The Minor Family of Somerset

Constantine Ladd was a very prominent farmer, soldier and politi
cian who played a great part in establishing the county governme
nt at Germanstown when Stokes County was first created. He wa
s born in January 1753, son of Noble andJudith Dameron Ladd. H
is first wife was named Elizabeth (maiden name ) and the
y were the parents of two daughters, Judith and Bethenia. Afte
r the death of his first wife, he married Mary McAnnally, daught
er of antoher prominent justice-of-the-peace, Charles McAnnally
. Three children were born tothis union, Milton, Newton, and M
ary R. He served throughout the Revolutionary War as an activ
e fighting man and also as clerk for Captain Richard Goode's com
pany. In 1775, Constantine Ladd obtained a land Grant from th
e State, where the Indian Trail, later known as the Great Wago
n Raod, crossed the Dan River. This area was also the home of N
oble Ladd, Joseph Ladd, William Ladd and Amos Ladd, all member
s of the same family. The Dan River crossing wasknown as Ladd'
s Ford for many years until it was permanently changed to PineH
all. There was a Captain Ladd's district, which later became Be
lews Creektax district, and one of the above named men, it cou
ld have been Constantine, was the captain in charge of the milit
ary training.
He qualified as justice of the peace at Richmond Courthouse Fe
b 4, 1788 and served as a member ofthe Court of Pleas and Quart
ers elven times during this year and again eleventimes in 1789
. At the first official meeting in Stokes County held in the ho
me of Gray Bynum in Germanton in March 1790, he was named by gov
ernor Alexander Martin as one of the original J.P.,s to keep th
e peace in Stokes County. There were fourteen of these men wh
o laid the groundwork for a governmentin Stokes. The second da
y of this court he was unanimously elected by the court as the f
irst sheriff of the county. He was reelected in 1791 and agai
nfor one term only in 1797. In 1792, after serving two years a
s sheriff, hewas a member of the County Court two times, in 179
3 chairman three times andmember five, 1794 chairman two and me
mber ten, 1795 chairman two and member two. Also during the yea
rs 1793, 94 and 95 he was the tax Lister, a very important job
, in Capt. Banner's district. This district was discontinued i
n 1797 but it was in the general area of Germanton. He served a
s treasurer of the county from March 1796 to June 1797. Judit
h Ladd his oldes daughter, married John Banner and they had tw
o sons, Constantine L. and Charles L. Both ofthese men becam
e J.P.s and very active in county politics. Constantine L. serv
ing as sheriff in two separate terms, 1817 and again 1826 to 182
9. theother daughter by his first wife, Bethenia, married Benj
amin Forsyth, a heroof the War of 1812. Forsyth county was nam
ed for him.
He moved from his large farm on the Dan River after being electe
d sheriff in 1790 to Germanton where he spent most of the remain
der of his life. He bought lots 25 and 26 in the town, one and o
ne-quarter acres just outside town and a small tract ont heSale
m Road leading into town. He died in 1801.
by Janet Newell, 1998