Cloyd Family

Cloyd Family

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HUSBAND – David Cloyd & WIFE -Margaret Campbell

In the early 1700’s, David Cloyd purchased a tract of land in present day Delaware from Letitia Aubrey, a daughter of William Penn. He stayed there until 1733. After moving around for about 12 years, in 1745 he bought 400 acres from John Buchanan in Orange Co., VA, (later Augusta Co., VA). Another source says in 1748 he purchased 400 acres at Rockbridge, VA, on a branch of the James River called Persimmon Branch. This land is now located in the Fincastle area in the town of Amsterdam, VA.

In 1764, Indians raided his house and killed his wife, Margaret (Campbell), and a son, John. (Refer to Section Two of “Genealogy of the Cloyd, Bayse, & Tapp Families” by Dr. Augustus David Cloyd, for information on David’s family.)

It is presumed that David is buried in the High Bridge cemetery where other members of the family are buried.

WILL OF DAVID CLOYD

In the Name of God Amen, I, David Cloyd of the Parish and County of Rockbridge and State of Virginia. Being in perfect health and of sound mind and memory Blessed be God for the same, but calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Die do make and publish this my last will and Testament, First I recommend my Soul to god who Gave it in all humble hopes of mercy and eternal happiness through the merits and mediations of my Blessed Redeemer and my body I resign to the earth to be Buried in a Cristian [sic] like and Decent Manner at the Discretion of my Executors not Doubting but I shall receive the same again at the general Resurrection by the mighty power of god And as touching such wordly [sic] Estate Which it has pleased god to bless me with in this life I desire and dispose of the same in the following manner and form First is my will that all my Just Debts and funeral Charges be paid I give and bequath [sic] to each of my children the sum of two pounds to be levied out of my Estate I also Give to my Oldest Son James Cloyds Oldest Son David Cloyd the sum of sixty pounds lawful money of Virginia to be levied out of my Estate to be put to Interest till he comes of age and likewise I give to Each of his other Children now born the sum of Twelve pounds like money Except Sally and to be under the same Retructions [sic] and if any of them Should Should [sic] die before the come of age their part to be equally divided Between the Survivors. I also give to my Second Son David Cloyds oldest son David Cloyd the sum of Thirty pounds lawful money of Virginia to be levied out of my Estate to be put to interest till he comes of age and likewise I give to each of his other Three Sons the sum of Twenty pounds each lawful Money and to each of his five Daughters twelve pounds and if any of them should should [sic] die before the come of age their part to be equally Divided between the Survivors and to be under the same restructions [sic) as before mentioned I also give to my third Son Michal Cloyds Eight Sons Twenty pounds to Each of them like money and if any of them should Die before the come of age his part to go to the Survivors and to be under the same restrictions before mentioned And likewise to his Daughter Betsey the sum of twelve pounds like lawful Money I also give to my Oldest Daughter Elizabeth McDowells Son James the sum of Twenty pounds like lawful money I also give to my second Daughter Margaret Templetons Two Sons David and James Templeton the sum of Twenty pounds Each like lawful money and if any of them should die before the come of age his part to go to the Survivors and to be under the same Restructions [sic] before mentioned I also give what household furniture and my Cloths that I have after my Burial to my three Executors Michal Cloyd and David Cloyd and David Templeton and as my Estate at my Death will Chiefly consist in out Standing Debts I desire my Executors to get Sufficient security for any debt which my appear in the least Doubtful and if the whole amount of my personal Estate will not be sufficient to pay all my above named Legices [sic] I desire that each legatee may lose a like and if there be any overplush [sic] after paying all my said Legacies I desire that each legatee may share alike & that such shares shall be under the same Circumstances [sic] and restructions [sic] as the Legatees & whereas there
may be debts due from some of my Legatees to my Estate at my Death I do declare that by giving a Legacy I do not mean to Disolve [sic] such from any debt due to me. I Do appoint my son Michal Cloyd and David Cloyd Deceast [sic] his oldest Son David Cloyd and David Templeton Executors of this my last will and Testament and do request that the would take upon them the Burthen of the Execution thereof and I do thereby Revoke and disanul [sic] all other and fanner Wills and declare this my only true last Will and Testament In Witness Whereof have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this Twenty First day of August in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety.”

Signed, David Cloyd.

A leather pocket book owned by David Cloyd and brought by him from Ireland was in the possession of the family of Mrs. Sophia Cloyd Swihart of Pueblo County, Ohio, in 1898.

WIFE – Margaret Campbell

In 1764 ,a party of Indians raided the house of David Cloyd near Amsterdam in Botetourt County, killing his wife, Margaret Cloyd, and son, John. An account of this massacre is given in Waddel’s “Annals of Augusta County,” written in 1843 by Mrs. Letitia Floyd, wife of Gov. Floyd and daughter of Col. Wm. Preston:

“One day in March 1764 when Col. Win. Preston had gone to Staunton, Mrs. Preston early in the morning heard two gun shots in quick succession in the direction of David Cloyd’s house half a mile distant. Presently Joseph Cloyd rode up on a plow horse and related that the Indians had killed his brother John, had Shot at him (the powder burning his shirt) and having gone to the house had probably killed his mother. Mrs. Preston immediately sent a young man to notify the garrison of a small fort on Craig’s Creek and then dispatched a white man and two Negroes to Mr. Cloyd’s. They found Mrs. Cloyd tomahawked in three places but still alive, and conscious. She told of the assault by the Indians, of their getting drunk, ripping up the feather beds and carrying off the money. One of the Indians wiped the blood from her temples with a corn cob saying ‘Poor old woman.’ She died the next morning.”

The papers in a law suit in Augusta County in 1766 throw some light on the Indian invasion and the robbery of David Cloyd’s house. The Indians carried away over 200 pounds of English money. They were pursued by a party of militia, one of them killed on John’s Creek, 30 miles or more from the scene of the massacre and robbery. One hundred and thirty seven pounds were found on the body of the dead Indian. A dispute arose among the militia as to whether the money belonged to them or to Cloyd. The money was finally distributed among them, all of whom except one, James.

Margaret Campbell

Child 1 – James Cloyd

James was a private in the Augusta Co., VA, Militia in 1758.

Child 3 – Michael Cloyd

Michael lived at Amsterdam, Botetourt Co., VA.

Child 4 – John Cloyd

John was killed in the same Indian attach as his mother. John’s estate was administered by his brother James.

Child 5 – Elizabeth Cloyd

Both Elizabeth & James are buried in the McDowell cemetery near Natural Bridge, VA

Child 8 – Col. Joseph Cloyd

Joseph moved to Back Creek, Montgomery Co., VA, (later Pulaski Co.) about 1774 to live. The story is that Mary Gordon agreed to marry Joseph and live on the wild frontier when he promised her that he would see to it that a brick Presbyterian Church would be built in the vicinity of their home. The New Dublin Presbyterian Church is the fulfillment of that promise.

One of the finest old homes in Southwest Virginia is still standing and in good condition. It is the one built by Joseph Cloyd in 1794 on the Back Creek property. (from Word Sketches of some of her relatives by Mary Cloyd Kent Withers.)

During the Revolution, Joseph Cloyd was Major of Montgomery County Militia and field commander under Colonel William Preston and took part in several battles fought in North Carolina, the battle of Guilford Court House being one.

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