WOFFORD
Billie Harris - Aug 27, 2008
Benjamin Wofford
Despite his great legacy, Benjamin Wofford remains something of a mystery.
For a man who left an estate of over $150,000 and has a college named for him, Benjamin Wofford did not leave much of a paper trail. His basic biography is easy enough to recount, but his personality is more challenging. The sources are limited; most of what we know comes from a series of founder’s day talks, newspaper articles, and biographical sketches written after his death.
Joseph Wofford and his four brothers, William, James, John, and Benjamin, migrated from the Rock Creek area of Maryland to Spartanburg in the 1770s. They settled in different parts of the county, from Glendale, where William Wofford built his iron works, to the area around Woodruff, to the Enoree River, to the Tyger River, where Joseph Wofford made his home. In the same area Hugh Llewellyn, a Welsh migrant who had come to the area from Pennsylvania, settled with a daughter, Martha, who soon married Joseph Wofford. The Woffords were eventually swept up in the American Revolutionary War, and they did not all choose the same side. While William and Joseph were both Patriot officers, another of their brothers, the somewhat wealthier Benjamin, was a Loyalist.
Joseph and Martha Wofford had six children, one of whom, born the night of October 19, 1780, was Benjamin Wofford. Named for his Loyalist uncle, Benjamin was born the same night that, according to family tradition, Joseph Wofford was captured by Loyalist militia and nearly murdered. As the story goes, only the entreaties of the expectant mother saved his life. Whether true or not, the truth behind the story is that the Carolina backcountry had not become a stable society when Benjamin Wofford was born, and it continued to be a rough place to live.
Martha Llewellyn was a religious woman, but her husband was not. After years of attending worship services by herself, or with one of her sons in tow, Joseph went along, and eventually was converted. So was the young Benjamin, who, after hearing the preaching of Rev. George Dougherty and Rev. Lewis Myers, soon felt a call to preach. Traveling to the west, to central Tennessee, Benjamin Wofford was licensed by the Rev. William McKendree, a future Methodist bishop, and he preached as a local pastor for a year under the supervision of another minister in western Kentucky. In 1806, he applied for admission on trial as a member of the Western Annual Conference, and had the recommendation of the circuit he was serving. The conference moved to admit him on trial with the condition he take steps to free the two slaves he owned in South Carolina. He continued to work in 1806 and into early 1807, but apparently left before the 1807 conference and did not pursue ordination there.
He had definitely returned to South Carolina by July 1807, because on July 30, 1807, he married Anna Todd. His new bride was the only child of Thomas and Ann Todd, who were among the wealthiest landowners in southern Spartanburg County. Ben’s desire to marry was probably chiefly responsible for his decision to leave the active ministry, for his ownership of slaves would not have prevented him from serving in South Carolina. With his new wife, Ben settled into a house built for them by Anna’s father. They lived there for two years, until Thomas Todd died in 1809, when they moved into the larger house with Ann Todd.
During the years they spent on the Todd family farm, Ben was no doubt busy managing his mother-in-law’s property. However, he was able to renew his service in the Methodist ministry. In November 1814, he was ordained deacon by Bishop Francis Asbury at Mount Bethel Academy in Newberry and continued his service as a local pastor. In 1816, he was admitted to the South Carolina Annual Conference on trial and appointed as the junior preacher on the Enoree Circuit, where he served in 1817. In that year, he and Anna gave an acre and a half of land to build a Methodist meeting house near their home, in which Ben worshiped and preached for many years. He was appointed to serve the Reedy River Circuit in southern Greenville County for 1818, and at the 1818 conference, was ordained an elder in the Methodist Church. He returned to Reedy River for 1819. This would be his last appointment, though he continued to serve as a local pastor for the rest of his life.
Ann Todd’s death in 1818 made Anna Todd Wofford a wealthy woman, and that wealth is the seed from which Wofford College later grew, but it also quite likely was the reason for Ben’s second decision to leave the active ministry. At the 1820 conference, he located, or ceased taking annual appointments from the bishop, though he retained his ordination and his right to preach. The work of managing the Todd family farm, and the possibility that an appointment would take him far away from Spartanburg, made his retirement from the active ministry necessary. Anna and Benjamin, who had no children, continued to live on the Todd family farm for some seventeen more years. One of Ben’s nieces came to live with them to help Anna with her work.
From the ministry, Ben turned to making money. As a large landowner, he could influence the type of development that occurred in his part of the county. As early as 1816, he sold some land to Phillip Weaver, the man who built the first small textile factory in Spartanburg. Later, he sold sixty acres along the Tyger River to the South Carolina Manufactory for another early textile factory. These did not survive, though others did. Early on, Benjamin Wofford moved into investing, lending money to help people start businesses. He invested in several of the state banks. In a place like Spartanburg, with no banks in the village, men with funds like Ben Wofford played an important role in the growth of the local economy. It appears that he left the more speculative type of investments to others, concentrating on making money through interest and dividends.
His marriage to Anna Todd Wofford remained childless, and on October 2, 1835, at the age of 51, Anna Todd Wofford died. Within a year, on September 6, 1836, Benjamin married again, this time to Maria Scott Barron, who lived at the time in East Tennessee. Maria Barron Wofford, at age 33, was 23 years younger than her husband. Apparently a woman of some wealth herself, Maria brought additional assets to the marriage. She did not want to live on the Todd family farm, and Benjamin himself seems to have grown weary of rural life. He had been spending winters in Columbia for several years. The new couple moved into Spartanburg village, living near the courthouse square in a large house.
We presume that Benjamin Wofford continued, after his marriage to Maria Wofford and his move into the village, continued his life about as he had lived it before. He was involved in the founding of Central Methodist Church in Spartanburg in 1837-38, serving as a trustee. In an arrangement with other leading members of the church, he purchased a piece of land on the northeast corner of today’s Daniel Morgan and Church streets for use as the church’s parsonage. His investments would have helped to build the growing village, which had been chartered in 1831. His wealth and standing in the community would have brought him into contact with others in the town who were advocating for economic development.
Supporting Methodist higher education had been in Ben Wofford’s mind for some time, if we can infer a few things. Along with other South Carolina Methodists, he had contributed to Randolph-Macon College in Virginia in the 1830s. In 1844, he attempted to purchase land near Limestone Springs, in present day Cherokee County, apparently intending to give it to the Annual Conference to found a college. The deal fell through over a small amount of money, and the land was later purchased by a Baptist clergyman for $10,000. It eventually became Limestone College. Ben apparently felt rebuffed, later saying that he thought the clergy in the conference did not want to start a church-related college in the state.
In the last years of his life, Benjamin Wofford’s thoughts turned toward his legacy. He told one nephew that “It is growing on my hands. Here is nearly $150,000. Every year it is augmented. I must leave it behind me, so [as] to do some good. What shall I do with it?” Some sources indicate that he was planning to disperse his assets widely among a number of church-related charities. But, a visit from a good friend, the Rev. Hugh Andrew Crawford Walker, probably in the summer of 1849, helped settle Ben’s thinking. Walker advised him that spreading his resources out widely would have comparatively little effect. The gifts, Walker believed, would not last. “Why not found a college- spreading widely- increasing in power and goodness through the ages as they come,” the minister asked. After persuading Benjamin Wofford that the conference did indeed want to start a college for Methodists in the state, Walker took his leave, with the promise to write down a summary of their conversation and send it to Wofford. A few months later, on February 1, 1850, Benjamin Wofford signed a will that left $100,000 to found a college.
Ten months later, he was dead. Word quickly spread of his large gift of funds to found a college in Spartanburg. The size of the gift drew attention well beyond the state. Mrs. Wofford was, the stories go, less than pleased to see so much of his estate pass out of her control. When the college opened, the faculty went to great lengths to honor her as a co-founder. However, her late husband did not leave her penniless. Indications are that she owned land outside of the state, and brought some wealth to the marriage. She inherited money, land, and the household from her husband, items that were rightly hers, but that were also worth at least $17,500.
Benjamin Wofford has been the subject of numerous talks and articles over the years. He has been compared with everyone from Benjamin Franklin to Ebenezer Scrooge. His thriftiness has been counted as selfishness, his precision in business affairs has led people to think him a heartless and mean man. Most people comment on his grim appearance, best known from one drawing and one painting. Stories and anecdotes about his dealings with other businessmen in the village are few, but generally similar. He was described as an “earnest but methodical preacher,” which may imply that he was, at the very least, dull.
And some of this may, in fact, be true. Nevertheless, to focus only on these aspects of Benjamin Wofford’s life is unfair. Alumnus and trustee John B. Cleveland recognized this. In 1888, at the laying of the cornerstone of Alumni Hall, Cleveland spoke of Ben’s finer qualities. “Plain, simple, unostentatious, thus he worked from day to day,” Yet, as he grew older, he became more misunderstood. “His thrift was called avarice, his economy, selfishness, his business exactness, meanness. And yet let us suppose he was not all of these. Would we be here today?
Cleveland suggested another way that Benjamin Wofford could have lived. He could have lived well on his small fortune, with a nice carriage, fine food, expensive clothes, and a fancy home. Then, Cleveland suggested, his neighbors would have both admired and envied him, but they surely would not have called him a miser. For Cleveland, the true greatness of Benjamin Wofford is that he did not choose this type of life.
Photos: the pen and ink drawing of Benjamin Wofford by William H. Scarborough, the Tood family home, Ben and Maria's home in Spartanburg, the W. K. Barclay portrait.
-Phillip Stone
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Then here's another site:
http://members.aol.com/bert1310/WOFFORD.html
I'm copying and pasting info from that site because sometimes they disappear and the information isn't available.
MY ANCESTORS
Compiled By: Gladys Stovall Armstrong
Also The Ancestors Of My Late Brother - Law, James A. Allen - His Ancestor Marked with # . Mine with *
William Wofford , b. ca 1648 -- St. Marys Co., Maryland
d. 1680 -- St. Marys Co., Maryland married Elizabeth Unknown
KNOWN CHILDREN OF WILLIAM AND ELIZABETH WOFFORD
1) John Wofford, b. ca 1678 -- St. Marys Co., Maryland , d. ca 1756 -- Frederick Co., Maryland , married Mary Bell Hosey (HOSEA), ca 1727, likely in Montgomery, MD. She was b. ca : 1710 Prince Georg, MD. died 1724, ,Rock Creek Middlesex ,MD.
2) *William Wofford , b. ca 1674 -- St. Marys Co., Maryland , died 1764 -- Prince Geroge, Co., Maryland, married Mary WILLOWBEE
CHILDREN OF WILLIAM WOFFORD AND MARY WILLOWBEE
CHILDREN:
1) William Wofford, b. ca 1701 -- Prince Edward Co., Maryland died 1788, married #1. Mary Unknown, married #2. Hannah Unknown, married #3. Abigail Terrell,
2) *Absalom Wofford, b. ca : 1710 -- Prince Geroge, Co., Maryland d. 1755 -- Prince Geroge, Co., Maryland, Married Sarah HOSEY
3) Elizabeth Wofford, b. ca : 1705 , d. 14 AUG 1727, married Unknown Willowbee
4) Sarah Wofford, b ca 1707 (nothing known)
5) Job Wofford, b. ca 1709, (nothing known)
6) James Wofford, b. ca 1711, (nothing known)
7) John Wofford, b. ca 1713, (nothing known)
8) Benjamin Wofford, b. ca 1715 (nothing known)
9) Jane Wofford, b. ca ? married Spencer Sr. Bobo
CHILDREN OF ABSALOM WOFFORD AND SARAH HOSEY
1) William Wofford, b. 25 OCT 1728 -- Rock Creek Frederick Co., Maryland
d. 1823 -- Tocca, Habersham, Co., Georgia married #1. Sarah Cameron; Married #2. Nancy Greenleaf; Married #3. Mary Bobo
2) John Wofford, b. 1730 -- Rock Creek Frederick Co., Maryland, died 1812, married Eleanor 'Sarah' BUSHROD,
3) Sarah Wofford, b. 1738 -- Rock Creek, Prince George Co., MD
4) Joseph Capt. Joe Wofford, b. 1742 -- Rock Creek Frederick Co., Maryland ,
d. 1827 -- 96th District, South Carolina, married Martha LLEWELLYN, JUN 1768, daughter of Hugh : LLEWELLYN
5) James Jimmie (Capt.) Wofford, b. 3 SEP 1743 -- Prince Geroge, Co., Maryland , d. 14 JUL 1815 -- 96th District, South Carolina , married 13 Sept 1769 to Anna Kathanna Hoppaugh
6)* Benjamin SR. Wofford, ( Was A Torie) b. 1745 -- Rock Creek Frederick Co., Maryland d. 1815 -- Huntsville, Madison Co., Alabama Mary LLEWELLYN, daughter of Hugh LLEWELLYN
7) Rebecca Wofford, b. 1750 -- Rock Creek Frederick Co., Maryland, died 1824, Camden District, York Co., SC married William CAMP Sr
8) Hannah Wofford, b. 1751 -- Rock Creek Frederick Co., Maryland died 1820, , Jackson Co., GA. married Absalon WOFFORD, her cousin.
9) Absalom (Jr) Wofford b.? ( Nothing Known)
10) Jeremiah Wofford, b. ? (nothing Known)
Benjamin WOFFORD, born ca 1745 in Rock Creek MD.( Now Montgomery CO. MD) married Mary LlEWELLYN, daughter of Hugh Llewellyn. She was b. ca. 1744/1749, Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA died 1816, Huntsville, Madison Co., AL. Benjamin was a torie and was stripped of his land when the British were defeated, A lot of descendents do not want to admit he was a Tory, as his brothers were not, but it is well doccumented. In a letter to the assembly of SC. he ask for clemency, he said " I place myself on the Mercy of my country, where I have lived ever since". He seem to dissappeard for several years, but he is found in Kentucky in Warren County in 1805. from there he went to Madison County AL. He died there in Huntsville in 1815 They HAD THE FOLLOWING CHILDREN:
1) Benjamin, born 11 October, 1772, lived in lived Madison Co., Ala., then MS. died 20 March 1854, Tippah CO. MS. Married Martha Llewellyn
2) Joseph, born ca 1765, b. 96 Dist. (part that later became Spartanburg Dist.). S. C.
3) Ann, born ca 1766, , 96 Dist. (part that later became Spartanburg Dist.) SC.; d. before 1816; m. 19 Oct., 1785, Burwell J. Thompson.
4)# Precious, born ca 1767, 96 Dist. (part that later become Spartanburg Dist.). SC.; d. before 1843; m. DR. Samuel Thompson. ( Brother to sister's husband)( FOR THIS LINE SEE THOMPSON LINK AT BOTTOM OF PAGE )
5) William Wofford, b. abt. 1769, 96 Dist. (part that later become Spartanburg Dist.). S. C.; d. aft. 1850, Texas; m. Frances (Fanny) b. abt. 1773,, S. C.; d. in Texas.
6)* Martha "Patsy", born ca 1777, married #1. Andrew BOLYN (BOLIN) Md #2. Allison Abel Lewis ( who was murdered in TX) Patsy was a controversal person as she left her husband for anouther unnamed man. It is believed her child Malinda Mira was probally by this man, that is why she gave the child her maiden name. (THIS LINE BELOW)
7) John, Born ca . 1785, 96 Dist. (part that later,became Spartanburg Dist.), S. C.; d. 1869; m..24 Nov., 1810, Madison Co. (Miss. Ter.) Ala., Elizabeth Hewlett
CHILDREN OF MARTHA 'PATSY" WOFFORD
1)* Malinda Mira, born 23 April, 1775, died 4 APR 1849, , San Augustine Co, TX
, married George H. STOVALL, 30 April, 1815, Franklin Co TN. (This is a puzzle to me, while her father died in AL, the same year she married in TN.) ( THIS LINE BELOW)
(BY SECOND HUSBAND)
2. Precious LEWIS,1809, Huntsville, Madison Co., AL, (MS Territory) died 21 JAN 1861, Waco, McLennan Co., TX. married David BLANKENSHIP
3) Allison Abel LEWIS Jr .(nothing Known)
4) Margaret LEWIS (nothing known)
5) Mary LEWIS (nothing known)
7) Sarah LEWIS (nothing known)
8) George LEWIS, b. 11 AUG 1818 Missouri Terr. died 9 DEC 1879,
9) Burwell J. LEWIS, b. 2 APR 1824, , ,MO died 27 FEB 1861, married Clay HAYS, 18 APR 1859,
GEORGE H. STOVALL, , b. 1794-98, Wilkes Co. GA. Md. Malinda Mira Wofford, 30 April 1815, Franklin Co. TN. George died 4 April 1849, San Augustine Co. TX. Malinda was b. 23 April 1775 Amherst Co. VA. Died after 1860, San Augustine Co. TX. Both are buried at Chapel Hill Cem. seven miles East of San Augustine,TX.
THIS IS THE FIRST LINE OF STOVALL"S TO GO TO TX. GEORGE H. AND HIS WIFE MALINDA WITH HIS BROTHER THOMAS. S. THEY CROSSED THE SABINE RIVER NEAR SAN AUGUSTINE, TX. IN LATE 1835 OR EARLY 1836. WHEN THEY ARRIVED THEY HAD EIGHT CHILDREN AND LATER HAD TWO MORE.
CHILDREN:
1. James B. ca. 1816, Wilkes Co. Ga. Md. #1. Nancy Gwin,1834; Md. # 2. Susan J. ? 1837; Md. # 3. Elizabeth Hale 1860. d. 18 Nov. 1880, Woods Co. TX.
2. Martha G. b. 11 Feb. 1818, Franklin Co. TN.; Md. # 1. ? Md. # 2. Edwin Harry Morrow, 12 May, 1839 San Augustine, TX., d. 23 Sept. 1878 Cherokee Co. TX.
3. Francis (Frank) Marion, b. 1820, Md. #1. Marla Jane Fulton Md. #2. Rachel Redwine, 13 April 1865, d. 1883( he was suppose to have been married 5 times)
4. John Eddington; b. 26 Jan. 1823, Franklin Co. TN. Md.# 1. Caroline Shoemaker, 18 Jan.1846; Md. # 2. Eliza J. Hamblem 16 Dec. 1849, d. 20 Nov. 1879, Oklahoma Territory.
5. Thomas Jefferson, B. 15 Jan. 1825, Franklin Co. TN. Md. Martha Merrit Sansom, 16 Jan.1844, San Augustine, TX. d. 21 Oct. 1862, Brownsville, TX. While on a buying trip to TX.* (See This Line Below)
6.David M. b.27 Feb. 1828, Franklin Co. TN. Md. #1. Octavia R. Bryan; Md. #2. Sallie P. 10 Sept. 1879, d. 21 March 1912.
7. William A. b. 1830, Franklin CO.TN. Md. #1.Louise Reeder, 11 Oct. 1855; Md. #2. Susan J. Armstrong, 29 Oct. 1857. Jasper Co. TX.
8.Sims Kelly, b. 11 Oct. 1833, Franklin Co. TN.
Md. Fanny H. Berry, 17 Oct. 1861, d. 4 June 1912.
9. Mary Ann, b. ca. 1841, San Augustine Co. TX. Md. #1. ---Harrell, 21 Jan. 1858, San Augustine Co. TX.
10. Malinda, b. ca. 1847 (never married)
On the 1850 census this farily shows a girl, Mlussa, This is not beleived to be a child.
FACT: Six of these brothers were Methodist Ministers: Francis; John E.; David M.; Thomas Jefferson; William A.; and Sims Kelly.
FIFTH GENERATION:
THOMAS JEFFERSON STOVALL AND MARTHA MERRITT SANSOM, Thomas born 15 Jan, 1825, Franklin Co. Tn. md. Martha Sansom 16 Jan. 1844, San Augustine Co, Tx. died 21 Oct. 1862,
Brownsville, Tx. (while on a shopping trip), Martha died 20 Jan. 1894. She was born in Ms. 29 April, 1829.
CHILDREN:
1. George H, ; born 7 May, 1846, San Augustine, Tx. married #1. Rosalie Berry, 4 Dec. 1867, #2. Josephine Mullins, 6 March 1879,
md. #3. Laura McCall June 1, 1886
2. Malinda Elizabeth, born 30 Oct. 1848, San Augustine Co,Tx. md. Abr Williams, 1 Jan. 1886
3. Mattie J. born 9 Feb. 1851, married Walter Cross (she was a teacher)
4. James Thomas (twin), born 28 April, 1853, Cherokee Co, Tx. married Eudora Killion 17 Dec. 1879, Anderson Co. Tx. died 26 July 1931, Big Spring, Howard Co. Tx., bd. Dorm Cem.,
5. William E. (twin) b. 28 April, 1853, Cherokee Co., md. Nancy Ann Oliver, died 30 May, 1915, Ft. Worth, Tx. bd. at Smithville
6. Amanda M. , born 25 July, 1855, Cherokee
County, Tx. md.-----Hightower, died 1 March, 1884
7.Sims Maxwell, born 26 March, 1858, md. M.A. Rose 10 Dec. 1878, died 15 Jan. 1884
8. J. David, born 13 Nov. 1860, md. Sallie ? died Feb. 20, 1888
SIXTH GENERATION:
JAMES THOMAS STOVALL,b. 28 April, 1853 Cherokee Co. TX. Md. EUDORA ANN KILLION (DORA) , 17 Dec. 1879, Anderson Co. TX. James d. 26 June 1931, Stanton, Howard Co. TX. Eudora d. 14 Nov. 1937 Monahans, TX. buried in Dorn Cem. Colorado, TX. * (CLICK ON KILLION AT BOTTOM OF PAGE FOR KILLION LINE)
CHILDREN:
1. Ada Mary, b. 24 Feb. 1881 Fields Chapel, Anderson Co. TX. Md. 1 Oct. 1904 to Frank Autrey Anderson Co. TX. d. 1972 Howard Co. TX. d. 1972 Howard Co. Dorm Cem.
2. Addie Elizabeth, b. 8 Aug. 1882, Fields Chapel, Anderson Co. TX. (never married) d. 14 Aug. 19 Bd. Dorm Cem. Co;orado, TX.
3. John Murkum (Merk) b. April 1884, Md. Ima Jenever Smith, 23 May, 1919. Anderson Co. TX. d. 4 Oct. 1981 *(See This Line Below)
4. William Colby, b. 16 April 1886, Md. 28 June 1911 to Docia Moore, d. 2 July 1971. bd. Strong Mem. Cem. Elkhart, TX.
5. Ida Viola, b. 4 Feb. 1888 Fields Chapel, Anderson Co. TX. Md. 17 May 1914 to C.T. Revell, d. ?
6. Edward Nosko, b. 9 Jan. 1891, d. young, 28 Nov. 1905, Pert, Anderson Co. TX. bd. Neches Cem. Neches, Anderson Co. TX.
7. Dora Jane, b. 23 July 1893, Md. Earnie Moody, 24 Dec. 1914
8. Willie Betrice(Bea) b. 21 Nov. 1895, Pert, Anderson Co. TX. Md. J.B. Metcalf.
9. James Clifton, b. 31 May 1998, Pert, Anderson Co. TX. Md.#1 Callie Moody, Jan. 1920. #2. Md. Laura Clyde, 12 1974.
10. Leta Lois, b. 27 March, 1900, Pert. Anderson Co. TX. Md. Luther Morrow, d. 1 Dec. 1982. Pheonix, AZ.
SEVENTH GENERATION:
JOHN MERKUM (MERK) STOVALL b.
4 April, 1884, Md. IMA JENERVA SMITH,
23 May, 1919, d. 4 Oct. 1981, Ima d. 6 June, 1981. (SEE HOW TO CONNECT TO SMITH WEB PAGE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE.)
CHILDREN:
1. Leta Louise, b. 14 Feb. 1920, Salmon, Anderson Co. TX. Md. #1. James Allen, (3 Children: Daniel Carrol; Linda Patricia: Jimmy Darryl.) Md. #2. Cliffton Williams, 29 April, 1955. Anderson Co. TX.
2. John Hershell, b. 14 Sept. 1921, Salmon, Anderson Co. Tx. Md. Ollie Brantly, 17 August, 1943, Overton, TX. d. 6 Jan. 1985, Shady Point, OK. ( 2 Children: John Howard; Robbie Gail).
3. James Oliver, b. 26 May, 1926, Md. Naomi Thompson, ca. 1960, d. 9 May, 1963, bd. Concord Cem. Anderson Co.TX.( One son, John; who was adopted by Dora after Jim died).
4.Dora Orlean, b. 21 May, 1928, Md. Raymond Russell, 1 June 1946. Palestine, Anderson Co. TX. ( 3 Birth Children, and two adopted, Raymond Eugene(Gene); Ben(Bennie); Ricky Gayle, John(Johnnie); Jeffrey;)
5. Ima Geneva, b. 3 Jan. 1931, Md. 4 Times, last to Preston Morvant. d. 21 January, 1994. (One adopted daughter, Danielle)
6. Edwin Lawrence, b. 20 July, 1933, Palestine, Anderson Co. TX. Md. Marita Ben Denson 15 April 1954, Anderson Co. TX. (3 Children: Robert(Bobby); Vickie Kay; Kennth;)
7. Gladys Marie, b. 29 May, 1936 Md. #1. Charles Branson, had two children but they were adopted by husband #2. Md. #2. Donald Bert Armstrong, 28 March, 1961, Buras, Plaqumines Parish, LA.(Children: Cynthia Dianne; Steven Charles.)
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http://members.aol.com/bert1310/WOFFORD.html
MY ANCESTORS
Compiled By: Gladys Stovall Armstrong
Also The Ancestors Of My Late Brother - Law, James A. Allen - His Ancestor Marked with # . Mine with *
William Wofford , b. ca 1648 -- St. Marys Co., Maryland
d. 1680 -- St. Marys Co., Maryland married Elizabeth Unknown
KNOWN CHILDREN OF WILLIAM AND ELIZABETH WOFFORD
1) John Wofford, b. ca 1678 -- St. Marys Co., Maryland , d. ca 1756 -- Frederick Co., Maryland , married Mary Bell Hosey (HOSEA), ca 1727, likely in Montgomery, MD. She was b. ca : 1710 Prince Georg, MD. died 1724, ,Rock Creek Middlesex ,MD.
2) *William Wofford , b. ca 1674 -- St. Marys Co., Maryland , died 1764 -- Prince Geroge, Co., Maryland, married Mary WILLOWBEE
CHILDREN OF WILLIAM WOFFORD AND MARY WILLOWBEE
CHILDREN:
1) William Wofford, b. ca 1701 -- Prince Edward Co., Maryland died 1788, married #1. Mary Unknown, married #2. Hannah Unknown, married #3. Abigail Terrell,
2) *Absalom Wofford, b. ca : 1710 -- Prince Geroge, Co., Maryland d. 1755 -- Prince Geroge, Co., Maryland, Married Sarah HOSEY
3) Elizabeth Wofford, b. ca : 1705 , d. 14 AUG 1727, married Unknown Willowbee
4) Sarah Wofford, b ca 1707 (nothing known)
5) Job Wofford, b. ca 1709, (nothing known)
6) James Wofford, b. ca 1711, (nothing known)
7) John Wofford, b. ca 1713, (nothing known)
8) Benjamin Wofford, b. ca 1715 (nothing known)
9) Jane Wofford, b. ca ? married Spencer Sr. Bobo
CHILDREN OF ABSALOM WOFFORD AND SARAH HOSEY
1) William Wofford, b. 25 OCT 1728 -- Rock Creek Frederick Co., Maryland
d. 1823 -- Tocca, Habersham, Co., Georgia married #1. Sarah Cameron; Married #2. Nancy Greenleaf; Married #3. Mary Bobo
2) John Wofford, b. 1730 -- Rock Creek Frederick Co., Maryland, died 1812, married Eleanor 'Sarah' BUSHROD,
3) Sarah Wofford, b. 1738 -- Rock Creek, Prince George Co., MD
4) Joseph Capt. Joe Wofford, b. 1742 -- Rock Creek Frederick Co., Maryland ,
d. 1827 -- 96th District, South Carolina, married Martha LLEWELLYN, JUN 1768, daughter of Hugh : LLEWELLYN
5) James Jimmie (Capt.) Wofford, b. 3 SEP 1743 -- Prince Geroge, Co., Maryland , d. 14 JUL 1815 -- 96th District, South Carolina , married 13 Sept 1769 to Anna Kathanna Hoppaugh
6)* Benjamin SR. Wofford, ( Was A Torie) b. 1745 -- Rock Creek Frederick Co., Maryland d. 1815 -- Huntsville, Madison Co., Alabama Mary LLEWELLYN, daughter of Hugh LLEWELLYN
7) Rebecca Wofford, b. 1750 -- Rock Creek Frederick Co., Maryland, died 1824, Camden District, York Co., SC married William CAMP Sr
8) Hannah Wofford, b. 1751 -- Rock Creek Frederick Co., Maryland died 1820, , Jackson Co., GA. married Absalon WOFFORD, her cousin.
9) Absalom (Jr) Wofford b.? ( Nothing Known)
10) Jeremiah Wofford, b. ? (nothing Known)
Benjamin WOFFORD, born ca 1745 in Rock Creek MD.( Now Montgomery CO. MD) married Mary LlEWELLYN, daughter of Hugh Llewellyn. She was b. ca. 1744/1749, Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA died 1816, Huntsville, Madison Co., AL. Benjamin was a torie and was stripped of his land when the British were defeated, A lot of descendents do not want to admit he was a Tory, as his brothers were not, but it is well doccumented. In a letter to the assembly of SC. he ask for clemency, he said " I place myself on the Mercy of my country, where I have lived ever since". He seem to dissappeard for several years, but he is found in Kentucky in Warren County in 1805. from there he went to Madison County AL. He died there in Huntsville in 1815 They HAD THE FOLLOWING CHILDREN:
1) Benjamin, born 11 October, 1772, lived in lived Madison Co., Ala., then MS. died 20 March 1854, Tippah CO. MS. Married Martha Llewellyn
2) Joseph, born ca 1765, b. 96 Dist. (part that later became Spartanburg Dist.). S. C.
3) Ann, born ca 1766, , 96 Dist. (part that later became Spartanburg Dist.) SC.; d. before 1816; m. 19 Oct., 1785, Burwell J. Thompson.
4)# Precious, born ca 1767, 96 Dist. (part that later become Spartanburg Dist.). SC.; d. before 1843; m. DR. Samuel Thompson. ( Brother to sister's husband)( FOR THIS LINE SEE THOMPSON LINK AT BOTTOM OF PAGE )
5) William Wofford, b. abt. 1769, 96 Dist. (part that later become Spartanburg Dist.). S. C.; d. aft. 1850, Texas; m. Frances (Fanny) b. abt. 1773,, S. C.; d. in Texas.
6)* Martha "Patsy", born ca 1777, married #1. Andrew BOLYN (BOLIN) Md #2. Allison Abel Lewis ( who was murdered in TX) Patsy was a controversal person as she left her husband for anouther unnamed man. It is believed her child Malinda Mira was probally by this man, that is why she gave the child her maiden name. (THIS LINE BELOW)
7) John, Born ca . 1785, 96 Dist. (part that later,became Spartanburg Dist.), S. C.; d. 1869; m..24 Nov., 1810, Madison Co. (Miss. Ter.) Ala., Elizabeth Hewlett
CHILDREN OF MARTHA 'PATSY" WOFFORD
1)* Malinda Mira, born 23 April, 1775, died 4 APR 1849, , San Augustine Co, TX
, married George H. STOVALL, 30 April, 1815, Franklin Co TN. (This is a puzzle to me, while her father died in AL, the same year she married in TN.) ( THIS LINE BELOW)
(BY SECOND HUSBAND)
2. Precious LEWIS,1809, Huntsville, Madison Co., AL, (MS Territory) died 21 JAN 1861, Waco, McLennan Co., TX. married David BLANKENSHIP
3) Allison Abel LEWIS Jr .(nothing Known)
4) Margaret LEWIS (nothing known)
5) Mary LEWIS (nothing known)
7) Sarah LEWIS (nothing known)
8) George LEWIS, b. 11 AUG 1818 Missouri Terr. died 9 DEC 1879,
9) Burwell J. LEWIS, b. 2 APR 1824, , ,MO died 27 FEB 1861, married Clay HAYS, 18 APR 1859,
GEORGE H. STOVALL, , b. 1794-98, Wilkes Co. GA. Md. Malinda Mira Wofford, 30 April 1815, Franklin Co. TN. George died 4 April 1849, San Augustine Co. TX. Malinda was b. 23 April 1775 Amherst Co. VA. Died after 1860, San Augustine Co. TX. Both are buried at Chapel Hill Cem. seven miles East of San Augustine,TX.
THIS IS THE FIRST LINE OF STOVALL"S TO GO TO TX. GEORGE H. AND HIS WIFE MALINDA WITH HIS BROTHER THOMAS. S. THEY CROSSED THE SABINE RIVER NEAR SAN AUGUSTINE, TX. IN LATE 1835 OR EARLY 1836. WHEN THEY ARRIVED THEY HAD EIGHT CHILDREN AND LATER HAD TWO MORE.
CHILDREN:
1. James B. ca. 1816, Wilkes Co. Ga. Md. #1. Nancy Gwin,1834; Md. # 2. Susan J. ? 1837; Md. # 3. Elizabeth Hale 1860. d. 18 Nov. 1880, Woods Co. TX.
2. Martha G. b. 11 Feb. 1818, Franklin Co. TN.; Md. # 1. ? Md. # 2. Edwin Harry Morrow, 12 May, 1839 San Augustine, TX., d. 23 Sept. 1878 Cherokee Co. TX.
3. Francis (Frank) Marion, b. 1820, Md. #1. Marla Jane Fulton Md. #2. Rachel Redwine, 13 April 1865, d. 1883( he was suppose to have been married 5 times)
4. John Eddington; b. 26 Jan. 1823, Franklin Co. TN. Md.# 1. Caroline Shoemaker, 18 Jan.1846; Md. # 2. Eliza J. Hamblem 16 Dec. 1849, d. 20 Nov. 1879, Oklahoma Territory.
5. Thomas Jefferson, B. 15 Jan. 1825, Franklin Co. TN. Md. Martha Merrit Sansom, 16 Jan.1844, San Augustine, TX. d. 21 Oct. 1862, Brownsville, TX. While on a buying trip to TX.* (See This Line Below)
6.David M. b.27 Feb. 1828, Franklin Co. TN. Md. #1. Octavia R. Bryan; Md. #2. Sallie P. 10 Sept. 1879, d. 21 March 1912.
7. William A. b. 1830, Franklin CO.TN. Md. #1.Louise Reeder, 11 Oct. 1855; Md. #2. Susan J. Armstrong, 29 Oct. 1857. Jasper Co. TX.
8.Sims Kelly, b. 11 Oct. 1833, Franklin Co. TN.
Md. Fanny H. Berry, 17 Oct. 1861, d. 4 June 1912.
9. Mary Ann, b. ca. 1841, San Augustine Co. TX. Md. #1. ---Harrell, 21 Jan. 1858, San Augustine Co. TX.
10. Malinda, b. ca. 1847 (never married)
On the 1850 census this farily shows a girl, Mlussa, This is not beleived to be a child.
FACT: Six of these brothers were Methodist Ministers: Francis; John E.; David M.; Thomas Jefferson; William A.; and Sims Kelly.
FIFTH GENERATION:
THOMAS JEFFERSON STOVALL AND MARTHA MERRITT SANSOM, Thomas born 15 Jan, 1825, Franklin Co. Tn. md. Martha Sansom 16 Jan. 1844, San Augustine Co, Tx. died 21 Oct. 1862,
Brownsville, Tx. (while on a shopping trip), Martha died 20 Jan. 1894. She was born in Ms. 29 April, 1829.
CHILDREN:
1. George H, ; born 7 May, 1846, San Augustine, Tx. married #1. Rosalie Berry, 4 Dec. 1867, #2. Josephine Mullins, 6 March 1879,
md. #3. Laura McCall June 1, 1886
2. Malinda Elizabeth, born 30 Oct. 1848, San Augustine Co,Tx. md. Abr Williams, 1 Jan. 1886
3. Mattie J. born 9 Feb. 1851, married Walter Cross (she was a teacher)
4. James Thomas (twin), born 28 April, 1853, Cherokee Co, Tx. married Eudora Killion 17 Dec. 1879, Anderson Co. Tx. died 26 July 1931, Big Spring, Howard Co. Tx., bd. Dorm Cem.,
5. William E. (twin) b. 28 April, 1853, Cherokee Co., md. Nancy Ann Oliver, died 30 May, 1915, Ft. Worth, Tx. bd. at Smithville
6. Amanda M. , born 25 July, 1855, Cherokee
County, Tx. md.-----Hightower, died 1 March, 1884
7.Sims Maxwell, born 26 March, 1858, md. M.A. Rose 10 Dec. 1878, died 15 Jan. 1884
8. J. David, born 13 Nov. 1860, md. Sallie ? died Feb. 20, 1888
SIXTH GENERATION:
JAMES THOMAS STOVALL,b. 28 April, 1853 Cherokee Co. TX. Md. EUDORA ANN KILLION (DORA) , 17 Dec. 1879, Anderson Co. TX. James d. 26 June 1931, Stanton, Howard Co. TX. Eudora d. 14 Nov. 1937 Monahans, TX. buried in Dorn Cem. Colorado, TX. * (CLICK ON KILLION AT BOTTOM OF PAGE FOR KILLION LINE)
CHILDREN:
1. Ada Mary, b. 24 Feb. 1881 Fields Chapel, Anderson Co. TX. Md. 1 Oct. 1904 to Frank Autrey Anderson Co. TX. d. 1972 Howard Co. TX. d. 1972 Howard Co. Dorm Cem.
2. Addie Elizabeth, b. 8 Aug. 1882, Fields Chapel, Anderson Co. TX. (never married) d. 14 Aug. 19 Bd. Dorm Cem. Co;orado, TX.
3. John Murkum (Merk) b. April 1884, Md. Ima Jenever Smith, 23 May, 1919. Anderson Co. TX. d. 4 Oct. 1981 *(See This Line Below)
4. William Colby, b. 16 April 1886, Md. 28 June 1911 to Docia Moore, d. 2 July 1971. bd. Strong Mem. Cem. Elkhart, TX.
5. Ida Viola, b. 4 Feb. 1888 Fields Chapel, Anderson Co. TX. Md. 17 May 1914 to C.T. Revell, d. ?
6. Edward Nosko, b. 9 Jan. 1891, d. young, 28 Nov. 1905, Pert, Anderson Co. TX. bd. Neches Cem. Neches, Anderson Co. TX.
7. Dora Jane, b. 23 July 1893, Md. Earnie Moody, 24 Dec. 1914
8. Willie Betrice(Bea) b. 21 Nov. 1895, Pert, Anderson Co. TX. Md. J.B. Metcalf.
9. James Clifton, b. 31 May 1998, Pert, Anderson Co. TX. Md.#1 Callie Moody, Jan. 1920. #2. Md. Laura Clyde, 12 1974.
10. Leta Lois, b. 27 March, 1900, Pert. Anderson Co. TX. Md. Luther Morrow, d. 1 Dec. 1982. Pheonix, AZ.
SEVENTH GENERATION:
JOHN MERKUM (MERK) STOVALL b.
4 April, 1884, Md. IMA JENERVA SMITH,
23 May, 1919, d. 4 Oct. 1981, Ima d. 6 June, 1981. (SEE HOW TO CONNECT TO SMITH WEB PAGE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE.)
CHILDREN:
1. Leta Louise, b. 14 Feb. 1920, Salmon, Anderson Co. TX. Md. #1. James Allen, (3 Children: Daniel Carrol; Linda Patricia: Jimmy Darryl.) Md. #2. Cliffton Williams, 29 April, 1955. Anderson Co. TX.
2. John Hershell, b. 14 Sept. 1921, Salmon, Anderson Co. Tx. Md. Ollie Brantly, 17 August, 1943, Overton, TX. d. 6 Jan. 1985, Shady Point, OK. ( 2 Children: John Howard; Robbie Gail).
3. James Oliver, b. 26 May, 1926, Md. Naomi Thompson, ca. 1960, d. 9 May, 1963, bd. Concord Cem. Anderson Co.TX.( One son, John; who was adopted by Dora after Jim died).
4.Dora Orlean, b. 21 May, 1928, Md. Raymond Russell, 1 June 1946. Palestine, Anderson Co. TX. ( 3 Birth Children, and two adopted, Raymond Eugene(Gene); Ben(Bennie); Ricky Gayle, John(Johnnie); Jeffrey;)
5. Ima Geneva, b. 3 Jan. 1931, Md. 4 Times, last to Preston Morvant. d. 21 January, 1994. (One adopted daughter, Danielle)
6. Edwin Lawrence, b. 20 July, 1933, Palestine, Anderson Co. TX. Md. Marita Ben Denson 15 April 1954, Anderson Co. TX. (3 Children: Robert(Bobby); Vickie Kay; Kennth;)
7. Gladys Marie, b. 29 May, 1936 Md. #1. Charles Branson, had two children but they were adopted by husband #2. Md. #2. Donald Bert Armstrong, 28 March, 1961, Buras, Plaqumines Parish, LA.(Children: Cynthia Dianne; Steven Charles
Kay McKinnon - Sep 7, 2008
Benj.in Wofford College pic. wasn't what one would call handsome was he?
Some of the above posting from Gladys Armstong and the following can be found in Memphis TN library, Miss. Dept. Archives and History & MSSDAR Library @ Rosalie, Natchez, MS
call # OS/929.2/P93o Of Whom I Came, From Whence I Came-Wells-Wise, Rish-Wise, and Otherwise part 1 Vol 8 (The Woffords) Greenville Ms 1964 by Zelma Wells Price NSDAR #455405
p. 20 states Without Documentation Joseph Wofford was born near Rock Creek, Prince Georges Co. MD died testate Spartenburg Dist./co S C married Martha Llewellyn (dau. of Hugh Llewellyn) born 1752 Lancaster Co PA.
p.30 Bejamin Wofford b. 1772 96th Dist. (Spartenburg Dist) d. 1858 Tippiah Co MS md. c. 1791 Mary Llewellyn dau of Jefferson Llewellyn ( who was son on Hugh Llewellyn) b. 1772 in 96 Dist. S C died 1850 Tippah Co Ms
p.36 Jefferson Llewellyn was brother of Martha Llewellyn & Mary Llewellyn who married respectively Joseph Wofford and Benjamin Wofford, brothers of John Wofford.
p. 45 Hugh Llewellyn came from Wales to PA and had at least 3 children: Mary, Martha, and Jefferson.
Let me try to clarify some of this: Price calls (children of Absalom Wofford) Benjamin who came to Huntsville, Al & later Tippah Co, MS & (Capt.) Joseph who md. Martha Llewellyn and the 8 other children noted by Armstorng above the 5th generation.
Jos. & Martha stayed in SC and are buried there (as I've before memtioned). It is their children(6th gen.) Jeremiah who went Ga.; Rebecca who had no known children;
Benjamin who married money and is associated with Wofford college; dau. Martha (Patsy) who married Moses White and moved to Jasper Co., MS (my ancesstress); Nancy W Turner buried in S C; & Joseph Llewellyn Wofford of S C