Key Facts

Snapshot:	lived in colonial Virginia through the Revolutionary War; owned slaves
Parents:	unknown
Born:	unknown
Died:	by 26 April 1802 Fauquier County, Virginia
Buried:	unknown

The first record I've found of 490Robert Hinson is a court record dated 26 May 1755 in Fauquier County, Virginia; it states that 490Robert bought some land from John Higgins, although no details about the land or its sale are provided.1 (However, a later deed helps clarify the land's location; see below.)

1755: The earliest record of 490Robert Hinson. Full page.1

In June 1762 490Robert registered his livestock mark—"a crop in the left ear and an underkeel in the right ear"—with a Fauquier County court.2

In November 1773 he was licensed to operate an "ordinary," which was basically a restaurant and/or inn.

1773: 490Robert operates a restaurant/inn from his house. Full page.3

He acquired his largest tract of land on 6 November 1779: a 164-acre grant between Tinpot Run and Licking Run, adjoining/near the land he'd previously bought from John Higgins.4 490Robert had also purchased something from William Cooke the preceding July;5 a later record clarifies that it was 50 acres of land.6

490Robert appears on a March 1782 list of people who were compensated after having their property "impressed for the use of the public." 490Robert was paid 375 pounds of beef.7 Considering the context, his property likely had been seized for use by the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, but this is merely an educated guess.

In lieu of more interesting records, 490Robert is listed in most of Fauquier County's tax digests from 1782 through the 1790's,8-13 so he undoubtably remained there for the rest of his life.

490Robert's will is of limited genealogical benefit since it's not dated, doesn't mention a wife at all (She probably died before him.), and provides only a few of his childrens' names (Other children are mentioned but not named). The will was proved in Fauquier County on 26 April 1802. You can see the record copy of the will,14 or read a transcription.

The first few lines of the record copy of 490Robert's will. Full page.14

An inventory of his estate names several slaves: Jarvis, Jill and child Charlotte, Bett, Pompey, and (listed together) Daniel and Cable. It also mentions livestock of various kinds, a silver watch, a gun, a saddle and saddle bags, crockery and glassware, three pairs of cards, various tools for farming and animal husbandry, various wagon parts, flax, "one small glass and pictures," a parcel of lard, 12 pounds of tallow, bacon, and other items.15 You can see the inventory here.

After 490Robert's death, his executors sold his land, i.e. the 50-acre tract he'd bought from William Cooke in 1779 and the 164-acre grant.6

Sources Cited:

1: Prince William County, Virginia. Orders book for the years 1754-1755, page 223. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKV-K3XT-L?i=332&cat=397821>, accessed 7 September 2021.

2: Fauquier County, Virginia. Minutes book for the years 1759-1762, page 274. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4C-C3QP-6?i=162&cat=401047>, accessed 7 September 2021.

3: Fauquier County, Virginia. Minutes book for the years 1773-1780, page 104. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4V-TP39?i=373&cat=401047>, accessed 7 September 2021.

4: Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Northern Neck Grants and Surveys, Grants book 1 (1757-1781), pages 372, entry for Robert Hinson dated 6 November 1779. Library of Virginia, <https://lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma990008548610205756&context=L&vid=01LVA_INST:01LVA>, accessed 7 September 2021.

5: Fauquier County, Virginia. Minutes book for the years 1773-1780, page 389. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4V-TGZ2?i=517&cat=401047>, accessed 7 September 2021.

6: Fauquier County, Virginia. Deeds book 15 (1801-1804), page 259-260. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKJ-92WM?i=141&cat=406496> et seq., accessed 7 September 2021.

7: Fauquier Historical Society, "Claims Allowed for Articles Impressed During the Revolution," Bulletin Number 4 (Old Dominion Press, Richmond, Virginia, July 1924), page 363.

8: Fauquier County, Virginia. Tax digest for 1782, page 16 (using the numbers at the top of the page), entry for Robert Hinson. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQ2-Q3TM-Z?i=20&cat=775969>, accessed 7 September 2021.

9: Fauquier County, Virginia. Tax digest for 1783, page 17, entry for Robert Hinson Senr. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQ2-Q3RT-4?i=41&cat=775969>, accessed 7 September 2021.

10: Fauquier County, Virginia. Tax digest for 1785, page 13, entry for Robert Hinson. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQ2-Q3RJ-F?cat=775969>, accessed 7 September 2021.

11: Fauquier County, Virginia. Tax digest for 1790, page 11, entry for Robert Hinson. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQ2-Q3BH-F?i=338&cat=775969>, accessed 7 September 2021.

12: Fauquier County, Virginia. Tax digest for 1795, part B, page 21, entry for Robert Hinson. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQ2-Q3T7-D?i=736&cat=775969>, accessed 7 September 2021.

13: Fauquier County, Virginia. Tax digest 1799, part A, page 24, entry for Robert Henson. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQ2-W9MZ-9?i=170&cat=775969>, accessed 7 September 2021.

14: Fauquier County, Virginia. Wills book 3 (1796-1804), pages 355-356. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TC-X3MH-P?i=189&cat=417735>, accessed 6 September 2021.

15: Fauquier County, Virginia. Wills book 3 (1796-1804), pages 385-386. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TC-X33W-7?i=204&cat=417735> et seq., accessed 6 September 2021.