John Anderson was born about 1690 in Scotland. He died 1764 in Middle River, Augusta Co, VA.

1740, 22 May: George ANDERSON came into Orange Co., VA court and saith, that he imported himself, Elizabeth his wife, William, Margaret and John and Francis ANDERSON from Ireland to Philadelphia, and from thence into this Colony. The John ANDERSON imported by George was probably not his brother because the latter proved his own importation before the Orange Co., VA court for himself, wife Jean (Jane) and his daughters Esther, Mary and Margaret, and George's son John was not born until 1746. The imported John must have been his father, who may have died in PA, or he may have come to Augusta Co., and if he did not acquire real property in VA, did not have an estate to be settled.

His sons are commonly known as the "four Anderson brothers"

Numerous records show the Anderson Brothers were men of prominence and influence, and always at the front in defense of their country. The History of Orange County by Scott shows William Anderson was an ensign in 1742 under Col. Jas Patton. According to tradition they helped to build the Old Stone Church. They with others carried stones and other necessary materials in sacks, caskets and every conceivable container and presumably helped with the actual construction of the building. Some of them became elders and all were staunch supporters of this Church as long as they lived. Descendants who live in Augusta County say they were buried in the old cemetery across the road from the Church. Many of the early markers of graves were of wood and have long ago disappeared. Virginia Land office records show that the bros. John, James, George and William Anderson received from King George II grants of large tracts of land on Middle River, in Augusta County, Virginia as early as 1738. Descendants of John Anderson have told the writer that he owned 1170 acres at Bowlings Mill, near Staunton, where he, or his son, built a house that has a fine example of Colonial architecture. It contained ornate mantels and expensive paneling and was a showplace of that locality. The last of the Andersons who lived there was Willie Anderson, son of Andrew Anderson. He had one son and one daughter. About 1882 the house was bought by Edward Furr and was entirely destroyed by fire about 1925.

James Anderson, the scholar of the family, lived on Middle River, near what is now known as Springhill, Virginia. He founded the Anderson School, which is known to have been a flourishing school in 1754. It is said there were only two schools in the Shendanoah Valley at that time.

The four Anderson brothers came from Ulster, Ireland and landed at the Port of Philadelphia about 1732. Margaret Anderson, mother of the four brothers, made a sworn statement in Dec 1757, that she knew a Mr. Francis in Chester Co, Pennsylvania about 1736-38 as proof of the emigration.

 

He married Margaret.

Their children were:

John Anderson

James Anderson

William Anderson (born about 1721 in Ulster, Ireland)

George Anderson

 

 

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