Thomas Moody



This information is contributed by Fredric Z. Saunders



Thomas Moody was born about 1710, possibly in Ireland. His wife first wife was Jean McCUISTON.(1) His second wife was Mary. Thomas MOODY was deceased by the 3rd Monday 1784 when at the Guilford Co., NC Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions administration on his estate was granted to the widow and relict, Mary MOODY. James McCUISTION signed as bondsman. On 1 May 1784 the NC legislature recorded that they "Received from his Excellancy the Governor, the following message: To the Honourable the General Assembly: Gentlemen: I lay before you a Petition from the widow of Thomas MOODY deceased praying a gratuity, & c. You have also herewith a Recommendatory letter from General Greene and on the Subject. Alex Martin At the same time received the letter and Petition referred to in the above message, which being read, were referred to the Committee of Propositions and Grievances."(2) The letter from General Nathaniel Greene stated:(3) Halifax Septemr 2d 1783 Sir The bearer of this Thomas Moody, an old Gentleman represents his great sufferings by the enemy when they were in the neighborhood of Guilford. He was in our army in that action & piloted the Artillery, & no doubt was mcuh exposed. If anything can be done for him in his distressed situation, it will be relieving the unfortunate & rewarding the fidelity of an honest old man. Your Excellancy is the best judge of the probability of interesting the assembly in his affairs and will advise the old Gentleman accordingly. I shall be happy if anything I can say will promote his wishes, as I believe him to be an object of public charity & meriting some attention. I have the honor to be, with great respect Your Excellancys most obedient humble servant NathGreene On 14 May 1784 "Mr. Butler, from the Committee of Propostions and Grievances reported as follows on the Petition of Mary Moody, vizt.: Read the Petition of Mary Moody for means and support and are of the opinion that the said petition be rejected, conceiving that it would come more properly before the Jurisdiction of the County Court or County Wardens. John Butler, Ch. The House taking the said report into consideration, came to the following resolution, vizt.: On reading the report of the Committee of Propositions and Grievance, upon the Petition of Mary Moody, whereby the Committee have recommended that her Petition be rejected. Resolved, That this report be rejected; that the Treasurers or either of them to pay the said Mary Moody the sum of fifty pounds out of any public monies towards the relief of herseld and her children, as a reward for the spirited adn extraordinary services of the husband of the said Mary in his lifetime rendered to this Country on a variety of occasions, and particularly a the battle of Guilford Court House in which he was engaged, he being then of the age of seventy years and upwards."(4) The widow Mary may have secondly married Robert SCOTT. Robert SCOTT wrote his will in Guilford County on 24 Apr. 1791 and it was probated in May 1791. He left to his wife Mary the house and lot whereon he lived in Martinsville, and a negro girl Patience, provided Mary doesn't remarry within tow years. Thomas MOODY he left 10 pounds, his saddle, and bridle.(5) Elizabeth MOODY, orphan, aged thirteen years, was bound in August 1794 to Ann McCUISTON, widow, until full age, and to give her one feather bed, cow and spinning wheel.(6) Ann McCUISTON was her 1/2 sister, a daughter of Thomas MOODY by his first wife Jean McCUISTON, and widow of Thomas McCUISTON. At the next court in November 1794, Thomas MOODY, son of Thomas MOODY, was bound to John [inkblot] for a term of five years to learn the trade of blacksmith.(7) Thomas MOODY b. ca. 1710; m. 1. Jean McCUISTON; children: 1. Ann MOODY b. 17 May 1732; m. Thomas McCUISTION 15 Sep. 1756; d. 19 Sep. 1819 Bedford Co., TN 2. Jean 3. Sarah 4. Elinor 5. Mary By his second wife Mary, Thomas MOODY had children: 1. ?(Nancy m. Thomas McMICHAEL 28 Jan. 1801)? 2. ?(Mary m. Thomas RANKIN 22 Nov. 1803)? 3. Thomas L. MOODY; b. ca. 1778; m. Thankful McCUISTON 3 Nov. 1802 4. Elizabeth b. ca. 1781

NOTES: (1) Leona Bean McQuiston, The McQuiston, McCuiston, and McQuesten Famalies 1620-1937, (Louisville, KY:The Standard Press, 1937) p. 331. (2) Walter Clark, Ed., The State Records of North Carolina, (Goldsboro, NC: Nash Brothers & Job Printers, 1901) Vol. XIX, p. 534. (3) North Carolina State Archives, G.P. 10 Alexander Martin, p. 43. Letter form Nathaniel Greene. (4) Clark, State Records, XIX, pp. 596-597. (5) "Will of Robert Scott" 24 Apr. 1791, Guilford Co., NC Will Bk. A, p. 337, as abstracted in Irene B. Webster, Guilford County, North Carolina Will Abstracts 1771-1841, by author, c. 1979, p. 55. (6) "Appointment of Guardian for Elizabeth Moody," August 1794, Guilford County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, 1788-1796 Book, Guilford Co., NC courthouse, FHL microfilm 501190. (7) "Thomas Moody bound to trade,"November 1794, Guilford County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, 1788-1796 Book, Guilford Co., NC courthouse, FHL microfilm 501190.




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