Henry Wood (bef. 1635 - bef. 1691)

Born before 1635 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Hannah (Yokley) Wood — married 1666 in England

Descendants

Died before 1 Jun 1691 at about age 56 in Hopewell, Gloucester, New Jersey [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: H Husted [send private message]

Biography

Uncertain Origins

There were at least three Quaker families with the Wood surname who settled in West Jersey. This profile represents Henry Wood the Quaker, who settled first in Rhode Island by 1671 then was in Hopewell, New Jersey by 1682.

• He is not related to the other Quaker Henry Wood (1603-1686) who immigrated from Lancashire in 1682 on the Lyon and founded Woodbury.
• While the biography on John Wood Jr's profile names this Henry Wood as his son, John also has a younger son also named Henry, who has a profile currently attached.
• He is not (apparently) related to William Wood (1656-1722) of Chesterfield, Burlington, County, New Jersey
• He may be seen the son of William Wood, author (see Research Notes)

Immigration

"Henry Wood of Hopewell... was among the earliest of Quakers to flee to America from persecution in England and settled first in Newport, Rhode Island. He removed from there to Hopewell along Coopers Creek in Old Gloucester County with a Certificate dated July 12, 1687 but had taken up residence there at least by 1682 for his location is referenced in a Return of Survey in May of that year. He was the more affluent in the area owning property in Rhode Island, Philadelphia and West jersey at the time of his death in 1691. Through marriage and otherwise his family became identified with the most influential of the early Quaker leaders in the Irish Tenth."^[1]

When did the Woods immigrate to Rhode Island?

Timeline

• Settled in Newport, Rhode Island before 1671 ^{[citation needed]}
• Certificate of removal received by Newton Monthly Meeting dated 12d 5m 1687 signed by members of "our men's meeting at John Easton's on Rhoad Island"^[2]
• Gloucester County, New Jersey by 1682 (return of survey)^{[citation needed]}
• 1684, 1685, member of Assembly
• 1685, commissioner of lands and highways
• Sep 1686, juror
• Certificate of Removal from Newport MM, 11d 5m 1687^{[citation needed]}

"Wood purchased in 1682 of Samuel Cole a farm of 100 A. on the North side of the Creek at "Arawmosset"; this farm fronted on the river and creek and was immediately opposite William Cooper's plantation "Pyne Point." He named his place "Hopewell" probably after the ship which brought his father's family to New England. The Woods were Friends and their certificate of membership was given 5 mo. 11th 1687, from a meeting held at the home of John Easton on Rhode Island and forwarded to Newton Meeting, in requirement of the discipline of the Society. Wood was a member of the Assembly in 1685 and 1684, Commissioner of lands and highways in 1685 and 1685 and a juryman in the first court held under the constitution of Arwames in Sep. 1686. He died in 1691."^[3]

Wife Hannah

McCahan writes that Hannah's surname is not known. There are two other theories.

• Clement (who was often speculative) thought his wife was Hannah daughter of John and Hannah Thackara, from Yorkshire, England.(John Clement)
• Currently, we have Hannah Yokley as his wife

“Hannah Wood married 2nd John Haines 3/2/1722 son of Richard and Margaret Haines. There were no children of this marriage. (Haines Genealogy, Colonial Families of America, p.339). [this is the other John Wood? Need to check.Husted-87 18:19, 8 October 2015 (EDT)]

Children

1. HENRY WOOD, Jr. b. 24 Nov. 1670, d. 1694. His will was probated 11/14/1694 (NJA., Calendar of Wills, v.1, p.518). In his will he mentions his mother Hannah, his brothers: James Richard and Benjamin Wood, his sisters: Judith Willard and her sons Henry and Thomas, Abigail Cooper and her son William Cooper, Hannah Wood and Elizabeth Wood and brother-in-law Daniel Cooper, brother-in-law Thomas Willard. "Henry was born November 24, 1671, died in 1694 or 1695, unmarried"(McCahan)
2. JAMES WOOD shipwright, married Mary daughter of James Pellor of Philadelphia 8/27/1715. (Encyclopedia of Quaker Genealogy, Philadelphia Meeting). "James, born November 9, 1674, living in 1694."(McCahan)
3. JUDITH WOOD married 10/10/1689 Thomas Willard late of the Barbadoes. (Genealogical Society of New Jersey, July 1928, v.3). "Judiah or Judith, married, in 1689, at Henry Wood's house at Hopewell, Thomas Willard."(McCahan)
4. HANNAH WOOD married 6/3/1695 Joseph Nicholson son of Samuel of Alloways Creek, Salem County. (Genealogical Society of New Jersey, etc.July 1928, v.3). "Hannah, born September 25, 1677; married, 1-3-1695, at the house of Hannah Wood, Joseph Nicholson, of "Alawayes Creek," Salem County, New Jersey"(McCahan)
5. ELIZABETH WOOD married 1703 Stephen son of Mark and Hannah Newbie. "Elizabeth, born January 9, 1681-82; married, 8-6-1703, at Newton Meeting-House, Stephen Newby, of Newton."(McCahan)
6. BENJAMIN WOOD married 1707 Elizabeth daughter of John Kay and Elizabeth Frame at John Kay’s house. (Recorded Newton Meeting, Friends at Meeting). She died and he married 2nd Mary Ashton of Philadelphia 1727. (Licenses to Marry, Granted by the Governor of the State of New Jersey at Trenton, for Burlington and Gloucester Counties. Peabody Library, Baltimore). -- Henry's will doesn't mention a son Benjamin, the will of Henry Wood's son, Henry d. 1694, does mention a brother Benjamin. dated "1694, Nov. 14," and was proved "April 13, 1696." In it he mentions: "Mother, Hannah Wood; brothers, James Wood, Richard Wood, Benjamin Wood; sisters, Judith Willard (who has sons Henry and Thomas Willard), Abigail Cooper (who has son William Cooper), Hannah Wood, Elizabeth Wood; brother-in-law Thomas Willard."(McCahan)
7. ABIGAIL WOOD married 8/4/1693 Daniel Cooper son of William. (Genealogical Society of New Jersey). "Abigail, born August 15, 1672; married, in 1693, at Hannah Wood's house, Daniel Cooper."(McCahan)
8. Richard "Richard, born October 28, 1679, living in 1694"(McCahan)

("The births of Judith and Benjamin are not recorded in Friends' records of Rhode Island. It is believed by some writers that Judith was a daughter by a former marriage of Henry Wood. Benjamin may have been born in 1675 or 1676, between not marry until 1707, and could have been born James and Hannah. However, Benjamin did after Elizabeth.")(McCahan)

Children

1. Henry, b. 24 Nov. 1670
2. Abigail, 15 Aug. 1672
3. James, 9 Nov. 1674
4. Hannah, 25 Sept. 1677
5. Richard, 28 Oct. 1679
6. Elizabeth 9 Jan. 1682.

Death and Legacy

Abstract of Will

1691 April 4. Will of Henery Wood, of Hopewell, Gloucester Co.; will of. Wife Hannah. Sons--Henery, James, Richard, daughter Judith, Abigall, Hanah, Elezebeth. Land in the Narriganset Country, called Poecsett, do. in West Jersey, called the Great Tree Land and the Fast Landing Land, a bank cott and houses in Philadelphia, one at the waterside, the next to John King's lot, house and land in Newport, R. I. Personal property includes a negro. The wife executrix with Samuel Carpenter of Philadelphia and George Smith of West Jersey as trustees for the real estate in Pennsilvania and West Jersey, Walter Clarke and Benjamin Newberry in Rhode Island. Witnesses--Samuel Spicer and Tenes (?) Lines. Proved June 18, 1691.

1691 June 1. Will proved by his widow and executrix Hannah Wood.

1691 June 1. Bond of Hannah Wood as executrix. Thomas Thackera and William Bate, both of Newton, Gloucester Co., yeoman, fellow bondsmen.

1691 June 1. Back bond of Hannah Wood to her bondsman William Bate.^[4]

"Where stood the primitive forests, as owned by Henry Wood one hundred and eighty years since, the soil is now divided into valuable farms, and, before another like lapse of time, will be included in the city of Camden and be covered with the dwellings of its inhabitants."^[5]

Research Notes

Son of William Wood the author?

Clement (1877), Wood (1903), and McCahan (1940) all wrote that Henry was probably a son of William Wood, author of a much read Quaker pamphlet, called "New England's Prospect," published in 1634; he returned to England in 1635 with his brother John in the ship Hopewell, from which Henry named his homestead property.' The correlation between the ship the author sailed home to London on and the name of the Wood farm “Hopewell” is interesting.

More about William Wood, author

• https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Author:William_Wood_(1580-1639)

"Little is known about the travel writer William Wood (ca. 1580-1639), who wrote one of the earliest and fullest accounts of indigenous peoples in the Massachusetts Bay colony."^[6]

New England’s Prospect on archive.org

Anderson wrote that sources on William are scarce. He names only two children, Meriam and Mary, both born in Sandwich. “The history of William Wood after he returned to London and published his book has long been a matter of discussion, and more than one man by the name of William Wood is seen in New England in the later 1630s.”^[7]

Other Early Wood Immigrants

"William Wood was the first to arrive in this new colony. He landed at Burlington in 1677, having come in the "Willing Mind" (John Newcomb, commander), and in 1680 he located thirty-six acres in the town of Burlington. He was followed in eleven months by John Wood, of Yorkshire, who arrived in the Delaware in the tenth month, 1678, in the ship "Shield," of Hull, commanded by Daniel Tods. In 1682, another John Wood, of Lancashire, a Quaker, came to West Jersey and settled at Burlington on three hundred acres of land at the mouth of the Woodbury, Creek. He married and had five children. This family always remained at Burlington... these three men were the first of their name to settle in this part of the province. Later, a Henry Wood, of Rhode Island, moves to West Jersey and settled at Burlington, in 1687. He was the son of William Wood, author of "New England Prospect," published in London in 1634. Most... confuse the above two John Woods and their families... I think it is safe to assume that these two John Woods in question were in no way related, and especially as they came from different parts of England."^[8]

Notes

THE WOOD LINE

Henry Wood was not of the family first settling in New Jersey. He came from Rhode Island as appears in the records of the Friends’ Meeting at Newton but not until a year or so after his purchase of Hopewell as his certificate of renewal is dated 12th month, 1687. William Wood returned to England in the ship Hopewell, for which Henry named his homestead property. He died in 1691 having been a constant attendant at Newton Meeting. He was a member of the Assembly 1683-1684. In 1684 he was appointed one of the Commissioners for laying out land and purchasing from the Indians; and in 1685 he acted as a Commissioner for opening highways and keeping the same in repair. He was a member of the Council of Proprietors in 1688.(John Clement)

Clement thought Henry was the son of William Wood of Altercliffe, in the Parish of Sheffield, Yorkshire, England and his wife Sarah.

Quote from Savage

Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England (Boston, Little, Brown and Company, 1862), Volume 4, p. 626

"WOOD, HENRY, Newport, by w. Hannah had Henry, b. 24 Nov. 1670; Abigail, 15 Aug. 1672; James, 9 Nov. 1674; Hannah, 25 Sept. 1677; Richard, 28 Oct. 1679; and Eliz. 9 Jan. 1682. It ought to be add. that the rec. spells this name as Whod, and possib. that may mean Hood."

Long Quote from Clement

Clement, John. Sketches of the First Emigrant Settlers in Newton Township, Old Gloucester County, West New Jersey. (Camden, N.J, Sinnickson Chew, 1877), pp. 328-331

Henry Wood and his wife and children came from Newport, Rhode Island, as appears by the records of the Friends' Meeting of Newton; but not until a year or so after the purchase, as his certificate of removal is dated twelfth month 5th, 1687. He was probably a son of William Wood, author of a much read Quaker pamphlet, called "New England's Prospect," published in 1634; he returned to England in 1635 with his brother John in the ship Hopewell, from which Henry named his homestead property.

Henry Wood remained on the premises which he purchased of Samuel Cole, and there died in 1691, having been a member and constant attendant of the Newton meeting. He was somewhat of a public man, as he was a member of the Assembly in 1683 and 1684; but in the last year did not attend. In 1684, he was appointed one of the commissioners for laying out land and purchasing from the Indians; and, in 1685, he acted as a commissioner for opening highways and keeping the same in repair. He rendered service in many other minor positions, and was a useful man in his time. All his traveling was done by water, and the daughters as well as the sons were experts in managing a boat...

In 1683, Henry Wood located three hundred and fifty acres of land on the north side of and fronting Cooper's creek; this he afterward sold to Matthew Burden in 1686, who probably settled on the same. This grantee was a resident of Portsmouth in Rhode Island at the time of the purchase, and in some way connected with the grantor. The name of Burden does not often occur among the early settlers hereabout. Richard, a son of Matthew Burden, conveyed this land to John Cox in 1711; much of it is now included in the Browning estate, and divided into various farms. He was the owner of much other land in West New Jersey, but he disposed of the greater part before his death.

His widow Hannah survived him several years. In 1754, the son Henry died a single man, and by his will disposed of the real estate given to him by his father among his brothers and sisters. Thomas and Judith Willard settled on a plantation near that of her father's. Thomas died there in 1734, intestate, leaving three sons, James, Henry and Thomas.

Abigail, the wife of Daniel Cooper, died in a short time after her marriage, and without children. Joseph Nicholson, a son of Samuel, and the first of the name that settled in Gloucester county, became the owner of the homestead in 1699, by deed from James Nicholson, and with his wife made that his home. Joseph deceased in 1702, intestate, leaving but two children, George, who married Alice Lord in 1717, and Samuel, who married Sarah Burrough in 1722, Rebecca Saint in 1744, and Jane Albertson, widow of William and daughter of John Engle, in 1749.

After the decease of Joseph Nicholson, Benjamin Wood purchased the homestead estate, and thereon he resided until his death in 1738. Like his father, he called the old place Hopewell, the original Indian name of Arwawmosse, as mentioned by Samuel Cole when he conveyed to Henry Wood, having been abandoned at an early date in their ownership. Benjamin Wood's plantation fronted on the river. His wife Mary survived him, and the following children: Mary, who married Joseph Cole and Richard Matlack; Elizabeth, who married Elias Toy; Hannah, who married Joseph Heulings; Abigail, who married Robert Hunt; Benjamin, who married the latter dying in 1750; John, Judith and Jane.

By his will, the real estate of which he died seized, passed to his children; but in that generation much thereof was alienated, and, at this writing, no part of the soil is held in the name.

The graveyard commenced by the Woods and Spicers, which stands upon the original tract of land as surveyed to Samuel Cole, is still in existence. Some of those in whose veins flows the blood of the first English settlers, have with commendable care preserved its boundaries, and saved it from encroachment. In later years memorials have been raised to show where lie the remains of some of the younger branches of the families; but, of the first there interred, no tradition or record has been left to point out their particular resting place.

Long Quote from McCahan

McCahan, Rena S. Shull, Burdsall, Stockton, and Allied Families: A Genealogical Study with Biographical Notes. (New York, 1940), pp. 40-42

Henry Wood, the first of this family to be of record, died in 1691. He was probably a son of William Wood, author of a much read Quaker pamphlet, called "New England's Prospect," published in 1634. He returned to England in 1635 with his brother, John, in the ship "Hopewell," from which Henry Wood named his homestead property.

Henry Wood is first mentioned at Newport, Rhode Island, where the earliest record regarding him is in connection with the record of the birth of his son, Henry, on November 24, 1671, which appears in the Friends' register of that colony. The marriage of the parents is not found there, so it is probable that they came from England, after having been married there. In that case, some of the six children recorded at Newport may have been born abroad, and their births afterwards entered in the Rhode Island register, a procedure not unusual in those early days.

The last child recorded at Newport was born January 9, 1681-82. The removal of Henry Wood to New Jersey must have taken place soon after. In September, 1682, he purchased land in New Jersey, and, although a purchase does not prove a settlement, it seems probable that he settled at that time in that part of Gloucester County, which is now comprised in Camden County and where the land was located. For in 1683 he was a member of the Assembly of West Jersey, and, as will be seen later, represented the "Third Tenth." Although his certificate of removal, granted by Friends of Rhode Island, is dated 5-12-1687, it calls him "late Inhabytant of Newport," so it is probable that he had long since removed from that region:

"Whereas our friend Henry Wood Late Inhabytant of Newport on Rhode Island having desired A Certificate of this Meeting.

These are to Certiefye all ffriends where this may come that Wilst he Lived and Professed the Truth Amongst us, he walked Orderly and had good Esteeme & respect Amongst friends & others, unto which wee Subscribe our names by order and in behalfe of our men's Meeting, att John Easton's on Rhode Island this 12th day of ye 5th moneth 1687.

Walter Clarke

Walter Newberry."

Henry Wood's New Jersey property, which he bought of Samuel Cole was a tract of land on the north side of Cooper's Creek, bounded by the land which Samuel Cole subsequently sold to Samuel Spicer, and

1682 Sept. 4-5. Mem of Deed. Samuel Cole and wife Elizabeth to Henry Wood, for 1-20 of a share, bo't by grantor and Benjamin Barclett of Wm. Penn et al., March 1-2, 1676-7: also a house at Arwaw-mosse with 100 acres.

He remained there until his death in 1691, having been a member and constant attendant of Newton Meeting. He was somewhat of a public man, as he was a member of the Assembly in 1683 and 1684, though in the last year he did not attend. In 1684 he was appointed one of the commissioners for laying out land and purchasing from the Indians and in 1685 he acted as a commissioner for opening highways and keeping the same in repair. He rendered service in many other minor positions and was a useful man in his time.

"At a meeting of the proprietors at Burlington, this sixth of the seventh month, in the year 1688; it is agreed, that five of the commissioners shall be a quorum in all their meetings, and shall have power to act in as full manner as if the whole number of eleven were present; and it is further agreed, that the said commissioners shall meet at least once a quarter, the day after each quarter session." Signed by Henry Wood and others

Wood Family of Rhode Island and New Jersey

This gives him two wives, Judith and Hannah

The pioneer of this family was Henry Wood, probably a brother of Richard Wood, who married Ruth Brook.

Henry Wood born unknown date, died June 1691 in New Jersey. He married 1st unknown name, and 2nd 1670 to Hannah (Yokeley), daughter of Michael and Joana (Cowell) Yokley of County Middlesex, England.

They probably accompanied Arthur and Margaret Cook to Rhode Island and settled in Newport, where the births of their children are recorded in the Friend's Meeting register of Newport. A daughter, Judith is supposed to have been Henry's daughter from his former wife.

May 10, 1687, Henry Wood, late of Newport, RI, presented a certificate to the Haddonfield, NJ Friend's Meeting signed by Governor Walter Clarke and Walter Newburry, close friends of Arthur Cooke, Esq.

He had issue by his first wife (name unknown) named Judith.

He had issue with his second wife, Hannah, 6 children

1. Henry Wood b Nov 24 1671, d 1695 single. The will of Henry Wood of West Jersey dated November 14, 1694, pr. April 13, 1695, mentions mother Hannah Wood, James, Richard, and Benjamin; sisters, Judith Willard and her sons Henry and Thomas Willard, Abigail Cooper, who had a son, William Cooper; Hannah Wood, Elizabeth Wood, brother in law Thomas Willard. He left a plantation on Cooper's Creek, a lot of 100 acres called the "Great Tree.".

2. Abigail Wood b Aug 15 1672 m March 4, 1693-1694 at Haddonfield NJ Meeting. Daniel Cooper, son of William and Margaret Cooper of "Pinepoint" NJ. Witnesses follow in order given in the Haddonfield records. William Cooper, Joseph Cooper, Arthur Cook, Judith (Willard), Margaret Cooke and many others.

3. James Wood b Nov 9 1674 m circa June 1703. March 1 1699-1700, James Wood of Philadelphia, ship carptener, conveyed to Joseph Nichols of Coopers Creek (his brother-in-law) 290 acres on said creek, between Thomas Chandlers, William Steel, Samuel Spicier and a small run; 240 cares there of inherited from his brother Henry Wood Jr and 30 acres from his father Henry Wood Sr (NJ Archives.

4. Hannah Wood b Sept 25 1677 m Jan 3, 1695 at Haddonfield Meeting Joseph Nicholson of Alloways Creek, Salem County, NJ. Witnessess follow in order as in record: Abel Nicholson, James Wood, Thomas Willard, Daniel Cooper, Richard Worth, Samuel Spicer, Hannah Wood, Jusith Willare, Esther Spicer, Lydia Cooper, Ann Curtis, Elizabeth Key, Mary Kirll, Jane Wood and many others.

5. Richard Wood b Oct 28 1679. He received a confirmation of a deed from his mother Hannah and his elder brother James on February 17 1699-1700, at which date he had arrived at the age of 20 years and about 3 months, and he was full age Nov 1, 1700, when he conveyed the property to Thomas Lambert.

6. Elizabeth Wood b Jan 9 1681-1682 m first Stephen Newby on Aug own note, Elizabeth m second to John Hugg Dir on July 23, 1714 in Gloucester Co. NJ) Witness to the first marriage of Elizabeth were James, Jan and Benjamin Wood, Thomas and Judith Willard, Hannah Nicholson and others.

Source: - Woodbury Daily Times (New Jersey), Jan 30, 1922.

Sources

1. ↑ Gladys Coupe and F. Lewis Orrell, Jr. The Wood Family of Lancashire, England, and Gloucester County, New Jersey. (Woodbury, NJ, Gloucester County Historical Society, 1985), 78
2. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2189/images/31906_283833-00217
3. ↑ Cooper Family Register, page 33 in U.S., Published Quaker Family Histories, 1845-1920, image 101/278. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/34683/images/40590_1220706242_0692-00102
4. ↑ Henery Wood.Calendar of Wills, Administrations, Etc. 1670-1730. Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. (Trenton, NJ: Archives of the State of New Jersey), volume 23, pages 516-517
5. ↑ Clement (1877)
6. ↑ Music in the USA: A Documentary Companion, 9. google books
7. ↑ Robert Charles Anderson. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, Volumes 1-3; The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volumes 1-6. Boston: New England Historical and Genealogical Society, 1996-2011. 3:2054.
8. ↑ Wood, Arnold. John Wood of Attercliffe, Yorkshire, England and Falls, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and His Descendants in the United States. (New York: privately printed, 1903), 10

Acknowledgements

Thank you Bob Worcester.