Robert Porterfield

Robert Porterfield (February 22, 1751 – February 13, 1843), (often referred to as "General Porterfield") was a Virginia planter, politician, magistrate and military officer who served in the Virginia House of Delegates representing Augusta County for one term. He is better known for his service in the Virginia Line during the American Revolutionary War, and as Brigadier General led the Virginia militia during the War of 1812. Early and family life Porterfield was born in then-vast Frederick County to Vonie Erlene Miller Porterfield, his father Charles Porterfield (1715–1778) having moved his family into the Shenandoah Valley from Pennsylvania. The family also included another son, Charles Porterfield (1750–1781) and a daughter Eleanor (1756–1835), who would marry Lt. Andrew Heth. Robert Porterfield married twice. His first wife, Mary Heth (1750-before 1784), was the daughter of Henry Heth, an important figure in Frederick County. Following her death, Porterfield remarried, to Rebecca Farrar (1764–1798), daughter of Peter Farrar (1730–1815, who would move to South Carolina) and Margaret Chastaine Cocke (1727–1767). Rebecca bore sons Charles Porterfield (1786–1810) and John Porterfield (1793–1849) and daughters Rebecca Porterfield Kinney (1798–1880) and Mary (Polly) Porterfield Wayland (1789–1852) who survived to adulthood.