Chapter
2
James Ware and Agnes Todd
There is not much known of the childhood of James I except that he grew up in Gloucester County.
(Ref. 34) The time in which he lived was ripe with
history, and before his death in 1796, James watched his homeland shift from the status of
a mere colony of Great Britain to a country within its own right. Not only did James do service in the Virginia
militia, but he eventually watched his sons and grandsons take up arms as well; all in
defense of their freedom against a much stronger foe.
The world James was born into changed dramatically in his 82 years, and his
heirs would forever be a reflection of that change.
In 1734, James married the daughter of Dr. George Todd “who got his medical education
in Scotland, but came from England.” (Ref.
625, 627,
891)
His
young bride was named Agnes Todd. Agnes was
born December 20, 1714, so she and James were both twenty years old at the time of their
marriage. (Ref.
34, 299, 379, 621, 625, 626, 627)
James
had English ancestors also, so it is very likely the families knew each other back in the
old country. The Todd and Ware families shared
a lot of commonality during those times. It
was only one generation later when James’ second son, his namesake, would marry
another Todd girl; this one named Virginia Catherine Todd. (Ref.
1, 2, 4, 6, 602, 627, 698)
James
and Agnes decided to settle in Caroline County and
according to the American Genealogical Research Institute in Washington, D.C., “James
Ware I did patriotic service in Virginia.” (Ref. 34,
629, 692) As
worded specifically by the Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society,
“he rendered service in the revolution, as did several of his sons, and . . . he
moved to Kentucky after hostilities had subsided.” (Ref
874)
James relocated to Kentucky, but it was during the years preceding the war, from 1736
through 1753, he and Agnes forged their family. All of their children were born in the colony of Virginia. George Washington had just been born two years
prior to their marriage and Benjamin Franklin was busy publishing Poor Richard’s
Almanack from 1732 to 1758. Since it was
somewhat of a “best seller” in the American colonies, it likely found its way to
the Ware table for reading while James & Agnes awaited the birth of their seven
children. They were blessed with six sons and
one daughter. The boys were named John B., Nicholas, James II
(after his father), Richard, William, and Edmund. Their only daughter was named Clara, but was known
as Clary. (Ref. 1,
2, 4, 6, 621, 651)
Hayden’s
Genealogy 1885
CHILDREN OF AGNES TODD AND JAMES WARE I
(1) Capt. John B. Ware
B. Dec. 12, 1736 D.
June 17, 1816
Married
Ann Harrison
(2) Nicholas Ware
B. Aug. 12, 1739 D. Mar.
26, 1787
Married
Martha Peggie Hodges
(3) Dr. James Ware II
B.
Mar. 13, 1741 D. May 7, 1820
Married Virginia Catherine Todd
(4) Richard Ware
B. May 18, 1745 D.
Sept. 25, 1790
(5) Clara Ware
B. Dec. 11, 1747
Married Mr. Sale
(6) William Ware
B. Mar. 29, 1750 D.
Sept. 10, 1829
Married Sarah Samuel
(7)
Edmund Ware
B. Apr. 25, 1753 D.
1814
Married
Susannah Brasfield
(Ref 871)
|
