Thomas (or John) Woodward
Contributed by Jo Ann Cooper Killeen
1. THOMAS WOODWARD
was born in 1729 in Virginia (VA). He died on 12 May 1779 while fighting the Tories at Little Dutchman's Creek, Fairfield County, South Carolina (SC).
Some researchers who believe he was born prior to 1729 have questioned the 1729 birth year of
THOMAS WOODWARD; however, on the 1772 SC Muster Roll Call,
THOMAS WOODWARD gives his age as 43 years old (b.1729) and his place of birth as VA.
1 & 8
After moving to South Carolina in the 1760s,
THOMAS WOODWARD later became known as "THE REGULATOR"
and "CAPTAIN THOMAS WOODWARD." To differentiate
between THOMAS WOODWARD born in VA and a Thomas WOODWARD from Annapolis, Maryland (MD), THOMAS WOODWARD
of VA shall henceforth be referred to as CAPTAIN
THOMAS WOODWARD or CAPTAIN THOMAS WOODWARD (THE REGULATOR).
2. PARENTS OFCAPTAIN
THOMAS WOODWARD (THE REGULATOR): ____?____ WOODWARD and his wife MARY SIMSON WOODWARD. 2
A. FATHER: It is believed by many researchers that John WOODWARD,
blacksmith, Prince William County, VA, was the father
of CAPTAIN THOMAS WOODWARD (THE REGULATOR). John WOODWARD, the blacksmith,
was the only WOODWARD in the Stafford/Prince William County area during that
time as proved by deeds and a bill of sale, below. 3
Prince William County, VA, Deed Book A, 1731-1732 and
1732-1735, Pages 192-197: "March
13, 1732. Denis McCARTY of Parish of Hamilton County of Prince William to
John MINOR Jr., Gent. of Parish of Washing. County of Westmoreland....for 79
lbs. sterling....522 a. and 26 perches....granted to Denis McCARTY by deed
dated March 25, 1727....in a line of land given by will to Denis McCARTY by his
father Daniel McCARTY Esq. on north side of road leads from main road down to
OWSELY's Mill....line of John HEREFORD. Deed of lease and release.
Denis McCarty Wit: John WOODWARD, John (his mark) WHEELER, Humphry (his mark)
PRICE. March 31, 1732 rec'd. of John MINOR sum of 29 lbs. sterling.
At court April 19, 1732 release
from Denis McCARTY Gent. to John MINOR was proved by oaths of wit. with receipt
endorsed."
Prince William County, VA, Deed Book A, 1731-1732 and 1732-1735,
Pages 197-198: "Denis McCARTY of
Prince William is bound and indebted to John MINOR of Westmorland in sum of 158
lbs. current money and dated March 31, 1732....condition that Denis McCARTY
sold to John MINOR 522 a. and 26 perches on upper side of Accotink Cr.
Denis McCARTY Wit: John WOODWARD, John (his mark) WHEELER. At court April
19,1732 this bond from Denis McCARTY Gent. to
John MINOR was proved by oaths of wit."
Prince William County, VA, Deed Book B, Page 426, dated 21st October
1732, Bill of Sale by John
WOODWARD of Prince William County, VA, to
John MERCER of Stafford, VA:
"KNOW ALL MEN, by these presents, that
I John WOODWARD of the County of
Prince William, Smith (Blacksmith) for and in consideration of the sum of six
hundred pounds of Tobacco, to me in hand paid by John MERCER of the County of
Stafford, Grant (?) the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, have bargained
and sold and by these presents, do bargain and sell unto the said John MERCER
all and Sundry the Horses, Cattle, Hogs, Tools, Money and Household Goods
mentioned and contained in the Schedule hereunto annexed, to have and to hold
all and singular the said Horses, Cattle, Hogs, Tools, Money and Household
Goods to the said John MERCER and and his heirs and assigns forever to his
heirs and their own proper use and behoof. In Witness whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and seal this 21st day of October 1732. John
WOODWARD (LS) Sealed in the Presence of
us, the above John WOODWARD, having
first delivered to the above named John MERCER, a Pistol hereby to pay the said
John MERCER in full and Peaceable possession of the thing, above
mentioned. Catesby COCKE, John GREGG. The Schedule of Inventory of
the Horses, Cattle, Hogs, Tools, Money and Household Goods aforesaid to the
above Bill of Sale...2 feather beds, 2 bed spreads, 4 blankets, 2 rugs, 2 horses
(one whole horse ((branded)) DP on the fore buttocks and the other a black
horse), 1 branded cow & calf bought by the said WOODWARD of John GRAHAM, 11 hogs marked with a slit in the fore
ear and a slit in the near ear, the under side of the ____? ear chopped as low
as it is (possible?), 6 hog chains, 1 Smith's Bellows, 1 anvil weighing 3 lbs 2
oz-4?, 1 _____(not legible), 7 hammons (josted?) and 1 sledge hammer, 6 dishes,
12 ____(?), Iron pots (?), 7 chairs, 7 poles (?), 3 hand vicarson files, one
weighing 113 pounds. (Signed) John WOODWARD, Witnesses: Catesby COCKE, John GREEG. In
(open?) Court confirmed and held for Prince William County the 12th
day of March 1734, John MERCER, Gentleman,
presented the above Bill of Sale from John WOODWARD with the schedule or Inventory (amount) which was
proved by the oaths of the witnesses hereto subscribed and on the _________? of
the said MERCER admitted to record. (Signed) John CROSBY (C.
C.)"
NOTES & QUESTIONS
(1) The above John WOODWARD
appears to be the only adult male
WOODWARD in the Stafford/Prince William
County area of Virginia and thus suspected to have been the husband of
MARY SIMSON (daughter of THOMAS
SIMSON) and father of CAPTAIN
THOMAS WOODWARD (THE REGULATOR) and his
sister Ann. 2
(2) In addition, it is to be noted that CAPTAIN
THOMAS WOODWARD (THE REGULATOR) and his first
wife JEMIMA COLLINS WOODWARD named
their first son JOHN - which was
the custom at that time to name the first-born son after the paternal
grandfather.
(3) In 1677,
George WOODWARD patented 2,000 acres of land in James City County, 'in Wimbleton (Wilmington) Parish,
and upon Tyascun (Diascund) Swamp.' It appears
that he must have died before 1704, when the Quit Rent Roll was compiled,
because his 2,000 acres of land was, then, divided up among four Woodwards,
presumably his four sons - Lancelot WOODWARD (650) acres, John WOODWARD
(650) acres, George WOODWARD (350) acres, and Samuel WOODWARD (350) acres,
totaling 2,000 acres, which he originally patented in the year 1677..." 4
"On April 24, 1725, it was
proven, by the minutes of the vestry meeting of Blisland Parish, that the
Woodward plantation was in that part of Wilmington (Wimbleton) Parish that was
added to Blisland Parish, when Wilmington Parish was dissolved..." 4
(4) On 16
June 1714, John WOODWARD was granted 230 acres of land in James City County,
"in Wilmington Par.; on E. side of Chicohominy River, beg. On E. side of
Disacun Sw., dividing this & land of one Edmunds; on Mr. James Duke's line;
Warran Eise Sw., including the whole swamp; & thro' Birchen Sw."
(Nugent: Cavaliers & Pioneers, Volume III,
pp. 156-157)
(5) QUESTIONS:
(a) Is the John
WOODWARD, blacksmith, Prince William County, VA, the son of the George
WOODWARD who patented 2,000 acres of land in James City County, Wimbleton (Wilmington) Parish,
and upon Tyascun (Diascund) Swamp?
(b) Is the John
WOODWARD who was granted 230 acres of land in James City County, Wilmington
Parish (Paragraph (4), above) the son of the George WOODWARD who divided up the
2,000 acres in James City County?
(c) Did
John WOODWARD's first wife die in Wilmington Parish and he removed to
Prince William County, VA?
(d) Did he
have children who remained in Wilmington Parish?
(e) Did
this John WOODWARD marry 2nd MARY SIMSON, daughter of THOMAS
SIMSON, Stafford/Prince William County?
(f) What
happened to the John WOODWARD, blacksmith, Prince William County, VA,
after he sold his property to John MERCER?
(g) Did
he return to Wilmington Parish (or thereabout) to pick up his children and take
them back to Prince William County?
(h) Did
he die while in the Wilmington Parish area?
B. MOTHER:
MARY SIMSON WOODWARD (daughter of THOMAS SIMSON and his first
wife who is suspected to be his first cousin Elizabeth BAXTER) of the Sandy
Run, Aquia and Chopawamsic Creek area of Stafford/Prince William County,
VA. 2
THOMAS SIMSON and his first
wife _____ (Elizabeth Baxter ?) had five children: Three sons--William
SIMSON, Baxter SIMSON, and Thomas SIMSON, Jr.; and two daughters, MARY
SIMSON WOODWARD and Ann SIMSON. 2
THOMAS SIMSON's beloved
grandchildren THOMAS WOODWARD and Ann WOODWARD are included in
his will, below. 2
Prince William County, Virginia Will Book C, 1734-1744, Page 2,
Abstracted and Compiled by John Frederick Dorman, Will of THOMAS SIMPSON dated
13 October 1734: "Pages 16-17. Will of THOMAS SIMSON,
dated 13 Oct. 1734. See Thomas's Will
here
"THOMAS SIMSON of Prince William County, carpenter,...
"Unto my oldest son William SIMSON....
"Unto my son Baxter SIMSON....
"To my son Thomas SIMSON....
"Unto my loving daghter MARY
WOODWARD one hundred acres of land where she is now seated and lying on the
north side of Sande Run...
"Unto my daghter Ann SIMSON
after her mother in laws decease one cow and calf, one feather
bed, boulster, rug and two blankets...
"Unto my beloved grand children the
son and daghter of MARY WOODWARD, THOMAS WOODWARD and Ann
WOODWARD, one yew a peace...
"Unto my daghter Ann
SIMSON....I further leave my daghter Ann to MARY WOODARD in case her
mother dies before she comes of age....
"Unto my ever loving wife Jane
SIMSON...." (second wife)
C. REFERENCES, CHALLENGE,
AND COMMENTS:
(1) Woodward's
Reminiscenses of the Creek, or Muscogee Indians, contained in letters to
friends in Georgia and Alabama,
Pages 124-127, by John Simpson WOODWARD:
5
"Wheeling, Winn Parish, La.,
"December 20, 1858.
"J. J. HOOPER, Esq.
Dear
Sir:--A few days back I wrote you a letter, in which I promised, as early as
possible, to give you a little sketch of my family, my age, and also the little
wars that I was engaged in in my younger days. My name is not as common
as Smith, but it is to be met with in all the States of this Union, as well as
in many parts of Europe. Whether the name is Norman, Saxon, or German,
originally, I do not know. But the name seems to have been derived from
the occupation followed by those who bore it, at an early day. Woodward,
one who protects the forest. My early ancestors of the name came from England,
and settled in Maryland, under George Calverton, Baron of Baltimore. And near
Annapolis, my great grandfather, Thomas Woodward, was born and raised in Maryland.
He raised a family a family of children by a first wife-she died, and he
went into Fairfax county, Virginia and married my great grandmother, Elizabeth
Simpson, the descendant of a Scotch family-and Simpson is my middle name.
Thomas Woodward and Elizabeth Simpson had one son, and called him Thomas, who
was my grandfather. The old man returned to Maryland to move his other
children to Virginia; he died on his visit to Maryland, and never returned, nor
did his Maryland children ever get to Fairfax, but some years after their
father's death, some of them went to Dinwiddy county, Virginia, and some to
North Carolina; the North Carolina branch of the family has lost one letter in
the name-they spell the name with one W, instead of two. I could name
many of the older ones of most of the branches of the family, but it would take
up too much time, as well as room, for a paper of this sort. My great
grandmother remained a widow for some years, when she married a man by the name
of Robinson (Note: Name was Robertson), and raised two sons,
William and John, both of whom I have seen, as well as their mother. My
mother carried me and my sister to South Carolina when we were small children
and the old lady was then living, and from what I have learned since, she was
then about 112 years of age-she died two years after. It has been said
that Robinson (Robertson) neglected my grandfather's education, and he was
suffered to grow up very much in the way that one of his grand sons has
since. At an early age he showed some inclination to become a soldier,
and was in the French war, and a part of the time with Gen. Washington, who was
then a Major or a Colonel. My grandfather was a Captain in that service,
and was a much older man than Gen. Washington, and from what I have been able
to learn from Parson Weems and others, the old man was looked upon as a good
fighter. He married at an early age, a woman by the name of Jemima Collins,
and they had four daughters and two sons, John and William. His wife died
while he was in the service. At the close of the French war he was
ordered on the frontier of South Carolina, leaving his children in Virginia. While
in South Carolina, he became acquainted with my grandmother, who was
his second wife. And it is the blood of that grandmother which courses
through my veins, that in early life tempted me to quit what the world
terms civilized and Christian man.
"I will now give you as accurately as I can the true history of that
branch of my family. At the very earliest settlement of South Carolina by
Europeans, and at the time those tribes of Indians that inhabited the lower
parts of the Carolinas and Georgia, viz: the Sowanokas, Uchees, Yemacraws
and others, a European, either of French or spanish origin, by the names of
Silves, (I think the name was originally spelled Silvester, but pronounced
Silves,) came to Beaufort, S. C., took an Indian woman for a wife, and raised a
family of children. About the time Silves's eldest daughter arrived to
womanhood, an Englishman by the name of Thomas Stokes came to the country and
turned Indian trader. Stokes took the daughter of Silves for a wife, and
raised four children by her, two sons and two daughters, and one of them was my
grandmother-her name was Elizabeth. She married one John May. The
other daughter, whose name I have forgotten, (though I was much better
acquainted with her than I was with my grandmother,) married a man by the name
of Joiner.
"The two sons were Thomas and Silvester. They were both Whigs in the
American Revolution, and in a skirmish with some British and Tories, at the old
ridge, not far from the line of Edgefield and Lexington Districts, S. C., they
were both badly wounded, and escaped at the time, but were necessarily forced,
from their wounds, to go to a settlement to have them dressed. They were
betrayed and taken prisoners by the British, and if not hanged at the same time
with Col. Haynes, they were just before or after.
"My grandmother raised three children by John May, two sons and a
daughter, when May died. She then married my grandfather, and settled in the
Fairfield District-they raised three sons and three daughters-my father was the
oldest of the young set of children. My grandfather, after marrying my
grandmother, moved his mother and two half brothers from Virginia to South
Carolina. When the Revolution commenced, he raised among the first
companies, if not the first, that was raised in South Carolina. He was
killed on Dutchman's Creek, in a fight with the British and Tories, on the 12th
of May, 1779. My half uncle, Ben. May, took command of his company.
My half uncle, John Woodward, raised another company. My father, who was
rather young at the commencement of the war to take the field, after his father
was killed entered the service-his two own brothers being too young.
"As many of the children and grand children of these men are now living,
and know but little of the old stock, I will here give a list of the names of
my father's family that served in the Revolution, and to a man I believe, were
at the battle of Eutaw, except my grandfather and two grand uncles, Tom and
Sil. Stokes, who were then dead.
"My two half uncles, John and William Woodward; my half uncle, Ben.
May-(my half uncle, Tom May, was a cripple, and never served.) Now for
the son-in-laws, or those that married my aunts. Now for the son-in-laws,
or those that married my aunts. The oldest first: James Nelson,
Phillip Raiford, Robert Rabb, James Andrews (Note: Nelson, Raiford,
Rabb, and Andrews married daughters of Thomas Woodward and his first wife
Jemima Collins), Phillip Riley, William McMorris, William J. Augustin,
Reeves Freeman, and Thomas Woodward, who was the youngest of the crowd, and my
father. I have seen many of my grandfather's old company; they were said
to be good fighters. But I have heard the old ones say that my uncle Ben.
May and uncle William Woodward were looked on as being the most daring men of
that day.
"My uncle William Woodward represented Fairfield District in Congress for
several years, and the same District has been represented by his son Joseph,
since, and it is his son William that represents Sumter county, in the Alabama
Legislature. My mother was a Howard; her father was Nehemiah Howard, a
Virginian by birth, and of an English family. My grandmother Howard was
Edith Smith, and descended from a Welch family; it is said her father settled
Smithfield, on Neuse River, in Johnson county, North Carolina. My
grandmother Howard died in Milledgeville, Ga., very near one hundred years of
age. I remember to have seen her mother when I was a small boy; it was
said she was over a hundred years old; she was then a widow Edmonson.
There were nine brothers of the Howard family, and five sisters; they all lived
to be grown and raise a family of children, except three-two uncles, one of
whom was killed by a horse, and the other was drowned. My youngest aunt
of that family was accidentally burned to death. My mother was the ninth
child, and the first of the family that died a natural death. Maj. James
Howard, late of Macon county, Alabama, was the next child to my mother, and was
the last of the fourteen children to die, which was some two or three years
back.
"I think I have wrote enough to satisfy you that I have had, and yet have, some
relations, though I seldom see any of them; the balance I will write now will
be little things pertaining pretty much to myself.
"Not long after the close of the Revolution, my father left Fairfield
District, S. C., and went into Union District, and taught school; several of
the Howard family went to the school; among them was my mother, and the
children younger than herself. The school continued for some ten years,
and at the close of the school my father gave my grandfather Howard to
understand that he wished to marry his daughter Mary. It was objected to
by the whole Howard family, except John and Ben. Howard. My father
returned to Fairfield, and my grandfather Howard moved to Georgia. My grandfather
Woodward had a large property in land and Negroes for the time in which he
lived, and after his death and the close of the war, the heirs set about a
division. There was soon a split between the white and Indian
children. My father took a few Negroes and left for the Cherokee
nation. On his route he called at my grandfather Howards' who had then
settled in what is now called Elbert county, Georgia, and within six miles of
the head of Savannah River. My father tried a second time to get the
consent of my grandfather, and through the influence of the two brothers, John
and Ben, the matter was arranged. My father settled on Savannah River,
between the mouths of two creeks, Lightwood Log and Powder Log, and in Elbert
county. There had been at a very early day a stockade fort erected at the
place by Gen. Perkins and Col. Cleveland-it was at the old Cherokee crossing,
when that tribe was in the habit of trading to Ninety-Six (96) or Cambridge, as
it is now called. This old work stood near what was known in my time as
Shockley's Ferry-the block-houses had been converted into dwelling houses-in
fact, they had been put up first as dwelling houses and picketed in. In
one of these houses I was born; an old lady by the name of Black was present-I
have made mention of her before. I was born between the 22d of February,
1794, and the 22d of Feb., 1797, but it is impossible for me to know which, as
there have been so many conflicting statements about it, for I rely nothing on
any record that I have seen, and if I am to judge from what I can recollect of
my father (who died in March, 1800) and other things, I am satisfied that I
will be sixty-five years of age on the 22d February next. I do not claim
to be born on that day, because the greatest man our country ever had happened
to be born on that day. All the old ones that I have talked to agree as
to the day and month, but many of them differ as to the year. But there
is one thing sure, I was born at some time and at some place, and if I don't
find some time and place to die at, before a great while, it may be looked upon
as a miracle.
"I entered the army on the first day of July, 1812, and accompanied Gen.
Daniel Newnan to East Florida. I was in no fight in that
expedition. I was at Kingsley's house, and in sight of Capt. Cone and his
men when they had a little skirmish with the Indians, and Capt. Farren was
killed. I went with some other militia under Tom Rix, to take a look at
the castle of St. Augustine. We were taken for Cone's patriots, and were
fired upon. If I ever see you, I will tell you an amusing story about
that affair, but it would be too long here..." 5
Following
his discharge, Thomas Simpson Woodward (b. abt 1794), lived in Alabama and
Arkansas.
See the rest of Thomas Simpson
Woodward's "Reminiscenses" here
CHALLENGE
Research: Paragraph 2.a.(5)
QUESTIONS; and, research WOODWARD/WOODARD families in Dinwiddie County,
Virginia, and North Carolina for proof of parents and possible half
siblings of CAPTAIN THOMAS WOODWARD (THE REGULATOR). (Reference first
paragraph of Mr. Thomas Simpson Woodward's letter dated December 20, 1858.)
COMMENTS
While it is possible there may have been
a Thomas WOODWARD in Maryland as referred to in Mr. Thomas Simpson Woodward's
letter of December 20, 1858, documents referenced below (paragraphs (2) and
(3)), prove, firstly, that the Thomas WOODWARD who was born and raised near
Annapolis, Maryland, cannot be the father of CAPTAIN THOMAS WOODWARD,
THE REGULATOR. 6 & 7
And, secondly, the Will of THOMAS
SIMSON, dated 13 October 1734, proves that the mother of CAPTAIN THOMAS
WOODWARD was MARY SIMSON, not Elizabeth SIMPSON.
2 It is suspected that the Elizabeth SIMPSON
referred to in Mr. John Simpson WOODWARD's letter dated 20 December 1858 was
Elizabeth BAXTER, first cousin of THOMAS SIMSON who wrote his
Will on 13 October 1734. Elizabeth BAXTER is suspected to be the
first wife of THOMAS SIMSON and the mother of MARY SIMSON WOODWARD.
THOMAS SIMSON and his first wife named one of their sons BAXTER.
THOMAS SIMSON's second wife was named Jane (Note: In THOMAS SIMSON'S
Will, he wrote "Unto my daghter Ann SIMSON after her mother in laws
decease...).
(2) Colonial
Families of the United States of America, Volume III, Pages
632-633, Edited by George Norbury MacKenzie, L.L.B.: 6
"Abraham WOODWARD, gentleman, of
Annapolis, Md., b. 1686, in England; d. there before 1st Mar. 1744; came to
America and settled in Annapolis in 1738; m. (firstly) 11th July, 1707,
Elizabeth FINLOE, dau. of James FINLOE; m. (secondly) 25th Aug. 1717, Priscilla
(RULEY) ORRICK, b. 1693, dau. of Anthony RULEY, Gent., and Rebecca, his wife,
of Anne Arundel Co., Md., and widow of James ORRICK.
ISSUE BY 2D m.
I. William, b. 6th Dec. 1716, d. 1790.
II. Rebecca, b. 15th Jan. 1722.
III. Martha, b. 8th Dec., 1726.
IV. Abraham, b. 5th Jan. 1729.
V. Thomas. (This Thomas is not Captain Thomas
Woodward.)
VI. Priscilla, m. William FARRIS.
VII. Mary, m. _____ RIDGELY.
VIII. Henry.
IX. Elizabeth, d. 1758, unm.
X. Eleanor."
(3) Annapolis
Maryland Families, Page 783, By Robert Harry McIntire: 7
"Abraham WOODWARD, b. abt.
1685; d. Jan. 26, 1744; m. (1) Dec. 3, 1707, Elizabeth FINLOE; m.
(2) Aug. 25, 1715, Priscilla (Ruley) ORRICK, q.v., b. 1690; d.
1733. Ch. (WOODWARD) incl: a. William, b. Dec. 6, 1716; q.v.
b. Rebecca, b. Jan. 15, 1723. c. Martha, b. Dec. 8,
1726. d. Abraham, b. Jan. 16, 1730. e. Thomas, b.
Mar. 10, 1732; q.v. f. Priscilla, b. Feb. 27, 1739; m. William FARIS,
q.v.
"Thomas WOODWARD, b. Mar. 10,
1732; d. Apr. 1799; m. Feb. 21, 1778, Margaret (Waters) IJAMS, dau. of Mordecai
and Rachel WATERS, and widow of Thomas IJAMS. Ch. (WOODWARD)
incl: Nicholas, b. Apr. 8, 1781; q.v."
COMMENTS
While it is possible there may have
been another Thomas WOODWARD in Maryland, the above Thomas WOODWARD shown in Annapolis
Maryland Families is the same Thomas WOODWARD shown in Colonial
Families of the United States of America; therefore, he cannot
be the THOMAS WOODWARD born 1729 in VA. CAPTAIN THOMAS WOODWARD
(THE REGULATOR) died on 12 May 1779 in Fairfield County, SC, and the above
described Thomas WOODWARD, b. Mar. 10, 1732, died April 1799. The Thomas WOODWARD
of Annapolis, Maryland lived another 20 years after the death of CAPTAIN
THOMAS WOODWARD (THE REGULATOR). 6
3. MARRIAGES OF CAPTAIN
THOMAS WOODWARD: Married 1st JEMIMA COLLINS and
2nd Elizabeth Stokes MAY. 1 & 11
A. CAPTAIN
THOMAS WOODWARD (THE REGULATOR) (b. 1729, VA; d. 12 May 1779, present day
Fairfield County, South Carolina) married JEMIMA COLLINS, ca. 1746-1755.
1 JEMIMA WOODWARD was born abt 1730,
birthplace unknown; she died in late 1762. Children:
John WOODWARD, b. between 1746-1755,
VA 8 ; d. 26 May 1817, SC; married Esther McDONALD, SC.
MARGARET WOODWARD, b. ca.
1748-1752, VA; d. _____, Fairfield County, SC; married JAMES NELSON, Fairfield
County, SC. Ch: SAMUEL.
Rebecca WOODWARD, b. VA, married Phillip RAIFORD, Jr.
Priscilla WOODWARD, b. VA, married James ANDREWS, Jr.
Nancy WOODWARD, b. ca. 1760, VA, married Robert RABB.
William WOODWARD, b. 7 Oct 1762, VA; d. 23 Jul 1820, Chester County, SC;
married Nancy Elizabeth BARRETT, SC.
COMMENT
South Carolina land grants indicate
that early in 1763, CAPTAIN THOMAS WOODWARD (The Regulator) probably
brought his six WOODWARD children, his widowed mother (MARY SIMPSON WOODWARD
ROBERTSON) and his three ROBERTSON half brothers (William, John, and Henry)
to South Carolina. 9
B. CAPTAIN THOMAS WOODWARD
(THE REGULATOR) married 2nd Elizabeth Stokes MAY (Widow
MAY). Children: 11
Lucy WOODWARD, d. aft 12 Aug 1802, m. William J. AUGUSTINE
Henry WOODWARD, d. 1803, Fairfield County, SC.
Thomas WOODWARD, b. Fairfield
County, SC; d. bef 12 Aug 1802, m. Mary HOWARD (their son Thomas Simpson
WOODWARD was the author of letter in Reminiscenses,
dated December 20, 1858.
Elizabeth WOODWARD, b. Fairfield County, SC; d. aft 12 Aug 1802, m. William
McMORRIES, Jr.
Jane WOODWARD, d. aft 12 Aug 1802, m. a FREEMAN
Sarah
WOODWARD, b. Fairfield County, SC; d. aft 12 Aug 1802, m. a RILEY.
COMMENT: Elizabeth Stokes
MAY and her first husband had three children: Benjamin MAY, Jane MAY (m. Mr.
FREEMAN), and Thomas MAY.
4. CAPTAIN THOMAS
WOODWARD (THE REGULATOR), THE MAN:
It was said CAPTAIN WOODWARD was a large man of commanding presence to
whom people turned to in times of stress.
He served in the French and Indian Wars.
In the 1760s, he became a leader in the Regulator Movement in the area between
the Broad and Catawba Rivers in South Carolina.
He was a justice of the peace and a leading citizen of Fairfield County, South
Carolina. 9
He was elected to the 1st Provincial Congress of 1775.
On 17 June 1775, THOMAS WOODWARD
became a captain in the Rangers under Colonel Thomson. He and his men
took part in the "Snow Campaign" against the Tories in 1775. He resigned
his commission on 30 January 1776 but later that year he led volunteers against
Indians and Tories. On 12 May 1779, he was killed by Tories on Little
Dutchman's Creek in Fairfield County, SC. 1
Over the years, stories have
circulated as to where the body of CAPTAIN THOMAS WOODWARD (THE REGULATOR)
actually rests. Some WOODWARD researchers say that his body was
buried somewhere in the woods where the Tories who killed him could not find
it. Other researchers say his body was later moved to the Woodward Family
Cemetery, near the Anvil Rock (Rockton) on present day Highway 34 between
Ridgeway and Winnsboro, Fairfield County, South Carolina. His obelisk in the
Woodward Family Cemetery is inscribed, "THOMAS WOODWARD, the Regulator,
killed by Tories, May 12, 1779." A Fairfield County, South Carolina
historical marker detailing CAPTAIN WOODWARD's contributions to the
State of South Carolina and his Country stands just outside the WOODWARD
Family Cemetery on Highway 34.
SOURCES
1. Roster of
South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution, Page 1013, by Bobby Gilmer
Moss.
2. Prince
William County, Virginia Will Book C, 1734-1744, Page 2, Abstracted and
Compiled by John Frederick Dorman, Will of THOMAS SIMSON dated 13 October 1734:
"Pages 16-17. Will of THOMAS SIMSON, dated 13 Oct. 1734.
"THOMAS SIMSON of Prince William County, carpenter, being very sick and weak of body....
"Unto my oldest son William SIMSON....
"Unto my son Baxter SIMSON....
"To my son Thomas SIMSON....
"Unto my loving daghter MARY WOODARD one hundred acres of land where she is now seated
and lying on the north side of Sande Run...
"Unto my daghter Ann SIMSON after
her mother in laws deceas one cow and calf, one feather bed, boulster, rug and two blankets...
"Unto my beloved grand children
the son and daghter of MARY WOODWARD, THOMAS WOODWARD and Ann WOODWARD, one yew a peace....
"Unto my daghter Ann SIMSON....I
further leave my daghter Ann to MARY WOODARD in case her mother dies before she comes of age....
"Unto my ever loving wife Jane SIMSON...."
3. Prince
William County, VA, Deed Book A, 1731-1732 and 1732-1735, Pages 192-197:
"March 13, 1732. Denis McCARTY of Parish of Hamilton County of
Prince William to John MINOR Jr., Gent. of Parish of Washing. County of
Westmoreland....for 79 lbs. sterling....522 a. and 26 perches....granted to
Denis McCARTY by deed dated March 25, 1727....in a line of land given by will
to Denis McCARTY by his father Daniel McCARTY Esq. on north side of road leads
from main road down to OWSELY's Mill....line of John HEREFORD. Deed of
lease and release. Denis McCARTY Wit: John WOODWARD, John
(his mark) WHEELER, Humphry (his mark) PRICE. March 31, 1732 rec'd. of
John MINOR sum of 29 lbs. sterling. At court April 19, 1732 release from
Denis McCARTY Gent. to John MINOR was proved by oaths of wit. with receipt endorsed."
Prince William County, VA, Deed Book A, 1731-1732 and 1732-1735, Pages
197-198: "Denis McCARTY of Prince William is bound and indebted to
John MINOR of Westmorland in sum of 158 lbs. current money and dated March 31,
1732....condition that Denis McCARTY sold to John MINOR 522 a. and 26 perches
on upper side of Accotink Cr. Denis McCARTY Wit: John
WOODWARD, John (his mark) WHEELER. At court April 19,1732 this bond from
Denis McCARTY Gent. to John MINOR was proved by oaths of wit."
Prince William County, VA, Deed Book B, Page 426, dated 21st October 1732, Bill
of Sale by John WOODWARD of Prince William County, VA, to John MERCER of
Stafford, VA: "KNOW ALL MEN, by these presents, that I John WOODWARD, of
the County of Prince William, Smith (Blacksmith) for and in consideration of
the sum of six hundred pounds of Tobacco, to me in hand paid by John MERCER of
the County of Stafford, Grant (?) the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge,
have bargained and sold and by these presents, do bargain and sell unto the
said John MERCER all and Sundry the Horses, Cattle, Hogs, Tools, Money and
Household Goods mentioned and contained in the Schedule hereunto annexed, to
have and to hold all and singular the said Horses, Cattle, Hogs, Tools, Money
and Household Goods to the said John MERCER and and his heirs and assigns
forever to his heirs and their own proper use and behoof. In Witness
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 21st day of October
1732. John WOODWARD (LS) Sealed in the Presence of us, the above
John WOODWARD having first delivered to the above named John MERCER, a Pistol
hereby to pay the said John MERCER in full and Peaceable possession of the
thing, above mentioned. Catesby COCKE, John GREGG. The Schedule of
Inventory of the Horses, Cattle, Hogs, Tools, Money and Household Goods
aforesaid to the above Bill of Sale...2 feather beds, 2 bed spreads, 4 blankets,
2 rugs, 2 horses (one whole horse ((branded)) DP on the fore buttocks and the
other a black horse), 1 branded cow & calf bought by the said WOODWARD of
John GRAHAM, 11 hogs marked with a slit in the fore ear and a slit in the near
ear, the under side of the ____? ear chopped as low as it is (possible?), 6 hog
chains, 1 Smith's Bellows, 1 anvil weighing 3 lbs 2 oz-4?, 1 _____(not
legible), 7 hammons (josted?) and 1 sledge hammer, 6 dishes, 12 ____(?), Iron
pots (?), 7 chairs, 7 poles (?), 3 hand vicarson files, one weighing 113
pounds. (Signed) John WOODWARD, Witnesses: Catesby COCKE,
John GREEG. In (open?) Court confirmed and held for Prince William County
the 12th day of March 1734, John MERCER, Gentleman, presented the above Bill of
Sale from John WOODWARD with the schedule or Inventory (amount) which was
proved by the oaths of the witnesses hereto subscribed and on the _________? of
the said MERCER admitted to record. (Signed) John CROSBY (C. C.)"
The above John WOODWARD appears to be the only adult male WOODWARD in this area
of Virginia and thus suspected to have been the husband of MARY SIMSON
(daughter of THOMAS SIMSON) and father of THOMAS WOODWARD and his sister Ann.
4. WOODWARDS
of Colonial America, Volume I, Some Descendants of Lancelott & Elizabeth (Cocke)
WOODWARD of Blisland Parish, Pages 20, 4, and 24, by J. Gary
WOODWARD.
5. WOODWARD's
Reminiscenses of the Creek, or Muscogee Indians, contained in letters to
friends in Georgia and Alabama, Pages 124-127, by Thomas S. WOODWARD of Louisiana.
6. Colonial
Families of the United States of America, Volume III, Pages 632-633,
Edited by George Norbury MACKENZIE, LL.B, 1966, Genealogical Publishing
Company, Baltimore.
7. Annapolis Maryland Families, Page 783, By Robert Harry McINTIRE, 1980, Gateway Press,
Inc., Baltimore, MD.
8.
Genealogical Records 1955 South Carolina DAR (SC-DAR 929.5), A Brief History of
THOMAS WOODWARD, "The Regulator," and his Family, by Mrs. B. H. ROSSOM, Jr.,
State Chairman. New discoveries have caused some information in these
records to have been proved in error.
9. SC Census 1800, John WOODWARD, 45 or over, 29 slaves (for identification of
correct John WOODWARD).
10. The South Carolina Regulators, Pages 40, 41, 120, and 211, by Richard Maxwell BROWN.
11. WOODARD/WOODWARD
Wills, Inventories, and Administrations, WOODWARDS of Colonial America, Volume III, Page 6, by J.
Gary WOODWARD. Will of Elizabeth (Stokes/May) WOODWARD (second wife of Regulator/Captain
THOMAS WOODWARD), written 12 August 1802, Columbia 1, South Carolina.
12. Credit and
gratitude are also given to Jean Holly Day (Mrs. William, Sr.) and Mr. Robert
R. Hill, Sr., for sharing their years of research with me.
