Thomas Henderson

Husband of Jane Martin Married 10 Nov 1778 in North Carolina

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Thomas Henderson, merchant and legislator, was born in Granville County, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth Williams Henderson. In the early 1770s he operated a store at Guilford Court House with Thomas Searcy under the name Henderson and Searcy. Searcy's brothers, Reuben, Bartlet, and Richard, participated with Henderson's brother, Richard, in the formation of the Transylvania Company.

Thomas Henderson was elected a delegate from Guilford County to the Third Provincial Congress, which convened at Hillsborough during 20 Aug.–10 Sept. 1775. Another delegate from Guilford was Alexander Martin whose sister, Anne Jane Martin, became Henderson's wife in March 1778. For the rest of their lives the brothers-in-law remained close associates. As the Revolutionary War was ending, the fighting drew near Guilford Court House. Henderson was called into the militia as a private and acted as a guide to General Nathanael Greene in the maneuvering of the armies on either side of the Dan River.

Soon afterwards Alexander Martin became governor for the first of seven terms. He and Henderson acquired 350 acres of land at Guilford Courthouse confiscated from the Tory, Edmund Fanning. On this land, adjacent to the courthouse, they laid out a town called Martinsville (Martinville, according to the original deed) where the governor built his home. Martin, who never married, provided a home for his mother, and apparently the Hendersons also came to live with him.

Henderson became clerk of court for Guilford County, which was now politically controlled by Martin. In 1786, when Rockingham County was formed from Guilford, Henderson resigned as clerk of Guilford to take the same office in the new county. He then moved his family to Governor Martin's home, Danbury, on Jacobs Creek of the Dan River. Although Henderson acquired several tracts in Rockingham, he seems to have made his residence at Danbury for the remainder of his life. For this reason, according to local tradition, prior to the establishment of a central courthouse, much of the public business of Rockingham County was conducted by Clerk Henderson at Danbury (the governor's home—not to be confused with the county seat of Stokes County, established much later).

In 1789 Henderson served a single term as clerk of the Council of State, succeeded the next year by his wife's nephew, Thomas Rogers. In 1795 he was for one term a member of the Council of State. Between 1792 and 1795 Henderson served two terms as a representative of Rockingham County in the House of Commons, and in 1796 he served one term in the state Senate.

On 2 Nov. 1807 Alexander Martin died at Danbury and by his will left that home to Henderson and his wife on the condition that they continue to provide a home for Martin's mother. But Jane Martin died just four days after her son, relieving the Hendersons of this responsibility.

Henderson remained politically active in league with such local leaders as Colonel James Hunter, Theophilus Lacy, and Alexander Sneed. He died in Rockingham County.

Thomas and Jane Henderson had seven children: Samuel; Alexander, who became the owner of the Danbury estate during his father's lifetime; Mary (Polly), who married John Lacy; Thomas, editor of the Raleigh Star ; Jane; Nathaniel, who married Susan Searcy; and Frances (Fanny).

GEDCOM Note

Biography

Sources

Will probated Nov 1821, Rockingham Co NC
Daughters: Jane Kendrick, Polly Lacy, Fanny
Sons: Alexander, Samuel, Thomas, Nathaniel Nephew: Thomas Searcey Exs: Samuel, Alexander, Thomas Wit: John T. Wright, Maurice Henderson, Thomas Searcy

Rockingham County North Carolina Wills 1804-1864 p. 175

Will of Thomas Henderson In the name of God amen. I thomas Henderson of Rockingham County and State of North Carolina do make ordain and declare this instrument to be my last will and testament revoking all others. Impresime all my just debts are to be paid by my Executors hereafter to be named.Item 1. My Executors are authorized and fully empowered to sell the lands I possess in the county of Rockingham or else where and the moneyarising from such sale to apply to the payments of my just debts.Item 2. I lend the use of two negroes towit Avarilla and Nanny with their increase to my daughter Jane Kindrick for and during her life andat her death it is my will and devise that the said negroes with their increase be equally divided among her children as I consider this bequeath to be an equal proportion of my negroes it is to be considered they are to have no part of the balance of my Estate.Item 3. It is my will and desire that my son Alexander be paid the amount of his debt against me for money advanced for me for which he hasmy note of hand. It is my will that he take such of my negroes as hemay choose to satisfy his debt to be valued by my Executors or a majority of them after allowing a fair price for a negro boy Prince which is now in his possession.Item 4. I give to my daughter Polly Lacy one negro girl named Lucy and her increase to her and her heirs forever. This gift to be considered as a part of her proportionable part of the negroes hereafter to bedivided among my children, also I give my daugter Polly my silver coffee pot...Item 5. It is my will and desire that my son Thomas be allowed in thedivision of my negroes for his amount against me say fifty five dollars his half of old Martinville also for expense in schooling my son Nathaniel and daughter Fanny.Item 6. It is my will that the balance of my negroes and other property which may remain after settling all my debts be ? of my Executors in as equal lots as possible and divided among my children to wit: Samuel, Alexander, Thomas, Nathaniel and my daughter Polly Lacy shear andshear alike. It is to be considered that the negroe given to my daughter Polly is to be taken into account in her total.Lastly I appoint my sons Samuel Henderson Alexander Henderson Thomas Henderson and my nephew Thomas Searcy Executors of this my last will and Testament. In testimoney whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 8th day of November 1821. Thomas Henderson

Witnesses: John J. Wright Maurice Henderson Thomas Searcy

• WikiTree profile Henderson-2031 created through the import of Henderson Family Tree (9 Sep 11).ged on Sep 9, 2011 by George Henderson. See the Changes page for the details of edits by George and others.

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