Thomas Goodson Sr (1735 - 1815)

Born Aug 1735 in Frederick, Maryland

Husband of Keziah (Harris) Goodson — married 1753 in Frederick County, Maryland

Husband of Sarah (Riddle) Goodson — married Mar 1756 in Augusta County, Virginia

Descendants

Died 14 Mar 1815 at age 79 in Augusta County, Virginia, United States (later Floyd County)

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Biography

Thomas Goodson Sr was born about 1735 in Frederick County, Maryland.^[1] He was the son of William Goodson and unknown mother.^[2] The name "Thomas Goodson Senr" was inscribed on his tombstone.^[1][3] According to a notation in his family Bible, he was captain of George Washington's guard at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.^[2]

In a will written by his father William Goodson on 18 August 1746, he and his sister Catherine were put in his brother John's care.^[4]

He was married twice. About 1753, he married Keziah Harris, daughter of Thomas Harris. They had one son, Thomas Goodson Jr. Keziah must have died from complications of childbirth since Thomas Sr married Sarah Riddle in March of 1756.^[2][5] Thomas and Sarah had twelve children:

1. William Goodson. born December 25, 1759.
2. Nancy Ann Goodson, born 1760.
3. John Goodson, born September 30, 1763.
4. Sarah Goodson, born August 12, 1765.
5. Josiah Goodson, bom 1767.
6. Mary Goodson, born 1769.
7. Martha Goodson, born 1772.
8. Jane Goodson, born 1774.
9. Joseph Goodson, born October 16, 1776.
10. Rhoda Goodson, born 1780 (or 1781).
11. Amelia Goodson, born 1784.
12. Margaret Goodson, born 1786.

The first record of Thomas Goodson Sr in Frederick County, Maryland occurs in the Judicial Records, November Court of 1760. He was appointed constable for "Piney Creek Hundred," a "Hundred" being an area of land specified by the justices of the court. ^[5]

Thomas Goodson Sr, second wife Sarah (Riddle) Goodson, sons Thomas Jr and William; and daughter Ann "Nancy all moved about 1762 to Augusta County, Virginia, which that particular area later became part of Floyd County. Their home farm was near the small village of Turtle Rock. ^[2]

Thomas Goodson served in the Virginia House of Delegates in 1793, again from 1809 to 1810, and finally from 1813 to 1814.

He died, age 80, at his home on 14 March 1815 in Floyd County, Virginia, near Turtle Rock and was buried in Pine Creek Cemetery, Floyd, Floyd County, Virginia. ^[3]

Last Will

From the referenced book A Brief of Wills and Marriages: ^[6]

"Goodson, Thomas. Will probated June 1815. Names--wife Sarah and children, Margaret (wife to William Shellor), Joseph, Thomas, Nancy Eason, John, Sarah (wife of James Kings), Mary Page, Martha McHenry, Jane Reavely and Rhoda English."

Research Notes

His mother is uncertain. Currently, this profile shows that Elizabeth Harris was his mother. But no records have been found to validate. Other researchers believe his mother's name was Catherine.

Some researchers believe that his first wife, Sarah Harris was the daughter of Thomas Harris and Sarah Offutt, as indicated in the attached article published in the Floyd County Virginia Heritage. She was indeed the daughter of Thomas Harris who died in 1757 in Frederick County, Maryland but her mother currently hasn't been verified.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Thomas Goodson, Senr - gravestone, attached.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Phillips, V.N. (Bud). The Book of Kings. Johnson City, Tennessee: Overmountain Press,1999. Page 299
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Find A Grave: Memorial #102423040 accessed 19 April 2020, memorial page for Maj Thomas W. Goodson, Sr (Aug 1735–14 Mar 1815), citing Pine Creek Cemetery, Floyd, Floyd County, Virginia, USA ; Maintained by The Good Son. Tombstone photo attached. Death date inscribed on tombstone.
4. ↑ “Maryland, Register of Will Records, 1629-1999,” Kent, Maryland, Wills 1735-1746, vol. 2, will of William Goodson, No. 2, Folio 232, FamilySearch.org. William Goodson - Last Will, attached.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Grose, S.E. "Floyd County Virginia Heritage", Published: Walsworth Publishing Company, Summersville, West Virginia, 2001. Page 95. Google Books Page 95 Thomas Goodson Sr - Bio, page 95 attached.
6. ↑ Worrell, Anne Lowry. A Brief of Wills and Marriages in Montgomery and Fincastle Counties, Virginia, 1773-1831. Roanoke, Virginia: self published, digitized by FamilySearch.org.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to all of the contibutors. See the Changes page for the details of edits. Profile Goodson-286 was previously merged with this profile. See the Goodson -286 Changes page for the details of edits submitted by various contributors for that profile.