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Robert Means, a Revolutionary War soldier, who died in 1822 in Rockingham County, was a Pennsylvania native, who migrated to Virginia in the 1770s, and then moved quickly on to North Carolina. Robert’s birth date and birth place are not known. He was the grandson of John Means, who came from Ireland to Bucks County, Pa., and died there in 1739. But the movements of Robert’s family are sketchy. Edith Foglesong’s book, “The Means Family of America,” says that Robert’s father William Means probably died in Lancaster County, Pa., but gives no details. An account by George Means, published by Charles Sinnatt in 1925, says that William, married and settled on Quinapalilla Creek in Lancaster, now Lebanon County, Pa.
Robert was probably born around 1737/39 as his oldest son was born about 1757 and this places his marriage to Elizabeth Robinson (also called Robertson) around 1756. Although some researchers say her father was a John Robinson, the source has not been reported. The names of two of her brothers, James and John Robinson, are given in a March 4, 1867 letter by Amos David, Robert’s grandson, by Lewis David who married Anna Means. It seems likely that the Means, Robinsons, and Davids moved to Virginia together as all three families show up there in the 1770s.
Charles Sinnatt’s records say that Robert Means was on the tax list for Kenallen Twp., York County, Pa., on Dec. 6, 1771. He soon moved south for on Dec. 9, 1778, Robert and Elizabeth Means of Bedford County., Va., sold 368 acres on a branch of Molley’s Creek in Bedford County. The record of their purchase of this land has not yet been found. An account attributed to Archibald Means says that Robert had a grant of 135 acres on the Mayo River in what became Rockingham County in December 1779 and a grant for another 82 acres on Dec. 5, 1780.
One puzzling fact is that Quaker records show that Robert and Betsy’s daughter Jane Means married James Campbell on April 27, 1784 in Campbell County, Va., and that their son Robert Means Jr. married Isabella Fields on Oct. 13, 1800 in Campbell County. Perhaps the family continued membership in the Quaker meeting in Campbell County even though it had moved to North Carolina. I have not determined yet if the Means lived in Campbell County in the 1780s, but the Davids and Robinsons did.
Amos David’s letter says that Betsy’s brother James Robinson “lived neighbor to my father” in Virginia and that the other brother “John Robinson, sold the land to my father, that he moved to in North Carolina." Lewis David and a Joseph Robertson jointly owned land on Marly’s Creek in Campbell County from Nov. 5, 1795 until June 13, 1799. (And perhaps the creek in Bedford County on which the Means owned land is the same. Perhaps the both are either Marly’s or Molly’s and my reading of one of these is bad.) James Robertson’s land was bounded by land owned by Lewis David and James Campbell, as stated by David’s letter.
Robert Means began selling his land in the last part of the eighteenth century. He sold 200 acres to son William Means on Nov. 28, 1797 and from the relatively large number of deeds he executed in Rockingham County, it would appear he liquidated most of his holdings before he died. Also, by this time, the Davids and John Robinson had joined him, living in Stokes County, just west of the Rockingham County border.
Son-in-law Lewis David, then living in Campbell County, purchased 300 acres on both sides of Beaver Island Creek from John Robinson of Stokes County on July 23, 1799. Robert Means was a witness. This is clearly the John Robinson, who Amos David said was a brother to Betsy Robinson Means, and confirms his account that Robinson sold land to David.
Also according to Amos David, Robert fought in the battle of Guilford Courthouse (N.C.) during the Revolution. Carolina records show that Robert was paid 42 pounds 18.2 (pence?) for service in December date smeared) The payment included interest to January 1790. Robert lived in Rockingham Co. until his death. His will was written on May 20, 1822 in Rockingham County, and proved shortly thereafter.
Children of Robert Means and Elizabeth Robinson
1. William Means b. ca. 1757 He married Susan Joyce, who died 1819/22. His family moved to Kentucky, then to Shelby Co., Ind.
2. Rebecca Means b. ca. 1758 She married a Grogan, according to her father’s will.
3. Jane Means 1759-1831, died Jefferson Co., Tenn. She married on April 27, 1784 in Campbell Co., Va., James Campbell, who died 1826. James’ Campbell’s land adjoined Robinson family land in Campbell Co.
4. Mary Means 1762-1852, died Rockingham Co., N.C. She married on Feb.10, 1783, Chesley Barnes, who died 8 Sept. 1840. Many in their family moved to Tennessee and then to Indiana. Many Barnes in eastern Jefferson Co., Ind., descend from them.
5. Elizabeth Means b. ca. 1763 She married James Riddle. James Riddle is listed in the 1800 Rockingham Co. census adjacent to Robert Means.
6. Nancy Means b. 1764 She married Richard Sharp. They eventually moved to Washington County, Ark., according to a descendant.
7. Fleming Means She married James Sharp according to Robert's will.
8. Anna Means April 27, 1766-June 12, 1809, died Stokes Co., N.C. She married on Feb. 2, 1790, Lewis David, Nov. 6, 1767-Feb. 28, 1837. David remained in Stokes County after his wife’s death and married Sally Vernon, widow of William Burris. After the death of his brother Sampson David in 1828 in Campbell County, Tenn., Lewis moved to that locality, where he died. Anna and Lewis David’s daughter Elizabeth David married Richard Vernon, whose brother Nehemiah married Martha Means. Sally Vernon Burris was Richard and Nehemiah’s sister.
9. James Means b. 1774 He married Mary Smith. One source claims he died in Rockingham Co., N.C., another that he went to Shelby Co., Ind. His wife died in Fillmore, Minn.
10. Robert Means 1777-1817, died Rhea Co., Tenn. He married on Oct. 15, 1800 in Campbell Co., Va., Isabella Fields. She died Apr 1845 in St. Clair Co., Ala.
11. Martha Means ca. 1780-1850/60, died in Jefferson Co., Ind. She married Nehemiah Vernon (died after 1830), son of James Vernon, who died 1828 in Jefferson Co. The family moved to Milton Twp. about 1818. Martha was an aunt to Elizabeth David, who married Nehemiah's brother, Richard Vernon.
12. Rachel Means b. ca. 1786 died by 1822, according to her father’s will. She married Thomas Smith Sr.
Will of Robert Means
In the name of God Amen, I, Robert Means of the county of Rockingham and in the state of North Carolina, been at this time week of body, but of sound and disposed mind and memory, and calling to mind the mortality of my body, knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, and uncertain of the time when, do make an ordain this mine last will and testament, in the manner and form following. I commend my soul to God he gave it to me and my body to the earth to be buried in decent and Christian like manner, at the discretion of my executors to be hear after nominated. Touching my worldly estate as it has pleased God to bless me I will dispose in the manner following.
Item 1st. I give and bequeath to my son William Means one dollar, to him and his heirs.
Item 2nd. I give and bequeath to my son James Means one dollar.
Item 3 I give and bequeath to the children of my daughter Rebecca Grogan, deceased, 30 dollars.
Item 4 All the residue of my estate, both real and personal, to be sold by my executor, and after my just debts are paid to be equally divided among my daughters, Jane Campbell, Mary Barnes, Elizabeth Ridder, Nancy Sharp, Flemin Sharp, Martha Vernon, the children of my daughter Ann, deceased, and the heirs of my son Robert Means, and my daughter Rachel Smith.
Lastly I do nominate, constitute, and appoint my trusty friend Josiah Claybrook, my executor of this my last will and testament in witnesses where of I have here unto set my hand and affixed my seal this 20th day of May 1822.
Robert Means (x his mark) Seal
Witnesses Neheniah Vernon, Absolom Vernon, and John Claybrook
State of North Carolina, Rockingham County August session 1822.
Robert Means who received a patent of 368 acres on the north branch’s of Molley’s Creek on 16 March 1771, according to records of the Virginia Land Patent Office. This land was in Bedford County. On 9 Dec. 1778, Robert and Elizabeth Means of Bedford Co., Va., and Rafel Parish of St. Paul;s Parish, Hanover County sold 368 acres of land on a branch of Molley's Creek on 9 Dec. 1778 to John Ferris. (Bedford Co. Deed Book 6 p. 180)
Robert Means who was summoned to attend Court as a Juror for reasons shown on oath, the penalty of the fine is remited. Rockingham County, North Carolina, Court of Pleas and Quarter Session, Minutes, 1786-1795, image 23 of 390.
August Term, 1786. Robert Means appointed to Grand Jury. Rockingham County, North Carolina, Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Minutes, 1786-1795, image 29 of 390.
February Term, 1787. Robert Means appointed to serve on Grand Jury.d Rockingham County, North Carolina, Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Minutes, 1786-1795, image 46 of 390.
February Term 1796. Robert Means was plaintiff in a suit against Matthew Pegg. Non-suit declared. Rockingham County, North Carolina, Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Minutes, 1796 - 1808, image 12 of 582.
November Term 1797. Deed from Robert Means to Wm Means for 200 acres was acknowledged. Rockingham County,North Carolina, Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Minutes, 1796 - 1808, image 89 of 582
February Term 1803. Deed from Robert Means to Benjamin Thornton for 135 acres proved by Daniel Smiyth. Rockingham County,North Carolina, Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Minutes, 1796 - 1808, image 296 of 582
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1735 - 1822 (87 years)