Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of Leander Goodson

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Descendants of Leander Goodson

Generation No. 1

1. LEANDER¹ GOODSON was born Abt. 1797 in Chesterfield Co., Virginia, and died Abt. 1900 in Grayson County, Virginia. He married (1) POLLY MILLER June 14, 1825 in Wythe County, Virginia. He married (2) NANCY BRANNOCK Aft. 1826, daughter of TRAIN BRANNOCK and CAROLINE KENLEY. She was born in Probably Surry Co., NC, and died Aft. 1900 in Grayson County, Virginia.

Notes for LEANDER GOODSON:
It was told by Troy Goodson that Leander never talked about his family or where he came from. It is said he rode into Grayson County with two saddlebags full
of coins and bought the property known as The Goodson Settlement in the
Blue Ridge Mountains. It was a well-known fact that Nancy, his wife, was a Mid-
wife and baby doctor.

Jasper Goodson of Ohio, son of Amos Goodson, son of Benjamin, son of Leander, wrote for his children in l970: " My great-Grandfather, Leander, took up about 1000 acres of land and that has been over l00 years ago. He settled down on this mountain land in a log cabin and raised his family. When one of the boys got married, Leander gave them land to build a home on. He built a
water mill on the farm and a school called, Goodson School House, which I
attended." Jasper was unable to remember Leander's children's names
however he did remember Nancy.

As told by John Woodrow Golding...

Leander Goodson came to this area with a brother. Leander settled in Grayson County, Virginia and his brother went to the Old Fort area of McDowell Co., N.C.
It was told that Leander had a large bag of money that he carried with him at all times. It was said to be so heavy, that he could not hardly get on his horse with it. Some say he was a member of the Jesse James Gang and that he came to Grayson County to hide out. This was thought to be just a rumor started by the fact he had the bag of money. In actuality, Leander's money probably came from the sale of land given to him as army pension in the state of Illinois, etc. There has been found that a Larkin Goodson did in fact settle in the Old Fort area of McDowell Co., N.C. however nothing has been found to indicate they are brothers.

According to Leander's claim for service pension filed on 3-12-1881, he was born in Chesterfield County, Va. and was 16 years old when he enlisted in Richmond on 9-1-1813. He listed himself as an apprentice and was 5 feet 9 inches tall and had black hair, black eyes, and fair complected.
In 1830 Leander lived in McMinn Co., TN. with his wife Polly Miller.
Leander served as a scout in the Indian Wars and according to a Brannock researcher was captured by the Indians in Florida and lived with them for several years being released in 1819. He was in Wythe Co. from 1819-1821, McMinn Co., TN from 1821-1830; Perry Co., Illinois 1830-1831as he had received land for his military service which he sold. 1831-1837 he lived in Surry Co., NC and 1837 forward in Grayson Co., Va. all according to information he gave on his application for pension.
Leander states he was in the Indian Wars as a scout for five years and was honorable discharged at Bowling Green near Nashville, Tennessee in 1819. Pension also states dates may not be correct due to failing memory. Discharge papers were lost in a house fire in 1848.
As each of Leander's children reached maturity, he deeded land to them. The last deed was signed by Nancy about 1886-87. Leander signed deeds after that so it appears Nancy may have died sometime after l887. According to Brannock researchers, Leander lived to be 104 years of age making his death some where around 1900.

According to the 1880 Grayson Co. Cenus, Leander was born in VA, his father in MA.

1850 Grayson County Census
525 Goodsong, Leander      63      M      Farmer      450      VA
Nancy      23 (?)      F                  VA (X)
Eliza      10      F
Prudence      8      F
Joseph      6      M
Elijah      5      M
Jefferson      3      M
Train      2      M
Benjamin      1      M

1870 Grayson County Census
246. Goodson, Leander 77 Farmer 1000 950 VA
Nancy 76 NC
Train 22 Farm Laborer NC
Benjamin 24 Farm Laborer NC
Chas. 16 Farm Laborer VA
Jane 14 At School VA
Mary 23 Weaver VA
[This was family 562 in the 1860 Grayson Co., VA Census. This family moved to Grayson Co. ca. 1847.
Other children were: Eliza b. 1840, Prudence b. 1842, Joseph b. 1844, Elijah b. 1845 who served in Co.
C, 45th VA Infantry, CSA was captured at Piedmond, VA on 6/5/1864, sent to Camp Morton, IN where he
died on 1/7/1865 and was buried in the Greenlawn Cemetery in Indianpolis, IN, and Jefferson b. 1847.]

1880 Grayson County Census, Old Town, District 39
Page 433D
Leander Goodson Self M Male W 87 VA Carpenter MA VA
Nancy Goodson M Female W 65 NC Keeping House NC NC

More About LEANDER GOODSON:
Burial: Goodson Cemetery
Fact 1: Was reported to be well educated.
Fact 2: Taught his own children at a school house on his property.
Fact 3: Lived on what was called the Goodson Settlement in Grayson Co., Va.
Fact 4: Was known to speak in another language to his wife.
Fact 5: Was a Farmer
Military service: Indian Wars, War of 1812

Notes for NANCY BRANNOCK:
Notes from Robert Andy Brannock:

Robert says his grandfather, "Samuel Brannock was a brother to Nancy.
They also had a brother, Wilson. They are said to have come to America from
Scotland. One settled in New Jersey and the other in South Carolina and
another in North Carolina."
Just who he means first came to American is unclear to me as we know as stated on census Train, father of Nancy was born in Virginia. He could possibly be referring to Franklin and two of Franklin's brothers.

In the l850 census of Grayson Co., Va. living "next door" to Leander & Nancy,
Train Brannock - Born about 1770 (age in 1850, 80 years) Born in Virginia-M
Kanely Brannock-Born about 1780 (age in 1850, 70 years) Born in Virginia-F
George Brannock-Born about 1830 (age in 1850, 20 years) Born in Virginia-M
Farm Laborer

More About NANCY BRANNOCK:
Fact 1: Midwife & baby Doctor

Children of LEANDER GOODSON and NANCY BRANNOCK are:

SALLY² GOODSON.

More About SALLY GOODSON:
Fact 1: Left home at early age

2.	ii.		JOSEPH GOODSON, b. November 1838, North Carolina; d. 1919, Grayson County, Virginia.
	iii.		ELIZA GOODSON, b. Abt. 1840, North Carolina.

More About ELIZA GOODSON:
Fact 1: Buried at Goodson Cemetary,

iv.

ELIJAH JOHN GOODSON, b. 1841, North Carolina; d. January 07, 1865, Indianapolis, IN; m. SARAH CAROLINE SHRADER; b. 1841.

Notes for ELIJAH JOHN GOODSON:
Elijah J. Goodson Co.C 45th Virginia Enlisted on 5/29/61 in Wythe County.
Absent sick on 10/61. Taken POW at Piedmont 6/5/64. Sent to Camp Morton.
Died of inflamed lungs 1/7/65. Buried at Greenlawn Cemetery. Grave 1246

Shown as age 4 on 1850 Grayson County Census

3.	v.	PRUDENCE GOODSON, b. Abt. 1842, North Carolina.
4.	vi.	TRAIN R. GOODSON, b. 1843, North Carolina; d. March 12, 1925, Grayson County, Virginia.
5.	vii.	MOSES G. GOODSON, b. March 1846, Grayson County, Virginia; d. Carroll County, Virginia.
6.	viii.	THOMAS JEFFERSON "JEFF" GOODSON, b. Abt. 1847.
	ix.	MARY A.GOODSON, b. 1847, Grayson County, Virginia.
7.	x.	BENJAMIN GOODSON, b. April 06, 1849, Grayson County, Virginia; d. January 25, 1927, Grayson County, Virginia.
8.	xi.	CHARLIE H. GOODSON, b. March 1850, Grayson County, Virginia; d. April 30, 1934, Surry County, North Carolina.
	xii.	MARGARET GOODSON, b. May 1852, Grayson County, Virginia ¹; d. August 1858, Grayson County, Virginia ².

More About MARGARET GOODSON:
Cause of Death: Consumption

9.	xiii.	JANE GOODSON, b. March 02, 1856, Grayson County, Virginia; d. February 16, 1941, Surry County, NC.
	xiv.	UNNAMED GOODSON, b. December 14, 1857, Grayson County, Virginia ³.
	xv.	GEORGE GOODSON, b. 1866, Grayson County, Virginia.

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