Ruth Hodge (1769 - 1831)

Born 1769 in South Carolina

Wife of Alexander Hodge — married 1788 in York, South Carolina, United States

Descendants

Died 1831 at about age 62 in Fort Bend, Tejas y Coahuila (Texas)

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Charles Avis [send private message]

Biography

Ruth Hodge settled in the Republic of Texas before February 19, 1846.

Ruth and her family moved from South Carolina, through Kentucky and Arkansas, all the way to Stephen F. Austin's colony in the Mexican province of Tejas y Coahuila. They arrived there in 1825. Tradition says she died in 1831 and was buried in Hodge's Bend Cemetery in what is now Fort Bend Co., TX. No marker currently exists, but she is assumed to be next to her husband, Alexander.

Research Notes

In the absence of a marriage record of Alexander & Ruth Hodge, the following is the case for Ruth's surname being 'Hodge' instead of 'Hodges' or 'Fields'.

Our traditional source^[1] indicates that Archibald Hodge had sons Isaac, Archibald, Jr. and John and daughters Ruth, Nellie and Nancy. In addition, it explicitly states that Alexander Hodge "married Ruth a daughter of Archie and Ruth Hodge but no relation". One would not write "but no relation" if the surname had been 'Hodges'.

This Archibald Hodge appears in Wilkes Co., GA 1784-1794 with a son John^[2][3][4]. In 1800, he appears in deeds in Oglethorpe Co., GA with sons Isaac, Archibald, Jr., John (matching those of the traditional source) and William^[5]. He apparently died in Oglethorpe in 1801, with Alexander Hodge appointed an administrator of his estate^[6][7]. This Alexander Hodge was the husband of Ruth as shown by deeds of Oglethorpe 1803 & 1806^[8].

An Archibald 'Hodges' does not appear in these places at these dates with these same family names.

An Archie Hodge married^[9] in Oglethorpe Co., GA to Milly Bell in 1800. This would be Ruth's brother, recorded as a 'Hodge'.

In defense of 'Hodges', though, the traditional source^[1], does have discrepancies in some areas and thus, is not perfect. In fact, an examination of the original document shows that, at some point, someone obviously added an 's' to 'Hodge' in two places (but not all places).

Given the correlation of the traditional Archibald with the documented Archibald Hodge, Ruth's surname most likely was 'Hodge'.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "Hodge Memoirs" manuscript by William B. Ross in possession of Avis-179 Transcript
2. ↑ Wilkes Co., GA Land Grant Books B & D Transcript
3. ↑ Lucas, S. E. Index to the Headright & Bounty Grants of Georgia 1756-1909. Greenville, SC: Southern Historical Press, 1992. Transcript
4. ↑ Davidson, G. G. Early Records of Georgia. Wilkes County. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1997. Transcript
5. ↑ Farmer, Michal M. Oglethorpe County, Georgia, Deed Books A-F, 1794-1809. Dallas, TX: Michal M. Farmer, 1999. p. 253 Transcript
6. ↑ Oglethorpe County, Georgia Administration Bonds 1799-1807 (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints microfilm) Transcript
7. ↑ Oglethorpe Court of Ordinary, Oglethorpe Co., GA. Names of deceased persons and their executor or administrator, 1799-1821. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints microfilm. Entry #112 Transcript
8. ↑ Farmer, Michal M. Oglethorpe County, Georgia, Deed Books A-F, 1794-1809. Dallas, TX: Michal M. Farmer, 1999. p. 321 Transcript
9. ↑ Maddox, J. T. & Carter, M. 40,000 Early Georgia Marriages. Irwinton, GA: Maddox-Carter, 1977. p. 260. Transcript

• Edmund West, comp., Family Data Collection - Marriages (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2001.), Ancestry.com, 360 West 4800 North, Provo, UT 84604, Marriage date: 1788 Marriage place: York County, SC.
• "First National Bank" manuscript written by Mooring-57 in possession of Avis-179 Transcript
• Daughters of the Republic of Texas Membership Application of Mooring-57 Transcript
• Daughters of the Republic of Texas Membership Application of Mooring-65 Transcript
• Daughters of the Republic of Texas Membership Application of Ross-16812 Transcript
• Farmer, Michal M. Elbert County, Georgia Deed Books A-J 1791-1806. Dallas, TX: Farmer Genealogy Co., 1997. p. 196 Transcript