Robert Hairston (1717August 3, 1791) was an 18th-century gentleman planter, politician, and military officer in the Virginia Colony. He was an elected representative in both the
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the elected representative element of the Virginia General Assembly, the legislative body of the Colony of Virginia. With the creation of the House of Burgesses in 1642, the General Assembly, which had been established ...
and the
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is one of the two parts of the Virginia General Assembly, the other being the Senate of Virginia. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbe ...
.
Family life
He was the son of Peter Hairston, who was known in the family as "The Immigrant". His wife was Ruth Stovall, daughter of George Stovall, a clerk of the
Virginia House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the elected representative element of the Virginia General Assembly, the legislative body of the Colony of Virginia. With the creation of the House of Burgesses in 1642, the General Assembly, which had been established ...
.
They had nine children: Colonel
George Hairston George Hairston (September 20, 1750 to March 5, 1825) was a noted planter and politician in Virginia. He was a Colonel in the American Revolutionary War and a Brigadier General in the War of 1812.
Family life
George Hairston was the son of Robert H ...
; Colonel Samuel Hairston; Ann Hairston (Mrs. Charles Woods); Peter Hairston; Martha Patsy Hairston (Mrs.
Alexander Hunter (planter)); Sarah Hairston (Mrs. Baldwin Rowland); Elizabeth Hairston (Mrs. Michael Rowland); Agnes Hairston (Mrs. John Woods) and Ruth Hairston (Mrs. Peter Wilson).
He established the first Hairston home in Henry county, "
Marrowbone plantation", during the period of 1775–1776. Marrowbone was passed down to his son George, and remained in the family for the next five generations, until 1881. "Following the calamities of the War Between the States, this splendid property passed out of the hands of the former owners and has been allowed to deteriorate beyond recognition." Other accounts say that Marrowbone plantation was constructed in 1759, in
Pittsylvania County, Virginia
Pittsylvania County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 60,501. Chatham is the county seat.
Pittsylvania County is included in the Danville, VA Micropolitan Statistical Ar ...
, which later became part of Henry County. A third account claims the house was built in 1749.
On the various farms and holdings the family owned, by the end of the 18th century he also owned nineteen slaves. In 1791, he owned 1,684 acres of land.
Ruth Stovall died in 1808.
Military career
Robert Hairston was a captain in the Virginia military, and served as an ensign in the Virginia Colonial Militia from
Bedford County, Virginia
Bedford County is a United States county located in the Piedmont region of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its county seat is the town of Bedford, which was an independent city from 1968 until rejoining the county in 2013.
Bedford County was c ...
, during the
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War (1754–1763) was a theater of the Seven Years' War, which pitted the North American colonies of the British Empire against those of the French, each side being supported by various Native American tribes. At the ...
of 1754–1763.
During the American Revolution, he also served as a sheriff in his county, and as a captain of the local militia company. The
Daughters of the American Revolution
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a person involved in the United States' efforts towards independence.
A non-profit group, they promote ...
have given his service record the identification number A049164.
Robert Hairston was appointed an Ensign in September 1758, two years after his commission in 1756, and then in 1759 he was appointed a captain. He was appointed a Lieutenant from Bedford County on October 27, 1756, and on May 28, 1759, "Robert Harstone" was commissioned a captain.
During the American Revolution, he served as a militia captain, and two of his older sons, Colonel
George Hairston George Hairston (September 20, 1750 to March 5, 1825) was a noted planter and politician in Virginia. He was a Colonel in the American Revolutionary War and a Brigadier General in the War of 1812.
Family life
George Hairston was the son of Robert H ...
and Colonel Samuel Hairston, achieved even higher ranks in the Continental army.
Political career
He was a Commissioner of Peace, and took the oath of allegiance to the revolution in 1776, and previously had received his commission from
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Thomas Nelson Jr. (December 26, 1738 – January 4, 1789) was an American Founding Father, soldier and statesman from Yorktown, Virginia. In addition to serving in the Virginia General Assembly for many terms, he twice represented Virginia in t ...
appointing him the "
High sheriff" of Henry County.
Robert Hairston was elected to the House of Representatives for his county.
With holdings in several counties, and in counties that divided and became two or more counties, Robert Hairston was a county justice or judge in several jurisdictions. He was a Judge in
Pittsylvania County, Virginia
Pittsylvania County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 60,501. Chatham is the county seat.
Pittsylvania County is included in the Danville, VA Micropolitan Statistical Ar ...
in 1775 and Henry County in 1778 and Franklin County in 1785. He became a judge in Franklin County in 1786 and also in Henry County. In 1786, he was the third highest tax payer in
Franklin County, Virginia
Franklin County is located in the Blue Ridge foothills of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 54,477. Its county seat is Rocky Mount. Franklin County is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area ...
.
Robert Hairston was elected to the
Virginia House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the elected representative element of the Virginia General Assembly, the legislative body of the Colony of Virginia. With the creation of the House of Burgesses in 1642, the General Assembly, which had been established ...
for
Campbell County, Virginia
Campbell County is a United States county situated in the south central part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Located in the Piedmont region of Virginia, Campbell borders the Blue Ridge Mountains. The county seat is Rustburg.
Grounded on a ...
. He served in the House of Delegates of the Virginia General Assembly in the May 5, to June 28, 1777, and October 20 to January 24, 1778, Sessions with the other Henry county representative,
Abram Penn
Abram Penn, also known as "Abraham Penn" (December 27, 1743 in Caroline County, Virginia – 1801 in Patrick County, Virginia) was a noted landowner and Revolutionary War officer from Virginia.
Family life
He married Ruth Stovall (1743- 1800?), ...
.
Death and burial
Robert Hairston died in 1791 at farm called "Runnett Bag", in Franklin County. Ruth Stovall Hairston died in 1808. At the time of his death in 1791, he owned 1,684 acres of land and twenty-two slaves. He was one of the richest men in Franklin County, and after all his bequests were distributed, his estate was worth £499.1.6 (499 pounds, one shilling, sixpence). Like most families of this age in the Virginia Piedmont, their valuables were held in their lands and slaves. Except for a silver watch, no gold or silver was part of the Hairston estate, and no paintings, carriages or billiard tables are listed in the estate inventory. Much of his land had already been given to his children before his death, and each daughter specifically had been given a farm in their own names. "Hairston endowed each of his daughters- as did most fathers who were able to do so- with her own estate to control independently of her present or future husband."
It is believed that Robert and his wife Ruth are buried under the waters of the present day
Philpott Dam
Philpott Dam is a concrete, gravity dam on the Smith River in Franklin and Henry counties in the U.S. state of Virginia. It impounds Philpott Lake.
Philpott Dam is located about above the mouth of the Smith River. It is about upstream from Bas ...
, which was completed in 1952. The headstones of Robert and Ruth's graves were relocated to high ground, but not their remains. There were 19 cemeteries covered by
Philpott Lake
Philpott Lake is a reservoir in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is impounded by Philpott Dam.
The lake is at an elevation of , covers an area of , and has a shoreline length of . Philpott Lake extends into Franklin County, Virginia, Franklin, Henry ...
."
"Robert Hairston."
/ref>
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hairston, Robert
1719 births
1791 deaths
People from Henry County, Virginia
Scottish emigrants to the Thirteen Colonies
Virginia colonial people
House of Burgesses members
People of Virginia in the French and Indian War
Virginia militiamen in the American Revolution
American planters
American slave owners
18th-century American politicians