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John Woodbury (abt. 1583 - aft. 1641)

John Woodbury
Born about in Somerset, Englandmap [uncertain]
Son of and [mother unknown]
Husband of — married 2 May 1607 in West Coker, Somerset, Englandmap
Husband of — married 19 Mar 1627 in Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colonymap
Descendants descendants
Died after after about age 58 in Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colonymap
Profile last modified | Created 20 Aug 2011
This page has been accessed 10,240 times.
The Puritan Great Migration.
John Woodbury migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See Great Migration Begins, by R. C. Anderson, Vol. 3, p. 2054)
Join: Puritan Great Migration Project
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Contents

Disputed Associations

Raymon Meyers Tingley published several loose/erroneous associations in his 1935 sketch of the immigrant, John Woodbury. These include reports of

For the most part, these problem associations have been corrected by Anderson and others in subsequent published materials. Anderson (1995)[1] did not recognize a father, John Woodbury, nor was such a father associated with William Woodbury in the 2021 article by Dearborn and Arthaud.[2] Anderson did not recognize "Joan" (aka Joanna) Humphrey or "Annis or Agnes Napper" as wives of the immigrant, and he did not report children Lydia or Sarah. See the WikiTree "Frauds and Fabrications" category page about Tingley's work, Some Ancestral Lines ... and Research Notes.

Biography

Robert Charles Anderson (1995) estimated john Woodbury's birth as "about 1583" (estimated first marriage, by 1608).[3]

John was married at least twice, at England or presumably at England.

Immigration

John Woodbury immigrated in 1624 to Cape Ann,[4] leaving his wife and/or family in England.[5] He travelled back to England in 1627, in part for purposes related to colonization.[6] John returned to Massachusetts Bay in 1628 with his son Humphrey, settling at Salem.[7][8][9] His wife and the balance of the family arrived still later,[10] but resided Salem by 1636.[11]

According to the 1680 testimony of his son Humphrey, John Woodbury came to Cape Ann by order of the Dorchester Company. Charles Edward Banks (1930) and Burton W. Spear (c1985) supposed his 1624 passage aboard the Zouch Phenix.[12][13] Burton W. Spear (c1985) similarly reported his return in 1628 aboard the Abigail.

In 1628, John Endicott arrived in New England with a patent from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, claiming jurisdiction and ownership of the Dorchester Company. A tradition says that John and one other carried Endicott from the ship (stranded on a sand bar) to the shore. This would save Endicott the embarrassment of arriving on shore wet. [14]

At Massachusetts Bay

John requested freemanship on 19 October 1630, which was granted 18 May 1631.[15]

As "John Woodberye," his name appears with others on the Salem church member list made in late 1636; a later annotation remarks, "dead"; his wife, as "Agnes Woodbery" also appears.[16]

Having petitioned the town for the grant,[17] on 25 January 1635[/6], John Woodbury was granted a two-hundred acre farm "at the head of the Bass River," as were Capt. Trask, Mr. Conant, Peter Palfrey and John Balch.[18] From the Town Records of Salem,[19]

25th of the 11th moneth 1635
That Capn Traske, Jno Woodbery, mr Connant, Peter Palfrey & John Balch are to haue 5 fearmes viz. each 200 acres a peice to [a] fearme in all a thousand acres of land togeather lying and bei[ng]. at the head of Basse River 124 pole in breadth and soe [to] runne northerly to the River by the great pond side, and soe [in] breadth making vp the full quantitye of a thousand acres, these lymits laid out & surveyed by vs
John Woodbery
John Balch

John was further granted one acre of marsh on 25 December 1637, based on a household of six persons,[20][21] and on 7 May 1638, five acres of meadow.[22][23]

He was Deputy for Salem to the Massachusetts Bay General Court, 6 May 1635, 2 September 1635, 12 March 1637/8, 6 September 1638 and 13 March 1638/9.[24] John served as assessor for the Colony, 12 March 1637/8, and was on the committee to value livestock, 13 May 1640.[25]

He served on twelve trial juries between 1636 and 1641; chosen foreman at least twice.[26]

He was Salem constable (1630), selectman (1636-41), lotlayer (1635, 1636 and 1637), and assessor (1636, 1637).[27]

About John Woodbury, Robert Charles Anderson (1995) wrote,[28] "John Woodbury was a conscientious man, who in his few years as part of Salem government, did more than others accomplished in much longer lives. He was present for every selectmen's meeting until death interrupted him in mid-stride in the winter of 1641."

John died before, probably shortly before, January 1641/2, for at that term of Salem Court, he was called as a grandjuryman, with a notion, "absent, now dead"[29][30] (he was recorded as being in attendance at a meeting on 3 December 1641).[31]

On 27 : 10 : 1642 [27 December 1642], the widow Woodbury was ordered to "bring in her husband's will and [the] inventory of his estate." The will was proved 27 June 1643 (but not recorded), and "Ann Woodbury," widow and executrix, was ordered to bring in the estate inventory, which was sworn to 20 : 12 : 1643 [20 February 1643/4].[32]

Agnes long survived as his widow. In her testimony given at Salem Quarterly Court, 24 : 9 : 1657 [24 November 1657],[33] Nicholas Patch was referred to as "her brother."[34] In the matter of the estate of Agnes Balch,

Widow Anis Woodbery, Nicholas Patch her brother and his wife John Hill and his wife Abigail Hill, Rachill Rayment, Hanah Woodbery and John Grover testified that they knew Anes Ballch more than two years before her death, during her long sickness, and judged that all her estate would not pay Bengeman Ballch and his wife for their trouble, labor and charge.

The death of "Annice Woodbery" was recorded Beverly, 14 February 1672/3.[35][36][37]

Family

John Woodbury was the father of five known children. One child was born to John and his first wife, _____ (_____) Woodbury; four children were born to John and the woman herein presumed his second wife, Agnes (_____) Woodbury.[38]

With first wife,

1. Humphrey Woodbury, born about 1608, married Elizabeth Hunter.[39][40]

With second wife,

2. John Woodbury, born say 1629; married by 1654 to Elizabeth _____ (child born Salem, 15 August 1654)
3. Hannah Woodbury, baptized Salem, 25 December 1637; married Cornelius Baker.
4. Abigail Woodbury, baptized 12 November 1637; married John Hill.
5. Peter Woodbury , baptized 19 September 1640[41]; married (1) Abigail Batchelder[42] and (2) Sarah Dodge.

Deposition of Humphry Woodberye, 1680 (otherwise [Essex Deeds, 5:107].[43][44][45]
"16: 12mo:1680. Humphry Woodberye, of Beverly in New England, aged about 72 yeares. Testifieth, that when I liued in Sumersetshire in England, I remember that my father, John Woodberye, (since deceased) did about 56 yeares agoe remooue for new England & I then traueled with him as farr as Dorchester, and I understood that my said father came to new England by order of a company caled Dorchester Company, …& that my father & the company with him brought cattle & other things, to Cape Ann, for plantation work, & there built an house & kept theire cattell & sett up fishing & afterwards some of them remoued to a neck of land since called Salem: After about 3 yeares absence my said father returned to England & made us acquainted with what settlement they had made in new England & that he was sent back by some that Intended to setle a plantation about 3 leagues west of Cape Ann, to further this designe, after about half a year's stay in England, my father returned to new England & brought me with him, wee arrived at the place now caled Salem in or about the month of June 1628 … "When wee settled the Indians never then molested us in our improuements or sitting downe, either on Salem or Beverly sides of the ferry, but shewed themselves very glad of our company, & came & planted by us & oftentimes came to us for shelter saying they were afraid of their enemy Indians up in the country: & wee did shelter them wn they fled to us. & we had theire free leave to build & plant where wee have taken up lands."

Research Notes

See also--
Some Woodbury Research
John Woodbury (PGM) References
Was she Johan Bishop?
Was she Agnes Napper?

Name John commonly found in English records. In 1887, of his work to survey the records about the areas of Devon and Somersetshire, " Robert S. Rantoul wrote[46] ... And, wherever there were Woodburys there were Johns."

Errors/oversights published by Raymon Meyers Tingley. In 1935, Raymon Meyers Tingley[47] published a sketch of the immigrant, John Woodbury, claiming he was born 1576, one of three immigrant sons of "John Woodbury of South Petherton." Tingley claimed the immigrant John had married (1) 21 June 1596 to "Joan Humphrey, of Burlescombe, England, and (2) "Annis or Agnes Napper, daughter of Thomas ..." John was said the father to seven children, with "Joan Humphrey" the mother of Humphrey Woodbury, born about 1608, and Annis/Agnes Napper as the mother of the next six: (2) John (married Elizabeth ____); (3) Hannah (married Cornelius Baker); (4) Abigail (married John Hill); (5) Peter (married first Abigail Herrick and second Sarah Dodge); (6) Lydia (married Henry Herrick); (7) Sarah (married Richard Hollingsworth).

Tingley's loose and erroneous claims have found their way to countless family files. For the most part, these problem associations have been corrected by Anderson and others in subsequent published materials:

(1) Numerous scholarly articles have been written about John Woodbury and/or about his brother, William. None of these articles have identified their parents. This includes that Robert Charles Anderson (1995) did not identify the parents of John Woodbury and that David Curtis Dearborn and John Bradley Arthaud (2021) did not identify parents in their work, "William1 Woodbury of Salem and Beverly, Massachusetts."[48]

His father is seen, especially in online user-contributed sites, as John Woodbury, sometimes as born Burlescombe, Devon, England (Geni, 2020; Geneanet, 2005), and sometimes as Somersetshire (Wert, 2011). The elder John is generally reported born 1543 (FT PID GZPT-LWB, 2021; WikiTree Woodbury-209), with his death sometimes reported as 1629 (FT PID GZPT-LWB, 2021), but also as 1641 (Geni, 2020). These profiles are generally unsourced or lack historical references that would support links from the immigrants, John and William, to a father, John, of either Burlescombe, Devon or Somerset, England.

There was a John Woodberye Senior early of Burlescombe (entries naming him appear in the parish records), but there is also a will, dated and proved 1634, of a man by that name. The will (abstract) provided for bequests to both his son, John Woodberrye and his daughter, Florence Woodberrie.[49]

(2) According to 2021 authors Dearborn and Arthaud, Tingley's "third" Woodbury immigrant, Jonathan, is more likely the grandson of William Woodbury (1589-1675/6).[50]

(3) Not married to Joanna Humphrey. A record exists memorializing a Burlescome marriage in 1596 of Johannis Woodberye and Joanna Humffry.[51] In 1887, long before Tingley published his work, Robert S. Rantoul had addressed the Woodbury-Humphrey marriage.[52]

In the Burlescombe parish records, the first John mentioned is a Johannes Woodberye, who intermarries with Joanna Humffreys, June 21, 1596. Humffrey, the old Planter's son, is it asserted ... was born 1607, 8, or 9 ... The temptation is very strong to regard this Johannes of Burlescombe as the father, and Joanna Humffrey as the mother ... But ... it should be known that one "Joanna, wife of John Woodberye" was buried at Burlescombe, June 5 1601."

In 1995, Robert Charles Anderson addressed Tingley's claims, writing,[53]

This Joanna (Humphrey) Woodbury was buried on 5 June 1601, and so, unless Humphrey Woodbury grossly underestimated his own age in his deposition of 1680, Joanna (Humphrey) Woodbury cannot be his mother. In any case, the marriage seems much too early for the immigrant ...

(4) Anderson recognized a wife Agnes _____, not proven as "Agnes Napper." Anderson wrote, "Tingley gave a name and exact date for the second marriage of John Woodbury ... but as all items attributable to this author, we should meet these data with extreme skepticism."

(5) Henry2 Herrick's wife was Lydia _____, not Lydia Woodbury. In his sketch of immigrant Henry1 Herrick, Anderson (1995) wrote about the son's marriage,[54] quoting Mary Walton Ferris, "Lydia is sometimes 'called Woodbury' but '[h]er connection with our Woodbury families has not been established.'"

(6) Richard Hollingsworth's wife was shown to be Susanna Gentleman, the widow of Thomas Hunter (not "Sarah Woodbury") by Leslie Mahler in 2003. See "The English Origins of the Hunter and Hollingsworth Families ...," The American Genealogist, 78:241-244.[55]Robert Charles Anderson recognized Mahler's work in 2004, writing, "All this confirms that the four Hunter children were half siblings to the four Hollingsworth children, and that Susan [Gentleman] was the mother of all eight."[56]

Marriages

Robert Charles Anderson (1995) ... WIP

A previous version of this profile reported John Woodbury married Agnes Napper, 19 March 1627 at Salem, Massachusetts, citing a non-functioning source, "#S3385." There is no information to suggest that John married in 1627 at Salem.

A prior version of this profile reported, "Savage (Gen. Dict.) suggests that he may have had a second wife." and that "The wife that came from England was the mother of Humphrey (Humphrey's testimony)." A claim by Savage of multiple wives is not seen, and from Robert Charles Anderson (1995), it is John Woodbury's second wife who is thought to have immigrated to New England; Humphrey most likey born an earlier or first wife.

Immigration. Previous versions of this profile have reported his immigration differently. One account reported he arrived in Salem in 1626, without further reference. Another reported Cape Ann in 1622/3, also without further reference. Perley Derby (1899) reported John's arrival from Somersetshire, England, about 1624 or 1625.[57] Frederick Clifton Pierce (1898) reports John arrived with wife and family in 1624, landing at Gloucester, Massachusetts.[58]

A prior version also reported, "In 1630 John and his brother William moved their families to Beverly, Massachusetts, William settling on the coast at a place still called Woodbury Point," citing Frederick Clifton Pierce (1898)[59] This claim requires more nuance--brother William is not known to have immigrated until 1636.

Date Will Proved. A prior version of this profile included, " John’s will was proved at court on 8 February 1642/3," citing generically, "Salem Town Records," and "Salem Town Records and Essex Quarterly Court Records Vol 1," but Anderson reports his will was proved 27 June 1643.

Deed Research.
Essex Grantee Index (1640-1799) for Woodbury, etc., begins at image 435, FamilySearch; entries for given name John begin at image 439.
Essex Grantor Index (1640-1799), for Woodbury, etc., begins at image 771, FamilySearch; entries for given name John begin at image 779.

(a) Humphry Woodbery 1680 deposition, "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986"; images, FamilySearch; Essex > Deeds 1673-1681 vol 4-5 > image 693 of 711; otherwise Essex (Massachusetts) Deeds, 5:107; date is "1680 12th mo. 16."

Sources

  1. Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols. (1995), 2054-2057 (John Woodbury), in particular, 2055; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  2. David Curtis Dearborn and John Bradley Arthaud, "William1 Woodbury of Salem and Beverly, Massachusetts," New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 175 (2021):207-222, in particular, 208. Note: The Summer 2021 issue is available for download by subscription at AmericanAncestors.
  3. Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols. (1995), 3:2054-2057 (John Woodbury), in particular, 2055; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  4. Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols. (1995), 3:2054-2057 (John Woodbury); digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  5. Burton W. Spear, Search for the Passengers of the Mary & John (Toledo, Ohio: B W. Spear [?The Mary & John Clearing House], c1985-1990+), multiple vols., 25 (New Ancestral Discoveries-Part 1):78-79. Note: Refers second article at 18:157-159 for "Woodbury ancestry," but also reports (p. 79), "So far no manorial or other records have been found which would enable the family to be traced further back.
  6. Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols. (1995), 3:2054-2057 (John Woodbury), in particular, 2056-57; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  7. Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols. (1995), 3:2054, 2056-57 (John Woodbury); digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  8. "Humphrey Woodbury," Alicia Crane Williams (lead), Early New England Families, 1641-1700 (?2014); database and web content (PDF) by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  9. Humphry Woodbery 1680 deposition, "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986"; images, FamilySearch; Essex > Deeds 1673-1681 vol 4-5 > image 693 of 711; otherwise Essex (Massachusetts) Deeds, 5:107; date is "1680 12th mo. 16."
  10. Burton W. Spear, Search for the Passengers of the Mary & John (Toledo, Ohio: B W. Spear [?The Mary & John Clearing House], c1985-1990+), multiple vols., 25 (New Ancestral Discoveries-Part 1):78-79. Note: Refers second article at 18:157-159 for "Woodbury ancestry," but also reports (p. 79), "So far no manorial or other records have been found which would enable the family to be traced further back.
  11. Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols. (1995), 3:2054, 2057 (John Woodbury); digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  12. Citing "Banks MSS," Charles Edward Banks, The Planters of the Commonwealth ... (Boston, Houghton Mifflin Co., 1930), 57-68 (Zouch Phenix); digital images, InternetArchive OpenLibrary.
  13. Burton W. Spear, Search for the Passengers of the Mary & John (Toledo, Ohio: B W. Spear [?The Mary & John Clearing House], c1985-1990+), multiple vols., 25 (New Ancestral Discoveries-Part 1):78-79. Note: Refers second article at 18:157-159 for "Woodbury ancestry," but also reports (p. 79), "So far no manorial or other records have been found which would enable the family to be traced further back."
  14. Mary Walton Ferris, Dawes-Gates ancestral lines ..., 2 vols. (1931-1943), 2:823-826 (John^1 Woodbury), in particular 824n; digital images, Hathi Trust.
  15. Citing "MBCR 1:79, 366," Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols. (1995), 3:2054-2057 (John Woodbury), in particular, 2054; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  16. Citing "SChR 5" and "SChR 6," Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols. (1995), 3:2054-2057 (John Woodbury), in particular, 2054, 2055; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  17. "Early Settlement"; web content, Historic Beverly
  18. Citing "STR 1:12," Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols. (1995), 3:2054-2057 (John Woodbury), in particular, 2055; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  19. Sidney Perley and Martha O. Howes, Town Records of Salem (Salem, Mass., The Essex Institute, 1868- ), multiple vols., 1:12 (25th of the 11th moneth 1635); digital images, Hathi Trust.
  20. Citing "STR 1:103," Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols. (1995), 3:2054-2057 (John Woodbury), in particular, 2055; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  21. Sidney Perley and Martha O. Howes, Town Records of Salem (Salem, Mass., The Essex Institute, 1868- ), multiple vols., 1:101-104 (Salem division of marsh and meadow land), in particular, 103 (John Woodbury); digital images, Hathi Trust.
  22. Citing "STR 1:96," Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols. (1995), 3:2054-2057 (John Woodbury), in particular, 2055; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  23. Sidney Perley and Martha O. Howes, Town Records of Salem (Salem, Mass., The Essex Institute, 1868- ), multiple vols., 1:96; digital images, Hathi Trust.
  24. Citing "MBCR 1:145, 156, 220, 236, 250; STR 1:86," Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols. (1995), 3:2054-2057 (John Woodbury), in particular, 2054; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  25. Citing "MBCR 1:225" and "MBCR 1:295," Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols. (1995), 3:2054-2057 (John Woodbury), in particular, 2054; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  26. Citing "EQC 1:3, 5-9, 17, 21, 26, 28," Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols. (1995), 3:2054-2057 (John Woodbury), in particular, 2055; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  27. Citing "MBCR 1:76," "STR 1:34, 47, 68, 87, 105, 109," "STR 1:10, 28," and "STR 1:57, 95," Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols. (1995), 3:2054-2057 (John Woodbury), in particular, 2055; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  28. Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols. (1995), 3:2054-2057 (John Woodbury), in particular, 2056; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  29. Citing "EQC 1:33," Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols. (1995), 3:2054-2057 (John Woodbury), in particular, 2055; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  30. George Francis Dow, Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts (Salem, Mass. : Essex institute, 1911-1975), 9 vols., 1:33; digital images, Hathi Trust.
  31. Sidney Perley and Martha O. Howes, Town Records of Salem (Salem, Mass., The Essex Institute, 1868- ), multiple vols., 1:112; digital images, Hathi Trust.
  32. Citing "Salem Quarterly Court Records, vol. 2, pp. 128, 142, 150,"" George Francis Dow, The Probate Record of Essex County, Massachusetts (Salem, Mass., Essex Institute, 1916-1920), 3 vos., 1:21 (Estate of John Woodbury of Salem); digital images, Hathi Trust.
  33. George Francis Dow, Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts (Salem, Mass. : Essex institute, 1911-1975), 9 vols., 2:60, 60n; digital images, Hathi Trust.
  34. Citing "Essex Co. Quarterly Court Files, vol. 3, leaf 146," George Francis Dow, The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts (Salem, Mass., Essex Institute, 1916-1920), 3 vols., 1:263-64 (Estate of Agnes Balch of Salem); digital images, Hathi Trust.
  35. Vital Records of Beverly, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849 (Topsfield, Mass., Topsfield Historical Society, 1906-07), 2 vols., 2:616 (Woodbery); digital images, Hathi Trust; she is "Annice" Woodbery; date is 14 February 1672..
  36. Annice Woodbery 1671/2 death entry (Beverly), "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch; cites FHL film 4029870].
  37. Note: Mary Walton Ferris and Robert Charles Anderson (by subscription, AmericanAncestors) report her death at Salem.
  38. Citing "EQC 4:47," STR 1:102" and "TAG 40:80-81" for Humphrey; "SChr 16" for Hannah and Abigail; "SChr 18," "Dawes-Gates" 2:98, 317 for Peter, Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols. (1995), 2054-2057 (John Woodbury), in particular, 2055; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  39. "Humphrey Woodbury," Alicia Crane Williams (lead), Early New England Families, 1641-1700 (?2014); database and web content (PDF) by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  40. A. M. Haines, "Will of Elizabeth Woodbury," New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 7 (1853):322; digital images, Hathi Trust.
  41. Peeter Woodbery 1640 baptismal entry, citing "C. R. 1 [church record, First Church]," Vital Records of Salem, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849 (Salem, Mass., The Essex institute, 1916- ), multiple vols., 2: 441 (Woodbery); digital images, Hathi Trust; baptism 19 : 7m : 1640; he is son of John.
  42. Frederick Clifton Pierce, Batchelder, Batcheller Genealogy ... (Chicago, W.B. Conkey company, 1898), 348-349 (#17, iii. Abigail Bachelor); digital images, Hathi Trust.
  43. John Wingate Thornton, The landing at Cape Anne ... (Boston : Gould and Lincoln, 1854), 81-83 digital images, InternetArchive; Anderson (1995) cites this affidavit as "EIHC 13:157," see James Kimball, "Gleanings from the Records of he County of Essex," Essex Institute Historical Collections, 13 (1875):136-138; digital images, Hathi Trust; Kimball explains the purpose of the several depositions given at that time, "relat[ed] to the falsity of the 'Mason Claim' ..."
  44. "Humphrey Woodbury," Alicia Crane Williams (lead), Early New England Families, 1641-1700 (?2014); database and web content (PDF) by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  45. Humphry Woodbery 1680 deposition, "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986"; images, FamilySearch; Essex > Deeds 1673-1681 vol 4-5 > image 693 of 711; otherwise Essex (Massachusetts) Deeds, 5:107; date is "1680 12th mo. 16."
  46. Robert S. Rantoul, "A Contribution to the History of the Ancient Family of Woodbury," Essex Institute Historical Collections, 24 (1887):1-42, in particular, 36; digital images, Hathi Trust.
  47. Raymon Meyers Tingley, Some ancestral lines ... (Rutland, Vt. : Tuttle Publishing Co., 1935), 450; digital images, Hathi Trust.
  48. David Curtis Dearborn and John Bradley Arthaud, "William1 Woodbury of Salem and Beverly, Massachusetts," New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 175 (2021):207-222, in particular, 208. Note: The Summer 2021 issue is available for download by subscription at AmericanAncestors.
  49. Charla Woodbury/Woodbury Family Research. See Charla Woodbury, Woodbury Family Research in England: Part I, 11 October 2002, typescript (PDF) 59 pp., Appendix A, for "John Woodberye of Burlescombe 1634"; Wayback Machine.
  50. David Curtis Dearborn and John Bradley Arthaud, "William1 Woodbury of Salem and Beverly, Massachusetts," New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 175 (2021):207-222, in particular, 219; "aged about 88 years, according to his inventory." Note: The Summer 2021 issue is available for download by subscription at AmericanAncestors.
  51. "England Marriages, 1538–1973"; database, FamilySearch; Johannis Woodberye and Joanna Humffry, 1596; citing Burlescombe, Devon, England, reference 2:26HF9NH, cites "FHL microfilm 6,340,824."
  52. Robert S. Rantoul, "A Contribution to the History of the Ancient Family of Woodbury," Essex Institute Historical Collections, 24 (1887):1-42, in particular, 38; digital images, Hathi Trust.
  53. Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols. (1995), 2054-2057 (John Woodbury), in particular, 2057; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  54. Citing "Dawes-Gates 2:427," Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III (1995); 910-914 (Henry Herrick), in particular, 912; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  55. Leslie Mahler, "The English Origins of the Hunter and Hollingsworth Families ...," The American Genealogist, 78 (2003):241-244; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  56. Robert Charles Anderson, Great Migration Newsletter, 13 (2004):23 (Recent Literature); digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  57. Perley Derby, "John Woodbury and Some of His Descendants," Historical Collections of the Essex Institute, 35 (1899):257-272, 36 (1900): 31-38, especially 35:257-260; digital images, Hathi Trust.
  58. Frederick Clifton Pierce, Batchelder, Batcheller Genealogy ... (Chicago, W.B. Conkey company, 1898), 348-349 (#17, iii. Abigail Bachelor); digital images, Hathi Trust.
  59. Frederick Clifton Pierce, Batchelder, Batcheller Genealogy ... (Chicago, W.B. Conkey company, 1898), 348-349 (#17, iii. Abigail Bachelor); digital images, Hathi Trust.
See also--
  • Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols. (1995), 3:2054-2057 (John Woodbury); digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  • John Woodbury PGM References (free space page, 2013-2019)
  • James Savage, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England ... (Boston, Little, Brown and company, 1860-62), 4 vols., 4:624-636; digital images, Hathi Trust.
  • William and John Woodbury entry, Burton W. Spear, Search for the Passengers of the Mary and John 1630, 25 [New Ancestral Discoveries]:78-79; refers to article at 18:157-159 for ancestral research.
  • Mary Walton Ferris, Dawes-Gates ancestral lines ..., 2 vols. (1931-1943), 2:823-826 for John^1 Woodbury; digital images, Hathi Trust.
  • “Doug Sinclair’s Archives” accessed 6.3.21
  • Alexander Young, Chronicles of the First Planters of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay (Charles C. Little and James Brown, Boston, 1846), p. 28n (1) digital images, InternetArchive
  • "Immigrants to America Before 1750," Frederick A. Virkus, ed., The Magazine of American Genealogy , 26 (1932):210-211 (John Batchelder); digital images, GoogleBooks. Reports John Woodbury Married Agnes ______ and that son Sgt. Peter Woodbury, bap. Sept. 7, 1640; d. July 5, 1704.
Other--
  • Larry Wert, "Descendants of John Woodbury (c1543)," family file entry for John Woodbury b. 1679; Tripod.
  • Lechner Family History, compiled by Michael Lechner, with my father Ted Harrold Lechner.
  • 'Combined pieces from Google search and Snippet views, photos attached. My typing and editing, please double check items in question. Entered by Michael Lechner, March 14, 2012. Missing piece. :page 121, June 23, 1639; tailor; assessor or tax collector, 1657; will made Nov. 1673; inventory amounted to L230; m. Mary -----; m. 2d. Elizabeth (d. Nov. 10, 1675), poss, dau. of Joseph Herrick; issue (all b. Salem); 1-John (bap. Jan. 20, 1638/39-d. 1645/46); 2-Mary (bap. Sept. 19, 1640-d. Aug. 1659); m. 1658, Mighill Cressey, of Salem; 3-Abigail (B. Feb. 12, 1642/43-d. 1666). m. Sept. 1665, Sgt. Peter Woodbury (bap. Sept. 7, 1640-d. July 5, 1704), son of John and Agnes Woodbury, who came from Magazine of American genealogy, Issues 18-27.






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Comments: 16

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I plan to sever the association between John Woodbury and currently linked parents, John Woodbury and "Agnes."

The various profiles do not support the parent-child link. The father-son association can be traced to loose and erroneous data published by Raymon Meyers Tingley in 1935.

Those conducting research in England about the areas of Devon and Somerset report the early records are filled with references to different men named John. Not enough records have been located to prove particular records are about the immigrant linking him to a parent or parents. See profile Research Notes.

If anyone knows of records or analysis that may have been overlooked in the process of this review, please share so that we can collaborate further.

Thank you for supporting WikiTree. --Gene

Edited to add: The brothers, John and William, will both be linked as sons to a new no-name Woodbury profile; this will preserve their sibling association.

posted by GeneJ X
edited by GeneJ X
Thank you for supporting WikiTree.

I have severed the association between John Woodbury and previously linked wife, Joanna Humphrey.

Have also severed the association between John Woodbury and previously linked daughter, Lydia "Woodbury."

As explained in the Disputed Association and Research Notes sections, both of these poorly developed associations can be traced to the 1935 error prone sketch of John Woodbury published by Raymon Meyers Tingley.

See the WikiTree "Frauds and Fabrications" category page about that Tingley's work, Some Ancestral Lines ...

If anyone knows of records or analysis that may have been overlooked in the process of this review, please share so that we can collaborate further.

Thank you again for supporting WikiTree. --Gene

posted by GeneJ X
What is the source for the identification of his parents, please? Also, did he really have four wives?
posted by Jillaine Smith
According to Anderson, he had an unknown first wife, and second wife Annis/Agnis _______. He discusses the Joanna Humphrey theory (which is based on an actual marriage), but says the timing isn't correct.

The wives need be resolved.

posted by M Cole
Would seem many edits since 2014. Seem to be a number of claims here that are not supported or in conflict with more authoritative works.

I am on the case ....

posted by GeneJ X
Thank you Lucy for working on this profile. It looks great - but this sentence doesn't add up:

in 1680...he was aged 72, which would put his birth at about 1608, meaning it was likely John was born prior to 1587.

posted by Mindy Silva
I've attached a proposed new bio after the line below what was already there. I need some feedback from the project (and yes, I am a project member myself).
Responding to Dean separately.
posted by Anne B
I don't want to make any changes to this page without one of the profile managers reviewing the information from these links.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RQK-9J6B?i=75&cc=2061550

https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=75&query=%2Bgivenname%3Ajohn~%20%2Bsurname%3Awoodbury~%20%2Bbirth_place%3Aengland~%20%2Bbirth_year%3A1575-1580~%20%2Bdeath_place%3AMassachusetts~%20%2Bdeath_year%3A1641-1641~

Hope this helps clear up some information about John's immigration to New England.

posted by Dean Anderson
Hi Dean,

Thank you for supporting WikiTree. For the benefit of others who come upon your post, comments follow. --Gene

The first link you provided [1] is to a page of town clerk records that were compiled, long after the events, from other church, town and sometimes land and court records. (In this case, the entries on [page 192] seem extracted from Salem and Beverly church records.) These so-to-speak aggregated entries are helpful, even more so when the more original underlying entries are identified. Much of the commentary that appears on the page marked "193" has been interpreted from the "Deposition of Humphry Woodberye, 1680" that is included in the biography. Other parts come from town records, etc. (I'm actually working to source many of those claims right now.)

The second link is to a specific search of the indexed FamilySearch vital records, etc. including English Births and Christenings, etc. These provide clues for further research, but additional documentation needs to be identified (often wills, residence surveys, court records, etc.) in the hope of proving whether the "John" mentioned in any one of those English records is actually the same man who was the immigrant. Remember too, the universe of index entries being searched is a subset of those that exist in extant parish registers and Bishop's Transcripts, which are themselves a subset of those that ever existed.

---

[1] Select Woodbury baptisms in Beverly town clerk records as "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001"; images, FamilySearch, citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston.

posted by GeneJ X
edited by GeneJ X
My sister has been working independently on this family line and we have only this week realized another connection. Perhaps when she's done (after a trip to the area this summer) this can be straightened out. I'm always fearful of changing things I'm not at least 90% sure is correct.
posted by Joy (Young) Jacobs
The birth date in this profile is the death date of the linked person in Doug Sinclair's genealogy. That person is meant to be the same as Woodbury-148 on Wikitree.
This profile really does need some help. Guess I missed going back to finish it.

I like the idea of a free space profile, to document the good stuff, and also the bad stuff, especially if you can then refute the bad stuff with good sources.

If you need help or want to bounce ideas around, I am willing.

posted by Anne B
Many conflicting reports about this immigrant, several of which have been commingled into this WikiTree profile.

(1) Unless someone objects, I plan to set up a free space profile to document some of the authored works concerning John, especially those where the authors documented their references.

(2) The purported daughter Susan was almost certainly not born a Woodbury. See Leslie Mahler, “The English Origin of the Hunter and Hollingsworth Families of Salem, Massachusetts,” _The American Genealogist_ 78 (2003):241-244; digital images, _AmericanAncestors.org_ (accessed 2013).

Our of space.

(Separately, am creating a profile about his daughter Abigail (m. John Hill). She seems not entered yet to WikiTree. I may not connect her until we try to sort of the other conflicting reports.)

posted by GeneJ X
Woodbury-495 and Woodbury-148 appear to represent the same person because: Birth dates are both about dates, both places will need to be mentioned in bio. Neither place is proven. John is the father of Humphrey as indicated in both profiles., and both profiles share a wife of the same name. These are the same person.
posted by Anne B