Granville

Granville Co., NC

In 1771, Daniel, Joseph, and Benjamin Goodman were listed on the roll of Capt. William Williams, of the Granville County (NC) Militia. Also in this Company were: Ensign Joseph Williams, Sergeant Daniel Williams, and soldiers Simon Williams, Francis Williams, and Peter Williams. That Company was part of Col. Richard Henderson's regiment, of the same county. The roll of Col. Henderson's HQ Company included John Hart, sergeant, and William Hart, soldier. Col. Richard Henderson was the son of Thomas Henderson. The Goodman, Henderson, Williams and Hart families all came to Granville Co. from Hanover and Goochland Co., VA. about the same time, ca 1755 (Tennessee Cousins, p. 408-409).

In his will, probated in 1759 in Granville Co., Daniel Williams lists his children, including daughter's married name, "Maria (or Marya) Goodman". Maria was born about 1730, probably in Hanover Co., VA. Her husband was Benjamin Goodman, son of Samuel Goodman of New Kent Co., VA., later Hanover Co. This Benjamin Goodman was b. ca. 1728 in Hanover Co., VA, and was the son of the Samuel Goodman b. 1701, of New Kent / Hanover Co. He was probably also the brother of Charles Goodman of Hanover Co. who later resided in Albemarle Co., VA. Benjamin Goodman was mentioned in the will of Daniel Williams, recorded in Granville Co., NC, which granted his son-in-law 100 acres in Granville Co. The Daniel Goodman that was at Boonesborough was probably a son of Benjamin, and was probably the same Daniel Goodman who was on the 1771 Granville Co. Militia roll. This Benjamin Goodman was killed at the battle of Hayes Station, SC, along with two of his Williams brothers in law.

John Williams, another of the Transylvania Company Proprietors, was the brother of Maria Williams. In 1715, a John Williams appraised the estate of William Goodman, who died in Isle of Wight County, VA. This was probably the same John Williams of New Kent/Hanover County, VA, who was married to Mary Keeling, the sister of Ursula Keeling, Maria’s grandmother. This John Williams was also the brother of Maria’s father Daniel Williams. Col. James Williams, another of Maria’s brothers, was a famous and distinguished hero of the battle of King’s Mountain, one of the last big battles of the Revolutionary War, where he was killed.

The early residences of the Henderson and Williams families in St. Peter’s Parish of New Kent and its progeny county, Hanover, and later residence in Goochland Co. VA, and later Granville Co., NC, leads me to firmly believe that Benjamin and Isaac Goodman were related to the line of Samuel Goodman, also of New Kent Co. This seems to be conclusive evidence that Daniel Goodman was a member of Henderson and Hart families, as they followed Daniel Boone over the new Wilderness Road to KY.