James A. Moody
James Osgood Andrew Moody

By Spessard Stone



James A. Moody, a pioneer settler of Lithia Springs, Florida, was a veteran of the Third Seminole and Civil wars and a stockman.

James Osgood Andrew Moody was born October 7, 1838 in Hamilton County, Florida. With his parents, Benjamin Moody and Nancy (Hooker) Moody, he moved in 1843 to Hillsborough County. James O. A. Moody was enumerated in household 72/72 of his father in the 1850 census.

James A. Moody enlisted as a private at Ft. Meade, Fla. on January 3, 1856 in Capt. Hooker�s Co., Fla. Mtd. Vols (1 Ser 1856), Seminole War, and was mustered out February 21, 1856 at Ft. Meade. He was enrolled on February 18, 1856 and mustered out August 20, 1856 as a private in Capt. Hooker's Indpt. Co., Fla. Mtd. Vols. (2 Ser 1856), Seminole War. He was stationed at Ft. Meade. He also served in Capt. Sparkman's Indpt. Co., Fla. Mtd. Vols. (5 Ser 6 mos. 1857-8), Seminole War, to which he was enrolled August 17, 1857 and mustered out February 16, 1858 as a private. Stations were: Aug. 31, 16 miles N.E. Tampa; Sept. 30, 16 miles N.E. Tampa; Oct. 31, Ft. Kissimmee, Fla.; Nov. 30, Ft. Kissimmee, Fla.; Dec. 31, Big Cypress. At the time of his first enlistment, he later described himself as �5 feet 11 inches in height, with blue eyes, light hair, sallow occupation, and by occupation a farmer.�

Near Alafia, Hillsborough County, Florida on February 6, 1862, James married Priscilla Rebecca Hendry, born March 7, 1844, daughter of John Hendry, Jr. and Clarissa (Maulden) Hendry. Archibald Hendry, a justice of the peace and uncle of Priscilla, officiated.

James Moody enlisted as a private May 10, 1862 in Company B, 7th Florida Infantry, C.S.A. He was on the roll of the company for January and February 1864, last on file; he was reported as absent, "detailed to drive cattle in Fla. July 12, 1863."

In an affidavit on January 7, 1909, James A. Moody stated of his service:
"He was a private in Company B of the 7th Fla. Regiment in the Confederate Army of which Company James Gettis was Captain, that affiant enlisted in said Company in Florida and served in the same until the year 1863, when he with other as follows: Pomp Chrutchfield, George W. Hendry, Gid Ziproe, Richard Cowart and others, also privates in said Company were detailed to come back to South Florida for the purpose of assisting in collecting beef cattle for the Confederate Army, that affiant and Dick Cowart came direct to Tampa and that affiant went from Tampa to the home of Capt. F. A. Hendry within about three miles of Ft. Meade in Polk County, Florida, and there reported to Capt. Hendry and was told to go into the Manatee County region and the Miakka region to assist in driving beef cattle, that affiant did perform this service under Capt. Hendry and James McKay, Sr., who was commissary agent of the Confederate Government, and later affiant with other soldiers detailed on the same service was organized into a Company known as detailed men of which Company James McKay, Jr., now living, was Captain and affiant in said Company performed service for the Confederate Army until this Company with several others was organized into a battalion under Col. Munnerlyn, and that this Company in which affiant enlisted was thereafter known as McKay's detailed men of Munnerlyn's battalion under Col. Munnerlyn, and that affiant in said Company and said Battalion, served during the balance of civil war in and around Tampa and other points in South Florida in the Confederate Army until the close of the war, and that in 1865 and according to the best recollection of affiant in the month of May, this company was paroled at Tampa and at Bayport, and that affiant was paroled at Tampa and took the oath of allegiance to the United States.
"And affiant further says that from the time he first served in the Confederate Army until he was paroled at Tampa, he performed service for the Confederate Government as a soldier."

James also served in companies under Capt. F. A. Hendry, James McKay, Sr., and James McKay, Jr., with the latter becoming McKay's detailed men of Munnerlyn's battalion under Col. Munnerlyn. He served until his surrender in May 1865 at Tampa.

James Moody was a farmer and stockraiser. He and his family lived at Lithia Springs, Hillsborough County, Florida.

James A. Moody applied for a pension from his service in Capt. William B. Hooker and Capt. Sparkman�s companies. On August 12, 1902, he gave his address as Pelot P. O., Hillsborough County, Florida. Charles A. Freeman and John A. Jameson, both of Pelot, swore that they had known James respectively twenty-two and thirty years. On December 30, 1902, John Whidden, aged 64 years, a resident of Arcadia, DeSoto County, Florida gave an affidavit, in which he stated: �That James A. Moody is personally known to him and has been so for 46 years; that he served with the said James A. Moody in Capt. Hooker�s Company of Mounted Volunteers...� On January 7, 1903, James H. Thomas, aged 77 years, a resident of near Phosphoria, Polk County, Florida, declared: That he has known James A. Moody over 46 years and is intimately acquainted with him now and knows him to be the identical person who rendered service as a soldier in Capt. William B Hooker�s Co of Fla mounted Vols. from February 1856 to August 1856. That he the said James H. Thomas was a soldier in the said Co at the same time and that he served with him in said co during the time stated...� His claim, certificate no. 4055, was approved at the rate of $8 per month, to commence on June 27, 1902.

On April 7, 1908, James A. Moody applied for a pension from his service in the Confederate states. He gave �Hamilton County, Florida 1838� as where and when born. W. B. Henderson on April 7, 1908 gave a supporting affidavit as a commissioned officer in Co. B. On April 8, 1908, the County Commissioners of Hillsborough County recommended that a pension should be granted. The claim as pensioner no. 7496 was approved on February 9, 1909 with pay from April 15, 1908 at the rate of $120 per annum.

Continuing his Indian War claim, he on September 6, 1911 stated that he was born in Hamilton Co., Fla.; had been in �skirmishes in Big Cypress;� officers were Capt. Hooker, Jno. Parker and Jos. Pierce; comrades were Benj. Moody, Wm. B. Moody, G. W. Hendry, F. A. Hendry; personal description: height 5-10 or 11, eyes & comp. light. His pension was increased to $20 per month from February 19, 1913. On March 22, 1915, James A. Moody of Welcome, Fla. to a query answered: he was born Oct. 7, 1838 at Hamilton Co., Fla.; that at enlistment his post office address was Alafia; wife�s full maiden name, Priscilla Rebecca Hendry; married Feb. 6, 1862 near Alafia by Archibald Hendry; children, living and dead: Martha E., Jan. 7, 1863, John B., Jan. 15, 1865, W. Byrd, Nov. 5, 1866, Annie A., March 6, 1868, Louisa F., Feb. 14, 1869, James J., Dec. 1, 1871, Agnes R., Jan. 26, 1875, Sankey C., May 2, 1876, Henry, Dec. 7, 1877, Clarence E., April 2, 1879, Charles P., Nov. 14, 1880. James was last paid at the rate of $20 to December 4, 1917.

James A. Moody died January 22, 1918 at his homestead near Lithia Springs, Florida. Burial under the direction of Wells and Sons Company, a funeral home, was on January 24, 1918 in Pelot Cemetery, Hillsborough County, Florida.

On April 15, 1918, Priscilla R. Moody, aged 76, a resident of Wimauma, Hillsborough County, Florida, applied for a pension as the widow of James A. Moody, who served as a private in Capt. Hooker�s Independent Company, Florida Mtd. Vols. John R. King and Annie A. King of Brandon, Florida, who had known her 35 and 50 years respectively, attested to her making her mark. On May 22, 1918, S. M. Sparkman, 68, of Tampa, gave a supporting affidavit that he had known Mrs. Moody for 40 years and had known her deceased husband. On May 23, 1918, J. M. Burnett, 47, of Tampa, provided an affidavit that he had known Mrs. Moody for 40 years and knew her husband James A. Moody. Her claim, commencing January 23, 1918, was approved at the rate of $12 per month. Certificate no. 8641 was issued August 5, 1918. She was last paid at the rate of $12 per month to November 4, 1925 and was dropped from the roll because of death.

Priscilla Hendry Moody died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Annie King, at Brandon, Florida on November 19, 1925. Burial was in Pelot Cemetery.

Issue of James and Priscilla (Hendry) Moody:

1. Martha E. Moody, born Jan. 7, 1863; died Sept. 10, 1885; married on June 20, 1880, E. B. Sparkman.
2. John Benjamin Moody, born Jan. 15, 1865; died May 28, 1930, Tampa, Fla.; married on Sept. 10, 1890 Grace P. Knight.
3. William Bird Moody, born Nov. 5, 1866; died Oct. 10, 1887 of yellow fever in Tampa, Fla.; never married.
4. Annie A. Moody, born March 6, 1868; died July 14, 1947; married on Aug. 30, 1885 John R. King.
5. Louisa Frances Moody, born Feb. 14, 1869; died July 10, 1954, Tampa; married on July 13, 1899 Victor D. Ransone.
6. James J. Moody, born Dec. 1, 1871; died Dec 14, 1909; single.
7. Agnes R. Moody, born Jan. 26, 1875; died Nov. 1, 1875.
8. Sankey Cora Moody, born May 2, 1876; died Aug 1953; married on June 29, 1914 R. B. Owings.
9. Henry Moody, born Dec. 7, 1877; died Sept. 4, 1879.
10. Clarence E. Moody, born April 2, 1879; died May 7, 1882.
11. Charles P. Moody, born Nov. 14, 1880; died March 10, 1881.


References include: Indian War pension applications of James A. Moody and Priscilla R. Moody, National Archives; Confederate pension application of James A. Moody, Florida Archives; John B. Moody III.


This profile is adapted from the author's The Moody Family, 1998.

February 13, 200, revised March 6, 200>