Hi Buck and other researchers;
The Henry Campbell who is listed in soldiers of the Rev. War was not my 5th Great Grandpa,
the first Henry Campbell in Amherst County. My 5th GG was born 1706 (gravestone) in
Scotland, and died in Amherst Co., VA in 1772. There are several interesting things about
his will. One of his executors was Lawrence Campbell. He also bought his land (300 ac.)
from Lawrence and Henrietta Campbell in 1768, part of Lawrence's original purchase of
500 acres, so we know they were neighbors. The men who were witnesses to Henry's will
are: Gabe Lewis, Jamie Gatewood and Andrew Brown. Those who acted as surities for the
estate were: Charity (his wife), Lawrence Campbell, Joseph Cabell and James Higginbotham,
who would later marry one of Henry's daughters, Rachel. These men were all involved
in the Revolutionary War in some capacity, and of course, James Higginbotham was a Major
by the end of the war. So, we certainly know where Henry's sympathies lay.
My 4th Great Grandfather, Ambrose, son of Henry and Charity, was also a private during the
seige of Yorktown in 1781. Ambrose was born in 1740, so he was not a young man by this
time. He served with those you mention, and an Anthony Campbell. I don't know which
Campbell family he was kin to. Ambrose brother, Joel, was not a soldier but served as a
civil servant according to the DAR files, and also furnished whatever goods were needed
from his stock, etc. as did most of the residents if they were able.
One odd thing about Henry's probate records lists this:
Abigal a Servant Indian Woman.......$25.00
Tax records show no slaves, and none are mentioned in these records. Did the colonial
settlers take Indian's as slaves?
One other oddity was Charity's signature: Carrita(o?) This name was clearly written
by Charity as the writing is very different, and the "C" does not match any of
the others. Ja' Higgenbotham was also written by James, I'm sure, as the writing
is distinctly different. These two things I'm puzzling over. Probate records can
tell you a lot about how your ancestors lived, and are one of the most interest- ing parts
of any estate records.
Phyllis in CA