William Alexander Henry

Notes:

His father gave him 723 acres in Fluvanna May 1777.
Indicted for bribery 7 Aug 1777.
Appointed one of first Justices of the Peace 4 Sep 1777.
Appointed Lieutenant of Fluvanna 9 Nov 1779.
Acquitted of Bribery charges

William Henry was a rowdy boy. His father exiled him to a patch of unoccupied land 50 miles west on Fluvanna Creek in Fluvanna County. There he became a farmer, married and ultimately turned into a prosperous, solid citizen. "The Bulletin of the Fluvanna County Historical Society" No. 1-12, September 1965 - April 1971, LH 975.5 BUL Page 14 "William Henry, brother of the Governor, Patrick Henry, had lands on the Hardware (River)." No. 9, October 1969 Page 6 "The list of petitioners for Flubanna County to be separated from Albemarle County includes . . . W. Henry . . ." No. 16, April 1973 Page 24 Upper James River Seven Islands Post Office Seven Islands was important -- Fluvanna's first river port. It's most famous resident was William Henry, who represented Fluvanna in the General Assembly during the same period his brother, Patrick, was Governor. Perhaps William Henry was instrumental in the formation of Seven Isles Church. Page 26 Hardware -- Vallena Post Office. So named because "It was a hard way to go." A Post Office named Hardware opened in July 1838. Closed in 1840 and then 2 years later an office opened at Seven Islands. William Henry's father gave him a large tract of land on the Hardware River and the James Rivers. The first minutes of the County note that "Wm. Henry, Gentleman," applied for permission to dam the Hardware to erect a water grist mill. late, Hardware became one of the important river ports for the trans-shipment of farm produce. No. 22, Page 4 The first Justices of the Peace of Fluvanna County, appointed by Governor Patrick Henry, took oath of office on August 7, 1777: . . . William Henry . . . Page 78 The first man to sign the petition to form Fluvanna was William Henry, brother of new Governor, Patrick Henry. Page 10 In 1767, John Henry of Hanover gave his son William Henry 723 acres of land on the Hardware and James Rivers. He was the first lieutenant of the county militia in 1777 and became sheriff in 1781. He was active in county government until his death in December 1784. Page 12 In May of 1778, three of the original justices (who were passed over and given no special office) banded with a small group of citizens to have Roger Thompson, William Henry and Jesse Burton indicted for bribery. They stated that they were guilty of injustice, partiality, and bribery as justices of the peace when they appointed John Cobbs clerk of Fluvanna County in August 1777. In their counter-petition, R. Thompson, William Henry and Jesse Burton claimed that one of their delegates had set the petition for their indictment into motion and fomented the differences that produced it, and that they had testified against them at the House hearing. This delegate, they said, had personal contests and misunderstandings with several of the accused, and the three justices were sorry the House should be troubled with their private differences. A notation by the House on November 9, 1779 states they were acquitted with "the greatest honor," and the three men recouped their losses. No. 23, Page 14 William Henry, Esq. appointed Lieutenant of the County of Fluvanna by Commission from the Governor and was sworn into his office accordingly on September 4, 1777. No. 24, Page 8

Henry's Track was a road between Fluvanna and Louisa named for Patrick and William Henry. They used the road frequently during the years that Patrick lived in Louisa. You can still follow sections of this road through the woods of Fluvanna. It crossed Kent's Brach of the Byrd Creek near Holland's Mill, near the junction of Routes 608 & 629. Byrd Ordinary was located on Henry's Track, North east of Palmyra, very close to the Louisa County Line. The Hardware & James Rivers are located at the southern end of Fluvanna County, near Buckingham County Line. No. 30, Pages 17-19 Methodist circuit ride came to organize the Fluvanna Circuit in 1777 -- Philip Gatch. Upon returning from the Green Mountains, Gatch stopped to preach on the Hardware River and then spent the night with William Henry. William Henry's Seven Islands estate was later owned by John Pettus and then in 1832 by Adam and Appolonia Harrison.

1790 Census -- Heads of Families -- Virginia 1782 Page 12 Henry, William 3 whites 19 blacks.

We are still having trouble tracking down William Henry's son. In the Marriage bonds of Fluvanna County, Virginia, complied by the Misses Curry: Henry, William & Polly Burton were married on May 6, 1779 Consent: Polly Burton Bond: John Thompson Could this be William Henry's son who later moved to Pennsylvania? This needs to be investigated further. Mary McNair was Col. William Henry's second wife.

William married Mary McNairVirginia, USA. Mary was born in 1736 in Scotland; died in 1828 in Mercer County, KY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Joseph Henry was born in 1774; died in 1834.
2. William Henry was born on 30 Sep 1754 in Fluvanna County, VA; died on 24 Sep 1840 in Roanoke, Virginia, USA.

Family/Spouse: Alice Taylor. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. George Austin Henry was born about 1777.
2. Henry

Notes:

House of Burgesses, 1st Governor of Virginia, & Senator.

Some time, but not very long prior to 1730, John Henry came directly from Scotland to Virginia. In April, 1733, his brother, Patrick Henry, an Episcopalian minister, also came over.

The two brothers were very much attached to each other and ever afterwards lived not far apart. They were cousins of David Henry, who went from Scotland to London at the age of fourteen, and became a journeyman printer in the same office with Benjamin Franklin. He married a sister of Edward Cave, the founder of the "Gentleman's Magazine," in London.

David was for more than fifty years associate editor of the Magazine, and in that publication describes his Henry kin as "more respected for their good sense and superior education than for their riches, as at every neighborhood meeting they were among the foremost."

John married Sarah Winston after 7 Oct 1732 in Studley, Hanover County, Virginia, USA. Sarah (daughter of Isaac Winston and Mary Ann Dabney) was born about 1710 in Studley, Hanover County, Virginia, USA; died on 22 Nov 1784 in Amherst County, Virginia, USA; was buried in Clifford, Amherst County, VA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Probate: 1 Dec 1784, Amherst County, Virginia, USA

Notes:

The history of this notable family begins first in Scotland, and, although of Scotch extraction, they were originally Normans, and are numbered in the list of Conquerors under "William the Conqueror."

After the "Conquest" they settled in Scotland. From Scotland some went to Ireland, some to England, and many of them, like the Harwoods, are found there listed in "Doomsday Book." Their names also occur in the roll of the "Battle Abbey."

The names Alexander, Patrick, William and Hugh were common among them.

Alexander married Jean Robertson in 1685/1726. Jean (daughter of William Robertson) was born about 1684 in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; died in 1685/1775. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sister of Reverend William Robertson, the father of Dr. William Robertson, a very distinguished historian and divine, who was said to have the blood of John Knox in his veins.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: Abt 1681, Hanover County, Virginia, USA
• Birth: 1682, Hanover, VA
• Death: Abt Feb 1760, Hanover County, Virginia, USA; Age: 80
• Will: 6 Feb 1760, Hanover County, Virginia, USA
• Probate: 6 Mar 1760, Hanover County, Virginia, USA

Isaac married Mary Ann Dabney about 1706 in Virginia, USA. Mary (daughter of John Dabney) was born on 1 Feb 1680 in Hanover County, Virginia, USA; died on 6 Mar 1760 in Hanover County, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Mary Dabney
• Birth: 1685, Hanover County, Virginia, USA
• Death: 6 Mar 1760, Hanover County, Virginia, USA

Other Events and Attributes:

• Arrival: 1687, Virginia, USA

William married Sarah. Sarah was born about 1650. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]