News:
  First Name:  Last Name:
Log In
Advanced Search
Surnames
What's New
Most Wanted
Albums
All Media
Cemeteries
Places
Notes
Dates and Anniversaries
Calendar
Reports
Sources
Repositories
DNA Tests
Statistics
Change Language
Bookmarks
Contact Us
Register for a User Account

William Alexander Henry

William Alexander Henry

Male 1734 - 1785  (51 years)

Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name William Alexander Henry 
    Birth 1734  Studley, Hanover County, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Death 1 Jan 1785  Fluvanna County, VA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I9332  Bob Juch's Tree
    Last Modified 31 Dec 2022 

    Father John Henry,   b. Abt 1704, Foveran Par., Aberdeenshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Feb 1773, Studley, Hanover County, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 69 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Mother Sarah Winston,   b. Abt 1710, Studley, Hanover County, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 22 Nov 1784, Amherst County, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 74 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Marriage Aft 7 Oct 1732  Studley, Hanover County, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F3640  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Mary McNair,   b. 1736, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1828, Mercer County, KY Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 92 years) 
    Marriage Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Joseph Henry,   b. 1774   d. 1834 (Age 60 years)  [natural]
     2. William Henry,   b. 30 Sep 1754, Fluvanna County, VA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 24 Sep 1840, Roanoke, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 85 years)  [natural]
    Family ID F3641  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 31 Dec 2022 

    Family 2 Alice Taylor 
    Children 
     1. George Austin Henry,   b. Abt 1777  [natural]
     2. Henry  [natural]
    Family ID F3642  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 31 Dec 2022 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 1734 - Studley, Hanover County, Virginia, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - - Virginia, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • 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.