Person:Thomas Ladd (1)

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EXCERPTS FROM THE THOMAS MIFFLIN LADD BOOK submitted by: Sam Ladd (29)Thomas Mifflin Ladd, Son of Thomas (22) and Ann Bell Ladd was born in Richmond, Virginia, May 5, 1800. He grew up as a Quaker, spoke the quaker tongue - "thee," "thou," " thy," etc, as was the custom in those days - 160 years ago. But it is believed it was spoken and written within the family circles and with Quaker friends and not in business life. In about 1830, letters show that it had been dropped by the younger generation, but their parents continued as they were reared. Thomas was "Mifflin" to his-family and intimate friends, he evidently did not like it as he signed himself "Thos. M. Ladd."

The Quaker rules and principles were very strict, they had to abide by them or be "disowned" by the society. He seemed to have been a very good Quaker until after the death of his father, who was one of their leaders. October 10, 1834, he was disowned by the society for "neglecting meeting worship," was reinstated, but later let out for good. He did about everything a Quaker shouldn't do. He liked to dance; he played the violin; he liked his toddy. He was in command of a military organization, of which a Quaker would have no part. It is said that after drill or parade, he would take his company or battalion in and have them served refreshments. He was a member of the "Sons of Temperance," Shockoe Hill Division, No. 4, but when he was 48 years old, he asked to be released. A certificate dated April 24, 1848 shows that his withdrawal was granted. This does not by any means suggest that he was a "drinking man." His friends were legion; he liked to entertain, and he did it in the manner of a "Southern Gentleman." It is said that one time, he knew every man, woman and child in Richmond. He was a "Gay Cavalier;" he played the lottery; he was adventurous; it is said that on a bet, he rode his horse up the steps of St. Clair Hotel. But with all his frivolity he was very popular. (About 40 years after his death, I met several of his friends - all in their 80s, but in their teens or young men when they knew him; each had a coincident to relate about him, among whom were John L. Williams, the banker, Valentine, Richmond's famous sculptor, B. A. Bargaman, a businessman, and others.)

He was a Civil Engineer, a family profession dating from the time John Ladd and William Penn, surveyed and layed out Philadelphia. He was City Engineer for the City of Richmond from 1850, or earlier, to the time of his death in 1866. In those days this office was known as "City Surveyor." His office was in Lafayette Hall.

He was Marshall of Parade and Ceremonies when the body of President Monroe was brought to Richmond in 1858 for burial in Hollywood Cemetery. (From "Richmond, her Past and Present." By Christian.)

When he was 40 years old he fell in love with a young lady who was attending Jane MacKenzie School for young ladies, a very popular school of that day - Lucy Elizabeth Cowardin, daughter of John Lewis Cowardin and sister of James Andrew Cowardin, founder of the Richmond Dispatch, 1850. They were married August 7, 1841. She survived him - by nearly 40 years. There was a difference of nearly 20 years in their ages. They are both burried in the cemetery of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, of which they were charter members.

Lucy Elizabeth was born December 22, 1819, in the wilds of the Valley of Virginia. She was a descendant of John Lewis, of Ireland, a Huguenot family who escaped persecution in France. He married Margaret Lynn of the Ioch Lynns of Scotland, who had fled to Ireland, also to escape religious persecution. She was a woman of refinement and culture. John Lewis and Margaret, his wife are said to be the first family to settle in the Valley of Virginia. Their first home was a log cabin built on an Indian Trail about two miles east of the present Staunton, the first town in the Valley which he, himself, laid out. He also built a fort, known as Fort Lewis. Later, he built Bellefonte which is still standing, in which he died February 1, 1762, at the age of 84 years. This home is about a mile east of Staunton. The outside has been faced with brick and has the appearance of a modern home, but the interior is still very much as John built it in about 1750.

As there were no schools in the Valley of Virginia, it is natural to believe that Lucy and her brothers and sisters got their early or primary education from their Mother, Mary (Polly) Rhodes White, who before her marriage to John Lewis Cowardin, had been a private tutor to young ladies. Her mother died in Danville in 1830; her father died several years later and is buried in Montgomery County, Virginia. James Andrew Cowardin, after his mother's death, set out on foot to Richmond, to begin his career as a newspaperman. He being the oldest and through his influence, after a few years, he had induced most of his family to join him in Richmond. Lucy and her brother William were then living in Woodstock, Virginia near the West Virginia line - in Shenandoah County. They drove from there to Richmond in a "Gig," a distance of nearly 200 miles, which took them over two or three mountain ranges, stopping wherever night overtook them; requiring about six days to make the trip journey, as they would say.

Thomas Mifflin, son of Thomas and Ann Bell Ladd, carried his bride Lucy Elizabeth Cowardin to Brookville, August 7, 1841, where they spent their entire married life. He died in 1866, Lucy Elizabeth in 1905. To this union there were eight children and 45 grandchildren. Benjamin Franklin, the youngest son was living there at the time of death, December 17, 1947. He was 89 years old, was born at Brookville and spent most of his life on the farm. The home until recently was owned by his son and daughter, William Cole Ladd, and Mrs. Robert J. Blount. http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~ladd/warren.htm (29) Children of Thomas Mifflin Ladd, 1, and Lucy Elizabeth Cowardin: 37, Aaron Burr, bo. June 14, 1842, died same day. 38, Thomas Mifflin, bo. Nov. 18, 1843, ma. Sarah Mildred King, Jan. 1873.

          2nd ma.  Katherine Childress.

39, John Bell, bo. Jan. 30, 1846, ma. Eunice McLellan, July 21, 1886.

          2nd ma.  Louise Walker.

40, Jane McKenzie, bo. Oct. 2, 1848, ma. Lemuel B. Quarles, Feb. 5, 1874. 41, Mary Ann, bo. March 3, 1851, d. Oct. 30, 1864. 42, Robert Anderson, bo. Oct. 9, 1854, ma. A. M. Lawrence, Dec. 27, 1882. 43, Lucy Lavalette, bo. May 31, 1,861, ma. H. L. Butler, July 12, 1881.

Annals of Henrico Parish, Diocese of Virginia, 1611-1884 Annals of Henrico Parish

Marriages. 07 Aug 1841

Name: Thos. Mifflin Ladd Spouse: Lucy Elizabeth Cowardin At Richmond , of Richmond , of Richmond ; license dated Henrico county, August 2, 1841 .

Virginia Marriages, 1740-1850 THOMAS MIFFLIN LADD LUCY ELIZABETH COWARDIN 07 August 1841 Henrico

1850 United States Federal Census: Thomas M Ladd Age: 50 Estimated birth year: abt 1800 Birth place: Virginia Gender: Male Home in 1850(City,County,State): Western District, Henrico, Virginia Page:533 Roll:M432_951 Line 430 451 Thomas M. Ladd 50 M W Surveyor $10,000 VA Lucy 30 F W VA Thomas 6 M W VA John 4 M W VA Jane 2 F W VA Richard Bell 60 M B Laborer VA Henry Bowers 11 M VA

1860 United States Federal Census Name: Thos M Ladd Age in 1860: 60 Birthplace: Virginia Home in 1860: Western Subdivision, Henrico, Virginia Gender: Male Value of real estate:$10,000 / $14,000 Post Office: Richmond Roll: M653_1353 Page: 911 Year: 1860 Line 231 227 Name Home in 1860(City,County,State) Age in 1860 Estimated Birth Year Birthplace Gender Thos M Ladd Western Subdivision, Henrico, VA 60 1799 Virginia Male Mathematician Lucy E Ladd Western Subdivision, Henrico, VA 40 1819 Virginia Fema Thomas M Ladd Western Subdivision, Henrico, VA 17 1842 Virginia Ma John B Ladd Western Subdivision, Henrico, VA 14 1845 Virginia Male Jane M Ladd Western Subdivision, Henrico, VA 10 1849 Virginia Fema Mary A Ladd Western Subdivision, Henrico, VA 8 1851 Virginia Female Robert A Ladd Western Subdivision, Henrico, VA 6 1853 Virginia Male Benjamin F Ladd Western Subdivision, Henrico, VA 1 1858 Virginia Male Joseph Woodson Western Subdivision, Henrico, VA 20 1839 Virginia Ma

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   Date of Import: 5 Jun 2007

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