• Please Do NOT confuse her with Elizabeth Wilson

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Robert Woodson was born in 1634 at Fleur de Hundred. About 1656, he married Elizabeth (or Sarah) Ferris, daughter of Richard Ferris of Curles. The Ferrises were descended from an ancient Norman family, Ferriers, master of horse to the Duke of Normandy". (Ref. also from Americans of Gentle Birth, Vol. 1. p. Henri de Ferriers of Gascony, according to AMERICAN ANCESTORY: "the Ferris family was originally from Leicestershire, England, (and was) descended from Henri de Ferriers, son of Gwalchelme de 358)

Robert Woodson - Timeline

• Born 1634, according to his own deposition, at Fleur de Hundred
• Included on list of tithables at 'Curles' in 1679
• Married Elizabeth Ferris, daughter of Richard Ferris, possibly in 1656 according to Morton's Woodsons
• Received a land grant 21 October 1687 along with Mr. Richard Ferris, Mr. Giles Carter, William Ferris and Roger Comins for 1785 acres at White Oak Swamp.
• In 1707 made a deed to his grandsons, William and Joseph Lewis according to William & Mary Quarterly, V IX p255.
• Died after 1707 probably in Henrico Co., VA

Children:

• John Woodson b. 1715 m. Judith Tarleton
• Robert Woodson, Jr. b. 1660 Curles, Henrico Co., VA d. 1729 Henrico Co., VA m. 1) Sarah Lewis (3)
• Richard Woodson m. Ann Smith
• Benjamin Woodson (1677-1723 Henrico Co., VA) m. Sarah Porter (b. 1671)
• Joseph Woodson m. Jane Woodson (his cousin and daughter of John and Mary Tucker Woodson)
• Elizabeth Woodson m. William Lewis
• Mary Woodson m. George Payne
• Judith Woodson m. William Cannon

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Children:

1. John Woodson b: 1658 in Curles, Henrico, Virginia
2. Joseph Richard Woodson b: 1664 in Curles, Henrico, Virginia
3. Sarah Woodson b: 1665 in Curles, Henrico, Virginia
4. Benjamin Woodson b: 21 AUG 1666 in Curles, Henrico, Virginia
5. Judith Woodson b: 1667 in Curles, Henrico, Virginia
6. Mary Woodson b: 1678 in Curles, Henrico, Virginia

Source: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db...

Elizabeth Ferris Woodson was the wife of Robert Woodson. They were married in 1656 Curles Henrico County Virginia.

Richard Ferris Woodson b. 1662, d. 1704

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=76792710

Notes http://trevilians.com/others/wood1.htm

ROBERT WOODSON deposed, June 1680,that he was "46 years of age or thereabouts," and, 1 June 1696, that he was aged about 61. He married Elizabeth Ferris, daughter of Richard Ferris. On 21 Oct 1687 Robert Woodson, Richard Ferris and three others patented 1780 acres on White Oak Swamp in Varina Parish and the same day he, John Woodson, Sr., and two others patented 470 acres, also in Henrico county. He held 1157 acres in Henrico County, 1704, and died after 1 Oct 1707

GEDCOM Note

Colonel Robert "Tater Hole" Woodson 1st - ARW - Continental Troops - is the 5th great grandfather of Jesse and Frank James (1634–1707)

Issue of 3 ROBERT WOODSON2 (John1) and Elizabeth Ferris.

I * 6 John,3 This is the "cousin" (nephew) John Woodson mentioned by his uncle, 2 John Woodson,2 in his will dated August 20, 1684. He was born, probably about 1658, at Curles in Henrico county, was a merchant by occupation and married Judith Tarleton, daughter of Stephen Tarleton of New Kent county. There is a looking-glass which formerly belonged to Charles Van Der Veer Woodson of Prince Edward county, which bears this inscription: "This glass belonged to Stephen Tarleton who was my great-grandfather, and died in the year 1687. I have had the present frame put on it this 14th of December, 1794. Signed, Charles Woodson.6"
"In 1712 Judith Tarleton Woodson relinquished her dower right in land deeded by her husband 6 John Woodson,3 merchant of the parish and county of Henrico. He made his will in 1715 and was dead in 1716." (Wm. and Mary Qtly.) "Burke gives but one family of Tarletons in England; to which belonged Sir Banister Tarleton, the British Ranger during the revolution. They were seated at Lintwardine, County Hereford, and bore for arms, gules, a chevron; erminos between three cinquifoils, or: Crest; on a wreath between two ostrich feathers, arg, a mural crown, thereon a leopard's head. Motto: Post Nublia Phoebus. There is no doubt that it was into this family that Sir Thomas Fleming married before emigrating to Virginia. (Americans of Gentle Birth, V. I. p. 360.)

II * 7 Robert3 was born about 1660 at Curles in Henrico county, Virginia where, he spent his entire life, and died there in 1729. His will was recorded in Henrico Court, February, 1729. In it he calls himself Robert Woodson, Sr., to distinguish himself from his son and three of his nephews, all of whom bore the name of Robert. He also names in the will four of his sons and three of his daughters. As he had ten children, it is likely that the three not named in the will were dead at that time. He was twice married; first, to Sarah Lewis who was probably a sister of John Lewis3 of Warner Hall. John Lewis1 and Lydia , his wife, first settled on Poropotank Creek in 1653. To them were born, probably a number of children; one of whom was Major John Lewis2 who married Isabella . To these last was born, November 30, 1669, John Lewis3 who married Elizabeth Warner, daughter of Col. Augustine Warner and wife, Mildred Read. It is probable that Sarah Lewis, wife of 7 Robert Woodson,3 was a daughter of Major John Lewis2 and Isabella . This family became very prominent in colonial affairs and in the annals of Virginia. 7 Robert Woodson3 married, second, Rachel Watkins. "Various branches of the Woodson family number members of the Watkins family among their ascendants. There are several families of this name found among the old settlers. They are of Welch origin; descending from James Watkins "labourer" who was one of the emigrants in the Phoenix about 1608, and who frequently accompanied Captain John Smith in his adventures and voyages of discovery on the "Chisapeack Bay." Some branches of this old and highly honored family settled in Powhatan, Appomattox, Cumberland and other counties in Virginia. Some of the early members of the family engaged in the occupation of manufacturing trays, and for several generations their descendants were called "Tray makers." "Henry Watkins of Malvern Hill.

III * 8 Richard,3 born about 1662, at Curles in Henrico county, married Ann Smith, daughter of Obadiah Smith. In 1729 he made a deed to James Hambleton, for land in Henrico, being part of a tract granted to his father 3 Robert Woodson2 in October, 1704. As he was about sixty-seven years old at the time of making this deed, he probably died within a few years thereafter.

IV * 9 Joseph,3 born about 1664, at Curles in Henrico county, and died October, 1735. He married his second cousin 18 Mary Jane Woodson,4 daughter of 4 John Woodson,' and Mary Tucker, who was the orphan of Samuel Tucker, Captain of the Ship Vine Tree. Samuel Tucker's widow Jane, was married before 1680 to John Pleasants1 of Curles, and died in 1709. Her will was proved in Henrico county in 1709, and names her grand daughter 18 Jane Woodson,4 and grandsons, 15 Joseph Woodson,4 17 Benjamin Woodson4 and 16 Samuel Tucker Woodson.4 Mary Tucker Woodson, mother of 18 Mary Jane Woodson, died in 1710. In her will, proved in Henrico, August 1, 1710, she names a daughter, Jane, and grandson, 46 John Woodson,4 son of daughter Jane, granddaughter 47 Mary,4 daughter of daughter Jane, and grandson 48 Joseph,4 son of daughter Jane. This seems to establish the fact that the wife of 9 Joseph Woodson' was 18 Jane Woodson;4 though her full name may have been, and doubtless was, Mary Jane Woodson. Mary Tucker Woodson also mentions in her will, grandson, "Sanburne Woodson, child of my daughter Mary, wife of my son Joseph." These last names, no doubt, mean Mary Sanburne, wife of 15 Joseph Woodson.4 And the child Sanburne was 66 Sanburne Woodson6 who married Elizabeth Hughes.' 9 Joseph Woodson' died in Goochland county and his will was proved October 15, 1735. In it he names children; 47 Mary Woodson,4 who married 29 Stephen Woodson;4 49 Judith Woodson,4 who married Charles Christian; 50 Martha Woodson,4 who married 61 John Cannon;4 and 51 Tucker Woodson.4 (See Wm. and Mary Qtly.) It appears that the last three children were born in Goochland; so 9 Joseph Woodson' must have moved to that county shortly after the death of his mother-in-law, Mary (Tucker) Woodson who died in Henrico in 1710.

V * 10 Benjamin,3 born about 1666 at Curles in Henrico county and spent his entire life there. He died in 1723 and his will was recorded in Henrico at the August Court, 1723. On June 2, 1722, he patented 178 acres in Goochland county, on Rocky Run, on the head line of Mr. John Woodson. He was married about 1688 to Sarah Porter.

"The English Porters are all descended from William de la Grande, who came over with William the Conqueror. His son Roger or Ralph, was Grand Porteur to Henry I., whence comes the name. Lands were awarded to William de la Grande by the Con queror, in Kenilworth near Warwick. In succeeding centuries they spread to various
parts of England, and in the seventeenth century joined the adventurous nobles emi grating to America." (Amer. Heraldica.) "The first emigration of the Porters to America were the descendants of John Porter, born 1519, at Wraxhall Abbey, in Kenil worth, Warwickshire, England. John Porter, the first in America, founded Windsor, Connecticut. His son, Samuel Porter, with his wife and sister, Mary Porter, settled in Massachussetts. Mary Porter was married in 1658 to Samuel Grant, ascendant of of Gen'l U. S. Grant of the United States army and President of the United States. "From Samuel Porter came Col. John Porter of the Revolution, who married Abigail Buell. Their son, Peter Buell Porter, became a distinguished man; was member of congress from New York, major general in the War of 1812, appointed chief of the army by President Madison but declined, was secretary of state of New York, was secretary of war of the United States 1828-1829, died in 1844. "The Virginia branch of the Porters, William and John, were large patentees of land in Henrico and Cumberland counties, and some of their descendants were found in Lower Norfolk. They intermarried with the Willoughbys, the Kemps, and through them, with the Herberts and Curtises. Captain Thomas Porter, son of Thomas Porter and Mary Kemp, married Elizabeth Dutoit, daughter of Pierre Dutoit and Barbara Bonnet (Huguenots). Their son, Captain John Porter, Gent., lived and died in Cum berland county (the title 'Gent.' indicating that they were of the nobility). Their daughter, Ann Porter, married Charles Sampson, son of Stephen Sampson and Mary Woodson. This leads to the inference that Sarah Porter, who married 10 Benjamin Woodson,3 was of this family of Porters." (Americans of Gentle Birth, Vol. I, p. 354).

VI 11 Sarah,3 born about 1668 at Curles in Henrico county, was married about 1688 or '89 to Edward Moseley. As stated in William and Mary Quarterly, her father, 3 Robert Woodson2 of Henrico, made a deed in 1689 to "daughter Sarah, wife of Edward Moseley." This may have been a bridal present. The descendants of this couple have not been traced.

VII * 12 Elizabeth,3 born about 1670 at Curles in Henrico county, married William Lewis, who may have been a brother to 7 Robert Woodson's3 first wife, Sarah Lewis. It is believed that Elizabeth died comparatively young, and that her widowed husband married again. In William and Mary Quarterly there is this statement. "There is a nuncupative will of William Lewis, who mentions his two sons 59 William Lewis4 and 60 Joseph Lewis,4 and wife Adding, who was, perhaps his second wife." The names of these children are recorded in the fourth generation but farther than that the line has not been traced.

VIII * 13 Judith,3 born about 1673 at Curles in Henrico county, married William Cannon.

IX * 14 Mary,3 born about 1678 at Curles in Henrico county, was married about 1704 to George Payne of Goochland. "The first Goochland county court was held May 21 to June 1, 1728. The first justices were Col. Thomas Randolph of Tuckahoe, presiding, John Fleming, Allen Howard, William Mayo, 22 John Woodson,4 Tarleton Fleming3 and Edward Scott. To these were added in 1728-9, William Cabell, George Payne and James Holman. In 1732 John Fleming and Dudley Diggs were the burgesses. In 1736, Edward Scott and James Holman. In 1740 Capt. James Holman and Capt. Thomas Randolph. The sheriffs were 22 John Woodson,4 1732-34: George Payne 1734-37: Peter Jefferson 1737-39: Robert Payne 1738: Arthur Hopkins 1739-41: Thomas Turpin 1741-43: James Daniel (who married 58 Elizabeth Woodson4), 1743-44 and Isaac Bates 1744." (See The Cabells and Their Kin.) George Payne died in 1744. His will is dated December 3, 1743, and proved January 15, 1744, in Goochland, and names sons John Payne, George Payne, Josias Payne, and wife, Mary. Also granddaughter Agnes Payne, and grandsons Augustin Payne and Jesse Payne. His widow, 14 Mary Woodson,3 was at this time about sixty-six years old, and probably survived but a few years. The date of her death is not known.

"From the frequent intermarriages of members of the Payne family of Goochland county, with families resident in the Northern Neck (such marriages very seldom taking place in other Goochland families), it would seem very probable that George Payne came from that section of Virginia. It seems very likely that he was the 'brother George Payne' named in the wills of Richard Payne of Lancaster county, 1709; and of William Payne of Lancaster 1726. They were sons of William Payne and wife Susannah Merriman, daughter of Richard Merriman, Gent., of Lancaster." (Va. Hist. Mag., Vol. VI., p. 314, Jan. 1899.)

References

• “Historical genealogy of the Woodsons and their connections.” by Woodson, Henry Morton, 1845- 4n (1915) pp. 23-24. < Archive.Org >
• http://www.juch.org/woodson/pafg02.asp#12965 (dead link)
• https://www.genealogy.com/forum/general/topics/outlaws/14734/ Cites
  • Virginia M. Meyer and John Frederick Dorman, Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607-1624/5, The Muster of the Inhabitants of Peirseys (Flowerdieu) Hundred taken the 20th of January,1624, page 23, published by Order of First Families of Virginia, 1607-1624/5, third edition, 1987.
  • Ibid. Woodson, page 708-716.
  • Colonial Records of Virginia, Lists of the Livinge and the Dead in Virginia, Feb. 16th, 1623, page 40, Genealogical Pub. Co, Baltimore,
• http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/TARLETON/2010-06/1275...
• Woodson Family The William and Mary Quarterly Vol. 10, No. 1 (Jul., 1901) , pp. 44-48 Published by: Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1919804
• https://www.jstor.org/stable/23368446?searchText=john+railey+marrie...
• Tidewater Virginia Families: Chapter 15: The Woodson Family (also Butler Ancestors). Page 404. < AncestrySharing >

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Elizabeth (Ferris) Woodson (1634 - abt. 1689)
Elizabeth Woodson formerly Ferris
Born 8 May 1634 in Virginiamap
Daughter of Richard Ferris Sr. and Sarah (Hambleton) Ferris
Sister of Maragret Ferris, Richard Ferris Jr., Mary Sue Ferris, William Ferris and Elizabeth (Ferris) Wilson
Wife of Robert Woodson - married 1656 in Curles,Henrico, Virginiamap
DESCENDANTS descendants
Mother of John Woodson Sr., Robert Woodson Jr., Richard Woodson, Joseph Richard Woodson, Sarah (Woodson) Mosby, Stephen Woodson, Benjamin Woodson, Agnes Woodson, Elizabeth (Woodson) Lewis, Judith (Woodson) Cannon and Mary Jane (Woodson) Payne
Died about 1689 at about age 54 in Curles, Henrico, Virginia Colonymap
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Biography

Elizabeth (Ferris) Woodson was part of a Southern Pioneer Family.
Elizabeth Ferris was born in 1638 in Henrico, Virginia Colony. Her parents were Richard Ferris and Sarah Hambleton. She married Robert Woodson in 1656 Together they had 11 children:

Mary Woodson
Robert Woodson
Elizabeth Woodson
Joseph Woodson
Sarah Woodson
Benjamin Woodson
Judith Woodson
John Woodson
Stephen Woodson
Agnes Woodson
Richard Woodson
She died in 1689 in Henrico, Virginia Colony

Robert Woodson - Elizabeth Ferris
Robert Woodson, son of John and Sarah (Winston) Woodson, was born in Henrico County, Virginia 1634, and died post 1707. He married in 1656 Elizabeth, the daughter of Richard Ferris, who descended from a Norman family, Henri de Gascon of Leicestershire, England. Under date of October 21, 1687 Robert Woodson, Richard Ferris, William Ferris and others had a grant of land covering 1637 acres, while John and Robert Woodson personally owned 531 acres.

Robert lived at Curls, and none of the earlier generation of descendants held prominent offices in the Colony, but served on grand juries, were constables and surveyors. But they were substantial and self respecting citizens of the community, listed as planters owning land and by patent and purchase ran their holdings up to several hundred acres. In these capacities of service they were compelled to have had some education.

Robert and Elizabeth had five sons and four daughters: John, Robert Jr., Richard, Joseph and Benjamin; Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary and Judith.

Father in-law of Elizabeth:

JOHN WOODSON
of
FLOWERDEW PLANTATION, VIRGINIA

r. John WOODSON "The Immigrant" (1586-1644) was among the early settlers of the Jamestowne, Virginia Colony and is a Jamestowne Society qualifying ancestor. He came to Virginia in the ship GEORGE on 19 Apr 1619, as surgeon to a company of British soldiers. A native of Dorsetshire, England, he was an Oxford Student in 1608. He brought with him his wife Sarah from Devonshire, England and they settled at now called Flowerdew Hundred‡, some 30 miles above Jamestown on the south side of James River in what is now Prince George County.

It was, no doubt, at this place that their two sons, John (b.1632) and Robert (b.1634), were born. John and Sarah escaped unharmed during the Indian uprising in 1622. Flowerdew had very few casualties primarily because it was a palisaded settlement. Dr. John WOODSON was killed in the 1644 Indian uprising led by Chief Opechancano, son of Powhatan, at settlements along the James River.

Flowerdew Hundred, located on the west/south side of the James River about twenty (20) miles upriver from Jamestowne and variously referred to as Flourdieu Hundred or Peirsey's Hundred, is probably named after Temperance FLOWERDIEU wife of Sir George YEARDLEY, VA's first Governor, who came to Virginia in January 1619 on the same ship with John and Sarah WOODSON. This about the time of the first legislative assembly in Jamestown - July 30, 1619-August 4, 1619. Flowerdieu was represented in the assembly, the first House of Burgesses, by Ensigne Roffingham and Mr. Jefferson.

The YEARDLEY'S owned the plantation and in 1624 sold it to Abraham PEIRSEY and it became Peirsey's Hundred. When counties were established in 1634 Flowerdew Hundred was part of Charles City County and in 1702 was included in the new Prince George County. Presently, Flowerdew Hundred Foundation (1716 Flowerdew Road, Hopewell, VA 23860) owns and maintains the plantation as a Public Trust.

The Flowerdieu Hundred post windmill, erected in 1621 was recontructed in 1978, stands on a ridge overlooking the James River. Flowerdew Hundred, one of the earliest original land grants in Virginia, has had abundant natural resources at this strategic bend in the James River that have attracted people since prehistoric times. Archaeological excavations at Flowerdew Hundred during the last three decades have uncovered over 200,000 artifacts.

Sarah WOODSON was a brave pioneer woman. In the absence of her husband during the Indian Uprising of April 18, 1644, aided by Robert LIGON, she resisted an attack by the Indians, killing nine. She loaded the gun while LIGON fired, and hearing a noise up the chimney she threw the bed upon the coals, the stifling smoke bringing two Indians down, whom she dispatched. Her sons, Robert in the potato hole and John under the tub, were saved. For many years they were called "Potato Hole" and "Tub." Over the years this story has been passed on from one WOODSON generation to the next and as passed among the various families has varied a bit in details but not in Sarah's bravery in defending her children. John WOODSON, caught in the open on his way home from visiting a patient, was killed. The old Woodson muzzle loading matchlock musket rifle, originally eight feet long and later modified to seven feet six inches, was preserved and now owned by The Virginia Historical Society and is on permanent exhibit in the Virginia Museum in Richmond. Most researchers believe that the WOODSONS were living at Flowerdew Hundred at the time of the 1644 massacre; although, there is apparently no record of whether they were living at Flowerdew Hundred or whether they had already settled on the north side of the James at "Curles". Robert and John WOODSON, were among Tythables at Curles Plantation in 1679. Curles Plantation was on the North side of the James River near Flowerdew Hundred. This plantation was once owned by Robert WOODSON's father-in-law Richard FERRIS, father of his wife Elizabeth FERRIS.

After John WOODSON'S death his Sarah married a DUNWELL and then a JOHNSON. On her death she left a combination inventory and nuncupative will which was recorded January 17, 1660/1. Bequests included John WOODSON, Robert WOODSON and Deborah WOODSON and Elizabeth DUNWELL. Henry Morton WOODSON in Historical Genealogy of the WOODSONS And Their Connections (published Memphis 1915) states that 20 of the 25 charter members of The First Families of Virginia are descendants of John WOODSON. Dr. John Woodson is the progenitor of the WOODSON Family in America. Among his descendants are Dolley Todd Madison, wife of President James Madison and the famous outlaw, Jesse Woodson James.