Austin, Henry: Third Generation in America

The following data is extracted from The ABC Family Chronicles.

More records are existant on this Austin. In 1758 in Albemarle Co., Virginia, he married Sarah Harrison, probable relation to Richard Harrison. A few years after marriage, Henry received two hundred acres of land in Virginia for his services in Lord John Murray Dunmore's war. He served as a sergeant in that war; for his services in the French and Indian War, he received another land parcel.

In 1790 his neighbors were John Rodes and William Austin, his brother. During that year there were nine in Henry's family; there were his dwelling and four other buildings on his plantation. "In 1795 Henry Austin conveyed a parcel of land to Thomas Stribling, Samuel Wills, Joseph Hardesty, Bennis Brown, Daniel Maupin, John Gibson, George Bringham, William Oliver and Basil Guess, of Organe, for a church which was then called Austin's Meeting House, and is no doubt the same as that now known as Bingham's Church..." (Hist. of Albemarle Co., Va.)

The third day of October 1821 Henry Austin wrote his will; it was just under fifty years previous, that Henry had enlisted in the Virginia Militia during the War of the Rebellion. He served as a Lieutenant under the command of General Nelson. Henry was one of the three thousand Virginia Militia who participated in the last war campaign at Yorktown.

His will:

"In the name of God amen. I Henry Austin of the County of Albemarle and State of Virginia being of weak & poorly in body but of perfect mind and memory do make my last will and testament in the following manner & form, that is to say

Item. I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Sarah Austin all my whole estate for her own use and benefit during her life.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Richard Austin one hundred acres of land joining John Wood's line called Meredeths Old Place likewise one Negro woman named Penor and her increase that she has or may have hereafter to him and his heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Obediah Austin one hundred acres of land joining the said Obediah Austin's line at the west side of his land likewise one Negro girl named Kizia to him & his heirs forever.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my son Thomas Austin all the balance of my land after my son Richard's hundred acres as above named is laid off, and after my son Obediah's is laid off as above named Thomas' land will lay north of both the other tracts likewise one Negro man named Joshua & one Negro woman named Peggy to him and his heirs forever.

Item. I lend unto Elizabeth Sims a child I raised one Negro boy named Charls one feather bed & furniture the bed she now sleeps on & one chest that she now uses during her life after her death I give the above lent property to my son Samuel Austin or his heirs in North Carolina.

Item. My piece of land where Jesse Goings now lives is to be set up to the highest bidder & sold likewise all my stock of every kind & all my household & kitchen furniture to be sold to the highest bidder & the money got for the land 3c stock & furniture above named is to be equally divided between my son Henry Austin's children & my daughter Nancy Skinner & my son John Austin's children to them & their heirs forever.

Item. It is my will and desire that my crops should be sold & all my just debts be markably paid.

Lastly, I make & ordain my two sons Thomas Austin & Obediah Austin jointly Executors of this my last will testament & I do hereby revoke disalow & disannul all wills & testaments by me heretofore made ratifying & confirming this one other to be my last will & testament in witness whereof I hereunto set my hand & seal this third day of October one thousand eight hundred & twenty-one.

Henry Austin (Seal)
(X)

In presence of
George Bingham
John Wood
Benjamin Wood
William Wood"

"N.B. Old Sonon I forgot, but I give him to my son Thomas Austin and the other legatees of my estate is to pay my said son Thomas .Austin one hundred dollars jointly amongst them on witness my hand & seal the date above written in presence of Henry Austin (Seal)
George Bingham (X)
John Wood
Benjamin Wood
William Wood"

The above will was entered for probate by George Bingham and John Wood on 4th day of March 1822.

Sources:

Will Book Albemarle Co., Va. Book 7, p. 171
History of Albemarle Co. VA, Ip.135
Crozier's Virginia Colonial Militia
McAllister's Virginia Militia
DAR Records National number 274445
1790,1810,1820 Census of Albemarle Co., Va,
Eugenia Fenton Lewis Records

Source: The ABC Family Chronicles

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