Notes
This straight razor belonged to John Henry (1796–1868), the son of Patrick and Dorothea Dandridge Henry.
The firm W. Hawcroft and Sons produced this razor between 1845 and 1868 in Sheffield, England. William Hawcroft began his enterprise in 1833 as Hawcroft & Pearson, a razor manufacturing company. In 1845, Hawcroft’s partnership with Samuel Pearson dissolved, and his business became Hawcroft & Sons. The company was known for its quality craftsmanship, winning a Prize Medal at the Great Exhibition in 1851 and advertising their maker’s mark with the word “RENOWN.”
In December 1868, William Hawcroft was trampled and gored by two steers being led to a slaughterhouse. He died from his injuries, with the business passing to his two sons, Isaac and William.
John Henry likely purchased this razor and had it inscribed with his name and family seat. Following his death, it was inherited by his son, William Wirt Henry Sr. (1831–1900), who later gave it to his son, William Wirt Henry Jr. (1860–1941). William Henry Jr. gave the razor to his cousin, Thomas Stanhope Henry Jr. (1863–1941), for him to pass on to his son, John Nichols Brown Henry (1908–1930).
Unfortunately, John Henry died, so his father instructed that the razor be given to his cousin, Wirt Henry Miller (1870–1943), for him to use during his lifetime. Thomas Stanhope Jr. further instructed that he wished the razor to remain in the family of his aunt, Margaret Ann Henry Miller (1827–1881), the mother of Wirt Miller.
True to Thomas Stanhope Jr.’s wishes, the razor remained in the family. It came into the possession of Susan Hill Dabney (1892–1986), the granddaughter of Margaret Henry Miller, through her mother, Florence Miller Dabney (1853–1923). Susan Dabney donated the razor to the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation on May 29, 1957.