Col. Robert (Potato Hole) Woodson, Sr.^{[1, 2, 3, 4]}

Est 1634 - 1716  (~ 82 years)

• Name	Robert (Potato Hole) Woodson
  	HENRICO COUNTY VIRGINIA DEEDS 1706-1737 Robert Woodson, Sr. of Henrico Co., for good causes, to my loving grandsons William and Joseph Lewis, 450 acres, patented to me and Richard Ferris, Giles Carter, William Harris and Roger Commins, 21 Oct 1687, on White Oak Swamp dated 30 Apr 1707 Wit: John Mosby, Peter C=Gofot Recorded 1 May 1707
  Title	Col.
  Suffix	Sr.
  Born	Est 1634	Fleur De Hundred, Prince George County, Virginia
  Gender	Male
  Died	1716	Henrico Co., Virginia
  Person ID	I6010	My Reynolds Line
  Last Modified	31 Jul 2017

  
  

  Father	Dr. John Woodson, Sr.,   b. 1586, Dorsetshire, England ,   d. 18 Apr 1644, Fluer De Hundred, Prince George Co., Virginia [now]  (Age 58 years)
  Mother	Sarah Isabella (LKYD-GQL) Winston,   b. Abt 1590, Devonshire, England ,   d. 17 Jan 1660, Fluer De Hundred, Prince George Co., Virginia  (Age ~ 70 years)
  Family ID	F2391	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Sarah Elizabeth Ferris,   b. Est 1630, Henrico Co., Virginia ,   d. 1689, Henrico Co., Virginia Colony  (Age ~ 59 years)
  Married	Est 1656
  	Children of Robert Woodson and Elizabeth Ferris are: John Woodson, born Abt 1658 in Curles, Henrico County, VA; died 1715 in Henrico Co., VA. Robert Woodson, born Abt 1660 in Curles, Henrico County, VA18; died February 1728/29 in Curles, Henrico County, VA19. He married (1) Sarah Lewis. He married (2) Rachel Watkins. More About Robert Woodson: February 1728/29, Will probated in Henrico County, VA20 Richard Woodson, born Abt 1662 in Curles, Henrico County, VA; died Abt 1722 in Henrico County, VA. Joseph Woodson, born Abt 1664 in Curles, Henrico County, VA; died October 27, 1735. Benjamin Woodson, born Abt 1664 in Curles, Henrico County, VA; died August 1723 in Henrico County, VA. Sarah Woodson, born Abt 1668 in Curles, Henrico Co., VA. Elizabeth Woodson, born Abt 1670 in Curles, Henrico Co., VA. Judith Woodson, born Abt 1673 in Curles, Henrico Co., VA. Mary Woodson, born Abt 1678 in Curles, Henrico Co., VA; died Aft 1744.
  Children	+ 1. John [Ferris] Woodson, Sr.,   b. Est 1658, Curles, Varina Parish, Henrico Co., Virginia ,   d. 1716, Henrico Co., Virginia  (Age ~ 58 years) + 2. Richard Ferris Woodson,   b. Est 1662, Curles, Henrico County, Virginia ,   d. Aft 1728, Curles, Henrico County, Virginia  (Age ~ 67 years) + 3. Robert [Ferris] Woodson,   b. 1664, Henrico County, Virginia ,   d. Feb 1729, Henrico Co., Virginia  (Age 65 years) + 4. Sarah Woodson,   b. 1665, Curles, Henrico County, Virginia ,   d. Bef 12 Aug 1716, Henrico Co., Virginia  (Age 51 years) + 5. Benjamin Lewis Woodson,   b. 21 Aug 1666, Curles, Henrico County, Virginia ,   d. Aug 1723, Henrico Co., Virginia Colony  (Age 56 years)   6. Mary Woodson,   b. Est 1675, Curles, Henrico Co., Virginia Colony ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	23 May 2017
  Family ID	F2392	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Documents		GOOCHLAND COUNTY VIRGINIA WILLS AND DEEDS 1736-1742 _Goochland Wills & Deeds1736-1742.pdf
  		WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY Vol 9, No 1 Jul 1900 Giles Carter WmAndMaryQuarterly-1900-07.pdf
  		Henrico County Virginia Deeds show transactions of residents of early families including CARTERS, POVALL, GREEN, VAUGHAN, RANDOLPH, JEFFERSON, WOODSON, BLAND, DAVIS, EPPES, SMITH and others. _HenricoCoVADeeds-1706-1737.pdf
  		Colonial Wills of Henrico Co., VA Part One 1654-1737 Abstracted and Compiled by Benjamin B. Weisiger, III; Page 107 Wm. Sewell 1725 Colonial_Henrico_Wills002.pdf

  
  

• Notes

  Much Woodson info comes fro 1888 pamphlet by Dr. R. A. Brock of Richmond, VA copied from The Standard (published in Richmond, VA). (SV-1591.16) 1687 Deposition he stateshe was 23 yrs old. (SV-1890.40) 1690 Henrico Co., VA Deed: John Woodson of Henrico Co., wheelwright, to my loving brother, Robert Woodson, Jr. of same, 106 ac. being 1/5 of a patent to Robert Woodson, Sr. on south side of White Oak Swamp. (SV-1024) Oct 1692 Marriage license of Robert Woodson to Sarah Lewis was returned to the court. (SV-1890.40) 1694 Henrico Co., VA Deed: Robert Woodson, Sr. of Henrico Co. for love & affection to my son, Robert Woodson of same, 250 ac. on south side of White Oak Swamp. (SV-1024) 1697 Robert was named constable of the Henrico County lower precinct. (SV-1890.40) Henrico Co., VA Records: 1 Dec 1698 I, Robert Woodson, Jr acknowledge to my brother-in-law, William Lewis, my full share of due my wife Sarah, one of the Orphans of John Lewis. (SV-1591.15) 1707 Henrico Co., VA Deeds: Robert Woodson Sr. of Henrico, planter, for 1400 lbs tobacco to Daniel Warriner, late of this county, dec?d and to his sons John & Daniel 100 ac. on James River. Witness: Robert Woodson Jr. (SV-1180) 1707 Henrico Co., VA Deeds: Robert Woodson, Jr. was witness to Wm Hatcher, Sr. to Robert Elam. (SV-1180) 1710 Robert Woodson proposed to marry Rachel Watkins at a Friends Monthly Meeting on the 12th day of the 10th month. (SV-1890.41) 1729 Henrico Co., VA Wills: Will of Robert Woodson, Sr.: (SV-1551.9) To son, Stephen, the land that came in my possession by marriage, with his mother, also 50 ac. that belonged to John Lewis. To son, Joseph: a parcel in Goochland Co. on west side of Jennytoe Creek, up Rockey branch and next to Joseph Parsons? line. To son, Robert, the residue of land in Goochland on Jennytoe Creek. To son, Jonathan, land near White Oak Swamp, between Richard Cocke, Edward Mosby, and Harryson, and his estate to be under guardianship of my son Stephen until he is 18. To Daughter, Elizabeth, a negro and items. To daughter Judith, a negro and items To daughter, Agnes, a negro The rest divided between children: Joseph, Robert, Jonathan, and Judith. In his Will he calls himself Robert Woodson Sr (to distinguish himself from his nephew Robert Woodson, Jr.). (SV-1591.9) "There is a grant of 1785 acres of land October 21, 1687, to Mr. Robert Woodson, Mr. Richard Ferris, Mr. Giles Carter, William Ferris,and Roger Comins, at White Oak Swamp, on the north side of the James River, in the parish of Varina. Robert Woodson, in 1707, made a deed to his grandsons, William Lewis, Jr. and Joseph I.ewis." (Wm. & Mary Qtly., V. IX, p. 255.) The date of his death is not known, but it was shortly after making this deed, as he was about seventy-three years old at that time. It is not positively known what public service he rendered the colony but living as he did, at a time when every man had to bear his share of the public burden, it is confidently believed that, as a citizen and a member of the colony, he was faithful in the performance of his duty, as his descendants have ever been. In some publications he is frequently spoken of as Colonel Robert Woodson. If he held the military rank of colonel, it was of course by authority of the British government, as the entire colony was under British control at that time.

  
  

• Sources

  [S100] Internet Source, http://archive.org/stream/jstor-1915487/1915487_djvu.txt. John Woodson, from Dorsetshire, his wife from Devonshire, came to Virginia with Sir John Harvey, as surgeon to a company of soldiers, in the year 1625. Had sons born in Virginia, Robert and John. Robert married Elizabeth Ferris, daughter of Richard Ferris, of Curies, in Henrico county. He had sons, John, Richard, Robert, Joseph and Benjamin; also daughters, Sarah, married to Edward Mosby; Elizabeth to William Lewis; Mary to George Payne, and Judith to William Cannon. John Woodson came to Virginia in the George, which left England January 29, 1619, bearing the new Governor, Sir George Yardley, and about one hundred passengers. This ship brought the orders of the company for a free government in Virginia. See Hotten's Emigrants to America and Brown's First Republic. ? Editor. [S50] Colonial Wills of Henrico Co., VA , http://reynoldspatova.org/browsemedia.php?mediasearch=Colonial_Henrico_Wills002.pdf+&mediatypeID=&tngpage=&tree=reynolds1&tnggallery=. Page 125 of this PDF Will of Robert Woodson Witnessed by Theodorick Carter, Giles Davis and Tarlton Woodson and William Porter; Dated 6 Jul 1729; Recorded Feb 1729 [S18] Family Search, LDS, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:SPSJ-VHB. John POVALL (Aft 1683-1766 WMCQ Vol. V, pp 539 & 553 - John POVALL married Elizabeth WOODSON, Henrico Co VA Elizabeth's parents - Robert WOODSON & Elizabeth or Sarah LEWIS (wives 1 & 2) Her grandparents - Robert WOODSON m Elizabeth FERRIS (dau of Richard) Her great grandfather - John WOODSON (to Virginia 1619/25). WMCQ Vol. III, p 806, VA archives 1731 Part I, p 293 - Witnessed a deed. EPVP-(There may be some inter-mixing of the entries for John & John, Jr.) 1717-Appraised estate of Roger CARR w/John COCKE & Mathew(x)TAYLOR. 1719-Presented inventory estate of Charles POVALL. 1722-Appointed receiver of tobacco by state. 1723-Deed of lease & release from George FLOYD. 1723-Appraiser estate of Henry LEISTER, w/James COCKE, Edward GOODE, Jr & John HOBSON. 1723-Sued Thomas EAST for debt (Verdict for plaintiff). 1724-Petit Juror 1724-Deed of lease & release from Henry IRBY. 1725-Proved (w/Lambert TYE) will of John COCKE. 1726-Gift from father Robert 1/2 of plantation effective after death of father. Other 1/2 to brother Robert, Jr. 1726-Witness to will of Morris FLOYD. 1728-Appraised estate of Morris FLOYD. 1728-Inherited prior gift & personal property from father Robert. Co-executor (w/Robert, Jr.) of father's will 1728-Appraiser estate of Joseph COLE (w/Robert POVALL, Jr. & Wm PORTER. 1729-Appraiser estate of William IRELAND. 1737-Purchased property estate of Mary COOK. 1738 & 1739- Tobacco inspector. 1739-Qualified as administrator to complete the estate of Robert POVALL. (Security, John WILLIAMSON) 1739-Tobacco inspector at Turkey Island w/ Richard ROYALL. 1741-1741-Petit Juror 1741-Appraiser estate of Wm. CLARK (w/James Povall COCKE, John ROYALL & Sackville BREWER) 1742/43-Tobacco inspector 1744-Appointed to appraise estate of Steven FLOYD. 1745-Retires as tobacco inspector. Executor of will of Wm. HARDING/ 1746 & 47-Executor, inventory & appraisal of will of Wm. GRIFFIN. 1747-Witness will of Jas. P. COCKE (w/ Eliza. POVALL & Stephen WOODSON) 1747 & 1751-Appraiser estate of Wm. PORTER. Abt 1748-Witness deed from Martha COCKE to her son Jas. COCKE. 1749-Processioner's reports re lines adjoining: James COCKE; Chas FLOYD & Chas. CARTER; Robert POVALL. 1757-To appraise in current money estate of Martha COCKE. 1757-Ordered (w/Robert POVAL & Charles WOODSON) to settle & divide estate of John HALES. 1760-Processioner's reports re lines adjoining: Robert POVALL; Chas FLOYD & Stephen WOODSON. 1762-Appointed guradian of Robin & Elizabeth, orphans of John POVAL, Jr. 1766-Died. Will probated & inventory recorded. Executor Danl. PRICE. Witness Robert POVAL. Security Richard RANDOLPH & Wm. LEWIS. 1766-Summons to render an account of his ward's estate, dismissed. 1766-Probate granted to Richard POVAL, executor, on the will of John POVAL. (Thos. WATKINS & Jno. ROYSTER, security) 1767, March 2- Will further proved by Chas WOODSON. 1767-John's orphan Robert chooses Dan'l. PRICE, Jr. guardian. (Richard RANDOLPH & Thos. WATKINS, security) [Note] I assume Robert to be this John's grandsonson, son of John, Jr.] [S107] Family Histories, https://www.carolinajournal.com/opinion-article/hidden-in-a-potato-hole/. Sarah Woodson watched the arrow as it plunged into her husband?s chest. She watched as John Woodson fell from his horse, surrounded by Indians with tomahawks raised high. She watched her husband die. The date was April 18, 1644. Dr. John Woodson, an Oxford-trained physician, lived with his wife Sarah Winston Woodson and two sons in a home near modern-day Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Woodson had been out doing his medical rounds when the Indians attacked. Galloping home to protect his family, Woodson had his gun loaded and ready. He never got to fire it. The Woodsons had first arrived at Jamestown in 1619, and survived the 1622 Indian attack that had taken the lives of a third of the English settlers. The resulting war ? the second between the Virginia colonists and the Powhatan Confederacy ? lasted for 10 years and proved devastating for the Indians. With the coming of peace in 1632, the Woodsons joined many other settlers in moving further inland to develop farms along the fertile banks of the James River. But tensions with the native communities were far from over. The main Indian leader in Virginia, Opechancanough, had launched the ruinous 1622-32 war, and later signed a treaty giving land rights in exchange for a share of the annual harvest. He wasn?t keen on more fighting. However, he also feared that the continuous flood of settlers would eventually overwhelm his people. So in April 1644, the Indians attacked across the Virginia frontier. At the Woodson place, Sarah and her two sons John and Robert were entertaining a shoemaker named Ligon when they heard war cries outside. According to family lore, Sarah immediately barred the door and handed Ligon the old hunting rifle that hung over it. He went up into the sleeping loft while she searched furiously for somewhere to hide her children. First her eyes alighted on a hole in the floor where the family stored potatoes. In went Robert. Then she picked up a large washtub, had John to crouch down, and covered him with it. In the meantime, Ligon began firing into the band of Indians surrounding the house. He was able to kill three of them before Dr. Woodson rode up. Sarah watched in horror through a small crack in the window shutter as John met his fate. The remaining Indians turned their attention back to the house, which Ligon was still defending with the Woodson rifle. Two more attackers met their Maker. Then Sarah heard a noise on the roof. Two Indians were about to come down the chimney. Thinking quickly, she tipped the stewpot onto one of the attackers, scalding him, and then swung her heavy iron roasting spit at the other Indian?s head, killing him instantly. By this time, nine of the attackers had died at her hands or Ligon?s. The remaining Indians ran off into the woods. Ligon came down from the loft and the two Woodson boys emerged from their hiding places, unscathed. The Third Anglo-Powhatan War didn?t go any better for the Indians than the second one did. Opechancanough was captured and executed. The Powhatan Confederacy broke up into its constituent tribes, its military power at an end. Future Indian leaders sold additional land to white settlers and moved west or kept to the Pamunkey and Mattaponi reservations, which still exist in Virginia. As for the Woodsons, both John and Robert went on to have large families. Future generations in Virginia and beyond would identify themselves as ?washtub? or ?potato-hole? Woodsons, in remembrance of the 1644 Indian attack. And if you ever visit the museum of the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond, you can see the ?Woodson Rifle? on display in its permanent collection. You?ve heard of at least four ?potato-hole Woodsons.? One was Dolly Payne, born in 1768 in Guilford County, North Carolina. She would become Dolly Madison, First Lady of the United States. Two other potato-hole descendants, Jesse Woodson James and his brother Frank, had some trouble with the law, as you may remember. And, yes, I am also a potato-hole Woodson. I have no plans to rob any banks, but I suppose it is possible that I am about to marry a future U.S. president. John Hood in Daily Journal