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"Owen Todd" Mary Todd Lincoln's Great Grand Uncle Signed 1800 Document with Ohio Pioneer William Lytle

August 16, 1800-Dated Federal Period, Partially-Printed Document Signed, "Owen Todd" as Judge (Mary Todd Lincoln's Great Grand Uncle), and also by Early Ohio Pioneer, "William Lytle," selling land in the Ohio Territory, Fine.

This Partly-Printed Document is Signed, "Owen Todd" (1762-1817) is clearly signed on back by Owen Todd who was Mary Todd Lincoln's Great Grand Uncle. A large Legal Document with expected folds having light tone, and a few trivial intersection pinholes, measuring 12.75" x 15.25" with an official scalloped top margin edge. This land transaction Document is selling land in the Ohio Territory. It is printed in black with the manuscript portions and signatures in brown ink on laid period paper. Autographed by "William Lytle" and his wife Eliza N Lytle," plus the Docket on the blank reverse is handwritten and Signed by Judge "Owen Todd".

"Owen Todd had familiarized himself with the duties of a land surveyor. For this occupation his education, his physical constitution and his tastes eminently fitted him. Helm refers to Owen as "Judge Todd." Federal Census Index records show that Owen Todd resided first in "Clermont County" and later "Warren County" in Ohio, according to information found in the Tax Lists and other Washington County census data. (From, "Life of Owen Todd Granduncle to Mary Lincoln" by DIANE STILES March 21, 2007.)

William Lytle was the son of one of General George Washington's inner circle, Captain William Lytle (1728"97), was deeded 1,200 acres of land for service as one of General Washington's elite corps of officers in the Revolutionary War (the Society of the Cincinnati). and himself a hero. His son who now signs this current Document, William Lytle, ( - 1831) amassed a fortune surveying the lands of Revolutionary War veterans who were granted land in Ohio. He was a good friend of Andrew Jackson, serving in his "Kitchen Cabinet." William is considered the "First Landed Millionaire" in the West. However, Lytle lost most of his money during a financial panic when western landowners could not pay their debts and the banks in Cincinnati failed. Using the land from his father's land grant, he founded Cincinnati College and Cincinnati Law College (the University of Cincinnati). He funded it with $500 of his personal money, plus land donated by his father William Lytle, and $500 he solicited from a group of prominent first citizens of Cincinnati (John H. Piatt, David E. Wade, Ethan Stone, William Corry, John H. Lytle, General James Findlay, Andrew Mack, Jacob Burnet). Each shareholder took turns serving on the Board of the Cincinnati College.

The historic Lytle family members served in the French and Indian War, the American Revolutionary War, the Mexican"American War, and the Civil War. In addition, this Document is also Autographed by "Daniel Hain" and "Leonard Raper," two notable early Ohio Pioneers, having their two small Paper and Wax Seals are attached to the two names as witnesses at the bottom left. An important Document with two rare signatures from prominent, historic early American families!



Additional Information:

Owen Todd (1762-1817) relocated numerous times during his life. According to what will be shown by the following report, he was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, moved to Virginia with his brothers and next followed his siblings to Fayette County, Kentucky. He moved with his wife and children to Ohio and finally followed his grown children to Switzerland County, Indiana where he died in 1817.

According to the source I am using by Emily Todd Helm, "The Kittochtinny Magazine, A Tentative Record of Local History and Genealogy West of the Susquehanna, "Owen Todd was born in Montgomery County Pennsylvania to parents David Todd and Hannah Owen in the year 1762 (source page 90, Chapter XXV Todd Family. Based on the Ms of Emily Todd Helm).

Pennsylvania was where Owen Todd mustered into the Revolutionary ranks in Chester County. Included elsewhere in this report is a copy of his muster card from the Pennsylvania State Archives (PHMC). Also there is a complete explanation of his service in that same part of this report. Todd-Helm's book is used as a source in that section also. Next, Todd probably moved from Pennsylvania with his older brothers to Virginia.

According to the Historic Families book, the Todd men were involved in the study of both law and surveying. Owen is not specifically mentioned as accompanying his siblings but we know from the Helm book that he had a similar type of education, mentioned below:

"Levi, third son of David Todd and Hannah Owen, was born in Pennsylvania in 1756; was educated with his elder brothers in Virginia, with them studied law, became a surveyor came to Kentucky...."

Todd-Helm states in "Todd Family, Based on the Ms. of Emily Todd Helm," page 90:

"Owen Todd had familiarized himself with the duties of a land surveyor. For this occupation his education, his physical constitution and his tastes eminently fitted him". On page 93, Helm refers to Owen as "Judge Todd".

Also supporting Owen Todd's presence in Virginia are records that show Todd married his second wife in Rockbridge County in that state ("A History of Rockbridge County, Virginia," O.F Morton, Pg. 520). (This was found the periodical "Colonial Virginia Source Records," online at the Genealogy.com Website.) This second marriage produced my family line.

According to many records, Todd relocated to Fayette County in Kentucky. He owned land in Fayette.

According to "Historic Families of Kentucky," page 106, Owen Todd then settled in Ohio.

Also according to "the Chapter from Kittochtinny, "Todd Family, Based on the Ms. of Emily Todd Helm," from Kentucky Todd moved to Hamilton County Ohio in 1797 (renamed Clermont County soon afterwards). Federal Census Index records show that Owen Todd resided first in "Clermont County" and later Warren County in Ohio according to information found in the Tax Lists and other Washington County census data (same area later called Washington County).

Our ancestress Eliza Todd was born in Warren County in 1809. This is shown by Todd-Helm, pages 271 and 91, as well as census record extractions, which are also included, that identify Owen as a resident of Warren County.

Owen Todd eventually died in Indiana, according to both Emily Todd Helm and Maxim Coppage. That occurred in Vevay, Switzerland County on December 6, 1817 where he is buried.

"Historic Families of Kentucky" pg. 209

Lists Robert and Levi Todd as having relocated to Virginia

"Colonial Virginia Source Records, 1600's to 1700's"

Found at Genealogy.Com

"Marriages of Some Virginia Residents", 1607-1800

By Dorothy Ford Wulfeck

Some Todd Marriages listed in this record:

Todd, Owen m. (married) Jane Paxton, daughter of Thomas and Isabella Quaite, Rockbridge, VA. Specific data taken from ("A History of Rockbridge County, Virginia," by O.F. Morton, Pg. 520)

"Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Books" (volume 50 page 141) found at the Ancestry.com website. Anna Todd Perkins, DAR ID Number 8762 Granddaughter of Irby Smith and Ann Maria Todd, his wife. Gr.-granddaughter of Robert W. Todd and Catherine McCully, his wife. Gr.-gr.-granddaughter of Owen Todd and Maria Jane Paxton..."

___________

Mary S. Owens: Born in 1808. Abraham Lincoln and Mary Owens met in 1833 in New Salem, Illinois while she was visiting her sister. In 1837, Abraham proposed to Mary Owens. However, after being aware that Mary had gained weight, he sent another letter and the 28 year old Mary turned him down. No wonder considering what he wrote to her:

"This thing of living in Springfield is rather a dull business after all. I am afraid you would not be satisfied. There is a great deal of flourishing about in carriages here, which it would be your doom to see without shareing in it. You would have to be poor without the means of hiding your poverty. Do you believe you could bear that patiently?... What I have said I will most positively abide by, provided you wish it. My opinion is that you had better not do it. You have not been accustomed to hardship, and it may be more severe than you now immagine."

Source: Doris Kearns Goodwin. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. page 94.
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