Dabney Minor
Dabney Minor (1774–1824; aged 49), planter and public official, represented Albemarle County in the Virginia House of Delegates, 1817–18. Appointed a county magistrate in 1806, he was also a founder of the Agricultural Society of Albemarle in 1817, a director of the Rivanna Navigation Company, and an officer in the county militia. Minor’s second marriage was to Thomas Jefferson’s great-niece Martha Jefferson Terrell. In 1819 he purchased Carr’s-brook from the widow of his cousin, TJ’s nephew Peter Carr. Minor subscribed $400 toward the establishment of Central College. At his death his personal estate included more than fifty slaves and a library containing some two hundred volumes.[1]
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Dabney Minor was born on December 7, 1774 to James Carr Minor (1745–1791) and Mary Carr Minor (1756–1797). James and Mary were first cousins.
His first wife, Sarah Elizabeth “Eliza” Johnson was born at Bladensburg, Md., daughter of James Johnston and Catherine Wirt; the sister of William Wirt, Attorney General U. S. She was also niece of George Divers who was married to Martha Walker, daughter of Thomas Walker, of “Castle Hill.” Eliza died on April 7, 1818 (aged 22-23) and was buried at Gale Hill Graveyard, Proffit, Albemarle County.
From 1808 to 1812, Dabney Minor purchased portions of his father’s estate and took full possession of the Gale Hill plantation. He was member State Legislature in 1817. Dabney Minor lived at “Gale Hill” until 1818. All his children by his first wife were born there.
When his wife, Eliza Johnston, was in bad health and he took her to Richmond with the hope that she would improve. After her death, he sold “Gale Hill” to his brother, Dr. John Minor, and moved to “Carrsbrook” on the Rivanna just below Rio Mills. He purchased this property from Peter Carr’s widow.
His second marriage was in the “Carrsbrook” house. Second wife, Anne Anderson, a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Mills) Anderson of Albemarle County, October 12, 1773. They had five children, including Sarah, born August 24, 1783, died September 27, 1864, married June 28, 1808, Dr. John Gilmer of Edgmont, Albemarle County, born April 20, 1782, died Feb 12, 1834.
Dabney Minor died October 12, 1824 (aged 49); burial at Gale Hill Graveyard.
References
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- ↑ Web. Thomas Jefferson to Dabney Minor and Peter Minor, 24 January [1817], National Historical Publications and Records Commission; Founders Online, retrieved November 28, 2023.