Tuesday, March 2, 2010

William Woody and Marginia (Margie) Thomas

William M. Woody and Marginia M. Thomas are my 3rd great-grandparents. I have written previously about their daughter and my ancestor, Mary Jane Woody Grindstaff.

William M. Woody was born about 1836 likely in what was Yancey Co. which later became Mitchell Co, North Carolina. His parents were Josiah Woody and Marjorie Wilson. William was one of at least five known (to me) children.

Marginia M. Thomas is believed to be the daughter of John Thomas and Lucinda Wilson. Marginia was often referred to in records as Margie. I believe her birth to be 31 Jan 1831 in Burke or Yancey Co, North Carolina. Her father, John Thomas, is one of the many children of Aaron Thomas and Elizabeth Hunsucker. The parents of Lucinda are unknown at this time.

William and Margie married in the early 1850s, though an exact date is not known at this time. They were parents to the following five daughters:
  • Kisiah C born abt 1852
  • Mary Jane, my 2nd great-grandmother, born 11 Jan 1853 and died 26 Jan 1946.
  • Harriet L. born abt 1857
  • Creeney Emily born abt 1859
  • Matilda born 25 Oct 1862 and died 22 Mar 1942. She married James P. Thomas.

Their life was dramatically altered by the start of the Civil War. William joined the Co. E, 6th North Carolina Infantry, a Confederate unit, as a Private on 8 March 1862 in the newly-formed Mitchell County, North Carolina, for the duration of the war. Per his military records held at the NARA and found online at Footnote.com, he was absent from duty beginning 6 April 1862 where he was "sick at hospital." Like many other members of his unit, he contracted measles. The mountain boys who joined up were exposed to many new illnesses for which they had no immunity. William "died of measles at General Hospital at Ashland VA May 10th 1862" just six short months before the birth of his fifth child, Matilda. One wonders if he even knew of the impending arrival at the time he enlisted in early March.

The records further detail his physical description. He was age 27, with grey eyes and dark hair, dark complexion, and 6 feet tall. Another document in the military record packet describes him as age 25 in 1862.

Sometime after William's death, Margie applied for the unpaid portion of his pay. He was entitled to two months and four days pay amounting to $23.46 and for "commentation of clothing" in the amount of $25.00. She received a total of $48.46 on the 28 Sept 1864, nearly two and a half years following his death. The amount was made payable to her attorney, Samuel D. Byrd, of Burnsville, Yancey Co, North Carolina.

I do not know where the Confederate soldiers were buried for those that died at the Ashland, Virginia hospital. I would appreciate any information that could lead me to William's final resting place.

In a second post, I will describe what happened to Margie and her five daughters following William's untimely death.

3 comments:

  1. Private William M. Woody, Co E, 6th North Carolina State Troops is buried at Woodland Cemetery in Ashland, Va.

    Ashland is about 15 miles from Richmond and during the campaigns of 1862 became a hospital center. Because of the large number of Confederate soldiers deaths the Woodland Cemetery was created. Today the individual graves are unmarked, but records indicate that Private Woody died May 10, 1862 and is buried in Grave 198.

    to see more about the Cemetery, follow this url: http://longstreetscv.org/wroster.htm

    The following information about company E and Private Woody's service record is from "North Carolina Troops 1861-1865" edited by Weymouth Jordon.

    COMPANY E
    This company was from Burke, McDowell, Mitchell. and Yancey counties and enlisted at Charlotte on May 28, 1861. It went into the camp of instruction near Company Shops (Burlington), Alamance County, June 1, 1861, and was assigned to this regiment as Company E. After joining the regiment the company functioned as a part of the regiment, and its history for the war period is recorded as a part of the regimental history.
    The information contained in the following roster of the company was compiled principally from company muster rolls for June 20, 1861, through February, 1864, and September 15 through December, 1864. No company muster rolls were found for the period prior to June 20, 1861; for March through September 14, 1864; or for the period after December, 1864. In addition to the company muster rolls, Roll of Honor records, receipt rolls, hospital records, prisoner of war records, and other primary records, supplemented by state pension applications, United Daughters of the Confederacy records, and postwar rosters and histories, all provided useful information

    WOODY, WILLIAM M., Private
    Born in Yancey County and was by occupation a farmer prior to enlisting in Mitchell County at age 25, March 8, 1862, for the war. Died at Ashland, Virginia, May 10, 1862, of "measles."
    (To which I can add...Buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, Ashland, Va, grave #198)

    There is also another Woody listed in Co E. Maybe he is a brother or cousin?

    WOODY, JIMMERSON M., Private
    Resided in Yancey County and enlisted in Mitchell County at age 30, May 8, 1862, for the war. Present or accounted for until wounded and captured at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 1-4, 1863. Hospitalized at Gettysburg until transferred to hospital at Davids Island, New York Harbor, July 17-24, 1863. Paroled at Davids Island and transferred to City Point, Virginia, where he was received on September 16, 1863, for exchange. Rejoined the company in January-February, 1864, and present or accounted for until paroled at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, April 9, 1865,

    I hope this information is helpful in your search.

    If you have a photograph of Private Woody, I would love to post it on our website: http://www.6ncst.org

    Best Regards

    Rick Walton
    rick.walton@6ncst.org
    Historian, 6th North Carolina State troops
    and independant genealogist and researcher

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  2. John Thomas and Lucinda Wilson. Lucinda Wilson was the daughter of William Wilson born 1765 and who married in 1801 his second wife Creany Thomson born abt. 1772 in Maryland. I have a copy of his will with Lucindy listed. I have additional information I can share.

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    Replies
    1. Does anyone have any information about Creany Thomas 1772-1850 who marrried William Wilson in 1801?

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