Review, Re-Do, and Rethink: James Todd Sr.’s Proofs

James Todd Sr. of Pudding Run, Augusta County, Virginia

Review:

The following material is from The Todd Family of Mossy Creek Augusta County, Virginia compiled by Katherine Gentry Bushman in 1966.

The story of the Mossy Creek Todd family, for us, begins with James Todd who died in 1799, prior to December 23.  That is the date on which Jane Todd, the widow, relinquished her right to administer the estate in favor of her son, George Todd. 

The known children of James and Jane Todd were

            George (evidently the eldest son since he administered the estate)

            Nathan

            James, Jr.

            Samuel

            Jane

            Isabella

            Elizabeth

            Proofs:

            Chalkley, Vol. 1, page 534, Jane Todd widow of James relinquished her right to administer to son, George Todd

            Ibid., Vol. 3, page 220, James Todd's estate in account with George Todd, adm--Paid James Todd, Jr., for attending Pendleton Court; paid Nathan Todd, ditto (WB 9, page 113, 1801)

            Wayland, Rockingham County History, page 450, James Todd, Wm Nall's Company, Point Pleasant, 1774

            Wayland, History of Shenandoah County, Virginia, page 210 J. Todd--cut into Beech tree, Warren County, Kentucky, 6-13-1775

            Wayland, Virginia Valley Records, page 99, Militia Vouchers of 1788:  James Todd:  3 horses

            Deed Book 33, page 345, 11-1-1804 (Augusta County) Nathan Todd, Samuel Todd, James Todd, Jr., heirs of James Todd deceased, sell land on Pudding Run

Re-Do:

I wanted a look at the records Katherine Bushman cited in her proofs. Lyman Chalkley’s Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County 1745-1800, Volume I, page 534 did record Jane Todd relinquishing her right to administer her husband’s estate in favor of her son December 23, 1799.

Thanks to Patricia Mae Hull Fulton, I have more to add to James Todd Sr.’s story. In 2007 Patt published her family’s history in a book titled Ancestors and Descendants of Vesper Beryl Fierce Hull of Iowa and Allied Families of Criswell, Hiner, Pickrel, Robinson, Strong, Todd and West. Patt’s Chapter Eight is dedicated to the Todd line and she shared it with me.

By the way, Patt is a descendant of Rachel Todd and Jacob Hiner, Jr. Rachel was the daughter of Catherine Siple and James Todd Jr. (and sister to my ancestor Catherine Todd who married David McFall).

She proves Jane Todd to be the widow of James Todd Sr. citing Augusta County Court Order Book 26, page 128:

   “George Todd, administrator of the Estate of James Todd dec’d, is granted him, he having made oath and entered into bond with Joseph Craven & James Todd his sureties in the penalty of $1,000 according to Law. Jane Todd, the widow of the said dec’d James, having certified to the Court that she relinquished her right of administration ordered that James Miller, James McHenry, John Bell and Joseph Snapp or any three of them being first Sworn to appraise said Estate.”

As Katherine Bushman stated, I found George Todd’s accounting in Chalkley’s Chronicles Volume III when he paid James Jr. and Nathan Todd for a court appearance about his father’s estate.

Augusta County, VA Will Book 9, contained George Todd’s accounting of his father’s estate presented in Court June 22, 1801.

George Todd paid 7 Pounds and 9 Shillings owed on a Davies Execution. Funeral expenses, attorney’s fee, vendue expenses, court costs, and taxes were deducted from the estate too.

The Administrator reveals a court case in Pendleton Court--James Todd against Ekert. That’s when Nathan Todd and James Todd, Jr. appeared as witnesses and George paid each 1 Pound.

Patt Fulton knew a bit more about the court suit. Nathan and James Jr. Todd appeared in Franklin, Pendleton Co., VA because their father initiated an action against Phillip Ekert for money owed him. [Source Pendleton County Minute Book 1795-1803, 80, County Clerk’s Office, Franklin, West Virginia.]

Mrs. Bushman thought James Todd a soldier of the Revolution and cited

John Walter Wayland’s Rockingham County, Virginia History, page 450. There was a James Todd that was a member of Wm Nall's Company of Volunteers from Augusta County, in the campaign to Point Pleasant in 1774. Google Books offers this work in their collection and I viewed pages 449-450.

Virgil A. Lewis’ book, History of the Battle of Point Pleasant Fought Between White Men and Indians at the Mouth of the Great Kanawha River (Now Point Pleasant, West Virginia), Monday, October 10^th, 1774, The Chief Event of Lord Dunmore’s War is going on my reading list. Captain William Nalle’s Augusta County Regiment participated in the Battle of Point Pleasant; Private James Todd was among his soldiers. The Documentary History of Dunmore’s War, 1774 edited by Reuben Gold Thwaites and Louise Phelps Kellogg confirms James Todd’s presence in Captain William Nalls Company September 10^th 1774. Both volumes can be found on Google Books. I can’t say with certainty this is my ancestor but it very well could be.

Proof: John Walter Wayland, History of Shenandoah County, Virginia, page 210 J. Todd--cut into Beech tree, Warren County, Kentucky, 6-13-1775. I viewed page 210 through my ancestry.com subscription and don’t have enough information to form an opinion.

James Todd was among the men serving under Captain Benjamin Smith’s Company in Rockingham County, VA in 1788. He owned three horses. According to personal property tax lists, 5^th Great Grandfather resided in Rockingham County before living in Augusta County. [Source John W. Wayland, Virginia Valley Records, page 99]

I already covered the final proof Deed Book 33, page 345, 11-1-1804 (Augusta County) Nathan Todd, Samuel Todd, James Todd, Jr., heirs of James Todd deceased, sell land on Pudding Run in my blog post Review, Re-Do, and Rethink Todd Ancestry: James Todd Jr. Buys out his Brothers.

Rethink:

Today’s post wraps up my Review, Re-Do, and Rethink Todd Ancestry project and that’s only because I don’t know James Senior’s beginnings.

Reviewing my papers and notes triggered new thoughts and questions. The Re-Do answered some of those questions. I benefited from meeting Todd descendants who shared their research. It was wonderful to connect with them. Thank you Patt Fulton and Richard McMurtry.

Any other Todd’s want to talk?

The Natural Bridge, Virginia, 1852

Frederick Edwin Church

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