NCGUILFO-L Archives

From: MS LOUISE T OVERTON< >
Subject: [NCGUILFO] #3: Old Mill Sites in Rockingham Co.
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 1999 20:18:40, -0500

Part #3

This posting includes the surnames of PERKINS, HAIRSTON, MARR, LETCHER,
WASHINGTON, JONES

Mill Sites in Simpsonville Township
Rockingham Co. NC

IRON WORKS Mill (site) is located on Troublesome Creek, NC State Road 2423,
approximately 1.5 miles north of Monroeton. In operation as early as 1770.
************************************************************ ***************
In 1788 the 640 acre Iron Works tract "whereon the Furnace now stands" was
sold to George HAIRSTON and John MARR for 3000 pounds. By 1795, PERKINS
moved from Virginia to Stokes County where he built a furnace on Snow
Creek, and was granted large tracts of land under the Bounty Act of 1788.
Both HAIRSTON and MARR were residents of Henry County, Virginia, and both
were brothers-in-law of PERKINS. George HAIRSTON 91750-1827), a native of
Bedford Co. VA moved to Henry County where he purchased large tracts of
land. In January 1781, he married widow Elizabeth Perkins LETCHER. John
MARR married Susanna PERKINS. A sister of John MARR, Agatha, married
Constantine PERKINS, brother of Peter PERKINS.

On 4 May 1780 John MARR received a land grant of 16,331 acres in Henry
County and before 1798 had received additional grants for 2,500 acres. John
MARR may have not lived in Rockingham County for long. His brother Richard
was living in the county by the late 1780's. Richard MARR was appointed a
justice of the peace during that period and owned 23 slaves in 1790.

MARR and HAIRSTON continued to acquire property in the Iron Works area.
Purchasing 250 acres in 1789, plus received state land grants of 268 acres
in 1790. They hired Benjamin JONES as their manager and he operated the
furnace for two years, leaving in 1792.

While on his southern tour, President George WASHINGTON ate breakfast at
the Iron Works with the JONES family. A traditional story told of the
President's visit says "WASHINGTON'S horse bit the top out of a young oak
tree on the south side of the pond". A large forked oak, often pointed out
as a tree topped by WASHINGTON's horse, stood until the late 1960's.

John MARR died in Henry County in 1795/6, his wife Susanna was appointed
administrator of his estate by May 1796.

Sources:
History of Pittsylvania Co. by Clement pages 48, 95
A History of Henry Co. VA by Hill 189
Rockingham County Deeds C page 129, 149, 255, 280
Rockingham Co. Census 1790
Rockingham Co. Deeds B 18
Washington's Southern Tour by A. Henderson page 19
History of Patrick Co. VA by Pedigo pages 304, 309, 312, 313, 321, 349

To be continued...

This thread:

• [NCGUILFO] #3: Old Mill Sites in Rockingham Co. by MS LOUISE T OVERTON< >