Nathaniel WOODRUFF Sr. Birth: 14 OCT 1719 in Westfield, NJ.  Nathaniel was a weaver by trade.  Nathaniel married Phebe unknown.

"The will of Joseph Woodruff Junr, of the Borough of Elizabeth, dated 15 Jan 1741/2 and proved Feb 1741/2: "To son Nathaniel Woodruff; my house and plantation bought of Joseph Bird, of said borough, lately deceased, he to pay to my son Isaac Woodruff, L30." 

Note: Joseph Bird is buried in Rahway; d. 28 Sep 1740, age abt 59; where was his land? His wife Elizabeth m 2nd Jonathan Hampton of Rahway whose daughter m John Stites.  * lived at Ashswamp, NJ; named in his father's will of 1742; no issue (23 yrs of age);

CNW *Name: Miles Williams, Date: 17 Oct 1747 Location: Borough of Elizabeth, Essex Co.  Yeoman; will of. Wife, Phebe. Children--Samuel, John, Joshua (under age), Ann; other daughters mentioned but not named. Land joining lands of James Hinds, Samuel Scudder and Joseph Williams; land bought of John Halstead, Esq.; bond of NATHANIEL WOODRUFF, of Ashswamp, weaver. Nephew, John, son of son Samuel Williams. Executors--kinsman, Benjamin Williams, yeoman, and son John. Witnesses--John Crane, John Denman, Charles Hole. Proved May 4, 1748. 

* transfer of land noted in the Winan's Collection of NJ documents; "Nathaniel Woodruff to Abraham Littell, deed of land in Elizabeth Town, NJ; July 16, 1743;" if this Nathaniel did sell his land at this time and removed himself from E-town, then his children were not born in Westfield, NJ; Abraham Littell of the Borough of E-town, will proved on 30 July, 1759 with witnesses Henry Clark Jr. of Westfield, John Woodruff and Ebenezer Price.

Nathaniel Woodruff migrated from NJ along the Shenandoah Valley Trail sometime in the 1740s to settle in Augusta Co., VA by 1751 where he appears in the Augusta Co., VA County Court Records as a witness. The Records which begin in 1745 also record when members are added to the county tithables. Nathaniel Woodruff is never admitted as a new member of the community so he may have settled in Augusta Co., VA before 1745.  * Nathaniel first appears in the Augusta Co., VA records in 1751. Other men who also appear in the Court records, known to be from the Union/Essex area of NJ are Abraham Drake, John Allen, and Andrew Bird; note Nathaniel had lived on property that was owned by Andrew's grandfather Joseph Bird.




Volume I; AUGUSTA COUNTY COURT RECORDS.
ORDER BOOK No. III. (cont.)
NOVEMBER 30, 1751.
(222) Nathaniel Woodroff--a witness.

The area that became Augusta County was settled primarily by the Scotch-Irish in the early 1730s. Formed from Orange County, Augusta officially became a county in 1738. The primary religion of the area was Presbyterian and the early settlers lost no time in forming the Triple Forks of the Shenandoah Congregation. The Tinkling Spring Meeting House, the simple log structure shown at left, was the first Presbyterian church in the Shenandoah Valley. Heavy migration of Scotch-Irish, Welsh, and Germans from Pennsylvania into Virginia began about 1730.

Augusta County became the haven for Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. While Augusta County was officially formed from Orange County in 1738, it wasn't until 1745 that the first court was held. We are fortunate to have these early court records transcribed in Lyman Chalkley's "Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, 1745-1800." If you are new to searching Augusta County, Chalkley is the place to start.

NOVEMBER 15, 1752

(361) Samuel Givins, Robert Patrick, to view, and Ro. Patrick, Wm. Hines, John Hawes, Joseph Bell, Wm. Bell, Wm. Finla, Archd. Stewart, Richd. Pilson, Wm. Johnston, Ro. Wilson, John Hind, Geo. Skilleron, Hugh Ross, Andr. Baskin, John Givins, Saml. Henderson, John Ramsey, Alexr. Henderson, Saml. Henderson, Nathl Woodroof, David Logan and George Duglass, clear and keep in repair, a road from James Givin's Mill to the road over Wood's New Gap at foot of mountain.  (361) James Simpson and Michael Stump, overseers, with Jeremiah Osburn, Geo. Osburn, Mones Alkier, Heorndkis Corlock, John, Jacob and Wm. Westfall, Michael Stumph, Henry Harris, Henry Shipler, and Philip Moore--view and mark and keep in repair, on petition of inhabitants of the South Branch, a road from their wagon road up the So. Fork to Peter Reed's Mill.

CHRONICLES OF THE SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLEMENT OF VIRGINIA; Vol 2, pp 250-259 by Lyman Chalkley  "Entries: 13th January, 1766, by Nathl. Woodroof, 400 acres on Buffalo River adjoining James Freeland. "

Nathaniel then moves with his family to Surry County, NC where he is joined with his Nephew Moses Woodruff of Westfield, NJ.  In his book, The Family of Moses Woodruff, pages 5 and 8, author Delwood Jackson states Moses' uncle, Nathaniel also settled in Surry Co., NC and then moved on to Spartenburg, SC.   Nathaniel Sr. had 4 sons, Nathaniel Jr., Thomas, Joseph and Samuel.

In Surry Co., NC, tax list, 1771, with sons Nathaniel, Jr., and Thomas, according to Phifer, "Upstate Ancestors," p.4. (Both boys needed to be heads of household over 18 yrs of age)

1786 taxable, Atkins District, Surry Co., NC lists a Samuel Woodruff and a Nathaniel Woodruff Jr., each owning 300 acres in Surry Co., NC

Surry Co., NC deeds, 7 April 1786; from Nathaniel Woodrough Sr. to Samuel Woodrough, for love for son Samuel.

Surry was formed in 1771 from Rowan. The act became effective April 1, 1771. It was named in honor of the county of Surrey in England, birthplace of then Governor William Tryon. It is in the north central section of the State and is bounded by the state of Virginia and Stokes, Yadkin, Wilkes and Allegheny counties.

At some point, Nathaniel moved from Surry County, NC to Spartanburg County, South Carolina.  Nathaniel was in SC by 1790 as he shows up in the census below.  There is a small town in Spartanburg named "Woodruff" named after Thomas Woodruff, which was either Nathaniel's nephew or his grandson, I'm not sure of the relationship yet.  I hope to visit it someday.  Nathaniel, Sr. is listed in the Surry county, NC Tax List in 1784-87, so sometime between 1787 and 1790 they moved to South Carolina.  There was a Nathaniel Woodruff in the Revolutionary War, I'm not sure if it's senior or junior, and I need to study the dates.

The Compiler feels that the Nathaniel Woodroof who was living in Augusta Co in 1751 was probably another son of David who died 1760 in Albemarle, tho he is not mentioned in the administrator's account of the estate. In the county court of Augusta on 30 Nov, 1751 Nathaniel appeared as a witness (Records of Augusta County, Virginia 1745-1800, Chalkley, Vol 1 p 49). He had to be of age to be a witness, hence was born by 1730 and from the fact that he was designated as Nathaniel Woodroof, Sr. in 1768 his birth date might be a decade earlier.

In 1752 he was named along with other residents of Augusta who were "to clear and keep in repair a road from James Givins Mill to the road over Wood's New Gap at foot of mountain". By 1765, he had removed to Amherst, an adjoining Co and for 40 pounds current money purchased of Neil Campbell of Albemarle and Valentine Ball and Susannah his wife of Amherst 270 acres lying on the south side and adjoining Tye River, being the upper part of a tract belonging to said Campbell and Ball (Amherst County Deed book B p 82 ) The next year he entered patent for 400 acres on Buffalo River adjoining James Freeland (Records of Augusta Co Vir Vol 2 p 255).

In 1768, Nathaniel, now called Nathaniel, Sr. gave a deed of trust on this land to George Kipper and Company, Merchants of Glasgow to secure a debt of 30 lbs. current money. (Amherst Co Deed Book B p 300.). This debt must have been satisfied or some agreement reached, as a few months later, Nathaniel Woodroof, Sr. and Hannah his wife conveyed the land to John Webb. (Id p 376) Presumably this land sale was preparatory to move.

Presumably also the following items refer to Nathaniel, Jr.: Id Order Book 1773-82 p 326, Nathaniel Woodroof is one of those ordered to work under Richard Alcock "to keep in repair the road of which he is surveyor": Id Deed Book F, p ? 20 Dec, 1784, Nathaniel Woodroof and Susannah his wife of Surry Co, North Carolina conveyed to William Meredith of Amherst Co 100 acres adjoining William Spencer on the road from Floyd's Ferry to New Glasgow. No further data have been found.

New data: May 1, 1990 Nathaniel Woodruff b. 1725 NJ?, d. SC, lived in Surry Co. NC. Book "Tennessee Cousins" by Worth S. Tickley, copy righted 1950, Author of "The lost Tribes of North Carolina".

Per letter to William Lindsey from Delwood Jackson: "The Woodruffs moved from Surry Co, to Spartanburg Co, after the Revolutionary War. Nathaniel Woodruff was listed in the 1786 Surry Co state census with one male 21-60 (Nathaniel) and 6 males-21-60+ (6 sons), and 3 females (1 wife, 2 daughters). Thomas Woodrought had 4 sons and 2 daughters."

Fact 1: 1771, Tax lists of NC/Nathaniel, Sr., Jr. and Thomas

Note: (Research):7 Apr 1786 bet. NATHANIEL WOOROUGH, senr. and SAMUEL WOODROUGH...for love I bear my son, SAMUEL and 10 pds...100 ac whereon I now live on Yadkin Rover across fence in NATHANIEL WOODROUGHS Plantation...adj land now in possession of JOHN ALLEN...

ISAAC X HEAD
ABNER GREENWOOD
NATHANIEL G "G?"
-----------------------------------------
5 Feb 1788 NATHANIEL WOODRUFF to WILLIAM COOK 200 ac S side Yadkin River below JOSEPH WOODRUFF (now JOHN ALLEN)
signed
WILLIAM MEREDITH
DAVID RIGGS
JABEZ HARVIS
s/NATHANIEL WOODRUFF

Note:  Greenville Co., VA Land Record:
647  25 July 1788 CGB 18 p160-16  Nathaniel Woodroof 222a on E side Beaver Pond Creek
 

 
Migrations into Spartanburg Co.
By Frank Scott

In searching for the origins of your Spartanburg County ancestors, a general idea of the migration patterns into the county could give you the clue as to where to look. The very earliest of the settlers, of whom we know very little, came when the land was still controlled by the Cherokee Indians. Mostly they were either traders or roughed frontiersmen. It is doubtful that they stayed very long in anyone place given their own natures and their business.

The second group to come to Spartanburg County came after the land was secured from the Indians between 1765 and 1770. A third group came after the American Revolution. There were others who came to the area either as individuals or in small groups in between these two major migrations or shortly afterwards. By 1810 the county was completely settled and the phrase "bordered by vacant land" is not found in the deeds.

The earliest groups of settlers in Spartanburg County were able-bodied pioneers who moved inland from Charleston. Indian traders, such as John Parris, followed the edge of the mountains from Virginia to Carolina. Of these earliest people there are few families that have survived in the county until the present. Mostly we are familiar with them since a number of streams and place names bear witness to their having lived here. Ferguson Creek, Lawson's Fork, Tyger River, Motlow, Ben's Creek (Paris Mountain in Greenville County) are among those streams and places that bear the names of the earliest settlers.

Although the land in Spartanburg County was not settled by the Cherokee and used as a buffer between them and the Catawbas, it was still their land. There were times when they did not take kindly to the intrusions of the white settlers and retaliated. The Hammond, Hampton and, later, Bishop massacres acted to deter further encroachment.

After the French and Indian War, the Snow Campaign and a treaty that ceded the Cherokee's claim to Spartanburg County, the area was finally opened to permanent settlement. It was at this time between 1765 and 1770 that thousands of pioneers moved along the "Big Road" into the county. When you travel I -85 from Charlotte to Atlanta you are parallel to this ancient Indian trail. The trail ran from the coast of southern VA into what is now the Greensboro area, skirting that town much as the Interstate does today, and making a straight line to present day Charlotte. From there it cuts diagonally across the up-state crossing Cherokee County, the Pacolett River, Lawson's fork, Spartanburg County and on to Greenville and Atlanta. By the time the first white settlers came into Spartanburg County, SC, the road was wide enough for two wagons to pass.

With the opening of the Cherokee lands, the Rhodes, Bobos, and Woffords came down a trail that followed the same general route as US 20 through VA from Orange Co., VA to Orange Co., NC which was just north of present day Greensboro. It was from there that they took the "big road" on their migration into Spartanburg County, South Carolina J. B. O. LANDRUM in his History of Spartanburg County stated that the first flood of migrants to the area were from Pennsylvania and Virginia, mostly from Virginia. Basically, the families from Pennsylvania that came were Presbyterians. They settled and built Shiloh Presbyterian Church near old Fort Prince on Fairforest Creek west of the present-day city of Spartanburg near the small town of Duncan.

The Moores, Bomers, Andersons, Montgomeries, etc. were the families that settled in that area. Dr. George Howe in The Scotch Irish and their First Settlement on the Tyger River gives information on these Presbyterian settlers. Rev. J.D. Bailey in his History of Grindal Shoals gives information of those families that settled along the Pacolett River -- Clark, Fowler, Hampton, Henderson, Littlejohn, Kuckolls, Potter, Wood and others.

On the land grant maps prepared by the Union County Historical Society (A copy of these maps is in the Gaffney Library, Gaffney, SC) the size and dates of the grants that were given during this time can be found. These early grants were given by the British Colonial Governor and, usually, for service or supplies during the French and Indian War. Several of the families that come to Spartanburg Country during this time were "relatives, friends and neighbors" and had been for several generations.

The Rhodes, Grizzel, Couch, Barbee and Nichols families started the journey from Middlesex Co., VA. They moved to Orange Co., VA, where the Bobo family, who had moved from Maryland to eastern Virginia, joined them and the Wofford family that had left Prince George's Co., MD. These families moved from there to Orange Co., NC, and in 1765 when Spartanburg County, SC, was opened for settlement they migrated to land granted to them on Two Mile Creek and the Enoree River. These families left people along the way. There are many marriages among these families and with other families from each of the areas where they settled. Some of them moved on from South Carolina into Georgia at this time and later. To illustrate how much these families intermarried; there is one child in Georgia who was named -- Wofford Bobo Rhodes. It would appear that in tracing other families who settled in this same area at this time, the most logical places to look would be along this same route.

In covering the origins of settlers in this lower part of Spartanburg County before the Revolution the following are known or suspected of being from Orange, Culpeper or neighboring counties in Virginia:

Roebuck (Orange, Madison); Reynolds (Culpeper, Orange, Halifax, Co., NC) Casey (Randolph Casey was born in Virginia); McIhenney; (Orange); Salmon (Culpeper, Orange); and Willis (Orange, Madison).

Again in the mid-1700's, the Quakers in Pennsylvania had started to migrate into other areas of the country for reasons similar to their Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist neighbors. A major Quaker settlement was at New Garden, NC, in Guilford, County. This village still exists as part of Greensboro, NC, and is home of the Quaker's Guilford College.

As mentioned the Indian trail led into South Carolina from this area. The largest community in upstate South Carolina was Bush River Meeting in Newberry Co., SC. Among these early settlers were those that formed the Tyger River Meeting in Spartanburg County and Padgette's Creek Meeting just over the county line in Union Co., SC. The Friends left by 1810 because of their disagreement with slavery in the South. Most of them moved to Miami of Ohio. Their records are listed in William Wade Henshaw's book, The Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, which gives information on these families. Another source of information that contains information from Henshaw was edited by Rev S. Emmett Lucas called Quakers in South Carolina. Some of the Quakers had changed their religion in order to fight against the King in the Revolution. Most of these patriots remained in South Carolina.

These families along with their meeting houses were invariably taken over by the Baptist. Just as the Quakers had migrated to the area with other Friends, most of these families migrated to Spartanburg County with relatives, friends and neighbors. Among the families that are mentioned as being Quakers were the following: Addinton, Ballinger, Battin, Bridges, Brown, Brooks, Cammack, Chandler, Chapman, Cook, Coppock, Cooper, Cox, Duncan, Edmundson, Elleman, Elmore, Embree, Evans, Fincher, Floyd, Furnace, Gaunt, Gilbert, Haskins, Hawkins, Haworth, Henderson, Herbert, Hollinsworth, Hunt, Insom, Jay, Jenkins, Jones, Kelly, Lamb, McCool, Merrick, Miles, Milhouse, Minton, Moore, Neal, Nelson, Nilson, O'Neal, Parnel, Pearson, Pemberton, Pugh, Randel, Ruble, Russell, Spray, Smith, Stedman, Stiddon, Taylor, Thomas, Thompson, Thornton, Wilson and Wright.

Of the soldiers listed with Col. Roebuck in the Spartan Regiment that appear to have known Quaker names are the following: Brooks, Brown, Chandler, Duncan, Floyd, Fountain, Henderson, Jones, Isom, Miles, Pearson, Randel. Taylor, Thomas, and Thompson.

Among these families the given names tend to be Old Testament for the men, including Enoch, Jeremiah, Abraham, Isaac, etc., and for the women -- Elizabeth, Susan and Sarah. The following families in Spartanburg County were probably descended from the Quakers at either Tyger River or Padgette's Creek: Coppock, James Wofford married Kathy Coppock; Cox; Duncan; Embree; Fincher; Floyd is proven a Quaker family; Hunt; Kelly; Lamb; McCool; Miles, Pearson; and one set of Wrights.

There were a few families that came directly from Europe to Spartanburg Co. and settled in the Tyger River area. Francis and Edmond Ward, younger sons of Sir Francis Ward of Ireland, came directly to this area. Francis married Tame Doe who was the sister of Chief Oconostota. After he was banished from the Cherokee Nation, he married another Ward, assumedly the widow of his brother, Edmund. Nancy Ward, the daughter of Francis and Tame Doe married Lt. Bryant Ward, nephew of Francis Ward. Nancy and Francis both owned property along the Tyger River in Spartanburg County. Samuel Cathcart (var. Kithcart), Alexander and Annie McRoro Alexander, Isaac Crow were other Irish settlers on the Tyger River.

Another minor migration group of which there are a few families that settled along the Enoree River was of Huguenot descent. These families probably came from the Charleston or the Abbeville area and not directly from France. The Buice, Burdette, DeShield are families with Huguenot ancestry. The Ballew (var. Belue, Bellew, etc.) was another Huguenot family started by Rene Balleau who settled in what is present day Cherokee Co., SC.

After the American Revolution there was an even greater influx of families into Spartanburg County. The following families are listed in the Overwharton Parish records, which have been published by George King, these families migrated from Stafford Co., VA, to settle along the Pacolett River or in the vicinity of present-day Gaffney, Cherokee Co., South Carolina: Cannon, Cartee, McCarthy, Dunaway, Earle, Farrow, Gowing (var. Goin, Going) Hammett, Oliver, Shumate, and Suddeth. The Garretts in Laurens Co., SC, were also from Stafford Co., VA. Other families in Stafford Co., that may have Spartanburg County relationships are: Abbott, Allen, Atchinson, Barbee, Berry, Bell, Bridwell, Cash, Cooper, Davis, Davidson, Edwards, Foster, Forrester, Latham, Lunsford, Mathney, Mays, Mountjoy, Murphey, Norman, Patten, Patterson, Phillips, Robinson, Smith, Tolson, Turner, Waters, Wells, Weathers and Withers. This does not mean that a family with one of these sir names in Spartanburg County, SC, necessarily came from Stafford Co., VA. It does mean that if one of these families originally lived along the Pacolett River in Spartanburg County and had one these sir names the most likely place to look for their Virginia origin would be in Stafford County.

The same holds true for the settlers at this time on the South Tyger River. Most of the settlers were from Culpeper County that lived in this area. A great number of them had been converted to the Baptist faith through the influence of Rev. William Mason who was born in Stafford Co., VA, but pastored Mt. Poney Baptist Church in Culpeper County. For the most part they came straight into Spartanburg County, unlike the others who had settled in North Carolina first and then migrated into the county. Two of these were Broderick Mason and Vincent Tapp who appear in the 1790 census. Also, listed in the 1790 census is John Mason. John Mason was the first cousin to Broderick's father and was from Stafford Co., VA.

Later James Mason moves to the Tyger River area near his brother Broderick. Francis Mason who was also their brother settled on the Pacolett River with his grandmother and her relatives who were the Cannons and Hammetts from Stafford Co., VA. Sarah Hammett married Christopher Broderick who died within months of their marriage. Within months of his death she married John Cannon. The Cannons and Hammetts moved to the area with other relatives, friends and neighbors from Stafford County. Francis Mason married his cousin Eleanor Hammett and chose to settle with this group although his parents were from Culpeper County. Although Vincent Tapp left Spartanburg County and returned to Culpeper, his son, Moses, and his daughters and their husbands moved into the area. James Mason married Susannah Tapp. Young Scott married Sarah Tapp, and Elias Corder married Ann Tapp.

The 1790 census of Spartanburg County was done in sections. At the beginning of each of these sections, a census Captain is listed. If you can determine the area in which the census taker lived, you can usually conclude the section of the county where the person listed lived and generally who his neighbors, friends and relatives were. From the land records, you can usually determine approximate year of residence. Another consideration that has surfaced in this material is to which denomination and church the person was affiliated. People who settled in a certain area did tend to go to the same church. A large number of those people living in the Cross Anchor section of the county were Methodist and attended Trinity Methodist. The membership there was DeShields, Casey, Rhodes, Farrow, Poole, etc. Those settling around Old Bethel were Baptist and included Woodruff, Pilgrim, Drummond, Brewton, etc. many of whom came to Spartanburg County from central North Carolina.

Shiloh and Old Unity have already been mentioned. For information on Baptist records, those records are held at the Baptist Archives at Furman University at Greenville, SC. Methodist records are held at Wofford College at Spartanburg, SC, and the Presbyterian Records are at Presbyterian College at Clinton, SC. Just as many of the members of Old Unity were converts of Rev William Mason in Culpeper and came to South Carolina together with other relatives, friends and neighbors, the other denominations may have similar migrations.

The two major migrations into the county came down "the big road" from Virginia into North Carolina and then into South Carolina. This ancient Indian trail is on the earliest colonial maps as being well established in the 1600's. Those settlers from the western part of Virginia came down a trail that roughly follows US 20 through Charlottesville and then into North Carolina above the present town of Greensboro. Those migrants from Pennsylvania and Maryland and the eastern counties in Virginia followed a trail that ran through Henrico, Goochland, and Amelia into North Carolina east of Greensboro where they also took the "big road" into Spartanburg County. There were Huguenots that came from Charleston, as well as, immigrants from Ireland and England who landed there and moved inland. There were Quakers who came from Bucks and Westchester Cos., Pennsylvania who came to Guilford, NC and then into South Carolina. For the most part, as J. B. O. LANDRUM stated, most of these settlers came from Virginia.

From the History of Spartanburg County - The Woodruff Family

Thomas Woodruff, son of Joseph and Annie (Linsey) Woodruff, came to Spartanburg District from the Yadkin Valley, N. C., after the Revolution.  He married Mary Patillo Harrison, a daughter of Dr. Richard Harrison, one of the early county judges for Spartanburg.  His children were Harrison Patillo, Charles Pinckney, Richard, James Monroe, Andrew Barry, Martha Mariah, Julia Ann, and two children died in infancy.

Of these children, Harrison P. Woodruff married Sarah McHugh; Dr. Charles P. Woodruff married Eliza Julia Ann Todd; Rev Richard Woodruff married Elizabeth J. Foster; James M. Woodruff married a Miss Lockhart; Captain A. B. Woodruff married Miss Louisa Todd, sister to the wife of Dr. Woodruff; Martha Maria Woodruff married Stephen Griffith, father of Professor H. P. Griffith of Limestone College, and Julia Ann married Dr. Benjamin Wofford.

These families have always occupied positions of the highest respectability and have ranked among the foremost in the communities in which they lived.  The present town of Woodruff, S. C., takes it's name from Thomas Woodruff, the first settler at that place, and has become one of the most flourishing inland towns in upper South Carolina and has a bright future before it.

Among the prominent Citizens and physicians of this town was Dr. Charles P. Woodruff, well known to many of the older citizens of Spartanburg county.  he was born at Woodruff February 8th, 1808, and died April 27th, 1887 in his eightieth year.  He graduated at the Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1831.  He had an extensive scope of practice, and was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and influence among the people of his neighborhood.  He was a member of the Bethel Baptist church and led a consistent Christian life.

Rev Richard Woodruff was ordained a minister of the gospel in early life and devoted the remainder of his life to the advancement of the Savior's kingdom.  He supplied during his ministry, covering a period of about fifty years, a number of churches in Spartanburg county, and expounded the word with zeal and correctness.  During the civil war he served in defense of his country and acted for a time as chaplain of the Fifth Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers.

Throughout his entire ministerial career he retained many peculiarities of an eventful life.  He was a man of warm heart and deep, earnest piety, and says another:  "But for constitutional eccentricities of disposition would have been a widely useful man."  His grandmother, the wife of Dr. Richard Harrison, became a widow and subsequently married Captain Thomas Farrow, a soldier of the Revolution.  His wife was a sister to Dr. Iry Foster, an eminent physician who removed from Spartanburg district to Alabama, many years before the outbreak of the Civil war, and who participated in the Florida war and was wounded.

Captain A. B. Woodruff

Captain Andrew Barry Woodruff was born at Woodruff, S. C., February 25th, 1825.  His educational advantages were limited.  One of his instructors was Wm. Jones, who taught about one mile east of Woodruff.  He also attended for a time the school of his sister Martha, and then that of her future husband, Stephen Griffith.  His parents, considering him too delicate to go to school or work on the farm, secured a situation for him in a store as clerk, of which his brother, Dr. Woodruff, was a partner.  He remained with this firm for several years during which time he married Miss Maria Todd, a lady of intelligence and refinement, who was a daughter of Dr. John and Mrs. Eliza J. Todd, of Laurens County, S. C.

In 1842 he connected himself with Bethel (Baptist) Church and was some years afterwards ordained as one of its deacons and has held every office in the church, being clerk of the same for thirty-two years.  He has been nearly always a delegate from his church to the Old Tyger River and Spartanburg Associations, and was for a long number of years the clerk of these bodies, having succeeded C. J. Elford as clerk of the Tyger River immediately after the close of the civil war.  He was also for several years assistant clerk of the State (S. C.) Baptist Convention. He was postmaster and a magistrate at Woodruff before the civil war.  These offices would have exempted him from any service in the army, perhaps, during the entire war; but in January, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Holcombe Legion, and upon the reorganization of said company in May of the same year he was elected its captain and held this office to the end of the war.  During this time he was in twelve different engagements, according to his estimate, and wounded at the Second Manassas battle.  At the battle of Five Forks, VA., his company formed a part of a detachment under General W. H. Wallace, which was overwhelmed by a Federal flank movement and was captured.  He with other Confederate officers, was taken to Johnson's Island, in Lake Erie.  He states that this was a great grief to him as he loved the battle and was willing at any time to risk the danger of losing his life.

In the absence of the field-officers of the Holcombe Legion, he was for a considerable time in command of that regiment, and by General Bushrod Johnson, who commanded the division to which the Holcombe Legion belonged, he was tendered the position of major of his regiment, but for honorable reasons he declined it.  Major Zeigler, who held the commission of major of the Holcombe Legion, had been captured and was held as a hostage by the enemy, being in close confinement.  He and Captain Woodruff were close friends, and the latter, out of tender sympathy for his suffering and painful suspense, refused to be promoted over him.

Captain Woodruff, after his return home from imprisonment, accepted the situation and went to work in earnest to bring about a peaceful restoration of the chaotic conditions which confronted him.  Under the then existing dominant party controlling the affairs of the State of South Carolina he was elected as a Democrat to the State Legislature in 1865 and in 1868.  While a member of this body he introduced a bill, which passed, forbidding the sale of intoxicating liquors, either with or without license, within three miles of churches and schoolhouses outside of municipalities, which law has never been changed.  He was again elected to the State Legislature in 1874 and served for one term.  He held also, for a number of years after the close of the civil war, the position of trial justice with efficiency and to the satisfaction of the people.

Captain Woodruff, however, has rendered inestimable service to his church and denomination, not only in the conventions and associations, but also as a trustee of Cooper Limestone Institute and Furan University.

For a long number of years he presided as superintendent over a large Sunday school in his church, and was at one time secretary of the State Sunday school convention.  Says another of him:  "Wherever in our county and State to be made, there we may expect to find A. B. Woodruff.  Quiet, self-sacrificing, patient, hopeful, earnest, he toils on, sustained by a loft faith and cheered by the approval of an enlightened conscience."

Nathaniel Woodruff, Sr. married (Hannah unknown?) and had the following children:

Generation Twelve

Nathaniel Woodruff, JR. was born circa 1753 in North Carolina.  He first married unknown.  He died 1822 in Hopkins Co., KY. Does anyone know of the other children or pointers towards a spouse?  Sometime between 1810/20 Nathaniel and his son Samuel Below migrated from SC to Hopkins County, KY.  In the 1820 Hopkins County, KY Census, there are a John, Joseph and David Woodruff as well.  These could be Samuel's uncles or brothers.

24 OCT 1782 NC Grant to NATHANIEL WOODRUFF... 200 ac S side Yakin River below JOSEPH WOODRUFFS field..
----------------------
7 Apr 1786 bet. NATHANIEL WOOROUGH, senr. and SAMUEL WOODROUGH...for love I bear my son, SAMUEL and 10 pds...100 ac whereon I now live on Yadkin Rover across fence in NATHANIEL WOODROUGHS Plantation...adj land now in possession of JOHN ALLEN...

ISAAC X HEAD
ABNER GREENWOOD
NATHANIEL G "G?"
-------------------------------------------
NATHANIEL WOODRUFF enters 200 acres of land in Surry Co. on the HAW BRANCH the waters of the N fork of DEEP CREEK - Sep 45, 1778. Warrant granted to JOS. WOODRUFF.
 

Pinckney District Chapter, SC, Genealogical Society Newsletter, vol. 10, no. 2 (March 1986), by Dorothy Phifer, pp. 3-4: "The first Federal census in 1790 recorded six Woodruff families living in S.C., all in Spartanburgh County, a portion of Old 96 District which had been sub-divided only 5 years earlier. The group settled in the southern tip of the county between the Enoree and South Tyger Rivers near the town that now bears their name.  "Most had come to South Carolina from Surry County, North Carolina.  Nathaniel Sen. and his sons Nathaniel Jr. and Thomas were on the N.C. tax lists in 1771. By 1777 Moses and Joseph Woodruff appeared in the Surry County tax records. It is known that Moses and his family came from Cranford, N.J., in Essex County. He married there and the baptism of his oldest seven children is recorded there in Westfield Presbyterian Church records. Since the families settled close to each other, witnessed legal papers for each other, inter-married, and frequently used the same given names for their children, it is assumed that they were all related.

"Moses had an uncle in New Jersey named Nathaniel who disappeared from the N.J. records after his father's death in 1741, at which time he was 21. This man would be the right age to be the Nathaniel who appeared in N.C. 30 years later with grown sons. He could have settled in Pennsylvania and/or Virginia during the interim and moved further South to escape Indian skirmishes occurring during this period or to settle new lands with his maturing sons as new treaties with the Indians made them available. Augusta County, VA, court records for Jan 1766 show a Nathaniel Woodruff purchased land on Buffalo River in the Shenandoah Valley. Moses' daughter Jennet married Nathaniel's son Samuel, said to be her cousin. In 1786 Nathaniel was exempted from all future poll tax in N.C., an indication of his age. Moses' uncle would have been 66 years old that year.

"One of Joseph's descendants claims that he, also, was a son of Nathaniel.  He settled on land next to the old couple, whose children by this time were all grown and no longer living at home. Joseph's family remained in the Spartanburg area and has been prominent in local histories. John Woodruff and the younger Samuel appear with this group for the first time in the 1790 census. John remained through 1820 and possibly died here. Samuel appears in census records here through 1810. He was probably John's son, but the writer has not researched these individuals and cannot say.

"This family was closely associated with The Church of Christ on Jamey's Creek, which later became Bethel Baptist Church and eventually the First Baptist Church of Woodruff. They appear on the early church rolls and many of them are buried in the old Bethel Cemetery there.

"Second generation:
"Joseph Woodruff b. ca. 1755 . . .
"Samuel Woodruff b. 23 Dec 1763 . . .
"Thomas Woodruff b. between 1741 and 1755 . . .
"Nathaniel Woodruff Jr. . . .
"Both Nathaniel's disappeared from S.C. census records in 1800. Nathaniel Sen. probably died, though no probate records have been located. Nathaniel Jr. probably migrated elsewhere."

The John Woodruff you mentioned is on the 1820 Census in Hopkins County, Kentucky and died before the 1830 Census. He does not appear on the SC Census after 1810.

John's son, James, moved to Wayne County, Kentucky before 1810 and paid the land taxes for his mother-in-law, Margaret Dunsmore (Dinsmore) beginning in 1811. James died and his family moved to Alabama with the Lindsey's and Dinsmore's. They are found in Lawrence Co. Alabama on the 1830 Census. This is my Woodruff line.

Dan Woodruff
 

Generation Thirteen

Samuel Nathaniel WOODRUFF  was born circa 1766 in North Carolina.  Samuel  died in Hopkins County, Kentucky in 1845, he was 79. Sometime before 1789 when Samuel Nathaniel was around 23, he first married Mary DINSMORE, in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.  

I can not find any Woodruff's in the 1810 Hopkins County Kentucky Census.

In the 1820 Hopkins County Census, there is a Samuel (our line), and a John, Joseph and a David, and they are all living near each other. 

In Samuel's house are 1 Male under 10, 2 Males 10-16, 1 Male (16-18), 1 Male 16-26), (2 Males 45 up), (2 Females Under 10), (1 Female 26-45), (1 Female 45 up).  

I believe that one of the males 45 and up is our Samuel Nathaniel Woodruff.  Who is the other, did his father come with him?  In the 1800 Spartanburg SC Census there is an older couple living with him, and it's been speculated it's his in-laws, and it looks like they could have come with Samuel to Kentucky as well.

In the 1830 Hopkins County Census Samuel Woodruff is listed with (1 Male under 5), (1 Male 15-20), (1 Male 20-30, (1 Male 60-70, our Samuel who came from South Carolina).

Samuel Nathaniel WOODRUFF
Birth: 1766 in NC
Note: m 1st Mary Dinsmore
m 2nd Sarah Hand

1790 Spartanburg Co., SC Census:
086 1 77 WOODROUGH Samuel 1 1 1 0 0
1 male >16, 1 boy<16, 1 female

1800 Census Spartanburg Co., Census
W361 WOODRUFF Samuel 186 41111-21001-03
4 boys<10, 1 boy>10, 1 boy<16, 1 man>16, 1 man>26, 1 man>45
2 girls<10, 1 girl>10, 1 woman>45
Living with parents? or in-laws?

* Not listed in the Spartanburg 1810 Census, moved to KY where he died in 1844 in Hopkins Co., KY

After 1805 when Samuel Nathaniel Woodruff was around 39, he second married Sarah Hand, daughter of Robert Hand of Laurens District, South Carolina.  See the document in this paragraph, graciously provided by my cousin Gary Woodruff, Ph. D. and descendant of William Rogers Woodruff, brother to my maternal great great grandmother, Francis Elvira Woodruff. This marriage probably took place in South Carolina as at least Robert was born there. 

From the Hopkins County Tuckaways:

Joseph Woodruff, born c. 1791 in south Carolina (probably Spartanburg) and Mary Woodruff, born c. 1792, also in South Carolina migrated to Hopkins County between 1810 and 1816, when Joseph first appears on the county tax list.  Joseph's parentage is uncertain, but he is believed to be the Joseph named in the will of Samuel Woodruff in Spartanburg.  His mother was also a Woodruff by birth, Jennett. 

Joseph's wife, Mary, was a cousin, she being the daughter of Samuel Nathaniel (brother to Joseph) and Mary (Dinsmore) Woodruff.  Joseph and Mary most likely married in South Carolina about 1810 and headed west with a couple of young children.

Mary died after the 1850 census and before spring 1852 when Joseph married (2) Lucinda Duncan, widow of William.  William and Lucinda were probably the parents of Mahala Duncan, second wife of Hampton Brasher, noted below.

Joseph is found in each census from 1820-1860, and it is likely that he died between 1860-70, given his date of birth.  No cemetery record can be found for Joseph or his wife, Mary.  He left no will and I have been unable to find any probate record for him.  Yet according to the census, he and Mary had 14 children born between 1810 and 1840.  Tanglewood Chronicles, a family history found in the Tuckaways collection names Nathaniel S. as the only proven son, but does not give the proof.

A Biographical Souvenir of Texas, one of the 1800's books where subscribers paid to have their biographies published, contains one from Joseph Addison Brasher who states that he is the son of Hampton Brasher of Christian County and Altezara Jane Woodruff, daughter of Joseph Woodruff of Hopkins County.  The county clerk has a listing of their marriage.  Third, Nathaniel S. Woodruff shows Benjamin Strange, age 13, living with his family in the 1850 census.  A John Strange married Nancy Woodruff in Hopkins County in 1834, so it would appear that Nancy Woodruff Strange was a daughter of Joseph and died before 1850.

All of Joseph and Mary's children were out on their own by the 1850 census.  Living with them at that time were Alexander Miller, 22, and three Herrin (? Census hard to read) minor children, Mary I., 19, William R., 18 and Elizabeth, 16.  Perhaps one of the oldest daughters married a man named Herrin and died before this census.

Yet, Joseph and Mary had nine daughters and fives sons.  Who were the other children?  In the county marriage records, Woodruff women include Susannah who married William Armstrong in 1843, Dicy who married Israel Davis in 1836, Mildred who m. John Esell in 1841, and Nancy who m. Thomas Robinson in 1833.

Woodruff males who married in the late 1820s-1840 are Charles who married Cynthia Davis in 1846, Hiram who married Eliza Fox in 1829, Levi who married Elizabeth Laffoon in 1833, Robert who married Sarah Davis in 1829 and lastly, William who married Rosannah Davis in 1840.  Some of these people must be children of Joseph and Mary Woodruff.

John W. Woodruff who died in Hopkins County in 1864, was the brother of Mary Woodruff.  He left a will directly naming sons Benjamin B. and W. W. Woodruff, along with daughter N. E. T. Woodruff.  He also named grandchildren, but referred to most of them by initials _ John J. David, Levi Zirth?, Wiles B. Missiniah ?, L., E. C., L. M.,?,, J. P. D., D. Y., J. B., E. W., S. A., P. F., Theodocia M. and Victoria J. Woodruff.  If he had any daughters besides N. E. T., they either married Woodruffs, died young, or were left completely out of the will.  The grandchildren were named by groups so it appears that John had several sons who predeceased him.

John W. and Francis (was he the John who m. fanny Davis in Hopkins county in 1818? are buried in the Woodruff Cemetery on what was known as the Hoffman farm in 1966.  Also there is N. E. T. Gibson (N. E. T. Woodruff in Jon's will?), Davis D. Woodruff, H. P. Woodruff, and Mary A., wife of B. B. Woodruff.

If Joseph's fourteen children all lived to maturity and had children, there could be a great many descendants around today.

Samuel Nathaniel Woodruff and Mary Dinsmore had the following children:

i.	David Woodruff - 1789-1841 David's tombstone on left in the Christian Privilege Cemetery in Hopkins county, KY.  In the photo on the right hand side you can barely make out 841, the latter part of his death year.  David was born in South Carolina.  Married Elizabeth Jones on 6, August 1814 in Hopkins County, KY.  Elizabeth was born in 1793 and died in 1869 in Hopkins Co., KY.  Children:  Dinsmore Woodruff, born 1815 (from 1900 Hopkins co. Census), married Mary E. Hutchins; William P. Woodruff, born about 1817, m. Rosannah Davis; Dicey Woodruff, born 1820, (Dicey married Israel Davis and they are buried at the Flat Creek Cemetery, her stone above right), Nancy Jane Woodruff, born 1832, m. William Cardwell. After David died, Elizabeth married William M. Davis, son of Richard Davis.  William died 4 Feb 1848 and on 20 December 1849, Elizabeth married Hezekiah Puryear.  After Mr. Puryear died in 1855, Elizabeth lived with her daughter Nancy Jane Cardwell.  Elizabeth died June 1, 1868 and was buried in the Grapevine Cemetery.  The grave marker gives her birth date as 11 September 1793.
	Regarding Israel Davis and Dicey Woodruff above by Virginia Couchot: Israel Davis, born 16 March 1814, is the one of Benjamin's children about whom I have the most information.  He and Dicy Woodruff were married in Hopkins County, 17 November 1836.  Dicy was the dau of Elizabeth Jones and David Woodruff, who moved to Hopkins County ca 1812, probably from South Carolina.  Israel appears in the Tax List of Hopkins in 1835 with 120 acres on Tradewater.  In 1838, he had 300 acres on Flat Creek.  In 1846 and 1847 Dicy and Israel were selling house and land in Hopkins, and in the 1850's we find them living in Caldwell county, in the town of Princeton.  Israel was frequently buying and selling land.  In March 1847, Israel was in debt, and many of his possessions were mortgaged.  There is a long list of the mortgaged items in Hopkins Deed Book 12-379, including beds, cooking utensils, guns, far tools, horses, and cows.  Also included in the mortgage was "his old Negro man James".  At some point, Israel and Dicy and family returned to Hopkins, where their home was near Mortons Gap.  In 1872 (Deed Book 32-356) Israel, for $1, deeded one-half acre to the Regular Baptist  Church of Flat Creek.  It is the cemetery at Flat Creek where Israel and Dicy Davis are buried.  As was generally the custom with the Davises, Israel did not leave a will when he died 3 April 1880. Te settlement of his estate was recorded in Deed Book 49-425, 26 June 1890.
ii.	Mary K. Woodruff - 1792-1853.  Born in South Carolina.  She married Joseph Woodruff, obviously a cousin in South Carolina.  Both were born in South Carolina.  Joseph was born in 1791 according to the 1850 Hopkins County, KY census.  Their children:  Rhoda Woodruff, m. James Herring; Nancy Woodruff; Emily Woodruff, m. Simpson T. Galloway; Mahala Jane Woodruff; Pickney Woodruff; Louvincy Woodruff; Susanna Woodruff; Nathaniel Samuel Woodruff, and Martha Woodruff.  After Mary died Joseph married second to Lucinda Duncan on 20 April 1852.
iii.	John Willis Woodruff - August 4, 1793-15 September 1864 (our line) - According to the 1850 Hopkins County Census, John Willis says he was born in South Carolina.  He married Francis (Fanny) Elvira Davis, January 22, 1818, she was born Mary 10, 1799 in KY. The story below was taken from his grandson's autobiography (John Isaiah David Woodruff, b.1-3-1852) and was graciously provided by my Cousin Charles Whalin, who is a descendant of John Isaiah David Woodruff and resides in Louisville, KY, about three hours from where our Woodruff's were located.  John Willis is living near Isaiah Crabtree in the 1840 Hopkins County Census.  John Willis' grandson Hiram will marry Isaiah's' daughter, Louincy Crabtree.  Benjamin Davis is not far away in the 1840 Census. The Following was taken verbatim from page 23 of the 1915 Autobiography of John Isaiah David Woodruff: (this story was generously provided by my cousin Charles Whalin who lives in Louisville KY, and is my third cousin, twice removed.) "On the night of September 11, 1864, the body of my grand-father John Woodruff, was pierced with thirteen bullets, by a band of about forty marauding gorillas. Amid the flash of one hundred and fifty, to two hundred shots, and hail of lead; he greeted their fire, with a salute from a flint-lock musket, that plunged eighteen buck-shot into one of their thieving bodies. Grand-father died from the effect of his wounds, four days later, and his wounded adversary two days after this. The remains of the dead bandit, were buried about the middle of the extreme southern part of Christian Privilege grave-yard.  The cause of this tragedy, was the attempted theft of grand-father's horses. The night was still and beautiful as quietude and a full moon could make it. About midnight, the clatter of horses feet called the attention of the family, to the supposed fact, that a company of cavalry, were passing by. The sound of hoofs having died away, behind the hill, and back of the horse lot, the family closed doors and resumed their slumbers. Having thus accomplished their ruse, two of them dismount, at foot of the hill, and while their comrades wait, they return on foot to effect the theft of horse flesh. Those two "gentlemen" found the barn door strongly barred and locked; however, they secured a rail each, and begin to pry it to pieces one splinter at a time. The noise of breaking timber, attracts the ear of Deal, (a faithful negro slave woman,) and she cautiously slipped into grandfather's room and whispered the warning that made two graves. Grand-father hastily donned his clothing, grabbed his gun, and after examining, to be sure that it is charged, he proceeds, against protest by grand-mother, to his doom. When in a few yards of the barn door he was confronted with two revolvers, and the stern command, to "halt! and drop that gun! grand-father leveled his gun and replied; "I'll drop what's in it, if you don't get off my premises at once."  This unexpected rejoinder seemed to unnerve them. After moving to a position which placed the barn between them and grand-father's musket, they yelled for the "captain!" This summons was answered at once by the clatter of horses hoofs and within a few seconds, one hundred and fifty, to two hundred shots had rained a torrent of lead, amid which grand-father sank to the ground, and one cowardly bandit fell from his horse." WILL PROBATED JAN 23, 1865. HEIRS SOLD 203 ACRES TO A NEW YORKER FOR $20 PER ACRE.
	William Woodruff
iv.	Jane, Jenny or Virginia Woodruff - 1800-1864; born South Carolina, married John E. Keyser on 14 July 1817, he was born circa 1796 in Virginia.  Children:  James Keyser; Mary Elizabeth Keyser and John Keyser.
v.	Hiram Woodruff -  January 12, 1803 in South Carolina, died in 1865 in Caldwell County, just over the line from Hopkins.  Hiram and his brother Robert married on the same day.  Hiram married Lydia Elizabeth Fox, July 16, 1829, daughter of Noah Fox and Cynthia Laffoon.  Hiram and family are buried in the Woodruff Family Cemetery in Caldwell County.  Below are pictures I took in August of 2015.

Samuel Nathaniel Woodruff second married Sarah Hand; it is unknown when or where they married. I do not know anything about these children, but I need to do research on them.

1	Robert Woodruff. b. 28 Aug 1808, SC, Sarah Hand's father was named Robert and who I'm sure he is named for.
2	Nancy Woodruff, born October 11, 1812
3	Levi Woodruff, born May 5, 1819, Hopkins
4	Mildred Woodruff, born March 25, 1819
5	Parthena Woodruff, born 1824, Hopkins
6	Sara E. Woodruff, born 1829
7	Annie Woodruff, died before 1814, first one buried in Christian Privilege Cemetery

 

From Yesterday's Tuckaway's published by the Hopkins County, KY Genealogical Society, 1990 Issue the following "puzzler" was submitted:

Joseph Woodruff, born c. 1791 in South Carolina (probably Spartanburg) and Mary Woodruff, born c. 1792, also in South Carolina, migrated to Hopkins County between 1810 and 1816, when Joseph first appears on the county tax list.  Joseph's parentage is uncertain, but he is believe to be the Joseph named in the will of Samuel Woodruff in Spartanburg.  His mother was also a Woodruff by birth, Jennett. 

Joseph's wife, Mary, was a cousin, she being the daughter of Samuel Nathaniel and Mary (Dinsmore) Woodruff.  Joseph and Mary most likely married in South Carolina about 1810 and headed west with a couple of young children.

Mary died after the 1850 census and before spring 1852 when Joseph married second to Lucinda Duncan, widow of William.

William and Lucinda were probably the parents of Mahala Duncan, second wife of Hampton Brasher, noted below.

Joseph is found in each census from 1820-1860, and it is likely that he died between 1860-1870, given his date of birth.  No cemetery record can be found for Joseph or his wife, Mary.  He left no will and I have been unable to find any probate record for him.  Yet according to the census, he and Mary had 14 children born between 1810 and 1840.

TANGLEWOOD CHRONICLES, a family history found in the TUCKAWAYS collection names Nathaniel S. as the only proven son, but does not give the proof.  A BIOGRAPHICAL SOUVENIR OF TEXAS, one of the 1800's books where subscribers paid to have their biographies published, contains one from Joseph Addison Brasher who states that he is the son of Hampton Brasher of Christian County and Alterzara Jane Woodruff, daughter of Joseph Woodruff of Hopkins County.  The county clerk has a listing of their marriage.  Third, Nathaniel S. Woodruff shows Benjamin Strange, age 13, living with his family in the 1850 census.  A John Strange married Nancy Woodruff in Hopkins County in 1834, so it would appear that Nancy Woodruff Strange was a daughter of Joseph and died before 1850.

All of Joseph and Mary's children were out on their own by the 1850 census.  Living with them at that time were Alexander Miller, 22, and three Herrin (? Census hard to read) minor children, Mary I. 19, William R., 18, and Elizabeth, 16.  Perhaps one of the oldest daughters married a man named Herrin and died before this census.

Yet, Joseph and Mary had nine daughters and five sons.  Who were the other children?  In the county marriage records, Woodruff women include Susannah, who married William Armstrong in 1843, Dicey who married Israel Davis in 1836, Mildred who married John Esell in 1841, and Nancy who married Thomas Robinson in 1833, Robert who married Sarah Davis in 1829 and lastly, William who married Rosannah Davis in 1840.  Some of these people must be children of Joseph and Mary Woodruff.

Interesting tid bit; while perusing Virginia records on another line; I found the following information:  Per Louisa County Virginia Orders, 1747-48, 1766 and 1772:

Thomas Willis:  Leg. brother Robert Willis; brother John Willis in Scotland; wife Martha; to George, the son of Robert Willis, attorney at law.  Exs., friends, John Woodrop, James Arthur, William Hodsden.  D.  December 6, 1750  R.  June 4, 1752.  Wit.  Samuel Wentworth, Joseph Baker, P. Billings, Edward ARcher.  Page 430.  I have often wondered at the name "Willis" in our Woodruff line, could the above be a clue?

Generation Fourteen

John Willis WOODRUFF.  Born on 4 Aug 1793 in South Carolina. John Willis died in Hopkins County, Kentucky on 15 Sep 1864, he was 71 (see the story on his death above).  On 22 Jan 1818 when John Willis was 24, he married Francis (Fanny) Elvira DAVIS.  She died in Hopkins County, Kentucky on 21 Sep 1870, she was 71. 

John Willis Woodruff who died in Hopkins county in 1864, was the brother of Mary Woodruff.  He left a will directly naming sons Benjamin B. and W. W. Woodruff, along with daughter N.E. T. Woodruff.  He also named grandchildren, but referred to most of them by initials _ John J. David, Levi, Zirth (?), Willes B., Missiniah (?) L., E. C., L. M. (?0, J. P. D., L. Y., J. B., E.W., S. A., P. F., Theodocia M. and Victoria J. Woodruff. 

If he had any daughters besides N. E. T., they either married Woodruffs, died young, or were left completely out of the will.  The grandchildren were named by groups so it appears that John had several sons who predeceased him.

From Hopkins County Records, Page 354, 9 June 1845 - Administration of the estate of William Dunchan, dec'd granted to Lucinda Duncan, widow and to Jefferson.  Sec. Benjamin Pritchett and Dinsmore Woodruff.  Appraisers John Malin, David Wright, Thompson Hamby and Alvis Viccers (Vickers).

John's will was probated in January of 1865, Children, N. E. T. Woodruff, W.W. Woodruff, Ben J B Woodruff, Grand Children; Sam York Woodruff, John D Woodruff, E. C. Woodruff, L. Y. Woodruff, Theodocia M. Woodruff, Victoria J. Woodruff, Executor:  Ben J B Woodruff, son, Larkin Campbell, Witness J. A. Ezell & N. Campbell

Frances Woodruff's will was probated on 8-1870,  Children; Ben J. Woodruff, W.W. Woodruff, Daughter, N. E. T. Gibson (Nancy Elizabeth Tolbert), Willis Woodruff, Grand son "E", Elizabeth C. Woodruff, granddaughter, John Woodruff, LMY Woodruff, Hyrum Woodruff, Mentioned, also Catherine Burton mentioned, witness:  James Yandell, Robert Woodruff.

 

			Will/Inventory David Woodruff

John Willis Woodruff – Will, Hopkins County, KY – September 15th 1864

I John Woodruff of the County and State above named know in the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death and being weak and feeble of body but of sound mind and ___________________ memory, do make & publish this my last will and testament in ____________ and ___________ as follows that is to say:

1^st:  I want all my just debts payed and my funeral expenses satisfied and al debts owing collected.

2^nd:  I bequeath my survey of land on which I now live _________ beloved wife and daughter N. E. T. Woodruff and my son Willis? Woodruff my wife to have the use of the farm during her life one _____ of ____________ and her old ________ mare and filly known as hers my daughter N. E. T. Woodruff to have a young bug? Horse which she has always claimed since he was a colt and as her right to _____________ one mule a gray mare one cow and calf and as _________ sheep? as she wants and ___________ hogs as will do for her use & want?  My wife to keep my negroe girl delcia as long as she may live and at the death of my beloved wife the negro girl to be deeded? To my daughter N. E. T. Woodruff to have the new waggin nearly finished at Carnies? Shop I want it finished and ________ off __________ for use and __________ my wife to keep it for the use of the farm.  I want her to keep my old waggin until she gits the new one and I ___________ sell it – I want my beloved wife to have and keep such house hold and kitchen? Furniture as she might want or stand in need of together with a sufficient amount of furniture to also _____ _______ ________ on the farm & I want my daughter N. E. T. Woodruff and my son W. W. Woodruff to have a cow and calf each.

3^rd:  I give and bequeath unto John __ __ and _______ Woodruff my grandsons all my land in the west side of ________  ___ of my father’s old survey and fifty acres in the south side of  _____ beginning at a black _______ corner of a survey I took _{______} a poplar? _____ and _____ to another corner of survey thence south for a _______________ to include fifty acres by running a ____________ to Levy Woodruff’s line.

4^th:  I give and bequeath unto my three grand children Willis B. ________ _______ and E. C. Woodruff a certain tract in ________ of land beginning at the south west corner of fifty acres to be _____ of on the south side of _______ _____ J. I. D. & Ly Woodruff my grandsons thence south with the original line to the corner thence west with the original line to the corner thence south with its original line to the butter milk road thence east to the head of the __________ branch running east and west on the north side of the Bob Right old field thence down said branch to Levy Woodruff’s line thence with a line to J. I. D. and E? Woodruff’s  line thence with ___ line to the beginning.

5^th:  I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter , ____Thedocia M. Woodruff a tract of land beginning at a corner of my sons children at the buttermilk road thence with the original line south to the corner thence with the original line to the corner thence with original line to five post oaks thence north to a branch down the branch to the main branch down the main branch to my sons children’s corner with their line to the beginning.

6^th: I gave and bequeath unto my granddaughter Victoria J. Woodruff one hundred acres of land beginning in the east line of the west land at chestnut? Oak hill running west to Levy Woodruff’s line having the _____ land on the north side of the line with said Woodrffs line to the corner thence west with another of his liens to a stake thence to a stake thence E to the original line and N.? with it to the beginning.

7^th:  I desire my executors to sell all the rest of my land on the south side of the Cany Fork to best advantage except two ______ on east side of Levy Woodruffs including eight ______ acres  and the proceeds divided between my wife and living children.

8^th I give and bequeath unto my grandson J. B. Woodruff five dollars also to my other granddaughters E. W. S. A. and __ F. Woodruff five dollars. (my note:  I would have to go through all of his grandchildren to figure out who they are).

I desire that my son J. D. Woodruff pay two hundred and thirty dollars or thereabouts it being  the amount for which I am bound for a piece of land of high _________ Woodruffs sold at the court house in Hopkins county ___________ that by a _______ __ with the _____ _____ request that my granddaughter L. M. ? Woodruff have the following tract of land that is all my land in the east side of ________ and two acres? Of land on the south side of ______ ______ one.  I purchased of  ____ Robinson _________ from B. _________.

J. A. Ezell
N. Campbell

Respectively

Hopkins Special January court ___________ 23^rd January 1865

This ________ from _______ to be the last will and testament of John Woodruff decd was this day produced in court and proven to be such last will and testament by the oaths of John W. Ezell and N. Campbell subscribing witnesses _______ ____________ be and the codicil attached said will was also proven by oaths of the said Ezell and Campbell wherefore said will and codicil were ordered to be recorded and filed which is needed together with this certificate.

__ ___ Campbell, clrk
by ____________________

John Willis Woodruff and Francis (Fanny) Elvira Davis had the following children:

i	Nancy Elizabeth Talbot Woodruff, born circa 1820, Nancy married Aurelius R. Byron Gibson on 4, June 1865. Nancy's name is recorded numerous places as 'Tolbert' and this is incorrect, it is for the Talbot family from whom she descends.
ii	Charles Davis Woodruff (1821-1904) - our line - more below
iii	Israel Davis Woodruff,  Israel was born 21 September 21 1823; married Mary Elizabeth Keyser, daughter of John Keyser and Virginia Woodruff.  - Israel married Second Drucilla Breshears and third to Jimima Trim.
iv	Sarah Davis Woodruff (1823-1906) Israel was born in 1823 as well, so one of their dates must be wrong, unless they were twins? Sarah married John N. Laffoon and is buried in the Old Suthards Cemetery.  John Laffoon is the son of Rutherford Laffoon.
v	Frances Petilla Woodruff  (1825-1861, married Louincy Crabtree on February 22, 1851.  Louincy Crabtree's father was Isaiah Crabtree. This is also my cousin Charles Whalin's line (Louisville, KY).  Picture on left is of Frances Petilla Woodruff. Hiram and Louincy had: John Isaiah David Woodruff, b.1-3-1852 (wrote autobiography) James Benjamin Woodruff, b. 5-1-1853 Lounicy York Woodruff, b. 10-28-1855 in the 1860 census, Louincy is living with her grandfather, John Willis Woodruff.
vi	Benjamin Bayless Woodruff (July 4, 1827-1920) see his son's obituary below.  Married Sarah Denton and Mary Croft.  Children of Mary Croft:  Melissa Woodruff; Richard Woodruff, Willis Byron Woodruff, Misseniah Frances Woodruff and Elizabeth Charles Woodruff.  Children of Sarah Denton:  Theodocia Ann Woodruff, (married Rufus Woodruff), Mary Lee Josephine Woodruff, John Patrick David Woodruff, Myrtle Woodruff, Iva W. Woodruff, Daisy E. Woodruff, Matilda Catherine Woodruff and Benjamin Vickers Woodruff
vii	David Woodruff, born 1827, died Sept 3, 1857 from Flux, parents John and Francis Woodruff.
viii	Daisy E. Woodruff, Born in 1830, married Samuel Sutton
xi	Willis Wills Woodruff, M.D. (1832-1921), married Josephine Wright or Darnell.  Child:  Altha F. Woodruff, born March 1873.  Altha married the Hoffman fellow and the John Hoffman farm is where the small Woodruff Cemetery is and where John Willis lived and where he was killed by the guerillas from the Civil War.
xii	Francis Petilla Woodruff,

Generation Fifteen

Charles Davis WOODRUFF. Born on 17 Sep 1821 in Hopkins County, Kentucky. Charles Davis died in Hopkins County, Kentucky on 14 Dec 1904, he was 83.  On 23 Mar 1846 when Charles Davis was 24, he married Cynthia Caroline DAVIS, daughter of Thomas C. DAVIS & Elvira FOX, in Hopkins County, Kentucky. Born on 3 Apr 1830 in Kentucky.

Cynthia Caroline died on 6 Nov 1909, she was 79. Pictured and on right are Charles' and Cynthia's stone in the Christian Privilege Cemetery in Hopkins County, KY.  Interesting sidelight, Cynthia Caroline Davis had twelve children, and was having children for twenty five years, there was a 23 yr span between the first and last.  Two died young, Thomas Willard died when he was five yrs old in 1875 and Elizabeth died in 1859 when she was four years old.

Cynthia Caroline Davis, and her husband and first cousin, Charles Davis Woodruff, are buried in the Christian Privilege Cemetery in Hopkins Co., KY

From "The Bee", Earlington, Ky., Dec. 15, 1904
 

Mr. Charles Woodruff, one of the pioneer residents of St. Charles, died at his home at 6 o' clock Wednesday morning.  He was born September 17, 1821, being over 83 years of age at his death.  The infirmities of age made him a sufferer for some time past, but he bore his afflictions with Christian fortitude until the last.

He is survived by his wife to whom he was married in 1846, and several children.  For 52 years, he had been a member of the Christian Church and always gave the strength of his influence for right.  He leaves a large circle of friends.  The funeral was conducted at the home Thursday morning by Howard J. Brazelton, of this city.  Burial was at St. Charles Cemetery.

Charles Davis Woodruff and Cynthia Caroline Davis had the following children:

i.	Victoria Josephine Woodruff - Born on 16 Nov 1848 in Hopkins County, Kentucky and died September 27, 1917.  On 17 Mar 1866 when Victoria Josephine was 17, she married Henry C. BRASHER, in Hopkins County, Kentucky.  They are buried in the Campbell Cemetery which is on the way to the Terry Cemetery.
ii.	Theodore Petilla Woodruff - Born on 17 Sep 1849 in Hopkins County, Kentucky. Theodore Petilla died on 17 Feb 1925, he was 75.  Theodore Petilla married Martha Ann FOX. Born on 10 Oct 1852. Martha Ann died on 16 Dec 1925, she was 73.  Picture generously supplied by my cousin Ruth.
	Hi,  I am a great grand daughter of Theodore Patilla Woodruff who married Martha Ann Fox.  I would like to let you know that the Louis Woodruff picture you have is the son of Theodore Patilla Woodruff.....Lewis Franklin Patilia Woodruff...my grandmother's brother. Ruth Bray	Theodore and Martha's both are buried at the Christian Privilege Cemetery in Hopkins County, KY.	Martha Fox and Theodore Petilla Woodruff
iii.	Frances Elvira Davis Woodruff  - (1852-1935) - She married William York Terry.  my maternal great, great grandmother - more below.  When Francis was 7 yrs old her little sister who was four, died and when Francis was 23 yrs old, her little brother Thomas Willard, who was five at the time died.  Frances and William Terry are buried in the TERRY CEMETERY where I've been at least a half dozen times.
iv.	Elizabeth C. Woodruff  - Born in 1855. Elizabeth C. died in 1859, she was 4.  I don't think this is her tombstone, but it is one I took at Christian Privilege Cemetery where a lot of the Woodruff's are buried.
v.	Richard David Dickson Woodruff - Born on 20 Aug 1857 in Hopkins County, Kentucky. Richard David Dickson died in Hopkins County, Kentucky on 22 Sep 1931, he was 74.  On 24 Mar 1884 when Richard David Dickson was 26, he married Laura Catherine NISBET, in Hopkins County, Kentucky. Born on 3 Dec 1857. Laura Catherine died in 1964, she was 106?
vi.	Rufus D. Woodruff - Born on 14 Sep 1859 in Hopkins County, Kentucky. Rufus D. died in Hopkins County, Kentucky on 1 Jun 1916, he was 56.  He married Theodocia Ann "Docia" Woodruff, April 13, 1884 in Hopkins County, Kentucky. She was born on 24 Jan 1865 in Hopkins County, Kentucky and Theodocia Ann died on 3 Feb 1911, when she was 46.   She is pictured here with her daughter Eva and their tombstone is above and it's in the Christian Privilege Cemetery.
vii.	Margaret Ann Woodruff - Born on 12 Apr 1861 in Hopkins County, Kentucky. Margaret Ann died on 11 Nov 1926, she was 65.  Margaret Ann first married Lynn GALLOWAY.  Margaret Ann second married Riley RAMER.
viii.	William Rodgers Woodruff - Born on 8 Feb 1864 in Hopkins County, Kentucky. William Rodgers died in Hopkins County, Kentucky on 4 Jul 1924, he was 60. Bef 1887 when William Rodgers was 22, he first married Anna R. NISBET.  About 1912 when William Rodgers was 47, he second married Ida Mae O'ROARK, in Hopkins County, Kentucky. (This photograph was taken by Nancy Trice in 2002 and is in the Christian Privilege Cemetery in Hopkins County, KY).  William Rogers in picture right, seated.  Photo donated by our cousin Gary Woodruff.
ix.	Melissa Woodruff  - Born in 1866 in Hopkins County, Kentucky. Melissa died in 1922, she was 56.  Melissa first married Eugene LEE. On 21 Oct 1885 when Melissa was 19, she second married Charlie C. HIBBS, in Hopkins County, Kentucky.
x.	Octava Louis Waller Woodruff - Born on 21 Dec 1868 in Hopkins County, Kentucky. Octava Louis Waller died in Hopkins County, Kentucky on 11 Feb 1882, she was 13.  She is buried at Christian Privilege Cemetery near St. Charles, KY.
xi.	Thomas Willard Woodruff - Born on 15 Jun 1870 in Hopkins County, Kentucky. Thomas Willard died in Hopkins County, Kentucky on 28 Oct 1875, he was 5.
xii.	Minnie Lou Woodruff - Born on 27 Apr 1873. Minnie Lou died on 4 Jan 1900, she was 26.  Minnie Lou married Lewis Davis n in 1856. Lewis died in 1935, he was 79.
xiii.	unknown child born, in 1900 census, states 13 children born, 9 living

 

Notes from my cousin Ruth: Birth record info as follows: Octava Louis Waller Woodruff F 31 Dec 1868 Hopkins Charles D Woodruff and Cynthia Caroline Davis Also the information that my mother (Vera Trover Lamb) had written on the Woodruff/Fox families that my grandmother (Cynthia May Lamb Woodruff) had given her. Written in 1930's Hopkins County, Kentucky Cemeteries Volume I Christian Privilege Cemetery Page 130   Louis Waller Woodruff b. Dec 31, 1868 - died Feb 11, 1882 Pictures attached: Theadore Patilla Woodruff and Martha Ann Fox Woodruff Martha Ann Fox Woodruff Theadore Patilla Woodruff's Tombstone taken in 1925 - year of his death.  Notice the fence behind - believe the front with the gate was more decorative - Still looking for more pictures of the fence. Isaac Thea Lamb's grave made in 1936 (My grandfather, husband of Cynthia May Woodruff Lamb (Daughter of Theadore Patilla Woodruff). Notice the fence behind this one. He is buried near Theadore and Martha.
Martha Fox (below) who married Theodore Patella Woodruff	Unidentified- I think they were from the St Charles area as they were in my grandmother's trunk.
My Grandfather Isaac Thea Lamb's grave at Christian Privilege Cemetery. He married Cynthia Mae Woodruff (daughter of Martha Ann Fox and Theodore Patilla Woodruff.	Martha Ann Fox and Theodore Patilla Woodruff

 

Twelfth Generation

Francis Elvira WOODRUFF. Born on 3 Dec 1852 in Hopkins County, Kentucky.  Francis Elvira died in 1935, she was 82.  On 2 Mar 1872 when Francis Elvira was 19, she married William York TERRY, son of George TERRY & Margaret CRABTREE, in Hopkins County, Kentucky. Born in 1845. William York Terry died in 1900, he was 55.  Margaret Crabtree is a daughter of Isaiah Crabtree; and her sister, Louincy Crabtree married Hiram P. Woodruff and this is my cousin Charles Whalin's line. 

The cemetery listed below is the original Woodruff Cemetery where several of the early Woodruff's are buried.  I've tried to find it a couple of times, but haven't had any luck so far.

Francis Elvira Woodruff and William York Terry had the following children:
 

i	Eller or Ella Terry - born May 1871 according to the 1900 Hopkins Co., Census.  Ella Nicholas is living next to Thomas G. Davis and Louranda Terry.  She is listed as a cook and she has a son living with her named Claude, he is 8 yrs. old, being born in 1882.  Both are listed as white.
ii	LENNIE VICTORIA TERRY, b. December 20, 1873, Hopkins Co., Kentucky; d. February 24, 1936, Sullivan Co., Indiana. She married Peter Lynn Ratcliffe. Lennie and Peter "Pete" were my maternal great grandparents. Lennie was 27 yrs old when her father York died.
iii	GEORGE W. TERRY, b. 1875/76 Kentucky; m. FLORENCE WILLIAM. They had a daughter named Jettie Terry who was born in 1899 and she married Lawton Sneed. Jettie Terry and Lawton Sneed had Ruth (with me below). Florence died 3/28/1953 according to KY death records. George was abt 25 when his father died.     George W. Terry and Florence William and their children. Jettie Terry is in upper left corner. She md Lawton Sneed George and Florence's tombstone in Castleberry Cemetery
iv.	LIVIE TERRY, b. 1878 Kentucky; ROLAND WILLIAMS married LUVIE C. TERRY Marriage Date: 12 Aug 1896 County: Hopkins State: KY. Livie and her husband Roland are in the 1900 Hopkins Co., Charleston, Census, he is 26 and she is 21. In the 1910 census, Roland and "Liddie C. are listed with Lillie K., dtr, 9 yrs old, born 1901, Lenna, dtr, 5 yrs old, born 1905, Fannie B., dtr, 3 yrs old, born 1907, Ruffin E., son, one year old, born 1909. In the 1920 census, Livie and Roland have Lillie, 19, Linnie, 15, Fanny B., 13, Ruffin E., 11, Laddie A., dtr, 8, Terry V., son, 3/12 mos. In the 1930 census Roland and Livie are listed as with Ruffin, 20, and Lovie?, dtr, 17 and son, Terry V., 11. The census indicates Roland worked in the coal mines. Livie was about 22 yrs old when her father died.  According to Livie's death record, she is buried in Christian Privilege Cemetery.
v	CHARLES J. TERRY, born in 1881, (on right in picture); he married Josie England Gilliand. Some additional notes from Bill York Terry, who my mother met on the way to the Terry Cemetery in Kentucky in 1985, a son of Charlie and Josie. His comments to my mother: "Uncle William was riding his horse up the lane. Daddy saw him coming and hid behind some bushes. When Uncle William got there, Daddy jumped out and the horse reared up and threw Uncle William. Uncle William went over the top of the horse and broke his collar bone. Daddy hid in the lift under the loose hay and called Uncle William. When Uncle William got up there, Daddy raised up slowly and Uncle William got scared and backed out of the loft window on top of the cows." Charles (Charlie) was about 19 yrs old when his father died.   Josie England Gilliland was the daughter of John R. Gilliland and Lucinda Laffoon.  Lucinda was the daughter of John Henry Laffoon and Zerelda E. Price.  John Henry Laffoon was the son of George 'Wash' Laffoon and Lucinda Julian; Wash was the son of Rutherford Laffoon and Sarah Hill and Rutherford was a son of William Laffoon and Susannah Bledsloe.     Caption on this photo of this abandoned home says "Uncle Charlie and Aunt Josie's home". I am the teen aged girl in the Josie Terry picture , behind me is my father Gaston Morse Stewart in front is My brother Terry Gaston Stewart. In the middle rear is my grandmother Sible Lee Terry Stewart in front of her is my great grandmother Josie England Terry. Man on right rear is Noel Terry a brother to Sible and son of Josie, with him are his son Phillip Terry and his daughter Carol Ann Terry Staton . I don't know the other man. Linda Obenchain Josie E Terry 12 Jan 1882 ~ 4/27/1967; and Charlie J Terry 10 Mar 1881 Jan 11, 1950, both buried at the Cranor Cemetery.   Charles Terry and Josie England Gilliand, had Noel Terry, Syble Terry and Gaston Terry. Gaston is Linda's father. Carl Noel Terry, son of Charlie Terry and Josie Buried at Cranor Cemetery Sibyl Terry Stewart   Sibyl Terry Gaston Stewart
vi	WILLIAM TERRY, born in 1882 m. ARTIE COTTON (left) - From Bill Terry, a son of Charlie, made these comments to my mother on a visit to KY in 1985: "Uncle William Terry went to Oklahoma & disappeared for several years. Made some money. Came back with a big fancy car. Married Artie Cotton. Lived near Enid and Tonkawa. Artie & daughter are buried in Oklahoma. William died in the asylum. I don't know where he is buried or what year he died. William was 18 when his father died.
vii	Addie "Kate" TERRY, b. Kentucky in 1887 and died in 1850, she is buried at the Castleberry Cemetery, she and her husband's tombstone on left; m. Richard "DICK" CRICK, from Christian County Birth records Kate, or "Katie" had Dorothy J. Crick on 8/1/1928 and "Finley" G. Crick on March 18 1922. According to Ruth Dunning, niece of Kate Terry, this couple had Coleen, female, Jule, male, Dixie, female and Evan, male. Coleen and Evan are buried in the Castleberry cemetery and pictures are below. Addie was about 13 when her father died. The Obituary of their son: JEWELL CRICK Jewell Crick, 93, Crofton, died at 3 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 30, 2000, at the Regional Medical Center, Madisonville, following a long illness. Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Hughart and Beard Funeral Home, Crofton. Burial will be in Castleberry Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 until 8 tonight. A native of Hopkins County, he was born June 6, 1907, the son of the late Richard and Kate Terry Crick. He was a farmer and a member of the Crofton Independent General Baptist Church. Survivors include two sons, Maurice J. Crick and James W. Crick, both of Crofton; a daughter, Bessie Jean Crick, Crofton and two sisters, Colleen Waters, Hopkinsville and Dorothy Johnson, Fort Smith, Ark.
viii	BESSIE TERRY, b. Kentucky in 1894 d. December 21, 1993, Covington Conv Home, Kentucky when she was 99 yrs old; she m. CHARLIE WEST. See a letter written by "Aunt Bessie" to her niece, Frances Clark (Frances was a child of her sister's, Lennie Terry) here. Bessie was six yrs old when her father died. Frances her mother, is living with she and her husband, Charles West in the 1930 Christian County, KY Census.   Bessie Terry Bessie and Charlie's tombstone

 Kentucky Death Records
 

Kentucky Land Grants

Woodruff, David
Acres: 50 Book: H
Survey Date: 3-26-1820 County: Hopkins
Water Course: Br Trade Water R Page:
Township: Range:
Reference: THE KENTUCKY LAND GRANTS
Volume 1, Part 1
 

CHAPTER VI KENTUCKY LAND WARRANTS (1816-1873)
THE COUNTIES OF KENTUCKY
page 780

Woodruff, John
Acres: 130 Book: O
Survey Date: 2-17-1822 County: Hopkins
WaterCourse: Caney Fk Trade Water Page:
Township: Range:
Reference: THE KENTUCKY LAND GRANTS
Volume 1, Part 1
 

page 780

Woodruff, Hiram
Acres: 50 Book: C-2
Survey Date: 12-11-1833 County: Caldwell
Water Course: Tradewater R Page:
Township: Range:
Reference: THE KENTUCKY LAND GRANTS
Volume 1, Part 1

page 780

Woodruff, David
Acres: 80 Book: 8
Survey Date: 5-15-1841 County: Hopkins
Water Course: Caney Cr Page:
Township: Range:
Reference: THE KENTUCKY LAND GRANTS
Volume 1, Part 2

page 1836

Woodruff, John
Acres: 300 Book: 8
Survey Date: 5-15-1841 County: Hopkins
Water Course: Caney Fk Page:
Township: Range:
Reference: THE KENTUCKY LAND GRANTS
Volume 1, Part 2

page 1836

Woodruff, Robt
Acres: 15 Book: 54
Survey Date: 7-12-1858 County: Hopkins
Water Course: Caney Fk Tradewater R Page:
Township: Range:
Reference: THE KENTUCKY LAND GRANTS
Volume 1, Part 2

page 1836

Woodruff, Israel
Acres: 6 Book: 55
Survey Date: 11-11-1858 County: Hopkins
Water Course: Cane Fk Page:
Township: Range:
Reference: THE KENTUCKY LAND GRANTS
Volume 1, Part 2

page 1836

Woodruff, Isreal
Acres: 4 Book: 57
Survey Date: 4-14-1859 County: Hopkins
Water Course: Cane Fk Tradewater Page:
Township: Range:
Reference: THE KENTUCKY LAND GRANTS
Volume 1, Part 2

page 1836

Woodruff, Charles D
Acres: 50 Book: 67
Survey Date: 6- 5-1865 County: Hopkins
Water Course: Caney Fk Tradewater Page:
Township: Range:
Reference: THE KENTUCKY LAND GRANTS
Volume 1, Part 2

Notes:

Thanks, Dan. How do you know John was a son of Nathaniel Sr? I can't find proof in the references I located. We think Nathaniel Sr's wife was the Hannah Woodruff (maiden name unknown) who is mentioned here:

_Pinckney
District Chapter, SC Genealogical Society Newsletter_, vol. 2, no. 3, p. 6:

"Earliest Records of the First Baptist Church of Woodruff, South Carolina, Constituted at Ben's Creek 1785.... Members received by Letter ... Nathaniel Woodruff / Hannah Woodruff / Thomas Woodruff." Thomas's wife appears to have been Eunice Woodrove, a cousin of some sort (but I don't have any proof of that).

Will of Thomas Woodruff Sr., typescript in possession of K. Much:

"State of South Carolina, Spartanburg District. In the name of God Amen. I, Thomas Woodruff Sr. of the State and District afore said being weak in body but of perfect mind and memory . . . I want my five following named children that has all there sums that they have had annexed to there names that is to say my son Josiah Woodruff has had two hundred dollars and my son Nathaniel Woodruff has had one hundred and fifty dollars and my son Joseph Woodruff has had two hundred dollars and my son Samuel Woodruff has had seventy five dollars and William Barnett and my daughter Anna has had two hundred and fifty dollars now I want all the above named children to be made even at two hundred dollars each and as William and Anna Barnett has had fifty dollars more than any of the rest let that fifty dollars be counted in his part of the next divide is to recover but if misfortunes happen so that I should not leave a nuff to make the other four above named children as even with William and Anna Barnett in that case I want said William Barnett to pay that fifty dollars that he has of mine to the next owen to my son Nathaniel Woodruff.

Now I want all the remainder of my property both real and personal that I may here have at my Decease after making my five above named children Equal with two hundred dollars each. All the balance to be equally divided among all my now living children that is to say Jemima, Josiah, Nathaniel, Joseph, Samuel, and Anna, the remaining property to be divided in the following manner and form that is to say to be valued by three Disinterested men and then make a sale among the children and let them that will give the most for a piece of property have it and in case any of them gets a piece of property that comes to more than there share in that case for the purchaser to be bound with debt and approved security to pay as to the rest of the Legates that believed since my Will is that my wife Eunice should have a comfortable maintenance out of my estate her lifetime I likewise make and ordain my sons Josiah Woodruff and Nathaniel Woodruff Executors of this my last Will and Testament . . . this the twenty ninth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five and in the fiftieth year of American Independence. Thomas X Woodruff (his mark) (seal)

"Attest:
Samuel Woodruff Sr.
Isaac T. Woodruff
Rebecca Woodruff"

Samuel (1762-1836, son of Nathaniel Sr) is my 4g-grandfather, and I do know who he married. His first wife was Jennet Woodruff, a daughter of Moses Woodruff. She died 14 Sept 1800, leaving 5 small children, and he remarried immediately (reputedly in 3 weeks).

In Old Bethel Cemetery, Woodruff, SC, are tombstones of Philip Pilgram ("died June 19th 1845, aged 67 yrs 10 months"--b. Aug 1777) and his wife Hannah (Woodruff) Pilgram ("Hannah Pilgram relict of Philip died Sept. 6, 1853, in the 67th year of her age"--b. 1786; "In Memory / of / Mrs. Jennet Woodruff / who died / Sept 14th 1800 / Aged 38 years & 8 days / She was an orderly member / of the Baptist Church. / As a tribute of respect / by her daughter / Mrs. Hannah Pilgram"--b. 6 Sep 1762). Hannah was 14 when her mother died in 1800, but she could have married and erected the stone much later. Oddly, Hannah's husband, Philip Pilgram, was the brother of her stepmother.

Samuel's second wife was Nancy Pilgrim (also spelled Pilgram). Tombstone in old cemetery, Woodruff, SC: "Sacred to the memory of Nancy Woodruff Relict of the late Samuel Woodruff Senr who died Sept. 20th 1855 in the eighty-fifth year of her age She possessed a strong and active mind, was firm in all her attachments and professions, and filled up the measure of a long and useful life. For more than fifty years she was a member of the Baptist Church manifesting the character of a true and humble Christian: and at her death she gave assurance of entering upon everlasting glory."

Will of Samuel Woodruff Sr. of Spartanburg District, SC (quoted in "Pilgrims' Progress" vol. 3, no. 2, 1995, published by Rod Bush, Cypress, CA): "To my wife, Nancy Woodruff, all tract of land on Enoree River whereon I now live, which I bought from William Shackelford, and negroes (named), furniture, etc.; My daughter Hannah Pilgrim has received $289.00, I will her $11.00 more; my son Joseph Woodruff has received $295.00, I will him $80.00 more; my son Moses Woodruff has received $350.00, I will him $17.00 more; remainder to be divided between my six following named children: my son Aaron Woodruff, my son Amos Woodruff, my son Richard Woodruff, my son Gidion Woodruff, my daughter Rebecca (Woodruff) Bobo, and my son Isaac Woodruff."
Sons Amos & Richard, Executors 11 Jul 1830 Samuel Woodruff (Seal) Witnesses: William Jones S.M.; Wm. Clayton; Ely Cox. Proved by all witnesses
24 Jan 1836."

Kathleen

On Tue, Jun 9, 2009 at 12:02 AM, Dan Woodruff wrote:

I went through my notes and I spoke out of turn. John did not go to Kentucky (at least according to my notes). It seems he either died or moved but before the 1820 Census. He is mentioned in the land records as late as 1818.

I have looked through the cemeteries where the other Woodruff's are buried  and several are unmarked. It is possible that John is buried with them in one of the unmarked graves. According to my notes, even Joseph does not have his own marker. Joseph is listed on a large stone noting certain "pioneers" and Revolutionary War Soldiers in the Old Bethel Cemetery in Woodruff, SC.

John's father was Nathaniel Woodruff Sr. (14 Oct 1719/20 - 1790/1800).  Samuel is also another son of Nathaniel Sr. Who either of these men married is a mystery. There were no marriage records kept in Spartanburg District, however, there is a collection of "Implied Marriages" in South Carolina (5 volumes). These "implied marriages" are extractions from other legal documents such as land transactions and court proceedings.

Mark Lindsey, who petitioned in June 1830 with John Dinsmore to have Evan Murphy be made guardian of Thomas and John Woodruff, James Woodruff's orphans, is my 4th-great grandfather.

Mark was married to John Dinsmore's sister Mary Jane Dinsmore.  Both were children of David and Margaret Dinsmore of Spartanburg Co., SC.

In 1800, Mark and Mary Jane went with John Dinsmore and his wife Phebe to Wayne Co., KY, along with Margaret Dinsmore.  James Woodruff appears in the Wayne Co. records along with these families, and even seems to have paid taxes on the land of Margaret Dinsmore.

I think it's highly likely that he married one of the unknown daughters of David and Margaret Dinsmore (we know they had five children, of whom I've identified only Mary Jane, her brother John, a sister Mary who married Samuel Nathaniel Woodruff and went to Christian Co., KY, and an unidentified daughter per the 1790 census).  I think the unidentified daughter is the wife of James Woodruff.

Note that James Woodruff moved to Lawrence Co., AL, along with John Dinsmore and Mark Lindsey, and in 1850, John Dinsmore is found living in the household of Thomas Woodruff in Lawrence Co.  Thomas named a son David Woodruff.

Also, James Woodruff seems to have had a daughter named Margaret who married Willis Ireland in Lawrence Co.

I suspect Naomi is a second wife of James Woodruff, whom he married after the Dinsmore wife died.