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| Elias Todd, Jr., date unknown |
Elias Todd Jr. was my great-great-grandfather on my mom’s side of the
family. He served the Confederacy in the Civil War and was a feisty character
later in life.
Elias was born in the early 1830s in Elizabeth City County,
Virginia to Elias Todd, Sr. and Elizabeth Nettles. He was their oldest son in
1850 and it’s unknown whether he had any older brothers. His birth years from
source documentation ranged from 1832 to 1835.
A white male of Elias Jr.’s age was part of Elias Todd, Sr.’s household in 1840 in Elizabeth City County, Virginia. Also, part of the household were two white males believed to be Elias, Jr.’s brothers Zachariah and William. Females in the household included four white females believed to be his sisters Mary Elizabeth, Rebecca and Julia, and an older white female believed to be his mother, Elizabeth.
On June 1, 1850, Elias, Jr. was living with his parents, brothers and sisters on a farm valued at $2000 in the Back River District of Elizabeth City County, Virginia. His brothers included Zachariah, William, John and Andrew. Sisters included Mary, Rebecca, Susanna, and recently married older sister Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s husband, William Turner also lived with the family. Elias, Jr., Rebecca, Zachariah and William all attended school. Their neighbors included the families of Elizabeth Saunders, Samuel Parker, Ann Chillis, John Saunders, John Baines, William Tabb and Robert Dawson.
A white male of Elias Jr.’s age was part of Elias Todd, Sr.’s household in 1840 in Elizabeth City County, Virginia. Also, part of the household were two white males believed to be Elias, Jr.’s brothers Zachariah and William. Females in the household included four white females believed to be his sisters Mary Elizabeth, Rebecca and Julia, and an older white female believed to be his mother, Elizabeth.
On June 1, 1850, Elias, Jr. was living with his parents, brothers and sisters on a farm valued at $2000 in the Back River District of Elizabeth City County, Virginia. His brothers included Zachariah, William, John and Andrew. Sisters included Mary, Rebecca, Susanna, and recently married older sister Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s husband, William Turner also lived with the family. Elias, Jr., Rebecca, Zachariah and William all attended school. Their neighbors included the families of Elizabeth Saunders, Samuel Parker, Ann Chillis, John Saunders, John Baines, William Tabb and Robert Dawson.
Elias Todd Jr. married Dianah Landrum on January 5, 1860 in
Elizabeth City County, VA.
The newly married Elias, Jr. and Dianah were living on a farm worth $1000 in the Back River District of Elizabeth City County, VA on June 1, 1860. Elias, Jr. had a personal estate worth $250. They were married in the year prior to June 1, 1860, and both he and Dianah could read and write. Their neighbors included the families of John Bains, Elias Jr.’s sister Mary Todd and husband Christopher Nettles, Samuel Challis, Rebecca Shepherd, John Thomas, Leonard Everage and Elias, Jr’s, brother, Zachariah Todd and wife Sarah.
Elias, Jr. enlisted in the Confederate Army at Yorktown, VA for 12 months on 24 June 1861, with Capt. Frank Lee's Independent Company Virginia Volunteers (also known as the Lee Guards). This group was assigned to the 32nd Virginia Infantry on 1 January 1862, and became 2nd Company K. This unit later became Company A of the 115th Virginia Militia. Elias, Jr. served until January 1863 as a Private. Muster roll information indicated he was present in October 1861; present on 31 December 1861; present in March 1862; absent, remained below on the evacuation of the Peninsula on 30 June 1862 (same for 8 November 1862); and then on detached service at West Point in January 1863. One of the first skirmishes of the war was at Big Bethel, VA, in June 1862 when General McClellan’s army was attempting to reach the Confederate capital, Richmond, Virginia, from the south by marching from Hampton Roads, Virginia along the James River. Elias, Jr. and many of his relatives lived in the vicinity of Big Bethel, and some of the women and children from the area were sent to West Point, VA to avoid the conflict. When the women and children returned, the Federal troops had damaged the Todd house along with many others. When Elias, Jr. was marked as absent on the muster rolls for June and November 1862, he was likely repairing damage to his farm before he rejoined the regiment.
The newly married Elias, Jr. and Dianah were living on a farm worth $1000 in the Back River District of Elizabeth City County, VA on June 1, 1860. Elias, Jr. had a personal estate worth $250. They were married in the year prior to June 1, 1860, and both he and Dianah could read and write. Their neighbors included the families of John Bains, Elias Jr.’s sister Mary Todd and husband Christopher Nettles, Samuel Challis, Rebecca Shepherd, John Thomas, Leonard Everage and Elias, Jr’s, brother, Zachariah Todd and wife Sarah.
Elias, Jr. enlisted in the Confederate Army at Yorktown, VA for 12 months on 24 June 1861, with Capt. Frank Lee's Independent Company Virginia Volunteers (also known as the Lee Guards). This group was assigned to the 32nd Virginia Infantry on 1 January 1862, and became 2nd Company K. This unit later became Company A of the 115th Virginia Militia. Elias, Jr. served until January 1863 as a Private. Muster roll information indicated he was present in October 1861; present on 31 December 1861; present in March 1862; absent, remained below on the evacuation of the Peninsula on 30 June 1862 (same for 8 November 1862); and then on detached service at West Point in January 1863. One of the first skirmishes of the war was at Big Bethel, VA, in June 1862 when General McClellan’s army was attempting to reach the Confederate capital, Richmond, Virginia, from the south by marching from Hampton Roads, Virginia along the James River. Elias, Jr. and many of his relatives lived in the vicinity of Big Bethel, and some of the women and children from the area were sent to West Point, VA to avoid the conflict. When the women and children returned, the Federal troops had damaged the Todd house along with many others. When Elias, Jr. was marked as absent on the muster rolls for June and November 1862, he was likely repairing damage to his farm before he rejoined the regiment.
On June 1, 1870
Elias, Jr. and Dianah were living on a farm worth $1600 in the Wythe Township
District of Elizabeth City County, VA. By this time, they had children living
with them, including sons Benjamin Franklin "Frank" and Lemuel Baker,
and daughters Dianah Ella, Mary E. "Lillie" and Henrietta J. In
addition, a teenager named Elizabeth Topping, whose relationship is unknown,
was also living with them. Elias, Jr. was a farmer with a personal estate worth
$500, and Dianna kept house. Their neighbors included Nathaniel Armistead,
George Tannell, Charles Smith, Margaret Wheeler, Frank Butler, Joseph Harris
and Elias, Jr.’s brother, Zachariah Todd.
Elias, Jr. and Dianah were living on a farm in the Wythe District, Elizabeth City County, VA on June 1, 1880. Their family had grown to include sons Andrew C., B.F., Lemuel, and Fay, and daughters Diana E., Lulu, Margaret, Nettie, Mary E., and Henrietta. Elias, Jr was a farmer and Dianah kept house. Their neighbors included the families of Thomas Randall, Charles Fields, Thomas H. Saunders, Armistead B. Chamberlain, William Saunders, Austin Pryor, John Carter and John Presson.
Elias, Jr. and Dianah were living on a farm in the Wythe District, Elizabeth City County, VA on June 1, 1880. Their family had grown to include sons Andrew C., B.F., Lemuel, and Fay, and daughters Diana E., Lulu, Margaret, Nettie, Mary E., and Henrietta. Elias, Jr was a farmer and Dianah kept house. Their neighbors included the families of Thomas Randall, Charles Fields, Thomas H. Saunders, Armistead B. Chamberlain, William Saunders, Austin Pryor, John Carter and John Presson.
Elias, Jr. was named as an heir and executor in the will of his father, Elias Todd Sr on July 31, 1882 at Hampton Courthouse in Hampton, VA. When the will was recorded on July 14, 1884 at the Courthouse, the following occurred: “A paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Elias Todd Sr. deceased was this day provided in court, and being fully proved by the oaths of H. C. Whiting and Geo. A. Schmelz, subscribing witnesses thereto was ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of Elias Todd Jr. and Zachariah Todd, the executors named therein who made oath as the law directs, and entered into a bond in the penalty of Twenty Five hundred dollars but without security, the will directing that none should be required of them, certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate of said will in due form, and on their further motion John S. Saunders, Wm. R. Webb, Wm. Saunders, Thomas Lewelling and Richard Lilliston, are appointed appraisers, any sworn, who will appraise the personal estate of the said Elias Todd Sr., dec'd, and report to this court.”
Elias caught some boys trespassing on his property on November 8, 1898 in Elizabeth City County, VA. The incident was written up in the Daily Press newspaper in Newport News, Virginia on that date:
"TOOK THE GUNS AWAY
A Farmer Disarms Young Gunners Who Cross His Land
A warrant was sworn out yesterday by Mr. J. T. Thomas, who lives near Sawyers Swamp for the arrest of Mr. Elias Todd of that place, charging him with assault. The warrant was placed in the hands of County Officer Joseph Diestil for execution. Mr. Thomas, when seen by a reporter, gave the following account of the trouble, out of which the issue of the warrant grows. His two sons, Hughes Thomas, aged 15, and Clif, aged 10, and a companion named Ed Selby, a lad of 15, went out for a hunt yesterday, and while returning home crossed a tract of Mr. Todd's land in order to reach the road about 400 or 500 yards away. Mr. Todd, seeing them on his land, hurried to the house, procured a shotgun and followed the youths, overtaking them after they reached the road. Coming up with the trio Mr. Todd snatched the gun from the hand of one of the boys before his purpose to do so could be designed and then seized the gun of one of the other boys in the effort to wrest it from him. Some resistance being made, a struggle ensued, in which the gun was accidentally discharged, and the stock of the piece broken also. In relieving Selby of his firearm. Mr. Todd, according to Mr. Thomas' statement, seized the boy by the throat and choked him slightly, until he gave the gun up. That is substantially Mr. Thomas' statement, gleaned, presumably, from the boys. Mr. Todd could not be seen, hence no statement from him was secured. He will have a chance to make one at the warrant trial."
Elias, Jr. and Dianah were living on a farm they owned free of mortgage in Wythe District, Elizabeth City County, VA on June 1, 1900. Several of their unmarried children lived with them, including Andrew, Lemuel, Lulu, Maggie, Henrietta, and Ella. By this time, they had been married 40 years. Neighboring families included Oliver Kemp, Benjamin F. Todd (their son), John W. Shackelford, Thomas K. Landrum and Zack Turner.
Elias died on February 22, 1907 at the age of 73 from a
stroke of paralysis suffered two weeks earlier, complicated by influenza. His
place of death was the Salters' Creek Section in Elizabeth City County, VA.
His obituary appeared on February 23, 1907 in the Daily Press newspaper in Newport News, VA, and described his as “one of the best known farmers of the Salters' Creek section”. The obituary went on to say that he “died at an early hour in his residence yesterday morning. He was 72 years old, having been born on December 24, 1835. His death was due to a stroke of paralysis, which he suffered two weeks ago. Funeral services will take place from Bethel Church tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock. The services will be conducted by Rev. V. B. Webb, of Mulberry Island, assisted by Rev. W. R. Keefe, of Riverview. Mr. Todd is survived by his widow, four sons and four daughters and four brothers. The brothers are Messrs. Phil Todd, Andrew Todd, of this county, and John and William Todd, of Newport News."
Elias's funeral was held on February 24, 1907 at 1:00 pm in his home in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA. Services were conducted by Rev. W. R. Webb, of Mulberry Island, assisted by Rev. W. R. Keefe, of Riverview. The body was interred at Big Bethel cemetery. Sometime after the original interment, his body may have been moved to St. John's Episcopal Church in Hampton, VA, which is the location of his tombstone. His original grave site may have been impacted by the creation of the Big Bethel Reservoir in the early 1900s, and relocated at St. John’s.
His obituary appeared on February 23, 1907 in the Daily Press newspaper in Newport News, VA, and described his as “one of the best known farmers of the Salters' Creek section”. The obituary went on to say that he “died at an early hour in his residence yesterday morning. He was 72 years old, having been born on December 24, 1835. His death was due to a stroke of paralysis, which he suffered two weeks ago. Funeral services will take place from Bethel Church tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock. The services will be conducted by Rev. V. B. Webb, of Mulberry Island, assisted by Rev. W. R. Keefe, of Riverview. Mr. Todd is survived by his widow, four sons and four daughters and four brothers. The brothers are Messrs. Phil Todd, Andrew Todd, of this county, and John and William Todd, of Newport News."
Elias's funeral was held on February 24, 1907 at 1:00 pm in his home in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA. Services were conducted by Rev. W. R. Webb, of Mulberry Island, assisted by Rev. W. R. Keefe, of Riverview. The body was interred at Big Bethel cemetery. Sometime after the original interment, his body may have been moved to St. John's Episcopal Church in Hampton, VA, which is the location of his tombstone. His original grave site may have been impacted by the creation of the Big Bethel Reservoir in the early 1900s, and relocated at St. John’s.
Dianah Landrum
Dianah Landrum, Elias Todd, Jr.’s wife and the daughter of James M. Landrum and Elizabeth Maney, was born on May 20, 1840 in Elizabeth City County, VA.
Dianah Landrum, Elias Todd, Jr.’s wife and the daughter of James M. Landrum and Elizabeth Maney, was born on May 20, 1840 in Elizabeth City County, VA.
A white female of Dianah’s age was part of James Landrum’s
household in 1840 in Elizabeth City County, Virginia. There were also two white
females the age of her sisters, Betsey and Martha.
On June 1, 1850 she was living with her parents and sisters Betsey Ann and Martha on a farm in the Back River District, Elizabeth City County, Virginia. She had attended school. The neighbors included the families of William Reed, William Hogshear, Robert Landrum (Dianah’s older brother), Marshall Maney, Mary Berry, William Wood and William Saunders.
On June 1, 1850 she was living with her parents and sisters Betsey Ann and Martha on a farm in the Back River District, Elizabeth City County, Virginia. She had attended school. The neighbors included the families of William Reed, William Hogshear, Robert Landrum (Dianah’s older brother), Marshall Maney, Mary Berry, William Wood and William Saunders.
After her husband passed away in 1907, the widowed Dianah
was living with her son Andrew C. Todd on April 1, 1910 in the Wythe District,
Elizabeth City County, VA. Also living with them were more of her children,
daughters Ella, Henrietta and Maggie, and sons Lemuel and Fay. Their neighbors included
the families of Benjamin F. Todd (Dianah’s son), Alfred Richmann, George W.
Saunders and William S. Watkins.
Dianah died from progressive paralysis that had lasted for 30 days on June 10, 1910 at the age of 70 in Sawyer's Swamp, Elizabeth City County, VA.
Her obituary appeared on June 12, 1910 in the Daily Press newspaper in Newport News, VA. The obituary called her an “aged woman” and said she was “well known and much esteemed”, and had “died at her home on Sawyer's Swamp Sunday morning at 8 o'clock.” The obituary went on to say: “She is survived by four sons and six daughters. Funeral services will be conducted this afternoon at 2 o'clock by Rev. Mr. Naft, of Newport News, and burial will be made in the Todd burial grounds."
Dianah was buried on June 14, 1910 at the "Todd Burial Grounds" (Bethel) in Elizabeth City County, VA. The “Todd Burial Grounds” were most likely the same location her husband Elias, Jr. was buried. Like Elias, Jr., sometime after the original interment, her body may have been moved to St. John's Episcopal Church in Hampton, VA, which is the location of her tombstone. Her original grave site may have also been impacted by the creation of the Big Bethel Reservoir in the early 1900s.
Dianah died from progressive paralysis that had lasted for 30 days on June 10, 1910 at the age of 70 in Sawyer's Swamp, Elizabeth City County, VA.
Her obituary appeared on June 12, 1910 in the Daily Press newspaper in Newport News, VA. The obituary called her an “aged woman” and said she was “well known and much esteemed”, and had “died at her home on Sawyer's Swamp Sunday morning at 8 o'clock.” The obituary went on to say: “She is survived by four sons and six daughters. Funeral services will be conducted this afternoon at 2 o'clock by Rev. Mr. Naft, of Newport News, and burial will be made in the Todd burial grounds."
Dianah was buried on June 14, 1910 at the "Todd Burial Grounds" (Bethel) in Elizabeth City County, VA. The “Todd Burial Grounds” were most likely the same location her husband Elias, Jr. was buried. Like Elias, Jr., sometime after the original interment, her body may have been moved to St. John's Episcopal Church in Hampton, VA, which is the location of her tombstone. Her original grave site may have also been impacted by the creation of the Big Bethel Reservoir in the early 1900s.
Children of Elias Todd, Jr. and Dianah
Landrum
Benjamin
Franklin "Frank" Todd, born July 23, 1860,
Elizabeth City County, VA; married Cora L. Mater, March 17, 1892, Hampton,
Elizabeth City County, VA; died October 20, 1931, Wythe District, Elizabeth
City County, VA.
Lewis
J. Todd was born on January 15, 1862 in Elizabeth City County, VA; died on
October 15, 1862 at the age of 9 months in Elizabeth City County, VA.
Henrietta
J. Todd was born on November 8, 1864 in Elizabeth City County, VA; never
married; died on February 11, 1955 at the age of 90 at Patrick Henry Hospital
in Warwick, VA; buried on February 13, 1955 in St. John's Episcopal Church,
Hampton, VA.
Dianah
Ella Todd was born on December 12, 1867 in Elizabeth City County, VA; never
married; died from a blood clot complicated by arteriosclerosis on February 27,
1950 at the age of 82 at Buxton Hospital in Newport News, VA; buried on March
1, 1950 at St. John's Episcopal Church in Hampton, VA.
Mary E.
"Lillie" Todd, born December 12, 1868, Elizabeth City County, VA;
married David Lincoln Souder, October 22, 1892, Hampton, Elizabeth City County,
VA; died July 28, 1952, Hampton, Elizabeth City, VA.
Lemuel
Baker Todd was born on November 20, 1869 in Elizabeth City County, VA.; never
married; died on June 22, 1939 at the age of 69 in Wythe District, Elizabeth
City County, VA from lung cancer; buried on June 23, 1939 at St. John's
Episcopal Church in Hampton, VA.
Andrew
Clay Todd, born September 27, 1871, Elizabeth City County, VA; married Maggie
Anna Halstead, September 30, 1913, Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA; died
January 21, 1946, Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA.
Marnetta
“Nettie” Todd, born September 26, 1874, Elizabeth City County, VA; married
Thomas Syphron Tennis, January 4, 1899, Newport News, VA; died October 19,
1937, Wythe District, Elizabeth City County, VA.
Margaret
T. "Maggie" Todd was born on May 20, 1877 in Elizabeth City County,
VA; never married; died on June 25, 1933 at the age of 56 in Wythe District,
Elizabeth City County, VA from mycarditis; buried at St. John's Episcopal
Church in Hampton, VA.
Lulu
Belle Todd, born April 20, 1878, Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA; married
Henry Edwin Shackelford, October 30, 1905, Hampton (city), Virginia; died
September 20, 1965, Hampton (city), Virginia.
Elias
Fayette "Fay" Todd was born on November 10, 1879 in Elizabeth City
County, VA; never married; died from chronic nephritis with cardiac reflux and
asthma as contributing causes on April 15, 1919 at the age of 39 in Wythe
District, Elizabeth City County, VA; buried at St. John's Episcopal Church in
Hampton, VA.
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