Joseph WOFFORD

                   Name Suffix: Captain JOSEPH,(7th great-uncle of Madison Gail Denkers) brother of Colonel WILLIAM WOFFORD, wa s Captain of a Company in the famous "SnowCampaign." He was so outspoken in behalf of the Am erican cause that it was said he was a target for the Tories and was in hiding much of the ti me.  He married Martha Lewellyn and had their family. Much of their family history is give nin the history of Spartanburg, South Carolina.  CAPTAIN JOSEPH WOFFORD, another of the five brothers, is mentioned in history.  He is the com mon ancestors of the branches of the family who meet annually in Memorial Association at Tabernacle Church. He was captain of a company which formed a part of the famous Spartan regiment , which was commanded by Colonel John Thomas, Sr., during the well-known "Snow Campaign." H e settled at first not far from the south side of Tyger River, not many hundred yards from th e graveyard, though on the oppositeside of the road, where his remains reposed for upwards o f 100 years. Going farther up the road from Hill's Bridge, and turning to the right, may be s een the spot where he built he second and last home. He was in command of a company in Charle ston before the fall of that city, and was also at Ninety-Six.  JOSEPHWOFFORD was an uncompr omising Whig, and no doubt was in active service till the end of the Revolutionary struggle . He was hated by the Tories, not only during the war but for many years afterwards. When no t in active service, on account of plundering, burning, murdering, marauding Tories, he was c ompelled to be an outlaw---that is, one who feared assassination if he should sleep at home-- -and therefore often remained in out-of-the-way places. He was the recognizedleader agains t the plundering British and Tories, and they watched his log cabin closely. Many tragic an d interesting stories of his life at this period have come down to the present day.  Nat Young, a Tory leader, who was afterwardskilled near Unity Church, a few miles above on t he river, knew the condition of CAPTAIN JOSEPH's family, andknowing that he would be very anx ious to hear from home, watched that log cabin with doubly intensified hatred. One night th ewarrior was seen to enter the house, was soon surrounded, and CAPTAIN JOE was captured ami d threats of swinging him to a limb, etc. His wife, Martha, was lying on her bed in the rea r of the room and saw and heard it all. She asked Capt. Nat to come back where she was, whic h he did and sat on the edge of her bed.She pleaded for her husband's life, saying: "Nat, i f Joe is killed tonight itwill kill me. I cannot survive the shock. So you will have to giv e an accountat the Great Day, not for the killing of Joe alone, but for two others. It ismu rder, Nat, and you know it. I plead tonight for the life of Joe, my life andfor the life o f my babe." Capt. Nat had himself once sued for her love and her hand, and he was touched b y her helpless entreaty. He said: "Nat Young pledges you his life, Mat; that not a hair of Jo e's head shall be hurt this night.While it is necessary to take him away bound tonight, he w ill return to you before daylight." True to his word, Joe was allowed to escape and returned . During that night, under such circumstances of distress and anguish, was born Benjamin Woff ord, the founder of WOFFORD COLLEGE.  Dr. Snyder says: "JOE WOFFORD was a man of valor and loved the soldier's life. He was a staun ch believer in liberty, and by his prowess did much to bring the blessings of freedom to th e State."  CAPTAIN JOSEPH WOFFORD was a noted hunter, fisherman and marksman and swordsman. The sword th at he carried during the Revolutionary War is now in possession of Capt. J.W. Wofford, Hender sonville, N.C. and is of the old English pattern, and is a very fine piece of metal. He wa s a quiet citizen, but alwaystook a firm stand for the good of his community and country. I n his later years his figure was much bent over and scars on his