| Notes |
- Robert Curry is listed as part of the Civil Service in the Revolutionary War from Augusta Co., Virginia in the DAR PATRIOT INDEX, VOL I., p.170. (CL-171,175) (CL-270)
Birth Order of Robert's children is not in any way in order on my family group sheet. The order has been conjectured as similar to how Robert lists his children in his will. Ann and Samuel's birth dates are the only ones known with some certainty. His will lists them in this order: Samuel, Margaret, Mary, Ann, William, James, Robert, Alexander and Isaiah. I personally suspect that the daughter’s birth order should be intermixed throughout the order of the sons because of some calculations I did from war records. Sons James and Robert were enlisted with their father, Robert, in 1783. That makes their likely birth order before their sister Ann's of 1768, not after.
Doris Rawlings received a letter second hand that stated Dr. Robert Curry was from Antrim, Ireland. Dr. Frey, a competent researcher in this family, states that he was born in Londonderry, Ulster Co., Ireland instead. This fits with the fact that he was of Scotch/Irish descent. The Scotch Irish were mostly from Ulster, Northern Ireland, across from Scotland who traveled to America, staying a brief time in Pennsylvania before settling in Augusta Co., Virginia. They were usually Presbyterians. They were participants in many wars of the area, first the French, the Indians, then finally the British. The Indian Wars were from 1753-1764 and the Revolution was from 1775-1781 with peace not formally concluded until 1783. (CL-188)
He immigrated from Londonderry, Ireland to Pennsylvania late in the year of 1736 arriving in the Port of Philadelphia. According to the book "Men of Mark in Virginia", he was also born in Londonderry. He traveled with possibly 3 brothers. He and his brother, William purchased 200 acres in Lancaster Co., PA on Jan 16, 1737. Both of them removed to Augusta Co., VA in late 1747 or early 1748 though the Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy by Virkus, c. 1928 stated that he arrived in Augusta Co., VA in 1753.
He married first in Pennsylvania and possibly twice from some second-hand sources like "My Augusta.". The only wife that has been verified is Ann Currie. He and his wife, Ann, are listed as cousins in a letter from Donna Lewis dated 1993. This is supported by research from Dr. Frey. Dr. Robert Curry purchased 200 acres on Naked Creek near John Young's and friend, George Glenn's land in Augusta Co., VA on Mar 10, 1748/49. He was the progenitor of the Currys living on Naked Creek. In 1750, Robert and William were joined by their brothers, Nathan, David and Isaiah. (CL-468)
Robert Curry farmed his land, but he had also studied medicine and taught fencing for several years. (CL-568) In 1753, he had 135 of these acres on Naked Creek surveyed by Tomas Lewis. In 1780 he surveyed an adjoining 50 acres also on Naked Creek. His possible father-in-law, Andrew McCombe, seems to have helped him purchase 130 of these acres. Robert Curry is listed in the military service throughout this extensive amount of time. Robert Curry qualified as Ensign of Militia on Sept. 21 1763, Captain of Militia on August 16, 1774 and Major of Militia by 1776. He was listed as Capt. in the French and Indian Wars and as Capt. of the Home Guard in the Revolutionary War. For his service in the French and Indian Wars, he was granted a tract of land in Highland Co., Ohio named "Crab Bottom". This is possibly the land that later Curry and Glenn descendants moved to. (CL-568)
He was appointed road overseer from Skidmore's Camp up the North River to the first main Fork above the Great Lick on Mar. 18, 1783. He is also listed with sons James and Robert in Capt. Given's and Campbell's Companies in 1783. (CL-194b,c) He was living in Greenbrier Co., VA from 1783-1786. That is now in West Virginia, slightly S.E. of Augusta Co., VA. (CL-172) In record after record for Augusta Co., Virginia he is listed as the "Teste" or Witness for many legal proceedings. In Deed Book 26, pg. 344 he was issued a Patent, 1st Sept., 1780. (The item in patent was not mentioned.) He was an elder in the "Old Stone Church" in Augusta Co., Virginia. It can easily be surmised that he was a well-respected citizen from these court records. (CL-194d).
This Robert Curry has been confused with Robert (b. 1730) who was the son of Robert and Jane Seawright Curry from Pennsylvania. It is said that he married an Ann also (though this simply could be a mix-up with our Dr. Robert who was born in 1717). (CL-305,306, 391) Proof that our Dr. Robert, father of our Ann Glenn, was born in 1717 first comes from a Vol. I, D.A.R. record. The D.A.R. information is supported in Dr. Robert Curry's Tombstone Inscription taken by an unknown reader from Old Fort Defiance, August Co., VA. On that he was born Nov. 10, 1717 and died Jan. 5, 1800 and was buried with wife Ann Curry of Ulster Co., Ireland. (CL-270) The death date does not match when he wrote his will in 1803. The tombstone was erected by his descendent, Charles Curry around 1898. The unknown reader described it as a large new stone erected by children of Robert Addison and Hanna Anderson Curry. According to researcher, Linda Baker, the person simply transcribed the tombstone incorrectly. It clearly states that he died Jan. 5, 1804.
After the Charles who had erected the tombstone, died in 1941, the Curry family home that had been lived in by six generations of Currys was finally sold in 1946. His tombstone states: "Dr. Curry was Captn in French and Indian War Captn of Home Guards during the Revolutionary War. Elder of Augusta Church. Robert and Ann are Natives of Ulster, Ireland and were amoung the Pioneers and Nation Builders of this Country."
In the book, "From Corner to Corner with John Curry Sr.," it states, the first Currys in the Shenandoah Valley are reported to have been Dr. Robert Curry and his brothers, Nathaniel, David and Isaiah who reached Augustus Co. in 1747-48. (CL-207). These brothers names fit with the children of William Curry and Sally Young from Antrim, IRE. (CL-275) Following is Robert Curry's Will, transcribed as written 29 Dec 1803 - Augusta Co. Court Will Book, Vol. VIII, pg. 417: "In the name of God amen I Robert Curry of the State of Virginia and County of Augusta being of advanced years but of perfect mind and memory Thanks to God for it and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die and after death the judgment I do hereby make this my last Will and testament in names and form following and first I recommend my Soul to go to Who gave it and my body to the earth from where it was taken to be buried in a Cristian and decent like maner at the discresion of my Executors here named and as for what worldly goods it hath pleased God to bestow on me in this life it is my will and desire they be disposed of as followeth and first I leave and bequeath unto my beloved wife Ann my dwelling house with all the furniture belonging to it and likewise my Negro wench China to be for her own use during her natural life and to be disposed of her at her decease as she sees proper her and her issue together with two cows & two sheep all to disposed of by her as she sees proper at her decease and as for my real Estate to with my lands I alow my son Samuel the benefit of my lands during my wife Ann life time and at her decease I alow him to keep the land or sell it at the rate of eight dollars an acre if sold to be divided as follows to wit 35 to be divided among them my Daughter Margaret Nickel 5A and my Daughter Mary Erwin 25A and my Daughter Ann Glen the sum of 5A to be taken out of the whole price of the the land I alow my son Samuel to Keep if he sees proper providing he pay to his five brothers William Curry James Curry Robert Curry Alexander and Isah at the rate of eight dollars an acre and provided my son Samuel Should see cause to keep the land he is to pay each of the Legatees in Six years after my wifes decease and I do constitute and appoint my two beloved sons Robert & William (crossed out) Samuel Curry Executors of this my last Will and testament and I do hereby revoke and ___ al former Wills either by word or wrighting ratifying this to be my last Will and testament in ___ I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 29th Day of December the year one thousand eight hundred 3 -- Witnesses present James Young Sen. (his mother's gr. nephew?), Hugh Brown - Andrew Young (His mother's gr.gr. nephew?). Proved 24th December, 1804. Samuel qualifies." (CL-185, 468)
He died near Staunton in Augusta Co., VA after this writing in 1804. The family home that his son Samuel was bequeathed is located "six miles northwest of Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church and five miles west of Mt. Sidney in the "hills of Judea" on the waters of Naked Creek." (CL-391d) As for his sons, there are two Samuel Curry's living in Augusta Co, Virginia from at least 1800-1811 who married at similar times. Samuel Curry is listed as marrying Mary Glenn, d. of George Glenn, on Mar. 25 1800. (This disagrees with info. on Mary Glenn Curry's tombstone that says she was the daughter of James Glenn). There is also a Samuel Curry listed with wife Polly in the 1811 settlement of the Seawright estate who lived outside Augusta Co., VA. It does mention three Curry's in this will. Robert Curry and Jane (possible son of Dr. Robert, William or John Curry Sr.), Samuel Curry and Polly (possible son of Dr. Robert Curry) and Nicolas Curry and Sarah, (possible son of John Curry, Sr.) and Samuel Curry and Polly. It does state that all of the listed Curry's no longer live in Virginia (CL-194c)
The 1810 Federal Census Records for Augusta Co., VA list the following Curry's as living in Augusta Co., VA. Five of these are possible sons of Robert Curry. There is also a Benjamin Curry, probably the son of William who was a likely cousin of our Dr. Robert Curry in the same area. (I deduce that William and Robert were cousins instead of brothers because of a possible marriage between their children: Elizabeth Curry and Alexander Curry on Oct. 6, 1795. Elizabeth was of age, the d. of William Curry. I presume that Alexander Curry, son of Robert was the spouse, as he is the right age and the only other known Alexander Curry in Augusta County besides Elizabeth's brother also named Alexander.) These are the only Curry's listed as living in Augusta Co., VA in 1810 and they all live in close proximity. The categories are: Males, age 0-10, 10-16, 16-26, 26-45, 45 & up. Females, ages 0-10, 10-16, 16-26, 26-45, 45 & up. (CL-181) Alexander, pg 325; 20001-10010-00 Benjamin, pg.325; 00010-00011-00 Isaiah, pg 325; 20010-20010-00 * James, pg 325; 40201-22010-00 * Robert, Curry: pg. 326: 00001-42201-00 * Samuel, pg 325; 20110-30010-00 * Samuel, pg 325; 21010-20011-10 William, pg 325; 12301-00001-00 * Of these: Isaiah, James, Robert, Samuel and William are possibly Dr. Robert Curry's sons or even grandsons.
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1717 - 1804 (86 years)
