Woodfork Genealogy

William Woolfolk and Louisa Shakespeare

William Woolfolk was born March 31, 1833 in Virginia (probably Spotsylvania County). He married Louisa Shakespeare in August 1856. Louisa was the daughter of Sancho and Lucinda Shakespeare of Spotsylvania County, VA.

The 1870 census for the Madison Township of Caroline County, VA shows William and Louisa living near the Central Point Post Office. Many of the Shakepeare's are living nearby. In addition to William and Louisa, there is one other family with the Woolfolk surname living in the Madison Township of Caroline County in 1870: Peach (Pechegru) and Martha Woolfolk. A 1866 Freedmen Bureau document indicates Rachel Ferris was the last slaveowner of Peach (Pechegru) and Martha Woolfolk. I believe Rachel’s last name may have been Farish (not Ferris). Rachel Keeling Rowe of Fredericksburg, VA became the third wife of Charles T. Farish when they married on October 16, 1859.

An 1872 death record for William and Louisa's infant daughter indicates the child was born and died at "North Point" Caroline County, VA. I have learned that North Point was a plantation located in Page, Caroline County, VA and was owned by Stevens Farish and his descendants. Steven’s son, Charles T. Farish, owned the property from 1801 until his death in 1863 during the Civil War. Charles’s daughter, Lucy Farish was living on the property in the 1870’s.

Since many slaves continued to live on their former slaveowner property and work as sharecroppers shortly after the end of the Civil War, I have a theory that Charles T. Farish or Rachel Keeling Rowe may have been William and Louisa’s last slaveowner. I am still trying to locate information to clarify this matter. I am currently in search of the will or estate papers for Charles T. Farish.

At some point between 1870 and 1880, William and Louisa moved to the Port Royal District of Caroline County,VA. There children and their families also moved to Port Royal, VA where they remained for many decades and often lived next each other.

William Woolfolk died at the age of 55 on Decemeber 10, 1887 in Caroline County, VA as the result of Heart Disease. Louisa Woolfolk died on Wednesday, December 8, 1920 in Caroline County, VA at 4:30AM from "old age". She was buried near Mica, Caroline County, VA on December 9, 1920. (Letter regarding Louisa Woolfolk's death.)

William and Louisa had six children: Eliza, Overton, Susan, Emma, William and Lucy Jane.

• Eliza/Mary Eliza Woolfolk (10/28/1854 - ??)
  

  Eliza/Mary Eliza was born October 28, 1854. I have not found much information about her, including any definitive information that she is William and Louisa’s daughter. She is located in the 1870 census with William and Louisa; however the 1870 census does not list the relationship of each individual to the head of household. There is an entry in a family bible for a Mary Eliza Woodfork who was born October 28, 1854; but once again the family relationship is not stated. I am not sure if Eliza and Mary Eliza are the same person. Eliza/Mary Eliza is one of my genealogy puzzles that I am currently trying to solve.

• Overton Roy Woolfolk/Woodfork (07/08/1858 - 01/07/1933)

  Overton Roy Woolfolk was born on July 8, 1858 in Virginia (probably Spotsylvania County). By 1880, he had left home and lived in the Pine Top District of Middlesex County with several men who worked in a fish factory. One of these men was Reuben Hawkins who was probably Emma Woolfolk Hawkins brother-in-law. I am not located any information on Overton in the late 1800's until the 1890's.  He appears in the Boyd’s District of Columbia Directory for the first time in 1994 where his surname is spelled  Woodfork.
  

• Susan Woolfolk (07/05/1865 - 12/03/1918)

  Susan Woolfolk was born on July 5, 1865 in Spotsylvania County, VA. She married Henry Waugh on August 19, 1886 in Caroline County, VA.

• Emma Woolfolk (07/5/1865 - ???)

  Emma Woolfolk was born July 5, 1865 in Caroline County, Virginia. Caroline County, VA about 1865. She married Barnett Hawkinson November 22, 1883 in Caroline County, VA.

• William "Willie" Woolfolk (08/29/1873 - 08/01/1965)

  William "Willie" Woolfolk was born August 29, 1873 in Spotsylvania, County, VA. He married Josephine Ellis on November 6, 1902 in Caroline County, VA.

• Lucy Jane Woolfolk was born October 20, 1875 in Caroline County, VA. She married Captain Ellis on January 23, 1896 in Caroline County, VA.