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Robert Hairston (bef. 1724 - bef. 1791)

Captain Robert Hairston aka Hairstone
Born before in Irelandmap [uncertain]
Son of [uncertain] and [uncertain]
Brother of , , , , , and
Husband of — married 1748 in Beaver Creek, Virginiamap
Descendants descendants
Father of , , , , , , , , and
Died before at about age 67 in Runnett Bag, Franklin County, Virginia, USAmap [uncertain]
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Profile last modified | Created 28 Aug 2012
This page has been accessed 1,833 times.
The Birth and Marriage Dates are a rough estimate. See the text for details.

Contents

Biography

Flag of Ireland
Robert Hairston migrated from Ireland to Norfolk, Virginia.
Flag of Norfolk, Virginia

Robert Hairston was probably born before 1724, most likely in Ireland, to Peter Hairston Sr. (abt.1695-1779) and Agnes (Unknown) Hairston (abt.1698-aft.1762).[1]

Migrated to North America

In about 1728 his family left Ireland and moved to North America, settling in Donegal Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania:
"Wherease Neal McCalister of the County of Lancaster hath requested that we would grant him to take up Two hundred and Thirty Acres of Land Situate on Conewago Creek in Donegal Township settled by Peter Haristones nine years ago."[2]
In about 1739, his father moved the family to Virginia. The first documented proof of the move is from 1741, when his father is listed on a petition to clear a road in Goochland County.[3]

Marriage and Family

In about 1749 Robert married Ruth Stovall (1731-1808).[4] They had 10 known children:
  1. George Stovall Hairston (1750-)
  2. Peter Hairston (1752-)
  3. Martha Hairston (1753-)
  4. Samuel Hairston (1755-)
  5. Elizabeth Hairston (1759-)
  6. Sarah Hairston (abt.1764-)
  7. Jane Hairston (1767-)
  8. Mary Hairston (abt.1770-)
  9. Ruth Hairston (abt.1771-)
  10. Agnes Ann Hairston (abt.1772-)

Property and Residences

Robert owned over 1600 acres towards the end of his life. He first acquired 300 acres of land that was surveyed for him in Albemarle County, Virginia.[5] He built his plantation there, known as Marrowbone, which remained in the family for 5 generations, until it was abandoned in about 1880.
He bought and sold several smaller properties over the years but the only other major holdings were in Pittsylvania County (Henry County in 1776, Franklin County in 1786) near Runnet Bag Creek and Otter Creek. He received a grant in 1780 for 428 acres,[6] and in 1782, three others for 774 acres,[7] 132 acres,[8] and 153 acres.[9] Since his will written in 1790 doesn't list any of his properties,[4] he must have already made arrangements to disburse them to his heirs.

Military Record

In 1755, Robert, as a lieutenant in the Bedford County Militia, took "the usual oaths to his Majesties Person & Government & the Abjuration Oath."[10] In 1759 he again pledged his oath to King and Government, only by now he was a Captain.[11] This was during the the French Indian War (1754–1763).
In 1775, In preparation for the American Revolutionery War (1775–1783), Robert was appointed a Captain by the Committee of Pittsylvania County, and his son George was his lieutenant.[12] On 21 Jan 1777, George replaced him as Captain when Robert most likely resigned his commission.[13]

Occupations

In addition to being a soldier and a "gentleman farmer," Robert held many other positions in Virginia. In 1755 he was granted a license to run an "Ordinary,"[14] basically a pub, and in 1759 he became the county coroner.[11] After he left the army in 1777, he was appointed a Justice of the Peace in Henry County.[15] He, with others, was also "recommended to the Governor as fit persons to serve as Sheriff for this county."[15] In 1782, he was finally commissioned and appointed Sheriff of Henry County.[16] In 1786 in Franklin County, he and Moses Greer were appointed as "Commissioners of the Land Tax for this County."[17]
In addition to all these positions, he was also a politician, serving in the House of Delegates for Virginia representing Henry County 1777–1778 and 1786–1787. Due to county boundary changes, he represented Franklin County 19 Oct 1789–19 Dec 1789.[18]
His most infamous title was that of slave owner. When he died, he named 20 enslaved people in his will.[4] His descendants became one of the richest families in the south, built on tobacco and slaves. When his 3rd great-grandson, Judge Peter Wilson Hairston, "tried to draw up a comprehesive list of the family's pre-Civil War holdings, he came up with the astounding total of forty-five plantations, large and small, in four states." The judge "estimated that the combined branches of his family held ten thousand slaves" over 200 years.[19]

Death

Robert wrote his will in May 1790, and died sometime before probation began on 3 Aug 1791.[4]

Research Notes

  1. His birth year is an unsourced estimate based on the claim that he was included in a court case in 1745, so he was at least 21 years old that year.[20] His marriage date is most likely based on the birth date of his oldest child.

Sources

  1. ↑ "North Carolina Family Records Collection," North Carolina Digital Collections (https://digital.ncdcr.gov/Documents/Detail/robert-hairston-family-bible-records/1438351 : accessed 22 Oct 2023), digital images, "Robert Hairston Family Bible Records, 1755–1844," p. 678, Robert Hairston, born in Ireland, immigrated to America and was married to Ruth Stovall.
  2. ↑ "Pennsylvania, U.S., Land Warrants and Applications, 1733-1952," Lancaster County, 1738, Application No. 155, Land Warrant application for Neal McCalister, 25 Oct 1738; database with images, Ancestry (Ancestry Record 2350 #181080 : accessed 23 Oct 2023), images 261 and 262; Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
  3. ↑ Goochland County Court, Virginia, Order Book, vol. 5, p. 3, Peter Hairston, 15 Sep 1741; manuscript on film, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-4939-9 : accessed 22 Oct 2023); FHL microfilm #31,672, image 22.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Franklin County, Virginia, Will Book 1, p. 70, Will of Robert Hairston, 26 May 1790; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89P6-MPBF : accessed 22 Oct 2023); FHL microfilm #31,486, image 69.
  5. ↑ Albemarle County, Virginia, Surveyor´s Book No. 1, 1744-1755, vol. 1, unpaginated, Robt. Hairston, 300 acres, 31 Oct 1749; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKJ-WQ4Y-K : accessed 18 Oct 2023); FHL microfilm #2,440,983, item 4, image 503.
  6. ↑ Pittsylvania County, Virginia, Land Office Grants A, vol. 2, pp. 601-602, Robert Hairston; manuscript on film, Library of Virginia (https://lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma990007626000205756&context=L&vid=01LVA_INST:01LVA : accessed 28 Oct 2023).
  7. ↑ Pittsylvania County, Virginia, Land Office Grants G, pp. 216-217, Robert Hairston; manuscript on film, Library of Virginia (https://lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma990007625980205756&context=L&vid=01LVA_INST:01LVA : accessed 28 Oct 2023).
  8. ↑ Pittsylvania County, Virginia, Land Office Grants G, p. 215, Robert Hairston; manuscript on film, Library of Virginia (https://lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma990007625970205756&context=L&vid=01LVA_INST:01LVA : accessed 28 Oct 2023).
  9. ↑ Pittsylvania County, Virginia, Land Office Grants G, p. 198, Robert Hairston; manuscript on film, Library of Virginia (https://lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma990007626220205756&context=L&vid=01LVA_INST:01LVA : accessed 28 Oct 2023).
  10. ↑ Bedford County Court, Virginia, Order Book 1A, p. 124, Robert Hairstone, 27 Oct 1755; manuscript on film, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKH-7723-B : accessed 23 Oct 2023); FHL microfilm #30,578, image 93.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Bedford County Court, Virginia, Order Book 1B, p. 108, Robert Hairstone, 28 May 1759; manuscript on film, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKH-77KC-N : accessed 23 Oct 2023); FHL microfilm #30,578, image 216
  12. ↑ Pittsylvania County Court, Virginia, Deed Book, 1774-1778, vol. 4, p. 293, Robert and George Hairston, 27 Sep 1775; manuscript on film, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9PX-G5SZ : accessed 23 Oct 2023); FHL microfilm #33,263, image 450.
  13. ↑ Henry County Court, Virginia, Order Book no. 1, 1777-1778, unnumbered p. 2, Robert and George Hairston, 20 Jan 1777; manuscript on film, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-PX39 : accessed 23 Oct 2023); FHL #31,979, image 9.
  14. ↑ Bedford County Court, Virginia, Order Book 1A, p. 126, Robert Hairstone, 21 Nov 1755; manuscript on film, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKH-77K2-J : accessed 28 Oct 2023); FHL microfilm #30,578, image 94.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Henry County Court, Virginia, Order Book no. 1, 1777-1778, unnumbered p. 1, Robert Hairston, 20 Jan 1777; manuscript on film, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-PX39 : accessed 23 Oct 2023); FHL #31,979, image 8.
  16. ↑ Henry County Court, Virginia, Deed Book no. 2, 1780–1784, p. 160, Robert Hairston, bond posted for his appointment as Sheriff in Henry County, 24 Jan 1782; manuscript on film, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-GS65-G : accessed 22 Oct 2023); FHL microfilm #31,966, image 294.
  17. ↑ Marshall Wingfield, An Old Virginia Court: Being a Transcript of the Records of the First Court of Franklin County, Virginia, 1786–1789, With Biographies of the Justices and Stories of Famous Cases (Memphis, Tennessee: The West Tennessee Historical Society, 1948), 13; Digital copy available on HathiTrust Digital Library (Public Domain).
  18. ↑ Fourteenth Annual Report of the Library Board of the Virginia State Library, 1916–1917: To Which is Appended the Fourteenth Annual Report of the State Librarian (Richmond, Virginia: Davis Pottom, Superintended of Public Printing, 1917), 52, 72, and 78; Digital copy available on HathiTrust Digital Library (Public Domain).
  19. ↑ Henry Wiencek, The Hairstons: An American Family in Black and White (New York, New York: St. Martin's Press, 1999), 27.
  20. ↑ Robert Hairston, Hairston: Hairston Family History and Genealogy - Scotland, Ireland and America, Robert Hairston (https://www.hairston.org/p28.htm#c28.36 : accessed 22 Oct 2023).

See also:

  • 1730 Residence Ellis, Franklin and Samuel Evants. History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with Biographical Sketches of many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men (Philadelpha, PA: Press of J. B. Lippincott & Company, 1883), 759; Digital copy available on HathiTrust Digital Library (Public Domain).

Acknowledgments





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