Norwood, Theophilus 1755

Theophilus NORWOOD (1755 - 1788) and Elenor MIDDLETON (1757 - ?)

my 6g-grandparents

Theophilus NORWOOD was born about 1755 in VA, son of Theophilus NORWOOD Sr and Eliza ST GEORGE. He wrote his will on 13 Apr 1787 in Abbeville, SC and it was probated on 9 Jul 1789, so he died between those dates, aged about 33, probably in Abbeville.

Theophilus and his brother, Samuel, enlisted as Privates in the 3rd South Carolina Regiment, also known as the Horse Rangers, on 19 Jun 1775, under Captain (later Major) John PURVIS. He reenlisted on 24 Jul 1776, and again on 31 May 1777. He was still in the 3rd in 1779, under Captain George LIDDELL. One of the Majors in this regiment was Hugh MIDDLETON, possibly related to the wife of Theophilus? [RSCP] This regiment surrendered to the British at the Siege of Charleston, in May 1780. Theophilus was still in the militia after the surrender, and he lost a horse while in service.

In his will, Theophilus named his wife Elener, and his 3 sons: Samuel, John Middleton, and Richard. He refers to his sons as boys, and we know that Richard NORWOOD was born about 1782. The executors were John MIDDLETON (undoubtedly a close relative of Elenor, who John Middleton NORWOOD was named after) and Samuel PORTER. I don't know how we can be sure that the will was written and/or probated in Abbeville.

Elenor must have remarried, as she is called Eleanor PATTERSON in her father's 1795 will, and Elenor PATTERSON in her mother's 1825 will. She may have married John or James PATTERSON about 1789. [2ME]

1 Theophilus NORWOOD b: 1755 in Augusta, VA, d: 1788 in Abbeville, SC

+ Elenor MIDDLETON b: 1757 in VA, d: 20 Sep 1831 in SC

......2 Samuel NORWOOD b: 1777 in SC

......2 Richard NORWOOD b: 1782 in VA, d: 1815 in Madison, AL

...... + Mary SMITH b: 1784 in VA, d: Aft. 1819

......2 John Middleton NORWOOD b: 07 Jan 1784 in Abbeville, SC, d: 11 Oct 1860 in Choctaw, MS

...... + Elizabeth OWEN m: 06 Oct 1824 in Madison, AL

Sources

[2ME] 2nd Marriage of Elenor Middleton (a speculative comment)

[HSF] Historical Southern Families (1857) by John Bennett Boddle - Volume 1 of 23

[NFT] Norwood group on FTDNA

[NWT] Theophilus Norwood (1755 - 1787) on WikiTree

[NW] Norwood Family, on the Warren Family History site

[RSCP] Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution (1983) by Bobby Gilmer Moss

Last updated on 13 Mar 2021 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.