Wood & Torbert Families - Willis Breazeal Wood

Willis Breazeal Wood

b. 12 December 1826, d. 15 December 1854

Father: Green Wood b. 31 January 1792, d. 12 February 1866
Mother: Evelina Alexander Barnes b. 23 October 1806, d. 2 April 1888

Willis Breazeal Wood was born on 12 December 1826 in Montgomery County, Alabama.
Green Wood and Evelina Alexander Barnes appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1830 in Montgomery County, Alabama. Other (counted but unnamed) members of the household apparently included Willis Breazeal Wood, Green Mark Wood and Solomon Eason Wood. Also in the household were forty-two slaves, nine of whom were under age ten and two age fifty-five and older.
Mary Wood Mitchell wrote on 14 January 1839, in a letter to her niece Elizabeth Green Wood Powell, "I have not received a letter from any of your father,s family since I received yours by Willis. . . . When you come here dont make us a flying visit as Willis & Sally did. All of us regretted seeing so little of them. Thos M.. would have gone to Tuskegee or Montgomery to see Willis but was not well enough."
Green Wood and Evelina Alexander Barnes appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1840 in Montgomery County, Alabama. Other (counted but unnamed) members of the household apparently included Willis Breazeal Wood, Green Mark Wood, William Barnes Wood, Joshua Wood and Elizabeth Green Wood. Also in the household were eighty-eight slaves, thirty-one of whom were under age ten.
He married Sarah Anne Harris, daughter of Peter Coffee Harris and Narcissa Ann Hooks, on 26 May 1846 in Macon County, Alabama.
Green Wood recorded: (in February 1850 in his first Texas plantation daily account book) "Started my waggons under the Care of Green M. Wood & Willis B. Wood for Texas on the 6th day of December 1849, 3 large waggons with 6 mules each, two waggons with 4 each, and one with two mares. Lost by cholria after crossing the Mississippi 13 Negros in the month of January 1850 viz Little Sam, Dave, Warren, Toby, Young Bill, Neptune, Turner, Harry, Alesey, Darcas, Pleasants youngest child Butler, Patseys child Flora & Ferabas child Elbert. [H]ad to camp for four weeks, did not arrive at my place near Danville, Montgomery County, Texas, untill the 3rd of February, 1850 & left three large waggons near Naches river & Guilford & his Family, 15 in all. Did not get them home untill the 10th of March, Got Adams Family & Leanty home from Houston on the 20th March."
On Monday, 4 March 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Willis B. Wood Started to Naches river after Guilford & Family & Edmon & Tom with 6 mules," and on Saturday, the 9th, "Willis B. Wood returned home, rode from the Trinity river after 12 oclock, the Waggon got Back the next day night."
On Monday, 4 March 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Willis B. Wood Started to Naches river after Guilford & Family & Edmon
& Tom with 6 mules." And on Sunday, the 17th, "Guilford and his family got home."
On Tuesday, 9 April 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Willis B. Wood started this morning at 4 oclock to Houston to meet his wife," and on Tuesday, the 16th, "Sent this morning the carriage & Little waggon for Willis & Family to Montgomery, they got home this evening."
On Saturday, 12 May 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Willis B. & Wm B. Wood went to Sanjacinto to Get Jim & Mules & waggon home. Jim could not cross Adkins creek & did not get home [because of high river].".
Willis Breazeal Wood and Sarah Anne Harris appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Montgomery County, Texas, living next door to Green Wood.. Other members of the household included Eliza Stocks Wood, Charles Harris Wood and Willis Eason Wood.
On Monday, 10 June 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Willis B. Wood went to Montgomery."
On Sunday, 30 June 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Green M. Wood & wife & children & Willis B. Wood wife children & Duncan G. Campbell all Dined with us to day at the new place."
He was a farmer, according to the 1850 census.
On Sunday, 7 July 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Willis & family to dinner, no other company."
On Thursday, 8 August 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "W. B. Wood & Green went to Colonel Carothers to look at the thicket land."
On Sunday, 11 August 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Willis B. Wood returned from Colonel Caruthers this evening."
On Tuesday, 13 August 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: Mr Barnes got to W. B. Woods last night," and on Thursday, the 15th, "Wm B. Wood went home with Mr Barnes to hunt a screw Builder."
On Monday, 19 August 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Bob hawled a load of Boards & wood & water to Willis B. W."
On Thursday, 22 August 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Took down & hawled the corn crib from Danville to W. B. Wood's for cotton house & partly raised it. Most of the men at that work."
On Sunday, 8 September 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "A very pleasant day. Green & Willis & their Familys Spent the day here."
On Sunday, 22 September 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "A beautiful day, all in fine health. Mr & Mrs Carothers, Green & Wife & Willis & wife & all their Children & Mr Powell spent the day with us."
On Monday, 7 October 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Four hands moving cribs at Willis Wood's," and on the following day, "Four hands at W. Wood's moving cribs &c."
On Saturday, 12 October 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Some hands at W. B. Wood's," the same notation on Monday, the 14th, and on Thursday, the 17th, "4 hands at W. B. Wood's & the waggon."
On Monday, 18 October 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Gave Mr R. M. Powell an order on Rice & Nichols for $24 for Willis B. Wood."
On Tuesday, 22 October 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Sent two hands to Mr Arnett's to work on Mill dam & two to W. B. Wood's," and also on the following day, "Sent two hands to Mr Arnet & two to W. B. Wood's." And again, on Saturday, the 26th, "Two hands at W. Wood's."
On Monday, 28 October 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Gave Mr. R. M. Powell an order on Rice & Nichols for $24 for Willis B. Wood."
On Tuesday, 29 October 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Two hands still at W. Wood's."
On Sunday, 3 November 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "G. M. & W. B. Wood & their familey's with us & some Gentlemen from Grimes County."
On Wednesday, 5 November 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "W. B. Wood & Mr Potts returned from the thickett."
On Sunday, 10 November 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Plesant day, all dined with Willis B. Wood."
On Tuesday, 12 November 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Hawled home 4 Loads of corn & 6 Loads to Willis B. Wood's crib," on Thursday, the 14th, "Hawling from Carothers field, 4 Loads to W. B. Wood and 2 loads to my crib," and on the following day, "Hawled corn from Carothers place, 4 Loads to Willis Wood's crib & two to my place, dug the potatoes at Willis Wood's."
On Sunday, 15 December 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Mr. Peter C. Harris of Alabama got out to W B. Wood's to Dinner."
On Wednesday, 25 December 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Mr. J. Abercrombie and Family and W. B. Wood and Family and Mr. Peter C. Harris to dinner with us."
On Sunday, 2 February 1851, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "John C. Abercrombie and Willis B. Wood went to Montgomery and returned this evening wet and cold."
On Saturday, 3 May 1851, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Mrs. Abercrombie spent the week with us. " And on the following day, "Had Mrs. & Mr. Abercrombie, Mrs & Mr [Thomas] Carothers, G. M. Wood and family and Willis B. Wood to dinner with us. Mr. A. and family returned home this evening." Noted above entry: "Paid Abercrombie 1 Barrel flour and 1 of pork, due him 1 Barrel pork yet."
On Sunday, 8 June 1851, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "G. M. Wood's family and Willis Wood and family spent last night and today with us, also Doctor Harris and J. R. Brown."
By deed dated 5 September 1851 in Walker County, Texas, Thomas Carothers of Walker County sold to Peter Coffee Harris of Macon County, Alabama, 892 acres of land for the sum of $2,676. Witnessed by William B. Wood and Sam F. Spiller, recorded 17 September 1851.
On 5 April 1852, Harris sold the same property (described as 880 acres more or less) on Winters bayou to his son-in-law Willis Breazeal Wood for the sum of $5,000. Recorded in Walker County 23 June 1852.
On Monday, 22 September 1851, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Sent five hands with Willis Wood to gather corn at P. C. Harris plantation."
On Saturday, 18 October 1851, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "W. B. Wood & Wife & Lizzie started to Houston."
By deed dated 3 January 1852 in Walker County, Texas, Thomas Carothers of Walker County sold to Willis Breazeal Wood of Montgomery County, Texas, a 480-acre tract of land, part of the Donation Claim of James F. Winters, for the sum of $1,380. Witnessed by William S. Harris and Sam'l Landrum, recorded 30 November 1852.
By deed dated 5 April 1852 Peter Coffee Harris of Macon County, Alabama, sold to his son-in-law Willis Breazeal Wood of Montgomery County, Texas, a tract of land for the sum of $5,000, described as 880 acres more or less, on Winters bayou, known as the Henderson tract of land, purchased the preceding year from Thomas Carothers. Recorded 23 June 1852.
On Friday, 15 April 1852, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Willis B. W. went down to the Boat with my waggon and his after Groceries, below McNeese's."
By deed dated 5 July 1852 in Walker County, Texas, Willis Breazeal Wood sold to Hamlin Freeman Lewis an 892-acre tract of land for the sum of $4,460, to be divided into three equal installments, the first of which ($1,486-2/3) was paid on 12 January 1853, the second and third due on the first day of January 1854 and 1855.
As set forth by Willis B. Wood in a deed dated 23 February 1854, acknowledging the death of Hamlin Lewis, payment schedule was revised making the as yet unpaid second payment due at the time of the third payment, 1 January 1855, from the Estate of Hamlin Freeman Lewis, represented by his widow Mary M. Lewis. [Some additional language at the end of the deed referring to other individuals and financial aspects render the details of the transaction unclear.] Witnessed by S. B. Mayfield and S. Tarpley, notary public Charles B. Stewart, recorded 22 February 1855.
On Monday, 5 July 1852, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Confirmed to day a Sale to Hamlin F.Lewis & Robert Scott by Doctor J. E. Scott of Harris & Wood Tract of Land for Willis B. Wood, 1,352 Acres at $5 per Acre, 1/3 this January & the balance at one & two years with interest."
On Wednesday, 18 August 1852, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Packed 3 Bales cotton for Willis Wood, Balance left 210 lb. Gined & packed two Bales cotton for Mr Powell by adding the Balance left of Willis Wood & 40 lb left of Mr Powell's."
On Monday, 23 August 1852, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Mr Powell & Lizzie started this morning to Cincinnati Ohio," and on the same day, "Sent by Robert L. Wood to Wm M. Rice &c 3 Bales cotton for Willis Wood No. 1,2,3 7 2 for Mr. Powell No. 1,2."
On Saturday, 2 April 1853, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Sent seven hands to Willis W. to raise Gin house."
By deed dated 23 February 1854 in Walker County, Texas, Willis Breazeal Wood sold to the Estate of Hamlin Freeman Lewis represented by his widow Mary M. Lewis, a 460-acre tract of land, part of the Donation Claim James F. Winters purchased from Thomas Carothers, for the sum of $2,300. Witnessed by S. B. Mayfield and S. Tarpley, notary public Charles B. Stewart, recorded 20 February 1855.
Willis Breazeal Wood died on 15 December 1854 at age 28 in Montgomery County, Texas, at Greenwood plantation of pneumonia.
His wife Sarah Anne Harris became a widow at his death.
He was interred at the Green Wood family cemetery, Montgomery County, Texas.

Last Edited: 12 Nov 2015

Charts: Descendants of ABERCROMBIE Charles & Edwina Malinda "Dicey" Booth, Descendants of WOOD William & Lydia Ballentine

Family: Sarah Anne Harris b. 2 September 1828, d. 28 October 1867

Eliza Stocks Wood b. circa 31 January 1847, d. 29 May 1910
Charles Harris Wood+ b. 21 May 1848, d. 19 August 1881
Willis Eason Wood b. 2 September 1849, d. 28 January 1890
Elizabeth Ames Wood+ b. 19 February 1851, d. 29 March 1918
Powell Wood+ b. 23 August 1853, d. 2 July 1919