William Todd Sr. & Family

 

William Henry Todd is our distant relation on the maternal side of the family tree.

He was the son of John Moses Todd Sr. and Ann Filgo. William was born in 1787, in North Carolina. His ancestors were of Scottish and Irish descent.

William Todd was married ⚭ Martha (Patsey) Holder in 1813, Wake County, NC. The man signed the marriage bond on 23 November 1813 (1).

Sometime after their marriage, William and Patsy moved to Georgia. Their daughter 🔹Martha was born there in 1815.

More children of theirs came to this world in the coming years.

🔹Samuel born in Wake, NC, in 1816',

🔹Candice, born in Georgia, 1817,

🔹Susan Johanna Eleonora, born  in Georgia, 1822,

🔹Mary Elizabeth, born in 1823,

🔹William, born on 28 March 1828, Georgia,

🔹Thomas Jefferson born on 1 March 1831, in Putnam, Georgia,

🔹John David Elton born on 11 June 1835, Georgia,

🔹Amanda, born 1837, Texas.

⚭ William married ten years younger Sara Elizabeth Hanks, born in Alabama, in 1834. She was the daughter of James Hanks of SC and Susan Caroline Kennedy.

⚭ Candice married her brother-in-law, Joshua English in abt. 1837, in Tennessee. He was the son of James English and Elizabeth Denton.

The eldest daughter ⚭ Martha married Mr. Jonas English, her brother-in-law, in abt. 1838. 

⚭ Samuel married his cousin Elizabeth on 22 August 1840 in Wake, NC (2). She was the daughter of Moses Todd Jr. and Elizabeth Massey.

⚭ Susanna Johanna married Joseph Goodbread, after his death in 1840, she married Alfred Marion Truitt.

⚭ In abt.1840, Mary Elizabeth married David Ruff Cannon, born in in 1811, in South Carolina. He was the son of William Billy Cannon and Nancy Isabella Cox.

⚭ John David Elton married Ann Smith, born in 14 September 1844, in Washington, Alabama. She was the daughter of William Smith and Mary Carlisle Dunbar.

🏡1850 Shelby County TX Census registered William Todd, a farmer, age 53, his wife Martha, age 55, and children – Thoms J., age 20, John, age 18, and Amanda, age 13. The record reads that William also fathered 2 other children, Samuel Heath, born 1838 and Marthy (Martha) born in 1841. They both came to this world in Texas. I did not find out who their parents were.

In 1850, William’s real estate was worth $4163 (3). William Todd Jr, lived with his wife Sara E., and their son William J. not far from Todd parents’ house.

♦ William Henry Todd passed on 23 April 1850, in Shelby, TX. His wife Martha died in circa the same year.

After the parents passing, William Jr., his wife Sara, and their baby son moved in with Sarah’s father’s family who also lived in Shelby County, TX (4).

⚭ In 1855 (5), Thomas Jefferson married Narcissus Mize, born in 1836, in Alabama. She was the daughter of Obediah Allen Mize and Mary McCrary.

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UPDATE

William’s siblings were

🔸Joshua Robert Todd

Born in 1771, Bertie, North Carolina,

Died on 26 May 1826Wake, North Carolina, 

🔸 Moses Todd Jr

Born in 1775, Bertie, North Carolina

Died in March 1841. Wake County, North Carolina

🔸 Soloman Todd

Born in1777, in Wake, North Carolina

Died in  1838, Wake, North Carolina

🔸 David Todd

Born in 1779, Bertie, North Carolina,

Died on 31 Aug 1853, Lowndes, Alabama

🔸 George Todd

Born in 1783, Wake, North Carolina

🔸 Elijah Todd

Born in 1785, North Carolina, 

Died in about 1865, Craven, North Carolina

🔸 Elizabeth Todd

Born in 1787, Wake, North Carolina, United States

🔸 Nancy Todd

Born in 1791, Wake, North Carolina

🔸Mary Todd

Born in 1793, Wake, North Carolina.

Sources:

1.     1  "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-2011 ", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJQ-HKNF : Thu Mar 07 10:52:19 UTC 2024), Entry for William Todd and Patsey Holder, 23 Nov 1813.

2.      2. "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-2011 ", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP9J-J73H : Fri Mar 08 16:36:20 UTC 2024), Entry for Samuel Todd and Elizabeth Todd, 22 August 1840.

3.      3.  http://www.shelbycountytexashistory.net/Shelby/Census/1850censusT.htm

4.       4. "United States, Census, 1850", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLG-G8P : Fri Oct 17 04:40:42 UTC 2025), Entry for James Hanks and Johnathan Hanks, 1850.

5.    5. The Houston Post. (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 21, No. 358, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 29, 1906, newspaper, March 29, 1906; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth603417/: accessed March 20, 2026), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .

familysearch.org

D for Dance

Long ago, in Poland, I learned the Ballroom Dance. Somehow, probably due to the instructor's preferences, we did mostly the cha-cha dance then. At that time, I did not have the faintest idea that in the future, I would dance Polish folk dances in Texas.

A few years ago, we were part of a Texas Polish-American folk dance group. We enjoyed performing the State Fair and other local events. 

 

Plano International Festival 2014

When the ensemble was dissolved, we started learning to dance quite different European dances. We joined the Scottish traditional dance enthusiasts. Later, it was also a Contredance and traditional English dance group and old-styled English dances. Once a week, we met other dancers and simply had fun spinning to live music.

Since we have not found any folk dance ensemble in the Hill Country, these days we do the line dance. It is a light and quite an easy form of exercising and a pleasant socializing time as well. On the other hand, there is little space for self-expression/creativity in a line dance, if there is any at all. Everybody stays in the same place and does the same. Do not get me wrong, I appreciate line dancing, but in one way or another, it makes me think of the times when Poland was a socialist country. Life had so many limitations then and censorship was present everywhere. It was like a constant line dance - you were told what to do and not to do. Stepping out of the line was risky and, needless to say, often dangerous. In the 50s, people were penalized - politically and socially humiliated, shamed, and outcasted - even for looking different (having an American fashion type of hairstyle or wearing such clothes).

 

In the place where we practiced Scottish dances

After a six-day workweek (Saturdays were not off then), from time to time on Sundays, there was a so-called "social deed". It meant that if you were a student you had to go with your school group (being an adult - together with your workplace people) to a given place and do a given work for free. In case of kids, it was always something lighter such as raking leaves or picking up litter for example. If you were a grown-up, it could have been any manual labor up to digging ditches. Saying just "no, I don't feel like doing that on Sunday" or not coming for a "deed" was not an option at all.  Absence brought unpleasant and inconvenient repercussions both at school and in one's workplace as it was seen as politically suspicious/antisocial.

 

School handbooks (including history books) presented the content according to the ruling (Soviet government-related) socialist party. Some high school history teachers dared to teach history and facts which were omitted/changed in the handbooks. Not often it happened, though. Why? Such teachers were arrested shortly after a daring class and that was the end of their teaching careers.

All in all, life was as it was. Of course, there were positives as well, and despite the fact that many goods were hard to come by*, we did try to enjoy the lives we had as much as people in other places in the world. However, perhaps all those limitations/circumstances of the time were a reason why line dance never got popular in Poland.

Dallas International Festival, some years ago

 

* Including white plain T-shirts which parents had to get for their kids for the school sports gear - no, schools did not provide that. By the way, I am thinking of writing more about the school system in Poland which is different from the one in the US. Well, in case you are interested.

Credits: Video shared by K. Gilligan

Celtic Festival in Ingram

Our Scottish genes took us to the Kerr County Celtic Festival, which was held in Ingram, TX. This year's edition of the event was a one-day thing only (contrary to the weekend-long festival two years ago).

We watched the sports tournament - well, we tried to see it, but no benches with leveled seat rows (as they had there before) + people covering the sight made it difficult since three competitions were going on simultaneously.

Nevertheless, we did enjoy it all, not only sports but also traditional Scottish music and dances.

San Antonio Pipes and Drums

 

One of the dance schools from San Antonio had a showcase with Scottish dances presentation.

Only in Texas you can camp and relax within the Stonehenge area.

Camping at Stonehenge, enjoying the showcase

The statues there are a good sight for taking pictures.

Armstrong Family Line

According to a legend, the original surname of the family was Fairbairn. It was changed into Armstrong after a Fairbairn helped a king of Scotland who had problems with getting his horse. Fairbairn lifted the king who was wearing his heavy armor and placed the king on the saddle of his steed. Armstrong = Strong Arms was the name chosen for the strong Fairbairn who was also granted by the king with the coat of arms and some land.

Clan Armstrong, originally of English heritage, lived around the border between England and Scotland. The border line was 110 miles long. That area, due to frequent Anglo-Scot wars, was a territory of turmoil and lawlessness. The locals could not count on any kind of government aid as the state institutions were simply too far from there. In such circumstances, the families who lived in that territory, including the Armstrongs, became border reivers to make their people survive. Among all the eighty-nine reiver families, they were the largest, the most bellicose and feared ones.

 Clan Armstrong crest - an arm for the soldier/armed

The seat of the clan chief was Mangerton Castle situated on a bank of the Liddle River.

The line of Alexander Armstrong (born about 1292), the 2nd Clan Chief and the first Laird of Mangerton is our direct family line (20 generations back)*. Very likely, Alexander took part in the battle of Bannockburn (1314 - the first war of Scottish Independence) and was of service to King Robert the Bruce.

Alexander was killed by William de Soulis of Hermitage Castle. The latter one, according to legends, practiced black magic and made a covenant with the Devil. William also violated local ladies, including an Armstrong girl. He also killed the girl's father who tried to defend her. As a result of that, the people of the area wanted to execute the killer. However, Alexander who investigated the incident calmed the locals down and saved William.

Considering Alexander's position and social influences, William de Soulis regarded Alexander as a rival. Therefore, he decided to get rid of our Armstrong man. Pretending to be thankful for saving his life, William invited Alexander to his castle for a feast. Alexander accepted the invitation not suspecting anything malicious. Sadly, during the feast he was stabbed to death by de Soulis.

The Armstrong Tartan

The companions of Alexander brought his body back to Mangerton castle. However, when they arrived there, it was too late in the night to bury the clan chief. His body was left till the morning at the Armstrong family cemetery place. On the next day, Alexander was buried. It happened in 1320. 

To honor Alexander, the memorial called Milnholm Cross was placed at the spot where his corpse was laid for the night.

A year later, William was trialed for treason - he plotted against King Robert the Bruce and was put in prison (Dumbarton Castle) where he died in April 1321.

Studying the Geni.com input regarding Alexander, I found out his wife was Marguerite de Dampress whose ancestry line goes through Germany and Belgium to France, and to King of Burgundy and Italy. I will write about that in another post, though.

From Alexander, 1st Laird of Mangerton, the family line goes to his son 

⇒ Alexander Armstrong (b. ≈1318 / d. ≈1376), Clan Chief, 2nd Laird of Mangerton

⇒ his son Clan Chief Alexander Armstrong IV (b. ≈1340 /d. ≈1398) , 3rd Laird of Mangerton

⇒ his son Lord Archibald Armstrong (b. ≈1370 Mangerton Castle, Dumfrieshire, Scotland/d. ≈ 1445)

⇒ his son Thomas Armstrong, 5th Laird of Mangerton (b. ≈1425/d. 1498)

⇒ his son Sir Alexander Armstrong, 6th Laird of Mangerton (b. ≈1445/d.≈1510)

⇒ his son John (Johnnie) Armstrong of Gilnockie (b. ≈1480)

The Gilnockie Castle, where Johnnie lived, was a couple of kilometers north of Canobie, on the Esk River, in County Eskedale.

Gilnockie Tower, Scotland - built in 1518

John and forty-six other men were executed at Carligrig by King James IV (≈ 1530). Johhnie became a legendary character and a hero of folk ballads (I guess, due to the circumstances of his death).

⇒ Johnnie's son Christopher Armstrong of Mangerton (b. ≈1526/ d. 22 Sept. 1606)

⇒ his son Colonel William Armstrong (b. 1565/d. 6 June 1646 - killed during the battle of Benburb)

During his life, in 1604, William moved to Ireland to escape being executed by King James Justice court.

⇒ his son Edward Armstrong of Terwinnay (b. 1604, Brookboro, Fermanagh, Ireland/d. 1650, Ederney, Terwinney, Ireland)

Edward served as a captain during the Civil War in Ireland. He married an Irish lady Mary Maguire ≈ 1625 in Brookboro. Her father was Cpt Thomas Maguire. The Maguires were kings of the County Fermanagh (13th-17th century).

Maguire Coat of Arms

  

Location of Fermanagh (Maguire) - Ulster, late 15th century

⇒ Edward and Margaret's son James Armstrong (b. ≈1645/d. ≈1758). Possibly, he came to North Carolina in 1744.
⇒ his son James Armstrong (b. 24 Jan. 1684, Brookeborough, Fermanagh, Ireland/d. 1 May 1745, Paxtang, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania)
 ⇒ his son James Armstrong III (b. ≈1707, Paxtang, Dauphine, PA/d. Dec. 1758,
Paxtang, Dauphine, PA)

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⇒ his son William Armstrong (b. ≈ 1739, Paxtang, Pennsylvania/ d. 21 June 1780, Lincolton, Lincoln, North Carolina)

Some sources say that William was a son of John (b. circa 1715) - a son of Edward Armstrong of Terwinnay. That John's wife was Mary Jean Graham. However, in a book on Graham's ancestry which I have come across, I have not found any information they had a son named William. That source says that John was the John "Jack" Armstrong who was killed by Indians in 1744.

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⇒ William's daughter Elizabeth Armstrong (b. 4 Feb. 1762, Mecklenburg, NC/d. 4 Jan. 1834, Pendleton District, Anderson, SC)

On 17 Jan. 1783, in Lincoln Co., NC, Elizabeth married Giles Gant (b. 2 August 1756, Granville County, North Carolina), our direct ancestor 7 generations back.

*My MyHeritage research 

Credits:

Sources

1. The Armstrongs. The History of a Riding Family 1040-1650 by Derek James Stewart
2. A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, Enjoying Territorial Possessions Or High Official Rank, Volume 4 by John Burke Esq.
3. Armstrong Clan History
4.  Wikipedia.org
5. My MyHeritage research

Pictures

• Clan Armstrong Crest By Celtus (Celtus @ english wikipedia) - Own work by uploader. The crest element is adapted from an image in an out-of-copyright book: Matthews' American armoury and blue book (1907)., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4899948
• Tartan
  
  Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=305960
  Gilnockie tower By Farmer erik at English Wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by Raven1977 using CommonsHelper., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6188814
• Maguire Crest: By self-created - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=42732669
• Location of Fermanagh - map: By Mabuska (talk) - I (Mabuska (talk)) created this work entirely by myself., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27821654

Johnston - Our Scottish Line

I am always pleased when I find a new name - a new person in our family tree - but I am even happier when I manage to find out more about any particular ancestors.

Edward Johnston is our direct maternal ancestor (12 generations back). I was planning to write a note about him and, quite unexpectedly, I came across some detailed information regarding this family line. How great to know more about our roots and where we come from!

Edward Johnston was born on 21 April 1649 in Aberdeen City, Scotland (some researchers claim the year of his birth was 1638). He probably arrived in America in early December 1676.
About 1767 Edward Johnston married Miss Elizabeth Walker who was born on 13 January 1658 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The marriage took place at St. Peter's Parish in New Kent County, Virginia.

Not much is known about Edward and his life, besides that he probably worked as a Quaker preacher or missionary in New Kent. He might also be the Edward Johnston who signed the Bacon's Rebellion grievance document.

Edward's father was Arthur Johnston - a doctor and a poet. He was the fifth son of Sir George Johnston and Honorable Christian Forbes (daughter of William seventh Lord Forbes).

Arthur Johnston studied medicine at universities in Aberdeen, Rome and Padua, Italy. Later, he traveled around Europe and also lived in France where he was a university professor and practiced as a physician in Paris as well. From June 1637, Arthur was rector of King's College in Aberdeen.

Artur was also the physician of King James I and Charles I (+ the royal family). Later, in 1633, he purchased from Sir George Johnston (his nephew) a property at New Leslie in Aberdeenshire. The place was called Monkegy.

Arthur Johnston works include, among others, his translation of the Psalms of David into Latin, several epigrams describing the beauty of the land where he was born, and the Caskieben castle, poems about noble persons of his age, and the anthology of Latin verse by the Scottish poets.

One of Arthur's brothers was Dr. William Johnston - professor of mathematics at the Marischal College of Aberdeen.

The statue of King Robert the Bruce at the Marischal College in Aberdeen

Edward's mother was Barbara Gordon - the third wife of Arthur Johnston's. His great-grandfather William Johnston was killed during the battle of Pinkie (1547) - the battle between England and Scotland.

William Johnston of Caskieben, Edward's great-great-great-grandfather fought and was killed at Flodden (1513).

One of the Johnston relations worked in London as the Virginia Company deputy treasurer. Since he recruited people to go and settle in Virginia, possibly thanks to that connection quite a few Johnston people (including Edward and his brothers) emigrated to America as well.

The founder of the Johnston family of Aberdeenshire was Stiven (Stephen) Johnston of Caskieben, brother of the laird of Johnston in Annadale, Scotland.

The crest of the Johston clan
"Never Unprepared"

Stephen lived and received a baronetcy during the reign of King David II. He was so keen on studying and reading books that he was given a nickname "The Clerk". Stephen married Margaret Garioch, daughter of Sir Andrew Garioch, knight, of Caskieben. The lands of Caskieben and some other ones were granted to Stephen by his father-in-law, and he named them Johnston after his own surname.

Johnston(e) Clan Tartan

The Caskieben castle - which was the seat of the Johnston clan of the north for nine generations - has an astronomical alignment with one of the nearby mountain peaks - Mither Tap. The beauty of that, which can be observed during the equinox, was described in a poem by Dr. Arthur Johnston.

Colorized photograph of Cakieben catle (now Keith Hall), near Inverurie, Scotland

Stephen The Clerk is our direct ancestor (21 generations back). How are we connected with him and his descendant Edward Johnston?

Let's start with our great-grandmother Jurita Elizabeth McIntosh (nee Ledbetter) ⇒

⇒ her mother Hannah E Ledbetter nee Hagood (b. about 1839, Georgia) ⇒
⇒ her father Lemuel Davis Hagood (b. 20 July 1820 SC/d. 15 August 1909, Fulton, Georgia) ⇒
⇒ his father James J Hagood (b. around 1780, SC/d. about 1784, Forsyth County, Georgia) ⇒
⇒ his mother Martha Hagood (nee West) - b. around 1744, Virginia/d. 19 March 1828, Pickens County, SC ⇒
⇒ her mother Letitia West (nee Martin) - b. 5 March 1735, Albemarle County, Virginia/d. about 1784, King William, Virginia ⇒
⇒ her mother Ann Martin (nee Farish) - b. about 1710, Caroline County, Virginia/d. about 1732, Albemarle, Virginia ⇒
⇒ her mother Judith Farish (nee Johnston) - b. about 1725, Spotsylvania, Virginia/d. 23 Sept. 1793, Spotsylvania ⇒
⇒ her father William Johnston - b. 19 Dec. 1697, Annandale, Dumfrieshire, Scotland/d.1778, Caroline County, Province of Virginia ⇒
⇒ his father Edward Johnston.


Credits: 

•  Stiven "The Clerk" Johnston of Caskieben; Founder of Family in Aberdeenshire and Descendants;
• A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen, Volume 2;
• My own MyHeritage research.

Photos:
1. The statue of king Robert the Bruce; By L E X commons [CC0], from Wikimedia Commons;
2. The Johnston Clan Crest: By Celtus (Celtus @ english wikipedia) - Own work by uploader. The crest is adapted from a scanned, out-of-copyright book., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4544997;
3. Tartan: By Mibovrd [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons;
4. Caskieben: By colourized photograph produced in 1909 by WR&S Limited - part of the Reliable series 483/23 - http://dearjackhistory.blogspot.ca/2015/07/4-keith-hall-again.html,

Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39176484.

Gordon, Knox & Fitzhugh Families

Mr. Samuel Gordon was born in 1722 in Ayrshire/Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. On 1 June 1748, he married Miss Nicholas (such a name appears in records, but I guess the lady's name was Nichola) Brown who was born about 1725 in Cragencallie, Scotland.

The couple lived in Kirkcudbright, Scotland, they had ten children: Gizel, unnamed child (probably stillborn), Elizabeth, John, Penelope, Nicholas, Samuel, Alexander, Alexander, and Basil.
Nichola died on 18 November 1785, her husband Samuel Sr. passed on 22 1799.

Two of their sons Samuel and Basil emigrated to America. Samuel Jr. was born in Scotland on 15 October 1759. Basil was probably born about or before 1766, he was christened on 12 May 1766.

From Scotland Birth and Baptism Records:
Name: Samuel Gordon
Gender: Male
Wife: Nicholas Brown
Son: Basil Gordon
Christening Date: 12 May 1766
Christening Place: KIRKCUDBRIGHT, KIRKCUDBRIGHT, SCOTLAND
Father's Name: Samuel Gordon
Mother's Name: Nicholas Brown

Record Source:
"Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYM2-1HQ : 10 February 2018), Samuel Gordon in entry for Basil Gordon, ; citing Kirkcudbright, Kirkcudbright, Scotland, reference 2:165FKD5, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,068,032.

The two brothers are not our main interest right now. It is their older brother John Gordon, born circa 1752 in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland.

John did not travel to America. He lived, got married (around 1782) and died in Scotland. John's spouse was Miss Marion Brown (b. 12 March 1757). They had two daughters and seven sons.

John left this world on 22 Feb. 1822 in Lochdougan, Kirkcudbrightshire, Marion lived longer - she died on 5 June 1837 in Gatehouse, Kirkcudbright, Scotland.

John and Marion's son who leads us to our main family line was Samuel Gordon, born circa 1785, Lochdougan, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. He married Miss Agnes Knox (b. circa 1787) - our fourth cousin four times removed.

Agnes' ancestors were:

Parents

Mother: Susannah Stuart Fitzhugh (b. 1751, Overwharton Parish, Stafford, Virginia - d. 1823, Belmont, Charlottesville, Virginia)
Father: William Knox (b. 7 March 1735, Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Scotland - d. 1805, Stafford, Virginia).

Grandparents

Paternal side:
John Knox and Janet Sommervell

Maternal side:
Thomas Fitzhugh (b. 16 July 1725, Boscobell Plantation, Virginia - d. 1 Dec. 1768, VA)
Sarah Stuart (b. about 1731, King George, Virginia - d. ∾1783 VA)

And here we are: Thomas Fitzhugh was a great-grandson of Rose Tucker nee Allerton - our direct ancestor. But that is not all. Agnes' sister Susannah Fitzhugh Knox (b. ∾ 1775, Culpeper County, Virginia - d. 10 July 1869, Fredericksburg, Virginia) married Samuel Gordon Jr. mentioned at the top of this post.

Credits:

• Flag of Scotland: By none known (http://kbolino.freeshell.org/svg/scotland.svg)
  
  [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
• Information based on my MyHeritage research