My ggg-grandparents, Elias Todd, Sr. and Elizabeth Nettles

Elias Todd, Sr.

Elias Todd, Sr. was born about 1808 in Virginia. No evidence has been found that he was born in Ireland or that he changed his name from “MacTodd” or “McTodd” to Todd, as speculated in one old family story. His parents are unknown, although it is possible that John R. Todd from Isle of Wight County, Virginia, a son of Mallory Todd from the same county, may have been his father as he shows up on some tax and court records in Elizabeth City County, Virginia and has males living in his Isle of Wight County household in 1810 and 1830 about the right age for Elias. There is grave marker for Elias in Virginia that says he was born on September 27, 1807, but the source of this date is not clear.

Not knowing Elias’ parents, and since he would have been underage until about 1829, there is no record of Elias in Isle of Wight County, Virginia or Elizabeth City County, Virginia until 1840. Sometime before 1840, he became a landowner in Elizabeth City County, Virginia when he bought or was gifted land that he later named Farmington, and that is currently a large housing development of the same name located on Todd’s Lane in Hampton, Virginia.

Elias Todd Sr and Elizabeth "Eliza" Nettles were married by Reverend Gillman on November 27, 1826. The source of this date is unknown, although there was a Todd family bible in the possession of Ruth Wyatt Baranowski, a great-great-granddaughter of Elias’, that gave their marriage date as 1826.

In 1840, Elias, Sr. was living on a farm in Elizabeth City County, Virginia. In his household were two white males under 5 years old (his sons Zachariah and William), one white male between 5 and 9 years old (his son Elias, Jr.), one white male between 15 and 19 years old (unknown), one white male between 30 and 39 years old (Elias, Sr.), three white females between 5 and 9 years old (daughters Mary, Elizabeth and Rebecca), one white female between 10 and 14 years old (daughter Julia), and one white female between 30 and 39 years old (wife Elizabeth). Elias owned one male slave between 10 and 23 years old, name unknown. A total of three people in the household were working on the farm.

Elias and Elizabeth’s family had grown by 1850, when they were still living on a farm, worth $2000, in Elizabeth City County, Virginia. In addition to Elias and Elizabeth, their family included daughter Mary (now 20 years old), son Elias, Jr. (17 years old and attended school), daughter Rebecca (16 years old and attended school), son Zachariah (15 years old and attended school), son William (12 years old and attended school), daughter Susanna (7 years old), son John (4 years old), son Andrew (2 years old), and daughter Elizabeth (18 years old) with her newly married husband, William Turner (32 years old). Elias owned one slave, a 50-year old male, name unknown.

Elias, Sr. was a Superintendent of Sunday School at Big Bethel Church in York County, VA sometime after 1850.

An Opposition meeting was held on February 4, 1860 at Hampton Court House in Elizabeth City County, VA. Elias attended the meeting and was named one of 30 delegates to the Opposition Convention for the Whigs and Americans that was planned for Richmond, Virginia on February 22, 1860. In addition to naming the delegates, the attendees at this meeting resolved to "express a desire and confidence that the said Convention will recommend to the support of all patriotic men some man, true to the Constitution and loyal to the South," and that "the South may stand united against Black Republicanism." "Black Republicanism" was a slur against members of the anti-slavery Republican party.

He was still a farmer in the Back River district of Elizabeth City County, VA in June 1860. His farm had 120 acres total with 80 acres of improved land and 40 acres of unimproved land and was worth $4000 with farm implements and machinery worth $200 and livestock worth $575. Elias had a personal estate worth $3550.

In addition to Elias, Sr. and Elizabeth, their family in June 1860 included son William (21 years old and single), son John (14 years old and attended school), son Andrew (12 years old and attended school), son Fillmore (6 years old and attended school), and daughter Rebecca (23 years old and single).

Elias, Sr. appeared in court from August 5, 1861 to August 15, 1861 in Richmond (city), Virginia. Elias, Sr. and his son-in-law, Marshall Maney (married to his daughter Julia Ann), were arrested by "patriot forces" (i.e., Confederate Army forces) on suspicion of being "spies and traitors" in late June and sent to Richmond. On August 3, 5 weeks after being arrested, they tried to get a hearing before Judge Lyons, on a habeas corpus. At their trial on August 5, it turned out to be a case of mistaken identity when their accusers were shown the real culprits, who happened to bear a striking resemblance to Elias, Sr. and Marshall. The judge granted the Confederate prosecutors 10 days, or until August 15, to go to Elizabeth City County and find witnesses to testify to any offenses Elias, Sr. and Marshall had committed. When trial was resumed on August 15, the prosecution could not produce any witnesses, and the only information they found in Elizabeth City County was that Elias, Sr. and Marshall were rumored to be disloyal to the Southern cause. The judge then ordered the prisoners to be discharged. They had been held in the jail in Richmond for 2 months and when they demanded a trial, no one could be found to testify to any offense they were accused of committing.

Elias, Sr. was assessed for taxes by the IRS in October 1864 in Salters Swamp, Elizabeth City County, VA. His "special income" for 1863 was $200, his tax rate was 5% and he owed a tax of $10. He was assessed again by the IRS in June 1865 in Elizabeth City County, VA. His income for 1864 was $350, his tax rate was 5% and he owed a tax of $17.50.

In addition to farming, Elias, Sr. served in several civil capacities. He was appointed by General Stoneman on February 18, 1869 to be a substitute magistrate for William Lowry in Elizabeth City County, Virginia, prior to the board of examination. No word if Elias, Sr. ever served in this appointment. He was appointed a Registrar for the second registration precinct of Elizabeth City County, Virginia on June 3, 1869. A meeting to appoint railroad delegates was held on February 26, 1870 in Elizabeth City County, VA for a convention to be held in Williamsburg, VA on March 3, 1871 to look into the early completion of the Richmond and Newport News railroad. Elias, Sr. was appointed a delegate by Dr. George W. Semple[s].

He was a farmer in Wythe Township, Elizabeth City County, VA on June 1, 1870. His farm was 200 acres in size, with 150 acres improved and 50 acres of woodland, worth $4520. His farm implements were worth $25, and he paid $700 in wages to farm laborers during the preceding year. His livestock consisted of 2 horses, 4 milch (i.e., dairy) cows, 6 other cattle and 38 hogs. The value of his livestock was $3520. The only crop he produced was 500 bushels of Indian corn. His personal estate was valued at $2000.

Elias, Sr. and Eliza’s household on June 1, 1870 included son Andrew (22 years old, working as a day laborer), son Filmore (16 years old, at home and had not attended school), daughter Susannah (27 years old and keeping house) along with her husband Otis Wiley (30 years old and a day laborer) and daughter Mary Wiley (9 years old and had not attended school), granddaughters Eliza Maney (daughter of Julia Ann Todd and Marshall Maney, 16 years old and had not attended school) and Emily Maney (daughter of Julia Ann Todd and Marshall Maney, 5 years old), and Henry Mims (?, unknown relationship, 9 years old and had not attended school).

He was a farmer in Wythe District, Elizabeth City County, VA on June 1, 1880, and his farm had decreased in size from the 200 acres in 1870, probably due to selling off parcels to his family. His farm was 60 acres, which he owned, with 20 acres that were tilled and 40 acres that were woodland. His farmland and buildings were worth $1000, his farming implements and machinery were worth $10, and his livestock was worth $60. He spent $30 on fertilizers and paid farm laborers $20 in 1879. The estimated value of his total farm production for 1879 was $400.

His livestock included 1 horse, 5 cattle, 4 hogs and 25 chickens that produced 100 eggs in 1879. His acreage was divided up into 15 acres that produced 250 bushels of Indian corn and 30 bushels of peas, 6 acres that produced 150 bushels of Irish potatoes, 1 acre that produced 50 bushels of sweet potatoes, 1 acre with 50 apple trees that produced 100 bushels of apples, and 1 acre with 25 peach trees that produced 20 bushels of peaches. He claimed the total value of his orchard products sold was $60 in 1879. He also claimed to cut 50 cords of wood worth $75 in 1879.

Elias, Sr. and Eliza’s household in June 1880 included their widowed daughter Susan Page (39 years old), granddaughter Mary E. Maney (daughter of Julia Ann Todd and Marshall Maney, 14 years old and attended school), and grandsons Andrew I. Williams (son of Susannah Todd and Andrew Williams, 18 years old and attended school) and George A. Wiley (son of Susannah Todd and Otis Wiley, 8 years old and had not attended school).

Elias, Sr. signed a will on July 31, 1882 at Hampton Courthouse in Hampton, VA. Witnesses to the will were H. C. Whiting and George A. Schmelz. The will stated: 

"I, Elias Todd Sr., of the County of Elizabeth City, State of Virginia, being of sound and disposing memory and mind, but appreciating the great uncertainty of human life, do make this my true last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made. 

First. I desire that all my just debts shall be promptly paid. 

Second. My Home Place, containing about forty four acres, I give to my beloved wife Eliza Todd for the term of her natural life.

Third. I give to my daughter Susanna the sum of one hundred dollars. 

Fourth. The balance of my personal estate I give to my beloved wife for the term of her natural life. 

Fifth. Believing I have done all that I should have done for my remaining children viz John Todd, Elizabeth Turner, Susanna Willey, William Todd, and the children of my deceased daughter, Julia Ann Maney, I intentionally omit them in this final disposition of my property with the exception of the $100 given Susanna by the third section of my will. 

Sixth. All the balance of my property, including the property given to my wife for the term of her life, at her death, I give to my children namely Elias Todd, Zach. Todd, Andrew Todd, Philip Todd and Mary Nettles the wife of Christopher Nettles to be equally divided between them. 

Whatever property I may leave at my time of death not given to my wife, I desire shall pass immediately upon my death to the said last named parties, Elias Todd, Andrew, Philip Todd, and Mary Nettles. 

I do nominate and appoint my sons Elias Todd and Zach Todd the executors of this my last Will and Testament, and request that the court will not require any security of them. 

In Testimony whereof witness my hand and seal this thirty first day of July 1882.

Elias Todd (seal)

H. C. Whiting (witness)

Geo. A. Schmelz (witness)

A copy Teste

William Bainbridge, Df. Clerk"

Elias, Sr.’s will was recorded in court on July 14, 1884 at Hampton Courthouse in Hampton, VA, so he died shortly before July 14, 1884 at the age of 76 in Virginia. Here are the court proceedings: 

"At a County Court continued and held for the County of Elizabeth City July 14, 1884. 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.

A copy Teste

William Bainbridge, Df. Clerk"

Elias, Sr. was buried in Wythe District, Elizabeth City County, VA. Ruth Wyatt Baranowski (one of Elias, Sr.’s great-great-granddaughters) thought the graves of Elias and Eliza may have been in an old cemetery across Bethel Road from Bethel High School where there is now a large church.

Elizabeth Nettles


Elizabeth was born about 1808 in Virginia. Her parents are not known. As with her husband, Elias, her grave marker has a birth date of August 1, 1808, but I have not found a source for this date. Another possible birth year is 1806 from census information.

Since her parents are unknown and she would have been underage, I have found no record of her in Elizabeth City County prior to 1826 when she married Elias, Sr. According to Ruth Baranowski, she lived in Elizabeth City County, VA on Sawyer's Swamp Road at Blackburn Lane before 1826. She was raised there, where a church now stands near the landfill.

Elizabeth was named an heir in the will of her husband, Elias, Sr. on July 31, 1882 at Hampton Courthouse in Hampton, VA. He intended to leave her their home place, 44 acres, and the balance of his personal estate for the rest of her natural life.

She died on August 13, 1886 at the age of 78 in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA. Her death notice in The Home bulletin, dated 21 August 1886, said: "Mrs. Elias Todd, widow of the late Elias Todd, Sr., of Sawyer Swamp, died on Friday at the age of 78 years. She was interred at Bethel by the side of her husband. Her funeral was largely attended. Deceased leaves a number of sons, all thrifty farmers and useful citizens."

The Friday referenced in the death notice was probably 13 August 1886. The Home bulletin was published weekly and Friday 20 August would have been too soon for the newspaper to publish on 21 August. I previously had her death date as 11 August 1886 with no source, so changed the death date to 13 August 1886 based on the death notice in The Home bulletin.

She was buried shortly thereafter at Big Bethel Cemetery in York County, Virginia with her husband.

Children of Elias Todd, Sr. and Elizabeth Nettles

• Julia Ann Todd, born about 1825, Virginia; married Marshall Maney, January 9, 1845; died September 20, 1866 at the age of 41 from cholera on the same day as her husband and two of her children.

• Mary Frances Todd, born January 25, 1831, Virginia; married Christopher Columbus "Kit" Nettles, February 1, 1855, Elizabeth City County, VA; died March 31, 1916 at the age of 85 from kidney failure, Elizabeth City County, VA.

• Elizabeth "Bessie" Todd, born about 1832, Virginia; married William Turner, sometime shortly before 1850; died January 28, 1891 at the age of 59 from tuberculosis, Elizabeth City County, VA.

• Elias Todd Jr. (my great-great-grandfather), born December 24, 1833, Elizabeth City County, VA; married Dianah Landrum, January 5, 1860, Elizabeth City County, VA; died February 22, 1907 at the age of 73 from a stoke and influenza, Elizabeth City County, VA.

• Rebecca Todd, born March 8, 1835, Virginia; married James Saunders, around 1862; died April 2, 1913 at the age of 78 from pulmonary edema, Elizabeth City County, VA.

• Zachariah "Zack" Todd, born November 27, 1837, Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA; married (1) Sarah Parker, February 11, 1858, Elizabeth City County, VA; married (2) Sarah Wilson, November 27, 1866, Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA; married (3) Mary Elizabeth Saunders, January 2, 1873, Hampton, VA; died May 5, 1894 at the age of 56 from typhoid fever, Elizabeth City County, VA.

• William Henry Todd, born May 17, 1839, Virginia; married Virginia A. Landrum, January 10, 1861; died February 29, 1916 at the age of 76 from heart disease, Newport News, VA.

• Susanna Todd, born October 1842, Virginia; married (1) Andrew J. Williams, May 6, 1858; married (2)  G. Otis Wiley, January 30, 1866; married (3) Clarence Page, December 4, 1878; died date unknown.

• John Willis Todd, born December 5, 1845, Hampton, VA; married Mary E. Lilliston, September 5, 1865, Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA; died March 5, 1920 at the age of 74 from angina pectoris, Newport News, VA.

• Andrew Todd, born July 7, 1848, Virginia; married Mary Victoria Saunders, October 19, 1871, Newport News, VA; died November 3, 1920 at the age of 72 from a gunshot wound to the abdomen, Hampton, VA.

• Filmore Todd (1) was born about 1853 in Elizabeth City County, VA; died in infancy, Elizabeth City County, VA.

• Filmore Todd (2), named after his older brother who died in infancy the previous year, was born November 3, 1854, Elizabeth City County, VA; married Sarah Elizabeth Nance, March 4, 1874, Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA; died January 26, 1934 at the age of 79 from heart disease, Chesapeake, VA.

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