Zilpha (Thomas) Todd (1794 - 1871)

Born 25 May 1794 in Edgefield, District 96, South Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Josiah Todd — married 14 Jul 1814 in Edgefield, Edgefield County, South Carolina, United States

Descendants

Died 10 Feb 1871 at age 76 in Collerine, Lowndes County, Alabama

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mark Todd [send private message]

Biography

Zilpha was born on 25 May 1794 in Edgefield, District 96, South Carolina, to Athanathan "Atha" Thomas and Judith "Judah" Foreman. [1, 2]

She was the second wife of Josiah Todd, a widower with five previous children and a neighbor of Zilpha's parents. Zilpha married Josiah on 14 Jul 1814 in Edgefield, Edgefield County, South Carolina. [4]

After the birth of their daughter Elizabeth on 01 Oct 1815, Josiah and Zilpha were granted guardianship of Josiah's five previous children. [4]

In 1817, Josiah obtained a land grant and moved the family to Dallas (now Lowndes) County, Alabama, where the family appears on the 1820 Census. That same year, they joined Town Creek Baptist Church, and later Josiah was one of the founders of Bethany Baptist Church in Collirene, Alabama. Between 1821-1834, Josiah obtained 1200 acres in 80-acre parcels. [4]

According to Zilpha's FindaGrave entry, "Zilpha and Josiah Todd settled on the Alabama frontier the year it became a state in 1818, having moved with their family to central AL from Edgefield, SC. They raised a large family and were a successful farming family with land holdings in Dallas and Lowndes Counties." [3]

Josiah's 1842 last will and testament names Zilpha as heir to his estate and also to three slaves, "namely Annie a girl aged 22 years, Robin a negro man aged about 27 years and Bill a negro man aged about 24 years to be in her possession during her natural life." [5]

Josiah's 1842 will also lists the following living children with Zilpha: Elizabeth Grice, Thomas Todd, Willis Todd, Mary Armes, Nancy Gramblin, Atha Todd, John Todd, Hardy Todd, Lucinda Todd, and Marina Todd. [5]

According to Todd family historian and genealogist Howard Brown, Josiah and Zilpha sold five acres of land to the Deacons of Bethany Baptist Church for $1.00 on 4 Jan 1851. [8]

Josiah died on 11 Aug 1853 in Lowndes County, Alabama. [4] According to Brown, "After the death of Josiah, Zilpha became the head of the family handling the estate. She was appointed administrator of Josiah's estate. According to Lowndes County probate records dated [9 Apr 1855], Zilpha sold two slaves in return for care and support from Hardy Todd." [8]

The Alabama State Census for 1855 in Lowndes County includes an entry for "Mrs. Z. Todd" as head of household, recording her family consisted of one white male over 21, one white female under 21, one white female over 21 (that would be Zilpha), and six slaves. [6]

She again appears in the 1860 US Federal Census for Lowndes County as head of her own household at age 66. Also listed in her household is daughter Merina, now age 23. [7] Brown notes that Zilpha and Marina lived next door to Josiah and Zilpha's son Hardy at this time. [8] According to the 1860 Slave Schedule, Zilpha owned two slaves. [9]

Zilpha remained in Lowndes County, surviving the Civil War, [3] and passed away on 10 Feb 1871, according to records at the Bethany Baptist Church, with burial next to her husband in Bethany Baptist Cemetery in Collirene, Alabama. [3, 8] .

Sources

1. [Todd-6590|Todd, Mark]. Photocopy of family Bible in possession of [Hardin-2495|Todd, MaryKay]. Scan of photocopy in possession of source, 17 Feb 2015.

2. Biographical details, Ancestry.com [1]

3. Findagrave memorial #22821900, Zilpha Thomas Todd [2]

4. Findagrave memorial #21002603, Josiah Todd [3]

5. Josiah Todd Will: Alabama, Wills and Probate Records, 1753-1999, Will Books, 1830-1936, pp. 191-92. (See attached image.) [4]

6. Alabama State Census, 1820-1866 for 1855 in Lowndes County for Mrs. Z. Todd. Ancestry.com database. Digital image of original record [5]

7. 1860 US Federal Census for Lowndes County, Alabama. Copy of original ledger page for “Zelpha” Todd in Ancestry.com database. Digital image of original record [6]

8. Brown, Howard M. The Todd Family. A copy of unpublished 20-year genealogy research project furnished by genealogist Barbara Laine Brunner to MaryKay Todd Mary Kathryn Hardin, now in possession of Mark Todd Mark Todd

9. 1850 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules for Zilpha Todd in Lowndes County Northern Division, Alabama. Ancestry.com, digital image of the original document [7]