William Hines (1735-1816)

Born: 25 Jan 1736

Died: 7 Jan 1816

Willian Hines married Martha Blow on 16 Apr 1771 in Southampton County, VA.

The Blow family was famous for their slave named Dred Scott born in Southampton County in 1799. Scott filed suit unsuccessfully for his freedom in the infamous Dred Scott v. Sandford Supreme Court case of 1857.

William Hines (1735-1816) Magistrate and High Sheriff of Southampton County. During the Revolution he was part owner of may privateers sailing from South Quay on the Blackwater River, and ports in North Carolina. The cellar of his house was said to have contained guns for the patriot troops, which caused Cornwallis to issue an order that the plantation be burned, which fortunately was rescinded.

His wife was a daughter of Samuel Blow and Martha Drew Blow. [1]

During the War for Independence, he was part owner of several privateers that sailed from South Quay on the Blackwater River and from various porta in North Carolina. The cellar of his home was stored with arms for the patriot troops which caused Lord Cornwallis, when he reached the Roanoke River on hismarch to Yorktown, to detail a party of Tarleton’s Cavalry to bum his home. This order, however, was countermanded by his friend Col. Hamilton of the Royal Army.

At length, in the 80th year of his age, with a mind and body still vigorous, he fell from his horse while riding on his plantation and died, full of years, in a green old age, after living a useful and honorable life.”

His will, dated Jan. 5,1815, was recorded within the month in Southampton Co. Will Book 7, page 410. He had died on Jan. 7 and was buried in the family burying ground on his plantation.

The home of Martha Blow Hines was Tower Hill.

The home of William Hines Hines was Poplar Grove Plantation.

The children of Martha Blow and William Hines were

  1. Robert Hines, born May 31,1775, married Nancy P. Elliott.
  2. George Hines, born Jan. 3,1778, married Elizabeth Chappell.
  3. William Drew Hines, born May 2, 1781.
  4. Patsey Hines, died in infancy.
  5. Samuel Blow Hines, bora Jan. 8, 1788, died June 3, 1857.
  6. Martha Frances Blow Hines, born Feb. 20, 1791, married first Dr. Mills Gray; second James Rochelle.
  7. Elizabeth Hines, died in childhood.

William Hines was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Hines, whose plantation lay partly in Southampton and partly in Sussex counties. Inheriting from his parents a competency he increased it, largely by industry and intelligence, until at the time of his death he was a large landed proprietor and the owner of about 300 slaves.

He was for many years a magistrate and high sheriff of Southampton County and active in the interests of Virginia.

[1]https://sites.google.com/site/hinesfamily1629/home/william-hines-1690-1760

[2]https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/blow/72/

[3]https://www.newspapers.com/image/234177808/?terms=Ruffin#