Capt. Joshua RENTFRO

HAIRSTON.org ID#989, b. 1 July 1757, d. 5 September 1815
Father*Joseph RENTFRO1 b. a 1700, d. b 25 Mar 1776
Mother*Mary (surname unknown)
Birth*Capt. Joshua RENTFRO was born on 1 July 1757 in Virginia.2 
He was the son of Joseph RENTFRO and Mary (surname unknown).1 
WillIn Joseph RENTFRO's will dated 14 November 1772 in Bedford, Virginia, Capt. Joshua RENTFRO was named as an heir; Bedford County Will Book 1, 1763-1787, page 243. FSL #7673138, image 165.3 
MilitaryMichael Rowland and Joshua Renfro were with Col. William Christian, Col. Charles Lewis and Major Evan Shelby on the Cherokee Expedition (Christie's Campaign) in August, 1776. About 1,800 Virginian volunteers attacked Cherokee lands (now Tennessee) after the British encouraged them to attack the settlers. There were also volunteers from Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina attacking from the south.4 
County NameHenry County formed from Pittsylvania County - 1777. 
Military* Joshua Rentfro became a 2nd Lieut. in Capt. Hale's company. Also listed as being under Capt. John Rentro in July 1780, Henry County. - also see DAR record FSL #7641173, image 585.5,6,7 
Property*Joshua Rentfroe acquired 110 acres in Henry County on 1 September 1780. This land was surveyed 14 Oct 1773 (formerly Pittsylvania County). Book E, p. 649.8,9 
Marriage*He married Jane "Jenny" HAIRSTON, daughter of Robert Hairston and Ruth STOVALL, on 22 August 1785 in Henry, Virginia, by Minister William Lovell.2,10 
County Name*Franklin County formed from Bedford and Henry Counties - 1786. 
Tax RollsJashua rentfroe was on the 1786 tax list of Franklin County.8 
Tax Rolls*In 1786, Joshua Rentfro appeared on the tax rolls of Franklin County, Virginia.8 
Elected*Capt. Joshua RENTFRO was Elected in 1788; Joshua Rentfro represented Franklin County in the Virginia House of Delegates in 1788, 1789, 1790 and 1793.8 
Court Record*On 30 March 1797, Gabriel Penn obtains a license to operate an Ordinary and both Gabriel Penn and Joshua Rentfro post a bond. - Patrick County Deeds 1791-1801, page 434. FSL #7897278, image 230. 
Tax RollsJoshua is listed on page 219 of tax lists for Christian County, Kentucky. 
Deed*On 6 April 1805, George Hairston sells all of his 2,000 acre Grant in Washington county, Kentucky, to Joshua Rentfro for 1,000 pounds. When George Hairston obtained the land it was in Jefferson county. Witnessed by Mark Rentfro, Polly Rentfro and Dunford Smith. - Washington Deeds 1792-1811. FSL #7900657, image 773. 
Deed*On 5 October 1807, Joshua Rentfro and his wife Jane, sell 40 acres on Long Lick Creek to John Lewis. - Washington Deed Book 1803-1820. FSL #7901325, image 160. 
DeedOn 1 February 1808, Joshua and Jane Rentfro sell land to Amis Graham. - Washington Deeds 1792-1811. FSL #7900657, image 811. 
Census 1810*He appeared on the census of 1810 in Breckinridge, Kentucky, Free White Persons: Males - 1 < 10, 1 10-15, 2 16-25, 1 > 45; Females - 2 < 10, 1 10-15, 2 16-25, 1 26-44; Slaves 17.11

 
Death*He died on 5 September 1815 at age 58. Joshua Rentfro was robbed and killed 5 September 1815 taking a boat load of produce to New Orleans.2,12 
Burial*He was buried in Parr Cemetery, Meade, Kentucky.13 
NOTEDAR National #407813 #289895. 

Family

Jane "Jenny" HAIRSTON b. 16 Oct 1767, d. 28 Oct 1839
Children
ChartsDescendant Chart
Descendant Chart Box

Sources (www.HAIRSTON.org)

  1. [S113] Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications.
  2. [S242] Douglas, William Boone (Great-grandson of Jane "Jenny" Hairston Rentfro and founding member The Institution of American Genealogy) wrote a letter to Mrs. N. H. Hairston (Elizabeth Seawell Hairston, author of "The Hairstons and the Penns..."), Washington, D.C., 27 December 1940.
  3. [S3055] Will of Joseph Rentfro - 1772 - Bedford County, Virginia Will Book 1.
  4. [S3183] Summers, L. Preston., Coale, C. B., Bickley, G. W. L. (1929). Annals of Southwest Virginia, 1769-1800. Abingdon, Va.: L. P. Summers., Ancestry.com.
  5. [S3046] Virginia Historical Society. The Virginia Magazine of History And Biography. Richmond: Virginia Historical Society, June 1902, Volume IX., Hathi Trust Digital Library.
  6. [S149] McAllister, J T. Virginia Militia in the Revolutionary War: Mcallister's Data. Hot Springs, Va: McAllister Pub. Co, 1913. Print. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/njp.32101013939630, Hathi Trust Digital Library.
  7. [S3074] Hale, Nathaniel Claiborne, Roots In Virginia: an Account of Captain Thomas Hale, Virginia Frontiersman, His Descendants And Related Families. With Genealogies And Sketches of Hale, Saunders, Lucke, Claiborne, Lacy, Tobin And Contributing Ancestral Lines. Philadelphia?, 1948.
    https://hdl.handle.net/2027/wu.89066151580, Hathi Trust Digital Library.
  8. [S3079] Wingfield, Marshall. Franklin County, Virginia: A History. Berryville, VA: Chesapeake Book Co, 1964. Print., Personal Collection - printed book.
  9. [S3125] Hudgins, Dennis R. Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants : Volume Eight, 1779-1782. Richmond, Va: Virginia Genealogical Society, 2005.
  10. [S67] Dodd, Virginia Anderson, Henry County, Virginia, Marriage Bonds, 1778-1849, Southern Historical Press, Inc., Greenvile, S.C. 1955.
  11. [S1810] 1810 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  12. [S3168] Letter from William Boone Douglas, Law office Stocklager, Heard & Douglas, Washington, D. C. to Mrs N H Hairston, Roanoke, Virginia, 27 Dec 1940.
  13. [S3162] Email from Faith Bishoff, 25 Oct 2001 - Faith Bishoff is a 4th great-granddaughter of Jenny Hairston Rentfro.
  14. [S241] Spraker, Hazel Atterbury, A Genealocical History of The Descendants of George and Mary Boone Who Came to America in 1717, The Tuttle Company, Rutland, Vermont, 1922.
  15. [S3399] Bishop, Donald E., Descendants of Bartholomew Stovall 1655-1722: First Five Generations. Laurel, Mississippi: Stovall Family Association, 1999. 929.273 St76bd https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/835331, Family Search Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Last Edited26 Feb 2026