Pleasant Henderson (1756 - 1842)

Born 9 Jan 1756 in Granville County, North Carolina

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Martin) Henderson — married 27 Jan 1786 in Surry, North Carolina, United States

Descendants

Died 10 Dec 1842 at age 86 in Huntingdon, Carroll, Tennessee, United States

Biography

Major Pleasant Henderson served with Granville County Regiment, North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.

Pleasant Henderson is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A054793.

Pleasant Henderson was born on January 9, 1756. He was the son of Samuel Henderson and Elizabeth Williams.^[1] He was married to Sarah Martin on January 7, 1786 at Surrey County, North Carolina.^[2] Pleasant Henderson died on December 10, 1842 at Huntingdon, Carroll County, TN, at age 86. .^[3]

Pleasant was Revolutionary War pensioner; File #S 1912 from Carroll Co., Tenn. He was a major in rank and served from North Carolina.

He was the subject of the following sketch at Historical Sketches of North Carolina, Vol. II, pp 335-336,: Major PLEASANT HENDERSON for a long time lived at Chapel Hill, in this County. He was a son of Samuel Henderson and Elizabeth Williams, and born in Hanover County, Virginia, 9th January, 1756, the youngest of their children. His brother Richard was a Judge under the Colonial Government, and a man of distinguished enterprise and intellect, and the father of late Judge Leonard Henderson, Chief Justice of our Supreme Court, and late Archibald Henderson, Esq. of Salisbury. Pleasant Henderson had a fair education. He commenced the study of the ]aw under his brother, but on the breaking out of the war joined the army, in Granville County, as Sergeant- Major, and marched in 1775 to Cross Creek, in an expedition against the Tories, but a few days before they were defeated at Moore's Bridge, and the troops returned. In 1776, he accompanied his brother Nathaniel, and went to Boonsboro, Kentucky. After suffering much privation and danger he returned home. In 1779 he volunteered at Charlotte, and was appointed a Lieutenant; with his company he marched to Charleston. On their arrival they were ordered to Savannah. Thence they proceeded to Brier Creek on the Savannah River. Lieutenant Henderson was dispatched, by General Ashe, as messenger to Purysburg, and while on this mission, General Ashe was attacked and routed by the enemy. His time of service having expired, he returned home. In 1781, the Legislature ordered a Regiment of two hundred mounted infantry to be raised, and gave the command to a French officer, Colonel Malmady, and appointed Henderson, Major. Their duty was to harass the advance of Lord Cornwallis. After the war closed, Major Henderson (in 1782) was appointed Clerk of the Superior Court of Orange. When Alexander Martin was elected Governor, he offered Major Hender son the post of private secretary, which he accepted and served during the whole of Governor Martin's administration. In 1789, he succeeded Judge John Haywood, late of Tennessee, as Reading Clerk to the house of Commons, in which he continued until 1830, without ever soliciting the support of any man or party, but relying on his own merit and qualifications. He removed in 1831 to Tennessee, and died at Huntingdon, in that State, December 10th, 1842. In 1786 he married Sarah, the daughter of Colonel James Martin, of Stokes County, by whom he had several children. Among them are Mrs. Hamilton C. Jones, of Rowan, Dr. Pleasant Henderson of Salisbury, (born 1802) Dr. Alexander Martin Henderson, of Davie, (born 1807.).

Sources

1. ↑ Rockingham County, North Carolina Will Book I (1785-1804) pp65-66.
2. ↑ A source is needed for this information.
3. ↑ A source is needed for this information.

• https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A054793
• Surrey County Marriage Bonds p. 101.
• U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Original data - Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls (Applicant number/name/date?)
• The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record (NYGBS, 1919) Vol. 50, Page 61: "He was a companion of Daniel Boone in many of his wanderings ..."