Robert Terrill was baptized 25 December 1697 at Saint Peter’s Parish at New Kent County, Virginia.  He was a son of Timothy Terrill, who had settled at New Kent County by 3 January 1688. Robert’s sister,  Mary, was also baptized on that date.  Both baptisms appear in the Saint Peter’s Parish Register.  It is believed that Robert’s father lived and died at New Kent County.

Robert married Mary Foster of Virginia about 1718 at New Kent County.  They eventually settled at Orange County, Virginia, where they raised their children and lived until their deaths.  Robert was a successful tobacco plantation owner.  His plantation was 1,631 acres at the time of his death.  He had 400 acres of land at Culpeper County, Virginia, and additional land at Orange County.  He had 21 slaves, three dwellings and six outer buildings according to the 1782 and 1785 Virginia state enumerations for Orange County.  These are included in the 1790 United States Census.  He also had 39 tenant farmers working his land.

Robert Terrill provided Patriotic Service for Virginia in the form of providing beef to the Revolutionary Army in 1780 and 1781.

The Terrill family has an interesting connection to the families of President James Madison and President Zachary Taylor.  James Madison and Zachary Taylor were descended from the patriarch James Taylor.  James Taylor’s daughter, Frances Taylor, married Ambrose Madison.  They were the grandparents of James Madison.  James Taylor’s son, Zachary Taylor, was the grandfather of President Zachary Taylor.

Robert Terrill’s daughter, Elizabeth, the wife of Peter Rucker, was a neighbor of the elder Zachary Taylor.  They shared a property line as documented by deed records of Orange County.  A first cousin of President James Madison and President Zachary Taylor, James Taylor III, was a witness to Robert Terrill’s will.  This documentation suggests the Madison, Taylor, Terrill and Rucker families knew each other well during Robert’s lifetime.  Also, there is evidence of the Madison and Taylor families marrying into the Rucker family in succeeding generations.

Robert Terrell was in his 80s when he provided material aid to the Continental Army.  Considering the political climate of Orange County and his familiarity with the Madison and Taylor families, it is likely Robert Terrill supported independence with great vigor and passion.  

Robert Terrill passed away before 23 March 1786 at the age of 88 years.  He is buried on a private tract of land, a present-day cow pasture southeast of Orange, Virginia, near the intersection of Constitution Highway and State Route 629.  There is a collection of grave markers at Saint Thomas Episcopal Church at Orange, where Robert was a member.  Some of those markers were moved from the site where Robert is buried in order to preserve them.  He was not buried at the Saint Thomas Episcopal Church.