HART.
Andrew Hart was a Scotchman by birth, and was established
as a merchant in the southern part of the county as
early as 1786. His store was on Jumping Hill, at the south
end of Gay's Mountain. At that time the road from Staunton
to Scott's Landing passed immediately in its front, so
that it was a point of public concourse. Mr. Hart was eminently
successful in his business operations, and attained a
high reputation for integrity and worth. Besides the management
of his private interests, he was frequently engaged
in public affairs, devoting much time to the execution of
trusts devolved upon him by the County Court. He was for
many years a ruling elder in the Cove Church, and one of its
main supporters. His home was at Sunny Bank, the present
residence of his great-grandson, Andrew Hart. He was
twice married, first to Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Samuel
Leake, and secondly to Elizabeth Bickley, sister of the wife
of Samuel Dyer. He died in 1832.
His children by the first marriage were Samuel L. and
Mary, the wife of David Young. These brothers-in-law were
in the early part of the century associated as merchants, and
prosecuted an active business in North Garden. Samuel
Hart was exceedingly popular, and a wide circle of friends
availed themselves of his rare executive gifts. About 1829
he removed to Missouri. By the second marriage Mr. Hart's
children were James, Andrew, John B., Francis, William D.,
Eliza, the wife of William B. Harris, Margaret, the wife of
Rev. Thornton Rogers, and Celia, the wife of Dr. Jacob Snider,
who removed to Mississippi.
James was twice married, first to Sophia, daughter of
Schuyler Harris, and secondly to Frances Thomas, widow of
Dr. Charles H. Meriwether. His home was in North Garden
where H. Carter Moore afterwards lived, but he subsequently
removed to Fruitland near Keswick, the present residence of
his son-in-law, A. P. Fox. He died in 1874. Andrew was
a Presbyterian minister, and died a few years ago at Buchanan,
the place of his last pastorate. John B. was appointed
a magistrate in 1824, did business in Scottsville and Mississippi
successfully for a time, but at length overtaken by commercial
disaster, removed to Alexandria where he died.
Francis received from his father a plantation near Covesville,
sold it in 1837 to Dr. Daniel E. Watson, and removed to
Richmond. William D. was a man of much energy and vivacity,
studied law, was a magistrate, represented the county
both in the House of Delegates and State Senate, and was a
Director of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. He succeeded
his father both in the old homestead and the eldership
of the Cove Church. He married Elizabeth De Jarnette,
and had one daughter Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas R. Dew.
He departed this life in 1877.
John Hart, a brother of Andrew, settled in Richmond,
where he died unmarried in 1796. He managed his affairs
prosperously, and acquired considerable property. By his
will he bequeathed a thousand pounds to a sister in Linlithgow,
Scotland, and the residue of his estate to his brother
in Albemarle.
