, 21st January, 1794, by Margaret Paul of Pennsylvania. Many years ago Joist Hite sold to Thos. Hart land in now Berkeley County. Hart sold a par t to John Miles of Pennsylvania. On 2d April, 1747, Miles made his will and devised the land "intail" to oratrix, his only child, an infant. She married ---- Paul, now deceased. Oratrix and father always lived in Pennsylvania. Fairfax claimed the land, was sued by Hite and lands decreed to Hite, but the Hite heirs refuse to give it up. Jacob Miller, Abraham Neil, Robt . Lowry, Philip Ingle, Godwin Swift, William Dark petition that they, with Giles Cook, are in possession of a tract of land on Elk Branch in Berkeley County, 1,300 acres, part was sold by Jost Hite to Thos. Hart and by him conveyed to petitioners. 17th June, 1803, Peter Martin, Sr., aged 73, 4 or 5 years ago, he was shown a tree that formerly stood in Cavalier Martin 's yard by Thos. Hart. 17th June, 1803, Thos. Hart, Sr., aged nearly 80 years, deposes, he was with the surveyor and his father when they surveyed Jost Hite's 1,100 acres. 27th April, 1795, Ann Thomas, aged 78, deposes at Spread Eagle Tavern, kept by John Dunwoody in Philadelphia (285 High St.), she was married to John Miles in 1739 or 1740, that by him she had a son, Griffith Miles, who died when an infant, and Margaret, the plaintiff. 27th April, 1795, John C art, aged 69 years, deposes, same place. 5th September, 1795, Edward Lucas, son of Edward Lucas, deposes. 19th March, 1787, Thos. Rutherford deposes, in 1752 as surveyor for Fairfax he made survey for Thos. Hart and an adjoining one for Miles Hart, son of Thomas. Joseph Darke owned adjoining land. In 1740 deponent saw a log house covered with clap board or shingle and n ailed roof on north side of Elk Branch on land now in dispute. The house was said to be the property of John Miles, who had purchased from Thos. Harte, Sr. 5th September, 1795, John Wright, aged 70, deposes, he came to Virginia in 1747 or 1748 and was shown the land by James Glenn, Sr., who said John Miles claimed the land. A shingled house was uncommon. 17th February , 1795, Wm. Darke deposes, he was ordered out with the militia against the insurgents (in September) which prevented him from attending taking depositions in Philadelphia. Bond, 29th March, 1735, by Thomas Hart of Warminister in County Bucks, Penna., husbandman to Jost Hite of Orange County, Va. Gentleman title bond for 2 tracts, 1,000 acres on Elk Branch on the Waggon Road from Potomack to Opeckon, 500 acres northward from above. 27th September, 1794, Thos. Hart, aged 71 years, about 60 years ago his father, Thomas Hart, purchased 1,500 acres. In 1754 Thomas, Sr., was about to remove to Carolina.

1.   Family Recorded, in Daughters of the American Revolution. Historical collections of the Joseph Habersham chapter
   2:381.