Woodson Surname

John Woodson was born circa 1585 in England. He died on April 18, 1644 in Virginia.

He is said to have married Sarah Winston in about 1618 while they were living in England. John emigrated from England to Virginia in the year 1619 with his wife Sarah. They traveled aboard the ship named “George” and were fellow passengers of Governor Sir George Yeardley and his wife. They had three known children: Robert (see next generation), John, and Deborah. John settled with his family at Fleur de Hundred on the James River in Virginia. Tradition indicates that John was murdered by Indians on April 18, 1644. John’s widow afterwards married to a Mr. Dunwell and then a Mr. Johnson. Sarah died before 1660/1.

They had at 3 known children:

1	Robert Woodson
2	John Woodson
3	Deborah Woodson

Robert Woodson was born about 1634, probably at what is now Prince Edward County, Virginia. He died after October 1, 1707.

Father: John Woodson
Mother: Sarah Winston

Robert moved to Henrico County, Virginia, and there married Elizabeth Ferris in about 1652. They had nine known children: John, Robert, Richard (see next generation), Joseph, Benjamin, Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary, and Judith. Robert was a farmer and owned a considerable amount of property in Henrico County, Virginia. He died after October 1, 1707.

They had nine known children:

1	Richard Woodson
2	John Woodson
3	Robert Woodson
4	Joseph Woodson
5	Benjamin Woodson
6	Sarah Woodson
7	Elizabeth Woodson
8	Mary Woodson
9	Judith Woodson

Richard Woodson was born circa 1666, probably in Henrico County, Virginia. He is said to have died in 1729 in Henrico Co., Virginia.

Father: Robert Woodson
Mother: Elizabeth Ferris

Richard was probably married to Ann Smith in the late 1690’s (she was either the daughter or sister of Obadiah Smith). They lived at Curles, in Henrico County, Virginia. They had six known children: Richard, Agnes, Obadiah (see next generation), Judith, Mary, and Elizabeth. Richard is said to have died in 1729 in Henrico County, Virginia.

They had six known children:

1	Richard Woodson
2	Agnes Woodson
3	Obadiah Woodson
4	Judith Woodson
5	Mary Woodson
6	Elizabeth Woodson

Obadiah Woodson was born circa 1712 in Henrico County, Virginia. He died before November 21, 1767 in Prince Edward Co., Virginia.

Father: Richard Woodson
Mother: Ann Smith

Obadiah married Constant Watkins, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Watkins, in about 1734 in Prince Edward County, Virginia. Obadiah and Constant had at least seven children: David, Richard, Obadiah, Judith, Jacob, Daniel (see next generation), and Charles. They eventually settled at Prince Edward County, Virginia. Obadiah wrote his will on September 6, 1766. In his will he described his wife Constant, and his children Obadiah, David, Jacob, Daniel and Charles. His will was proven on November 21, 1767.

Constant wrote her will on July 17, 1773. She described her children as Judith Fuquay, Obadiah Woodson, David Woodson, Jacob Woodson, Daniel Woodson, and Charles Woodson. The will was proven on November 15, 1773.

1	David Woodson was born circa 1735.
2	Richard Woodson was born circa 1737.
3	Obadiah Woodson was born circa 1739.
4	Judith Woodson was born circa 1743.
5	Jacob Woodson was born on May 11, 1748.
6	Daniel Woodson
7	Charles Woodson was born circa 1754 in Prince Co., Virginia. He died before April 16, 1787 in Prince Edward Co., Virginia. He married Mary Winston. They had the following children: Judith Ann Woodson md. William Gilliam Anthony Winston Woodson Alice W. Woodson

Daniel Woodson was born sometime between 1752 and 1754, in Prince Edward County, Virginia. He died sometime between May 1807 and February 1809 in Prince Edward Co., Virginia.

Father: Obadiah Woodson
Mother: Constant Watkins

Daniel Woodson was born and raised in Prince Edward County, Virginia. He was named in the will of his father in September 1766 and of his mother in July 1773. In his mother's will, he was described as under 21. Then he had attained his majority by January 1775, when he was described as the guardian of his youngest brother Charles. (This suggests that Daniel was born sometime between July 1752 and January 1754.) Daniel Woodson lived in Prince Edward County, Virginia; where he owned land on the Appomattox River, which was the northern border of the county. He also owned land across the river in neighboring Buckingham County, but presumably never lived there. He died sometime between May 1807 (when he appeared on the personal property tax list) and February 1809 (when he was described as deceased in his daughter Martha's marriage bond).

After her husband's death c. 1807-1809, Elizabeth continued living in Prince Edward Co., Virginia. In 1817 (sometime between February and July), she moved west to Christian Co., Kentucky, where several of her children had recently moved. In February 1819, she purchased 200 acres of land there from her son-in-law Claiborne West. Then in October 1825, she and her son Miller sold that land. In 1824, Elizabeth sued her son Obadiah for abuse and mistreatment of a slave that belonged to Elizabeth. Elizabeth continued to live in Christian County until her death. In 1830, she was probably the 60-70 year old woman enumerated in the household of her daughter Elizabeth Davie in Christian County, Kentucky. At some point after this, she possibly lived with her daughter Martha Fletcher, who also lived in Christian County, Kentucky. Tradition is that she died in about 1840 and was buried in Martha's family cemetery, Harris-Fletcher Cemetery; but no known tombstone exists there.

1	Mary "Polly" Woodson was born circa 1782 in Prince Edward Co., Virginia. She died before November 6, 1845, probably in Newton Co., Missouri. She married first Mr. Glover. He died sometime before 1809 in Buckingham Co., Virginia. They had children: Elizabeth Ann Glover (1800-1863) md. Joshua Davidson David W. Glover (c. 1802-aft. 1834) Spicy Glover (c. 1804-c. 1824) She married second Moses Hurt sometime before 1809 in probably in Buckingham Co., Virginia. He was born circa 1780s in Bedford Co., Virginia. He died in December 1829 in Maury (now Marshall) C., Tennessee. They had children: Emily F. Hurt (1809-1861) md. William Appleby Sarah D. Hurt (c. 1812-c. 1838) md. John Fisher Joel W. Hurt (c. 1815-aft. 1880) md. Eliza Vitilow John D. Hurt (c. 1817-1906) md. Amanda Susan Gresham Elisha Monroe Hurt (c. 1823-1894) md. Catharine Mariah Dillon Mary Jane Hurt (c. 1825-aft. 1842) Mary and her husband Moses Hurt lived in Buckingham County, Virginia. Then in 1818 or 1819, they moved west to Maury County, Tennessee; in the part of the county that became Marshall County. Mary was last located on the 1843 tax list in Marshall County, Tennessee. In the same year, her husband's estate was finalized and his land was sold. At that time, she moved out west to Newton County, Missouri, where her oldest child was already living. She died there before November 6, 1845.
2	Elizabeth "Betsey" Ann Woodson was born on March 9, 1784 7 in Prince Edward Co., Virginia. She died on July 21, 1839 7 in Christian Co., Kentucky. She is buried in the West Cemetery, Christian Co., Kentucky. She married first John Epperson on March 22, 1799, probably in Buckingham Co., Virginia. He died on June 20, 1806 in Planterstown, Buckingham Co., Virginia. They had no known children. She married second Claiborne West circa 1808 in Buckingham Co., Virginia. He was born on November 15, 1759 7 and died on March 1, 1822 7 in Christian Co., Kentucky. He is buried in the West Cemetery, Christian Co., Kentucky. They had children: Hector Rowan West (1808-1854) md. Virginia Overton Claiborne Dandridge West (1810-1861) md. Paulina H. Radford William Henry Harrison West (c. 1812-1854) md. Susan Stubblefield Long Elvira Ann West (1816-1897) md. Erasmus Stribling Crawford John Jones West (c. 1819-1854) md. susan Jameson Glass Elizabeth Claiborne West (1822-1892) md. Patrick Henry She married third Ambrose Davie on May 28, 1823 in Christian Co., Kentucky 10. He was born on December 30, 1786 in Caswell Co., North Carolina. He died on February 22, 1863 in Christian Co., Kentucky. He is buried in the Davie Cemetery, Christian Co., Kentucky. They had children: Winston Jones Davie (1824-1887) md. 1st Sarah Ann Phillips md. 2nd Adaline Eugenia Kalfus Valerie Davie (c. 1826-c. 1838) Montgomery Decatur Davie (1827-1898) md. Cornelia Frances Leavell Elizabeth lived in Buckingham County, Virginia with her first and second husbands. In 1815, they moved west to Christian County, Kentucky. She remained there until her death.
3	Sarah "Sally" D. Woodson was born on September 4, 1786 in Prince Edward Co., Virginia. She possibly died on November 12, 1842* in Shelby Co., Texas. She is buried in the Fairview Cemetery, Shelby Co., Texas. She married Robert Sanders circa 1813, probably in Buckingham Co., Virginia. He was born on April 25, 1790 and died on January 8, 1856 in Shelby Co., Texas. He is buried in the Fairview Cemetery, Shelby Co., Texas. They had children: Spottswood Henry Sanders (c. 1814-c. 1875) md. 1st Susan Eliza Squires md. 2nd Nancy Elizabeth Polley John "Jack" Sanders (1816-1871) md. Rachel Boyd Willingham Robert C. Sanders (1818-1866) md. Martha Laura Squyres Matilda Ann Sanders (1822-1875) md. William Winston Lanier After their marriage, they lived for a few years in Buckingham County, Virginia. Then in 1815 or 1816, they moved west to Christian County, Kentucky and remained there until 1826. In 1826, they moved to Haywood County, Tennessee, where they remained for several more years. In about 1841, they moved to Shelby County, Texas; where they remained. *Sarah's date of death is often listed as November 12, 1852; and the year 1852 is on her tombstone. However her name is absent from the 1850 census, which suggests she was already dead. So a guess by many researchers is that the documented date was slightly off and she died on November 12, 1842. Some online family trees list her middle name as "Dandridge", which is certainly possibly (her nephew was named Claiborne Dandridge West).
4	Martha "Patsy" Michaux Woodson
5	Charles Woodson was born circa 1790 in Prince Edward Co., Virginia. He died after 1832. He married name unknown. He had multiple children, including: Martha Woodson (c. 1811-c. 1830s) md. Daniel Caldwell at least four other children Charles remained in Virginia while all of his siblings and mother moved west to Kentucky in the 1810s. In February 1817, his mother and his siblings Mary, Martha, and Richard deeded their interest in their father's estate in Prince Edward County to Charles. In July 1820, three more siblings (Obadiah, Sarah, and Nancy) also deeded their interest in their father's estate to him. Charles lived on his father's 145-acre estate in Prince Edward County, which was on the Appomattox River in the northern part of the county. In March 1825, Charles took out a mortgage for his interest in that property. Charles remained in Prince Edward County until at least 1832; and then moved away in 1832 or 1833. In December 1833, his interest in the property was sold by the creditors to his mortgage; it is unclear if he was still living there at that time. It is unknown what happened to Charles after 1832-1833; but my guess is that he went west to Kentucky or Tennessee (where his mother and siblings were all living) or neighboring Indiana (where his daughter Martha's family settled). Census records suggest that Charles was married and had at least 5 or 6 children, but the names of none of them are known; except for daughter Martha who married Daniel Caldwell.
6	Obadiah Woodson was born on April 16, 1792 in Prince Edward Co., Virginia. He died on April 16, 1825 in Christian Co., Kentucky. He married Judith "Judy" Ann Jones in about 1813 in Buckingham Co., Virginia. She was born on June 3, 1789 in Buckingham Co., Virginia and died on June 11, 1855 in Christian Co., Kentucky. They had children: John Wesley Woodson (c. 1814-aft. 1880) md. 1st Mary Jane Dittrell md. 2nd Mary C. Lucas md. 3rd Lou William A. Woodson (c. 1816-1836) Leanna Elizabeth Woodson (1818-1837) md. Benjamin P. Radford Martha Jane Woodson (c. 1821-c. 1876) md. Albert G. Moore Sophronia Woodson (1824-1824) infant Woodson died young After their marriage, Obadiah and his wife lived for a few years in Buckingham County, Virginia. In 1816, they moved west to Christian County, Kentucky; where they remained.
7	Richard Vinson Woodson was born on December 27, 1797 in Prince Edward Co., Virginia. He died on March 10, 1835 in Henry Co., Tennessee. He is buried in the West Cemetery, Christian Co., Kentucky. He married Jane Walters circa 1821. She was born on November 16, 1805 in Virginia and died in June 1879 in Clay Twp., Reno Co., Kansas. They had children: Wilmath Virginia Woodson (1822-1911) md. William D. Hyer Virginia Vinson Woodson (1824-1857) md. Joseph Judd Weatherly Elizabeth Venable Woodson (1826-1910) md. Francis Marion Copeland William Daniel Woodson (1828-1900) md. Mary Elizabeth Smith infant daughter Woodson (1830-1830) In 1817, Richard moved with his mother and other relatives to Christian County, Kentucky. He remained in Christian County, Kentucky until 1822 and then moved away. Sometime between 1822 and 1824, he had settled in Henry County, Tennessee; where he remained.
8	Nancy Ann Woodson was born circa 1801 in Prince Edward Co., Virginia. She died on October 8, 1848 in Lafayette Co., Arkansas. She married Thomas West on October 2, 1817 in Christian Co., Kentucky 10. He was born in 1797 in Buckingham Co., Virginia and died in 1870 in Hood Co., Texas. He is buried in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Hood Co., Texas. They had children: Robert Sanders West (1818-1878) md. Maura Elizabeth Pugh Albert L. H. West (c. 1819-1854) md. Martha Elizabeth Whetstone Sarah Elizabeth West (1825-1889) md. Thomas Ferguson Almeda A. S. West (1833-1916) md. Simon O. Pugh Mary D. West (1835-1905) md. Silas Scarborough Cora M. West (1837-1903) md. John Lindsey Hargrove Benjamin Thomas West (1842-1915) md. Sarah Catherine Powell Between 1817 and 1826, Nancy and her husband lived in Christian County, Kentucky. In 1826, they moved to Haywood County, Tennessee. Then sometime during the early 1830s, they moved west to Lafayette County, Arkansas.
9	Miller Woodson was born on February 14, 1803 8 in Prince Edward Co., Virginia. He died on July 30, 1871 8 in McCracken Co., Kentucky. He is buried in the Bethel Christian Church Cemetery, McCracken Co., Kentucky. He married Dorothea Jane Gholson on January 22, 1828 in Christian Co., Kentucky 10. She was born on or about December 24, 1812 8 and died on January 16, 1868 8 in Paducah, McCracken Co., Kentucky. She is buried in the Bethel Christian Church Cemetery, McCracken Co., Kentucky. They had children: Marshall Clay Woodson (1828-1900) md. 1st Sarah A. md. 2nd Mary Ann Pell Everett W. Woodson (1831-1908) md. Mary Helen Kay Albert Emmet Woodson (c. 1838-1903) md. Josephine K. Edwin Woodson (c. 1840-aft. 1850) Louise Elvira Woodson (1844-1896) md. Thomas Tandy Settle Cornelia Woodson (c. 1846-aft. 1860) On January 23, 1827, Miller was issued a bond to marry someone named Frances L. Howard in Christian County, Kentucky. But it's possible the marriage didn't take place; the marriage return was never entered in the register and he married someone else one year later. If the marriage did take place, then Frances did soon after the marriage. Miller and his family lived in Christian County, Kentucky until at least 1856. In 1860, they were in Ballard County, Kentucky; where they were living as late as 1866. Then by 1868, they had settled in Paducah, McCracken County, Kentucky; where they remained.
10	Caroline M. P. Woodson was born in about 1805 11 in Prince Edward Co., Virginia. She died sometime between 1858 and 1860, in Haywood Co., Tennessee. She married John Sangster on or after October 7, 1821 in Christian Co., Kentucky 10. He was born circa 1803 in Virginia 11 and died in or before February 1859, in Haywood Co., Tennessee. They had children: William Henry Sangster (1822-1870) md. Ellen C. Kertsey Mary Elizabeth Sangster (1823-1890) md.1 st Joseph Nichols Richardson md. 2nd Joseph R. Mathews John W. Sangster (1826-1889) md. 1st Mary S. Waddell md. 2nd Margaret E. Hunter James Monroe Sangster (1828-c. 1862) md. Sarah Henderson Robert Daniel Sangster (1830-1856) Thomas Van Buren Sangster (c. 1832-c. 1832) George Alexander Sangster (1834-1860s) md. Amanda C. Robertson Martha Ann Sangster (1836-1929) md. Lancelot Johnston Samuel Owen Sangster (1838-1871) Francis Marion Sangster (1840-1877) md. Mary L. Given Reuben Burrow Sangster (1840-1920) md. Eliza Anderson Coleman Sarah Jane Sangster (1842-1919) md. James Whitsett Owen Miller Woodson Sangster (c. 1844-1884) md. Kate Holmes Catherine "Kitty" Ella Sangster (1847-1937) md. James Eugene Mann Emma Caroline Sangster (1849-1921) md. Ashley Bascom Rozelle After their marriage in 1821, Caroline and her husband lived for a few years in Christian Co., Kentucky. Sometime between 1824 and 1829, they moved to Davidson County, Tennessee. Then in 1836, they moved to Haywood County, Tennessee; where they remained. John wrote his will on November 16, 1858, and it was proven in February 1859. In his will, he named his wife Caroline and his children. His widow Caroline died sometime between November 1858 and February 1860.

Martha "Patsy" Michaux Woodson was born circa 1787* in Prince Edward Co., Virginia. She died on December 6, 1859 ^1,5 in Christian Co., Kentucky (or Montgomery Co., Tennessee). She is buried in the Harris-Fletcher Cemetery, Oak Grove, Christian Co., Kentucky.

Father: Daniel Woodson
Mother: Elizabeth Jones

Martha was raised in Prince Edward County and went by the name “Patsy.” On February 25, 1809, a marriage bond was issued for her to marry Anthony D. Jones, who lived in neighboring Buckingham County, Virginia. After the marriage, Martha and Anthony lived together in Buckingham County, Virginia. In 1818, Martha moved with her husband and their children to Christian Co., Kentucky; where they were joining various relatives who had already moved there. They settled in southern Christian County, Kentucky, close to the border with Montgomery County, Tennessee.

Martha and Anthony were wealthy slave owners and farmers in Christian County. On August 7, 1824, Anthony died at the age of 43. Then in 1831, Martha was married to Archibald D. Fletcher. Martha’s second husband Archibald was at least seventeen years younger than her (and probably about 24 years younger). In fact, he was the same age as her oldest son. There were no children born to this second marriage. Archibald and Martha continued living in Christian County, probably on the same farm that Martha lived on with her first husband. Martha died from paralysis [stroke] in December 1859, at the age of 64. Although her death was recorded in Christian County, her obituary indicates she died in neighboring Montgomery County, Tennessee. She was afterwards buried beside her first husband on the family farm (Harris-Fletcher Cemetery in Christian Co., Kentucky). Two years later, Archibald remarried to Madora M. Brodie (the sister-in-law of Martha’s son Thomas Jones), and he died the following year.

Martha was a member of the Methodist Church for most of her life. According to her obituary, she had a strong personality. She was "a woman of strong mind, of kind heart, and of great energy of character. She saw clearly, decided firmly, and acted promptly in all duties of life." Another passage seems to infer that she had an independent spirit and voiced opposing opinions: "A Christian from principle, she was always in action if not in feeling, religious. She followed the convictions of her mind." Although we have no known images of Martha, we know that she had a portrait painted of her. When her second husband wrote his will in 1862, he bequeathed a portrait of Martha to her son Joseph Jones. It is not known what happened to this portrait.

* Most family trees provide Martha's date of birth as September 7, 1795; but the date is not cited anywhere and it is probably incorrect. Although her birthdate has not survived in any known contemporary record, the contemporary records that do refer to her age vary considerably (ranging from the 1760s to the 1790s). Martha was bonded to marry Anthony Jones on February 25, 1809. If the 1795 birthdate was correct, she would have only been 13 years old. That was certainly possible; but an older age is more realistic. Her mother did provide her consent for the marriage, which usually suggests she was under 21. However, one of the bondsmen to the marriage, John Linthicum, submitted a statement that explicitly stated that she was at least 21 years old (which would mean she was born before February 26, 1788). When she died in 1859, her age was listed in two different records as 72 (i.e. born circa 1787). Also, in an 1822 deed in which Martha and her siblings deeded property to their mother, the 10 children were listed in what seems to be their birth order: Mary, Elizabeth, Sarah, Martha, Charles, Obadiah, Richard, Nancy, Caroline, and Miller; which suggests that Martha was born sometime between 1786 and 1792. I've chosen the approximate year 1787 based on all of the above records and pieces of evidence.

Obituary, The Nashville Christian Advocate, Apr. 12, 1860:
"Martha M., wife of Archibald D. Fletcher, was born in Buckingham county, Va., and died, of paralysis, in Montgomery county, Tenn., November 16, 1859.
Mrs. Fletcher was a woman of strong mind, of kind heart, and of great energy of character. She saw clearly, decided firmly, and acted promptly in all duties of life. As wife, mother, mistress, she performed well her part. She had been for many years a faithful member of the M. E. Church. A Christian from principle, she was always, in action if not in feeling, religious. She followed the convictions of her mind, not only when her heart was free to do so, but when there was no sensible comfort in the performance of Christian duty. Firmly, resolutely, even in the most joyless moments of life, she did what she believed to be right.
The close of such a life may be easily anticipated. It was calm, resigned, hopeful. If it was not exultant, ending in shouts of victory, it was full of serene, unshaken faith. There was the quiest repose, the unwavering confidence, of one whose heart was immovably at rest. Committing her soul to a faithful Creator, she was unalarmed amid the perils of death. Leaning on the precious promises of God, and strongly sustained by grace, she fearlessly passed the dark valley, to realms of unfading light.
Jos. B. West."

For further information on their children, see his page.

They had no children.

1. Cemetery index, Harris-Fletcher Cemetery, Christian Co., Kentucky
2. International Genealogical Index
3. Obituary of Martha M. Fletcher, Nashville Christian Advocate, April 12, 1860
4. Virginia Marriages, 1740-1850, Ancestry.com
5. Tombstone inscriptions, Harris-Fletcher Cemetery, Christian Co., Kentucky.
6. 1860 Census Mortality Schedule, Christian Co., KY.
7. Tombstone inscriptions, Bethel Christian Church Cemetery, McCracken Co., KY.
8. Tombstone inscriptions, West Cemetery, Christian Co., KY.
9. Original Marriage records, Prince Edward Co., VA.
10. Original marriage records, Christian Co., KY.
11. US Federal Census Records

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