1918. Robert DENTON
was born in 1695 in Jamaica, Queens, Long Island, New York. He died in
1778 in Hampshire County, Virginia. Robert's will mentions all his children.
Robert owned land by 1751 in present-day Hardy CO, WV on both the Lost River
and Cacapon River west of Strasburg, VA. Following the last Indian uprising
in 1766, Robert was involved in the purchase of more land in the Great North
Mountain Range in what is now West Virginia. Robert stayed in this area though
his brother James and others found Tennessee alluring, as well as Kentucky.
He amassed some 1,600 acres of land in the area. He must have become ill in
the late 1760s for he began to sell off the Lost River parcels, mostly to his
family. In 1768 he sold 323 acres to his daughter Margaret and her husband,
Joel Robinson. At his Lost River Plantation he began to see the great migration
into the countryside begin. Surveyors were in Kentucky laying out the best lands
for those who
participated in the long conflict with the French and the Indians.
The English crown still forbade movement across the Alleghenies, but their Virginia
governor, John Murray, Lord of Dunmore, instituted an expansionist attitude after
he took office in 1771. The land-greedy pioneers were impatient with the "rights"
ascribed to the Indian tribes.
The Virginal Admiralty Records have a listing for a Robert Denton in 1746. It
may have been this Robert Denton. Robert died in the early part of 1778.
He was married to Jane MOON on 13 Feb 1738 in Burlington CO, NJ.
Jane MOON was born in 1714. She died in 1787 in Hardy CO, VA.
"License of Marriage on the thirteenth Day of February A.D. 1738 was granted
by his Excellency Lewis Morris Esq. Gov. unto Robert Denton of Evesham in the
County of Burlington, Yeoman, of one party and Jane Moon of the same Township,
Spinster of other party. Arch Home, Secry"
Jane's will refers to her "eldest Son Jacob Denton" and 'my sons and
daughters Jacob, John, Thomas Denton, Sarah Williams, Margaret Robinson and Elizabeth
Crow . . ." Her friend Stephen Ruddell was executor. Robert DENTON and
Jane MOON had the following children:
+2141 i.
Jacob DENTON.
+2142 ii.
John DENTON Sr..
+2143 iii.
Sarah DENTON.
+2144 iv.
Thomas DENTON.
+2145 v.
Elizabeth DENTON.
+2146 vi.
Mary DENTON.
+2147 vii.
Margaret DENTON.
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