| Father | Dr. John Woodson (b. 1586, d. 18 April 1644) |
| Mother | Sarah Winston (b. 1590, d. 1660) |
| Son | John Woodson (b. 1658, d. 5 December 1715) |
| Son | Richard Ferris Woodson, Jr+ (b. 1662, d. BY 1716/7) |
| Son | Robert Woodson, Jr (b. 1662, d. from July 1729 to February 1730) |
| Son | Joseph Richard Woodson (b. 1664, d. 15 October 1734) |
| Son | Robert Woodson (b. 1666, d. 1 October 1707) |
| Son | Benjamin Woodson (b. 21 August 1666, d. August 1723) |
| Daughter | Sarah Woodson (b. 1668, d. 12 August 1716) |
| Daughter | Elizabeth Ferris Woodson (b. 1670, d. 18 January 1739) |
| Daughter | Judith William Woodson (b. 1673, d. June 1747) |
| Daughter | Mary Jane Woodson (b. 1678, d. 15 October 1734) |
| Pedigree Chart | |
| Included in charts - lists | Box Pedigree - CRS Carol Gilstrap Ancestors Charles Ryland Scott Ancestors Descendants of John Woodson - Jamestowne Resident at Muster of 1624/25 Indented - CRS Relationship to Dr. John Woodson (Jamestown) |
| Relationship | 8th great-grandfather of Charles Ryland ("Ryland") Scott 9th great-grandfather of Carol Jay Gilstrap 10th great-grandfather of Isaac Silas Vaughn 10th great-grandfather of Katherine Gilstrap Scott 10th great-grandfather of Joseph Ryland Scott 10th great-grandfather of Charles Parker ("Parker") Scott 10th great-grandfather of Orly Marie Vaughn 10th great-grandfather of Avital Catherine Vaughn |
| Anecdote | Robert Woodson b. 1634 m.Sarah Elizabeth Ferris, d. after Oct 1, 1707. Last known to be living in 1707, Henrico Co., VA. when he made a deed to his grandson, William and Joseph Lewis. He married Elizabeth Ferris, daughter of Richard Ferris, of Henrico, with whom, among others, received a patent, 21, October 1687, for 1785 acres at White Oak Swamp in Varina Parish, in that county. This man was the direct ancestor of Jesse Woodson James, and his brother, Alexander Franklin "Frank" James, the famous James Boys. Robert Woodson married Sarah Elizabeth Ferris: son Benjamin Woodson, married Sarah Porter; their son Robert Woodson (d. 1748/50) married Rebecca Pryor. Their daughter Elizabeth married Shadrach Mims (1734-1777) and became the mother of Elizabeth Mims (b. 1769) who married Robert Poor (1763-1801), a cornet in the American Revolutionary War. Their daughter in turn, Mary Poor, (died 1825) married John James (1775-1827), son of William and Mary (Hinds) James of Goochland County, Virginia. Their son Robert Sallee James, who died in the Gold Rush area of California, married Zerelda Cole and they had sons Frank James and Jesse James. Dr. John Woodson, MD was born 1586 in Bristol, Devonshire England. He died 19 Apr 1644 in Fleur De Hundred, VA. John married Sara Winston on 1619 in Devonshire England.Sara Winston was born 1590 in Devonshire England. She died 17 Jan 1660 in Jamestown, VA. Also spelled Woodsonne. John and Sarah came to America on the George, leaving England on 29 Jan 1619. The George brought the first slaves to America, and John owned 6 of them. John was a surgeon with Sir George Yeardley. The Indians attacked the Woodson homestead on 18 April 1644 and Dr. Woodson was killed. John was graduated on St. John's College of Oxford in 1604. Dr. Woodson, returning from a visit to a sick family, was killed in sight of his home. The Indians then attacked the home which was barred against them. His brave wife and a man named Ligon, a shoe-maker, who happened to be there, killed a goodly number and repelled them, using an old gun as their only weapon. This gun, long in the possession of descendants, is now owned by the Virginia Historical Society. The two sons of Dr. and Mrs. Woodson, John and Robert, had been hidden in a pit made for the purpose of keeping potatoes and were saved. From this incident their descendants for several generations were spoken of as "Potatoe Hole Woodsons." From this time we have no records of John and Robert until 1697 when both are named among the tithables at 'Curles', a plantation on the north side of the James River in Henrico County, a short distance above Fleur de Hundred. Then on June 5, 1727 Tarleton Woodson conveyed twenty acres on the north side of the James River to William Randolph, the deed showing that the land was conveyed by deed dated June 8, 1674 by Nathaniel Bacon into Robert Woodson, grandfather of the said Tarleton Woodson. Later this place became noted as the seat of the Randolph family. Soon after this date we find the Woodsons active and prominent in the history of Virginia. No doubt, loss of Court house records caused this gap. Framed on the wall of the Clerk's office at Goochland is a remarkable old document. It is the original of the commission to the first justices, dated 1728 and signed by Governor William Gooch. Those named are: Thomas Randolph, John Fleming, William Mayo, John Woodson, Daniel Stonar, R. Salle (Illegible), Tarton Fleming, Allen Coward and Edward Scott. There also is an original bond signed by Peter Jefferson, father of the Author of the Declaration of Independence, and Arthur Hopkins. Among the names of men who served Goochland County in the House of Burgesses we find: 1796, John Woodson; 1769--75, John Woodson; Conventions of 1775 and 1776, John Woodson and Thomas Mann Randolph. When, in 1775, Committees of Safety were organized in various counties, who were to have virtual control of preparation for impending war, Goochland acted promptly and among the distinguished citizens were named John Woodson, Joseph Woodson and Matthew Woodson. Captain Charles Woodson commanded a Company in the Revolutionary War. Tarlton Woodson was a Captain of the 10th Virginia Regiment in 1776, a Major in the 2nd Regiment 1777, and was taken a prisoner by the British on Staten Island, August 22, 1777. This story has come down through family history: "Lord Cornwallis, on his way to Yorktown, while stopping in Goochland County, made 'Dover' the home of Colonel John Woodson and his wife Dorothea Randolph and their son Major Josiah Woodson, his headquarters. To quiet the mother's fear Cornwallis kissed her baby, Mary Woodson, in her cradle. "Dover" was one of the most imposing homes of Colonial Virginia. One of its most attractive features was the lovely stairway. Many other members of this family have held high places in their communities and government. There have been governors, senators, Judges, doctors, ministers and others in important positions. From generation to generation they have continued to marry into the families of the leading Colonist of that day. With no evidence to the contrary, the family records of the subsequent hundred and seventy years have made this descent accepted. | |
| Anecdote | Robert WOODSON was born in 1633/34 at Fleur De Hundred, Prince George County, Virginia. He was the son of John WOODSON Dr and Sarah WINSTON. Robert WOODSON married Elizabeth FERRIS, daughter of Richard FERRIS, circa 1650/51 at Henrico County, Virginia. Robert WOODSON died circa 1706/7. Robert WOODSON Robert was born, according to his own deposition, in the year 1634, at Fleur de Hundred, on the south side of the James River, in what is now Prince George county, Virginia, some -- miles above Jamestown. 1 It was here that the family lived at the time of the massacre by the Indians on the 18th of April, 1644, when Robert and his elder brother John were saved by being thrust into a pit made for the purpose of keeping potatoes; from which circumstance their descendants, for several generations bore the sobriquet of " Potato Hole Woodsons." 1 From this time nothing is definitely known of Robert and his brother John until 1679 when both of them are enumerated among the "tithables" at Curles, a plantation on the north side of James River in Henrico county, a short distance above Fleur de hundred. This place, later, became noted as the seat of the Randolph family. At an early age, possibly about the year 1656, Robert Woodson married Elizabeth Ferris, daughter of Richard Ferris of Curies. "She was descended from an ancient Norman family, Henri de Ferriers of Gascony. In American Ancestry, vol. VII, is the following statement; 'The Ferris family was originally from Leicestershire, England, descended from Henri de Ferriers, son of Gwalchelme de Ferriers, Master of Horse to the Duke of Normandy."' (Americans of Gentle Birth, vol. I, p. 358.) 1 "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. 1 From the internet: Robert Woodson (John) was born 1634 in Fleur de Hundred, Henrico County, VA14, and died 1716 in Fleur de Hundred, Henrico County, VA15. He married Elizabeth Ferris Abt. 1651 in Henrico County, VA16, daughter of Richard Ferris. Notes for Robert Woodson: THE GEORGIANS by Jane Austin - "From Historical Genealogy of the Woodsons and Their Connections, Page 23: 'Robert was born, according to his own deposition, in the year 1634, at Fleur de Hundred, on the south side of James river, in what is now Prince George County, Virginia...It was here that the family lived at the time of the massacre by the Indians on the 18th of April 1644, when Robert and his elder brother were saved by being thrust into a pit made for the purpose of keeping potatoes; from which circumstance their descendants, for several generations, bore the sobriquet 'Potato Hole Woodsons'." More About Robert Woodson: Residence: Curls, VA17 Notes for Elizabeth Ferris: THE GEORGIANS by Jane Austin - "In American Ancestry, Volume VIII: 'She was descended from an ancient Norman family, Henri de Ferriers of Gascony...The Ferris family was originally from Leicestershire, England, descended from Henri de Ferriers, son of Gwalchelme de Ferriers, Master of Horse to the Duke of Normandy." 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 of Robert WOODSON and Elizabeth FERRIS John WOODSON b. c 1657/58, d. c 1715/16 Robert WOODSON b. c 1659/60, d. 1728/29 Richard WOODSON+ b. c 1661/62, d. c 1731/32 Joseph WOODSON b. c 1663/64, d. c 1734/35 Benjamin WOODSON b. c 1665/66, d. 1722/23 Sarah WOODSON b. c 1667/68 Elizabeth WOODSON b. c 1669/70 Judith WOODSON b. c 1672/73 Mary WOODSON b. c 1677/78, d. c 1746/47 Citations [S38] Henry Morton Woodson, Historical Genealogy of the Woodsons and Their Connections, pgs 23-24. | |
| ChildParent1,1 | ||
| Person Source | Col. Robert ("Potato Bin") Woodson had person sources.1 | |
| Anecdote | Robert Woodson was born at Fleur de Hundred on the south side of the James River in what is now Prince George County, Va., near Jamestown. Nothing is definitely known of Robert and his brother John after their father was killed by the Indians until 1679 when both of them are enumerated among the "Tithables" at Curles, a plantation on the north side of the James River in Henrico Co. a short distance above Fleur de Hundred. This place later became noted as the seat of the Randolph family. At an early age, possibly about 1656, Robert Woodson married ELIZABETH FERRIS, daughter of Richard Ferris of Curles. "She was descended from an ancient Norman family, Henri de Ferriers of Gascony."2 | |
| Birth | 1634 | He was born in 1634 in Fleur de Hundred, Prince George, Virginia, United StatesBG.3 |
| Name | 18 April 1644 | As of 18 April 1644, Col. Robert ("Potato Bin") Woodson was also known as Taterhole Woodson. |
| Marriage | 1656 | He and Elizabeth Ferris were married in 1656 in Curles, Henrico, Virginia, United StatesBG.1,3 |
| Death | after 1707 | He died after 1707 in Varina Parish, Henrico, Virginia, United StatesBGO. |
| Last Edited | 19 June 2020 |