Henry Brock of Henrico County, c. 1791-1843

Henry Brock was a prosperous farmer in western Henrico County, Virginia. He owned at least forty-three slaves at the time of his death. His two-hundred acre farm was located on Old Coal Field Turnpike, later known as Broad Street Road. At the time Mr. Brock purchased his land, that portion of Henrico County was rich in coal - hence the road's name. There were several active mines in and around the area.

Henrico County, Virginia Will Book 11, pages 273-274:
I NEED TO GET CUT OFF PARTS FROM THE COUNTY COPY.

"In the name of God Amen I Henry Brock of the county of Henrico being at present in my usual mind and memory and knowing that it is appointed unto all men to die; do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament, that is to say I wish and desire that after my deth my Boddy may be decently buryed and as to what propperty that it has pleased Almighty God to bestow on me I dispose of in the following manner. I have loned onley to my Daughter Elizabeth N. Phillips one negro name Mary Ann aged about eleven years + a little boy named John aged about four years, a cow + calf. I wish for my Executers to be heareafter named at some suitable time to advertise and sell all of my hed of horses save two + my hed of cows save four which I wish to stay on my plantation for the use of my wife and younger children. I wish that my just debts should be paid out of the proceds of the above named propperty and the balance of the same with the heir of of [sic.] all my negroes to be in safekeeping either in bank or other safe deposit my Executors who is to have the management of is to be responsible for its safekeeping, except such a part as may be necessary to assist in giving my children a propper Edducation + maintenance of my young children. Should the following provetions fail to do that; I wish that my wife, Mary Ann Brock should keep her children with her that they may be raised + educated; and for that purpose to keep on the place the above named two horses and four cows, with my man Jessee; a boy Sam, + Sharlott a yellow woman; and a part of Mary's children, such as cannot be put out to an advantage to the estate, as my boys may grow up, I wish that they may be put to some business that will be most suitable to their advantages + the capasity of their mindes +c, until my youngest son shall arrive at the age of twenty one as my children shall arrive at twenty one [two words off page] that they may have something near that loaned to my daughter Eliz[off page] loned to them onley until the division of the estate when my young[off page] be twenty one years of age then I wish my estate divided as below[off page] [cannot decipher two words] that my estate be brot together and equally divided betw[off page] my children to wit 1 Elizabeth N. Phillips, 2 Martha Ann Brock, 3 Robert Henry Brock, 4 John James Brock, 5 William Richard Brock, 6 Mary Frances Henryetter Brock and 7 Sarah Marceller Brock and if my widdow is [off page] living that their be an ample support left for her on the premisses as long [off page] she shall remain my widdow; if she should at any time ceese [off page] be my widdow; then she shall forfeit all claim to any portion of my estate at any time; or if she should die before the time as above specif[off page] for the division of the estate, that the children to choose gardeants if they should be to young for that purpose that my executors to bee hereafter named, with the council and advice of my oldest sons, act or chose for them until they shall be able to choose for them selves; and at the death of my wife the portion appropiated for her support must return [off page] be divided among my surviving children as above named; and I wish [off page] to be understood that if any of my children should die without a lawful issue of their boddy that their potion or potions return to my surviving children as above named +c done with my own hand and after my own concil as witness my hand this twenty eighth day of April in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and forty three. Henry Brock (seal) Test Woodson Ford, Charles Griffin, Robert Ford.

{I ordain and appoint to this my last will and testament as my Executors to the same John C. Brock and Edwin Phillips. H. Brock.}

At a monthly Court held for Henrico County at the courthouse [off page] monday the second day of October 1843. This last will and testament of Henry Brock deceased was this day presented in court proved by the oaths of Woodson Ford, Charles Griffin and Robert Ford the witnesses to the same and ordered to be recorded and Edwin Phillips one of the executors in the said will named appeared in Court and John C. Brock another of the executors therein named by his writing addressed to the Court refused to take upon themselves the burthens of the execution of the said will. And on the motion [off page] Mary Ann Brock, widow of the testator, who made oath according to law and with Fendall Griffin, Edward Griffin and Fleming Griffin her securities (who made oath as to their sufficiency), entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of ten thousand dollars, conditioned as the law directs. A certificate was granted the said Mary Ann Brock for obtaining letters of administration on the estate of the said Henry Brock deceased with his said will annexed in due form. And the said Mary Ann Brock personally appeared in Court and renounced the provisions made for her by the will of her said husband and refused to accept the same. Teste Loftin N. Ellitt[cannot read]."

Richmond Whig and Public Advertiser, June 30, 1843:
"Died - On June 24, at Aspin Grove, Henrico County, Henry Brock, in his 32d year, leaving a wife and seven children."

Religious Herald, July 6, 1843:
"DIED, on the 24th instant, at his late residence, 'Aspin Grove,' Henrico county, HENRY BROCK, in the 52d year of his age, after an illness of twelve weeks of liver affection. The deceased was for many years a deacon of the Baptist Church at Deep Run; and it may be truly said he was a man of sound and unshaken faith, and of most stern and unwavering integrity, rendering him thereby uniform in his course of life. He was a kind and affectionate husband, a devoted father, a good neighbor, and most humane master, all of which characteristics, when combined in any human being, make a good citizen. But, he had more - he, it may be truly said, was a Christian, a lover of Jesus Christ, and had an unwavering confidence in God, of which, in his walk and conduct through life, he gave testimony; and in his attachment to his Saviour, who is a safe retreat to all prepared spirits. He has left a wife and seven children, and numerous relations and friends to mourn his loss - but not as those without hope, for their loss is his inestimable gain. 'Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, for they shall have a right to the Tree of Life, and shall enter through the gate into the city.'"

Henry Brock's estate was assessed and attested to before a justice of the peace on November 24, 1843 by Robert Ford, John Ford, Sr. and Alfred Winston. They estate included such items as eighteen slaves, a clock, three guns, a barouche and harness, several horses, two buffalo and other livestock. The total appraised value of Henry's estate was $4,317.12 as presented to the court on January 1, 1844.

At his estate sale, Henry's former belongings sold for a total of $750.77. Most of the items were purchased by his wife, including her paying rent for the dwelling house and land, plus rent for a cattle field. One of the interesting items sold, but not included in the inventory, was a lot of books. This sale account was also presented to the court on January 1, 1844.

Henry's landed estate was divided in late 1857, after the last of his children turned twenty-one or married. Concessions were made for his widow's upkeep but most of the land was divided amongst his children. There is a great plat of this land division in Henrico County's Deed Book #74, p. 371.

The Brock homestead was demolished at some point, perhaps at the time of the road's widening in the mid-1950s. Situated on present-day West Broad Street, I believe that the former Brock land is occupied by the Virginia Home for Boys (8716 West Broad Street). From an aerial photograph, it appears the Boy's Home tract is the precise size and shape of the Brock property. I believe that the old homestead was situated where their main entrance sign exists today.

Henry Brock also owned a piece of land several miles to the East of the home tract. This property was given to the Lawrence and Philips families at the time of Henry's estate division. This property passed into the Shepherd family and eventually became the modern-day London Towne Apartments on Shrader Road. The Brock cemetery is located at the end of Loveridge Court. It is actually where the current playground is positioned. There is only one stone in the graveyard. It is a large, unmarked field rock sticking out of the ground beside a tree.

There is also another cemetery located on the North side of the building there but no markers exist in that cemetery. The two cemeteries are technically owned by the heirs of Henry Brock, not London Towne. The parcel ID number for the county is 764-755-4330. The cemeteries are depicted on official county maps in the tax assessors office.