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BIOGRAPHY ON JAMES WOOD
By Wilbur S Johnston.
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James Wood’s Mourning Ring
November 6, 1759
Our only source on his death date and birth year.
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James Wood’s son James Wood is born !
January 28, 1741
Story on James Wood the son.
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All the rest of the links on this page are about the Father, the Founder of Winchester VA.
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James Wood’s Only Election
November 20, 1741
Story on James Wood’s first and only election.
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Letters between GW and James Wood
Letters between George Washington and James Wood.
The first two letters regard James Wood the founder of Winchester VA, but all the other James Wood letters are the son who later became Clerk of Court when his father died in 1759.
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JAMES WOOD HELPS GW IN 1758 ELECTION
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MARRIAGE, CHILDREN
James the founder married Mary the daughter of Captain Thomas Rutherford, the first Sheriff of Frederick
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Col. Wood and Capt. Rutherford were living in Old Orange County in 1738, we assume the marriage was solemnized in that County. The following is copied from an old note-book of James Wood, now in possession of one of his descendants, daughter of Col. Glass:
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Children of James Wood Jr. and Mary Rutherford—
(1) Elizabeth, born Sept. 20, 1739
(2) James ” Jany. 28, 1741
(3) Mary ” Sept. 23, 1742
(4) John ” Jany. 1, 1743—44
(5) Robert, ” July 27, 1747
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http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/frederick/history/homesteads02.txt
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JAMES WOOD’S ONLY ELECTION
This is about the senior James Wood (born 1707- died 6 Nov 1759) and NOT his son of the same name who later became Governor of Virginia.
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James Wood was appointed the first Clerk of Court November 14, 1743 of Frederick County, which had been created in 1738 out of Orange County.
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He had already been appointed as Surveyor of Orange County 1734 and is credited for designing both Richmond 1737 and Winchester Virginia 1741, chartered 1752.
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But the story here? An election.
The only one he ever ran for. Our senior James Wood, was one of 6 candidates for Burgess in Orange County, 20 November 1741.
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Polling started at noon and a whole day of drunken chaos ensued into this November night.
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CLERK OF COURT
On Tuesday, November 14th, 1743, eight persons took the magistrates’ oath, and composed the court. Morgan Morgan and David Vance administered the oath to Marquis Calmes, Thomas Rutherford, William M’Mahon, Meredith Helmes, George Hoge and. John White.
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These, in turn, administered the oath to Morgan Morgan and David Vance. James Wood was made Clerk of the County, and Thomas Rutherford, Sheriff. James Porteus, John Steerman, George Johnston, and John Newport, gentlemen, taking the oath of attornies, were admitted to the Bar.
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Winchester was the county seat. At the second meeting of the court, December 9th, 1743, the will of Benjamin Burden, who had been named as magistrate, was proved.
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Barnet Lindsey received twenty lashes on his bare back, at the common whipping-post, for stealing’ two pieces of venison from the milk house of Thomas Hart, adjudged to be worth two pence: Henry Howard, servant to James M’Crachan, ‘was adjudged guilty of a misdemeanor, on charge of stealing a mare from Samuel Glass, and received ten lashes on his bare back, December 10th.
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In another case of horse stealing — or rather horse riding — taking a man’s horse without leave, and riding off on a visit for some days — the defendant had his choice of twenty lashes or fifteen shillings fine : the same Henry Howard was complained of by his master, James M’Crachan, that he had been absent eleven days, and that in finding him and bringing him back, the expenses had been twenty shillings, and one hundred and fifty pounds of tobacco ; and the court ordered that he serve six months and four days for his runaway time and expenses, after the expiration of his time of servitude according to law, unless he could otherwise satisfy his master.
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In March, 1744, ordered that James O’Neal keep the Court House clean, and attend on court days to take care of the Justices’ horses during a twelvemonth, for which he is to receive from the county levy £23 15s. current money.
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The above is from:
Sketches of Virginia : historical and biographical by Foote, William Henry, 1794-1869, Published 1856, pages 17-18
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James Wood at Fort Necessity
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Col. James Wood of Winchester left the following account:
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“June 16. Sund.
Colo. Washington contrary to the advice of the half King
marched from Fort Necessity
with the Virga Companys
intended to the Mouth of Red Stone Creek
from thence to attack the F. Fort.
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Capt. McCay with the Carolina Independt Company
remained at F. Necess.
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marched to Guess’s house
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Eleven mingos from the F. Fort
who pretended to be friends.
were there or came to them
also the half King and
King Shingus with Eight Delawares
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Field officers and Indians Sat in Council 3 days
the Captains not permitted to be at the Council
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Lewis was detached with a Lieut. an Ensign two Corporals and 54 men Ordered to Clear a Road from Guess’s House to the mouth of Red Stone
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Polson detached with 26 men to go to the Dunchars [Dunkers] Ordered to Build Canoes and to bring Corn down Monangala to the mouth of Red Stone.
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Escub⟨ap⟩ was heard to say how glorious it would be to take the F.F. without the assistance of Cap. McCay. remained with Washington. abt 130 men.
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Monagototha arrived Informed Washington that he with 60 Indians were marching to him and were Stopt by the French and retained in the F.F. that the French were reinforced with 700 men and intended immediately to attack them that he made his Escape in the night.
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on this they got together all the Rails on Guss’s pla⟨ ⟩ and made a Hog pen fort surrounded with standing Trees and Commanding ground Sent to call in the parties and for Capt. MacCays Comp. he marched all night and Joined them.
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a Council of War called the Captains admited for the first time.
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agreed to Retreat to Fort neces. the men obliged to haul the great Guns Saturday arrived at F. Necessity.
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Monday and Tuesday imployed in geting Logs to enlarge the fort
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Wed. morn. 3 July about 9 oClock, an Indian arrived informed them the French and Indians were within 4 miles.
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in the greatest Confusion fell to diging Trenches[.] abt 11.
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We drew up on the parade saw the French and Indians coming down a hill
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We marched to take possession of a Point of Woods
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Muse called to halt the French would take possession of Our Fort and Trenches ran back in the utmost Confusion happy he that could get into the Fort first
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The french Firing at 600 yds dist. got possession of the Trees and Commanding ground in a Semi Circle. kept a Constant firing till dark then beat a Parley”
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(Notebook of James Wood, 1749–1757, ViWnHi).
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-01-02-0076-0002
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JAMES WOOD LEAVES DURING THE PANIC
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To George Washington from William Fairfax, 20 May 1756
From William Fairfax
Alexandria. 20th May 1756
Dear Sir
I receiv’d Yrs by the return of Mr Dorrel.1 I am glad that your Presence has encouragd the few remaining Inhabitants in Winchester and Neighbourhood to wait and see the Issue of your Resolutions and when it was known Colo. J. Wood deserted, no doubt his Example causd many to think their Case desperate.2
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2. William Fairfax alluded to James Wood’s reported abandonment of his plantation in his letter to GW of 9 May 1756.
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-03-02-0166
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Your letter dated at Winchester Sunday Evening my Father received at Williamsburg after I left it, and Yesterday put it into my hand, by which I am sensible of the distressed condition poor Frederick must have been in,2
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-03-02-0102
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In that regard, trying to nail down the date of James Wood leaving Winchester for safety which didn’t help the panic. It might have have been May 2, 1756, which would have been the same day, Court Martial trials were begun in Winchester regarding bad conduct in the Battle of the Great Cacapon. — a few weeks before the Fort Loudoun construction commenced.
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courthouse
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2. The first court of Frederick County met on 11 Nov. 1743 in an office belonging to James Wood on his Glen Burnie estate at Winchester. This was used as the courthouse until a log structure was built a few years later on the city’s public square, a section consisting of four lots (approximately 2¼ acres each) set aside by James Wood for public use.
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source
https://founders.archives.gov/?q=Date%3A1755-09-15&s=1111311111&r=6
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