Notes |
- Son of George Redd 1735-1755 of Orange County, Virginia
and Lucy Franklin b.1737 in Albemarle County, Virginia.
Major John Redd was born October 25, 1755 in Orange County, Virginia, the son of George Redd and Lucy Franklin. His father died early in the marriage at which time his mother returned to her family in Albemarle County.
John Redd went with Capt. Charles Cox and others to Southwest VA on a hunting and exploring party in the year 1769. He returned to Henry County, VA. in the spring of 1770.
Belleview was built by Major Redd in 1783.
It still stands today south of Martinsville, Virginia but has had major restorations done after a fire and with succeeding owners. Photo taken 1999 courtesy of Desmond Kendrick.
Major John Redd, was a prominent Henry County planter who served under Gen. Joseph Martin.
John Redd also wrote about his early recollections of General Nathaniel Greene, George Rogers Clark, Daniel Boone, Col. Benjamin Cleveland, Dr. John Walker, and other early prominent Virginia figures.
When he was seventeen, he and a Franklin Cousin walked from Albemarle County to Henry County, Virginia.
There he served in the Revolutionary Army and after the war, married Mary Winston Carr Waller, the daughter of Colonel George Waller. They settled in the Marrowbone Valley of Henry County and in 1783, built their home called "Belleview".
They had eleven children, making Major Redd the progenitor of the Henry County Redds.
U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970
Name: Major John Redd
Birth Date: 25 Oct 1755
Birth Place: Albemarle, Virginia
Death Date: 11 Aug 1850
Death Place: Henry, Virginia
SAR Membership: 98311
Role: Ancestor
Application Date: 20 Feb 1969
Spouse: Mary Winston Waller
Children: Elizabeth Winston Redd
Abstracts of Henry County, VA. Deed Books I and II, 1776-1784 - by Lela C. Adams. (Page 132)
Inquest....
Inquisition indented at William Hunters' in Henry County, on the body of George Hunter, then and there lying dead. Inquiry by: Stabert Stone, William Heard, John Redd, Joseph King, John Heard, John Bird, John Barksdale, Henry Clark, Jacob Farris, Stephen Stone, John Hunter and William Mullins, to ascertain how and after what manner said George Hunter came by his death. One William Hunter, appearing to have the fear of God before his eyes and not moved by the instigation of the divil (devil), neither with malice fore thought or the said William Hunter, with a riffle (rifle), gun made of iron and held in his right hand and at a distance of 60 yards, by mischance did kill with aim to kill, a wild turkey, which glancing shot in and upon the face of said George Hunter, did enter of which wound said George Hunter then and instantly died. At the death, William Hunter appeared to be in perfect love, peace and friendship, towards the said George Hunter. Returned at Court held for Henry County, Virginia. 26 May 1785.
He married 24 Aug. 1782 in Henry County, VA.
John Franklin Redd served in the Indian Wars and in the Revolutionary War and was present at the Siege of Yorktown in 1781.
His home was "Belleview Plantation" in Henry County, VA.
John Franklin Redd served as Sergeant Major in Col. William Christophers' Company, 1776. He was placed on the pension roll at the age of seventy-seven, for service of ensign and lieutenant.
1781 Jacob Burris m. 13 March in Henry Co. Virginia, Susannah Martin. Sur: John Redd.
09 Apr 1787 (Henry Co VA DB1:530) [inserted between pp. 530-31] "A poll taken of a section of Delegates at Henry County Courthouse this 9th of April 1787 for Abraham PENN, Esq." [included the following]: John Redd.
Jul 27, 1789, Henry Co., Court held and William C. Rea, with George Hamilton and John Redd, his securities entered into bond and Inventory of the estate of James Rea, was ordered to be recorded.
John Redd
Birth Date: 1750
Birthplace: Virginia
Volume: 143
Page Number: 417
Reference: Heads of Families at the first U.S. census. Va. By U.S. Bureau of the Census. Washington, 1908. (189p.): 14
I: 205-206 Acct estate MORDECAI HORD 15 May 1791 with exors William Hord and George Waller.
1789-May 1791
Pd: Jesse Maupin, James Baker, John Redd, Eusebus Stone, Thomas Cunningham, Junor Meredith, William Thompson, Stanwix Hord, John Hord, William Martin for service in South Carolina, Tax 1786; William Elkins waggoner, Sherriff of Franklin Co. tax 1789, Peter Rickman, Zack. Going, Joseph Phifer, to Henry Lyne for Mathe Mullings, William Chandler, George Penn, Samuel Crutcher, to Thomas Jett a legatee, William Hord.
Receipts: James Baker, John Hord, William Hord, Stanwx Hord, Thomas Jett, Peter Rickman, Henry Lyne.
29 Oct 1806 Henry Co: Waller Redd and Ignatious Simms are witnesses for bill of sale from John Adkins of Ptrk Co to John Redd for the sale of various livestock «HyD 6:530»
21 Feb 1817 Phebe Dillen to John Redd. She was of Henry Co. when she released to Redd all right and title to the 807 acres that she could live on equally with her two sisters. One has died; the other has married. Land was bounded by John Bailey, land formerly belonged to Henry Lyme, land on waters of Jordan Creek. Wit: John King, Charles C. Bailey, John Baley, Mastin P ---rico. (cannot decipher) Deed 8:235
1810 Caroline Co., VA Census (no numbers recorded-also in Caroline Co., VA: George, Lucy, Philip, Samuel, and William)
1820 Henry Co., VA Census
John Redd: 010301-00101
1830 Henry Co., VA Census
John Redd:0121200001(70-80 years)-00001
1840 Henry Co., VA Census: John Redd listed as a Rev War soldier: age 84.
00001000001-000000
1850 Henry Co., VA Census: listed as age 94 (indexed at age 24)
North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000
Name: Redd
Gender: Male
Child: Sarah Redd Joseph Redd
Also mentions John Redd and his wife, Mary Waller
Reminiscences" by Major John Redd in the "Virginia Historical Society Magazine," Vol. VI).
MAJ. JOHN REDD'S STATEMENT
On this 14th day of October, 1833, personally appeared in open Court before the justices of the County Court of Henry now sitting John Redd, a resident of said county of Henry, aged seventy-eight years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress passed 7th June, 1832. That he was born in the County of Orange in the State of Virginia in the month of October,1755, as appears from the record of his age now in his possession, and removed to the County of Henry (then Pitsylvania County) in the month of March, 1774. That he entered the services of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That in the month of July, 1776, he marched with a company of Militia commanded by Capt. Joseph Martin, from the County of Henry (then Pitsylvania) as an orderly sergeant to the Long Island of Holston, where they were joined by various other companies, the whole under the command of Col. Wm. Christian, that in the month of October following the army (after having erected a fort, storehouses, &c., on Holston) marched against the Cherokee Indians, and after destroying seven of their towns & much of their stock and provisions returned to the fort on Holston in the month of November following. This declarant continued in the service as orderly sergeant in this expedition five months. That about the month of December following, the army was disbanded with the exception of four or five hundred men who were enlisted to remain upon the frontiers until peace should be concluded with the Indians. This declarant again enlisted and received from Col. Anthony Bledsoe, then in command, the appointment of Sergeant Major in which office he served for seven months, and was discharged with the army after the conclusion of peace with the Indians in the latter part of the month of July, 1777. He then returned to the County of Henry and was commissioned an Ensign in a company of Militia commanded by Capt. Brice Martin. That in the summer of 1780, he was in the service one month as an Ensign having been called into the service with Capt. Martin's Company and marched against the Tories who had assembled at a place called a Hollow near the head of Dan & Arrarat Rivers. That early in the year 1781 this declarant, then a Lieutenant in Capt. Brice Martin's Company, marched with his company and others under the command of Col. James Lyon to join Genl. Green on Dan River, but before they reached Green's army, Lyon himself deserted and most of the troops returned to their homes, and the remnant of the troops amongst whom was this declarant after being in the service for one month were discharged by Genl. Greene in consequence of the large disproportion of officers.
MAJOR JOHN REDD (BIOGRAPHIES from the HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY, VIRGINIA By Judith Parks America Hill, Martinsville, Virginia, 1925; Transcribed by Nancy Piper for Genealogy Trails Page 96-97)
Major John Redd was born Oct. 26th, 1766, in Albermale county and came to this county in early youth, and from the very first appearance, he became a great actor in his adopted county's affairs. Think of a boy reared by a widowed mother in humble circumstances by pluck brains and persistency becoming an early defender of his county against the Indians, later rising by real merit to the rank of Major and you say immediately there was an unusual leader of Major and in after life, as he became next to the richest man in these new wilds, you will also admit that he was an eminently successful business man.
It is true he ran away from his home and mother, but when you recall that he left poverty for wealth and renown, you at once pardon his youthful indiscretion.
In his new location he took an humble position on a farm two miles from the county seat and worked at the usual labor on a plantation. He evidently gave satisfaction or else he would not so soon have been able to buy a home for himself. To this he added till he became a great owner of wide acres and attained great power in his community.
He very early responded to the call to war against the Indians and with Joseph Martin, then Col., he made several campaigns against them in Wataugua and Holstein counties out in the frontier.
Before long the War of the Revolution against England aroused his patriotism and he went again on the firing line, but his doings in this arena are a part of the history of the nation and need not be repeated here. He was at Yorktown in that great halo of glory when Lord Cornwallis bowed to the right and might of American victory.
He was elected to the legislature of Virginia and voted on every important question before that body shunning nothing. Here, too, he was a champion of the famous resolutions of 1798 and 1799.
He married Mary the daughter of Col. George Waller of Henry county. Her mother's mother, Elizabeth Winston, was Patrick Henry's cousin. After his marriage he finally settled in the Marrowbone valley in Henry county at "Belleview", and reared a large family of boys and girls. Here he managed his affairs, responded to his country's calls, educated his children and dispensed during the remainder of his days, a period of over 60 years, that rare hospitality that distinguished Virginia from the rest of the world.
Like every great soul, he was in sympathy with the pitiful lot of his slaves and provided in his will for families to be kept together and gave, to his servant Issac, the right to select his own master. When Len Anderson was chosen, both master and servant deserve to be remembered in history. Take these two items together, or just one of them, it proves to the world that he had a kind heart and an admirable character.
After three-quarters of a century of his country's history was finished and life in its fullness came to an end, his ashes were committed to the mother of all on the hill north of the home he loved so well, and there through summer's green, autumn's tints, and winter's snows, the breezes will blow on and on and sing forever his requiem.
|