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Robert Anderson, Jr. was the first born son of Robert Anderson Sr., the original Colony-born Anderson of this line. For an analysis of the birth order and birth years of the eight Anderson siblings, including Robert, see
Image:Andersons of New Kent Hanover Counties Virginia.pdf |
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Robert Jr. was a significant businessman and plantation owner in New Kent County, Virginia. The two Roberts distinguished themselves during their overlapping adult years by adding the "Sr." and "Jr." designations. Robert Jr. was also a Captain in the militia and was often identified in the vestry records as Captain Robert Anderson.
Robert Jr. was born about 1663. Robert's birth date of 1663 is estimated and does not appear to be specifically confirmed by any historical record. Some sites list a specific month and date (May 24), but they cite no source to back up that date. W.P. Anderson's 1936 book on the Andersons does not give a birth year but does state, without citation, that Robert died in 1716 "aged about 53 years." If accurate, this statement supports a birth year of 1663. That year is loosely supported by the estimated birth year of Robert's first son Nathaniel (1700), which itself is loosely supported by the known birth year of Nathaniel's son George in 1724 in St. Peter's Parish, New Kent (now Hanover) County, Virginia.Hanover County was formed out of the western ¾ of New Kent County several years after Robert had died.
The Andersons had several tracts of land in western New Kent County north of the Chickahominy River and in between Mechumps and Crumps Creeks. Robert and his brothers (David, Richard, John, William, Matthew, and Thomas) appear in the same or nearby precincts during the early processioning of St Paul's Vestry. Robert was a major landowner in the County. His first two tracts of land, recorded in 1690, were of 1200 acres and 727 acres, respectively, both believed to be north of the Chickahominy.[1] The New Kent Quit Rent Rolls of 1704 indicate that Robert Jr. owned 700 acres in the parish of St. Peter and St. Paul.[2]
Robert was a major trader in tobacco and other goods. He left behind a "Tobacco Letter Book," housed at the University of Virginia Library, that contains over 170 pages of letters and notes reflecting his business transactions with Cuthbert Jones and Samuel Clarke of London and with several Virginia planters and businessmen such as John Page and Richard Lee.[3] Robert also ran a store and was a Captain in the New Kent militia, although there is no record of him serving in action. He also served as Justice of the Peace in 1714 in New Kent County.[4]
In addition to his business activities, Robert was involved early in St. Peter's Parish and later played a major role in the vestry of St. Paul's Parish in New Kent County. When St. Peter's parish was formed out of Blisland Parish in 1679, the Andersons and their neighbors were in the far western, "remote" part of the parish. Those westerners rarely served on the vestry likely due to the travel distances involved. But Robert Sr. is noted several times in the St. Peter's records for land clearing and participating in the committee of five upper county residents who organized St. Paul's Parish in 1704.[5]
The 1698 St. Peter's processioning lists both a "John Andrewson" and a "Robert Andrewson" close together. This is more likely Robert Sr. than Robert Jr., given Robert Jr's young age (25) and Robert Sr's prominent status at age 56. The spelling of the name also points toward Robert Sr., whose name is spelled Andrewson several times in early records, whereas by the time Robert Jr. came along the Anderson name had morphed into its modern form. The first historical reference that we can clearly attribute to Robert Jr. and not his father is probably the 27th of February 1702/03, when "Robert Ju." was ordered to help clear the roads on the "South Side of the Queen's high Road that goeth by Assascuen and so up the South Side Totopotomoys Creeke to Chickahaminy Swamp and down the said Swamp to the north side of Beaverdam Swamp and up the said Swamp to the head of mattadeon Creeke and thence down the said Creeke to m. Lewis's mill." St. Peter's Vestry at 89/127.
Robert then appeared two years later in the 1704 processioning in the new St. Paul's Parish. Robert and his father are both listed in precinct #2, as "Robert Anderson, Sr." and "Captain Robert Anderson." They are in the middle of familiar neighbors in the south of Pamunkey region of the county, e.g., David Crawford, Nicholas Mills Sr., Edward Penix, John Brown, Anthony Winston, John Sanders, and William Winston's widow.[6]
After the formation of St. Paul's Parish, both Robert Anderson Jr. and his father appear regularly as members of the vestry until their deaths (Robert Sr. in 1712, Robert Jr. in 1716).[7] The very first vestry entry, on Sept. 28, 1704, includes "Robt. Anderson, Sen." as a vestryman. His son Robert Jr. joined by the next meeting, January 1704/05, with his father listed as "Mr. Robt. Anderson Sr." and son as "Capt. Robt. Anderson."[8] Robert Jr. also served as Church Warden from 1710 to his death in 1716.[9]
Robert Jr. was heavily involved in the land processioning records of St. Paul's Vestry beginning in 1708/09. He appeared thereafter in each processioning until his death, in the same precinct with his brothers Capt. William Anderson, Thomas, Matthew, David, and John.[10] He also appears in several other precincts, apparently a reflection of his accumulation of land in other areas of the county. In 1711, Robert and his father were ordered to map out four precincts, including the area between "Tottapottomoys Creek and Machumps Creek", indicating their prominent status in the community.[11]
Robert Anderson Jr. thus served as one of the leading figures of New Kent County via his militia captaincy, justice of the peace role, land ownership, vestry activities, and factor and trader for local tobacco growers. His Letterbook is a major addition to our understanding of early New Kent County economics and traders.[12] His line continued to provide leaders for young America, including Robert's son Richard Clough Anderson, a Colonel in the Revolutionary War, and Robert Clough's son Robert of Ft. Sumter fame.[13]
In 1690, in New Kent, Robert married Elizabeth Overton, and together they had the following children:[14]
Robert Anderson likely died sometime around February or early March 1716. He last appeared in the St. Paul Vestry records on October 15, 1715, and his last letter in the letter book is dated late 1715. The Vestry book notes on April 3, 1716 that Robert was "deceased," although he was still identified by name in the processioning records (probably because the succession to his land had not been effected yet). His widow Mary took over his business letters on March 23, 1715/16, in which she requests payment of their debts to her deceased husband. Thus, it appears he died somewhat close to the March 23 date, given the need of the widow and executors to wrap us his estate and collect in debts.
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Link to a Dina Charity Anderson: [1]
Thanks! Becky Elizabeth Simmons-11603
I had no intention of adding her unless someone specifically said to but, rather, wanted the "go ahead" to say False Suggestion and to also contact FindaGrave with some data so they might do the same and stop the problem altogether...unless that is overkill? Cheers! Becky
edited by Lynn (McCurdy) Robinson