Ursula (Woodson) Redford (abt. 1753 - aft. 1804)

Born about 1753 in Goochland County, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Wife of William Pledge Jr. — married 28 May 1775 in Goochland County, Virginia

Wife of John (Reford) Redford — married 16 Jun 1784 in Goochland, Virginia, United States

Died after 1804 after about age 51 in Virginia

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Biography

Ursula Woodson, the daughter of Joseph Woodson was born in Virginia about or after 1753. She married William Pledge on 28 May 1775.^[1]

Known children of Ursula and William Pledge, Jr:

1. William Pledge (1776–1873)
2. Martha Milner Pledge (1778–unknown)
3. Francis Pledge (1781–unknown)

William died after 1781. Ursula remarried on 16 Jun 1784 to John Redford in Goochland, Virginia, United States .^[2]

John, resident of Henrico County, Virginia, passed away after 22 Feb 1804, when he wrote his will, and before 9 March when his will was proven in Henrico County Court. In his will he names 14 enslaved persons, his wife, Ursula, six daughters and three sons:

Ursula Redford, Wife

Mildred Woodson, Daughter

Martha Redford, Daughter

Elizabeth Woodson, Daughter

Judith Redford, Daughter

Richard Redford, Son

Agness Redford, Daughter

Elisa Redford, Daughter

Robert Redford, Son

John Redford, Son ^[3]

Research Notes

Ursula Woodson who married William Pledge Jr. and Ann (or Nancy) Woodson who married William Jr.'s brother Archer Pledge have long been considered as sisters.

Mother - Parsons or Mattox?

"There is considerable debate over the wives of Ursula Woodson's father Joseph Woodson. There were multiple Joseph Woodson's as well. Elizabeth Parson as wife of Joseph Woodson appears to have been discredited some time ago - and Elizabeth Mattax adopted as his wife. That she was Elizabeth in the will of Joseph Woodson signed 2 Oct 1782 is evident. Joseph did not state the married names of his daughters in his will." Noted by user K (Adamson) A (closed account)

Joseph's wife (Ursula's mother) named as Elizabeth Parsons in Historical Genealogy of the Woodsons and their Connections (pages 91 and 92) ^[4]

Named as Elizabeth Mattox in Genealogies of Virginia Families Additions and Corrections according to this post on the Genealogy.com forum

Will of Ursley Pledge - dated 17 Jun 1784
(Note: This is the day after she married John Redford (according to the marriage source))

1784
Goochland DB 14
p.45 Ursley Pledge
for love and esteem to my son Francis Pledge give unto him after my death one Negro boy named Dave. If my son Francis should died without heir then Dave shall fall to the said Ursley Pledge. 17 Jun 1784 Signed: Ursley Pledge Wit: Joseph Woodson, Archer Pledge, Parin Redford 19 Jul 1784 - proved by Archer Pledge & Perin Redford.& ordered recorded

"... I Ursley Pledge of Goochland County for dⁱvers good causes and considerations...[?] but more Especially for the love and esteem I bear unto my son Francis Pledge of the s^d County I have given and granted and by these presents do give and grant unto my son Prancis Pledge after my death one negro boy named dave to have and to hold the above negro boy to him the said Francis Pledge to the only proper use and behoof of him the said Francis Pledge his heirs and Assigns for ever. but if my said son Francis Pledge should died without heir then the said negro boy dave shall fall to the said Ursaly Pledge and to her heirs for ever..."^[5]

Apparently Ursula was making the above gift to her son, but not contemplating death in the near future because the following suggests she subsequently married one of the John Redfords. But which John Redford? And did she have additional children with him?

Here is more regarding Ursula:

Joseph Woodson's will dated 2 Oct 1782 gave a slave to daughter Ursly Woodson, the man Isaac, and feather bed and furniture. (He identified none of his daughters by their married names) And an equal division of the remainder & residue among wife and all living daughters. A later undated agreement between the daughters notes an undivided tract of 325 acres, that they believe should have descended to his son & Heir, Joseph Woodson and they released all rights to their brother. The daughters & their husbands who made the agreement were Jonathan Knight & Judith of Granville, NC, Archer Pledge & Anna of Goochland. John Redford & Ursula his wife of Henrico, Pleasant Turner & Agatha of Halifax, Perrin Redford & Susanna of Goochland, Thomas Woodson & Mary of Goochland. John Redford & Ursula Redford were among the signatures. Guarantees of the signatures were dated - most proved on 18 Apr 1791. Ursula Redford was unable to travel and her dower release was recorded 26 Mar 1792. The agreements was finally proved by all parties and recorded on 18 Jun 1792.

Possible document related to Joseph Woodson (son of Tucker)? - "Goochland, Virginia, United States Records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99P6-94WR : May 3, 2021), image 569 of 593; Virginia. County Court (Goochland County).

"Genealogies of Virginia Families" Additions and Corrections: Vol. X, page 46.Strike out paragraph beginning with "Joseph Woodson, and insert (1)Joseph Woodson (Robert, Robert, John) married Elizabeth Mattox and had issue one son: A.Joseph Woodson of Gentoe who married Mildred Redford January 2, 1770 (Quarterly, Vol. VII for marriage bond, p. 103) and six daughters, (2)Sally Woodson, who married Jesse Ellis 9 March 1763; (3)Moll Woodson married Thomas Woodson (4) Judith Woodson married Jonathan Knight of Lunenburg 24 February 1757 (5)Ann Woodson, married Archer Pledge (marriage bond 1775 (6)Ursula Woodson who married William Pledge on 28 May 1775 (7)Agnes Woodson who marrid Pleasant Turner (marriage bond 1781) (8) Susanna who married in 1784 Perrin Redford; (9)Probably Elizabeth who married in 1771 William Jordan was another daughter (Quarterly VII, 106):

Sources

1. ↑ "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V29M-TCF : 29 January 2020), Ursely Woodson in entry for William Pledge, 1775.
2. ↑ "Virginia, Vital Records, 1715-1901", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68Y7-21JH : Sat Mar 09 15:50:39 UTC 2024), Entry for John Redford and Ursula Pledge, 16 Jun 1784.
3. ↑ Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900 Mixed Probate Records, 1781-1904; Author: Virginia. County Court (Henrico County); Probate Place: Henrico, Virginia. Original data: Virginia County, District, and Probate Courts. [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2021.
4. ↑ Woodson, H. Morton. (1915). Historical genealogy of the Woodsons and their connections. Memphis, Tenn.: H. M. Woodson. Page 92
5. ↑ "Goochland, Virginia, United States Records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99P6-9N13 : May 3, 2021), image 424 of 677; Virginia. County Court (Goochland County).

See also:

• Mary Courtright Pettitt and Robert J. Pettitt, "Thomas M. Pettitt's Family" (Self Published. Highland CA: c1996. Out of print but available on LDS Microfilm #1750818, Item 13.).
• The Edward Pleasants Valentine Papers Vols I-IV, 1864-1908 • Vol1. Bacon family; Page: 1909; Quote: Goochland County Records: Jonathan Knight & Judith his wife, Granville Co. North Carolina, Archer Pledge & Anna his wife, Goochland Co., John Redford & Unita his wife, Henrico Co., Pleasant Turner & Agatha his wife Halifax Co. and Perrin Redford & Susannah his wife, Goochland Co. and Thomas Woodson & Mary his wife, of the county of Goochland, (the above are daughters of Joseph Woodson son & heir of Joseph Woodson, of Genito, 325 a. of land on the Creek and branches of Beaver Dam Creek in Goochland Co. This deed is made to correct an error in Joseph Woodson's will. He intended to give his son Joseph the 325 a. land mentioned above. Dat. Oct. 25, 1790. Vol. 16, p. 79.