Submitted by June Henson
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EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF OBADIAH FERGUSON, FATHER OF JOEL MARTIN FERGUSON

l. Obadiah served in the Revolutionary War - copies of service cards show "3 Georgia 
Battalion", rank of Private. One card shows pay drawn to the 1st of January, 1779.  
Another shows Nov. 1, 1779 to February 1, 1780.
2. An Obediah Ferguson "foraged for horses" in the Illinois Regiment of the Virginia
 Continental Army, led by George Rogers Clark.  Obediah is named in two documents - 
one March 27, 1781 and the other March 28, 1781.  The Georgia 3rd had been disbanded 
in January of 1781.
3. In 1782, Obediah was on the Tax List of Buckingham County, VA
4. In 1785, he rented a plantation from Lucy Richardson in Bedford County, VA for 3 
barrels of corn.
5. In 1786, he married Elizabeth Martin, daughter of Samuel  and Sarah (Rust) Martin. 
Sarah was the daughter of George Rust. Surety for their wedding was Randolph Martin, 
probably Sarah's brother or cousin. (A court document - "1789 -Benjamin, Jesse, 
Randolph and Sarah Martin to Thomas Pate Bill of Sale of 7 slaves.") George Rust's 
Will - "To Samuel Martin and Sarah Martin, my son and daughter 50 acres of land on 
the Lick Branch.  Beginning at the mouth of the Free Stone Branch thence up the 
course of Molies Creek squaring Joining Jeremiah Rust's and Elizabeth Rust's line."
6. 1790 - Obadiah voted in Hawkins County, NC election March 8 for a representative 
to congress for the Western District.  Persons in nomination were William Cocke, John 
Sevier and John Rhea, Esq.
7. 1797 - he bought 241 acres on Wallen Creek, Lee County, VA
8. 1799/80- he was listed on the Lee County Personal Property Tax List.
9. 1804 - Obadiah mentioned as a neighbor of James and Nancy Brashears on Wallen 
Creek.  Their daughter, Dicey, married Henry Ferguson, Obadiah's son.  Other 
neighboring family names mentioned were Wilson, Boling, Cox, Gilley, Crabtree and 
Ball.
10. 1806 - Obadiah bought 200 acres on Wallen Creek from Angus and Elizabeth Ross.
11. Received a land grant from the State of Virginia in 1837.
12. 1810 - he was on the Lee County Tax List as having two titheables and four horses.
13. Court- appointed as road overseer from the plantation of Daniel Collins to the 
widow Hixes - Sept 25, 1810.
14. He was listed in the 1830 Lee County Tax List.
15. He was on the 1835 Lee County Personal Property Tax List.
16. 1839 - Obadiah bought 100 acres for $1.00 from Reuben Bowen. Reuben had been a 
bodyguard for George Washington.  Obadiah's son, Obadiah, Jr., married Reuben's 
daughter, Elizabeth.
17. 1842 - Obadiah made his Will. He mentioned his wife Elizabeth.  Elizabeth was 
listed in the 1840 Lee County Census as being 70-80 years old. Obadiah was listed as 
80-90.
18. 1844 - Obadiah was exempted from payment of taxes - County Levy and Poor Taxes.
19. 1847 - Obadiah died.
20. Obadiah's Will proved on February 15, 1847.

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