Sylvanus Wood (1749 - 1840)

Born 27 Jan 1749 in Woburn, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Deborah (Bruce) Wood — married 26 Jan 1784 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States

Died 12 Aug 1840 at age 91 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

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Sylvanus Wood is Notable.

Lieutenant Sylvanus Wood served with 26th Continental Regiment, Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Sylvanus Wood was born in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, on January 27, 1749, the son of John and Esther Wood^{[1][2] [3]}.

He was admitted to the Precinct Church, July 5, 1772. He was a lieutenant in the Continental Army, serving in his brother Capt. John Wood's company, and in the regiment commanded by Col. Loammi Baldwin. He is best known for claiming the capture of the first Redcoat in the American Revolution on April 19, 1775 (See "Events of April 19, 1775" below).^{[2] [4] [5]}

He married first, on June 3, 1778, in Lexington, Middlesex, Massachusetts, Abigail Smith, of Lexington ^[6]. She must have died prior to 1784, but there is no record for the death of an "Abigail Wood" in Woburn, nor are there any records of children.

He married second, on January 26, 1784, in Woburn, Deborah Bruce, also of Woburn^[6]. Children:

1. Benjamin, born October 10, 1788^[7]
2. Mary, born January 19, 1792^[7]
3. Sylvanus, Jr., born January 6, 1795^[7]; married, May 7, 1817, Jerusha Converse^[6]; died May 22, 1872^[8][9]
4. Josiah, born August 2, 1802^[7]; married, May 5, 1824, Abigail E. Hill^[6]; died August 9, 1835, aged 32 ^[8]
5. Sally, born November 20, 1806^[7]

Lieutenant Sylvanus Wood died "on his valuable farm" in West Woburn on August 12, 1840, at the age of 91^[8][2]. He was buried at Woodbrook Cemetery in Woburn^[3].

Events of April 19, 1775

Sylvanus Wood Monument

"1775, April 19. Fair windy & cold. A Distressing Day."
Mr. Silvanus Wood, then living at Kendall's Mill in Woburn, was awaked while in bed before daybreak that morning, by a messenger who called to him, announcing that a party of British soldiers was on the march towards Lexington, and urging him to go and join Capt. Parker's company then assembled on Lexington Common. He went, and was mustered in Capt. Parker's company, and was in its ranks when the men were fired upon by the British, after they had turned their backs to retreat, in obedience to the orders of their captain. When the British continued their march that morning towards Concord, Wood followed with his gun in their rear, accompanied by another person who was without a gun. Upon or near Parkhurst's Hill in Lexington, about a mile from the meeting-house, observing a British soldier turn aside from the ranks upon some necessary occasion, he hastened up to him while he was alone and pointing his gun to his breast, ordered him immediately to deliver up himself and his weapon to him, or he should instantly be a dead man. The soldier, taken thus by surprise, and when unable to defend himself, or receive help from others, obeyed; and Wood taking his musket to himself, and giving his own gun into the chage of his unarmed associate, bade him take that man to such a person (or place) in Lexington; and then proceeded himself in the track of the British, towards Concord. What became of the British private, who, taken an evil hour had surrendered himself and weapon to Wood, could never afterwards be satisfactorily ascertained. It has been conjectured that the soldier, having a supply of British gold in his pockets, offered a piece of it to the person who had him in charge, and with it suceessfully bribed him to give him his liberty. Upon the ground of this seemingly unavailing capture however, Wood always claimed the honor of having taken the first prisoner in the American War. And urging this claim at Washington, about the year 1824, he obtained, with the aid of Hon. Edward Everett, then Representative in Congress for the District of Middlesex, a handsome pension for life.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Johnson, Edward F., Woburn Records of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, from 1640 to 1873. Part I - Births (Woburn, Mass. : Andrews, Cutler & Co., Steam Book and Job Printers. 1890) (Free e-book) (Records are also available at ma-vitalrecords.org) p. 280
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Sewall, Samuel, M.A., The History of Woburn, Middlesex County, Mass. From the Grant of its Territories to Charlestown, in 1640 to the Year 1860. (Boston: Wiggins and Lunt, Publishers, 221 Washington Street. 1868.) (Free e-book) p. 363-364
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 23 August 2018), memorial page for Sylvanus Wood (27 Jan 1749–12 Aug 1840), Find A Grave: Memorial #23130655, citing Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by William Sweeney (contributor 46597677).
4. ↑ Sewall, Samuel, M.A., The History of Woburn, Middlesex County, Mass. From the Grant of its Territories to Charlestown, in 1640 to the Year 1860. (Boston: Wiggins and Lunt, Publishers, 221 Washington Street. 1868.) (Free e-book) p. 577
5. ↑ Massachusetts Soldiers Sailors Rev. War: Vol. 17. (1908) Whi-Zyr. Pages 775-776. Citing: "Wood, Sylvanus Woburn"
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} Johnson, Edward F., Woburn Records of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, from 1640 to 1873. Part III - Marriages (Woburn, Mass. : Andrews, Cutler & Co., Steam Book and Job Printers. 1890) (Free e-book) (Records are also available at ma-vitalrecords.org) p. 309
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4} Johnson, Edward F., Woburn Records of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, from 1640 to 1873. Part I - Births (Woburn, Mass. : Andrews, Cutler & Co., Steam Book and Job Printers. 1890) (Free e-book) (Records are also available at ma-vitalrecords.org) p. 281
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} Johnson, Edward F., Woburn Records of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, from 1640 to 1873. Part II - Deaths (Woburn, Mass. : Andrews, Cutler & Co., Steam Book and Job Printers. 1890) (Free e-book) (Records are also available at ma-vitalrecords.org) p. 211
9. ↑ "Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7G2-PY5 : 22 May 2019), Sylvamis Wood, 22 May 1872; citing Woburn, Massachusetts, v 248 p 289, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 960,200.

See also:

• Johnson, Edward. Woburn Record of Births, Deaths and Marriages - From 1640 to 1873. Woburn, Mass: Drews, Cutler & Co., Steam Book and Job Printers, 1899.

• Sewall, Samuel. The History of Woburn, Middlesex County, Mass. From The Grant of Its Territory To Charlestown, In 1640, To The Year 1860. Boston: Wiggin And Lunt, Publishers, 1868.

• Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (Wright & Potter Printing Co., Boston, 1896).