Whitfield Wood was born in 1812 in Sampson County, to Jonathan Wood and Polly Bryan. Around 1820 his family moved to Meadow Township in Johnston County. Whitfield came from a large family of four boys and seven girls. They were Whitfield, William, Larry and Gary (twins), Elizabeth, Mary, Rebecca, Alexy, Nancy, Phereby and Penelope. All of these children were mentioned in the will of Jonathan Wood, with Whitfield inheriting land.
Whitfield Wood's homeplace is in the left background, Moore's home is in the center among the trees, and Tom Wood's house is on the right in the field.
On March 27, 1832, Whitfield married Elizabeth (Betsy) Tart, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Tart. Together they had 20 children with the majority of them reaching the age of maturity. Most all of the children lived nearby. Whitfield had a large farm, with a sawmill, gristmill, cottongin, and a planing mill. Most all of the children helped him keep such a large place going.
The first born child was Jonathan. He was born in 1833. Nothing further can be found on him.
Thomas was born in 1834. He first married Penelope Massengill on January 9, 1858. They had one son, William Henry Wood. Penelope died during childbirth. Thomas later married Rebecca Capps, from Wayne County, on May 7, 1871. Thomas was club-footed; and also hauled dirt in a wheelbarrow to help build the dam on the farm.
Polly was born in 1836. She married Lee Sylvester Tart on February 9, 1867.
John was born in 1837. He married Nancy Parker on October 23, 1860. He also served three years in the Civil War.
Betsy was born in 1838. No record can be found of her ever marrying. In 1870 she was 27 and still living at home with the family.
William was born in 1839. He married Avery Ann Parker on February 6, 1862.
Nancy was born in 1841. She first married Harry Lee who died in the Civil War. She then married Spencer Eldridge.
Martha was born in 1842. She married Green Morgan on November 3, 1859.
Aley was born in 1843. She married J.W. Parker on January 17, 1861.
James was born in 1844. It is not known what ever became of him.
Furney and Penney were both born in 1845. Furney enlisted in the Civil War on July 8, 1863 at the age of 18. He was taken prisoner, and sent to Elmira Prison in New York. He died there on November 4, 1864, and was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, Elmira, New York. Penney, the sister, is not listed on any of the other census records, or anywhere else. It has been said that she died while young.
Bernice was born in 1846. He married Bettie (here last name unknown). He was a Primitive Baptist Elder. He died in Harnett County.
Sara and Sally were born in 1848. Sally must have died while young, because no records can be found of her.
Moore was born October 1849. He married his first cousin Eliza Wood on November 6, 1873. In later years Moore owned the Whitfield Wood farm. Among the other things already on the farm, Moore also ran a store, and a blacksmith shop.
Young was born in 1851. He married Media Eliza Barefoot.
Alex was born in 1853. He first married Jane Barefoot, and second Mary Cooke. He was known to all as Uncle Elic.
Franklin was born in 1854. He married Susan B. Williams.
Rebecca was born in 1856. She married J.W. Frazier.
All of these were the children of Whitfield and Elizabeth Wood's 45-year-long marriage. Whitfield died in 1877 at the age of 69. Betsy continued to stay on the farm where they had raised their children. She died at the age of 82 in 1894.
On the homeplace there is a cemetery where Whitfield and Elizabeth are buried along with some of their children.
It is a feeling that's undescribable to find our where your ancestors were from and to walk on the land where they once lived and worked so hard. Whitfield and Betsy must have had a happy life together with all of their children who loved them so.
Sources: Census records, tombstones, State Archives, Johnston Co. Courthouse, the Johnnston County Room, and many friends and relatives.
More information about the Whitfield Wood and Elizabeth Tart family can be found by searching in the Surname Index on The Woopile Genealogy Website.
