The Descendants of Robert and Margaret Todd of Ireland and Laurens County South Carolina Todd Family #50 (TF50)

Richard McMurtry

November 2012, October 2022

Background

As part of colonial South Carolina’s program of inducing settlement in the backcountry far removed from the coastal settlements, thousands of immigrants came in search of low cost land in the 1760s and 1770s, prior to the Revolution.

Amongst this tide, came (1) Archibald Todd and Jeanne Todd who sailed from Belfast to Charleston on the ship Pennsylvania Farmer arriving on December 19, 1772, and (2) a Robert and Margaret Todd who sailed on the ship Lord Dunluce from Larne on January 6, 1773 in 1773.

These two ships were organized by the Rev. William Martin of Co Antrim, Northern Ireland.

Archibald and Jeanne Todd settled on land grants obtained between 1773 and 1774 within a few miles of each other in the portion of the Ninety Six District that became Edgefield County by 1785 and later became Greenwood and Saluda County. Archibald settled on a grant of 250 acres on Ninety Six Creek; Jeanne settled on a land grant of 100 acres on Sleepy Creek. William Todd, assumed to be Archibald’s son later (between 1787 and 1793) also secured grants in the same general area for over 1000 acres on Sleepy Creek, Mountain Creek , Halfway Swamp and the Saluda River. Jeanne later married John Walker and the Walkers sold the land. This confirms that she was a not the Jeanne Todd who was wife of Archibald.

Meanwhile, Robert and Margaret Todd had obtained grants between 1773 and 1775 about 6 or so miles further upstream on branches of Rabon’s Creek a tributary of the Saluda River. They both obtained grants for 100 acres as head of household. So it would appear that Robert and Margaret were not married but heads of separate households, e.g. brother and sister or mother and son. Margaret sold her grant to Frederick Little in 1779. So we assume that the records of the Todds on Rabon’s Creek were the family of Robert Todd, the immigrant.

DNA shows that Robert Todd b 1750s was very close kin to the John Todd b 1735-45 who came to Washington Co PA prior to 1790 probably from NW County Tyrone and the James Todd b 1748 who came to Nashville prior to 1780, reportedly from County Antrim. All three of these shared a common ancestor with both the NW Antrim/NE Derry Todds and the County Down Todds as well as the Todds of Fenwick Ayrshire. See the Group 2 Big Y Analysis for further details about the DNA implications for the origins of these families.

Family Discussion

Census records for 1800 show a Robert Todd over 45 years old, therefore, born prior to 1755 with a son born 1775-1784 (probably James Todd born about 1774) and 7 females and a slightly younger wife. John Todd was in the census as being born 1755-1774 with four sons born 1790-1800 and two daughters and a wife.

The census records are difficult to interpret, but it would appear that Robert was the father of John and James Todd.

In the late 1790s early 1800s, the Todds bought and sold land in the area. Between 1796 and 1800, John Todd bought land on Dirty Creek, a branch of Rabon’s Creek. IN 1799, Robert Todd bought 225 acres on Todds Branch of Rabon Creek, adjacent to John Todd. In 1808, Robert Todd sold James Todd 187 acres of this land. In 1816, James bought an additional 160 acres adjacent to Robert Todd.

I believe that the James Todd who went to Henderson County TN was this James Todd, the son of Robert Todd, the immigrant.

John Todd died in 1821 and left a will (Series: S108093 Reel: 0016 Frame: 00510; ttp://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/onlinearchives/Thumbnails.aspx?recordId=297781)) naming his son in law Robert Bryson, daughter Mary Todd and sons John, James, Robert and Charles. These four sons were probably those listed in John’s household in the 1800 and 1810 census records. I believe that Robert is the Robert Todd b 1794 SC who appears in Meriwether County GA in 1850 and that Charles is the Charles Todd b 1790 SC who appears in Cass Co GA in 1850.

John left his son James Todd 100 acres (it being a tract in which he has been in possession of). The rest of his land was to go to his wife Nancy, but upon her demise, the land would go to Robert and John and other property divided between Robert, John and Mary. So the property records for Laurens County would document the transfer of the property.

I leave it to others to tie these origins into the history of the descendants of these branches of the Todd family.

PS of Sept 2020:

James 1774 went to Henderson Co TN and left issue, including Daniel Todd b 1822 d 1907 from which Geoffrey William Todd

John Todd d 1821 and had:

Robert 1794 from whom Leslie Cleveland Todd decends

Charles b 1790 who went to Cass Co GA &from whom Joe Edward Todd descends

John b 1800 d 1864 Paulding Co GA from whom John Thomas Todd descends.

Documentation

TF 50: Robert and Margaret Todd on Raeborns Creek of Saluda River

6 Jan 1773..laid out unto Margaret Toad..tract of land..100 acres ..in Craven County to the NE side of Reyburns Creek on a small branch..called Reynolds Branch bounded to the Wward by..John Riche Senr all other sies on Vacant land surveyed 18 March 1773

Series: S213184 Volume: 0020 Page: 00362 Item: 02 Record 1 of 3 records

6 day of Jany 1773.. laid out unto Robert Toad a tract 100 ares ..NinetySix District between Board & Saludy Rivers on a small branch of Williamson Creek, the waters of Reburns Creek and from thence to Saluda. NW by Jno Helms sr, E by Patrick Cuningham esq, SW by vacant land surveyed 29 March 1773

8/19/1775; Margaret Toad, Memorial for 100 acres on Rayburns Creek, Craven Co

Book C p 22-23: Lease and Release 17 June 1779 Margaet Todd (Ninety Six Distr) to Frederick LIttle, labrourer..100 acres in Craven Co on small branch on NE side of Reaburns Creek, bounding w on landds.. John Ritchie. Granted 17 March 1775.Witness Wittehall Warner, Tandy Wlaker, Elizabeth Warner.

Book B 166-167 28 Dec 1786 Haisten Doyall (Laurens Co) freeholder & Rebecka his wife to John Todd..land on waters of Reaburns Creek. granted unto John Weir 1775. Bounded sw by John Hellams..100 acres conveyed by John Weir until said Hasten Dial 20 Oct 1786 Witness: Robert Todd, David Hellams. Williams Hobes.

Book B, p 276-7 1 Dec 1787 Frederik Little (Laurens Co) to William Hubbs.. tract in Craven County on a small branch of reaburns Creek on NE Side, bounding w on land laid out to John Richey Sr, all other sides by vacant land when granted in sd Co containing 100 ares..granted unto Margaret Toad 17 Mar 1775 and sol unto Frederick Little 17 June 1779. Witness Alexander Hamittson, Robert Todd, Chas. Gaffy

Book B p195-197 Lease and Release 11 and 12 Dec 1789. William Hubbs and Elizebeth Hubs his wife (Laurens Co) planter to George Fuller..100 acres..small branch of Reaburns Creek on North side. etc. Witness: Mansil Crisp, James J Willson, Geroge McVay

Book C p 114: 28 July 1788, Richard Jowel (Laurens Co ) freeholder to Robert Todd same..150 acres of the south of sw end of 250 acres granted until ratlift Jowel 4 Apr 1785..Dividing line between sd Richard Jowel and robert Todd to the the s end of a tract which was run for young McNees Good, Border Daniel Ozburn, old McNees Good. The above Richard Jowel oldest son & ehir to aforesd Ratlift Jowel, no Dec. Witness John Todd, Wm Hubbs

1796-1800 John and William Martin to John Todd, Dirty Creek of Raeburns (Gp119)

1799 Charles Madden to Robert Todd 225 acres on Todd Branch of Raborns b on John Todd (F492)

1808 Robert Todd to James Todd 187 ac bounding on Robert Todd. Wit: Robert Todd (J17)

1816: Asa Turner to James Todd, 160 Ac on Raeburns Creek (K124) b. by Mabra Madden, Robert Todd, Adam__, John Lumpkin. Witn: W. McClanahan, Solomon Cole, p 362

Census:

1800

Edgefield: William Todd 0111-0001 (William 26-45=>1755-1774) Presumed

son of Archibald?)

Edgefield: John Todd 2101-1001

Edgefield: Josiah Todd 101-001

Laurens: John Todd 4001-1101 Laurens Co, SC p 49 (Probably the son of Robert and Margaret Todd who came to SC in 1773.)

Laurens: Robert Todd 00101-4211 p 50 Burnsides Company

Laurens: Patrick Todd 2101-1001 p 45

Laurens: Nathan Todd 02011-01001 Newberry District, SC (alphabetical - only Todd) p 65 of 75

Newberry: Samuel Todd 1111-01101 Newberry District, SC p 64 of 75

Pendleton: Thomas Todd 1001-0001 Pendleton Dsitrict 92 of 126

Pendleton: James Todd 1101-2001 James=1755-1774: sons 1790-1800, 1784-1790 p 88 of 126 (This could be James Todd/Jane Erskine with son William b 1789, son James b 1799, dau

Marg b 1793 and another daug)

1810

James todd 2001-01 Laurens SC p 26 of 77

JOhn todd 22001-01001 p 23 of 77

Samuel Todd 001-10001 p 25 of 77

Robert Todd 10001-12201 25 of 77

nathan Tod 00221-00101 p 34 of 77

Patrick Todd 3121-1101 36 of 77

Pendelton

Robert Todd 1001-2001 p 25 of 50 (This could be Robert b 1784 with son Andrew b 1804)

James Todd 1201-0101 p 43 of 50

Adan/Adam Todd 1001-301 p 47 of 50 (son of Archibald & Jeanne)

1820

Adam Todd 20111-1301 Pendleton p 4 of 67

Andrew Todd 00001-2101 Laurens p 4 of 67

ARchibald Todd 2001-001 Laurens p 3 of 67

Charles Todd 001-201 p 7 of 67

James Todd 0001-001 p 21 of 67

James Todd 32001-001 p 32 of 67

John Todd 30011-3101 p 25 of 67

John Todd 00001-001 p p 28 of 67

John Todd 00031-0011 p p 31 of 67

John Todd 000211- 00101 p 34 of 67

Nathaniel Todd 100021-00011p 44 of 67

Patrick Todd 031001-00001 p 45 of 67

Grissey Todd Newberry p 19 of 40

Ander Todd 10001-3001 Newberry p 11 of 40

James Todd 100201- 00100 Pendleton p 45 of 67

Tf50