william moody

William Moody

A family Bible record passed down through William’s youngest son, William Jr., tells us William Moody was born 27 Dec 1770 but his birth location is unknown. Hand-me-down stories in the family indicate William was born in the New York/New Jersey area but there is no evidence of that. According to a biographical sketch in The 1803 History of Knox County, Ohio, William was the son of a James Moody. In a letter written in 1817, William's oldest son, John, also stated William's father was named James and that his mother was named Elizabeth. John believed William was the son of the famous Loyalist of New Jersey, James Moody, who moved to Nova Scotia, Canada shortly after the Revolutionary War. No genealogical or DNA proof of that relationship has been found and Canadian descendants of that James Moody believe William is not the son of their James. This author has found no James Moody who can be shown to be William's father.

Family stories suggest William's father was a Loyalist in the Revolutionary War who left William and his mother for Canada after the War. At some point, William appears in Turbet Township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania and the first record we first find him in is the 1800 Turbet census showing: 2m <10 (sons John & Thomas); 1m 16-26 (William); 1m 26-45 (unknown); 1f 16-26 (wife Mary Stadden Moody). William was reported in family notes to have indentured as a blacksmith. However, the Pennsylvania Historical Society in Philadelphia searched for any indenture records but found none that could be William. Their records are sparse so this is certainly not conclusive. William didn’t pursue that profession so the information is questionable.

Probably about 1794, William married Mary Margaret Stadden, daughter of Thomas Stadden and Mary Margaret Jones. The date is uncertain and is based on two items: (1) the will of Thomas Stadden, indicating a marriage before June 1797, and (2) the birth date of their first child, John, in April 1795.

Three land records were found in Northumberland county:

Grantee Deed from Samuel Staddon to William Moody - Vol L Pg 473 -- 2 Feb. 1800. William purchased 21 acres and 38 perches for 112 pounds 10 shillings. This was land that Samuel and Isaac Staddon had inherited at the death of their father, Thomas Staddon. Note that Vol L Pg 472 is a deed dated 13 Feb 1800, from Isaac and John Staddon to Samuel Staddon; the same land Samuel sold to William Moody.
Grantee Deed from John and Isaac Staddon to William Moody (by attorney Henry Klieber as agent for John and Isaac Staddon (of Fairfield county, Ohio); Vol M Pg 487 -- 5 Dec. 1804. William is still shown as living in Turbut. William pays $275.41 (now US currency) for what is part of a larger tract purchased by Thomas Staddon, deceased, from Reuben Haines. This appears to be the balance of the land inherited by Isaac and John Staddon. The tract contained 46 acres and 38 perches. The two deeds mention buildings and improvements.
Grantor Deed from William Moody to John Smith Vol Q Pg 4 April 9, 1805 (Recorded May 23, 1810). John Smith pays $34 for a tract of land on the Muddy Run river in Turbut. The county official was Robert Taggart. This deed is of poor quality and much of it cannot be read.

No other land documentation has been located in Northumberland county. No land sales information was found to account for all of the above land purchased by William. The single grantor deed to John Smith does not appear to do so.

Between 1805 & 1809, William and his family moved to Ohio. The 1803 History of Knox County, Ohio, indicates that William emigrated to Knox County about 1805 and located in Madison Township, on the Bowling Green, four miles east of the town of Newark in 1807. This coincides with William’s sale of property in Turbet to John Smith. Family research Edith Collett states in her letter to Mrs. Whitaker, dated March 6, 1927, that William Moody came to settle near Newark, OH, in 1807 with Derick Cruzen and his wife, Elizabeth Stadden Cruzen. There are two pre-1808 deeds involving William shown in Licking county land record indexes. However, this is prior to Licking becoming a county and the records can’t found despite the listing.

The following Ohio tax records for "William Moody" exist:

1809 OH tax list: LICKING COUNTY HANOVER TWP PAGE 308, and PAGE 010
1810 OH tax list: LICKING COUNTY HANOVER TWP PAGE 024
1816 OH tax list: LICKING COUNTY HANOVER TWP
1816 list of Proprietor's Names also shows William in Hanover

William is also shown as a Justice of the Peace in Licking county in 1812 and 1813 marriage records.

We find this record in Licking county Deed Book ABC pages 27-29. Deed dated 16 Jul 1808. George Lewis of NY conveys land to William Moody of Licking county for $2,600. 1st Quarter, 2nd TWP, 11th Range of the United States Military Tract in Ohio. 400 and 6/10 acres also known as Lots 2 & 3 of said 1st Quarter. In conjunction with the purchase, William executes four mortgage notes to George Lewis: (1) $1,392.98 due in 20 days, (2) $402.33 due 1 May 1809 with interest from 4 May 1808, (3) $402.32 due on 4 May 1810 with interest from 4 May 1808, (4) $402.33 due 1 May 1811 with interest from 4 May 1808. These two documents were transcribed from original Book A pages 60-65.

William is shown in the 1820 Madison, Licking, Ohio census: 1m <10; 1m 16-26 (Thomas); 1m 45+ (William); 1f <10; 1f 10-15; 1f 16-26; 1f 45+ (Mary).

The History of Licking County (Madison Township) tell us:

About two miles below Newark, on the valley road, is located a long, low building used as a blacksmith and wagon shop; the township house and a few dwellings are also near the place, and the people have nicknamed it "Hammertown." At this point what is known as the "Old Furnace road" branches off northward in the direction of the old furnace in Mary Ann township. It was cut out in an early day for the purpose of reaching that renowned furnace. On this road, in the northern central part of the township, is located Union chapel, the church that was established by the New Lights when they could no longer agree with their Methodist brethren on the Bowling Green. Several of the old Methodist church congregation, among whom were William Moody and wife and Mrs. Isaac Stadden, had accepted the new doctrine, and were early members of this organization. They called themselves Bible Christians. The organization of this society dates back to about 1815, the Rev. Newell, as before stated, assisted by Rev. Britton, were the chief persons in perfecting it. The New Lights were assisted in building this church by the United Brethren, and by the people generally, and it was called Union chapel, being free to all denominations; however, it was generally occupied by the two above-named denominations, and subsequently by the New Lights alone, as the United Brethren erected a church of their own over the line, in Mary Ann township. It is a hewed log building, and was erected about 1843. It is seldom occupied for any religious service. A union Sabbath-school was established and kept up some years, but it has been abandoned.

Among the original members of the Methodist church were William Moody and wife, John Channel and wife, Thomas Taylor and wife, William Montgomery and wife, and others, whose names are forgotten. No records of the church have been preserved. Prior to the erection of the church, services were frequently held at the cabins of William Moody and John Channel. Revs. Noah Fidler and James B. Finley were among the earlier preachers to this class. Mr. Thomas Taylor was a leader in the first Methodist church organization in Newark.

The "Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County, Ohio" by E. M. P. Brister; Volume 1, 1909 states:

The frequent passing of preachers through the valley, and the holding of religious services in cabins, barns, and open air, probably culminated in a determination of the settlers to erect a building for religious purposes. This was accomplished about 1810 or 1811, the building being a hewed-log structure which stood near the Bowling Green prairie. A graveyard was established here very early, and this has always been known as the "Bowling Green" church. Methodists occupied the church most of the time although the church was built without regard to religious belief. Among the original members of this Methodist church were William Moody and his wife. No records of the church have been preserved. Prior to the erection of the church, services were frequently held in the cabins of William Moody and John Channel.

William passed away on 28 Aug 1828 in Madison, Licking, Ohio. The following probate record is recorded in Licking County --

William Moody - Administration Bond (probate): $3,000 10/9/1828
Administrators: Thomas Moody, Mary Moody
Bondsmen: Albert Sherwood, John Moody
William Moody - Guardian Bonds 10/9/1828
Heirs: William, Rachel
Guardian: John Moody
Bondsmen: John Moody, Thomas Moody, and William Stanberry

These administrative records and William's will were lost in a courthouse fire in the 1870s. However, a subsequent Petition to Partition in land records survived and names all of William's heirs -- his wife and all children except their daughter Nancy. No documentation exists for Nancy except the total number of William's children shown in the History of Licking County and mention in a diary of John Read, husband of William's daughter Rachel.

In the fall of 1998, the author found what is believed to be the site of the church next to Bowling Green cemetery. All that remains is the stone footing wall about 6 inches high on which the log cabin would have been built. We also found Montour's Point which is the supposed location of William Moody’s home (based on early family notes). It was funny - we spoke with a nice man who lived right across the street and he said he had never heard of Montour's Point. We looked across the road to where we thought it should be and saw a plaque on an entry gate to a beautiful house. The plaque read "Montour's Point." The author wrote to the occupants in Jan 1999 but received no reply. The house is not within Newark city limits and the building department there has no information on the building. Right down the road is Bowling Green cemetery - the author's choice for the location of William's grave. Many of the Stadden's are interred there and they were close families. Unfortunately, at that time the cemetery was a shambles and a large number of stones were just about gone and completely unreadable. We may never know where William rests.

WILLIAM MOODY was born Dec 27, 1770, and died Aug 28, 1828 in Madison, Licking, OH. He married MARY MARGARET STADDEN probably about 1794 in Northumberland county, PA, the daughter of THOMAS STADDEN and MARGARET JONES. She was born Sep 2, 1773, in Northumberland county, PA, and died Mar 27, 1855, in Millwood, Knox, OH.

The children of WILLIAM MOODY and MARY STADDEN were:

i. JOHN MOODY, b. Apr 13, 1795, PA; d. Sep 11, 1838, Richland, OH; m. (1) EXPERIENCE MILLER, Mar 2, 1820, Knox, OH; m. (2) MIRA HUSSA, Sep 25, 1828, , Knox, OH; b. Abt. 1799; d. Jul 23, 1837, Richland, OH.

ii. THOMAS M. MOODY, b. Nov 8, 1798, Turbut, Northumberland, PA; d. Apr 8, 1879, Fremont, IA; m. ELIZABETH E. STROTHER, Jan 2, 1823, Hanover, Licking, OH; b. 1802, Culpeper, Culpeper, VA; d. Aft. 1844.

iii. ELIZABETH MOODY, b. Abt. Jul 31, 1800, Northumberland, PA; d. Bef. Mar 11, 1833; m. JONATHON TAGGART, Apr 2, 1818, Licking, OH; b. Abt. 1796, Romney, Hampshire, VA; d. Aft. Jul 25, 1836.

iv. MARGARET MOODY, b. Abt. Jan 24, 1804, Northumberland, PA; d. Bef. Jun 1, 1850; m. JOHN JOHNSON STROTHER, Apr 14, 1826, Licking, OH; b. Abt. 1800, VA; d. Aft. Sep 17, 1850.

v. MARY MOODY, b. Abt. Aug 24, 1806, Northumberland, PA; d. 1836, , Hancock, OH; m. ELIAS LANGHAM BRYAN, Dec 21, 1826, , Muskingum, OH; b. Abt. Sep 24, 1800, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA; d. Feb 24, 1881, Atlantic, Cass, IA.

vi. SARAH MOODY, b. Abt. Oct 7, 1808; d. Abt. 1831; m. MOSES HOYT, Sep 27, 1826, , Licking, OH; b. Bet. 1800 - 1810; d. Abt. Apr 11, 1836, Licking, OH.

vii. NANCY MOODY, b. Jul 21, 1810, Licking, OH; d. Apr 12, 1811, Licking, OH.

viii. WILLIAM MOODY, JR., b. Dec 8, 1813, Licking, OH; d. Dec 3, 1892, , Knox, OH; m. LAURA ASHLEY WELLS, Mar 24, 1835, Licking, OH; b. Feb 11, 1817, Hanover, Licking, OH; d. Jan 22, 1892, , Knox, OH.

ix. RACHEL MOODY, b. Apr 5, 1815, Licking, OH; d. Apr 4, 1850, Mansfield, Richland, OH; m. JOHN ANDERSON READ, Aug 27, 1833, Bowling Green, Licking, OH; b. Jan 27, 1811, Ham, Somersetshire, England; d. May 4, 1885, Pana, Christian, IL.