Robert Todd (pioneer)
Encyclopedia
Brigadier General Robert Todd (c. 1757-March 1814 or 1820) was an 18th century American pioneer, politician and soldier. As an officer in the Continental Army
under General "Mad" Anthony Wayne
, he took part in the Indian Wars
and the western campaign
during the American Revolutionary War
.
Together with his brothers John Todd
and General Levi Todd
, he was involved in the early economic and political development of Kentucky
prior to its admission into the United States
in 1792.
as the second son of David Todd and Hannah Owen, he lived with relatives in Virginia
as a child and attended the school of his uncle Parson John Todd. He studied law, reportedly in the office of General Andrew Lewis
, before moving to Kentucky
in the spring of 1776. He was one of the founders of Lexington, Kentucky
and soon became involved in local politics and public affairs in the Fayette County
area. On December 29, he was seriously wounded defending McClelland's Station against the Mingo
chieftain Pluggy
. He continued to be involved in defending the Kentucky frontier participated in expeditions with General Charles Scott
. After the death of his brother John at the Battle of Blue Licks
, Robert Todd was elected to succeed his brother as trustee
of Lexington on December 12, 1782. He was also assigned by the council to survey the town.
His reputation as an experienced and formidable Indian fighter led him to join General Anthony Wayne
who he served as a captain during the Illinois campaign. In 1787, acting on information by local Shawanese, he launched a preemptive strike against a Cherokee
raiding party at Paint Lick
killing three warriors and taking seven others prisoner. These men would escape the following day, however.
In his later years, Todd became a distinguished statesman in Kentucky serving as a delegate for Kentucky County to the Virginia legislature and at least one of the conventions to draft a state constitution
. He was also one of the commissioners selected to divide the land in Clark's Grant
among the veterans of the Battle of Kaskaskia and Vincennes
and later one of the original trustees of Clarksville, Virginia
.
In 1792, following Kentucky's admission into the United States, Todd represented Fayette County
in the first Kentucky senate, and served as a circuit judge for a number of years. He was again selected as one of three commissioners to choose a location of the new state capital. When the vote was tied between Frankfort
and Lexington, he chose in favor of Frankfort as opposed to his hometown. As he possessed roughly 1000 acres (4 km²) near the settlement, he did not want his vote "to be governed by selfish considerations".
By the time of the Northwest Indian War
, he was part of a contingent of mounted volunteers from Lexington and Fayette County which included General James Wilkinson
and Thomas Lewis
. In June 1792, he was appointed a brigadier general under Wayne and participated in the Battle of Fallen Timbers
commanding the 3rd Kentucky Mounted Volunteers. He kept a personal diary of his experiences in the Indian campaigns, however, it remains unpublished. He died at the home of his son, Dr. John Todd, in Lexington in March 1814 or in 1820.
Of his six children, his youngest son Thomas J. Todd was a member of the Indiana General Assembly
representing Marion County
in the Senate from 1843 to 1846. His daughter Eliza was the wife of General William O. Butler.
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
under General "Mad" Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and the sobriquet of Mad Anthony.-Early...
, he took part in the Indian Wars
Indian Wars
American Indian Wars is the name used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between American settlers or the federal government and the native peoples of North America before and after the American Revolutionary War. The wars resulted from the arrival of European colonizers who...
and the western campaign
Western theater of the American Revolutionary War
The Western theater of the American Revolutionary War was the area of conflict west of the Appalachian Mountains, the region which became the Northwest Territory of the United States as well as the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri...
during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Together with his brothers John Todd
John Todd (Virginia)
John Todd was a frontier military officer during the American Revolutionary War and the first administrator of the Illinois County of the U.S...
and General Levi Todd
Levi Todd
Levi Todd was an 18th century American pioneer who, with his brothers John and Robert Todd, helped found present-day Lexington, Kentucky and were leading prominent landowners and statesmen in the state of Kentucky prior to its admission into the United States in 1792.He was also the grandfather of...
, he was involved in the early economic and political development of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
prior to its admission into the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1792.
Biography
Born in PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
as the second son of David Todd and Hannah Owen, he lived with relatives in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
as a child and attended the school of his uncle Parson John Todd. He studied law, reportedly in the office of General Andrew Lewis
Andrew Lewis (soldier)
Andrew Lewis was an American pioneer, surveyor, and soldier from Virginia. He served as a colonel of militia during the French and Indian War, and as a brigadier general in the American Revolutionary War...
, before moving to Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
in the spring of 1776. He was one of the founders of Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
and soon became involved in local politics and public affairs in the Fayette County
Fayette County, Kentucky
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 295,083 in the 2010 Census. Its territory, population and government are coextensive with the city of Lexington, which also serves as county seat....
area. On December 29, he was seriously wounded defending McClelland's Station against the Mingo
Mingo
The Mingo are an Iroquoian group of Native Americans made up of peoples who migrated west to the Ohio Country in the mid-eighteenth century. Anglo-Americans called these migrants mingos, a corruption of mingwe, an Eastern Algonquian name for Iroquoian-language groups in general. Mingos have also...
chieftain Pluggy
Pluggy
Pluggy was an 18th-century Mingo chieftain and ally of Logan during Lord Dunmore's War...
. He continued to be involved in defending the Kentucky frontier participated in expeditions with General Charles Scott
Charles Scott (governor of Kentucky)
Charles Scott was an American soldier and politician who served as the fourth Governor of Kentucky from 1808 to 1812. Orphaned at an early age, Scott served under Edward Braddock and George Washington in the French and Indian War...
. After the death of his brother John at the Battle of Blue Licks
Battle of Blue Licks
The Battle of Blue Licks, fought on August 19, 1782, was one of the last battles of the American Revolutionary War. The battle occurred ten months after Lord Cornwallis's famous surrender at Yorktown, which had effectively ended the war in the east...
, Robert Todd was elected to succeed his brother as trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
of Lexington on December 12, 1782. He was also assigned by the council to survey the town.
His reputation as an experienced and formidable Indian fighter led him to join General Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and the sobriquet of Mad Anthony.-Early...
who he served as a captain during the Illinois campaign. In 1787, acting on information by local Shawanese, he launched a preemptive strike against a Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
raiding party at Paint Lick
Paint Lick, Kentucky
Paint Lick is an unincorporated community in Garrard County, Kentucky, United States. It lies along Routes 21 and 52 east of the city of Lancaster, the county seat of Garrard County. Its elevation is 820 feet . Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 40461...
killing three warriors and taking seven others prisoner. These men would escape the following day, however.
In his later years, Todd became a distinguished statesman in Kentucky serving as a delegate for Kentucky County to the Virginia legislature and at least one of the conventions to draft a state constitution
Kentucky Constitution
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the document that governs the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It was first adopted in 1792 and has since been rewritten three times and amended many more...
. He was also one of the commissioners selected to divide the land in Clark's Grant
Clark's Grant
Clark's Grant was a tract of land granted to George Rogers Clark and the soldiers who fought with him during the American Revolutionary War by the state of Virginia in honor of their service...
among the veterans of the Battle of Kaskaskia and Vincennes
Battle of Vincennes
The Illinois campaign was a series of events in the American Revolutionary War in which a small force of Virginia militiamen led by George Rogers Clark seized control of several British posts in the Illinois country, in what is now the Midwestern United States...
and later one of the original trustees of Clarksville, Virginia
Clarksville, Virginia
Clarksville is a town founded in Mecklenburg County and overlapping across Halifax County in the U.S. state of Virginia, near the southern border of the state. The population was 1,139 at the 2010 census...
.
In 1792, following Kentucky's admission into the United States, Todd represented Fayette County
Fayette County, Kentucky
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 295,083 in the 2010 Census. Its territory, population and government are coextensive with the city of Lexington, which also serves as county seat....
in the first Kentucky senate, and served as a circuit judge for a number of years. He was again selected as one of three commissioners to choose a location of the new state capital. When the vote was tied between Frankfort
Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort is a city in Kentucky that serves as the state capital and the county seat of Franklin County. The population was 27,741 at the 2000 census; by population it is the 5th smallest state capital in the United States...
and Lexington, he chose in favor of Frankfort as opposed to his hometown. As he possessed roughly 1000 acres (4 km²) near the settlement, he did not want his vote "to be governed by selfish considerations".
By the time of the Northwest Indian War
Northwest Indian War
The Northwest Indian War , also known as Little Turtle's War and by various other names, was a war fought between the United States and a confederation of numerous American Indian tribes for control of the Northwest Territory...
, he was part of a contingent of mounted volunteers from Lexington and Fayette County which included General James Wilkinson
James Wilkinson
James Wilkinson was an American soldier and statesman, who was associated with several scandals and controversies. He served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, but was twice compelled to resign...
and Thomas Lewis
Thomas Lewis
Thomas Lewis may refer to:*Thomas Lewis *Thomas Lewis , American football wide receiver*Thomas Lewis , artist and activist...
. In June 1792, he was appointed a brigadier general under Wayne and participated in the Battle of Fallen Timbers
Battle of Fallen Timbers
The Battle of Fallen Timbers was the final battle of the Northwest Indian War, a struggle between American Indian tribes affiliated with the Western Confederacy and the United States for control of the Northwest Territory...
commanding the 3rd Kentucky Mounted Volunteers. He kept a personal diary of his experiences in the Indian campaigns, however, it remains unpublished. He died at the home of his son, Dr. John Todd, in Lexington in March 1814 or in 1820.
Of his six children, his youngest son Thomas J. Todd was a member of the Indiana General Assembly
Indiana General Assembly
The Indiana General Assembly is the state legislature, or legislative branch, of the state of Indiana. It is a bicameral legislature that consists of a lower house, the Indiana House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Indiana Senate...
representing Marion County
Marion County, Indiana
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. Census 2010 recorded a population of 903,393, making it the largest county in the state and 55th most populated county in the country, greater than the population of six states. The county seat is Indianapolis, the state capital and...
in the Senate from 1843 to 1846. His daughter Eliza was the wife of General William O. Butler.
Further reading
- Helm, Emily Todd. The Todd Family. 1905.
- Warren, Louis Austin. The Lincoln Kinsman. Fort Wayne, Indiana: Lincolniana Publishers, 1942.