Obediah Hooper, Sr.

A Patriot of the American Revolution for VIRGINIA. DAR Ancestor # A057772

Disputed Origins

Obediah Hooper, Sr. was not the son of Richard Hooper & Ann Hooper, who died before 1720, leaving one son, Henry Hooper (b c 1702).

Ref: https://espl-genealogy.org/MilesFiles/site/p1150.htm#i114995

There is a better candidate for Obediah's father, although his mother is still unidentified. There was a James Hooper in Hanover County, Virginia, 1723 to 1756, and possibly as early as 1719 (there's a land patent of 1719 that lists only the last name Hooper). Thomas Hooper was likely another son of James Hooper.

Family

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Hooper-122

Obediah Hooper Sr. was born in about 1720 in Hannover County, Virginia. He passed away in about 1803.

Obediah married Massilva Brooks, daughter of Richard Brooks, about 1744 in Hanover County, Virginia. They had the following children:

1. Mary Hooper, born Abt. 1745 in Hanover County, Virginia; died Abt. 1849 in Clark County, GA. She married William White.
2. James Hooper, born October 25, 1746 in Lunenburg County, Virginia; died April 28, 1836 in Lunenburg County, Virginia. He married Elizabeth Chambers January 06, 1781.
3. Thomas Hooper, born Abt. 1747 in Lunenburg County, Virginia; died July 18, 1826 in Greenville, SC. He married Jessie Wright.
4. William Hooper, born Abt. 1749 in Lunenburg County, Virginia; died Abt. 1816 in Franklin County, GA. He married Joicy Carter.
5. Obediah Hooper, born December 15, 1755 in Lunenburg County, Virginia; died May 31, 1839 in Pickens County, GA. He married (1) Sally Gates. He married (2) Sarah B. Saunders. He married (3) Elizabeth Carter.
6. Richard Brooks Hooper, born May 17, 1756 in Lunenburg County, Virginia; died 6 Jan 1846 in Franklin County, Georgia, USA.
7. Amelia Hunt Hooper, born Abt. 1760 in VA; died Abt. 1830 in KY. She married Johnson Monroe December 01, 1781.
8. John Hooper, born Abt. 1760 in Lunenburg County, Virginia; died Abt. 1795. He married Mary Polly Word.
9. Nancy Hooper, born January 25, 1762 in Lunenburg County, Virginia; died March 25, 1843 in Greenville, SC. She married William Goodbelt.
10. Susannah Hooper, born Abt. 1766 in Lunenburg County, Virginia. She married Nathan Perry Abt. 1784 in Tuscaloosa County, AL.
11. Matthew Brooks Hooper, born June 16, 1768 in Lunenburg County, Virginia; died October 11, 1856 in Franklin County, GA. He married Elizabeth Adams Word December 18, 1794 in Pendleton County, NC

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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39780276/obediah-hooper

Obediah Hooper,Sr. was born 1720 in Hanover County, Virginia. His ancestors came from Linkinhorne, Cornwall, England. Obadiah was a tobacco farmer in Lunenburg County, Virginia. In 1752, he bought 301 acres of land on the Meherrin River and lived there until 1783. Obadiah and Massilva sold out to James Jones in 1783. Obediah supported the American Revolution. He is listed in the "Patriots Index," Abstract of record is as follows: Southern Expedition 4. Obediah Hooper for wagon hire, furnished the Militia ordered to the South as per ditto all by ditto E15, 2 of E5, L. 6.18 31 18," establishing proof for membership in D.A.R., and S.A.R. and six of his seven sons fought for the Patriots. The family migrated to South Carolina.

After the war, in 1785, he obtained land grants from the South Carolina, 96th District. In the late 1780's, he and his family moved into the State of Georgia and in August of 1789, he purchased 150 acres of land in Franklin County, Georgia, from James Little. Obediah helped establish the county and was Justice of the Peace from 1796-1798. Obediah died on April 6, 1803, in Franklin County, Georgia. His last will and testament was proved August 3, 1804. Children named in his will were Mary White, James, Thomas, John, Obediah Jr., Matthew, Nancy Goodlett, Richard, Milla Munro, Susannah Perry.

Will of Obediah Hooper, Sr.: In the name of God, Amen, I, Obediah Hooper of the State of Georgia and the County of Franklin, being sickly and weak of body, but of sound mind and perfect memory, thanks be to God for the same and calling to mind the frailty and uncertainty of human life, have made, ordained, constituted and appointed this to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other will or wills by me heretofore made; declaring this only to be my last will and testament. In manner and form following, viz:

First; I give and bequeath to my soul to God, my Great Creator, hoping through the mediation of Jesus Christ to receive remission of all my sins, my body I leave to be decently buried at the direction of my executors hereafter named, and as to what worldly estate it hath pleased God to bestow on me, I give and bequeath in the following manner. viz; I give and bequeath to my daughter, Mary White, one Negro boy named, Bob.

Item, I give and bequeath to my son James, one hundred dollars, Thomas Hooper, John Hooper, Obediah Hooper, and Matthew Hooper, my sons to pay to James twenty-five dollars each of them.

Item, I give and bequeath to my son Thomas, one Negro man named Bob, the son of Jamy Item, - I give and bequeath to my son William, one Negro boy named Jim.

Item, I give and bequeath to my son Obediah, one Negro girl named Jamy, the Judge.

Item, I give and bequeath to my son Richard, one Negro girl named Tamar.

Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter Nancy Goodlett, one Negro woman named Anaka and her child Lidia.

Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter, Amelia Monroe, two hundred and twenty dollars.

Item, I give and bequeath to my son John, one Negro named Jude Item.

I give and bequeath to my daughter Susanna Ferry, during her life time and then to the heirs of her body, one Negro girl named Lucy.

Item, I give and bequeath to my son Matthew, one Negro man named Ned. Old Jim to be sold to some of the legatees. All of my other property not named to be sold the the best of advantage, giving a reasonable time of credit, and to what it shall fall short of two hundred and twenty dollars, then the above Negroes to be hired out until such balance shall be made up.

Item, The above Negroes together with all their future Increase, I give and bequeath in manner as above mentioned, to them and their heirs forever, and I do and also appoint and nominated my beloved sons, James and John Hooper, my executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and disannulling, all will or wills by me hereafter made, and hereby declaring this to be my last will and testament in writing. Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal, this sixteenths day of July in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred (1800).

Signed, sealed and acknowledged in the presence of us, David Humphreys, William King, John Humphreys.

His (Seal)

OBEDIAH HOOPER

Georgia, Franklin County

I, E. A. Phillips, Ordinary of said county, do certify that the above is a true and correct copy of the record as the same appears in Will Book from 1790to 1812, page 47 in my office.

E. A. Phillips, Ordinary

His will dated July 16, 1800, recorded at La Grange, Georgia, probated April 6, 1803, executives of his will were his beloved sons, James and John Hooper.

SOURCE: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39780276/obediah-hooper: accessed 23 September 2022), memorial page for Obediah Hooper Sr. (1720–6 Apr 1803), Find a Grave Memorial ID 39780276, ; Maintained by Charles W. Sanders (contributor 46978292).

He served in the American Revolution with his son, Obadiah Hooper Jr. Obediah Sr. provided a Wagon for hire, furnished the Militia ordered to the South as part of the Southern Expedition. La Rita Robinson, Lisa Waugaman, Laura Robinson, and Lana White joined the Daughters of the American Revolution and are eligible for membership due to his service to our country.

References

• Y-DNA tests of 7 descendants of Obediah Hooper match that of 1 descendant of Thomas Hooper on 24/25 markers (http://www.hooperconnections.com/dnatable%20-%202.html).
• https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/56669480/person/30...
• Court of Ordinary, Franklin County, Georgia, "Probate records, Wills 1786–1813; database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89QM-K2GM?i=61&wc=...), image 62, 64.