William Wood III (abt. 1691 - 1772)

Born about 19 Apr 1691 in New Bedford, Bristol, Plymouth Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Keziah (Hedger) Wood — married 1730 in Gloucester, New Jersey

Died 6 Mar 1772 at about age 80 in Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts Bay Colony [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mike Wood [send private message]

This profile has traditionally represented William Wood who was born 1691 (earlier pages said "abt. 1693") in Dartmouth, who married "Liza" (paka Keziah), and he died 1772. All of these facts are documented in Rhode Island Vital Records as well as in Quaker Records of Dartmouth.

William 19 Apr 1691, a twin. “The Forteen day of the third month called May anoque domini one thousand seven Hundred + Thirty At Flushing William Wood son of William Wood of Dartmouth in New England and Keziah Hedger Daughter of Joseph Hedger of Flushing were married.” The fact that this William Wood and his brother Jedediah both married women named Keziah and both resided in Dartmouth has caused great confusion; and we judge in their own day as well as among present day genealogists. In the town records William’s wife is Keziah; but in the Quaker records of Dartmouth she is “Liza”. In her husband’s will she is once Hezekiah (sic!) and once Keziah. We quote examples: Town record: William, son of William, Jr., + Keziah, b. 31 Mar 1731 Quaker rec: William (son of William + Liza) b. 31st 1 mo. 1730/31 Town record: Susanna, dau. of William Wood, Jr. + Keziah,, b. 13 Aug 1733 Quaker rec: Susanna, wife of Benjamin Smith + dau. of William (son of William) and Liza Town record: Silvanus, son of William Wood, Jr. : Keziah b 21 May 1748 Quaker rec: Silvanus, child of William Wood (son of William) + Liza …… In William’s will (6 Feb 1764 – 29 June 1772) the first item is: “I give and bequeath unto my true and loving wife Hezekiah Wood.” etc. The last item is: “I do hereby ordain and appoint my true + loving wife Keziah Wood and my loving son William Wood Executor + Executrix to this my last will + Testament” 6 . Besides his wife and son William he bequeaths to his son Silvanus and his daughter Susannah, wife of Benjamin Smith. Dartmouth records have: William Wood, husband of Liza, died 6 Mar 1772 in his 81st year. A Keziah Wood died there 9 mo 11th day 1788; but whether William’s wife or Jedediah’s we cannot say.

Source: John Wood of Rhode Island, CLARK, pub. 1966

This is NOT the William Wood who married Hannah Howland (see notes below from another researcher.

Biography

William was a Friend (Quaker)

Birth Records

William and his fraternal twin sister, Rachel, were born April 19, 1691^[1]

William was born 19d 2m 1691 [19 Apr 1691].^[2] He was the son of William and Mary Wood of Dartmouth.

Marriage

William Wood, son of William and Mary, married Keziah Hedger on 14 Mar 1730 in Gloucester, New Jersey.^[3]

Children

1. William Wood, born 31d 1m 1730/1 [31 Mar 1731]
2. Susanna Wood, born 23d 6m 1733 [23 Aug 1733].
3. Silvanus Wood, born 21d 3m 1748 [21 May 1748]; died 20d 7m 1768 [20 Jul 1768].

^[4]

Death

"William Wood the father of the above mentioned departed this life on the 6th day of the 3rd month called March of 1772 in the 81 year of his age." (https://www.dartmouthhas.org/uploads/1/0/0/2/100287044/bmd_1699-1880_p_1-76_signed.pdf#page=18)

Additional Resources

Important information regarding interpreting pre-1752 Quaker dates

William was the father of Josiah Wood of Dartmouth.^[5]

William Wood, Jr. and Hannah Howland, Jr., both of Dartmouth, were married on September 10, 1728.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L979-99MZ?cc=2061550&wc=Q4DW-4W5%3A353350701%2C353461901%2C353496501 : 13 July 2016), Bristol > New Bedford > Births 1686-1787 > image 199 of 207; citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston.
2. ↑ Monthly meeting records, Births - Marriages - Deaths 1699 - 1880, Society of Friends, Dartmouth Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends : Dartmouth, Mass.), p 2.
3. ↑ "New Jersey, County Marriages, 1682-1956," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VW5R-WQS : 20 May 2019), William Wood and Keziah Hedger, 14 Mar 1730; citing Gloucester, New Jersey, New Jersey State Archives, Trenton; FHL microfilm 850,324.
4. ↑ http://www.dartmouthhas.org/uploads/1/0/0/2/100287044/bmd_1699-1880_p_1-76_signed.pdf#page=18 Monthly meeting records, Births - Marriages - Deaths 1699 - 1880], Society of Friends, Dartmouth Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends : Dartmouth, Mass.), p. 24.
5. ↑ Monthly meeting records, Births - Marriages - Deaths 1699 - 1880, Society of Friends, Dartmouth Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends : Dartmouth, Mass.), p 399.
6. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-9979-CWYY?cc=2061550&wc=Q4DC-T32%3A353350701%2C353554501%2C353556701 : 22 October 2020), Bristol > Dartmouth > Births, marriages, deaths 1667-1844 > image 393 of 408; citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston.

• http://www.dartmouthhas.org/uploads/1/0/0/2/100287044/bmd_1699-1880_p_1-76_signed.pdf#page=18 Monthly meeting records, Births - Marriages - Deaths 1699 - 1880], Society of Friends, Dartmouth Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends : Dartmouth, Mass.), p. 24.

• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L979-99MZ?cc=2061550&wc=Q4DW-4W5%3A353350701%2C353461901%2C353496501 : 13 July 2016), Bristol > New Bedford > Births 1686-1787 > image 199 of 207; citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston.
• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-9979-CWYY?cc=2061550&wc=Q4DC-T32%3A353350701%2C353554501%2C353556701 : 22 October 2020), Bristol > Dartmouth > Births, marriages, deaths 1667-1844 > image 393 of 408; citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston.

• Massachusetts, Marriages, 1633-1850 Name William, Jr. Wood Gender Male Spouse Hannah, Jr. Howland Marriage Date10 Sep 1728 City Dartmouth County Bristol Source Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT, Film # 0883792.

• Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 Name William Wood Event Type Birth Birth Date 20 May 1706 Birth Place Dartmouth, Massachusetts Father Name Daniel Wood