The Ancestors and Descendants of

Andrew Todd 1756-1843, John Todd 1762-1835 and Samuel Todd 1762-1825

Todd Family #49 (TF49)

Richard McMurtry

November 2012

Background

In 1760, John Todd and his wife Mary Todd, a cousin, moved from Co Down to Co Monaghan settling in Killacronaghan, a townland about 2 miles SW of Smithborough.[i] His son Andrew Todd was only 4 years old when this move was made.[ii]

John Todd had a family of three sons and two daughters: Andrew Todd 1756-1843, Samuel Todd 1762-1825, John Todd 1762-1835, Jane Todd md John Hamilton and Eliza Todd who was the second wife of James Fisher.

Four of the siblings migrated to South Carolina though at different times. Samuel Todd probably arrived first, settling prior to 1800 in Newberry and by 1810 in Laurens. He was a medical doctor and lived in the village of Laurens. John Todd who was also a doctor, arrived in December 1790 and Samuel was the witness for his naturalization in 1808. John seems to have settled to the north of Laurens in the Ora or Lanford area, about 6 to 10 miles north of Laurens. Andrew Todd came almost a generation later in 1816 when he was 50 years old. He settled near Laurens and inherited 600 acres near Laurens village from his brother. The Hamiltons came in 1823 and Jane Hamilton inherited a tract of land from Samuel on which she was living at the time of Samuel’s death.

Family Discussion

Samuel Todd 1762-1825

Samuel Todd reportedly settled first in Newberry before coming to Laurens.[iii] and we indeed find a Samuel Todd in the 1800 census for Newberry, but living with 3 other males of varying ages, an older female and two females 10-26. When he died in Laurens in 1825, he left large land holdings and many bequests to his kin. He mentioned no children nor a spouse, though he made a bequest to “ Miss Mary Ann Hall, who formerly lived with me” via James Brannon of Spartanburg. Samuel A Agnew, a grandson of his brother Andrew, claimed that Samuel went back to Ireland to secure a wife, Isabella Kerr, but we can find no documentaition for this. In his will written on December 29, 1824 and proved in 1825, he gave:

• $3000 to support the Gospel Ministry in Laurens and John Todd was one of those appointed to administer the funds.
• $2000 to build a church in Laurens within the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church Synod. his sister Jane Hamilton the tract of his land on which she was residing as well as $4000 in stock in trade and a slave.
• a slave or two to his Hamilton nephew and nieces
• $500 to his nephew Samuel Todd, son of his brother John
• Stock in trade and a slave to his nephew Samuel R. Todd , son of his brother Andrew (Note that he gave special attention to his namesakes in both his brothers families.)
• His house and lots in the village of Laurens and a slave to Eliza Todd, dau of his brother Andrew
• House and lot in Charleston, furniture and a slave to Jane Todd, dau of his brother Andrew
• 600 acres near Laurens to his brother Andrew with a legacy to Andrew’s three daughters

John Todd 1762-1835

From his naturalization record in 1808, we know that John Todd came to South Carolina by December 1790, still a young man only 28 years old. In 1800, he married Elizabeth Julia Spencer of Virginia and soon began a family.[iv] He bought 150 acres from James Moss (last name?) between 1808 and 1811.[v] His children were:

1. Mary W TODD b: 1800

2. John Spencer TODD b: 25 JAN 1804 d 1888 Spartanburg

3. Samuel T H TODD b: 1808 d 1844 single Laurens Co[vi]

4. William Alonzo TODD b: 29 MAY 1812 d:26 APR 1871 in Panola Co, MS, migrated 1850/60

5. Eliza Julia Ann TODD b: 26 APR 1814 in Laurens Co, SC

6. Matilda J TODD b: 2 APR 1816 in South Carolina

7. Permelia Frances TODD b: 21 MAR 1819 in Laurens Co, SC

8. James Rogers TODD b: 24 JAN 1824 in Laurens Co, SC 29 SEP 1878 in Due West, SC

9. Maria Louisa TODD b: ABT 1824 in South Carolina

Some also report Robert E. Todd 1810-1847 as a son

He died 14 Feb 1835 and was buried at the ORA ARP Cemetery in Gray Court, SC. His wife Eliza J Spencer 1784-1854 was also buried there.[vii]

Andrew Todd 1756-1843

Andrew Todd was born in Co Down which is where two families of Todds settle in the 1600s – one in Carricknaveagh in central Down and the other in Agahderg in southern Down by the late 1600s. At the age of 4, in 1760, he moved with his family to Co Monaghan, near Smithboro and within 2 miles of where some of his Irish relatives till lived at the turn of the 20^th century.

He married first Sydney West and had the following children:

John Todd killed at Waterloo 1815

Mary Todd married David Lemon

Richard Todd, died single, 1820-1821 of Yellow Fever, at Wetumpka, AL

Aaron todd, died single, 1820-21 of Yellow Fever at Wetumpka, AL

Jane West Todd b 1787 died 1874 Laurens Co md Rev Samuel Pressley

Eliza Todd md James Brownlee in 1840 or 1841

Married second to Mary Simpson b abt 1784 died in Laurens Co in 1850 about age 66

Children:

Samuel Rutherford Todd born Oct 7, 1807 md (1) 1829 Emeline Milner (2) 1837 Jane Boyd

Letitia Simpson Todd born Ireland on Sept 19, 1809 md 1832 to Dr. Enoch Agnew of Abbeville

Margaret Isabella Todd born Nov 11, 1812 md 1836 to Rev James L. Young

Andrew came to Laurens Co in 1816 – when he was 50 years old. He bought land from Harydman Duke in 1818[viii] and seems to have settled near Laurens village in Laurens County. He received 600 acre tract from his brother Samuel’s 1825 will. He died in 1843 and is buried in the ARP cemetery in Clinton.

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[i] Note that there already was a Todd presence in Co Monaghan. There was a Elder Andrew Todd,

Stonebridge, (Clones), Co. Monaghan, 1739.

[ii] The information on the origins of this family came from letters written to Emily Todd Helms by Samuel A. Agnew, a grandson of Andrew Todd 1756-1843 after he saw a notice in the Louisville Courier Journal newspaper posted by Emily Todd Helm in October 1897 soliciting information on the Todd Family History.

[iii] Annals of Newberry by John A Chapman: “Andrew Todd came from Ireland to this country in 1816, and his wife and children came over in the same vessel with Mrs. Mary McCalla in 1817. This family of Todds settled in Laurens County. One of the daughters married Rev. Samuel P. Pressley, who was pastor of the Associate Reformed Ohurch in this county, and lived in the house on Caldwell street commonly known at this time as the Webb house. Drs. Samuel Todd, a brother of Andrew Todd, practiced medicine very successfully in Newberry for a number of years, afterward moved to Laurens C. H.. where he died on the 3d of June, 1825, aged sixty-three years.”

[iv] Samuel Agnew makes reference to John Todd being a doctor and having married a Miss Spencer.

[v] Book J, p 235 Laurens County Deeds.

[vi] The mournful duty has arisen of paying a tribute of respect to the memory of Mr. Samuel T. H. Todd, who departed this life after a short but severe illness, at his residence in the village of Laurens, S. C., at about half past 2 o'clock A.M., on the 28th ultimo, in the 36th year of his age.? Mr. Todd was an intelligent merchant of high standing?and lived and died without an enemy. In his death his aged mother and numerous relatives, and the community at large, have experienced a sad calamity, which is deplored by all.

[vii] Consort of Dr. John Todd. Died in the 69th year of her age.

[viii] Harydman Duke to Andrew Todd, witnesses: Bleweres, Samuel Todd. Bk K p 241 1818.