The Goad family
Sometime around the same time that Mikel Low was settling on Smokey Creek, a caravan arrived on the banks of New River, outside what we now know as Huntsville. This group included Revolutionary War veteran Abraham Goad, his son, Joshua Goad, his daughter, Anna, and her husband, Robert Lawson, his daughter, Mary, and her husband, Thomas Phillips, along with Thomas’s 15-year-old brother, Joseph Phillips.
Thomas and Joseph were the sons of Revolutionary War veteran Tobias Phillips, who did not make the move to Scott County. Upon arrival, Joseph married Elizabeth “Millie” Lawson, who was the daughter of Revolutionary War veteran Randolph Lawson. Randolph made the move to Scott County with two of his brothers who also fought in the Revolutionary War, David Lawson and John Lawson. (Robert Lawson, who married Mary Goad, may have also been a brother.) Randolph settled on Paint Rock Creek near where it empties into New River and was Abraham Goad’s neighbor.
Goad settled on New River between the mouth of Paint Rock Creek and where Brimstone Recreation’s campground is now located. The farm he created later became known as the Vanderpool Place.
See Also: The Scott County Lineage Project
Origins
Abraham Goad was born in Luneberg County, Va. on April 11, 1740. He was the son of John Goad (1700-1771) and Catherine Jennings (1703-1741). He married Ann Ayers (1740-1788) in 1764. They had at least five children: Elizabeth (1767-1850), Anna (1767-1850), Mary (1770-1840), Ayers (1780-1855) and Joshua (1786-1880). However, that number was likely far higher. Some sources cite at least 13 children being married to Abraham and Ann Ayers Goad. Other children may have included James Goad, Catherine Nester, Isham Goad, John Goad, Hiram Goad, Abraham Goad Jr., William Goad, Robert Goad, and Elizabeth Hughett.
Goad was the uncle of John Sevier, the first governor of Tennessee and the man for whom Sevierville is named. Sevier was the son of Goad’s sister, Joannah, who never moved from Virginia to Tennessee.
At least three of Goad’s five confirmed children made the trip to Tennessee with him: Joshua, Anna and Mary. Ayers wound up in Indiana. Joshua married Sarah Smiddy (born 1787). She was also a native of Virginia. It isn’t clear if they were married before the move to Tennessee, but it seems likely. Mary married Thomas Phillips (1768-1841) prior to the move to Tennessee. Anna married Robert Lawson (1774-1837) prior to the move to Tennessee. Much remains unknown about Robert and Anna Goad Lawson. It has traditionally been believed that Robert was the son of a William Lawson, who migrated to the American colonies from Europe. However, it should be noted that Randolph, David and John Lawson had a brother named Robert Lawson and this is very possibly the Robert Lawson who married Anna Goad. After all, militia records show that Randolph Lawson and Abraham Goad served in the Revolutionary War together, and a Robert Lawson also served in that group.
Dating the move
Abraham Goad was granted 100 acres of land in Anderson County, which Scott County was then a part of, in 1807. The deed noted that the land was located on the “Cumberland River.” A survey was made the following year, noting that it was on the north side of New River, “including the bend.” That was likely a reference to the unique “V” shape formed by New River as it curves around what is now known as the Vanderpool Farm.
It’s not clear that Randolph Lawson (and, possibly, his brothers) made the move to present-day Scott County with the Goad family. However, it seems possible, since Randolph Lawson was a neighbor of Abraham Goad near New River. It may be especially possible if the Robert Lawson who married Anna Goad is indeed Randolph’s brother. In the 1808 survey, one of the chainmen was listed as Randolph Lawson.
Online sources say that Abraham Goad’s wife, Ann Ayers, was buried at the Vanderpool Cemetery on Goad’s New River farm when she died in 1788, which would place their move to present-day Scott County much earlier. However, that is almost certainly inaccurate. Tax records in Virginia show that Goad did not make the move to Tennessee until sometime after 1802. Therefore, the timing can be reasonably dated between 1802 and 1807.
Family Tree
First Generation
Abraham Goad (1740-1816)
Born: April 11, 1740, Luneburg County, Va.
Parents: John Goad (1700-1771), Catherine Jennings (1703-1741).
Married: Ann Ayers (1764).
Children: Anna Lawson, Mary Phillips, Ayers Goad, Joshua Goad (and possibly others).
Died: 1816. Buried at Vanderpool Cemetery.
—
Ann Ayers (1742-1788)
Born: About 1742, Bedford County, Va.
Parents: Nathaniel Ayers (1700-1777), Rhoda Ayers.
Married: Abraham Goad (1764).
Children: Anna Lawson, Mary Phillips, Ayers Goad, Joshua Goad (possibly others).
Died: 1788. Buried at unknown location.
2nd Generation
Elizabeth Goad Hughett (1767-1850)
Did not move to Scott County.
—
Anna Goad Lawson (1768-1850)
Born: 1768, Bedford, Va.
Parents: Abraham Goad (1740-1816), Ann Ayers (1742-1788).
Married: Robert Lawson.
Children: Lucretia Thompson, Thomas Henry Lawson, Sophronia Jane Lawson, James Robert Lawson.
Died: 1850. Burial location unknown.
Robert Lawson (1762-1834)
Born: 1762, Bedford, Va.
Parents: Bartholomew Lawson (1715-1782), Susannah Simpkins (1733-1799).
Married: Anna Goad.
Children: Lucretia Thompson, Thomas Henry Lawson, Sophronia Jane Lawson, James Robert Lawson.
Note: It is not confirmed that Robert Lawson (1762-1834), son of Bartholomew Lawson and Susannah Simpkins, was the husband of Anna Goad. Some sources list her husband as being Robert Lawson (1774-1837), son of William Lawson I and Rebecca Travis. More research is needed.
—
Mary Goad Phillips (1770-1840)
Born: 1770, Virginia.
Parents: Abraham Goad (1740-1816), Ann Ayers (1742-1788).
Married: Thomas Phillips.
Children: Johnathan Phillips, Emanuel Phillips, Elijah Phillips.
Died: 1840. Burial location unknown.
See Also: The Phillips family
+ Thomas Phillips (1768-1841)
Born: About 1768.
Parents: Tobias Phillips (1750-1808), Margaret “Peggy” Jennings (1753-1830).
Married: Mary Goad.
Children: Johnathan Phillips, Emanuel Phillips, Elijah Phillips.
Died: 1841. Burial location unknown.
—
Ayers Goad (1780-1855)
Did not move to Scott County.
—
Joshua Goad (1786-1880)
Born: 1786, Montgomery County, Va.
Parents: Abraham Goad (1740-1816), Ann Ayers (1742-1788).
Married: Sarah Smithers (Smiddy).
Children: Aaron Goad, John Goad, Joshua Goad, Elizabeth Goad Newport, William Goad.
Died: 1880. Burial location unknown.
Sarah Smithers (Smiddy) (1787-unknown)
Born: 1787, Montgomery County, Va.
Parents: Unknown.
Married: Joshua Goad.
Children: Aaron Goad, John Goad, Joshua Goad, Elizabeth Goad Newport, William Goad.
Died: Unknown. Burial location unknown.