Will of Richard Henderson of Southam Parish, Goochland to sons Samuel, James, and Nathan, and to daughters Mary Henderson and Henrietta Henderson, 1 shilling each, at 21. To my brother Edward Henderson, 200 acres off of tract I live on, between his plantation and mine. To my wife Henrietta, all rest of my land and estate and she to be executrix. Dated 10 Feb 1745. Wit: John (X) Cook, Tyree Harris, Nathaniel Henderson. /s/ Rich. Henderson. Recorded 21 Jun 1748.1753,1754

Note that all five of the children mentioned in the will were less than 21 as of 10 Feb 1745, so each of them was born after 10 Feb 1724. The 250 acres of his land that was left to wife Henrietta was gifted by her in a convyence to her three sons, Samuel, James and Nathan in a conveyance dated 28 August 1749. At that time, all three sons were obviously still alive. Two of the sons sold their share of the land to Charles Lee--Samuel Henderson by deed dated 13 December 1758 and James Henderson by deed dated 8 January 1760. Since Samuel and James would have to have been 21 or older in order to sell land, we can establish their birth years as:

Samuel: between 10 Feb 1724 and 13 Dec 1737
James: between 10 Feb 1724 and 8 Jan 1739

There is no record of Nathan Henderson selling his third of Richard’s land. However, by deed dated 27 Feb 1754, Cleyton Cooke and Henrietta his wife sold Charles Lee interest in 250 acres of Richard Henderson’s land. There is some debate about whether Clayton Cooke married Henrietta Henderson, daughter of Richard Henderson, or Henrietta Henderson, widow of Richard Henderson. The 1754 deed clearly indicates that he married someone who had a stake in Richard Henderson’s estate. Since Henrietta’s 1749 conveyence specifically gifted the land to her three sons and did not include the two daughters, it seems likely that the interest sold by Clayton and Henrietta Cooke in 1754 was one of the thirds of Richard Henderson’s land that was first left to his widow Henrietta in his will, and then gifted by Henrietta to her three sons in 1749. Samuel and James sold their shares to Lee by the deeds mentioned above. Therefore, the interest sold to Lee by Clayton and Henrietta Cooke in 1754 was most likely the share belonging to Nathan Henderson.

One online family history states with regard to Richard Henderson:1752

“Will of Richard Henderson, d 1748.  Brother of our Nathaniel Henderson, d 1782, left each child 1 shilling and his land as follows:

200 acres to brother, Edward Henderson and rest to wife, Henrietta, who was his excutrix. Chilren, Samuel, James, Nathan, (died early) Mary, and Henrietta. Goochland Deed Book 5, pages 424-425 and Deed Book 6, p 501. Richard left minor children. And with the passing of Henrietta, several minor children were orphaned. Samuel and James went to live with our Nathaniel, "Uncle Natty".”

The general source for this statement, which rings of some oral family tradition (i.e., reference to “Uncle Natty.”) is given as:

“Source: Jim Henderson of Norfork, VA research papers. Carol Wells, genalogist of Nacodotches, LA, reviewed Jim Henderson's research after his death in 1994 and put together his findings on James and Christian Henderson.”

This undocumented story would explain two observations about the Richard Henderson family:

1. There is no apparent record for sale of the share of Richard’s 250 acres that was gifted to son Nathan, although there are deeds for sale of the shares left to sons Samuel and James.
2. If Nathan “died young” (between the time of Henrietta’s coveyance, 28 August 1749, and the date that Clayton Cooke and his wife Henrietta sold an interest in Richard’s land to Charles Lee, 27 Feb 1754), then the land would still have been Henrietta’s property and this makes it likely that Clayton Cooke had married the widow Henrietta Henderson, and not her daughter. It would mean that Nathan died between August 1749 and Feb 1754.

The reference to the passing of Henrietta and the minor children going to live with their uncle has further ramifications if it was the widow Henrietta Henderson who married Clayton Cooke. If Henrietta was still living on 27 Feb 1754 when she and Clayton sold the interest to Charles Lee and there were still minor children at that time, this would establish another range for the birth years;

Samuel: between 27 Feb 1733 and 13 Dec 1737
James: between 27 Feb 1733 and 8 Jan 1739

LW&T of RICHARD HENDERSON
(Goochland Co. (VA) Deed Book 5 1745-1749 pp 424-425)

In the name of God Amen. I Richard Henderson of Southam Parish in Goochland County being in perfect mind and memory thanks be to Almighty God for the same but considering the frailty of this life, and the certainty of death, do make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form following,

First and principally I bequeath my Soul to Almighty God trusting through the merits of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to receive full pardon and remission for all my Sins, as for my body that to be buried at the discretion of my Executor hereafter mentioned.

Imprimis, I give and bequeath to my Son Samuel Henderson one Shilling Sterling money to be paid him when he shall attain to age of Twenty one years.

Item, I give and bequeath to my Son James Henderson one Shilling Sterling money to be paid him as aforesaid.

Item, I give and bequeath to my Son Nathan Henderson one Shilling Sterling money to be paid him as aforesaid.

Item I give and bequeath to my Daughter Mary Henderson one Shilling Sterling money to be paid her as aforesaid.

Item I give and bequeath to my Daughter Henrietta Henderson one Shilling Sterling money to be paid her as aforesaid.

Item. I give and bequeath to my Brother Edward Henderson and his heirs forever Two Hundred acres of land to be laid off out of the Tract of Land whereon I now live Beginning at a Hickory by the path between the plantation of the said Edward and my plantation and then to the outside lines for compliment.

Item. I give and bequeath to my well beloved Wife Henrietta Henderson all my other Land and Estate whatsoever to her, her heirs, executors or Administrators for ever.

And lastly I do Nominate Constitute and Confirm my well beloved Wife Henrietta Henderson to be whole and sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this Tenth day of February in the Year of Our Lord Christ One thousand Seven hundred and forty five.

Richard Henderson (seal)
Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presence of us, John (X) Cook, Tyree Harris, Nathaniel Henderson

The following tree, based on research carried out by one Jim Henderson of Norfolk VA (who died in 1994), agrees in some aspects with the tree given in the present work:1752

Generation 1:

• James Henderson, b ca 1645 Scotland, d King William Co VA, married Christian (unknown)

Generation 2:
• Richard Henderson ("The Sheriff"), b ca 1675 Hanover Co VA, d ca 1760

Generation 3, children of Richard "Sheriff" Henderson:
• Richard Henderson, d 1748 Goochland Co VA, m Henrietta (unknown)
• Christian Henderson m. James Trevillian
• Samuel Henderson, b 1700, m Elizabeth Williams
• Nathaniel Henderson, b ca 1710 Goochland Co VA, d ca 10 Oct 1782 Camden Co SC, m Patience Harris (?)
• Edward Henderson

Differences are:
1. Jim Henderson’s research did not identify Thomas Alexander Henderson as father of Richard Henderson b ca 1675
2. His list of children of Richard the Sheriff partly agrees with the family given here, but has an of additional daughter (Christian) and does not include daughter Jane or son Thomas.

MOST PUBLISHED FAMILY TREES ASSERT THAT HENRIETTA WAS THE DAUGHTER OF LEONARD HENLEY AND ELIZABETH RICHARDSON. HOWEVER, AS OF 6 NOV 2011 I HAVE NOT SEEN ACTUAL DOCUMENTATION. I BELIEVE THAT HER FATHER WAS LEONARD HENLEY BUT THAT HER MOTHER WAS NOT ELIZABETH RICHARDSON. SEE DISCUSSION UNDER LEONARD HENLEY.

WILL OF HENRIETTA HENDERSON:1750,1751

I, Henneratta Henderson of the Parish of Southan and C, for divers causes and for the natural love I have from my sons, Sammuel Henderson, James Henderson, & Nathan Henderson, & for their better advancement of the world, at my decease, I give them a certain tract of 250 acres of land whereon I now live, in the Parish of Southam and C & on the branches of the Great Guinea (Cr). The land is to be equally divided among my three sons (but with the provision that my son Nathan shall have the plantation whereon I now live included in his third part of the land). Signed August 28, 1749- Hennereter H Henderson. Wit Aaron Butler, Nathaniel Henderson, Edward Handerson. Recorded Feb. 26, 1749.

Theory about Richard and Henrietta Henderson (Clayton Heathcock, 5 Nov 2011):

All five of the children mentioned in Richard’s will were less than 21 as of 10 Feb 1745, so each of them was born after 10 Feb 1724.  The 250 acres of his land that was left to wife Henrietta was gifted to her three sons, Samuel, James and Nathan in a conveyance dated 28 August 1748.  I believe that this because Henrietta had decided to marry Clayton Cooke and she was transferring the 250 acres of Richard’s land to the three sons (sort of a prenuptial arrangement).

At that time, all three sons were obviously still alive.  Two of the sons later sold their share of the land to Charles Lee--Samuel Henderson by deed dated 13 December 1758 and James Henderson by deed dated 8 January 1760.  Since Samuel and James would have to have been 21 or older in order to sell land, we can establish their birth years as:

     Samuel: between 10 Feb 1724 and 13 Dec 1737
     James: between 10 Feb 1724 and 8 Jan 1739

Since is is clear that Richard's heirs had decided to sell the inheritance to Charles Lee, I think it is probable that each of the sons signed their deeds off when they became 21.  This would mean that Samuel was b in 1737 and James was b in 1739.

There is no record of the third son, Nathan Henderson, selling his third of Richard’s land.  However, by the deed dated 27 Feb 1754, Cleyton Cooke and Henrietta his wife sold Charles Lee an interest in 250 acres of Richard Henderson’s land.  The 1754 deed clearly indicates that Clayton Cooke had married someone who had a stake in Richard Henderson’s estate.  Since Henrietta’s 1749 conveyence specifically gifted the land to her three sons and did not include the two daughters, it seems likely that the interest sold by Clayton and Henrietta Cooke in 1754 was one of the thirds of Richard Henderson’s land that was first left to his widow Henrietta in his will, and then gifted by Henrietta to her three sons in 1749.  I think that Nathan died in about 1754 before his majority and that his share of Richard's land was sold by his mother Henrietta, who had married Clayton Cooke after Richard died.  In my opinion it is likely that Nathan Cooke actually died in 1754, before he was 21.  Since the three sons were named in order: Samuel, James, Nathan, it is likely that Nathan was born in 1741 or later.  This would mean that Nathan was no more than 4 years old when his father died and no more than 13 years old when he died.

Richard's heirs had clearly made the decision to sell the land to Charles Lee:

Richard’s brother sold his 200 acres to Lee by deed 2 Apr 1751.
Clayton Cooke and his wife Henrietta sold what was probably Nathan’s share to Lee by deed dated 27 Feb 1754. At the time they lived in Albemarle Co VA.
Samuel sold his share to Lee by deed dated 13 Dec 1758. At the time he lived in Granville Co NC.
James sold his share to Lee by deed dated 8 Jan 1760. At the time he lived in Granville Co NC.

The online family history mentioned above1752 states with regard to Richard Henderson: ?...with the passing of Henrietta, several minor children were orphaned. Samuel and James went to live with our Nathaniel, "Uncle Natty".”

The general source for this statement, which rings of some family tradition (i.e., reference to “Uncle Natty”) is given as: “Source: Jim Henderson of Norfork, VA research papers. Carol Wells, genalogist of Nacodotches, LA, reviewed Jim Henderson's research after his death in 1994 and put together his findings on James and Christian Henderson.”

Although undocumented, the use of such a term of familiarity as "Uncle Natty" must have had its roots in some sort of family documents such as letters, family bible, or the like.  This undocumented story would explain why there is no apparent record for sale of the share of Richard’s 250 acres that was gifted to son Nathan, although there are deeds for sale of the shares left to sons Samuel and James.  If Nathan “died young” (between the time of Henrietta’s coveyance, 28 August 1749, and the date that Clayton Cooke and his wife Henrietta sold an interest in Richard’s land to Charles Lee, 27 Feb 1754), then the land would still have been Henrietta’s property and this makes it likely that Clayton Cooke had married the widow Henrietta Henderson, and not her daughter.  It would mean that Nathan died between August 1749 and Feb 1754, most likely in 1754.  I can see no way that Richard's daughter Henrietta could have owned the land that Clayton and Henrietta sold to Lee in 1754, since the land was specifically gifted only to the three sons.

The last thing to consider is that the Jim Henderson research stated that minor children were orphaned when Henrietta Henderson (probably Cooke at that time) died.  If she married Clayton Cooke after Richard died, we know she had to be alive in 1754 when she and Clayton sold the land to Lee.  At that time, according to my speculations above, James would have been 15 and Samuel would have been 17.  That means Henrietta Henderson Cooke must have died before 1758 when Samuel became 21.