Alexander Henderson

Alexander Henderson was a merchant, politician, and community leader in 18th-century Virginia. As an 18-year old Scottish immigrant, Henderson came to America hoping to build wealth and return to Scotland once he had it. He opened the Colchester Store on behalf of the John Glassford and Company when he was only 20 years old, intertwining himself into the community in Colchester, Virginia, rather than returning to his homeland. His story reveals a man who found ways to influence his community and established himself as more than an immigrant, but as a resident of Virginia and the newly formed United States.

Alexander Henderson was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on March 3, 1738. In 1756, he immigrated to Colchester, Virginia to live with and work for his older brother, Archibald Henderson. Archibald already operated and lived at the Quantico/Dumfries store as a part of the John Glassford & Company. After a brief tutelage, Alexander Henderson opened a sister store in Colchester in 1758. At only 20 years old, he started the store as a factor for the Glasgow-based merchants. Henderson operated the store at least until the American Revolution. Once the Revolution ended, he was tasked with collecting the debts owed to the Glassford stores throughout Virginia. Henderson was responsible for the debts in the Colchester, Alexandria, Dumfries, and Boyd’s Hole stores. His connections throughout the community resulting through the store enabled him to interact and form close relationships with others in Colchester and beyond. Henderson’s desire to remain in the colonies was evident with his marriage in 1773 to a local woman named Sarah (Sally) Moore, the daughter of Henry Moore, a customer of Henderson’s. The pair would go on to raise several children, including Archibald, James, John, and Alexander, Jr. 

As the store manager in Colchester, Henderson was responsible for the merchandise, keeping the ledgers, and maintaining the store. His letter book detailed much of the store's trials and tribulations from merchandise that arrived in poor condition to products that were ill-sized or manufactured: "The Inhabitants of this Country have large feet & must have large Shoes, those sent in this year are much too small" (Scheme of Goods, 1763, folio 55). The letter book also provides annual orders Henderson made to the John Glassford & Company for merchandise to be sold, which can be compared to the sales found in the eleven surviving Colchester ledgers. The ledgers provide evidence of the running of the store from Henderson's annual wages, room and board expenses on behalf of the store and its inhabitants (including a number of enslaved men and women), and furniture and horses needed for the running of the business.

Henderson established himself as a “merchant-prince.” He became much more than a store manager and owner, but also a local politician. He was elected as a Vestryman, from 1765 to 1785, for the Pohick Church. This role entailed keeping parish records and managing finances for the church. Henderson assisted with dividing the money to pay for the new church to be constructed and completed in 1774. His increased presence within Colchester and local politics saw ties form with Reverend Charles Green and Daniel McCarty. His political role drove him deeper within Colchester and saw many new relationships form. In 1785, he worked alongside George Washington, James Madison, George Mason, and Thomas Jefferson to help finalize state boundaries and waterway boundaries between Maryland and Virginia. During this time, Henderson was elected to serve within the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly, known as the House of Delegates. In 1783, he was elected to represent Fairfax County; two years after his move to Dumfries, he was elected in 1789 to serve on behalf of Prince William County. He served each county for a total of one year.

Henderson’s influence on the community is reflected through significant landmarks tied to him. The Colchester Store represented his dedication to the town. He met everyone and created lasting bonds that allowed him to gain access to higher-standing roles. The connections he made enabled him to become an elected official in Virginia's government and the Pohick Church. Through his position in the church, he worked closely with several other influential members of the community. He helped keep records of marriages, deaths, and more. Essentially, his work kept the history of Colchester alive. When Henderson's ties to the John Glassford & Company stores ceased, he retired in Dumfries, close to where he had spent years devoted to Colchester.

Deed Book Index, Fairfax County Government. Accessed March 16th, 2021. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/circuit/sites/circuit/files/assets/documents/pdf/hrc/deed-book-index-1742-1866-f-k.pdf.

All People Index, Prince William County Government. Accessed March 16th, 2021. http://eservice.pwcgov.org/library/digitalLibrary/PDF/All%20People%20Index%20wsource%20(8.28.14).pdf.

Vestry Elections, Founders Archives. Accessed March 16th, 2021. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-07-02-0242.

PWC Court Orders 1783-84, Prince William County Government. Accessed March 16th, 2021. http://eservice.pwcgov.org/library/digitalLibrary/PDF/PWC%20Court%20Orders%201783-1784%20Final.pdf.

Mitchell, Beth. Fairfax County, Virginia in 1760: An Interpretive Historical Map. Fairfax, Virginia. Fairfax County (Office of Comprehensive Planning), 1987.

Hamrick, Charles. Hamrick, Virginia. Alexander Henderson: His Letter Book of 1758-1765. Athens, Georgia. Iberian Publishing Company, 1999.