The Woodall Line: Betsy Taylor, the daughter of James Taylor and Lydia DeJarnette

Catherine Gauldin
Jul 13
13 min read

The purpose of this document is to prove that Betsy Taylor 1766-1815 who married James Sampson Woodall 1765-1842 was the daughter of James Taylor and Lydia DeJarnette.

Vertical Pedigree Chart for Betsy Taylor (1)

James Sampson Woodall and Elizabeth “Betsy” Taylor

James Sampson Woodall, Sr. was born 1 May 1765 in Goochland County, Virginia, a descendant of the early Woodall line that began with John Woodall in colonial Virginia. Over the course of his long life—he lived past 1848—James became a prominent figure in Southside Virginia and later Patrick County. He worked as both a blacksmith and a farmer, occupations typical of the region’s small landholders in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He also served in the War of 1812, a detail preserved in the Woodall family records.

James married three times. His first marriage took place on 22 December 1790 in Charlotte County, Virginia, when he wed Elizabeth Hankins, daughter of John Hankins and Amy Jones. Elizabeth, born in 1769, died only three years later on 3 December 1793 in Halifax County.

Four years after Elizabeth’s death, James remarried. On 10 January 1797, he married Elizabeth “Betsy” Taylor in Prince Edward County, Virginia. Betsy was the daughter of James Taylor, a connection documented in the marriage bond preserved in the Woodall genealogical materials. The bond reads that James Taylor granted permission “for to marry my daughter Betsy Taylor,” confirming both her identity and her age. (2)

James and Betsy’s children included John Woodall, who later married Elizabeth Gaulding.

After Betsy’s death, James married a third time. On 25 June 1815, he wed Eliza Jane Shackleford in Henry County, Virginia. Eliza Jane, born about 1764, lived until 29 November 1854, dying in Henry County.

Marriage Bond

One of the primary sources that links Betsy Taylor with the DeJarnette Family is the Marriage bond: James Taylor to his daughter Betsy Taylor and her marriage to James Woodall, 28 December 1790. (2)

“Sir I please to grante liene to Mr. James Woodall for to marry my daughter Betsy Taylor, she being

of the age of twenty-one years old and Living in the County of Prince Edward and you will oblige your –

this from under my hand and seal.

James Taylor this 28th of Dec’d 1790

To Mr. Francis Watkins, Clerk of Prince Edward County

Witnessed by : Abner Boyslet and Jont Gavendez”

Marriage Bond: James Taylor to daughter Betsy, witnessed by Mumford DeJarnett (4)

Furthermore there is a document that links James Woodall with Mumford DeJarnett, Betsy’s brother and identifies Betsy as the daughter of James Taylor. This document was posted by ancestry.com user Marilyn Butler on 10 Jan 2017, but no source was given.

Document signed by Mumford DeJarnett and James Woodall (4)

The transcription is as follows: (2) (transcribed by Catherine L. Gauldin)

“Know all men by these presents that we James Woodall and Mumford Dejarnett are held and firmly bound unto his Excellency James Wood, Esq. governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia in one hundred and fifty dollars to be paid to our said Governor and his -- To the which payment will and truly to be made we bind our selves our Heirs Executors and Administrators Jointly and severally firmly by there presents sealed with our seals and dated this 10th day of January 1797.

The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas there is a marriage shortly intended to be

Solemnized between the above bound JAMES WOODALL and BETSY TAYLOR (SPINSTER

DAUGHTER OF JAMES TAYLOR--) If there be no legal cause to obstruct the same then this obligation

to be Void else to remain in full force and Virtue.

Sealed and Delivered in presence of Be-- Watkins (?)

Signed James Woodall

Mumford Dejarnett”

Prince Edward County

This MUMFORD DEJARNETTE of Charlotte County came before me -- Oath to the best of his knowledge,

Betsey Taylor is of Lawfull Age --ly under my hand that 10^th day of Jan. 1797. R(ichard) Foster

The marriage between James Woodall and Betsy Taylor linked the Woodalls to the DeJarnatt and Mumford families through Betsy’s mother, Lydia DeJarnette, daughter of Daniel DeJarnatt and Martha Ford. The DeJarnatt line is well documented in Tidewater Virginia Families and in the Abingdon Parish Register. Lydia is named in her mother Martha’s will as “Lydia Taylor, deceased,” confirming her marriage into the Taylor family.

Betsy’s mother Lydia was the daughter of Daniel DeJarnette and Martha Ford

Virginia Historical Genealogies (Mumford-De Jarnette-Perryman Families of Virginia and South Carolina,

1954) does not make the commitment of giving the first name of the husband of Lydia DeJarnett but only

gives the surname Taylor. This is from page 132.

Virginia Historical Genealogies, Mumford De Jarnett-Perryman Families of Virginia and South Carolina (6)

2. Daniel DeJarnette, son of John and Mary DeJarnette, baptized in Gloucester, January 24, 1713, was living in what is now Prince Edward County as early as 1743, for in that year his land was surveyed in Amelia County. Prince Edward was formed from Amelia. He made his will September 11, 1754 and his personal estate was appraised December 1755, amounting to 313 pounds 10 x 6 d. His executors were his wife Martha (Ford) DeJarnette, Richard Perryman and James Davenport. His wife made her will January 3, 1780, and same was probated March 16, 1782. Her executors were her brother, Christopher Ford of Amelia, and her son Christopher. She mentions also the children of her two deceased daughters, Martha Perryman and Lydia Taylor.

Children:

1. Mary

2. Elizabeth Ford, m __ Crenshaw.

3. Daniel

4. Mumford

5. John, made a deed in Prince Edward which shows him to be a resident of Anson County, North Carolina. He represented Anson County in the House of Commons 1784 (N.C. Col. Rec., Vol. 19) and died 1785, leaving three minor children, Mumford, William and John. A Deed in Book H. 2, p 397, dated May 31, 1802, shows that the two last-named died minors and that their share of their father's property was deeded to Mumford, then 21. Mumford DeJarnette married Frankey Haines Pickett, daughter of Samuel Pickett. He made his will August 1823, and mentioned four children, but only one, John, by name.

6. Christopher

7. Lydia, m. ___ Taylor

8. Martha m. Richard Perryman

In addition to all of the above information, there is a letter that has survived the centuries, written in 1789 by Betsy Taylor to James and Martha Pittman. This is the last time Betsy Taylor appears in the records.

“Henry County, January 10th, 1789

Dear Brother and Sister:

I take this opportunity to inform you of mine and family's health, hoping it may find you and yours the same. I have nothing strange to write, but should be gladdest of all things to see you and your little infants. I think the time long since I saw you, but am afraid it will be much longer as I think we took our long and everlasting farewell of one another. Mr. Newman tells us that you are not satisfied, which makes us uneasy about you but am in hopes that you will be better satisfied after awhile. I am sorry that Brother Pittman carried you there, and should be glad to hear that you were moving away from there for more reasons than one. You wrote me to write you word how mother took your going away. I think she too it as well as could be expected. She begs that you would not make yourself uneasy about her. She says that she don't think that she shall ever see you again, but says that we must all strive to meet in glory. She says Brother Pittman that she trusts that you will not see Marth imposed on. Father has had a long and tedious spell of sickness, as he will inform you by letter. I expect as he is going to write. Charity May has not got a little one yet, been look a great while for it. Mary and Nancy send their love to you and children, and say that they have not got the opportunity of writing to you now but will as soon as opportunity permits. Hughes Owen desires to be remembered to you all. Pray Martha don't forget the promise you made me on parting that you would come on the first opportunity, but I am afraid that you won't. I beg that you will write by all opportunities to me, as I shall to you, though I made a bad hand of writing as it is the first time I ever took pen in hand to write a letter to anyone, but I hope that you will look over bad spelling and writing, so I much concluded with a great deal of love to you all. Poor little Martin. I neve wanted to see any child so bad in my life as I do hom, but must content myself as well as I can though in distant lands where you all may be. I often sit and think of you. Thou are in thy Maker's care. But I am a sinner that wanders here but may guarding angel protect you and be your guide, wherever you go. In distant lands where you may be, pray sometimes think of me. Mother sends a great deal of love, and she told me to write yu that she has been as well as every since you went away, as she was before so no more at present, but remain your loving sister till death. Farewell, Martha.

Betsy Taylor

To James and Martha Pittman"

Betsy Taylor was living in Henry County and she wrote to her sister Martha Pittman who had moved to Alabama as is evidenced by the 1815 Letter from Edward Adams to James Pittman (8).

About James Taylor

Because Taylor is such a common name and there were so many different branches with that same surname in Virginia, it has been difficult to find the parents of James Taylor who married Lydia DeJarnette. According to a record on Genealogy.com he was born in 1745 in Prince Edward County. About the only document that gives additional information about the death of James Taylor is a letter written by Edward Adams to James Pittman, informing him of the death of James Taylor.

1815 Letter from Edward Adams to James Pittman (8)

The text reads:

“27^th of May 1815

I enclose you a letter from Hughes Taylor from which you will discover that our revd. Father-in-law is no more. Hughes wishes me to go over to see him. I have thought about going Wednesday week. I should have come down to see you myself to make some arrangements with you, but my business will not admit of it. Will you come up to see me on the receipt of this, as I wish to consult with you on going and for us to appoint when we will go (if at all).

With esteem

Your

Edw. Adams

Cousin James:

Will you carry, or send, this with the enclosed to your father on the receipt of it?

Yours,

Edw. Adams

To: James Pittman, Esq.

Sandy Creek, Madison County.”

Narrative: The People Named in the 1815 Letter Announcing the Death of James Taylor

In late May of 1815, news of the death of James Taylor—father of Elizabeth “Betsy” Taylor, who married James Sampson Woodall—circulated among his extended family through a series of letters. One such letter, written on 27 May 1815 by Edward Adams, provides a revealing glimpse into the kinship network surrounding the Taylor and DeJarnette families of Prince Edward and Charlotte Counties.

Edward Adams begins by enclosing a letter from Hughes Taylor, explaining that “our revd. Father‑in‑law is no more.” This phrase identifies the deceased as James Taylor, and it also establishes Adams as a son‑in‑law. Adams was married to one of James Taylor’s daughters—almost certainly one of Betsy’s sisters—making him Betsy’s brother‑in‑law. Hughes Taylor, the writer of the enclosed letter, was likewise a child of James Taylor and therefore Betsy’s brother. His role in notifying the family of their father’s death reflects his position within the immediate Taylor household.

Adams writes that Hughes wishes him to come “over to see him,” and Adams attempts to coordinate the visit with another relative, James Pittman, whom he addresses as “Cousin James.” Pittman lived in Sandy Creek, Madison County, and Adams asks him to carry or forward the enclosed letter to Pittman’s father. The use of “cousin” suggests a relationship through the extended Ford–DeJarnette–Taylor kinship network. The Pittman family intermarried with the Ford and Perryman families—both closely tied to the DeJarnettes—and the connection between Adams and Pittman likely arose through these collateral lines.

The letter thus reveals several layers of family relationship. James Taylor, recently deceased, stands at the center as father of Betsy Taylor Woodall and her siblings, including Hughes Taylor. Edward Adams, married to one of Betsy’s sisters, writes as a son‑in‑law coordinating family responses to the death. James Pittman, addressed as a cousin, represents the broader kinship circle that linked the Taylors to the Ford, Perryman, and DeJarnette families across multiple counties in Virginia.

Taken together, the letter provides not only confirmation of James Taylor’s death in 1815 but also a valuable snapshot of the interconnected families who descended from Lydia DeJarnette and James Taylor.

Sandy Creek, Madison, Alabama

When Edward Adams wrote his letter on 27 May 1815 announcing the death of James Taylor, he addressed the second portion of the message to “Cousin James Pittman, Esq., Sandy Creek, Madison County.” At first glance, the location might appear to refer to Madison County, Virginia, but the historical and geographic evidence points unmistakably to Madison County, Alabama.

By 1815, Madison County, Alabama—established in 1808—had become a major destination for families migrating westward from Virginia and the Carolinas. The extended kin network connected to the Taylors, DeJarnettes, Fords, Perrymans, and Pittmans appears repeatedly in early Alabama records, especially in the Tennessee Valley region surrounding Huntsville. This area included several waterways named Sandy Creek, Big Sandy, and Little Sandy, all tributaries of the Flint River and Paint Rock River. These creeks were well known geographic markers in early land grants and settlement descriptions from the 1810s through the 1830s.

The Pittman family, in particular, is documented among the early settlers of Madison County, Alabama. Their migration fits the broader pattern of Southside Virginia families—especially those from Prince Edward, Charlotte, and Amelia Counties—moving into northern Alabama during the first decades of the nineteenth century. The presence of a “James Pittman, Esq.” living at Sandy Creek aligns perfectly with this movement.

Madison County, Virginia, by contrast, has no recorded Sandy Creek in its early land or tax records, nor does it appear in the geographic descriptions of the period. The absence of such a location in Virginia, combined with the strong Alabama connections of the families involved, makes the Alabama identification conclusive.

Thus, the Sandy Creek mentioned in the 1815 letter refers not to a Virginia locality but to Sandy Creek in Madison County, Alabama, a frontier settlement area where many members of the extended Taylor–DeJarnette kin network established new homes. The letter reflects this westward migration and preserves a moment of communication between relatives separated by the growing distances of the early American frontier.

James Taylor probably died in Prince Edward County

All known records place James Taylor and his children in Prince Edward County, Virginia, during the decades leading up to 1815. His daughter Betsy Taylor married James Sampson Woodall there in 1797. His son Hughes Taylor appears in Prince Edward County tax and land records through the early 1800s. The DeJarnette family—into which James married when he wed Lydia DeJarnette—also lived in Prince Edward County during this period. Lydia’s mother, Martha Ford DeJarnette, wrote her will there in 1780, naming Lydia’s children, including the Taylor line.

The 1815 letter contains no indication that James Taylor had left Prince Edward County. Instead, it shows that his children and sons‑in‑law were still living in the region and were preparing to travel “over to see” Hughes Taylor after the death. This phrasing implies that Hughes was still in the same county or an adjacent one, and that James Taylor had died in the same vicinity.

Meanwhile, the second part of the letter—addressed to James Pittman in Sandy Creek, Madison County, Alabama—reflects the westward migration of extended kin, not James Taylor himself. Pittman was a cousin through the Ford–DeJarnette network, and his residence in Alabama does not indicate that James Taylor ever left Virginia.

Taken together, the evidence points clearly to Prince Edward County, Virginia, as the place where James Taylor died in May 1815. His children were still living there, his son Hughes was present to report the death, and no record suggests that James relocated elsewhere in his later years.

Conclusion: Establishing the Parentage of Betsy Taylor

The identity of Elizabeth “Betsy” Taylor, who married James Sampson Woodall, Sr. on 10 January 1797 in Prince Edward County, Virginia, can be established through a careful correlation of surviving records, family documents, and the broader DeJarnette–Taylor kinship network in Southside Virginia.

James Sampson Woodall, born 1 May 1765 in Goochland County, Virginia, married three times during his long life. His second marriage—to Betsy Taylor—is the one that connects the Woodall family to the DeJarnette line. The marriage bond for this union provides the first essential piece of evidence. In that document, James Taylor personally grants permission “for to marry my daughter Betsy Taylor,” identifying himself unequivocally as her father and confirming that Betsy was of lawful age and residing in Prince Edward County at the time of the marriage.

A second document strengthens this connection and introduces the DeJarnette family directly into the record. The marriage bond was co‑signed by Mumford DeJarnette, who appeared before the county official and swore that Betsy Taylor was “of lawful age.” In eighteenth‑century Virginia, such an oath was typically made by a close relative—most often a parent, sibling, uncle, or guardian. Mumford’s involvement is significant because he was a documented son of Daniel DeJarnette and Martha Ford, and therefore a brother of Lydia DeJarnette.

The DeJarnette family history, preserved in Virginia Historical Genealogies, provides the final and most decisive link. In her 1780 will, Martha Ford DeJarnette names the children of her two deceased daughters, Martha Perryman and Lydia Taylor. This record confirms that Lydia, daughter of Daniel and Martha, married a man surnamed Taylor and died before her mother. It also confirms that Lydia left children who were living at the time the will was written.

When these pieces are placed together, a coherent and well‑supported picture emerges. Betsy Taylor was the daughter of James Taylor, as proven by the marriage bond. She was also the niece of Mumford DeJarnette, as indicated by his sworn statement at her marriage. And the only DeJarnette daughter who married a Taylor—according to the genealogical record—was Lydia DeJarnette, named in her mother’s will as “Lydia Taylor.” No other DeJarnette‑Taylor marriage appears in the historical or genealogical sources for this period.

The geographic consistency of the families further supports this conclusion. The Taylors, DeJarnettes, and Woodalls all lived, married, and conducted legal business in the same cluster of counties—Prince Edward, Charlotte, Amelia, and Halifax—during the mid‑ to late‑eighteenth century. Their records overlap in ways typical of extended kin networks in colonial Virginia.

Taken together, these documents form a strong and convincing genealogical proof. The marriage bond identifies Betsy’s father; the sworn oath by Mumford DeJarnette establishes her connection to the DeJarnette family; and Martha Ford’s will confirms that Lydia DeJarnette married a Taylor and left children. The convergence of these independent sources demonstrates that Betsy Taylor was the daughter of James Taylor and his wife, Lydia DeJarnette, thereby linking the Woodall family to the DeJarnette and Mumford lines.

For more information about the origins of the DeJarnette and Mumford Families, see DeJarnette and Mumford on Gaulding Origins.