Hicks family

The origin of Robert Hicks, Indian trader of colonial Virginia, is not known. He is first identifiable from the Charles City Co. land records where his father-in-law, John Evans, gives Robert and his wife, Winifred Evans, two tracts of land totaling 1375 acres between Appomattox River and Blackwater Creek, one in 1690 and the other in 1694.

In the 1660's and 1670's, Robert developed a lucrative commercial business trading with the Indians throughout Western Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia. Some of his family married into the Cherokees in the area of Broomstown, (northern) Georgia, by 1730. These descendents became important leaders in the Cherokee Nation. Robert traded with all the Indians of these states, but dealt primarily with the Cherokees and their branch nation known as the "Catawbas".

Once, when New York trappers were captured by the Catawbas and held for ransom, the Govenors of New York and Virginia sought Robert's help. He dispatched his two oldest sons, Daniel and Robert Jr., to negotiate the captives' release. Upon their successful return, they were given an award by the Virginia House of Burgesses.

In 1714, the Virginia government built Fort Christiana on the Meherrin River and they appointed Robert Jr. as Captain of the Fort's paid militia, known as the "Rangers", and it's 12 indian scouts.
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Robert Hick traded with Catawba Indians, famous for their pottery

• A1. Robert Hicks, lvd:1658/1694 Virginia, m. Winifred Evans;
  • B1. Capt. Robert Hicks, d:1739 Virginia, m. Frances;
    • C1. James Hicks, lvd:1700/1760, m. Martha;
      • D1. Robert Hicks, m. Rebecca Harrison;
      • D2. Martha (Patsy) Hicks, m. Benjamin Harrison, Jr.;
      • D3. Capt. James Hicks, d:1776, m. Mary Harrison;  ==>  Harrison family
        • E1. Nancy Hicks, lvd:1768/1824, m. Thomas Gaines Vernon;  <==  Vernon family