John Woodcock (abt. 1615 - 1701)

Born about 1615 in London, England

Descendants

Died 20 Oct 1701 at about age 86 in Attleboro, Bristol, Massachusetts

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Jay Byrne [send private message], Lydia Vierson [send private message], and Puritan Great Migration Project WikiTree [send private message]

John Woodcock migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Disputed Origins

Anderson's Great Migration profile of John Woodcock points out confusion and uncertainty regarding his origins.^[1]

A previous version of this profile claimed he was son of William Woodcock and Alice Washbourne. But Alice was baptized on 1 January 1595 at St. Antholin's Budge Row Parish in London, England. She had seven known children by William Woodcock :^[2]

1. William Woodcock (from court case)
2. John Woodcock bur 3 May 1625 at St. Antholin
3. John Woodcock bapt 20 July 1627 at St. Antholin
4. Sara Woodcock bapt 21 December 1629 at St. Antholin
5. Samuel Woodcock bapt 17 May 1632 at St. Antholin
6. Daniel 1 May 1634 bapt 1 May 1634 at St. Antholin
7. Mary Woodcock (from court case)

The father William Woodcock was buried 12 October 1638 at St. Antholin.

That this is the correct William Woodcock and Alice as found in the Visitations is proven by a court case involving the administration of the estate of William Woodcock.^[3]

These dates obviously make it impossible for John Woodcock the immigrant on the Mary Gould or his supposed brother William Woodcock to be sons of this William and Alice Woodcock.

Biography

Birth

Date: ABT 1615

Place: England^[4]

Immigration

Passenger on ship with Reverend Hull's company.^[5]

WARNING: According to Anderson, there are records for a John Wookcock Springfield in 1638, Dedham in 1642, Rehoboth in 1647, Roxbury in 1651, and also at Attleborough and Wrentham. There is no evidence connecting any of them to the Mary Gould passenger and nothing indicating whether these are records for one, two or three men.^[6]

Savage lumped all the records for John Woodcock together as can be seen in the following quote.

" WOODCOCK, JOHN, Wrentham, is first heard of at Springfield 1638, where he was largely in trade, yet he may have gone thither from Roxbury, at least he was of R. so much as to own two houses there, for he mortgag. one, 25 Mar. 1651, to John Gore, and the other, 6 June aft. to Joseph Holmes. However, he had rem. from S. to Dedham 1642, and ] thence, perhaps, to Rehoboth, bef. 1673, but prob. liv. much at W. In Philip's war, his ho. in W. now perhaps within Attleborough bounds, was a famous garrison, and he says, in a letter of 26 Apr. 1676, that two of his fam. had been slain, and ano. s. was wound. Yet he prefer. the jurisdict. of Plymouth, and was rep. for R. 1651. See Baylies, II. 218, and III. 125. Of his fam. no full acco. is kn. but he was liv. 1694, had d. Sarah, w. m. Alexander Balcom of Providence."^[7]

Marriage

He married about 1644 Sarah Curtis (b abt 1631; d Rehoboth). Some records indicate he married second Joanna by 1693/4 when they sold 210 acres to John Devotion.

Sarah died sometime between November 25,1685, when she and John sold 50 acres to John Martin, and November 22, 1690, when John sold 85 acres to John Jones without his wife co-signing.^[8] She was probably about 60, thus apparently the mother of all the children.

Children

By his first wife:

1. Israel , M (~1652-~1718)
2. Jonathan , M (~1668-)
3. Sarah , F (1667-)
4. Mary , F (->1697)

Family Stories and Rememberances

" It was established by John Woodcock, as already related in 1670, the land having been laid out and cleared by him for the purpose. He occupied it about twenty-three years.

Feb. 17, 1693-94, John Woodcock, Senior., of Rehoboth (with Joanna his wife, she was his second wife, to whom he had been married some years.) for £390 money in hand received, conveys to John Devotion, of "Muddy River, formerly of Boston," a tract of land containing two hundred and ten acres, being "at a place commonly called ten mile river, by a highway called Wrentham lane," etc., "with the mansion or dwelling house, barn, and all other out-housing and buildings (the Smith's shop only excepted standing on the river;" also about thirty acres lying on the northwest side of the country road formerly given to his son, John Woodcock, bounded by Ten Mile River, etc., with his son's dwelling house and barn on the same. "John Devotion took quiet possession of the same April 9th 1694, in presence of Nathaniel Brentnall, William Chaplin." In this conveyance to Devotion is the following curious item: "Also, all the said John Woodcock, his right to, and privilege in, a house and pasture at Wrentham for accommodation of his family and horses on Sabbath days and other public times, as occasion may be." As we have seen, he formerly had a house at Rehoboth for a similar purpose. From this and other records it appears that Woodcock and his family were very attentive to public worship. pp 27, 28 ^[9]

Woodcock laid out the ancient burying-ground near his house. In the above-mentioned conveyance is the following reservation: "Except a small parcel of at least six rods square or the contents thereof, for a burying place, in which my wife and several of my children and neighbors are interred, with liberty for my children and neighbors to come upon and make use therof forever as occasion may be." (A Sketch of the History of Attleborough)

----------------------------------

Woodcock, John, Wrentham, is first heard of at Springfield 1638, where he was largley in trade, yet he may have gone thither from Roxbury,at least he was of Roxbury so much as to own two houses there, for he mortgaged one, 25 March 1651, to John Gore, and the other, 6 June after to Joseph Holmes. However, he had removed from Springfield to dedham 1642, and thence, perhaps, to Rehoboth, before 1673, but probably living much at Wrentham.

----------------------------------

From Mr. Woodcock's Garrison we hear that himself and two of his sons, and some other Men being gone out to Labour in the Field, were, about this time surprised; one of his Sons and another man being killed, and himself and the other Son dangerously (though it pleased God, not mortally) wounded; so that there were only five sound Persons left to keep Garrison, besides the old Woman and three Daughters, and yet (though Mercy) it has always held out.

Woodcock's Garrison was on the old stage road from Providence to Boston about 30 miles from the latter city. The attack mentioned was on April 27, 1676, and John Woodcock's son Nathaniel was killed.

----------------------------------

The following are excerpts in a letter written by Dr. Mann in 1806:

It is added, that one Woodcock discharged his long musquet, called, in those days, a buccaneer, at a single fugitive Indian, and the distance of eighty rods, and broke his thigh bone, and afterwards dispatched him. (The custom of putting to death wounded Indians, during the Indian wars, is not agreeable to our modern ideas of humanity; but when it is recollected, that the inhabitants had not the means to convey them off, the apparent barbarity is more reconciled to our feeling.)

The name of Woodcock is not found among the first settlers of Wrentham; but it is historically known, that a settlement had been made by one Woodcock, about five miles south from Wrentham, previous to that at Wrentham. This settlement was known by the name of Woodcock's garrison; (Now in possession of Israel Hatch, near the Baptist meeting house in Attleborough.) and was during the wars, a place of rendezvous, for the detachments from Massachusetts and Plymouth colonies. It is not improbable, that upon apprehension of danger, Woodcock might repair to this settlement, as a place of more security.

----------------------------------

From: John Woodcock of Rehoboth, MA, 1647, 1913, John L. Woodcock -

By deed dated 17 Feb 1693-94 John Woodcock and wife Joanna sold to John Devotion his farm of 210 acres plus 30 acres formerly given to his son John Jr incl. dwelling houses, barns, etc., excepting the smith shop -- and excepting "aplot of about 6 rds square for a burying place, IN WHICH MY WIFE AND SEVERAL OF MY CHILDREN AND NEIGHBORS ARE INTERRED." (James Woodcock)

----------------------------------

All we know for certain about the attack on the Woodcock Garrison house is from a letter written by John Woodcock himself to the colonial authorities, telling of his circumstances and asking for help:

"Honored Governor and Concil,

I make bold to inform your honors that God has been pleased to give the heathen compulsion to break in upon us, who have slain two of my family and another of my sons sorely wounded, shot with several bullets in the shoulders, but in the midst of our afflictions God has given us mercy. I was encouraged to keep my station by our authority, but of a sudden they were pleased to call off my garrison soldiers, and not giving me any warning and I am in a great strait what to do. We are but 14 of us and but few that can bare arms and most of us sick. I would intreat your honors to consider our afflicted condition and send me some assistance for the present, until my family is able to draw away, and as my house and family have been serviceable to the country, I desire that I may not be forgotten by both colonies and would intreat your honers to send me half a dozen men to relieve my family, for if I were able to go away I could not carry my provisions with me. I have near a hundred bushels of corn in my house besides other provisions and I bless God for it and am very loth to go away and leave it to the heathen. We do judge that there is not above 12 or 15 Indians that have done all this evil to our neighbors at Wrentham and I would intreat your honors to send a surgeon to dress my wounded son. I hope there is no danger to come if they come by night. Not to trouble you any further at present, begging your prayers, hoping God will move your hearts with compassion, speedily to send me some relief, so I rest. Yours to serve in what I may. John Woodcock

April the 26th 1676 I hope I shall be able to satisfy what charge will come upon me"

----------------------------------

John Woodcock sold the property in 1693-4, except for a small plot which had become the Woodcock burying grounds. The garrison house was taken down in 1806. A large new inn was built on the spot, named "KING PHILIP". with a large sign painted by an English artist, depicting the infamous chief. Today, the Attleboro Historical Society is located on the spot.

----------------------------------

Woodcock had a large family, with a number of laborers and assistants; their must have been fully fourteen in the entire family. He had a smith on his place, barns, a garrison house of large size, sons' houses, etc., so that his place made quite an opening in the forest and furnished social relief to the lonely and weary journeyers. There was on such a route more travel than one would at first suppose, for emigrants were from time to time going from town to town and settlement to settlement, seeking eligaible situations or locations, and messengers on business matter or the municipal and military affairs of the colonies must have frequently passed to and fro. (A Sketch of the History of Attleborough) page 93

----------------------------------

In Dedham's Historical Registers is found, page 172, Woodcock Family Notes, by Howard Redwood Guild. We can here give but a few paragraphs,which are as follows: Among the early colonists of Rehoboth, more especially that portion known as the "North Purchase," John Woodcock, senior, easily takes position in the first rank. He lived at Ten Mile River, now part of the town of Attleboro, and here was located his noted garrison, which was a strategic point in the Indian warfare of 1676. Woodcock form the first took a prominent part in public affairs, and represented his neighbors on many occasions. Writers who have set forth the Old North Purchase Chronicles invariably characterized him as a brave soldier, and able, energetic and successful citizen and a man of high character. He was twice married and reared a large family of children, for all of whom he kindly and liberally provided as they arrived at maturity. (Woodcock Family-New England Branch) pp56-57)

----------------------------------

He was the father of twelve (12) children, and an account of all is given in this book (Woodcock Family Notes, by Howard Redwood Guild) and is quite interesting, but too long to even epitomize in this sketch, except to say that all of these twelve children lived into mature man and womanhood, all married and all raised large families of children, many of whom became prominent--some lawyers, judges and ministers. Ina sketch of the history of Attleborok Mass., by John Daggett the name of Mr. John Woodcock is prominently mentioned as taking part in the proceedings of the town meeting, and on March 22, 1696, a town meeting was held for the purpose of electing Selectmen. The following persons were chosen: Mr. John Woodcock, Anthony Sprague, Daniel Jenks, Johnathan Fuller, and Thomas Lingley. in 1669 Mr. John woodcock, his sons and their families, commenced to build a Baptist Meeting house on the Bay road, where Hatches old tavern still stands. Near by here he built a house for himself and family and fortified it as a garrison and laid out lands to the amount of about 300 acres, which afterward became an excellent farm. In 1570 his house was occupied as a garrison."

John Woodcock's name appears in the Rehoboth records as early as 1647, 28th day of the 4th month, when he bought the lands of Ed. Patterson.

We also quote the following paragraphs from the same book: Woodcock (John) was a man of consideration in those days. His name frequently appears in town offices and committees. June 2nd, 1692, he was chosen Deputy to the General Committee from Rehoboth and at several other times. He was shrewd, hardy, fearless and adventurous, a character just suited to the times in which he lived. He held Indian rights in very low estimation. Here follows an account of his twelve children, some of whom were killed by the Indians, and then the following:

John Woodcock, Senior, died October 20, 1701, having arrived at a very advanced age, in spite of the many attempts which had been made by the Indians to destroy him. It is said that after his death the scars of seven bullet holes were counted on his body. He was an inveterate and implacable enemy of the Indians, the cause of which will hereafter appear in the notice of some events in Philip's war. In encounters with them on several occasion, he ran imminent risks of his life. He was foremost in all enterprises, the object of which was the destruction of the Indians. He was a very useful man as a pioneer in the danger and hardships of a new settlement, being cunning in contrivances and bold and active in execution. Woodcock's garrison was a well known place during the great Indian war; this Woodcock garrison was one of a chain of fortifications extending from Boston to Rhode Island.

Armies rested at the Woodcock house and great men of the colonies were sheltered under its roof. It is frequently mentioned by historians.The celebrated Judge Sewall relates in his diary that on his return from Rehoboth he dined at Woodcock's with fellow travelers, on boiled venison.

Woodcock laid out the ancient burying ground near his house, in which he and many of his children are buried. He and his second wife sold a part (200 acres) of this property in Feb., 1693-94, but made reservation in the deed of certain fields for pasture for his horses when he came to church, from which we conclude that he and his family were regular attendants at the public worship. He also excepted from this conveyance the burying ground. (Woodcock Family-New England Branch) page 56& 58 & 59

----------------------------------

He was a deputy in 1691, and 1696, besides being Selectman, he was appointed, with John Rodgers, to manage the affairs of the Mile and a Half Township. On December 4, 1701, his son John, and his son-in-law, Captain Samuel Guild, were apppinted his administrators. In 1704 they rendered an account of their administration. (page 57)

----------------------------------

On one occassion he took the liberty of paying himself a debt due to him from a neighboring Indian, without the consent of the debtor or the intervention of judge, jury, or sheriff, -- for which achievement he received the following sentence from the Court, -- and example of the rigid justice of the Puritans: -- "1654 John Woodcock of Rehoboth, for going into an Indian house and taking away an Indian child and some goods in lieu of a debt the Indian owed him, was sentenced to set in the stocks at Rehoboth an hour on a Training day, and to pay a fine of forty shillings." -- (Old Col. Rec., Court Orders, Book 3d) taken from the book -- A Sketch of the History of Attleborough

The Garrison House

Woodcock Book (quote) - ^[9]

The old garrison house was torn down in 1806. A great part of the timber was said to be perfectly sound, pierced, however, by many a bullet received in Philip's war. A relic of this house has been preserved by the Massachusetts Historical Society. In April, 1676, the Indians, having suffered severe defeats in a body, adopted a new mode of warfare and disposed themselves in small parties over the country, burning and killing and destroying wherever opportunity offered. Among other outrages they attacked the Woodcock garrison, killed one man, and one of Woodcock's sons and wounded another, and then burned the son's house. Some circumstances connected with this event appear to have been accurately preserved by tradition, from which and other sources are gathered the following particulars:

"His sons were at work in the cornfield near the house. The Indians, concealed in a wood adjoining the field, (now the meadow on the east of the turnpike below the bridge) approached to its borders and suddenly fired upon them. The workmen fled to the garrison house, leaving the dead body in the field. The Indians to gratify their spite against the family, cut off the son's head, stuck it on a long pole which they set up on a hill in full view of the family, to aggravate their feelings as much as possible.

From this time Woodcock swore never to make peace with the Indians,he ever afterward hunted them like wild beasts. He was a man of resolute and determined character and traditions says that not a few fell victims to his vengeance, and a sacrifice to the name of his murdered son. This attack was in April, 1676. The body of his son (whose name was Nathaniel) was buried on the spot where he fell, nearly in the center of the yard, which has ever since been reserved for a burying ground. A detail of six soldiers had been sent to this garrison for its protection by the Plymouth government, as may be seen by Woodcock's petition to the General court. They had been temporarily withdrawn for service elsewhere, leaving him dependent upon his own resources, and in great danger from the roving Indians. There were only fourteen persons living in the settlement at the time, consisting of his sons and daughters, and sons-in-law, and including two or three others, and probably a man by the name of Rocket, whose signature as a witness appears on several instruments, was one of them.

The writer has visited the locality and viewed the site of the old garrison house, and walked through the Woodcock burying ground at North Attleboro. Through the efforts of the late E.R. Price and other public-spirited citizens, a retaining wall of granite has been built enclosing the entire lot. When Woodcock sells his farm and garrison to John Devotion in 1694, he reserves a plot of land six rods square for "a burying place in which my wife and several of my children and neighbors are buried."

Woodcock had a large family with a number of laborers and assistants. There must have been fully fourteen in the entire family. He had a smith on his place, barns, a garrison house of large size, sons' houses, etc. so that his place made quite an opening in the forest and furnished social relief to the lonely and wearly journeyers. There was on such a route more travel than one would at first suppose, for emigrants were from time to time going from town to town, and settlement to settlement, seeking eligible situations or locations, and messengers on business matters or the municipal and military affairs of the Colonies must have passed to and fro. Woodcock occupied this garrison house for twenty-three years.

Death

Date: 20 OCT 1701

Place: Attleboro, Bristol, Massachusetts^{[4][10][11][12]}

Burial

Place: Attleboro, Bristol, Massachusetts, USA^[4]

List of Heirs

1. widow --now the wife of James Fowler and his children
2. John b.1649 m. 1st, Sarah Smith of Rehoboth ;2dly Sarah Judson of Dedham.
3. Israel m. Elizabeth Getchell of Dedham
4. Jonathan, m. Mary [... ].
5. Thomas,.
6. [... ] m. Thomas Estabrook
7. Mary m.Samuel Guild of Dedham.
8. Deborah m. Benjamin Onion of Dedham.

Sources

1. ↑ Anderson, Robert Charles; George F. Sanborn; and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635. (NEHGS, 1999-2011), p. ???, link??. As researched by Joe Cochoit.
2. ↑ The parish registers of St. Antholin, Budge Row, London, containing the marriages, baptisms, and burials from 1538 to 1754, link
3. ↑ James Davenport, The Washbourne Family of Little Washbourne and Wichenford in the County of ..., link
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} William Lee Woodcock. History of the Woodcock Family: From 1692-Sept 1, 1912. Altoona, PA: n.p., printed by Altoona Tribune, 1912. GoogleBooks , pg. 57. NOTE: This book is an entirely different line.
5. ↑ Anderson, citing...
6. ↑ Anderson, pp 510-511
7. ↑ Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692. Vol. I-IV. Boston, MA, USA: 1860-1862 Vol. 4 p. 636
8. ↑ Bristol Co. (Taunton) Deed Bk.12, p.143; Bk. 5, p.2.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} [Woodcock, John Leighton], John Woodcock of Rehoboth, Mass. (Chicago: W. B. Conkey, 1913) Download at Family Search pp. 26,27
10. ↑ Emily Wilder Leavitt. The Starkeys of New England and Allied Families. Springfield, MA: Press of Springfield Printing and Binding Company, 1910. OpenLibrary.org , pg. 18.
11. ↑ John Daggett. Sketch of the History of Attleborough, from Its Settlement to the Present Time. Dedham, MA: H. Mann, printer, 1834. GoogleBooks , pg. 35.
12. ↑ Vital Records of Attleborough, Massachusetts. Salem, MA: The Essex Institute, 1934. [ ] , Page: 744

Other Sources

• The Dedham Historical Register Volumes 3-4 Google eBooks pg 174-175-----Early Records of town of Dedham Massachusetts pg 17
• A Sketch of the Early Settlement of Attleborough; From its Settlement to the Division, by John Daggett-- pg 90=91 Google E Books (free)
• [Woodcock, John Leighton], John Woodcock of Rehoboth, Mass. (Chicago: W. B. Conkey, 1913) Download at Family Search