Administrative Information

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Preferred Citation

John Todd. Letter and Memorandum Book, 1778-1788. Accession 22954c, Personal papers collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Purchased 1949.

Biographical/Historical Information

John Todd was born 20 March 1750 in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, to David Todd (1726-1785) and Hannah Owen Todd. He served as adjutant to General Andrew Lewis (1720-1781) at the battle of Point Pleasant, (West) Virginia. Todd settled in what is now Fayette County, Kentucky, in 1776. Todd represented Kentucky County in the Virginia House of Delegates in the 1777-1778 session. He joined George Rogers Clark's (1752- 1818) expedition against Kaskaskia and Vincennes, Illinois, in 1778. Governor Patrick Henry (1736-1799) appointed Todd lieutenant-commandant of Illinois County, Virginia, in December 1778, and Todd organized Illinois County's civil government. Todd returned to the House of Delegates as Kentucky's representative during the 1780-1781 session. He procured land grants for public schools and introduced legislation for the emancipation of slaves. He married Jane Hawkins in 1780, and they had at least one child. Todd was killed by Native-Americans at the battle of Blue Licks, Kentucky, 19 August 1782.

Scope and Content Information

Letter and memorandum book, 1778-1788, of John Todd (1750-1782) of Kaskaskia, Illinois, containing transcripts of correspondence, lists of court and militia officers, licenses, bonds, proclamations, oaths, accounts, and court papers, created by Todd in his official capacity of county lieutenant or commandant of Illinois County, Virginia. Includes a copy of the letter from Governor Patrick Henry (1736-1799) appointing Todd to his position. Some of the records included were created after Todd's death.