Lot 280

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Description:

Original 1790 Land Document - Berkeley County, Virginia

1 p. Document Signed by Alexander Henderson, dated April 12, 1790, 7.5" x 6.25". Expected folds, toning, slight staining, and a small area of loss, else Very good.

A very interesting Land Warrant dated May 8, 1790 for Berkeley County, Virginia, "Enter for Alexander Henderson Eight Thousand Acres of land on the north mountain & the spurs of it, towards potowmack (sic) river bounding with the former surveys on the East side of the said mountain" - Capt. Josiah Swearingen, Surveyor of Berkeley County, Virginia.

Alexander Henderson: 1738 Born in Scotland, 1756 Moved to America, 1787 Moved to Dumfries Virginia. Henderson was born in Glasgow, Scotland. He moved to Colchester, Virginia in 1756. Henderson served in the Virginia militia during the American Revolution. He represented Fairfax County in the Virginia House of Delegates 1783–1784 and Prince William County 1789–1790. He was a Virginia delegate to the Mount Vernon Conference in 1785 which led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He also served as a vestryman at Pohick Church and a magistrate of Fairfax and Prince William Counties. Henderson moved to Dumfries, Virginia in 1787, where his home still stands. There he opened a store with additional outlets later opening in Colchester, Occoquan, and Alexandria and leading him to be considered the "father of the American chain store."

Henderson was the father of Archibald Henderson, the longest-serving Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, who served from 1820 to 1859. Friend, neighbor and political supporter of George Washington. Washington sat next to him at their church. They were both church Vestrymen. Washington attended his wedding.

He became a wealthy merchant and member of the House of Burgesses. He owned four stores and is known as the "Father of the Chain Store". Alexander Henderson married Sarah (Sally) Moore. They had six sons and four daughters. One son - Archibald Henderson became the longest serving Commandant of the United States Marine Corps.

Probably after consulting with his friend George Washington, who was familiar with western Virginia, Alexander bought large land holdings (over 25,000 acres). It’s curious that as a successful business man in Fairfax Va., he chose to invest in land out by Williamstown. Three sons took up the challenge of working this new land. The first of Alexander Henderson's sons to move out here was John Glassford Henderson (John G.). He settled in Palestine WV in 1798. He married Drusilla Williams and acquired more land. Along with his brother Alexander Jr. Henderson (Sandy) he managed the 2,000 acre "Cow Creek" plantation, located where Cytec Industries is now on Rt 2. John G and Drusilla died young and left no descendants.

The second of Alexander Henderson's sons to move out here was Alexander Henderson Jr. (Sandy). In 1799 he moved out to the Cow Creek plantation (2,000 acres) and built a log home for himself and his slaves. Having "claimed" the land he returned to Dumfries, Virginia in 1800 and married Jane Hutchinson Lithgow (May 25th 1801). By 1802 they were both back at Cow Creek and had three kids.

In 1823 their two youngest kids John, age 20 and Mary age 18 died within two weeks of bilious fever. Their oldest son (George Washington Henderson) survived. The third son settled closer to Charleston. In 1816 Alex Henderson died and his estate took years to settle, in 1835 the estate executor sold the Cow Creek planation and all of its assets and slaves and this forced George (G.W.) And Elizabeth Ann Henderson to leave the Cow Creek plantation and move to what would become Henderson Hall.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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