Hannah, daughter of William and Elizabeth Robinson, was born about 1704. Her sisters were: Elizabeth, Isabelle and Mary. William Robinson died about 1717. His widow, Elizabeth, married James Isham about 1719.

Hannah Robinson Hendon, wife of Josias Hendon, was probably married to Josias Hendon about 1722. Their eldest child, William, was born 1 December 1723 as proven by the Parish Register of St. Johns Parish, Baltimore County, Maryland, page 21, G.S.-3432, Pt. 1.

Hannah, who became a widow, in 1738, made an Indenture dated 3 December 1745 in which she stated "Between Hannah Hendon and Mary Bosworth, daughter and co-heirs of William Robinson" -- sold to Stephen Onion, a part of the land known as William the Conqueror. Earlier, in November 1722 (Liber 5,Fol. 47-48, Accounts, Maryland) the record:

The account of James Isham and Elizabeth his wife lately called Elizabeth Robinson, Administrators of William Robinson, Deed. of such and so much of the deeds. Estate etc.--- This would point to the probability that James Isham had married the widow of James William Robinson. There is quite a long record of accounts of this Estate.

Dated 1724, but recorded 17th Sept, 1725 (Maryland Land Records, Liber 15, Polio 173) Delivered to Josias Hendon the following Particulars being the Filiate potion of the three following daughters of William Robinson, late of Baltimore County. Deed Vizt: Elizabeth, Isabelle and Mary for W.E. the  said Josias has post Security to Baltimore County Court for repayment of the said potions to the said children when of age:

      (List of livestock and tools and their value)

On the back of the foregoing Inventory is this written:

I do acknowledge to have received of James Isham and Elizabeth his wife,  Administrators of William Robinson, late of Baltimore County, by Deed, the particulars mentioned on the other side, etc.  (signed) Josias Hendon, 10 August 1724.

Isabelle Robinson married 21 February 1733 to John Bond.

In 1726 James Isham made a Deed --To all to whom this present writing shall come, I James Isham of the County of Baltimore in the Province of Maryland, Planter, send Greetings. Know you that I the said James Isham as well and for and in consideration of the Natural Love and affection I bear unto my Son-in-law, Josias Hendon and his son William (One notices that James did not say that William was his Grandson) and for other good causes and considerations me hereunto moving haveGiven and Granted by these presents, do fully clearly and absolutely Give, Grant and Confirm unto the said Josias Hendon for his natural life and afterwards to his son William, his heirs and assigns----known as Ishams Gardens - 170 A. The same day Josias deeded to James 100 A. known as Elizabeths Choice. Both Elizabeth and Hanna agreed to these deeds.

William would have been only 15 years old when his father died and he became heir to this land. It is probable that it was because he would have this land that Josias willed the homeplace to Isham at the death of his mother, Hannah. We notice that William is the only one of Hannah end Josias' children who was married when Hannah died and he had married only a short time before her death. If Isham was 13 when his father died and the other children younger they not all grown, even when Hannah died. There should be papers showing who was appointed guardian of their part of Hannah's estate.

Since one of our purposes in writing this book is to show changes in the environment of our ancestors over the years, I am including a copy of the Land Grant to Josias. Notice surveyors marks -- from one tree or group of  trees -- with the supposition that the trees were permanent.

The chain is a unit of measurement. The chain was equal to 66 feet in present measurements. A perch was equal to 161 feet.

Notice that Hannah, because she was a widow, had the right to sell her inheritance, but Mary, her sister, had given her rights to her husband at her marriage. Except for the fact that the dowry was her inheritances, her husband could have sold it without her signature. There was, one consession, wives were asked away from their husband's presence, if she was willing for the land to be sold. What do you suppose he would have done to her if she had not agreed?

When Elizabeth Robinson, mother of Hannah and Mary, married James Isham, he became the rightful owner of all the property she had inherited from her first husband. History seems to indicate that it was the life work of some men to marry wealthy widows and assume control of their property.

It was also the custom of the time for a father to give land to a daughter when she married. This land became the property of her husband, unless she outlived him, and even then he willed it to his sons. The law allowed women few rights, but even as today, some strong women seemed to hold a few. For instance, Hannah Hendon did not remarry. All of her children were miners when Josias died, but she raised and trained them alone and had more property when she died than Josias had when he died.

This INDENTURE made this third day of December Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and forty-five, BETWEEN Hannah Hendon and Mary Bosworth, daughters and co-heirs of William Robinson and John Bosworth, husband to the said Mary, all of Baltimore County, and province of Maryland of the one part and Stephen Onion, iron master, of the County and province of the other part.

WITNESSETH that the said Hannah Hendon, John Bosworth and Mary, wife, for and in consideration, the sum of twenty-five pounds Sterling and ten pounds and ten shillings, current money of Maryland, to the said Hannah Hendon, John Bosworth and Mary, his wife, to them already in hand paid before the ensealing and delivery of these presence by the said Stephen Onion, the receipt hereof they do hereby acknowledge, and thereof do clearly and absolutely acquit, exenorate and discharge for ever, him, the said Stephen Onion, his heirs and assigns and therewith doth acknowledge themselves to be fully satisfied, contented and paid.

Hath granted, bargained, sold, aliened, enfoeffed, conveyed and confirmed and by these present doth fully, clearly and absolutely grant, bargain, sell, alien, enfoeff, convey and confirm unto the said Stephen Onion, his heirs and assigns forever, the half part of two tracts or parcels of land called part of Leafs Chance and part of William the Conqueror, lying and being in the said county and on North side of the Great Branch of Gunpowder River and upon the main road up the ford bounded as follows:

BEGINNING at a bounded hickory, or where one stood, standing in a valley at the north end of a white marsh and running thence north one hundred and sixty perches to a bounded white oak, then west two hundred and thirty perches to a bounded white oak, then south forty perches to a bounded chestnut, then east eighty perches to a bounded white oak, then south one hundred and ten perches to a bounded hickory, and from thence to the beginning, containing and laid out for one hundred and seventy acres of land.

Together with all houses and outhouses edifices, buildings yards, ways, passages, easements, water courses, woods, under-woods timber, and three proffitts commodities and appurtenances, whatsoever to the same premesis belonging, or any wise appertaining, or to with the same or any part thereof, or at any. time heretofore used, occupied or enjoyed, accepted, reputed or known as part parcel, or member thereof, and the revision or revisions, remainder and remainders of the lend afd and also all the estate right title, interest, property, proffitt, possession, claim and demand whatsoever, both in law and equity of them, said Hannah Hendon and John Bosworth and Mary, his wife, of, unto or outof the said land and premisis and of, in, and unto and out of every part and parcel thereof.

TO HAVE and TO HOLD the lands, tenements, herediments, and all and singular, other than the premeses herein before mentioned with the appurtenances, unto the said Stephen Onion, his heirs, and assigns forever, and to and for no other use, intent or purpose whatsoever.

AND the said Hannah Hendon, John Bosworth and Mary, his wife, for themselves, their heirs, exers., admrs., do hereby covenant, promise, grant end agree to and with the said Stephen Onion, his heirs, end assigns that they the said Hannah Hendon, John Bosworth and Mary, his wife, are rightfully and lawfully and absolutely seized of an estate in fee simple, in and to the lands and premesis afd with the appurtenances, and that they have good right and absolute power to sell and convey the same to Stephen Onion, his heirs and assigns, that they the said Hannah Hendon, John Bosworth and Mary, his wife, shall and will warrant the same unto Stephen Onion, his heirs and assigns against all persons claiming from, by or under then or either of them and free of all other titles or claims (the rents due to the Lord of the ffee foreprized and excepted) and the said Hannah Hendon, John Bosworth and Mary, his wife, do hereby for themselves, their heirs, exers. and admrs. covenant, promise and agree to and with the said Stephen Onion, his heirs, and assigns to make, do acknowledge, execute and suffer all and every such further and reasonable and lawful act or acts, thing or things, devise or devises, conveyance and assureance in the law for the further and better assureance surely end sure making and conveying the said premises or parcel of land with all the before granted premises with their and every of their appurtenances unto the said Stephen Onion, his heirs and assigns for ever.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the said Hannah Hendon, John Bosworth and Mary, his wife, to these presents their hands and seals have set the day and year first written.

 Hannah Hendon
John Bosworth
Mary Bosworth

 Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of:
 Charles Baker
 JO. Hamondorsey

MEMORANDUM that on the third day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty-five, came the within mentioned Hannah Hendon and John Bosworth and Mary, his wife, before us the subscribers, two of his Lordships for the peace for Baltimore County and acknowledged the within mentioned land with all and singular, its rights, jurisdictions and appurtenances belonging to be the tight title and in interest of the within mentioned Stephen Onion, his heirs and assigns forever at the same time, Mary Bosworth, wife of the said John Bosworth who being privately examined out of the hearing of her said husband, did freely acknowledge all her right of dower to the said within mentioned lands to the said Stephen Onion, his heirs, and that she did the same of her own free will and accord and not through any fear or the rests of her said husband acknowledged before us:

 William Young

Saml. Owings

December 3rd, 1745
 

THEN recd. of  Stephen Onion twenty five pounds Sterling and ten pounds, ten shillings current money of Maryland, in full payment for the within mentioned land and premises rectd pr us

                           Witness                         W. Young            Hannah Hendon
                                                                   Saml. Owings      John Bosworth

January 15, 1745

 RECD of Mr. Stephen Onion three shilling and six pence sterling for his Lord ships use being for an alienation fine of the within eighty five acres of  land.

                                     Benj. Tasker
 RECORDED the twenty fifth day of January, Anno Dom 1745

T Brerewood, CLK