Nathaniel Hood and Elizabeth

My Ancestral Legacy

Nathaniel Hood Facts and Theory

The following letter is an email from Wilma McMillan to me and Ruthie. I feel that she has done a good job describing
some of the problems researching this Hood line here. This page describes some of what we know to be fact, the rest
is unproven theory.

Mike and Ruthie:
Thanks for your letter. I was raised in Durham, N.C. and all my ancestors were from Johnston, Wayne, Harnett,
Sampson, etc. counties. Our family has been researching Hood forever. We just assumed that Eliz.'s name was Britton,
since she named a son Britton.
There were many surname Brittons in Virginia about that time. We went to Hood reunions for years when I was a child.
One 100 year old Hood lady said we were descended from the Richard Hood in Massachusetts, but we have never been
able to make the connection. I do not know the birthdate of Mary Bass, but I go to the Library twice a week and will see
if I can find it. I assume that is your line. I am descended from his brother, Bold Robin. If only we could find out which of
the many Nathaniel Hoods in Mass. came down to Va. and had these boys we would have it made, as the Mass. Hoods
go way back. Do you have the other siblings of Bold Robin and Britton? They are Willliam, Elizabeth, and Molly.

On July 15, 2000 I sent an email to about 35 Nathaniel Hood descendents. My purpose was to get information and to
make sure we all have it. This is it.

Cousins
The purpose of this email is to help identify who Nathaniel Hood is, that died in 1779-80, Sussex County, Virginia, and
married Sarah. I have contradictory information. I would to know if any of you can help me sort it out. Before Sept. 9,
1999 I sent an email to Joe Stegall asking him about a posting he made in the Genforum about Nathaniel Hood. He sent
me the following message:

Mike,
I have not done any independent research on the Nathaniel Hood family. What I have has been gleaned from others. I
am forwarding an e-mail that I received in 1998 from Robbin Manly, who seemed to have a good knowledge of the
family. Hope that this helps. You should be able to contact Robin at his old address.
Joe Stegall

This is the email.

Dear Mr. Stegall,
It is good to hear from another Hood descendent. I remember Cindy Dickinson from Prodigy .I have not been very
active with genealogy for about a year. It is not for lack of interest, I haven't had the time. I have information about our
common ancestor, Nathaniel Hood, however I have not confirmed it. I will share it with you and maybe between the
two of us we will document it.
In a thumbnail, your Elizabeth was sister to my ancestor, Robin Hood, from whom I was named. Their mother is
believed to be Elizabeth Britton. Their brother was named Britton Hood. Robin and Britton were land surveyors. They
eventually moved to Alabama. Some Hood researchers believe that Nathanial Hood moved south from Mass. I believe
that he is the son of Nathaniel Hood and Sarah from Surry or Sussex counties, VA.
(REF: The Albermerle Parish Register-Births, Deaths & Sponsors 1717-1778 Surry & Sussex Counties, VA. by John
Bennett Boddie). They had a son named Nathanial born 3/3/1742. His siblings were named Sarah, Elizabeth, John,
Lucy, Henry, Frances, Mely, Ruth, (another) Sarah and Peter. Thanks for the inquiry, it sparked my genealogy nerve! !
Sincerely,
Robbin (Hood) Manly

The above reference, names Nathaniel born 3/3/1742 as the brother of all the above children. But I have a will that
only names Henry , Amelia and Sarah as children. Is it possible that there were two Nathaniel's who married a Sarah
in Suxxex Co., VA.?
Before I get into the will I want to establish who this Nathaniel Hood who married Sarah was. In a letter to Ms. Norma
Sawyer dated 10 September 1989 Darl Hood mentions that William the son of Nathaniel Hood had a son named
Nathaniel. When our Nathaniel Hood passed away William was not mentioned in the will because William had already
passed away in Johnston Co. 11 act 1796, and left his heirs Sally, Nathaniel, Susannah and Wealcomb [sic, Welcome]
to the guardianship of his father Nathaniel.
This is from the will of our Nathaniel;
"To Nathaniel, Susana, Gurley, & Wealcomb Hood, an acct of said deceased being appointed guardian for said
children for the acct of their sharing of the Nathaniel Hoods share of the Estate of Wm Hood, deceased."
Susana Gurley was the wife of Nathaniel Hood at the time of his death. At the very end of his letter to Ms. Norma
Sawyer, Darl Hood said this; "It is not clear to me whether the 1782 marriage to Susanna is Nathaniel Sr or William's
son Nathaniel?"
From Ancestry.com I found this; "North Carolina Marriages to 1825. Gurley, Susanah married Hood, Nathaniel on
13 Nov 1782 in Johnston County, North Carolina".
Nathaniel, who married Sarah, with the probated will made in 1780, Sussex County, Virginia had passed away and
could not have married her. So our Nathaniel Sr. must have married Susannah in 1782. Elizabeth must have passed
away.

This is from Wilma McMillan
Wealcombe's name was on Nathaniel's will as a beneficiary of William's part of the estate. William was dead, and  
his children and wife were listed as beneficiaries.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wealcomb/Welcome was William's wife.
Nathaniel must have been William's son as Darl Hood wrote, "Nathaniel Sr or William's son Nathaniel". I have
had the will of Nathaniel Hood who married Sarah for some time and just did not have enough knowledge of the
family as I married Ruthie in 1992. It was not until the last year or two that I really started getting into her Hood
genealogy. This is the will Ruthie copied sometime ago. It was handwritten so I did my best translating it.  
Whenever you see "..." it just means I could not read it.
Original Will of Nathaniel Hood, probated in 1780, Sussex County, Virginia;
Copy of record in Will Book C page 373.
"In the name of God Amen this fiftheenth day of March one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine. I Nathaniel
Hood of Sussex County being of sound ... mind. Primary thanks be to almighty God for the same. ...not knowing
how soon my change may come. I do therefore ordain this last Will & Testament in manner & form following. I do
in the humblest manner resign my soul to God who gave it me. Humbly imploring His Devine Majesty to receive me
into the number of the Blessed. & as for my mortal body to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discretion of
my ... hereafter named. and as for my Temporal Estate which God hath been pleased to bless me with I give &
dispose of in manner & form following. First I will that all my just Debts & Funeral Expenses be discharged
Imprim ... I give & bequeath to my Son Henry Hood the Land and Plantation whereon I now live to him & Heirs
forever. also one Bed of furniture: one Cow & Calf: my will & desire is that if my son Henry should die without
Lawful issue that what I have given him shall descend to his sisters Amelia Hood & Sarah Hood to them and their
heirs forever.
Item. I give & bequeath to my Daughter Amelia Hood one bed of furniture: also one Cow & Calf to her and her
heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Hood one Cow & Calf: also the bed & furniture whereon I lie-
after her mothers decease to her & her heirs for Ever also one. ..iron & heaters to her & her heirs for Ever.
My will and desire is that my wife Sarah Hood shall have a Maintenance for life out of my Estate not heretofore
given: and after my wifes decease all my Estate not heretofore given shall be equally divided between my son
Henry Hood and my daughters Amelia Hood & Sarah Hood to them and their heirs forever. I appoint ... Robert
Jones and my son Henry Hood Executors of this my Will & Testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and Seal the day and year above written.
Signed & Sealed   }
in presence of        }
Joseph Dennis         }                      Nathaniel Hood
Sealey Seath          }                             Mark
Mark                   }
                                               17th day of August 1780
Robin Manley mentioned this reference about Nathaniel and Sarah;
REF: The Albermerle Parish Register- Births, Deaths & Sponsors 1717-1778 Surry & Sussex Counties, VA. by
John Bennett Boddie. They had a son named Nathanial born 3/3/1742. His siblings were named Sarah, Elizabeth,
John, Lucy, Henry, Frances Mely, Ruth, (another) Sarah and Peter. Notice that the will only list's three children,
Henry, Amelia and Sarah. Is there another Nathaniel and Sarah or were the rest of the children not mentioned for
some reason? Why wasn't Amelia mentioned in Boddie's reference? All I have is the letter from Darl Hood stating
this, "Nathaniel Sr or William's son Nathaniel". It appears from the information Darl has given that Nathaniel who
married Sarah was the grandson of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Hood through their son William. It also appears that
Nathaniel who married Sarah may have been the father of our Nathaniel. Is it possible that these are two separate
individuals as the probated date of the will of the Nathaniel who married Sarah was in 1780 and years for the
Albermerle Parish Register-Births, Deaths & Sponsors was 1717 -1778?
If anyone has more information please email me and let me know about it and I will pass it on to all of the Hood
cousins. Read the attached letter to Ms. Norma Sawyer from Darl Hood for more information. The will of our
Nathaniel Hood is also attached.
Mike Crandall

I received a response from three people Wilma McMillan, Bryan Hood and Robbin Manley. All three of them
made very good points!
This is Wilma's response:
Mike:
In reading what you sent, you must have misinterpreted what I said long ago. I believe William's wife was Sally, not
Welcome. Sally was given the same amount as "widow" (meaning the widow of the author of the will.) and all the
children were given a different amount, so I think Welcome was a child. If I am off base, please answer. Sorry I
haven't written lately, but I am at a standstill too. Wilma

Bryan's response:
I have made a few changes to Mike's original which may clear this up a bit. I have copies of the Albemarle Parrish
births and access to stuff here in eastern NC. My changes are in CAPS next to the original. Let me know if I have
it wrong.
Brian Hood Grantham, NC
In a thumbnail, your Elizabeth was sister to my ancestor, Robin Hood, from whom I was named. Their mother is
believed to be Elizabeth Britton. Their brother was named Britton Hood. Robin and Britton were land surveyors.
They eventually moved to Alabama. (ONLY BOLD ROBIN MOVED TO AL WITH SOME, NOT ALL, OF
HIS CHILDREN. BRITTON DIED IN NC). Some Hood researchers believe that Nathanial Hood moved south
from Mass.(THAT NATHANIEL FROM MASS DIED UP NORTH) I believe that he is the son of Nathaniel
Hood and Sarah from Surry or Sussex counties, VA.
(REF: The Albermerle Parish Register-Births, Deaths & Sponsors 1717-1778 Surry & Sussex Counties, VA.
by John Bennett Boddie). They had a son named Nathanial born 3/3/1742. His siblings were named Sarah,
Elizabeth(I HAVE SARAH ELIZABETH AS ONE NAME), John, Lucy (SHORT FOR LUCRETIA), Henry,
Frances (COMMA HERE, NEXT NAME IS SHORT FOR AMELIA), Mely, Ruth, (another) Sarah and Peter.
Thanks for the inquiry, it sparked my genealogy nerve! !
(BIRTH DATES MATCH ON ALL OF THESE)
"To Nathaniel, Susana, Gurley, & Wealcomb Hood, an acct of said deceased being appointed guardian for said
children for the acct of their sharing of the Nathaniel Hoods share of the Estate of Wm Hood, deceased."
(I DON'T HAVE A GURLEY HERE)
From Ancestry.com I found this; "North Carolina Marriages to 1825. Gurley, Susanah married Hood, Nathaniel
on 13 Nov 1782 in Johnston County, North Carolina". (THIS IS CONFIRMED IN LOCAL DOCUMENTS)
Nathaniel, who married Sarah, with the probated will made in 1780, Sussex County, Virginia had passed away
and could not have married her. So our Nathaniel Sr. must have married Susannah in 1782. Elizabeth must have
passed away.Notice that the will only list's three children, Henry, Amelia and Sarah. Is there another Nathaniel and
Sarah or were the rest of the children not mentioned for some reason? Why wasn't Amelia (LISTED AS MELY)
mentioned in Boddie's reference?
ALBEMARLE PARRISH RECORDS ALSO LIST COUPLES JOHN AND ELIZABETH HOOD; THOMAS
AND MARY HOOD DURING THIS SAME TIME PERIOD. THERE WAS ALSO A THOMAS HOOD IN
THE AREA EARLY ENOUGH TO HAVE BEEN THE FIRST NATHANIEL'S FATHER. VIRGINIA WILLS
AND ADMINISTRATIONS LISTS WILLS IN SUSSEX COUNTY FOR JOHN HOOD, 1773; NATHANIEL
HOOD, 1780; CHRIS HOOD, 1797; AND LUCRETIA HOOD, 1814. I HAVE RUN INTO A NEW PROBLEM
THOUGH. I FOUND A BOOK OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY MARRIAGES. THIS IS WHERE
NATHANIEL'S ELIZABETH BRITTON IS SUPPOSED TO BE FROM. THERE IS AN ELIZABETH,
DAUGHTER OF WILLIAM, LISTED BUT NOT MARRIED TO A HOOD. TRICK IS, THERE WAS MORE
THAN ONE WILLIAM. I'M STILL TRYING TO TRACK DOWN IF SHE WAS FROM A DIFFERENT
COUNTY.

Robbin's response:
Hi Mike,
I want to share some information about Susanah Gourley. I have been receiving the Hood family e-mail and enjoying
the discussion. Maybe I am confused about the discussion, but according to my records Nathaniel Hood married
Susanah Gourley 13 November 1782 after Elizabeth's death (reference of the marriage is Marriages of Johnston
County, North County by Brent H. Holcomb). I also have Nathaniel's death date as March 21, 1809. I hope I
haven't gotten my information confused.
Robbin (Hood) Manly
P.S. The Best Man's name is Kedar Powell


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Nathaniel Hood and Elizabeth

My Ancestral Legacy