John Wood
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John Wood (abt. 1620 - 1704)

John Wood aka 'of Middletown'
Born about in Englandmap
Husband of — married about 1663 [location unknown]
Descendants descendants
Died at about age 84 in Middletown, Newport, Rhode Islandmap
Problems/Questions Profile managers: Mike Wood private message [send private message] and Barbara Cutter private message [send private message]
Profile last modified | Created 14 Apr 2010
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Contents

PLEASE DISCUSS BEFORE MAKING CHANGES

This profile contained a number of errors entered prior to 2018; much time is being invested into correcting them. Mike Wood-4955

Naming

  • John Wood (abt 1620-1704) is often referred to as "John Wood of Middletown" to differentiate him from his father John Wood (abt. 1590 - bef. 1655) who is called "John Wood of Portsmouth". Few, if any, source records refer to John Wood (abt 1620-1704) as "John Wood Jr.".

Disambiguation

  • It is INCORRECT that he was described as "of London" as late as January 1649, as proposed by Bertha W. Clark in her 1966 book. Clark made the incorrect assumption that the John Wood mentioned in the Aspinwall Notarial Records (188, 194) were in regards to John Wood of Middletown RI, when in fact original source record signature verification has proven these records to belong to the London ship captain John Wood, who was killed in Livorno, Italy in 1653.
  • Where Clark leads many readers astray is in her book's speculation that between 1650 and 1663, John Wood of Middletown “wandered”…. she assigning period records in Connecticut, Long Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire all to this one man – an assumption that lacking any corroborating evidence would not be accepted by today’s higher genealogical proof standards. As such, much of what she wrote about John Wood of Middletown must be discounted as unproven speculation.

Biography

m1 ___ ___; m2 Anna ____; m3 perhaps 1663-1665 Mary Peabody still alive 14 Nov 1695;

Clark made many speculations in her book, some intended to encourage further research, others simply out of error. She wrote:

“His father was described as "John Wood, Sr" for the first time when he bought his Portsmouth homestead on 1 March 1649/50. Until then there had been no need to distinguish between the two Johns. It was probably at this time that the father turned over to John, Jr the 50-acre homestead in Newport he had recently vacated -the farm he had early bought of Robert Jeoffries. There is no question but that John Jr, was in possession of this farm before his father died and no question but that John, Jr, was already a townsman of Newport when a list of such townsmen was drawn up in 1655.”

The above information can be extrapolated from period source records, and thus is assumed today to represent an accurate depiction of John Wood of Middletown.

What we know from original source records is that John Wood of Middletown is recorded in Newport, RI in March of 1662, when he served on the grand jury.

It is also accepted that John Wood of Middletown married Mary Pabodie of Newport; this probably about 1663. Clark however (mistakenly) assigned the “Dover Marriages 1623-1823” record “John Wood as early as 1655 married ________” (found on page 240) to John Wood of Middletown… suggesting that this couple - both from Aquidneck Island - would travel 70 miles to Dover to be married. As there is are no collaborating records, such a source record assignment would not pass muster today, and must be considered incorrect.

From RI Court Records, 2:47, we know that in October 1666, John Wood of Middletown served on the petit jury in Newport. From RI Court Records 2:55 we know that he served again in May 1667, and from RI Court Records 2:76 that he served again in May 1669.

There are many original period source records which document additional activities of John Wood of Middletown from the 1670’s to the 1690’s; see Clark pp. 26-30.

John Wood of Middletown is reported to have died on 26 August 1704. The Newport Historical Society has an early reading of the “Wood Burying Ground” on the “Deacon Smith Farm” at Middletown, RI which reads “John Wood died Aug. 26, 1704, Age 84 years.” The remaining stones are no longer legible


Assumed children (NEED SOURCE RECORDS TO VERIFY):

  1. Henry Wood (b abt 1640); m Hannah (?Coakley?); in 1662 with his father in Taunton, MA. In 1673 in Newport (freeman). Removed in mid 1682 to New Jersey. Owned land in Philadelphia, PA (across river from his land in New Jersey). Quaker. He died between 4 April and 1 June 1691, at which time he was living in Hopewell (name of his estate). Sometimes appeared in the records as Woods.
  2. John Wood of Oyster Bay, LI (b abt 1643)
  3. Walter abt 1645; m Amie
  4. Jonathan Wood of Oyster Bay, LI, b 26 Aug 1658 (in Springfield, MA) m1 ____; m2 Mercy Banbury.
  5. John of Little Compton b abt 1664; m Mary Church
  6. Thomas Wood of Little Compton, RI b abt 1666; m Content ?Thurston?
  7. William Wood of Newport, RI b abt 1675; m1 Amy Clarke; m2 Elizabeth (Tripp) Mitchell
  8. Henry of Little Compton, RI b abt 1683; m Content Thurston
  9. Peleg Wood of Newport, RI b abt 1686; m Rebecca Coggeshall
  10. Margaret Wood of Newport, RI b abt 1691; d 7 Dec 1750 aged abt 59, single

Some researchers speculate that additional children MIGHT include: Nathaniel Wood of Newport who went on Expedition to Canada in 1711; nfr; Susannah Wood who m. Dr. William Wood of Swansea; Joseph Wood, weaver at Berick, ME who m Patience Nason in 1712; Elizabeth Wood who m 1693 John Saunders in Philadelphia. Some or all of these could also be children of Walter #3 above. MORE RESEARCH is required before these could be associated with John Wood of Middletown.


Land Records

DECEMBER 1677, John Wood purchases 100 acres in "Saconett Necke" Plymouth Deed Books, book 4, page 169

To all people to whom these prsents shall come Greeting Know yee that I hugh Cole of the Towne of Swansey in the Collonie of New Plymouth in New England; have for and in consideration of the just sum of fifty seaven pounds and ten shillings, of New England silver, unto mee in hand payed by John Wood of the Towne of New Port in the Collonie of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, the Receipt wheof I doe herby acknowledge ------- have therefore demised ------ unto the said John Wood his heires and Assignes two certaine pieces and prsells of Land; lying and being in a Necke of land called and knowne by the Name of Saconett Necke, in the Collonie of New Plymouth; one prsell of which said Land containing by estimation one hundred acres; b it more or Lesse; buted and bounded as followeth, on the west by the Great Bay or sea; on the North Now or lately in the possession of Joseph Church; on the east by lands as yett undivided; on the south by Josiah Cooke; which said land soe butted and bounded is to extend in length as it is layed out, one mile and a quarter and in breadth thirty-five Rodds; the other prsell or Lott being the thirteenth lot containing _________ , bounded on the south by john Studson, on the North by Thomas Pinchen, and easterly by the highway; on the west by the comon; ______ as witnes my hand and seale this twenty fift day of December one thousand six hundred seaventy and seaven 1677

Hugh Cole (seal)

Signed sealed and delivered in the prsence of John Easton Junir Walter Clarke


1683 Wood family bible

1683 Wood family bible, owned by John Wood in 1701, currently held by Mike Wood.[1]

Inscriptions in the bible include:

John Wood His Book 1701

John Wood 1728

John and Mary Wood was married 1744

William Wood deceased the fifth of the fourth month 1753

Elizabeth Wood was born the fifth of the twelf month 1747/8

Hannah Wood was born he twelf day of the second month 1750

Hannah Wood deceased the 27 day of the twelf month 1752

Sarah Wood was born the twenty second day of the first month 1753

Mary Wood deceased the fifteenth day of the second month 1793, aged 71 years

John Wood deceased the seventeenth of the fourth month 1798, aged 82years

_______ Manchester was born March the 19 day 1788

______h Manchester was born April the 2 1790

_______ Manchester deceased December the 16 1840, aged 52 years

Sarah Ann Coggeshall (her name cut into the outside leather cover)


Notes

Other UNSOURCED notes moved from his father's wikitree profile:

(Some speculate that John Wood Jr moved btw 1650-1663, living in Connecticut, Long Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and that he was the John Wood charged with theft in New Haven, CT 1 Apr 1651, however source records linking the two men have not been presented. He was on the Newport list of freemen in 1655. Some speculate that he may have been in Hempstead, Long Island in 1657 (and married his second wife there), but removed to Springfield MA by 26 Aug 1658 when his son Jonathan was born there, removing from Springfield in 1660, probably deserting his wife Anna who returned with Jonathan to Hempstead, LI, however source records have not been presented for these speculations. John was in Newport, RI until the spring of 1662 when he was in Taunton, MA, briefly. He was caught up in the 1660s controversy between Rhode Island and Connecticut over which jurisdiction owned Narragansett land. He seemed to have settled in Newport by 1666. In 1671 he sold New Jersey land, however signature verification has not been applied to confirm that the John Wood of NJ and John Wood Jr. of Middletown RI were the same man.) In addition, it is INCORRECT that he was described as "of London" as late as January 1649, as proposed by Bertha W. Clark in her 1966 book. Clark made the incorrect assumption that the John Wood mentioned in the Aspinwall Notarial Records (188, 194) were in regards to John Wood of Middletown RI, when in fact original source record signature verification has proven these records to belong to the London ship captain John Wood, who was killed in Livorno, Italy in 1653.)

Last elected for a public position (deputy) in May 1690 (in Newport). In Nov 1695, he sold Little Compton land to his son Thomas. He died 26 August 1704, buried on the Deacon Smith Farm in Middletown, RI. Confirmed children:

Henry Wood (b abt 1640); m Hannah (?Coakley?); in 1662 with his father in Taunton, MA. In 1673 in Newport (freeman). Removed in mid 1682 to New Jersey. Also in the seafaring business. Owned land in Philadelphia, PA (across river from his land in New Jersey). Quaker. He died between 4 April and 1 June 1691, at which time he was living in Hopewell (name of his estate). Sometimes appeared in the records as Woods. John Wood of Oyster Bay, LI (b abt 1643) Walter abt 1645; m Amie Jonathan Wood of Oyster Bay, LI, b 26 Aug 1658 (in Springfield, MA) m1 ____; m2 Mercy Banbury. John2 of Little Compton b abt 1664; m Mary Church Thomas Wood of Little Compton, RI b abt 1666; m Content ?Thurston? William Wood of Newport, RI b abt 1675; m1 Amy Clarke; m2 Elizabeth (Tripp) Mitchell Henry2 of Little Compton, RI b abt 1683; m Content Thurston Peleg Wood of Newport, RI b abt 1686; m Rebecca Coggeshall Margaret Wood of Newport, RI b abt 1691; d 7 Dec 1750 aged abt 59, single Additional children might include: Nathaniel Wood of Newport who went on Expedition to Canada in 1711; nfr; Susannah Wood who m. Dr. William Wod of Swansea; Joseph Wood, weaver at Berick, ME who m Patience Nason in 1712; Elizabeth Wood who m 1693 John Saunders in Philadelphia. Some or all of these could also be children of Walter #3 above. Thomas; m1 ____ _____; m2 ____; m3 abt 1673 Rebecca ____ (possibly Hall). May have remained in England for some years after his parents settled in RI. He first appears in American records at time of his father's 1655 death. Lived in Portsmouth, RI many years (and periodically returned there); may have lived in Rehoboth, MA; to Swansea, MA abt 1678. Served in King Philip's War for which he received 100 acres in East Greenwich, RI. He died after 28 Dec 1702 and before 4 April 1704 when he is referred to in the records as deceased. Children: John1 of East Greenwich Elizabeth; m1 1678 Swansea Samuel Wheaton b abt 1643, d 2 Feb 1683/4; she m2 26 May 1684 Samuel Bowen and migrated to South Jersey. Many children. John2, b abt 1663; m1 Bethiah Mason; m2 Charity (Thurber) Miller Thomas b abt 1664; m Hannah Rider Abigail b 1666 William b 1670; m Susanna Wood George b Swansea 30 Jul 1679 m Rebecca Daggett Jonathan b Swansea 20 Nov 1681; m1 Elizabeth Thurston; m2 Anne Carr Hannah b Swansea 8 Feb 1684/5; probably m Nov 1, 1715 Peter Taylor Margaret b Swansea 1 Mar 1687, twin; m Swansea 21 May 1715 John Page Sarah b Swansea 1 Mar 1687, twin; either she was later called Susannah or she died young and an unrecorded Susannah was born; in any case Susannah Wood m Swansea 17 Jun 1714 John Baker

Sources

  1. The Providence Journal, Donita Naylor, 24 March 2021, "Descendant restores RI Wood family Bible, inherited 10 times in 300 years". https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.providencejournal.com/amp/4582096001

See also:

  • 1655 Probate Record. Town of Portsmouth (R.I.). 1901. The Early Records of the Town of Portsmouth. Providence, R.I.: E. L. Freeman & Sons. Rhode Island Historical Society, editor. Available online without restriction courtesy of Hathitrust: "We have determined this work to be in the public domain, meaning that it is not subject to copyright. Users are free to copy, use, and redistribute the work in part or in whole."
  • Michael M. Wood. "JOHN WOOD, MASTER OF THE PEREGRINE", Genealogists’ Magazine, Volume 32, Number 8, Journal of the Society of Genealogists, (December 2017)
  • Hurd, D H. History of Bristol County, Massachusetts: With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men. Vol. II. Philadelphia: J. W. Lewis & Co., 1883, p. 675.

Acknowledgments

  • Thanks to Dale Burdick for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Dale and others.

See also

  • Wood, Michael M. "[John Wood of Portsmouth][1]." Accessed January 29, 2024.




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Comments: 9

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Wood-114 and Wood-112 do not represent the same person because: See disambiguation.
posted by Bobbie (Madison) Hall
Please note Unmerged Match: Henry Wood and Henry Wood.

I was hesitant to do the merge because of all the red flags in this profile. I believe the merge should be done, but would like review. Thank you.

posted by Jennifer Bates
These both are now merged with Wood-7648
posted by Mike Wood
According to what's listed under "confirmed children", he is the father of Henry Wood. I am not yet connecting them until we get John Jr.'s father sorted out.
posted by H Husted
Hello Heather, I have been busy and the years fly by... if you are still actively researching, I welcome the opportunity to discuss Henry Wood (Wood-5934) with you and explore his possible relationship to John Wood (Wood-112).

I notice in your biography that you list his birth in England and write ""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." If this were true, might be assume that Henry would have been an adult, able to make the decision to flee and settle in another country?

Here is some food for thought as a basis for future discussion:

We know that John Wood of Portsmouth (Wood-114) was the father of Wood-112 (he is named in the 1655 disposition of the estate of Wood-114).

We know that Wood-112 was in Newport on 7 Jun 1643 when he was charged by John Richman for trespassing.

We know Wood-114 was in Newport in 1643, his son Wood-112 was 23 years old at the time (see RI Historical Cemetery transcription MT046).

If Henry was born before 1635 he would have been a small child when his <PROPOSED> Grandfather (Wood-114) was in Newport (1643).

I have been unable to find BIRTH records in the UK for Wood-114's children; George, John (Wood-112, b.1620), Thomas & William. There are several researchers who pick out singular UK records to "document" the birth of each of these people, yet fail to look for the interrelation of the family - I think we can safely assume that Wood-114 did not have 4 sons born in 4 different regions of the UK :-) Ideally at some point birth records will be digitized which show each of the 4 sons being born to Wood-114 in and around the same parish.

BR Mike

posted by Mike Wood
is there evidence to connect him to Wood-5934?
posted by H Husted
Wife is probably not Mary Peabody (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Peabody-305); more likely to be Judith Sherman (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Sherman-2424)
posted by Dan Cornett
Dear Dan, this question was researched in detail by Michael Johnson Wood and published in the NEHGS REGISTER, Vol 167; January 2013; Whole Number 665; Earliest Shermans of Dedham Essex, pp 51/52 amongst others.

There were NO SOURCE RECORDS found to link Judith Sherman (bp. 22 JUL 1612) to John Wood of Middletown (Wood-112). This is not to say that your hypothesis in incorrect, rather at this time unproven and should be considered speculation rather than "probable".

posted by Mike Wood

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Categories: John Wood Lot, Middletown, Rhode Island