The "Granville" Hendersons in Rockingham: Two Sons of Thomas Henderson of Danbury

Alexander Martin Henderson

I'm afraid these notes are meager.  They were taken very early in my Henderson research in the 1990s, before I had sorted out who was who, and were of interest only as long as the men resided in Rockingham County or were possible relatives.  They're included here because they may provide a tidbit or a starting point for some of their descendants. 

Was Alexander  the "Capt Henderson of the Cutter" mentioned in Alexander Martin's will?

 1780: Alexander was born in North Carolina.

21 Feb 1808: He married Mary Wallace in Carteret County, NC.

1812: Alexander Henderson of Newbern purchased 933 acres from James Martin Junior of Stokes County.  The parcel was described as the Danbury Plantation, located on Jacob's and Coker's Creeks.[1]

31 Aug 1816: He purchased 1,707 acres on the waters of Upper Hogan's and Jacob's Creeks from his uncle Pleasant Henderson for $3,400.  The parcel adjoined Regan and Robert Martin.  Witnesses: T. Searcy and [brother-in-law] Theophilus Lacy.[2]  See Relevant Water Courses in Rockingham County.

It is possible that references to Alexander Henderson or A. Henderson after 1828 may have actually  Alexander Martin Henderson, born 16 Mar 1807, who was the son of Pleasant Henderson.  There are few references to that family in Rockingham, however, and they moved to Carroll County, TN from 1812 to 1831, different members apparently moving at different times.

18 Mar 1823: He sold 130 acres on the waters of Jacob's Creek to Lewis Bradfield for $81.  The land adjoined Thomas King, James Brown, John Jones' former corner, and Joseph Cunningham; but my notes are murky because  that parcel seems to have been sold at public sale by the sheriff to Richard G. Watt for $29.37 1/2.  Witnesses: Edward T. Broadnax and James T. Morehead.[3]

25 Sep 1823: He purchased 640 acres on Rock House Creek from [brother] Nathaniel Henderson.  R. Searcy was the witness.[4]

c. 1824: A deed was recorded conveying 130 acres on Upper Hogan's Creek from Thomas Overton to Alexander Henderson.[5]       

31 Oct 1833: Along with Thomas Searcy and Richard Wall, Alexander posted  a $10,000 bond for Thomas Searcy as Clerk of the Superior Court.[6]

14 Jan 1834: A. Henderson, T. Searcy, and John G. Wingfield witnessed the will of Mark Harden.[7]

4 Jun 1834: A. Henderson witnessed the  marriage of Isaiah Case and Susan Oliver.[8]

28 Feb 1840: Alexander Henderson of Mobile, AL granted power of attorney to Rawley Gallaway.[9]

c. 1840: He sold 1,033 acres on Upper Hogan's Creek to Alexander M. Searcy.[10]

c. 1841: Two tracts belonging to Alexander Henderson were sold by the sheriff: 1) 640 acres on Stillhouse Creek; 2) Mount Pleasant, Danbury, and Hoop Pole Tracts, totaling 1,700 acres.[11]

1843: Alexander Henderson died.

 Nathaniel Henderson

Nathaniel was supposedly born in 1793 in North Carolina; but if that year is correct,  how could he have witnessed the deed of gift from father Thomas to brother Alexander in 1808?  Was it another Nathaniel?

27 Dec 1808: He witnessed a deed of gift of 2,000 acres on Upper Hogan's Creek from Thomas Henderson to Alexander Henderson.[12]

19 Feb 1812: Along with Thomas Godsey Junior, he witnessed a resurvey of the Danbury Plantation being sold by  James Martin Junior of Stokes to Alexander Henderson.[13]

1815 Tax List, Rockingham County, NC: 1 poll.  He was listed next to Thomas Henderson and George W. Barker on the list taken by John Odineal.

3 May 1817: Nathaniel Henderson and J. (x) Brent witnessed a deed from Josiah Roberts to Thomas Searcy for 75 acres on the waters of Jacob's Creek adjoining Arthur Hays and Alexander S. Martin.[14]

10 Mar 1818: He was bondsman for the marriage of John N. Brent and Nancy Settle.[15]

3 Jun 1818: He witnessed two deeds to Benjamin Fewel on Upper Hogan's Creek: one from William Leftwich adjoining Charles Bruce and Absolom Bostick, and one from Richard Jones.[16]

6 Aug 1818: He married Susan Searcy in Rockingham County with Thomas Searcy as bondsman.[17]  Another anomaly: He was married in 1818, yet was apparently still of school age when his father signed his will in 1821.

I'm unable to discover Nathaniel on the 1820, 1830, or 1840 Censuses, in spite of the conveyances listed below.  According to one researcher, his children were born in Tennessee and Alabama.  Yet some Nathaniel Henderson was buying and selling land in Rockingham County and associating with Searcys and Lacys. 

26 Jul 1821: He purchased 98 3/4 acres on the headwaters of Jacob's Creek for $50 at a public sale.  The parcel had been seized from Rowland and Hezekiah Williams for debt.  The deed was recorded on 27 Feb 1823.  Witnesses: William C. Searcy and John Odineal.  Yet elsewhere it states the property was sold on 29 Nov 1822.[18]

c. 1821: He granted a mortgage to or was granted a mortgage from Samuel Whitworth for a tract on the north side of the Dan River.[19]

27 Jan 1822: He sold Lot #29 in Madison to Pleasant Black for $310.  This lot had reverted to Nathaniel by virtue of a mortgage to Marshall Searcy dated 31 Jan 1821 and due 10 Nov 1821.  Witnesses: Samuel Henderson and John Lacy.[20]  Samuel was Nathaniel's brother; John Lacy his brother-in-law.

31 Jan 1822: He purchased 640 acres for $160 at a public sale.  It was part of the John Hamilton and Thomas Henderson estates, being located on the headwaters of Rockhouse and Hillhouse Creeks adjoining John Sims, Whittmore, Elmore Walker, and David Bernard.  Witnesses: John Ellington and C. Mattock.[21]  T. Searcy was executor of the Henderson estate; Hance McClain and William Ryan, the Hamilton estate. Susan Elizabeth Henderson, one of the heirs of the mysterious Pleasant Henderson, married William M. Whittemore in 1856.

29 Nov 1822: He sold 98 3/4 acres on the headwaters of Jacob's Creek adjoining Peoples and John Fleming to Lewis Peeples for $75.  Witnesses: William C. Searcy and John Odineal.[22]

25 Sep 1823: He sold 640 acres on Rock House Creek to Alexander Henderson with  R. Searcy was the witness.[23]

c. 1830: Acting as Trustee for Samuel Whitworth, Nathaniel Henderson sold 1/3 of John Whitworth's estate to Thomas Searcy.  Witnesses: Samuel Henderson and John Lacy.[24]  Samuel Henderson was probably the first-born son of Thomas Henderson, and thus Nathaniel's brother; but it might have been his cousin Samuel, the son of uncle Nathaniel Henderson.

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