William Henry

William married Mary Anne Smith in 1855 in PA. Mary (daughter of John Simeon Peter Smith and Susanna Sprankle) was born on 24 Feb 1838 in Pennsylvania, USA; died on 19 Jan 1894 in Oakland, Alameda, California, USA; was buried in Oakland, Alameda County, California, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Emma Susanna Henry was born on 7 Dec 1859 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, USA; died on 21 Sep 1887 in Phillipsburg, Deer Lodge County, Montana.
2. John Franklin Henry was born on 24 Apr 1856 in Pennsylvania, USA; died on 23 Aug 1877.

William married Mary A. Gleaves on 23 Sep 1866 in Davidson, Tennessee, USA. Mary was born before 1854. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Jane. Jane was born after 1780; died after 1829. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: 30 Sep 1754, Augusta, Virginia, USA

William married Polly Burton on 6 May 1779 in Fluvanna, VA. Polly was born about 1755. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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]