JOHN WOFFORD Sr was born about 1731 in Prince Georges County, Maryland, the son of ABSOLOM WOFFORD & SARAH HOSEY/HUSSEY. They were said to have had five sons who migrated from Maryland through Virginia and North Carolina, to eventually settle in the mid-1700s in Anson/Tryon County, North Carolina, which part eventually became the 96th District of South Carolina and then, in 1785, Spartanburg, South Carolina.
The portion of Prince George's County, Maryland where the WOFFORDs lived became part of Frederick County in 1748, and JOHN WOFFORD Sr can be found in tax lists, courts records and land deeds in that location. After 20 years of searching, I have yet to find any records at all for his parents, who, according to family legend, died in Rock Creek, Frederick County, Maryland.
JOHN WOFFORD Sr married ELEANOR in about 1760 in Frederick County, Maryland. It has been postulated that her surname was BUSHROD--but there is really no evidence of any kind to support this as her maiden name.
By 1770, one of JOHN's four brothers, WILLIAM WOFFORD, had migrated to Anson/Tryon County, North Carolina, and another brother, JOSEPH WOFFORD, can be found in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. More research needs to be done, but it seems highly likely JOHN followed the same path.
While I do not have an exact date for JOHN's arrival in the area that would become Spartanburg, South Carolina, it is known that he purchased 300 acres of land from JEREMIAH BENNETT on 8 July 1774, a transaction which is referenced in land deeds from Spartanburg, dated 1797.
JOHN WOFFORD Sr served as an enlisted man, rank of Pvt, in the 6th Carolina Regiment (SC) of the Continental Army. He enlisted for a three month period, June 1, 1778-Sept 11, 1778, serving in Capt JOHN BUCHANAN's Company of Lt Col WILLIAM HENDERSON's Regiment, during the ill-fated Third Florida Expedition. JOHN's brother WILLIAM WOFFORD and one of his nephews ABSOLOM WOFFORD also served in the 6th Carolina (SC) under Lt Col WILLIAM HENDERSON, during the Third Florida Expedition. WILLIAM WOFFORD later attained the rank of Lt Colonel in the Continental Army. JOHN's brothers Capt JAMES WOFFORD and Capt JOSEPH WOFFORD also served in the Revolutionary War, but in different regiments and companies. A fourth brother, BENJAMIN WOFFORD, was a Tory and did not join the rebellion.
The Florida Expedition was a series of attempts by the Continental Army to invade British East Florida and capture St Augustine. The expedition on 30 June 1778, under General Howe, was the third attempt--which failed after a skirmish at Alligator Creek Bridge. British control of Florida remained intact throughout the remainder of the war.
JOHN WOFFORD did not re-enlist, and returned to civilian life in Spartanburg. He can be found on many court records, often listed as a juror in the 1780s & 1790s. He may have served as a Constable in Spartanburg sometime before 1800 (unverified by me).
According to "The History of Spartanburg, South Carolina" by Dr J B O Landrum, JOHN WOFFORD Sr & ELEANOR had eleven children, five sons and six daughters. His will, written in 1808 in Spartanburg, names only his youngest sons ISAAC & WILLIAM, and two slaves CYRUS & TEMPEY. The will goes on to state: "And in respect of the rest of my children, I have given them and each of them in my lifetime what I designed to give them."
JOHN WOFFORD Sr died in 1813 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. I have not been able to find his gravestone.
JOHN WOFFORD Sr is in the lineage of my paternal grandmother MINTTIE MAE BRUTON HUBER
Sources:
-DAR Patriot Index
-The History of Spartanburg, South Carolina by Dr JBO Landrum
-Spartanburg South Carolina Minutes of the County Court 1785-1799 by Brent Holcomb
-Spartanburg County/District South Carolina Deed Abstracts Books A-T 1785-1827 by Albert Bruce Pruitt
-This Was the Life: Excerpts From Judgement Records of Frederick Co Maryland 1748-1765 by Millard Milburn Rice
Have a great day--And Happy New Year!
Betty
© Betty Tartas 2026
