1. DR. JOHN2 WOODSON (WOODSON1) was born 1586 in Bristol England then Jamestown, VA, and died April 18, 1644 in Fleur de Hundred Prince George, Co. VA.. He married SARAH WINSTON 1619 in Dorsetshire, England, daughter of ISAAC WINSTON.
Notes for DR. JOHN WOODSON:
Woodson: The following is quoted from the Magna Charta books: " Dr. John Woodson, born in Devon, England, in 1586, was a graduate of Oxford University in 1604 and came to Virginia as a surgeon to a company of soldiers with Gov. Sir George Yeardley on the ship 'the George' landing in April 1619, at Jamestown, Virginia. He resided at Fleur de Hundred. On April 18, 1644, the Indians attacked the settlement and killed Dr. John Woodson as he was returning from visiting a patient. His wife, Sarah, and sons Robert and John survived the attack." (Vol. 8 ch. 293, p. 2778)
(Dr. John Woodson has a direct line back to these people: King Edward the I. Knights of the Garter, and from 16 surities for the Magna Charta of A.D. 1215)
"Saire de Quincey, the Surety, the Earl of Winchester, a record of whose achievements appear at page 112, born before 1154, died Nov. 3, 1219, a Crusader on the way to Jerusalem. His wife, Belmont was descended as follows: Charlemagne, p. 178, King of Franks and Emperor of the West, married Hildegarde, dau. of the Duke of Swabia." (Vol. 8, p. 1386)
The background of the Woodson in this account was taken largely from two sources: Historical Genealogy of the Woodsons and Their Connections by Woodson, and from the Edward Pleasants Valentine Papers.
In the Woodson book there are several references to the Woodsons in England. Dr. John Woodson, our ancestor, was said to have matriculated at Oxford, 1604-5, age 18, the son of Mr. Woodson, gentleman, of Bristol. John also was claimed to be related Reginald Woodson of Hampshire and to be entitled to Reginald's coat of arms.
The name, Woodson, was spelled variously Wydowsonne, Wodison, Woodison, Wodeson, Woadsone, and Woodeson, finally evolving to Woodson.
As a matter of record, Johns Woodson and his wife, Sarah, arrived in Jamestown, VA., on THE GEORGE, he to serve as a surgeon to a company of soldiers. They settled at Fleur de Hundred, 30 miles above Jamestown on the south side of the James River in what is now Prince George County.
A tradition of the Woodson family says that on April 18, 1644, Dr. Woodson was killed by Indians as he returned from attending a patient. Then the indians attacked the Woodson home. Present in the home were Mrs. Woodson , the two young sons, John and Robert, and Mr. Ligon, a shoemaker. When two intruders came down the chimney, Mrs. Woodson threw scalding water on one and brained the other with the iron roasting spit. Then Mr. Ligon, the shoemaker, fired on those outside killing seven and driving off the others. Whenthe Woodson book was written, the gun used by Mr. Ligon was still in existence.
Tradition also says that during the attack their mother hid John under a tub and Robert in a potato hole under the floor. For generations, descendents of the boys were designated as "Tub Woodsons" and "Potato-Hole Woodsons". We, descendants of Robert, are "Potato-Hole Woodsons".
John Woodson, Jr., was born 1632. He was enumerated among the "tithables" at Curles, a plantation on the north side of the James, above Fleur de Hundred. He was married about 1654 and had two sons John and Robert. Robert had two children, Jane and Samuel. John died in September, 1684.
Robert was born in 1634 at Fleur de Hundred. About 1656, he married Elizabeth (or Sarah) Ferris, daughter of Richard Ferris of Curles. The Ferrises were descended from and ancient Norman family, Henri de Ferriers of Gascony, according to AMERICAN ANCESTORY: "the Ferris family was originally from Leicestershire, England, (and was) descended from Henri de Ferriers, son of Gwalchelme de Ferriers, master of horse to the Duke of Normandy". (Ref. also from Americans of Gentle Birth, Vol. 1. p. 358)
In 1687, there was recorded a grant of 1,785 acres of land to Mr. Robert Woodson, Mr. Richard Ferris, Mr. Giles Carter, William Ferris, and roger Comins at White Oak Swamp. Robert was frequently spoken of as Col. Robert Woodson.
More About DR. JOHN WOODSON:
Fact 1: 1619-Came to Jamestown, VA as a surgeon
Fact 2: 18 Apr 1644 Murdered
Fact 3: Settled in Fleur de Hundred, Prince George
Children of DR. WOODSON and SARAH WINSTON are:
