Henry Ogden b abt 1745; MD > VA abt 1790
It's been almost 2 years since the last great volley of info on this Henry Ogden. I'd like to "poll" the Forum again for all interested parties to check-in and see if we can update, share new info, or retract any old (wrong) info on the possible origins of this Henry. I’ll start by re-hashing his basic info, at least as I have it, and then listing some newly found info. Henry was b about 1745. I’ve seen dates listed from 1740-1760 but obit in Lynchburg VA paper (supplied by Larry Ogden) seems pretty convincing: lists date of death as Sep 13 1838, age 93. If correct, this pegs his year of birth at 1744-1745 (depending on whether b before or after Sep 13).
SOME OLD INFORMATION: The single most complete accounting of this Henry was made by Margaret Leonard Windham (of Albuquerque, NM) in 1992 (“Henry Ogden and Some of his Descendants”). Only info on any wife of Henry is Nancy. This comes from info in son James’ will, written in 1829 and proved in 1835, naming Nancy as his mother. I’ve seen Nancy’s dob listed as bet 1750-1760 and d of death as bet 1827-1835. She is presumed with some certainty to have d prior to May 1836 when Henry made his will (and she is not mentioned). From the spread in dates of children attributed to Henry (ca 1768-1804), it seems possible to me that Henry may have been married more than once or that some children attributed to him may not be correct (more later). Anyway, children generally attributed to Henry (and Nancy) are: Aquilla (b ca 1768, d 1846 in KY); William W. (b ca 1771 in MD, d 1856 in KY); James (b ca 1780, d 1835); Benjamin (b ca 1784, d abt 1846); John (b ca 1785, d abt 1866); Minty (b 1789 in MD, d 1857 in KY); Allison (b ca 1789, d abt 1871 in Amherst Co VA); Henry M. (b ca 1793, d 1888 in Bedford Co VA); Elijah (b ca 1794 in MD, d 1885 in Bedford Co VA); Zachariah (b ca 1804 in Amherst Co VA, d abt 1843 in Bedford Co VA); Ann; and Mary/Polly.
SOME NEW INFORMATION: Many have presumed Henry was b in MD but I am not aware of any proof of that. He was living in Charles Co MD between 1778 and 1783. In original records of the Charles County Court (located in the MD State Archives), I have found Henry listed (as Henry Ogdon) along with William Ogdon as residents of Bryan Town Hundred (p 639 of Mar 1778 Court). Later in the same book, Henry and William are listed as taking the Oath of Fidelity (oath not to support Great Britain and to support State of MD, at p 651). Again, as earlier, Henry Ogdon and (now) Wm Ogdon Sr are listed in consecutive order (suggesting to me that they traveled together to the courthouse on two separate occasions, hinting they are at least neighbors and quite possibly close kin). They both made their mark on 17 Mar 1778. This suggests to me that Henry could not write; however, many names in the Court records have no mark, some have crude marks (such as X). Henry’s mark is sort of an elaborate block H; William’s mark is an almost cursive W). Obviously, individual citizens did not sign the book since the handwriting of all the names on a given date is the same (presumably the clerk). Any historians out there who can offer opinions on the marks? It strikes me as possible at least that some folks who could write may have made their mark (much like we use initials today).
Henry and William Ogdon (along with Jonathan Ogdon) are also listed in the Charles Co Tax List of 1783 in the 4th District. The name of Henry’s land was listed (as best as I could make out, with missing letters) “Haitgra _ _ _ Venture”. Size of the property was 312 acres; 40 arable and 272 wooded. Improvements listed as small dwelling and tobacco house. Jonathan and William are listed in that order following Henry; they have no land attributed to them (again suggesting proximity to Henry). Other info from this 1783 tax list on Henry is: no slaves (which appears odd for a farm of 312 acres, compared to other listings); 2 horses; 4 cattle; and 8 listed as the number of white inhabitants (large family). Jonathan Ogdon is listed with no slaves and 8 white inhabitants (along with some cattle and horses); William Ogdon has only 2 white inhabitants listed (no other property at all listed).
SOME MORE OLD INFORMATION: Exactly when (and why) Henry and family left Charles Co MD for VA is unknown. The last record of Henry in MD that I am aware of is the 1783 tax list (above). Margaret Windham shows a Henry Ogden in Loudon Co VA in 1786. In 1789, he was charged for two male tithes; himself and Aquilla. In 1790, neither Henry nor Aquilla are listed but both were listed again in 1791. Aquilla was not listed in 1792-93 but in both years William was listed with Henry as being over 21 years old. From 1794-1797, only Henry is listed. Henry and Aquilla are listed in Fairfax Co VA for 1798 with four white males over 16 attributed to Henry and one for Aquilla. The personal property tax list for 1800 in Amherst Co VA lists Henry, Aquilla, and William Ogden. Henry is listed with four white tithes, while Aquilla and William each had one. There is more info (not recited here) on Henry Ogden in Amherst and Bedford Co VA since then.
NOW FOR SOME SPECULATION: For several reasons, including the spread in age of Henry’s listed children, the proximity of William to Henry in Charles Co., the fact that children Aquilla and William did not stay with Henry after he settled in Amherst Co VA (they went on to KY), I am wondering if these first two children of Henry (Aquilla and William) might NOT be Henry’s children (possibly children of Charles Co MD neighbor William). Another possibility is that Henry, William, and Aquilla might be brothers, all sons of the Wm Sr of Charles Co MD. The proximity of the William and Henry in Charles Co MD records makes me think they were kin; possibly brothers. While there is no record of which I am aware that suggests what Henry’s middle name is, there is an extensive usage of William and Henry in many generations down from Henry. For example, the original Henry is believed to have sons named William and Henry. Among this Henry’s offspring, the following observations can be made. Aquilla had a son with Henry as middle name. William had sons William and Henry. James had no children. John, Benjamin, and Minty used neither name. Allison had a son William. Henry had a son Henry. Elijah and Zachariah each had a son William Henry (I descend through Zachariah’s son William Henry Ogden).
Please, to all interested researchers, add, subtract, debate, and/or discuss any/all of this info. Many folks have given up on finding the origins of the original Henry. However, I remain hopeful that the “missing link” is still out there to be found. Comments anyone??
Mike Ogden
(also posted in "Ogden" and "Charles Co MD" forums)