Since I had been unable to prove the ancestry
of Christopher Woodward directly, I had hoped to find a relative whose
ancestry I could prove, and in that way prove Christopher's at the
same time. Since Christopher Woodward's first records were in Johnston
Co., the Johnston Co. records seemed to be a good place to start.
There were several lines of
Woodwards/Woodards in Johnston Co. Some of the descendants of John
Woodard of Edgecombe Co. moved to Johnston Co. Benjamin Woodard of
the Oliver Woodward line also lived there as did his children. However,
neither of those lines show signs of being closely related to our
Christopher. There is one Woodward who lived in Johnston Co. whose
family has not been identified, Jethro Woodward; and, of course, it
was Jethro Woodward whose records show the slight possibilty of a
connection to Christopher Woodward.
One of the earliest records
that Christopher Woodward left was as a witness to a 1770 deed for
the transfer of slaves from Edward Earp (or Harp) to grandson William
Harp (or Earp). During this period, we cannot be sure where in Johnston
Co. or Wake Co. Christopher was living since he did not enter land
for several more years, and this deed did not involve land.
There is a Wake Co. will for
an Edward Earp written in 1782. He does not seem to be the right one
as he named only his wife Susannah and his wife's children (apparently
by an earlier marriage) as his heirs. To his wife's son, William Lucas
otherwise called William Ballenger, he left 245 acres in Johnston
Co. on the Little River. He also mentioned his wife's daughter, Cary
Lucas (or Ballenger) and Cullen Lucas. The executors were "friend"
William Earp, William Hocut, and wife Susannah. Susannah was probably
Susanna Stephens who married William Ballenger in Johnston Co. in
1788. Although the will mentioned no Earp children or grandchildren,
it does establish this Earp family's connection to land in Johnston
Co. on the Little River and an association with the Hocutt family.
I found no estate records in Johnston or Wake Cos. for the other Edward
Earp.
The 1819 Johnston Co. account
of the estate of Jonathan Earp dec'd. gave Hillory Wilder as the administrator.
The estate was divided between heirs Elisha Woodard in right of wife
Nancy, Dolly Earp widow, and Irvin Earp and Elizabeth Earp orphans
of the deceased with Hillory Wilder as their guardian. Elisha Woodard
had married Nancy Earp in Johnston Co. in 1819 shortly before this
record.
An earlier Elisha Woodard and
son Micajah Woodard, Hillary Wilder, the Earps, the O'Neils, the Hocutts,
the Traywicks, and the descendants of Jethro Woodward all lived in
the northern part of Johnston Co. or the eastern part of Wake Co.
near the Little River, Cattail Creek, and Buffalo Creek. The 1811
and 1812 Johnston Co. tax records listed West Woodard, John Woodard,
Matthew Woodard, and James Woodard in Capt. John Lee's district. In
1814, the same four plus Jethro Woodward and Micajah Woodard were
listed in Capt. Hillary Wilder's district. It was obviously the same
district with a new captain.
The Johnston Co. court minutes
of 1793 stated that Micajah Woodard was the orphan of Elisha Woodard,
dec'd. and that Micajah chose Thomas Woodard as his guardian. (This
could not have been the same Elisha Woodard who married Nancy Earp
in 1819.) This Elisha Woodard who left the orphan Micajah was the
son of Thomas Woodard, Sr. who was named as son and executor in the
John Woodard will of Edgecombe Co., so Micajah was the grandson of
Thomas Woodard, Sr. and the great-grandson of John Woodard who died
in Edgecombe Co. The guardian whom Micajah had chosen was his uncle,
Thomas Woodard, Jr. Micajah Woodard married Chloe Liles in Johnston
Co. in 1794. Thomas Woodard, Jr. must have lived near the Little River
since the Johnston Co. court minutes ordered that he be the overseer
of the road from Thomas Holliman's on the Little River to Contentney
(Creek) at Thomas Woodward, Senr's. in the room of John Moore.
The Elisha Woodard who married
Nancy Earp may have been a son of Micajah Woodard and was named for
his grandfather; however, I have not found proof of this. It is possible
he was from an entirely different family of Woodards and just happened
to have the same name. If there was any kinship between Jethro Woodward
and Elisha or Micajah Woodard, I have not been able to find records
to prove that either. It may have been simply coincidence that Micajah
Woodard and Jethro Woodward lived in the same district in Johnston
Co.
On Sept. 1, 1789, Thomas Proctor
of Johnston Co. deeded to Elisha Woodard of Johnston Co. 100 acres
on the south side of Buffalow Swamp, witnessed by William Earp and
Nancey Woodard. The description indicated that this newly purchased
land lay on the west side of a tract already in the possession of
Elisha Woodard. The following day, Elisha Woodard deeded to John Stanton
130 acres on the south side of Great Buffalow Swamp where Woodard
now lives, witnessed by John Stanton and William Farmer. Buffalo Creek
rises east of the Neuse River near Rolesville in eastern Wake Co.
and flows SSE through the northern part of Johnston Co. just west
of Cattail Creek which lies on the west side of the Little River.
(See map section)
In 1778, Jethro Woodard was
granted 400 acres in Johnston Co. on the south side of the Little
River on both sides of Buffalo Branch. In 1778, Jethro Woodard's land
entries included 400 acres on both sides of Buffaloe, "the land
where I now dwell", 150 acres on Buffaloe Branch joining Cattail
Swamp, 150 acres on the south side of Mill Branch, and 100 acres on
the north side of Wolf Den Branch. In 1783, Jethro Woodward deeded
to George White of Edgecombe Co. 100 acres on the north side of Wolf
Den Branch. The deed was witnessed by James Holliman and Lewis Bryant.
Irene Woodard, who is believed
to have been a granddaughter of Christopher Woodward, and Jeptha Treadway
Woodward, a son of Jordan Woodward and grandson of Christopher Woodward,
also left records that connect with these same families who lived
in the northern part of Johnston Co. and eastern part of Wake Co.
Jeptha Treadway Woodward, son
of Jordan Woodward and grandson of Christopher Woodward, left Anson
Co., where Jordan's family had been living for nine years, and traveled
to Johnston Co. where he married Sarah "Sallie" Hatcher
in 1811 with Benjamin Hatcher as the bondsman. It is not known if
the trip was made especially for the marriage, or if Jeptha made the
trip for other reasons and met and married Sallie in the process.
It is not known how long he remained in Johnston Co., but he left
no other records in Johnston or Wake Cos., and he and Sallie were
back in Anson Co. in time for the 1820 census. They lived the remainder
of their lives in the Anson Co. area.
In 1804 in Wake Co., Dorcas
Hyatt, daughter of Asa Hyatt and sister to Allen Alse Hyatt, married
Berryman Traywick with Edward Hocutt as the bondsman. They apparently
moved to Anson Co. some time after this as two of their daughters,
Sarah R. Traywick and Elizabeth Brown Traywick, later became the wives
of Joseph Hatcher/Henry Woodward, son of Jeptha Treadway Woodward
and Sarah/Sallie Hatcher. Asa Hyatt had sold his land in Wake Co.
at about the same time that Jordan sold out (1802), so it is believed
that he had moved to Anson Co. prior to Dorcas's marriage. Asa Hyatt
was not listed on the 1790 census with the families who lived near
Middle Creek. Instead, his family was listed near the families who
lived in eastern Wake Co. near the Little River. His family at that
time consisted of 1M over 16, 2M under 16, and 4F. Either Dorcas remained
in Wake Co. when her family left or returned to Wake Co. for her marriage.
In 1810 or 1811, her brother, Allen Alse Hyatt, married Irene Woodard
in Anson Co.
There seems to have been some
relationship between Asa Hyatt and Moore Traywick, the wife of Robert
Traywick, as early as 1802. The Nov., 1802 Wake Co. court minutes
recorded the case of Lodwick Alford vs Asa Hyatt and Moore Traywick.
There was no other information given. Whatever the situation was,
this record certainly establishes that Asa Hyatt and Moore Traywick
were known to each other had something in common since they were co-defendants.
According to Zelma O'Neal,
Cynthia Woodward, a daughter of Jordan Woodward, married Benjamin
Clenny, son of Patience Clenny whom Jordan Woodward's family had taken
in before Benjamin's birth. (See p. 22) However, according to the
census, Benjamin Clenny was born by 1775 when Jordan Woodward was
only fifteen years old. Therefore, Benjamin must have been raised
in the home of another older Woodward if the story is valid. The Clenny
family also had ties to the families living in the northern part of
Johnston Co.
In 1804 in Johnston Co., Charity
McClenney married William Hatcher, brother of Sarah/Sallie Hatcher
who married Jeptha Treadway Woodward in 1811. The name Clenny sometimes
appeared in the various records as Clenney, Claney, or McClenney.
In 1784 in Johnston Co., Pherebe Claney married William Oniel. In
1796 in Johnston Co., Phereby Oneale and John Duck were the administrators
of the estate of William Oniel. Bathsheba Woodward, daughter of Jordan
Woodward, later married a Jonathan Duck who was born in 1788 in NC
according to his 1850 census and Henderson Co., TN cemetery records.
The 1830 Henderson Co., TN census listed a Jonathan Duck age 30-40
(Bathsheba's husband) and John Duck age 60-70. It appears likely that
the John Duck who served as administrator with Phereby Claney/McClenney
Oniel was the same as John Duck later in Henderson Co., and Bathsheba's
husband was probably a son of this John Duck. The 1790 Wake Co. census
listed a John Duck among the families who lived in eastern Wake Co.
near the Little River. His household included 1M over 16, 2M under
16, and 4F. The age frames for the father and sons from this census
agree with the age frames for John Duck and Jonathan Duck of the Henderson
Co., TN census of 1830.
I have not carefully researched
the Duck family, but I have run across a few records of interest in
Johnston and Nash Cos. The Johnston Co. will of Jacob Duck written
in 1795 named sons John and James and several daughters. The executor
was John Duck. If the executor was the same as the son, then the son
must have been of age and could be the same John Duck who was listed
on the 1790 Wake Co. census living near Robert Traywick in the eastern
part of the county. Since the Wake Co. court minutes of Mar., 1791
recorded that a deed from Jacob Duck to Robert Traywick had been proved,
it is very likely that John Duck of the 1790 Wake Co. census was the
same as the son of Jacob Duck. Jacob Duck and wife Sarah left a Nash
Co. deed dated 1784 in which they sold to Thomas Woodard, Sr. 125
acres on Contentnea Creek. This Thomas Woodard was the father of Elisha
Woodard and the grandfather of Micajah Woodard who lived near the
Little River and the son of John Woodard who died in Edgecombe Co.
I found no records in Nash Co. which associated the O'Neills, McClenneys,
Hocutts, or Tyners with descendants of John Woodard.
I have even found the name
McClenney in an Isle of Wight deed:
Dec. 2, 1747. James McCleney
of Edgecombe Co. in NC to John Darden of Newport Parish in Isle of
Wight. 100 acres (being a part of a patent for 400 acres granted to
John Watkins, dec'd. on Apr. 23, 1681 and sold by Nicholas Tiner to
Thomas Powell who sold it to said McCleney. This land also part of
patents of both William Powell and John Powell) on the S. side of
Bows and Arrows Swamp and adjoining John Watkins, John Powell, Col.
Bridger, and Browning Branch. Wit. John Watkins, Hardy Darden, John
(x) Nelms.
This record not only brings
in the name Tyner which is of importance in the Oliver Woodward and
Samuel Woodward records, it also brings in the name John Watkins.
A John Watkins produced an illegitimate child by Sally Woodward, daughter
of Joseph Woodward of Northampton Co. and granddaughter of Oliver
Woodward, Sr. Hardy Darden appears to be a descendant of Jacob Darden
whose family had numerous connections to the Giles family. His son
John Darden married a daughter of Hugh Giles who was a son of John
Giles and Philarite Woodward.
The 1818 Johnston Co. will
of William Hatcher named children Benjamin Hatcher, William Hatcher,
Martha Cockrell, Sarah Woodard, Prissa Garner's heirs, Mary Garner,
Avery Bruer, and Elizabeth Pearce. The executors were sons William
and Benjamin Hatcher.
The Johnston Co. marriage bonds
include the following records that may relate:
Mary Hatcher married William
Garner in 1785 with Reuben Wilkerson bondsman
Polly Hatcher married Samuel
Cockrell in 1797 with Benjamin Hatcher and Jno. Vinson bondsmen
William Pearce married Betsy
Hatcher in 1800 with Levi Pearce and Robert Gully, Jr. bondsmen
William Hatcher married Christian
Garner in 1796 with Thomas Cockrell bondsman
William Hatcher married Charity
McClenney in 1804 with Benjamin Hatcher bondsman
Benjamin Hatcher married Anne
Wilkerson in 1789 with Benjamin Wilkerson bondsman
Sallie Hatcher married "Jepha
Woodard" in 1811 with Benjamin Hatcher bondsman
The name William Oneil (sometimes
Oneill, Oniel, Oniell, Oneal) was very common in Johnston Co. The
following marriages appeared in the Johnston Co. records:
William Oneil married Pherebe
Claney in 1784 with Thomas Gray bondsman
William Oneal married Elizabeth
Stevens in 1788 with Frederick Holliman bondsman
William Oneil married Elizabeth
Hocut in 1789 with William Richardson bondsman
William Oniel married Rene
Hinton in 1801 with Bryant Richardson bondsman
William Oneal, Jr. married
Harriet Richardson in 1827 with William Oneal, Sr. bondsman
There is another series of
records in Wake Co. which reflects a William Oneal and brings in possible
relationships involving an Edward Hocutt, Allen Alse Hyatt who married
Irene Woodard (a granddaughter of Christopher Woodward), and Sarah
R. Traywick and Elizabeth Brown Traywick who were each wives of Joseph
Hatcher/Henry Woodward. An earlier John Howcutt lived in the Chowan
Co. area, and his name occasionally appeared in records relating to
Samuel Woodward. His son and grandson, both named Edward Hocutt, lived
in Bertie Co. (later part of Hertford Co.) on lands that had once
been part of the Thomas Woodward holdings. (See p. 298)
Berryman Traywick who married
Darcus Hyatt, sister of Allen Alse Hyatt who married Irene Woodard,
was the son of Robert Traywick of Wake Co. The 1801 records of the
division of Robert Traywick's land named:
A) widow Moore Traywick to
receive 165 acres on Poplar Branch joining Mial
1) Edward Hocutt and wife (son-in-law
and daughter) 151 acres joining A and Mial
2) daughter Achsah Traywick
151 acres joining #1
3) heirs of John Traywick 151
acres joining Mial
4) son Abner Traywick 160 acres
joining Hinton
5) Whitmel Eason and wife (son-in-law
and daughter) 160 acres joining Hinton
6) _____
7) James Watson and wife (son-in-law
and daughter) 160 acres joining Hinton, Fowler, and Hinton
8) son Lemuel Traywick 185
acres joining Buffalo Swamp joining William Raborn and Liles
The account of the estate of
John Traywick in Wake Co. recorded Oct. 19, 1799 gave the administrator
as Robert Traywick, Sr. and stated that payments had been made to
Bryan Lee, George Watson, Asa Hyatt, William Oneal, Mary Hood, and
William High. The reason for these payments was not stated.
In 1790, Edward Hocut, Robert
Traywick, John Duck, John Hinton, Hillery Wilder, Willis Wilder, and
John Wilder were all listed for taxes in Capt. Jas. Shaw's district
in Johnston Co. The name Wilder was later associated with the marriages
of two Berry Woodards in Johnston Co. The names Traywick and Duck
were associated with the descendants of Jordan Woodward in Anson Co.,
NC and Henderson Co., TN. The name Hocutt was associated with the
Traywicks, the Hyatts, and Jethro Woodward's family. Col. John Hinton
lived in the same vicinity. The Hinton family was associated with
the Joseph Lane family and the Solomon Alston family.
Col. John Hinton, the brother-in-law
of Joel Lane, owned land east of the Neuse River, so at least some
of the Traywick lands must have been in the eastern part of Wake Co.
as well as the northern part of Johnston Co. in the area of Buffalo
Creek and the Little River.
In 1781, the lands of Timothy
Duck, described as lying on the north side of the Neuse River on both
sides of Buck Head Creek, were confiscated and sold at auction to
John Hinton, Sr. by order of Col. Thomas Wootten, Commanding Officer
of the Wake Co. Militia. According to the record, Timothy Duck had
been drafted for service, but had failed to appear or provide a substitute.
As a result, John Abernethie was hired as a substitute in Timothy
Duck's place and was paid 10,000 pounds. Timothy Duck's land was sold
to pay this debt. John Hinton, Sr., the highest bidder, paid 10,500
pounds for the property. Timothy Duck's relationship to John Duck
and/or Jacob Duck is unknown.
Wake Co. marriage records give
the marriage of Aesha Traywick to John Hocut in 1801 and the marriage
of Polly Hocut to William Rabourn in 1796. According to the Robert
Traywick estate records, William Rayborn owned land adjoining the
Robert Traywick land near Buffalo Swamp that was left to Lemuel Traywick.
The 1790 Wake Co. census listed William Rabon among the families who
lived in the eastern part of Wake Co. His household consisted of 1M
over 16, 5M under 16, and 4F. I am not sure if William Rayborn of
this census was the future husband of Polly Hocut, or if he was possibly
the father or uncle of that William Rayborn.
An abstract of the Feb., 1801
Wake Co. court minutes recorded the appointment of Herbert Robertson
and Bennet Boddie as the commissioners to divide the lands of Robert
Traywick, dec'd. amongst James Watson, Artey(?) Traywick, Edward Howell(?)
and wife Eleanor, Milberry Traywick, Whitmell Eason, and Moore Traywick.
The Dec., 1800 court minutes stated that the Wake Co. lands of Robert
Traywick, dec'd. were divided between James Watson, Orly Traywick,
Edward Havet(?) and Eleanor his wife, Lemuel Traywick, Acsia Traywick,
Berryman Traywick, and Moore Traywick. There does seem to be some
confusion in the interpretation of the names as transcribed in these
abstracts, but still we can glean Eleanor Traywick as the wife of
Edward Hocutt from these records.
The Nov., 1808 Wake Co. division
of land for Abner Traywick dec'd., listed as heirs:
Heirs of John Traywick, 19
a.
Lunsford Traywick, 16 a.
George Traywick, 16 a.
John Hocut and wife, 16 a.
Robert Traywick, 16 a.
Whitmel Easton and wife, 16
a.
Berryman Traywick, 16 a.
James Watson and wife, 16 a.
Othniel Traywick, 16 a.
Edward Hocut and wife, 16 a.
An inventory of the estate
of Abner Traywick dated Feb., 1809 included:
His share of Robert Traywick,
dec'd., father of the said Abner. Also by the death of his brother
Lemuel Traywick.
The Wake Co. will of Edward
Hocutt written Jan. 20, 1791 and proven June, 1792 named sons William,
Edward, Benjamin (under 12), Richard (under 21), Henry, and John.
No wife or daughters were mentioned. The witnesses were Lewis Liles,
Eliz. Liles, and George Warren. It is very possible that this Edward
Hocutt was a descendant of the Howcutts of Chowan and Bertie Co.,
but more research needs to be done to prove this. The 1790 Wake Co.
census listed an Edward Hocut among the families living in eastern
Wake Co. His household included 3M over 16, 4M under 16, and 6F. The
males on the census seem to agree perfectly with the will.
The 1795 Johnston Co. sales
of the estate of Lewis Liles, dec'd., who four years previously had
witnessed the will of Edward Hocutt, named buyers including William
Hinnant, Micajah Woodard, Drury Liles, Kinchen Liles, William Hocutt,
Jonathan Earp, Richard Hocutt, John Woodard, and William O'Neal. These
are certainly the same names that are associated with the families
who lived in eastern Wake Co. near the Little River.
Edward Hocutt who died in Johnston
Co. in 1792 left deeds that associate him with the Tyner family:
Richard Tyner of Johnston Co.
to James Jordin. 250 acres on the S side Little River. Wit. Harris
Tyner, Edward Hocutt. Jan. 29, 1762. Johnston Co.
Richard Tyner of Johnston Co.,
planter, to Edward Hocut, planter. 300 acres on the N side Little
River, beginning at the river, thence N to a corner white oak, W to
the river, down the river to the first station. Wit. Harris Tyner,
James Jordin, Richard Tyner. June 19, 1762. Johnston Co.
William Prevet of Johnston
Co. to Robert Trawick of same. 125 acres in Johnston Co. on both sides
Popler Creek beginning on the E side of the creek at Wards corner
pine on his spring branch to the Great branch, down said branch to
said creek, up said creek to McNatts old line, W to the back line,
S to where Wards line will come then Eastwards line to the said Popler
Creek to where Wards Spring branch runs into the said creek, up said
branch to Wards line and along his line to the pine at the first station.
Wit. William (W) Tyner, Elmur? (Elenur?) Hendley. Mar. 17, 1767.
Robert Trawick of Johnston
Co. to Edward Hoket of same. 100 acres in Johnston Co. on the E side
Little River beginning at a white oak, W to the river, and down the
river to a red oak. Wit. William Hocot, William Previt. Apr. 6, 1767.
Johnston Co.
A later deed involving the
sons of this Edward Hocutt also gives us an idea of where this family
held lands:
William Hocut of Johnston Co.
to Benjamin Hill. 100 acres in Wake Co. partly and a small corner
in the county of Johnston and altogether lying on the N side of Bufelie
Creek, it being part of a tract conveyed from Lodwick Alford to Edward
Hocut and from Edward Hocut to William Hocut his brother and now from
William Hocut to Benjamin Hill. May 29, 1789. Johnston Co.
The son Edward Hocutt married
Eleanor Traywick, daughter of Robert Traywick. Son John Hocutt married
Aesha/Achsah Traywick, another daughter of Robert Traywick. Their
brother, Berryman Traywick, married Darcus Hyatt, daughter of Asa
Hyatt and sister to Allen Alse Hyatt who married Irene Woodard. Berryman
Traywick's daughters became the wives of Joseph Hatcher/Henry Woodward,
son of Jeptha Treadway Woodward and Sarah Hatcher. In 1802, Lodwick
Alford brought suit against Asa Hyatt and Moore Traywick. The reason
for the suit is unknown.
William Hocutt and Benjamin
Hocutt, sons of Edward Hocutt and brothers to both John Hocutt and
Edward Hocutt who married the Traywick sisters, also had ties to another
Woodward family. William Hocutt was apparently William Brown Hocutt
who married Aley Oneil in 1795 and Creacy Oniel in 1806. Benjamin
Hocutt married Nancy Holoman in 1809. The bondsman for this marriage
was James Woodard, son of Jethro Woodward. Sarah Hocut married John
Woodard in 1794 with William Hocut bondsman. James Woodard married
Fereby Holiman in 1800 with West Woodard bondsman. Both James and
West were sons of Jethro Woodward. Jesse Woodard, another son of Jethro
Woodward, married Edney Hollaman in 1818. It is not known what relationship
there might have been between Edney Hollaman, Fereby Holiman, and
Nancy Holoman.
Because of the common Hocutt
connections, it might appear that John Woodard who married Sarah Hocut
in 1794 might have been another son of Jethro Woodward. If so, John
must have died prior to his Jethro's 1814 will as he was not mentioned.
According to A History of the Woodards, Elisha Woodard (son of Thomas
Woodard, Sr. and grandson of John Woodard of Edgecombe Co.) who died
about 1792 in Johnston Co. leaving the orphan Micajah Woodard, also
had a son named John Woodard. I don't know the reliability of this
research, and no documentation was given to prove this son. There
were no orphan records for any other children of Elisha Woodard, so
if there were other children, they must have been of age. It is also
possible that the John Woodard who married Sarah Hocut was the son
of Elisha Woodard rather than Jethro Woodard.
Jethro Woodard's heirs as named
in his 1814 Johnston Co. will were wife Sarah, sons Jesse, James,
Matthew, and West Woodard, daughters Fereeby Woodard, Betsy Woodard,
Savel Woodard, Nancy Price, and Aley Richardson, granddaughter Olif
Richardson and grandson Berry Woodard. Sons Jesse and James Woodard
were the executors. The witnesses were William Hocutt and Robert Bryant.
The will was proved in 1820.
The witness William Hocutt
has already been established as the son of Edward Hocutt, and also
brother of Edward Hocutt and John Hocutt who married Robert Traywick's
daughters. He was probably the same as William Brown Hocutt who married
Aley Oneil in 1795 and later Creacy Oniel in 1806. In addition, William
Hocutt was the bondsman for the 1794 marriage of John Woodard and
Sarah Hocutt.
The name Aley was rather unusual.
Notice that the name Aley was used for a daughter of Jethro Woodward
and was also used in the Oneil family. Could Jethro Woodward's wife
have been an Oneil, perhaps a sister or other relative of Aley Oneil
who married William Brown Hocutt? The name Brown was used in both
the Traywick family and the Hocutt family. Is there some significance
to this?
The other witness to Jethro
Woodward's will, Robert Bryant, is also worthy of examination. His
name appears to have been Robert Bryan rather than Bryant. The 1818
Johnston Co. will of Lewis Bryan named wife Ceily (Celia Holleman
whom he married in 1767 in Johnston Co.), daughters Elizabeth and
Avey Bryan, sons William, James, Robert, and Frederick Bryan, and
daughter Cuzzy Bryan Woodard. It seems very possible that one of Jethro
Woodard's sons had married a daughter of Lewis Bryan. It also seems
that Jethro's daughter, Betsy, may have later married a son of Lewis
Bryan. Frederick Bryan married Elizabeth Woodard in Johnston Co. in
1809 with West Woodard as the bondsman. Robert Bryan married Sarah
Woodward in Johnston Co. in 1826 with Larkin Holliman as the bondsman.
It is not known if Sarah was the widow of Jethro Woodward or another
Sarah Woodward. We can't even be sure this is the same Robert Bryan
without more research. I have not been able to determine the husband
of Cuzzy Bryan Woodard.
The 1818 account of the sales
from the estate of Lewis Bryan gave the buyers including Micajah Woodard,
James Woodard, Elizabeth Richardson, Loderick O'Neal, Thomas O'Neal,
William O'Neal, Fredrick Bryan, William Earp, Elizabeth Bryan, Jesse
Woodard, and Hillory Wilder.
Lewis Bryan was named in the
1780 Johnston Co. will of William Bryan whose heirs were wife Elizabeth,
daughters Elizabeth Sasser, Esther Smith, Susanna Bryan, and Mary
Bryan, and sons Arthur, Hardy, Blake, Lewis, John (under 21), and
William. It's interesting that the 1767 Bertie Co. will of Needham
Bryan named, among others, son William Bryan and his son William Bryan
and son Needham Bryan. The son, Needham Bryan (Jr.), married Sarah
Hinton, daughter of Col. John Hinton, and moved to Johnston Co. where
he left his will in 1786. There is a Johnston Co. record of the marriage
of a Lewis Bryan to Sarah Hinton in 1769 with Samuel Smith, Jr. bondsman.
That Lewis Bryan certainly could not be the same as the Lewis Bryan
who married Celia Holleman. I have not researched these Bryan families
to see what connections there were, if any, to the Needham Bryan family.
There would seem to be some connection though since Needham Bryan
was the bondsman for the Johnston Co. marriage of Arthur Bryan to
Mary McCullers in 1773. Arthur Bryan was one of the sons named in
William Bryan's will, therefore a brother to Lewis Bryan.
Lewis Bryan, the one who married
Celia Holleman and was the father of Robert, Frederick, etc., was
associated with Jethro Woodward years earlier. In 1783, Lewis Bryant
and James Holliman witnessed a deed from Jethro Woodward to George
White of Edgecombe Co. for 100 acres on the north side of Wolf Den
Branch.
Jethro Woodward was almost
certainly older than Christopher Woodward's oldest proven son, Jordan
Woodward. Jordan stated that he was born in 1760. Jethro entered land
in Johnston Co. in 1778 and was fined for being absent at general
muster the same year. The 1784-87 census listed Jethro Woodward's
household as consisting of 1M 21-60, 3M under 21 or over 60, and 5F.
Jethro must have been born in the 1750's or earlier. Although Jethro
lived near descendants of John Woodard of Edgecombe Co., some of the
descendants of Christopher Woodward seemed to have a lot in common
with the same Little River families. The wording of Christopher Woodward's
will leaves open the possibility that he may have had other children
that were not to share in the division of his estate. The possibility
exists that Jethro may have been another son, and either an older
brother or half-brother to Jordan Woodward. If the Nansemond Co. record
for Christopher Woodward's child is in fact our Christopher Woodward
prior to his arrival in Johnston Co., this would indicate that at
least one child was born prior to Jordan.
The parents of Berry Woodard,
named as grandson in the will of Jethro Woodward, have not been identified.
Berry married Temperance Wilder in Johnston Co. in 1825 with Reuben
Wilder as his bondsman. Although he may have been the son of one of
Jethro's older sons, it is also possible that he was the son of Jethro's
daughter, Savel, who bore a "base child" by Rice Price according
to the Johnston Co. court minutes. Rice Price married someone else,
and there is no record of a marriage for Savel.
The 1850 Johnston Co. census
listed Berry Woodard's family in District 6:
Barry Woodard 49 farmer born:
NC
Temperance 46
Irvin 24
Katherine 22
Jenith (f) 20
John 16
Winnifred 10
Mary 8
Pherebah 7
Nancy 4
James 1
From the names of the children,
it appears that this Berry might have been the son of James Woodard
and Fereby Holliman.
Berry Woodard is buried in
the Woodard Cemetery in Johnston Co., located "about _ mile east
of Woodard's Crossroads, SR 1700 and 1720, about 300 yards on SR 1700".
This is in the northern part of Johnston Co., between Buffalo Creek
and Cattail Creek, the area associated with Jethro Woodward. Berry
Woodard's stone states he was born about 1801 and died Nov. 26, 1867.
Temperance Wilder Woodard's stone states she was born in 1804 and
died in 1871 and was the daughter of W. A. and I. Wilder. The Johnston
Co. marriage records give the marriage of Irwen Wilder and Winey Avera
in 1801 with John Wilder bondsman. Irwen Wilder, who was apparently
the father of Temperance Wilder, was the bondsman for the marriage
of another Berry Woodard to Cary Tucker in 1825. This Berry Woodard
and wife Cary moved to Wake Co. and lived very near Christopher W.
Woodard. (See p. 187) It is very possible that both Berry Woodard's
were grandsons of Jethro Woodward.
Also living in the northern
part of Johnston Co. was Elisha Woodard, son of Thomas Woodard and
grandson of John Woodard who left his will in Edgecombe Co. Elisha
died about 1792 leaving an orphan, Micajah Woodard, who married Chloe
Liles in 1794 and continued to live in the area. Micajah Liles, who
had been the bondsman for Micajah Woodard, had married Nancy Woodard
in 1793 with Jno. Rosser as the bondsman. According to A History of
the Woodards, Elisha Woodard left two other children, Elizabeth Woodard
and John Woodard.
The 1784-87 Johnston Co. census
listed two Elisha Woodards. One was certainly the father of Micajah
Woodard. The other may have been the brother of Thomas Woodard, Sr.
and son of John Woodard who died in Edgecombe Co., making these two
Elishas uncle and nephew. One of the Elisha Woodard families consisted
of 1M 21-60, 1M under 21 or over 60, and 1F. The other family was
listed as 1M 21-60, 3M under 21 or over 60, 2F, 12 slaves.
In 1786, Benjamin Wilkinson
of Johnston Co. deeded to Elisha Woodard of Johnston Co. land on the
south side of Great Buffalow Swamp, it being the same land and plantation
whereon Woodard now lives. The deed was witnessed by James Hollimon
and Wm. Brannon.
The Johnston Co. court minutes
volume IV 1778-1786 "ordered that Thomas Woodward be overseer
of the road from Thomas Holliman's on Little River to Contentney at
Thomas Woodward Senrs in room of John Moore".
Sept. 1, 1789 Thomas Proctor
of Johnston Co. deeded to Elisha Woodard of Johnston Co. 100 acres
on the south side of Buffalow, witnessed by William Earp and Nancey
Woodard.
Sept. 2, 1789 Elisha Woodard
deeded to John Stanton 130 acres on the south side of Great Buffalow
swamp where Woodard now lives, witnessed by James Stanton and William
Farmer.
Many Earps also lived in this
area. One was Jonathan Earp. The 1819 account of his estate named
the administrator as Hillory Wilder and heirs as Elisha Woodard in
right of his wife Nancy, Dolly Earp widow, Irvin Earp and Elizabeth
Earp orphans of the deceased with Hillory Wilder their guardian.
Budd Woodward who married Nancy
Bunch was listed on the 1830 census in Wake Co. in the Little River
district, so it is possible that he relates to the Jethro Woodward
family or the Elisha Woodard family. Budd was listed for taxes in
1828 and 1829 in the Little River district, but owned no land. He
had been married since 1823, so he may have been living on the land
of his father-in-law, David Bunch who lived in the Little River district.
William Privett lived on the south side of the Little River in Wake
Co. Israel Privett witnessed the will of William Privett but was not
named as an heir. William Privett also lived near the Little River.
In Wake Co. in 1843, Israel Privett married Harriett Woodward with
John Utley as the bondsman. Harriett's Woodward family is unproven.
Although Israel Privett would seem to be associated with the Little
River families, his bondsman was associated with the Middle Creek
families.
The Johnston Co. marriage bonds
reflect other possible connections:
William Oneil and Pherebe Claney,
Dec. 1, 1784, Thomas Gray bondsman
William Oneil and Elizabeth
Hocut, Nov. 21, 1789, William Richardson bondsman
William Earp and Alsabeth O'Niel,
Feb. 15, 1792, James Shaw, Jr. bondsman
John Woodard and Sarah Hocut,
Nov. 30, 1794, William Hocut bondsman
William Brown Hocot and Aley
Oneil, Apr. 5, 1795, Benjamin Hill bondsman
John Hinnant and Mary Hocut,
Mar. 4, 1796, R. Gulley, Jr. bondsman
Othniel Traywick and Sarah
Eason, May 6, 1797, George Traywick bondsman
James Woodard and Fereby Holiman,
June 6, 1800, West Woodard bondsman
(Jethro Woodward's son)
West Woodward and Betsey Smith,
Sept. 29, 1803, John Smith bondsman
(Jethro Woodward's son)
Matthew Woodward and Leathy
Smith, Sept. 29, 1803, John Smith bondsman
(Jethro Woodward's son)
William Hatcher and Charity
McClenney, Jan. 10, 1804, Benjamin Hatcher bondsman
James Richardson and Aley Woodward,
Aug. 9, 1805, Joseph Richardson bondsman
(Jethro Woodward's daughter)
William Brown Hocut and Creacy
Oniel, Feb. 24, 1806, John Hinnant bondsman
Benjamin Hocutt and Nancy Holoman,
Sept. 26, 1809, James Woodard bondsman
Frederick Bryan and Elizabeth
Woodard, Nov. 28, 1809, West Woodard bondsman
(Jethro Woodward's daughter)
Frederick Bryan and Sally Gully,
Mar. 30, 1814, James Bryan bondsman
Stephen Oneal and Nancy Richardson,
Jan. 11, 1817, Benjamin Hocut bondsman
Jesse Woodard and Edney Hollaman,
Jan. 1, 1818, James Richardson bondsman
(Jethro Woodward's son)
Matthew Woodard and Phebe Bryan,
Aug. 14, 1818, Allen Richardson bondsman
(Jethro Woodward's son)
William Earp and Patherby Atkinson,
Aug. 18, 1837, Robert Bryan bondsman
Wake Co. marriage bonds:
Nathan Price to Nancy Woodward
Mar. 8, 1805, John Powers and Reuben Carter bondsmen
(Jethro Woodward's daughter)
Benjamin Clenny was born too
early to have been taken in by the Jordan Woodward family, but he
married one of Jordan's daughters, and Zelma O'Neal certainly believed
that his mother had been taken in by a Woodward family prior to his
birth. Since the Clenny family lived near the Little River, could
it have been Jethro Woodward who took in Benjamin's mother? It is
very possible that Jethro was married by 1775. No link can yet be
proven, but I think further research into the Hyatt, Hocutt, Oniell,
Traywick, and other families who lived in the Little River area might
reveal more. Of all the various Woodards and Woodwards who lived in
the Johnston Co. and Wake Co. area, Jethro Woodward seems the most
likely to have been related to Christopher Woodward, but no kinship
has yet been proven. Similarly, no kinship has been established between
Jethro Woodward and any other Woodward.
Copyright: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001,
2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Date Created: Saturday, 01-Feb-1997, 12:01 AM
Date Modified:
Saturday, 20-Oct-2007 9:45 AM
