George Hancock (Virginia politician)

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 by	James Madison
Succeeded by	John 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
Died	July 18, 1820(1820-07-18) (aged 66) Fotheringay, Virginia, U.S.
Resting place	"Fotheringay," Elliston, Virginia
Political party	Federalist
Spouse	Margaret Hancock
Children	Julia Hancock
Residence(s)	"Santillane", "Fotheringay"
Profession	Planter, lawyer
Military service
Branch/service	Continental Army Virginia State Militia
Years of service	1776–1780 1785
Rank	Colonel
Unit	Virginia Line Botetourt County Militia
Battles/wars	American Revolutionary War *Siege of Savannah

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.

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 left Santillane in the spring of 1808 for St. Louis, so General Clark could become the Superintendent of Indian Affairs and Commander of Militia in the Missouri/Louisiana territory. Sometime in 1811, a roof fire began at Santillane. Though it's unknown how extreme the damage was to the house, it must have been enough for the family to evacuate. Hancock, along with his wife Peggy and son George moved on to Fotheringay, selling 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.

Electoral history

Hancock was the Federalist candidate for Virginia's 3rd congressional district in 1788, losing to Andrew Moore. In 1793, Hancock was elected to the 5th congressional district with 60.47% of the vote, defeating Independents Caleb Munsey and Charles Clay. He was re-elected unopposed in 1795. He was one of nine representatives to vote against the Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution.

References

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

External links

• Hancock's Congressional biography