Robert Garnett, Ancestor & Patriot

Robert Garnett (1736-1830) was a native, colonial Virginian. How is he related to the Willis-Gordon-Garnett clan? What role did he play in our country’s independence?

The Willis-Gordon-Garnett and Allied Families association honors the lives of Anne Garnett and Capt. Isaac Willis, who were first cousins. They were both grandchildren of Anthony and Elizabeth (Jones) Garnett. Elizabeth and Anthony were married before 20 August 1733¹Release of Dower Rights of Elizabeth, wife of Anthony Garnett and widow of John Bowler to Susannah Bowler, sister of John. August 20, 1733, Essex Co VA Deed Book 20, page 15.. Five sons and 3 daughters lived to adulthood: Robert, Thomas, James, John, Reuben, Lucy, Sarah, and Elizabeth/Betsey.

Robert Garnett, born December 31, 1736²Frankfort (KY) Argus. January 19, 1831, page 3, column 5. “Died … on the 31st December 1830, it being the 94th Anniversary of his birth.” Calculated birth date: December 31, 1836. in Essex County and was a double-uncle to Isaac and Anne. He was an older brother of Capt. Isaac Willis’s mother, Betsey Garnett, and an older brother of Anne Garnett Willis’s father, Reuben Garnett.³For deeper Garnett ancestry, see George Loeffler’s article in the WGGAF Reunion Journal, Volume 1, Number 9, August 10, 1980.

On January 13, 1794 Anthony sold the Culpeper County “Horseshoe Farm” to his eldest son Robert.⁴Culpeper Co VA Deed Book R, page 566. “… 212 acres, where I now live…” One month later, Anthony sold all his personal property to Robert in consideration of Robert taking upon himself payment of debts due to Muscoe Garnett and Cunningham and Co.⁵Culpeper Co VA Deed Book R page 565, February 12, 1794.

Robert Garnett Obituary
Frankfort (KY) Argus

Obituary

Died in Cumberland county, Ky, on the 31st December 1830, it being the Anniversary of the 94th year of his age, Robert Garnett, leaving behind him upwards of two hundred descendants.  At the age of Eighty-eight he distributed his property amongst his children and removed from his farm on the Rapid Ann [sic] and Robinson Rivers, Culpepper [sic] County Va, on which he had lived for 85 years, and came to Kentucky to spend the remainder of his days with his children.

In the first dawning of the American Revolution and throughout its progress he was a faithful and ardent friend of Liberty, and subsequently, in every eventful period of national politics, was the zealous supporter of republican principles.

He possessed a mind superior to that which is common, as well as unsullied morals, which secured to him the respect and esteem of his extensive acquaintances.

He was for nearly seventy years in the Baptist Church, a Christian not only in profession but in all the attributes which elevate and adorn the Christian character.

In his last moments when his spirit was about to be released from its earthly mould [sic] to put on immortality, he indicated entire resignation to the will of his master and left the world with this heavenly ejaculation, “I know that my redeemer liveth.”

Patriot

Robert’s obituary states “In the first dawning of the American Revolution and throughout its progress he was a faithful and ardent friend of Liberty…” How did he support independence?

A portion of the 1782 and 1783 Virginia Personal Property Tax was used to back the patriot cause. Robert Garnett was a property owner in James Slaughter’s district of Culpeper County.⁶Virginia Commissioner of Revenue (Culpeper County). In 1872 he was taxed for 2 adult males, slaves, horses and cattle. His tax burden was 5 pounds, 8 shillings (equivalent to about 36 days’ wages for a skilled tradesman). By paying his taxes, Robert financially supported the revolution.

The Commonwealth of Virginia reimbursed its citizens who supplied material aid to the revolution. In January 1781, Robert Garnett of Culpeper County submitted receipts for 300 pounds of beef and for a rifle that he provided.⁷Abercrombie, Janice L. and Slatten, Richard, comp. Virginia Revolutionary Publick Claims. Athens, GA: Iberian Pub. Co., 1992. Vol 1, pp 274, 278.

According to family tradition, two of Robert’s sons fought in the Revolution; one gave his life. So, Uncle Robert sacrificed more than just money for the cause of liberty.

[This short article also appeared in the 2024 Reunion Journal of the Willis-Gordon-Garnett and Allied Family. See this blog post that appeared in the 2022 Reunion Journal.]

SOURCES

• 1
  Release of Dower Rights of Elizabeth, wife of Anthony Garnett and widow of John Bowler to Susannah Bowler, sister of John. August 20, 1733, Essex Co VA Deed Book 20, page 15.
• 2
  Frankfort (KY) Argus. January 19, 1831, page 3, column 5. “Died … on the 31st December 1830, it being the 94th Anniversary of his birth.” Calculated birth date: December 31, 1836.
• 3
  For deeper Garnett ancestry, see George Loeffler’s article in the WGGAF Reunion Journal, Volume 1, Number 9, August 10, 1980.
• 4
  Culpeper Co VA Deed Book R, page 566. “… 212 acres, where I now live…”
• 5
  Culpeper Co VA Deed Book R page 565, February 12, 1794.
• 6
  Virginia Commissioner of Revenue (Culpeper County).
• 7
  Abercrombie, Janice L. and Slatten, Richard, comp. Virginia Revolutionary Publick Claims. Athens, GA: Iberian Pub. Co., 1992. Vol 1, pp 274, 278.