John Goad (1700-1771) was born in Richmond County, Virginia. His older brother, and sister are mentioned in the will of their grandmother, Eve Smith. He married twice: Catherine _____, then Ann. ______. He was living in Bedford County when it was established in 1754 and owned about 268 acres when his will was recorded. John, his oldest son, was executor and was to inherit after the death of Ann. Six of the remaining seven children received a shilling each; Joanna, who married Valentine Sevier, is not mentioned at all. Three of his four sons received the land they occupied, entailed to their heirs

            Robert Goad (1737-?), the youngest son of John, was born after his parents left Richmond County. He is first recorded in 1787 in Bedford County when he buys land. In 1804, Robert and his son Thomas sold their lands, presumably leaving soon thereafter for Williamson County, Tennessee (later Maury County ). His children were Thomas, Peter, Joshua, Robert, Jr., Nancy (married to a William Goad) and William (married to a Nancy). Both Williams died early, and their widows appear on the 1803 tax lists. The 1830 census for Lawrence County (formerly Maury County) lists a Nancy Goad born in the 1783, probably the daughter.

                In the 1840 census, Nancy does not appear. But in that census there is a Nelly Goad, thought to be a daughter (or daughter-in-law) of one of the William and Nancy Goad marriages. She is the head of a household with two sons and four daughters. The youngest boy was probably William, who married Sarah Wilburn. Two of the girls were surely Sarah, who married John Belew, and her younger sister Lucy, born in 1828.

            Lucy Goad, was living with Sarah and her family until 1853 when she married John Green , a widower living on the adjoining farm.