As part of my foray into genealogy research, I decided to prove or dispel the rumor that we are somehow related to Mary Todd Lincoln. I thought I’d share what I have found. I’ve been able to trace back to my 14th Great Grandfather, Sir John William Clifford Todd, who was born in Scotland in 1520 A.D. He died in England, so at some point he transplanted there.**

All the Todds originally came from Scotland; but they came to colonial America by different roads. For various reasons they were driven by hope and transplanted to England or they crossed into the North of Ireland. The originating Irish name O’shaugh doesn’t sound anything like the current Todd. O’shaugh translates as Fox. Fox translates to the English Tod. The early English Parliament compelled Irish to assume English names (even then the government was all up in our business!). Of the various branches of the family some became, Fox and others Tod, Todd or Wolfson (or the corrupted version of Wilson). A portion of those who ended up as Todds are Irish; others are Scottish.

With some variations the authorized arms of the Todds includes 3 fox heads in red, a shield, with a fox sitting, or running away with a goose. The motto, “Opertet Vivere” — “One must live” (even if he has to steal for it).

There are nine distinct families of Todds who are not currently known to be connected to each other (although I believe they were all collected at the beginning in Scotland). Three came directly from Scotland, three came from the North of Ireland and three came to the American colonies directly from England. My heritage comes from one of the three English Todd colonists.

My branch of the Todds immigration began with my 10th Great Grandfather, Christopher Todd. He was born in England. He was an infant when his father was killed “in sort of a duel”. At 20 years old he and his wife, Grace Middlebrook, sailed for the colonies. They arrived on June 26th, 1637. They joined the New Haven colony where he became a farmer, miller, baker and real estate investor.

Christopher bought a grist mill and other real estate. In 1798 the mill passed into the possession of Eli Whitney. Erected there was Whitney’s gun factory; it was the first “establishment in America for manufacturing fire arms“.

In 1650 Christopher bought an acre and a half on Elm Street in the “London Quarter”. Part of St. Thomas’s Church now stands there. The house on the property was built by Jasper Crane. Members of the Todd family continued to live there for a hundred years. One document said of Christopher, “He seems to have been a bright, level headed business man, but without much education”. His will was signed with his mark, which indicates may not have been able to write.

He had three sons and three daughters. His oldest daughter, Mercy married John Basset and became the mother of a large family. Grace, the second daughter, was “mentally deficient.” She married but was soon deserted by her husband. Her father’s will left provision for her as she was “incompetent to take care of herself or any estate.”

Mary, the youngest daughter married Isaac Turner, son of Captain Nathaniel Turner. Her husband’s nephew (through his sister Mary) was Elihu Yale, the founder of Yale College.

John, the eldest son of Christopher Todd, worked the family land at New Haven. Christopher’s youngest son, Michael, has many descendants and like the other sons they were mostly farmers.

Samuel, Christopher’s second son and my 9th Great Grandfather, fathered Reverend Samuel Todd, the first pastor of the North Parish in Waterbury, Connecticut. Another son of Samuel’s was also Reverend Abraham Todd in Greenwich Connecticut. Another son, George Todd was a Judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio.

14th Great Grandfather – Sir John William Clifford Todd (b1520) St. Andrew & Dundee Scotland –> Yorkshire, England
13th Great Grandfather – Reginald Todd (b1545) York, Yorkshire England –> Pontefract, Yorkshire, England
12th Great Grandfather – William Todd (b1569) Pontefract, Yorkshire, England
11th Great Grandfather – William Todd II of Pontefract (b1593) Pontefract, Yorkshire, England
10th Great Grandfather – Christopher Todd (b1617) Pontefract, Yorkshire, England –> New Haven, Connecticut, Colonial America
9th Great Grandfather – Samuel Todd (b1645) New Haven, Connecticut, Colonial America
8th Great Grandfather – Samuel Todd II (b1672) New Haven, Connecticut, Colonial America
7th Great Grandfather – Stephan Todd (b1702) Northford, New Haven, Connecticut, Colonial America
6th Great Grandfather – Stephan Todd Jr (b1735) Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut, Colonial America –> Salisbury, Herkimer, New York, USA
5th Great Grandfather – Jehiel Todd (b1761) Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut, Colonial America
4th Great Grandfather – Zerah Todd (b1789) Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA –>Orinskiny Falls, Oneida, New York, USA
3rd Great Grandmother – Emily Ardelia Todd m. Richards (b1821) Cooperstown, Otsego County, New York, USA
2nd Great Grandfather – Llewellyn Bartlett Richards (b1844) New York, USA
1st Great Grandfather – Dr. Frank Llewellyn Richards (b1873) Oswego, New York, USA
Grandma – Jean Virginia Richards (b1920) Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA –> Frankfort, Michigan USA
Mom – Joy Ann Spears*

If I am related, it does not appear to be directly, but could be possible in a few scenarios.

1. Remember above where I said, “There are nine distinct families of Todds who are not known to be connected to each other.” We are descended from one of the the English branches. Mary Todd Lincoln is descended from one of the Irish branches of colonists. That line of Todds was originally from Scotland. It is possible that there is a connection from prior to the year 1545 when our 14th Great Grandfather was still in Scotland. I’ve only been able to trace her family back to 1608.
2. It is possible that that at some point a Todd married a Todd that was not directly related. There could be some cousin relationship to Mary Todd Lincoln that I have not yet found. Side note, yes I did find cases where cousins married each other.

The way ancestry.com works is that they send you hints based on what other people put on their trees. So it is possible that at some point I will find a link and prove the rumor true. While I’ve been fascinated by the history and will definitely read more to learn of our Todd family, especially these colonial stories, I am going to actively pursue other parts of the family tree to see what I can find.

I hope you all enjoyed this summary and found it interesting!

As always if you find any errors or something to add, please comment or email with your changes.

_{*Birthdates & Places of living relatives have been intentional left off for security reasons}

_{**Information was found from various sources using ancestry.com, documents uploaded there and other sources linked there and may be incorrect}