Newman Virginia Roots

William Halbert was a dragoon with Light-Horse Harry Lee for seven years. His sister Hannah’s brother-in-law, William Newman, enlisted and served in the same unit for two years. About the time William Newman’s enlistment ended, his younger brother, George Newman, joined the unit. William Halbert’s sister Hannah married Alexander Newman.

Many people mistakenly report that their ancestor William Anson Halbert was the dragoon with Light-Horse Harry Lee and moved to South Carolina. But William Halbert only left Essex during the war, and did not have any children. The pension was filed in Essex County, and two chancery cases stated he was a resident of Essex County, Virginia. Depositions say he was an overseer for the Garnett family in Essex for over twenty years after the war was over. William Anson Halbert lived in South Carolina the same time William Halbert lived in Essex, Virginia.

After William Halbert died intestate, his estate, was divided between his siblings and their children, instead of children of his own. Therefore, William Halbert and his wife Rosey Ingram must not have had any surviving children. It doesn’t say anything about Rosey either, which should mean that she already died. Here’s an excerpt showing Hannah Halbert Newman’s children.

1823-004 Essex County, VA chancery Halbert vs Halbert

Depositions in William Halbert’s Revolutionary pension

William Halbert’s pension includes replies to inquiries about William Halbert. The answers from the War Department mistakenly said William Halbert was from Richmond County, but William Halbert did not live in Richmond. All t he pension deposition letters say he was from Essex, including this deposition from Light-Horse Harry Lee.

Robert Headley’s book, Married Well and Often: Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649-1800*, mistakenly said that William Halbert married Mary Faulconer. I looked at the source for that citation, which was the will of Nicholas Faulconer, written 1789. This will does not reference his daughter Mary Faulconer. Instead he mentions James Halbert, and James and Mary’s children Joel Halbert, Willam Halbert and Mary Halbert. James was the older brother of William Halbert.

*Link to Ancestry.com, a paid site