Lucinda Henton

  General Notes:

In Lucinda Hinton's will her name is spelled Henton. Other family members have documentation supporting Hinton. Using Hinton until further documentation is found.

A document called "Historic Mt. Horeb 1875-1971 A Rural Church Proud of its Rich Past" found at the Rockingham Counthy Historical Society in Dayton, Ohio describes Lucinda's involvement in supporting a local church. It states:
The earliest record we have of a Church or place of worship located at Mt. Horeb dates back to around 1855. An old Deed for approximately one-half acre of land now owned by our Church, just across the road South of the Church, is found in the (so-called) "Burnt Records" Deed Book in the Counth Clerk's office. This Deed is dated November 29, 1855, between Lucinda Henton of the one part and Adam Showalter, David H. Lary and Thomas Hoard, Trustees for the Presbyterian, N.S. (New School) and Methodist Episcopal Congregation, worshipping a the Trinity Church and School House. One-half acre of land, more or less, was transferred for the sum of One Dollar and for the further consideration of the vantage of having regular religious worship at said Church and School House. This tract of land is described in the Deed as being the same on which said Trinity Church and School House has been recently constructed, and being in Rockingham County, lying in the fork of the Dry River Gap and Briery Branch road.

Lucinda Henton's Last Will and Testament recorded in July of 1864:
I Lucinda Henton of the County of Rockingham and State of Virginia, do make and declare this to be my last Will and testament.
1st - It is my wish that all my just debts be paid.
2nd - I leave and bequeath unto Silas Leary a certain lot of land lying on the waters of War Branch and Muddy Creek it being the same land that I inherited by the death of my father Joseph Henton.
3rd - I will unto Wm C. Whitmore all my rights title and interest in part of the land that I inherited by the Will of my sister Hetty Henton, that is my interest in the northwestern and down to a fence opposite the dwelling house.
4th - I will unto Silas Leary all my rights title and interest in part of the land that I inherited by the will of my sister Hetty Henton that is my interest in the Southeastern end from the fence down.
Signed and Sealed and acknowledged on the 4th day of April, 1864 in the presence of us witnesses - Samuel A. Long, John Mason, Joseph Burkholder.
Lucinda made her mark (X) on the will for the signature.

Lucinda's will was contested. Strother Grady and Sharah his wife, Jesse Funk and Betty his wife, and Ruth E. Leary sued the beneficiaries of Lucinda's will stating that the will was a fraud based upon the allegation that Lucinda Henton was not mentally capable. The beneficiaries were Silas Leary, Sarah L. Leary, Alice Leary, Benjamin B. Leary, Henry A. W. Leary and Charles M. Leary, the only children and heirs at law of David H. R. Leary, deceased, William L. Bridges, John C. Bridges, Matthew Bridges, Absalom Bridges, the only children and heirs at law of Absalom and Maria Bridges, deceased, William C. Whitmore and Sarah Jane his wife, John H. Leary. The case was decided in favor of Silas Leary and the other beneficiaries.

Silas Leary and his family moved into Lucinda's home which is the home referred to by Alice Paulina Leary below:
My grandfather Silas Leary's old home was near Hinton, Virginia. He gave some land to build a church near his home. It was United Bretheran built in 1875. The old home still stands there.
The cemetery where grandparents and aunts and uncles rest is just back behind the church.
Cousin Claud Leary (uncle Clint's son) lives on Route 2 in Dayton, Virginia.
A cousin of David Leary (a nephew of Silas Leary), Josephus Leary donated money to this church and they used it to remodel the church. It is now quite a modern country church.