I'm hoping someone out there may also be researching, have info on the
following Moses Henry family, or even be able to point me in the right
direction. My biggest stumbling block with my Henry family occurs with my
Moses Henry b. in 1754. I just can't find his parents and wonder if the
Moses Henry described below may be his father and/or a relative that may
lead me to some further information. I tried all the normal sources I could
think of without much success so then I had to resort to the cumbersome work
of searching archived manuscripts, books, etc. I found many references to
the below described Moses Henry who lived for some time at Post Vincennes,
now Knox Co., IN (probably between 1773 - 1783) but insufficient info to
know who his heirs were. Anything anyone can do to provide assistance or
point me in the right direction will certainly be appreciated.
1765 - Moses Henry received an order from Lt. Colonel Reid - B. & M. Gratz
1754 - 1798 (Papers of Interest to their posterity and the posterity of
their associates, Jefferson City, Mo.:H. Stephens Printing Co., 1916, Pg.
387) This book also list the will of Moses Henry as one of the papers in
the collection but I've been unsuccessful in obtaining a copy of this order
or the will.
1766 - Moses gunsmith purchasing goods at Ft. Pitt - supposedly bro. Of Wm,
and son of John Sr., and Grndsn of Robert
1767 - Moses Henry purchased supplies at Ft. Pitt for Gunsmithing (Kauffman,
Pennsylvania - Kentucky Rifle)
1768 - Lt. Col. Wilkin sent an order to Moses Henry., B. & M. Gratz 1754 -
1798 (Papers of Interest to their posterity and the posterity of their
associates, Jefferson City, Mo.:H. Stephens Printing Co., 1916, Pg. 387
1770 - Moses Henry was "by 1770 a trader in the Ohio Territory. He married
a white woman who was a captive of the Delaware Indians at Chelokraty
(Chilicothe a Shawanese Village), Ohio." - Arms Makers of Lancaster Co.,
PA, Stacy B.C. Wood, Jr. and James Biser Whisker, Old Bedford Village Press
1991)
1773 - Moses Henry "in 1773 he was a gunsmith in Ross County, Ohio."
Hutslar Gunsmiths of Ohio, p.340.
1772-1773 - In the book, A Man of Distinction Among Them, Kent State
University Press, Kent, Ohio 1999, written by Larry L. Nelson of the period
1754 to 1799 quoted David Jones a traveling evangelist or missionary that
stated, Chillicothe was also the home of Moses Henry, a Lancaster trader
and gunsmith who pursued both occupations for native and European clients at
the village. Henry lived in a comfortable manner, having plenty of good
beef, pork, milk, &c.,. Jones, when speaking of Moses, claimed that, His
generosity to me was singular, and equal to my highest wishes. This
information was derived from Jones, Journal of Two Visits made to some
Nations on the West Side of the River Ohio 1772 and 1773 Burlington, NJ.
1774, pages 54-55, 87-88; and C[onstantin] F[rancois] Volney, A View of the
Soil and Climate of the United States of America: With Supplementary
Remarks upon Florida; on the French Colonies on the Mississippi; and Ohio,
and in Canada; and on the Aboriginal Tribes of America, Philadelphia: Conrad
and Co., 1804, page. 378.
1773 - Clark destroyed Chilicothe in this year thus it would stand to reason
that Moses Henry who lived in the Indian village as a trader and gunsmith
would also have left. He lived at Vincennes by 1779 maybe before.
1775 - Moses Henry, Revolutionary War Soldiers of Knox Co., IN.
Revolutionary War Soldiers buried in Indiana - Source Page 185, Roster of
Soldiers and Patriots of the American Revolution buried in Indiana. "Moses
Henry a soldier in the Revolutionary War, is buried in Knox County." This
information was obtained from "Roster of Soldiers and Patriots of the
American Revolution Buried in Indiana, Volume II" published by the Indiana
Daughters of the American Revolution in 1966
1779 - Moses Henry gunsmith and Indian Trader living at French Post
Vincennes saved the life of Israel Dodges son from Indians.Capt. Moses Henry
rowed up the Wabash River w/ Capt. Wm. Helm on keel boats Capt. Shelby
brought from Kaskaska. In 1779 Clark appointed Moses Henry Indian Agent at
Post Vincennes and Leonard Helm as Superintendent. Moses sent ltr. to Col.
Gibson and enclosed it in another letter from Colonel Lernoult dated 26 May
1779. (Woodward, Theron Royal, Dodge Genealogy, Lanward Publishing Co.,
Chicago 1904 and History of George Rogers Clark's Conquest of the Illinois
and the Wabash Towns 1778 - 1779 by Consul. Wilshire Butterfield)
1781 - Moses Henry signed a ltr at Vincennes to the Governor of VA (pg. 737)
1782 - Moses Henry + Wife Ann Collins Henry enum at Post Vincennes
1783 - I'm guessing he may have died in this year.
1783 - Ann Henry declared she was a widow of Moses Henry in this year and
the Hd of Hsehld w/children, heirs of Moses Henry when she filed a land
claim uner the Aug. 29, 1788 Act of Congress Per "Early Illinois, Clark's
Conquest of the IL", Fergus Prtng Co., 1890
1783 - The book by June Barekman entitled Knox County Indiana: Early Land
Records and Court Indexes 1783-1815 there is a Moses Henry listed as an
original claimant for 160 acres and listing Francois Vigo as the current
claimant. The listing was for the donations of 400 acres of land given to
the heads of families in the year 1783.
1789 - Ann Collin Henry purchased a grave site.
1790 - A Moses D. Henry in Post Vincennes Tax List; Ann Henry signed ltr. To
Gov of VA as Widow of Moses Henry along with other residents about their
unfair treatment.
1790 (Abt.) - The book, Early Illinois - Clarks Conquest of The Illinois,
states that Ann Henry, widow of Moses Henry of Post Vincennes, filed a claim
under the August 29, 1788 Act of Congress, stating she was head of
household at Vincennes on or before 1783. This source goes on to say that
subsequent to her claims, she with her children, as heirs of Moses Henry,
were granted a lot in Vincennes of 75 Feet by 25 Toises.
1790 - In the American State Papers, 1832, Vol. 1, page 11, list Ann Henry
with widows of heads of families settled at Post Vincennes, on or before
the year 1783, and residents here at this time
entitled to the donation
lands promised them by congress
. The list is dated July 13, 1790 and is
signed by Winthrop Sargent. She is listed as Ann, widow of Moses Henry.
This list is followed on page 12 by an order by Winthrop Sargent to Samuel
Baird, dated July 31, 1790, to survey and lay off parcels of land for
claimants; a list of the claimants and parcels follows. An entry on page 13
reads as follows: The heirs of Moses Henry. A lot seventy feet by
twenty-five toises; one side to Bordeleau and to three streets.