Obadiah Terry (abt. 1756 - abt. 1826)

Ancestors Descendants

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Slaves 2 Research Notes 3 Sources

Biography

Obadiah Terry was born in Virginia (possibly in Spotsylvania County) about 1756. He was the son of Thomas Terry and Ann (Watts) Terry, and had eight known siblings.

At about age 20, Obediah Terry enlisted in Captain Billey Haley Avery's Company in the 6th Virginia Regiment, commanded by Colonel Thomas Elliott, for a two-year term on 12 Feb 1776.^[1] During this service, he was engaged in battles at Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, and Germantown. Honorably discharged at the conclusion of his term on 15 Feb 1778 at Valley Forge, Obadiah returned home to Virginia.^[1][2]

According to his wife's later pension application, Obadiah married Sarah Day on 12 Oct 1780, probably in Spotsylvania County. Not long after, he was drafted back into service in the militia and was present at the Siege of Yorktown when Cornwallis surrendered. During his absence, Sarah, pregnant with their first child, stayed at the home of her father. Their daughter Nancy was born 4 Aug 1781.^[2]

By 1782, Obadiah appeared in the Spotsylvania County, Virginia personal property tax lists, owning a slave and a horse. For nearly four decades, his personal property changed little. Obadiah was never listed as owning cattle or carriages; the number of horses he owned increased to three. He has not been found in the county in 1785 or 1786, and though the 1787 tax list is unclear, after this absence Obadiah no longer had a slave through 1802, with the exception of a child under age 12 in 1792 and 1793. From 1802 through 1819, the number of slaves varied slightly between one and three. 1803 was the first year a second male over 16 was listed for Obadiah, indicating his only known son, William B. Terry, was born about 1787. William was listed separately from 1810 through 1817; he may have left the county about that time.^[3]

Obadiah's father, Thomas, died about 1804.^[4] Though his will left his estate to his wife for her lifetime, she may have either died about the same time, or decided to distribute the estate to her children.

About this time, Obadiah purchased 74 acres of land in Spotsylvania County from Elijah and Usle Carter for $140, by indenture made 25 Aug 1804 and recorded 4 Sep 1804^[5] (Obadiah's daughter Nancy married the Carters' son Samuel about this time as well). Obadiah followed this up with an indenture dated 18 Oct 1804, not recorded until 7 May 1805. This second purchase was for 23 acres from Elijah and Lucy Smith for $100.^[6]

In 1810 Obadiah's census record in Spotsylvania County showed one male and one female over 45 [Obadiah and Sarah]; one male and one female 16-25; one male and one female under 10; and three slaves.^[7] It's not yet clear who these four younger people were. Both known children, Nancy and William, were apparently married by this time, but neither family has been located in the 1810 census yet. Most likely, these four people represent William's family, though he had no as-yet known daughters.

By the end of the decade, at about age 63, Obadiah decided to move to Kentucky. On 20 Oct 1819, he and Sarah made an indenture to sell their land to James Atwood of Cupeper County, Virginia, which was recorded on 1 Nov 1819 in Spotsylvania County. The tracts he had purchased in 1804 and 1805 for $240 he sold for $922.50.^[8] Though this deed indicates 102.5 acres, the difference was likely due to a new survey. Obadiah's land tax records in Spotsylvania County had consistently represented his two purchases: 74 acres in 1805 and 1806, and 97 acres from 1807 to 1819.^[9][10]

The 1820 federal census recorded Obadiah and his family in Harrison County, Kentucky. His entry showed one male and one female over 45 [Obadiah and Sarah]; one male and one female 26-44; one female 16-25; one male 10-15; five males under ten; and one slave. Four people were engaged in agriculture.^[11] As in the previous decade, it's uncertain whom the younger family in his household represents. It may be the family of William Terry (who appeared in the Harrison County tax list in 1819 and on, but has not been found in the 1820 census record), though again, there are more children than are currently known for him.

Obadiah first appeared on the tax list for Harrison County in 1821 (there is no Harrison County tax list for 1820), with one slave and four horses^[12] That year, he purchased 63 acres and 20 poles on Mill and Twin Creeks (part of Barbour's patent of 500 acres) from Samuel Chadd and Polly his wife for $300 on 13 Oct 1821.^[13]

The following year, Obadiah sold 21 acres on Twin Creek to his son William Terry for $100 on 11 Jun 1822.^[14] From 1822 through 1825, Obadiah's tax records covered the remaining 42/3 acres of 3rd rate land listed on Twin or Mill Creek (Barbour's patent). He typically had four horses and one slave during this period, with the exceptions of: five horses in 1823, and two slaves in 1824.^[12]

In 1823 Obadiah applied for and received a bounty land warrant (#6553) for 100 acres.^[2] The disposition of this warrant has not yet been determined. In January of that year, Obadiah had written his will, leaving his estate to his wife Sarah for her lifetime. After her death, the 42 acre farm was left to his grandson Burrel N. Carter; any remaining estate was to be divided equally between Burrel and Obadiah's children, Nancy and William.

Obadiah probably died in the early months of 1826 at about age 70. His will was filed in the April 1826 session of the Harrison County court; the estate inventory was filed in the May 1826 court.^[15][16] Details of his interment are not known.

Slaves

Virginia:

• ~1780 inherited Millie from Sarah's father, Lewis Terry.^[17]
  • 1782-84 tax list: one slave.
• 1792 inherited Sam from Sarah's grandfather John Chandler.^[18]
  • 1792-93 tax list: one slave under 12.
• 1802-07 tax list: one slave over 16 (no record for 1808).
• 1809 tax list: three slaves over 16.^[3]
• 1810 census: three slaves^[7]
• 1810 tax list: two slaves over 16.
• 1811-12 tax list: three slaves over 16.
• 1813 tax list: two slaves over 16.
• 1814-15 tax list: three slaves over 16/12.
• 1816 tax list: two slaves over 12.
• 1817-19 tax list: three slaves over 12.^[3]

Kentucky:

• 1820 census: one slave^[11]
• 1821-3 tax list: one slave over 16
• 1824 tax list: two slaves over 16
• 1825 tax list: one slave over 16^[12]

Research Notes

• Other Terrys in the Spotsylvania property tax list: from 1782 to 1786, a Thomas Terry also appeared in Spotsylvania County: it seems likely this was Obadiah's father. Another Thomas Terry appeared in 1793; possibly Obadiah's brother. A third man, Emmanuel Terry is the only other man with the surname in the county. Emmanuel Terry appeared in the 1786, 1787, 1792, 1793 and 1794. It seems probable that this man is connected to the family, though his relationship is currently unknown.
• Other possible children: some on-line trees have reported another daughter, Polly (b. 12 Aug 1783), for Obadiah and Sarah. So far, no evidence for this person has been found.
• Obadiah's land bounty record needs further research.
• Lewis Terry's probate needs further research.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Military Service: War Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records: Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War (Record Group 93); Terry, Obediah - Virginia - Sixth Regiment, NAID: 141670837, image 6/21. Accessed via NARA, 31 May 2023.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Military Service: Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs (Record Group 15); Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 8781, for Obadiah Terry, Virginia, NAID: 144314703, 81 images. Accessed via NARA, 31 May 2023.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Personal Property Taxes: Virginia, Commissioner of the Revenue (Spotsylvania County), Personal property tax lists 1782-1822 (No lists for 1808.): FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS79-293L-8 (Film # 007856308; 858 images), accessed 2 Jun 2023.
   
   • entries for Obadiah Terry: images 83 (1782), 97 (1783), 110 (1784), 147 (1787-wrong columns), 163 (1788), 180 (1789), 194 (1790), 201 (1791), 215 (1792), 230 (1793), 244 (1794), 259 (1795), 273 (1796), 287 (1797), 303 (1798), 320 (1799), 343 (1800), 374 (1801), 385 (1802), 419 (1803), 441 (1804), 462 (1805), 183 (1806-illegible), 493 (1807), 526 (1809), 547 (1810), 566 (1811), 577 (1812), 601 (1813), 616 (1814), 642 (1815), 685 (1816), 695 (1817), 720 (1818), 764 (1819).
4. ↑ Will of father, Thomas Terry: Louisa County, Virginia, Will Book 5, p. 163-4. Written 13 Feb 1792, Fluvanna County, Virginia; proven 8 Oct 1804, Louisa County, Virginia. FamilySearch Image: 3QSQ-G9PD-YBM accessed 1 Jun 2023. Names wife and children.
5. ↑ Deed 1: Spotsylvania County, Virginia, Deed Book Q, p. 378 FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS1K-XR7G (film 008423005; image 216/582) accessed 1 Jun 2023. Indenture for 74 acres from Elijah and Usle Carter to Obadiah Terry, $140, 25 Aug 1804, recorded 4 Sep 1804, Spotsylvania County, Virginia.
6. ↑ Deed 2: Spotsylvania County, Virginia, Deed Book Q, p. 448 FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS1K-XR6Z(film 008423005; image 251/582) accessed 1 Jun 2023. Indenture for 23 acres from Elijah and Lucy Smith to Obadiah Terry, $100, 18 Oct 1804, recorded 7 May 1805, Spotsylvania County, Virginia.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} 1810 Census: "United States Census, 1810"
   citing Page: 105; Affiliate Publication Number: M252;
   FamilySearch Record: XH2Y-5RT (accessed 2 June 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9YY2-PX7
   Obadiah Terry in Spotsylvania, Virginia, United States.
8. ↑ Deed 3: Spotsylvania County, Virginia, Deed Book V, p. 103 FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C3QP-W927-B(film 008562433; image 295/537) accessed 2 Jun 2023. Indenture for 102.5 acres from Obadiah Terry to James Atwood of Culpeper County, Virginia, $922.50, 20 Oct 1819, recorded 1 Nov 1819, Spotsylvania County, Virginia.
9. ↑ Land Taxes: Virginia, Commissioner of the Revenue (Spotsylvania County), Land tax lists 1782-1806: FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSKJ-W9KD-R (Film # 008152001; 392 images), accessed 2 Jun 2023.
   
   • entries for Obadiah Terry: images 359 (1805), 378 (1806).
10. ↑ Land Taxes: Virginia, Commissioner of the Revenue (Spotsylvania County), Land tax lists 1807-1834 (no lists for 1808): FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSKJ-43M4-7 (Film # 008152002; 684 images), accessed 2 Jun 2023.
    
    • entries for Obadiah Terry: images 20 (1807), 41 (1809), 61 (1810), 81 (1811), 102 (1812), 124 (1813), 150 (1814), 178 (1815), 204 (1816), 231 (1817), 254 (1818), 280 (1819).
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} 1820 Census: "United States Census, 1820"
    citing Page: 140; Affiliate Publication Number: M33;
    FamilySearch Record: XHLR-284 (accessed 2 June 2023)
    FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYBZ-SKP
    Obadiah Terry in Harrison, Kentucky, United States.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2} Tax list: Harrison County (Kentucky). Tax Assessor, Tax books 1809-1819, 1821-1828: FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS3J-FSPD-L (Film # 007834451; 1165 images), accessed 2 Jun 2023.
    
    • entries for Obadiah Terry: images 640 (1821: p. 56, line 13), 719 (1822: p. 65, line 11), 786 (1823: p. 54, line 22), 854 (1824: p. 58, line 14), 925 (1825: p. 60, line 32).
13. ↑ Deed 4: Harrison County, Kentucky Deed Book 7, pp. 413-4 (FamilySearch film # 007900615: image 210/505) FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS4L-YL3C, accessed 30 May 2023. Obadiah Terry purchase from Samuel and Polly Chadd.
    • Beginning at a honey locust, 2 buckeyes and an ash sapling; corner to Joseph Lake; running with Lake N 60 E 202 poles to a sugar tree; leaving Lake S 30 E 50 poles to two black oaks, a white oak and a hickory near a bear wallow; S 60 W 202 poles to a white oak and an ash; N 30 W to the beginning. Harrison County Clerks Office 13 Oct 1821: H.C. Moore, C.H.C.
14. ↑ Deed 5: Harrison County, Kentucky Deed Book 8, pp. 187-8 (FamilySearch film # 007900615: image 325/505) FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS4L-Y272, accessed 30 May 2023. Obadiah Terry sale to William Terry.
    • Beginning at a sugartree thence S 30 E 38 poles to two black ashes, a white oak and a hickory; S 50[?] W 84 poles to an iron wood and a black ash; N 30 W 42 poles to a stake; N 61 E 84 poles to the beginning. Harrison County Clerks Office 11 Jun 1822: H.C. Moore, C.H.C.
15. ↑ Will: Harrison County, Kentucky, Will Book B (1815-1832), pp. 256-7; Probate Place: Harrison County, Kentucky. FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GP39-2PQ (accessed 30 May 2023). Obadiah Terry probate Apr 1826.
16. ↑ Estate Inventory: Harrison County, Kentucky, Will Book B (1815-1832), pp. 262-3; Probate Place: Harrison County, Kentucky. FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GP39-2R6 (accessed 30 May 2023). Obadiah Terry probate May 1826.
17. ↑ Probate of Lewis Day Estate: Spotsylvania County, Virginia, Will Book E, pp. 466-7. 27 Nov 1780, Spotsylvania County, Virginia. FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C9PX-296C-B (Film # 007645806; image 268/886) accessed 3 Jun 2023. Lucy Day, administrator; Sarah (Day) Terry, Nancy Day and Dr. Lewis Day, Jr. devisees.
18. ↑ Will of grandfather-in-law, John Chandler: Spotsylvania County, Virginia, Will Book F, pp. 254-6. Written 25 Nov 1800, Spotsylvania County, Virginia; executors bonded 5 Jan 1802, Spotsylvania County, Virginia. FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C9PX-KG2T (Film # 007645807; image 139/524) accessed 2 Jun 2023. Obadiah Terry co-executor; Sarah Terry inherited slave, Sam.