Abraham Wood (abt. 1615 - abt. 1682)

Born about 1615 in England

Ancestors

Died about 1682 at about age 67 in Charles City County, Virginia

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Abraham Wood resided in the Southern Colonies in North America before 1776. Join: US Southern Colonies Project Discuss: southern_colonies

Warning The only known relative of Abraham Wood is his daughter, Mary (Wood) Chamberlayne, named in his will. (See Will and Research Notes sections below for details.)

Biography

Abraham Wood was a Jamestown colonist.

Abraham Wood was a Virginia colonist.

General Abraham Wood^[1]

In 1620, Abraham Wood came to Virginia aboard the Margaret & John and in the 1624/5 Jamestown muster was listed as 10 years old, servant of Captain Samuel Mathews.^[2][3]

Abraham Wood was Captain of Fort Henry (1646). He was granted the land, houses, boats and ammunition at Fort Henry on the condition that he keep a garrison there, for three years, for defense of the colony.^[4]

In 1638 and 1653, Abraham Wood patented land in Charles City County. In 1654, Major Abraham Wood patented land in Henrico County.^[5]

He was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses between 1652 and 1656 and a member of the council. In 1655, he was a Justice of the Peace in Charles City County. In 1658, he was Colonel of the Charles City and Henrico counties' militia; in 1671, he was Major General commanding the military in Virginia.^[4][3] He was given the commission of Major General in British Army by Sir William Berkely in 1675.^{[citation needed]}

In his last record, he negotiated a treaty with the Indians in 1680.^[4]

Will

Abraham Wood died in 1682.^[6] A Jones researcher (Kathryn Gearhart) posted a transcript of the damaged will, which is abstracted here:

• Abraham Wood in the county of Charles city in Virginia
• ..."my body to be buried in the night by my wife"
• daughter Mary Chamberlaine
• "grandchildren in law":
  • Abraham Jones
  • Richard Jones
  • Peter Jones
  • William Jones
• godson: Abraham Alley
• his godson's brother Henry Alley^[7]

Research Notes

Kathryn notes that Peter's wife was Margaret, "who was likely Abraham’s step-daughter". She also connects their son Richard as the husband of Martha Llewellyn, named as Martha Jones in Daniel Llewellyn's 1663/4 will, which Kathryn has posted on her website).^[6] However, Richard's birth year is guessed as 1660,^[8] making him too young to be the husband of Daniel Llewellyn's daughter Martha Llewellyn, named as Martha Jones in his 1664 will. Her husband was more likely this Richard Jones (born 1635).^[9]

Disputed Parents

Wood Lineages says his parents were Francis Wood (born 1582, Yorkshire) and Mary Chadwick (daughter of James Chadwick), who married 18 September 1608 in Bury, Lancashire, England. No sources are included to support this information (as of 30 April 2020).

A merged profile had the following, unsourced statement (typos corrected):

From London on the ship Margrett & John, survived a pirate attack, which took his parents lives, by a man named Matthews and taken to Virginia, where he was an orphan and indentured servant.

A comment posted in 2018 by Dick Ragland suggests his parents are "Thomas Wood, abt 1573-1/31/1616 Bury Parish, Tottington, Lancashire, England , d. Tottingham, , Yorkshire, England & Dorothy Buckley, abt 1577-abt 1627 b & d. Tottingham, , Yorkshire, England Married 2/19/1698 in , Yorkshire, England"

• Thomas Wood (1573-1616)
• Dorothy (Buckley) Wood (1577-)

Disputed Wives

Although profiles for three wives have been attached to this profile, Abraham Wood's wife is not known.

• ^{[citation needed]}Elizabeth, who is attached as mother of a daughter who married George Archer. This daughter is disputed.
• Margaret Llewellyn (married Margaret (Llewellyn) Wood — married after 1653 (to 1682) in Henrico, Virginia).
• Margaret Cruz (daughter of Margaret Llewellyn and James Cruse)^[10]

Kathryn Gearhart's website, Early Virginia Jones Families, notes that his wife is unknown and continues: "We do know who it wasn’t. It was not the daughter of Daniel Llewellyn. If Margaret Llewellyn was married to James Cruse, who was executed in 1676 for his part in Bacon’s Rebellion, she died before Cruse, and left no children. ..."^[6] This also rules out a daughter of Margaret Llewellyn by Cruse. See also the discussion posted on the profile of Margaret Cruse, which includes the statement:

Abraham Wood was one of the persons who gave testimony against James Cruse for his part in Bacon's Rebellion. It seems unlikely that the widow of James Cruse, or his daughter would marry a man that helped send James Cruse to the gallows.^{[citation needed]}

However, in looking at that aspect (pro/anti-Bacon) in connection with interrelations between Jones, Wood, and Llewellyn families, I find statements insinuating that Abraham was against the Government's position. From his biography in Tyler's Encyclopedia of Virginia:

"He appears to have held the office of major general until after Bacon's Rebellion, when, perhaps on account of opposition to the policy of the government, he seems to have lost his position and been reduced to the rank of colonel. In 1676, Gov. Berkeley wrote that Maj. Gen. Wood of the council kept to his house through infirmity, but he seems to have recovered as, in March, 1678-79, he was carrying on negotiations with the Indians and arranging for the chief men of the hostile tribes to meet in Jamestown. He died sometime between 1681 and 1686."^[3]

A Cruse blogspot post - Margaret Cruse of Essex and Virginia - has a transcription of a 1663/4 will of "Daniel Lluellin." The blogspot cites a Rootsweb post, which cites "Virginia Gleanings in England"^[11] —

"Daniel Lluellin of Chelmsford, Essex, planter. Will 6 Feb 1663/4; proved 11 Mar 1663/4. Lands, tenements, hereditaments in Charles county in upper part of James River, in Virginia, to wife Anne for life, then to son Daniel Llewellin. Ditto as to goods, but to daughter Martha Jones his sister^[12] two seasoned servants.... To daughter Margaret Cruse 40s for ring and to her husband ditto. To son in law Robert Hallom ditto."

Daniel had married Anne, the widow of Robert Hallom,^[13] so the Robert Hallom named here is probably his step-son (literally, a son in law).

Disputed Children

Abraham Wood in his will names one child: Mary Chamberlayne. Margaret, who married Peter Jones, is widely believed to have been his step-daughter (see their profiles and Space: Virginia Peter Joneses for more about them).

• Mary Sarah Elizabeth, married George Archer
• Sara Elizabeth, married Thomas Harris
• Abraham Wood
• Anne Wood
• Thomas Wood
• Margaret Wood, married (1) Peter Jones, (2) Thomas Cocke ~ Note: This is said to be Abraham's step-daughter.
• Margaret Agnes Powell, married Thomas Cocke and was the mother of his children
• John Wood
• Robert Woods
• George Wood
• Sarah Wood (born England in 1661)

One profile for this daughter ("Mary Sarah Elizabeth Wood") has her born in 1631, Malvern Hills, Virginia and died before 1682 (presumably explaining why she is not named in his will - but none of her children are either).^[14] Abraham's daughter Mary is named in his 1682 will as Mary Chamberlaine.

Land Records

The following information was imported in a merge and may not have come through correctly. Verification of information is recommended. ~ 17 September 2020

Charles City County: Patents Issued during the Regal Government. William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 9, No. 4. (Apr., 1901), pp. 227-233. (Patentees' names, date of patent, number of acres and locality of the lands.)

557. Abraham Wood. May 14, 1638. 400 acres. On Appomattox river adjoining the land of John Baker &c.

Henrico County, VA Patent Book 1, 1635-1643

p 653, June 8, 1639, Abraham Wood, 200 acres in Henrico County^[15] on N side of Appamattuck River

p 839, Abraham Wood, October 20, 1642, 700 acres in Henrico County,^[15] butting E upon creeke cdalled by name of Sizemores Creeks, S butting upon Appamattuck River (400 acres by right of former patent formerly granted unto him May 14, 1638, 200 acres more by former patent to him June 8, 1638, other 100 acres for transportation of 2 persons)

p 318, Book 3, Abraham Wood, 1654, 406 acres.^[16]

Charles City County (continued from Vol.9, p 227 above.) Vol. 10 No. 1 (Jul 1901) pp 24-31.

77. Majr. Abraham Wood. June 9, 1653 1557 acres. On the South side of Appomattox river. Beg.g &c on the back of a little swamp on Appomattox river &c to the lower end of an Island called Flea Island & above the tenement of John Yowers, including the Island and Inlets.

486. Colo. Abraham Wood. Septr. 16, 1663. 2073 acres. Lying at Fort Henry, on South side of Appomattox river. Bounded &c from thence it crosseth a part of Appomattox run to the lower end of an Island called Flea Island &c.

Early Records of Charles City County VA, William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol., 4, No. 3, (Jan., 1896), pp. 167-169

Early Records of Charles City County (1), County Commissioners or Justices of the Peace

June 4, 1655, lists Collo Edd. Hill, Esq., Capt. Henry Perry, Esq., Mason Abm. Wood , etc.

Feb, 3, 1657, Capt Abra Wood

Militia, July 3, 1661 - Coll Abraham Wood Esq.

Sources

1. ↑ The Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the state of Virginia : 1913. Richmond, Va.: Mitchell & Hotchkiss, 1913 Note: List of members, Register of Ancestors. Text: Residence: Virginia.
2. ↑ Jamestown 4 February 1624/5 muster: Abraham Wood, mustered under Capt Samuell Mathews, servant at "Capt Mathews Plant", James Citty. Muster listed him as 10 years old, arrival aboard Margrett & John in 1620. (This would, I think put his birth c1614/15, instead of 1610.)
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Abraham Wood's biography in Lyon Gardiner Tyler's Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, 5 volumes. New York, New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co., c1915.
   

   v. 1, p. 122 Text: 'Wood, Abraham, was for many years one of the leading men of the colony. He came to Virginia as a little boy of ten years in 1620 in the "Margaret and John," commanded by Capt. Chester. This was the vessel that fought the famous sea fight with two Spanish men-of-war. Little Abraham escaped unharmed, and in 1625 was living at Jamestown in the employment of Capt. Samuel Mathews. He represented Henrico county in the house of burgesses from 1644 to 1646. He was placed in charge of Fort Henry at the falls of Appomatox, where, dwelling on the frontier wood, he became well acquainted with the Indians and their country. On Aug. 24, 1650, Wood, Edward Bland and a number of others set forth from Fort Henry, now the site of Petersburg, and made an exploration to the southwest, where they discovered a new river running west. Bland published an account of this journey in 1652. About the time of this trip, Wood changed his residence to the south side of the Appomatox river, in Charles City, and, as Major Abraham Wood, was burgess of that county from 1652 to 1656. In 1655, he was a justice of Charles City and the following year was made colonel of the regiment of Henrico and Charles City, in place of Col. Hill, suspended. In the same year, he was appointed on a committee to review the laws of Virginia. On March 13, 1657-58, he was elected to the council and remained a member of that body for many years, being present at the session of Sept., 1671. He appears to have held the office of major general until after Bacon's Rebellion, when, perhaps on account of opposition to the policy of the government, he seems to have lost his position and been reduced to the rank of colonel. In 1676, Gov. Berkeley wrote that Maj. Gen. Wood of the council kept to his house through infirmity, but he seems to have recovered as, in march, 1678-79, he was carrying on negotiations with the Indians and arranging for the chief men of the hostile tribes to meet in Jamestown. He died sometime between 1681 and 1686.'

4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} "Jones of Petersburg," The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 19, No. 4, Apr., 1911, pp 287-292
5. ↑ A. C. Quisenberry, "The First Pioneer Families of Virginia," Register of Kentucky State Historical Society, Vol. 11, No. 32 (MAY, 1913), pp. 55, 57-77 (Kentucky Historical Society). Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/23367151 (p 77)
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Kathryn Gearhart's website on Early Virginia Jones Families
7. ↑ maybe this Henry Alley?
8. ↑ Richard is the second of the "grandchildren in law" listed in Abraham's will. Peter and Margaret married in 1655, so 1656 is the birth year guess for their first child & 1658 for their second (rounded to 1660).
9. ↑ As of 11 April 2021, the Richard Jones suggested as the more likely husband of Martha Llewellyn was attached as her husband (Jones-11505) and the profiles that had been referred to as Richard, the second son of Peter and Margaret (Wood) Jones, born c1660, is attached as their son.
10. ↑ Was Cruse-341. There is no evidence that Margaret (Llewellyn) and James Cruse had any children, so the profile was merged away into the profile for Margaret Llewellyn.
11. ↑ "Virginia Gleanings in England (Continued)," The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 13, No. 1 (Jul., 1905), pp. 53-64 (Virginia Historical Society). Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4242725
12. ↑ this wording tripped me up, but I believe it's referring to the son (son Daniel's sister is daughter Martha Jones)
13. ↑ Information from Virginia Gleanings article.
14. ↑ Source: Wood Lineages (access attempted 23 Jan 2021 - site can't be reached; link replaced with link to 2020 WayBack Machine capture).
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} Land Grants Henrico County (Book 1), page 82 (image 92 of 352), accessed 10 August 2021.
16. ↑ Land Grants Henrico County (Book 3), page 83 (image 93 of 352), accessed 10 August 2021.

See also:

• Wikipedia: Abraham Wood
• Historical Markers

1. [[1]] Early Exploration
2. [[2]] English Exploration
3. [[3]] Fort Henry
4. [[4]] The New River
5. [[5]] Early Exploration
6. [[6]] Peter Jones Trading Station
7. [[7]] Greensville Co, VA
8. [[8]] Petersburg's Role In Trade
9. [[9]] New River
10. [[10]] Historic Point of Rocks: The Bermuda Hundred Campaign