8 It Started With A Kiss

 

Paternal 4th Great-Grandparents: Captain Henry Woodward and Sarah Shelton

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 

Week 8 - February 17, 2025

Prompt: Migration

My Migration Story Begins with Immigration

For many families, migration is a story of movement from one place to another, seeking new opportunities or escaping hardships. For my ancestors, that journey began with immigration—and in the case of Henry Woodward and Sarah Shelton, it started with an act of bravery, a bit of luck, and a kiss.

It Started With A Kiss

When Henry Met Sarah

The story goes that Henry was aboard a ship leaving England for America when British Army officers boarded, searching for able-bodied men. Having already served in the English Army, Henry feared he would be forced back into service. As he watched the officers approach, he muttered to himself, “I’ve served seven years for England. I suppose I will have to end my life in the English Army now.”

A large young woman standing nearby overheard him. Noticing his small frame, she whispered, “Squat down under this stool on the deck.” Henry obeyed, and she sat on the stool, covering him with her ample skirts. The officers passed by, none the wiser.

Once they were safely at sea, Henry jumped out and kissed her. By the time they reached America, the two had decided to marry, and the ship’s captain performed the ceremony on board. 

That bold and unexpected act of kindness marked the beginning of their journey together in the New World.

Military Service: A Life of Duty and Sacrifice

Henry Woodward’s story was not just about personal survival—it was one of service and resilience in the face of war.

Early Military Career

• Henry joined the Royal Navy at age 13, serving five years before leaving in 1754, as peace had temporarily ended hostilities.

• He soon reappeared in Virginia, carrying a letter of introduction from James Abercrombie, the London agent to Governor Dinwiddie, recommending him for a Lieutenancy in the Virginia Militia.

• By 1755, he was active in Virginia’s colonial forces, and in 1756, he was promoted to Captain, commanding the 10th Company, Virginia Regiment.

French and Indian War

• 1755: He fought in Braddock’s Expedition against Fort Duquesne and was present at Braddock’s Defeat.

• 1756: He was commended by the Virginia Assembly for his gallantry at Fort Necessity.

• 1757: He was placed in command of Voss’s Post, defending Virginia’s western frontier.

• Cherokee Expedition: He was third in command during Virginia’s military campaign against the Cherokees, remaining in service until 1762.

Despite his service and hardships, Henry remained a proud Englishman, carrying himself with a sense of distinction. Family tradition describes him as somewhat haughty in manner, always well-dressed, with a sword at his side. He wore silver buckles on all his shoes, and even the harness of his driving and saddle horses were adorned with silver.

A Connection to General George Washington

Henry’s service brought him into close association with General Washington.

• Washington’s account books show that on January 6, 1755, Henry lost at cards to Washington, a common pastime among officers.

• Records confirm that Henry received direct orders from Washington, and several letters from the General to Henry still exist today.

• Their relationship highlights the interconnected world of Virginia’s military leadership during this time.

Land and Legacy: The Estate of “Stoneleigh”

Following the war, Henry was granted large tracts of land in recognition of his service:

• He received 3,000 acres in Stafford and Cumberland Counties, Virginia.

• He settled on an estate called “Stoneleigh”, where he lived until his death.

• He also owned plantations in Maryland, expanding his family’s holdings.

While his military career was marked by service and hardship, his land grants and estate ensured his family’s stability for generations.

In addition to his plantations, his land had another lasting contribution to American history. Family tradition holds that the stone used in the construction of the central portion of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., was quarried from his lands along Aquia Creek. This tradition is supported by records in the Congressional Library, which state that “the original stone from quarries at Aquia Creek, Virginia was used in the Capitol’s construction. "

Migration Path from Henry and Sarah to Me

Captain Henry Woodward (1735–1790) & Sarah Shelton (1740–1775)

Henry was born in 1735 in Throckmorton, Worcestershire, England, to Esther Martin and William Woodward.

Sarah was born in 1740 in Northill, Bedfordshire, England, to Jane Paine and Joseph Shelton.

         Married at sea in 1755.

They settled in Aquia Creek, Stafford County, Virginia, where Sarah passed away in 1775 at age 35. Henry died there in 1790 at age 55.

James Abraham Woodward (1761–1836)

James was born in Aquia Creek, Stafford County, Virginia to Henry Woodard  & Sarah Shelton.

Married Jane Jennie Hyden in 1797 in Stafford County, Virginia.

Moved to Lee County, Virginia in 1808, disapproving of his father’s second marriage.

Left Virginia after 1830, settling in Sangamon County, Illinois, where James passed away in 1836.

        After James' death, Jane lived with their son, James William Woodward, in Illinois. She passed away in 1856 in Farmer City, DeWitt County, Illinois. 

Mary Jane Woodward (1812–1870)

Mary Jane was born in 1812 in Powell Valley, Lee County, Virginia to James Abraham Woodward & Jane Jennie Hyden.

Married James Wallis in 1832 in Lee County, Virginia.

Moved to Delaware County, Indiana, in 1868, where they both passed away, James in 1868, Mary Jane in 1870.

Benjamin Logan Wallis (1833–1918)

Benjamin Logan Wallis was born in 1833 in Lee County, Virginia to Mary Jane Woodard and  James Wallis.

Married Sophia McCool in 1865 in Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana.

Lived in Allen County, Kansas in the 1880s and 1890s.

Passed away in LaHarpe, Allen County, Kansas in 1918.

After Benjamin's death, Sophia lived with their son, William Clinton Wallis in Sapulpa, Creek County, Oklahoma and later with her daughter Emma Maud Wallis Morrison back in Allen County, Kansas. By 1930 Sophia was again living with her son, William Clinton Wallis, now in Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma where she died in 1939.

Charles Bertram “C.B.” Wallis (1878–1962)

C. B. Wallis was born in 1878 in Iola, Allen County, Kansas to Benjamin Logan Wallis and Sophia McCool.

Married Gertrude Susan Goldsmith in 1910 in Sapulpa, Creek County, Oklahoma.

        They lived on various oil leases in Oklahoma and Louisiana before settling in El Dorado, Union County, Arkansas in 1928, where they lived until their deaths, Gertrude passing in 1943, C.B. in 1962. 

Ralph David Wallis (1926–2013)

        Ralph David Wallis was born in 1926 in Homer, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana to Charles Bertram Wallis and Gertrude Susan Goldsmith.  

        Married Margaret Ella “Peggy” Nolen in 1945 in Sand Springs, Tulsa County, Oklahoma.

Raised their family in Bartlesville, Washington County, Oklahoma and Bentonville, Benton County, Arkansas.

Moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2011 to be near their daughter, Libby. They both passed away in Tulsa, Ralph in 2013, Peggy in 2017.

This migration path spans centuries and generations, from Virginia to the Midwest and beyond. Each move was shaped by opportunity, circumstance, and the enduring spirit of those who came before me.

Final Thoughts

The story of Henry Woodward and Sarah Shelton is a tale of survival, service, and legacy. Their journey to America, military sacrifice, and westward expansion through their descendants reflect the larger movement of families seeking new opportunities.

What started with a kiss on a ship led to generations of migration, each chapter adding to the story that ultimately led to me.