Robert Scott HOOK

   Cause of his death was inflamation of bowels.

  General Notes:

Highland Co., VA Order Book 1 (1847 - 1858), p. 327, 20 Nov 1856

Robert S. Hook this day presented to the Court a petition for a re survey of his lands in this County, and it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court, that he has previously posted a notice of his intention and the time of this application, at the Court house door of this County, on the first day of two successive County Courts, and that he has also given notice through to the adjoining land holders - it is ordered that the surveyor of this County re survey the land of the said Robert S. Hook, at his charge & according to his direction and the title papers taking care not to intrude upon the rights of others, and return a fair plot & certificate of the same to this court.


Highland Co., VA Order Book 2 (1858 - 1870), p. 16, 22 Jul 1858

Robert S. Hook whose lands in this County has been re surveyed in persuance of an order made by this Court at its Decemeber term 1856, this day returned to Court a fair plat and certificate of said resurvey of 1000 acres - and the Court certifies that in its assesion such survey is just and reasonable.


Highland Co., VA Order Book 2 (1858 - 1870), p. 362

Robert S. Hook vs. Jonathan Siron (debt)


Highland Co., VA Order Book 2 (1858 - 1870), p. 365

Robert S. Hook vs. A. J. Jones (debt)


Highland County, Virginia Will Book 2 (1859 - 1924), p. 84

In the name of God Amen.

I, Robert S. Hook of the County of Highland and State of Virginia being of sound mind and disposing memory, do make and publish this my last will, and hereby revoking all other wills by one heretofore at anytime made and as to such estate as it has pleased God to intrust one with I dispose of the same as follows. 1st I direct as soon as practicable after my decease that my Executors have all my personal estate appraised and sold at public auction on a reasonable credit.

2ndly I give and bequeath unto my two sons Benjamin T. Hook & Robt. N. Hook all my lands lying on the Cow Pasture River & on Shaws Ridge in Highland County, to be equally divided between them having respect to quantity & quality.

3rdly I give to my son John M. Hook my land on the Bullpasture Mountain in said County of Highland, it being my home tract, and I also enjoin it on him to pay out, for the benefit of the other heirs, the sum of Five Hundred dollars within two years after my decease to be disposed of with other money as hereinafter directed.

4thly I direct that my Executors shall collect and pay the sum of six hundred dollars to my daughter Francis Hodge & her children, within two years after my decease.

5thly I direct that my Executors shall collect and pay out to my daughter Rebecca R. Blagg and her children the sum of six hundred dollars including two cows which she now has in possession to be paid in two years after my decease.

6thly I direct that my Executors shall collect and pay to my daughter Elizabeth J. Bradshaw & her children the sum of Four hundred Dollars, within 2 years after my decease.

7thly I direct that my Executors shall sell 2 tracts of land not above named, one of which lies in the Mill Ridges & the other on the Big Mountain the 1st containing 96 acres & the 2nd 100 A to be sold at public auction with my personal property.

8thly I give unto my female slave named Caroline one bed and its furniture one cow and one cooking stove.

9thly I direct that after all my just debts shall have been paid, and the specific legacies above named, the balance of my estate shall be equall divided between all of my children (vis.) Francis H. Hodge, Elizabeth J. Bradshaw, Rebecca R. Blagg, Benjamin T. Hook, John M. Hook & Robert N. Hook.

10thly I constitute & appoint my two sons John M. Hook & Benjamin T. Hook Executors of this my last will and testament, written on one half sheet of paper, In witness whereof I have set hereunto my hand and affixed my seal the 25th day of April in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and sixty seven.

AttestRober S. Hook(seal)
A. J. Jones
Samuel Moyers
J. Layne

In Highland County Court August Term 1873

The last will and testament of Robert S. Hook, decd, was produced in court and proved by the oaths of Andrew J. Jones, Samuel Moyers and Joseph Laynes subscribing witnesses thereto and is ordered to be recorded.

And on the motion of John M. Hook and Benjamin T. Hook the Executors therein named who made oath thereto and together with Townson Price Paschal D. Williams and Jacob L. Shumate their securities (who justified on oath as to their sufficiency) entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of Eight thousand dollars, conditioned as the law directs, certificate is granted them for obtaining a probat of the said will in due form.
A CopyTesteJ.C. Matheny Clk.


Rockingham Register, Harrisonburg, VA, August 22, 1873

Death of an old Highlander.

Robert S. Hook, Esq., of Highland county, Va., died at his late residence on the Bull Pasture river, in that county, on Saturday the 9th inst., in the 78th year of his age. He died very suddenly, "the weary wheels of life" having stopped without any premonitory symptoms. Mr. Hook had been for many years a Magistrate, was a soldier of the war of 1812, and was receiving a pension from the U.S. Government at the time of his death. He was one of the most substantial men of the county.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Military: War of 1812: Private, Capt. Snapp's Co., VA Militia.

• Occupation: farmer.

• Census, 7 Aug 1820, Pendleton Co., VA. ⁶⁰³ Living in his household were 1 free white male (16 - 25), 3 free white females (0 - 10), 1 free white female (26 - 44), 1 female slave (0 - 14).

• Census, 1830, Pendleton Co., VA. ⁶⁰⁴ Living in the household were 2 free white males (0 thru 5), 1 free white male (5 - 9), 1 free white male (30 - 39), 2 free white females (10 - 14), 1 free white female (15 - 19), 1 free white female (30 - 39), and 1 male slave (10 - 23).

• Census, 1840, Pendleton Co., VA. ⁶⁰⁵ Living in the household were 2 free white males (5 thru 9), 1 free white male (10 - 14), 1 free white male (15 - 19), 1 free white male (40 - 49), 1 free white female (20 - 29), 1 free white female (40 - 49), and 1 female slave (10 - 23).

• Census, 27 Aug 1850, Highland Co., VA. ⁵⁸⁹ He was 54 years old, born in Rockingham Co., VA. He owned real estate valued at $5,000. Also living in his household were his wife Polly (age 54, born in Rockingham Co., VA), son Benjamin (age 23, born in Pendleton Co., VA), son John M. (age 21, born in Pendleton Co., VA), and son Robert N. (age 19, born in Pendleton Co., VA).

• Census, 11 Jul 1860, Doe Hill, Highland Co., VA. ⁶⁰⁶ He was 63 years old. He had real estate valued at $3,525 and personal estate valued at $2,379. Also living in his household were Augustus Ervin (age 29, farm hand) and St. Clair Vanpelt (age 14, farm hand).

• Census, 11 Aug 1870, Monterey, Highland Co., VA. ⁶⁰⁷ He was 74 years old. He owned real estate valued at $10,000 and personal estate valued at $2,500. Also living in his household were Robert Irvin (age 17, farm hand), Martin Armstrong (age 16, farm hand), Mary McCrea (age 14, domestic), and his servant, Caroline Anderson (age 44).

Robert married Mary "Polly" ERVINE, daughter of Rev. Benjamin ERVINE Sr. and Mary ?, on 21 Apr 1814 in Rockingham Co., VA ⁵⁹⁶.^,601 (Mary "Polly" ERVINE was born in 1796 in Rockingham Co., VA ⁶⁰⁸ and died between 1856 and 1860 in Highland Co., VA.)