By Jared L. Olar
January-February 2020
Our Goad ancestors were a family of English colonists who owned and operated tobacco plantations in Virginia during the 1600s and 1700s. The "Goad" surname has several variant spellings, including "Good," "Goode," "Goard," "Gourd," and "Gorde." It is uncertain whether the family surname was occupational, descriptive, or fanciful. "Goad" could refer to a husbandman who used a goad to encourage droves of cattle to move. On the other hand, the surname could refer to squash gourds. Be that as it may, our Goads first appear in Virginia in the 1680s and their ancestry cannot be traced prior to then. Earlier in the 1600s the family of Richard and Phoebe (Hawes) Goad/Gourd/Gorde had settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts, but that family was no relation of our Goads. Following is an account of our Goad family, derived from various colonial records of North Farnham Parish in Richmond, Virginia.
1. ABRAHAM GOAD, parentage and ancestry unknown, born circa 1660 perhaps in Richmond County, Virginia, died in 1734 (between 7 March 1733 and 1 July 1734) in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia. Some online sources specify Abraham's date and place of birth as 10 May 1665 or 1667 in North Farnham Parish, Lancaster (Richmond) County, but it is unknown where that information comes from. Others speculate that he was born before 1660. Abraham was a Virginia planter who first appears on record in 1682 in Lancaster County (later named Richmond County), Virginia, subsequently moving further up Virginia's Northern Neck into Richmond County (which was formed in 1692 from Old Rappahanock County). He married probably in 1692, probably in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, to CATHARINE WILLIAMS, born 1 Jan. 1674 at Moratico Creek in North Farnham Parish, Old Rappahanock (Richmond) County, died 23 May 1741 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, daughter of John and Eve Williams.
Abraham and Catharine had three daughters and four sons. The North Farnham Parish Register, page 109, records the birth of three of those children: William, born Aug. 1693; Hannah, born Nov. 1695; and John, born 27 Nov. 1700. The names of the other four children -- Elizabeth, Abraham Jr., Alice, and Peter -- are attested in wills and other documents. On 24 March 1699, William Smyth of North Farnham Parish, stepfather of Abraham's wife, deeded to Abraham 150 acres of land on Moratico Creek, on the north side of the Rappahannock River, part of a quarter order of 498 acres (Richmond County Deed Book, Vol. 3, page 54). Abraham also obtained a land grant in Halifax County, Virginia, in 1701. On 14 Feb. 1704, Abraham obtained a grant of 208 acres in Richmond County, consisting of land adjoining David Fowler's, and on the Bryary Swamp 9 (Northern Neck Grants No. 3, 1703-1710, page 80).
Abraham was one of the three co-parties in a 7 July 1714 deed for a bond of 200 pounds that Anne Phillips, youngest child of John Phillips, took out as surety in discharge of her duties as administratrix of her late father's estate. The text of the deed, which was also signed by Abraham's eldest son William, is recorded in the 1711-1714 Richmond County Deed Book 6, page 240, and reads as follows:
KNOW ALL MEN by these presents that we ANNE PHILLIPS, ABRAHAM GOAD and ROBERT REYNOLDS of the County of Richmond are held and firmly bound unto the Worshipll. her Ma'ties. Justices of the peace for the said County in the full and just sum of Two hundred pounds Sterl., to the which payment well and truely to be made we bind our selves our heirs firmly by these presents; Sealed with our seals and dated the 7th day of July 1714
THE CONDITION of this obligation is such that if the above bound ANNE PHILLIPS, Admrx. of all the goods chattells and creditts of JOHN PHILLIPS deced., do make a true and perfect inventory of all the goods chattells and creditts of the said deced., and the same so made do exhibit into the County Court of Richmond at such time as she shall be thereunto required by the said Court and the same goods chattells and creditts do well and truely administer according to Law, and further do make a just and true account of her actings and doing therein when thereto required by the said Court and shall pay unto such persons respectively as the said Justices by their order or Judgment pursuant to the Laws in that case made and provided; And if it shall hereafter appear that any Last Will and Testament was made by the said deced, and the Exr. or Exrs, therein named do exhibit the same in the said Court making request to have it allowed and approved. accordingly if ye said ANNE PHILLIPS being thereunto required do render and deliver up her Letters of Administration approbation of such Testament being first had and made in the said Court, Then this obligation to be void and of none effect otherwise to remaine in full force and virtue Sealed and Delivered in the presence of [no witnesses recorded]
ANNE her marke PHILLIPS, WILLIAM GOAD, ROBERT his marke REYNOLDS
Acknowledged in Richmond County Court the Seventh day of July 1714 by ANNE PHILLIPS, WILLIAM GOAD and ROBERT REYNOLDS and ordered to be recorded Test M. BECKWITH, Cl Cur
In Richmond County Deed Book 8, page 273, there is recorded a deed dated 1 March 1724 by which Abraham's wife Catharine and William Goad's wife Mary grant power of attorney in connection to a real estate transaction whereby Abraham and William conveyed a tract of land to William Downman. The deed says, "Catherine wife of Abraham Goad and Mary wife of Wm. Goad both of Richmond Co. parish of North Farnham appoint my well beloved friend Thomas Deall our atty. giving right of Dower in our husbands deed to Wm. Downman. Wit: John Goad.
Abraham made his will on 7 March 1733, naming his son John as executor of his estate, after which he probably lived on for another year or so. He signed his will "AG". His will was probated 1 July 1734, showing he had died by then. Abraham's will is recorded in Richmond County Will Book 5, page 238, and his will inventory is on page 240. Here is an extended summary:
March 7, 1733 – July 1, 1734 – Will of Abraham Goad
Imprimus, I give and bequeath to my grandson, William Goad, son of William Goad, dec'd, that plantation whereon Mary Goad now lives and all the land thereto belonging on that side of the swamp up to Mr. Griffin's line (excepting a small piece of land I have given bond to Mr. William Downman for the acknowledgement of).
Item, I give and bequeath to my son, John Goad, and his wife all the land that lies above the North Fork of the briary swamp that belongs to me up to Oakley's line . . . divides me and Thomas Durham . . . almost to Doc’t Dearavies [?] Rode opposite to the plantation of John Hightower whereon he now lives.
Item, I give to my son, Abraham Goad, all the land lying on the south side of my spring branch in case . . . from the line of the land given by me to my grandson William Goad . . . along the line of Goodmans up to Dearavies Rode etc. . . . If said Peter die without heir the said land is to fall to my son Abraham. If the said son Abraham should die without heirs, then the said land to fall to my son, Peter Goad and his heirs etc. . . .
Item, I give unto my son, Peter Goad, all the land lying on ye north side of my Spring branch . . .
Item, I give to the heirs of my son William Goad, dec'd, one shilling to be paid by . . . . To my daughter, Hannah Phillips, one shilling . . . To my daughter Elizabeth Dodson, one shilling . . . To my daughter, Alice Dodson, one shilling . . . To my wife Catherine, the use of my Negro woman, Judith, etc. . . . wife Catherine to live on my plantation during her natural life.
Son John Goad executor. Wit: Elizabeth Lawson, Winefred Miskell, Henry Miskell.
Although Abraham had named his son John as executor, in the event it was his widow Catharine who acted as executrix.
The children of Abraham and Catharine Goad were:
-- ELIZABETH GOAD, born circa 1690 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, died after 1735 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, married John Dodson.
-- WILLIAM GOAD, born Aug. 1693 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, died 18 Jan. 1733 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, married Mary (NN).
2. HANNAH GOAD, born Nov. 1695 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia.
-- CATHERINE GOAD, born before 1700 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia.
-- JOHN GOAD, born 27 Nov 1700 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, died 23 July 1771 in Bedford County, Virginia, married Catherine (NN).
-- ALICE GOAD, born circa 1709 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, died between 27 Aug. 1767 and 7 Sept. 1767 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, married twice.
-- ABRAHAM GOAD JR., Revolutionary War soldier, born 15 March 1711 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, died 21 Sept. 1779 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, married Joanna Wheatley.
-- PETER GOAD, born 27 May 1714 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, died sine prole 1794 (before 1 Dec. 1794) in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, probably never married.
2. HANNAH GOAD, daughter of Abraham and Catharine Goad, born Nov. 1695 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, died after 6 Aug. 1753 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia. Hannah's birth is recorded on page 109 of the North Farnham Parish Register. She next appears in the 9 Feb. 1699 will of William Smyth, stepfather of Hannah's mother Catharine. William bequeathed "to Hannah Goad dau. to Abraham and Katherine Goad my plantation whereon I now live (after decease of my wife Eve Smyth)." A few years later, on 24 April 1704, Hannah's grandmother Eve Smyth also mentioned Hannah in her will. An abstract of Eve's will (recorded in Richmond County Will Book 2, page 86), says Eve's granddaughter Hannah was to receive:
. . . two men servants, etc., ½ doz. chairs, etc., great table, etc., two maires, cart and wheels and the boate etc., stock of cattle and sheep be divided into four parts – sd. Hannah to have half of them, the boys to have the other half – all that I gave the girl remain on the plantation – if Hannah dies without heirs, divided between two boys. . . .
It was probably circa 1714 if not earlier, and probably in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, that Hannah married TOBIAS PHILLIPS, son of John and Elizabeth Phillips, born 12 Jan. 1687 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, died in early Spring 1740 (before 7 April 1740) in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia. Tobias' father John was one of the witnesses who signed the will of Hannah's step-grandfather William Smyth. Like his father, Tobias owned and operated a tobacco plantation in colonial Virginia's Richmond County. Hannah and Tobias had four daughters and two sons. After Tobias' death, his widow Hannah remarried circa 1741 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, to WILLIAM DODSON, born 1684-1685 in North Farnham Parish, Old Rappahannock County, Virginia, died in 1753 (before 6 Aug. 1753) in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, son of Charles and Anne Dodson.
The North Farnham Parish Register, page 155, shows that Tobias and Hannah Phillips had the following children: Elizabeth, born 18 Nov. 1715; Frances, born 10 March 1718; Jane, born 21 June 1720; and Richard, born 20 Jan. 1722. Besides those four children, the will of Tobias Phillips reveals that Tobias and Hannah also had a daughter named Hannah and a son named George.
Tobias made his will on 19 Sept. 1739, and his will was proved on 7 April 1740, showing that he had died probably in the early Spring of 1740, prior to 7 April. Almon Edward Daniels' A Workbook on the Dale Families of Virginia (1958) provides the following abstract of Tobias' will:
19 Sept. 1739 – 7 April 1740 – Will of Tobias Phillips of Richmond County.
-- son George Phillips – negro boatswain and use of negro wench Fortimore until she shall be delivered of three children:
- her first born to my dau. Elizabeth,
- her second born to William Dale, ye Younger,
- her third born to my dau. Hannah,
the wench then to be the property of my son George.
-- wife Hannah – use of my servants Jos. Pecton and Thos. Lawrence during her widowhood and afterward to my son George.
-- dau. Frances Dale – one cow.
-- residue of estate to be divided among wife, son George, and my two daughters Elizabeth and Hannah.
-- son George – to pay Thomas Lawrence 500 lbs. of tobacco for his freedom dues.
-- care of son George’s estate and his tuition shall be to my executors during my wife’s widowhood and, after her marriage, to William Glascock.
Ex.: wife and William Glascock.
Wit.: Godfrey Willcocks, William Forrester, and Mary Howard.
Hannah last appears on record in the will of her second husband William Dodson, whose undated will (recorded in the 1753-1767 Richmond County, Virginia Will Book 6 page 722) was proved 6 Aug. 1753. She thus must have died at an unknown date after that.
The children of Hannah and Tobias Phillips were:
-- ELIZABETH PHILLIPS, born 18 Nov. 1715 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia.
-- FRANCES PHILLIPS, born 10 March 1718 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, died between 10 May and 28 July 1777 in Bedford County, Virginia, married William Dale.
-- JANE PHILLIPS, born 21 June 1720 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia.
-- RICHARD PHILLIPS, born 20 Jan. 1722 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, died sine prole before 19 Sept. 1739 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia.
-- HANNAH PHILLIPS, born circa 1724 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia.
-- GEORGE PHILLIPS, born circa 1726 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, died after 1761 in Virginia, married twice.
Goad Genealogy Resources:
A Workbook on the Dale Families of Virginia, with Particular Reference to the Branch which moved from the Northern Neck of Virginia to Woodford County, Kentucky (1958), by Almon Edward Daniels. Early Colonial Settlers of Southern Maryland and Virginia's Northern Neck Counties, with family of Abraham Goad (c.1660-1734). Ancestry of Hannah Goad Phillips