James Wooldridge, born 26 November 1760 in Chesterfield County, Virginia, the fourth generation of the family in Virginia and son of John Wooldridge and possibly (Mary?) Farley, is the last male generation of Wooldridges in my husband’s line, as he is descended from daughter Rebecca, below.
James married Ann (Nancy) Coleman, c1796. Ann was born c1764, likely in Virginia, and was the daughter of Samuel Coleman and Ann Wright.
As the American Revolution drew to a close, many families in Virginia and elsewhere, made the decision to begin moving westward. Settled land was getting scarce and expensive and sons often had to make the choice to move away from close family members.
Wikimedia Commons
The Wooldridge family first settled in Henrico County, which is the red arrow on the far right. James Wooldridge was born in Chesterfield County, second arrow from right. He died in Prince Edward County, middle arrow. Daughter Nancy who married Pryor Martin settled in Appomattox County, second arrow from left, son John James Wooldridge moved further west to Tazewell County, far left arrow, while son Samuel headed to Greenup County, Kentucky and daughter Rebecca who married Andrew Bandy removed to Lawrence County, Ohio. Thus, none of James and Ann (Coleman) Wooldridge’s descendants are in Chesterfield or Prince Edward County today.
James Wooldridge served four tours during the American Revolution and was pensioned:
State of Virginia Prince Edward County: SS
Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of 7th of June 1832. State of Virginia Prince Edward County
To wit On this 21st day of August 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the peace of the court of Prince Edward, now sitting, James Wooldridge a resident of the County of Prince Edward and state aforesaid, aged seventy-two years, the 26 November last, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7th of June 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States as well as he recollects the 1st of April 1775, as a private under the command of Captain James Dixon and Ensign John Roper, he met at Thompson’s run the Long mountain in Bedford and marched through the County of Franklin &c, and into the lead mines in the County of Montgomery where Colonel Lynch commanded, he with twelve or eighteen men under the command of Ensign Roper were sent down to Red Island River to guard the powder mill where we remained four or five weeks, he was then ordered back to the lead mines and after our tour of three months had expired, he was discharged, don’t recollect whether he received a written discharge that he left Colonel Lynch there when he was discharged, that in this tour he volunteered. That in the spring of 1776 he again volunteered and marched as a private under the command of Captain Robert Adams and Lieutenant Thomas McReynolds, that he met at Thompson’s in Bedford marched direct along the main Western Road to the lead mines where he joined Colonel Lynch still in command, that he remained at that place three months and was discharged, if he received a written discharge he does not recollect it, that he served a third tour, he volunteered & marched the last of March or the first of April 1777 under the command of Captain James Dixon, Lieutenant Christopher Irvine and James Russell Ensign, that he met at Donelson in the County of Bedford, now Campbell, and marched from thence to Goose Creek in the same County, where we remained a few days until joined by Captain Henry Duiguids Company, and then both Companies marched in company with each other to the Big Island on the Holston River where we joined the main Army commanded by Colonel Shelby, after remaining there a short time Captain Dixon’s company were ordered to the Rye cove on Clinch River, where there was a garrison, and families of the frontier settlers had come in there for protection against the Indians; he here saw Major Martin who had command of the Fort at that place, that they remained at that place until ordered back to the big Island to the treaty and was present at the treaty he saw several of the Indian Chiefs among them Sconsto and the Little Carpenter we remained there until after the Treaty and were discharged after serving a tour of six months, received a written discharge signed by Colonel Shelby which he lost or mislaid. That he served a fourth tour substituted for man by the name of Joel Ferguson, that he met at Buckingham Courthouse as well as I now recollect the latter part of November 1778 and marched as a private under the command of Captain William Duiguid, Lt. John Burke, he does not recollect the name of his Ensign, to the Albemarle Barracks, where Colonel Cole had the command, he served in this tour three months, and was discharged, that he does not recollect whether he received a written discharge, that he was in no engagements, in any of the different tours he served. That upon interrogatories propounded, he states in answer to the first that he was born in the County of Chesterfield and State of Virginia in the year 1760, in answer to the second he states that he has no record of his age that his ancestors informed him of the date of his birth. In answer to the 3rd he states that at each time that he was called into the service, he resided in the County of Bedford, now Campbell, State of Virginia, that he has resided in the same County and state ever since the war of the Revolution until about three years ago, when he moved to Prince Edward County, an adjoining County, where he still resides. In answer to the fourth he states he three times volunteered and one went as a substitute for man by the name of Joel Ferguson. In answer to the 5th he states as before stated that Colonel Lynch, Colonel Shelby, Major Martin and Colonel Cole was with the Troops; In answer to the 6th he states as before stated that he does not recollect receiving but one written discharge; and was signed by Colonel Shelby which he has lost. And in answer to the 7th he refers to the affidavits of Robert Watkins, John Hunter, Oliver Branch and Giles Davidson who have known him ever since the War of the Revolution, and as to his character for veracity as also for the general belief that he was a soldier during the revolutionary war he refers to the Reverend Thomas A. Legrand, Captain William (?), Alexander (?), Captain Thomas Trent and Doctor Joel W Flood &c. That he further states that if any of the officers whom he served under are still living there residence is unknown to him. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
S/ James Wooldridge
State of Virginia Campbell County
I do hereby certify that about the latter part of March or first of April in the year 1777 I volunteered my services in Captain James Dixon’s Company, whose Lieutenant was named Christopher Irving and his Ensign, James Russell which company met at New London then Bedford now Campbell County, that we were marched from thence to Goose Creek in Bedford County where we remained a few days and were joined by Captain Harry Buford’s Company –
from thence we marched to the Big Island on Holston River, where we joined the main Army under Colonel Shelby – After remaining there a short time, Captain Dixon’s Company was ordered to rye-cove on Clinch River, where we saw Major Martin, who I think had the head command of a Fort there; we there remained until we were ordered back to Big Island where a treaty was about to be held between the whites and Indians and were present when the treaty was made. I recollect among the Indian Chiefs president of seeing the little Carpenter & Conestoga for a name something like it. After the treaty was concluded we were all discharged by Colonel
Shelby having served a six months tour – James Wooldridge served the whole of this tour in the same company that I was in. I believe the said James Wooldridge to be about 72 years of age
and have known him ever since the revolutionary war.
Given under my hand this 28th day of August 1832.
S/ Robert Watkins, X his mark
State of Virginia Campbell County
This day came John Hunter (a man well known to me) before me Ellis Hunter a justice of the peace for the County aforesaid and made oath on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God that in one of the years to wit 1775, 1776, or 1777 a company of volunteers was raised in Bedford County (now a part of it Campbell) to march out to the West to the lead mines on New River to guard the said mines against the incursions of the Tories and the Cherokee Indians: the said
mines being employed in making lead for the United States Army at that time – said Company was commanded by Captain James Dixon engaged to serve a tour of three months, which term of service he thinks was performed because he himself served in the said company at the same time and that James Wooldridge was one of the volunteers belonging to said company & he believes served the whole term of three months and that the said company was regularly discharged after their term of service expired. Given under my hand and seal this 11th day of August 1832
S/ Ellis Hunter
State of Virginia Buckingham County
I do hereby Certify that about the year 1778 I served a tour of three months in Captain William Duiguid’s company at the Albemarle Barracks, the Lieutenant in said company was John Burks, the Commandant of the Regiment was Colonel Cole of Albemarle, James Wooldridge served the whole of this tour in the same company. I believe the said James Wooldridge to be upwards of seventy years of age and have known him ever since the revolutionary war. Given under my hand the 7th day of June 1833.
S/ Giles Davison
I do hereby certify that I served a Tour of three months at the Lead mines then Montgomery now Wythe County Virginia under Captain Robert Adams and Commanded by Colonel Lynch and marched from then Bedford County Campbell County Virginia in which company James Wooldridge served a tour of three months and we were
discharged by Captain Robert Adams I do not now recollect the month or the year that we were discharged but it was between the year 1775 & 1777. I believe the said wooldridge to be about
72 years of age as stated by him.
S/ Oliver Branch
James and Ann (Coleman) Wooldridge were the parents of four known children:
- John James, born c1797, Virginia; died before 16 July 1842, Tazewell County, Virginia; married Sarah Schrader (1805-1850), 8 January 1824, Tazewell County, Virginia.
- Rebecca, born c1799, Virginia; died 28 March 1879, Lawrence County, Ohio; married Andrew Bandy, c1815, Virginia.
- Samuel C(oleman?), born February 1803, Prince Edward County, Virginia; died after 1880, probably Elliott County, Kentucky; married Lucy Hannah, 5 January 1830?, Greenup County, Kentucky. Although Samuel is in the 1830 census of Greenup County, the female, like him, is aged 20-30, with a female under 5 at home. No marriage record has been found for Samuel and Lucy. Their daughter Elizabeth’s death certificate gives her mother’s name as Lucy Hannah and lists both her parents’ place of birth as East Virginia.
- Nancy, born c1805, Virginia; died between 1850-1860 censuses, probably Appomattox County, Virginia; married Pryor Davenport Martin, c1824, probably Prince Edward County, Virginia. This family lived in Appomattox County, Virginia. Pryor was born c1805; died after 1880.
I’d love to hear from anyone descended from these children.