General Notes

Ancestral File Number:<AFN> XVKV-03
Will probated 31 Aug 1700 in philadelphia Co. Pennsylvania.  Brothers Daniel, James and sister Elizabeth Bradshaw apparently remained in England.

There are two entries in the Eling Parish register for Benjamin and Joseph Todd on 15 January 1645, sons William Tod (Todd).  It can be safely assumed that Joseph and Benjamin were twins.  Supposedly, Joseph Todd went to Philadelphia soon after it was started by William Penn in 1682.  "He stated in papers in the records of the First Baptist Church that he became a Baptist in 1689 in Lymington in Southampton." says Betty Silfies, a descendant in Philadelphia, PA.

From the Book "Todd Family in Eling, Southamptonshire, England, Philadelphia and Buck Counties Pennsylvania and Rowan County North Carolina, Madison County Kentucky, Butler and Howard county Missouri and others: "The earliest member of the Todd Family found in Pennsylvania, whom we shall term the founder of the Todds there, was one Joseph Todd, Senior, who by his will dated 2nd March 1698, Styles himself as being of "Eling, Southamptonshire, England," being his former place of residence prior to coming to Pennsylvania, and most likely the place of birth.

The "Todd Roots in Madison County, KY" book by Hubert W. & Geneva L. Cox has the following will which can be seen in Philadelphia, PA.  There are three copies of this will and one is transcribed as follows by the Coxes:  In the name of God, Amen.  On the second day of Mar anno Domis (1968). "I, Joseph Todd of Eling, in the County of Southampton, being of sound memory, thanks be unto God for the same, and confessing the frailty and uncertainty of this life, do make this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say), First of all, I resign my soul into the hands and protection of almighty God, my maker, and his forever, and my body I commit to the earth from whence it was made, and for my worldly goods, which God in mercy hath lent and bestowed upon me, I do give and bequeath unto my son, Joseph Todd, forty pounds be given and bequeathed to be and remain equally divided between and amongst those of my children then surviving as they shall attain the said age of one and twenty years due to be paid by my executor here after named.

Item: I give and bequeath unto all children which now I have by my last wife, Joanne, twenty pounds apiece of lawful English money.  That is to say, unto Joshua, twenty pounds, unto Caleb twenty pounds, unto Thomas twenty pounds, unto Elizabeth twenty pounds and unto Mary twenty pounds, and it is my will and meaning that Joanne, my said wife, whom I do make my executor of this my Last Will and Testament, should hand there of the said twenty pounds apiece  last given and bequeath unto my said children, dividing (this line illegible) should marry another husband,, that wihin on month after her marriage, the said portions of twenty pounds apiece last given and bequeathed unto my said children then to become due and then to be paid by my said executor without any further delay and in case any one of my said children should die and leave this world before they receive the said portions, then my will and meaning is the said portion or portions of the deceased should be equally divided between the survivors of them and wereas by the said Joseph Todd, amengaged to pay unto Davy, son of my brother ,Daniel Todd, and unto James & Hester Bradshaw, the children of Elizabeth my sister, when they should attain unto the age of one and twenty years, five pounds apiece when they should come of age to receive the same, and if either of my sister, Elizabeth's childre, should die before they come to receive the said money, then his or her share due to dying to be paid unto the survivors of them.  Lastly,  all the residue of my money, goods, chattels and credits, I give unto my loving wife, Joanne, whom I do make and appoint to be executor of this my Last Will and Testament, and also I do nominate,