"Let me see generation times, will we hear children singing rhymes? Sweet memories gone by..."

03 December 2022

Robert Porter

[Revolutionary War Patriot Series, Part 12 of 12]

 

Born:  circa 1758
Died:  ante 10 May 1830 in Wythe County, Virginia

Service:  Patriotic Service

  • Paid supply tax, 1783

Wife:  Ann Black

Children:

  • Andrew
  • Polly, wife of Stephen Kettering
  • Robert
  • John
  • Margaret
  • Susannah
  • William
  • James


Timeline:

[Note:  Wythe County was formed in 1790 from Montgomery County.]

1783
Prince Edward County, Virginia
Robert Porter appeared on the 1783 tax list next to his father Andrew.  He was assessed for 1 white male over 21 and 2 horses.  Robert would continue to appear on tax lists in Prince Edward County for 10 more years, until 1793.

 

3 June 1783
Montgomery County, Virginia
Robert Porter was named in his maternal uncle Samuel Ewing’s will, written on 3 June 1783 and recorded on 23 May 1786.  It appears that Samuel Ewing did not have any children, as he left his land to be split between Robert Porter and his brother Samuel Porter.  Per an 1815 court record, this tract of land totaled 568 acres.

And after the decease of my loving wife I leave unto Robert Porter son of my sister Margaret Porter the half of my land is to say the lower end him the said Robert Porter to pay unto Betty Porter and Fanny Purnal forty pounds apeice when of age.  I also leave unto my sister Margaret Porter son Samuel Porter the other half of my land after the decease of my wife him the said Samuel Porter to pay Margaret and Sarah his sisters forty pounds apeace when of age.

 

10 March 1791
Prince Edward County, Virginia
Robert Porter married Ann Black, daughter of James Black.


 

26 July 1791
Wythe County, Virginia
Robert Porter was named in his maternal uncle William Ewing’s will, written on 26 July 1791 and recorded on 9 July 1793.

I also give unto my sister Margaret Porters son Robert Porter my negro man Jacob at the dissease of my loving wife forever.  … I also give unto my sister Margaret Porters son Robert Porter my stud horse forever.

 

1793
Wythe County, Virginia
Robert Porter first appeared on tax lists in Wythe County in 1793.  He was taxed on 1 white male over 21, 1 slave over the age of 16, and 5 horses.

 

14 October 1797
Prince Edward County, Virginia
Betty Porter acknowledged receipt of £40 from her brother Robert Porter, “his part of a legacy left me by my unkl Samuel Ewing.”


1810
Wythe County, Virginia
In the 1810 U.S. federal census, there were 17 people in Robert Porter’s household:  1 male and 1 female over the age of 45;  2 males and 2 females between the ages of 16-25;  1 male and 1 female between the ages of 10-15;  2 males under the age of 10;  and 7 slaves.

 

8 August 1815
Wythe County, Virginia
Robert & Samuel Porter were exonerated from paying taxes in 1803 on the land left to them by their uncle Samuel Ewing.


14 January 1817
Wythe County, Virginia
Robert Porter’s son William died sometime between 20 November 1816, when his will was written, and 14 January 1817, when his will was proved in court. 

First I do give and bequeath unto my brother Andrew Porter Junr. all my real and personal property under the provisions and conditions hereinafter named to wit all my right and claim to the tract of land which I have had in possession and cultivations for several years on the east bank of the New River at Porters ford the legal right whereof is in my father Robert Porter Senr. my share in two negro women named Hetty and Sophia which we purchased in partnership with the child lately born of the said Hetty also the coop on the land above bequeathed also my part of the cattle and hogs held in copartnership between the said Andrew Porter and myself and finally all the property to which I had claim on the farm aforesaid


24 September 1818
Wythe County, Virginia
Tom, a slave owned by Robert Porter, was tried and convicted of the attempted rape of Robert’s wife Ann.

… for the trial of Tom a negro man slave the property of Robert Porter who stands charged with having on or about the 21st of August 1818 at the county aforesaid feloniously attempted to commit a rape on the body of Ann Porter a white woman wife of the aforesaid Robert Porter. … The prisoner was set to the bar in custody of the jailer and being arraigned of the crime aforesaid saith that he is not guilty thereof;  whereupon the court proceeded to the examination of sundry witnesses as well on behalf of the Commonwealth as of the prisoner at the bar, and having heard counsel on behalf of the said prisoner are of opinion that he is guilty of the attempt to commit the rape aforesaid, and doth order that he be castrated by some skillful operator to be employed by the sheriff on the first day of October next, or as soon thereafter as possible, and that he be in custody of the jailer until such operation be performed.


11 November 1818
Wythe County, Virginia
Tom appeared in court again in November:

Tom, a negro man slave the property of Robert Porter, who was committed to the custody of the jailer for want of sureties to keep the peace and be of good behaviour towards the good citizens of this Commonwealth was set to the bar, and the court after hearing witnesses as well on behalf of the Commth. as of the defendant and the arguments of counsel, are of opinion that the said Tom be bound to find sureties to keep the peace and be of good behaviour towards all the good citizens of this Commonwealth but more especially for towards Henry L. Sheffey + Henry Eller in the sum of one thousand Dollars, and that he be in the custody of the jailer until the same be given.

 

1820
Wythe County, Virginia
In the 1820 U.S. federal census, there were 15 people in Robert Porter’s household:  1 male and 1 female over the age of 45;  1 female between the ages of 26-44;  3 males and 1 female between the ages of 16-25;  1 female between the ages of 10-15;  2 females slaves over the age of 45;  1 male slave between the ages of 26-44;  3 females slaves between the ages of 14-25;  and 1 male slave under the age of 14.

 

14 March 1826
Wythe County, Virginia
Robert Porter was appointed overseer of the road from Porters Ford to Richard Hobbs’.  He held the position for a year and a half, resigning on 9 October 1827.


10 May 1830
Wythe County, Virginia
Robert Porter wrote his will on 20 April 1830.  He died sometime prior to 10 May 1830, when his will was proved in court.

I Robert Porter Sen. On this day make this as my last will and testament after takeing all things into consideration and feal myself in sound mind and memory make and begeth this as my last will and testament to wit:

 

1st My son Andrew I think has received a full porshen alltho I give him one dollar.

 

2nd As to my daughter Polly Kettering the same as to my son Andrew say one dollar.

 

3rd As to my son Robert I have gave him horses and cattel and houshould furniture and further give and bequeath to my son Robert one full third part of my land that I may be seasd and possess of ___ this time, and further I give to my son Robert one negroe boy named Richmon say something like ten or twelve years old.

 

4th I give and bequeath to my son James the one full third of all my lands as above metioned.  And also to the sd James one negroe girl by the name of Ellenor say six or eight years old.  Also to my son James three cows and calvs.  And one good hors further to my son James the one full half of my houshould furnature.

 

5th As to my son John I give and bequeath to him the one full third of all my lands as above stated and also one negroe girl by the name of Wandamers age six or seven years so supposd by me the donor and further I give and bequeath to my son John the one full half of my houshould furnature.

 

6th I give and bequeath to my grandson by the name of Robbart Henry son of my son James one negroe boy by the name of George supposed to be fore or five years old.

 

7th I give and bequath to my granddaughter say the daughter of my son James by the name of Susannah one small negroe girl by the name of Emeler say about twenty months old also one two years old heffer named Mott.

 

8th It is further my will that my three sons say Robbart James and John at my decease take possession of three of my negroes say Jiorney Winney and Tom and take care of them between themselves theares also one negroe girl by the name of Leviney which I wish my three above and last namd sons say Robbart James and John to take in possession at my decease and take care of her and if shee should have any increase for the sd increase to be euilley divided between my grandchildren.  Further thears is two mares one chesnit souel namd Pats and one three year old filley to be left to the last three namd sons in the same way as above stated and all the remander of my property that is not herein devisd say hogs cattel and sheap and all the remainder of my property be it more or less to be sold agreeable to law by those whoom I may appoint as will appear in the close of my will also there is eighty dollars dew to me from John Ritchardson which I wish my under namd executors to collect and aply it to the payment of my just debts togeather with all the other of the arearages that may be coming to me or to my estates.

 

Scince begining to write this my last will and testament I calld to mind my daughter Polley Kettring say the wife of Stephen Kettering whoom I have in the foregoing part of this will left one dollar it is further my will that shee say my daughter Polley have and hold a certain negroe woman namely Parhines forever togeather with her increase is she should have any.

 

Thus after closing this my last will and testament I do hereby appoint my three sons say Robbart James and John as my executors to mannage the whole of my estate agreeable to law wherunto I have set my hand and afixed my seal the day and year above written.

 

9 November 1830
Wythe County, Virginia
An inventory of Robert Porter’s estate valued his property at $2,258.81.  Included in the accounting was the value of his slaves;  Tom was valued at $250.


Sources:


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