Henry WEAVER Sr.

     Henry WEAVER Sr., son of Henrich WEBER and Anna Urner, was born between 1740 and 1748 in Saxe Gotha township, Berkeley District, South Carolina.^2,3 He was also known as Henrich.¹ He was a planter. He was sole heir of his father, Heinrich Weber, and inherited his 150 acres and town lot in Saxe Gotha. Following his father's death, he was most likely raised by his mother and her second husband, Harry Geiger.⁴

On 3 Jan 1764 Henry, who was single, petitioned for 100 acres on Horseshoe Branch in Craven County. This was on Mill Creek a tributary of the Congaree River. This land was located 20 miles upstream of Roundabout, at Horseshoe Branch, opposite the fork of the Broad and Saluda on the Congaree River-- present day Columbia. It was never recorded.

At that time the legal age to buy or sell property was 21, but anyone could obtain a grant or witness documents before age 21.⁵

Henry married Eve Oswalt in 1764 in Cravens District, South Carolina. She was the daughter of John George Oswalt (1730-1775.)¹

By lease and release dated 29 and 30 Jan 1770 Henry sold his 150 acre Saxe Gotha tract to Moses Kirkland. Kirkland already owned adjoining property. The lease shows the transaction was "between Henry Weiber (alias Weaver) of Craven county and Moses Kirkland of Berkeley county."⁶

Henry WEAVER Sr. was living circa 1770 on Horseshoe Branch, Craven County, South Carolina. Shortly after the Revolution and before 1784 he had moved to Hollow Creek on northwest edge of Orangeburgh District, South Carolina. The area became part of the new county of Lexington which was created in 1785.

This was the back country of Saxe Gotha with abundant unclaimed land where few families had dared to settle during the Cherokee Wars (1754-1263). Henry was one of the first settlers along the Charleston Road (now Cedar Grove Road) at Little Creek. Vacant lands surrounded his 150 acre state grant at the time of his survey on 21 Oct 1784. Little Creek was a tributary of Hollow Creek waters of the Saluda River.⁷

Henry WEAVER Sr. appeared on the 1790 Federal Census of Hollow Creek, Orangeburg District, South Carolina, with a household of 2 males over 16 [George, Henry Sr.], 3 males under 16 [David, ?, ?], and 3 females [Susannah, Sarah, Eve]. His sons Samuel and Henry were separate heads of household.

Henry WEAVER Sr. appeared on the 1800 Federal Census of Hollow Creek, Orangeburg District, South Carolina, the household consisting of 1 male 10-15, 1 male 16-25, 1 male 26-44 [Henry Sr], 2 females under 10, 1 female 16-25, and 1 female 45 or older.

Henry WEAVER Sr. and Samuel WEAVER sold a tract of land to William Dent on 13 October 1818 in Twelve Mile Creek, Lexington County, South Carolina. It contained 585 acres on Twelve Mile Creek. Also selling to Dent were Samuel's son-in-law Michael Oswalt and wife, Susannah Weaver. Samuel sold another 515 acres to Dent on 2 Nov 1818.⁸

Henry WEAVER Sr. died in 1826 in Hollow Creek, Lexington County, South Carolina.^9,10,4 He was buried in Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery, Lexington, Lexington County, South Carolina.¹¹