“The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.”
This is entry #30 in Amy Johnson Crow’s Challenge: 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.
I’m starting a new generation of paternal ancestors with my 4th great-grandfather William WOOD. This generation has 23 known of a possible 32 individuals. They will take me to the end of the year and the end of this challenge.
#30 William WOOD died 1835 in Fayette County, (West) Virginia
During the early years of the American Revolutionary War (19 April 1775-14 January 1784) my 4th great-grandfather William WOOD was born in Greenbrier County, Virginia, to Bailey WOOD (d. 1826) and his wife Nancy (d. aft. 1826). As no date is known, I calculated the range for his birth, between 1776 and 1779, using the year of his marriage and the age groups that he was enumerated in on the 1810 through 1830 census:
1800 age 21 or older at time of marriage->->->born 1779 or earlier
1810 age group 26-44 (i.e. 31-44)->->->->->->born bet. 1766-1779
1820 age group 26-44 (i.e. 41-44)->->->->->->born bet. 1766-1779
1830 age group 50-59 (i.e. 51-54)->->->->->->born bet. 1776-1779
Update (24 July 2022): Recent research uncovered the first entry on the personal property tax list of Greenbrier County for William WOOD. The estimate for his birth has been changed from between 1776 and 1779 to about 1777 as he would have been 21 in 1798.1
Several family historians list William WOOD as William Hicks WOOD. I haven’t found documentation that shows a middle name or even a middle initial. Recent discussions with other researchers nearly convinced me that Nancy was the daughter of Joseph HICKS (aka HIX) and Melvina COLE. However, I found an old GenForum post from October 2006 by Kitty Steele Barrera in which she wrote, “I know that the Nancy Hicks/Bailey Wood connection is tentative because I was the first to make the connection. I posted “Bailey Wood married Nancy Hicks?” and before long, it was all over the internet as a fact.“2 Kitty mentioned in another message in the same forum that she can be blamed for starting the rumor and the Hicks part is pure speculation.3
I would like to emphasize that William WOOD (no middle name or initial) was the son of Bailey WOOD and his wife Nancy (no maiden name). As with all brick walls, further research is needed to prove/disprove the Wood to Hicks connection. I’m open to discussions and/or suggestions on the subject.
William WOOD’s father died before 21 September 1826 as an indenture mentioning the heirs and legal representatives of Bailey WOOD, deceased, and Nancy WOOD, his widow, reads as follows:4,5
This indenture made the 21st day of September one thousand and eight hundred and twenty six between James Wood and Polly his wife, Bailey Wood and Lucertia his wife, William Wood and Mary his wife, Richard Skaggs and Susannah his wife, Martin McGraw and Nancy his wife, Samuel McGraw and Elizabeth his wife, Katherine Wood, heirs and legal representatives of Bailey Wood, deceased, and Nancy Wood widow of Bailey Wood, deceased, of the county of Nicholas and state of Virginia of the one part…
From this we can “assume” that the following individuals were Bailey’s children:
• Susannah b. abt 1776 md. Richard SKAGGS 17896
• William b. abt. 1776-1779 md. Mary Ann McGRAW 18007
• Nancy b. abt. 1785 md. MARTIN McGRAW 18068
• Bailey b. abt. 1785 md. Lucretia SKAGGS bef. 1807
• James b. abt. 1790 md. Mary “Polly” HALSTEAD 18109
• Elizabeth b. abt. 1796 md. Samuel McGRAW 181210
• Katherine b. abt. ?? no record of marriage
Lyle Lemasters, who did an immense amount of work on the WOOD family, suggested that heirs do not necessarily mean children of the deceased. Heirs could also have been grandchildren. Bailey’s sons James and Bailey Jr. both had daughters named Catherine. Katherine may have been a daughter or a granddaughter (daughter of a deceased son) as the name ran in the family. She may be the Catherine WOOD (born between 1794 and 1800) seen in the 185011 and 186012 census with a younger James C. WOOD (b. between 1823 and 1830). Neither has been located after 1860.
In June 1800 Martin and Margaret McGRAW gave permission for their daughter Mary Ann to marry William WOOD.13
On the 3rd of June 1800, William WOOD and John WOOD went bond on the marriage of William WOOD and Mary Ann McGRAW in Monroe County, (West) Virginia.14
Who was John WOOD who witnessed the permission slip and went bond with William WOOD when he married Mary Ann McGRAW? John WOOD and Stephen WOOD were in the same area as William in 1820. Could he have been an older brother?
William and Mary Ann were married by Rev. John Alderson on the 18th of June 1800.15
Six months after his marriage on 16 January 1801 William was granted 109 acres in the Valley and on Peters Mountain adjoining his own land called the Cave Survey &c in Greenbrier County.16
On 21 February 1809, David GRAHAM sold to William WOOD 214 acres for $1.00 on Hunget Creek adj. Henry Bank’s surveys.17
As the amount of land he owned grew, so did the family of William and Mary Ann:
- Enoch J. abt. 1801
- Margaret “Peggy” abt. 1801
- _____ (female) bet. 1804-1809
- Elijah abt. 1806
- Amos abt. 1807
- Allen abt. 1814
- Bailey bet. 1816-1819
- _____ (female) bet. 1816-1819
- Mary Ann “Polly” 5 June 1824
1810 U.S. Federal Census18
Monroe County, (West) Virginia
William Wood
Free White Persons – Males – Under 10: 2 (Elijah 4 and Amos 3)
Free White Persons – Males – 10 thru 15: 1 (Enoch 9)
Free White Persons – Males – 26 thru 44 : 1 (William 33)
Free White Persons – Females – Under 10: 2 (Margaret 9 and _____ <10)
Free White Persons – Females – 26 thru 44: 1 (wife, Mary Ann)
Number of Household Members Under 16: 5
Number of Household Members Over 25: 2
Number of Household Members: 7
On 9 September 1812 William WOOD, grantee, received 200 acres: 1) 100 acres on the Trace Fork of Mud River adjoining and above a survey made for John McCalister called the Bridge Creek Survey in Kanawha County19 and 2) 100 acres on Bryans Fork of Browns Creek in Kanawha.20
1820 U.S. Federal Census21
Nicholas County, (West) Virginia
William Wood (pg. 205)
Free White Persons – Males – Under 10: 3 (Bailey, Allen, and ?)
Free White Persons – Males – 10 thru 15: 2 (Elijah 14 and Amos 13)
Free White Persons – Males – 26 thru 44 : 1 (William 43)
Free White Persons – Females – Under 5: (_____ <5)
Free White Persons – Females – 16 thru 25: (_____ 16-19)
Free White Persons – Females – 26 thru 44 : 1 (wife, Mary Ann)
Note: On the same sheet are Bailey, Stephen, and John!!!
On 22 March 1822 William WOOD was granted 50 acres on the waters of New River in Nicholas County.22
A little over seven months later, on 1 November 1822 William WOOD, James SKAGGS, and Samuel WISEMAN were granted 75 acres on the Sugar Camp Creek a south branch of Gauley River in Nicholas County.23
By this time William had acquired nearly 650 acres of land. Did he still own all of it or did he sell some or give parcels to his children?
Six months after the birth of his youngest child Mary Ann, William’s son Elijah WOOD married Rachel HONAKER (1804-1860) on 4 January 1825 in Nicholas County, (West) Virginia.24
A year later William’s father Bailey WOOD was dead. We do not know when he died but his legal heirs sold his land on 21 September 1826 in Monroe County, (West) Virginia to John ALDERSON. William’s mother Nancy was still living; it is not known when she died.
At about the same time two more of William’s children married: 1) Margaret “Peggy” WOOD married Thomas WITHROW (1806-1880) on 12 October 1826 in Nicholas County25 and 2) Enoch J. WOOD married Margaret JOHNSON (1800-1850) bef. 1827.
I had a hard time with the 1830 census. In the early days, I’d found an abstract of the census 1830 by Neva Jane Stout Bryant.26 The numbers for William WOOD fit the family group. However, when I checked Ancestry years later I found that their abstract did not match Neva’s and the image was illegible. Last week I checked the Internet Archive using a tip by another blogger27 and found a much better image.
I was able to get this image.28 My transcription matched Neva’s:
Nicholas County, (West) Virginia
William Woods (sic)
Home in 1830 (City, County, State): Nicholas, Virginia
Free White Persons – Males – Under 5: 1 (unknown)
Free White Persons – Males – 10 thru 14: 1 (Bailey)
Free White Persons – Males – 15 thru 19: 1 (Allen)
Free White Persons – Males – 20 thru 29 : 1 (Amos)
Free White Persons – Males – 50 thru 59: 1 (William)
Free White Persons – Females – 5 thru 9: 1 (Mary Ann)
Free White Persons – Females – 10 thru 14: 1 (unknown 10-14)
Free White Persons – Females – 30 thru 39: 1 (unknown 26-35)
Free White Persons – Females – 40 thru 49: 1 (wife, Mary Ann)
Free White Persons – Under 20: 5
Free White Persons – 20 thru 49: 4
Total Free White Persons: 9
Total – All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 9
“It is interesting to know the names of the houses and of the proprietors who made famous the great state stands along the James River and Kanawha Turnpike.” The list of proprietors of the famous stage stands included William WOOD was at Dogwood Gap.29
A tax list places William WOOD in the newly formed Fayette County on 5 June 1831 1831.30
William WOOD was not moving around from 1800 until this 1831 tax list. He lived in Monroe, Nicholas, and Fayette counties but his location remained the same. The formation of new counties in old Virginia was the reason he lived in several counties but never actually moved from his homeplace.
Before William’s death in 1835 his sons Amos and Allen married. Amos WOOD married Susan PARRISH (d. bef. 1845) on 12 May 1831 in Nicholas County and Allen WOOD married Elizabeth JOHNSON (1808-1881) on 14 November 1832 in Monroe County.31,32
William WOOD died in the summer of 1835, before 18 August 1835 when his sons Amos and Elijah filed a bond for the letters of administration.33 He left no will and his estate was appraised.34
The Appraisement Bill of the Estate of Wm Wood decd Fayette County September 14th 1835. In compliance with an order made by the County Court of Fayette at the August term. We Jones McCutcheon, William S. McVey and George Hunter after having been duly sworn by James Skaggs a Justice of the Peace for said County proceeded to appraise the following property, to-wit:
1 table 4.00
1 cutting knife and steel 1.50
1 foot adds .50
1 jug .371/2
1 Hoe and shovel .871/2
1 grindstone .50
2 old sickles .50
300 feet of plank 3.00
1 hoe .371/2
1 pig in the pen 1.00
1 man’s saddle 6.00
1 Books .75
1 pail .25
1 chain log hook and ox yoke 1.75
1 pair hames and chains 1.25
1 half bushel .25
1 wind mill 16.00
1 lot of wheat in the sheaf 10.00
1 lot of oats in the sheaf 75.00
unbroke flax 1.00
1 Barshear plow 5.00
12 head of sheape 10.50
1 yearling heifer 3.50
1 ox 20.00
1 small black bull 8.00
1 cow with a bull 12.00
1 large spotted cow 10.00
1 muly cow 8.00
9 geese 2.25
13 head of hogs 34.00
1 gray filly 35.00
1 bay mare 15.00
2 1/2 acres of corn 8.00
9 acres of corn 20.00
1 calf 1.00
1 mattock 1.25
1 axe 2.00
1 kittle 3.00
1 oven and lid 1.50
1 pot .50
1 oven 1.00
1 tub and churn 1.00
1 barrel and pail .62 1/2
1 shovel plow 1.00
1 pot rack 1.00
1 tub .50
1 woman’s saddle 3.00
1 hand saw 1 auger and two chisels 2.00
1 shovel .50
1 meal sifter .37 1/2
1 rifle gun and shot pouch 10.00
1 big wheel 2.00
1 spinning wheel 1.00
1 clock 15.00
1 press 8.00
1 small chest .25
1 old table .25
1 looking glass .75
1 smoothing iron, blowing horn and strainer .50
1 coffee mill .37 1/2
1 skillet and lid 1.00
1 pot and two pair of hooks 1.00
4 chairs 1.00
1 coffee pot .37 1/2
1 pair cords .37 1/2
1 cooler .25
Cupboard ware 2.75
1 loom 2.00
3 beads and bedding 50.00
1 due bill on Samuel Shawver .75
1 note on John Gwinn Signr. 10.00
1 note on Samuel Withrow 2.25
1 oald ax and tomahawk .25
Chairs and iron wedge .50
——————————— 429.41
James McCutcheon, William S. McVey, George Hunter Appraisers Fayette County Court-The Appraisement Bill of the Estate of William Wood deceased was received in open court and ordered to be recorded. Teste: Hiram Hill cfc.
His sons Elijah and Amos were administrators of his estate per the 1836 Bill of Sale found in Fayette County.35 His widow Mary and sons Elijah, Amos, and Allen (A. Wood on the bill) bought items in his inventory. His oldest son Enoch was living in Ohio. Elijah, the next oldest son, was assigned as the guardian of Bailey and Mary Ann, children of William WOOD, deceased.36
This Post was Updated on 24 July 2022: Missing source citations were added, images were scaled, and some corrections were made to the text and format.
© 2014-2022, copyright Cathy Meder-Dempsey. All rights reserved.
- Virginia. Commissioner of the Revenue (Greenbrier County), “Personal property tax lists, 1782-1850,” (browse-only images), FamilySearch Microfilm of original records at the Virginia State Library in Richmond, Virginia, Film 2024557, DGS 7849126, Personal property tax lists, 1782-1816 > 1782 > image 361 of 891 > 1798 Personal Property Tax List > William Wood 1 0 0 1 9¢ tax. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQ2-3S3V-D?i=359&cat=777465 : accessed 16 July 2022). ↩
- GenForum, Hicks Surname Forum, message 9940, Re: Bailey Woods and Nancy Hicks by Kitty Steele 29 October 2006 in reply to: Re: Bailey Woods and Nancy Hicks by Larry Surface 29 October 2006 (https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/hicks/9940/ : accessed July 2014) ↩
- Ibid., Wood Surname Forum, message 13961, Re: WOOD family–where in VIRGINIA? by Kitty Steele 25 November 2004 in reply to: Re: WOOD family–where in VIRGINIA? by Alice Hanson 15 November 2004 (https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/wood/13961/ : accessed July 2014) ↩
- Fox, Vernon A., Nicholas County, (West) Virginia Land Deed, Heirs of Bailey Wood to John Alderson, 21 September 1826, transcription received per email 31 May 2001. ↩
- County Clerk of the County Court, Monroe County (West Virginia), “Deed book, 1789-1901” and “Deed index, 1789-1969” (manuscript on film, browse-only images), FamilySearch (Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1969; 34 microfilm reels; 35 mm), Film 589502, DGS 8219401, Deed book, v. N 1840-1846, pages 187-189, image 124+125 of 411. Citing microfilm of original records at the Monroe County courthouse, Union. 1826 Bailey Wood heirs to John Alderson deed of bargain and sale. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSGX-491G-C?i=123&cat=98998 : accessed 1 January 2020). ↩
- West Virginia Vital Research Records Project (database and images), West Virginia Division of Culture and History citing county records in county courthouses, West Virginia (A collaborative venture between the West Virginia State Archives and the Genealogical Society of Utah to place vital records online via the West Virginia Archives and History Web site accessible at https://archive.wvculture.org/vrr), West Virginia, Greenbrier County, 10 March 1789, Susannah Wood and Richard Scags married by John Alderson. 1789 Marriage Record (right page, 7th entry from bottom). (http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=10975982&Type=Marriage : accessed 2 January 2020). ↩
- Ibid., West Virginia, Monroe County, Marriage Bond dated 18 June 1800 William Wood and John Wood went bond on the marriage of William Wood and Mary Anne McGraw (both of Monroe). (http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=11370480&Type=Marriage : accessed 2 January 2020). ↩
- Ibid., West Virginia, Monroe County, 3 May 1806, Nancy Wood and Martin McGraw married by John Alderson, banns were published. 1806 Marriage Record (right page, 4th entry from bottom). (http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=11369727&Type=Marriage : accessed 2 January 2020). ↩
- Ibid., West Virginia, Monroe County, 26 April 1810, James Wood and Mary Halstead married by John Alderson. 1810 Marriage Record entry (right page, last entry). (http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=11369380&Type=Marriage : accessed 2 January 2020). ↩
- Ibid., West Virginia, Monroe County, marriage bond dated 19 May 1812, Samuel McGraw and Bailey Wood went bond on the marriage of Bailey’s daughter Elizabeth Wood and Samuel McGraw. 1812 Marriage Bond. (http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=11371819&Type=Marriage : accessed 2 January 2020). ↩
- 1850 U.S. Federal Census (index and images), <i>Ancestry</i> (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8054/), citing Seventh Census of the United States, 1850 population schedule, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C., NARA microfilm publication M432, 1009 rolls, Year: 1850; Census Place: District 14, Fayette, Virginia; Roll: M432_943; Page: 336B; Image: 278. The official enumeration day of the 1850 census was 1 June 1850. (https://www.ancestry.com/ : accessed 8 January 2020). ↩
- 1860 U.S. Federal Census (index and images), <i>Ancestry</i> (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7667/), citing Eighth Census of the United States, 1860 population schedule, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C., NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls, Year: 1860; Census Place: District 3, Fayette, Virginia; Roll: M653_1344; Page: 373; Family History Library Film: 805344. The official enumeration day of the 1860 census was 1 June 1860. (https://www.ancestry.com/ : accessed 8 January 2020). ↩
- WVCulture.org, West Virginia, Monroe County, June 1800, William Wood and Mary Ann McGraw, permission slip from her parents. “June /newline/ Sir, this coms (sic) to let you now (sic) that I Marten and Marget Mcgraw is wiling that William Wood should have our daughter Mary Ann /newline/ To John Hutchason (Clerk) /newline/ The above was sworn to by John Wood one of the witnesses present.” 1800 Marriage Permission Slip. (http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=11370465&Type=Marriage : accessed 2 January 2020). ↩
- Marriage Bond dated 18 June 1800 William Wood and John Wood went bond on the marriage of William Wood and Mary Anne McGraw (both of Monroe) ↩
- WVCulture.org, West Virginia, Monroe County, 18 June 1800 William Wood and Mary Ann McGraw married by John Alderson. 1800 Marriage Record entry (right page, 1st entry under Alderson). (http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=11369625&Type=Marriage : accessed 2 January 2020). ↩
- “Land Office/Northern Neck Patents & Grants” (index and images from microfilm), Library of Virginia Archives (https://lva-virginia.libguides.com/land-grants), citing Virginia State Land Office, the collection is housed in the Archives at the Library of Virginia, Land Office Grants No. 46, 1797-1801, p. 624-625 (Reel 112), Wood, William (grantee), Land grant 16 January 1801, 109 acres in the Valley and on Peters Mountain adjoining his own land called the Cave Survey &c. (Greenbrier County). (https://lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01LVA_INST/altrmk/alma990008446350205756 : accessed 22 July 2014). ↩
- Monroe County (West Virginia), Clerk of the County Court, “Deed book, 1789-1901; deed index, 1789-1969,” database with images, FamilySearch, citing microfilm of original records at the Monroe County courthouse, Union, Deed book, v. B-C 1805-1812, images 349-350 of 636, Deed Book B, page 632-633, 21 February 1809 David Graham to William Wood 214 acres for $1.00 on Hunget Creek adj. Henry Bank’s Surveys. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKV-KSN9-J?i=348&cat=98998 : accessed 23 July 2022). ↩
- 1810 U.S. Federal Census (index and images), Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7613/), citing Third Census of the United States, 1810 population schedule, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C. NARA microfilm publication M252, 71 rolls, Roll: 70, Family History Library Film: 0181430, Virginia, Monroe, image 22, page 575, William Wood household. The official enumeration day of the 1810 census was the 1st Monday in August (6th). “.” (https://www.ancestry.com/ : accessed 2 January 2020). ↩
- “Land Office/Northern Neck Patents & Grants,” Land Office Grants No. 63, 1812-1813, p. 195-196 (Reel 129), Wood, William (grantee), Land grant 9 Sep 1812, 100 acres on the Trace Fork of Mud River adjoining and above a survey made for John McCalister called the Bridge Creek Survey (Kanawha County). (https://lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01LVA_INST/altrmk/alma990008446370205756 : accessed 22 July 2014). ↩
- Ibid., Land Office Grants No. 63, 1812-1813, p. 196-198 (Reel 129), Wood, William (grantee), Land grant 9 September 1812, 100 acres on Bryans Fork of Browns Creek (Kanawha County). (https://lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01LVA_INST/altrmk/alma990008446380205756 : accessed 22 July 2014). ↩
- 1820 U.S. Federal Census (index and images), Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7734/), citing Fourth Census of the United States, 1820 population schedule, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C., NARA microfilm publication M33, 142 rolls, 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Nicholas, Virginia; Page: 205A; NARA Roll: M33_130; Image: 389. The official enumeration day of the 1820 census was the 1st Monday in August (7th). (https://www.ancestry.com/ : accessed 8 January 2020). ↩
- “Land Office/Northern Neck Patents & Grants,” Land Office Grants No. 71, 1822-1824, p. 47 (Reel 137), Wood, William. grantee, Land grant 22 March 1822, 50 acres on the waters of New River (Nicholas County). (https://lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01LVA_INST/altrmk/alma990008446390205756 : accessed 22 July 2014). ↩
- Ibid., Land Office Grants No. 71, 1822-1824, p. 408-409 (Reel 137), Grantee(s): Skaggs, James; Wm. Wood, and Samuel Wiseman, Land grant 1 November 1822, 75 acres (Nicholas County). (https://lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01LVA_INST/altrmk/alma990008446400205756 : accessed 22 July 2014). ↩
- WVCulture.org, West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970, FHL microfilm 495643, image 130, West Virginia, Re-Index and Copy of Marriage Record No. 1–Nicholas County, line 6, 4 Jan 1925, Elijah Wood and Rachel Hannaker, married by Jno Campbell, citing Nicholas County. (http://images.wvculture.org/495643/00130.jpg : accessed 25 April 2013). ↩
- Ibid., West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970, FHL microfilm 495643, image 130, Re-Index and Copy of Marriage Record No. 1—Nicholas County, no page number, 9th entry, 12 Oct 1826, Thos Withrow, Margaret Wood, married by John Campbell. (http://images.wvculture.org/495643/00130.jpg : accessed 22 July 2014). ↩
- 1830 Federal Census Nicholas County, Virginia (File 3 of 3), Submitted by Neva Jane Stout Bryant July 25, 2001 (http://files.usgwarchives.net/wv/nicholas/census/1830c.txt) ↩
- Pointer, Caroline M, 4yourfamilystory.com blog and website, “Census Records for Free with the One-Two Punch {While Wearing Pink Bunny Slippers},” (https://www.4yourfamilystory.com/blog/census-records-for-free-with-the-one-two-punch-while-wearing-pink-bunny-slippers : published 16 July 2013). ↩
- Internet Archive, 1830 Virginia Federal Population Census Schedules – Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Mason, Nicholas, and Ohio Counties, Reel 0198, image 388 of 588, Virginia, Nicholas County, page 191, line 10, William Wood (https://archive.org/stream/populationsc18300198unit#page/n387/mode/1up : accessed about 21 July 2014) ↩
- J. T. Peters and H.B. Carden, History of Fayette County, West Virginia, Jarrett Print Co., Charleston, WV, 1926, page 135. ↩
- Virginia. Commissioner of the Revenue (Fayette County), “Personal property tax lists, 1831-1850,” (browse-only images), FamilySearch Microfilm of original records at the Virginia State Library in Richmond, Virginia, Film 2024536, DGS 7849112, image 22 of 589, 1831 page 20. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQK-19VN-9?i=21&cat=777450 : accessed 3 April 2022). ↩
- WVCulture.org, West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970, FHL microfilm 495643, image 130, Re-Index and Copy of Marriage Record No. 1—Nicholas County, no page number, 14th entry, 12 May 1831, Amos Wood, Susan Parish, married by W. Carnefix. (http://images.wvculture.org/495643/00130.jpg : accessed 22 July 2014). ↩
- Ibid., West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970, FHL microfilm 1710879, image 516, 14 Nov 1832, Allen Wood and Charles W Johnson bond for the marriage of Allen Wood and Elizabeth Johnson. (http://images.wvculture.org/1710879/00516.jpg : accessed 23 July 2022). ↩
- “Court minutes and order books, 1837-1928,” browse-only images, FamilySearch, citing microfilm of original records at the Fayette County, West Virginia courthouse., Film 585502, DGS 8613652, Minute books, v. 1-2 1837-1848, image 12 of 470, August Term 1835, 18 Aug 1835, page 11, 3rd entry, Amos and Elijah Wood, bond for letters of administration. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C34C-T9J7-H?i=11&cat=100698 : accessed 23 July 2022). ↩
- “West Virginia Will Books, 1756-1971,” database with images, FamilySearch, Fayette > Will book, v. 001 1832-1866 > image 33 of 292 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-C9SQ-75?cc=1909099&wc=M6DN-5NG%3A179689901%2C179689902 : 23 October 2018) ↩
- Ibid., Fayette > Will book, v. 001 1832-1866 > image 39 of 292 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-C9SQ-97?cc=1909099&wc=M6DN-5NG%3A179689901%2C179689902 : 23 October 2018), ↩
- Court minutes and order books, 1837-1928, Film 585502, DGS 8613652, Minute books, v. 1-2 1837-1848, image 24 of 470, January Term 1836, 19 Jan 1836, page 35, Elijah assigned as guardian of young Bailey and Mary Ann Wood, children of William Wood. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C34C-T9FB-T?i=23&cat=100698 : accessed 23 July 2022). ↩
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Opening Doors in Brick Walls 
Thank you, Cathy!! Loved reading this!! The value of land…and everything is so surprising!!
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You’re welcome Teresa. Thank you for stopping by! I had to include the appraisement bill – loved seeing the list of possession.
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As always you have done a great job. I’m always interested in what you find and know that everything is correct. Thank you for all your hard work.
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Coming from you Margaret this is a great compliment. I remember the early internet days when we first met and had so much trouble exchanging emails because juno did not like my pt. I will always think of you as the first person who ever helped me with the WOOD family.
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Cathy,
Wonderful research, as always and you keep pecking away at those brick walls. I’m curious. I have the Wood surname in my tree as they married into my Mitchell line. Sarah “Sally” Wood (born about 1792 and likely died in 1864). I do not know who her parents were but She married Daniel Mitchell in Bedford County, Virginia, on 4 Jun 1816.
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Thank you Schalene. Yes I keep trying to find the doors in my brick walls so that I can open them with the few keys available to me. Always hoping that if I ask the right question someone will come up with the answer.
As for your Sarah “Sally” Wood who was born about 1792, I took a quick look at familysearch.org for marriages in that county between 1800 and 1830 and there were quite a few. Unfortunately unlike WV the VA marriages don’t have images. Do you have an image of their marriage record? If not, have you heard of the Photoduplication Services on familysearch.org? https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Photoduplication_Services
I haven’t used this service. It was recently discussed in this blogpost: http://www.michiganfamilytrails.com/2014/07/photo-duplication-requests-on-family.html?spref=fb
You can request up to 5 images a month. More information on the link. Sally’s marriage record might be two images as the ref. id is page 10 and 11. Could be that there is a permission slip or bond with the record.
I’ve never looked into other Wood families in Virginia of that time as there were so many and we don’t have any real clues as to where they may have come from.
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HI everyone; I appreciate the wealth information on this site and appreciate everyone’s hard work. I’ve been doing research on my Mitchell family tree and was surprised to trace it to the Wood family. I’ve been working in my spare time over the last 2-3 years and my info from reocities.com/heartland says that William Wood was born in Monroe Co. (W)VA @ 1777, D @ Sept.1835 in Fayette Co. (W)VA. He married Mary Ann McGraw in Monroe Co. June 18 1800 and she died in Nicholas Co. @ 1845. Their Children were Elijah B@ 1806; Enoch J. B@1800; Margaret; Allen B@1813; Mary Ann (Polly) B@1814; Bailey: Amos B@1807. Allan married Elizabeth Johnson on 11/14/1832 in Monroe Co.Their daughter Mildred married Thomas Mitchell 10/3/1866 in Mt.Cove WV. These records forward and Elizabeth’s permission slip from her Father are available online at the WV Vital Records site; there is confusion about Elizabeth’s parent’s, they’re sometimes erroneously reported as Stephen and Susannah; the record book photos are torn and you have be careful to keep the records matched up when viewing them. James and Mildred are the parents of Martin Luther Mitchell, my Great-Grandfather, who passed away when I was 7. He lived with my Grandfather, about a 5-minute walk. I still remember the viewing at the house. I visit their graves every Memorial Day. I hope this is helpful and accurate.
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Thank you Michael for the information. I’ll take a closer look later.
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Hi Cathy, I’m really enjoying your blog. In mentioning my name in this entry, thank you for being objective! As a matter of fact, I was just a teenager (15) when I heard “William Hicks Wood”, son of Bailey Wood and “Nancy Hicks”. My mother was doing genealogy, and she was the first to speculate about this. I don’t know where she got the idea. I know she interviewed lots of people in Ansted—OLD people—but I have no way of knowing if the idea originated with them or with my mother. To her credit, she did leave me with the impression that it had not been proven. I still believe Ann/Nancy’s maiden name was Hicks, but I will have to go back and check around to see what support I have for that. Thanks for keeping genealogy HONEST! 🙂
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Thank you Kitty for explaining a bit more about how the Hicks name was added to the Wood genealogy. As new records come to light we may be able to prove or disprove the idea. I look forward to hearing from you after you’ve had to time to review your records.
I’m glad to hear you are enjoying my blog. Thank you so much for commenting.
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I just stumbled across this as I have been looking at my Wood line the last few days. This line has been a pretty perpetual brick wall. What I believe is that Emma Jane Wood who married Orlando Mills Garrett, then Robert Lee Symes, was born to Amanda C Wood out of wedlock in Fayette County, WV in November 1879. Amanda later married William H Evans, a widower with three children. I believe Amanda was also born out of wedlock to Mary E Wood. Mary later married an Underwood. I believe Mary’s mother to be Catherine and her father to be James Wood. Catherine from a federal census record, James from Mary’s marriage record. I am interested now in finding the parents of James and Catherine. Any help would be appreciated.
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Thank you, Sharon, for stopping by. I will get in touch with you per e-mail as soon as I have taken a look at what I have on this part of the Wood family.
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Hi Cathy, I have been looking into the Wood/Woods family from Virginia for a couple of years. specifically John and William Wood. Specifically John since he is in my direct line. He was allegedly born in Hanover County, VA in 1780-1781. A lot of sources show then as children of Archibald and Morning Wood but I haven’t found any confirmation of that. I know John had four sons and ultimately moved to Indiana where he died in 1864. But I can find no information relating to their parents.
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Hello Larry, I’m sorry to say I haven’t looked into Archibald and Morning Wood. Do you have any links to sites with good information on them? Thank you for stopping by.
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In addition to ancestry, I found a number of references to the dependents of Michael Marion Woods born in Ireland 1684 and Mary Margret Campbell Woods. Their family can be traced down to Archibald and Morning. I do not believe that John is one of their children. I’m trying to identify other possibilities.
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I have not tried lately search for possible parentage of my Bailey Wood who died abt 1826 and left a will naming his children. No John in his family. I do have a lot of matches on AncestryDNA with people who descend from my Wood line and need to check if there may be people whose trees have Wood/Woods lines which go further back.
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Thanks Cathy, I’ll keep looking.
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Happy hunting.
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Cathy, I should take more time to read all the comments, but I don’t have time at the moment. Are you familiar with Royalty Among Us, by Shirley Green UIaki? This is a Skaggs family (Monroe County–John and Catherine) record. In this book, Shirley mentions a theory that Bailey Wood came from Maryland with Thomas Skaggs (father of John and others). I will find that and give you the specifics later, unless you already know about it.
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Thank you so much, Kitty, for the comment. I hadn’t heard about this book and would love to know exactly what is mentioned in the theory. Maryland had wonderful records online so if I could get a place pinpointed I could look at tax and land records which are available. Did you have comments set to get notifications on this post?
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Cathy, the book is Royalty Among Us–The History of the Skaggs, Foster, and Allied Families on the Western Frontier, by Shirley Greene Ulaki, of Beckley, WV, copyright 2000. I think I bought the book about 10 years ago, but I can’t remember how I found out about it–probably a discussion board somewhere. During my email correspondence with another researcher, Shirley’s name was mentioned, so she was known in the area for her expertise. I have found some errors in the book; however, there is a mother lode of information and sources, which have proven extremely helpful. I do not know if Shirley is still alive. As I mentioned, she suggests that Bailey Wood came to Monroe County with Thomas Skaggs, and all of that fits together well in my mind. She says that Susannah Skaggs, b. 1730 was sister of Thomas Skaggs, b. 1728, and both were born in Queen Anne’s Parish, Prince George County, Maryland, to Richard Skaggs and Mary Brushier/Brashear. There is a source online at Ancestry of the Brashear family history. It’s also in Clayton Library here in Houston. Shirley believes that Susanna married a John Wood, and they were the parents of Bailey Wood. I’m not sure if I’ve added that to my tree yet; I have been away from it for awhile. I will send you photos of the pages on Facebook. Hope you can find more information and share it with me! Kitty
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Thank you!
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HI Cathy. Bailey Wood Sr. is my Great-great-great-great grandfather. I am still confused of who is parents were.
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Mike, I don’t have parents’ names for Bailey Wood Sr. I know there are some people who have names but I have not found any documentation to prove it. I have not yet had time to look into the information Kitty posted in the comment above yours. This is on my To Do List.
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