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Person Info

• Name: John Rev TODD
• Sex: M
• Birth: 1719 in Co Armagh, Ireland ^b
• Death: 27 Jul 1793 in Louisa Co, Virginia ^d


Parents:

• Father:
  
• Robert TODD Birth: 1697 in Co Armagh, Ireland Death: 3 Apr 1775 in Trappe, Montgomery Co, Pennsylvania
Mother:

• Ann SMITH Birth: 1697

Family:
Marriage:

• Margaret THOMPSON .^m1
  
• Margaret THOMPSON Birth: 1736 Death: 1809 in Paris, Kentucky

Children:

1. Robert TODD
2. John TODD
3. Sarah TODD
4. Anne TODD Birth: 26 Aug 1756 Death: 31 Aug 1828
5. Eliza TODD Birth: 8 Jun 1758 Death: 3 Nov 1809
6. David TODD Birth: 1762 Death: 1781
7. Mary TODD Birth: 12 Mar 1765 Death: 1838
8. Margaret TODD Birth: 16 May 1767 Death: 1833
9. John TODD Birth: 3 Oct 1772 Death: 1839 in Marion, Indiana

Bibliography

Sources for birth and parent Information

date:

[Ref: Chamberlain TODD p34, Helm TODD p72, Johnson TODD],

place:

[Ref: Helm TODD p72]

Ulster, Co Armagh, Ireland [Ref: Chamberlain TODD p34],

parents:

[Ref: Chamberlain TODD p34, Helm TODD p72, Johnson TODD]

Sources with Inaccurate birth and parent Information

place:

County Down, Ireland [Ref: Johnson TODD]

Sources for death Information

date:

[Ref: Chamberlain TODD p34, Helm TODD p72],

place:

[Ref: Chamberlain TODD]

Sources with Information about marriage to Margaret THOMPSON

names:

[Ref: Johnson TODD],

child:

[Ref: Chamberlain TODD p35, Helm TODD p74, Helm TODD p79, Helm TODD p81, Helm TODD p82, Helm TODD p85]

Research Notes:
Brought to Pennsylvania by his father in 1737. He was then a young man of eighteen years of age, and had probably received the groundwork of his education in Ireland. It is likely that he was brought up in the communion of the established Church in his native land, and there is no evidence that he ever studied at the Log College of Neshaminy. All that is known of his early years is that he was graduated at the College of New Jersey at Newark, with its second class, in 1749, when he was thirty years old. There is a tradition that in early life he was a weaver. That he entered college to prepare for the Presbyterian ministry is clear from the fact that he was taken on trials by the Prebytery of New Brunswick, May 7, 1750. He was licensed Nov 13, 1750, and went to Virginia on the pressing appeal of the Rev. Samuel Davies, pastor of the Presbyterian congregation in Hanover, VA, who asked the Presbytery when he entered on trials to endeavor to prevail on him to engage in the work in Virginia, when licensed. Davies had a large field, having seven congregations - three in Hanover, one in Henrico, one in Louisa, and two others then recently organized. In 1749 he sought the services of John Rodgers, just then licensed by the Newcastle Presbytery, but the General Court at Williamsburg refused to permit Rodgers to qualify under the Toleration Act. In spite of such illiberal restrictions Todd determined to apply for license when a call for him was laid before the Newccastle Presbytery, May 22, 1751, and he was ordained for his work. He was more fortunate with the General Court than Rodgers, who had been warned not to preach in Virginia under penalty of a year's imprisonment. The following action was taken, Wednesday, April 22, 1752:
Present: Wm. Fairfax, John Bliss, Wm. Nelson, Esq., Wm. Dawson, D.D., John Lewis, Thos. Nelson, Philip Grymes, Peyton Randolph, Richard Corbin, Philip Ludwell, Esq.
John Todd a dissenting minister this day in court took the oath appointed by the act of parliment instead of the oath of allegiance and supremacy and the abrogation oath, and subscribed the last mentioned on oath and releated and subscribed the test and therupon on his motion, he is allowed to officiate as an assistant to Samuel Davies, a dissenting minister, in such places as are already licensed by this court for meeting of dissenters.
The charge to which Mr. Todd was called was known as Providence. It was in Louisa county, and comprised "the upper part" of Davies' field. He was installed in November, 1752, the Rev. Mr. Davies preaching the sermon. He remained with this charge during his whole ministerial life, a period of forty-two years.
Besides his pastoral duties he taught a classical school for many years. He became interested in the early emigration from Virginia to Kentucky and used his influence to obtain from the Virginia Legislature a charter for Transylvania Seminary. Through the Rev. Dr. Gordon, of Stepney, London, he secured scientific apparatus and valuable books that he gave to the Rev. David Rice to aid in founding the seminary.
Mr. Todd was for many years a leading man in the Presbytery east of the Blue Ridge. He was one of the original members of the Presbytery of Hanover, when it was constituted in 1755. To him vacancies looked for counsel, assitance and supplies. During the Revolution he was a staunch patriot. In his last years he was very infirm, and was unable fully to perform his ministeral duties. This led to a malicious report that he had so relaxed in discipline that he had admitted a gambler to the Lord's Table. To wipe away the false imputation he thought it necessary to attend the meeting of the Presbytery at its meeting at the Cove meeting house in July, 1793. This was accomplished to his satisfaction and he then started for his home on horseback. "I proceeded onward to my meeting," the Rev. William Williamson wrote in his journal, Saturday, July 27th., "and on the road was informed of Mr. Todd's death, that he was found in the road lifeless. Went on and saw him with whom I had dined the day before now in eternity." Whether he had died from a stroke of appoplexy or a fall from his horse could not be determined. [Ref: Helm TODD p72-74]



Pedigree of John Rev TODD
                   /-----John Or James TODD
          /-----John TODD
         |         \-----Isabelle PARKER
 /-----Robert TODD
|         \-----Isabelle BODLEY
John Rev TODD
 \-----Ann SMITH



Descendants of John Rev TODD

2nd generation


3rd generation


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