George Hancock (Virginia politician)

George Hancock (June 13, 1754 – July 18, 1820) was an American planter and lawyer from Virginia. He represented Virginia as a Federalist in the U.S. House from 1793 to 1797.

For other people named George Hancock, see George Hancock (disambiguation).

George Hancock
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 5th district
In office
March 4, 1793 – March 4, 1797
Preceded byJames Madison
Succeeded byJohn J. Trigg
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Botetourt County
In office
1792
Alongside Martin McFerran
In office
1784–1786
Alongside Archibald Stuart, Martin McFerran
Personal details
Born(1754-06-13)June 13, 1754
Chesterfield County, Virginia Colony, British America
DiedJuly 18, 1820(1820-07-18) (aged 66)
Fotheringay, Virginia, U.S.
Resting place"Fotheringay," Elliston, Virginia
Political partyFederalist
Spouse(s)Margaret Hancock
ChildrenJulia Hancock
Residence"Santillane", "Fotheringay"
ProfessionPlanter, lawyer
Military service
Branch/serviceContinental Army
Virginia State Militia
Years of service1776–1780
1785
RankColonel
UnitVirginia Line
Botetourt County Militia
Battles/warsAmerican Revolutionary War
*Siege of Savannah

Biography

He was born in Chesterfield County in the Colony of Virginia to George and Mary (Jones) Hancock. George Hancock was appointed a colonel in the Virginia militia, where he served as aide de camp to Count Casimir Pulaski. When General Pulaski was mortally wounded at the battle of Savannah, it was Colonel Hancock that pulled the general off of his horse. George Hancock married Margaret Strother in 1781. It was in that year that Hancock purchased 300 acres in and around Fincastle, Virginia, that was to become Santillane. Work began in 1795 on Santillane using George Hancock's slaves. The exterior was completed around 1800 using bricks fired on site. The interior was probably completed a couple of years later. The first documented reference to the residence as "Satillane", was on a letter head dated 1805 that was sent by Margaret Hancock. George and Margaret Hancock's daughter, Julia, married General William Clark at Santillane on January 5, 1808, upon his return from exploring the Louisiana Territory with Meriwether Lewis. The newlyweds lived at Santillane until 1810, at which time they moved west so General Clark could become the governor of the Missouri territory. Shortly after his daughter and son-in-law's move, George Hancock sold Santillane to Henry Bowyer.

In 1796, Hancock purchased the Fotheringay property near Elliston, Virginia. The Fotheringay house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.[1][2]

Electoral history
  • 1793; Hancock was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 60.47% of the vote, defeating Independents Caleb Munsey and Charles Clay.
  • 1795; Hancock was re-elected unopposed.

References
  1. Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission staff (April 1969). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Fotheringay" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
  2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.

"The Fincastle Herald" May 18, 2005; "The Roanoker Magazine" May 1988

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
James Madison		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 5th congressional district
1793–1797		 Succeeded by
John J. Trigg
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