THE WOODSON LINE
This was the most complete line when I started research on our family. John
Woodson's date of entry into America, 1619, is the earliest authenticated such date
in our family records. In 1915 Dr. Henry Morton Woodson published in Memphis two
large volumes: The History and Genealogy of the Woodsons and Their Connections.
It represented untold labor on the part of Dr. Woodson and is invaluable in tracing
this family. I was disappointed to find errors when he reached our Revolutionary
ancestor, Jacob Woodson. Jacob and his wife, Mary Elizabeth Morton, are credited
with only two children and our own great-grandmother, Judith, is omitted. I made
this correction at the Library of Congress and later found that some of the dates
for this couple were in error too. I have the correct dates from the tombstones at
Happy Valley. The name Woodson was spelled in many different ways, finally evolved
into Woodeson. John probably dropped the "e".
I. DR. JOHN WOODSON b. 1586 in Devonshire, England, d. 1644 (Henry Morton Woodson
has a chapter on our English ancestors and gives the Coat of Arms on page
15.) John attended St. John's College in 1604. He married Sara Winston in
England. In 1619 they came over to America on the GEORGE which sailed Jan.
29, 1619. Most of the 100 passengers were soldiers, sent over for better
protection of the colonists from the Indians who were resisting further en-
croachment by the settlers. Gov. Yeardley and his wife, Temperance, were
fellow passengers. John Woodson served in the capacity of surgeon for this
ship.
From Adventures of Purse and Person:
"John Woodson
Sara, his wife In the GEORGE, 1619.
Muster: corne, 4 bu. Powder, 1 lb. Lead, 3 lb.
Sword, 1 Peece fixt, 1 (a gun)"
The GEORGE arrived at Jamestown, Va., April 16, 1691. In 1620 the first
negros were brought to America. John "bought 6 negros".
In 1623 he was on the register of settlers at Fleur De Hundred. It was 30
miles above Jamestown on the south side of the James River. This section
is now in Prince George Co. Governor Thomas Dale had established in 1612
little towns, extended out and beyond already explored areas near the James.
They were called "Hundreds". Sir George Yeardley had originally come to
Virginia in 1609 with Sir Thomas Gates and Yeardley received a grant of 1000
acres of land on the James River and named the place Flowerdew (or Fleur de)
Hundred in honor of his wife, the former Temperance Flowerdew. He built the
first windmill in America and this point bears the name of Windmill Point to
this day. In 1635 Abraham Piersy bought Flowerdew from Yeardley, and in that
year the patent was entered for "Floer deue Hundred". This was the first
deed for land recorded in America. (Old Virginia Houses Along the James -
Farrar). This land was often referred to as Piersey's Hundred. Governor
Yeardley must have persuaded the Woodsons to live at Flowerdew Hundred and
was probably pleased to have him there as a doctor.
In 1644, Opechanako, the Indian chief, led a sudden attack on the Virginia
settlements killing 300 settlers. On the second day of the massacre Dr.
John, who was returning home from a visit to a patient, was killed within
sight of his house. Mr. Ligon, a showmaker who happened to be at the home,
and Sara Woodson defended the house with great courage. They hid the Wood-
son's two little boys at the first alarm. John was hidden under a tub and
Robert in a potato hole. Ligon grabbed the old family gun and killed seven
Indians at the first fire and two at the seventh. Two Indians came down the
chimney into the rude log cabin. Brave Sara scalded one with a pot of
boiling water and, seizing the roasting pit, she brained the other. The
howling mob took flight. The sons were thereafter called "Potato Hole" and
"Tub" Woodson. The gun which was enormous, seven feet long, is at the
Virginia Historical Society. It seems a shame that nothing more is known of
the brave Sara.
Issue:
1. John (Tub)
2. Robert (Potato Hole)
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II. ROBERT WOODSON b. 1634 at Flowerdew Hundred, m. Elizabeth Ferris, daughter of
Richard Ferris, about 1656. 1685 - Grant of land at Varina. (It was at
Varina that John Rolfe and Pocahontas lived, where John Rolfe raised the
famous "Varina" tobacco.) According to Virkus' Compendium Robert was a
Colonel in the Militia. 1707 - Robert made a deed of land to his grandsons
William, Joseph and Lewis. I do not know the date of his death.
III. RICHARD WOODSON b. about 1622, m. Ann Smith, the sister of Obadiah Smith.
Richard was the third son of Robert and Elizabeth. He and his wife lived at
Curles in Henrico Co., Va. Richard and Ann assume very important roles in
our ancestory. They occur twice in grandfather's line and once in grand-
mother's. Richard died in 1729.
Issue:
1. Richard b. about 1690 Henrico Co., m. 1715 Anne Michaux, daughter of
Abraham Michaux and Susannah Rochette. He became a large land
owner, and built a beautiful home in Goochland Co., "Poplar Hill",
and was known as the Baron of Poplar Hill.
2. Agnes b. 1711, m. Joseph Morton (ancestors of Mary Lavalette Gilliam).
3. Obadiah b. 1712, m. Constance Watkins (ancestors in Woodson line).
4. Judith
5. Mary m. Richard Truman
6. Elizabeth m. Thomas Morton (ancestors in Morton line).
IV. OBADIAH WOODSON b. 1712, m. Constance Watkins, daughter of John Watkins (The
Traymaker) in 1734.
There are many references to him in Bradshaw's History of Prince Edward
County. 1755 had overseer and 4 slaves. 1756 - Obadiah was a Captain in
the French and Indian Wars. He led a company of Volunteers under Major
Lewis. When Obadiah led an expedition against the Shawnee Indians, he
impressed wagons and horses of Abraham Venable, Jr., to haul supplies. The
expedition was unsuccessful and the responsiblity for the failure was charged
to Woodson and other officers. An investigation by the House of Burgesses
found that "want of success" on the expedition was due to lack of supplies,
but it added that Woodson did not behave as an officer should have. John
and Joseph Morton were among those on the ill-fated expedition and were able
to collect their pay eventually, but Woodson was not. Whatever the circum-
stances, Obadiah's reputation seems to have remained intact.
1759 - Obadiah was made a vestryman at St. Patrick's at the September Court.
1762 - made a church warden.
The duties involved many jobs which would be classed as civic today, such as
processioning the land, establishing weights and measures, caring for the
sick and indigent. The churches were in the midst of losing many members as
they became "dissenters" to the Anglican churches and formed new chapels of
their own. However, St. Patricks remained Anglican.
There are several references to "the school house on Obadiah Woodson's land".
Mar. 10, 1762, it was decided to build a chapel at or near the schoolhouse
on Obadiah's land. The chapel was to have doors, a floor, window shutters,
seats, and a pulpit. This was called Sandy River Church and was under the
auspices of St. Patrick's. It burned just before completion. A church
was built at French's. Obadiah Woodson was given permission to build a
gallery there at his own expense. A chapel was evidently built at or near
his schoolhouse, as the Independent preacher McRobert, preached there much
later - 1780. I also have proof that an Obadiah Woodson was in the Revolu-
tionary War. I now realize that this was either his son or his nephew.
Bradshaw's Index has many references for Obadiah II. I do not have the date
of Obadiah's death.
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V. JACOB WOODSON b. May 11, 1748, in Prince Edward Co., m. Elizabeth Morton,
daughter of Capt. John Morton, Nov. 1, 1775.
Our records and the Woodson book give different dates for his birth and also
for his marriage, but the dates which I give are on his tombstone at Happy
Valley.
From Americans of Gentle Birth, Vol. 1, p. 362:
"He was a man of vigorous personality, active in colonial affairs, and
soldier in the Revolution. He held many important offices, and was highly
esteemed for his great integrity. His old home, Happy Valley, still stands
in a good state of preservation, its rows of ancient box trees and moss-
covered well enhancing its picturesque beauty. He married Elizabeth
Morton, sister of John Morton, Minister to France."
(M.M. - I remember as a small boy the old well which is the only one I ever
saw in actual operation with the old well sweep.)
Bradshaw gives the following facts about Jacob:
1776 - Nov., Took the oath of office as Justice of Prince Edward Co.
1779 - Aug., Appointed as a Lieutenant in the Militia
1779 - Promoted to Captain in the Militia. Robert Goode and Jacob Woodson
were authorized to furnish corn to the soldiers' families
1784 - Served as a Company Captain in the Revolutionary War
1785 - Elected Prince Edward Co. Magistrate. Signed the Statute for
Religious Freedom written by Thomas Jefferson.
1818-19 - Served another term as sheriff.
Jacob died at Happy Valley Dec 5, 1839.
Mr. Van Nes Allen sent my Aunt Mary a photograph of the tombstone in the
old cemetery at "River Circle" which is the present name of the estate.
SACRED
To the memory of
Jacob Woodson
Born May 11, 1748
Died Dec. 5, 1839
in the 91st year
of his age
"The heavy head is a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteous-
ness."
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VI. JUDITH WOODSON b. Nov. 30, 1796, in Prince Edward Co., m. Silas Biglow Mar. 3,
1821, d. June 27, 1885. She was the daughter of Jacob Woodson and Elizabeth
Morton.
M.M.D. Grandma Biglow was a lovely little old lady who wore long black
dresses, a white lace cap, and a cape for dress-up. She wore a little gray
wool shoulder shawl in winter. She used to sit by the fire and smoke her
little clay pipe. Aunt Fannie Biglow told me that her mother used to hunt
with her father, Jacob Woodson. He continually asked her to light his pipe
for him. She liked it and continued to smoke. Grandma Biglow was very
dear to me. She used to let me go up to her room in winter and feed the
birds on the porch roof from a window. She would take me to the orchard
in the spring to watch the old turkey hen stealing to her nest near the
spring. There were trees and vines to hide in. So long we waited, still
and quiet, for her to lay the egg. I love that memory - the warm sunshine
and we two sitting very still in split bottom chairs, not moving. How
patient I must have been! When the egg was laid, and the turkey hen walked
nonchalantly away, grandmother would take the egg, replacing it with a
glass one. When enough were laid she would place them under the hen.
Turkeys are wild and often lose their babies by going too far afield.
Chickens take better care of their eggs.
The night that Grandma was dying she asked for me. Aunt Fannie came down-
stairs and told me that she wanted to see me. Grandma patted my head and
said "Little Mary". I was about five years old when she died.
Additional material for V. JACOB WOODSON
Children of Jacob Woodson and Elizabeth Morton Woodson:
1. Obadiah, b. April 6, 1775, d. Sept. 1864
2. Mary, b. April 6, 1775, drowned in the Appomattox River at age of two
3. John Morton Woodson, b. June 28, 1778, d. at Camp Carter in War of 1812
4. Nancy, b. April 3, 1780, m. Mr. Hix of Hixburg, Va. They went to
Missouri.
5. A still-born child b. Dec. 6, 1781
6. Jacob, Jr., b. Aug. 14, 1783, d. March 8, 1823
7. Sally, b. Aug. 4, 1785, d. July 24, 1871. Lived at Happy Valley, never
married.
8. Richard, b. Sept. 21, 1789, d. July 3, 1821, m. Miss Robertson moved to
Missouri.
9. Elizabeth (Betsy) b. April 22, 1790, m. Henry Lewis, they went to
Missouri.
10. Patsy, b. Sept. 11, 1792, d. April 18, 1871
11. A son, "Some deformed', died at birth.
12. Judith, b. Nov. 30, 1796, m. Silas Biglow in 1871
13. Agnes Morton Woodson, b. June 22, 1799, d. Aug. 26, 1823, with a fever.
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