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CAUTION!! We have added information from Alabama and Mississippi for the children of Aaron and Hannah Woodward. We cannot stress too highly that the evidence for the connection is only circumstantial and we have no primary record proof. We wish to thank several people for help on this page. Sandra Sharp first made the connection between the Alabama people and Aaron Woodward, and has sent us much information. She is descended from John A. Woodward. M. D. Monk has done a great deal of research on the families in Alabama and Mississippi and sent us copies of the information. He also sent us cemetery photos linked in at the bottom of the page. He is a descendant of Aaron's brother William. William Wallace has researched Aaron and family in records in Jefferson County, Tennessee. He is a descendant of Aaron's sister Alice. We have heard from Jo Munn descendant of John A. and Rebecca Johnson Woodward. In 11/2008 we have heard from Patricia Griggs Stricklin, descendant of William and Jane Woodward Sharp who clarified much information on that family. Aaron and FamilyAaron Woodward was the sixth child and fourth son of Abraham and Hannah Thornbrough Woodward of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Randolph County, North Carolina, and Jefferson County, Tennessee. We do not know the surname of his wife but we do know from his estate administration that her given name was Hannah. |
| Aaron Woodward born 3/4/1772 Guilford Co, NC died bef 1/1801 Jefferson Co, Tn |
Hannah Unknown born abt 1776 No Carolina died aft 1860 Madison Co, Al |
| Married: There is no record of this marriage. It occurred before 1796 when Aaron bought land in Jefferson County, Tennessee, and is based on their having four children by the time of Aaron's estate administration.
Children: John A. Woodward, born 5/9/1795 Jefferson Co, Tn; married Mary Rebecca Johnson Jane Woodward born about 1796 Jefferson Co, Tn; married William Sharp Eli Woodward born about 1800 Jefferson Co, Tn; married Margaret Vickrey Hannah Woodward born about 1801 Jefferson Co, Tn; married James Millikan?/Methvin? (more below) Children's data is from Alabama and Mississippi records; names are from Aaron's probate administration. |
Records of Aaron in North Carolina and TennesseeAaron Woodward's birth record is found at Center Monthly Meeting in Guilford County, North Carolina. However, it is likely that his parents lived just south of the Guilford County line in Randolph County. Aaron embraced the Quaker religion, as he transferred his membership to Westfield Monthly Meeting in Surry County on 6-22-1793 when he was 21 years old. Westfield was the North Carolina meeting that handled certificates for those Quakers moving to the Holston River area of the future state of Tennessee, so Aaron moved to Tennessee at the same time as his parents. There is no further mention of Aaron in Quaker meetings, however.Life and Death in Jefferson County, TennesseeAaron Woodward was active in community life in Jefferson County, as he was a member of a jury in January 1800, and in April 1800 he stood bond for William Hilton when he was appointed constable. By January 1801 he was deceased, probably from an accident, since he was only 28 years old, and left no will. If he had been ill there would at least have been an oral will.According to Jefferson County Court records: "On 1 January, 1801, Hannah Woodward hath leave to administer of all and singular the goods and chattels rights and credits of Aaron Woodward, deceased, who entered into bond with Patrick Burd (Beard?) and Joseph Mendin all her securities and was qualified accordingly." Hannah Woodward was the administratrix of Aaron's estate, taking a one fifth widow's share, as was her entitlement by law. Sale of the estate inventory amounted to $382.82 with debts amounting to only $31.36. This was a large sum of money for that day and time, and considerably more money continued to accrue for Aaron's heirs. The majority of Aaron Woodward's estate consisted of blacksmith tools; he undoubtedly made a good living as a blacksmith, since such services were scarce on the Tennessee frontier. Either Aaron or Hannah was also a weaver, since a loom was included in the estate. The inventory of his estate is given below. They had accumulated a lot of property for such a young family. Widow Hannah Woodward purchased most of the goods indicating she probably would continue living on the farm. This would have been feasible since Aaron's brother John Woodward lived on adjacent property. At the estate sale, John Woodward purchased a pair of saddle bags, a saddle, a fur hat, a twining lathe and two jack planes. The fur hat was one of the most expensive items at the sale costing $5.30. As a comparison, 17 head of hogs sold for $5.10. Aaron's brother William Woodward purchased two drawing knifes, a handsaw, a foot adze, and 3 chisels. The other heirs mentioned in the estate administration are John, Jane, Ely, and Hannah Woodward, children of Aaron and Hannah Woodward. An inventory of the Estate of Aaron Woodard, deceased:Two horse creatures, eight head of horned cattle, four sheep, hogs seventeen, 3 beehives, smith tools, one bellows, anvil and vise, three hammers, two pair tongs and some small tools such as chisels and punches, one handsaw, one foot adze and broad ax, one jointer and jackplain, two fawling axes, one weeding hoe, one plow bar sheare and coalter, with clevises and swingle trees, one shovel plow, one pair chains, one coller, and two pair haims, three augurs, three shisels, one crosse.inshave(?) and compasssis(?) two drawin knives, one turning leath, one riffle gun, two and a half pett(?) hides and loom, four shuttels, one pair weaver geeres, two beads, beadsteds and beading, one spinning wheel, four iron pots, ten puter plates, ten puter spoons, two puter basons, one earthen bowl and one set teaware, four knives and forks, two piggins, one churn, half bushel and washing tub, two keelers, one pickling tub and two kags, five chairs, eight tin cups two glass bottles, one pair of steelyards, one saddle, two bridles and one pair saddle bags one small bar of iron, faivi (?) hats and other wearing clothes, two pound of powder, table and grinding stone, one sickle. /s/Hannah Woodard (her mark) admr.Settlement with Hannah Woodward Admr. By virtue of an order of Cort we have settled with Hannah Woodward adminstrator of Aron Woodward deseast; and due make the following statement -we find that the sail of the parishable property of the said Aron Woodward did amount to three hundred Eighty two dollars and eighty two cents. Secondly we find that she has paid to jest creditors, thirty one dolars and thirty six cents. Thirdly after reducting one fifth out of the above sum, which is her shear, leavs a surplus in her hands of two hundred eighty one dollars and seventeen cents to be devided betwixt John Woodward, Jane Woodward, Ely Woodward and Hannah Woodward heirs of Aron Woodward deceast Sertifyed by us this 15 day of January 1805 William Line Dudley Cox Widow Hannah Woodward and ChildrenThe children's guardianship passed from hand to hand over the years, however, they were probably living with Hannah Woodward the entire time; females simply could not be guardians of their own children in that time period. On Tuesday, October 22, 1805, the court appointed Jacob Harmon Guardian for John Woodard, Jean Woodard, Eli Woodard, and Hannah Woodard orphans of Aaron Woodard... . On Tuesday, January 21, 1806 "On motion to remove Jacob Harmon from his Guardianship of John Woodard, Jean Woodard, Eli Woodard, and Hannah Woodard, orphans of Aaron Woodard deceased, the court on examination of the premise that the bond given by the said Jacob and the bond given by him was illegal. It was therefore ordered by the court that the said Jacob be removed from his Guardianship. M. D. Monk researched Jacob Harmon and there was apparently no relationship between him and the Woodward family. Perhaps this is why he was removed from guardianship, or perhaps because he was already guardian for another family.The court next appointed Aaron's brother William Woodard guardian...(bond Benjamin Murrell and John Woodard in the sum of four thousand dollars). April 1806 "An inventory of the property received into the possession of William Woodard guardian to John Woodard, Jean Woodard, Eli Woodard, and Hannah Woodard, orphan children of Aaron Woodard, belonging to said orphans viz: One note on William Churchman for $5.50; one note on Caleb Rees, $104.00; one note on Caleb Reese, $117.89; one note on William Millekin, $3.00; one note on William Smith $18.00; Total $253.43. A true account of all property of said orphans received up to this 21st of April 1806. /s/William Woodward." William Woodward died in 1812 and Henry Mills, son-in-law of William Woodward was appointed guardian: "Received of Henry Mills, guardian for heirs of Aaron Woodward, $15, it being my part of the rents of the plantation until year 1813. Also $10 for schooling children. September 27, 1813. Received by me Hannah (X) Woodard, her mark. Witness Abraham Woodard, Sr." "21 June 1814 Henry Mills guardian to John Woodard and other heirs of Aaron Woodard, decd return to court an account of his guardianship up to 13th of June 1814. Amount as secured by hand notes and apurtanances $405.81 /s/Henry Mills, Guardian." Henry Mills left for Indiana in 1814 and Aaron's brother, Abraham Woodward, Jr was appointed guardian: "Abraham Woodward, Junr, Guardian to John Woodward, Jean Woodward, Hannah Woodward, and Eli Woodward, heirs of Aaron Woodward, decd. Paid John Woodward 25 September 1816 $105 in full of his part of estate. $105 paid James Millikan who intermarried with Hannah Woodard September 25, 1816 $105.00 in full her part of said estate as per receipt ready to produce. Have now in my hands $110.00 this part that is coming to Eli Woodward. /s/ Abraham Woodward. The settlement indicates that John had reached his age of majority which correlates with his birthdate of 1795. Since Hannah had married she would also receive her full share (the name of her husband may be incorrect, see below). Eli was not yet 21 so his share was being held for him. It is curious that Jane Woodward is not mentioned, but a little arithmetic tells us there was approximately the same amount of money left for her. Hannah Woodward lived to a ripe old age and was cared for by son Eli. They are in Madison, Alabama in 1850 and 1860:(1860 Eli Woodward, 60, farmer, born Tn; Hannah, 84, SC; Jane Pence, 22, Ala.) In 1850 Hannah's age is given as 74 and her birthplace as North Carolina. Further on Probable Children of Aaron and Hannah WoodwardJohn A. and Mary Rebecca Johnson WoodwardSandra Sharp is a descendant of Aaron's likely son John A. Woodward, born 5/9/1795 in Tennessee. Because the name Aaron is carried in his descendants, his name was likely John Aaron Woodward. John had a brother Eli born 1800 in Tennessee; a sister Hannah born about 1801 in Tennessee; and a sister Jane born about 1796 in Tennessee. His mother was Hannah, born about 1776 in North Carolina. The composition of the family and the dates fit like a glove with the family of Aaron Woodward. The ONLY hesitation we have in accepting them as the correct family is their location in Alabama and Mississippi. There were many descendants of another Richard Woodward family of Massachusettes who went to that area of the country. Other descendants of Abraham Woodward went north to Ohio, Indiana, and Iowa. It could be, because of the multiple guardianships, that there were hard feelings between the children and other members of the Woodward family and thus they did not migrate with their cousins to the north. Or it could simply be that son John Woodward's age and need for adventure away from the Quaker life led him to Alabama with other Tennesseans who started migrating there in about 1809. David Crockett who lived for awhile with Quaker John Canady, relative and neighbor of the Woodwards in Jefferson County, Tennessee, went to Mississippi Territory during the Indian Wars and returned to Tennessee with tales of the area. There were other related families who went south to Alabama, such as the Shelley family, relatives of Abigail Shelley Woodward, wife of John's cousin Samuel Woodward. As M. D. Monk says, "you could float a log from Jefferson County, Tennessee, to Madison County, Alabama," so the families could have gone by boat down the Tennessee River or followed "roads" created during the War of 1812. One of these was the Old Huntsville Road which followed an ancient Indian trail out of Tennessee. Valley Leaves, a genealogical publication of Madison County, Alabama, tells us that the Hurricane Valley which stretched south from New Market, Alabama (called after New Market, Tennessee?), was some of the most fertile soil in Northern Alabama so it was attractive to settlers, and many had become familiar with the area while serving in the War of 1812. See linked map of the migration of the Woodward family and note the location of the Tennessee River in relation to their stopping points. Woodward descendant, Jason Abbott, grandson of Webmaster Nadine Holder, has taken photos of the Tennessee River at Huntsville that we will be adding.A bit of history of the area will help understand the locations of the sequence of events that follows, and give a feeling for the hardships these pioneer ancestors faced. In 1783 Britain ceded the Mobile area to Spain and the remainder of present-day Alabama was claimed by Georgia. In 1798 the Alabama region became part of the Territory of Mississippi. The rich Valley district in the northern part was settled in 1809 by Scotch-Irish from Tennessee. During the War of 1812, American forces captured Mobile from the Spanish and defeated the Creek Indians. This led to the removal of the Creeks and other Indian tribes and opened the area to settlement. The area became Alabama Territory in 1817 and became a state in 1819. By whatever route the early settlers reached Alabama, the journey was arduous. The majority came in open farm wagons drawn by teams of oxen. Sometimes with few possessions other than the legendary "axe and rifle" of the pioneer, and usually a "bride's chest" containing the family treasures. Whatever saddle horses the family owned were ridden by family members who served as outriders to guard against cutthroats and robbers who plagued the trails. Two or three wagons traveling alone were in grave peril, so the longer the wagon train, the greater the degree of safety. As a general rule, every male beyond the age of about nine knew how to load and fire a muzzle-loading shotgun. These could be fired only once and put the settlers at a disadvantage against the bows and arrows of the Indians, so each shootist had to be an expert marksman and make every shot count. The Indians were generally peaceful and it was brigands who were the problem. The outriders also killed game during the day for the evening meal. This was supplemented by greens gathered and boiled and by whatever berries might be in season. Their bread was corn bread baked as ash cakes or hoe cakes (on the blade of a hoe or a shovel). The travelers slept in the open and, in case of rain, under the wagons. A fire was kept burning all night, as protection against panthers, their deadliest enemy from the wild. Wild hogs were a menace in the daytime. There were many rivers and streams to be dangerously forded. The journey was difficult beyond today's imagination and many a settler and beast of burden died along the way. (excerpted from Pioneers and Residents of West Central Alabama, by Madge Pettit.) John A. Woodward served in the War of 1812, enlisting in Madison County, Mississippi Territory. From John's pension application (5/28/1875 in Newton Co, Ms), we know John served in Captain James Hamilton's Company. He enlisted at Huntsville, Mississippi Territory, and was discharged at Fayetteville, Tennessee. He fought at the battle of Emuckfau. From a history of the 2nd Regiment of Tennessee Mounted Volunteers, we learn that the men served from December 1813-February 1814, and were mostly from Tennessee counties and from Madison County, Mississippi Territory. One of the Captains was James Hamilton: "this unit comprised the sixty-day volunteers...to fill the rapidly dwinding ranks of Jackson's army decimated by the desertions of December 1813. Determined to make the most of this new army, Jackson marched these 850 green troops into Creek territory where they encountered the Red Sticks at Emuckfau and Enotochopco (22 and 24 January 1814)...The line of march went through Huntsville to Fort Strother and then to the battlefields." In Old Hickory's War, by David and Jeanne Heidler, it states that Andrew Jackson and his West Tennessee militia would wreak the most destruction in the coming campaign [Jan. 1814]. From service records of North Alabamians in the War of 1812 we know that John Woodard was a private in Captain James Hamilton's Company, Col. Higgins' 2nd Mounted Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers, Tennessee Mounted Gunmen. Muster rolls indicate John Woodard was present during the entire length of service from December 20, 1813 to February 8, 1814 when discharged. Each non-commissioned officer and private travelled 30 miles marching from Fayetteville, where discharged, and returning to residence in Huntsville, Madison County, Mississippi Territory. John Woodard was paid $35.56 for his term of service including an allowance for his horse. John Woodard enlisted again, and served as a corporal in the 7th Battalian Regiment, Captain Abraham Roberts' Company of Militia belonging to a battalian of infantry of Mississippi Territory, commanded by Liet Col Peter Perkins. He served from September 23 to December 31, 1814, rendezvousing on October 5, 1814. For this service he was paid $55.48. John Woodward's service in the Mississippi Militia is memorialized on his tombstone in Beulah Cemetery in Newton, Mississippi (see photo link at the bottom of the page). John A. Woodward married Mary Rebecca Johnson, daughter of William and Dianna Adams Johnson, on January 1813 in Madison County, Mississippi Territory, so we know he came to the area before his war service. John's sister Hannah married James Melvin/Methvin, son of Levi and Ann Methvin, on 8/30/1816 in Madison County, Mississippi Territory. About 1817, sister Jane Woodward married William Sharp in Madison County, Mississippi or Alabama Territory (part of Mississippi Territory became Alabama Territory in 1817. Alabama Territory then became Alabama in 1819). On August 29, 1824, Eli Woodward married Margaret Vickrey, daughter of Abner and Margaret Wainwright Vickrey, in Madison County, Alabama. In addition, in Madison County, Alabama, censuses in 1830, 1840, 1850, and 1860 Eli Woodward's mother is with him. The 1860 census gives us the name "Hannah," an approximate date of birth, and place of birth as North Carolina. As mentioned above, on September 25, 1816, Abraham Woodward, Jr., in Jefferson County, Tennessee, paid a $105 settlement from Aaron's estate to "James Millikan who has intermarried with Hannah Woodward." The "Millikan" designation may be in error - that was a name familiar to Abraham Woodward, Jr., while the name "Methvyn" was not, and the name (probably furnished by letter) may have been misinterpreted. This is a dangerous assumption, but there was no James Millikan of the right age for marriage with Hannah, and no record of a marriage in Jefferson County, Tennessee. The above seems to comprise good circumstantial evidence that this group of John, Hannah, Ely, and Jane, with mother Hannah is the same group as named in Aaron Woodward's estate administration. Having said that, we will give more information on the descendants of these families in the hope that we will hear from others researching the same families who may be able to furnish more substantial proof of the connection to Aaron Woodward (or disprove it as the case may be!). Sandra Sharp has been researching the land records in Jefferson County, Tennessee, in hopes of finding a connecting clue in the sale of Aaron Woodward's land. As late as 1822 the heirs were still being taxed for 300 acres, and a record of sale has not been found. John A. Woodward ever restless, went further south into Alabama to Pickens County which lies on the Mississippi border. He is found there in land tax records in 1824, 1831, and 1837. He had already obtained land in Newton County, Mississippi on Nov 4, 1835 when he filed for 107.35 acres at $1.35 per acre: Lots 1,2, 8 of Sec 1 T7N R12E Cert#2493. By 1838 he is listed on the tax rolls of Newton County, Mississippi. (See 1853 map attached for the various locations.) He was a member of Evergreen Lodge No. 77 in Newton County starting in 1848. John and Rebecca Johnson Woodward had known children: Sarah Lucinda, born about 1818, married Norman Munn; Eli Woodward, born about 1822, married Sarah Munn; Hannah Woodward, born 10/15/1823, married James Atkinson Estes; Diana Woodward, born about 1824, married Moses Keen; Caroline Woodward, born between 1830-1835, married Dansby; and Savannah Woodward, born 9/1/1835, married (1)John Wesley Cross and (2) James Ivy Beeman. (There was a web site on rootsweb giving the family of Sarah Lucinda Woodward and Norman Munn. The web site has since disappeared but it referenced several of the Munns in the 1900 census in Newton County, Mississippi, including Norman on page 148B). In the 1850 Newton County, Ms, census all but two of John and Rebecca's children are gone out of the household: John Woodward, age 55, born Tn, can't read or write; Rebecca, 53, born Tn, can't read or write; Savannah Woodward, 15, born Ms; Hannah Estes (widow), age 24, born Ms; William Estes, 5; John Estes, 4; Eli Estes 2; and Rebecca Estes, 1, all born Ms. John Estes' middle name was Aaron. He is buried in Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery in Newton County: J. A. Estes 12/18/1846 1/22/1907 - 10 unmarked graves are in the same plot. His wife Elmirah is buried with him (7/11/1856-6/12/1917). John Aaron Estes married Elmira Parks 11/19/1872 in Newton, Mississippi. Melanie Smith is a descendant and has a posting on the Rootsweb Woodward Surname Board (date Apr 28,2002). John's son, Eli Woodward is found in 1860 in Neshoba County, just north of Newton: Eli Woodward, 38, farmer, born Al; Sarah, 36, Al; Thomas M., 15; Julia A., 12; William, 10; Nancy, 8; John, 5; Martha, 3; Mary, 1, all born Ms. There were other Woodward families in Neshoba County, some merchants. We have determined they do not belong to our families, nor does the Woodward House Museum located in Philadelphia, Neshoba County. These Woodwards are the descendants of a George Woodward who came early to Neshoba County. There are some Estes families in the Neshoba County Histories but we have not yet determined a connection to our Estes family. By 1860 Eli had returned to Newton County, Mississippi: #50 Eli Woodard, 49, Ala; Sarah, 48; Wm, 20 Miss; John A, 14; Martha S, 14; Mary 4, 11; James M, 6. John Woodward died 8/5/1881 in Newton County and is buried in the Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery. His tombstone inscription reads: John A. Woodward 5/9/1795 8/5/1881 Miss Cpl Perkins Regt Miss Militia War of 1812. Rebecca Johnson Woodward died 12/6/1881 and is buried next to John. (see photo links at the bottom of the page). Jane Woodward SharpJane Woodward was born about 1796 in Tennessee and married William Sharp about 1817 in Madison County, Mississippi or Alabama Territory. A list of children from descendants includes: John, Eli, Lucinda, George, Aaron, Bethena (several spellings), Wilson Leroy, William, Hannah, and Andrew Jackson Washington. In December 1879, when Jane's brother Eli Woodward died, John Sharp sought letters of administration, stating he was nephew of the deceased.Patricia Stricklin brought out that some of the census records and some of the marriage records have been erroneously transcribed, creating much confusion about this family. We are therefore only including some of the census records that may shed some light on the children of William and Jane Sharp. In the 1850 census in Madison County, Alabama, District 34,we find William and Jane Sharp as well as some probable brothers of William. Sons William and Wilson appear to be reversed in age in the census. At home are sons William, Wilson, and Washington, and daughter Hannah. William Sharp is given as age 52, farmer, born Ky and Jane, age 54, born Tennessee. At #71 we find son John Sharp, 32, farmer, Al; Mary 28, NC; Francis, 1, Al. With the family is Catharine Carroll, 58, born North Carolina as well as some Carroll children. We thus assume that Mary Sharp's maiden name may have been Carroll. At #223 we find son Eli Sharp, 28, farmer, Al; Jane, 32, Al; Wm, 7, Al; Charles, 5, Al; George, 4, Al; Mary, 1, Al. At #88 we find George Sharp, 25, farmer, Al; Margaret, 29, Al; John, 3, Al; and Wm, 1, Al. At #83 we find son Aaron Sharp, 24, laborer, Al; Levina, 25, Al; Wm 1/12, Al. Next to him at #84 we see Martha Sharp, 85, born Unknown, with a housekeeper and we wonder if this is Aaron's grandmother, and William's mother? We obtained some additional information from the 1860 census in District 1 in Madison County, Alabama. Son Eli and wife Jane added children Wilson, 8, Ann, 4, and Albert, 1. Son Aaron and wife Lavinia added children Mary, 6; Eliza, 5; Lucinda, 3. William and wife Jane are found at #104: William Sharp, 60, farmer, born Ky; Jane, 62, Tn; Hannah, 21, Al; Bathena Pelant, 20, Al; Henderson Pilant, 6, Al; Elizabeth, 5, Al; John, 4, Al; George, 3, Al. Either Bethena married very young or her age is wrong. We did not find any information on who her husband might have been and if she was widowed or not. At #105 we find son William: William, 35, farmer, Al; Nancy, 25; Mary, 3, Al; Harriet, 1, Al. We learn from Patricia Stricklin that William married Nancy Deskins/Duskins. There is an 1870 census record for William: 74, farmer, born Ky; daughter Hannah, 35, Al is with him and two children: James, 10, and William, 2. These children have been given erroneously as children of William but they are actually children of Hannah and the father is unknown. Wife Jane Woodward Sharp is apparently deceased by 1870. Patricia Stricklin tells us her ancestor is wilson Leroy Sharp who was born 6 January 1831 in Madison County according to his tombstone in Madison County. He married Elizabeth Ann Adams (erroneously given in marrieage records as married to William above who actually married Nancy. (Be aware that these records are transcribed and there may have been great difficulty in reading the old handwriting!) Eli and Margaret Vickrey WoodwardEli Woodward, born about 1800, married Margaret Vickrey, daughter of Abner and Margaret Wainwright Vickrey, on 8/29/1824 in Madison County, Alabama. The Vickreys were from Randolph County, North Carolina. We do not believe that Margaret survived for very long, probably dying in childbirth, as Eli is shown living only with his mother in the 1830 and 1840 censuses in Madison County. He apparently never remarried and never had any children as he is still with his mother in 1850 and 1860. The fact that it was his nephew, John Sharp, who applied for letters of administration in December 1879, after Eli died, indicates that Eli had no issue of his own. This is probably the proper point to introduce a piece of evidence that may go the other way. Some old store records were discovered in an attic in 1927 in New Market, Alabama. Several of the purchasers are of interest to us: Ely Woodard, June 4, 1831, 1 pr shoes 2.00; June 25, 1831, tobacco .35; Wilson Woodard, June 17, 1831, 1 man saddle 18.00, saddle blanket, 1.75, 1 hank shoe thread, .25; June 21, 1831, 1 vil dildac, .38, g cordial, .25; July 22, 1831, 2 coppers, .25. We might merely assume there was another Woodward family in the area, except for the fact that Jane, proven sister of Eli named a son Wilson! (if this seems insignificant, read About Names, it may be insignificant, it may not.Hannah Woodward MethvinHannah Woodward, born about 1801, married James T. Methvin 8/30/1816 in Madison County, Mississippi Territory. The marriage record is given as Melvin, but the Methvins are also seen in the 1830 census as Melvin, so the name could be easily misinterpreted in the old handwriting. We believe this is Hannah who was sent money on September 25, 1816, by Abraham Woodward as the wife of James "Millikan", probably another misinterpretation of the name. (Note - that is a very long stretch for misinterpretation!) The timing seems significant, as upon marriage Hannah would be considered of age and entitled to her inheritance, and the time from August 30, 1816 to September 25, 1816, would have been about the time it would have taken a letter to go from Madison County, Mississippi Territory, to Jefferson County, Tennessee. Hannah's brother Eli Woodward was witness to the will of Levi Methvin dated 29 April 1845 and probated 14 December 1847. In the will Levi names wife Anna and, among others, son James T. Methvin. Levi was shown as Levi Melvin in the 1830 Census, so the name was apparently easy to misinterpret. Eli Woodward signed as witness on many other documents for Levi and James Methvin, indicating the close connection between the two familes. One of the documents was a quit claim deed: ...Hiram Lam and wife Anna, the son in law and daughter and heir of Levi Methvin dec'd of Jackson County, Ala, to James S. Methvin of Madison Co., quit claim to all interest in 160 acres being S-1/2 SE-1/4 Sec 11 and N-1/2 NE-1/4 Sec 14, being the same of which Levi Methvin late of Madison Co, Ala., died siezed and possessed. Eli Woodward, witness;... . The deed was dated 26 January 1849 so James and Hannah remained in Madison County. Another deed 28 May 1832 for James S. Methvin and Wife Hannah gives a land description of E 1/2 SE 1/4 Sec i T2 R2 E (this should help in locating exactly where they lived). Levi Methvin is buried in the Bragg Cemetery in Sec 15 T2 R2 E (born 9/23/1768/died 7/28/1847). Valley Leaves names the three of them as early settlers of the Hurricane Valley in Madison County.As of November 2004 we have located some additional information about James and Hannah Methvin. They are found in 1850 in District 34 Madison Alabama #147 J. S. Mithvine, 55, farmer, born Va; Hannah, 49, Tn; Martha 16, Al; James, 11, Al; Aaron, 10, Al; Alfred, 8, Al; Albert, 8, Al, Geo Pilant, 19, farmer, Al. The naming of a son Aaron is significant. We do not find them in 1860 or 1870 but by 1880 they were in Grayson County, Texas: 1880 Dist 12 Precinct #5 Grayson Co Texas #133 James Methvin, 85, farmer, Va, Md, Va; H. 72, Tn, Tn, Tn. There is an interesting Family Tree on Ancestry's World Family Tree Project that gives some credible information on the Methvine family that matches the 1850 census. Again no real proof is offerred that this Hannah was daughter of Aaron Woodward of Jefferson County, Tennessee, but her age and birthplace are right. Cemetery Photos (courtesy M. D. Monk)Link to photo of Beaulah Cemetery in Newton, MississippiLink to photos of William Johnson and Diana Adams Johnson, parents of Rebecca Johnson Woodward. Note the Revolutionary Soldier marker at William's grave. The links to John and Rebecca's headstones are on M. D. Monk's Web Site. Use the back button on your browser to return to this page. Link to photo of John A. Woodward's headstone on Monk's Web Site Link to photo of Rebecca Johnson Woodward's headstone on Monk's Web Site As mentioned above John and Rebecca are found in the census in 1850 in Newton, Mississippi, with their daughter Hannah Estes and children with them. In 1860 we find John Woodward alone with the Estes children: John Woodward, 62, farmer, Tn; Wm Esters, 15, Tn; John, 14, Miss, Eli, 12, Miss. Evidently Rebecca was just missed in the census or she might have been away visiting someone. John and Rebecca are found in 1880 in Beat 2, Newton, Miss #217 John Woodward, 85, retired farmer; Rebecca, 83 "worn out" "old age"; Lidda Witt, 25, servant, houskeeper; Anna Witt, 8, Servant's child; Eli Estes, 31, grandson, farmer. Updates: 6/19/2006 Added census record of John and Rebecca in 1880 and of their son Eli in 1870. Added Newton County Land Record for John. 11/14/2008 Added much information on the family of William and Jane Woodward Sharp. |
