Francis Woody ECA Sizemore Deposition

These affidavits were in support of applications filed in 1907 so between then and about 1910.

Kathie Thank you for posting Francis Woodies Deposition. I wonder if he may have had a little bit of senior moment though. I say this because there are a few things that stand out in his deposition. He basically was calling Owen Sizemore "Old Ned" at the same time a lot of his information went with Edward B. Sizemore such as the age being 60 or 70 when he first met him. Edward B. Sizemore is the person who seems to leave and come back to Ashe county often as can be proven by his children's birth locations. Edward being born in what today is called Grayson County, Virgina (at the time of his birth was called Montgomery, Virginia) his movement into Ashe County, North Carolina, Hawkins County, Tennessee, back to Ashe Co, then to Wilkes Co., North Carolina and then his migration to Logan Co, Virginia which became Wyoming Co. and then to Webster Co, Virginia (WV) where he appears to have died in the fall of 1866 according to his grandchildren. All these movements are documented through deeds, tax records, census and vital records of several of his children. When Mr. Woodie names children of Old Ned there is a problem. He names Owen Sizemore, Hiram Sizemore, George Sizemore, Enoch Sizemore and Ned Sizemore. states he had daughters Sallie, Betty and Annie. Note: These individuals appear to be people who are in Mr. Woodie's age group and people he remembers possibly going to school with and or chumming with. Owen Sizemore settled in Alleghany County he was the father of Hiram Sizemore. George J Sizemore had sons with the names of Edward and Owen and a daughter named Elizabeth who they called Betsie and or Betty, and Edward B. Sizemore had a daughter named Sarah who was called Sally. All of these children were the same age as Francis Woodie. The stronger clue there is a combination of history happening, Mr Woodie was born circa 1826. The Old Ned that most people in their ECA applications are talking about appears to be the one killed in Oct 1780, his son George Sizemore was deceased before 10 May 1824, There is no physical way Mr. Francis Woodie being born about 1826 could he have personally known either of them. Considering this knowledge, one must consider who he is speaking of. He makes a statement that Old Ned was a farmer and a Great Hunter. The one person who is described in various accounts as being a hunter was Edward B. Sizemore. Basically, I believe we need to consider Mr. Woodies deposition and try to decipher the value and proof of the information he has provided. There is truth however the knowledge is scattered at best. Just my opinion.

National Archives and Records Administration, Eastern Cherokee Applications of the Court of Claims, Testimony of Francis Woody, Sizemore case